Swimming in the sea. One of those things I've always hated.
Because I can't swim. So, I try frantically to move my arms and legs, and find that they're like metal.
I see a glint of red in the water. Is it blood?!
As fast as I can, I try to run. The red continues to colour the water around me, and my arms and legs still feel like rock.
Let me go!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|~-~|
Len Tsukimori wakes up in a cold sweat, panting.
Why did I have this dream?
Wanting to get out of bed to have a cold glass of water, he realises that he can't exactly get out of bed. Taking the doona off of him, he sees a small and slender arm tightly wrapped around his stomach.
He quickly looks to his right.
Kahoko! I completely forgot…
He places his left hand on his head, sighing. His eyes are drawn to her petite figure, with her distinctive red hair all over her pillow. He notices she has a small smile on her face.
He wants to reach his hand over to lightly brush aside the hair that lies in her face, but stops as she suddenly reacts. Her arms wrap themselves around him, enough that he suddenly falls back onto the bed.
Her tight embrace forces him to go closer to her sleeping form.
I'm so close to her, that I can hear her breathing.
His right shoulder is met by something like a pillow. His eyes widen as he realises that it's her chest, causing an instant blush and the turning away of his face.
Isn't this… like… violating her?
He decides to inch away slowly from her, hoping to gain even the slightest distance.
"No… Don't go…"
He blinks and turns around to see a slight frown on her sleeping face. He feels her arms tighten once again over him, and resigns his right shoulder to be where it was before.
Her frown slowly comes back to being the hint of a smile. Her eyes suddenly open.
"I like having you so close to me, Len…"
His eyes widen as her arms suddenly encircle his right arm, effectively bringing it so close to her he could feel her heart beating. The gesture alone was threatening to break apart Len's gentleman-ness and no-nonsense ideals.
He faces the other way, hoping she doesn't make eye contact with him.
He can hear her chuckle.
"Am I making you uncomfortable, Len?"
My right arm can't feel anything but her. I want to stay like this, but…!
|~-~|
Kahoko smiles at his silent reply, taking it to be a yes. She follows her instincts, and immediately places her head on his right shoulder. It stiffens at the sudden weight.
"I love you, Len… so we can do things like this, right?"
|~-~|
I swear that blush is all over my face by now.
He knows he should at least answer to this.
"Y-yeah…"
I just will need a very long breather afterwards.
|~-~|
Kahoko lightly touches Len's face. He turns around.
He's still got a blush on his face. How cute…
She leans forward quickly to kiss him.
|~-~|
Make that an EXTREMELY long breather. Or maybe something sudden, like a cold shower. Or one of those sauna baths or ice pools. If they have them around here.
He returns her kiss lightly, and slowly pushes her away.
"Come on, it's time to get up."
She shakes her head, still gripping onto his right arm.
"I like it just like this…"
Alarm bells ring in his head as he notices her pout. His voice comes out only slightly, stuttering at times.
"I… Well I… I've got a concert to prepare for! I'll use the bathroom first!"
In one shot, he forcefully pulls his right arm away from her grip, and quickly heads towards the bathroom.
|~-~|
Kahoko can't help but smile at his reaction.
He's still such a gentleman. Oh well…
She notices the phone on Len's bedside table is buzzing, and quickly picks it up before it makes too much of a noise.
Her eyes are drawn to the screen, which is flashing with a message having the header "A Warning from Edward".
"" Len, my father's just said that there's only 7 days left until Kahoko-san goes home. I'm so sorry I haven't told you this earlier, and even more so that I'll have to end the happiness you've had with her here in Austria. I'm going to try to do what I can, though. I just hope it'll work, and I wanted to let you know in advance. ""
Her eyes widen.
I've only got 7 days left with Len?!
Shocked, she drops the phone, and it makes a loud noise as it hits the ground.
|~-~|
Len was just about to head out of the bathroom when he hears a long clattering noise. He rushes out immediately to see a stunned Kahoko looking at something on the ground.
He looks at it, as well.
It's my phone?!
He hurriedly picks it up. He gapes upon reading the message from Edward, and slowly raises his eyes to look at her.
I've only got 7 days left.
|~-~|
Even though it is only 10am in the morning, Edward has locked himself in his room, frantically trying to figure out who he was planning to call last night.
Someone tries to call his desk phone, and he lets it go to voicemail.
"Edward Van Diem-san, this is Azuma Yunoki, owner of the Charleston group of hotels. I hear that my good friends Kahoko Hino and Len Tsukimori are in your care?"
He instantly answers the phone.
"This is Edward Van Diem speaking."
"Oh good, I thought you might have decided to put me through to voicemail! I hear you've locked yourself in your office. Is this on purpose or not?"
How does he know to call me at this time – the precise person I needed!
"It's not on purpose, and while I'm at it – can you do a huge favour for me?"
Edward can hear the pause on the line.
Come on. Agree to this.
"Depends on what it is you ask."
"I just need to move a wedding from the Grand Ballroom in my hotel over to yours. It's five nights away, starting at 7pm."
He hears tapping on the other side.
"Hmm… you're lucky, Edward. I can fit it into one of my larger event areas. If you want, give me the contact details of whoever booked the wedding and I'll have all the guests divert to the Charleston."
Smiling, Edward brings up the file of the wedding, and passes the information.
Stage 1 is complete now.
|~-~|
Having a spy in the Van Diem's empire of hotels was a good investment. Right now, Azuma Yunoki had gotten some cash flow from them, and is earning his way onto their good books.
You've always got to start with the ones who bend to their ancestors.
He pauses for a moment to glance over at the curvy secretary who's sitting on his desk. She's smiling like a cat, and he pretends to scowl at her expression.
"You can rely on me you know, Edward. How are Kahoko-san and Tsukimori-san, anyways?"
He hears stillness on the line.
"Edward?"
"Aah, sorry… yeah, they're good."
You sound highly distracted. What are you planning to do with the Grand Ballroom.
Nervous laughter comes from the other side of the conversation, and Azuma takes it as his cue to end the call.
"Anyhow, I need to get back to my business. Have a good day, Edward."
He ends the call, and kisses the curvy secretary.
"Thank you for the work you've done for me with the Van Diem empire…"
What comes out of her mouth is a mix between a sigh and a purr.
"It's my pleasure, Yunoki-sama."
|~-~|
I finally have updated this story with a new chapter ^^
'Stage 1' of Edward's plan is revealed! But what is he keeping to himself that he won't share just yet?
I guarantee you'll give it up soon enough, Edward. The readers won't like me if I don't. ;)
Xxx jazzzz-chan
Click the link at the bottom and tell me how you think of this new development! That link is calling for you. It WANTS you to press it. So go ahead, and review.