A fic for Risa's birthday
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RISA!! 2010“Cheers!”
“I understand why you’re asking me to drink Ai-chan but don’t you think something is wrong with this picture?”
Motioning at the cluster of girls gathered around the VIP room, Risa quirked a neatly plucked brow and shot the figure seated at the head of the elongated sofa a quizzical gaze.
“Eri is almost 20. Sayu is attached to her like an appendix and try telling Reina she can’t be involved in this party.”
Sipping lightly from the cocktail glass in her hand, Ai replied in an even voice, her behavior akin to speaking casually about a regular job assignment.
Chuckling softly as she linked the idea of Sayumi as an appendix to the vestigial remnant that was extracted from Aika six months back, Risa grinned amusedly at the leader.
“I guess it can’t be helped then. I just pray no one takes any photos of the underage members drinking. We’ll be in BIG trouble if someone found out.”
-----
“Happy birthday Gaki-san!”
“Otanjobi omedetou!”
Chrous of well wishing were voiced messily by the presently tipsy members. One by one, they fell heavily like sacks of potatoes onto the cushioned seats in a deep slumber. The turtle and hare pair was bundled snugly together with Sayumi’s head positioned questioningly on the chest of the drooling oldest rokkie. Reina’s soft snoring could be clearly heard as she lay slumped in a far spot, her fingers still clinging tightly onto a near empty bottle of vodka.
“I don’t know how we’re gonna get these 3 home.”
Shaking her head with a resigned sigh, Risa sympathized with herself for having to take care of three very smashed kouhais. Though the greater portion of that self pity was due largely to another matter. Discreetly eying the stack of colorful parcels on top of the table, she noted the absence of a present she particularly wanted.
“We could always leave them here for the night.”
With a twinkle in her eye, the usually solemn woman who sprouted random historical facts at the most inappropriate times suggested as she folded her arms in front of her chest.
“I can imagine the looks on their faces when they find out tomorrow how we dumped them here.”
Forcing a smile, the newly turned twenty year old joked.
“Come on. I’ll see you home.”
Attaching a warm hand around Risa’s wrist, Ai tugged on it and led the taller out of the lavishly decorated booth of the exclusive karaoke bar.
-----
“I guess it’s good night then.”
There was a tint of optimism in her voice as if hopeful that the person standing opposite would say otherwise. Except that she didn’t. Nodding back at the birthday girl, Ai gave a small wave before whirling around to leave. Left standing at the door, Risa watched until the leading lady of Q.E.D disappeared entirely from view.
Many minutes after Ai’s silhouette completely vanished, Risa at last found it in herself to tear her eyes away from the far end of the empty corridor. Closing the door shut behind her, she leaned back onto the wood structure and let her body slide slowly onto the carpeted floor. Her vision for a second time settled on the heap of presents she had brought home from the karaoke bar.
Her mind filled with endless questions as to why Ai had turned up at the party empty handed. Was she too busy filming her new drama to shop for her gift, or did the issue of preparing a present simply slip her mind. Flopping her head and upper body onto the top of the pile, Risa rested there as she longed for the only present she craved, Ai’s. She knew she was fairly selfish for thinking this way, but to her, she would gladly exchange all of the presents for a single one.
Her eyes had unwittingly fluttered close and she had fallen into a restless sleep when the persistent knocking on her door awoke her. Groggily glancing at the clock in the living room to check the time, she realized it was almost midnight. In another 5 minutes, her twentieth birthday would well and truly be over. Forgetting to verify the identity of the visitor through the peephole, Risa unlatched the bolt and swung open the entry. The anxious face of the other party staring back at her caused her to let out a surprised yelp.
“Ai-chan! What are you doing here?”
“I thought I was going to miss it.”
Panting considerably, Ai brought out a A5 sized package from her bag. The lime green wrapper was to some extent gaudy but its vibrancy did not outshine the beam on Risa’s face.
“Is that my present?”
“Open it.”
Following Risa into the apartment, Ai kept her vision trained on the receiver carefully cradling the recently brought gift. Within moments, the excited young lady had torn off the paper bounding the clumsily wrapped present. Beneath the layers was a thick book. Gazing at the item, Risa didn’t know what to make of it.
“Open it.”
Hearing the repeated command, Risa obeyed the instructions. Flicking to a random page near the back of the volume, she recognized immediately the writings on the page as Ai’s.
May 2007
Today I was told a piece of shocking news. I was now the leader, Morning Musume’s new leader. The announcement left me reeling from the sheer impact of the information provided and I didn’t know how to react or what to do.
Thankfully, you were with me.
You accompanied me through the night and cried with me when I told you my fears and insecurities. I am less afraid of what’s to come and the belief that I could do this grows with each day.
I WILL lead the group to a brighter tomorrow, because you promised to walk the entire way with me. For that reason alone, I know I can accomplish anything.Risa vision became blurry and she felt moistness forming in her eyes. Tilting her head lower to hide the tears from Ai who was staring intently at her, she turned to another page.
April 2006
I got it! I got the role of Sapphire in the musical. I’m incredibly happy but extremely worried as well. What if I fail to perform to the expectations that everyone has for the role? I don’t want to disappoint the director or hinder the wonderful Takarazuka members. The fear of failure is suffocating me and I contemplated giving up the part more than once.
Your unexpected late night visit stunned me. And I never imagined you to have noticed my concealed reservations. I thought I had hid them so flawlessly, away from the prying eyes of the members and staff. I should have known you would realize it. Just like how I know everything that is you. You understood everything about me. You held me in your warm embrace and laced your fingers in mine. The simple action spoke volumes and did a great deal to reassure me. Before you left, you uttered a lone sentence.
“Sapphire isn’t alone, Nouveau is here.”The tears Risa had tried so hard to hold back fell from the ends of her eyes and left a mark on the yellowish paper. Her hands trembled and her knuckles turned whitish from clutching so firmly onto the open book. The hardback was filled with numerous entries all painstakingly written by Ai.
“When did you…how…”
The words were disjointed as they left her mouth, nevertheless Ai understood what the emotional girl was attempting to convey.
“Sayumi and you aren’t the only ones who keep a diary you know. Your faithfulness at recording the events in your life inspired me to do the same. I didn’t dare reveal this lest I had quit halfway. It would have been embarrassing.
With a sheepish grin on her face, Ai explained her secret practice.
“I didn’t expect to keep it up for almost 5 years since the second quarter of 2003. Last week during my day off, I browsed through it to reminisce and it was then when I became aware that every one of my entries included you in some way. It took 2010 entries but it culminated in the greatest realization of my life.”
Hesitantly covering the listening girl’s hands with her sweaty ones, Ai looked sincerely into Risa’s brown eyes.
“You are a part of me and I cannot envision spending a day without you. Stay by my side, complete me forever.”
Releasing one hand from holding onto her precious gift, Risa snaked her free arm around Ai’s neck and pulled her close, burying her face within and breathing in contentedly the familiar scent of the ebony hair that could now rival Sayumi’s.
“Why did you tell me only now? I had to try so hard to keep up a cheerful appearance during the party so as to not dampen the mood.”
Pulling away from the loving embrace, Risa pouted cutely to reprimand her lover.
“I wanted to tell you when we were alone. Also, it’s payback for doing the same thing to me last year.”
This time it was Risa’s turn to flash a sheepish smile as she remembered how she had orchestrated a similar happening the previous year on Ai’s 21st birthday. She had deliberately not presented the birthday girl with a gift and instead sneakily appeared at her doorstep when the night of September 14th was about to end.
“Fine, so we’re quits.”
“Not exactly.”
“What do you mean?”
Slipping out of Ai’s hold, Risa stepped back warily at the change in mood and tone of the elder’s voice.
“I would look bad as the leader if I forgave you so easily.”
Taking the diary from Risa’s hands, Ai put it down on the settee situated some distance away and took two long steps forward. The feat resulted in Risa being trapped against the whitewashed wall.
“What are you..”
Rising up both hands to resist Ai’s advances, Risa felt her arms go limp when Ai grabbed them in a strong gasp and pushed them resolutely onto the wall behind. Ai proceeded to rub her leg against Risa’s thigh and the suggestive touch and go action made Risa weak in the knees. Her mind failed to function as per normal and in her highly dazed state, the only aspect her senses could make out was how exceedingly gratifying the contact of Ai’s skin on her feverish body felt. The last image Risa remembered that night as the clock struck 12 was the devilish grin Ai had plastered on her face as she inched closer to hungrily claim Risa’s lips.
Topic: More Than One Story...[111016 Loving You Forever] (Read 236744 times)