Shelf #030

There was nothing that Kuu could have done to change things the way they were now. He had lost the most precious woman swiftly from his arms just like air that had swept by, who turned out to be the most famous film star in the world and the top supermodel. The most beautiful woman, Julie.

After all that hussle at the front door, plus the overwhelming shock of Julie's presence at his house, the neighbors surprisingly continued to talk to Kuu as if nothing had happened. Although there were times that behind his back, gossip flew all over the place.

Kuu returned to the usual humdrum, bachelor half–life at Random Walk Co. Martin was still his employee at his bookshop, and Kuu was very grateful that this man had been loyal to him all these years. Amazingly, to Kuu's surprise, sales had also continued to rose high that they need to order more stocks. Mr. Smith was still the ever faithful customer. After he had found out the news about him and Julie, he immediately darted to this shop and bought a novel that was adapted by Julie's movie, 'Tsukigomori'. Julie was probably right, Kuu thought in hate. That scandal perhaps had helped this business.

After Mr. Smith had bought the novel, Kuu called it a day –– as an owner he can change his own schedule of time off –– and left the bookshop for Martin to take care of the rest of the sales that day. Kuu stepped out of the doors of the shop, swung his black coat over him and walked through Portobello Road in the city of Kyoto.

It was still an everyday routine for him. Go out of the house, head for work at his bookshop while greeting familiar faces of neighbors along the way, then go straight home at the end of his schedule. This everyday walk in the same circle lasted through six months. . . On and on it continued as he walked, throughout the seasons that magically changed from summer, through autumn and winter, back into spring. . .

From summer –– he had walked through fresh summer fruits and flowers that lined along the stalls in Portobello, a six-month pregnant neighbor of Kuu talking to Honey with another leather-jacket boyfriend of a few years older than her. . . Even when rain started to fall on wet days, Kuu still walked on –– he turned up his black coat collar amidst the cloud of black umbrellas around him on the road. . . Followed by winter coats everywhere –– chestnuts roasting –– through Christmas trees on sale and the first hint of snow.

Then he came to east side of Portobello, at the Kanshi Temple, which was startling snowscape, for the hundred yard, right across Kanshi Grove.

By the time he reached the purple cafe of Tony's restaurant a couple of yards away from his bookshop, the snow was melting and in another few yards, it was spring again. He passed by his beloved sister Honey again –– arguing with her boyfriend, walking away tearful and heartbroken. Then he passed by the old lady flower vendor, Mother Susan talking to his neighbor, 'the pregnant woman' –– now holding her healthy, three-month old baby girl. The cute little baby saw Kuu holding his coat over his shoulder and cooed happily at him. She raised her chubby tiny fingers at him and he kissed it. The woman and Mother Susan saw Kuu and they greeted him.

Even if times had passed by swiftly and today was now Spring, it was still a grey day inside the bookshop. Kuu and Martin felt that things in here had never ever changed.

Kuu wore an apron over his waist and started checking out delivered boxes of manga series. He segregated them in batches of piles on the floor across from him. Then he picked the pile of Vampire Knight volumes first and placed them in order at the shelf. Martin was near the entrance of the shop, replacing the old 'new arrival' books with a new set of different novels on the entrance display table.

After ten seconds past of co-existing silently, Honey rushed in. Spike, still feeling in disgrace, came in with her but lingered in the doorway.

"Have we got something for you!" Honey said excitedly, darting past a few shelves towards Kuu. "Something which will make you love me so much you'll want to hug me every single day for the rest of my life."

Kuu looked up in surprise.

"Blimey. What's that?" he asked. Kuu stood up and dusted off his hands.

Honey was holding up a piece of paper excitedly. How she wanted to squeal right now.

"Oniisama. The phone number of Julienna Scott's manager and her agents in Japan and in New York," Honey said, beaming on all ears. "You can ring her! You think about her all the time –– now you can ring her!"

Kuu blinked at the paper in her hand. He forced a warm smile at his sister.

"Well, thanks, that's great," he said calmly, taking the paper from her.

"It is great, isn't it!" Honey said. "Go and call her. I'll see you tonight!"

And she shot back towards the door. She saw Martin on the display table and waved at him.

"Hey Marty-san! Sexy cardy!"

"Hello Honey-san!" Martin waved back.

Spike held the door out for her and waved at Kuu. The moment the two had gone, Kuu looked at the piece of paper. Slowly walking towards the counter, he stared at the numbers. Right on top of it was Yashiro's, followed by the agent in Japan and the one named Karen, the agent in New York.

Kuu was supposed to feel dazed and excited just as Honey. But the feeling that overtook his heart was now different. He felt empty, as if there was nothing at all that could brighten up his mood. Just blank. After all that press attacks at his door, and Julie now gone from him, why would something like this come just now? What about these past six months? Hadn't she thought about doing this number mail during those times? Why now?

Kuu folded the paper, and placed it gently in the garbage bin.

Later that evening, all the best friends were gathered at Tony's restaurant. Tony the chef had just passed around a nice dish, and sat back on the table that was set right across the center of the room.

Bella banged a spoon on a wine bottle beside her. Everyone began to settle, eating silently.

"I've got a little speech to make ––" Bella began, looking at them. "I won't stand up because I can't. . . be bothered. Exactly a year ago today, this man here started the finest restaurant in Kyoto."

"Thank you very much," Tony beamed and caressed his big belly.

"Unfortunately –– these past months no one ever came to eat here."

"A tiny hiccough," Tony added.

"And so we must face the fact that from next week, we have to find somewhere near to eat," Bella said. Tony's brave face broke. The dream was finally over. Bella looked at Tony sitting at the far end of the table.

"I just want to say to Tony –– don't take it personally," she said. "The more I think about things, the more I see no rhyme or reason in life –– no one knows why some things work out, and some things don't –– why some of us get lucky –– and some of us. . ."

". . . get fired," Lory said.

"No!" Bella said. Others were pretty alarmed by this sudden news and looked at Lory.

Lory just sat silent as he leaned calmly on his chair. Kuu furrowed his brows and looked beside his cousin if this was true at all. Lory read the expression on his face and, as if he had read his mind, nodded at him.

"Yes, they're shifting the whole outfit much more towards the trading side –– and probably they don't ever need me anymore," he said, looking at everybody. "Even if I got an offer from this owner of a company who has no children, I'm still not sure if I can have a go with this. And of course. . ."

He took his glass of wine and sipped.

"I was total crap."

They're all rather stunned. Max broke the silence.

"So we go down together!" Max said, taking his glass of wine and held it up for everyone. "A toast to Lory-san –– the worst stockbroker in the whole world at this time!"

Everyone took their wine glass and they toast him. After a few moments, Honey held up her hand as she stood up.

"Since it's an evening of announcements. . . I've also got one," Honey started. Everyone looked up at her.

"Ahm. . . I've decided to get engaged."

There was total bewilderment from the others. Spike raised his brows, Bella and Max's mouth fell, Lory almost dropped his wine glass, and Tony's fork fell on the plate.

"What?!" they blurted in unison.

Honey nodded and smiled warmly at them, beaming on all sides.

"I've found myself a nice, slightly odd looking bloke who I know is going to make me happy for the rest of my life."

Spike sat speechless and shocked. It greatly showed in his expression that he had secret special feelings for Honey.

"Wait. Wait a minute –– I'm your brother and I don't know anything about this," Kuu said, his face alarmed at the shock.

"Even your cousin," Lory added, his brows furrowed in confusion. Honey must be drinking too much, he can tell. Her face was flushed soft pink.

"Is it someone we know?" Max asked. He darted his eyes at Lory and nodded. Yes, they should do this investigation themselves. Privately.

"Yes, actually. I will keep you informed," Honey replied as she sat down.

Kuu blinked in bewilderment and leaned forward, eyeing deeply at Honey.

"Hon, you have to tell me. . . Is –– is he somehow, you know. . Financially able?" Kuu asked. Bella snorted. Yeah, he shot at the target straight on.

". . . Because seriously, I can't afford to see you suffer in this stage –– I mean, you're still young," Kuu added. Lory and Max nodded.

"He's right," Bella said.

Honey heaved a small sigh. She nodded silently at Kuu and Lory, which meant that she understood her brother and her dearest elder cousin.

"Hon. . ."

"Don't worry, Onii-sama," Honey assured him. "I've got it all covered. He's got amazing prospects and I know we can get there. I'll be fine I promise."

Kuu just couldn't believe this was his sister talking. He leaned back on the chair and Bella caressed his shoulder. He and the others continued on their conversation, dropping the subject.

The moment she saw that everyone were now busy talking, Honey leaned towards Spike.

"By the way –– it's you," Honey whispered.

Spike's eyes grew wide as he looked at her. Had he heard this right?

"Me?" he asked, completely and utterly amazed at this.

"Yes. What do you think?" she whispered.

"Well, yes," he whispered back in reply. Spike flashed his gorgeous smile. "Groovy."

Both of them shared a special gaze only they could ever sink themselves into. Honey and Spike sighed. What would they do if the rest weren't around and only both of them were here in this restaurant? They would have flung themselves in each other's arms and devoured each other.

"Alright. Any more announcements?" Max asked with a smile.

Finally, Kuu's hand held up in the air. Everyone had gone quiet. They hadn't expected this from him.

"Yes –– I feel I must apologize to everyone for my behavior for the last six months," Kuu began. Every single eyes were on him. "I have, as you know, been slightly down in the mouth."

"There's an understatement," Max said.

"There are dead people on better form," Lory added, nodding at his cousin beside him.

"But I wish to make it clear to everyone in here. I've turned a corner and henceforward intend to be impressively happy," Kuu said, forcing a smile. With that, everyone understood him and applauded him.

Kuu took his wine glass, toast it and drank his wine. Yes, he intended to be impressively happy. Or is he really happy?

Two hours later at Tony's restaurant, they've had a very good time. There had been a chocolate cake baked by Tony, followed by lots and lots of alcohol until the break of dawn.

On the other side of the restaurant, Tony was playing 'Listen to Your Heart' on the piano, and Max joined him weakly, singing in a daze. Spike was now drunk, waltzing around dreamily. He twirled and hummed to the tune.

He shot past one table, where Bella and Honey sat –– beer and wine on the table.

"I can't believe it. . I'm really horribly drunk," Bella said. She forced one eye up and squinted at the others around her. "Seems we all are. . ."

Honey suddenly cried while singing the chorus and flung her arms around her.

Elsewhere, Kuu and Lory were relaxed together. Lory drank from a wine bottle, his foot folded up on his chair. He watched, drinking as his cousin sat silently across the table, whose hand held the half-filled bottle on his cheek. Kuu was in a deep stare at nowhere. A few buttons up on his silk shirt were open, revealing his chiseled chest.

"So –– you've laid the ghost," Lory said.

"I believe I have," Kuu replied weakly.

"Don't give a damn about the famous girl," Lory said.

Kuu took a sip from his bottle. "No, I don't think I do," he said. He took another drink.

Lory smirked. "Which means you won't be distracted by the fact that she's back in Japan," he said. "Flaunting her majestic curves and assets at a famous runway in Tokyo, grasping her Oscar, and to be found filming most days on Ukyo-ku. . ."

Kuu blinked and looked back at Lory's eyes. Lory chuckled, placed down on the table a copy of 'The Japan Times' with a picture of smiling Julie on its cover, holding up an Oscar statuette for Best Actress. Kuu grabbed the paper.

Along the front page he read, Kuu found out Julie would be taking on the lead role in a most expensive hollywood film of the year, Rurouni Kenshin. She would be acting alongside a major hollywood star, Takeru Sato, with the stunt choreographer –– also an Oscar winner –– who was a faithful and loyal student of the late Bruce Lee. As Lory had told him, the filming would take place in historical sites and forests in Kyoto, with one of the places being mentioned –– Ukyo-ku. The place which was surprisingly, just near in Portobello.

Kuu stared at the newspaper in immediate gloom. His bottle was now ignored at the table.

"Oh God no," Kuu said in a daze. Utterly shocked. His cousin had completely read behind the lines of his expression.

"So not over her, in fact," Lory said with a smile. "So truly and completely, not over her. . And still, just can't stop loving her."

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