A/N: So... yeah... just read... I got nothin' to say... really... hahaha! XD ENJOY!
BETA worked by Hephaestus1923
"Stay"
"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love." -Albert Einstein
Chapter 5: Family's Dinner!
"Hum... hum-hum-hum..." A brown-haired girl hums along with the tone on the radio. She is driving her own car; though it has taken a lot of effort to drive outside while the paparazzi are still chasing them down. She played dumb, acting like she had nothing to do with the cameras directed to her from a distance.
"Right now, a car just came out of Tainaka Ritsu's apartment. We're still-" The brunette rolls her eyes. "Even radio stations are talking about it~ Geez, get a life, dammit..."
"But it is their life. It's their job, Ritsu." The other girl is trying her best to act as normally as she can. Tonight she will be meeting Ritsu's parents, her first meeting with the Tainaka Family, in a Family Dinner.
Ritsu replies her with a 'whatever' and continues to drive to her house. She notices the nervous girl, "Why are you getting so nervous like that, Mio?"
"It's just...What should I say when I meet y-your father?" Mio stutters. She remembered last time, when she picked up a call from Ritsu's father and she didn't say anything to him.
Ritsu chuckles, "Just act normally, Mio. He doesn't bite and moreover, he's not brave enough to ever dare against you and me." She grins; she has a special weapon if something comes up all of a sudden. Yeah right, the deal is still available... Three wishes with no conditions whatsoever.
"Actually... There's something I need to te-"
"Yosh! We're here!~" Ritsu cheers as she gets off the car, rushing to the other door. To Ritsu's surprise, Mio would not take any step outside the car. "Ne, Mio~ We're here already!"
Mio lowers her head, gathering all her courage for this Family Dinner. Ritsu says her father doesn't bite, right?
"Honey, tonight's dinner is special. It's been a long time since you've seen your daughter. You even made her suffer. Now, I don't want to hear any more excuses from you. I want you to behave tonight because she's going to bring her girlfriend. I bet you'll love her~" Satomi gave her husband a deathly sweet smile, before she walks out the bedroom to the kitchen.
The man groans, "It's not like I'm going to bite her or anything..." He mutters, preparing himself for the so-called Family Dinner.
Satomi prepares the things she's going to cook, but knowing that this is supposed to be a surprise, she had to cancel her appointments with Mio and Ritsu yesterday. She grabs her cell and dials Ritsu's number, "Ricchan?"
"What is it, Mom? We're about to-"
"Change of plans, okay? Come here at seven, and don't be late. Alright, see you here!~" The call ends, as simple as that. She continues to busy herself with cooking. Satomi had hired a few of people to help her with the food preparation, because tonight, it's not just Mio who will be the special guest, but also her son's girlfriend. She giggles at the thought of her son having a girlfriend, "Oh, my children have grown up so fast~"
That's when a certain boy walks into the kitchen, "Hey, Mom~" He plants a light-kiss on Satomi's right cheek.
"Oh, I was just thinking about you, Satoshi. Well, do you have something in mind. What is it?"
Satoshi grins, knowing that his mother could really read him so well. "Yeah... I need to pick up someone-" He stops when he feels his cell vibrating inside his pocket. He quickly grabs it, finding a text message. In a few seconds, blood rushes up to Satoshi's face. "Well uh, you know that I'm going to bring a friend of mine for tonight's dinner, right?" Satomi nods, smiling. "I'm gonna pick her up now."
"Oh, the girl. Sure, dear~ Just make sure you get here before seven, okay?" With that said, Satoshi nods, kissing his mother afterwards before dashing out of the house.
Satomi sighs, "He has really grown up now~"
"Hey, are you okay? C'mon, don't be afraid... You're with me, Mio..." The brunette is trying her best to make her girlfriend get out of the car and get inside the house. She knows that the other girl is too frightened to meet her parents.
But either way, can't they go back now. "W-what if he hates me, Ritsu?"
"He wouldn't. I bet he's goin' to like you, just like I did when I met you the first time~" Ritsu puts on a warm smile, hoping that her words would make the girl a little less paranoid. She slowly takes Mio's hand with hers, "C'mon no-"
"Mio-chan and Ricchan?~" says a familiar woman's voice from behind.
Ritsu quickly turns around, "Ah, yeah... W-we're about to go inside... C'mon, Mio." Thank goodness, Mio finally follows Ritsu. Both of them walk up to the front steps. The two stops in front of Ritsu's mother, the brunette starting to get a bit nervous, because of no reason.
Unsurpised, Satomi giggles happily, "Mio-chan is so cute in that~" She observes Mio from head to toe having that admiring look on her face. "Shall we go in now?"
"Y-yes, of course." Mio manages to talk this time, even though she stutters.
Finally, all members of the Tainaka Family have seated on their usual chair, around the big, long table, except for a certain boy and his so-called girlfriend. The only man asks his first question to his daughter, "So, Ritsu... I see that the business is going well in your hands."
"Of course." Ritsu sighs. She's tired of talking about business and other stuff related to that. "Can we not talk about that? This is a Family Dinner, not a meeting."
"You're right. So, mind if you introduce yourself young lady?" Ryuuji turns his attention to the other girl with long, black hair.
Mio flinches. Ritsu's words have made the old man turn his attention to her instead. "I'm s-sorry. Uhm... My name is Mio, Akiyama Mio." Ryuuji chokes hard after hearing the name that was said by the girl. "Are you o-okay, Tainaka-san?" Mio asks worriedly.
The shy girl starts to get panicked. She is afraid that she had said the wrong thing. "I... I'm fine..." Satomi tries to help him by offering him a glass of water. He drinks it slowly, taking a deep breath afterwards. She can't be her. His expression has become serious. He wants to clarify what he has heard. "Was that really...your name?" He reassures.
"Y-yes, sir. It's my name." Mio softly says, doing her best to be careful with her words.
"What's wrong, Dad? It's not like...you...know her or something..." The brunette raises her eyebrow, frowning. Why is her father acting like he knows Mio? If he does, then why doesn't she- Tainaka Ritsu, the daughter- knows about it?
Ryuuji fakes a smile, laughing nervously, "No, I don't know her... It just sounds very familiar..."
"Good evening, Minna." Just when the dinner was over, Satoshi returns but this time with a pink-haired girl. Ryuuji could do nothing but get shocked, "Sorry if I came a bit late."
Just when the girl, who is standing next to Satoshi, was about to say anything, the man speaks. "You never told me about bringing a friend along, Satoshi?" His tone is surprisingly...cold, thus, making the boy lower his head.
"Yo, just go grab seats and we could all ask him about... the girl." Ritsu winks at the last part. She knows that it's about time for her brother to get a soul mate in life.
Satomi leans closer to Ryuuji, whispering something that sounded like, "Behave. That girl must be his girlfriend." Ryuuji gulps in nervousness. He nods slowly. "So, I would like to know this girl, Satoshi-kun?~" She puts a smile, her eyes sparkling.
As Satomi, Satoshi and Sakura chats, Ritsu and Mio wonders why the old man keeps on glancing at Mio, every so often. "Dad, stop that. You are freakin' her out." Ritsu warns, finishing her last dish.
"Sorry, but I'm wondering. You two are going out, right? Like... dating?"
The two girls nod, "Yup, I told you that the first time you saw her."'
"If I may know, since when and..." He grabs his drink on the table, "...how did you two meet?" Ritsu could only raise an eyebrow. She knows that her father will ask them something like this. Ritsu doesn't want to hide anything, so she'll take the risk. Either her father likes it or not.
However, in the back of her mind, she thinks, he's hiding something from me. He knows something that I don't know. Ritsu was about to ask, but she knows that it's not the right time and place to do so. "Well, we've known each for, uh, less than twelve months. Six months. We actually met by accident. Not really an accident, but I just happened to sane her from some bad guys- and Satoshi had helped me too, that time."
"You were beating up bad guys?" He asks with a disbelieving tone. He then turns to Satoshi. "Tell me that she's not telling the truth."
"Etto... It's true, Dad... It was a really good coincidence that I happened to be near the location back then."
"Ritsu, what were you thinking doing something like that? You risked your own life the-"
"I can't let it happen! For God's sake, I'm not that heartless to let someone get raped." Ritsu sighs, annoyance dawning on her. Why are her parents acting so over-protective like this? Why now? Where are they when she and Satoshi needed them years ago? This is not the right time, not the right moment, not with the right person. "Listen, at least Mio's fine, I'm fine and Satoshi too. So stop worrying."
Silence surrounds the place. "Uh, Mom, Dad, I need to take Sakura home now. Do you guys mind?"
Satomi smiles at the pink-haired girl as she stands up from her chair. "Of course not, thank you for coming here, Sakura-chan~"
Her husband does the same, "Thank you, and I hope we'll meet again soon enough." He smiles, even though he had acted so coldly earlier. Right after he knew that Satoshi has brought his girlfriend along. After all, he's not really a bad a person. With that, Sakura bows down, thanking for the hospitality and walking out of the house along with Satoshi.
Ryuuji sighs, "Actually, there's something that I really need to ask you, Mio-chan."
Curiosity attacks the brunette. She knows her dad is hiding something from her. "Tell me something first, Dad. Do you really know Mio? I know you're hiding something." Ritsu glares at her Dad. She has had enough. She's sick of lies.
"I'll tell you after you both tell me about Mio's parents." That hits the spot, Ritsu and Mio gets stunned. Ritsu knows very well that Mio doesn't like to talk about it. She knows that Mio will feel uncomfortable with it.
They both fell silent for a few seconds, until Mio breaks it. "My parents...are dead." Mio whispers the last part, as she lowers her head. "It's an aircraft accident and... the police c-can't fine their b-bodies... I- I-" Her eyes feels watery. The memories about that crash suddenly plays back in her head. She shuts her eyes closed, shaking her head lightly. "S-sorry..."
"This is too much, Dad. Now your question has been answered, tell me, do you really know her?" Ritsu asks once again, sending not only glares that seemed to be daggers at her father.
"Alright. I don't know. I really don't know her. I just met her tonight, and Mio-chan?" He turns to Mio with a guilty look, "I'm sorry for asking something like that and uh...for your lost."
"That's okay, I'm getting used to it and I'm just...getting emotional. That's all..." Mio lets a smile form on her lips, but Ritsu doesn't like that smile.
Finally Satomi speaks, "I guess we're done with this madly emotional conversation. Now, you and Mio-chan better stay for the night. Considering that it's already quite late~" She giggles at the last part. She starts to think as what will happen if the two will be staying over, sleeping in one room. It's a bit perverted and thank goodness, Ritsu is there to stop those thoughts.
"Uh... You're right... I guess we're staying over, so... Do you guys mind if I- and Mio go to my room now?" She raises an eyebrow lazily. Ritsu was replied by a nod from both of her parents, "Alright, thanks!" With that, Ritsu grabs Mio's hand. Mio could only say a silent, 'Excuse me' before going upstairs to Ritsu's room.
The man deadpans upon seeing the way the two girls act. "Why did you ask them to stay for the night?"
"I told you, it's already late. Ricchan looks so tired and I'm afraid that if she's going to drive the car, she might drive it recklessly~" Satomi giggles. "So, Honey... Why did you lie to her about Mio-chan?"
I know it's going to be her first question. He thinks. "Well, I could ask the same thing to you." He sighs.
"Don't return the question to me. Tell me why?"
"Alright, it's because I thought she was Haruka's daughter." Satomi gasps after hearing the familiar name. "However, she said her parents died but Haruka's still alive."
"I haven't heard that name since... since Ricchan got into kinder garden."
That girl can't be his daughter.
"Okay, you can have my bed and I'll get the futon~" Ritsu was about to go and find the futon but Mio stops her by grabbing her sleeve. "Eh?"
"Wait, futon? You sleep on the futon while I can have your bed? Why? I mean... we used to..." Suddenly her face heats up in embarrassment. Well, she is right. They used to sleep on the bed together. So, why bother sleeping on the futon now? It's not like they're going to do anything tonight.
Ritsu chuckles, "Have you seen my bed yet?" she points her finger to her bed. "It's not as big as you thought, Mio~"
Slowly, she turns her head from Ritsu to the bed. She feels dumb-strucked. It's not as big as Ritsu's bed at the apartment. It's more like, a high-schooler's bed. But still, it wouldn't change her mind because she thought it can still accommodate two people. Mio is positive about this, "Even though it's smaller, it still can fit us both."
Ritsu doesn't remove her smirk. She knows that this girl feels a bit uncomfortable with having Ritsu sleeping on the futon while she on the bed. "Alright, I'm just gonna go and get the futon, in case we don't fit on the bed. How's that for ya?" Mio thinks a bit, nodding afterwards.
While Mio was waiting for Ritsu to get the futon, she looks around the brunette's room. She sees a drum set which is yellow in color. Since Mugi told her that Ritsu was a drummer once, back in High School, she figured out that it's obvious to have a set of drum in her room. The thing is, it is not the drum set that she is staring at. It was the instrument leaning on the amplifier, which had caught her very attention.
A bass...?
Yes, a bass, a Fender Jazz Bass is leaning on the amplifier near the drum set. All she could think of was, She never told me that she also played bass. Slowly, she walks towards the bass, putting on an unconscious smile as she holds the bass in her hands. She picks it up and puts the sling on her shoulder. Mio thinks that what she has done at the moment is all under her instinct. She starts to play one chord... two chords... three chords and it goes on.
Far from her realization, a certain brunette was already seated on the bed, putting one of her hands under her chin as she hears the sounds coming out of Mio's bass. It doesn't last as long as Ritsu wished it would be, but it sure was enough to satisfy and even amaze her. After playing that one instrumental song, Mio feels a pair of eyes, somehow never leaving her yet. "Ritsu...?" She asks as she turns around to see the brunette grinning at her.
"What was that?" Ritsu keeps grinning at the shy girl, who is now staring at the ground because of the embarrassment.
Mio ignores her, "S-since when... were y-you... watching me?"
Ritsu raises her eyebrow, "Since you started to play the song. I mean, really... you never told me you're a bass player~" A smirk replaces her grin.
"Well... you never told me that you're also a bass player." The brunette almost laugh at that statement, but she manages to hold it up. How would Ritsu be a bass player? Why would she play two instruments in a band? Just by judging her smaller fingers, it was so obvious that Ritsu is never meant to be a bass player.
Once again, Ritsu grins at her, yawning a little. "That's because I'm not. What made you think that I was a bass player?"
In seconds, Mio's face heats up. She knows that it was quite impossible for Ritsu to play a bass. Thanks to her smart brain, she's a fast-thinker type. "If you're not, then why'd you have a bass in your room?" That makes Ritsu flinch, as if something in Ritsu just clicked, as if Ritsu just remembered something that she hasn't remembered for quite a long time.
Ritsu keeps quiet for a few seconds. She stares at Mio with a serious look on her face. "Will you put that bass down and sit here, next to me?" Mio does what Ritsu said. She puts the bass down, turning the amplifier off. Mio crawls on the bed next to Ritsu, waiting patiently for Ritsu to start.
Minutes have passed and Ritsu doesn't start yet. It's really making Mio frown. Confusion is filling her mind at the very moment. "Ritsu, what are you going to tell me?"
"I'm goin' to tell you a story, my past and I won't lie that... recently, some scenes of my past keeps repeating in my head. Especially when I am sleeping and uh, I thought that you might want to know about this." Ritsu lets out a smile, a warm and comfortable smile. She slowly closes her eyes, trying to remember, "There was this girl that I met when I was in... kinder garden. My age was about... five."
The brunette opens her eyes. It is as if she really remembered the scene from her past clearly. Mio looks surprised, "Wait, five years old? You remember the time when you were in kinder garden?"
"Yup," She nods eagerly, and continues her story. "I can't really remember the whole thing, but I remember it because these days, that scene keeps coming to my dreams. A girl, who has black-hair and gray orbs, was the one that caught my attention when I was playing with my friends. This girl is... so shy... there was no one sitting next to her, no one was talking with her, she had none but her book on her hands. That's when I decided to approach her and the first thing I said was not, 'Hi' or 'Hello' or 'Excuse me', but, the weirdest manner. I told her-"
"I love your hair! It's beautiful!"
Ritsu chuckles upon the memory. She glances at Mio, who keeps looking at her with a smile. She continues her story, "-She flinched, jumped in surprise, when I said that. She went silent, lowered her head and she finally said to me-"
"Ah! E-etto... Uhm... Y-you're cute too..."
"I didn't realize, but I thought my face was so red that time. She was the first person to ever say, 'cute' to me with a smile. Well, aside from my parents of course~" She grins, "So, you could say that I really fell in love with her. Then, I excused myself for a few seconds, because my mom was callin' me. When I ran back to her, there are about three-boys, circling around her and my mind could only think that these boys were about to do bad things to her. I warned them to get away from her, but none of them did. I pushed the one in the middle, he fell down and then the other two started to get me. Soon, it became a ruckus. I fought those kids and they ran away."
Mio somehow feels that that was somehow familiar, and then she remembers that time Ritsu saved her. "So... the situation of that girl...was kinda like...mine?"
"Yeah, you could say that. But, she didn't faint and I asked her if she's alright. She nodded at me and said she was fine. She then thanked me afterwards. The next thing, I asked her name, but when she was about to say it, her mom came and stopped her from saying anything. I frowned at this woman, because she said-"
"Aww~ You've met already? That's cute. Unfortunately, we have to go now, Princess."
"-It clicked in my five-year-old mind that she's a Princess and that I will be her knight, because I saved her that day. However, what made me frown was not that. It was because after she said that, the woman said, we'll meet again someday, when we're grown up. They both walked away afterwards. Mid-way, the woman stopped, she turned around to me and said, 'See ya, Ricchan'. I was stunned, because I have no idea why that woman knew me. I mean it's my nickname~"
"Uhm... maybe her parents know you and your parents know her too. Then, what happened after that?"
"What's next was, they're both gone. I still don't know where she is, who she is and how she is doing. I never get to know, at least, her name. But with her mom saying that we'll meet again, I trusted her, up until now… I could only wait for the time I can meet her again." Ritsu sighs in defeat, "Yeah, waiting... I thought it wouldn't be so long... but that at time I was five and now I'm twenty! Gosh, I can't believe I waited for her. I mean, all I know about her was her hair and eyes and the face of a five-year-old girl. There are so many girls with black-hair and gray orbs like her, how can I find her? How can she find me? How can we meet again?"
Mio goes silent. It is true that it is close to impossible for Ritsu to ever meet that girl again, after so many years. It is close to impossible, but not completely impossible. "What will you do?" Mio asks silently, making Ritsu turn to her with a questioning look. "What will you do if that girl meets you and she remembers you?"
"If she suddenly appears, I'd say to her that finally, I found the Princess. Because I declared myself to be her knight and a knight should be by the Princess' side. In fact, the Knight has to find the Princess, even if he doesn't know how long it will take. If the time comes, when I meet her, I have finished my task to be her knight."
"Then... that means you'll be staying by her side when you meet her again...?"
Ritsu chuckles, because she knows Mio is afraid that she'll leave her side. "No. I told you, if we meet, my task is finished. That means I would not be staying at her side. Moreover, I already have my own Princess that needs to be taken care of. Just look at her now, afraid that her knight will leave her~ Aww, you're so sweet, Princess Akiyama~" Ritsu pinches Mio's cheeks playfully, pouting her mouth in a cute manner.
"Stop that," Mio grabs Ritsu's hand, "Who said I'm afraid? You're not a real knight anyway." She rolls her eyes in annoyance.
Ritsu decides to just ignore it, and then she continues her story. "Anyway, you were asking about that bass, right? Well, actually I thought that she would suit as a bass player. I mean, less attention on stage and, her figure was so suitable for it. What's more is that, bass is suitable with drums. So I wanted her to play the bass, while I play the drums."
"You don't even know if she can play bass or not."
Mio's statement makes Ritsu smirk, "True, I don't know. But at least, you showed me that you can and... Who knows, maybe you are that girl?"
Well, I do hope that I'm the girl. Mio sighs at her wishful thought. If I was that girl, then I could've remembered something about Ritsu and I back then. She looks away, "There's no way." Mio mumbles in a low tone.
Ritsu could only hear a mumble from Mio. She turns to the other girl and frowns. "Did you say somethin'?" Mio shakes her head, and lays her body on the bed. She pulls her blanket up to her head, making Ritsu frown ever more than she already is. "You can't breathe if you sleep like that~" Ritsu laughs a bit at Mio's childish act. Well, Ritsu is always the one who acts childish though.
"Yes, I can." A clear mumble, then Ritsu lays herself next to Mio, wrapping her arms around the other girl.
"Night, Mio~" Ritsu doesn't get any response. She loosens her arms around Mio to take a peek at the girl underneath the blanket.
Mio quickly pushes the blanket away from her face, panting heavily as she closes her eyes shut. "Stupid Ritsu... why... did... you..." She stops when she hears Ritsu laughing. How dare she laugh at her breathless girlfriend? Right, Ritsu is such a devilish girlfriend. She did it on purpose. She had put her arms around Mio's head, thus making the other girl yearn for air.
"Told ya what? Ya can't sleep like that~ Hahaha- OW!" Ritsu earns a fist from Mio for laughing at her and for torturing her to death. "That one hurts..." She pouts.
"Serves you right," Mio coldly says, turning the other way, trying to sleep.
But Ritsu was being Ritsu, and she's not gonna stop if she thinks that Mio hasn't forgive her yet. She wraps Mio from behind once again, "Forgive me, Mio-sama~"
No. She decides to give Ritsu no mercy. She had enough playing nice and it's time for Ritsu to learn her lesson. Mio groans, "Get away, you're not allowed to hug me while sleeping," a cold tone, making Ritsu shiver down to her spine. Deep inside, Mio feels a bit guilty for talking coldly to Ritsu like that.
Ritsu feels she really had to do what Mio had said. So finally, she puts her arms back to herself and sleep, her back facing Mio. Ritsu turns the lights off, and then she sleeps. She is already sleeping heavily. She's already in her dreamland, dreaming something that obviously involved the girl next to her. However, the other girl doesn't seem to be in a good position and situation to sleep at the moment. She curls up like a ball. Ritsu's room is just so cold, because they had turned the air conditioner on, while it's snowing outside. She glances at Ritsu, who is sleeping quite comfortably.
After a couple of minutes debating on whether she should wake Ritsu or not, she sighs. She decided to wake Ritsu. "R-Ritsu..." She whispers, and thank God, Ritsu really wakes up.
"What's wrong, Mio?" Ritsu asks sleepily, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She yawns, stretching her body a little. "Is it morning already?"
"No..." Mio mumbles. "It's just... I- I'm cold, Ritsu..." She diverts her eyes as she says those words. It has always been an embarrassing stuff for her to admit something like that to Ritsu.
Ritsu looks at her with a worried look, "You want me to turn off the air conditioner?" To Ritsu's surprise, Mio shakes her head. That's when she knows what Mio meant by that. After all, no matter how stupid Ritsu is, she knows what her girlfriend wants, and she still knows how to warm up someone. She moves closer to Mio and cuddles her, "You're so naive, you know that~"
The shy girl snuggles closer to the brunette's embrace, "Mhmm..." As she nods slowly, drifting off to sleep. "Good night, Ritsu."
"Night, Doll~"
A/N: Whoooo! 5,000 Words! I nailed it! Oh, I need to keep next chapter as secret, also about Ritsu's past and Mio's parents and that girl who recently being Akiyama Mio. Next chapter will be...complicated! XD
Hint(s):
1. Ryuuji's curiosity about Mio stopped or gets even deeper when he knows about Mio's parents' death.
2. Satoshi and Sakura is not going out yet, but Satoshi feels it's the right time to asked Sakura in the dinner and get to know his parents.
3. Satomi's name similar to Satoshi's, while Ryuuji's name similar to Ritsu's. (And I just realized that)
4. Ritsu never agrees to have some other people to be the bassist of her band, before she meet with that girl.
5. Jun always came to the rescue as the temp. Bassist, whenever the band is going to perform.
6. Mio did played the bass instinctively, out of her conscious. She ever played bass once or twice back in Jr. High, but never really gets into it.
7. I might make HTT exist in future chapters.
8. Mio is the first person that Ritsu allowed to touch the bass. The last time Satoshi touch it, she asked the boy to get out of her room. Then he banned for a week.
9. Sakura knew about Ritsu's true gender, after she gets even closer with Satoshi.