A/N: Aww…writing this story really makes me miss CHRISTMAS! Who's eager for Christmas this year! ? I DO! LOL!
"Stay"
"When you failed one promise, try to not fail it the second time." -Anonymous
Chapter 9: Promises!
"Father, may I ask you something?"
"Of course, dear. What is it you want to ask?"
"Did I… Did I lose my memories in an accident, Father? Please, can you tell me the truth about that?"
The father remained silent; he did not answer anything, nor even dare to look back at his daughter.
"Father… silent means it was true. Say something, say it if it's just my nightmares. Why don't you answer me, Father?"
"I'm sorry, but that… I can't—no. It's more like, I don't know. I don't know about it, Mio."
Silently, a guy just overheard the conversation inside the room. He has to know, he needs to know everything about this girl—that happened to be his very first private patient.
Mr. Akiyama can't even tell her. He doesn't know. He knows nothing about Mio's past.
"Well then… I apologize for disturbing you in the middle of your work, Father. I'll go to bed now. Good night, Father." He heard the girl had said the last word and walking towards the door. Leaning on the wall, he waited for the girl to walk out of the room.
Once the girl outside, he chuckled. "Seems like it doesn't work out like you wished it would be, huh?"
"You… you were… how dare y—mft!" The guy put both of his hands on the girl's mouth to shut her mouth.
"Sshh! Let's talk outside now." He whispered carefully and dragging the girl outside the big house. He sighed in relief, but the girl seemed to get so piss off by the guy. "Whoa, there… Listen, I was—"
"No, you listen to me! It was really not an appropriate thing to do! How dare you listen to our private conversation! You sh—"
"I shouldn't. Yeah, that's what I thought at first, but hearing the matter you asked to your dad there…" He chuckles and sighed once again. "I started to think, that I should know about it. I'm your private Doctor and what you asked your dad about was part of the things I take care. Your health and memories."
The girl couldn't say anything. She started to doubt her father; she started to think that there must be something important that her father hides from her. The question is…
Why?
"Unfortunately, there's nothing I could help about this, Mio. It's just… let me tell you this… you don't need medicine; you don't need those pills or injections. You're not that sick… actually… all you need is someone who could tell you the truth. If you can't find one… then try to seek it."
Mio frowning at her private doctor. There's something about those words he said just now, which makes her somehow recognize him. Moreover, he even said that she's not that sick and she don't need any pills to keep her sane. "What do you mean…? Did you said—"
"No. It's not that I said you're not sick. You might have a little illness, but…I wanted to help you. I'm here as a doctor, to help you with your illness, not to make you think that you had a dangerous ill in you."
"But…how would you know about that? You… you don't even—"
"I did. Research, right? Listen, I dunno what happen…but…you gotta believe in me."
"I need you to believe in me, okay? C'mon! Be brave, Mia!"
She gasped at the sudden memory that passed by her sensitive head. Groaning softly, she put a hand on her head to keep her balance. The doctor helped her by holding her on her arms, "Hey, you okay?"
"Y-yeah… I was just…"
She's too fragile. I'll find another way out…she needs to know, but not now.
"Rizuki…?" The girl called out the said guy with a worried look on her face. "You there…?"
"Oh, yeah… uh… sorry… well, how do you feeling? Any better?" Shooking her head, Rizuki knew that Mio needs a rest for now. Even though he said she needs to know, but he knew that safety always comes first before anything else. "Let's just get you to your room. Take a rest, we'll talk again some other time."
Couldn't have argue with that, the girl nodded and let Rizuki led the way to her room. Once they're in front of Mio's door, the girl just turning around to face the doctor. "I'm sorry…for snapping at you… you were right, you should've know about it… so I apologize for—"
"Gosh, how old are you? Fifty? C'mon, don't be so stiff around me, y'know I hate it~" He grinned and opened the door for her. "Go on. Take a rest and uh… about the things I told you… I trust you to keep it as a secret. Just us, kay?"
Slightly smiling, she finally felt a bit more comfortable being around him. "Good night, Rizuki."
"Night~"
Ritsu's Apartment.
"Great… why doesn't he just kill me instead?" Sighing in a lot of tiredness, Ritsu plopped herself on the big couch in the living room. Closing her eyes as she tries to relaxing herself on the comfortable couch. It really has been a long day for her at work.
"Don't tell me you were planning to sleep there, Ritsu." That's a familiar voice said.
Ritsu opened her eyes and raised her head, just to see the beautiful black-haired girl leaning on the bedroom door. "And why aren't you sleeping yet, Doll?" She jokingly asked.
"Shouldn't you be happy I'm waiting for you here?"
"As nice as it is, Mio… still, no need to go this far… it's not like I'm able to do anything after—" TWACK!
A bump just landed on Ritsu's head. "Stupid, that's not what I intend to do!"
"No need to be so harsh, Mio~ It hurts… oh my head…" With the way Ritsu groaning, it was surely a harsh hit on the head. Moreover, Ritsu was just about to relax on the couch and got a hit on the head by her girlfriend. "Just how sweet was that…"
Mio felt guilty with what she had done. She can't lie that since the first time she met Ritsu, the tawny-haired girl always got the best of her. Especially her anger. "Your faults for blurting out like that."
"I'm not even finishing my words… YET! Oh well… who cares, anyway…" She stood up from the couch and headed to the bedroom. "I'm tired. I'm off to bed now… G'ni—"
"Wait," Mio made Ritsu stopped in the mid-way towards the bedroom. The frowning expression makes Mio think she should tell the reason why she was stopping her. "I… there's… something that I need to ask you, Ritsu."
What could be so urgent to make her stay awake until this late?
No reply, Ritsu just gave Mio a signal to talk inside the bedroom. "What?" Mio doesn't get the message.
"Can we talk while I lay myself on the bed? My body's really hurt now…"
"Oh… yeah, sure." And so they both are lying on the bed, side by side, as usual. Ritsu already took off her tux and was now in her white t-shirt and a short pant. She glanced at Ritsu and the other girl face was really a tired look. However, she needed to ask this, 'cause she knew she can't wait any longer.
To no avail, Mio still keep silent. "Alright, go on now, Mio. What do you want to ask? C'mon… before I drift off to my dreamland now…" She weakly said.
"Uhm… I know you said we need to wait until you get enough evidence about my family, but…" Hearing Mio started it with that topic, Ritsu snap open her eyes and frowning at Mio. "But…why don't you tell me that you know her, Ritsu?"
By her, Ritsu knew what Mio means. "H-how did you know?"
"Can you answer me first…?"
With a sigh and a little yawn, Ritsu started to explain. "Actually, it was a really funny coincidence… I bumped on her and spilled all her drink on her dress. When she told me her name, I was speechless, 'cause she said her name is Akiyama Mio. I asked my dad about it, but I can't find the right answer in him. That's why…I use this chance…to work together with her in a project…so I can ask furthermore about her- I mean, your family. About the Akiyama Family."
"You know her AND you didn't tell me?"
"I'm waiting for the right time to tell you this, at least when I have enough evidence from her. Well, now care to explain to me how did you know about that?"
"…I met her today." Ritsu stunned. "At the café and the reason I asked if you know her or not…was because she mentioned your name in the phone."
Why she didn't tell me anything? So that what's holding her back in the toilet?
"Ritsu, I guess that's enough. It's already this late and…you're tired…so let's just—" Ritsu cut Mio's words.
"You reminded me something, uh… yeah… I forgot to tell you that Mugi invited us and my friends to have a Christmas Eve party at her villa."
"When?"
"Duh, Mio? Christmas Eve! 24th of December! At night! TOMORROW! Gee~ don't get too much stuff to think."
"Sorry…well, we're going there, right?" Ritsu nodded eagerly, "You…don't have work to do?" Ritsu thinks a little, then shaking her head once again. "You sure?" She reassured Ritsu.
The tawny-haired girl chuckled, "Gosh, I'm sure. Unless—" Her words were interrupted by a phone ringtone. Sadly, it was Ritsu's. Such a bad timing for ringing, Ritsu just shut her cell down without even check who's the caller. "Ne, Mio."
She decided to change the topic, because she has something more important to ask to Mio. "What?"
"Tomorrow, we'll have a party with everyone and…I bet you don't want them to get involve with our situation here. So…I have a request…can we just forget all the things that happened? Everything… the family… the work… the college… all of it… 'cause I know you'll have a problem with enjoying the party without forgetting your problems."
Yeah, it's true. I need to forget all about it. Just a day and I don't want Ritsu worrying me too much just because I think about my family. Mio thoughts had agreed with Ritsu. "Alright…" Another yawn escaped Ritsu's mouth and Mio catch that one. "I think it's time for bed, Ritsu."
"And uh… how about we hang out first? I guess I get the whole day to spend with you."
"It's a promise?"
Chuckling, Ritsu cover herself with the blanket and move closer to Mio, which Mio gladly accepted. "G'night, Mio~"
"Hey, sorry to keep you awake this late." That apologize Mio made was along with a gentle kiss on Ritsu's cheek.
"Anything for you, Doll~"
The next day.
Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt!
That's the sounds that never fail to wake Tainaka Ritsu up. "Shoot… I should've shut the entire cell down before go to sleep!" She was forced to answer the call indirectly. "What?"
"Eh? R-Ritsu-san…? Sorry to wake you up in the morning, but I tried to get in touch with you last night but…"
"It was you? You called me last night? In the middle of the night?"
"Unfortunately, yes. Uhm, again I'm sorry but this is really urgent, Ritsu-san."
"What is it?"
"I know today supposed to be a day-off to celebrate Christmas Eve, but something just happened in the office. Your father really counts on you to attend this sudden meeting, Ritsu-san."
"Where is he now anyway?"
"Australia. He went off last night, saying that he should be there for another sudden meeting."
"Alright…I'll be there." Ritsu ended the call, she groaning at herself. "Great…now I need to work fast…I need to be done with works today before nine pm. Yeah, it's not that far from the office to Mugi's villa. Dammit!" That soft curse made another girl woke up.
"Morning, Ritsu." Mio sleepily said as she rubbed her eyes.
"Ah, you're awake. Morning, Doll~" She grinned and goes to the bathroom in the bedroom. This act made Mio frowned, because Ritsu only takes a bath early in the morning for work. Aside from work, she'll try to find excuses to not take a bath in the morning.
After a few minutes, Ritsu came out of the bathroom. Towel hanging on her neck, she walks to her wardrobe and pick up some clothes to wear. Weirdly, Ritsu pulled out her other tuxedo. Watching Ritsu with a frown on her face, Mio started to ask. "You're going to work, Ritsu?"
"Uh… yeah… about that… I just got a sudden call and my partner told me that there's something really urgent. A sudden meeting about the project and well… I need to be there soon, 'cause dad went off to Australia last night." Finally, Ritsu finished her last piece of clothing and stood up in front of Mio whose still under the blanket on the bed.
Mio bit her lower lip. "Oh, okay. Good luck with your—"
"Okay, just tell me if you're confused about tonight's party." Ritsu walks towards the left-side of the bed and sat next to Mio. "Don't worry about me, I'll be there and I'll ask my driver to take you to Mugi's villa. Listen, you remember what I asked you last night, right? About forget about all the things."
Mio nodded, "What does it have anything to do with this?"
"Well, nothing, actually. It's just that… just trust me. I'll be there and well…there's gonna be fireworks the second pass twelve, so I'm sure and really, really sure that I'm not gonna miss it."
Looking to the other direction, Mio doesn't want to look at Ritsu at the moment. "It's not that…" Mio mumbled, but it's loud enough for Ritsu to hear.
"Mio, I'm sorry… I know I promised to spend the day with you, but the ca—"
"It's okay. Just go… they're waiting." Looking at that annoyed expression on Mio's face, Ritsu really hates that she have to go for work today. It's supposed to be a HOLIDAY!
To Ritsu's surprise, Mio sighed silently and ran her hands to Ritsu's thing on the neck. "You really don't know how to do this or you just did it on purpose?"
"You think?"
"You did this on purpose."
With the tense came up between them, Ritsu thought that it's best for her to stole a kiss as long as she have the time to talk. "Good guess~" Ritsu said as she stole a kiss from Mio, whose still fixing the tie on Ritsu's neck.
Sadly, Mio didn't react towards that. Which is odd, Ritsu knew what's bothering Mio until she act this way.
"Listen, I'll be there at nine pm tonight. If I didn't arrive at nine, you can punish me with… uh…"
"You're not allowed to talk to me."
Ritsu gulped; maybe this wasn't a really good idea after all. "Err… a-alright… deal."
Poor Tainaka Ritsu has to deal with works and attend lots of meetings in a supposed-to-be-holiday day. She had made another promise to Mio, though she already failed the first one, she had make sure that this new promise will not go down. Sadly, it looks like the luck wasn't in her side.
The schedule showed Ritsu that she has to attend seven meetings and each of them is in different places. This is making it even more worst. She almost cursed and really wanted to call her father for make her suffer in a supposed-to-be-holiday day. Thanks to Mio, she can hold her anger and once again try to concentrate with the works she need to be finish soon.
In the morning, Ritsu already finished two meetings in two different places. She got a free time, lunch time, but her lunch time got even more less than her usual lunch time. She decides to not waste time and dashed out to a random restaurant.
Messing with her shirt, long sleeves and took off her tie, she got off her car. She didn't put her headband, because this is a random restaurant she picks and well, she actually had an appointment to meet with her friend in this restaurant. To keep it shut, Ritsu can't be recognize by these people, that is why she messed up her clothes and using black-sunglasses.
"Do you see that?"
"He just glanced at me!" Ritsu sighed; maybe it's too much to appear like this in front of public.
Yeah, just imagine it as math. Ritsu + No headband = A Hot Guy. That is why Mio never allowed Ritsu to show herself without headband too often. She took too much attention for the surrounding. "Oi! Over here!" A guy said, waving his hand at Ritsu.
Casually, Ritsu walked towards the table and took a seat. "So? Where is it?"
"Ah yeah, about the r—"
"Stop. We need to address it as other thing… like uh…"
"A mouse?"
"Yeah yeah, that would work. So, where's the mouse now?"
The guy looked a bit troubled and nervous. Making Ritsu had serious and dangerous stares at him. "Well uh… because the mouse is very, very, VERY expensive… they don't want to deliver it from person-to-person…"
"Wait- that means… the r- I mean the mouse… was not in your hands? Then where the f—"
"Hold it, hold it… uh… listen, they said they had a big white truck to deliver it. They asked about the address to deliver it straight to the owner, so I gave them your house's address."
"My house? Not my apartment, right?"
"Your house. It should be there an hour ago."
Ritsu quickly grabbed her cell phone and dialed her house's number. After four seconds, someone picked up the call. "The Tainaka household, may I know whose calling?"
"It's me, Ritsu. Listen, is there a big white truck deliver a—" She turned to her friend and he said something like 'a package' to Ritsu. "—a package for me?"
"Oh, yes, Tainaka-sama. Satoshi-sama accepted the package and signing it. He then bring the package up to his room. Is there anything you want me to do?"
Shoot… Ritsu cursed mentally. "No… thanks for that anyway."
"So?"
"Satoshi received it… damn… he might check what's inside it! AGH!" She heard a rand on her other cell phone, a sign that she doesn't have more time and need to attend another meeting. "Shoot…another duty call… what could be worse?"
"Hey, don't worry… I'll take care of it; I'll get the mouse from Satoshi and off to your apartment. How's that?"
Took a deep breath, she felt more relief. "Thanks man, I'll wait for it tonight."
Yui's Apartment
"Azunyan~"
"Yui… the nickname! Nickname, Yui! Ugh…"
"Eh? What's wrong with that? It's a special name, which is only me who can call you that!"
"Whatever you say then…" The cat-like kouhai rolled her eyes in her girlfriend's antic. "Anyway, we got the whole day… well, maybe not… but we can spend some time before going to Mugi-senpai's villa tonight."
The air-headed girl thinks a little at first. "Let's go buy a Santa hat! Also… I bet Sawa-chan made a new outfit for Christmas!~ We can wear the same red and white outfit! Aww~ you'll look really cute with that, Azunyan~"
Oh well, we're wearing it together. It shouldn't be too embarrassing. Azusa smiled, making Yui think that it was even cuter if Azusa wear cat-ears instead of Santa-hat. "It's nice, but… should we tag someone else along?"
"Oh! Junui!" That answer really made Azusa confused and tilting her head to the side.
"Who's Junui, Yui?"
"Eh? They both are your old classmates!" Her heart sank in. Junui was actually two people, which is when you separate it, it should be 'Jun and Ui'.
Azusa felt dumb-strucked. "Yui… next time… just call their name instead of combining them into one word."
Meanwhile…
"Oh, alright! Yeah, uhm… I heard that Ritsu-san don't have works today and Mio-san don't have college to attend, so are we- oh, yes. I'll get them; see you, Onee-chan!" Giggling happily, the younger Hirasawa made her way to the bedroom, leaving a certain curled-haired girl in the living room with a frown on her face. Then she realized, "Oh, Jun-chan, why don't you get ready?"
Raising her eyebrow, she doesn't seem to get the idea here. "Uh… get ready… aaalriiiiiight…" Slowly, Jun made her way to Ui's bedroom, which is making Ui frowned back at her. "What?" She asked when Ui turned around, frowning at her.
"I said, get ready. Onee-chan will be here in fifteen minutes, Jun-chan."
"Oh," That's a really one embarrassing moment, to be really honest to herself. Jun stepped back, "Yeah… actually… I was just, y'know… Iwillgoandgetreadynow!" Quickly said, she dashed out from Ui's room to her own room. This is obviously, next to Ui's room. "Stupid… Of course get ready to go… not that get ready! I'm so dumb…"
She felt like slamming her head on the wall, just because she misunderstood Ui's words.
Ritsu's Apartment
"Great, now I'm home alone… how dare she promise when she knew she can't even make it happen?" Mio shook her head; she doesn't want to have bad thoughts about Ritsu. She knew, every time Ritsu have something sweet to do, there are always things gets in the way. Now, she just has to deal with it. Home alone and had nothing to do to spend the day.
Until the cell rang and she picked it up. "Moshi-moshi." A girl's voice said on the phone.
"Who's this?" Mio goes to the point.
"It's me, Ui. Onee-chan told me, to call you and ask if you want to join us to spend the day before the party."
"Oh, yeah. Uhm… I guess I can arrange that…"
"Can you tell Ritsu-san—"
"Ritsu's not coming. She had a sudden meeting this morning and she might not be able to join us."
"Will she be at the party, Mio-san?"
"I've made sure of that. She'll come to the party. Don't worry about that, Ui."
Mio ended the phone call and sighing deeply as she plopped herself on the big couch—or usually called, Ritsu-comfortable-couch. Since Ritsu given this couch a name, Mio doesn't feel it was the right thing to do to just take a sit on it. Until this morning, she felt a bit annoyed by Ritsu and started to think that it's fine to try it on, Ritsu wouldn't know if she just sits on it.
"Wow… no wonder Ritsu called it a super comfortable couch… this is really relaxing…" Slumping slowly on the couch, Mio suddenly feels sleepy. She then shook her head, remembering that Ritsu's friends are on the way to pick her up. "I should get ready, but… well; just another five minutes wouldn't hurt…"
Mio is so aware that Ritsu's friends will suddenly barging inside the apartment and caught her slumping on the couch. That's why, she decided to just get off the couch and get ready. The weather is so cold outside, that's what the weather forecast said. So Mio make sure she wears something that will keep her warm for the rest of the day.
SLAM!
From the sound of it, Mio was sure enough it was the sound of the apartment's door. "YUI! What did I told you about barging in someone else's living place! ?"
Pouting her mouth, she tried to defend herself. "Etto… gomen ne… Ricchan always did the same though…" Slammed by the air-headed girl, Hirasawa Yui.
"Yeah… Yui-senpai is totally true! I mean, it's just fair, y'know…"
"Jun-chan, don't start it." The younger Hirasawa warned with a hint of glare.
A black-haired girl just walked out of the room, deadpanning as she watches these girls inside the living room. "Uh… I guess I'm ready… but…"
"Eh?" The cat-like kouhai turned around and gasped when she saw Mio stood there. "M-Mio-senpai…"
"Since Mio-senpai is all set, let's just off to go now. Before the stuff I wanted to buy all sold-out." Jun casually said, putting both of her hands behind her head.
And so be it, the rest of the day went out… well, as what Yui, Ui and Jun says… It was really a fun day! But the two other girls seemed to have a few troubles to really call it a fun day. As what Yui had planned, she was going to buy a Santa hat for herself and cat-ears colored white and red (special for Christmas) for her girlfriend, Nakano Azusa.
Mio almost sigh in relief, knowing that Ritsu is not around to force her from embarrassing herself in the store with certain outfits. That, until the owner of the shop came out of the office. It was obviously, Yamanaka Sawako. She just finished designing a new cosplay outfit, special for Christmas. A santa—for girls—outfits! And her eyes only eyeing one person in the store.
Akiyama Mio.
Best figure to try her new designed outfit on. It should be an honor to be able to try out a new designed outfit before they sell it, but this is Mio. Instead of being honor, she felt more like embarrassed.
Looks like it's really not a good day for these two dark-haired girls. Though, they have to go through those silly and embarrassing situations, it's still really fun to hang out with them. Mio couldn't recall the last time she have such friends in her life, before she met with Ritsu—or is it that she never had?
It doesn't matter. None of it in the past matters for her now.
A/N: Okay it's a bad part to end this chapter… I'll say it again… it's really A BAD part to end it this way! LOL! Oh well, next chappie will be… shocking! And when I said SHOCKING it's gonna be REALLY SHOCKING! hahaha!
Hint(s):
1. Recently, Akiyama Minoru (Mio's mother) still in the Hospital. Unconscious.
2. If you wonder why Mugi not joining the spend-the-day activity, it's because she also need to help her father with works.
3. Yes. Kotobuki, Tainaka and Akiyama were all in the same level in Business. They're all cooperates with one another.
4. The mouse was actually the thing Ritsu bought (or ordered) from another country. The cost was close to: $14,000,000
5. Mio started to think that she was not really a part of the Akiyama Family. That's why she asked her father like that.
6. Haruka (Mr. Akiyama) was not allowed to tell anything to Mio, if she started to remember certain situations in the past.
7. Yes. Minamoto Isshi's middle name was 'Rizuki' and he secretly doing research about Mio's true condition and case.
8. Satoshi and Sakura might attend the Christmas Eve party at Mugi's Villa.
~Thanks for R&R~