@rokun: Thank you for the incredibly long and thoughtful comment. Having you read my fic is a huge honour since you ARE one of the
best writers in here. Ai actually ran away to New York not Korea. I'm sorry for making readers confused. I guess I'm just not good in writing clearly or making sense *hides*
Eri is hiding from Ai things around Risa but Reina isn't. The reason why Eri isn't as up to date about Sayu's progess is cuz she isn't at the hospital as much as Reina is. The relationship between KameMame is still unclear at this point. It will be explained in the future and what Ai thinks will also be revealed in time. *Gasps* I undate this only once in 2 months? Gosh, I thought it was faster than that. Looks like I'll have to speed things up more
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Glass SlipperChapter 9 - Cursed [Part 1] Upon arrival at the Palace hotel, a concierge standing by the door came up to greet her straightaway. Spreading one arm out to point in the direction they would be taking, she gestured for the nineteen year old to trail behind as she led the way. They strolled through a grand lobby and went up a short ride in the mirrored elevators. Excusing herself with a low bow outside a massive door, Sayumi was then left alone in a foreign environment. Without any warning, the doors opened and a spotlight fell on her. Walking inside towards the other end of the dim area, another beam shined on a person dressed in a tuxedo. From behind his back, he produced a single rose stalk and offered it to her.
"You made it usagi-chan."
From his other hand, he brought out a feathered mask.
"Welcome to your very own masquerade party."
Helping her put on the mask, Kuu guided her to the middle of the dance floor where the first few notes of a waltz began to play. Taking one of her hands in his own, he put his free hand around her waist, pulling her in to lean perfectly against his body. Remaining in that position, the handsome pair swayed and twirled flawlessly for every step of the piece. Finding herself getting lost in the beautiful music and atmosphere, Sayumi was almost sorry to hear the song end. Making use of the break in the melody, she brought up the question she had been dying to know. Did Kuu arrange all of this to celebrate their knowing each other for three months?
"Why the extravagance? You aren't hiding something from me are you?"
Her teasing remark full of mischief was intended to poke fun at Kuu but sadly, Sayumi didn't know she had hit the nail on the head. Noticing his hands subtly getting rigid, Sayumi's breathe started to hitch in her throat.
Was Kuu tired of her? Is this a last farewell present before breaking off? Has he finally decided that she was much too old for his youthful self? Numerous questions raced through her mind and Sayumi didn't know what to think. She didn't know what her reaction would be if Kuu really was intending to end their short-lived relationship. Would she break down in tears sobbing at his feet begging him to stay? Or would she strike him across the cheek with a heartless slap? Sayumi didn't want to have to find out.
Not daring to face her intense stare, Kuu settled his line of sight on a nearby decoration item perched on top of a podium. Increasing the grip on her slender arm, he uttered dejectedly.
"I'm...I'm leaving Japan."
Though the party mask he was wearing hid most of his face from view, Sayumi could sense the sadness evident in his soulful eyes.
Was he crying? In a sudden movement, Kuu took Sayumi into his arms, embracing her so tightly that she could barely move. Subsequently burying his face within her flowing tresses, he wept uncontrollably, shedding a stream of heartbreaking tears. The agony and pain from knowing he would have to be separated from Sayumi for several years hurt him deeply. Nonetheless, he had no choice but to leave her side.
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"Ow."
Groaning and moaning in pain, Reina tossed and twisted restlessly on her queen-sized water bed. Her skull felt like it was going to split open at any moment and she wholly regretted drinking so much the night before. Lazing on the supple mattress with her limps spread out in a star fish pose, she sighed dramatically, wondering how long it was going to take for her hangover to cease this time.
With her mind wandering aimlessly, her train of thought abruptly settled on how she made her way home the previous night. Racking her exhausted brain for the answer, the fuzzy form of an individual soon became visible in her mind's eye. Upon realizing who he was, Reina shot out of bed like an arrow released from its bow and headed straight for the place where she knew her father would be.
Jun!Sprinting along the snaking walkways of the manor built in a traditional Japanese style, Reina screeched to a stop on her heels outside Mr. Tanaka's study room and popped her head inside, screaming at the top of her lungs in a piercing tone.
"DADDY, TELL ME YOU DIDN'T KILL JUN!"
Lifting his eyes to glance at his daughter for a brief second, he quickly returned his attention to the chess board laid out in front of him.
"Is he so important to you that you can't even dress appropriately before coming to see me?"
Going to kneel down next to her father, Reina willfully swiped her hands to and fro above the game, determined to find out more.
"Did you hack him to pieces? Where did you dump the body?!"
"Move away Reina. I'm trying to counter the attack."
Refusing to budge, Reina wasn't going to let the matter rest so easily and persisted in disturbing him. Unbeknownst to the stubborn girl, her doting father was secretly smirking at seeing her frenzied behavior.
"Reina?"
The voice belonging to one Chinese immigrant entered the agitated young lady's ears and immediately, she turned towards the direction of the sound.
"You're not… dead?"
"Should I be?"
The good natured reply from the towering lad evoked an amused smile from Mr. Tanaka and he nodded approvingly at Jun before placing a round black seed onto the polished wood.
"I can't believe it..."
With her mouth widely agape, Reina studied Jun from head to toe and sure enough, he was fully intact and completely unscathed. Seeing her unwaveringly gaze trained exclusively on himself, Jun blushed a faint crimson shade and the tip of his ears burned when he became conscious of Reina's attire. Clad in an oversized grey t-shirt with English words printed haphazardly across the frontage, the garment ended at her upper thighs, leaving little to the imagination. Her right shoulder was exposed and her brown tinted hair fell below her shoulders in a hypnotic mess.
Oh my god! No Jun, don't think dirty thoughts!!Jun tried his darnest not to picture how Reina would look without the sole piece of clothing but he failed miserably at reining in his perverted mind. Not wanting to become alligator snack should the retired Yakuza chief discovered the lusty grin he was barely able to conceal, Jun took his mind away from the tempting visualization by focusing on the game of Chinese chess he was playing against Tanaka Hiroto.
"Arisa, get Reina some soup to disperse her hangover."
Giving an instruction to the nanny who had been with the family for years, Mr. Tanaka flicked his hand towards the door, motioning for Reina to leave the room.
"Next time, get yourself cleaned up before appearing in front of a guest. I'm keeping Jun for dinner tonight."
"WHAT?!?!"Flabbergasted at the turn of events, Reina found her jaw falling to the ground the second time within the short duration. Her father had always been extremely protective of her and insisted on checking up on the background of her friends. It was totally unlike him to take to anyone like how he did for Jun. In addition, Jun had escorted her home the in a highly intoxicate state. Unable to fathom how this could have happened, Reina left the room in a daze still trying to understand what exactly was going on. The ending portion of a conversation she heard before the bamboo sliding doors shut noiselessly behind her was her usually stern and menacing father asking Jun how he became so skilled in the art of Chinese chess at his young age.
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Tugging roughly on his necktie, Taka missed the slot where the key card was supposed to be inserted into. Only succeeded in unlocking the door on his third try, he swung open the entry with a forceful push and stumbled unsteadily into the room. The liquor he had downed in large quantities earlier at the club has started to affect both his vision and judgment. Resentful at having to follow the instructions of a relative he loathed in order to salvage what was left of the company his father left behind, Taka made his way over to the double bed and stared blankly at the bulge buried beneath the thick duvet. Climbing onto the furniture to straddle the silent form, he proceeded to unbutton his shirt.
"I guess it doesn't matter when we do this."
Pulling down the covers to reveal a side profile partially hidden by long wavy hair, Taka lowered his head to nuzzle at her smooth skin. Reaching blindly to tear at the ribbon material lacing the collar of the blouse she was wearing, he unwittingly undid her bra with the same course of action. Somewhat surprised that she didn't react to his rough behavior, he didn't put much thought on the reason behind it, conveniently assuming she too had the intention of getting this over and done with. After all, how many could passionately carry out the act of having sex with a partner they had never met.
A raging storm was in the process of developing into a treacherous typhoon in the world outside the presidential suite. Torrents of gigantic raindrops crashed mercilessly against the windows, rattling the glass panels perilously. The mournful howling of the winds soared above the intermittent crack of thunder and streaks of lightening danced across the midnight black sky, seeming to predict the imminent occurrence of a terrible prophecy.
Taking no note of the numerous distractions around him, Taka finished his deed without speaking a single word. Sinking into the warm mattress beside her with a weary sigh, he rubbed at the sweat above his brows, soaking up the remnants of his "conquest". It was done, the deed he had been tasked to carry out in exchange for the halting of a merger with another firm which would obliterate the Takahashi enterprise.
When such a special term for the bargain was first brought up on the night he went over to Gaki's for dinner, Taka had found it rather strange. Nevertheless, he had been convinced by his uncle's explanation that this was a request made by her grandmother to curb the reversion of her wild partying ways.
Believing that their wedding at the end of the year was a done deal, Taka never once suspected any dire consequences to arise from his participation in the scheme. Curious to take a glimpse of his future wife's true face, Taka gently brushed away the mess of tousled tresses. The lack of illumination in the superior suite made it difficult to see properly although this was altered when the timely flare from the brightest flash of lightening that night lit up her face to betray every inch of her delicate features.
No...it can't be...