Chapter 19

Both Tora and Misaki knew that Takumi would have already left for their home by the time he'd sent that text. He had to already be on the road if he was only 15 minutes away.

"He says he left his car here," Tora tried to convince Misaki. "If you tell him when he gets here that you'll be driving to dinner with me, it isn't like he's been inconvenienced. He would have had to come back to retrieve his car anyways."

"But Tora, we're all going to eat at the same location. Why wouldn't we all just drive together?" Misaki asked. She was helping him straiten his bow tie. "Besides, it would be a lot less awkward to be seen driving in your car if he was along with us. If anyone saw us, they would assume you had simply collected the guest of honor and his date." She'd finished with his tie and was trying to fasten the clasp on her chocked. "Can you give me a hand with this Tora?"

She lifted her hair and he clumsily tried to fasten the clasp. His fingers were large compared to the delicate clasp but he managed to conquer the challenge. He snuck in a quick kiss on her neck before she let go of her hair and let it fall down around her face. "Yes, that is sort of the point," Tora countered. "I'd rather that onlookers assume that Walker did not have a date and I had to bring one for him. It would make it more difficult for him to try acting overly familiar with you like he did when he said goodby this afternoon." Misaki knew he was referring to the kiss on the cheek. She could see why this would anger Tora. It had certainly angered her.

"But Tora, what about Chiyo?" Misaki said thinking of Tora's loyal secretary who always accompanied him to these type of work events, "Wouldn't it be uncomfortable for her if her date were to arrive with me on his arm?"

"I will be meeting up with Chiyo near the venue as I always do, only this time I'd like you to accompany me when we meet up. I can arrive at the restaurant with both of you, one on each arm. Once inside, I will present you to Walker so it is clear to those in the room that Chiyo is my date for the evening and you are someone that is accompanying Walker because he is a foreigner who does not know anyone in this City." Misaki couldn't believe how childish this all sounded.

"Well wouldn't Chiyo then figure out I'm the secrete love in your life?" Misaki pressed.

"Don't you think she would already know? We all work together. She buys gifts for me to give to my 'secrete love' and then you show up to work wearing the gifts. I assume she has already put the pieces of the puzzle together." Tora continued.

"She buys my gifts?" Misaki was a bit annoyed. "I thought you put all the thought into selecting the perfect presents for me. Should I expect her to pick out my engagement ring as well?"

Tora pulled Misaki to him and kissed her. "If I picked out every gift for you, you would have a closet full of items for charity, but there are certain times that I wouldn't let anyone else but me shop for you. If you remain my patient little Misa-chan, you will soon discover what horrible, but very expensive, tastes I have in jewelry."

She knew it. He had a ring. He was trying to tell her to wait until tonight. She was actually a little excited. The idea was settling into her mind. But that could wait. Any minute, Takumi would arrive and they needed to sort this out before he got here or they would find themselves in a rather uncomfortable position.

"He is the guest of honor," Misaki sighed, "do you truly want to intentionally anger him over something so trivial?"

The couple's conversation was cut short by the doorbell. Takumi had arrived and looked like a vision of perfection in his black tuxedo. His hair was swept back which allowed for uninterrupted viewing of his piercing green eyes. Misaki had to make a conscious effort not to swoon. Tora answered the door, "Walker." Was all he said by way of a greeting.

Misaki had noticed the change to 'Walker' after Tora had returned from walking Takumi to his car. She hadn't asked what they talked about but obviously it hadn't been friendly. Takumi entered the living room and when his eyes fell on Misaki it felt as if all the wind had been knocked out of him. She was breathtaking. Mesmerizing. It took him a full minute to regain his composure. When he did, to Misaki's surprise, Takumi turned to Tora and asked if he could have a private word with him.

The two gentleman stepped into the hallway outside of the apartment and Misaki went to retrieve her purse from the bedroom. Misaki hoped that while they were out there marking their territory, or what ever petty childish boys did, they could resolve which car she was supposed to ride in to the venue.

"What do you want Walker," Tora's tone was cold but controlled.

"I wanted to apologize," Takumi said. "I jumped to conclusions and assumed you were responsible for Misa's confusion in regards to her memories. I further assumed your motives were nefarious. I realize now that you were here for her during a difficult time in her life when I wasn't able to help her. Thank you."

While Takumi was man enough to admit when he was wrong, his apology did not mean that he would abandoned his fight for Misaki. He appreciated Tora helping Misaki through her heart break and trauma, but he was back now. Now he was able to help and protect her and he had every intention of winning her back. Of course, a Takumi was an excellent card player and, as all card players know, there is no advantage to showing your opponent your hand. Takumi wasn't going to tell Tora that he would be making every effort to take back Misaki, but once he'd married Misaki he would be sure to invite Tora to the wedding and would thank him for the advice to cut back on work. He agreed is was wise to make time to focus on his beloved future bride. In fact, he'd already contacted Claire to set up a recruitment to find his replacement. The announcement that he would soon be stepping down as CEO was going to be released publicly quite soon.

Tora was taken aback. He tried to stammer out something to acknowledge the apology, but before he could muster the words, Takumi continued. "Thank you as well for allowing Misaki to be my date. We'll see you there." Takumi turned to return to the apartment but a Tora wasn't ready to let it go.

"Uh… Takumi," Tora blurted out, "I am going to drive Misaki to the restaurant. You two can meet up there."

"But I'm already here," Takumi said with a mix of annoyance and confusion, "to… pick up my date."

"Right." Tora tried to explain, "but she's not really your date. It's more like she's just accompanying you. She's my girlfriend so she wouldn't go on a date with you."

"If you two are so tight, she would be going to this thing with you. I never had a girlfriend that opted to 'accompany' another man to an event I would be attending."

Tora's face reddened. Takumi was clearly pointing out that Misaki had been comfortable announcing her relationship with Takumi. But Takumi had never been her boss. This was different.

"She's only going with you to this thing because this is business. It's a different situation." Tora continued.

"Okay, whatever helps you sleep at night buddy." Takumi started to walk away but turned back to say one last thing, "Look. I came here trying to be civil. I apologized and am trying to be the bigger man. But you are acting like a dick right now and if you don't stop it, I might need to use my fists to teach you some manners."

Why did Takumi always get his way? Tora had to think fast. He did not want his girlfriend spending any more time alone with that cretin. "Misa isn't comfortable being alone in a car with you. She's just too polite to say it," Tora called after him.

Takumi walked back into the apartment. He strode over to 'Misaki and wrapped her arm around his. Then he announced, as he walked her toward the elevator, "bye Tora. We'll see you there!"

A few minutes later Takumi and Misaki were back in the apartment. Takumi looked very annoyed. He turned to Tora and said, "This is awkward. My car, was towed. Can we drive with you to the event?" Misa smiled a little to herself and all three of them went down to the parking garage.

They approached Tora's Tesla. It looked as though he'd failed to plug the car into the charger. Sure enough the battery on his car was nearly out of power. Misaki's smile grew a bit more prominent. They all went to the street and hailed a cab. Misaki felt it was perfect punishment for two boys bickering over such a childish issue.

The dinner went off without a hitch. Tora, Misaki and Takumi all went to meet with Chiyo at the rendezvous point and two couples entered the venue together. Takumi was on his best behavior because Misaki was there, while Tora was on his best behavior because his parents were there. Tora's family assumed that Misaki was Takumi's date because Tora had arranged to make the guest of honor feel more comfortable. They appreciated Misaki's willingness to pitch in when the occasion demanded it. It was all the more evidence that she would make a good wife for Tora.

Takumi was being watched by Tora carefully and he also recognized he was representing The Walker Corporation. These factors helped keep him in check somewhat but he still managed to be a little flirtatious and slip in a few double entendres. Those that noticed Takumi's apparent interest in Misaki, and also happened to be in-the-know, assumed Takumi was simply unaware of the nature of the relationship she held with Tora. Misaki did not appear to notice Takumi's advances. The only one in the room that could see Takumi's behavior for what it was – a declaration that he would ignore all obstacles in a bid to win over Misaki – was Tora. Tora was of course agitated. But he took comfort that Misaki neither encouraging nor seemed affected by Takumi's efforts and charm.

A string quartet had been hired to entertain the guests during dinner. Takumi desperately needed a moment alone with Misaki. He had built up the courage to speak with her about his past but speaking to her about this was going to be a challenge. He feared his resolve would soon pass. He desperately needed her to understand why he had abandoned her at the worst possible time. If her memories returned before he could explain, he feared she'd assume the worst possible motive for his egregious behaviors. He needed to beg for her forgiveness. He knew that this was not the setting. Tora's eyes were constantly on them, people were desperately seeking his attention, there just wasn't enough time or privacy. But he hoped if he could get her alone for 5 minutes, he could convince her to come by his place after this dinner tonight. There he could be open. He didn't need her to stay long. Just enough to hear him out.

He scanned the room and found a small clearing. It was far enough away from their table that any conversation they had would not be over heard. "Misaki, the music is so lovely," he commented, "Would you honor me with a dance? I can't allow the talents of these fine musicians to slip by without taking advantage."

Misaki looked around the room. There was no dance floor set up. No one else was dancing. "Mr. Walker," Misaki responded, "I don't think dancing was intended".

Takumi appealed to the table, "isn't there a Japanese proverb that says, 'we're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance?' Do you not agree that this woman is treating me with much cruelty, sitting here looking like she does yet refusing to give me a single dance?"

Misaki was turning red. She'd not accepted his offer for fear of calling attention to herself, yet a Takumi was making it perfectly clear that the more she tried to refuse him, the bigger the scene he would make. She stood up and waited for him to take her hand. He needed no other encouragement. Moments later her guided her through a perfect waltz in the small clearing he had located previously. He was quite the dancer. Everyone in the room was watching as his effortlessly grace wishing that they could either be him or be dancing with him. Misaki couldn't help but wonder if there was you anything this guy couldn't do. He did so well leading that she felt like she was floating on air.

"Misa," Takumi said as her spun her around, "I will be flying back to England soon but I need to talk privately about something. It is very important and personal. Can you come by my place tonight?"

"I'm sorry," Misaki replied, "Tora and I have plans after this dinner."

"Can you reschedule?" Takumi asked. "I promise it is nothing like a love confession. You needed worry that it will make you feel uncomfortable."

"No. it's not that. It's just I think Tora needed to ask me about something that is also very…" she blushed trying to pick her words, "important."

Takumi wasn't sure what she meant by that but his gut told him that it wasn't good. He felt nervous. "It's really important that we talked well. I can delay my return to England if you are not free tonight. When are you free?"

Misaki sighed. "Tonight won't work but I'll try to fit you in tomorrow."

Takumi nodded. The song finished and the couple went back to the table.