Chapter 15

The next morning, Kyoko woke up promptly at seven to go for a jog up the mountain.

She drove to the highest point and parked off to the side. Before stretching she thought it best to remove her charm bracelet this time.

Once she was stretched she took off down the pass. It had felt like a long time since she'd had a peaceful run; so much had happened in the past two weeks.

Her and Keisuke had spent wonderful days and nights together and some less wonderful. They managed to get through all of it together.

Kyoko felt so happy she thought she might start flying.

…

"Ryosuke have you seen the keys to the beach house?"

"I think mom might have them, ask her she's in her office.

'Damn' Keisuke thought.

Keisuke made his way downstairs to his mother's office. He took a deep breath and knocked three times.

"Come in" said his mother.

"Hello mother, I'm looking for the keys to the beach house. Ryosuke said that you might have them."

"I do. What exactly do you need them for?"

"I'm just hanging out at the beach today so I thought I'd stay there a while." he explained.

"So who is she?" she asked knowingly.

Miharu Takahashi was no easily fooled women and Keisuke knew that.

He sighed.

"Kyoko Iwase, I've been talking with her for a little while. I thought I'd take her to our beach and then out to dinner."

'How is it that she can get every ounce of information, just like that.'

She made him feel like a child again.

"Well here you are" she said handing him the keys.

"Thank you"

Keisuke was about to shut the door when his mother called him again.

"Keisuke…I'd like to meet the girl who occupies your time other than your racing, okay?"

"Mother…"

"That's settled. Now go have a good time sweetie."

"Yes mother, thank you."

Keisuke went back upstairs to pack his things for his date with Kyoko.

He dug through his closet and behind all his clothes was his backpack. It was a little on the dusty side since it hadn't been used since high school so he opened his window and patted off the dust.

He packed all his belongings and zipped the bag shut.

"I'll see you later bro" he said as he jogged down the steps.

"Have fun" Ryosuke told him.

Keisuke threw his bag in the trunk and quickly left his house to go pick up Kyoko.

He arrived fifteen minutes before 2 o'clock and Kyoko was already waiting outside.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

"Yup, now do I get to know where we are going?" she asked.

He gave her a half smile.

"You'll figure it out once we get close"

They drove peacefully on the coastal highway and Keisuke could see Kyoko twirling her fingers anxiously.

"Mmm…I love the smell of the sea air" she said as she rolled down the window.

"The weather is perfect today." he commented.

Keisuke passed the exit for the beaches and continued along the winding road; Kyoko gave him a puzzled look. He took a left going down a small road where he approached a gate.

He parked and stepped out from the car with the keys his mother had given him and opened the large gate.

They drove right on threw and Kyoko finally saw their destination, the Takahashi beach house.

"This is out beach house and private beach. Ryosuke and I came here a lot in the summer with our nanny's."

He parked in the car port and took their belongings into the house.

"Wow it's so pretty here Keisuke"

Compared to the Takahashi's extravagant mansion, the beach house was similar but a much more leisurely style.

He smiled.

"You want to go out to the water right now?" he suggested.

"Sure, let me go change. Where is the bathroom?" she asked.

"It's the middle door on your left. I'll go wait for you in the water."

Keisuke took three long breaths and took his shirt off.

'There is a beautiful girl getting undressed in your bathroom' he thought.

He took another deep breath and opened the back doors to the ocean.

Although the sand was hot from the sun, the water was perfectly cool.

He heard three light knocks come from behind and turned around.

It was Kyoko. She was standing next to the door with her hands behind her back looking very shy.

'Oh…my' he thought.

Keisuke could feel his face getting hot and not because of the sun. When she stepped out into the sunlight it was as if she was glowing.

He always thought Kyoko had a nice body, but seeing her in her bathing suit was like seeing the body of a goddess. Every muscle long and perfectly toned.

"Is the water cold?" she asked as she walked toward him.

He playfully splashed some ocean water at Kyoko and laughed.

"You tell me" he said still laughing.

She smirked.

Kyoko kicked some water at Keisuke and dove under the water.

Her head popped up from the water thirty feet from where he stood.

"I guess you're a fast swimmer and driver"

Keisuke swam quickly to Kyoko and splashed her just a little.

She laughed.

"It must have been nice coming here with your brother when you were young" she commented.

He faced the house and remembered his favorite summers spent here.

"Yeah it was. Did you come to the beach with your family?"

"I did, but for some reason this is turning into my favorite beach trip."

Keisuke started to lean in to kiss her when she quickly dunked her head under the water.

All of a sudden a strong force hit him from behind knocking him down and sending him into an uncontrollable spiral under the water.

Keisuke rolled over on the sand.

"Ow…" he moaned.

"Keisuke!"

He could hear Kyoko running toward him.

"Keisuke are you alright?" she said frantically.

"Yeah I'm fine ahh…"

When he tried to lean his arm against the sand there was a sharp pain coming from his right arm and Kyoko's frightened expression scared him.

"Okay don't freak out, but you have a piece of drift wood stuck in your arm."

He lifted his right arm and could see blood trickling down.

"There's a first aid kit on top of the fridge."

Kyoko ran to the house no questions asked.

Keisuke started to feel light headed, but he didn't want to faint in front of Kyoko.

"I've got it"

She gently removed the wood and started cleaning the wound.

"How does it look?"

"You might need stitches Keisuke"

"Aw man, I don't want to go to a hospital."

"Well I can give you the stitches if you trust me."

He turned the idea over in his head and was feeling unsure. Usually he'd only trust Ryosuke with these things.

"You've done it before?" he asked skeptically.

"Yes well I wanted to become a nurse until I changed my major, so I've taken basic courses."

He looked up at her and told her, "I trust you"

She threaded the needle gingerly; he couldn't feel a thing.

"That should heal up nicely" she said cheerfully.

Keisuke stood up and led Kyoko to the kitchen and got them some lemonade.

He handed her a glass and sat at the table with her.

"Thanks Keisuke"

"No problem, thanks for fixing me up. Hey can I ask you something?"

She nodded.

"Would you like to meet my parents sometime? My mom is very interested in 'the girl who occupies my time other than races' so she says."

"I…I'd love too" she said excitedly.

"Cool. I think it's almost five if you want to shower and get ready."

"Okay, do I get to know where we are going to dinner?"

"Nope!" he said cheekly.