Chapter 8 Off to our trip!

Finally it was the beginning of whole week of fun and nothing else. Miyu locked her house and stood there waiting for her friends to pick her. Being summer she kept it simple sporting a cream colour floral print one-piece frock ending at her knees with a pair of matching flip flops. She had straightened her hair letting them down. She was ready with her backpack and soon saw a metallic grey Toyota climbing up the slope knowing that her wait was over. The SUV came to a halt in front of her and she was greeted by everyone at once.

"Hi Miyu, you look beautiful" Mizuki complimented her. "And why am I not surprised by that?" Nanami added. Miyu blushed feeling embarrassed she could really do without compliments while Kanata felt an urge to punch someone.

"Hop in Miyu" Christene said. The love birds were busy among themselves.

Miyu stood there staring blankly at the only empty seat in the car, passenger's seat. Somehow Christene had ended up in the back seat along with the others. Miyu had two options either sit next to Kanata who was driving or fake illness and go back to her house calling it off. She seriously considered the latter but knew Nanami would drag her all the way out so she didn't really have any choice here. Kanata seemed to understand her dilemma too which somehow amused him and that annoyed her even more.

In a flash he was standing next to her with the door to the car held open for her. "I do know how to open the door" she said.

"I don't doubt it for a second but I have to put your luggage in so would you be kind enough to get in now" he asked.

Feeling stupidly annoying she obliged with resentment as he moved to the back to toss her bag into the trunk and climbed back into the driver's seat. For some reason he was in an awfully good mood so very unlike of him. "So guys are you all ready" he asked and everyone else screamed YES. "Alright then here we go" & with that he started the engine as everyone began to make hell of a noise.

The excitement was contagious Miyu felt getting excited. "Alright lovebirds spare the romance for the rest of the week" Nanami scolded "Let's play something".

"We can't do much here but something random like mimicking or singing will be fun too" Nouzumo suggested. "Yeah let's do that" others agreed. "Okay Mizuki you start" Christene picked him out of blue.

"I suck at singing and mimicking others too".

"Okay then how about answering a question, do you have a girlfriend?" she asked. "No, not yet" he said. "Aw too bad, you're quite popular though you know, do you like anyone?"

"I do like someone and before you ask me anything I'll let you know if she says yes".

"Best of luck with your girl" Nouzumo clapped him on his back.

Suddenly the car made a sharp turn stopping abruptly. "What's wrong Kanata? Is everything okay" Santa asked him.

"I lost control, won't happen again" he replied his voice completely flat, cold.

"You've been driving for so long, if you don't mind then I can help" as Kanata glared at him his aura making him look devil incarnated in flesh and bones "or maybe not" added Mizuki faintly. While others shivered under his glare Mizuki felt a tad bit of nervousness. What's with this sudden animosity? Miyu thought as she looked at him.

Kanata started the engine again and for some time everyone was absolutely quiet. The silence was unbearable and Miyu couldn't take it anymore. She turned back & said "let's sing some cheerful songs. It'll help people to cool down a bit" giving her neighbour a stern look and received a sidelong glance from him with a smirk. Typical temperament she thought and faced Mizuki.

"Are you okay?" she asked him. "Yes I'm fine, thanks" he replied politely.

As she turned back to look at front she thought she noticed something but dismissed it as her imagination. How could she possibly notice a vein throbbing anyway, it wasn't natural. Her attempt to lighten the mood worked and everyone started singing songs together. She enjoyed singing and knew it was the best way to enjoy a trip. You can't imagine a trip without songs.

"Let's rate everyone's singing talent. It'll be fun, nothing serious" Christene said and others got excited except one "I'm not a singer, I'm not singing" Mizuki reminded.

"In that case you'll be awarded the worst singer of the day but you'll have to sing anyway. There's no escaping it" Nanami was all with a notepad and a pen ready to score everyone, leave it to her to take all the childish things seriously. They began to sing one by one starting with Mizuki who wanted to get past the horror as soon as possible.

"You were really being modest, you're terrible Mizuki but you're an excellent dancer though" Christene commented.

"Okay worst singer for Mizuki now next is Nouzumo" Nanami provided as she wrote down in her writing pad. Then it was Christene's turn followed by a horrible duet from Aya & Santa, Santa being the horrible part and Aya balancing it with her beautiful voice. Everyone cheered for them.

"Miyu it's your turn now" Nanami told her. "Okay, give me a song then" she asked them, excitement glowing on her face. "I love your enthusiasm girl" Nanami gave her a thump's up. "How about Taylor Swift's enchanted?" she received everyone's approval. When Aya and Santa were attentive enough "Okay then" she said and began to sing.

Everyone was stunned for the moment when she finished singing, gaping at her and then abruptly Nanami exclaimed "Who the hell are you, definitely not a human". Miyu chuckled at the comical expression Nanami had on her face "So the singer of the day goes to the star student Miyu" she announced and others clapped.

"Okay guys we have a long way to go so I'm making a stop at the next eatery" Kanata informed others. "Thank god, I thought we won't stop till we reach your place" Christene said in relief. "I'm dying to stretch my legs" Nouzumo complained. "Me too" Nanami backed him.

After a short while Kanata pulled into the parking lot of small cafe and everyone got out. The hem of Miyu's dress got tangled at the bottom of the seat belt and she was struggling to disentangle it when Kanata caught her wrist.

"Don't use your strength, you'll rip it instead" he said.

Squinting her eyes in fury, she was still mad at him, "I don't need your help Saionji" she replied.

He sat back silently watching her struggle. He let her continue her futile attempts for another minute and then infuriated he grabbed her arm. She looked at him to snap again but couldn't utter a word.

He was livid "Asking for help won't kill you. Even you need it sometimes" he caught her wrists with his single hand and using his other hand freed her dress "see easy, isn't it" he smiled at her. His carefree smile was really attractive and she couldn't help loving it.

'Why are you so strange Kanata? One minute you are furious and then you're so nice. I don't get you at all. I can't read you at all'. In all awkwardness she thanked him and stepped out. Sitting at one place for long sure is exhausting. She stretched herself to loosen a little. The weather was blissful with slight breeze and air was clad with the smell of the ocean.

"Miyu?" she heard Kanata calling. Her immediate thought was to ignore him but she turned around to face him anyway.

"You sing quite well" he said. Startled by his compliment she felt herself blushing under his gaze and thanked him. "I've to look for Nanami, excuse me" she started to move towards the cafe when he grabbed her arm "Miyu I have something to tell you. About that day, I didn't mean anything. I'm so… I'm sorry".

Though she didn't know him much but enough to guess that apologising wasn't his thing and his apology brought back the harsh memories of that day and her guard that was down till now was up once again.

"Let go of me" she replied coldly.

'What's wrong with her, why can't she accept my apology? I'm apologising to her and the nerve of her to be so inconsiderate. Who the hell is she to make me want to justify myself'.

"I said I'm sorry okay" he sounded harsh.

"Did you lose your hearing ability, I said let go of me" she glared at him barely reaching his shoulders. He stared down at her, his insides writhing with anger. His grip tightened around her wrist while she struggled to free herself.

"Accept my apology and I'll let you go" he replied with a cold voice tying to control his anger.

"That's the whole point. You just can't make people accept your apologies by threatening them. Try being more convincing next time".

Anger shot within him and losing his rationality, he pushed her to the side of the car clutching at her arms. His face was so close to her that he could feel her warm breathe and it was distracting, forgetting about his anger he almost kissed her but stopped dead instead. Her eyes brimming with tears made him loosen his grip and slowly he backed away from her. Miyu took a moment to calm before turning around and walking away leaving him alone in the parking area.

'I hate you Saionji. I hate the way you make me feel like I'm someone with no feelings'. If not for Aya she would have left at that moment. 'Go to hell, Saionji!' she thought as she gradually increased the distance between them.

"Miyu where were you? I was looking for you. Let's go eat something, I'm starving" Nanami dragged her along.

Kanata stood leaning on his car staring mindlessly into the air.

'I did it again. She brings out the worst in me and I always act without thinking whenever she's around. God! Why is she so infuriating and enchanting at the same time. One moment I feel like pushing her away and next I want to kiss her. We were so close and I would've kissed her if I hadn't looked at her face'.

That look in her eyes was something he recognised very well and that had frozen him in his tracks as he realised what he was about to do. He was about to force her and he ran a hand over his hairs and face in exasperation. Her eyes were filled with hurt and fear. One look at her eyes and he had snapped out of his lunacy, rationality befriending him again. He had to struggle within to calm himself & loosen his grip on her, his mind telling him to let her go whereas his heart wanted her to stay, eventually his mind had won.

Her eyes had seemed just like hers and his mind steered back to that evening in her flat where she lay in his arms, dying and there was nothing he could do, the first time he had been helpless.

"I'm sorry" tears falling down her face and her eyes were filled with hurt and fear. Fear for him and hurt that they'll never have their forever. "Please don't….don't leave me" he begged tears running down his face. "Promise me, you will not isolate yourself. When love comes to you, you'll embrace it with your heart open". "I can never love anyone else, I love you" he said, grabbing her hand. "I love you too, Kanata but you've got to try. Remember I'll always love you and I'll be around looking over you" and then she had died in his arms. No. Akira!

Kanata screamed, calling for her and he found himself in the bright afternoon in the parking lot, his hand raised in the air as if calling out to someone. After her death he had been completely shattered and gradually everybody grew apart from him because of his unresponsiveness except for Santa. Santa was always there when he needed him, during the troubling sleepless nights and the days of his break down when he was falling apart from the loss of the only person he had ever dared to love again. Santa had stood by him till the day he had decided to change himself and to leave Tokyo with her haunting memories and come to Heiomachi.

"Kanata, are you okay?" he turned around to see Santa standing nearby looking at him. He could read him like a book. "What makes you think I'm not" he replied. "Nothing it was just... that look on your face" he replied scrutinising him in a way only he could.

Kanata didn't reply and changed the topic "it's about time we leave"

"Okay, I'll go call everyone" and with that Santa disappeared.

'I took a vow not to let anyone near me and it's time to put my words to action' Kanata resolved. For the rest of the journey Christene sat in the front and everyone was chatting along till they arrived at the beach house. It was huge like a mansion. It had an ancient and classic appeal, making it look elegant. They walked into the vast lobby decorated beautifully with mahogany furniture and beautiful paintings decorated the vast walls, it was huge enough to hold 50 people at a time.

Miyu couldn't stop herself from looking around at the paintings. She walked up to a huge painting of a young couple smiling she was mesmerised by the beauty of the woman in the painting. Even in the painting she looked so lovely, so kind that she almost expected her to talk to her. The woman somehow calmed her instantly, she was craving to meet this kind angel & dazed she asked "she is so beautiful, who is she?"

"They are my parents" Kanata replied. He was standing behind her and she turned around to look at him. He was looking at his mother and she noticed a strange emotion in his eyes.

"Can I see her? For someone to look so beautiful and kind even in a portrait... I'm sure she is an incredibly wonderful person. I would love to meet her" she asked him forgetting about their earlier confrontation. He gave her a blank look and walked away from her. He left her there confused as she stared at his back while he shot orders on his phone making quick arrangements for their stay.

"His mother is dead she died when he was three. He doesn't like talking about his parents" Santa informed her as they both looked at Kanata.

She hadn't known. True she knew everything about Housho Saionji's professional life but she had never bothered to look into his personal life. Now she felt horrible for asking such a question. She turned to look at the woman again, she had died young. She could now pick up the similarities between them, they shared similar features and his eyes were the exact replica of her. Miyu turned to look at Kanata again and this time she genuinely felt sorry, jerk or not, nobody deserved such great loss at such tender age. Now she knew the look, it had been pain and a bit of longing as he had stared at his mother and for the first time she wanted hold him to console him despite of her hatred towards him.

how was it? terrible? okay? good? let me know!

Sneek peek into next chapter

Kanata caught her in time and saved her from banging her head straight onto the floor.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. What's wrong, are you hurt?" he asked.

"No, not much but I think I sprained my ankle, it hurts" she replied trying to balance her body on one leg.

"Does it hurt, let me call my doctor. Oh god, I'm so sorry Miyu".

"It's okay, I'm fine. I've sprained my ankles before. I'll be fine by tomorrow" and started hopping towards her bed.

"Let me help you"

"No thanks, I can manage" she declined his help and began to hop towards her bed. A sprained ankle is nothing I've faced far worse things she thought.

"You know you're like a child, a stubborn child" Kanata said as he picked her up in his arms forcibly.