Not Like This ~ Naichau Kamo Edition @SBK: That was cute, tee hee, replying in Japanese. I'm surprised I managed to decipher it though
@Estrea: Well yes, but that little detail was supposed to be kept a secret
*runs to hide*
@stefy: SHHHHHHHHHHHH
@JFC: Ah! Now I get it. Thanks for clearing that up
@Shiichan: What are you saying?!?!?!? Your writing is AMAZING!! I love them all
Glass Slipper
Chapter 11 - Devoted@Shiichan: I just love reading your comments. They always make me smile
@Sukoshi-chan: I guess there really isn't such a god then since my ebil and annoying project mates have not disappeared
But having humans like you makes it all better.
Getting free tomatoes and eggs can be a good thing. You get loads of ingredients for making egg omelettes. I've taken to pointing at menus now. Figured that'll be safer
Awww that scene was supposed to be moving and sweet but the way you say Gaki gets beaten down by a garderner makes me grin stupidly
@rev2hd: Believe me, having over active tear ducts may not be a good thing, I am one good example of that
@KK: Really? I wouldn't mind a special-special hug. I wonder what that entails. Look on the bright side, at least you get to go to the official shops and grab everything Eri related
@SBK: Are there any guys in the world as devoted as Gaki in this fic?
Yep, the first part is about Lin and Reina's dad.
@stefy: I liked how you scolded the baba. So funny
Stop calling her lion-haired. She already got a new hair cut. And yes, I am happy so be sure to comment more often.
@ringo-hime: I agree GakiKame =
@JFC: Hee hee, the whistling of bombs falling sounds so funny
Glass Slipper
Chapter 12 - Promise @SBK: Yay! You caught the hint about the 'Baba-chan'
Only Gaki calls her grams that I think.
@ringo-hime: I love all the cute emoticons you used
@meowz: MEOWZ!! So happy to see you in here again
@rev2hd: Did you lol when obaba-chan realized her mistake?
@Shiichan: The 2 parts were the same. Since Gaki and Aika's dad worked for the Takahashi's, they lived in the servant quarters within the compound and Gaki helped his father out with the work.
@KK: LOL, the Hamzy x 3 was cute and funny
@Sukoshi-chan: If he was too smart, it would make it hard for him to get the retribution he deserved
Glass Slipper
Chapter 13 - Offspring@Sukoshi-chan: About the Taka-Reina-Jun-Aika square, I'm gonna need a little help deciding. How about a poll? You're sick?
Poor Sukoshi-chan *pats*
@rokun: Aika does seem like a huge Taka fan doesn't she
@KK: Erm...no, he didn't use protection
I'm waiting for that update. You just had to leave us with such a big cliffhanger didn't you?
@JFC: Eri and Sayu are great friends but even best friends keep secrets from each other. Neither of them told the other what they
did with the guys. And they intend to keep it that way until...well, you're see
@Shiichan: LOL, I screwed with your head?
Gomene Shiichan. Hope that didn't affect the SATs.
@SBK: OMG you're right! A
Koha KuuSayu baby will be the most adorable little bundle of joy
@stefy: 2?? When did I say Sayu's pregnant with twins?
-----
Wow, I actually managed to reply to all the previous comments *pats self on back*
Glass Slipper Chapter 14 - MissingThe spread of food on the table had turned cold but the chef who had prepared them remained in her seat, staring at the dishes as the minutes slowly ticked past. Finally more than two hours after the stipulated time, she rose from her chair, going to pick up the aged telephone at the counter area. As the phone rang, she rubbed her sweaty palms on the front of her apron, fearful of how her call might be received. Tanaka Hiroto had made his visits to the small Chinese restaurant a daily affair and he had insisted that she cooked his favorite dishes for his dinner tonight.
Though she had never told him how she felt, it could not be denied that her impression of him had changed for the better with the increase in frequency of his regular visits and their chats which could last through the night when he did drop by. While somewhat arrogant and chauvinistic, he was a man who kept to his promises and took good care of those under him. It wasn't hard to see why his many subordinates were fiercely loyal and would willingly sacrifice their lives for him. The headstrong and proud immigrant didn't want to admit it but sometime during the past few months, her heart had opened up to the mafia leader. The call eventually connected and the new boss of the restaurant asked the person on the other end for the whereabouts of Tanaka Hiroto.
"Qian Lin?"
The voice seemed amazed that she would be calling. Qian Lin had rejected Hiroto's offer on many occasions to call his right hand man should the need arise. Yet she was the one taking the initiative to dial his number at this moment, asking when the gang leader would be arriving for dinner.
"We are looking for him as well. Boss hasn't returned since his meeting with the chief of a rival syndicate....Qian Lin?? Are you still on the line? Qian Lin?"
But the faithful aid to one of Tokyo's most influential triads never got a reply as the earpiece was no longer attached to the side of her head. The petite Chinese had sank to the cold tile floor in a daze, the plastic phone swinging in rhythmic motion some distance away as it hung from its extended cord.
Nothing must happen to him. -----
"Oi Taka, have you recovered?"
Jerking his head up unnaturally when he heard the question, Taka locked gazes momentarily with his friend who was seated inside the hosts' resting lounge. Quickly adverting his line of sight from him, he sat down on the cushy couch opposite nodding his head, not daring to look up.
"You must have been pretty sick to skip work for so many days."
"Hmmmmm."
Giving a short one word reply, Taka busied himself with removing his outer coat, still feeling afraid to look Gaki in the eye. Raising a brow at Taka's sudden lack of speech, Gaki decided against asking him for the reason, concluding that he was probably still feeling a little under the weather.
"Gaki, table 14."
A head poked into the room announcing the next booking job and Gaki hurried to his feet, grabbing his jacket which was slung neatly over the backrest of the sofa. Nearing the exit, he was about to leave the room when Taka called him back.
"If you need anything, anything at all, don't think twice about asking me for help!"
Puzzled at Taka's kind offer, Gaki flashed a thumbs-up sigh, signaling that he would definitely do so before rushing outside towards the table who had requested for his services. Left standing by himself in the worker's area, Taka made a vow. From this day forth, he would do whatever it takes to ensure Gaki had an easy time at work. He would spend the rest of his life making amends for the wrong he did that fateful night.
Please forgive me Gaki. I never meant to hurt you or Kamei-san. -----
"This is it."
"Awww, we're here already?"
Glancing up at the signage of the quaint cafe, Jun groaned, dejected that the walk from Reina house to the meeting place where she had arranged to have breakfast with Eri and Sayumi was so short.
"Can I join you gals?"
Punching him on the arm and bumping him with her body, Reina laughed, amused that he would come up with such an idea.
"We're catching up on girls' talk. It would be inconvenient for you to be around."
"I could pretend to be a girl?"
His hopeful suggestion only induced more laughter from the tickled girl. Pushing him in the opposite direction of the bistro's entrance, Reina ordered with hands positioned at her hips.
"Go home, sleep. You shouldn't even be out following a long work night."
Her concerns weren't unfounded as Jun had rushed directly from work to pick her up at her home at 9 am in the morning, barely an hour after work had ended at approximately 8.10 am. He had insisting on escorting her, citing the reason that someone as beautiful as herself should not be left unattended in a city where crooks abound at every corner. Reina wasn't a person so easily taken in by frivolous flattering. However in this case, she was convinced that Jun meant every word he said.
She had decided to give him a chance, give
them both a chance to try and make things work. Being hung up on Taka was
not an option, she had adamantly told herself. Though Jun never did make her heart race nor did she exhibit the signs of being in love - lightheadedness or breathlessness when she was around him, he exuded a comfortable presence which put her at ease. When she was with Jun, she didn't have to be concerned about her behavior or wonder if her outfit was suitable for their date. Jun allowed her to be herself, a luxury she didn't have when Taka was the one she was meeting. Perhaps Sayumi was right, that a woman's greatest joy and happiness was in finding someone who truly loved them for what they are.
-----
Someone brushing swiftly pass collided into her, sending the files and papers she was hugging close to her chest crashing to the floor. The passerby didn't even bother to help her pick the strewn papers up, mumbling an almost inaudible apology before rushing off again. Bending down to retrieve her belongings, Aika's hand was clasped by a larger limp when she stretched her arm out to recover the final piece.
"Oops, sorry!"
Standing up with great effort as she struggled to balance the stack of folders in her arms, Aika came face to face with a much taller person, someone who did not strike her as being local. Returning her the sheet which had drifted near him as he was walking on the pavement, he gave her a small grin, apologizing again for accidentally grabbing her hand. Shaking her head to show that it was alright, Aika bowed slightly to express her gratitude. She was about to resume her journey when the stranger spoke, his voice clearly laced with a foreign accent.
"Say, do you happen to know Gaki?"
Spinning around on her heel to stare at him, she nodded, startled that someone she had never met would be asking about her brother.
"I figured you were related with I saw your name on the assignment."
Sticking his hand out in a friendly gesture to shake hers, he smiled and explained his identity.
"I'm Li Jun. I work with your brother. Yoroshiku, Aika-san."
-----
Kuu paced the length of his dorm room, flustered and worried that it had been days since he last spoke to Sayumi. The video conference was ended abruptly and he hadn't gotten a reply from the numerous text messages he had sent her. What exactly was going on? Was she really pregnant? Does her family know? What was the state of her body condition? Was she eating well? Was anyone taking care of her? A million questions were floating about in his mind and Kuu's head felt like it was going to explode from the many uncertainties. A bout of urgent rapping made him put those thoughts aside, striding across the room to answer the door.
"Good morning!"
"Morning."
The handsome Japanese lad really didn't feel like entertaining his classmate of another nationality at this moment and tried to think of a reasonable excuse to shoo her off. Unexpectantly, she pushed her way into the small room, placing both hands on his shoulders.
"I've never been interested in Japanese men before I met you. What do you say we have some
fun tonight?"
His English language skills might be weak, but Kuu knew a come on when he saw one. Tugging her hands off his body, he rejected the proposal immediately and turned his back to her.
"There's someone back in Japan waiting for me."
Assuming she would understand his intention, Kuu didn't count on the woman embracing him from behind, biting into his neck with her teeth. Shocked by her bold actions, he pushed her off of himself, sending her falling backwards onto his bed.
"I said I already have someone! Is that so hard to comprehend?! Not only do I have a wife, I have a child!"
His outburst stunned the female course mate and she got on her feet hastily, pulling her clothes straight and fleeing the room, leaving the door ajar. Dragging his fingers through his hair, Kuu flopped down on the now empty bed, throwing his head back to gaze at the ceiling. Can this day get any worse? The shrill ringing of his cell phone surprised him and he answered it promptly. There was a tremor in Sayumi's voice and she had obviously been crying.
"Usagi?"
"I lost our baby."
-----
"Are you here yet?"
Reina demanded slightly annoyed. She had been the only person from their table of three to have arrived at the cafe they visited frequently. And she didn't do well with waiting for people, especially if she was alone. Eri was usually the one who would be late but today, even Sayumi was delayed and Reina could not get a hold on her no matter how many times she tried calling her.
"I'm rounding the bend. In fact I see you now!"
Looking outside from her seat by the window, Reina caught sight of Eri waving as she walked briskly, about to cross the road from the opposite street. Sliding out of the cozy booth, the lady with the yankii personality exited the no-frills restaurant and waited impatiently on the sidewalk for her friend. The older girl stepped onto the road, strolled till she covered about half of the distance between them when a white van with tinted windows screeched to a halt in front of her. The doors to the vehicle burst open and two men wearing dark sunglasses hopped out, forcing her inside roughly.
From her position outside the eating establishment, Reina managed to memorize the numbers on the license plate before the van sped off again. Realizing that Eri had been kidnapped, she stood shell-shocked, her mouth agape with horror at having witness the crime occur.