*pokes head in* I'm surprised I got readers xD I thought the moment people saw Gaki x nameless random guy paired up, they'd click X and run away LOL Apologies all around for breaking hearts with Chapter 1, and with the ridiculously AU-ness of it all >__< I promise it'll get better. I kind of got sucker-punched by bee in some roundabout way to bring ya'll a happy ending (-ish) but I haven't decided yet lol So no promises, everyone =] Ideas come and go after all.
Thanks for reading, commenting, supporting and all that lovely stuff. Much love!!! But before I run away with all your hearts, just another warning for this chapter for the readers that aren't too keen on GakixGuy. There's a bleh moment that you could probably do without reading, but I put it in there anyway
because I can because it needed to be done because I am the biggest troll because...well I don't really have a reason
I could say character development, buuuuuuuuuuuut I don't think it's a good excuse so I'll just grab my bags and run for the hills xD I tried to make it up towards the end!! You'll see!...SO DROP THE KNIVES AND PITCHFORKS!!!
So, yeah. I kind of just thrashed the whole "Oh, they're all just married to men" idea upon everyone from the get-go, with no fluff and stuff in the middle to soften the blow. I understand it's a weird thing to think about, but just hang tight. For now I guess all I can say is that things aren't what they seem...On that note, I'd also like to confess that I suck with dialogue lol
No song of the chapter for this one. At least not one in particular. I recommend going to pandora and listening to the juan serrano station, though. Lots of great flamenco music ahah If not, sexy island songs work just as efficiently to get into that Spanish mood
but if anyone is curious, I do have a song rec lol by the k-indie band The Finnn:
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rndmnwierd: Thanks for reading ^__^ Hopefully I won't make you mad in future chapters, but I tend to troll and go off the beaten path and break OTPs LOL But please don't let me discourage you!!! Bee will have my head if I can't make the ending at least a happy one somehow haha
kawaii beam: I wouldn't mind getting shot with a sexy beam or something along those lines haha lawd knows that'll do me some good ahha thanks for reading ^__^
kurosawa87: much love
mochi.rini: true statement is true, but you give me too much credit xD it ain't that good!!!
and yeah, a bit out-of-character/AU-ish, but I got the idea after watching a movie several years ago and I was just hellbent on making it happen with idol fandom haha But I'm glad you're reading it even though it's not the typical takagaki lovin' fic. Gaki does sound like a pretty good wife, ne? The reason behind their Chinese takeout dinner dates will be explained in this chapter since I never really delved into the type of job Risa had in the first one. Hopefully it'll clarify some things for you =]
miglop: are you from Spain or something? If so, ummmmmm LET ME LIVE THERE TOOOOOOOOO!!!
Bee: AHHHH A BEE COMMENTARY/EPIC COMMENT <333333 i feel so unworthy <3333
I guess it never occurred to me how easily Gaki gave in, but I'll just say that it's all because she's obviously in denial and bored with life. Needs a change of pace and all that. OR I COULD JUST BE PULLING THAT OUT OF MY ASS trollololol <3 And yes, to answer your question, I love Spain <3 Seriously, have you seen their football team? < /shallow>
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Aaaaaaand here's chapter 2!!!
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Ryousuke took the news surprisingly well. Actually, it had shocked Gaki when he had avidly accepted Nacchi's proposal to visit almost as soon as she had mentioned it. She could hardly believe the sight of her fiancé practically wolfing down his meal, all while enthusiastically informing her about all the beautiful Spanish churches they could possibly hold their wedding that he found on his iPhone. They had an app for that sort of thing, apparently.
The man she chose to marry was never one to be overenthusiastic about much of anything outside of his work, but she truly admired him for his strong work ethic...which is why she wondered why he was so adamant about taking off work for once in his life to go have a spontaneous wedding trip to a foreign country. She poked at a lone carrot stick on her plate as she mused to herself, convinced that he was probably just having one of those momentary 20-something crises. Even the strongest of men had their breakdowns, even if Ryousuke's was more of a positive one, she thought to herself.
An incessant tapping of his index finger along the space on the table between them brought her attention back to reality. Her vision focused on the iPhone screen he held before her: A picture of an extravagant interior of one of the several churches in Barcelona that no doubt piqued her fiancé's interest. She placed her fork down on her plate and took a closer look at the picture on the screen, and shook her head gently before giving the phone back to her fiancé, who donned a brief look of disappointment on his face as he reluctantly received the device.
"Not to your liking?" he inquired, a very evident tinge of a crestfallen frown forming on his lips.
Gaki shook her head lightly and stared outside the window at the passersby that sped by. "Maybe we should find a quaint little chapel instead. Aren't those basilicas just a bit too...much?"
He readjusted his glasses upon the bridge of his nose and placed the phone back into his jacket's pocket. "Perhaps you're right," he paused to take a bite out of his sandwich. "I was just getting a bit too excited, wasn't I?" He noted the look of amusement on his companion's face, watching as her hand carefully reached across the table to wipe a smudge of mayo at the corner of his mouth.
"Just a bit," she giggled as she wiped her dirtied finger on the napkin on her lap. "But, I feel the same way, Ryousuke. It never even struck me that we could go elsewhere for our wedding!" They were quite a boring couple after all, for lack of a better description. Boring, but happy. Though, as of late, the latter needed more convincing. For her, anyway.
Ryousuke wiped his mouth with his own napkin, a serious look fell on his face. "Gaki-san, would you mind going to Spain ahead of me?"
Risa stopped sipping from her straw, the water trapped a mere few breaths away from its destination before it slowly fell back down in its container. "Eh, nani?" A look of regret on her fiancé's face was enough evidence for her to deduce some otherwise inevitable news from her predictable man. She watched quietly as he rubbed the his temples lightly, not so eagerly anticipating the delivery of his unpleasant news.
"I have some business proposals and meetings to finish before I can call off. The company won't run itself without me, you know...Would you mind terribly leaving without me for a few weeks? It would give you some time to do some searching and relaxing on your own, without me nagging of course," he chuckled lightly.
She half-expected this. Her fiancé, the fearless and work-driven CEO, star businessman. His own boss, his own harshest critic. If anyone in this world managed to punch in more hours at the office than herself, it would be this guy. She, of course, was somewhat disappointed, but the inexplicable relief of not having to deal with his sometimes overbearing personality on this much-needed vacation was something of a godsend for Risa. She chose to shrug the feeling off without so much as a word. The slightest frown formed on her face, almost as though she was trying to convince herself that she would miss him. Maybe.
But she loved him, honestly! Right? She grabbed the forgotten fork in her hand and poked at the single carrot stick on her plate again. No, really, she did love him. Her thoughts were surely just scattered after that unexpected call from Nacchi. Yeah, that sounded about right.
...Right? She mentally scoffed and noted how ridiculous she was acting right now. Of course she would miss him. They haven't been apart since their first coffee date, absolutely inseparable! Man, these pre-wedding jitters were just striking all sorts of inappropriate nerves at the most inappropriate times. She decided to silently blame it all on Nacchi. "That's understandable," she muttered under her breath, her attention still locked on the carrot stick on her plate. She noted the frown forming on her fiancé's face from the corner of her eye. The feeling of guilt was unpleasantly forming on top of her conscience, tearing at her for even thinking it was okay to go on this vacation of sorts without her beloved and not miss him the slightest.
He reached across the table to her hand that handled the fork, and eased her to release her hold on the utensil. His eyes were locked until she looked up at him. A pleading look. "I'll do my best to finish these proposals as quickly as possible and join you there soon."
Gaki knew he was not one to make empty promises, but once again, she felt as though she wouldn't mind if it were one...She flashed him a smile, and held his hand in hers. "Don't worry, Ryousuke. I'll do my best if you do yours!" She swore she meant those words sincerely.
His expression eased into a softer one, a smile of relief tugging at his lips. In a blink of an eye, his businessman persona took the stage front and center once more. "Alright, that's good to hear. I'll set up your flight for the end of the week, so be sure to call when you arrive-" he paused to place a few bills on the table -"And be sure to take several pictures of locations you're interested in! We need to inform our family and friends ASAP so they can plan accordingly, alright?"
Gaki mentally rolled her eyes. Sometimes it was difficult to separate Ryousuke from his workplace persona, but she swore it was something she would get used to, especially after their wedding. But then again, maybe this vacation was just what the doctor ordered...maybe. Or maybe she was being selfish? Or maybe she should be diagnosed with bipolar; she just wasn't even sure anymore. Man, those words left a bitter taste in her mouth. She shook her head furiously as she stood from her seat, following her fiancé suit as he made his way toward the exit. There go these wild thoughts again...
They left the restaurant hand-in-hand.
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The clock on their nightstand read 4:34 and she could hear the rain falling outside. Her vision was fixed lazily on the ceiling above her as she quietly lay underneath the sheets of the bed she shared with Ryousuke, trying to ease her ragged breathing. Her fiancé laid beside her, his breathing just as ragged as hers. He draped a hand across her chest, playing with a few stray strands of her hair as he panted heavily from his mouth onto his pillow.
She turned her head to the man beside her. Both were too obviously spent from their earlier activities to say anything, not that they needed to. Gaki extended a weary hand and ran her fingers through his sweaty hair, hoping it would ease him just a tad. The sound of sirens and the rain outside were doing an excellent job of lulling them both to sleep.
"I love you, you know..." he whispered breathlessly.
Her eyes were half-lidded as she recovered from the aftermath of their lovemaking, and even after hearing those words, her expression never changed. Gaki almost felt the need to regret her earlier anxiety once she heard him say those words. He was never one for playful flirtations or blatant displays of affection, of this she was aware; she knew this the moment they had started becoming "serious." To hear him say that, in the midst of passion...it was a rare moment. She wasn't sure what brought it about, but she decided she didn't care enough to find out; she just knew she liked it, this feeling of being loved.
She would depart for Spain in about 5 hours, leaving behind the love of her life...so why was she feeling so apprehensive earlier, again? Shame on her for doubting. Shame on her for feeling anxious. Shame, shame, shame...Maybe she should see a doctor while visiting Spain, she mused to herself. Gaki felt his hand release her hair, sliding his fingertips from the nape of her neck, down her sweat-sheened chest, to her waist and pulled her closer to himself. She could feel his warm breath against her skin. Turning her head to catch a peak of her fiancé, she saw that he had already fallen asleep. Yeah, this was comfortable, she thought; this was love. "...Me, too," she whispered in reply.
She wondered why she worried. She wondered about a lot of things. But as she allowed her eyes to be overcome by weariness, she was still convinced she loved him. As the rain continued to pour outside, their clock read 4:59.
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Upon landing, Gaki could immediately sense the drastic change of pace and lifestyle from her conventional high-strung business routine in Japan. The air seemed sweeter, the sun shined brighter, and the people walked with a more carefree stride as she made her way to the exit of the airport. She wondered if she'd enjoy this easygoing atmosphere in Spain, wondered if this is what Nacchi had found so refreshing about the country when she first arrived there those many years ago.
With some help from the cab driver, she was able to load her luggage into the trunk, and after providing the driver with a piece of paper with her senpai's address, she relaxed into the backseat of the car, indulging in the beautiful sites as they drove by. The pictures Ryousuke had shown her constantly throughout the week prior did no justice for the remarkable city. From the overwhelming grandeur of the classic architecture of the basilicas, to the modern skyline superstructures that offered a sharp contrast to the old school flavor of the aforementioned religious sites, and to the charmingly modest local shops scattered throughout the city; from the sounds of some boisterous youth happily engaged in a game of soccer, to the lighthearted conversations among close friends over a cup of afternoon coffee; from the familiar smell of musky car-exhaust that polluted the metropolitan business end to the delicious aroma of freshly prepared tapas escaping the doors of the various restaurants that lined the streets. It was all so wonderful, and regardless of the jet lag that wearied her, Gaki couldn't wait to get on her feet and experience everything the city had to offer her.
She can't remember the last time she took time off her busy schedule to stop and just smell the tapas...er, flowers. Right. Indulging in those sorts of worldly pleasures was something her mother had taught her not to do. Now, Gaki wasn't selfish after all (she mentally went through her Rolodex of personal life choices again), and she always focused all her energy in academic and personal achievements growing up. When she entered the corporate business world shortly after graduating from university, she had dedicated most of her time to work. Sales had increased drastically under her ministrations, but the female companions that befriended her throughout her time at the company were worried the young woman might have been overdoing it. "No wonder you and Ryousuke-san are together. You're both such workaholics. Live a little," they always preached. One could only imagine the surprised expressions on their faces when Gaki informed them of her vacation from the department. The idea of rest and relaxation was so foreign, but as the car pulled into a driveway that presumably belonged to her senpai's, Gaki felt like she wouldn't mind trying it out.
As she stepped out of the vehicle dumbfounded and mouth agape, she said a quick "Gracias" to the driver. Her luggage was placed beside her and she paid the kind man his dues before he drove off, leaving her alone to stare at the beautiful house before her. It was more of a mansion, to be quite frank, something one would never see in the metropolitan jungle of her Japan. The tan coloration on the walls of the foundation was highlighted beautifully by the the garden's wide array of colorful flowers that surrounded the entire perimeter of the home and the luscious green vines that climbed its lengths, which extended as far as the open balcony where she spotted an outdoor dining area. Her eyes slowly savored the rich colors surrounding her as she lugged her bags up the steps to the front door of the villa. With each step, her view of the city was no longer hindered by the steel gates that fenced the house atop its private hill overlooking what seemed like all of Barcelona. The view was breathtaking: the sun was beginning to set, casting a shade of rustic orange upon the city, the night lights emerging from various locations, one-by-one with each second that passed.
At last, Gaki reached the top of the steps, her luggage settled safely at her side. She took in a big breath to calm any nerves; it had been so long since she had last seen her friend. Charming as both women were, time had a knack for changing people, for better or for worse. After a few knocks on the door, the young woman released a heavy breath and fiddled with the hem of her shirt, wondering if anyone was home, or if anyone could even hear her knocks inside the huge mansion. Finally, after what felt like a lifetime of waiting, she saw the doorknob twist and slowly, the door opened to reveal her beloved senpai.
Nacchi had not aged a single day. After however many years since her university days, the woman still had her youthful looks, her darling smile, and her charming eyes. Her hair had grown much longer, but otherwise the woman before her was exactly the same senpai that had left Tokyo all those years ago. The older woman greeted her with a warm smile, extending her arms forward to envelope her guest in a warm embrace. How very much like the Nacchi from way back when; still kind, still welcoming. It brought relief to her nervous kouhai wrapped in her arms. She released the young woman, placing a firm grip on her shoulders as she examined her kouhai from head to toe.
"Oh Gaki-san," Abe began, pulling the younger back into another warm embrace. "You look absolutely beautiful! You've grown so much since your first year at university!" She forced them apart again, opting to look at her friend once again. Grabbing her tiny hands, Abe noted, "I see you still fancy those elaborate decorations on your fingernails." She proceeded to pat Niigaki's hair, running her hand down appreciatively, admiring the soft texture against her fingertips. "And you've grown your hair! And you're getting married!!" Another embrace; this was the last one, she swore. "Is there anything else I don't know about? A tattoo? A piercing?"
Gaki just chuckled as her senpai released her and took some of her luggage inside. If it was at all possible, Gaki felt her jaw drop further at the sight of the interior of the home. Nacchi seemed to have quite the taste for the modern minimalist style, and every piece of furniture was wood, leather, or a combination of the two. Potted plants were scattered about the home, adding a splash of life to the otherwise dull color palette of the interior. A collection of various abstract paintings and tapestries decorated the white walls at each floor, and one could not even begin to count the plethora of books that was organized along the entire wall beside the staircase. No doubt a fine collection developed by her friend's husband, unless Nacchi miraculously developed quite an affinity for literature throughout the years. As the elder woman led her through the maze of rooms in the house and up the stairs to the second floor, Gaki wondered how lonely it must have been to live in a beautiful, but spacious and empty home, especially with only a husband for company. Luckily for her, she and Ryousuke shared a more practically sized living space.
Nacchi directed the woman to her bedroom, and both women placed their bags aside and jointly fell onto the bed out of presumable exhaustion. As Gaki began to unload some things from her suitcase, Nacchi said, "Hopefully this room will be enough for you and your fiance...where is he by the way?"
Oh. She had totally forgotten to tell her senpai that Ryousuke was still stranded in Japan, fulfilling his endless obligations to the company and leaving her alone in this foreign country. Silly her, how could she have forgotten? A mock look of shock played on Gaki's face as she replied, "It must have slipped my mind when we were talking, Abe-san! Ryousuke is still in Japan. He's quite the workaholic, you know. But he said he will be coming in a few weeks time, if that's alright with you..." Gaki couldn't quite read the thoughts behind her senpai's expression, but she wondered why Nacchi had remained rather quiet. Perhaps it was rude to keep that tidbit out of their several phone conversations, but surely it hadn't offended the older woman somehow. She could swear that she saw a mischievous glint in the woman's eyes, but shrugged it off as the subsequent effects of jetlag toying with her senses.
"Oh, that's totally understandable, Gaki-san. My husband's quite a workaholic as well, so I know just how you feel," Nacchi said with melancholic smile. After a few minutes of silence from both parties, Nacchi picked herself up from the bed and helped fold some of Gaki's clothes on the bed. "It's getting a bit late and I could only imagine how tired you must be right now. I'll have dinner waiting for you downstairs and you can come join me any time after you're finished here." She paused to place the last of Gaki's tops neatly on the pile she had made, glancing at her kouhai and flashing her a kind smile before stepping out of the room to prepare their meal.
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Mr. Yamamoto was exactly as Nacchi had described him: Tall, clean-cut, and as attractive as all those pretty boy Johnny's idols back home. He had a joke for just about every topic that was mentioned over their meal that would never fail to set Nacchi off into a fit of laughter, and he was obviously well-versed in all sorts worldly news and factoids. The man definitely had a knack for conversation and was quite the catch. Gaki couldn't believe a guy like this could be a lawyer, but his charm was probably his secret weapon in the courtroom. His dashing good looks might have helped, as well. She quickly changed her mind about him over dinner. As she observed the couple from the opposite side of the table, she saw the look of sincere joy in both of their eyes as they shamelessly flirted with one another in her presence. She didn't mind, not at all. But as she took a sip from her glass, she couldn't help but wonder (there she goes again...) if she and Ryousuke would end up similarly. You know, in love. It almost made her jealous, made her miss him.
But she was thankful that the lovely couple put their flirtations on hold and re-introduced her into their conversation. "So, Gaki-san, your fiancé will be joining us in a few weeks?" Mr. Yamamoto asked, wrapping an arm around Nacchi as he relaxed into his chair. They all sat outside in the open dining section of Nacchi's home, underneath the full moon and overlooking the bright lights of the evening city life of Barcelona down below. Gaki only nodded in silence.
"That's excellent! You should take this time to just relax and see what Barcelona has to offer. I'm sure Nacchi wouldn't mind missing a telenovela episode or two to show you around the city. Maybe you'll find the chapel of your dreams! I remember how stressful wedding planning was, and I was just the groom!" he laughed heartily to himself, his pearly whites shining brightly against the candle lights at the dinner table. Nacchi grinned and elbowed him gently, cutting her husband's entertainment short. And as the threesome engaged in more rounds of wonderful Spanish wine and enthused wedding planning, Gaki was simply thankful she was in great company. Little did she know, however, that this would be her first and only relaxing evening in Barcelona.
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Gaki never knew it was possible to hurt in all places of her body. Her head was aching from the constant and indulgent wine-drinking and her legs were suffering from walking several miles around the city in shoes that were definitely not designed for such strenuous travels. It had been about a week since she had first landed in Barcelona, and Nacchi had already managed to show her every church, chapel, and basilica that the city had to offer. A few had piqued her interest, and Gaki made sure to make a mental note of those places. She also sent Ryousuke various pictures she had taken with her phone of the said locations, and her fiancé's reply was always something along the lines of, "Looks great! Do you want to get married there?" Gaki didn't feel comfortable making the decision via phone communication, so she opted to ignore his texts until he was there to experience each location by her side.
It was very difficult to not think of him. Everyone in the city seemed to be in love and Nacchi wasn't lying when she said that the city's atmosphere was nothing but love, wine, and tapas. It made her nauseated but she missed him terribly and called him often, every night actually. Although he was obviously busy, he would always entertain her phone calls as he worked, insisting that he was that much closer to joining her in Spain with each day that passed. There would always be bouts of silence on his end, when Gaki would only hear the sound of a mouse clicking and fingers typing, but she decided that was much better than hearing nothing from him at all. He had given her an exact date one evening, after one of his typing concertos at the office, but she never recalled it; she might have fallen asleep by the time he had divulged that information to her. At this point, Gaki simply didn't care when, as long as he would actually show up and save her from another day of wedding planning, sight-seeing, and drinking.
Another day, however, another part of the city. This time, Nacchi had dragged her limping body to the outskirts of Barcelona, a much quieter but nonetheless enchanting part of the city. As her senpai was distracted by a street vendor selling homemade clothing accessories, Gaki grabbed at the opportunity to escape the woman and find a quiet place to ease the pain from her weary legs. Her sights darted left and right, eagerly searching for a tiny piece of paradise in the small town square. Her eyes sparkled with delight when she saw a water fountain at the center of the square, devoid of much commotion and ruckus, and most importantly Nacchi. As she reached the precious spot, Gaki took a seat along the edge of the fountain, eventually deciding that it was okay to just lay herself down completely. She closed her eyes and granted her mind the satisfaction of drifting away to dreamland, relishing in the simple joy of finally being able to rest from her strenuous journey across the city with Nacchi. The sound of the water from the fountain helped her release any tension from her weary legs and the faint melody of a Spanish guitar in the distance eased her shoulders against the cold stone of the fountain's foundation. It wouldn't kill her, she thought, if she chose to just lay there and indulge without care for a little while longer; Nacchi could wait, wherever the hell she was.
The song she heard was stifled from where she reclined, and regardless of how comfortable her position, Gaki found herself standing upon pained feet. She endured the sharp pangs of pure agony that rushed up and down her legs as she allowed herself to be drawn closer and closer toward the faint melody, toward a secluded cafe far from the town square. It struck her odd that so many people were concentrated at a single location; the guitar sounded absolutely beautiful, but surely people could admire the sounds from afar just as she had. Pushing passed the tightly packed onlookers, it only took but a single moment for Gaki to realize just why these people were pressed shoulder-to-shoulder.
The man who wielded the guitar seemed aged and weary, his gray eyes covered by closed lids as he played his instrument with such passion. His fingers swiftly strummed against the strings of his guitar, producing the most beautiful Spanish melody that Gaki swore was too perfect to be impromptu. The heel of his free leg tapped against the ground to the rhythm, his head tilted in all sorts of directions as he lost himself in the music. But the man was not what had attracted all these people, or at least not for Niigaki Risa. She could feel her eyes glaze over as they finally met with other vision before her.
Indeed, the other sight was a thing of pure, breathtaking beauty. Before them stood a single, petite young woman clad in a simple flamenco dress: the top portion was white, with off-shoulder sleeves that exposed just a taste of her slender figure. Around her waist was a belted black waist corset that accentuated her chest and tight midsection rather beautifully, surely making several women in the crowd green with pure envy. The sharp contrast of a deep shade of crimson red colored the remainder of her frilled dress, a single slit that lingered dangerously close to her hips offered a very generous view of the woman's creamy white thighs. Her honey brown hair was tied in a loose ponytail, the bound, loose curls draped over one shoulder to rest daintily on her chest. A red rose she donned over a single ear sharply contrasted the woman's fair skin, though her cheeks were flushed from her efforts and her lips were painted with a rich red lipstick. Her eyes were smoldering, the sultry expression on her delicate face was undoubtedly tantalizing to every man and woman that observed appreciatively in the crowd.
Gaki was absolutely mesmerized, overwhelmed by the sheer emotion from the perfect combination of song and dance before her. She marveled at every sway of the woman's hips, every powerful tap of her heel at the wooden floorboards beneath her, every graceful hand gesture that painted a picture of the most exquisite imaginary design in the air as she moved one with the rhythm. It was an exhilarating burst to her senses, and she did not feel like waking up from her daze any time soon.
The guitarist was shaking madly as he totally lost himself completely in his music, his hand clashing violently against the strings of his guitar as he built up his crescendo to the final measures of his song. The young dancer lifted and twirled the skirt of her dress daintily, yet with as much gusto as the man that played his guitar. She danced about in circles, her hands gracefully following the melody, her heels powerful stomping and sounding against the wearing floorboards. But the song ended far too soon for Gaki, and an immediate upheaval of applause, cheers, and catcalls from the crowd filled the air.
The dancer held her pose for a moment longer, her chest rising and falling as she desperately tried to catch her breath after her own powerful display. The guitarist rested his guitar on the chair he sat on, grunting as he made an obvious effort to get on his feet as the crowd clapped on. He staggered over with heavy feet to the tiny dancer, wrapping an arm around her girded waist once he reached her. The beautiful woman eased from her pose as her vision finally came back into focus on her surroundings. The man and the woman shared a light kiss on the cheek before the two finally parted in the midst of the ongoing clapping from their appreciative crowd.
Almost immediately the crowd around her scattered in every direction. All Gaki really wanted to do was to personally tell that pretty little dancer how amazing her performance was. But as she struggled to navigate her way through the sea of people, she found that it was becoming more and more difficult to locate her target. And once the people dispersed to their respective locations, her person of interest was nowhere to be found. She frowned, slightly disappointed over her failure to meet with that woman.
"THERE YOU ARE, GAKI-SAN!"
She turned around at that sudden sound of her name. It was none other than Nacchi, who unfortunately was not the person she wanted to see, but would have to do for now. The older woman didn't seem mad, despite her tone of voice; rather, a look of relief planted itself square on the woman's features. Gaki almost forgot that they had been separated for some time since they had arrived to the small town. Oops.
"What are you even doing here? Did you want something to eat?" Nacchi asked, her voice almost as frantic as the look on her face.
Oh right. She had stumbled upon this tiny cafe near the outskirts of the town, mesmerized by the sound of a Spanish guitar and the sight of a beautiful dancer. But the mention of food struck the appropriate chord; almost as if on cue, a rather distinct grumble from her stomach surfaced. She didn't feel the need to explain to her senpai how or why she even got here, so she merely nodded in response, her stomach and her legs incredibly grateful for the much needed rest and relaxation.
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The two friends reclined in their chairs in pleasant silence. Her appetite was satiated and her feet finally regained feeling, and despite the wonderful satisfaction that came with girl-time gossip over her dinnertime break with Nacchi, she couldn't help but ponder over the odds of running into that woman again. Probably zero to none. The thought came to mind when she saw the guitarist from before take a seat at the center of the cafe, playing another one of his perfect impromptu pieces for the dining guests. Risa's eyes darted to and fro, hoping to catch sight of that dancer. Surely she would make an appearance with her musician companion once more!
Alas, her searching was futile; her sights only met with one very confused senpai and countless other dining guests lost in their own conversations. Gaki eased into her chair, resting her body against the cushioned backrest. If Ryousuke were here, he would probably make a comment or two about her infatuation with this stranger, and said comments would probably sound something like "That's very unprofessional of you, Gaki-san. Imagine what our colleagues would think!" It was always about image with that man. But it begged to asked: Why was she so drawn to that woman? It was a peculiar fascination that she had. Was it sincere infatuation or was she merely being selfishly indulgent? "Or maybe I should stop thinking so much," she thought quietly to herself. These personal inquiries that plagued her mind were getting more ridiculous with each and every day. What was getting into her? It must be the water, she reasoned as she poured some more wine into her cup.
As she swirled the wine in its glass, a certain someone caught her attention from the corner of her eye. What were those odds again? Gaki could hear playful, flirtatious exchanges between that someone and a random stranger at the dinner table adjacent to the one she shared with Nacchi. The beautiful woman that captured her eye stood up from her table, glass of wine in hand as she bid her companion adieu. Gaki could feel her breath catch painfully in her throat when she found herself making eye contact with the beautiful stranger, even if it was only a fleeting moment. She could swear she saw the slightest trace of a coy look in the woman's eyes before slipping into the crowd on the dance floor. A heavy breath - a heavy burden - was laboriously released upon the woman's disappearance.
Nacchi couldn't help but laugh at the young woman's innocent reaction. "You know, Gaki-san, she's quite popular around here." A smile played on her lips once she caught her companion's full attention. "The woman you were staring at so conspicuously..." - Gaki almost choked on her wine - "...she's quite well-known in these parts of Barcelona." She paused to offer her kouhai a napkin as she coughed violently from across the table.
"How so?" Gaki asked, her voice gruff from her strenuous efforts to recover.
"Well, for one thing," Nacchi started, listing her observations with her fingers,"...she's obviously very beautiful, and you know the Spanish people's appreciation for beautiful things."
Gaki found herself subconsciously recalling the beautiful sight of that beautiful stranger dancing earlier that afternoon. That sultry look in her eyes as she dance and twirled, the way her tied and loosely curled hair rested upon her chest during those painfully brief moments of less boisterous dancing, the way her milky white skin glistened with sweat from her obvious efforts in her performance. She took another sip from her glass.
"...And the people in this neighborhood love watching her dance on the weekends, if you weren't already aware from the crowd she drew this afternoon," Nacchi continued, resting her chin upon intertwined fingers.
It was true; Gaki could only recall that from hindsight, of course. She tried to focus her mind's eye on the crowd around her as she recalled the previous setting. Indeed, from where she sat by the fountain, Risa remembered just how much effort she put into pushing her way through the crowd surrounding the square to catch a better view of the woman that managed to entrance everyone around her.
"She's a very respected dancer. Many people claim that the girl received her training from one of the best dancers in Spain, but it came with quite a price, as you could only imagine. Rumor has it she sold most of her personal belongings to gather enough money to pay for those lessons, but she could have very possibly even sold herself. No one really knows." Nacchi took a sip from her glass, her eyes taking note of Gaki's undivided attention on her; the older woman couldn't help but smile privily to herself before she continued. "Her mother used to be quite the dancer herself, performing at various public venues across the country for money. But soon after she had her daughter, she had a terrible accident that left her invalid. Luckily for her, the daughter was absolutely inspired by her mother's profession that she worked hard to get dance lessons, not only to support her mother, but to fulfill her dream of joining one of Spain's top most flamenco dance troupes. The unexpected pregnancy had prevented her from doing so. You see, she was a Japanese woman that left her hometown of Fukui so she could achieve her dreams here in Spain. She left her lover as well, but she wasn't aware of her own pregnancy until she was already established as an accomplished dancer here. And yet oddly enough, she decided to keep her daughter," Nacchi paused to drink from her glass again. "...You'd think she would be eager to give up the very thing that prevented her from reaching her dreams. This is all just hearsay, of course, but it's an odd world we live in ne, Gaki-san?"
Gaki could only nod in silence. It wasn't enough that this strange woman was beautiful, but she just so happened to have admirable qualities beyond aesthetics as well? It made her wonder where all her luck went in all her years of living. She insisted in feigning mild boredom with the subject. "Just a bit..."
Nacchi leaned her elbows against the tabletop, slowly closing the proximity between herself and her kouhai. "But you know, Gaki-san, there's more to that woman than meets the eye."
Gaki was about to inquire her senpai what she meant by that when the sudden emergence of a figure at their table caught her complete attention. It was her, it was that beautiful woman. Risa could feel her throat rapidly drying and her palms sweating almost immediately at the sight of her. It all seemed rather juvenile, but what else was she supposed to do? The rapid pounding in her chest made it hard to think straight, much less breathe properly. "Ara," she struggled to say, "...Who might you be?"
The beautiful young woman smiled. Those eyes that were once smoldering with intense emotion now eased into gentle and kind half-moons. She brushed her fringe away from her eyes, and extended her hand to the awestruck Gaki in front of her. "My name is Takahashi Ai."
--------------------------[End Chapter 2]----------------------------------
DUN DUN DUN! And now Ai comes into the fray. I wonder what'll happen next. *runs for the hills*
Topic: Honto no Kimochi - True Feelings (CHAPTER 7 - updated 07/10) (Read 14794 times)