Chapter 14

As soon as the door opened, Misaki recognized the place. It was the same apartment that had been in her dream. Oh God. That wasn't just a dream. It had been a memory. She turned red.

Takumi looked at her trying to figure out why she was blushing. They weren't teenagers any longer. Surely it couldn't be that she was embarrassed to go into a male's apartment alone. "Misaki, if walking into my living room makes you that uncomfortable, I'd be happy to bring you into the bedroom instead." He smiled as he watched the blush grow deeper.

"Shut up you perverted space alien," Misaki shot back. Why did she keep calling him that? Wasn't that what she used to call Tora?

Takumi smiled. It was nice hearing her call him that. "I'm going to start on lunch… or breakfast for those in the room that are too lazy to get up before noon," he smirked knowing she'd get mad that he called her lazy. "I left some of the things I found that might help trigger your memory in a box by the couch."

She didn't immediately walk over to the couch. Instead she walked to the wall she remembered being pushed up against. She touched it and then walked to the couch. As she sat down, another memory flashed through her mind. They were on this couch cuddling when Takumi started to tickle her. After she was in complete hysterics he stopped tickling her and kissed her. Why were all these memories so physical? She already felt a little uncomfortable that she was finding him attractive. Why did she need to start remembering how it felt when he kissed her. She pulled the box close and started shifting through it. There were pictures and cards, but also a lot of weird things like train ticket stubs and a partially used napkin in a zip lock bag. "What is this?" She asked holding up the enshrined napkin.

"I will tell you the story behind that napkin, if you will agree to attend a business dinner with me tomorrow night. Tora will be there, of course, because his father is throwing it in my honor. I know no one else in all of Japan and I'll never be able to show my face again to my Japanese business partners if I can't procure a date." He gave her puppy dog eyes, which she found very hard to resist.

"If my boyfriend is attending this event, don't you think I would be going with him?" She asked. Tora hadn't mentioned this dinner to her. It must have been a last minute decision to host it.

"Oh," Takumi said looking up, "I didn't realized you two were so serious that all of your co-workers knew you were dating your boss. I hope no one thinks your sleeping your way to the top." With that Misaki walked right over and punch him.

'How dare he say that', she thought. But of course this was one of her biggest fears. Was she that serious about Tora yet? Would it be alright if she were Tora's date to the dinner? Misaki felt so confused. Her emotions were all over the place. One minute she was drooling over this obnoxious guy she hardly knew, who seemed to find his greatest pleasure on Earth was to tease her and make her uncomfortable yet she was having more fun than she could remember. On the other hand she was considering further investing in her mature, grown up relationship with her loyal, kind and considerate boyfriend who trusted her implicitly and wanted nothing but her happiness. This was not the time to break her secrete and go out publicly with Tora. Not with all this swirl of emotions. She needed to make sure that she was thinking rationally when she decided to make their relationship known. Damn it! Takumi was right. She couldn't bring herself to go to the dinner with Tora right now. But that didn't necessarily mean she should go with Takumi.

"If you need a date I can see if Suzuna if available," Misaki said. She had already agreed to show him the city tomorrow and he was stirring up so much emotion in her. She wasn't sure it was wise to agree to be his date. But, as soon as she offered to contact Suzuna, a wave of jealousy and regret washed over her.

Takumi gave her a funny look, "but Suzuna is not you." He tried his puppy dog eyes again. "And I won't be in Japan for long. It is just cruel of you to rob me of time with my favorite Japanese attraction and force me to attend your boyfriend's boring dinner all by myself. If you will not be at the dinner, I will also skip it and sit outside your apartment window watching you all night long."

"Well that's not creepy at all." Misaki tried to decide if she should feel nervous around this guy but honestly even when he said things like that she thought it felt natural. Of course he would be watching her. Somehow, she knew this was what he was meant to be doing. "If I'm your favorite Japanese attraction, as you imply, why are you making me take you out site seeing tomorrow?"

"Making you take me out seemed to be the easiest way to get to visit my favorite Japanese attraction. If you would rather stay inside than visit tourist sites, I'd be happy for you to give me a tour of my apartment, or your apartment, or various hotel rooms." Her blush was back. He should stop himself. Maybe he was pushing her too hard. "You know, I'm just teasing you. I wouldn't be a perverted space alien if I didn't do and say perverted things after all," Takumi explained.

Takumi handed Misaki a plate of food. It looked delicious. She had completely forgot she was hungry but looking at this food she suddenly felt famished. How did he do that? He was such a talented chef, he was able to stand there being punched and still produce the perfect plate. "Why would you ever eat out if you can cook like this?" She asked before she realized she'd said it out loud.

"I go out to eat because of business obligations or, if I'm really lucky, I do it to spend time with a beautiful woman." Takumi responded.

"I see," Misaki said feeling jealous again. "You must not have much difficulty finding beautiful women."

Takumi walked over to her, took both plates from her and set them on the table and returned to her and wrapped her in a hug. "I haven't been out for dinner for any reason other than business since the last time I brought you out for a meal. You've ruined me. I can no longer see beauty in anyone else."

Misaki knew she should push him off of her. She new he was impertinent to give her a hug and that she had a boyfriend. But something about it felt so right. Something kept her from pushing him away. In fact, it was Takumi that broke off the hug when he heard her stomach growl. "Lets eat," he said without even acknowledging that he'd hugged her or that doing so was inappropriate.

As they ate in silence, Misaki considered his invitation some more. At least at this dinner Tora would be there. And if she went as Takumi's date, she wouldn't be doing anything that she wouldn't have done as Tora's date. Tora's date was expected to mingle and chat with the guest of honor and his or her date. If she went with Tora, no one would blink twice if Takumi decided to monopolize her time. Being a good host to the guests was the role of Tora's date, especially if the guest of honor showed up without a date of his own. If she was going to have this space alien staring at her all evening, it would probably be better to do it where her boyfriend could watch her and where she would get fed. She would talk to Tora about it tonight. "Can I let you know tomorrow about the dinner?" She asked Takumi.

"Oh Misa. I would wait for your answer until the end of …". Before he could finish his sentence, she picked up a fork full of food and stuffed it into his mouth to shut him up.

That evening, Tora returned from work late. He walked through the front door and noticed as he set his bag down that Misa was waiting for him on the couch. "You're still awake?" He asked. "I thought you'd be tired from your trip."

"I am a bit tired but I wanted to talk to you about something." She paused while he loosened his tie and took off his shoes. "Takumi stopped by this morning."

Tora looked up. He was well aware that Takumi was the reason behind the loss of his four day weekend. He wasn't sure of Takumi's motive until now. Takumi wanted him out of the way so he could put the moves on Misaki. "Yes. Of course he did."

"Did you know he was coming?" Misaki asked.

"No. But I used to be Takumi so I should have figured it out. He made sure I'd get called into work today. He wanted to see you without me around."

"I'm sorry. Are you mad at him for making you go to work?" Misaki asked, feeling guilty for having so much fun today.

"No. It was a productive meeting and I learned a lot. I'm mad at him for showing up out of the blue and trying to manipulate you and the situation for his own amusement."

"Tora. I'm able to take care of myself. I don't feel like he's toying with me." Misaki was annoyed that Tora could think she'd so easily be manipulated. "I'm smart enough that I would know if I was being used and I would be able to get out of that situation if I were." One thing she had appreciated about a Tora was that he didn't treat her like someone he needed to constantly protect. Saying something like that about a Takumi made her feel Tora either didn't trust her or thought she was too naïve to deal with the world alone.

"He knows you better than you know him, Misa. He can remember what buttons to push, what you like, what you don't. It makes him dangerous." Tora tried to explain.

"Dangerous?" Misaki really didn't like the implications of that, "what exactly are you suggesting Tora? Do you think I'm the type of girl that would completely disregard our commitment to each other and be duped into becoming some rich, famous man's conquest in a matter of a few days? Why did you tell me yesterday to spend time with him then turn around today and imply I'm in danger of becoming his play thing?"

"Misa," Tora begged, "you know I trust you. I didn't mean it to come out that way. I don't mind if you spend time with him, I just wanted to be there with you when you did."

"Because you think I need you to protect me?" Why wasn't Tora seeing how offensive he was being? "Let's pretend I couldn't protect myself for a second. What exactly are you planning to protect me from Tora? Does Takumi Walker, the worlds most eligible bachelor, need to attack a girl to get a date? Is that what you are worried about?"

"No. I'm worried because I know how deeply he can hurt you. I love you. I only want what is best for you. If you found someone that makes you happier than I can, I wouldn't hold you back, but I know Takumi is not that someone. I'm not worried he will use you as a sexual conquest. I'm worried that he will not stop until he recaptures your heart and then he will fail to grasp what he has and will destroy you."

"Tora, how can I fall in love with him if I am in love with you?"

"Misa… I don't know if you've ever been in love with me." Tora looked a little sad saying it out loud, but the sincerity in his voice was even more obvious. "You never looked at me the way you used to look at him until after you woke up from the comma. Sometimes you say things and I don't know if you are talking about me or if you're confusing me with him. But I don't care if you're in love with me or not. I will love you either way. I will be here for you either way. I will do everything I can to make you happy and I will pray that someday you can love me the way I love you. But if that never happens, I can be happy just being with you." Tora sat down on the couch next to Misaki. "If someone that could make you happier comes along, I'd bow out. Just…. not Takumi. He's too dangerous. If he didn't have so much control over you, and could make you happy, I would help Takumi win your heart. But do you remember the night of the accident? Do you remember what happened before you drove off?" Misa shook her head. Tora continued, "It was the first time I told you that I loved you. I thought you'd be happy, but you got really upset. You started telling me that you had been selfish. That you'd used me. That you didn't mean to cause me pain but now you had. I tried then to explain to you what I am explaining now. I tried to tell you I didn't need you to love me back. That just being with you was enough for me. You were crying and you got in the car. You rolled down your window and told me you couldn't do this any more. I thought you were breaking up with me. I tried to be gracious. I tried to give you space. I backed away so you could drive off and have some time to think by yourself. You drove a few feet way and stopped the car. You stuck your head out the window and asked me to make sure I let your mother and sister know that you loved them. Then you sped off."

Misaki looked a little confused. That was an odd request. Why wouldn't she just tell them herself? Could it be that she wasn't planning on coming back? Was it possible that when she said she couldn't do this any more she had meant living? Had she crashed her car on purpose? The look on her face gave away her thoughts.

"Misa… he hurt you so much you were willing to throw away everything. The love you had for him is dangerous. It was all consuming. You can't give that to someone that doesn't know how to treasure it. He's not the kind of guy that will protect you above everything else." Misaki started crying. Tora wrapped her in his arms and kissed her hair. He hushed her and told her it would be okay.

He had been thinking about her diary a lot lately, trying to decide if she was ready to have it back. He looked at the mess of a girl in his arms and decided not yet. Tonight was not the night. Tonight he would just hold her and hope that by morning she would be alright.