Ultra A/N:
This is an alternate retelling of Bridging the Gap. It's uploaded here as it was meant to be read before I realized I was getting nowhere with this plot. This story ends at Chapter 8; I do not plan to continue writing it.
Chapter 3: Reunion Season
A/N:
One thing about Jdorama and anime that I truly find fascinating is how the creators manage to squeeze in every possible character into one crucial moment. This happens often in endings, when everyone, from people who should be busy with serious matters abroad to the protagonist's favorite burger man, pops out of nowhere. I shall attempt to do the same thing here. Absurdly long chapter coming your way!
Disclaimer:
I do not own La Corda d'Oro; the whole concept belongs to Kure Yuki-sensei.
Previously:
Chapter 2: Deal with the Devil
"Fine," Kahoko said in a low voice, her eyes downcast. "You win. I'll help you. But you have to keep your end of the bargain-"
"You won't meet Len," Erika said. "I promise." She stepped back, and Kahoko was relieved to see that her smile appeared much kinder from a distance. "I leave myself in your hands, Kaho-senpai," she said, lowering her head slightly.
Kahoko looked away. It was more the other way around really.
Chapter 3: Reunion Season
"Café Forte, how may I help you?" Nao's voice greeted from the other end of the line.
"Nao!"
"Kaho!" Nao screamed at the receiver. Kahoko put the phone away from her ear, grimacing at the cacophony of chairs being pushed back, footsteps racing closer, panicked voices jumbling, calling out her name.
"Yes, it's me," Kahoko replied, pressing the phone against her ear again. "Can you please tell them to relax? I'm all right."
"She's all right!" Nao called out to the others happily. Kahoko heard a collective sigh, and someone, she had an idea who, saying, "I'm going to grill that girl when she gets back here!"
Kahoko laughed nervously. Being grilled about the deal that had just taken place was not something she was looking forward to.
"Excuse me," she heard a gruff, awfully familiar voice say. There was a bit of scuffling, a momentary pause, and then the words,
"Oi, Kaho! Where are you right now?"
"Ryoutaro?!" Kahoko gasped, blushing at the same time. "What are you doing there?"
"Nami and the others called me after what happened," Tsuchiura Ryoutaro explained. "They said you fainted and some men in black took you away. I got here as soon as I could."
"Ryou," Kahoko whispered, feeling guilty but oddly touched. "You didn't have to."
He gave a noncommittal grunt.
"The point is we were worried sick," Tsuchiura said. "Where are you right now? What did those men do to you? Are you sure you're all right? Who's the one behind all this-?"
"Slow down, will you!" Kahoko cried. "I can't answer all your questions at once." She sighed. "Regarding my location…"
Kahoko absorbed her surroundings. She was on the balcony of a stately beach house, several meters away from Erika's furniture set. From this point, she had a better view of the sea, which was bluer than ever, and the rolling hillsides around the shore. She could even see lines of coconut trees, and miraculously, a few people as well.
"I'm in Okinawa."
"Okinawa?!" Tsuchiura repeated, disbelief etched in his tone. In the background, her friends exclaimed as well, and once again, a lone sheep asked aloud, "How'd she get there so fast?"
"I don't know how I got here, okay?" Kahoko answered dully. "But I'm starting to think nothing's impossible anymore."
"What do you mean?" Tsuchiura queried.
"You don't want to know," Kahoko assured him. "Those men did nothing to me actually, they just brought me over here to meet their… er… young mistress."
"Yeah, I've heard about this ojousama," Tsuchiura said darkly. "Who is she? If it's someone dangerous, I have a few friends at the police department-"
"No, Ryou, it's nothing like that," Kahoko replied. "She's not that bad, actually. A bit mental, but well… no one's rich and perfect."
Tsuchiura chuckled. "Well…"
Silence.
"Really, t-thank you for this," Kahoko said, stumbling on her words. "I don't deserve this, after all that's happened-"
"What are you talking about?" Tsuchiura said, feigning indifference. "I'm handing the phone over to Mio. She wants to talk to you."
"Ryou, wait-!"
"Kaho-chan!" Mio's voice cried. "Kaho-chan, we were so worried! How are you? Are you all right? Did those men do something bad to you?"
"I'm fine, Mio," Kahoko said, smiling despite herself. "I'm sorry for causing you trouble. Could you please apologize to everyone for me? Is Pierre-san there?"
"Yes, he's here, but he's comforting Nao-chan at the moment."
"Could you thank him for me later?" Kahoko requested. "And also… could you extend my gratitude to Ryoutaro please?"
There was a soft shuffling noise.
"Anou… Kaho-chan," Mio said in a stage whisper, "I know I don't have the right to interfere, but are you sure about your decision? Ryoutaro's a good guy-"
"Mio…"
"-and it hasn't been very long since you guys broke up-"
"Mio!" Kahoko exclaimed. "C-can we not talk about this right now?" she begged awkwardly. "I don't think this is the right moment."
"Oh, yes, of course-"
"Mio-chan, can I talk to Kaho-chan, too?"
"Ahh, yes, sure, Nami-chan-"
More shuffling noises.
"Kahoko?" came Nami's voice. "Kahoko, I swear, when I see this ojousama they're all talking about I'm gonna give her a piece of my mind and make her explain why she's doing all this!"
"Nami, I think that's a bit-"
"Nooooo, seriously," Nami insisted. "She has an awful lot of explaining to do. But tell me, Kahoko, what's she like? Is she famous? There's no doubt she's rich. Maybe she's a spoiled little rich brat who's got nothing to do with her life?"
"Ahhh, well…" It scared Kahoko how spot-on Nami's assessment was.
"Am I right or am I right?"
"Anou, Nami, I have to get back now," Kahoko said.
"I'll talk to you when you get back then-"
"Right. No, wait-"
"Kaho-chan, you have to tell me everything-"
"Nami, I really have to get back now," Kahoko lied, panicking. "Sorry, see you, bye!"
She dropped the call. Sighing, she collapsed against the railings of the balcony and tugged at her hair.
"Kahoko," she scolded herself softly. "What have you gotten yourself into?"
"Pardon my intrusion," said a voice from behind Kahoko.
It was Naoto-san. He was standing at the threshold of the balcony, looking as dignified as ever. Slowly, he walked over to Kahoko, and when he was close enough to be heard well, he began to speak.
"Erika-ojousama has always been a bit rash in making decisions," he said, looking at the beach. "I know this is all very shocking to you, Hino Kahoko-sama, but all the same, I would like to thank you for deigning to help the ojousama." He gave a slight bow. "I would also like to apologize for my behavior earlier; my actions were unforgivable. I'm truly sorry," he said, bowing again, deeply this time.
"N-no, Naoto-san," Kahoko cried, motioning for the man to lift his head. "It wasn't your fault, and anyway, I wasn't hurt, so you don't have to apologize at all," she added, inserting a small laugh for emphasis.
"The stories are true: you are most kind."
"Anou, Naoto-san," Kahoko said, changing the topic. "If you know about the deal I made with Erika-san, then you must also know why I agreed to help her. You know about my agreement … with Len?"
"I know everything there is to know about the affairs of the ojousama," was all Naoto-san said. Kahoko took it as a yes.
"You won't tell me who your sources are, even if I asked, right?"
"No, I will not."
"I expected as much," Kahoko said, more to herself. She looked at the beach, and saw Erika playing with a golden retriever. Another oddity.
"How is he?" she heard herself ask out of nowhere. "Tsukimori Len?"
Naoto-san considered his words before answering, "He seems well. He often goes on concert tours, but his home is in Vienna. Last I heard, he was headed to Los Angeles for a charity ball." He gauged Kahoko's reaction. "He seems to have no intention of returning to Japan anytime soon."
"I see…" Kahoko said, still lost in thought.
So Len's got what he's always wanted. As expected.
"I probably should be heading back," Kahoko said, smiling. "Erika-san might think I was planning on escaping. Thank you for the phone, Naoto-san."
"Of course, Hino-sama."
Kahoko let her feet take her back to the beach. Meanwhile, she let her mind wander - to old thoughts, to old faces, to things that had happened in the past. For the millionth time, she wondered, what if? It wasn't really a regret, she told herself, more like a curiosity, a question that wanted to be answered.
What if I had gone with him?
"Kaho-senpai." Erika's voice sounded oddly distant.
Kahoko jerked her mind back to reality. She was shocked to discover that she was already at the beach. "Yes?"
"Do you like dogs?" Erika asked, patting the golden retriever on the head. "Len likes them very much. I think he'd be a dog-walker if he wasn't a violinist."
"Well," Kahoko said, bending low to pet the dog as well. "Doesn't he have a dog as well? A golden retriever like this one… Wolfgang?"
"Woof-gang," Erika joked, smiling at Kahoko. "Really playful, that dog. I hear he's from Japan? Len said they've been together since high school."
"Yes…"
Erika stared.
"You've got that proverbial faraway look in your eyes," she teased. "Could it be you got Wolfgang together? Or maybe he was a gift from you?"
"No," Kahoko said, avoiding Erika's gaze. "It wasn't really like that."
"Ooooh, tell me," Erika said. "This could be the first step in fulfilling our contract."
Kahoko blinked. And sighed.
"I suppose."
When we were still… together, Len used to walk me home every day. I couldn't understand why he bothered; after all, he was always complaining about not having enough time to practice. I appreciated it, all the same. It was quite… sweet.
"Did he hold your hand while you walked?" Erika interrupted.
"Sometimes," Kahoko replied, blushing at the memory. "Not always though. To be honest, he wasn't mad about public displays of affection."
"Fine. Go on then."
The night before winter break-
"Hang on," Erika interrupted once again. "Did you always go home at night? Did you go on dates before coming home?"
"Erika-san, do you mind holding on to your questions until after the end of the story?" Kahoko asked, trying hard not to let her patience run thin. "It's just that, I'm easily distracted and it's difficult for me to keep going if I have to pause often."
"Ah, sumimasen," Erika apologized good-naturedly. "I didn't know you preferred things that way. I'll try to keep silent from now on. But tell me, did you go on dates before coming home?"
Kahoko sighed exasperatedly.
That night, we got home late because my friends insisted that we eat out to welcome our vacation. So it was a special night, see? As I was saying, we were walking home, and it was snowing pretty heavily. Although both of us had an umbrella, I thought it would be… fun if we shared his. After all, it was kind of big, I'd always wondered how it fit in his bag-
"Just get on with the story!"
So! We were walking down the street leading to my house when suddenly we heard a soft yupping sound. When we looked for its source, we found a box… lying abandoned on the street, near some trash cans. Curious, we bent down to inspect the box. It looked ordinary, at most, save for the weird sound that was coming from it. And then Len, he flipped the box open, and we peeked inside and saw a little puppy, dirt-brown in color, huddled in one corner of the box.
Ignoring Len's warning, I handed him my stuff and scooped the little ball of fur in my arms. It was soft and tiny and shivering. I took my scarf off – it was my favorite one, too, green with tiny g-clefs embroidered onto it – and wrapped it around the puppy, leaving some space for it to breathe. That done, I took my stuff back and held out the bundle.
"For you," I think I told Len, offering him the puppy.
"You keep him," he said. "I'm not very good with animals."
"We can't say for sure," I insisted. "You've never had a pet, haven't you?"
"For good reason," he retorted. "I'm serious, Kaho. You take care of it. It will probably die if it ends up with me."
"But we don't have space at home-"
"It could sleep in your room-"
"Mou, Tsukimori," I complained. "Just take him. Look after him for a few days, and if you don't like the experience, I'll come take him back."
Len looked at me with seriously troubled eyes. It seemed to me that he really believed the dog was going to die if we left it with him for too long. But I knew Len wouldn't let that happen. It was against his nature.
He ended up taking the puppy home after all. We didn't talk about him much during winter break. Things got pretty busy, with his parents throwing parties at home and my parents suddenly craving for hot springs, so when we had the chance to talk, it was always about what was happening on his end or my end…
When Christmas season was over, and my family had gotten back from the hot springs, I paid Len a surprise visit. When I got to his house, Hamai Misa-san greeted me. I asked where Len was, and I was surprised by the answer she gave me.
"He's in his room, playing with that little puppy of his," she had said with a smile.
Thanking Misa-san, I bounded up the stairs and ran to Len's room. After knocking on his door, I heard him say, "Come in."
He didn't even ask who it was!
Something else clearly occupied his thoughts, and when I opened the door, I saw him sitting on the floor petting the little brown puppy we had picked up. His back was to me, so I couldn't see his expression, but when he turned around, there was the trace of a smile on his face, and his eyes were twinkling, like he was truly enjoying himself.
"Kahoko," he said, relatively cheerfully. "You didn't tell me you were coming."
"I wanted to surprise you," I told him. I sat beside him on the floor, and reached out to pat the puppy on the head. "He's gotten bigger, hasn't he?"
"Yes, it seems he has," Len said, somewhat fondly.
"You like him, don't you?" I teased, banking on his good mood. "I told you you'd be good with animals. You just needed the opportunity to test your skills…"
"You make it sound like it's such a big thing."
"Well, it is, sort of," I said. "They say truly gentle people are the ones who enjoy the company of animals."
Len didn't say anything. He was never good at receiving compliments like that.
"I guess I won't have to take him home then-"
"Kahoko," he said suddenly. "What do you want to name him?"
I was a bit surprised. "You mean you haven't named him yet?"
He shook his head. "I wanted us to name him together," he said. "Although I'm keeping him for now, we did find him together, so he's your responsibility, too."
"Why don't we name him after a famous musician then?" I suggested. "Do you want to name him Ravel? Tchaikovsky? Er… Kreisler?"
"No, none of those sound like a pet name. I'd prefer first names, if it's okay with you."
"Isn't there a famous dog named Beethoven?"
"That's a different story, Kaho."
It really got me thinking. For some time, I sat there, running through names in my head, trying to see if they fit the puppy. And Len, he didn't help me at all. He just sat there, watching our puppy, letting me do all the thinking.
But I think that was his intention.
I considered the puppy's traits. I didn't know him as well as Len did, but from what I could see, he seemed like a really playful dog. And he seemed to make Len happy. I looked back and wondered whose music made me feel happy. Definitely not Beethoven. Schubert seemed too romantic, Gavotte didn't sound right. And then it hit me.
"Mozart," I whispered. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. "How about Wolfgang?"
Len looked at me, and then at the puppy.
"Wolfgang it is," he said, smiling.
"That's how Wolfgang got his name," Kahoko finished, her mind stuck somewhere else, in a young man's room where a boy and a girl watched over their mutual responsibility.
"Appropriate name," Erika noted. She had gotten quieter during the narration, but Kahoko was too immersed in her past to notice. Patting the golden retriever beside her, Erika said, "Len loved that dog very much. He was very distraught when it died."
"He died?!" Kahoko exclaimed. "What happened?"
"Hit and run," Erika said simply. Unmoved by Kahoko's stricken face, she turned her attention to Naoto-san, who was standing behind the two of them, listening to the conversation.
"Ahh, Naoto-san, perfect timing," Erika chirped. "Is it time to go back home?"
"I'm afraid so, Ojousama," Naoto-san replied. "Nadeshiko-sama is most anxious to see you. She wishes to have dinner with you at the Tokyo residence."
"It can't be helped, I guess," Erika said, standing up. "You'll accompany me, of course, Kaho-senpai?"
"Huh?" Kahoko asked, surprised. "But I thought you only wanted to get information from me. You never said anything about pretending to be your friend."
"Ouch, that stung," Erika berated, acting hurt. "Nevertheless, you vowed to help me, didn't you? I guarantee you'll be able to help me tonight, Kaho-senpai. Not to mention," she added as an afterthought, "I have to make it up to you! After all, you weren't able to eat a decent meal today because of me."
"I appreciate your kindness, but I really must get home," Kahoko said.
"But why?" Erika asked innocently, titling her head. "There's no one waiting for you there, right?"
Kahoko balled her fists, her nails digging into her palms. Sawajiri Erika. She was going beyond the line.
"Fine," Kahoko caved in. "I'll have dinner with you. But after dinner, I'm going home to my apartment, all right?"
"As you wish, Kaho-senpai," Erika said, smiling sweetly.
"One more thing," Kahoko added, getting to her feet. "Can you not call me senpai?"
"But I want to," Erika said, smiling yet again. "You got first to Tsukimori Len's heart, but I'll be next. And last."
Still smiling, Erika began to walk away. Then she paused, and without turning around, added, "Besides, I'm younger than you are."
Kahoko stood rooted to the spot, her eyes fixed to the ocean. When she had first agreed to help Sawajiri Erika, she had thought she was strong enough to stand barbs like this. And yet… somehow, even after four years, the pain still stung. Perhaps it had even gotten worse.
"Nadeshiko-obaasama," Erika greeted cheerfully, waltzing through the elegant French doors of the Tokyo residence. Kahoko, dazed by the lack of food and the flurry of shopping around the city with Erika for company, practically tumbled into the foyer, where maids in black and white uniforms relieved her of five hours' worth of shopping.
"Arigatou gozaimasu," Kahoko said with all the sincerity she could muster. "Really, you're lifesavers." The maids only giggled and bowed deeply.
"Nadeshiko-obaasama~" The voice was getting fainter and fainter as Erika walked deeper into the heart of the house. Afraid of getting lost in God knows how huge a place, Kahoko followed the sound, her new heels making odd clicking noises against the tiled floor.
For the house of a wealthy family, the Tokyo residence was oddly bare. True, the materials of the house itself seemed of high quality, from the well-lit ceilings to the shiny floor, but there were no paintings on the walls, no portraits of the house's inhabitants, no sign that people lived inside it.
Maybe they're going for a minimalist look, Kahoko reasoned.
"Obaasama, I found you!" came Erika's delighted cry from up ahead. Cautiously, Kahoko followed, turning a corner and finding herself in a grand dining room with a crystal chandelier and an ornate long table.
The first thing Kahoko noticed was the number of servers standing around the table, close to the walls, like statues that needed to be ordered around for them to come to life. Then Kahoko turned her attention to the individuals seated at the table. The elegant old woman at the head of the table was hugging Erika; she, Kahoko presumed, was Nadeshiko-sama. Three other people had been dining with her: a beautiful young woman with a short, dark brown bob; another elegant old woman in an elaborate silk kimono; and, a familiar face with long blue hair, who was on his feet, staring at her with unbelieving eyes.
"Hino Kahoko?" Yunoki Azuma wondered aloud.
"Yunoki-senpai!" Kahoko exclaimed, equally surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Hisashiburi, Hino-san," Miyabi greeted, getting to her feet as well. "Ogenki desu ka?"
"Hai, genki desu," Kahoko replied with a smile, pleased by the unexpected turn of events. "I didn't think we'd meet here of all places."
"You children know each other?" Nadeshiko-sama asked with a smile. "What a coincidence, isn't it, Shizuka?"
"Yes, indeed," said Yunoki's grandmother, who didn't seem happy with the guest. "Do you mind, young lady, if I ask your name? You are a familiar face, but I daresay we've never been properly introduced."
"This is Hino Kahoko, Shizuka-obaasama," Erika said, jumping in. She stood next to Kahoko and put an arm around the other's shoulders. "She's a composer who is gaining fame for her work on movies and anime. I daresay she's the hottest sensation in the music scene right now!"
"Your score for Loop Continuum was wonderful, Hino-san," Miyabi said, sitting down together with Yunoki. "It truly made the show a more exciting visual experience."
"Arigatou gozaimasu," Kahoko replied awkwardly. She didn't know which was more shocking, the fact that Miyabi watched anime, or the fact that she praised Kahoko's least favorite creation.
"May I ask how you two know each other?" Yunoki inquired, looking between Erika and Kahoko with beady eyes.
"Through music," Erika simply replied. "I was watching Wanted Perfect Orchestra when I fell in love with its music. And when I looked at the credits, I saw Kaho-senpai's name. So I flew to Japan as soon as possible in order to meet her," she said, smiling.
Kahoko started. Was this true? Was that really how Sawajiri Erika found out about her? It was too insane to be realistic. Besides, it seemed Erika was good at lying - perhaps this was just another tale as well.
Nadeshiko-sama was laughing.
"Pardon her carefree manner, everyone," Nadeshiko-sama said, although she didn't seem to mind her granddaughter's behavior at all. "Erika has always been a bit too… ahh… indecisive, I think is the term."
"Obaasama," Erika sang.
"Just joking, dear," her grandmother replied. "Come, have a seat. You as well, Hino-san, come join us for dinner."
Yunoki pulled out the chair beside his, and stared at Kahoko pointedly. Erika, with a sly smile that told Kahoko she knew more about this meeting than she let on, went to sit beside Yunoki's grandmother and Miyabi. Smiling, she greeted Miyabi.
"I see you're sporting a new look," she teased easily, settling down. "Going for sophistication? Nice try, Miyabi-chan, but you'll always be cute to me."
"Aww, Erika," Miyabi complained. "Can't you boost my confidence a bit? A white lie won't hurt anyone."
"Miyabi-san!"
"Ah, gomenasai, Obaasama."
The rest of the meal went on uneventfully. To Kahoko's relief, no one spoke to her, except for Nadeshiko-sama who questioned her regarding the inspiration for her music.
"How extraordinary," Nadeshiko-sama commented. "To unearth melody from everyday sounds… That is truly a rare gift you must treasure."
At this, Kahoko smiled. Erika smiled as well.
For his part, Yunoki did not speak at all during the meal, except to answer questions regarding his life in America. It seemed to Kahoko, however, that Yunoki had something to say to her; she knew it from the way he glanced at her once in a while, before turning back to the dinner conversation with his standard smile.
Finally, dinner ended. Kahoko wasn't up to eating much, given the stress of dining at the same table as the Yunoki matriarch, who kept shooting dagger looks at her. Or maybe it was Erika's presence that made her feel so uneasy – the way she could look so carefree and yet be so cunning… it reminded Kahoko of someone, and the memory made her grin.
"What's so funny?"
Kahoko turned and saw Yunoki's golden eyes gazing at her with curiosity. This made her grin even wider.
"Nothing," she answered sweetly. Yunoki raised an eyebrow.
"Why don't we retreat to the tea room, everyone?" Nadeshiko-sama said, rising. "Shizuka, come. I'm sure you wish to relax after a long day."
Yunoki's grandmother followed Nadeshiko-sama's actions wordlessly, and they left the dining room together, the servers bowing as they passed.
"Miyabi-chan, you must tell me about Paris," Erika said, linking arms with her friend. "Surely you dated a lot of French demigods while you were in school. Or were you too caught up in fashion?"
"What do you think, Erika-chan?" Miyabi countered slyly.
"My, my, you've learned more than I thought," Erika replied, laughing. "But seriously, tell me of Paris, and I'll share my stories of Vienna. Unless there are things you don't want me to know?"
"Erika~"
"I'm joking, I'm joking!"
Kahoko sighed as the two women left the dining area. She listlessly followed them, until a strong hand gripped her arm and began dragging her.
"Wait-" Kahoko complained. "Yunoki-senpai!"
But Yunoki would not listen. He followed the others out of the dining area, but upon reaching the hallway, walked opposite where the women were headed. Ignoring Kahoko completely, he opened the door nearest them and pushed Kahoko inside.
She found herself in a handsomely furnished study, bathed in moonlight. Beguiled by the beauty of the bare mahogany desk in front of her, Kahoko walked forward, entranced by the pools of light that played on the table's surface. Behind her, Yunoki had just locked the door. He paused for a while, as though straining to hear something, but after a moment, he relaxed, a deep breath escaping his lips. And then he turned around.
"Hino Kahoko," he said, voice filled with meaning. "It's been a long time. Six years, if I'm not mistaken?"
"Yunoki-senpai," was all Kahoko could say. She paused, hoping for a witty statement to come to her. "How was the US?"
Yunoki chuckled.
"I see you haven't changed," he said. "Still as clueless as ever."
But Kahoko was too used to his insults to care.
"Senpai," she began, smiling, "I'm happy to see you again."
Yunoki stared at her through the darkness, as though considering her expression.
"Is it true? Erika's explanation for how you met?" he asked softly.
Kahoko cringed inwardly.
"Well, I'm not sure if that's really how she found out about me," she said as offhandedly as she could. "But I only met her today, so I don't know much about her."
Again, Yunoki only gazed at her.
"You should be careful," he spoke slowly, "when dealing with Sawajiri Erika. She is the most manipulative person I know, and I know a lot of manipulative people. I believe she grew up like that because her family spoils her too much. You've seen how her own grandmother treats her."
He paused, lost in thought, before continuing.
"She's the only daughter of the prime minister, you know, the youngest of four siblings. Just like Miyabi," he added with a slight smile. "In any case, it's possible that you're just a passing fancy and she'll get tired of you soon," this Kahoko heartily doubted, "but perhaps you're a tool for her to get something she wants."
Kahoko felt the blood rush from her face, and she was thankful the room was dark.
"She doesn't seem so bad, Yunoki-senpai," Kahoko said, repeating the excuse she had given Ryoutaro earlier. "In fact, she's been awfully kind to me despite the fact that we only just met today."
"All the same," Yunoki said. "Be on your guard. She's not a politician's daughter for nothing."
"You seem to know an awful lot about her, Yunoki-senpai," Kahoko noted. "Have you known her long?"
"Yes," he replied, sweeping his hair back. "Her grandmother and my grandmother grew up in the same social circle, so our families know each other. I've known her for as long as I can remember, but mercifully I don't see her often thanks to that temperament of hers. She is also," Yunoki stole a glance at Kahoko, "a fiancée candidate."
"A fiancée candidate!" Just like Ayano-san.
"Right now, she is my grandmother's favorite, given that her father's the incumbent prime minister," he admitted. "I have tried convincing her that power is only temporary, but she won't listen to me. For the past month, she's been talking endlessly about an engagement between the two of us, now that Erika has graduated."
So that's what this is about, Kahoko thought. That's why she's rushing.
"But that's my problem," Yunoki said, regaining his cool composure. "Your problem is keeping her happy, and, if possible, cutting off all ties with her as soon as possible. Life's much easier without her around, I promise you."
Kahoko silently agreed. But-
"I appreciate your concern Yunoki-senpai," she said in what she hoped was a firm voice. "But I intend to be good friends with Erika-san. Now if that's all you have to say, I think they're waiting for us in the tea room-"
There was a loud bang as Yunoki slammed the table with both fists. He was now alarmingly close to Kahoko, his arms at her sides and his face barely a few inches from her own.
"Listen to me," Yunoki said, as Kahoko backed up closer to the table. "Stay away from Sawajiri Erika. She's not someone to trifle with."
"I don't mean to be rude but it really is none of your business who I make friends with," Kahoko replied, unable to back up any further.
"From now on, it is," Yunoki said, his eyes glinting dangerously. He brought his face closer to Kahoko's. "Now that I'm back in Japan, I'll be watching your every move, Hino Kahoko. Listen to me because you don't know what's good for you."
"I really don't see why you're so scared of her," Kaho whispered. "The Yunoki-senpai I know isn't scared of anything."
Yunoki's eyes widened. Clearly taken aback, he straightened up, and looked away.
"I believe Erika brought you here for a reason," he spoke after a while. "We didn't meet by chance, that girl's got something up her sleeve-"
"Azuma?" an eerily familiar voice sang from behind the closed door.
Yunoki visibly panicked, as Kahoko's mind raced. How much did she hear?
"Azuma, your obaasama is looking for you," Erika piped. "Somehow she finds it hard to believe that you got lost on your way to the tea room."
Composing himself, Yunoki went to open the door. The sight of Erika smiling serenely greeted them.
"What are you doing in the dark?" she asked in a sickeningly sweet voice.
"Sorry to trouble you, Erika," Azuma said. "We were just having a conversation to catch up on a few things. Come, Hino-san. They're waiting for us."
Without looking at Erika, Kahoko followed Yunoki out of the room. Dazed, she followed his footsteps without really thinking. If even Yunoki-senpai is scared of her…
"Aahh, Azuma-san, Hino-san," called out Nadeshiko-sama. "We thought you had gotten lost."
Miyabi and the two older women were seated around a low coffee table in the middle of a large, high ceilinged room. Behind them were towering glass windows that overlooked a beautiful Japanese garden, complete with a small pond and a wooden bridge. Like everything else in this house, the room was not ostentatious, but still, it filled Kahoko with a sense of grandeur that left her breathless.
"I'm sorry, Nadeshiko-sama," Yunoki apologized with a smile. "We got sidetracked with the study near the dining hall. Hino-san was most intrigued by the mahogany table you had there…"
Kahoko tried hard not to blush and failed.
"Aahh, yes, my husband's old desk," Nadeshiko-sama said with a smile. "It's beautiful, isn't it? You have exquisite taste in furniture, Hino-san."
"Why didn't you follow us straight to this room, Azuma-san?" his grandmother asked, obviously unsatisfied with his excuse.
"I heard them gossiping, Shizuka-obaasama," replied a familiar voice. It was Erika, waltzing into the tea room and closing the heavy double doors behind her. "They were talking about old high school friends, it really was quite amusing."
"I'm sure it was, Erika-san," the older woman said, "but wouldn't it be more comfortable to talk about such matters here in the tea room? I'm sure Miyabi-san would like to hear stories of old friends as well."
"Oh, but Kaho-senpai can't stay long to chat," Erika said, pouting. "I think she's gotten awfully tired from all the shopping we did. I always thought I was too extreme a companion. Am I right," she met Kaho's eyes, "Kaho-senpai?"
Kahoko gulped. "Well…"
"You only came here to say goodbye then?" Miyabi asked, playing along. "That's a shame. I was hoping to hear more about Hihara-san from you."
"I'm sorry, Miyabi-chan," Kahoko said, smiling. If you can't beat them, join them. "I really should be heading home. I have to wait for inspiration to strike me," she joked, earning a chuckle from Nadeshiko-sama and a smile from Miyabi. "Goodbye then, Sawajiri-sama, Yunoki-sama," she said, bowing deeply. "I'm sorry to intrude upon your hospitality. Miyabi-chan, I'll see you soon."
"I'll walk you to the door then," Yunoki offered.
"Nonsense, Azuma," Erika chided. "You're a guest tonight. Sit. I'll be back in a few."
Before Yunoki could react properly, Erika was pulling Kahoko out of the room, skipping slightly as she did so. Kahoko allowed herself to be tugged away, looking at the back of the person who had changed her quiet life in a matter of hours. Erika was humming, still skipping, and despite all she had heard about the girl being such a dangerous individual, Kahoko was strangely attracted to her personality.
I wonder why Len hasn't fallen for her yet-?
They reached the main doors, which two butlers opened for them with deep bows. After pulling Kahoko down a flight of marble stairs, Erika gave a set of instructions to the driver of a black limousine, who promptly bowed and opened the car door. Turning to Kahoko, Erika said,
"Thank you for today, Kaho-senpai," she chirped, smiling. "I look forward to hanging out with you more, since today was so much fun. Also," she added, "don't believe anything Azuma says. He's always been jealous of me for being better than him at chess."
Kahoko stared. And sighed.
"You're good at chess then?"
"Quite," Erika replied, not arrogantly. "We should play someday."
"You'll have to teach me first," Kahoko said, smiling. "If that's all then-"
"Wait!" Erika cried. She took something out of her pocket, and held it out for Kahoko. It was a silver mobile phone, slim and shiny. Kahoko stared at it.
"This is for our personal use only," Erika told her. "Take it."
With hesitant fingers, Kahoko took the phone. "Thanks… I guess."
Erika smiled. "Good night, Kaho-senpai!" she chirped, kissing Kahoko's cheek before bounding up the stairs.
Frozen, Kahoko touched the part Erika had kissed. That was… weird. Sighing deeply for the millionth time that day, Kahoko got into the limousine and let the driver take her home.
XXX
Unbelievable.
Kahoko had collapsed into her couch, the lights in her medium-sized apartment kept dim. Physically exhausted but mentally awake, she looked back on the events of the day, and tried to make sense of them.
Sawajiri Erika. That girl was truly out of this world. To go so far as virtually kidnapping her love interest's ex-girlfriend… Kahoko didn't think she would meet anyone who was nuts enough to do that. Or confident enough, for that matter.
And yet, Kahoko thought she saw Erika's uncertainty regarding what she was doing. There was something in Erika's expression that one time, as they talked on the beach, that made Kahoko think the girl was desperate for her plan to succeed.
Kahoko sighed. Tsukimori Len. He was causing this mess.
Wanting to distract herself from thoughts of him, she stood up and walked over to the phone, thinking she would order take out and stare at the food until she got hungry. To her slight surprise, she had one voice mail. Wondering who it could be, she punched the combination for her inbox.
"You have one message:
"Kaho-chan!" Mio's voice greeted her. "Shouko-chan and Keichii-kun have come home from London. I know it's sudden but we only just heard the news, too. If you're back by tonight, go to Banzai downtown – the lovebirds are treating us to dinner and drinks. We're headed there right now, so you'll just have to catch up, okay? See you, Kaho-chan – just in case you're home."
The call ended. Kahoko looked at her watch. It was almost eleven.
If she were honest with herself, Kahoko would admit she was deadbeat from being around a human livewire all day. But she also wanted to see Shouko-chan and Keichii-kun, who she hadn't seen in a month. After meeting Yunoki, she wanted to catch up on her other friends' lives as well. Not to mention, there was free food.
Having decided, Kahoko made her way to Banzai.
XXX
Banzai turned out to be a karaoke bar with a healthy night life. It occupied an entire floor in a tall skyscraper downtown, which offered a beautiful view of the Tokyo skyline.
Since when have Shouko-chan and Keichii-kun been party people?
Making her way to the welcome desk, Kahoko scanned the crowd in the lobby for any familiar faces, but to her dismay found none.
"Looking for anyone, Miss?" the handsome young receptionist asked her kindly.
"Yes, I'm looking for Fuuyumi Shouko and Shimizu Keichii?" Kahoko replied. "I was told to meet them here, although I'm not sure if they're still around..."
The man consulted his computer.
"We have a room booked by a certain Shimizu Keichii-san," he informed her. "The Yokohama suite. If you could just wait a moment, Miss…" he said, looking around, probably for someone to escort Kahoko to the right room.
"It's okay," Kahoko heard herself say. She knew they were busy tonight. "I can find the Yokohama suite myself."
"But, Miss-"
"Really, don't worry about me," she said. Without waiting for the receptionist to call her back, Kahoko turned away.
It turned out there was a good reason an escort was needed. The hallways of the enormous place were dark, and several intoxicated customers were walking up and down the corridors, singing at the top of their lungs and waving beer bottles merrily. In every corridor, loud music poured out from some rooms, creating a blend of pop, rock and Japanese folk songs. Walking past a man surrounded by several skimpily-clad girls, Kahoko found herself facing yet another corridor.
This one was quieter than the ones she had left behind, and much wider, too. It also had fewer doors, only five in total. Feeling inexplicably excited, Kahoko stepped forward and began looking at the signs on the doors. Aichi. Hokkaido. Kyoto. Osaka.
Kahoko had a good idea what the name of the last room was. Walking to the end of the corridor, she read the nameplate beside the door: Tokyo.
I knew it.
Suddenly, her phone rang, disrupting her reverie. Confused, Kahoko felt her pockets, searching for the source of the sound - Beethoven's Fur Elise. She felt her hand close on a sleek silver phone.
Erika's phone.
Wondering what on Earth she could want now, Kahoko took the call.
"Moshi moshi," she said.
"Kahoko!" came Erika's anguished cry. "Something terrible has happened. I have to see you as soon as possible. I'm headed for your house right now-"
"I'm not home," was all Kahoko said. "I'm out for dinner with friends."
"What?!" Erika exclaimed. "Where are you? I'll come pick you up."
Debating whether she should tell the truth or not, Kahoko paused for a moment.
"I'm at a karaoke bar called Banzai," she answered. "64th floor, Tennouji Tower."
"Good," Erika said, relieved. "Stay there, do you hear me? Stay put until I come for you."
"Okay-"
Erika had already hung up.
Staring at the phone in her hand, Kahoko wondered what had gotten Erika so riled up. She wondered if it was that worrisome, and then she wondered what she had to do with it in the first place.
Shrugging, she put the phone back in her pocket and went to continue her search for the Yokohama suite.
Walking down the dark hallway, Kahoko found her mind floating again. There was only one thing that connected her and Erika. Could it be…?
Turning a corner, Kahoko bumped into someone for the second time that day. Thrown off balance, Kahoko hit the floor with a thud, causing her to shut her eyes in pain.
"Sumimasen," a deep voice said. "Are you all right?"
Kahoko felt the man bend down to help her, but she kept her eyes shut. She couldn't decide which was worse: the pain from her bad fall or the embarrassment of being found in such a position.
"I'm fine, thanks-"
"No, let me help you up," he said, gently grasping her shoulder.
"Noo, it was my fault really," Kahoko said, waving a hand at the man. "I didn't look where I was going, that's why I hit you…"
The man had stopped talking. Opening her eyes, Kahoko looked up and saw topaz eyes staring at her, shocked. She heard herself gasp. There was no mistaking his face, his hair, his lips that were slightly parted in surprise.
"Len?!"
A/N:
That was harsh. I hope the whole chapter isn't too overwhelming – because I know it's overwhelming enough. The dialogues and banter may have been long, but I wanted to emphasize how truly absurd Sawajiri can be. And, of course, I wanted to give everyone some limelight. I'm truly sorry for my insanity. *bows deeply*
NB:
One: I have no idea what the Yunoki matriarch's real first name is.
Two: Those anime titles came from the pits of my head.
Three: The room assignments for Banzai were based on my prerogative.
Finally: Majority of the things I come up with are compiled write-ups of bits and bobs from other stuff I've seen and read, so some things may seem familiar. Like the scene where Sawajiri gives Hino the phone – very HYD.
Next:
Chapter 4: Old Habits Die Hard
She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Are you teasing me, Tsukimori Len?"
He smiled. Gently, he took her hand and softly pressed his lips against it. "Maybe."