Meh, I don't have time to reply comments as I'm in a rush to go out. I'm already late ^^; But before I go, here is something to read..
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I have been toying with the idea of a happier ending even before I wrote the original one but I still went with the tragic conclusion. The reason for that is I felt not everyone would be able to have their wishes fulfilled in life and this was especially true in Glass Slipper due to a number of things that have occurred. Let me further explain.
Sayumi & Kuu.
Traditionally, in a relationship, the guy should be the elder half. Although this rule isn't as strictly enforced today with society's constantly evolving ideas and the increasingly "open" opinions of a better-educated population, in some countries, it is still frowned upon to have the woman older. Yet I wrote a happy ending for these two as 1) Sayumi was pregnant and 2) Kuu proved himself to be worthy of marriage.
In Japan, most couples wed when a child is at stake and since Kuu matured in the later part of the story, there was no reason for Sayumi's father to be against the union. Also, her mother and sister were supportive of them so they would have helped convince her dad to relent.
Reina & Taka.
In some cases, a person can be moved by someone who truly loves them and others can disregard everything else important in their life for this individual's sake. For Reina, she has indeed forsaken EVERYTHING to save Taka from going to jail for manslaughter. She had a doting father, money, looks, an education (assuming she did complete her uni course), etc but she gave it all up in the moment she decided to take the rap for the man she loved.
Moreover, it wasn't that Taka really detested Reina from the beginning. This can be seen by how well he entertained her when they first met. He only pushed her away as 1) Hosts weren't technically allowed to be involved with their customers and 2) he felt that she was trying her darnest to get his attention only because he wasn't falling at her feet in an instant like how other men would. Rich, bratty girls usually behave this way don't they? They absolutely MUST obtain the one thing that they can't have. Hence, I thought this couple should get a good ending despite Reina getting the greater portion of this credit.
Aika & Jun.
Aika not ending up with Taka wasn't because she wasn't as worthy of his love as compared to Reina. She was just as giving as the yankii in spite of keeping her affections a secret. (let's ignore the fact that Kuu practically announced to everyone present how she felt about Taka in chapter 6).
She was young but she tried her best to help Taka whenever she could. However, as can be seen by her actions and thinking, she is one smart little lady with a good head on her shoulders. She deserves someone who can match her in these two aspects. The only guy who met these qualities was Jun. (Gaki of course did as well but since incest wasn't something I was planning for except how Reina papa stumbled on what he thought happened between Reina and Jun in chapter 19).
Eri & Gaki.
Finally, the star couple of the story. Forgive me if I ramble too much about them as I really adore these two characters. I was mostly a TakaGaki fan and only wrote one shots of this pairing with Glass Slipper being my only KameMame chapter fic. It would probably be my only turtle x bean mega production for a long time.
Eri was the typical rich, goody-goody girl sheltered from the outside world by an over domineering family. When she met Gaki at the club, the attraction was instantaneous although she didn't know it at that time. She was after all a newbie in the game of love.
Some readers might view her predicament as a lucky one, where she didn't have to worry about how to pay the bills and everything in her life has been carefully charted out for her from the beginning. On the other hand, some might think that she's unlucky for not being able to choose what she wants to do or pursue a love with a guy she liked. It depends on perspective really. For me, I think that the Eri in this story wouldn't have minded going along with her grandmother's wishes for it was the only thing she has known her whole life. That was until she met Gaki and the world as she was used to turned topsy-turvy.
Gaki is the protective and caring older brother, the gentle and understanding boyfriend, the capable and faithful friend,etc . He can mix drinks, surf, is brave, an awesome fighter and has good looks to boot! Is there any reason at all for him not to be labeled as the swoon worthy prince charming? It's not hard to see why Eri fell hard for him.
Together, they make a perfect couple with her needing him and him willing to do everything in his ability to protect and love her. But not all stories end with a good finale. There were so many things working against them. The obvious ones being their great disparity in status, background and wealth. Underlying problems include, for the lack of a better term, Eri being 'raped' by Taka on that fateful night. You can't forget such a trauma even with time and it will no doubt come back to haunt her.
After knowing that it was Taka who put the love of his life through such a terrible experience (the clue was the matchbox from Palace Hotel that Gaki remembered seeing Taka with in Chapter 16), can Gaki really forgive his friend? Will Eri and Gaki really be able to put aside the unhappy past and move on with their lives? I'm not saying it's impossible but it will be difficult. Thus the best manner of release for them was the one I chose to write for them. It is when they didn't have to care about family, responsibilities, status, explaining themselves and more can they find happiness. And this, they did.
At this point, I would love to insert a link to a Glass Slipper trailer, poster or both. Unfortunately I have not figured out how to work around portraying the girls as boys nor am I a whiz at photoshop. Any assistance rendered will be greatly appreciated. *wink*
After going on about the characters and why I went with the original sad ending, I present you with...
Glass Slipper - Epilogue #2 aka the version where no one dies. This is also dedicated to 9 (an extremely late bday fic) & Sukoshi-chan (for the awesome trailer which I still have to reply you about).
Glass Slipper
Epilogue #2
"Why did you bring me here?"
Eri asked as she stood in the middle of the dance floor with her eyes closed. Gaki had made her promise not to peek until he told her she could open her eyes. Although she was tempted to, she dutifully obeyed what the love of her life had said.
"You can open your eyes now."
The abrupt command startled her and Eri slowly opened her eyes and turned around to face the person who had spoken. Her eyes widened to twice their usual size and she gaped with disbelief when she noticed Gaki had changed out of his jeans and hoodie combination in a dress shirt and pants.
"Gaki?"
There was a wide smile on his gorgeous face and his appearance was exactly the same as the first time she saw him at the Glass Slipper. Long brown hair was pulled back in a low ponytail and his fringe partially covered his face.
"You..."
Before Eri could ask him why he had gone through the trouble to change, Gaki had clasped his hand over hers and brought it up to his lips. Kissing the back of her hand tenderly, he gazed deeply into her eyes.
"Forgive me for making you wait so long."
With his free hand, he ran his fingers over her ear before snapping them, producing a gleaming piece of jewelry. Gasping at seeing his actions, Eri's right hand flew to her mouth.
"How did you...I thought I had lost it in the ocean."
"That's not important. I just want to know one thing. Will you marry me?"
Her vision began to blur and there was a stinging sensation in her nose. Eri knew she was about to cry and surely enough, tears sprang to her eyes and fell from the twin orbs, landing squarely on their entwined hands.
"I've been waiting for this day for too long!"
Throwing both arms around his neck, Eri tightened her hold on Gaki, pressing her body against him. Resting her head on his shoulder, she wept tears of joy when she took in the familiar and comforting scent of his cologne and felt the soothing warmth emitted from his hands on her waist.
"I can't believe this is happening. I'm not dreaming am I?"
Drawing away from him slightly, Eri tilted her head to meet Gaki's gaze, unconsciously holding her breath as she waited for his reply. Although she was afraid the answer would be
"There is no way you're getting rid of me."
Pulling on her left arm to free it from encircling his neck, Gaki shifted Eri's hand down across his chest until he was able to grasp it in between them. Slipping on the ring he had given her in the brief duration they shared in the car after her kidnapping, he spent a moment admiring how perfectly it sat on her fourth finger. Subsequently, he took a step backwards and bowed down. Facing his palm skywards, he requested with a grin.
"I don't think we've ever had a proper dance. Shall we?"
"Now? But there's no music."
The starting notes of a waltz echoed through the vicinity as soon as those words left her mouth. Gliding across the floor in sync with the melody, a gentle breeze picked up and flowers sprouted from the ground in great numbers to surround the pair in a ring. The change in scenery that had occurred without anyone manipulating them bewildered Eri completely fueling her curiosity as to how they happened. However, spending time with Gaki took priority over wondering about such things. Hence, driving that thought to the back of her mind, Eri leaned into Gaki and snuggled against him. Then sighing contentedly, she murmured.
"I love you."
"Me too Eri-chan. Me too."
Just when Eri was completely caught up in the moment and felt as though she could drift off to sleep in Gaki's warm embrace, a crackling noise entered her ears. This was followed by the smell of burning metal and the sound of people scrambling about in a hurry.
"Damn it! It's on fire!"
"Where? WHERE!"
"There you idiot!"
*sound of splashing water*
"NOT WATER! OMG I'm doomed! Sudou you fool!"
Pulling apart from each other, the young lovers turned towards the commotion but saw nothing until a sheet of black cloth dropped to the floor revealing a group of guys huddled behind the cloth shield. A boom box, a huge electric fan and another foreign device was placed in the middle of them. Realizing that the couple was presently staring at them with a combination of bewilderment and amusement, the smallest of the lot piped.
"Uhm, surprise?"
The awkward atmosphere was broken when the loud guffaws of a lanky individual wearing a white shirt, tight black pants tucked into boots, a tie and a silver chain dangling from a leather belt echoed within the club.
"Told you it wouldn't work."
Flopping back lazily on the pumpkin couch, he put his arms behind his head and rested his head on them whilst casting the rest of the group an all-knowing smirk.
Throwing down the rag that he had been using to soak up water from the ruined equipment, the shorter but definitely just as good looking chap stalked up to the sofa.
"We're trying to help Gaki senpai get the girl. Unlike you who is lazing around doing nothing constructive. Why are you here anywhere Yajima!"
By this time, the longer haired youth had gotten off his seat and rose to stand in front of his same aged colleague. Then staring down at him in a descending manner, he replied.
"To see how incompetent you guys can be and I was right about that. You got a problem with it Takoyaki?"
"Grrrr! It's NATSUyaki!"
Lunging at the taller, the lad wearing a schoolboy uniform complete with high collar let out a battle cry before trying to land a punch on Yajima's handsome face.
"Get them off each other!"
Yelling the command out to the remaining boys, Shimizu motioned for Sudou and Tsugunaga to grab the fighting duo before someone got hurt.
"Me? But they are twice my size!"
Protesting fervently to no avail, the tiny host had no choice but to obey the given instructions when Shimizu shot him a glare. When the captain said something, it better be followed.
"Let go of me you stupid gorilla!"
Yajima struggled to wriggle out of Sudou's grip but his attempts were futile as the other was much burlier and stronger than him.
"If I had my boys with me all of you would be pulverized!"
"Save the tall talk for when you do have back up!"
Natsuyaki shouted back as Tsugunaga used all his strength to hold him back. Shaking his head helplessly at the state of affairs, Gaki looked to Eri with a sheepishly expression on his face.
"I wanted to surprise you with a romantic proposal. I guess it didn't turn out so well huh."
However, Eri wasn't the least bit offended. In fact, she was rather bemused by the on-goings.
"Are these your juniors from the club?"
"Yep! Shimizu, Tsugunaga, Natsuyaki, Sudou and Yajima. Nakajima, Okai and Hagiwara aren't on duty today."
Pointing out the names of all those present and more, Gaki did a brief introduction of his kouhais to his future wife.
"Yoroshiku. Kamei Eri desu."
Bowing down low, Eri smiled pleasantly at Gaki's friends.
"I'm sorry for causing trouble. Please don't get into a fight because of us."
Realizing that Gaki's partner was apologizing to them with such sincerity, the guys skittered to stand in a straight row and bowed back in return.
“You’re too polite Kamei-san. All of us really look up to Gaki and we’re happy that he has gotten himself an awesome girlfriend like you.”
Speaking for the group, Shimizu, otherwise known as Captain to the regular patrons of the host club said solemnly. Then adding in the next sentence as an after thought, he continued.
“No trouble was caused for most of us. I can’t say the same for Yajima and Natsuyaki though.”
As soon as he finished, the phone conversations of both lads could be heard emerging from the other end of the room.
“Your father’s hologram machine isn’t ruined. It’s just a little wet at the moment. But I’ll fix it, promise! Don’t be mad baby. Rii baby!”
“Airin darling? I’m sorry for being late but I got held back at the club. I’ll be there in ten minutes. I promise!”
“Seems like those two are a lot more similar than they want to admit.”
Giggling into her hand, Eri observed as the rest of the hosts laughed heartily at their colleagues’ predicament. Sugaya Risako was the daughter of a scientist and Natsuyaki had borrowed the prototype to conjure up the hallucination of flowers while Suzuki Airi, sole heiress to her parent’s real estate conglomerate hated it when Yajima did not meet her on time. These two are so gonna get it from their girlfriends.
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The soft salty breeze was a nice refreshing change from being cooped up in the building all day and the group of long-time friends had arranged for a beach outing for quite some time. Presently, Taka and Gaki were tying a hammock between two palm trees for the children to play on as Kuu kept an eye on the kids and the women sat further down on the beach to chat.
“How’s it going for you and Eri?”
Taka was the first to start a conversation and from how he was avoiding any eye contact, Gaki knew there something was weighing on his mind.
“Everything’s perfect. She has accepted my proposal.”
“Really? That’s great news!”
Pausing in securing the hammock for a moment, Taka considered in his mind how best to break the news. He couldn’t keep that night a secret forever. It was bound to be discovered sooner or later and he didn’t want Gaki to find it out from somebody else. This was in spite of being relatively sure that the only other person who knew about the secret besides Reina was already dead – Takahashi Kazuya.
“Gaki, Kamei-san…I…we…”
His statement made no sense as it came out in bits and pieces in addition to Taka stuttering immensely over his words.
“Taka.”
After making sure the hammock was indeed safe enough for the children to sit on, Gaki clamped one hand on Taka’s shoulder and spoke in an even tone.
“I know what you’re going to say. I’m more than sure if you knew it was Eri beforehand, you wouldn’t have gone through with it. Let’s not speak of this ever again. I love Kame and I want to protect her for eternity. You understand me?”
Gazing back at his friend with grateful eyes, Taka nodded. Now that Gaki didn't blame him, he could finally let go of the guilt.
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“Don’t run so fast Eri-chan! You don’t want to fall down again.”
Watching out for her daughter as she played catch with Kusumi Mamoru, Reina couldn't help but worry until Sayumi came to pull her back.
“Will you sit down already? Children fall all the time. Stop working yourself up over nothing.”
As the three women sat down again on the large beach towel that the men had set out for them earlier, they smiled at each other and thanked fate for allowing them to get together with their other halves.
“I still can’t believe all of this is real.”
Gazing affectionately at Gaki who was now setting up the bonfire, a smile of pure bliss tugged at her lips and Eri blushed hard when her friends poked fun at her obvious adoration for the kind and gentle ex-host.
“I can’t believe you named your daughter Eri. What about me? Sayumi’s a nice name too.”
Unwittingly saving Eri from being teased with her question, Sayumi sulked when the little girl ran up to her mother for a hug.
“Don’t be upset Sayu. I’ll name my child Sayumi if she’s a girl.”
“But you’re not preg…”
Sayumi stopped in mid sentence and her eyes widened to twice their normal size when realization hit her like a ton of bricks.
“Oh, my, god. You’re preggers? When? How?”
“Duh, they went to bed together, that’s how!”
Reina’s direct reply made Eri blush even harder and her entire face became as red as a fully ripe tomato.
“Reina!”
“Share the happy news.”
The sudden interruption by another pair ceased the happy laughter for merely a second before it was reignited once more. Carrying bags of food from their restaurant, Aika and Jun were soon filled in with the latest information.
"Have a fortune cookie."
Offering the elder girls the popular treat that was virtually sold out on most days, Aika encouraged everyone to read out the message printed on the tiny pieces of paper.
"Love conquers all."
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"Here."
Bringing a plate of food to Eri who was sitting by herself on the shoreline, Gaki sat down beside his girl and slung an arm over her shoulder.
"Waiting for the sun to set?"
"Mhmm."
Cocking her head sideways to rest on his shoulder, Eri lowered her arms, which were wrapped around her body to slip one into Gaki's hand while the other hung onto his arm.
"Gaki?"
Noting the distinct quiver in her tone, he tightened his grip on her hand and shifted to gaze into her eyes.
"I've never felt more blessed in my life. And now I can truly believe, love conquers all."
A bright smile was mirrored on both their faces as the sun began to set in the crimson sky. Inching their heads closer, the loving couple shared a kiss. One, which would seal their passion for eternity.
Topic: More Than One Story...[111016 Loving You Forever] (Read 236729 times)