ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I needed to do that. School work plus my job is driving me crazy
Since I find writing an incredible way of relieving stress, here is the next chapter. I don't think I've updated so quickly before
Another thing that keeps my mind off unhappy stuff is reading all the beautiful comments in here
Domo Arigatou!!! Will reply to them soon
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Glass SlipperChapter 12 - Promise~Flashback~''Baba-chan."
A young boy scurried over to the woman in her seventies, standing forlornly by the edge of a pond as she looked anxiously into the depths of the murky water.
"What are you doing?"
His big brown eyes shining with curiosity, he squatted down at the woman's feet, watching intently as she removed her footwear. Noticing his behavior, she smiled at him, patiently explaining her actions.
"Oba-chan has dropped a ring into the pond and has to retrieve it."
"Is it important?"
"Very."
Nodding his head to show that he understood, the little boy walked a few steps towards the mucky pond and before the old lady realized what was going on, he jumped into the water with a splash. Bending down and feeling around the bottom of the man-made lagoon, he searched resolutely for the missing jewelry. Left standing by herself in the adjoining rock garden, the woman stared in astonishment when she realized what the youngster was doing.
"The weather is cold. Baba-chan must not go into the water."
The unexpected kind gesture from a child so young greatly touched the woman and when he successfully located the ring and climbed back onto shore, she observed a long scar on his forearm when he held it out to return the item.
“Do you live here?"
"Yes."
Accepting the precious ring gratefully, she studied him from head to toe, concluding that he was about 10 to 12 years old.
"How did you get the scar?"
"I hurt myself helping father with some work."
Her admiration for the lad raised a few more notches when she heard the cause of his injury. It was rare for children these days to willingly assist their parents in any kind of work. Let alone a boy with his family background. As the sole heir of the Takahashi family, he was destined to inherit the empire which controlled the majority share of the electronics market in many parts of Japan. As a public listed company, its stocks enjoyed high transaction rates at extraordinary prices.
Before she had a chance to speak to him more, he ran off, citing having more chores to attend to. Watching his narrow frame disappear around a row of bushes, Kamei Sayuri made a decision. She would request for the two families to join in marriage and the arrangement would no doubt strengthen the power of both corporations. When her granddaughter Kamei Eri turned twenty, she would become a bride of the Takahashi household.
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Dashing as fast as his little legs could carry him, the boy ran to the back garden where the garage stood. Filling a plastic pail full with water, he dragged it with his bony but athletic arms to the nearest car. Dipping a wash cloth inside the bucket, he wringed it dry and cleaned at the bonnet of the vehicle. So engrossed in his work, he did not notice another person come up to him.
"Want help Oniiiichan."
Tiptoeing on her feet, the tiny girl tried to reach the windows of the passenger door but as she was still much too short, her fingers could not touch the glass panel. Seeing her stick her tongue out as she concentrated on stretching herself taller, the preteen set down the dripping cloth and wiped his filthy limps on the front of his shirt. Then placing his hands under her armpits, he raised her into the air, bouncing her up and down until she chuckled merrily.
"Isn't Aika a good girl."
~End of flashback~She was so certain that the Takahashi boy would make a worthy husband for Eri after the encounter with him so many years ago. Coupled with his father's generous help when their company fell on hard times with the passing of Eri's dad, it was a debt which could only be repaid by her descendents. Thinking that the union of the Takahashi and Kamei clan would benefit both sides, she never would have guessed that the family she held in high esteem would resort to such despicable tactics. Spiking her beverage and subjecting Eri to an experience that was akin to raping her, Kamei Sayuri wept tears of regret and sorrow at literally destroying her only grandchild's life.
"Was I wrong right from the start?"
*Knock knock*Quickly drying her tears, she adjusted her outfit before her deceased son's wife came into the room. Bowing respectfully then sitting down in the chair opposite her, she said.
"Mother, I have never questioned your choices. But this time, please allow me to say my piece."
After obtaining her permission to speak her mind, Kamei Keiko continued.
"I feel that that boy, Gaki, is a kind person. He would treat Eri-chan well. After everything that she gone through, Eri-chan deserves to be happy. Please mother... I beg you!"
Her lips were pursed into a single straight line and she remained silent, pondering on the series of affairs leading up to the present.
"Bring me the phone."
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Eri!Sitting up straightaway after he regained consciousness, the first thought which entered his mind was Eri's safety. At the risk of aggravating his wounds, Gaki winced as he tried to get off the bed he was lying on. His weak body could not handle any large movements so soon prior to receiving a substantial recovery period hence it was not a surprise that his legs buckled under him. Fortunately, someone was at close range to catch him before he hit the floor.
"You should be resting."
Frowning at him in exasperation, Eri helped him back to the bed. Unbuttoning his shirt from the top down, she slipped the garment off, applying antiseptic lotion with a wad of cotton wool onto the numerous lacerations caused by the blunt trauma.
"Are you alright?"
Looking at her face, Gaki enquired, concern evidently laced in his voice.
"I should be asking you that. How are you feeling?"
Biting onto her quivering lower lip, tears were on the verge of spilling from Eri's eyes when she saw the crusted clots still visible at the edge of his lips and the numerous wounds on his battered body.
"I'll live."
His humorous reply in an attempt to allay her fears only made her feel worse that she was the reason for his extensive injuries.
"What happened to your neck?!"
Frantic with worry when he spotted a thin line of red some distance away from her collarbone, Gaki asked, nearing his head to take a closer look. Taking a piece of cotton soaked in medical solution to clean the cut, he blew at it gently to sooth the stinging sensation.
"I had to do something to stop them."
She explained how she had whipped out the switch knife she had secretly hidden in her pocket, pointed the blade at her neck and taken the drastic measure of threatening to kill herself so that her family would cease the senseless beatings.
"Don't EVER harm yourself for my sake. I'll rather die than let you get hurt."
At hearing his words, Eri threw her arms around his bruised torso and released the flood of tears she had been holding back.
"Don't say things like that! I could never continue living if you were not by my side."
Sobbing agitatedly, Eri's trembled uncontrollably and she increased her hold on Gaki, desperate to convey to him her innermost feelings. It was true, if anything untoward happened to him, she would surely die.
"Hush now, nothing could make me leave you."
Separating herself from his embrace, Eri searched his warm honey brown orbs for an answer.
"Promise?"
"If I lie, Eri-chan will turn into a turtle."
His mischievous grin earned him a light smack on the arm. Yet after her punishing him for making fun of her, she held him once more, burrowing her face into his shoulder.
"Why are you smiling?"
He already knew the exact expression she had on even without looking at her features.
"How did you know I was smiling?"
Incredulous that he could tell her actions at the drop of a hat, Eri lifted her eyes to gaze at his profile, all the while not removing her head from his sturdy shoulder.
“I just do. Well?"
"This is the first time you've referred to me as Eri-chan. And... I like it."
A light blush appeared on her face and she lowered her eyes, too embarrassed to look at him directly. Resting his head on hers, Gaki whispered softly into her ear as he rocked her tenderly from side to side.
"Eri-chan, Eri-chan.. Eri-chan."
Hearing him call her name repeatedly in such an adoring manner, Eri giggled with pleasure, tracing with her finger the scar on his arm. She was glad there were no secrets between them and that they knew practically every detail about the other. Trivia including how he had gotten the scar as a child and how many chicken pox marks she has as a result of contracting the disease at age two.
Recalling his earlier promise, she beamed happily, momentarily forgetting about the troubles that they faced. Their pact was like one cast in stone, one which Eri knew Gaki would not betray. And similarly, she would not remain by herself on this Earth without him.
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"This stack of dishes is done! I'll do the next basin now!"
Hollering to the boss of the Chinese restaurant, the dishwashing lady bent down to lift another heavy bucket filled to the brim with soiled cutlery. All prepared to go through more back breaking hours in the dingy alley behind the shop, she huffed and puffed as she lugged the pail outside. Unexpectedly, she was halted before she could exit the back door.
"You don't have to do these anymore. Leave such chores to the others."
Subsequently taking her by the elbow, the gruff looking man with a pot-belly led her to the sitting area of the restaurant and sat her down at one of the tables.
"Boss?"
Shocked that she was not yelled at for moving slowly in completing the endless mounts of dishes and even allowed to sit where customers were, her mouth hung open with disbelief.
"He is no longer the boss. You are."
Twirling around in her chair to face the owner of the voice, she was stunned further when she recognized the person sitting across her.
"You!"
Brushing off her rude greeting, if that were to even constitute as one, he played with a cigarette lighter, producing a flame at periodic intervals.
"From today, you don't have to serve any customer except for me."
The former employee of the Chinese restaurant regained her composure swiftly and closed her mouth. Then glaring defiantly at the cocky man, she challenged.
"Why should I obey you?"
"Because like this shop, you now belong to me... Qian Lin."
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Tugging at the telephone and snapping the cord with heated fury, the man in his late forties threw the gadget against the wall on the far end with all his might, shattering it to a dozen pieces. This was followed by pushing his arms over the desk in the office, sweeping every item placed on it to the floor with a deafening crash.
"THAT BL**DY OLD HAG!!! She was the one who wanted me to ensure nothing would interfere with the marriage plans. Now she's blaming me for her granddaughter's predicament?!"
The evil uncle of Taka was so antagonized and enraged that he swore revenge. Irate that Kamei Sayuri was withdrawing all funds that were to be injected into Takahashi Inc., he plotted to obtain the funds through another method.
"Don't blame me for doing this. You forced my hand."
Topic: More Than One Story...[111016 Loving You Forever] (Read 236760 times)