Rental Girlfriend: Solutions to A Problem (Short Story) Part 2

Characters:

Kazuya Kinoshita

Chizuru Mizuhara

Mami Nanami

Ruka Sarashina

Sumi Sakurasawa

Nagomi Kinoshita

Yoshiaki Kibe

Shun Kuribayashi

Sayuri Ichinose

Umi Nakano

Visitation:

Taking a Cab back towards home, Chizuru decided to instead go visit her Grandmother in the Hospital. What she wanted to do was locate Ruka and find out why the other Girl had done what she did. Maybe even pop the younger girl in the nose for making her look like an idiot. She had completely fell for whatever Ruka had concocted. She had gone to the Airport worried that she would never see Kazuya again and almost had her admit the feelings she had for him. Feelings she really did not want to have towards anyone. It did not go along with her Plans on becoming an Actress. "He would only get in my way." She said as she entered the Hospital. But in the back of her mind and in her heart she knew he wouldn't. Shaking her head. "Stop it. He is nothing more then a Client...I do not have feelings for him." Though she actually knew the truth. Entering her Grandmothers Room she smiled. "Hello Grandma."

"Is Kazuya with you?" Sayuri asked peering past her Granddaughter and Chizuru rolled her eyes.

"No...He is actually on his way to Okinawa...He has a Job Interview." Chizuru told her and her Grandmother gasped loudly.

"Don't tell me that he is...Are you two splitting up?" Sayuri asked sadly and Chizuru shook her head.

"No Grandma...The Interview is there and the Job is here." Chizuru said and went over to check the flowers in the Vase.

"Oh thank goodness...I was worried there for a moment." Sayuri said with relief and Chizuru exhaled with a deep sigh. "I am glad that you two...Are going to stay together. Now I can die without any worries." She then did her usual act and Chizuru grumbled.

"Stop saying that Grandma. When you did that to Kazuya...It really worried him." Chizuru told her and Sayuri smiled. Laying back onto her bed normally.

"Sorry Chizuru...But you have to let me have some fun once in awhile." Sayuri continued to smile and reached out with her right hand to take hold of Chizuru's right hand. "I am so happy that he is there for you and that he loves you as much as he does." Chizuru paled slightly and looked down at her Grandmother partially in shock.

"What...What do you mean Grandma?" Chizuru asked and Sayuri smiled up at her.

"That he loves you...He told me that the last time you two were here. That he would love you forever. I am relieved that he does...For if something...Something does happen to me. Then you won't have to be alone." Sayuri said and Chizuru felt her heart begin to pound heavily in her chest.

"Did...Did he actually say that?" Chizuru asked and Sayuri chuckled.

"Of course he said it. He told me that he loves you. What is the matter Chizuru...You two are in love...Right?" Sayuri asked and Chizuru felt her knees begin to shake. Having no idea how to respond to that. Then she slowly smiled and then patted her Grandmothers right hand with her left.

"Yes Grandma...We are deeply in love with each other. He is my Boyfriend after all." Chizuru said and then wondered why she just said that. Though she knew why already. For she was in love with him. No matter how much she wanted to deny it. She was in love with Kazuya.

"That is good to here." Sayuri let out a sigh. "I know you two are not ready...and you both are so young...But it is my wish to be there when you two get married. That is what is keeping me going. The thought of being there to see you two get Married." She smiled broadly. "Though after that I might stick around until you pop out a couple of kids."

"Grandma! We are not ready for either of that!" Chizuru said scolding her grandmother with a placid stare and Sayuri chuckled.

"What! I had one almost a year after I got married to your Grandfather." Sayuri loved to tease her Granddaughter. But in a way she was completely serious. Wanting Chizuru to discover the joys of being a Wife and Mother. "So what type of job is Kazuya applying for?" She asked thinking that if the Job ends up being a good career move, then perhaps the two of them could use that as a stepping stone to tie the knot.

"He...He didn't really tell me. Still it must be a good one if they are willing to pay all the expenses for him to go to Okinawa for an interview." Chizuru told her, somewhat suspecting the reasons why her Grandmother wanted to know.

"Okay then...So when he comes back tomorrow...You need to bring him by for another visit. So at most I can ask him about this Job." Sayuri said with a small smile and Chizuru nodded. She was running out of excuses and since the last visit. Her Grandmother had asked several times for her to bring Kazuya again.

"I will ask him when I pick him up at the Airport...Maybe we can come by then." Chizuru said and then spent another hour visiting her Grandmother. Making sure to steer the conversation away from Kazuya, Marriage and Babies. At first it worked, but by the end of the visit. Her Grandmother had once more asked about their relationship and when it would eventually become more.

The Return:

Unsure about the Interview. What Kazuya was sure of was that he had not done his best during the interview. His mind was elsewhere. Spending the entire time thinking about the fact that Chizuru had come to the Airport thinking that he was leaving. Finding it quite interesting that she seemed really upset over it. Which gave him a huge glimmer of hope.

Arriving at the Airport, Chizuru checked the Flight Inbound Information on her Cellphone. Kazuya's Flight had landed a good ten minutes ago. So all she now had to do was wait. She felt a little nervous and anxious about asking him to go visit her Grandmother again. Especially after learning that he had admitted to her Grandmother that he was in love with her. Oh she already knew he was. Anyone with any common sense could tell that he was. "Idiot. Telling my Grandma that you are in love with me. What are you thinking?" She whispered though she could not help but like it. It made her heart flutter to think that he actually said it out loud. But not to her yet. She wondered what she would say or do if he did say it out loud to her. That was what was making her feel on edge right now. When she saw him, she smiled and gave him a small wave. Instantly chiding herself for doing that. "How was your interview?" She asked him as he neared her and he winced.

"They said they would get back to me about it. I think I blew it." Kazuya replied and he opened the Backseat door of the Cab for her. "Thanks for...Coming to get me. You were right about not being able to get a Cab." He looked over as she did as well to several people attempting to get a Cab. She got in and he did as well. He immediately noticed after a few minutes that they were not heading towards home.

"My Grandmother wants you to come for another visit...If that is okay?" Chizuru informed him and he shrugged. Though she could tell by his expression that he was a little haggard from the trip. "You look tired...Did you not get any sleep last night?" She asked wondering if he had spent the time having fun in Okinawa rather then sleeping. He let out a sigh.

"Unfortunately...There was a Bachelors Party in the room next to mine. They were not exactly quite...So no I did not get a lot of sleep." Kazuya said stifling a yawn with his right hand.

"It would be alright if you don't go visit...I could just call her and tell her that you are too tired." Chizuru suggested and Kazuya shook his head.

"I should be fine...I did catch an hour or so on the Plane." Kazuya said and Chizuru smiled at him. If she did not feel like she was imposing on him too much. She would have Kazuya go with her more often to visit her Grandmother. Whenever he did. Her Grandmother seemed to be more alive then when she went by herself. When they arrived at the Hospital, Chizuru clasped his right hand in her left. Walking with him inside. The last time she had brought him for the visit. She had overheard a couple of the Nurses talk about him and it was not anything bad. In fact she had heard two of them discussing the possibility of perhaps asking him out. So she was going to make sure that did not happen at all.

The visit with her Grandmother did not last that long. It worried her immensely to see how tired and worn out her Grandmother seemed to be. Even with the visit by Kazuya did not seem to have any real effect. Back at the Apartments, she hesitated outside her own door for several minutes. Then looked over to see Kazuya enter his own. She had an idea and even though it was another confounding lie. She wanted to cheer and perhaps get her Grandmother to get better. So with a lot of reluctance she went and rang Kazuya's door. She could tell he was somewhat surprised to see her at his door once more. "I want...I need to ask you...I know this going to sound weird...But...Can I come in? I need to discuss something with you." He nodded and she went inside. This would be the fifth time she be in his Apartment and she was a bit surprised to find that it was not as messy as it had been in the past.

"So what is it you want to talk to me about?" Kazuya asked and Chizuru could plainly see that he was exhausted. But he also was a little pleased to have her there. She had thought about this ever since yesterday and in a way it seemed like a good idea. So she wanted to talk to him about her idea.

"Now what I am...proposing..." Chizuru silently chuckled at that word. "It would be no different from what we have done this past year...and it would only be...like us pretending to be a couple..." Kazuya was too tired to fully try to understand what she was talking about. But he tried to listen anyhow. Then she said something that made him completely awake and aware. "I want to tell my Grandma that...that we...are engaged." That almost floored him and he began to waiver back and forth as if he was about to faint.

"WHAT?" Kazuya blurted out loudly and stared at her in shock.

"Like I said it would only be pretend...But I think it would really improve my Grandmother's demeanor. You did notice how...How worn out she looked on our visit. I think if we told her that we are engaged...It might help her a lot." Chizuru blushed slightly at the suggestion she was making. "Also like I said it would only be pretend."

"Ruka would...She would be really pissed." Kazuya said softly almost imagining the reaction Ruka would have. "Oh and then is Mami...She would go ballistic." They both knew that her Grandmother would not be able to keep it a secret. Even if they asked her to. She would tell his Grandmother and his Grandmother would tell Kibe. Along with his Parents. Kibe of course would tell Kuri and at some point Mami would find out. Ruka would as well would find out. Chizuru smirked.

"We both owe Ruka a little revenge for what she had pulled." Chizuru said and Kazuya had to agree with that. Though he still wanted to talk about why she had come to the Airport to confront him about it. But he knew that right now Chizuru would not want to. "So...Can we...?" She asked and Kazuya was not too sure about it.

"It just seems we would be lying again...To your Grandmother...To mine and of course everyone else. Are you sure you want to do that?" Kazuya asked and Chizuru slowly nodded.

"Yes. I am positive it would do wonders for my Grandmother. At most we would only be engaged in name only and after she is better...We could just tell her that we discussed it and decided that we are too young to get Married yet." Chizuru had thought about all of it and would just about do anything to help her Grandmother get better. That included doing something drastic such as getting engaged to Kazuya. He thought about it and in his tired mind. He had to admit she had once more considered everything.

"Okay...But if Ruka gets...Extremely upset. I am going to tell her the truth." Kazuya said adding in that one stipulation. Chizuru nodded, then reached into her purse to bring out a Ring. He stared at it and was about to ask where she had gotten it. But the Ring was familiar. "Hey...That is my Grans Ring." He stated and Chizuru smiled.

"She gave it to me about a month ago to try on to make sure it fits...I have not had the chance to give it back to her yet." Chizuru explained and Kazuya winced. Once more his Grandmother was being to efficient and pushy. "Is it okay for me to...Use this for now?" She asked and he shrugged. Though he hoped that someday she would wear it for real and they would really be a couple. Not knowing she had the same hope.

"Should we go...We could go tell her now?" Kazuya suggested and Chizuru shook her head.

"No! You look like you are about to keel over...We can do it tomorrow. Now to let you know...I am only going to wear this when we see my Grandmother, Yours, Your Mother and Father and of course anyone else that believes we are a couple. I am not going to anytime besides that." Chizuru told him. Though she considered using it to get Umi to stop asking her out. Her friend had an obversion to engaged or Married women. She believed it was from when a Girl's Husband showed up and punched him for hitting on his wife. She began to leave and pointed at his Futon. "Now go to bed and I will come by tomorrow about ten. We will go then to tell my Grandmother." With that she left and he did as he was ordered. Laying down and as his head touched the pillow it dawned on him.

"Whoa...I am engaged to Mizuhara." Kazuya said and then fell asleep.

What Comes What May:

To say that Chizuru's idea was a bad one and it did have the desired effect. For her Grandmother seemed to almost change from looking ill and tired. To that of being the complete opposite. When Chizuru had told her and then showed her Grandmother her left hand with the Engagement Ring on it. The Old Lady looked like she was about to do a Break Dance. She hugged the absolute stuffing out of both of them. Laughing and crying at the same time. Though she did chide him for not telling her last night that he was going to propose to Chizuru. So Kazuya had to take that in stride. Claiming that he was not sure if Chizuru would have said yes or not. Which was a reasonable excuse and Sayuri excepted it. Then they both were hit with the big question of when they planned to do the deed and get married.

"We both want to wait until after we Graduate. Grandma. But we thought that for now...We should be engaged." Chizuru said and again it sounded like a reasonable excuse.

"As long as you two...Wait! We need to tell Nagomi as soon as possible." Sayuri said excitingly and then laughed. "Do you still have that notebook...Chizuru? You know the one that you used to have that dictated exactly what you wanted if you ever was going to get married." She asked and Chizuru blushed heavily.

"Grandma...I did that when I was twelve...I...I do not do or have that anymore." Chizuru said blushing and looked over to see Kazuya barely able to contain himself. "One snicker and I will smack you." She whispered to him and he valiantly tried not to laugh. Though he did find it cute that Chizuru had done that.

"That is a shame...You should have seen it Kazuya...She had this whole Cinderella theme that she wanted. You know a long flowing Gown with a Tiara. That and she wanted to be whisked away by her Prince Charming." Sayuri said and Chizuru blushed a brighter shade of red. Giving Kazuya another glare that plainly told him that one snicker and she would smack him. The same day they also went to see his Grandmother. Her reaction was about the same as Chizuru's Grandmother. Though Nagomi mainly hugged Chizuru and continually apologized about Kazuya's genes. How mediocre they were compared to anyone else.

At first when he told Ruka about the engagement. Kazuya half expected Ruka to throw a massive fit and he would have to disclose about how the Engagement was fake. He was not prepared for her to sullenly slump her shoulders. "I...I did not think this would happen...At most I...I thought that my Plan would cause you Chizuru to...Well to stick to your guns and then I would have him all to my own. Oh well I guess I screwed up big time and all I did was get you two together." She said looking from Chizuru and then back over at Kazuya. She smiled broadly. "Still I am not giving up on you Kazuya...I will break you two up and then...and then I expect you to propose to me." She declared and Kazuya inwardly panicked.

"If you can do it...Then I do not see a problem with you trying." Chizuru said and Kazuya paled. He then realized why Chizuru would say that. She still wanted to give Ruka some hope. That in time they would end the fake engagement and then he could rightfully be pursued by Ruka again. That Chizuru did not want to completely upset Ruka to the point that the other girl would give up on him.

"I do not want Ruka...I want you Chizuru." Kazuya thought wanting to really say that out loud. But knew that Chizuru would never feel the same way about him. Even though with the incident a couple of days ago did give him a glimmer of hope.

"Then let the contest...begin. Once more like I said...This is an endurance fight and I will win it. You got that Chizuru...I am going to win over Kazuya and then...then he will be mine and I expect you to...Go away." Ruka declared and then stalked off. Kazuya looked over at Chizuru.

"That went better then I expected. She was more mellow and I really thought she would...Be violent." Kazuya said and Chizuru scowled. Then shook her head.

"Maybe it would have been better to tell her the truth after all. I am almost...I am worried what she might do." Chizuru said thinking about the other day when Ruka had stayed over at his Apartment. At the time, she had felt another twinge of jealousy within her and it made it obvious to her that she did like Kazuya. Which her rational side did not want to have feelings for him. At the same time she did. So in essence she was completely confused. Leaving the Karaoke Cafe together, she held his hand as normal. Though this time, she made sure that the Diamond Ring could be plainly seen. Not that she liked deceiving everyone that they had told. What she liked was the fact that she no longer was a subject of several others asking her out all the time. So she considered rethinking when she would wear the ring and when she wouldn't. Her main worry though was when she took it off and put it on the Necklace she wore around her neck. That she might loose it. Kazuya had begged her to be careful. After all it was his Grandmother's Ring. The same Ring that his Grandfather had given to his Grandmother. "At some point I hope in the future that I will never take it off." She thought and then chided herself for even thinking that. But she could not really deny it. She did want to eventually wear the Ring that she now wore for real.

00000

"I am sorry Umi...But...I am engaged now." Chizuru said and showed Umi the Diamond Ring that was on her left hand. Her friend stared at her hand in utter disbelief.

"Are you serious?" Umi asked and Chizuru nodded. She had decided to use the fake engagement to get Umi to stop asking her out almost constantly. He had become more convinced that the two of them should date and had increased the number of times per week he asked her out.

"Yes...I am. So could you stop asking me out. I do not think my...Fiancé would like it if you continued." Then Chizuru smiled warmly. "Though I still want to be your friend Umi." She told him and he smiled back.

Walking back towards home, Chizuru looked fondly at the Ring on her finger. It felt natural to her and she actually liked wearing it. For one it did deter anyone from hitting on her. Not just Umi. She had noticed others had stopped as well. No one she did not know tried to engage her in conversation. Or tried to even talk to her. Though she did find out that there were a few that still hit on her. Wanting her to be in some type of sorted affair. But she had them hit on her even more when she was not pretending to be engaged. In her musings and due to she was not really paying attention. She did not even notice when someone approached her. Someone that she really did not like to talk to. Mami Nanami. So when Kazuya's one time EX stepped right in front of her. What she wanted to do was just duck around her and not deal with her at all.

"I heard...I heard from Kibe...That you...That you and Kazuya are..." Mami was about to continue but Chizuru cut her off.

"We are engaged. Is that what you wanted to know?" Chizuru held up her left hand Mami stared at the Ring wide eyed.

"NO! That...That cannot be...How is this even...You are...How can this be?" Mami blubbered out and Chizuru had an urge to laugh at her. Instead she smiled broadly.

"We...We love each other...So why not get Engaged." Chizuru said knowing she was lying to her but did not care. She suspected that most of the problems and issues that Kazuya had gone through was all due to Mami. She wanted that to stop. He deserved to not have some vindictive bitch attempt to make his life miserable all the time. "If that is all you wanted to ask...Then I am leaving. I have better things to do then talk to you." With that she moved around a stupefied Mami and headed back home. In route she made the conscious decision that in time the fake engagement she had with Kazuya. Would be a real one.

The Moment: One Month Later (Different Confession other then Series)

"Since your Grandma...I am so sorry about...You know...Her...I am sorry and well...I guess we can now...End this. Right?" Kazuya said as he stood outside his Apartment on the Balcony with Chizuru. He held out his hand so that she could return his Grandmother's engagement Ring. She looked at her hand and then at Kazuya. She had not taken it off the day after her Grandmother had passed away and now did not want to ever again. She wanted to continue wearing it and she wanted to be with Kazuya for real.

"No. I do not want to. You were there for me when I needed someone...You are always there for me and...and...I do not want to...Give it back." Chizuru said putting her left hand behind her and Kazuya for a moment believed that she was essentially going to steal the Diamond Ring. But he knew she would not do that. It was not in her nature to be that way. "I am keeping it Kazuya." She told him possessively and he did not understand what was happening.

"H...H...How?" Kazuya asked and Chizuru smiled at him moving closer to stand right in front of him.

"That is easy...I want to...I want to continue being engaged to you. But this time...For real." With that Chizuru glided forward placing her hands on his shoulders. Then leaned her head back and at the same time pressed her lips against his. Kissing him. At first he stiffened in shock and as she continued to kiss him he slowly relaxed enough to come to terms that she was actually kissing him. It blew his mind and he felt faint over what she just said.

"What...What is going on?" Kazuya stammered out utterly confused and Chizuru chuckled.

"Don't you understand Kazuya...I...I have fallen in love with you and I...and I want to be with you. I want to at some point...Marry you." With that Chizuru kissed him again and Kazuya was too mystified to even think or at first even respond. All he knew was that the Girl he was head over heals in love with was kissing him and that they were really engaged now.

The End