JPHiP Forum
The Hello! Project Fanfics => H!P Fanfics => Library => Topic started by: Estrea on November 02, 2008, 06:13:03 PM
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Alright I know I shouldn't even be starting new stories, but I couldn't resist the urge. So here it is, something else for me to finish whenever I have spare time. It's just for fun though, so it's gonna be a little crazy and weird and possibly over the top, but well, it will be fun! Haha.
Warning to everyone, craziness shall ensue. In good or bad ways...well, that's subjective, ain't it? XD
So, presenting my new story, Nocturne.
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File #01
The sound of water running in the bathroom was making him more excited than he already was, pacing around the luxurious hotel room in nothing but a bathrobe.
The lights were already dimmed in anticipation of what was to come, and he could barely resist the urge to simply charge into the bathroom and take the girl there and then; the only thing stopping him was the fact that he wanted to fully enjoy her in more comfortable surroundings.
That and, he was a gentleman, after all. The lady had asked for time to prepare, and he would graciously grant her that time. After all, they had the whole night to themselves.
Stopping by the large mirror at the dresser, he gave himself a once over. A bit pale, though fairly buff as the result of regular gym workouts. Plain looks, rather unremarkable, but not ugly by any means.
He did not look particularly impressive, that much he acknowledged, but he held himself with a certain cockiness that a mixture of breeding and wealth had cultivated. He had social standing, and a trust fund that could feed a 3rd world nation for a year.
Looks were secondary to all the material possessions he had. And naturally, he could afford the best of women, such as the delectable sample currently taking her time in the bathroom.
The sound of water trickled to a stop, halting his steps as he looked expectantly towards the door.
He was not disappointed. His breath seemed to stop as his goddess stepped out in a loosely tied bathrobe, her wet hair glistening in a way that seemed to entice his very soul to touch it. Her skin had a faint flush to it, and the tiny face that seemed so innocently childlike was contrasted with the naughty grin gracing her lips, topped off with a dangerously predatory look in those deceptively doe-like eyes.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." How could anyone sound so innocent yet so seductive at the same time? He had certainly struck gold this time.
Smirking in what he believed to be a charming way, he moved closer to his angel, leaning in to kiss her...but was stopped by a soft finger to his lips.
"Patience." Her breath was soft, like a spring breeze. As she glided past him, the sleeve of her bathrobe seemed to accidentally (not) slip down one shoulder, revealing tender white flesh that seemed ripe for ravishing. He swallowed, trying to discreetly pick his jaw up from the floor.
He was not entirely certain how long it was in between trailing hopelessly behind her and him finally snapping and pushing her back onto the bed, hungrily devouring her lips and tearing at the flimsy bathrobe. He wanted to feel her, taste her, take her...
In between throes of ecstasy and exquisite agony , he found a new heaven in the angel's arms...
~*~*~
She flicked her damp hair away from her face, rolling her naked form easily out of the fluffy bed. Fluffy beds weren't her thing, it gave her a backache. Among other things, of course.
"Fu~" She puffed out a quick breath, walking unashamedly naked around the hotel room to pick up her clothes. Slipping into her outfit took mere moments; she had long since mastered the art of dressing quickly.
Pulling on her leather gloves, she shook her head, letting her hair scatter out messily as she walked around the room, arranging a few things in choice ways and scattering a few other things around. Once down, she pulled off her gloves and tucked them in her handbag, moving into the bathroom to briefly recheck her appearance, as well as redoing her makeup...or should I say, disguise?
Another deep breath, a calculated glance brushing coolly through the orchestrated chaos. The setup was perfect, her mind running through the scenario even as her body copied the motions.
Here, I realized. Frightened, I push him away. She walked herself through the whole thing, even tearing her clothes a little at choice areas to heighten the impression of panic.
And now, I flee. Directionlessly. Yanking the door open, running haphazardly with a horrified look on her face. Deliberately looking full into a camera during her messy escape, creating the image she sought.
Orchestrated chaos. The haphazard run down the streets, into a dark alley. And then, the perfect end. Trip, fall, and impaled. End of story.
Down to the last detail.
~*~*~
"And on other news, Haruna Ichiro, the son of respected politician Haruna Junichi was found dead in Hotel Grand Central from suspected overdose of an unidentified drug, believed to be an underground aphrodisiac. Police are investigating the matter..."
Click. The screen shut off into blank grey.
On cue, the phone rang. Delicate fingers picked up the receiver. "Yes?"
"Good job. Your account will be credited with the remaining balance as we speak."
"Excellent. Now if you'll leave me be, I'm due for a manicure in about a half hour."
A pause. Then a chuckle.
"Same as always eh? My beautiful, deadly butterfly."
"I'm hardly yours, old man." Amusement. "Go screw those pretty boys you always have around you and leave me alone."
"Touche. Is that how you speak to your sensei?"
"Later, Ta-kun."
~*~*~
Click.
The dapper man in his early 30s stared at his phone for all of two seconds, then turned away with a shrug. His thin lips were pressed into a tight smirk as he contemplated the metropolitan skyline of downtown Tokyo.
Somewhere out there, his protege, his pride, was out there. The daughter he never had, the daughter he never would have. Beautiful, and deadly, as he had named her earlier.
"Don't be too reckless now, my dear..." He murmured, tracing a slender finger on the glass. Bulletproof and shatterproof. A hazard of the business, but necessary.
A beep. He turned, sparing a glance at his computer. Orders from the top again, it would seem. He sat down in his plush leather chair, scanning the information with practiced ease.
"Seems like we have a job again, my Lovely..."
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If there's anyone to blame for me writing this, blame poe-chan. XD She inspired me to do this. Haha.
So. Read and comment. Please? XD
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I KNEW Emofag wouldn't dare allow herself to be taken by a man xD!!!!!
Anywho. o___o
Yay, Aichan's an assassin? Woo! Deadly and Angsty, who woulda thought xDDDD. Interesting way to plan an assassination, nearly had me scared there, but I knew a death would come sooner or later xDDD. I was actually expecting a gun in a towel but then again, Emofag's all about finesse and covert operation, not letting the whole world know "Hay, I is an assassin and I has a skillz" xDDDD
Can't wait to read the rest <3
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OMFG! The return of Ta-kun! (at least, the return of him for those that knew him o_O)
Nonetheless, how is it that you always pull me out from under my rock and get me to want to post a reply to your fics?! XD; damn you. Anyway. Evil!Ai makes me happy, but I was mildly horrified about the situation of her doing that to some dude :O At least he died, that made me smile (um...I didn't mean for that to sound creepy fyi)
I like this so far. <3 Write moar plzkthx.
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wow. i cnt seriously wait wats gonna happen next.
hehe. Ai-sama as an assassin is cool!!!
ahehe. wonder who this next victim is...
next~next next~
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His breath seemed to stop as his goddess stepped out in a loosely tied bathrobe, her wet hair glistening in a way that seemed to entice his very soul to touch it. Her skin had a faint flush to it, and the tiny face that seemed so innocently childlike was contrasted with the naughty grin gracing her lips, topped off with a dangerously predatory look in those deceptively doe-like eyes.
:mon bleed2: Sounds so damn hot!!!
Hah, Ai-chan don't swing that way!!! Of course she just kills him!!! :mon evillaff: This is all kinds of awesome!!! Can't wait to read more!! :mon mischief:
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I couldn't stop laughing at the first line coz I knew what was gonna happen XD
From then on, each time you said how excited her was I started giggling again :P
Damn you didn't go with my castration idea... Oh well, this is better *Essy-chan nods head vigorously*
Sadly I feel sorry for the poor guy... You think your gonna get a piece of Ai-chan and instead, she kills you... That's pretty damn badass!
Oh and I too was slightly creeped out with it being a guy... It's like we're heterophobes in this forum XD
Glad you had fun with your Mafia!Ai :D
Now chuck us a File #02... or something else juicy to read :w00t:
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Wholly spanking freaking DAMN... this was GOOD i'm so impressed XD. You did a real good job Es :inlove: ... I LIKE IT ALOT ALOT ALOT ALOT... liked it so much i read it out loud to my sister and she liked it as well. You got her right on target to what I had in mind but even better :wub:.... ofcourse it's better... it has the Es touch (es touch... S Touch... ESSU TOCHU... i like the sound of that for some reason)
I dunno why but i'm so proud ROFL
Give me more badass suave ai PURISS :heart:
Again... this was GREAT <3<3<3 GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. goo jobu!
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Ooo...Assassin Ai chan, me like~
it'd be cool if Ai chan was some kind of double 0
or it'd be really cool if she just likes doing evil things for fun XD
in any case, I'm really excited =D Can't wait for more~!
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Sexy, assassin Ai-chan. :heart: Nice :on GJ:
Go kill moar! :twisted:
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Glad everyone seems to like this! XD Guess I can't go wrong with sexy assassin Ai-chan. XD
Comment replies then~
Yuuyami: Are you sure she didn't really do it? XD Stop calling her Emofag, she won't be angsty here, damnit. XD
Saikami: Panda-chan! XD Yeah the return of Ta-kun rocks! We love the guy lol. And hope you like this. Oh hell, you'll like this, I just know it. :P
ringo-hime: It's not all killing with Ai-sama. XD She's gotta have a social life too. And you'll get to see what she does in her free time. Hehehehe.
Ichigo-chan: Yesh, it is very much hawtness in action. Come on, it's Ai-chan, what did you expect? XD
lollipopgirl: Aww I'll make your heterophobic feelings go right away with this chapter. Really. XD Glad you were amused. :P
poets: Poe-chan~ <3 XD Your spazzy self is so adorable, I lav yew. XD And yes, you will love this chapter too, I swear. XD
Sukoshi: So you wanna see good girls gone wild? Well, what best than to take the best goody two shoes and turn her all ebil? Ah, it's always the quiet ones. Ehehehehe.
Fenrir: You really love Ai-chan. XD In all her sexy incarnations. Can't blame you, I do too. Muahahahaha.
Alrighty, File #02 coming up soon~
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File #02
After a full manicure and pedicure treatment, what naturally followed after was some well deserved retail therapy. It was almost habitual by now, a post-mission ritual.
That and she needed a new outfit for that inane gathering she didn't even want to show up for. Had her sponsor not insisted that she had to make an appearance, she would rather be doing some reconnaissance for her next mission. And watching DVDs. Why the hell not?!
Two hours and many shopping bags later, she managed to find something that might just suit her fancy. With a relaxed air, she strolled to a nearby cafe and took a seat, looking just like any other young woman with too much time and money on her hands.
Perusing the menu with lazy-looking eyes, she did not fail to keep a close watch on her surroundings. One could never be too careful.
Placing her order, she leaned back in her chair, contemplating her purchases. She had her outfit, but something else was still missing...
Ah yes, her most favored accessory for such occasions. A tiny smirk played on her lips as she hit the speed dial for a familiar number.
"Ah, Sayu, are you free tonight? I'll need a partner for another of those damned parties..."
~*~*~
Michishige Sayumi, age 18. First year college student, the perfect cheerleader type. Pretty, popular, and outgoing. Someone that anyone could love and fall in love with.
Always dressed in the trendiest fashions, she was a beacon on the campus grounds. That is, when she was actually there. Not that she didn't study, just that she didn't stay any longer than she absolutely had to.
With good reason. She could hardly afford her lifestyle as it, and had to take on other jobs to support her college fees in conjunction with all her shopping bills.
The ichiban kawaii of Todai was a completely different creature by night. Still pretty, still outgoing, but charging for her company by the hour. That was how she managed to get along with her life so far.
Not that her family knew. They weren't even in Tokyo with her in the first place.
Carefully checking her makeup for one last time in her precious mirror, Sayumi quickly slipped into her strappy heels and grabbed her purse off the dresser before exiting her modest single-room apartment.
Once out on the streets, she had to resist a shiver as the cool night breeze cut into her. Her dress was beautiful, clinging to her figure in all the ways that accentuated it best. She had not picked out this dress entirely on her own. Actually, her patron had stated what exactly she was to wear.
Not that it surprised her. If anything, that one and only Takahashi Ai knew her wardrobe better than she did. They did go shopping together a few times before, all expenses paid for by her charming "prince".
It was not a particularly safe neighborhood she lived in, but she never did have to wait long when it came to Ai. Within minutes of her actually stepping out of the apartment, a sleek Jaguar pulled to a smooth halt right before her.
Sayumi unconsciously held her breath as her prince emerged from the sleek machine, her heart doing a hard double-thump at how gorgeously cool the woman looked. Yes, woman. And no, it didn't bother her at all. Why should it?
Dark shades came off, revealing that mysteriously piercing gaze that never failed to nail Sayumi in place. A playful grin topped off the whole look, part sexy and all playboy.
Oh god, she's in a suit. Sayumi didn't think she could blush after being in the business this long, but apparently she still hadn't lost that ability. Especially when Ai came right up to her and took her hand, kissing it like the perfect gentleman. The perfect gentleman with a predatory gleam in dark eyes. Sayumi shivered again, and this time it was not because of the cold.
"Shall we go then, my princess?" A lowered voice, deliberately husky, whispered almost right into her ear. Sayumi found herself obeying the unspoken command to enter the car, the door opened courtesy of her gallant patron next to her.
Moments passed before she regained her better senses, and they were already on their way, zooming through the streets with a reckless abandon. A reckless abandon made more deliciously dangerous by the fact that her driver had one eye fixated on her the whole time.
"You look gorgeous tonight, Sayu." The otherwise innocent compliment was shaded with darker overtones that the experienced escort could not fail to notice.
"I know." One could never fault Sayumi for a lack of confidence. She met Ai's gaze head on with a proud tilt to her head. "You wouldn't take me out if I weren't."
"That's true." A pause. "Damn, I'm tempted to skip the party entirely and just take you home now."
She knew Ai wasn't joking. In fact, the woman had done that before. There was no mistaking that tone of voice. Or that particular look in her eye.
"You're the boss." Sayumi said coolly, although she couldn't quite completely suppress the twinge of excited anticipation rising in her at the suggestion. She always enjoyed her time with Ai, one way or another. Always.
"Too bad this party's mandatory. Straight from the old man." An exasperated sigh, and Sayu almost giggled at the frustrated pout on her prince's lips.
"Then you'll just have to wait then." Practical as always. Ai arched an eyebrow at her partner, a naughty smirk on her lips.
"Who said anything about waiting?" Sayu blinked in surprise as Ai suddenly swerved down a few back alleys and stopped at a deserted lot. Her 'eep' of shock was swiftly cut off by another pair of warm lips pressed against her own.
As they came apart for a breath, Sayu stared at the mischievous eyes reflected in her own.
"What about the party?" Ai licked her lips aggressively, already running possessive hands over her chosen prey.
"Those old geezers can wait." Another breath-stealing kiss.
"We'll..." The strap of her dress came loose.
"...just..." Questing fingers nimbly raking across heated flesh.
"...be..." A trail of wet kisses from neck to collarbone.
"Fashionably late." Sayu squealed softly as Ai bit down, marking her as her own. Dark eyes reflected each other in a heated glance, before closing any remaining distance between them.
Not for the first time, Sayumi was glad that the Jaguar had tinted windows. And soundproofing.
And yes, they were late for the party again. As usual.
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Fenrir: You really love Ai-chan. XD In all her sexy incarnations. Can't blame you, I do too. Muahahahaha.
It slowly grew, starting from probably Sexy 8 Beat. The Cinderella musical sealed it. XD It helps to see her live. Her and her sexy dance moves. :heart:
Of course, she still has a way to go to beat Miki. :lol:
Hmm... that playboy line made me think of Ai singing Mr. Moonlight at the recent concert. Playboy indeed! XD
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HEEEEEEE!
Since when did you start writing Ai in a non-emo manner?!
nyahahahah! god you made Ai so hot... I'm beginning to see her in a different way now.. and if I get weird dreams about her later it'll be all your fault!
-wanders off to bed-
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Man..I totally forgot today's a cold winter day because that was just hot! hot and a lot of fun~ :on roll:
Ooo...Sayu's the first bond girl~ perfect choice =D !oh! Eeep...I hope this doesn't mean she'll get killed off?!
Can't wait to see who else will show up in the mix =D
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*stares like a dumbfounded idiot*
...This...is...AMAZING. *lack of words due to pure amazement* Badass Ai-chan, and now we see Sayu's involved too. Despite my horrible reviews, I'll still post here. ^^; I wonder who else will be coming 'round the corner... Can't wait to find out. ^^
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^ I know who's around the corner *hee hee* Unless the author decides to change the plan. One tidbit I can say, IT"S GONNA BE HELLA GOOD!!!!!!
Let's see, I told Essy that I imagine Ai to be in a full leather outfit as I was reading the first chapter. No idea why but that image just popped into my head.
Deliberately looking full into a camera during her messy escape, creating the image she sought.
I don't know why I laughed at this bit. I guess imagining Ai doing that was kinda funny :P
The 2nd chapter was all sorts of win la.. Oops, did I just use la?? XD Anyway, I loved every sentence from when Ai and Sayu met. I always did like these 2 together. Apparently...there will be....nah, I better not let too much out of the bag.
PS: Please Essy, write more so I can read this to the end before I die and reincarnate twice :lol:
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Wow. That certianly woke me up LOL. I was just like "blah...-crawls out of bed, turns on computer- ooh, update <3 -reads- ......O_O :drool: :w00t: :O :twisted:" XD;;
Sayu, eh? Well, I'll admit, I wasn't completely expecting her, of all people. But it fits really well XD! And, Es, I love you for putting Ai in a suit! :onioncheer: :on bleed:
Jaguar, eh? Niiiice <3 Though, Ai would look better in a '69 Camaro, methinks. XD -biased about cars- Hmm, then again, the Jaguar is more slick...-ponders- Bah, now I'm babbling. XD;
Good chapter, quick update. <3 Now quick, update again. XD
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OMG. Prince Takahashi~ kyaaaa~ *faints*
so naughty. XD
AixSayu XD hahaha. cool, but Prince Takahashi in a suit and a cool car is better.
well...i'll go for Porsche 911 turbo XD..nyeeehehe.
watching dvd's XD hahaha.
cant get over with the hotness yet,... :lol:
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Michishige Sayumi, age 18. First year college student, the perfect cheerleader type. Pretty, popular, and outgoing. Someone that anyone could love and fall in love with.
YESH SAYU MAKES HER APPEARANCE :heart:
Sayumi unconsciously held her breath as her prince emerged from the sleek machine, her heart doing a hard double-thump at how gorgeously cool the woman looked. Yes, woman. And no, it didn't bother her at all. Why should it?
Dark shades came off, revealing that mysteriously piercing gaze that never failed to nail Sayumi in place. A playful grin topped off the whole look, part sexy and all playboy.
:inlove: omgah omgah, prince AI :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:
Oh god, she's in a suit. Sayumi didn't think she could blush after being in the business this long, but apparently she still hadn't lost that ability. Especially when Ai came right up to her and took her hand, kissing it like the perfect gentleman. The perfect gentleman with a predatory gleam in dark eyes. Sayumi shivered again, and this time it was not because of the cold.
OOOMMMMMMMMGGAAHHH *died*
"I know." One could never fault Sayumi for a lack of confidence. She met Ai's gaze head on with a proud tilt to her head. "You wouldn't take me out if I weren't."
"That's true." A pause. "Damn, I'm tempted to skip the party entirely and just take you home now."
I love how sayu is almost at par with Ai here... so damn sexy!
"Who said anything about waiting?" Sayu blinked in surprise as Ai suddenly swerved down a few back alleys and stopped at a deserted lot. Her 'eep' of shock was swiftly cut off by another pair of warm lips pressed against her own.
As they came apart for a breath, Sayu stared at the mischievous eyes reflected in her own.
"What about the party?" Ai licked her lips aggressively, already running possessive hands over her chosen prey.
"Those old geezers can wait." Another breath-stealing kiss.
"We'll..." The strap of her dress came loose.
"...just..." Questing fingers nimbly raking across heated flesh.
"...be..." A trail of wet kisses from neck to collarbone.
"Fashionably late." Sayu squealed softly as Ai bit down, marking her as her own. Dark eyes reflected each other in a heated glance, before closing any remaining distance between them.
O___________O *blew up from hawtness overload*
Sayu and Ai are so naughty here XD
Dude... I know i've said it alot lately.. but I LOOOOOOOOOVVVVVEEEEEEEeee this story :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: it has so much win... from the characters to the way it's written to how they're portrayed... it's just pure WIN
can't get enough of it... i really like how it's light and how it's written... gah i just love it *huggles* :heart: :heart:
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Woohoo, I'm back!
Nyahahaha. Comment replies first. ^_^
Fenrir: Yes, I agree, Miki-sama is in her own category, but Ai-chan is something else too. XD But they can't really be compared, can they? XD
stefy: Oi! Tell me about the dream you had!
Sukoshi: Hehe, Sayu a bond girl...yup, its hot. Naw, she's not going down so easily. XD
SxY: Don't worry, you don't have to be super eloquent to comment. ^_^ I like it whenever anyone replies at all. ^_^
lil_hamz: Oi hammy...please stop making fun of my lack of updating. XD But at least you know better than to let spoilers go. Lol. Sorry, the scene you wanted got pushed back, but hey, it's still good, I swear!
Saikami: lalala, I'm glad I could help wake you up. Hehe. Ai in a Jaguar is just me making fun of her being born in the year of the Tiger...you know, big cats! That and the Jaguar XJ220 is plain sexy. XD hehehe...
ringo-hime: Yup, prince Takahashi yaaaaay. XD
poets: poe-chan~ I love you too. :D You know how I feel about you. ;)
And oooon with the chapter. XD
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Wedge baby :shakeit: I'm getting good at this :P
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File #03
It might have been the soreness in her muscles that woke her up, but more than likely it was the bright rays of the morning sun that first shocked her to wakefulness.
For morning meant that she had classes, and given that she had not woken up in her own apartment, it meant that more time would be wasted getting back and getting a change of clothes and all that other nonsense.
"Nngh..." She really didn't feel like moving. Burying her face in the pillows, feeling the returning of sensation through her body. Tangled limbs and even more tangled bedsheets, and the soft, even breathing of the warm form entwined with her own.
Sayumi opened one eye, taking in the welcome sight of her lover, or would that be patron? Sayu was an escort, not really a whore, and while she didn't make a habit of sleeping with whoever she went out with, she had certainly blurred the lines between a professional relationship and an intimate one with this person.
That's not good... She chided herself, willing her eyes to move away from the deceptively innocent face not inches from her own. She was almost getting used to waking up like this. That wasn't good at all. She shouldn't be getting attached to her.
Especially not someone like you. There were too many things that she didn't know about Takahashi; too many dark, dirty secrets hidden behind ebony eyes. There was a certain element of mystery to this woman, an intoxicating combination of danger and wildness that left her reeling with each encounter.
Fear and desire formed a potent black hole that drew her irresistably to this woman. There was no avoiding the truth: she was afraid of Ai. In the dark of the nights where they met and came together, she had seen the viciousness well up unchecked, lighting dark fires in the depths of unreadable eyes. It was frightening, seductively so, and the instinct to run always fought with the instinct to submit at each critical moment. Little guess to which won out most of the time.
Closing her eyes, Sayumi stretched lazily, wincing when her muscles gave a protesting screech. Ai had sure worked her over well last night, it had been even more spectacular than usual. Sayu was sure she hadn't just seen stars last night; the whole damn Milky Way had made a guest appearance. Ai must have had a great deal of stress to work through, Sayu concluded wryly.
Fighting the urge to just stay in bed for the rest of the day, Sayumi grudgingly acknowledged the voice of responsibility that was currently giving her a headache at the back of her mind. Reluctantly, she detached herself from the possessive grip of one Takahashi Ai, turning to crawl out of bed...
Only to be restrained by an iron grip on her wrist. A startled backwards glance revealed piercing eyes staring straight at her. An involuntary chill ran down her spine, and it served to wake her up even more.
"I have class..." The excuse came weakly from her lips, but the facts seemed to cringe away under the dominating aura coming from a pretty much naked, still groggy Takahashi, who was...pouting?
"Skip it." Was the blunt reply, and Sayu quite suddenly found herself being hauled back into bed with surprising strength. Before she even knew left from right, she was once again pinned under a still sleepy-eyed, but now naughtily smirking Takahashi who looked like she had no intention of letting the college student go any time soon.
Sayumi looked up helplessly at the predator on top of her. No escape, it seemed. With a sigh, she surrendered once more, body and soul, to the relentless force atop her.
Needless to say, she did not make it to class. Not the morning one anyway.
Oh well, she could live without 2 hours of listening to a shriveled up old professor reading off his notes. Not to mention that passing the time in bed with Ai was more enjoyable.
Far, far more enjoyable.
~*~*~
She did make it to her afternoon lecture though. Somehow, the demon otherwise known as Ai had allowed her to leave, a lot more sore and with even more marks than she had started out with this morning. Small price to pay for having a mind-blowing time though.
Haggard, pale and exhausted, Sayumi stumbled into class looking like she had just pulled an all-nighter...which she had. Of course, she couldn't quite reveal just what kind of all-nighter she had pulled. Some people would never understand, let alone accept it.
"Ah, Sayumin, are you ok? You look so tired!" A familiar voice called out, shining almost annoyingly bright through the fog of her exhaustion. She put on her best face and returned the greeting, taking a seat next to her classmate.
"Yeah I'm fine. Sorry for worrying you." She apologized to her classmate, remembering belatedly that they shared the morning class that she had missed earlier.
"No problem. Here are the notes for the class you missed, I thought you might want them." A tone of voice so filled with motherly concern, it almost made Sayu cry. But of course, she didn't. She was made of sterner stuff than that.
"Thanks Gaki-san, you're awesome!" A genuine smile, from the heart.
19 year old Niigaki Risa smiled back. Sayu grinned and tucked the notes into her folder, whispering under her breath as the lecturer stepped into the auditorium.
"Wanna have ice cream later? As a thank you for the notes."
A whisper back. "Sorry, maybe another time? I'm meeting an old friend later."
"Sure. Another time then."
And then it was back to another 2 hours of mind numbing droning. Thank goodness for note passing. And tic tac toe.
~*~*~
"So you're meeting your friend here huh, Gaki-san?" Sayu had tagged along with Risa for a bit since the metro station was in the same direction where she was heading.
"Yup. You should go home and get some rest, Sayumin, you look like a ghost." Risa, as usual, was being her dependable self. Sayumi nodded ruefully, suppressing another yawn.
"I'll see you next week then!" Turning towards the station, Sayumi was about to leave when another voice cut in.
"Risa, I'm here." Sayu blinked, halting in midstep. That voice...
Sayumi turned around slowly to see a smiling Takahashi Ai jog up to a just as radiant Niigaki Risa, who seemed to beam even brighter at the sight of the older girl.
Oh...no... The world had a terrible sense of humor, of that Sayumi was firmly convinced. Sometimes, it really seemed as if the world was out to get her. Surely, it couldn't be the same person? Maybe they just looked kind of alike? Because for good reason, Sayumi did not want her night life to cross over into the day.
Then Ai looked up, and their eyes met. A familiar shadow ghosted across dark eyes, and the beginnings of an all too familiar smirk tugged at the edges of those full lips.
Oh boy... Sayumi smiled weakly back as a completely oblivious Risa latched on to a completely calm Ai. The look in Ai's eyes...Sayu was sure she was not getting away so easy this time round. Perhaps she could slip away before anything else happened...
"Why don't you introduce me to your friend?"
Damn that woman. Ai had blocked her escape route. Sayu was sure she did it on purpose. One look at the mischief glittering in those dark eyes confirmed her suspicion.
"Ai-chan, this is Sayumin, we have a few classes together..." Risa went through the obligatory introductory babble, even as Sayu and Ai were conducting a whole another conversation with their eyes. Amazing what could be said by smirks and glares alone.
"Pleased to meet you." May all of your teeth fall out, you insufferable liar. Sayu narrowed her eyes at a still smiling Takahashi, who was doing an excellent job at pretending that they had never met.
"Why don't you join us for some ice cream? It's nearby." Ai added smoothly. Sayu didn't know if she wanted to strangle the woman for taking this so calmly while her own nerves were so rattled.
"Good idea Ai-chan! I guess you get to treat me to ice cream after all, Sayumin." Risa was completely oblivious to the undercurrent of tension running between Ai and Sayumi.
"Why would she have to treat you to ice cream?" Sayu wondered how Ai managed to sound so normal, so ordinary like this. A complete contrast to the demon in bed she had experienced scant hours ago.
"Oh, she missed class this morning, and I took notes for her. She said she wanted to treat me to ice cream, so there we are."
Sayu pinned Ai with a stare. Oh no you don't. A lazy smile was playing across those devilish lips. Sayu felt a sense of impending doom looming over her.
"Oh dear. Skipping class is bad. You shouldn't have done it."
Inwardly, Sayu pictured herself strangling the smug-looking Ai and screaming at how it was all her fault to begin with, but outwardly she showed no sign of even being ruffled by the comment.
"I'll try harder next time. I had such a horrible time trying to sleep last night, and then I had a bad run in with a rabid dog this morning, so I really couldn't have made it anyway."
Direct hit. Ai narrowed her eyes. Sayumi smiled benignly.
Bring it on, baby. Bring it on.
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Lol Katie, good job at wedging. =P
Ehehehehe...enter a new character!
Comment lots, people. XD
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lol the grin on my face must be a mile wide! ^______________^!
that was hilarious! man they seem like such the perfect match now XD both of them are so devilish! it's a lot of fun! It's kind of bad but I'm actually rooting for AiShige to prevail instead of TakaGaki. Gaki's so adorable when she's oblivious...poor thing will probably have melt down if she ever figured out what both her friends are up to. I think it's gonna be awesome XD
oh btw...I think it's funny how i have a hard time imagining Ai chan in the day time now. I think I'm too used to the idea that she's a vampire or a creature of the night XD oh how well my mind has been taken over =D
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Hehehehee~ Oh how I love Ai. XD She's so effing cruel...but amazingly hot and cool at the same time. XD!
So Gaki and Aichan are friends? But is Ai hiding what she...does for work from Gaki? o_O She seems sweet and innocent, but I can picture the Chibi!Ai in her head snickering like a little devil. XD
But go Sayu for the rabid dog comment. XD Buuurn. Hehe.
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LOL XD
Oh that was all so epic gold! Poor oblivious Gaki-san, how could you miss all the sexual tension around you, especially when it's so... hot! :P
Smart arse Ai-chan is incredibly :drool:worthy, makes me not want to feel sorry for Sayu, but more jealous of her.
I'ma thinking Ai-chan shall be getting some interesting punishments later :twisted:
So where does Risa stand in all of this? Hows does she know Ai & does she know about her job... oh is she an assassin too :O? I like this Ai/Sayu hotness, is Gaki gonna get in the way? Rhetorical questioning is fun, but it kinda makes it obvious that I have no theories :sweatdrop:
I'm loving this though :heart: and it's seems you're addicted to it Essy-chan, fast updating like WOAH! It's making some very happy readers :w00t:
Now let the games begin... :otomerika:
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Oh God. LOL. this is funny~:]]
XD
Ai is so eviil!! >:]]
wnder wats gonna happen next..ahihihi. :]]
We want Aiscream. We all scream for Aiscream~ :cow: :cow:
more burning?! :]
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I couldve sworn I posted a reply but I guess I was to distracted by a certain lil es-chan who kept me up all night lol. I really think thus far this is my fav chapter ireally enjoy ai's and sayu's interaction. Sayu was a little late on the firing back but its understandable... she was nrvs....demo... she totally made it up with that awesome burn she gave in the end <3. this also makes me look forward to future conversations. gaki being clueless lol xD
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CHAPTER 4!!! O_O!!!!
I felt so bad writing this. Really. I did. XD
Ok, no, really. REALLY.
Never mind. Comment replies first.
Sukoshi: Yay AiShige. You'll see how Gaki figures into the whole picture right here. Hehehehe.
Saikami: You love cruel Ai, don't you? Well, you'll get it here in spades. SPADES.
lollipopgirl: You'll see what really happened and happens in this chapter. Hehehhehe.
ringo-hime: Sorry I didn't do the ice cream scene. I wanted to, but then this chapter said no. You know how the muse goes. >.>
poets: Aww poe-chan, I do love you. You rock. <3 Now I hope you will like the next chapter. XD
Righto~
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File #04
"So what are we watching tonight?"
A slim figure was sprawled out all over the couch, with an almost boyish set to her shoulders as she channel-surfed restlessly, waiting for her companion to join her.
"Um...a Disney film?" Her companion suggested, handing her a glass and settling herself into the couch next to her friend. The first girl grinned.
"That's so like you, Risa. Disney it is, then." Niigaki Risa grinned back, skipping over to the DVD player and inserting Beauty and the Beast. She had just about all the classic Disney fiilms in her collection, being a great fan. It was something her friend had never failed to tease her for.
Her friend. One Takahashi Ai, still lounging in the couch like she owned the place. Risa returned back to the couch, snuggling up to Ai. With the way Ai was occupying the couch, she had no choice but to do so. Or sit on Ai's lap. Risa wasn't sure if she wanted to deal with that.
It was a normal fortnightly ritual for them, movie night. Normally, they took turns to pick what to watch for the night, and it was almost always held at Risa's house.
For whatever reason, Ai had never brought Risa to her house, ever. Risa had never insisted either...she didn't want Ai to feel pressured to do so in any case. If Ai wanted to show her her house, she would do so eventually. That was what the 19 year old believed.
We've known each other for years but I can never tell what she's really thinking. Risa thought to herself, her face an open book to anyone who cared to look. Ai, for her part, appeared to be staring at the screen. Or zoning out. It was hard to tell sometimes.
They watched the movie. Well, half-watching. Despite the fact that she loved the movie to bits and would watch it raptly on any other occasion, Risa couldn't help but let her attention get drawn to Ai.
Her friend. Her best friend, even. They had been friends since forever, it seemed. Ever since the orphanage, as children. Even after Ai was adopted by a stern-looking old man, she still came back to visit Risa secretly, until Risa herself was adopted by the kind Niigaki family.
Despite being apart, they still kept in contact, although the phone calls became increasing sporadic as time went by. And Risa couldn't help but notice a growing change in her friend.
Ai's face, which had always been so adorably determined and serious whenever she was trying to do something, slowly became completely unreadable to her childhood friend. The tendency to say exactly what she was thinking also vanished, and was replaced by a more deliberate, controlled manner.
Still, Ai never forgot about her, so Risa just ignored all these changes. Ai-chan would always be her Ai-chan, even if she was no longer quite the same person as before.
And so they grew up. Risa was always grateful to her adoptive family, glad that she got such supportive and kind parents to live with. She never knew what kind of a family Ai got stuck with, since Ai never seemed inclined to talk about them, although she did speak well of her adoptive brother. It didn't bother Risa though. Ai-chan was still her Ai-chan.
Adolescence sure did a number on them though. For one thing, Risa was convinced that no words could do Ai any justice in trying to describe her. Ai was pretty as a child; but she was gorgeous as she developed into a woman. Risa couldn't help but feel very ordinary next to Ai, given that her own physical development took a little longer to show up.
It was also during that time that Risa's feelings about her best friend began to change. Ai was beautiful, but it was not merely her physical appearance that drew Risa to look at her best friend in a different light. No, it was how Ai was always kind to her, and the smile that Risa was sure that Ai only gave to her, and no one else. It made her feel...special.
Of course, hormones might have had a great deal to do with the whole fiasco, but Risa was sure that her attachment to Ai was far beyond the chemical chaos her body was bent on inflicting on her. It just seemed so natural to love Ai; the center of her universe ever since the orphanage where they first met had always been her. There was no one else who held that special place in her heart, or even come close to reach the kind of standing Ai had in her life.
She had been 16 when she first blurted out her feelings to a then 18 year old Ai, one cold winter night where Ai had been given one of her rare allowances to sleep over at Risa's place. Ai had been so ethereal, so unreal in the dim light of her lava lamp, that Risa simply blurted out a confession before processing it through her mind.
The moments that followed had been nerve-wracking for her. Ai simply looked at her expressionlessly, dark eyes unreadable, and Risa was almost sure that the older girl was going to laugh at her.
But she hadn't. Risa could still remember the exact feeling as Ai moved closer to her, pressing her soft lips against her forehead. She had blushed an almost neon red at the gesture, heart holding out a fragile hope that maybe, just maybe, her love would be returned.
Her heart had almost burst with happiness when Ai whispered back.
"I like you too, Risa."
On hindsight now, Risa sighed at her younger self's naivety. Ai's choice of words had been very clear from the get-go. Risa had used daisuki, but Ai had replied with a very neutral suki. Even the tone was different, but a 16 year old lovesick teenager could hardly be considered the best of judges at the time, she supposed.
Risa flushed unconsciously at the memory of what happened next, snuggling closer to Ai next to her on the couch, although her brows knit together at the same time, knowing what would happen.
"Do you really love me, Risa?"
"Yes...I...I...love you, Ai-chan."
"Really? No matter what I do, you will still feel the same?"
"...yes. Because I have always loved Ai-chan."
Ai had kissed her not long after that, pushing her back onto the bed, and asked the same question of her again while still on top of her. A blushing young Risa had still replied in the affirmative then, heart racing so fast that it had almost burst from her chest.
Ai continued to repeat that question as she went further, step by step. Each time, Risa had allowed her to continue, despite being just a bit frightened by the increasingly dangerous glimmer in Ai's eyes. Love really was blind, she guessed. She had never even considered that stopping Ai might have been a good idea at the time.
She never did stop Ai that night. And so it was that night, in the dead of winter in her 16th year, on her own bed, with her adoptive parents in the next room, that Niigaki Risa lost her virginity to her best friend.
Ai had been very gentle with her, although her eyes had glittered like fiery opals throughout, lending an almost demonic aura to her Ai-chan. She should have been frightened, but she hadn't been. No matter how dangerous, how demonic Ai appeared to be, her hands on Risa had always been so very gentle. And Risa took comfort in that fact.
The morning after had been, for lack of better adjectives, strange. Ai had been next to indifferent, although she at least had the decency to stay and wait until Risa woke up. It had been strange, waking up naked and held by someone else who was fully dressed.
Yes, Risa had fallen asleep not long after Ai had given her her first orgasm in her young life. Ai had never even taken off a single article of her own clothing during the whole encounter. On hindsight, Risa supposed that she should have expected the worst from all the myriad clues along the way.
But no, of course young Risa hadn't even considered that. She had, after all, had a fantasy fulfilled, her love confession apparently succeeding and having the object of her affections give her sensations that she had never felt before. Thus, the shock of what came after hit all the more harder.
"Risa."
"Mm...yes Ai-chan?"
"...this is all I can give you."
"...what?"
"We can't be together, Risa. I like you, but I don't love you. It wouldn't work."
"But...but...then...why...last night...you..."
"Because I wanted to. And you wanted it too, didn't you?"
Risa had come very close to hating Ai at that very moment, naked and vulnerable in her sheets with Ai's back turned to her. She had wanted to scream, to cry, to beg Ai to reconsider, but all that she could manage at the time was a mute, disbelieving silence.
To this day, Risa still couldn't believe how callous Ai had been about the whole matter. The girl had even had the nerve to tell her to "find a decent guy and forget about her". Had the girl believed that Risa would be able to get through something like that so easily?
Then again, Risa still couldn't believe what she actually did do at the time though. No, she didn't try to kill Ai, or even try to chase her out. No, despite Ai's rejection, she still loved the older girl. And love makes one do irrational things.
"Until I find that guy, you can always come here."
"Eh?"
"I don't want you to go away, Ai-chan. Stay with me, even if you can't love me that way."
"Risa, you..."
Yup, Risa was sure that her 16 year old self had been clinically insane. What had she been thinking? Then again, perhaps it wasn't so difficult to understand. She hadn't wanted to lose Ai. If given the same situation now, she would most likely have done the same thing.
And Ai was still here, anyway. She had kept her promise, being a normal best friend and never mentioning anything about that night ever again. Still too distant, still too unreadable, but at least she still took time to hang out with Risa.
Risa wondered why she did all this to herself. Continuing to love someone who only considered her a friend, and keeping her close even after what happened that night...surely, she had to be severely imbalanced. Was she so emotionally dependent on Ai?
It wasn't a question she really wanted to answer. To tell the truth, she was afraid of it.
The movie wound to a close. The Beast who was really a prince, together with his princess. Happily ever afters could only exist in fantasy after all, Risa mused sadly, her head still resting on Ai's shoulder.
"Risa?"
"Mmhmm?"
"Are you ok? You were zoning out a lot."
So Ai did pay attention to her after all. Risa tore her blank stare at the space before the screen away, lifting her eyes to meet Ai's cool ones.
Perhaps it was an after effect of reminscing about the past, or even a result of jealousy --- how could she have not noticed the kind of looks Ai and Sayumi had been throwing at each other earlier? She might be a bit slow at times, but she wasn't stupid. Even a block of wood could have picked up the very nearly sexual tension between those two.
"Make love to me." She blurted out without really thinking, for the second time in her life.
Ai blinked.
Risa held her breath. Stupid, stupid me! Ai looked almost incredulous, before her eyes shifted back to that guarded mask of hers. Completely impenetrable.
"Why?" Ai was regarding her with an intensity that a hawk would eye its prey. It gave Risa the shivers, with good reason.
"Because I want you to." Risa threw those familiar words back at Ai, one part of her still gaping at her own audacity. Did she really just make that request?
Ai was silent for a moment, then her demeanour seemed to shift all of a sudden. Smooth, fluid, like a panther stalking prey, Risa quite suddenly found herself flat on her back and breathless with an excited trepidation.
Was it just her, or did Ai get even more desirable since the last time they had been in such a position? Risa was sure it was the latter, but any and all thought vanished when Ai's lips found her own with a swift motion. There was none of the old tenderness, just a fierce, predatory hunger.
Risa was gasping for breath when Ai pulled away roughly, eyes blazing like that of a demon awakened. Pinning Risa's wrists to either side of her head, Ai leaned down and licked the outer curve of her ear teasingly, making Risa shiver with anticipation.
Ai's voice was a low growl as she spoke, rasping into her ear.
"I can't make love to you, Risa." That felt like a splash of cold water. But Ai hadn't finished, not quite yet.
"But...I can fuck you." Her voice was husky, dripping with danger and edged with a malicious fury. "I'll make you scream for me, beg for more, again and again." Ai moved closer, breathing right into her ear.
"I'll fuck you so hard, Risa, you'll forget your own name."
Risa was shaking. From fear or desire, it was hard to separate the two. Undoubtedly, she was scared to death by not only what Ai was saying, but more by the way she was saying it. There was no gentleness, none of the softness and consideration the Ai of 3 years ago had given her.
But yet. Yet. She had still asked.
Beyond the fear, beyond the danger, beyond the demon that was straddling her, Risa suddenly saw very clearly one fact. Ai had still given her a choice. She could still say no, and Ai would let go of her, and it would be as if nothing had happened. Of that she was certain.
Risa stared up at the eyes of a hunter. Where others saw a demon, she looked past and remembered the Ai she had first given herself too. Same eyes, same shield, the same darkness.
There really was no question about her decision, was there? She had already decided 3 years ago, and her feelings had never changed, even after all this time.
"I still love you, Ai-chan."
Apart from that, there really was nothing more to add, was there?
===========================================================
Only one thing to add here: I suffered like hell writing that last bit. Damn you Ai. Damn you Risa. Damn it.
Lol.
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Dammit, soooooooooooooooo close to wedge!!!! XD
I apologize for not catching up sooner. :(
File 2: Ohohohohoho~~~ Sayu?? :twisted: Sounds hot!! OMG bishie Ai-chan....*dies*
File 3: *dies again* Was hot!!!! :lol: Sayu's hustling!!! I guess we all do what we have to. Besides she said herself she's not a whore~ :yep: Aww, Gaki's such a sweet girl, as always. Ai...Ai-chan????? :w00t: This is going to be interesting~~ :yep: *puts on sunglasses, leans back and enjoys the ride* 8)
File 4: Awww!! Gaki+Disney= :wriggly: Ah, so I take it Gaki doesn't know what Ai-chan does for a living? *nods slowly* Whoa, they were orphans?! :stunned: The reason Ai-chan started becoming rather emotionless is because of her training, I'm sure. But damn.....I can't believe Ai-chan did THAT to Gaki and then just said she didn't love her. :mon wtf: I was wondering if Gaki could sense that Sayu and Ai-chan knew each other. Gaki said WHAT?!?!?!?!?! :mon spit: And then Ai-chan said WHAT?!?!?! :stoned: Aiya..... :smoke:
I enjoyed this so much though. :mon lol:
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ah good old disney...
ah good old flashbacks... :stoned:
...
...
ah what the heck just happened?! :shock: what a way to end the chapter :mon spit:
Innocent, oblivious Risa has become something else entirely...ah jealousy does wonders~
lol the more "wrong" this story gets the more exciting and fun it becomes XD
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Eh?! Two updates while I was gone?!
File 03: Oh dang Sayu...you little devil. xD And...oh dang. Devils butt heads. o-o;; Yikes.
File 04: Aw... Risa and Ai-chan! Disney!
...
:stoned: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH?! WTF JUST HAPPENED?! Ai-chan?! :mon curtain: :OMG:
Gosh darnit, the wronger (<--purposely spelled wrong) this story gets, the more I wanna read it. o-o
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love readin ur fan fic..^^
i tink tat ai have encounter something bad tat cause e change in her..=x..
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Their fan fic are great and excellent!! is a story of the most fun. :D ai-chan, her is too attractive!^^
I would like that you to make a love story of Maimi and Airi.^^
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Wee! Two updates! I had to try very hard not to burst out while reading at work. XD
Love Triangle! Bring on the drama!
Matsuura's Zutto Suki de Ii desuka totally reminded me of Gaki's position. Poor Gaki.
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-splutters-
...
...........
...............
-minutes pass before brain kicks in again-
Essy!!!! You...you....you..... did great. XD Did you imagine I was gonna go ballistic and kill you?? If I were a normal Gaki fan I probably would since you subjected the poor girl to such agony.
"Until I find that guy, you can always come here."
That line was the ultimate. I think something inside of me shattered along with it. But hell you write so good I can't risk physically hurting you in case you can't write anymore. That and I would probably have your fans beating down my door attempting to take my life :P
Let's see, how should I continue with my comment? You know how stressed out I've been recently so I know I'm not making much sense. Just know that reading your fics has always been the highlight of my day so please continue writing incredible stories. Okay, why am I sounding so weird?? I should stop now before I write even more strange stuff.
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Dang, this is getting much more interesting. :twisted:
the last part made me laugh, not in a bad way, NOO. hehe, so fun to read~
Ai is soooo..mysteriously sexy and scary ..hhihih.
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File #01
OMGASS! AICHAN'S AN ASSASIN!! :o
File #02
DOUBLE OMGASS! SAYU'S A PROFESSIONAL ESCORT (possibly even a "call girl") AND AICHAN'S A HOT BISHIE!!! :shocked:
...
TAKASHIGE!!! :cow:
Not for the first time, Sayumi was glad that the Jaguar had tinted windows. And soundproofing.
And yes, they were late for the party again. As usual.
Lucky Sayu. :drool:
File #03
Fear and desire formed a potent black hole that drew her irresistably to this woman. There was no avoiding the truth: she was afraid of Ai. In the dark of the nights where they met and came together, she had seen the viciousness well up unchecked, lighting dark fires in the depths of unreadable eyes. It was frightening, seductively so, and the instinct to run always fought with the instinct to submit at each critical moment. Little guess to which won out most of the time.
Shouldn't be that surprising. Psychologically, it's not that uncommon for women to be attracted to partners with that hint of "danger" in their personalities.
Needless to say, she did not make it to class. Not the morning one anyway.
Oh well, she could live without 2 hours of listening to a shriveled up old professor reading off his notes. Not to mention that passing the time in bed with Ai was more enjoyable.
Far, far more enjoyable.
No duh. :lol:
Here are the notes for the class you missed, I thought you might want them." A tone of voice so filled with motherly concern, it almost made Sayu cry. But of course, she didn't. She was made of sterner stuff than that.
"Thanks Gaki-san, you're awesome!" A genuine smile, from the heart.
...
"Wanna have ice cream later? As a thank you for the notes."
A whisper back. "Sorry, maybe another time? I'm meeting an old friend later."
Risa? "Old friend"? Oh boy, already I'm thinking up plot twists and rabu-rabu toraianguru's.
Sayumi was about to leave when another voice cut in.
"Risa, I'm here." Sayu blinked, halting in midstep. That voice...
Sayumi turned around slowly to see a smiling Takahashi Ai jog up to a just as radiant Niigaki Risa, who seemed to beam even brighter at the sight of the older girl.
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW SHIEEEEEEEEEEEEET! :O
"Why don't you join us for some ice cream? It's nearby." Ai added smoothly. Sayu didn't know if she wanted to strangle the woman for taking this so calmly while her own nerves were so rattled.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...something tells me Aichan's gonna have a little fun. :twisted:
"Oh, she missed class this morning, and I took notes for her. She said she wanted to treat me to ice cream, so there we are."
Sayu pinned Ai with a stare. Oh no you don't. A lazy smile was playing across those devilish lips. Sayu felt a sense of impending doom looming over her.
"Oh dear. Skipping class is bad. You shouldn't have done it."
Inwardly, Sayu pictured herself strangling the smug-looking Ai and screaming at how it was all her fault to begin with, but outwardly she showed no sign of even being ruffled by the comment.
"I'll try harder next time. I had such a horrible time trying to sleep last night, and then I had a bad run in with a rabid dog this morning, so I really couldn't have made it anyway."
Direct hit. Ai narrowed her eyes. Sayumi smiled benignly.
Bring it on, baby. Bring it on.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
:wahaha:
File #04
For whatever reason, Ai had never brought Risa to her house, ever. Risa had never insisted either...she didn't want Ai to feel pressured to do so in any case.
Assuming Aichan even has a "regular" house of her own, there's no way that she'd likely bring anyone over, considering how much of a security risk (not to mention the potential for becoming pawns to be used against her) they would be.
Her friend. Her best friend, even. They had been friends since forever, it seemed. Ever since the orphanage, as children. Even after Ai was adopted by a stern-looking old man, she still came back to visit Risa secretly, until Risa herself was adopted by the kind Niigaki family.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, so Aichan had been brought into her world at very early age then.
She never knew what kind of a family Ai got stuck with, since Ai never seemed inclined to talk about them, although she did speak well of her adoptive brother.
Brother? The "sensei" that she spoke to on the phone in the first chapter?
It was also during that time that Risa's feelings about her best friend began to change. Ai was beautiful, but it was not merely her physical appearance that drew Risa to look at her best friend in a different light. No, it was how Ai was always kind to her, and the smile that Risa was sure that Ai only gave to her, and no one else. It made her feel...special.
/me sees something with 3 sides and 3 points.
Damn I called it. Can't help but wonder how Aichan's going to react when she finds out (b/c we all know that sooner or later she probably will, if she doesn't already suspect it herself ;D ).
She had been 16 when she first blurted out her feelings to a then 18 year old Ai, one cold winter night where Ai had been given one of her rare allowances to sleep over at Risa's place. Ai had been so ethereal, so unreal in the dim light of her lava lamp, that Risa simply blurted out a confession before processing it through her mind.
The moments that followed had been nerve-wracking for her. Ai simply looked at her expressionlessly, dark eyes unreadable, and Risa was almost sure that the older girl was going to laugh at her.
But she hadn't. Risa could still remember the exact feeling as Ai moved closer to her, pressing her soft lips against her forehead. She had blushed an almost neon red at the gesture, heart holding out a fragile hope that maybe, just maybe, her love would be returned.
Her heart had almost burst with happiness when Ai whispered back.
"I like you too, Risa."
Oh...well then. Hmmmmmmmm...:?
"Do you really love me, Risa?"
"Yes...I...I...love you, Ai-chan."
"Really? No matter what I do, you will still feel the same?"
"...yes. Because I have always loved Ai-chan."
It's like she's scared to lose Risa should she find out what Aichan does. Risa's the one consistent factor that has always been in Aichan's life. She's quite possibly her proverbial rock, her safe port in the storm.
*WHAT HAPPENED NEXT*
Dayum...
:mon blood:
*MORNING AFTER*
Aw crap...:cry:
Something tells me this is largely Aichan's training. Similarly to not bringing anyone to wherever she calls home, she can't allow herself to get too attached to anyone (as well as vice versa) as that would definitely prove potentially dangerous for both.
Yup, Risa was sure that her 16 year old self had been clinically insane. What had she been thinking? Then again, perhaps it wasn't so difficult to understand. She hadn't wanted to lose Ai. If given the same situation now, she would most likely have done the same thing.
Raburabu will do that sort of thing to ya. :yep:
Perhaps it was an after effect of reminscing about the past, or even a result of jealousy --- how could she have not noticed the kind of looks Ai and Sayumi had been throwing at each other earlier? She might be a bit slow at times, but she wasn't stupid. Even a block of wood could have picked up the very nearly sexual tension between those two.
Oh shit.
:scared:
*AFTER THE MOVIE*
Yabai...
:mon blood:
There really was no question about her decision, was there? She had already decided 3 years ago, and her feelings had never changed, even after all this time.
"I still love you, Ai-chan."
Apart from that, there really was nothing more to add, was there?
When you're madly in raburabu? Nope. Not really.
Matsuura's Zutto Suki de Ii desuka totally reminded me of Gaki's position.
I KNOW!!! :rockon:
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Once again you stole my heart with your story :inlove: I just can't find the right words to describe how awesome it is... :roll:
Ai-chan being a badass assasin plus Sayu as her "escort" and all those things that happened between her and Gaki just left me speechless and with constant nosebleeds :on bleed: Because of your stories I became a bigger Ai-chan freak that I used to be :lol: I don't know how you are doing this but please... don't stop! :farofflook:
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Wow so many comments! Makes me a happy author, yes I am. ^_^
Alrighty, I'm back with comment replies, which means, yes, new chapter coming up soon!
Ichigo-chan: Aww I'm glad you tried to wedge. Too bad I'm too fast. Haha. You gave me just the reaction I wanted yay! Yeah, pretty much WTFness going on here...good to know you're enjoying the story!
Sukoshi: Yes, the wronger it gets, the more fun I have. And the more fun the readers have. Hurhur. XD It gets better (or would that be worse?) next chapter. Ohohoho...
SxY: Demon!Aichan sure is...well, she gets all the WTF reactions, accompanied with much drooling (at least I know I do lol). Yes, the wronger it is, the better! Hehehehe...
alwaysYou: Hi, new commenter! Hmm, I also wonder what kind of a history Ai had to make her turn out like this too. Hehe. Glad to see you around!
Mikitty_Ayaya: Thanks for reading. ^_^ Maimi and Airi...? I'm not really a big Kids writer though...but I'll keep it in mind for next time? No promises though.
Fenrir: Hehe, drama makes life interesting. Oh yes, that song really does suit poor Gaki, doesn't it? And it just doesn't get any better at all for the poor beanhead too...why am I so evil to her... >.> Hmm. XD
Hammy: Haha, I'm just glad you didn't decide to murder me. Lol. But then again you're the most abnormal Gaki fan I know, so oh well. XD It just doesn't get any better for the poor girl though, so you had best be prepared. At least my stories entertain you though? Only a few more weeks until semester ends! Ganbare! :D
ringo-hime: Yup yup, Aichan is awesome. I love her. <3 Even if she's evil and scary here. Lol.
JFC: You're finally here! Lol. Hope you're liking the premise. Hehe. Gotta love your epic comments too. As for Ai, well, she's definitely going to be a serious anti-hero in this series. Gotta love her, hate her, love to hate her and hate to love her. You'll see. Hehe. It gets more and more complicated, but yet at the same time distressingly simple. Nyahahaha.
peti-chan: Ai-chan freaks UNITE! Haha. I don't intend to stop, don't worry. This is too fun to give up! Lol. No stress yo.
And gimme a couple of minutes to edit, and new chapter should appear soon. :D
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-wedge- kekekeke
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File #05
Hurts... Was the first thing that ran through her groggy, confused mind as it swam to consciousness. The second thing, appropriately enough, was...
Cold... Bleary eyes opened, even as her mind caught up to the fact that her body was still in an awkward position. She couldn't move properly, that was certain. Not to mention that goosebumps were prickling her skin and she felt sore in places she didn't even know she had.
The multitude of sensations exposed to her, as well as her growing clarity of mind, abruptly brought to the forefront of her consciousness the experiences of the previous night. Despite all the discomfort, she flushed a very vivid crimson, suppressing a shiver at the memory.
Demanding. So demanding. That was what it had been all about.
How many times had it been already? She had lost count after the 6th time. Or was it 7th?
"Ai..." She gasped, choked more likely, her breath coming raggedly. Her body was heaving unevenly, still trying to recover from the last round.
"I can't..." Her legs were already reduced to wobbly jello. She couldn't stand even if she wanted to. Assuming she were allowed to.
"You can and you will." Hot breath across the back of her neck, teeth skipping across her flushed skin. A hot, wet tongue licked up the sheen of sweat, before biting deeply into flesh, eliciting another whimper as another mark was made on her skin.
"Scream for me, Risa."
She could almost still hear it now, echoing in her mind with a sibilant hiss. There had been no compassion, no gentleness, no mercy given to her whatsoever. Nothing, except the harsh, intimate reality of Ai's cruel touch.
Again and again.
No rest, no let up, not even when she was reduced to tears. When her world spun around for the umpteenth time, her very cells screaming in agony and ecstasy both, until even she could scream no more, reduced to a whimpering wreck.
"Again, Risa. I'm not done with you yet."
Ai had made good on her promise fair and square. What they did last night was nowhere near 'making love' by any stretch of the imagination. No, it had been pure, mindless sex. Fucking, as Ai had so bluntly put it. There had been nothing but the down and the dirty, the rough and the raw. No tenderness, and certainly nothing remotely resembling emotion.
Scratch that. There had been emotion. A kind of perverse passion, twisted beyond recognition. Ai had dominated her entirely; taken her, crushed her, and swallowed her whole. There had been a burning fury in the pace that was set, harsh and unrelenting; but underlying it all was a cold deliberation, a streak of cruelty that chilled her blood and broke her down even more than the purely physical acts.
Ai had not been kind to her. Case in point: she had been tied to the table leg. One of the kinky things that Ai was trying after she got bored doing it the regular way for the nth time.
But did she really have to leave me tied here?!
Yes, the rope burns were certainly not helping. Nor was the awkward position her body was forced to lie in due to her hands being restrained over her head. Her arms were also sore from the unnatural position. It took a while to loosen the knots. Ai had tied them on pretty tightly.
After managing to free herself, a shivering and shaky Risa sat up slowly, one trembling hand reaching out to grab the remains of her ripped up shirt and holding it to her chest. Angry red welts were very visible all over her body, both front and back. The muscles in her legs felt both strangely stretched and cramped at the same time, resulting in an entirely uncomfortable sensation. She did not trust herself to stand for the moment, instead looking around the room.
Empty. The room was empty. She was alone.
The tattered remains of what she had been wearing were still scattered all around, and the whole place still reeked of sex. The windows were all shuttered, lending a dank, gloomy atmosphere to the place. For lack of a better term, the room felt...abandoned.
A sharp pain gnawed at Risa's chest, making her press the scrap of cloth harder into her chest. A fresh wave of tears threatened to break the emotional dam, but she just barely held it back. Still, her shoulders shook with suppressed sobs, the physical state of her much abused body nothing compared to the torturous agony her mental state endured.
Yet, she felt nothing. Emotionally, she was just all wrung out, though her mind and body screamed for comfort, for rest, for something, anything. She could not think, although the reflection in her mind cracked and splintered under the stress.
Nothing felt real anymore, except for the fact that last night had happened. Her body was evidence enough for that. She wanted to scream. Wanted to cry. Wanted to do a lot of things, but all she actually managed to do was just sit there. In shock, in a daze, unable to move. Trying to process everything, but failing spectacularly.
There was something on the table. A scrap of pure white, something that had not been there. Should not have been there. Risa didn't have a habit of leaving things around.
Mechanically, she reached out it. It was a note. With some very familiar handwriting on it.
Borrowed that Korean drama DVD boxset you had. See you next time.
Ai
The silence was deafening. Slowly, the note began to shake, getting increasingly creased, the words blending into a spidery tangle as the original paper became a torn and ripped shadow of itself.
Risa stared at it. At her balled up fist, at the note, into space. She was staring at something, or perhaps nothing at all. It was hard to tell. Very hard to tell.
She wanted so much to be angry. To throw the blasted note as hard and far as she could. To rush into the bathroom and scrub the remnants of Ai's damnable touch from her skin. To cut off all ties with that unfeeling, heartless creature and never ever see or even hear about her again.
It would be easier to hate her. To hate her, forget her, and never see her again. That was what she wanted to do. Really. It would have been so much easier that way.
I want to hate her...want to forget her...but then why does it hurt so much?
She had curled into a ball, hugging her knees to herself and trembling as her nails dug into her calves. It hurt so bad, and it had nothing whatsoever to do with the numerous visible wounds she was sporting.
She could not pick herself up, move from that spot. It hurt even more, hating Ai. And she really did, right there on the carpet; naked, torn, and bleeding.
I hate you Ai. I hate you so much...because even after all this, I still love you.
And that was when Niigaki Risa, 19 years old and broken a second time, began to really cry.
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-runs and hides in pillow fortress-
Comment freely, everyone!
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-dibs- O_O
xD...
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Aichan's a coldhearted (But hawt) betch xDDDDD......
She's so frightening really. Poor Gaki-san, Aichan is every epitome of cruelty yet she still loves her... Suffering in order to love her... Poor tortured character D:!! But you know, a part of me thinks Aichan still holds some strong value for Risa, even though it might be hard to see, given how she treats her. Actually, I was thinking about something Sayu thought back in file 3, how she was surprised that Aichan managed to look and sound normal... It makes me wonder if the reason why she still interacts with Gaki-san instead of leaving her behind is because Gaki-san is Aichan's only link to a 'normal' life...Well, as 'normal' as it can get, screwing the hell out of her and all. o___O
Anywho xDDDDD
Looking forward to seeing moar of hawt cruel Aichan xD
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Poor Gaki-san! How can you be so cruel to her?! :O But I bet Ai-chan still has some part of her that cares for Gaki. Right???? *pokes with a sharp pointed blade* :mon evil:
Yet, I want to see more sexy evil Ai-chan? >.> <.<
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Woo! New chapter~ (and yay, I got to wedge it before cleaning my room)
Sorry for not commenting on File #4 earlier, I'm mad busy x_x
Moving on~
File #4 was very cute at first, I with the Disney-ness...but then it went all downhill ;_;!!! I feel wicked bad for Gaki-san >_< Aichan is suuuuch a effing bitch! Yet I oddly love it! O_o; And then the end...DAMN I didn't think you could be THAT evil! (okay, I did, but I didn't think you would) :shocked:
File #5 made me all sad T_T I don't even know what to say...I just feel really bad for Gaki-san again. I mean...that's so cruel. And then with the note from Ai...God, I just wanted to punch a bitch! BUT SHE'S STILL ADDICTING! :banghead: :angry: it's not fair XD! We all love to hate her.
-demands more- ^_^ keep it up
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UWAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!! T______T Poor Gaki-san... Now I feel even more depressed. (I watched a depressing movie in my English class earlier.) But it's the good type of depressed if you get what I mean. xD I eagerly await your next update. <3
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Borrowed that Korean drama DVD boxset you had. See you next time.
Ai
Wah! :O Cruelty at its finest! I think that line made my jaw drop....so much for leaving a sweet message for Risa. Poor Gaki, Sayu has all the fun and Risa gets this >___<! Darn that cruel yet addictive Estrea Ai chan! Needless to say I need more :inlove:
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OH SHmack!! :fainted:
Evil Ai...darn. moar evil than i thought. >___< im guessing Estrea can get this evil too :glasses:
and..waaaaa. :OMG: even if Ai is so evil..everyone still loves her. LOL XD
on the other had, i feel sorry for Gaki-san :on beatup.... her soul was filled with love and hate. :on blackhole:
but oh well, still cant wait for the next, whether it be evil Ai or assassin Ai or...Ai. :on woohoo: :on gay:
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*whistles* Damn, that was.....I don't even know. :err: I'm literally shaking b/c I can kind of imagine it. As sick and twisted as that sounds. All the wounds.....*shudders* Somewhere, I still love Ai-chan but right now, I hate her. :mon cry: For what she did and how she acts like it didn't even happen. Can't she fucking see what she's doing? She's ripping Gaki apart from the outside in. The injuries are visible from the outside but they don't even compare at all to what's going on inside.
It's making me so sad. Foreal. Don't get me wrong, it's exceptionally written, as usual. But I'm pretty shaken. :mon cute:
I think I'm going to go try and recover now.
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all i can say is that...... GAKI is a double "M"..... a great martyr and a masochist..... :on drench: :on cloudeye: :on chew:
does really love makes you go blind??? argh........... well, in AI's case, i really cant hate her, the love the bitch :sweat:
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Kowaiii~~ :on freeze: Poor Risa being tortured by Ai physically and mentally :cry: However, as much as I feel sorry for Risa, I also don't want Ai-chan to change XD It seems like no matter what bad things Ai-chan will do, we will always forgive her :bigdeal:
Anticipating the next files :on GJ:
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Is it wrong that I don't think Ai is being cruel or a basterd to Gaki? In a 1way or another I understand and sympathise with Ai here. U kno what it is to consistently warn someone about ur self and they still insist on being with u and then they act all surprise and hurt when they see u weren't kidding about ur warning?
I don't think I can call Ai cruel in this current situation with Risa. I can't even call her a bitch. I think to classify something as "cruel" they need to take enjoyment from someone's pain... don't think Ai enjoys to see Risa suffer, she enjoys seeing others suffer xD but not gaki... now that she doesn't like to see gaki suffer doesn't mean she's going to go out of her way and care lol.
In this current scenario...Ai is being completely honest to Risa... stating exactly what she needs to know and EVEN then Gaki STILL insists.
Its not Ai who is causing pain to Gaki...it's gaki herself.
Ai warned her... Ai even gave her a choice. BUT NOOOOOOO Gaki had to be all "I wub u! do me plz... I want it... I don't care how u do it".... ofcourse Ai is going to go ahead with it..DUR!
Here's where the cool part of bad!ai kicks in... she only cares enough for Gaki to ASK if she really wants to go through with it... she doesn't care enough to ask or wonder how she'll feel afterwards... proof of this is when ai leaves the note about the korean dvds (which I absolutely loved <3). I have to agree with Ai's mentality here... why should she care? she did her part when she asked... its not her concern what happens after the act.. if gaki feels bad, its gaki's own fault...simple as that.
so that's all I have to say about this chapter xD
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I would think Ai has raped Gaki. XD
It's a pretty intense chapter. And oh I love the way you write it.
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^^ Pffft, it's easier to just be pissed at Ai :lol:
Thin line there Poe-poe, the same argument could be used to say women who stay in a violent relationship deserve it they're constantly being warned... But I get what you mean and I agree, however, only to a degree :p
Now that's what I call a Fucking Nightmare!
Anyway, wow Essy-chan, talk about giving your characters depth! I'm surprised I'm surprised they aren't drowning yet from all it... Loves it though :D
Originally I was all "Grrr Ai" like most of the others here but then I realised who the real person to blame is *glares at Essy* First you try to corrupt me with ReinAi hotness and now you go and break TakaGaki... and not just crack or anything, you ripped the heart out of it's core and stomped on it for some time, while cackling in a Miki-esque fashion :cry: :pleeease: Evil Essy who comes up with these crazy ideas *glares some more* It's not Ai that's addictive (well, she is too), it's YOU & your writing!!! :heart:
My take on Ai, she's so void of human emotion, or wants to be considering her job, that she does what she can to keep it that... Deep down she wants to care for Risa, but if she lets herself than she becomes weak and things get in the way of who she really is, or rather who she believes she is... She can easily justify her (non-)relationship with Sayu as business and doesn't have to be as protected and guarded as she is with Gaki... For anyone, if you can hurt the ones closest to you without remorse, than hurting near strangers shouldn't be a problem at all... But only one person really knows what's going on it that smexy head of Ai's *glares at the master whose laughing at us in the corner*
If Sayu ever found out about what just happened, WOW... Can't imagine the inner turmoil for her then, she'd have to be so scared of Ai.
Oh, and I have faith that Gaki won't stay tortured forever (that would just be cruel), so how are things gonna turn out for her I wonder... It's heart-breaking reading about her like that :cry:
Time to get on ur own two feet woman and give that Ai a piece of ur mind!
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Thin line there Poe-poe, the same argument could be used to say women who stay in a violent relationship deserve it they're constantly being warned...
yup, you can ^-^ (ofcourse to every rule there is an acception... but overall you're right... you can use it =D)
*waits for chapter six ^_^*
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Woohoo! Thanks to everyone who voted for me! Here's a chapter for your efforts. Lol.
Comment replies first as usual though.
Yuuyami: Nice observations. Hehe. Ai's a complicated person, but Gaki's just as complicated here too. The issues between them are rather, well, tangled. I'll have to explain that in another chapter in the future. Soon, I guess. Heh. Hawt cruel Aichan seems to be popular, even if people love to hate her at the same time. Hehehehe....
Fenrir: @_@ Why is it that every time I write a story on crack, I inevitably get threats one way or another? XD It happened with AA, it happened here. Lol. Sexy evil Aichan will be back. This chapter is a bit of a break from the emotional rollercoaster that was File #05. XD
Saikami: You know me, I love being evil. Hehe. Never underestimate me, yo. Lol. Ai does that to you, you can't hate her no matter what she does...even if you do hate her, you just keep coming back for more. Just like Gaki does. XDDDD
SxY: Awww sorry (?) to get you depressed. Haha. Well, here's more to come. Hopefully something that puts you in a better mood. XD
Sukoshi: If there's anyone to blame for that line, blame stefy. She suggested the idea to me, I took it and ran with it. Hehehe. Of course Sayu has fun; no strings attached sex is always the best. In Gaki's case there's way too much baggage involved. Lol. Who, me? I didn't do nothing...:P
ringo-hime: Yup yup, we all love evil Ai. Hehe. Poor Gaki, I know, but well, what's done is done. Lol. More Ai is always good, yes. XD
Ichigo-chan: I'm glad that it felt that intense to you, because that means I did my job right! ^_^ Yeah Ai really did a number on Gaki, that's for sure. Try to feel better soon! I hope I didn't traumatize you too badly...
ayase909: Oooh I remember you. :D Lol nice description...double M...hehe. Love isn't blind, just that lovers are blind. Gaki has a bad case of emotional dependency on Ai I guess. For reasons I shall explain in another chapter some time into the future. Hehe. Everyone loves Ai even if they don't know why!
peti-chan: Yeah Ai's pretty scary when she wants to be. But she's still hawt no matter what huh? XD Of course we'll forgive Aichan, she's just that awesome. Hehe.
poets: Poe-chan! :D Nice epic comment. Stop trying to peek into my brain, it's not allowed! Lol. I love you for defending Ai though, nice take on her personality there. You just love bad!Ai, don'tcha? XD After all, you asked for her to begin with...hopefully I'm delivering what you want! Haha.
katatsumuri: omg you commented. I think the last time I ever saw you on one of my story threads was eons ago on AA. Haha. I guess in a way you might consider it rape...although technically Gaki DID give Ai consent...it's hard to tell in this case. Lol. I'm glad you like the way I write though. ^_^ Compliments like this make my day. ^_^
lollipopgirl: I love giving my characters depth. :D It's my way of doing things, I can't imagine it any other way. *dodges the glare* Hehehe of course I try to corrupt you...tis my job. I love breaking things too...the more perfect they are, the further they can fall. >D I be evil! And I bet you love me being evil, just admit it already. =P Interesting way of interpreting Ai in this context though...she's certainly an enigma here (except to me, I made her the way she is here nyahahaha). We'll see though. Hehe. How cruel can I get, I wonder? You'll just find out in good time. >D
Wow that was exhausting though. So many comment replies to make....but keep them coming people! I like answering. :D I also like going all :wahaha: too. Comments are love. :heart: Gives me the motivation to continue. ;)
And without further ado, File #06!
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File #06
There was no doubt that something was watching. Some creature, some hunter, with ill intent. There was no mistaking the unease that followed as one darted from corner to cranny, seeking to throw the pursuer off their trail.
It was more than just a malicious sense of watching, a kind of insidious surveillance that shook one to the soul. No living thing would have enjoyed being pinned by such a gaze.
"Ai, stop trying to intimidate my fish." A weary voice chided her with an easy familiarity.
The target of the scolding pouted, turning her attention away from the enormous aquarium that covered the entirety of one wall. The harried fish that had been under her scrutiny darted away gratefully, disappearing into an artificial reef.
"You're 21, not 12, so stop that." The sharply dressed man in a business suit raised one eyebrow at her, but Ai only stuck her tongue out at him.
"You're not my dad, Ta-kun. Or do you want me to start calling you old man too?" Ai replied impudently, striding forward to flop into the leather armchair, spinning around restlessly as she rolled around in it in front of the mahogany desk that belonged her adoptive brother and sometime-sensei.
"You're restless today." Takeda Shinryu (originally known as Takahashi Ryuuta, but he changed his name) noted, looking away from his screen to eyeball his favorite little sister.
"Gimme something to do, I'm bored." Ai rested her chin on folded arms, making puppy eyes at her adopted brother/father/boss/teacher. They had a complicated relationship, of that there was no doubt.
To Takeda though, no matter how dangerously competent Ai had turned out to be, she would always be the same adorably pouting little girl whining at him. Like right now.
"Didn't I give you a target a few days ago?" He shuffled through some papers. Ai rolled her eyes.
"He's way too ugly. No fun at all. Gimme another one." Ai started peering at her fingers, picking absently at her hangnails. Takeda gave her a look.
"The point is to kill him, not screw him. Don't be picky." Ai pretended to sulk as he said that.
"Fine. Be that way." Deftly, she stole the file from right under his nose, glancing rapidly at the information. Takeda merely watched her blandly; he had half expected her to do that.
"By the way, did you pinch my Jaguar XJ220 the other day?" He added as he turned back to his screen. Ai smiled lazily.
"Not yours anymore. I stole it fair and square." She flipped through the file some more, memorizing the details. "Shouldn't be too difficult to get rid of this guy the regular way."
"Problem is, the request was for something a little more...subtle." Takeda added. Ai sighed.
"Yeah. I can't pull the same trick like with that politician's brat. This guy's practically a monk." She paused, before adding. "A very rich one though."
"Think of something. You're creative." Takeda replied flippantly, waving a hand dismissively at her. His overall attitude was oddly familiar; Ai herself exuded a similar aura, just subtly different. No doubt that he had been her teacher.
"Yeah, whatever. There's gotta be a loophole in his lifestyle somewhere..." She started muttering to herself. "If only the client hadn't stipulated that bloody clause...I rather just put a bullet in his forehead or maybe spike his drink. This guy bores me."
"I'm sure you can do it." Takeda said encouragingly. He grinned suddenly. Ai gave him a suspicious look. "What?"
"Nothing, I just remembered how motivated you used to get when I said I would bring you to Disneyland if you succeeded. Guess I can't use the same bribe again..." He neatly dodged the flying pen aimed at his eye. Ai huffed indignantly.
"That was when I was 13! 8 years ago! Sheesh..." She folded her arms, leaning back in the chair as her forehead creased in deep thought.
"Hey, a man who doesn't drink, gamble and womanize would probably be a good family man, wouldn't he?" Back to business again. There was no mistaking the contemplative note in her tone. Takeda nodded, waiting for her to explain her idea.
"Well, there's no way I can get close to him normally. The guy's paranoid on top of being a monk. I mean, seriously, he doesn't let anyone unfamiliar get close to him. Even the part-time help at his home are screened." Ai shrugged. "As expected from a former spy, I guess."
"You have something on your mind." It was not a question. Takeda had spent more than 10 years training Ai, and he knew her better than most. Ai smirked, steepling her fingers together and resting her chin on them. Takeda narrowed his eyes.
"Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling about what you're planning?" Ai grinned, putting on her most harmless, adorable face, complete with puppy eyes and pouty lower lip. He sighed.
"What now?"
Ai winked roguishly at him. "Let's just say I just figured out a way to have a little more fun with this mission."
He eyed her suspiciously. The pair locked gazes, and would likely have stayed like that for the next 15 minutes had not the doors opened slowly behind them, a hesitant head peeking from behind it.
"Um..." Even the voice was uncertain, as if ready to bolt. Ai broke her staring contest with Takeda immediately, spinning around with a genuine smile on her face as she greeted the intruder.
"How have you been, little one?" Taking the initiative easily, Ai strode over to the door and pulled the young girl into the room.
"Ai-neesama! I've been good!" Ai grinned and ruffled the girl's hair affectionately.
"You're getting taller, Yuukarin." Yuuka beamed at her adopted older sister and idol. Takeda looked on with amusement at the pair.
"Have you finished with your practice?" Takeda asked, taking on the stern role of teacher and trainer. Yuuka jumped and hid behind Ai, before replying in the affirmative with a certain amount of apprehension. Ai shook her head and patted Yuuka's shoulder comfortingly, the younger girl flushing cutely as Ai put a casual arm around her shoulders.
"I'll take her down to the firing range, would that be alright onii-chan?" Ai winked outrageously as Takeda spluttered. She only ever called him that to tease him, and only because she knew that Takeda wasn't used to her doing that, ever.
"Fine." He coughed, trying to regain some semblance of dignity. "Don't forget about your own job though." Ai only casually waved him off as she steered her younger "sister" out of the room.
Takeda watched them go, wondering what kind of a monster he had unleashed in Ai, and wondering if he could repeat the same thing with Yuuka.
"Oh well, we'll see." He gave his desk a once over, a compulsive habit whenever Ai came over.
With good reason.
"Damnit Lovely, stop stealing my car keys!"
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Enter...Yuuka. XD
A break from the drama, setting up for the next event. Hohoho. Comment muchos, amigos!
XD
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I love your fic it's addicting! This type of stuff is what I love to read the most. I hope you keep writing :D
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Enter...Yuuka. XD
A break from the drama, setting up for the next event. Hohoho. Comment muchos, amigos!
XD
in Spanich is: ¡¡¡Comenten mucho, amigos!!! :D
Yuuka Maeda??
in certain way is ineresante see this personality of Ai-chan!
I'm new in its history, so tenerme patience.
and my first language is not English.
I am not so follower of his writings.
because I prefer to read more stories of love of maimi and airi.
but ...
I entered the curiosity!
be aware of your writings!
especially for ai-chan!
It is intriguing to me!
it is intriguing to me the attitude of ai-chan!
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poets: Poe-chan! Nice epic comment. Stop trying to peek into my brain, it's not allowed! Lol. I love you for defending Ai though, nice take on her personality there. You just love bad!Ai, don'tcha? After all, you asked for her to begin with...hopefully I'm delivering what you want! Haha.
Meeeeeeeeeeee? Peek into uuuuuuuuuurrrr brain? nevah 0=)... Involuntary brainsharing is in no way my fault... plus it's nice for it work this way every once in a while... usually it's u poking around in my head x_x. And yes... you're doing a more than wonderful job at delivering and i mean that in more than one way ^_^... Silly Es-chan :heart: *huggles you* Watashi no Es-chan ^_^ *pets you*
now for the story!
There was no doubt that something was watching. Some creature, some hunter, with ill intent. There was no mistaking the unease that followed as one darted from corner to cranny, seeking to throw the pursuer off their trail.
It was more than just a malicious sense of watching, a kind of insidious surveillance that shook one to the soul. No living thing would have enjoyed being pinned by such a gaze.
"Ai, stop trying to intimidate my fish." A weary voice chided her with an easy familiarity.
The target of the scolding pouted, turning her attention away from the enormous aquarium that covered the entirety of one wall. The harried fish that had been under her scrutiny darted away gratefully, disappearing into an artificial reef.
The opening was EPIC! I can totally see this as it happens ROFL XD. Good moment yo XD... loved it <3. Over all I <3 this chapter twas good :heart: a nice break from the intensity of the previouse one :lol:... and a nice side of Ai that we all enjoy :twisted:
"Gimme something to do, I'm bored." Ai rested her chin on folded arms, making puppy eyes at her adopted brother/father/boss/teacher. They had a complicated relationship, of that there was no doubt.
I bet you're bored, sex isn't everything in life. There's also....killing? :? XD lol
"Didn't I give you a target a few days ago?" He shuffled through some papers. Ai rolled her eyes.
"He's way too ugly. No fun at all. Gimme another one." Ai started peering at her fingers, picking absently at her hangnails. Takeda gave her a look.
"The point is to kill him, not screw him. Don't be picky." Ai pretended to sulk as he said that.
"Fine. Be that way." Deftly, she stole the file from right under his nose, glancing rapidly at the information. Takeda merely watched her blandly; he had half expected her to do that.
LOVE THE DIALOGUE it's so AWESOME lol ta-kun and Ai-chan interaction FTW
Jaguar XJ220
The caaaaaaaaaaar <3 :inlove: ... demo... why do you deny me the happiness of seeing you write the color of the car? :'(
"Nothing, I just remembered how motivated you used to get when I said I would bring you to Disneyland if you succeeded. Guess I can't use the same bribe again..." He neatly dodged the flying pen aimed at his eye. Ai huffed indignantly.
"That was when I was 13! 8 years ago! Sheesh..." She folded her arms, leaning back in the chair as her forehead creased in deep thought.
and we get a glance of how ai used to be... naive, innocent and shoo kyoooot <3
"How have you been, little one?" Taking the initiative easily, Ai strode over to the door and pulled the young girl into the room.
"Ai-neesama! I've been good!" Ai grinned and ruffled the girl's hair affectionately.
"You're getting taller, Yuukarin." Yuuka beamed at her adopted older sister and idol. Takeda looked on with amusement at the pair.
"Have you finished with your practice?" Takeda asked, taking on the stern role of teacher and trainer. Yuuka jumped and hid behind Ai, before replying in the affirmative with a certain amount of apprehension. Ai shook her head and patted Yuuka's shoulder comfortingly, the younger girl flushing cutely as Ai put a casual arm around her shoulders.
Yuuka!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and she's all (*_*) for ai XD kawaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii :love:... firing range <3 sisterly love soo flipping cute XD
"I'll take her down to the firing range, would that be alright onii-chan?" Ai winked outrageously as Takeda spluttered.
The three are just a happy lil family... a happy KILLINING lil family :heart:
Srsly CANNOT wait for the chapter seven it's gonna be fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun :twisted:
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"Damnit Lovely, stop stealing my car keys!"
:on lol: That actually made me laugh quite a bit. Ooo... Interesting insight into Ai's family. And if it's a set up for the next event...well then, I can't wait for it. ^^
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Wow, interesting family we've got here. :lol: I'm quite curious to see what Ai-chan has up her evil little sleeves for this next victim. :grin: Aww, Yuuka~~~~ :inlove: Gah, I'm so jealous of that kid. I mean, she started out as just an Egg that only a few ppl knew and then High-King and now, she's all known by ppl and stuff. *wishes I was Yuuka*
What a difference in moods!! I'm not too traumatized.... :lol:
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wow, getting better and better every chappiie~ <3
new characters~ yay~
wat a cute "family", even people as mad as they are laugh XD haha. i just find it real cute~ XD
just a little background on what Ai has been up to. :lol: need moar moar moar~ :]
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Ah. Am new to fanfics in this forum. :D
Just read your story not long ago & I need more!
Your story is just too addicting. :w00t:
I love how you write about Ai-chan, btw. XD
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May I offer a live target for the firing range? It would be the b*&^# who decided to back into my car, leave with no note, and then comes forward after we ratted her out. B%^&* :angry: :angry: :tama-mad:
Do your evil stuff, Ai-chan!!! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
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"You're 21, not 12, so stop that." The sharply dressed man in a business suit raised one eyebrow at her, but Ai only stuck her tongue out at him.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with acting like a 12 yr old every now and then!
How Takeda treats Ai-chan seems sooooooooooo familiar. I just wonder who acts like that tho.. hmm. probably some freakishly tall manlady I know of. XP
Yuukaaaaarin kawaiiiiiiii! Quick! On with the next chapter!
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File #05
How many times had it been already? She had lost count after the 6th time. Or was it 7th?
Yowza...
:dizzy:
Empty. The room was empty. She was alone.
Shit. Aichan left her this time? :O
There was something on the table. A scrap of pure white, something that had not been there. Should not have been there. Risa didn't have a habit of leaving things around.
Mechanically, she reached out it. It was a note. With some very familiar handwriting on it.
Borrowed that Korean drama DVD boxset you had. See you next time.
Ai
Geez, I know that in Aichan's position it's better for her to avoid getting emotionally attached, but THIS is ridiculous. It's almost like she no longer knows how to "feel".
[bgcolor=#000000]Or it could be that deep down, she DOES raburabu Risa, but all of the training and what not she's gone through since being adopted have caused her to bury those feelings deep within herself. It could be that they're so far deep that Aichan herself doesn't realize that she has them.[/bgcolor]
She wanted so much to be angry. To throw the blasted note as hard and far as she could. To rush into the bathroom and scrub the remnants of Ai's damnable touch from her skin. To cut off all ties with that unfeeling, heartless creature and never ever see or even hear about her again.
Yeah, but we all know that's not likely to happen. :(
I hate you Ai. I hate you so much...because even after all this, I still love you.
And that was when Niigaki Risa, 19 years old and broken a second time, began to really cry.
:mon waterworks:
File #06
Hmmmmm...wonder why Takeda changed his name?
...
Probably to avoid getting linked to Aichan in the off-chance that she be captured and/or otherwise identified.
I just remembered how motivated you used to get when I said I would bring you to Disneyland if you succeeded. Guess I can't use the same bribe again..." He neatly dodged the flying pen aimed at his eye. Ai huffed indignantly.
"That was when I was 13! 8 years ago! Sheesh..." She folded her arms, leaning back in the chair as her forehead creased in deep thought.
WTF, she was already doing contract hits at 13!?!?!?! :o
He eyed her suspiciously. The pair locked gazes, and would likely have stayed like that for the next 15 minutes had not the doors opened slowly behind them, a hesitant head peeking from behind it.
"Um..." Even the voice was uncertain, as if ready to bolt. Ai broke her staring contest with Takeda immediately, spinning around with a genuine smile on her face as she greeted the intruder.
"How have you been, little one?" Taking the initiative easily, Ai strode over to the door and pulled the young girl into the room.
"Ai-neesama! I've been good!" Ai grinned and ruffled the girl's hair affectionately.
"You're getting taller, Yuukarin." Yuuka beamed at her adopted older sister and idol.
YUUKA?!?! :shocked:
Oh crap, don't tell me that she's getting "trained" to be like Aichan? :cry:
"Have you finished with your practice?" Takeda asked, taking on the stern role of teacher and trainer. Yuuka jumped and hid behind Ai, before replying in the affirmative with a certain amount of apprehension. Ai shook her head and patted Yuuka's shoulder comfortingly, the younger girl flushing cutely as Ai put a casual arm around her shoulders.
"I'll take her down to the firing range, would that be alright onii-chan?" Ai winked outrageously as Takeda spluttered. She only ever called him that to tease him, and only because she knew that Takeda wasn't used to her doing that, ever.
OSHIT THEY ARE TRAINING HER!!!
:mon wtf:
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OMFG!!
Ai-chan is Za PIMP in this fic :pimp:
I like the fact she can the cold heart-est bi@tch but still be cool about it. No remorse whatsoever...yet XD
Poor Gaki-san :cry: ...Do not make suffer :'(
.
.
.
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Maeda Yuuka XD...
"How have you been, little one?" Taking the initiative easily, Ai strode over to the door and pulled the young girl into the room.
"Ai-neesama! I've been good!" Ai grinned and ruffled the girl's hair affectionately.
"You're getting taller, Yuukarin." Yuuka beamed at her adopted older sister and idol.
Nice story :cow:
:mon star: I'll be waiting for you update :mon geek:
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Ok no comment replies this time, I'm in a rush. XD
I'll reply to all comments next chapter, gomen! This is kinda a short filler chapter in between. Oh and Fenrir, I'm considering doing an omake with your request. Lol.
Here. Story. Now.
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File #06.5
"So, Yuukarin, has your shooting improved?"
Yuuka nodded eagerly. "Un! I can hit bull's eye from a hundred yards away!"
Ai ruffled Yuuka's hair affectionately again. "Regular targets, I presume?"
Yuuka turned wide, innocent eyes at her elder sister. "There are other targets?"
Ai studied her face. Still so young. But at her age, Ai was already out on the field. It was time the girl had a reality check. Shooting living things was way different from an inanimate target.
Flipping open her cellphone, Ai made a couple of calls while Yuuka waited patiently with her in the hallway. Less than a minute later, Ai hung up with a smile, turning back to her little sister.
"Let's go down to the range. Time to level your training up a little." Ai touched Yuuka's cheek fondly, a small smile playing on her lips as the younger girl promptly blushed.
"Before that though, tell me how many cameras you can find in this stretch of hallway." Ai was still smiling, but her lips barely moved as she spoke.
Yuuka blinked. Was she being tested? Not wanting to disappoint Ai though, she looked around discreetly, recalling the facts from her training.
One up in that shadowed angle of the ceiling...in the flower basket on the dresser...that portrait on the far side? Yuuka started to sweat a little as she felt Ai's gaze on her. She really wanted to make Ai proud of her.
"It's ok, relax. Don't panic. It messes with your focus." Ai tucked a stray strand of hair behind Yuuka's ear, still looking perfectly relaxed. Yuuka envied her poise, and struggled to calm herself, drawing on the quiet strength emanating from her senior.
"Five." Yuuka spoke up after a moment. "And there's a motion sensor in that lamp over there."
"Good girl." Ai patted her shoulder approvingly. She rapped on the mirror behind them, her knuckles impacting sharply with a dull thud. Yuuka blinked and suddenly turned red. She had missed that one entirely.
"It's alright, this one's difficult to catch. Just be wary of mirrors in the future." Ai gave Yuuka a little shove to make her move ahead of her, the younger girl looking surprised at the action.
"I'll meet you down at the range. Make your way down without being spotted on the cameras or activating any traps. I'll give you a 10 minute headstart." Ai winked as Yuuka paled.
"...traps?" She eeped, turning back to look at the suddenly very long hallway. Ai called out from behind her.
"Oh, if you are more than 5 minutes later than me, there's punishment~"
Yuuka gulped. Ai's punishments were always very...creative. Suddenly, she felt very motivated.
"Time starts...now."
~*~*~
Ai was sipping her tea when Yuuka stumbled in. Battered, singed, and looking like she had just run a marathon, she managed to make it to where Ai was seated before collapsing.
Fortunately, Ai caught her before she hit something vital, somehow managing to balance both tea and sister without spilling a single thing. Setting her tea aside, she pulled an exhausted Yuuka onto her lap, stroking her hair comfortingly. Yuuka whimpered and snuggled closer into Ai's embrace, mumbling something.
"...am I...late..?" Ai tossed a glance at the clock. 5:43 minutes. Looking down at the worn out Yuuka in her arms, Ai smiled.
"No." She kissed her sister's forehead fondly. "You did very well."
"Mmkay. Yuuka is happy. Wants oneesama to be proud of me." The girl already had her eyes closed, her breathing evening out. Ai petted her unconscious little sister affectionately, silently allowing her to rest. It was still early afternoon, she could afford to give the girl an hour off to nap.
Carefully picking a sleeping Yuuka up, Ai carried her over to a nearby couch, shrugging off her own jacket to cover her. Yuuka looked very young, younger than she already was, sleeping like an angel without any defenses. Watching her for a few moments, Ai turned away and picked up her files, intent on continuing her work.
"You're next, cutie." Ai smirked as she traced a finger around the profile picture. She did not find it at all ironic that while she had that evil smirk on, she still had Yuuka's head resting in her lap, often absently running a hand through the younger girl's hair.
Yuuka slept on, oblivious to her surroundings. Her beloved Oneesama was there; she would be safe. She would not be hurt.
Too bad Ai never extended the same consideration to the world in general.
=============================================================
Just a mini interlude with Ai/Yuuka interaction. Aren't they adorable? XD
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Been lurking around for so long and this is my first time posting in this forum, so here goes nothing. :)
I really really enjoy your fics. I spent 1 week reading AA. And this story is just :wub:. Ai-chan is badass! :pimp: So awesome!
The Ai/Yuuka interlude is so cute! Hard to believe that we're the same age. Heck, I'm even older by a couple of months and we look.... worlds apart.
I feel so bad for Gaki-san. :cry:
Anyway, I love your fics and can't wait for the next chapter!
-goes back to lurking-
Oh! And congrats for Fic of the Month. :D
I boosted the Singaporean headcount. :D
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Awwwwwwwww...Aichan is so doting on Yuuka, who is ridiculously cute in her own right. :wub:
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This long hallway avoiding traps made me think of the Resident Evil movie where instead of seeing how far she can get before being killed by the traps, it's will Yuuka make it before Ai's punishment sets in. :twisted:
It's amazing how Ai can change from evil cruel to adorably cute. It's like a switch that goes on and off in her head!
Ooh, omakes... I love omakes! :D
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Damn, Ai-chan's still a softie~~ :wub: Too bad she isn't with Gaki though. :( Yes, I'm still hung up about that. But this was ALMOST enough to make me forgive her. ALMOST!!! :lol: Demo, nanka, chotto tarinai ne~ :lol:
OMAKE!!!! I want OMAKE!!!! :lol:
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*blows up from cuteness overload* Yuuka/Ai more plz O_O............ Ai just loves her lil yuuka and so do I :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:
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"You're 21, not 12, so stop that." The sharply dressed man in a business suit raised one eyebrow at her, but Ai only stuck her tongue out at him.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with acting like a 12 yr old every now and then!
How Takeda treats Ai-chan seems sooooooooooo familiar. I just wonder who acts like that tho.. hmm. probably some freakishly tall manlady I know of. XP
I'm lost. Who?? What???
Been lurking around for so long and this is my first time posting in this forum, so here goes nothing. :)
And another one is lured out of the comfortable shadows. We should give you an award for de-lurking lurkers Essy :P
Oh and are you still up for putting your reputation on the line? Cus your Yuuka effect ain't working on me yet, Not one bit :grin:
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^ den den deeeeeeeennn
this is just the beginning my dear hammy mommy.
Yuuuukaaaa soooo cuteeeeee! YuukaaaaaaaAiiii sooo cuterererererrrrrrrr
excuse me for my lousy english
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AWWWWWWW. :wub: That little half chapter really got to me. Ai-chan does have a soft side after all... But I suppose it's all hidden away once she steps out, huh? :(
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Okie okie, let's reply to last chapter's comments too~
writerjunkie: I'm glad you like this kind of crack fic. Yeah I know it's really entertaining, both reading and writing. XD Hope to see you around often~ ;)
Maimi_Yajima: Oh, I don't know Spanish, but thanks for the help. ^_^ Yeah, Ai-chan is a mystery here. I'm glad you're giving my story a try though, thanks. ^_^
poets: My poe-chan <3 I'm glad I'm pleasing you so far. ;) About that car, you're gonna have to wait. =P Just be happy with what I give you~ XD
SxY: I like that line too! Ai does have a dysfunctional family, doesn't she? XD Hehe.
Ichigo-chan: I want to be Yuuka too if it means I can get Ai to dote on me. Lol. Yup, its an interesting family dynamic they have going on there. I can always switch moods easily, there's a switch somewhere inside my head lol. =P
ringo-hime: Everyone can laugh, especially when they're mad. It helps keep them balanced. =D
rainer: Ah hi! Glad to have you! Always good to have lurkers delurk. I'm honored to have your first post. ^_^ I love Ai-chan too~ XD
Fenrir: Here comes that omake, just for you. XD
stefy: OI who are you talking about?! But I agree, Yuuka is kawaii. XD ok ok...but go write that story right now! you know which one! XD
JFC: Epic comment again. XD Ai-chan has her reasons for the things she does. Yup, Yuuka's next in line. hehe. I ish evil. =P
Yankii Heart: Yup, Ai's hawt when she's being cold-hearted. Sorry, but Gaki's not gonna have a fun time here. Hehe. Yuuka's kawaii. Glad you liked my story! See you around the thread. ;)
And now for the latest half-chapter's comments...
H2Overdose: I like you nickname. It's cute. XD Do you like the drink too? -lame- XD Badass Ai-chan rocks, yes. Thanks for the congratulations! ^_^ OH AND NO MORE LURKING DAMNIT. XD yay for the Singaporean revolution~
JFC: Yessssssssss, Yuuka is cute on her own. Add Ai and the cuteness goes into overload. LOL. XD
Fenrir: You watched Resident Evil too? Yeah it does feel like that doesn't it? Yup, omake omake~ XD
Ichigo-chan: Too bad, I'm not gonna be good to TakaGaki here. Sumimasen ne? One omake coming up!
poets: Don't blow up, only I can do that to you. XD But here's more Yuuka/Ai. Just. For. You. <3
lil_hamz: oi hammy, slow sia you. Haha. YOU WILL FALL TO THE YUUKA EFFECT EVENTUALLY. Join the dark side, sister. Or should that be mommy. :P
stefy: Yes they aaaaaaaaaaaaaaare. So cuteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
SxY: Yup, she does have a soft side. But then...who is really sure? =P But anyways, enjoy it while you can. Hehe.
Alright, that took a while. ~.~ A certain someone was totally distracting me. Blame her! >.> you know who you are. :lol: One omake coming up!
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Omake #1
"It's really very easy. Take aim, and pull the trigger." Ai smiled. "You've done it many times before."
"But...but this is alive!" Yuuka protested, eyes wide as she looked down at the bound and gagged person writhing futilely on the floor.
Ai kicked the helpless victim in the stomach when she managed to wriggle too close to her, but her attention was fixated on Yuuka.
"That's part of the job, Yuukarin. We deliver the guest of honors to funerals. They sort of have to be alive before we do our job." Ai explained patiently, placing a comforting hand on a trembling Yuuka's shoulder.
"But, but...this person isn't a job! This is just some random person...!" Yuuka stammered, gun hand shaking. Ai shook her head.
"It's a job. A favor to a friend, really." Ai casually ground her boot in the captive's face when the woman appeared to be yelling something at her, muffled by the gag. Her face was a cool mask of apathy, her tone clinical.
"Listen Yuukarin, we don't ask questions about who the person is or what they've done, we just get rid of them." Her expression grew more serious. "Assassins don't always get more than one chance, so you can't hesitate."
Yuuka continued to hesitate, her brows drawn together into a worried frown. Ai placed another hand over her gun hand, her smile becoming gentle.
"It's always difficult the first time. But I'm here for you. It will be alright." Ai spoke soothingly, wrapping Yuuka into a half-hug with her free arm.
"If it makes you feel better, this person's a road hog. Backed into my friend's car and didn't even leave a note to apologize. Since we needed a live target, might as well do a favor to a friend." Ai winked and kissed Yuuka's temple encouragingly.
"You can do it. I trust you." Yuuka turned trusting eyes on Ai. Looked at her kind eyes, the confidence, the assurance. If she had any doubts, all she had to do was look at her Oneesama's mesmerizing eyes and feel her insecurities disappear.
I love you, Oneesama. I'll do anything for you.
She pulled the trigger.
=================================================
This didn't actually happen in story continuity, but whatever. XD Here, Fenrir. Feel better? XD
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OH MY GOD :mon wtf:
Ai :mon curtain:
"You can do it. I trust you." Yuuka turned trusting eyes on Ai. Looked at her kind eyes, the confidence, the assurance. If she had any doubts, all she had to do was look at her Oneesama's mesmerizing eyes and feel her insecurities disappear.
I love you, Oneesama. I'll do anything for you.
:imdead:
Nice omake...eventhough omakes are suppose to be funny (blame it all on anime and manga), but still it was awesome.
What I like about your writting is that you are skillful with words... 8)
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:mon fyeah: :mon squee: :mon roll: :mon firecrack:
I feel much better!! Much love!! Sankyu~!! :heart: :heart: :luvluv2:
Evil Ai-chan is za awesome! :twisted: :twisted:
Your reward: Sexy Ai-chan dancing! :lol: XD
(http://www.eyeballcancer.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/Ai_-_Sexy_Dance_(125).gif)
Was gonna make it my sig, but the file is too big. Oh well.
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Ai= :mon curtain: and :mon inluv: at the same damn time!! It's scary how she can be so evil to someone, yet motherly to another ALL AT THE SAME TIME!!! :mon closeup: But I love her interactions with Yuuka, so gentle. Jeez, Yuuka is so young!!! I know that Ai was already working at that age but seriously, the girl isn't ready to kill ppl!!! :mon cute: BTW, was Yuuka adopted too?
NO NICE TAKAGAKI?!?!?!?! :mon freeze: Grrr, you're lucky I like you..... :gmon hot:
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Omake #1
"It's really very easy. Take aim, and pull the trigger." Ai smiled. "You've done it many times before."
"But...but this is alive!" Yuuka protested, eyes wide as she looked down at the bound and gagged person writhing futilely on the floor.
Ah, Yuuka's first real kill. This was bound to happen. In this line of "business", she would have had to face it sooner or later. At least this way, Aichan is making sure that Yuuka isn't alone when it happens and that she's able to coach her through it. She won't always be there, so when Yuuka gets her own solo missions, it's imperative for her that she's able to "go through with it" when the time comes.
"If it makes you feel better, this person's a road hog. Backed into my friend's car and didn't even leave a note to apologize. Since we needed a live target, might as well do a favor to a friend."
Kind of a shallow reason, but anyone who drives can't say that they haven't felt similarly when encountering stupid drivers. :yep:
"You can do it. I trust you." Yuuka turned trusting eyes on Ai. Looked at her kind eyes, the confidence, the assurance. If she had any doubts, all she had to do was look at her Oneesama's mesmerizing eyes and feel her insecurities disappear.
I love you, Oneesama. I'll do anything for you.
She pulled the trigger.
Sweet.......................and scary.
:mon curtain:
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... *gapes and stares* Somehow... That was amazingly sweet...but scary... *goes to sort out confused emotions* Excellent omake, btw. <3
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Haha. Do feel honoured to have my 2nd post then, since I haven't started posting anywhere. :D
Ah, I like the interaction between Ai-chan & Yuuka. It's very sweet, makes me think otherwise of Ai.
But, I'd prefer the evil Ai-chan in this story. XD
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ah I'm not really into Yuuka but sometimes I get the feeling like I want to give the little kid a hug...
At least it seems like Ai chan genuinely cares about Yuuka. I'd hate to think it's all calculated....that would make Ai chan even more scary...not that the last part didn't already leave me wide-eyed. scary yet still so cool~
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^ Same here. I feel no love for Yuuka XD But I do think their relationship is sweet.
@SBK: I get the feeling we're not gonna be seeing any nice TakaGaki :cry:
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Yuuka's first kill! O_O
Ai is so sweet :wriggly: yet scary :scared:~! I like motherly Ai but I definitely like badass Ai more. :on cigar:
The Ai/Yuuka relationship is just so cute! :luvluv2:
Great omake! :D
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Yay I'm back~ Sorry for the wait~
Comment replies first.
Yankii Heart: Yeah I know omakes are supposed to be funny, but this one took on a mind of its own and what turned out was...that. Lol. I'm glad you think so highly of me. ^_^
Fenrir: Glad it pleases you. ;) Woo! Ai-chan dancing = *DROOL* I should make you happy more often if it gets me stuff like this. *saves*
Ichigo-chan: Yes, Yuuka was adopted too. Hehe. Ai's a complex person, that much I can say. Hyuk hyuk hyuk...I'm lucky you like me indeed. XD
JFC: Yup. Yuuka's gotta do it some day. Ai can't always be there for her, but she tries. I love the goosebump effect for the last bit. XD I thought it was appropriate. >D
SxY: Everyone seems to notice the sweet and scariness. That means I got it right for once! Yay~ Confused emotions FTW!
rainer: Yay your second post is mine too! Haha. Don't we all think evil Ai is better? She is za awesome. XD
Sukoshi: Aww, I'll make you like Yuuka by the time the story ends. XD Hmm, I wonder what Ai really thinks? Hurhurhur... >D
lil_hamz: I WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND. Somehow. Lol. lalala~ I delight in trampling all over the takagaki. XD
sweeety: O_O Wow, super long post. And yes, I read through all of it! Interesting speculations, you'll forgive me if I can't confirm or deny anything. XD But I can say that you got a few points correct. Although the optimism concerning the Takagaki might be a little...misplaced...shall I say? XD I like your thoughts regarding Sayu though, it's pretty well conceived. Pity your bro came back before you analyzed the plot down to its bare bones, I'll glad hear (or read) more of it! :D
H2Overdose: Hi kid! Yeah, badass Ai is so much better. Hehehe. I know you're impatient for the chapter already, so here it is~
Right-o. Editing time, then I'll post~
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-WEDGE- O_O
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File #07
Blinking rapidly as she emerged, or more accurately, staggered out of the sleek midnight grey Jaguar, Yuuka took a deep breath of fresh, if somewhat gritty, urban Tokyo air and instinctively felt better after that ride out of hell.
Opposite from her, Ai was grinning from ear to ear from her little joyride, with sister in tow for the first time. Doing crazy things was usually a lot more fun with an audience.
As for what had occurred, let's just say that Yuuka now valued her life a lot more greatly than before. In any case, she looked just a little green and shaky round the edges, but none the worse for wear.
Ai, as usual, was unruffled, if just a trifle too smug. Her designer shades were balanced on top of her head, with a white scarf tied loosely around her neck. She appeared relaxed yet alert at the same time, much like a caged feline eying the keeper bringing it its dinner.
Yuuka suffered in comparison to her graceful sibling, but had her own charm; the sort of wide-eyed innocence of one not accustomed to being out in the world, and a characteristic shy hesitation that almost seemed to scream "HUG ME!".
Needless to say, they drew a few sidelong glances from the odd passerby, but Ai quickly fended them off by adjusting her own demeanor accordingly, as well as removing herself from the rather conspicuous car. Within moments, she had emerged from the underground carpark, hand-in-hand with Yuuka and looking like any other normal teenager hanging out with a younger sister.
Yuuka seemed a bit unnerved by the ebb and flow of the crowd Ai expertly mingled into, and she clung cautiously to her sister's side, a guarded look well hidden behind those childishly innocent orbs. It was not something Ai failed to notice.
"It's alright Yuukarin, relax. You'll stand out if you're too tense." Ai murmured easily, teasingly pinching the younger girl's cheek with her free hand and giggling at the adorable pout she got in return.
Yuuka looked around at the crush of people as they halted at the junction, noting how everyone was preoccupied with doing their own thing and basically ignoring everything else that was not of immediate inconvenience to them.
She could not comprehend how oblivious they were to their own surroundings. How had these people survived so long, while being all wrapped up in themselves? It was truly baffling.
Noticing the almost imperceptible frown creasing Yuuka's forehead, Ai squeezed her little sister's hand briefly, an understanding smile on her face.
"Ordinary people are like that, Yuuka. It makes our jobs a lot easier sometimes, if we learn how to go with the flow." A wistful look. "Although I'll admit, sometimes ignorance like theirs could be a kind of bliss too..."
Yuuka looked earnestly at Ai. Her eyes shone with an unwavering belief, something that Ai occasionally envied. It was a pity to have to educate it out of her...
...eventually. Ai believed in savoring the moment while it lasted. In a life such as theirs, there was no room for regret or hesitation, so every moment they had to themselves was very precious. She would simply enjoy the now, and deal with the future as it came.
"Oneesama." Ai returned her attention to Yuuka immediately, who continued on as they started moving along with the crowd, crossing the busy junction.
"Why are we here? Won't Takeda-oniisama be angry that I'm not back at the estate?" Yuuka looked mildly perplexed, and just a little frightened of Takeda.
Ai smiled wryly; her own memory of Takeda as her teacher, while different from what the man was now, recalled him as a strict but kind instructor. Then again, the role of bad cop was being played by her adopted father back then, so her "Ryuuta-niichan" could afford to be nicer to her.
Things were different now though. Ai slung one arm around Yuuka's shoulders, bring the younger girl closer to herself. Leaning in, she whispered with an air of mock conspiracy.
"I made him agree to let me take you out for a bit. You haven't been out a lot recently, have you?" Yuuka shook her head, looking both awed and adoring at Ai. Ai smiled.
"That and, we haven't been able to spend time together properly for a few months now, so I figured I'd spoil you a bit for once." Ai tapped Yuuka on the nose playfully. "You worked hard all afternoon, so I think you deserve some ice cream for your efforts, wouldn't you say?"
"Ice cream!" Yuuka brightened up significantly at the mention of a sweet treat. She was a normal girl under all that. She straightened, lingering aura of exhaustion seeming to fade away with the lengthening shadows.
"That's right. I just found out about this new ice cream place, apparently it's really popular with students." Ai commented as she wove her way through the crowd, walking at a pace that did not seem out of place, but yet was able to get her through the throng with minimal fuss.
5 minutes later, after battling their way through the masses of Shibuya, the siblings arrived in front of a busy shop. Various people, mostly teens, drifted in and out of it, and large groups of giggling students took up tables both inside and outside the store.
Ai looked around casually, trying to see if there would be a spot for them. Her eagle eye spotted a quiet corner that would fit them both, and she tugged on Yuuka's hand gently, leading her in.
On their way in, Ai scanned her surroundings, as she was accustomed to doing. Following her sister's example, Yuuka did the same. One could never be too careful.
"Ah, pretty girl." Ai observed with an appreciative look in her eye. Yuuka followed her line of sight to see a small group of college-age girls, all of whom were decked out in the latest fashions and dolled up to be as physically attractive as possible.
"Is it that one with the long, straight hair?" Yuuka murmured back, completely unsurprised by Ai's inclinations. Takeda had raised her to be open about such things, and besides, Ai could do no wrong in Yuuka's eyes.
"You have good taste." Ai congratulated her little sister, affectionately ruffling her hair. Yuuka beamed, glancing discreetly back at the girl that had caught Ai's eye. The girl in question had "rich girl" written all over her, and her groupies were obviously just sucking up to her. Yuuka had progressed far enough along to notice such things, and could not fail to notice that the rich girl also knew that her companions were not fully sincere.
As they sat down at the bar area, Yuuka turned to look at Ai, who was already looking at the selection available. Lowering her voice, the younger girl whispered.
"Oneesama, is it me or is the shades-wearing guy over there a bodyguard?"
Without turning a hair, Ai nodded as she browsed the menu. A small smile played on her lips. Yuuka grinned, feeling just a little accomplished, and continued on bravely.
"He's awfully obvious, isn't he?" Yuuka picked up a menu, feeling more assured as she fell into a more natural pose. "Stiff shoulders, too obviously scanning the crowd, trying too hard to fit in..."
Ai grinned. "Don't be too critical Yuukarin. You're still learning as well."
Properly abashed, Yuuka lowered her head with a quiet "hai". Ai smiled encouragingly, placing a hand over Yuuka's smaller one.
"You're doing well though." Ai put down her menu, having already made her choice. "Wanna hazard a guess as to what the wannabe bodyguard is here for?"
Yuuka grinned back. "It's so obvious. Ms. Rich Girl, most likely. He's near enough to get to her on short notice, and he looks back to her every 20 seconds. It's almost like clockwork." She paused. "Oh, and he twitches whenever someone else gets too close to her."
"Excellent. I see you really have improved after all. I'm glad." Ai beamed with genuine pride at Yuuka, who puffed up proudly at Ai's praise, her eyes shining with joy that her beloved Oneesama had complimented her.
"Shall we get some ice cream then?" Ai suggested, although her eyes wandered back to the pretty girl again. Yuuka noticed it, and prodded Ai.
"Does Oneesama like her?" Ai smiled ruefully.
"Well she's certainly attractive, I wouldn't mind getting to know her a little better..." She looked earnestly at Yuuka. "But since I'm out now with my cute little sister, I shouldn't be flirting around so much." An ironic grin. "Besides, Ta-kun would kill me if I corrupt you too early."
"Hmm..." Yuuka hummed in amused agreement, but the little gears in her head were already turning. Pointing out what she wanted to Ai, she watched as her older sister went off to order from the counter, drawing a few appreciative looks from men and women alike.
Well, Oneesama is really beautiful. This must happen a lot. Yuuka thought just a bit smugly to herself as Ai calmly fended off another guy's advances on her. The younger girl grinned when Ai obviously flirted a little with the girl over the counter, causing the poor thing to blush and fumble around a lot.
That's Oneesama for you. I want to be just as cool as she is! Yuuka nodded firmly to herself, looking around innocently as she waited. Involuntarily, her attention was drawn back to the girl that Ai had pointed out earlier.
"Hmm." A speculative look crossed Yuuka's face. She might not be quite as formidable as Ai was, but she still wanted to help her big sister out. If Oneesama liked the girl, then she would create a chance for them to talk.
Ai soon returned with two sundaes. Yuuka poked at hers for a few moments, then piped up.
"I want more chocolate sauce on this!" Ai reached to take it from her, presumably to take it to the counter, but Yuuka quickly stood and grabbed it on her own.
"I want to do it myself, Oneesama." A hint of surprise briefly flickered across those beautiful eyes, but Ai just as quickly recovered, nodding and letting Yuuka go on her own.
Thinking fast as she made her request at the counter, Yuuka came up with a haphazard plan in about 10 seconds flat. It would work...assuming things went according to plan.
It was a good thing that she had the "cute little girl" look down pat. Eyes ingenuously wide, a small spring in her step, a cute lopsided smile as she skipped back with sundae in hand...and slipped on a spill on the floor, losing her balance and teetering...
...right onto the rich girl's lap. Her sundae went flying, smacking one of the girls in the posse in the face. There went a 50,000 yen outfit, at the very least.
The rich girl had made some attempt to halt the disaster before Yuuka had quite literally tumbled into her lap, but could not react fast enough, only just managing to prevent Yuuka from hitting her head on the table. The bodyguard had also reacted automatically to the fracas, jumping to his patron's side in an instant.
Yuuka recovered almost instantly from the vertigo, although she maintained an outward pose of being stunned. No sense in letting people know about the extent of her abilities, as both her siblings had always exhorted her.
"Are you ok?" A quiet voice asked her. The rich girl, Yuuka surmised. Blinking awkwardly, Yuuka opened her eyes and looked up. Oneesama had been right, the girl really was pretty, especially up close.
Before she could reply though, Yuuka found herself being hauled up by the scruff of her neck by the taller and stronger bodyguard, who was obviously paranoid and didn't want any random stranger near his charge.
Dangling in the air is not fun... Yuuka whimpered, her sad puppy face springing to the fore automatically. To add to her misery, the groupie she had splattered with ice cream had graduated from giving her evil looks to throwing a tantrum at her. A few actual tears actually started to well up in her eyes, making her look all the more vulnerable.
"Let go of my sister." A cold, firm voice cut through the noise. Yuuka looked up hopefully, and saw Ai with her arms folded, exuding a kind of forbidding aura that made lesser men cringe.
"Pfft, don't let a brat like that run around unattended." Sundae Victim, aka Groupie No.1, sniffed haughtily, before turning to mourn her ruined outfit.
The burly bodyguard carelessly dropped Yuuka, but Ai caught her easily, gathering her sister to her protectively and giving her a reassuring hug. Her eyes were deadly as she stared at the group.
"What? It's your brat of a sister's fault that MY outfit is ruined! I think you should pay for the damages!" Sundae Victim (although Yuuka mentally renamed her Bitchy Girl) seemed a bit discomfited by Ai's glare, and took to insulting them instead.
"I think not." Ai's voice was deadly quiet. She did not raise it, and one almost had to strain their ears to catch what she had said. But there was no mistaking the cold chill surrounding her words.
Within the protective circle of Ai's arms, Yuuka felt better, and was now enjoying the spectacle of watching her sister in action.
"As I see it, my sister slipped. But what did she slip on?" Ai's face was blank, her tone flat. She pointed at the spill on the floor, then picked up a half finished dessert bowl, pointing at the obvious trail of ice cream that came from spillage. Said dessert bowl came from in front of Bitchy Girl.
"I'll say that if we trace the chain of events, who would be ultimately responsible?" Ai was calm, coolly logical, and her eyes were still frosty. Bitchy Girl shrank back a little.
"There's no proof that the spill was made by me! There's so many people around!" Her voice was wavering as she defended herself. Ai smirked coldly.
"First, pink." She pointed at the pink smear on the bowl, then to the similar one on the floor.
"Second, not that fresh, but still wet enough." Ai deliberately ran a finger on the smear. It was slightly gooey, consistent with what was on the floor.
"Third...you still have some splashed on your boot." Ai pointed at the offending pink stains on one side of Bitchy Girl's right boot. Bitchy Girl looked a bit faint at the mounting evidence. Ai concluded quite simply.
"It is as you have seen. Still want to demand payment?" Ai gave her a look of pure contempt. "I think you should apologize to my sister, in fact."
Bitchy Girl cut a pathetic sight, with sundae still dripping off her expensive jacket and skirt, and cowering before an intimidating Ai. She seemed unable to respond. Before Ai could taunt her anymore though, Rich Girl stepped in.
"I'm sorry about my companion." She patted Yuuka's head. "I'll buy you a new sundae, how about that?" Yuuka looked hopefully up at the pretty girl, but Ai cut in abruptly.
"Please don't think that money solves anything." Ai's tone was cool, but no longer abrasive when addressing someone other than the offender. "I might not be that well off, but I don't need charitable handouts." Turning to Yuuka, she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her sister's ear, smiling.
"I'll get you another one Yuukarin. Get your chin up, there's a good girl." Yuuka obediently played along, the epitome of a cute little girl being coaxed by a responsible older sister. Ai wiped away the tears that did manage to slip out, giving Yuuka a comforting hug.
The rich girl looked on passively, but there was a flash of emotion in her eyes. Yuuka thought that it might be...envy? Mixed with some measure of respect, directed at her Oneesama, who was still fussing over her.
Yuuka had been wondering why Ai was treating the pretty girl so coldly, but judging from the grudging admiration shining in the girl's eyes, clearly her Oneesama must have anticipated that. Her respect for Ai shot up even more, and she clung happily to her beloved older sister.
As they turned away, there was suddenly a half-yell from behind them. Clearly, Bitchy Girl must have been more than a little unraveled by the public humiliation, and had grabbed the nearest object (a fork, of all things) and was stabbing it right at the back of Ai's head.
Under ordinary circumstances, Ai could easily handle it. She knew how to take care of herself. Unfortunately, unforeseen circumstances came into play.
For one thing, rich girl tried to interfere. She had seen the attempt, and was trying to prevent it. That, unfortunately, put her directly in the line of fire, proverbially speaking. Her bodyguard was about to intervene, but it was clear that the fork would stab into his Oujo-sama's arm before he could haul the crazy girl away from her.
At least, it would have, but for the efforts of the original target. A hand grabbed the wrist of Bitchy (now Crazy) Girl and twisted, forcing her to let go of the fork. Ai's face was a mask of cool disdain as she twisted further, an audible crack coming from the trapped wrist. Crazy Girl screamed and tried to rake at Ai with the fingernails of her other hand, almost swiping Rich Girl in the process.
Calmly, Ai snared the other hand intended to scratch her eyes out, trapping the enraged Crazy Girl who struggled futilely in Ai's iron grip. Ai sighed and rolled her eyes, then pushed Crazy Girl away from her, right into the baffled bodyguard, who immediately restrained the struggling woman.
"Seriously, pick better groupies next time. Loose cannons like this can't be good." Ai jabbed over her shoulder at the still screeching Crazy Girl, as she turned to face the visibly impressed girl.
"Kamei-sama, are you alright?" The bodyguard had had to resort to knocking out the loony, and now addressed his employer. The Kamei girl smiled.
"I'm alright, Kanzaki. Thanks to you." She addressed it to Ai, who had already brushed past her indifferently. She blinked as Ai all but ignored her, ruffling Yuuka's hair good-naturedly and leaving.
"Wait, I wanted to thank you!" Ai didn't even turn back, but merely made a peace sign over her shoulder as they disappeared from view.
Kamei Eri blinked. No one ignored her. Never. Kanzaki came to stand protectively next to her as his oujo-sama drifted off into her own world, thinking.
What a person...
~*~*~
Two streets away, Ai halted, pulling Yuuka into a quiet alley. Yuuka winced, hoping that she wouldn't be scolded from making such a big commotion.
She was thus entirely surprised when Ai suddenly smiled and patted her head.
"Good job." Yuuka blinked, not understanding. Ai grinned.
"You did very well Yuukarin, just as I expected." Ai cupped Yuuka's cheek fondly. "It turned out better than I could have hoped. You've saved me a lot of time."
"I did...?" Yuuka was baffled, but did not reject Ai's touch. Ai ran her thumb across Yuuka's cheek, before pinching it lightly and letting go.
"Yes, well done." Ai had an enigmatic smile on her face as she slung one arm around Yuuka's shoulder. "It's about time you had a real job, don't you think?"
"Eh?!" Definitely unexpected, but Yuuka couldn't help but feel pleased.
Ai looked proudly at Yuuka. "How about helping me with my next mission? It's time I taught you how it's like on the field anyway."
"Yes!" Yuuka agreed without a second thought, beaming with pride that her Oneesama had finally thought her ready. Ai kissed Yuuka's forehead gently.
"Good girl."
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Longer chapter than usual. XD Enter, another new character!
Edit: Gratz on the wedge, Yuu. XD
Ehehehehe. >D
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Guess I'll dibs here too xD
HAAAAA It's Eri!
But before that...
Yuuka is so insanely adorable!!! Her admiration for Aichan is so friggin cute, doing anything for her Oneesama and even trying to get her and Eri to meet each other xDDDD!!! Man, that 'meeting' is epic! Amazing how Yuuka thought it all in ten seconds, and thank goodness all of them were smart enough to talk their way through the (slightly? well to them) surprising stuff, I mean, assassins and all, you gotta be on top or you fail xDDDD!!
Loved how you changed Bitchy to Crazy, haha. Emofag (or Evilfag now?) is right, Eri needs to get better groupies, Crazy girl was just about to stab her... with a fork o_o; Then Aichan went all cool and bishie by twisting the arm! Kakko ii Aichan~! :heart: :heart: :heart:
Enough of the fangirlyness but yes, lovely lovely chapter. And I hope Eri's so lovestruck at bishie Ai that she chases after her in the next chapter. Aieri FTW o___o;
Looking forward to the next chapter, yo~!
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Yay Eri!!!! Can't wait to see how this turns out! And good job Yuuka :cow:
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File #07
Blinking rapidly as she emerged, or more accurately, staggered out of the sleek midnight grey Jaguar, Yuuka took a deep breath of fresh, if somewhat gritty, urban Tokyo air and instinctively felt better after that ride out of hell.
Yuuka's first time in the car with Aichan driving? :D
Yuuka suffered in comparison to her graceful sibling, but had her own charm; the sort of wide-eyed innocence of one not accustomed to being out in the world, and a characteristic shy hesitation that almost seemed to scream "HUG ME!".
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!
:wriggly:
Yuuka seemed a bit unnerved by the ebb and flow of the crowd Ai expertly mingled into, and she clung cautiously to her sister's side, a guarded look well hidden behind those childishly innocent orbs. It was not something Ai failed to notice.
"It's alright Yuukarin, relax. You'll stand out if you're too tense." Ai murmured easily
Hmmmm...wonder what the two of them are up to here? :?
*YUUKA WORRIED ABOUT TAKEDA*
I guess now that he's fully running the show (instead of his father), he now must take the "bad cop" role. If that's the case, then it could be that Yuuka's going to look even more to Aichan to be the "good cop"/guardian role. :oops:
"Ice cream!" Yuuka brightened up significantly at the mention of a sweet treat.
...
"That's right. I just found out about this new ice cream place, apparently it's really popular with students." Ai commented as she wove her way through the crowd, walking at a pace that did not seem out of place, but yet was able to get her through the throng with minimal fuss.
Oooooooooooooh, why do I have this nagging feeling that their trip (at least for Aichan) isn't JUST about the ice cream? :cry:
"Is it that one with the long, straight hair?" Yuuka murmured back, completely unsurprised by Ai's inclinations. Takeda had raised her to be open about such things, and besides, Ai could do no wrong in Yuuka's eyes.
"You have good taste." Ai congratulated her little sister, affectionately ruffling her hair. Yuuka beamed, glancing discreetly back at the girl that had caught Ai's eye.
Oshit...don't tell me we're looking at Aichan's next target? :o
"Oneesama, is it me or is the shades-wearing guy over there a bodyguard?"
Without turning a hair, Ai nodded as she browsed the menu. A small smile played on her lips. Yuuka grinned, feeling just a little accomplished, and continued on bravely.
Nice going Yuuka!
"He's awfully obvious, isn't he?" Yuuka picked up a menu, feeling more assured as she fell into a more natural pose. "Stiff shoulders, too obviously scanning the crowd, trying too hard to fit in..."
Ai grinned. "Don't be too critical Yuukarin. You're still learning as well."
I'd say Yuuka's doing better than the bodyguard. After all, she was able to pick him out of the crowd yet he hasn't done the same...and he's the one (presumably) with the most "experience". ;D
"Does Oneesama like her?" Ai smiled ruefully.
"Well she's certainly attractive, I wouldn't mind getting to know her a little better..." She looked earnestly at Yuuka. "But since I'm out now with my cute little sister, I shouldn't be flirting around so much." An ironic grin. "Besides, Ta-kun would kill me if I corrupt you too early."
:on lol:
"Hmm." A speculative look crossed Yuuka's face. She might not be quite as formidable as Ai was, but she still wanted to help her big sister out. If Oneesama liked the girl, then she would create a chance for them to talk.
Hey, cuteness can be a weapon of sorts too. :yep:
*YUUKA'S PLAN*
DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYUM she's good! And by the looks of it, Aichan totally picked up on what she was doing!
:wahaha:
BTW, I LOVED the "Sundae Victim (although Yuuka mentally renamed her Bitchy Girl)" part. :rofl:
"Kamei-sama, are you alright?" The bodyguard had had to resort to knocking out the loony, and now addressed his employer. The Kamei girl smiled.
OMGASS! IT'S ERI!!!
:stunned:
"Wait, I wanted to thank you!" Ai didn't even turn back, but merely made a peace sign over her shoulder as they disappeared from view.
Kamei Eri blinked. No one ignored her. Never. Kanzaki came to stand protectively next to her as his oujo-sama drifted off into her own world, thinking.
What a person...
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooh that's so slick. :pimp:
"Good job." Yuuka blinked, not understanding. Ai grinned.
"You did very well Yuukarin, just as I expected." Ai cupped Yuuka's cheek fondly. "It turned out better than I could have hoped. You've saved me a lot of time."
Yep, Aichan totally knew what Yuuka was planning. :rockon:
Scary part though, is that it further reinforces the possibility that Eri is her next target.
Ai looked proudly at Yuuka. "How about helping me with my next mission? It's time I taught you how it's like on the field anyway."
"Yes!" Yuuka agreed without a second thought, beaming with pride that her Oneesama had finally thought her ready.
Wait, if this mission that Aichan takes Yuuka on involves Eri, is that going to be ok? Will Yuuka be okay in dealing with that, considering that she's already met (and vaguely knows) Eri? Wouldn't it be better/easier to start her off with some completely random/unknown target, so that there's no chance of any possible emotional attachment?
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Eri Ojou-sama = Elizabeth-chan, but not so dorky. XD XD
Hmm, first Ai and Sayu, now Ai and Eri, next Ai and Reina???
Yuuka was adorable, always thinking to help her amazing Ai-neechan out!! I want to kidnap her and have her as my little sister, but of course, that would bring down the wrath of Ai-chan. :mon sweat: Not that I would mind too much. XD
Response to JFC's comment: I think Eri is not Ai's next killing target, but maybe more of her sexual target. ;) Or Eri is related to the target she has to kill.
Hmmm, does that mean I have to find more sexy Ai-chan dancing?
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Thanks for putting this chapter up so late at night. xD
ZOMG! IT'S ERI! :w00t: Wonder how it will turn out. xD AiEri! :onioncheer:
Yuuka is just so cute! Love her admiration for Ai and how she tried to set her up. xD
Oh, and I thought the Bitchy/Crazy Girl part was funny. xD
Damn, you made me want more!
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Ah! I guessed right. Half way through the chapter I was like...hmm...rich girl is still being mentioned. she must be of some importance...someone we'd know..and then the first person that popped into my head was Eri =D
yay I'm happy that she's in the story now. well hopefully not as the new assignment cause that would be :dizzy:
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OMG IT'S ERIIIII~~
...But wait a sec... THIS MEANS SHE COULD BE THE NEXT TARGET!! *wails* :gyaaah: Nevertheless, I'm interested in seeing how she'll interact with Ai-chan. And I'm loving Yuuka's luff for her big sis. :wub:
"Are you ok?" A quiet voice asked her. The rich girl, Yuuka surmised.
Haha, after reading that I think of "rich girl" as Eri... And whaddaya know, my brain is good for something after all. XD
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@SBK: I get the feeling we're not gonna be seeing any nice TakaGaki :cry:
Me too. :cry:
I'm melting so bad from all the nicey nee-chan stuff Ai-chan has going on. :lol: But her moments of badass-ness are so hot!!! :drool: I think it's really cool how Ai-chan and Yuuka are trained so well in all this cool assasin stuff. I know it's their job but it's so cool!!! :inlove: Ohoho, Kame and Ai-chan! :grin: Love how Kame's all "No one ignores me"!!! :lol: I'd say Yuuka-chan does have some good taste!! (OMG, I called her Yuuka-chan!!! Damn you, Estrea!!!) Can't wait to see the little one out in the field. I REALLY hope that Kame is not the next target but I have a feeling she isn't. Know what I want? More TakaGaki. XD (Duh) I don't even care if it's scary/sad/angsty. I just want MOAR!!! :grin:
Forgot to ask, is Bitchy/Crazy Girl someone from H!P or just some random character?
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Wooooooooo hoooooooooooo~~~~ ERI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :muffin: :muffin: :muffin:
Well, she seems like one pretty girl. Harmless enough for now but we all know that can't be true. She's rich....ah huh *nods head*
Why do I feel that Yuuka is behaving like a kindergartener? Is it an act she puts up outside so people won't feel wary of her? Anyway...I should probably say I kinda like Yuuka so you would write about her less? *sneaky smile*
I'm totally with SBK on the more TakaGaki bit. Heck, torture Gaki all you want as long as I get my leader and subleader fix XD
BTW, I reread chapter 5 since it was filled with Risa. Damn, I wanna smack her for being so hung up on Ai who is such a cruel bitch to her. But you know I could never do that :P Me loves me Nini :wub:
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@sweety: being that I kno what's happening more or less... I find ur post super amusing xD... like es-chan said ur right on the ball with some and so far off with other. Good job though. I just think u make Ai too evil in some areas and too soft in others.
@hamzies: awwwwww lay off yuuka-chan, she's adorable <3. I think Es-chan might have to write gaki yuuka interaction of some sort to get u to finally convert xD. On another not *huggles u to death* I've missed u woman ;_;... u dissapear from me way to long.
Now to the story. I promise u I got the biggest tooth ache from all the cuuuutttteeee sweeeeeeet yuukai moments <3 <3 <3. And I still want more.
I dunno if Ai did it intentionally or not but I'm glad yuuka devised that plan... shows her training is coming to good use.
I wonder how young yuuka was when she was adopted =/.
The whole bitchy girl thing was pure LOLOLOL had me laughing for a good a few seconds. I'm excited to see how ur gonna pan out the whole Ai/Eri sitch.
As for whether Eri is the target I can't say... but it sure as hell would be interesting if she were >D teeheehee
anywho... I'm gonna sit back now and wait for the next chapter ^~^
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Woo I'm on a roll! Shorter chapter this time round. XD
Comment replies first though.
Yuuyami: Lol, you're really commenting on this story huh? XD But yup, the assassin sisters are awesome. They make a good team. *nods* I liked the Bitchy/Crazy thing too, giggled like crazy while typing that part heh. About the AiEri-ness...hmm, you'll see. XD
CrypticShadow8: Hi and welcome to the thread! Hope to see you around often. :P I agree, yay Eri! And Yuuka's a good girl, yes she is. =D
JFC: Have I told you how much I enjoy your mass quoting comments? XD Yuuka/Ai is cute, is it not? XD I liked Bitchy Girl too, she was awfully convenient. Hehe. About what Ai is gonna do that presumably involves Eri, well, you'll have to wait and see as to how Yuuka will play a role here. Ai has plans, and so do I. >D
Fenrir: Yup, it's Elizabeth-chan all over again! Kinda. XD I see you're already putting your finger on the trend. Hehe. Ai's really pimping it~ Yeah I want a cute lil sis like Yuuka too! Your guesses are pretty close to the mark, you know?! I think I need to guard my thoughts more carefully from now on... And to your question at the bottom, yes you do. =D
sweeety: Do you feel better now? I hope you aren't too sick. Ai's one sick individual here in this story, but well...she's still awesome. Haha. About Risa, I'll get back to her situation soon. I just need to set up the latest story arc here before swinging back again. But you're right, poor Risa.
H2Overdose: Yup, I kept my promise, no? Yeah Yuuka's freaking adorable. I'm glad I managed to get you really into this story. Hehe.
Sukoshi: Good guess! Haha. Yeah, I thought it was pretty obvious that it was Eri. The rich girl aura thing is a classic. XD Hehehe now to see what role Eri will play in the story~
SxY: Why does everyone think I'm gonna kill Eri. XD I'm not that evil...wait, I just might be! Muahahahaha. Everyone luffs the sisterly love. XD Good job guessing it was Eri!
Ichigo-chan: Nyahahaha, join the Yuuka-love! Ai's a good nee-chan. XD Well, sorta. Lol. You really have a one track mind with TakaGaki. XD Do you really want me to torture poor Gaki even more? Seriously? You Gaki fans are a twisted bunch. XDDD About Bitchy/Crazy Girl, I didn't really think of her as a H!P girl, but you could always imagine someone there. Haha.
lil_hamz: Hehe Yuuka's a smart one. She can handle herself just fine, thank you very much. She acts cute and harmless cos that's her strength. If you've got it, use it! XD And don't think your trick works on me, Yuuka's here to stay (for now anyway XD). Again with the twisted Gaki fans! I feel sorry for Gaki-san. Lol. With fans like this, who needs haters? XD
poets: Did you reply on your epic phone? <3 Yuuka wasn't as young as Ai when SHE was adopted, but around 10/11ish? But yeah, Yuuka/Ai = much love. As for the AiEri, you'll see. Hehehe. I has plans~
Right. That should do it. XD
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File #08
"Ara, is that Takahashi-san? I haven't seen you around in almost 2 months. How was your assignment?"
Ai smiled at the matronly lady who greeted her as she halted at the lobby, an overnight bag in one hand and a black leather camera case slung over one shoulder.
"It was an interesting trip, Fuyutsuki-san. Ah, here's a souvenir from my trip." Ai fumbled around with her baggage for a bit, before producing a small box for her landlady.
"Oh, you shouldn't have!" But she accepted the gift anyway, as was normal. "I made sure your apartment was clean while you were away, so you won't have too much trouble settling right in."
"Thank you very much." Ai half turned and reached out from something...or rather, someone. "Come on Yuukarin, it's alright."
"Oh? Who is that?" The landlady squealed when she saw Yuuka hesitantly peek out from behind Ai. "How adorable! Is that..."
"My sister. She's been sick a lot, and was in the care of my mother." Ai explained briefly. Fuyutsuki nodded sympathetically. She had heard of Takahashi's unfortunate family situation, her parents having divorced and Takahashi separated from her mother at a young age.
"Why is your sister here then?" Ai lowered her head.
"My mother...passed away. I guess as her only living relative, the least I could do is to take care of my little sister."
"Oh my!" The landlady assumed a sympathetic, motherly pose almost immediately. Walking around Ai to look at Yuuka, she patted the younger girl on the head. She looked at Ai, who was discreetly dabbing at her eyes.
Ai looked solemn, almost on the verge of tears but still strong enough not to cry. "I hope you'll understand my situation and let her stay with me for now...she doesn't have anywhere else to go."
The landlady nodded. "I understand perfectly. It must be very difficult for the two of you now, so if you need any help, please don't hesitate to ask!" Ai nodded gratefully, reaching into her jacket for an envelope.
"Here's the rent for this month. We'll be in your care." The sisters bowed politely before taking their leave, Yuuka tagging along obediently behind Ai, who had to heave a heavy luggage case into the elevator.
Fuyutsuki looked on as the elevator doors closed, then down at the envelope. Those poor girls! She quietly vowed to shower them with as much care as possible while they were here.
~*~*~
"I didn't know you had an apartment here, Oneesama!" Yuuka looked around the sparsely furnished space that had the bare essentials and nothing else.
Ai grinned. "Doesn't hurt to be prepared for eventualities. I have several places in Tokyo, helps when I need a place to go to." She put down her things, unpacking quickly.
"It's a bit small, but we should be fine." Ai looked up as Yuuka poked her head out of the tiny (and only) window of the small apartment. "Yuuka? Are you listening to me?"
"Sorry Oneesama! I'm just so excited that I'm actually out here with you." Yuuka quickly crossed back to Ai's side, helping her sort out their belongings. There wasn't that many, and all were rather plain and certainly not expensive. Part of their cover after all.
"Are you feeling alright though? That drug..." Indeed, Yuuka looked paler than usual, a sunken look in her eyes despite the bright spark lingering in the depths. Her small hands twitched spasmodically, barely visible but certainly there without a doubt.
In short, she looked exactly the part of an ill person, not without some help though. Ai had sought the help from a very reliable source to fake the physical appearance of illness in Yuuka. She had had to pay through her nose to have it on such short notice, but haste had been necessary.
"Just a little tired..." On cue, Yuuka yawned, blinking sleepily and looking like hell warmed over. Had Ai not already been privy to the truth, she would have thought that Yuuka was really sick.
"Rest then. I'll wake you for dinner later." Her sister nodded, curling up and falling asleep almost instantly. Ai went back to work mode, checking her email on her cellphone and reading the latest message.
Done.
Takeda
P.S. Take care of Yuuka, or else!
Ai nodded in satisfaction that her demands had been fulfilled. Ta-kun could be extraordinarily efficient when pressed. Only he had the necessary contacts to get what she needed on short notice anyway.
Extracting a plain manila envelope from her bag, Ai idly flipped through all the papers in there. Qualifications, various legal documents, identification...she had all she needed, and more. Ta-kun had even thoughtfully prepared the documentation for Yuuka as well, separated by a crimson divider within the envelope itself.
After ascertaining that all was in place, Ai stood up and inspected her surroundings with care. She had done it once over upon stepping in, but doublechecking hurt no one. Paranoia had kept her alive for long enough, and she wasn't about to relax her guard.
The thorough search produced nothing suspicious, so she sat down by a dozing Yuuka, already in a contemplative silence. Now it was all a matter of waiting for the inevitable.
That and, she would have to create a visible trail to establish the reality of her current identity. Sure, she didn't change her name, but her usual persona left no traces. The current "her" was another person altogether. And regular people had history.
"Time to get busy again..."
~*~*~
Eri was bored.
That was the truth, short and simple. She had people, servants really, who would leap to her every whim, but she could barely summon enough interest to actually order them around.
Then again, she was a bit of a homebody, so staying cooped up in her room like this was hardly uncomfortable for her. Rather welcome, actually. If only her father would stop trying to insist that she go out and make more friends, preferably of her own age.
Oh, Eri knew he cared. Kamei Otosuke was a busy man, managing a thriving business on top of the commitments to his previous position with the government. He had little time available for anything outside of work, but he always took time to make sure his precious daughter was safe and happy.
Although Eri really thought that the bodyguards were a bit over the top. She knew her father was obsessively concerned with her safety, but she could do without the constant surveillance. It made things so difficult while trying to talk to other people.
People. She had followers around on campus, attracted by her money and of course, her looks. Eri might not be overtly narcissistic, but she knew she looked good. There had been any number of decent guys who had tried to ask her out, but all their efforts had been thwarted.
For good reason. Eri knew her marriage plans had already been arranged by her father. He did not trust random boys with no background; no, he had to make sure that his son-in-law would be the perfect husband for his beloved daughter. Aka well off, reasonably attentive, decently attractive, and with no obvious bad habits.
In other words, boring. Eri felt that her future husband, whom she had only met once at an omiai, was a decent enough man as far as she could tell. However, the problem was that he had no distinguishing feature. He wasn't ugly, but he wasn't handsome. He was reasonably articulate, but had nothing to say behind his words. In short, as concluded above, boring.
Eri had no complaints about such an arrangement though. Boring equals safe, which meant that her future would be secure, as her father intended. She did wish that she could have at least one exciting experience before having to submit to the inevitable. Just once, something that would titillate her senses, make her feel alive, and not be a damn bird in a gilded cage.
Kami-sama, if you exist, please let me have one last adventure, free from Father's control...
An earnest prayer from a childish heart. Would it be answered?
Heaven knows.
=========================================
To Eri: Be careful of what you wish for. XD
And here's another chapter, kinda fillerish in a sense, but it fills up a few gaps in the story so far. The real thing will start soon, I swear!
Hope everyone enjoys this. ^_^
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-dibbers- o-o
Oh snap! It all came together~! Aichan and Yuuka are tackling an assignment together, my my o___o;
And oh snap! It must be Eri's dad that Aichan's after! The other chapter mentioned that her next target was a family man who was paranoid, being a former spy/government agent O-O; So oh snap Eri.... Aichan... What are you planning? o___o. If the files say he really is paranoid AND the request was subtle, how in the world are you going to kill him? Let's hope Aichan doesn't get too close with Eri, she might not wanna kill her dad... Then again... this IS Evil!Aichan... So maybe she might even use Eri without any feelings whatsoever?
Ohhhhh myyyyyy o______o;
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Oh Eri Eri Eri, you're gonna get waaaaaaay more adventure than you ever dreamed of.
Can't wait.
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Might be just a little fillerish but it had Eri in it~ so I'm satisfied. The ending has me excited and I'm very interested in how Ai chan is going to establish her history. She's such a good liar :D
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Eri, Eri, Eri, be careful what you wish for... you might just be digging you and your dad a nice little hole... Well, your dad a grave, but for you.. hmm.. ;)
Your thoughts oozes out into the stories; there's no hiding them from me!! :twisted: My hunch about Eri being related to the next target seems to be correct. Now the question is how to kill a prominent businessman/former government spy subtly. I'm sure his death would cause a big ruckus among the media. The only definite is Eri will be involved because Ai is cruel and evil that way. :twisted:
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Eri...you have no idea...
Oh snapples. I've been influenced after reading everyone else's posts. O.o Poor Eri's Dad. Now it's getting REALLY interesting...
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Terribly sorry for the late comment, even though I've been following on a regular basis. (There's no reason not to :D)
I like the variety you give in your stories...pirates, vampires, assassins...makes it all the more exciting. And above all, I like your style of writing. The language you use to describe the characters and their thoughts/feelings/emotions is happy-making. Every chapter makes my day :D
I like where this is going, and I'm excited and looking forward to seeing more plot development rolling in, woot! Let's see some more Takahashi in ACTION!
Also, there's not enough AiEri out there (seems like a challenge to get it to work, I guess?), so I must thank you for mixing that in. :heart:
Eri has no idea what she's in for.
I had this funny image of Ai's collection of girls going at each other's throats, none of them willing to share lol. Oh Ai, whowhat would you do?
"You have X choices: A) Ri--"
Ai: "E) All of the above."
"..Okay..."
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Here's another of my original hypothesis. Eri is caught sort of, in the middle of this attempt at her dad. He is a very important man as they say and it appears that he has more than a few enemies. He is busy with work as they say and thus prpobably never gets much time to himself. He appears to be a good man though it is obvious he has more than a few dark secrets. So my guess is that Ai was hired to take him out or produce a scandal that involves him by one of his enemies.
Eri is an easier target than her dad as she gets around and to make things better she is young and easy to manipulate. I believe Ai will use her to get closer to her dad and then pounce on him like a puma ^^. I think her plan is to bump into her some and catch her eye, then get her to like her enough and eventually trick her into letting her into the house. After winning her trust she will be able to pretty much come and go as is and then she will be inside and once there, she can take out the dude just like that. But I have a bad feeling Eri will fall for her. Maybe she is the one that will change Ai. And maybe after it happens she can convince her not to kill her dad... if there's still time that is.
Oh well, I'll just have to wait and see.....
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I'm back! Did anyone miss me?
Wait, it's only been a couple of days, how could anyone miss me. XD Whatever, enough of the small talk, comment replies as usual first!
Yuuyami: God knows what Aichan is planning...well, I do, but I'm not God so I'm not merciful...thereby meaning that I won't let you know. XD Ai has plans, and she won't let anything get in the way. Hehehehehe...
CrypticShadows8: Yes, she is. No I can't wait either...wait, I have to write it myself! Dang it. XD
Sukoshi: Sorry again about the fillerishness, but yeah, Eri FTW. XD Yesh Ai's an awesome liar, she was trained to be one. XD This chapter's kinda like one half of a bigger scene, but I decided to stop it where it was cos it felt right. You'll see why. =D
Fenrir: Sigh, there's no escape from someone as sharp as you. What will I doooooo? XD Yeah well, Eri's definitely involved whether she likes it or not. Is Ai cruel? Possibly. Evil? Maybe. She just wants to get the job done~ Haha.
SxY: Yup, poor Eri and her Dad. Still setting up for the events. I take forever to get to the point sometimes. Sigh.
rev2hd: Hey you! Missed seeing you around lol. I'm glad that my stories are interesting enough to make your day, it makes my day when my readers say that. <3333 Yeah AiEri takes some work because they're not immediately apparent the way other more "canon" pairings are. Lol. And ROFLMAO you really cracked me up with what you said, you did. Who will she do indeed...why, all of them sounds about right! Ehehehehe. XD
sweeety: Cool hypothesis. Not bad actually. Except you're still too optimistic about Ai. XD Then again, I want to be optimistic about her too, I like her a lot. I also like her being evil a lot But never mind that, just wait and see what happens! :D
Time for the usual gap for editing. XD Be right back!
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File #09
The swirl of lights in the tinted liquid really was very pretty, Eri reflected as she stared into the delicate champagne flute she held in one hand. Unusual enough that she was holding an alcoholic beverage; she was, after all, underage.
Not that it mattered at such an event, as long as she didn't go overboard and start slugging drinks at quantities that would make people notice. Or worse, reporters at the event might notice and write about it...which would be bad for her father's image.
Which was why Eri was currently sequestered away in a tiny corner of the grand ballroom, studiously trying to avoid mingling with the assorted socialites. She didn't mind the small talk that much, but after the hideous ordeal of sitting through a 2 hour long awards ceremony, she wasn't sure if she was up to handling any more inane chatter.
That and she enjoyed hiding in corners in general, but never mind that.
Taking a tentative sip at the bubbly champagne, Eri looked around the room with bored eyes. It was all very glittery and bright and luxurious; typical of an upper-class gathering of the political and business elite.
A lesser person would have been awed. Kamei Eri shrugged it off as nothing; as one born to such a life, such sights were commonplace. As was caviar and champagne. It was anything that was not rich that was unusual at such a setting.
She hadn't seen it previously, but there it was, a few slightly shabbily dressed people compared to the usuals. Well, not all that shabby if they were on the streets mingling with regular people (rather impressive actually by regular standards), but rubbing shoulders with the rich was a whole another ball game altogether.
The camera bag slung across one shoulder proclaimed that at least the one that had caught her eye was a photographer, one of many at the event earlier. Journalists too were allowed at post-ceremony events like these, usually keeping to the banquet tables and talking among themselves.
Normally, she wouldn't have spared them a second glance. They were just part of the background, maybe a step or two higher than the furnishing, but they didn't really matter...unless one behaved badly enough for them to start writing unfavorable news, which was to be strenuously avoided at all costs.
Which sort of put these people at a level of regard below normal human beings for the elite, but they were tolerated if not accepted. Part and parcel of fame and fortune, so it was thought.
But what had kept her attention, longer than the single glance she would usually have spared the likes of them, was the fact that she had seen them before. Or rather, her.
A flash of memory, of proud, unyielding eyes. Eri shivered, and stared at the figure. What was the girl doing here? A photographer? Journalist? How very unusual, the impression she had gotten from her...
But yet it could be. The cold logic, the eye for observation... Not any ordinary person, this one. But a journalist? Eri had some trouble wrapping her mind around that fact.
Curious now, the turtle left its proverbial shell, discreetly meandering over for a closer look. Skillfully avoiding the clusters of gossiping wives and daughters who would have liked nothing better than to trap her in one of their conversations, Eri made her way closer to the corner by the banquet line where the journalistic types had discreetly commandeered for their own use.
"Kamei-san?" A tentative voice called from off to one side. Eri turned to see her prospective fiance standing a little awkwardly, staring at her like she was a goddess descended.
Eri could get used to that. It fed that little narcissistic piece of her soul, and kept her self esteem up nice and floaty. However, at the current moment she wasn't in any particular need of worship, and so viewed it as more of a mere distraction from her current objective, which was to...
...now where did that woman go to? Eri looked around, but her target had somehow slipped away from where she had last seen her. Feeling slightly deflated, Eri turned her attention back to one Kobayashi Keisuke, who was still waiting for her response.
"Was there something, Kobayashi-san?" She still didn't know him very well, so formalities were the way to go. She smiled at him, trying to make him feel a little better, since he seemed awfully nervous, but the act only got him even more jittery.
"Um, I was thinking, would you like to dance with me?" He didn't seem very much like the responsible 24 year old young man that had impressed her father well enough for him to approve the match. Eri wondered if he was really the heir to a large company...he hardly seemed the confident type, although reports of his business dealings were nothing short of stellar.
"I'll be glad to." She might as well humor him. It couldn't hurt to get to know her future husband a little better, and he really wasn't a terrible person or anything. She was about to reach for his hand when she remembered the glass she was still holding.
"Ah, hold on a moment, let me put this away first." Eri looked around, about to wave for one of the omnipresent waiters to take her glass, when the sudden appearance of one waiter almost directly behind her caused her to stumble, knocked off balance.
In the brief moment of confusion, she managed to lose her grip on her glass, and in her attempt to retrieve it, lost both the glass and what was left of her balance as well. Before she fell, all she managed to think of was how it was a waste of really good champagne...
A heartbeat later, she still hadn't made painful contact with the floor. Opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was her glass being handed back to her in perfect condition, without a single drop spilled. Her own body was being kept upright by a firm arm around her waist, and she blinked in confusion, trying to process the identity of her savior.
Startled brown locked with clear pools of endless caramel. Reality lost all meaning in that single instant, sound became a distant actuality. She saw herself reflected endlessly in those depths, sucked into them by the unseen waters that went on forever in those clear brown eyes.
And then just as suddenly, it ended. Eri found herself upright and no longer teetering precariously, her drink once again in her hands, and her savior stepping back and relinquishing any hold on her. It was then that Eri realized who it was.
"You!"
===================================
Short chapter. But short chapters are good. Manageable. =D And easy to read. Haha.
Right-o. Now what will happen, I wonder. XD
Comment freely~
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File #08
"Ara, is that Takahashi-san? I haven't seen you around in almost 2 months. How was your assignment?"
Ai smiled at the matronly lady who greeted her as she halted at the lobby, an overnight bag in one hand and a black leather camera case slung over one shoulder.
Hmmmmm...so Aichan DOES have a place of her own, does she? By the sounds of it, she's away rather frequently, and the landlady is used to it.
Question, does she know what Aichan really does or does she think that she works as a photographer (due to the leather camera case Aichabn was carrying)?
Ai half turned and reached out from something...or rather, someone. "Come on Yuukarin, it's alright."
"Oh? Who is that?" The landlady squealed when she saw Yuuka hesitantly peek out from behind Ai. "How adorable! Is that..."
"My sister. She's been sick a lot, and was in the care of my mother." Ai explained briefly. Fuyutsuki nodded sympathetically. She had heard of Takahashi's unfortunate family situation, her parents having divorced and Takahashi separated from her mother at a young age.
Ah, cover story is nice and simple.
Landlady seeing Yuuka = :wriggly:
"My mother...passed away. I guess as her only living relative, the least I could do is to take care of my little sister."
...
She looked at Ai, who was discreetly dabbing at her eyes.
Oh, VERY slick there, Aichan. :lol:
"I didn't know you had an apartment here, Oneesama!" Yuuka looked around the sparsely furnished space that had the bare essentials and nothing else.
Ai grinned. "Doesn't hurt to be prepared for eventualities. I have several places in Tokyo, helps when I need a place to go to." She put down her things, unpacking quickly.
Being prepared is definitely a good thing. Makes one wonder if Takeda is aware of all the places Aichan has.
"Are you feeling alright though? That drug..." Indeed, Yuuka looked paler than usual, a sunken look in her eyes despite the bright spark lingering in the depths. Her small hands twitched spasmodically, barely visible but certainly there without a doubt.
In short, she looked exactly the part of an ill person, not without some help though. Ai had sought the help from a very reliable source to fake the physical appearance of illness in Yuuka. She had had to pay through her nose to have it on such short notice, but haste had been necessary.
Had me worried there for a sec that Yuuka was genuinely ill. Aichan's really serious about maintaining their cover. :O
Ai went back to work mode, checking her email on her cellphone and reading the latest message.
Done.
Takeda
P.S. Take care of Yuuka, or else!
Done? What did she need Takeda to do? :?
Eri was bored.
That was the truth, short and simple. She had people, servants really, who would leap to her every whim, but she could barely summon enough interest to actually order them around.
Ah, no wonder that first meeting with Aichan (and the way that Aichan acted towards her) sparked her interest/curiosity. She's used to constantly having a bunch of "yes people" around her.
Eri knew her marriage plans had already been arranged by her father. He did not trust random boys with no background; no, he had to make sure that his son-in-law would be the perfect husband for his beloved daughter. Aka well off, reasonably attentive, decently attractive, and with no obvious bad habits.
Hmmm...and Eri's okay/resigned herself to this?
:dunno:
Eri felt that her future husband, whom she had only met once at an omiai, was a decent enough man as far as she could tell. However, the problem was that he had no distinguishing feature. He wasn't ugly, but he wasn't handsome. He was reasonably articulate, but had nothing to say behind his words. In short, as concluded above, boring.
Eri had no complaints about such an arrangement though. Boring equals safe, which meant that her future would be secure, as her father intended. She did wish that she could have at least one exciting experience before having to submit to the inevitable. Just once, something that would titillate her senses, make her feel alive, and not be a damn bird in a gilded cage.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh... :mon duh:
Kami-sama, if you exist, please let me have one last adventure, free from Father's control...
An earnest prayer from a childish heart. Would it be answered?
Heaven knows.
More like Aichan knows. :yep:
EDIT: OSNAP! NEW CHAPTER! :rockon:
File #09
The swirl of lights in the tinted liquid really was very pretty, Eri reflected as she stared into the delicate champagne flute she held in one hand. Unusual enough that she was holding an alcoholic beverage; she was, after all, underage.
Not that it mattered at such an event, as long as she didn't go overboard and start slugging drinks at quantities that would make people notice. Or worse, reporters at the event might notice and write about it...which would be bad for her father's image.
Which was why Eri was currently sequestered away in a tiny corner of the grand ballroom, studiously trying to avoid mingling with the assorted socialites. She didn't mind the small talk that much, but after the hideous ordeal of sitting through a 2 hour long awards ceremony, she wasn't sure if she was up to handling any more inane chatter.
Some type of "official" function that Eri got dragged to?
But what had kept her attention, longer than the single glance she would usually have spared the likes of them, was the fact that she had seen them before. Or rather, her.
A flash of memory, of proud, unyielding eyes. Eri shivered, and stared at the figure. What was the girl doing here? A photographer? Journalist? How very unusual, the impression she had gotten from her...
My, my, my...what a coincidence. :D :roll:
"Kamei-san?" A tentative voice called from off to one side. Eri turned to see her prospective fiance standing a little awkwardly, staring at her like she was a goddess descended.
...
Eri looked around, but her target had somehow slipped away from where she had last seen her. Feeling slightly deflated, Eri turned her attention back to one Kobayashi Keisuke
Ah, so this is the guy she's been arranged to marry. Poor bastard doesn't realize that he doesn't really interest her. :-X
In the brief moment of confusion, she managed to lose her grip on her glass, and in her attempt to retrieve it, lost both the glass and what was left of her balance as well. Before she fell, all she managed to think of was how it was a waste of really good champagne...
:rofl:
A heartbeat later, she still hadn't made painful contact with the floor. Opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was her glass being handed back to her in perfect condition, without a single drop spilled. Her own body was being kept upright by a firm arm around her waist, and she blinked in confusion, trying to process the identity of her savior.
Five bucks say it isn't the fiancee. ;D
And then just as suddenly, it ended. Eri found herself upright and no longer teetering precariously, her drink once again in her hands, and her savior stepping back and relinquishing any hold on her. It was then that Eri realized who it was.
"You!"
How fortunate for Eri that she happens to see "that person" again JUST as she HAPPENS to slip and lose her balance. O0
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That and she enjoyed hiding in corners in general, but never mind that.
:lol:
Ah, another great chapter. Good insight onto Eri's thought process... Heehee... THAT person just HAPPENS to come when she falls. :mon misch:
And about your long intros/getting started... I actually think I like it. :D Gives me a feel for the characters, and it gives me a great idea about the setting and such... <3 Can't wait for #10.
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You and your smooth moves Ai-chan. :cool1: Posing as the hero, savior, person of her dreams, and then WHAM! 180 degree turn, Eri will be a goner.
I see it going something like this: seduce, make out, have Eri wrapped around her finger, and then go in for the kill.
Curious now, the turtle left its proverbial shell, discreetly meandering over for a closer look.
That's our turtle for ya.
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Ahhh~ Short one. Yay. My poor eyes are saved for now. xD
Awww! AiEri <3
Very cliche but still <3
Too bad Eri's just part of Ai's target...
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DUM DUM DUUUM and you break it at the cliff hanger
File #09
Eri could get used to that. It fed that little narcissistic piece of her soul, and kept her self esteem up nice and floaty. However, at the current moment she wasn't in any particular need of worship, and so viewed it as more of a mere distraction from her current objective, which was to...
*can relate to that*
Liking this chapter <3 ... I see what you meant by having to "cut it at that point". Can't wait for the next part.
VIVA LA AI/ERI!
The suspense is killing me XD
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Opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was her glass being handed back to her in perfect condition, without a single drop spilled. Her own body was being kept upright by a firm arm around her waist, and she blinked in confusion, trying to process the identity of her savior.
Startled brown locked with clear pools of endless caramel. Reality lost all meaning in that single instant, sound became a distant actuality. She saw herself reflected endlessly in those depths, sucked into them by the unseen waters that went on forever in those clear brown eyes.
*Swoon* This reminds me of something I saw on TV when I was younger (like over 10 years ago), the catching the glass part. It was sweet. And now I'll have Ai superimposed into that mental image forever. Makes it all the better :D
I don't suppose Ai could accidentally kill this fiance while she's on her job, could she? Double kill? Two birds with one bullet stone? Or is it three because she gets +1 Eri.
Naw, Ai's too pro for that kind of thing. Or is Eri going to be too tempting? :O
Can't wait for the next chapter!
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Ah, the Takahashi brainwashing continues. Ai chan certainly made an impression on Eri the first time and this time it's down right unforgettable. The stage was so perfectly set for Ai chan's save...I wonder if more agents/hired people are in play here.
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File 8:
So Ai has apartments all around the city so she has places to stay no matter where she is. Obviously genius. It's cute that she's really taking care of Yuuka-chan. Whoa, so she doesn't change her name at all? That's interesting. Poor Eri, being rich is generally not all it's cracked up to be. Or at least that's my view on it. B/C there is always that one person in rich families that doesn't seem to fit in. The black sheep, if you will. I hope she finds happiness soon. (Read: gets to know Ai-chan)
File 9:
Eri getting dragged around again. But you know, she really does have the "rich daughter" aura. Not a bad thing, just an observation. Like if she really is rich, I could see it. I like that, it's hot. :lol: KNEW IT. Ai-chan has to kill someone in the Kamei family. Or the fiance, like sweeety said. Hell, as long as it's NOT Eri, it's fine. Sapphire to the rescue? :P
And for the record, us Gaki fans don't want her to get hurt or anything like that, we just want her in the story. :lol: Selfish, I know. :grin: Yes, I am quite one-track TakaGaki.
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And easy to read. Haha.
You couldn't be more right. Ahhh it takes that much for me to go through one of ya chapters.
A heartbeat later, she still hadn't made painful contact with the floor. Opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was her glass being handed back to her in perfect condition, without a single drop spilled. Her own body was being kept upright by a firm arm around her waist, and she blinked in confusion, trying to process the identity of her savior.
Cool!! And so very convenient :P Kamei-chan must have already fallen for Ai. I know it XD
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Woo I'm back! Quick chapter. I shouldn't be doing this but I am. Shh. XD
Comment replies first.
JFC: Lol, I posted chapter 9 before you managed to post your comment about chapter 8...oh well, at least it wasn't so tough to add in thoughts about chapter 9 since it was so short. Haha. Ai's pretty slick, yes. She knows exactly what she's doing. We get to see more of Ai in action here. Hehe.
SxY: I'm glad you like the slow buildup...some people might find it tedious. Lol. Of course, there are no such things as coincidence, not really. Hmm, I wonder. XD
Fenrir: Don't read my mind! Well, you've got the gist of it, but the way things are being done...hehe, hard to tell what Ai's up to. xD
stefy: Ya whatever, it's a bit cliched I'll admit. XD But hey it works! Lol. Hmm~
poets: Naturally I stop at cliffhangers. XD Makes it more fun. Suspense? What suspense? *innocent look* XD
rev2hd: LOL at your suggestion. Nah...Ai doesn't kill unnecessarily...but well, you know, collateral damage could conceivably happen...hehe. Gotta wonder if Ai might actually fall for Eri, or if it's all just for the job. XD
Sukoshi: Ai's good at what she does. :P There's some element of planning going on...and then there's pure dumb luck, and the ability to take advantage of the situation. Hehe. Things are going well for our resident assassin~
sweeety: Aw, hating on the fiance. Lol. Well, I don't like him much either, especially after this chapter. XD
Ichigo-chan: Eri does have that rich girl aura around her, doesn't she? XD As for the name changing thing, she does change her name once in a while, but when you get right down to it, her name "Takahashi Ai" is actually a really ordinary name. She doesn't have to go out of her way to change it, something generic usually works. And you poor Gaki fans going to such lengths just to see her in the story...I dunno if I should be happy or sad for poor Gaki-san. XD
lil_hamz: Haha another short chapter here. I'm being kind here! I wonder if Eri's in love yet...well, who knows? XD You'll see here.
Right-o. Here we go~
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File #10
"Do I know you?"
Eri gaped at the woman. How could she not remember? It wasn't that long ago from when they last met. Still clutching her drink in a shaky hand, Eri struggled to find something to say before her savior walked away.
Before she could speak though, another voice overshadowed hers. Her fiance, not pleased by the waiter's mishap that could have been a disaster, had walked up to the hapless man and was threatening to have him fired for scaring his fiancee.
"It's really alright..." Eri tried to interject, but her attempt to enter the conversation was ignored. Around them, a small crowd was gathering around to see what was going on.
"I think that should be enough. The poor man made a mistake. Nothing bad happened, so you don't have to threaten him with his job." Eri turned to see that familiar voice speaking up in defense of the waiter, arms folded. The waiter shot a quick, hopeful look at his only defender.
"A mere stranger should know their place. You're not even on the VIP list, are you? Stay out of this." The tame puppy that had been facing Eri had morphed into a lion on familiar ground. Kobayashi was far more comfortable with handling business opponents and anything else that was impersonal; he only had trouble with pretty girls on a personal basis.
"I don't think I need to be rich to point out an injustice. You're overreacting over nothing." She would have said more, but an older man, also a journalist, quickly walked over and grabbed her arm.
"Cut it out, Takahashi! You're in way over your head." He hissed, trying to yank her away.
Takahashi growled. "Let go of me Itsuki!" She looked disdainfully at her older colleague. "This is why I never joined the establishment; you're all weak ass-kissers."
"You're not with a newspaper? You have no right to be here then." Kobayashi folded his own arms. "Guards!"
Takahashi smiled grimly. "Think again, rich brat. I have every right to be here." With a flourish, she produced a document. "I'm allowed to cover non-classified government events and to be given free passage after outstanding service to the government."
Kobayashi paused, glancing over the paper with some apprehension.
"Alright, I concede that. But don't get cocky, you're just a journalist." Takahashi smiled.
"I'm not really a journalist, I just like to take photos." She raised her camera. "Don't go frowning now, you won't look good on print like that."
Kobayashi instinctively shielded his face, spitting a hasty reply in return. "Fine, whatever. You're not worth my time." He stalked off, and Takahashi lowered her camera smugly.
Only to be roughly turned around by a furious Itsuki.
"Do you know what you just did, kid? That guy you just insulted owns a large share in my paper! We could be in trouble after that little display!"
Takahashi shrugged and firmly removed his hands from her.
"That's very much your business, senpai, not mine." She looked around the room. "Well, there doesn't seem to be very much to do around here now, so I guess I better leave."
"Wait, you little...don't think I won't hit you because you're a girl!" Itsuki hissed, his veins bulging almost purple in his forehead. Takahashi raised an eyebrow at him.
"Don't think I won't hold back just because you're old." She shot right back, turning her back on him. "And remember who's the one who went into a war zone for 6 months. Hint: it's not you."
Itsuki took one step back at the dangerous tone in her voice, muttering vague threats under his breath as he backed off. Takahashi shrugged. Clearly her presence here would no longer be welcome.
Turning away, she started heading towards the exit. Only to be intercepted by a certain someone.
"Wait!" Eri huffed a little as she managed to catch up to her. Takahashi blinked.
"Yes?" Selectively disinterested. Eri sucked in a deep breath.
"Thank you for saving me." A moment of blankness, then comprehension.
"Oh. You're welcome." Takahashi looked at her with amusement. "You chased me all the way out of the room just to say that?"
Eri flushed slightly. "Er, well..." She decided to just go with her gut. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you. I've seen you before. You know, at the ice cream place. You and your sister."
A whole jumble of sentences strung together. Takahashi merely looked impassively at Eri, at least, until her sister was mentioned. Her brows knit together briefly, a flash of defensive concern flickering momentarily in her eyes.
"I see. What of it?" Eri paused. What did she have to ask of this person? Clearly, there was nothing more linking them, except curiosity, and Eri couldn't very well just randomly grab onto someone for no visible reason.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving then." Takahashi was about to step away when a deep voice halted them both.
"Eri-chan. Here you are." Eri turned to look with wide eyes at the new arrival.
"Father..." Takahashi turned around, facing an imposing man much taller than her, his hair shot with silver, but losing none of his commanding presence for it. The pair locked gazes, cloudy eyes meeting clear russet. Takahashi did not falter, nor back down from that gaze; merely met it with a calm that showed amazing composure.
Kamei Otosuke broke the deadlock first, his eyes shifting to give his daughter a quick once over, as if to ascertain that she was completely safe. Eri fidgeted under her father's penetrating gaze, never fully comfortable by the intensity with which he studied that which he looked upon.
"I heard about the commotion. You are safe, my daughter?" His cloudy eyes showed genuine affection for his only daughter, although the smoky haze that veiled his inner thoughts from shining through his eyes created an unbridgeable distance between father and daughter.
"Yes father." Eri lowered her head. She loved her father, but feared him at the same time. Very few people were able to stand up to him, and Eri was not one of them.
"Good." He turned to give Takahashi another once over, studying the easy grace with with the young woman held herself, much like a dancer...or a fighter. His pupils contracted briefly, but he showed no other outward sign of his instinctive suspicion.
Without a single trace of fear, or even awe, Takahashi merely inclined her head politely at one of the most feared secret agents of the time, backing off a few steps before turning to leave through the front doors.
The elder Kamei watched her go, mentally making a note to check up on this stranger. Anyone who came near his daughter had to be screened; he had no wish to see anyone hurt her, not in the least.
"Come. Keisuke-kun's waiting for you inside." He held out his arm to his daughter, ready to escort her back inside. Eri took it automatically, looked into her father's face, the smile he held, and clouded, unreadable eyes.
She shut her own eyes as they stepped back into the grand ballroom, already missing those calm, clear eyes. Eyes she could drown in safely, and not feel like she was being ensnared in a web of lies.
It was then that Eri realized something. A free thought, independent of her father's wishes.
I want to see her again.
Just a small thought, a tiny wish, held in her heart. Did not the smallest flame have the potential to grow into a raging fire? Eri did not think of that, could not think of that. There was only the want, and the need. She was a simple person in that aspect.
A small hope could change the world. Eri's wish could lead to great upheaval in her own life.
She just didn't know it yet.
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And there we are. The big 1-0. XD
Sleep nao~ Comment lots, and wish me luck for my exam...that's in 9 hours. @_@
Ta~
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DIBS~~~~ :P If I can't wedge, I might as well call the first comment!!!
Haha, I was like XD at the first line!!!! Ok, Kobayashi is officially a jackass in my mind. I'm glad that he's good to Eri but he's a damn jerk to everyone else. Mmm, Ai-chan standing her ground is so hot, it's absolutely unbelievable. :lol: I feel so bad for Eri b/c Ai-chan is like pretending not to know her but at the same time, it's kinda funny to see her all flustered. :P Whoa, Eri's dad's a secret agent??? COOOOOOL. 8) Ai-chan must be after him. Wonder if he has any idea? Kinda seems like it but secret agents must be on their toes all the time so it could just be ordinary suspicion. Oh Eri, you will DEFINITELY be seeing more of Ai-chan. :grin:
Gaki is perfectly fine in our (read: MY :grin: ) capable fan-hands. I would never want her to get hurt. :D
Good luck on your exam!
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Yay!! More AiEri!! Damn you Kobayashi. T_T I dun like you. *shun shun* And I love the short meet between Ai and Eri. She (Eri) seems a bit confused/flustered...and that's good. ;) Haha...you're gonna get more of Ai-chan than you could ever imagine, Eri... Just you wait...
Eri's dad is a secret agent?! :o Perhaps he really is the target. Oh my. No wait - what if he was secretly the secret agent who's protecting the real target?! <-- Completely random thought that makes no sense.
Excellent chapter, and I wish you the best of luck on your test. <3
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Damn, Ai's cold as ICE. That's so hot, btw.
With Eri's dad being a secret agent, I don't think he'll go down that easily, assuming he is the target. Ai better watch out or she might walk into a trap. Eri would be a very, very dangerous trap in this case lol Wonder if it'll give Ai enough trouble to turn to a Plan B.
Gotta wonder if Ai might actually fall for Eri, or if it's all just for the job.
I would. No pun intended :-X
And g'luck on your exam! When you're done with that come back and shower us with an awesome Chapter 11. XD
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So is Ai gonna save the damsel in distress and act like she doesn't know her for the third time yet again? Unless this time Eri saves Ai or at least just tracks Ai down..
Gahaha.. Itsuki do you like that enka singer or something?
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Hmm, don't think I've commented yet here, but decided to now. :) Or maybe it's just that I want to keep pushing off doing homework... lol, anyway.
The slowness of how this is progressing is driving me crazy! :banghead: At least you're updating every day, so it's making it a bit more palatable. As always, looking forward to more... :P
Ai seems to be putting an awful lot of faith into Eri being helplessly attracted to her - the aloof conversation, the seeming general disinterest in Eri or the situation. True there are a lot of cases when being mysterious or aloof in such away is the best form of attraction, but it's not 100%... Ai must really think a lot of herself to just be acting this way. XD She's just that damn irresistible, huh?
Like rev I'm also beginning to get a little suspicious about what might happen if Eri's father is the target. If he's really such a super secret agent, that means he's had similar training to Ai... and a lot more experience with it. Since Ai is an apparent genius at this, she obviously has a wicked plan, but no matter how good it is I have a feeling it won't be able to go just as written... She's going to have to use all her skills, and then some, to come away with this kill I think. I wonder if there might be any collateral damage in the process? If so, there are definitely some potential targets for it... Eri obviously... even Yuuka. Well, maybe we can see how good Yuuka is too.
Move faster. XD
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In Ai's mind: Target sighted, target assessed, recon mission complete. Next step: finalizing the plan involving Eri and Yuuka.
Good luck on that test.
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Another great chapter! :D
Kobayashi's a jerk! :angry: And Eri has no idea what she's getting herself into. :O Looking forward to more~! xD
Oh and good luck for your exams!
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you know what......because of your story i kept dreaming of ai-chan......... :on GJ: :hehehe: :shifty:
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Well the thought of it being an easy kill totally went out the window with the man being a former spy. If Ai knows he used to be a spy...surely it wouldn't be long before he figures out who she is. I'm not all that convinced that Eri's father is the real target though. I imagine there's a grander scheme to it but then again that's probably because everything's still so mysterious. I hope Risa or Sayu makes a reappearance soon. I like it when both of Ai chan's worlds collide.
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File #10
"Do I know you?"
Eri gaped at the woman. How could she not remember?
Oh NOICE!! Aichan workin' the mind games! :rockon:
"A mere stranger should know their place. You're not even on the VIP list, are you? Stay out of this." The tame puppy that had been facing Eri had morphed into a lion on familiar ground. Kobayashi was far more comfortable with handling business opponents and anything else that was impersonal; he only had trouble with pretty girls on a personal basis.
Ah, so he's confident when he's able to throw his weight around/exercise his authority...figures. :-\
"I don't think I need to be rich to point out an injustice. You're overreacting over nothing." She would have said more, but an older man, also a journalist, quickly walked over and grabbed her arm.
"Cut it out, Takahashi! You're in way over your head." He hissed, trying to yank her away.
Takahashi growled. "Let go of me Itsuki!" She looked disdainfully at her older colleague. "This is why I never joined the establishment; you're all weak ass-kissers."
How true. There have been many instances where so-called "journalists" just went along with and did what their sponsors wanted them too because they didn't want to risk getting fired, not to mention black-listed. :yep:
Kobayashi folded his own arms. "Guards!"
Takahashi smiled grimly. "Think again, rich brat. I have every right to be here." With a flourish, she produced a document. "I'm allowed to cover non-classified government events and to be given free passage after outstanding service to the government."
Kobayashi paused, glancing over the paper with some apprehension.
"Alright, I concede that. But don't get cocky, you're just a journalist." Takahashi smiled.
"I'm not really a journalist, I just like to take photos." She raised her camera. "Don't go frowning now, you won't look good on print like that."
Kobayashi instinctively shielded his face, spitting a hasty reply in return. "Fine, whatever. You're not worth my time." He stalked off, and Takahashi lowered her camera smugly.
Point, Aichan. :yep:
As far as Kobayashi's concerned, Aichan's just a hired gun/papparazzi. Now while she might not be an actual journalist, that doesn't mean that she can't cause him trouble by selling off some bad photos of him to the gossip magazines. :D
"Do you know what you just did, kid? That guy you just insulted owns a large share in my paper! We could be in trouble after that little display!"
Takahashi shrugged and firmly removed his hands from her.
"That's very much your business, senpai, not mine." She looked around the room.
Yeah, it's not like she works for his paper (which is a fact that rich boy should be aware of). If anything, one would think that he'd be rewarding Itsuki for trying to put her in her place. If he actually decided to cause trouble for Itsuki's paper over some "freelancer" that doesn't work for them, then he's even more of a spoiled brat than we initially thought.
"Wait, you little...don't think I won't hit you because you're a girl!" Itsuki hissed, his veins bulging almost purple in his forehead. Takahashi raised an eyebrow at him.
"Don't think I won't hold back just because you're old." She shot right back, turning her back on him. "And remember who's the one who went into a war zone for 6 months. Hint: it's not you."
Itsuki took one step back at the dangerous tone in her voice, muttering vague threats under his breath as he backed off.
Hmmmm...was Itsuki part of the "arrangements" that Takeda was supposed to have made to help Aichan with her cover here?
*ERI INTERCEPTS AICHAN'S EXIT*
Oooooooooooooooh...man I love how Aichan's act has got Eri strung around like this. ;D
"Eri-chan. Here you are." Eri turned to look with wide eyes at the new arrival.
"Father..." Takahashi turned around, facing an imposing man much taller than her, his hair shot with silver, but losing none of his commanding presence for it.
...
"I heard about the commotion. You are safe, my daughter?" His cloudy eyes showed genuine affection for his only daughter, although the smoky haze that veiled his inner thoughts from shining through his eyes created an unbridgeable distance between father and daughter.
"Yes father." Eri lowered her head. She loved her father, but feared him at the same time. Very few people were able to stand up to him, and Eri was not one of them.
Interesting...Eri's dad is obviously used to being "the head honcho" in most situations.
He turned to give Takahashi another once over, studying the easy grace with with the young woman held herself, much like a dancer...or a fighter. His pupils contracted briefly, but he showed no other outward sign of his instinctive suspicion.
Ooooooooooooooh...obviously he's dealt with his fair share of people that he can pick up signs that most others wouldn't be aware of. This is going to be interesting to see how he deals with his suspicions here.
Without a single trace of fear, or even awe, Takahashi merely inclined her head politely at one of the most feared secret agents of the time, backing off a few steps before turning to leave through the front doors.
The elder Kamei watched her go, mentally making a note to check up on this stranger. Anyone who came near his daughter had to be screened; he had no wish to see anyone hurt her, not in the least.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!?!?!?? ERI'S DAD'S A SPY?!!???!?!?
:mon spit:
It was then that Eri realized something. A free thought, independent of her father's wishes.
I want to see her again.
And Aichan scores another point...without even needing to be there.
:cool1:
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YAY~
i cnt wait for 11. XD
so exciting, with Yuuka on the mission as well.
Oooo. Kamei's finally here~ :cow: she is indeed an easy prey XD
Go Ai-sama~ :otomerika:
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^ Well it is Ai-chan. And a bass-ass Ai is so terribly hawt. It'll be a surprise anyone doesn't fall for her XD I wonder when Essy will have a new update. If I didn't remember wrongly most of your papers are over? So....write more!! :D
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It's like 6am in the morning now and I'm in no condition to do comment replies...so I shall simply present you with chapter and worry about it another time. =D
Sorry about the wait, it took some time to get it all down in my head. Plus I had to get down from the post-exam high...yes, exams are over YAY! Yup. XD
Enough babbling, chapter time~
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File #11
Eri yawned widely as she traipsed groggily down a relatively empty hallway. She had woken up late, thereby missing her early morning class at the university, but she had come anyway. She did have a lesson afterwards in any case, so missing her first class didn't mean she had to miss her second one.
It was not that Eri was that much of a conscientious student; it was just that when she was at school, she was out of the direct surveillance imposed on her by her father. It was the result of numerous attempts involving begging, pleading and assorted other probably underhanded tactics that she managed to get him to agree to have her bodyguards wait outside of campus instead of trailing her like obedient guard dogs.
In any case, they were merely a quick call away, and Eri had the suspicion that her father had probably stuck tracking devices on most of her belongings in case of any kidnapping. He was that kind of man, always planning for the worst case scenario.
Blinking sleepily, Eri peered around the relatively empty premises. Here and there students milled around, some looking just as groggy as Eri did, others being somewhat more alert thanks to the cups of coffee they were nursing in their hands. It was a scene Eri was used to seeing every time she had morning classes; everyone seemed to be a veritable zombie until they had coffee or after noon...whichever came first.
Coffee definitely seemed like the first order of business. Making a quick detour, Eri headed down to the cafe where they sold better coffee than the lousy canned ones from the machine. A few minutes later she emerged with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand, sipping contentedly as coherence returned to her brain.
The hot liquid helped to kickstart her cranial functions, which led her to actually start thinking. Naturally, her thought processes followed her whims, which flitted around like a fickle bumblebee in search of pollen. Currently, the object of her thoughts revolved around a certain enigmatic freelance journalist.
Takahashi Ai, age 21. Parents divorced when she was young, custodial rights given to her father. Both parents confirmed dead at present time, sole remaining relative being a younger half sister. Portfolio centering around war-related photography, and was involved in an undisclosed hostage situation overseas that was successfully resolved without much public outcry.
Yes, Eri had done her research. She might not look like it, but she had inherited her father's natural inquisitivity. Plus, her father's name seemed to open doors when it came to accessing archival records in general. Having a government agent for a father could be useful at times.
Frankly, this person fascinated her. The concept of a woman, traveling alone and free, to dangerous and exotic locales boggled Eri's imagination. For someone who had lived her entire life in metropolitan Tokyo under the watchful eye of numerous custodians and even more bodyguards, that kind of freedom to simply come and go as one willed was completely alien to her.
Eri had been brought up as a proper girl...that is, her place was to be in the household. Traveling for leisure usually meant trips to the other typical shopping and fashion capitals, like Paris or Milan for example. And even that usually involved a small entourage to accompany her as dictated by her domineering father. Eri could not imagine how it was like to simply take a backpack and go off on a trip somewhere, it was a move that never had been available to her.
Thus, a person, a character like one Takahashi Ai fascinated her. That a mere woman could stand up to the men that ran their lives, and be free to explore her own interests...Eri felt seduced by the thought of freedom, though knowing that it could never really be, not for herself.
Her thoughts were briefly interrupted as she turned a corner, running straight into someone else. The resulting scramble was punctuated by the loss of her papers, which were scattered all around her after the collision. She did manage to save her coffee though, if nothing else. Funny how it all worked out.
"Ah! I'm sorry!" The stranger babbled, quickly helping to gather up the scattered papers. Eri looked on languidly for a moment, before unhurriedly picking up a few of the pieces closer to her and letting the other girl do most of the work.
"I'm sorry for bumping into you. Here, your papers." Eri looked at the girl. Pretty and fashionable, with dark hair and unbelievably fair skin. Shrugging, Eri took the papers back, feeling charitable enough not to throw a fit at the other girl for bumping into her.
They parted ways, shoulders brushing past each other as they moved in opposite directions. The musical jingle of a ringtone lit the air as they passed each other, punctuated by a clear voice as the other girl answered the phone.
"What do you want now?" Pause. "No I refuse to miss class again." Growing fainter now, as the distance between them increased. "Oh all right, whatever, be that way. I'll see you..."
Boyfriend, most likely. Eri surmised as the other girl went out of earshot, still talking animatedly into her phone. Eri had already lost interest; by the time she reached the next corner her thoughts had already returned to its previous track.
She was that kind of person. Simple, yet complicated. Easy to figure out, yet difficult to understand. The best and worst incorporated.
Kamei Eri wasn't the type to care. She moved purely by passion, reined in only by duty. The two had yet to come into conflict, but it would soon.
Soon.
~*~*~
"You had better have a good reason for making me miss class again." A disgruntled Michishige Sayumi glared at a nonchalant Takahashi Ai, who shut her book and looked up with a pleased expression as her companion sat down opposite her.
"I'm paying, as usual. That's really all you need to know." Ai informed Sayu with a matter-of-fact tone, a teasing edge to her voice. Sayu rolled her eyes.
"Yeah yeah, the customer is king...don't tell me you're thinking of that this early in the morning?" And there it was, the counter-thrust. Ai took it with a smile.
"Time enough for that later. I just wanted to see you. Isn't that good enough?"
The look Sayumi gave her was skeptical. When she spoke, it was heavy with sarcasm.
"Watch it, Takahashi. I might almost believe that you're in love with me."
Ai's return smirk was equally ironic. Leaning forward to close the distance between their faces, the older woman flashed a cocky grin.
"Only as much as you are with me, usagi-chan."
The staredown lasted all of a few seconds before Sayu tore her eyes away, rolling them heavenward as she leaned back into her chair.
"Honestly, Ai-chan, you're incorrigible." She just seemed amused now, and her companion equally so. They shared a mutual glance of understanding, the lies and truth they shared making their bond all the more complicated...yet painfully simple at the same time.
"Naturally." Ai laced her fingers together as she gazed intently at Sayu. After a few moments of intense scrutiny, Sayumi finally burst out.
"Now what? Can't keep your eyes off me because I'm just that kawaii?"
Full lips curved into a lazy smile. Ai leaned one side of her face into an upturned palm, staring at Sayu with her head held sideways like that.
"Always the narcissist. I am going to miss you."
Sayu fought the curiosity from her voice. "What, are you going somewhere?"
"Perhaps." Pale fingers played with silken strands of hair. "I'm going to be otherwise...occupied for a while, so I won't be meeting you quite as often. Just letting you know in case you thought I dropped off the face of the earth or something."
Sayu couldn't help but notice the serious note behind the lighthearted tone. She had spent enough time with Ai to be able to sense such things. There were still so many things she didn't know about the older girl, and she was fairly sure she didn't want to know.
"Ah~ That's good, I can finally catch up on my rest for once." She showed none of her concern for Ai, knowing that the latter would not appreciate any unneeded emotion between them. There was only the passion of the flesh between them, and an unspoken camaderie of those who had too much to hide. No more, and no less. The lines had already been drawn from the start.
"You should work out more often, usagi-chan. Your stamina is horrible." Ai teased back, eliciting a light flush across said bunny girl's cheeks.
"You give me enough of a workout any day, why should I bother?" Sayu shot back instantly, and a self-satisfied smirk crossed Ai's face.
"Is that so~ Then you're probably going to gain weight when I'm not around, hmm?"
Sayu snorted. "Contrary to what you think, I actually have other activities to worry about...like rescuing my grade for the semester, no thanks to you."
"Touche." Ai seemed pleased by the verbal sparring. Standing up suddenly, she held out her hand to Sayu with a flourish, falling back on her gallant persona.
"Will you do me the honor of keeping me company today, my lady?"
Sayu took the hand. There really was no question about the answer, was there?
~*~*~
Much, much later, they lay tangled between the sheets, panting slightly from their exertions. Well, one was panting slightly. The other was gasping for air like a fish out of water. Ai's comments about Sayu's lack of stamina was not completely unfounded.
"I am definitely going to miss this..." Ai breathed into the back of Sayu's neck, her lips brushing over the numerous marks she had made earlier with her teeth.
There was no response from Sayu, who was still trying to get her world back in focus after the mind-shattering orgasm Ai had just given her. In the darkness of the room, unable to see each other, relying on touch alone to guide them...it was the only time they could not hide, not lie, exposed to each other as they were, naked as the day they were born.
Upon recovering, Sayu squealed again as Ai's fingers found a particularly sensitive spot, before receding to low, continuous moan as Ai continued to explore her with a studied intensity.
"Ah~" Sayu whined softly, whimpering in a way Ai was certain no one could make her do. She was just that confident that no one could get such a response like she could from the younger girl. Arrogance, or perhaps just self-assuredness. It was a matter of pride for her.
"Ah....Ai..." Sayu breathed out, her world already starting to spin around her again as Ai teased her with her hands. Seconds later, her world exploded yet again in another shattering climax.
She actually saw stars this time. Ai leaned down and kissed her temple softly.
"Good girl." The way she always did. Sayu, as usual, would be too busy trying to regain her senses to even...
"Don't die." The whisper cut through the room like a chill wind. A soft, wispy sound, huffed out by someone very much out of breath. Ai stilled, still on top of Sayu, but her hands had frozen.
Clear, watery eyes looking up, through the darkness. They could not see each other, but Ai definitely felt it as Sayu's small hand cupped her cheek, pulling her closer.
"You can't die." Repeated, more firmly this time. Ai closed her eyes, felt the warmth traveling from Sayu's palm and on into her. She leaned into the caress, just briefly.
"You talk too much."
The next time, they came together.
As if it was their first time, as if it would be their last. Past and future didn't exist; there was only the now.
Only the now mattered.
Now and always.
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There. My brain's about to collapse. XD
Comment lots! XD
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Well, you came out of comment hiding to comment first on my new fic, so I suppose you deserve mine as your first comment on this too. ^_^
Uh oh, this has quite a fatalistic feel to it... Don't tell me Ai-chan IS going to meet more than her match in this job?! :shocked: It had all the feeling of a last time... and how sweet it was... You could almost believe that if they're able to meet again they really would fall in love... :wub: Poor Gaki-san...
As for Eri, good on her for doing her homework, but too bad the information seems to be fixed... Ai and that guy she works with sure must have the connections. I thought it was funny how they all go to the same school. :lol: (meaning Risa, Sayu and Eri). That might give a chance for Risa to come into it again later. We'll see how things develop. ^^
This chapter made me think about something again... Since the beginning of the story started in a different way, I've been wondering if this plot with Eri and her father is the main part of the story - meaning once it's over with the story will be over - or if it's just an episode (which is what I thought at first), and they'll just move onto the next target later. It's seeming more and more like it's becoming the main plot, so I'm getting curious... We'll see how it goes. ^^
Glad you somehow got the inspiration to write again. ;)
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Awww, sleepy Eri~ :wub: Can't help but think of that time FujiGaki came into her hotel room to find her already awake! :lol: I feel bad for her though, I'd never be able to survive with ppl breathing down my neck at all times. Hoho, so Ai-chan's not the only one that does research on ppl huh? Of course at least half of that stuff isn't true but Eri really doesn't need to know. And now Eri meets (more like bumps into) Sayu!!! :lol:
Shoulda known it was Ai-chan!!! :P (I made a little noise when I read it was her and my friend next to me was like :? ) This is a battle of the wits!! To tell the truth, between Ai-chan and Sayu, it's hard to tell who would win. She's gotta work on her assignment, huh? :(
Bwahahaha, of course it comes to this. XD Seems like Ai-chan's a little possessive with Sayu. Too bad we can't say the same for Gaki. (Yeah, I brought her back into this. :grin: )
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Yay! Another Chappie! :heart:
I knew it was Sayu that Eri bumped into and the phone call confirmed it. XD
I beginning to wonder if the relationship between Ai and Sayu is really just physical. I bet they are both denying it. Which would leave poor Gaki-san out! :(
Hmm... it seems this is foreshadowing the difficulty of Ai's assignment this time. Will evil, sexy Ai meet her match?! Dun-dun-dun!! XD
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Aw, the turtle's all sleepy... :wub: And she ran into Sayu! Literally! xD I wonder how they're all gonna get tied in together... And there's even more AiSayu! <3
We haven't heard from Risa in a while. I hope she's okay. :(
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Sleepy, but had to get the update read. Hopefully I'm not that incoherent here. :P
File #11
Eri yawned widely as she traipsed groggily down a relatively empty hallway. She had woken up late, thereby missing her early morning class at the university, but she had come anyway. She did have a lesson afterwards in any case, so missing her first class didn't mean she had to miss her second one.
It was not that Eri was that much of a conscientious student; it was just that when she was at school, she was out of the direct surveillance imposed on her by her father. It was the result of numerous attempts involving begging, pleading and assorted other probably underhanded tactics that she managed to get him to agree to have her bodyguards wait outside of campus instead of trailing her like obedient guard dogs.
So basically, it's the only time when Eri could actually have some REAL, private time for herself. o_o
Dang, does Eri know that dear-ol' daddy's a spy? :O
In any case, they were merely a quick call away, and Eri had the suspicion that her father had probably stuck tracking devices on most of her belongings in case of any kidnapping. He was that kind of man, always planning for the worst case scenario.
Dang...maybe she does. :o
It was a scene Eri was used to seeing every time she had morning classes; everyone seemed to be a veritable zombie until they had coffee or after noon...whichever came first.
Yep, that's how I usually was during my mornings in university. :lol:
Currently, the object of her thoughts revolved around a certain enigmatic freelance journalist.
Takahashi Ai, age 21. Parents divorced when she was young, custodial rights given to her father. Both parents confirmed dead at present time, sole remaining relative being a younger half sister. Portfolio centering around war-related photography, and was involved in an undisclosed hostage situation overseas that was successfully resolved without much public outcry.
Yes, Eri had done her research. She might not look like it, but she had inherited her father's natural inquisitivity. Plus, her father's name seemed to open doors when it came to accessing archival records in general. Having a government agent for a father could be useful at times.
Wow, could Aichan's plan have gone any better? Why go after your target when you can get your target to willingly come to you? :D
Frankly, this person fascinated her. The concept of a woman, traveling alone and free, to dangerous and exotic locales boggled Eri's imagination. For someone who had lived her entire life in metropolitan Tokyo under the watchful eye of numerous custodians and even more bodyguards, that kind of freedom to simply come and go as one willed was completely alien to her.
Well, Aichan's little act showed Eri a type of life that she had never though possible for herself. And psychologically, it IS common for the mind to be intrigued by and desire that which it's never had/experienced before.
Her thoughts were briefly interrupted as she turned a corner, running straight into someone else.
...
"I'm sorry for bumping into you. Here, your papers." Eri looked at the girl. Pretty and fashionable, with dark hair and unbelievably fair skin. Shrugging, Eri took the papers back, feeling charitable enough not to throw a fit at the other girl for bumping into her.
...
They parted ways, shoulders brushing past each other as they moved in opposite directions. The musical jingle of a ringtone lit the air as they passed each other, punctuated by a clear voice as the other girl answered the phone.
"What do you want now?" Pause. "No I refuse to miss class again." Growing fainter now, as the distance between them increased. "Oh all right, whatever, be that way. I'll see you..."
Boyfriend, most likely. Eri surmised as the other girl went out of earshot, still talking animatedly into her phone.
Hmmmm...missing class...again? Guess this "mystery" girl had better "hop" to it. :D
"You had better have a good reason for making me miss class again." A disgruntled Michishige Sayumi glared at a nonchalant Takahashi Ai, who shut her book and looked up with a pleased expression as her companion sat down opposite her.
HA!!! I knew it! :w00t:
Question now is...was it just coincidence that it was Sayu that bumped into Eri? Did Aichan have one (or both of them) under surveillance?
"Always the narcissist. I am going to miss you."
Sayu fought the curiosity from her voice. "What, are you going somewhere?"
"Perhaps." Pale fingers played with silken strands of hair. "I'm going to be otherwise...occupied for a while, so I won't be meeting you quite as often. Just letting you know in case you thought I dropped off the face of the earth or something."
Interesting. Very interesting that a person in Aichan's position, doing what she does, would take this time to say goodbye to someone "just in case" it's the last time they see them.
...
...
...
...
Unless, of course, this is yet ANOTHER part of Aichan's plan. This would mean that we should probably expect Eri to see the two of them (Aichan and Sayu) together from somewhere afar, which would then lead to Eri finding and befriending Sayu to find out more about Aichan, which would eventually lead to Eri getting closer to Aichan, which would THEN lead to whatever final objective Aichan had. :shocked:
"Ah~ That's good, I can finally catch up on my rest for once." She showed none of her concern for Ai, knowing that the latter would not appreciate any unneeded emotion between them.
Well, I don't know that Sayu should be sure about that part about Aichan not appreciating it. While they both were okay with their relationship the way it was (i.e. together, yet not "together"), they still share a closeness/intimacy that one can't have with any random person. Aichan's job makes being in a relationship a bad idea, but that's not saying that she doesn't/can't know or understand the feelings of closeness between people, of how no matter how much you try, you can't help but get attached to the various people in your life.
"You should work out more often, usagi-chan. Your stamina is horrible." Ai teased back, eliciting a light flush across said bunny girl's cheeks.
"You give me enough of a workout any day, why should I bother?" Sayu shot back instantly, and a self-satisfied smirk crossed Ai's face.=
Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayum. :twisted:
Much, much later, they lay tangled between the sheets, panting slightly from their exertions.
...
"Don't die." The whisper cut through the room like a chill wind. A soft, wispy sound, huffed out by someone very much out of breath. Ai stilled, still on top of Sayu, but her hands had frozen.
Clear, watery eyes looking up, through the darkness. They could not see each other, but Ai definitely felt it as Sayu's small hand cupped her cheek, pulling her closer.
"You can't die." Repeated, more firmly this time. Ai closed her eyes, felt the warmth traveling from Sayu's palm and on into her. She leaned into the caress, just briefly.
Sayu's just let Aichan know that she's important to her. Considering the dynamic of their relationship, this is probably as close to an emotional/raburabu moment between the two of them that we'll get. :wub:
"You talk too much."
The next time, they came together.
:mon blood:
As if it was their first time, as if it would be their last. Past and future didn't exist; there was only the now.
Only the now mattered.
Now and forever.
:wriggly:
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awesome update~!
hehe I find it funny how everyone is missing their lessons due to one Takahashi Ai. I bet Risa missed several classes if not a couple of days after what happened with Ai.
I got all excited knowing that Eri was at school...had the feeling she would run into someone. I kept hoping for Sayu since she's been away for awhile and I miss the fun she brings to the story. And the chapter was certainly funny with her reappearance.
lol princess Eri was funny too! with letting the commoners pick up the mess and all XD Too bad Sayu didn't say Ai's name...that would have kept Eri's interest...though I can't see the two of them getting together in this story.
Sayu telling Ai not to die...darn...I just can't stop wanting this pair to work out. poor risa.
ahhh so brainwashed...can't stop thinking of bishi Ai after this chap
(http://www.picamatic.com/show/2008/12/06/03/34/1494216_bigthumb.jpg) (http://www.picamatic.com/view/1494216_bishitakahashiai/)
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Yay~ New chapter~ XD (sorry for not commenting lately, but I have been keeping up, I promise!)
As usual, I love Eri. XD; But I do pity her because her life is so controlled. :( I hope Aichan can fix that ;D (or do I? o_O)
I gotta say, I like how you made Sayu and Eri run into eachother, then pass eachother. Even if they didn't pay any attention to one another, it was a good transition to one character to another :D (would make an awesome movie scene like that~)
Now onto Sayu and Aichan. I gotta say, their relationship intrigues me. I like how they're close physically, but not at all emotionally, but at the same time, I don't like it :/ I'm curious as to what happens to them in the future. XD
Hmm, what's Aichan's next mission? Write more, already~ XD!!
PS - Coffee is good, but I need my hot cocoa to wake me up XD
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i got this feeling that ai-chan cares about sayu than gaki........hmp! i hope eri and gaki will meet and will make ai-chan jealous! hahahaha :fainted:
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yyaaaaaaa! yay~ new chappie~ :w00t:
Kamei is sleepy <3 thinking of Ai. :lol:
Ai n' Sayu part is sweet~ XD , i need to know moar~ <3
@ Sukoshi omfg. :wub: , yea. after that thing. i want them to work out XD , they're so cute. and..fleshy XD
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If I didn't know better I would have thought Ai actually liked Sayu. Wait.... she doesn't, does she? I mean so far she seems like she treats all the girls equally. In the "love" sense I mean.
I liked the KameShige bumping into each other's part. I would've said "banged" but Stef knows why using that terms seems so wrong XD
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I'm back! Sorry about the delay! I know it was vacation and all, but I was busy gaming instead of writing. >_> Sorry...^_^;;;;
Comment replies first then!
rokun: Hehe well I guess it does rather feel that way doesn't it? o_O Haa....Gaki never stood a chance here to begin with? *is shot by all the TakaGaki fans* Oops. XD The Eri plot is a pretty big part of the story, I admit. Main plot though? I dunno. I don't even know if I have a real plot or if I'm just making it up as I go along. :P Let's just say that this mission will take a bit longer than usual since it's not your average kill and all. :D That's all I'm giving away.
Ichigo-chan: You just keep bringing Gaki up...which means that I will have to bring her back somewhere in the future. >.> Well, not that I wasn't planning to already, but seriously....xD Heh Ai did her job well enough such that a cursory search would turn up basic information. It's not really all that difficult to plant things if you know the system. >D
Fenrir: The Ai/Sayu seems strong in this one, no? Heh. I wonder. XD Poor Gaki-san indeed. Ehehehe.
SxY: I guess I really have to bring Gaki back in soon. People keep asking after her. Don't worry, she's not dead (yet...oops, did I say anything? :P). Yeah Ai/Sayu <3.
JFC: Your long comments make me happy. Unfortunately my brain can't churn out anymore long replies at 5 in the morning. Sorry. ^^; But the Ai/Sayu is complicated, yes it is. Whether they're just denying it or not...well, who really knows? *shrug*
Sukoshi: Come to the dark side! Ai/Sayu <3. XD Brainwashed is good. Bishie Ai is hawt. XD If you're straight, you still get shot. If you're already batting for the home team, well, there's a home run for you. Ok now I'm lame. Must be the lack of sleep talking. XD
Saikami: Yeah poor Eri and her controlled life. D: And you're right about the physical relationship Ai/Sayu have. Not so much emotional but who knows? XD I'm more a tea person myself but....I need sleep now! :P
ayase909: Haha you're also for the TakaGaki camp huh. Lol. Ai does care about Gaki in her own way...it's just really hard to see. XD Like, really. Very. A lot. I'm not making very much sense now am I? XD
ringo-hime: Well, here's moar, just not moar of the right thing? I have to get the plot advanced somehow, or a certain someone *coughrokuncough* will nag me about it again. XD
lil_hamz: Haha who knows what Ai is up to? Hehehe. I like keeping things vague. You and your double entendres. :P You think too much la. XD
Alright time to edit and post. :P
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-squeazes in- Weeedge o_
!? -looks for other eye-
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me tooo~~~~
Finally!!! XD
@yuu: Sorry for piggybacking on your wedge~ Forgive me?
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File #12
The soft clink of wine glasses, the swirl of red splashing against the sides. Dark brown met hazed grey, marred only by thin lenses reflecting the soft lighting of the restaurant. Thin lips pursed into a tight smile, geniality coming as naturally as ducks to water.
The two men regarded each other diffidently as they sipped at their own glasses, not really drinking but merely taking the opportunity to observe. Glasses-man put down his glass, looking politely at his senior as his long fingers threaded into each other before him.
"I am glad that we can work together again, Kamei-sama." The younger man seemed less sturdy next to the older but still athletic-looking Kamei Otosuke, whose silver-shot hair lent him a distinguished air but did not indicate any signs of frailty.
"The pleasure is mine." An exchange of pleasantries, after the actual business had already been conducted. The older man set down his glass. "But you should know that I prefer not to mix business with pleasure, Ichijiro."
"Ah yes, of course." A tactical error. A lunch between former acquaintances should not be tainted by matters related to work. That was what Otosuke preferred to maintain. Of course, sometimes the confluence was inevitable. Regrettable, but unavoidable.
"The ambience here is good, is it not?" Ichijiro attempted to shift the topic to inconsequential matters. The meal was simply to please his sometimes finicky business partner and senior in life, and he was anxious to make a good impression on the older man.
"The pianist is moderately skilled." Otosuke allowed, glancing around. The booth allowed some privacy from the rest of the restaurant, but vision around its interior was largely unimpaired. Age old paranoia had ensured that he always picked a location where he could not be easily surprised, regardless of where he went.
"It's a relatively new place, I hope you did not have much trouble locating it." Ichijiro seemed apologetic, almost anxious for approval. Otosuke shook his head shortly.
"Not at all." His smile turned ironic. "Though you will forgive an old man for being late, I hope?"
"Of course! Surely a busy man like yourself will naturally be delayed..." Otosuke tuned the rest of it out. He knew what the man's intentions were, naturally. However, he was not particularly susceptible to bribery nor flattery.
Instead, he kept a close eye out on his surroundings. Never mind that he could afford bodyguards and did have them lurking around, but old habits died hard. That and, considering how he was delayed on his way here, he had every reason to remain cautious.
The music stopped. His gaze shifted sharply to the slightly raised platform in a corner of the dining area, where a grand piano stood. The pianist, a tall girl with a distinctly foreign cast to her face, was talking urgently to the manager, gesturing at her watch with a worried expression on her face.
Ichijiro had also stopped to regard the minor scene outside. At this time of the day, there weren't particularly that many people in the restaurant, and few of the tables were occupied. The pianist appeared slightly agitated that she was apparently not being allowed to leave, and from what little Otosuke could read from her body language, she seemed to be in a hurry.
"Foreigners these days...they should count themselves lucky to employed with the economy in such a state." Ichijiro seemed dismissive of the situation, turning away to look back at Otosuke.
"Of course..." The older man appeared mildly distracted as he started to turn his attention back to his companion across the table, but a new arrival managed to snag his attention. His gaze raked sharply back across that vaguely familiar outline, his mind piecing together the image almost instantly.
Tokyo's too big for such coincidences. He thought grimly to himself, tugging contemplatively on his cuffs as he faced the talkative Ichijiro. Instinct warned him of danger; curiosity yearned to take better measure of the one girl who had met his gaze head on and not so much even as blinked.
The hidden dragon smiled to himself as he waved a waiter over. Time to see if the young phoenix would be worthy of its name.
~*~*~
"Are you sure you can play? This is a high-class restaurant, we can't let third-raters in here." The manager seemed rather concerned as he eyed the tiny girl next to his usual pianist.
"Takahashi-san should be fine. You will help me, won't you?" The tall Chinese girl looked positively distressed as she turned pleading eyes on the shorter woman.
"Of course, you go on your way now, your sister's waiting." Takahashi smiled and patted the taller girl's arm. To the manager, she only shot a flippant glance before striding over to sit down by the piano.
"I haven't played in a while, but this should still be tolerable." Soft fingers stroked the keys almost lovingly, coaxing gentle tones from the instrument. She exhaled slowly as she played a few notes, flexing her fingers before setting them back down on the keys.
"Hush now..." Her hands glided over the keys effortlessly. Her eyes seemed oddly distant as fingers picked up the melody effortlessly. The sound was almost eerie, ominous even, but strangely beautiful.
"Nocturne..." She breathed, eyes closed in silent yearning.
Let our festival begin!
~*~*~
"That's an unusual tune to hear..." Ichijiro raised an eyebrow as the music began again.
"Interesting choice though." Otosuke observed, calmly taking another sip of wine. His eyes did not leave the pianist. "Certainly, a lot of restrained passion in it."
And to begin in the middle... Kamei Otosuke was a man of fine tuned instincts. And right now instinct told him that there was something to be read from this performance.
"Kamei-sama is well versed in music too?" Ichijiro inquired politely. Otosuke smiled briefly.
"In my free time. It calms me." He tugged at his cuff links again. Though outwardly relaxed, his shoulders were still tense from an earlier encounter. Fending off an attempt on one's life did tend to put one's nerves on edge.
Kamei Otosuke was fully justified in his paranoia given his colorful past and its current effect on his present life. Any less care and he would have been a dead man. Such was his life.
"Regrettably, it seems that my time is short." Ichijiro seemed a little disappointed by the announcement, but inclined his head in acquiescence, calling for the bill. Kamei kept staring at the new pianist, already wondering if his previous action had been correct. Instinct wanted him to leave this character alone; but something above that overruled it.
His daughter, his only child, had unfortunately taken an interest in someone. And if he was not mistaken, that someone was currently playing the piano no less than 10 feet away from him.
He would do anything for his daughter, never mind that he occasionally seemed distant to her. She was all he had, after her mother, his wife, had passed away more than 10 years ago. He would do anything to make her smile, even if it cost him his life.
Not that he intended to pay that much. The elder Kamei was as miserly as a turtle was slow. But he did what had to be done to win the race. That was what was important.
Their eyes met as he stood, and there was no question that she had noticed him, though he felt no malice, or indeed, any other emotion. Just a studying curiosity, as a child would behold some strange new creature and wonder what it does. His own gaze was as frigid as an igloo, revealing nothing.
And then the moment was lost to the music, as she threw herself back into it. Restrained passion had ebbed into a more stately cadence, yet losing none of its yearning, the magic inherent within.
The last note trickled off into stone silence as he stepped out. And waited.
One would come, and he would be ready. When was he ever not?
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References to Hidden Dragon and Young Phoenix. Blame it on me playing too much Romance of the 3 Kingdoms lately. Those two terms refer to genius strategists during the 3 Kingdoms era of China. Hidden Dragon usually refers to Zhuge Liang (for those unaware, he's considered the master strategist of his time), while Young Phoenix refers to Pang Tong (also a good strategist, but unfortunately was caught in an ambush and died). Does it have any bearing on the story? Who knows? XD
The piece that Ai was playing is the piano solo adapted from the Fetes or Festivals movement of the orchestral composition by Claude Debussy, known as Nocturnes. Yes I chose it deliberately. Hehehe. Here's a link for anyone who wants to hear it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCHqLW1p9-I
Alright I'm bushed. Time for bed. XD
Edit: Two wedges? o_O *feels stretched* Ahhh I'm falling~ *bricked*
XDDDDD
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Now we get Papa Kamei's look on his daughter's fondness of Ai-chan as well as a little more detail about him. :P He doesn't seem to be too bothered but suspicious? I'd say so. I think he sees more into Ai-chan than Eri does. Now I'm really curious about why Ai-chan is watching him in the first place. Is it really him she needs to eliminate? Or is it an associate of his? If it indeed is him, why? Too many possibilities and knowing you, it's probably something no one else can think of. :lol:
What can I say? TakaGaki is my favorite pairing! XD
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Father Kamei-san seems to have already picked up more about Ai-chan than Eri herself... He's already suspicious of her, too. I wonder if it's really him she's tailing though. Maybe it's just someone he's around more often? Hmm... I wonder how things will play out...
And...well, when a girl is tied up, and just sexually abused/used, you tend to worry about her. :sweatdrop: Poor Gaki-san...
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File #12
The soft clink of wine glasses, the swirl of red splashing against the sides. Dark brown met hazed grey, marred only by thin lenses reflecting the soft lighting of the restaurant. Thin lips pursed into a tight smile, geniality coming as naturally as ducks to water.
The two men regarded each other diffidently as they sipped at their own glasses, not really drinking but merely taking the opportunity to observe. Glasses-man put down his glass, looking politely at his senior as his long fingers threaded into each other before him.
"I am glad that we can work together again, Kamei-sama." The younger man seemed less sturdy next to the older but still athletic-looking Kamei Otosuke, whose silver-shot hair lent him a distinguished air but did not indicate any signs of frailty.
"The pleasure is mine." An exchange of pleasantries, after the actual business had already been conducted. The older man set down his glass. "But you should know that I prefer not to mix business with pleasure, Ichijiro."
Ummmmmmmmm...nohomo? :?
Ichijiro knows "the business" that Eri's dad is in, doesn't he? He's probably in it himself (possibly even as a former protoge of Otosuke's).
The booth allowed some privacy from the rest of the restaurant, but vision around its interior was largely unimpaired. Age old paranoia had ensured that he always picked a location where he could not be easily surprised, regardless of where he went.
Well, you know what they say about old habits.
The music stopped. His gaze shifted sharply to the slightly raised platform in a corner of the dining area, where a grand piano stood. The pianist, a tall girl with a distinctly foreign cast to her face, was talking urgently to the manager, gesturing at her watch with a worried expression on her face.
Ichijiro had also stopped to regard the minor scene outside. At this time of the day, there weren't particularly that many people in the restaurant, and few of the tables were occupied. The pianist appeared slightly agitated that she was apparently not being allowed to leave, and from what little Otosuke could read from her body language, she seemed to be in a hurry.
Ah. I'm guessing that her shift is probably done, but her replacement hasn't arrived yet. Problem is, at a swanky place like this the diners "cannot" go without some "ambiance".
The older man appeared mildly distracted as he started to turn his attention back to his companion across the table, but a new arrival managed to snag his attention. His gaze raked sharply back across that vaguely familiar outline, his mind piecing together the image almost instantly.
Tokyo's too big for such coincidences. He thought grimly to himself, tugging contemplatively on his cuffs as he faced the talkative Ichijiro. Instinct warned him of danger; curiosity yearned to take better measure of the one girl who had met his gaze head on and not so much even as blinked.
Aichan? Here? Does she frequent this place a lot? Perhaps Otosuke even had her tracked by Ichijiro (who thus found that she dined here)?
"Are you sure you can play? This is a high-class restaurant, we can't let third-raters in here." The manager seemed rather concerned as he eyed the tiny girl next to his usual pianist.
Whoa, Aichan's the replacement pianist? :shocked:
"Takahashi-san should be fine. You will help me, won't you?" The tall Chinese girl looked positively distressed as she turned pleading eyes on the shorter woman.
"Of course, you go on your way now, your sister's waiting." Takahashi smiled and patted the taller girl's arm. To the manager, she only shot a flippant glance before striding over to sit down by the piano.
Evidently the Chinese girl (Junjun? :D) is already acquainted with Aichan, which would likely mean that Aichan has more "side jobs" that we were aware previously of (probably to help with possible cover scenarios that she might one day need). The other possibility is that the Chinese girl and her sister (Linlin? ;D) know Aichan because they are also part of the same assassin/spy organization. O0
"I haven't played in a while, but this should still be tolerable." Soft fingers stroked the keys almost lovingly, coaxing gentle tones from the instrument.
...
"Nocturne..." She breathed, eyes closed in silent yearning.
...
"That's an unusual tune to hear..." Ichijiro raised an eyebrow as the music began again.
"Interesting choice though." Otosuke observed, calmly taking another sip of wine. His eyes did not leave the pianist.
Evidently, the song has some significance that Otsuke is aware of.
"Certainly, a lot of restrained passion in it."
Oh, don't let it fool you, Otosuke. Aichan has ways of "releasing". :twisted:
"Kamei-sama is well versed in music too?" Ichijiro inquired politely. Otosuke smiled briefly.
"In my free time. It calms me." He tugged at his cuff links again. Though outwardly relaxed, his shoulders were still tense from an earlier encounter. Fending off an attempt on one's life did tend to put one's nerves on edge.
Kamei Otosuke was fully justified in his paranoia given his colorful past and its current effect on his present life. Any less care and he would have been a dead man. Such was his life.
Given what's just been said about Otosuke, now I'm wondering just who Aichan's real target is. :-\
Could it be that the previously failed attempt that was mentioned is something that Aichan's supposed to correct?
The last note trickled off into stone silence as he stepped out. And waited.
One would come, and he would be ready. When was he ever not?
Question now is (if it IS Otosuke that's Aichan's target)...why?
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Ah, gaming... I totally understand. I played games all day everyday during my vacation. XD So addictive, but so much fun. Ah, the 3 Kingdoms; Koei's Dynasty Warriors (Sengoku Musou) :heart:
Tall Chinese girl = Junjun?
That's the first person that came to mind when I read that.
Kamei's dad is already suspicious of Ai-chan, as he should be. Ai-chan may have been the person who planned the attempt on his life earlier! o.O Or not... lol
I wonder if he'll give in to making his daughter happy or following his instincts. If you ask me, you should always follow your instincts. *nods head*
Assassin, photographer, being bishi, and now pianist. Wonder what other skills does Ai-chan have. Hehe
When Ai-chan was playing Nocturne, I thought of Chopin instead. I blame Eternal Sonata. :lol:
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wah! you really did make Ai-chan's character an outstanding one......talented, very indeed! i guess she's good at other things too......well, she's a skill agent...lol
where's tagaki.....maybe a gakikame? hahaha.......just a new years wish, author-san
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See, I told you I would comment! ^_^
Alrighty, so this chapter was short, but nice. I'm always happy to find an update from you =) But there is something about Ichijiro that makes me just want to.....punch him in the face? XD; I dunno, he just irritates me for some reason '_'
Nocturnes is a lovely melody :3 I listened to it as I read the chapter XD made it all the more realistic.
So...would Mr. Kamei even let his daughter get it in with a no good killer like Ai? >D (even if he doesn't know it LOL) he said he'd do anything for his daughter...kekeke
write moar :B
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Back! I guess filler chapters don't get any interest from anyone. XD But 6 comments make it easy to reply to! (Except for JFC-kun's epic replies lol :P Keep it coming though!)
Ichigo-chan: Papa Kamei's a smart one. But he's also a good father. Kinda. More interesting things will happen in the coming chapter! And the return of Gaki. XD
SxY: Hehe...you'll get to see what happened to Gaki in the meantime here....ehehehe....
JFC: Yeah that was Junjun. XD I'm good at cameos even if they don't really figure that much into the main plot. ;) As for the song, he's more concerned about why someone would start in media res...it signifies that something has already begun before he's aware of it, at least metaphorically speaking. Or he could just be paranoid, you know. XD Reasons will become clear eventually~
Fenrir: Yeah Ai-chan is an assassin of many talents. How many assignments has she gone through? XD She probably had to pick up any number of skills just to blend in at the right time for any "deep-cover" missions. Anyway Otosuke has a gut feeling that something is wrong...but you know what they say about keeping your friends close and your enemies even closer...XD A battle of wits now!
ayase909: Takagaki? Do you mind previous takagaki? XD I think it's almost time to reveal their past together anyway...soon. XD GakiKame has no possibility in this story unless I really stretch it lol. :P Sorry to disappoint...^^;
Saikami: Mah panda! XD Don't worry Ichijiro annoys me at a fundamental level too. XD The music is meant to complement the chapter, so I'm glad you liked it. :3 Hehe...sometimes its not a matter of whether he wants it to happen...things just keep on moving on their own. >D
Right-o~ time to edit and then post. :P
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File #13
"An~" The tired groan from the back row of the half-filled lecture theater sounded louder than intended no thanks to the acoustics of the place.
However, since everyone else was still in a half awake status with the lecturer yet to be in sight, no one really cared. Neither did the person in question, who flopped over like a dead fish on top of the little writing space attached to her seat.
"...really hurts...owie..." Michishige Sayumi grumbled a half-hearted complaint as she stared out through lidded eyes before letting them flutter shut. Her whole body felt like it had been put through the blender and then spun dry in the nearest washer.
Really, it's been a couple of days since that time, and she still hadn't fully recovered from the aftereffects. Maybe she really did need to improve her stamina...
"Ahh...baka Ai-chan..." She mumbled almost incoherently, her speech slightly slurred as she drifted ever closer to dreamland...only to be yanked out rather abruptly by a sharp tug on her ear.
"Hey! What was that...eh, Gaki-san?" The sleepy Sayumi grinned broadly at the appearance of her senpai, whilst rubbing sheepishly at her ear.
Speaking of ears...she quickly smoothed her sleek black hair over it. She was fairly sure that there were still some faintly visible teeth marks left there...
"Working too hard at your part-time job again, Sayumin?" Same old concern, same old Gaki-san. Or should it be said, almost.
Despite her sleepy state, Sayumi was still an observant girl, and there was no way she could have missed the absence of the usual vibrant sparkle in her genki senpai's eyes. Those lively eyes seemed somehow...dead...to her. As if someone had stolen Risa's soul and left an automaton in its place. The instinctive motherly comment was just that: instinctive. The lack of exaggerated reactions sort of highlighted that to her.
"Nn...I suppose you could say so...I'm getting sort of a break for now though." Sayumi started cautiously. With Ai off doing god knows what, she would probably be having less strenuous nights out. Which was good, since she needed the recovery time. Ai's usual generosity when it came to paying her was also very useful, since it meant that she didn't really have to go out with anyone else for the next month or so at least, unless she wanted to.
Thus, with her own financial issues in good shape at the moment, Sayumi turned her attention to her haggard senpai, who looked tired beneath that radiant smile that did not seem as cheerful as usual. Something was obviously wrong with the girl.
"Good to hear. You shouldn't overwork yourself." Always putting others before herself. Sayumi could appreciate that aspect of Gaki-san's character, but honestly, sometimes the older girl really had to learn how to be selfish for her own sake once in a while.
"I'll be fine Gaki-san. How about you? You don't look too good..." Sayumi asked intently, but Risa simply smiled gently with a little shake of her head.
"No, I'm fine. Just a little...tired."
Anyone else would have believed her. Sayumi, however, didn't. She knew people, and her instincts when it came to this sort of thing had so far failed to let her down before. Those downcast eyes, that wistful smile, distant expression...something had obviously happened.
"I know that I'm in no place to question you, since we really haven't known each other for all that long..." Here she placed a hand over Risa's pale ones, clasping it tightly. "But as your concerned kouhai, I'm allowed to show my concern right?" Sayumi smiled. "You don't have to keep it all to yourself, really. If you need anyone to talk to, you can always look for me."
Risa looked up, their eyes meeting, and Sayumi was struck again by how lost those eyes were. Her smile was a little more genuine, although still holding that aura of sadness.
"Thanks Sayu, but it's not something you'll be able to understand."
"It's A--Takahashi, isn't it?" Sayumi's voice came out before she could stop herself, and she only just managed to stop herself from calling out Ai's name with that much familiarity. Wouldn't do to show off their underground connections, after all.
The minute flinch as Risa withdrew her hands confirmed the suspicion that Sayu had birthed on the spur of the moment. Sayumi looked at the older girl seated next to her, feeling a surge of pity for her. She knew first-hand how callous Ai could be, sensed it under the facade, even though the woman could be disarmingly sweet when she wanted to be.
Knowing that it was not her place to probe any further than Risa was willing to reveal, Sayumi nodded half to herself since Risa was still looking very intently at her own feet.
"I understand. You don't have to tell me what happened." I can still see the rope burns on your wrists...ah, Ai-chan, how could you do this to someone like Gaki-san... "But if you want to talk about it, I'm always available." A comforting smile from the bunny girl, rewarded with a barely perceptible nod of Risa's lowered head.
"Do remember to take care of yourself though, and..." Sayumi, who had been subconsciously reaching for Risa's outstretched arm, suddenly paused mid-sentence quite abruptly.
"What's this?" Before Risa could react, Sayumi flipped the wrist over to reveal some obviously fresh scars, cuts actually, on the older's lower arm. Risa quickly pulled her arm back into herself, cradling it protectively near her chest. Sayu pinned her senpai with a deadly look.
"Niigaki-senpai...don't tell me...you tried to kill yourself?" She kept her voice low to preventing alerting anyone else, but there was no mistaking the urgency in her tone.
"...it was an accident." Risa was rubbing the marks with her thumb, as if they would disappear by that action alone. Sayumi took another long, hard look at the arm, before raising an eyebrow.
"Right, and I'm no longer ichiban kawaii." The bunny girl's tone held none of its usual lightheartedness. "Gaki-san...Risa...is she really worth it?"
Risa looked up slowly, their gazes penetrating each other. When the older spoke, there was no hesitation nor regret in her voice, only a firm, quiet declaration.
"If I lost her, there's no longer any meaning in this world." In a lower voice, she continued. "If not for Ai-chan, I would be dead. If not for Ai-chan, I wouldn't be me."
A distant smile. Luminous tears lighting up those dulled eyes, making them seem almost alive again.
"Ai-chan is my everything."
Sayumi looked at the broken girl next to her, and silently cursed that damnable flirt into the lowest level of hell for a week for hurting such a wonderful person. She glanced at the scars again, at a loss for what to do and say at the moment.
Make that two weeks, Takahashi Ai. You and I have a lot to talk about the next time you choose to grace me with your presence...
~*~*~
"Father..." A pouting Kamei Eri whined cutely at her stern parent, hoping that he'd at least reconsider what she had told him. She had been nagging at him for the last few days without any visible result though, not that she was giving up.
Eri could be very stubborn when she really wanted something. As one Kamei Otosuke knew very well, judging from the frown lines that appeared almost permanently set into his forehead.
"Eri-chan...I'm busy right now. We'll talk later. I'll be back in a few hours."
Then he cut her off. Literally. The video screen went blank, a dull buzz signaling that the call had ended. Eri stared at the darkened screen before blowing a raspberry at it childishly, her lips still pursed in an indignant pout.
Her father rarely did that to her. No matter how busy he was, he was never this abrupt with her, unless it was a life-and-death emergency, but how often did that kind of thing happen nowadays? Eri flopped backwards onto her large bed, staring at the ceiling.
After a few moments of zoning out, she rolled back onto her belly and almost smacked her nose into an open book with pages full of delectable sweets. Easily distracted, she went back to her original activity, that is, flipping through the book and admiring all the tasty-looking creations.
Eri was not entirely sure where the time went, but somehow during her picture book frenzy and taking a nice long soak in her bathtub, she managed to wipe out the hours in between the call and her father's return. Idly getting dressed, the sleepy eyed turtle girl wandered down the stairs to wait for her father in the sitting room.
She didn't have to wait long. The ornately carved front doors opened almost majestically, the imposing figure of Kamei Otosuke sweeping in like a king returning to his castle. Eri gave a little yawn as she waved sleepily to her father, giving him a hug as he came in.
"Have you been at home the whole day again, Eri-chan?" His tone was affectionate, though his eyes were somehow a bit sad as he ruffled his daughter's hair, earning a little squeak from Eri as she tried to get the tangles out again.
"I didn't feel like going out." A simple answer that drew a light sigh from her father. Eri didn't see the big deal about going out. She'd rather stay home most of the time. A lot less troublesome.
They were still stuck at the entrance, and since Eri was far shorter than her taller father, she did not immediately notice the smaller shadow behind him. When she did, however, she started briefly, but her father merely smiled blandly, turning to reveal the person behind him.
"Eh?" Eri's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates at the unexpected visitor. "Ehhhhhhh???"
Otosuke smirked, shooting a glance at the nonchalant girl behind him, who was currently eying Eri with a certain exasperation as if the reaction really wasn't necessary.
"Eri-chan, I remember you wanted to pick up a new instrument a few months ago, so here's your new piano instructor. Don't give up on it again, alright?"
Eri picked up her jaw from her floor, trying to rescue some form of dignity in front of this person. Thank you daddy! She grinned just a little foolishly as she grabbed onto the other girl's hands.
"Nice to meet you again! I'll be in your care!" Eri looked absolutely radiant, prompting a smile from her father in return, although he gave another pointed look at the "instructor".
"Yeah...nice to meet you, ojou-sama." Barely a hint of mockery in there, but there was certainly a profound lack of enthusiasm in the whole greeting. A hint of a smile, more a smirk really, graced her features.
"Takahashi Ai, at your service."
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I know I skipped what happened in between, but that's the point. I won't show certain scenes directly, except through other means. :P The timeline is pretty tight, it's been a week or less since Ai left Gaki's place that time. And so many chapters in between...haha I know I move slowly. >.> But yeah, here's the chapter. XD Have fun everyone!
And T_T classes start next week....
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Damn, I don't even wanna know what Ai-chan did with Sayu to make her so tired. XD GAKI IS BACK!!!! :heart: Sayu does seem quite observant, especially considering her job. Ouch, rope burn on her wrists still? :( Ai-chan is one crazy mofo. :P NO! Hell no~ :shocked: Gaki, don't do this..... :cry: I must say that I respect her love for Ai-chan, though. Even after all the things she did to her, she's still in love. :heart:
ERI ERI ERI!!!! XD This girl is just too damn cute. Papa Kamei is definitely a good dad. Nice, Ai-chan as piano teacher. Well played. :lol:
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ah............ :OMG:
poor gaki-san......she's madly in love with the pimp Takahashi.....well, in my opinion, who wouldn't fall for her anyway???hahaha :luvluv1: :luvluv1: :luvluv1: i feel so bad about gaki-san.......hahaha, nice bunny comforting her! so sweet, and so caring! but, i cant imagine sayu being like that.....her character....and, is she a prostitute or just doing it with Ai-chan?... :hehehe:
well, on the last part....all i can say is that....Ai-chan suguio! she pass the first barrier already and being the instructor of Eri...haha poor her father..... :wahaha:
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Ah Sayu da! I love it when the bunnies makes an appearance ! she lightens any mood up even if the situation would have otherwise been crushingly depressing.
hmm? she's still sore? Initially I was surprised in thinking not much time has elapsed in the story but then I read that a few days has passed already. ouch.
and OMG gaki! Awww and Argh? What's with this trend lately...I'll gonna have to put up a big sign that says Stop the Suicidal-idol-cutting fics! (sorry it's just my new pet peeve) but to your credit...I didn't roll my eyes this time like in some other fics. :P in fact I actually feel really bad for Gaki....*sigh* If all the Gaki fans added a week...Ai chan would be stuck in hell for a very long time.
I hope Sayu and Ai chan really do have that talk...it certainly will be very interesting. Ai chan better live! Ai chan's plan seems to be working out smoothly...maybe too smoothly *gulp* Makes it feel even more dangerous! Especially now that she's entered the tigers turtle's den!
I want to say Ai chan fighto! But then it feels like I'm cheering for the wrong side XD Poor Gaki...and darn Otosuke for appearing to be a decent man.
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Gaki-san!!! :cry: Cutting is bad... I hope Sayu has a talk with Ai-chan soon... But she's with Eri right now. Piano instructor, hm? I wonder how that'll go...
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Oh noes! Gaki-san tried to kill herself! What are you doing Estrea!? Making her go through that. :tama-mad:
Luckily the fluffy bunny is there to comfort her and I'm looking forward to the conversation between Ai and Sayu after this. It will definitely be interesting to see how each of them will respond. It'll be even more dramatic with all 3 of them there!! Ufufufufu... I can imagine it now... :D
Piano instructor! Interesting way to get into the home, now she gonna kill by using piano string??? :O :P
Looks like Eri's life will be more entertaining.
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aww. GakiShige~
wuht? Gaki-san tryinh to kill herself?
lol. Sayu cursing Ai.
oHHH. soo. im more curious now. :w00t: , with Ai in the Kamei residence.
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File #13
"An~" The tired groan from the back row of the half-filled lecture theater sounded louder than intended no thanks to the acoustics of the place.
However, since everyone else was still in a half awake status with the lecturer yet to be in sight, no one really cared. Neither did the person in question, who flopped over like a dead fish on top of the little writing space attached to her seat.
"...really hurts...owie..." Michishige Sayumi grumbled a half-hearted complaint as she stared out through lidded eyes before letting them flutter shut. Her whole body felt like it had been put through the blender and then spun dry in the nearest washer.
Really, it's been a couple of days since that time, and she still hadn't fully recovered from the aftereffects.
As Miki once said in another fanfic.....it was soooooooooooooooooooooooooo worth it.
:wahaha:
"Ahh...baka Ai-chan..." She mumbled almost incoherently, her speech slightly slurred as she drifted ever closer to dreamland...only to be yanked out rather abruptly by a sharp tug on her ear.
"Hey! What was that...eh, Gaki-san?" The sleepy Sayumi grinned broadly at the appearance of her senpai, whilst rubbing sheepishly at her ear.
Ohshit...did Risa hear Sayu say that? Furthermore...does Sayu know about how Risa feels about Aichan? :?
"Working too hard at your part-time job again, Sayumin?" Same old concern, same old Gaki-san. Or should it be said, almost.
Despite her sleepy state, Sayumi was still an observant girl, and there was no way she could have missed the absence of the usual vibrant sparkle in her genki senpai's eyes. Those lively eyes seemed somehow...dead...to her. As if someone had stolen Risa's soul and left an automaton in its place. The instinctive motherly comment was just that: instinctive. The lack of exaggerated reactions sort of highlighted that to her.
Risa put 2 and 2 together and figure out that Sayu and Aichan were hump-buddies? Or worse yet, has Risa just been like this since "that night"? :O
"Good to hear. You shouldn't overwork yourself." Always putting others before herself. Sayumi could appreciate that aspect of Gaki-san's character, but honestly, sometimes the older girl really had to learn how to be selfish for her own sake once in a while.
She might not feel that way where Aichan's concerned. :(
"Thanks Sayu, but it's not something you'll be able to understand."
"It's A--Takahashi, isn't it?" Sayumi's voice came out before she could stop herself, and she only just managed to stop herself from calling out Ai's name with that much familiarity. Wouldn't do to show off their underground connections, after all.
The minute flinch as Risa withdrew her hands confirmed the suspicion that Sayu had birthed on the spur of the moment. Sayumi looked at the older girl seated next to her, feeling a surge of pity for her. She knew first-hand how callous Ai could be, sensed it under the facade, even though the woman could be disarmingly sweet when she wanted to be.
Ahhhhhhhh shit. :cry:
I can still see the rope burns on your wrists...ah, Ai-chan, how could you do this to someone like Gaki-san...
Double ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh shit.
:pen_cry:
"What's this?" Before Risa could react, Sayumi flipped the wrist over to reveal some obviously fresh scars, cuts actually, on the older's lower arm.
Oh god, Risa... please say it isn't so.
:o
"Ai-chan is my everything."
Sayumi looked at the broken girl next to her, and silently cursed that damnable flirt into the lowest level of hell for a week for hurting such a wonderful person. She glanced at the scars again, at a loss for what to do and say at the moment.
Make that two weeks, Takahashi Ai. You and I have a lot to talk about the next time you choose to grace me with your presence...
In all likelihood Aichan doesn't even know how just how much of an impact she has on Risa as well as just how deeply Risa really feels. The most scary thing...is wondering how (or even IF) she'll react when she finds out.
"Father..." A pouting Kamei Eri whined cutely at her stern parent, hoping that he'd at least reconsider what she had told him. She had been nagging at him for the last few days without any visible result though, not that she was giving up.
But...what is it exactly that Eri's trying to get from her dad?
:mon huh2:
"Eri-chan...I'm busy right now. We'll talk later. I'll be back in a few hours."
Then he cut her off. Literally. The video screen went blank, a dull buzz signaling that the call had ended. Eri stared at the darkened screen before blowing a raspberry at it childishly, her lips still pursed in an indignant pout.
Her father rarely did that to her. No matter how busy he was, he was never this abrupt with her, unless it was a life-and-death emergency, but how often did that kind of thing happen nowadays?
He must be really occupied with figuring out what Aichan's doing (or planning to do).
The ornately carved front doors opened almost majestically, the imposing figure of Kamei Otosuke sweeping in like a king returning to his castle. Eri gave a little yawn as she waved sleepily to her father, giving him a hug as he came in.
...
"Eh?" Eri's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates at the unexpected visitor. "Ehhhhhhh???"
Otosuke smirked, shooting a glance at the nonchalant girl behind him, who was currently eying Eri with a certain exasperation as if the reaction really wasn't necessary.
"Eri-chan, I remember you wanted to pick up a new instrument a few months ago, so here's your new piano instructor. Don't give up on it again, alright?"
Oh wait a sec...he didn't...did he??? :shocked:
"Nice to meet you again! I'll be in your care!" Eri looked absolutely radiant, prompting a smile from her father in return, although he gave another pointed look at the "instructor".
"Yeah...nice to meet you, ojou-sama." Barely a hint of mockery in there, but there was certainly a profound lack of enthusiasm in the whole greeting. A hint of a smile, more a smirk really, graced her features.
"Takahashi Ai, at your service."
Dammit he DID!
:stunned:
What the bloody fuck???
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poor gakisan, is terrible to cut yourself... some of my friends do it and they don't want to stop :mon wind:
i want to know what will happen with aichan and eri jujuju :mon chilly: i hope that aichan won't hurt eri :mon nwei:
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Why did you have to make Risa suffer so much?!? <-- That's what a good fan should say. But...I say...make Risa suffer more XD I wanna see loads of angst :P I liked that GakiShige bit. You know I love these 2. I also can't wait to find out what Sayu will tell Ai, if she does. Hmmm I better say something about Eri too eh, lol. Well, she's unfortunate? But still she had her fun. Or rather, will have her fun :lol:
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I'm back! I felt inspired today! :D
Comment replies first though.
Ichigo-chan: Gaki's definitely dedicated...too dedicated, even. Lol. Ai is pretty much extreme in her own way. Hmm I wonder about Papa Kamei sometimes. XD You'll see~
ayase909: Just to clarify a few things, Sayu isn't a prostitute. XD She doesn't make a habit of sleeping with her clients, she just goes out with them to functions and stuff. Ai's a special case in this sense, because Sayu is sufficiently taken with her to do it with her...and it's not like she can get pregnant in this case. XD Very practical of her, no? :P Ai definitely has plans. Whether or not those plans work out, well, who really knows? :D
Sukoshi: I love the bunny here. I really do. :D As you said, she's funny and brightens up any situation, which makes it fun to write her. ^_^ I must really really apologize for the whole cutting thing, since its a terrible cliche, but I've been planning it for a long time, so it's not like I just made it up on the spot. She isn't trying to kill herself, it's just...let's just say she needed an outlet and Gaki's the type to take it out on herself than on other people, so there are only so many ways to get it done...so yeah, I hope it doesn't offend you too much. ^^;;; And yeah, cheering for Ai seems wrong on so many levels somehow...but you can't help but want to do it anyway. >D I like making characters just a tad complicated if possible. Too easy to paint people with brushstrokes of black and white. :P
SxY: It'll be a while before Sayu and Ai get to talk. Ai won't contact Sayu in a while after all. XD You'll get to see how Ai and Eri are getting along here. XD
Fenrir: Gaki wasn't really tryin to kill herself, although she probably came close. She was deliberately causing hurt to herself, as a kind of outlet I guess. Just wanted to get that down. XD The future talk between Ai and Sayu...well, I have plans. I'm not sharing them. :D Just wait for it. :P Ai also has plans, and no, piano string will not be involved. XD Eri's life will be interesting, of course. That's the way I planned it, hehe. :D
ringo-hime: Good old GakiShige. They're a nice comfort pair really. Yeah Ai being in the Kamei residence definitely is interesting...but things won't move that fast quite yet. Like I've been saying, I have plans. :D
JFC: Gaki's just been emo about "that night" for a while. Wouldn't anyone? Aichan's a very special person to her for a number of reasons that I should probably reveal in a side story soon. Heh. Hopefully this chapter helps to answer, at least partially, that "What the bloody fuck???" at the end of your post. :P I hope, anyway. Lol.
Yukari: Yeah I know what it's like to inflict pain on oneself. Been there and done that, so I kinda know how it feels. But yeah, Ai and Eri should have an interesting time together. XD Don't worry too much, really. :P
Hammy: You bad, bad Risa fan. XD Don't worry, she'll be suffering. XD Such a terrible fan you are. Haha. Heh yeah Eri will have some fun eventually, but will it last? I'm not telling. XD Not like I haven't told you stuff already though, lol. :P
Ok that took a while. Gonna edit a bit then post.
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File #14
"You do it like this." Slender fingers closed over tense ones, coaxing a smoother movement as the digits glided across ivory keys. Eri had a half frown on her face as she played a reluctant melody, her attention only about halfway on what she was supposed to be doing.
As her instructor, Ai had been incredibly patient with her, although nothing if not impersonal. It was as if the young woman was really here just as a job, and nothing more.
For some reason, that sort of disappointed Eri. She had wanted to try being friends with the girl, but Ai seemed to think that it wasn't really necessary. Oh, she did entertain Eri since she was technically an employee and at least partially subject to the whims and fancies of her ojou-sama, but beyond that Ai always looked profoundly distant, as if her mind was off elsewhere.
Of course, it had just been a few days since her father had brought Ai back as a surprise for her, so Eri could deal with the aloofness for now. She was certain that she could get Ai to like her. Who wouldn't like her? Of her own charms, Eri was at least somewhat confident. Ai would eventually warm up to her. It was just a matter of time.
"Let's take a break." Such words would normally come from the instructor, but in their somewhat unique situation, it was the student who issued such a command. Ai immediately moved away from Eri, shrugging and backed off to a corner, taking out her cellphone and rapidly typing a quick message with nimble fingers, totally ignoring Eri.
Naturally, Eri didn't like that. Who liked being ignored? Determined not to let Ai evade her again this time, she stood and moved closer to the other woman.
"Ai-chan." The casual form of address to someone who was both an instructor and an older person could almost be construed as being rude, but Eri couldn't be any less bothered about propriety at the moment. She had also made it abundantly clear that she wished for Ai to address her casually as well, but Ai had only raised an eyebrow before mockingly continuing to call her "ojou-sama".
The cheekiness was about to drive her mad, one way or another. There was a certain amount of "spoiled brat" mixed into the personality cocktail of one Kamei Eri, what with her being used to getting her own way most of the time. Yet she found it oddly refreshing to be challenged like that, and a bit conflicted as well, since Ai was always so gentle with her during lessons, yet nothing short of uncaring out of it. She just wished the other girl would make up her mind some time.
"Ai-chan." The slight bob of her head indicated that she was listening, although the older girl seemed somewhat absorbed by reading whatever mail that someone had sent her. Reading the sender's name from an upside down view, she managed to catch the words "Yuukarin".
That seemed awfully familiar somehow. Feeling just a tad mischievous, Eri suddenly snatched the phone away from right under Ai's nose, running off a short distance to peek at the message while ignoring at surprised "hey!" that erupted from the slender young woman behind her.
Oneechan, are you coming back for dinner? Yuuka doesn't like being here alone.
Ai's reply to that had been succinct yet uncharacteristically (to Eri) sweet.
I'll always make time for you. Yuuka's a brave girl, right? Don't be scared.
That was all she managed to read when Ai finally caught up with her and snatched the phone right back. Her dark, doe-like eyes were narrowed. She did not seem pleased.
"Don't act like a common brat, ojou-chan. It's unbecoming of someone of your stature." Ai would have added more, but Eri cut in before she could have said anything else.
"Bring your sister along when you come over next time. The house is big enough for one more person." And if it'd get you to pay more attention to me instead of your phone...
The smile came so suddenly that Eri found herself unprepared for the radiance that emanated from the steely face she had come to expect over the last few days. Ai's entire being appeared to light up, and her clear eyes shone with a light that made Eri's heart do a hard double-thump in her chest. A tiny flush crept up her neck to tickle at the bottom of her ears, but she managed to suppress any overt signs of a blush.
Then Ai leaned in close, almost too close for comfort, that Eri blinked and involuntarily took half a step back uncertainly. Before her brain could even process a logical reaction to the sudden intrusion of her personal space, the bright smile on Ai's face turned slightly cheeky again, and the slightly shorter woman flicked Eri on the nose lightly, earning a tiny yelp of protest from the other girl.
"I guess you do have your cute moments too." Ai was still smiling in the way that made her seem so very artless and innocent, which somehow unconsciously drew a hesitant sort of smile out of Eri. She hadn't felt so unsure since...since, well, forever?
"You're not that bad after all huh? Kamei-chan." Ai cocked her head to one side, studying Eri critically before walking right past the still flushed girl to sit down at the piano.
"We still have a little time left, so let's play a little more." Almost all business again, but less the sharp edge that it usually carried. Eri turned with a radiant smile on her face.
"Hai!"
~*~*~
Otosuke was a cautious man. Anyone who knew anything about him would know that.
To have let someone like Takahashi into his house was an act that flew against all his usual principles. He knew that the girl was no ordinary person, and he knew just as well that she knew that he knew as well.
Yet he had done it. There was a certain kinship when he had looked her in the eye, the kind of eyes that had seen too much, done too many things beyond that which could be safely mentioned without reprisal. The seemingly young girl barely out of her teens had eyes that were far older than her apparent age suggested. That in itself was automatically suspicious.
He should not have brought her back. But he had. It went against all sensible reason, but the girl had been uncharacteristically upfront with him, for someone who had eyes like that, eyes like his. She had looked him in the eye without fear, and in that instant both had understood. It was a meeting of minds attuned to the game they were both a part of. Were they both not played by the game even as they attempted to play it? He could respect that, and so did she. Neither one had said a thing though. It would have been meaningless to voice it anyway.
He would not have brought her back for that sole reason alone. Watching the monitors from the shelter of his private office, he watched as his beloved daughter was prompted to smile naturally and even laugh, without any need to satisfy any sort of public view. He knew that his daughter put on a smiling face for his benefit, but years of experience in the field had noticed the subtle frown built into her features like a second skin hidden behind a gleaming facade.
It pained him to see it. As a father, well, he had not been the best father around, but he had tried to give her the best. Whatever she wanted, he could not deny her, not after failing to protect her mother the last time. And if she wanted to associate with a character like Takahashi, he could not stop her...at least not without doing his best to secure her safety.
"I will not harm a single hair on her body, if that's what you're so concerned about." The near-languid promise might not have reassured any other anxious parent, but Otosuke had seen the truth in her eyes, felt the truth of her words jolt like a live current through his well honed instincts.
She had not made any promise about his own. Very well then. If she had an agenda, he would be more than ready to take her on. As long as Eri was safe and happy, he would take this gamble.
He smiled to himself. He might be taking a gamble, but was it not all about manageable risk in the end? He might have been getting older, but he still had a few tricks up his sleeve. There was no trust between the two, but already he could sense the rising anticipation within him at the challenge. It was something he had missed since being forced to retire due to a certain condition.
The game had already begun. Staring down at the complex board that lay before him, Otosuke felt almost ensnared by the compelling patterns of black and white that snaked across expensive kaya wood. A wry smile twisted his lips.
It would not be easy. But it would be...stimulating. A worthy opponent was always difficult to find.
He placed another counter, the sharp clack of shell against wood ringing through the enclosed room. He watched the white chasing the black, the black circling around the white, in eternal circular continuity. Merely awaiting a single act to break the chain.
I look forward to your next move, little one.
===================================================================
A little bit more, not moving that fast, but I think it showed what I felt needed to be shown. Everything else is up to interpretation. XD
Well, gonna sleep now. Night~ And have fun reading!
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File #14
As her instructor, Ai had been incredibly patient with her, although nothing if not impersonal. It was as if the young woman was really here just as a job, and nothing more.
Oh, she's gooooooooooooooood. :D
For some reason, that sort of disappointed Eri. She had wanted to try being friends with the girl, but Ai seemed to think that it wasn't really necessary. Oh, she did entertain Eri since she was technically an employee and at least partially subject to the whims and fancies of her ojou-sama, but beyond that Ai always looked profoundly distant, as if her mind was off elsewhere.
Question now is, how much of that is part of "the act" and how much of it is because she really IS preoccupied with something (and with WHAT???)?
She was certain that she could get Ai to like her. Who wouldn't like her? Of her own charms, Eri was at least somewhat confident. Ai would eventually warm up to her. It was just a matter of time.
/me resists urge to make pervvy comment. :twisted:
*ERI READS AICHAN'S TEXTS WITH YUUKA*
...
"Bring your sister along when you come over next time. The house is big enough for one more person." And if it'd get you to pay more attention to me instead of your phone...
Kawaii! :oops:
Can't help wonder wonder though...were the texts staged? I get the feeling they were staged. Aichan could have very easily kept Eri from realizing what she was doing. :yep:
"You're not that bad after all huh? Kamei-chan." Ai cocked her head to one side, studying Eri critically before walking right past the still flushed girl to sit down at the piano.
"We still have a little time left, so let's play a little more." Almost all business again, but less the sharp edge that it usually carried. Eri turned with a radiant smile on her face.
"Hai!"
Someone might want to check Eri's strings. XD
Otosuke was a cautious man. Anyone who knew anything about him would know that.
To have let someone like Takahashi into his house was an act that flew against all his usual principles. He knew that the girl was no ordinary person, and he knew just as well that she knew that he knew as well.
So for Otosuke, the idea behind bringing Aichan in is something along the lines of "keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer"? :?
Whatever she wanted, he could not deny her, not after failing to protect her mother the last time.
Whoa...Eri's mom was a victim of Otosuke's work? How? Payback/Vengeance from someone for a job he did?
He placed another counter, the sharp clack of shell against wood ringing through the enclosed room. He watched the white chasing the black, the black circling around the white, in eternal circular continuity. Merely awaiting a single act to break the chain.
I look forward to your next move, little one.
The unspoken understanding between Aichan and Otosuke is pretty damn awesome. By the looks of it, even though there are other people around them, they're still doing their best to keep...whatever this is supposed to be, just between the 2 of them.
Now...we sit...and watch.
-
Oh man, spoiled Eri is getting to me, in a good way~ :wub: So cute. I really like the cute-ass texting and Ai-chan's response to Eri's invitation to Yuuka-chan.
Hmm, so Ai-chan really is after Otosuke? At least she's not gonna hurt Eri. But the odd thing is that he's willing to invite her into his home and stuff. Is he doing to find out what she's up to? Or is it b/c he can see that Eri's fond of her? I'm thinking a little of both.
Very interesting. :lol: *is excited for more*
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Weee~~! New chapter up! Excellent gift! :D :P
No piano string?! What?! Awwwww.... I thought that would be an ironic way for Ai to kill somebody like Otosuke. XD
But Ai-chan totally set the cell phone grab up. Now she gets to bring Yuukarin with her. Hmm, I wonder what plans she has for Yuukarin and Eri *grins*
This is like a tennis match. Battle of the mind!!
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Back! Wow, no one is reading this...lol.
Well at least it makes comment replying somewhat easier? Haha.
JFC: Mmhmm, Ai definitely knows what she wants and what she's doing. Eri seems like a pawn in this whole thing, poor girl. Heh. Battle of wits between Otosuke and Ai...well, kinda. He's sort of sounding her out and all. Mm, about Eri's mom, basically it was a wrong-place-wrong-time thing and she ended up on the business end of a bullet. That kind of thing. Bad stuff happens and all. Hope you will like this chapter...actually, I'm pretty sure you will. Hehehe.
Ichigo-chan: Otosuke is torn between being a good dad and being careful. He knows Ai isn't to be trusted, but he wants to make Eri happy too. Oh well. XD We'll see how it works out. I think you'll like what happens here too. :P
Fenrir: I could make an omake about death by piano string if you really want. XD Yup Ai totally set the scene up...she has plans! Haha. You'll see part of what Yuuka has to do here. Heh.
Okie, time to edit and then post~
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File #15
It seemed but a gradual process, the road to friendship. The discovery that differences, while present, were largely imagined; or the simple fact that they did have more in common than they first thought.
Little things, like preferring to stay home instead of braving the concrete jungle. Like all-night drama serial marathons, and waking up to aching muscles after falling asleep huddled under the kotatsu.
And then there were the bigger things, like the feeling of isolation from others. Or the need to be someone else in front of others. Wanting to be more, and do more.
For the first time in her life, Kamei Eri felt like she had a real friend. Not people that were bought by her father and placed by her side, but someone who genuinely wanted to get to know her, if a little reluctantly at first. Takahashi Ai, of course, was not the easiest nut to crack in the world.
It began innocently enough, amidst strictly formal piano lessons with Takahashi's little sister sitting by the side, book in lap. Ai was nothing if not attentive, and Eri found herself picking things up pretty quickly, though she was far more interested in the teacher than the lessons.
Little tidbits of conversation passed between them during breaks, mostly initiated by Eri. Ai tended to be rather passive, or was usually absently keeping an eye on Yuuka, who always looked a little pale and shaky and generally not too well. If Eri had felt any jealousy about the attention given to another before, she stopped feeling so after seeing for herself how the little girl was like. How could she begrudge the sickly little girl any attention from her doting elder sister? She wasn't that much of a spoiled brat.
If Eri really had to pinpoint when they really broke the ice, it had to be the dancing.
When she was younger, Eri had had ballet classes among all the other etiquette classes she ended up being shoved into. It had been somewhat enjoyable, though the strict discipline sort of wore on her after a while. She had had enough of strict discipline in the rest of her life, thank you very much.
Hip hop dancing though, that was another matter. Her father had been extremely opposed to it right at first, given that he didn't think too well of the whole thing, but Eri had insisted and gotten her way eventually. Locking herself inside her own room for a week might have contributed to that decision. What Eri wanted, she usually got, one way or another.
On hindsight, perhaps she should not have been particularly surprised that Ai was capable of dancing. The young woman appeared to be full of surprises, with a certain degree of competence in a wide range of activities.
Eri had totally forgotten that she had lessons that day when she was inside the little dance studio her father had built for her when she was younger. It was one of the activities she used to keep fit with since she rarely left the house otherwise. That and she enjoyed the whole activity of expressing herself through dance, letting her emotions flare with the new risen sun in the quiet confines of the mirrored room, with only the beat of music sustaining her steps.
Ai had come in quietly sometime during her dancing, watching her with interest. Eri had been slightly embarrassed afterwards at her wild hair and generally unkempt appearance, but Ai had surprised her by walking calmly over and helping Eri to tame her wild hair. The quirky smile on her lips when she suggested that they dance together had surprised but elated Eri at the same time, who had usually done it alone after picking up the basics. She had improved a lot by watching videos, but nothing quite compared to having the energy of someone else to play off to, the heated gazes and intense stares as they moved with and against each other.
Somehow, after that, Eri found that Ai would come over a lot more often, invited or not. Well, she had said that Ai was welcome to visit at any time, as long as she left a message beforehand. Hardly a day passed without them spending some time together. Yuuka came along several times, but generally stayed out of their way otherwise. Eri barely paid attention to anyone else other than Ai, really. It was as if her entire world revolved around spending time with her.
Ai, Eri was soon to discover, was a quiet sort of person, just as she herself was. She liked that. She found that she liked a lot about Ai. Eri soon found herself smiling in a silly way whenever they were together, be it at lessons or simply just hanging out. Ai never made her do anything she didn't want, never asked anything of her, and generally just kept her company.
Although she did wonder why Ai had nothing else to do. She suspected that her father might have been paying the woman to stay by her side, but then again it wouldn't have been the first time he had done that. Eri hadn't really wanted to ask, but in the end she didn't have to. Ai told her directly.
"Kamei-sama is paying me for your lessons and nothing else. I come here because I want to." Ai had given her that look of absolute sincerity, much like that of a puppy wanting to be patted. Eri had only smiled broadly after that and snuggled into Ai on the couch afterwards, earning a muffled grumble from the older girl, who gingerly put an arm around the rich girl and looked somewhat awkward at the intimate position.
They did many things together, though they rarely left the house. Eri rarely wanted to leave the house, unless she felt stifled by the atmosphere. Now that she had Ai with her almost everyday, the house no longer felt as oppressive. The older girl always entertained her sometimes childish whims with a certain kind of amused tolerance, often pretending to scold her when she tried to throw a tantrum to get her own way. It was all very entertaining, and certainly kept things interesting for her.
Eri had been rather amused by one fact though. She had grown so used to the idea that there was little that Ai could not do, that when she did find something that her seemingly perfect friend was unable to accomplish, it completely blindsided her...and provided an endless source of entertainment for the mischievous turtle.
Ai could dance, play the piano, possibly climb mountains and take down baddies twice her size, but she was afraid of water. She could swim, albeit reluctantly and certainly not very well, but apparently being underwater freaked her out totally and completely. Eri had found out about that first hand, and then it was an accident that she did.
The Kamei residence had an indoor pool that was fully heated such that it could be used comfortably even during winter, and Eri had been enjoying a dip in it when Ai had come popping by on her random visits.
She probably should have guessed that something was amiss when Ai had stubbornly refused to step close to the sides of the pool, preferring to watch her from afar. It was only when Eri had asked her to pass a towel that she got up and went anywhere near the pool...
...only for Eri to pull her into the pool with her. The turtle girl certainly hadn't expected Ai's reaction when her head went underwater. The older girl had started struggling almost immediately, eyes wide and bulging, and practically about to cry right there and then.
When Eri finally managed to haul the stricken Ai to safety, it was the first and only time Eri saw the normally composed Ai burst into tears, shivering and shaking. The first time the capable young woman actually looked her age and even younger, almost vulnerable. Eri had fell all over herself apologizing at first, hugging Ai in order to comfort her.
After that incident though, Eri often teased Ai about it, with Ai pouting and looking, in Eri's opinion, absolutely adorable while she was at it. It was one of the few things she had on Ai anyway, so she used it to the hilt. Like right now, since she was trying to coax Ai into the water with her.
"No." Ai was frowning, casting occasional nervous glances at the calm surface of the water. Eri pouted and whined cutely, clinging like a koala to the currently very stiff Ai. Yuuka, as usual, had quietly slipped out of sight, leaving the two older girls to cozy up to each other as they always did somewhat unconsciously. Eri thought that that was very intelligent of the little girl, and liked her better for it. She wanted Ai all for herself.
"I won't let go of you. You'll be ok!" Eri gave her the puppy eye treatment. Ai wavered slightly, but still managed to refuse with a weak excuse.
"But I don't have anything to wear..." Only for Eri to grin deviously and tug Ai to her room. Ai began to suspect the worst right about then, only to be proven right when Eri showed her what she could in fact wear.
"It's a bikini...?" Ai didn't think that Eri would go that far. How the hell did the rich girl know her measurements anyway? Then she remembered all the times they had play-fights involving a lot of shoving, wrestling and general physical contact, and inwardly marveled at Eri's ability to judge from something like that.
Still, she refused. Or tried to. "I can't really swim very well..." Ai demurred modestly, trying to escape the iron grip Eri had on her wrist. Eri narrowed her eyes, although she was still smiling disarmingly. Ai had a very bad feeling right about then.
Ten minutes later she had a fluffy white bathrobe pulled tightly around herself and was glaring flatly at a triumphantly grinning Eri, who clung to her the moment she stepped out of the bathroom. She somehow managed to fend off all attempts by the turtle girl to take a look at how the bikini fit on her, and deflected the issue by moving on to what Eri was going to wear instead.
Eri had wanted to put on a plain black one-piece swimsuit, but Ai had flatly rejected that idea. In a fit of childish vengeance, she insisted that if she had to wear a bikini, Eri had to too. And Ai would get to pick it for her as well.
Eri's swimsuit collection was modest, ranging mostly from one-piece swimsuits to modest two-piece ones. There really weren't that many bikinis...until Ai unearthed something that made Eri blush on the spot before she even put it on. Amazing how helpful trick presents from college friends could be at times like this. Sure, it was a bikini in the sense that it was shaped like one, but the tiny scraps of sleek black fabric would be very...revealing indeed.
Ai was smirking as Eri changed, sitting on the edge of that wide bed as she waited. Sure, she wasn't at all looking forward to getting into the pool, but she could deal with that later. Getting an eyeful of the hot, rich girl was far more important to her right now.
Eri pulled the same trick as her though, and was using the bathrobe to hide her shapely form. Thus, all would only be revealed at the pool. Ai didn't know if she looked forward to it or dreaded it. Well, at least she would still get to see Eri in a barely-there bikini if she somehow managed to drown in the pool. Not such a bad sight to die by.
On her part, Eri felt very warm under her skin right now. She was at least mildly embarrassed by the fact that she was wearing something that skimpy. Even though they were both girls, she still felt a little awkward about exposing that much to someone like Ai. Not that it was bad or anything, but it was just...different. She cared about Ai's opinion about her, and despite whatever everyone else had said about her looks, every girl is just a little insecure about that aspect to some degree somewhere inside.
Not that she should be bothered. It was just Ai. They were friends, right? It should not matter so much.
In any case, she really wanted to see how that red bikini looked on her...friend. It was just curiosity, of course. She wanted to see if the other girl looked better than her. Yes. That was all there was to it. Really.
Eri firmly pushed all doubts to the back of her mind as they entered the pool area. No servants were around, since Eri had requested that they leave them alone whenever Ai came over. She looked a little shyly over to the older girl she was clinging to. Ai was still staring at the pool like it was going to eat her alive. The sight made her giggle, breaking the tension.
"It's going to be ok, Ai-chan." That bright smile, revealing cute little canines. Ai smiled back a little nervously, pulling away from Eri gently as she started to pull off the bathrobe slowly, yet somehow fluidly at the same time.
Eri stared. She knew it was rude, somewhere in the back of her mind, but she still did it. How could she not? Eri had known Ai was fit, her muscles toned and all that. She just hadn't known how good the whole package looked like that.
Ai had the body of an athlete, but not the overly muscled kind. There was some muscle definition across her entire figure, but it was subtle and melded seamlessly into her curvaceous figure. Ai cut a small figure, smaller than Eri herself, but she did not look at all frail. No, from head to toe, the other girl radiated a quietly magnetic energy, grace and power that reminded her of a leashed panther or tiger. There was a certain fluidity of motion as Ai had let the bathrobe first slip off her shoulders, before stepping out of it like a goddess out of the sea.
Eri didn't even realize that Ai was right in front of her until Ai flicked her nose playfully, a glint in her clear brown eyes. She blinked and swallowed nervously. She certainly hadn't expected that.
Well, she wasn't about to lose at her own game. Ignoring the laughter in Ai's eyes, Eri stepped back and took off her own robe as well. She wasn't going to lose in this department, certainly.
Now it was Ai's turn to stare. Eri saw it and felt a certain sense of triumph at that, although she still felt almost painfully naked under the appreciative look that Ai was giving her. Despite herself, she blushed faintly, and cast her glance downwards. It was still awkward to be looked at like that, friend or not.
"Eri." The quiet voice took her almost by surprise, but what made her jerk her eyes upward was the fact that it was the first time Ai had addressed her by name, without honorifics or anything else. It was a little strange, and felt...right. Almost intimate, the way Ai breathed it out in a voice barely over a whisper.
"You're beautiful." Eri met those clear eyes again, felt the hushed tone wash over her like a fleeting touch. Ai was looking at her, not at her body or what she represented, but her. Kamei Eri. Not just the daughter of Kamei Otosuke or anything. Eri.
Eri flushed a brighter shade of red this time, practically glowing at the compliment. Without really thinking about it, she half-tackled Ai with a crushing hug, impulsively, one might add. The absurd little joy she held had to expressed somehow.
"You mean it?" Eri murmured as she buried her face in Ai's semi-long hair, nuzzling into the nape of the older girl's neck. She could feel Ai breathing a bit more shallowly.
"...yeah." Came the slightly breathless reply. It was only about then that Eri realized how odd the embrace felt, skin on skin contact like that felt very...different. With a deep blush, she let go of the equally flushed Ai, who had a strange expression on her face. Eri was certain she looked a bit odd herself too, so she didn't mind.
Ai was still trying to regulate her breathing and hiding any visible signs of her rising lust for the shapely girl no more than an arm's length from her. She was doing a fairly good job of the latter, save for the hard-edged glint in her eyes. She really didn't want to wait to get a suitable chance to get to touch Eri, but knew that she couldn't push it too far, too soon.
Patience. She could do that. Ai pushed down her libido and focused on the task at hand. Ugh, swimming...
Eri, for her part, was also trying to calm her wild heart down. She hadn't yet recalled that she had a reaction of such magnitude towards anyone at all. This was a first...and the other party was a girl. That was...troubling.
Although what was more troubling was how little she cared about the fact that Ai was a woman, and a very attractive one at that...and that she still wanted to get closer to her.
To hide her own rising confusion, Eri quickly strode over to the pool, pulling the highly reluctant Ai along with her. They stopped at the edge, Ai still not looking particularly pleased about doing something she didn't really like.
"Don't worry so much Ai-chan. I'll make sure you're fine." Eri found herself saying automatically, beaming at the girl next to her. Ai pouted a bit, but complied eventually, gingerly following Eri into the water and staying close to the side with a slightly panicked expression on her face.
Somehow, Eri found that utterly hilarious...and absolutely adorable. Who wouldn't?
In the water, Eri was absolutely comfortable. Well she was a Kame(i) after all. Chuckling at her own lame joke, Eri swam easily over to Ai, who was still clutching the railing like a lifeline.
"Boo!" Bursting out from underwater like a great white shark (except cuter), Eri tackled Ai from behind, earning a short scream from the older. Giggling inanely, Eri latched onto Ai's back and laid her head on Ai's shoulder, feeling the older's heartbeat underneath silky soft skin.
"Kamei-chan..." Ai sighed, before gasping softly as Eri nipped playfully at her ear.
"Call me Eri." Eri breathed into Ai's ear, and felt her own heart thump just as wildly as Ai's was under her. Ai's voice was close to a low growl when she said it.
"Eri..." Ai was really trying her best to keep her libido in check, but the damnable girl on her back was making it so very difficult. The close contact they were in definitely didn't help matters. She was just glad that she wasn't in a position to get an eyeful of Eri again. The sight of that tight black bikini that just barely held back Eri's considerable charms was making the fire rage higher in her. She didn't need to make it any more difficult for her to keep her hands to herself.
She could actually feel Eri smiling behind her as the younger leaned on her again. Ai's own trepidation of being in the water was now a side issue. She was a lot more distracted by the sensation of skin on skin contact. So close...yet so far. Resisting the urge to gnash her teeth together in frustration, she willed herself to relax. Not that it really worked, but at least she tried.
"It's not so bad is it, Ai-chan?" Eri asked after they simply floated there for a while, doing nothing but enjoy each other's presence. Ai hummed a reply, not relaxing her grip on the steel railing. Phobias didn't go away just because one was distracted by a hot girl. Although it definitely helped. Sort of.
"Can we please get out of here now?" Ai mumbled almost pleadingly. Eri, who enjoyed swimming, wasn't really satisfied by just floating around doing nothing, but looking at Ai's tense shoulders, she decided to relent for today.
"Alright. But next time I'll teach you to swim properly." She giggled at the little shudder that ran through Ai's shoulders, letting go of the older so that she could climb up out of the pool.
Well, that was the idea anyway. They had been at the shallow end, but no one could accuse either girl of being very tall. As Ai had started to haul herself out of the pool hastily, she must have slipped, because she lost her footing and plunged right back in, her head going underwater.
Ai panicked immediately, flailing wildly and spluttering madly. Even after Eri had pulled her head above water, she was still struggling, gasping with tears standing in her eyes. Her life had literally flashed before her eyes in that instant.
Chains. Cold.
"Put her in the tank."
Air! No air!
She was going to drown. The chains were very heavy. And she was so very small. So very scared.
Cold eyes. And then it was dark.
It was no more than a minute or so that Ai continued to struggle before she went completely limp in Eri's arms for a moment, scaring the turtle girl half to death. But the fainting spell was brief, and the light returned to those clear eyes almost immediately, though an old, raw fear burned in them.
Eri felt her heart squeeze painfully tight inside her chest. What had made Ai so terrified of drowning? Ai herself appeared to be trying to get a grip on herself, still clinging on to Eri as they drifted over to the safety of the side again.
"I'm sorry." Ai whispered, her arms dangling over Eri's shoulders, her eyes downcast.
"Whatever for?" Eri asked, baffled.
"For scaring you. I'm...really bad with water. Baths excluded." A heavy little chuckle at the somewhat forced joke, but Eri only smiled and bumped noses with Ai.
"It's ok. I shouldn't have forced you." Their faces were inches apart, but neither girl had noticed their closeness...yet.
Predictably, Ai was the one who noticed first, and despite her best attempts to hide it, her eyes grew a little strange as her breathing became more shallow. The eyes of a predator, barely restrained. It was something Eri had no real experience with, but she felt a strange thrill run through her as she met those hungry eyes.
The atmosphere had subtly changed, leaving the panic and concern of moments ago behind and becoming almost electrified. The energy crackled all around them as they locked gazes, felt the warmth of each other's breath, the rapid rate at which their hearts pounded in time with each other.
"You are very beautiful, Eri." Ai murmured, raising one hand to cup Eri's cheek, the rising blush on the younger's face marking a sharp contrast with Ai's pale hand.
Ai must have whispered something else, but Eri couldn't even register it as her world completely shut down around her, save for one specific sensation.
She must have stopped breathing entirely the moment Ai's warm lips pressed against her own, still wet with chlorine from the pool, but she quickly forgot all about that as she felt Ai lick her lips almost teasingly, that hot, wet tongue trying to coax entry.
She even almost forgot about exactly where they were, and it was a good thing that the water was at chest level while their feet could still touch the ground, so there was little risk of drowning. Not like Eri was in any condition to even stand properly, much less tread water, right now. Drowning would be such an impediment to their current activity.
Ai was behaving in a remarkably restrained way for all that she was currently kissing Eri. Had it been someone like Sayu in her arms, she would have been far more aggressive and a lot less considerate, but she was ever mindful of that fact that Eri would require more...careful handling. She couldn't very well scare the girl off after doing such a good job of getting close to her.
It was awfully difficult to control her urges, but she managed somehow. Eri moaned quietly, and Ai took the opportunity to slip her tongue in, smirking a bit at the little gasp from the intrusion. She was being a bit too bold, she knew, but to hell with it, Eri had been all but tempting her the moment she had first laid sight on the girl. Ai had endured 2, almost 3 weeks of being around the girl while being on her best behavior. She deserved a little reward for that kind of inhuman patience.
Eri was a little awkward right at first, not knowing how to react. Ai found it cute though, and thoroughly ravished Eri's lips and mouth, letting her hands wander just a bit down Eri's back, cupping her perfectly rounded bottom. She was tempted to run her hands along the younger girl's thighs, but regretfully held back. It might freak the girl out if she went so far, so soon. She would have to test the waters first before trying anything else.
Eri was sure that her face was redder than a tomato when Ai finally released her, well, from the kiss anyway. They were still in a tight embrace, with the turtle girl blushing madly and feeling just a little dizzy. Her heart felt like it was all over the place, and her body wound tight in places she never knew she had before. A strange sort of excitement lingered within her. She wanted Ai to do it again, to kiss her again and touch her. The urge surprised her, and only increased the intensity of her blush.
"Sorry..." Ai whispered again, and Eri looked up to see the embarrassed expression showing cutely on Ai's face. It was as if she was a little awkward about having been so forward. There was, however, a kind of wildness still tainting those eyes, as if Ai still hadn't quite had enough. Eri shivered. What more could there be? How far could they possibly go? They were both girls...
And that thought brought her sharply back to reality. Both girls. Her father would be livid. A stray, rebellious thought crossed her mind. She didn't need his approval, she was almost of age anyway. He needed to know that she was growing up, had the right to make at least some of her own decisions.
"I got carried away...Eri, are you listening?" She had spaced out again. Eri blinked and refocused back on Ai. Her heart gave an excited leap as usual. The feeling had already been there from before, but it was stronger now. Ai had given a form to the unspoken attraction that bound them together, and Eri found that prospect both daunting and exciting.
"I'm not afraid." Ai looked confused at the non-answer. Eri giggled softly and leaned in close to rub her cheek against Ai affectionately.
"You're my teacher. Teach me more." Ai never knew Eri could sound so coy. Well, if that wasn't an open invitation... Her eyes twinkled with predatory anticipation.
"Gladly."
~*~*~
"I've looked around quite a bit, Onee-sama. Got a good idea of how the place is laid out, and there really are a lot of cameras hidden around..." Yuuka paused and looked at Ai, who was studying the floor plans that Yuuka had sketched.
"Onee-sama?" Ai looked up distractedly.
"Yes?" Yuuka hesitated briefly, before asking timidly.
"Um...is it normal for you to be so...friendly with Kamei-san?" Yuuka blurted out. She had been more than aware that Ai was spending a lot of time with Eri, and the little girl was not ignorant of the fact that Ai swung both ways. It just didn't seem very right that Ai would be flirting with the target's daughter, somehow.
Ai put down the plans, turning to regard Yuuka with a friendly smile as she patted her younger sister on the head. "Not normal by ordinary standards, certainly. But when have I ever played by the rules?" She grinned mischievously. "Besides, this way it's a lot more fun."
"I thought we were just supposed to do the job." Yuuka's eyes were slightly wide as she gaped at her sister, who only smirked in reply.
"Oh, of course we get the job done. That's what we do." Ai sat up a bit more seriously at this bit, before an ironic sort of expression crossed her face.
"But you see, Yuukarin, in the end the reality is that we're just tools. Expendable tools. Our careers eventually lead to unmarked graves...assuming we have one in the first place."
At Yuuka's slightly disturbed expression, Ai's face became more kind as she laid a comforting hand on the younger girl's shoulder.
"The point is, we probably won't live long enough to grow old. When will we enjoy ourselves if not now?" A tight, savage grin. "I don't intend to die any time soon, but I'll be damned if I don't have my fun while I still can." Ai's eyes were more gentle as they regarded Yuuka with a certain parental pride.
"Do you understand?"
Yuuka nodded slowly, looking at her sister with a new light. Wild and almost free, yet all restrained fury and a weapon honed to deadly lethality. She felt Ai's life burn brightly like a raging flame, strong and powerful, yet something that could be extinguished at any time.
Her Ai-oneesama had been a perfect role model and practically an idol to her when she was younger. Now on the field with her, Yuuka could see that her sister was a lot more human, a lot more real. Flawed, but all the more beautiful for it.
And Yuuka would have it no other way.
=======================================================================
That was a lot longer than my usual chapters for Nocturne. I hope y'all enjoy it. Well it's late and I had best go to rest. Night~
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*has died and gone to heaven*
Hot Ai-chan in a pool with Eri... :mon blood:*fans self*
Aha! I knew it when Yuuka went off by herself all those times it was to get the layout of the house! Looks like all that training is paying off.
And the target is confirmed to be Otosuke. Killed by piano string in the study... :lol:
And we finally found Ai-chan's weakness. Water. A large body of water. I wonder what happened in her past to make her afraid of water. Was this before the orphanage? Or after the orphanage??? Very curious... I'm sure you will be writing about that, yes???
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When you said I would like this, I was thinking Gaki would be in it. XD But even though she wasn't, you're absolutely right. I freakin loved it!!! :P Eri and Ai-chan getting to know each other in a friend way is nice, b/c poor Eri seems so lonely. MMMM~ :inlove: Ai-chan in a bikini+Eri in a bikini= :drool: :drool: :drool: Love how they like stared at each other. XD Oh man, Ai-chan.... :cry: I'm super curious now, who was doing that to her? For some reason, I'm thinking it was either part of her training (but I doubt it) or she got caught during one of her early missions and was nearly killed. While this little insight on Ai's past was interesting, it was considerably less entertaining than this delicious kissing scene!!!! :ptam-shy: And Eri, what a little.... :ptam-glow: Yuuka at the end is so cute~ :luvluv1:
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Eri had been all but tempting her the moment she had first laid sight on the girl. Ai had endured 2, almost 3 weeks of being around the girl while being on her best behavior. She deserved a little reward for that kind of inhuman patience.
well....it was funny reading this paragraph....inhuman patience! it made laughed! i agree, with ai-chan's attitude you build...it was like she was struggling every second when eri was close to her......hehe *poor gaki*
well. for the next chappie......more "action scenes" with ai-chan and eri please! :inlove:
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At first it was just with Ai and Eri being friends and all but the end... :mon one: Whoa...
"It's a bikini...?" Ai didn't think that Eri would go that far. How the hell did the rich girl know her measurements anyway? Then she remembered all the times they had play-fights involving a lot of shoving, wrestling and general physical contact, and inwardly marveled at Eri's ability to judge from something like that.
...Go Eri!! :w00t:
"Boo!" Bursting out from underwater like a great white shark (except cuter), Eri tackled Ai from behind, earning a short scream from the older. Giggling inanely, Eri latched onto Ai's back and laid her head on Ai's shoulder, feeling the older's heartbeat underneath silky soft skin.
"Kamei-chan..." Ai sighed, before gasping softly as Eri nipped playfully at her ear.
"Call me Eri." Eri breathed into Ai's ear, and felt her own heart thump just as wildly as Ai's was under her. Ai's voice was close to a low growl when she said it.
:mon blood:
"You're my teacher. Teach me more." Ai never knew Eri could sound so coy. Well, if that wasn't an open invitation... Her eyes twinkled with predatory anticipation.
"Gladly."
*dies*
Ah, but now I'm worried about Ai-chan!! I wonder just what happened to her to cause the phobia... :(
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dang! this is definitely the best right now!!!
Bikinisssss!! swimming poolll!!flirtingggg!! Eri-chan and Ai-chan!! :ptam-glow: :mon blood:
That pool moment was really osam!!!! :ptam-shy:
this whole chap was incredibly delicious!!! :ptam-kill:
but on the other hand. it also makes me wanna know moar about Ai-chans phobia. wat caused it? training?mission? pre-Assasin Ai-chan?
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Hope you will like this chapter...actually, I'm pretty sure you will. Hehehe.
Oh how you love to tease. :P
For the first time in her life, Kamei Eri felt like she had a real friend. Not people that were bought by her father and placed by her side, but someone who genuinely wanted to get to know her, if a little reluctantly at first. Takahashi Ai, of course, was not the easiest nut to crack in the world.
Yeah, it must have been hard for her to make friends, what with the work her dad was doing, and how it fostered an inherently mistrustful side of him.
Then there's Aichan. By nature we've all seen that she's not exactly the most..."vocal" person. Add on the same suspicious/secretive habits that her job brings and yeah...calling her a "tough nut to crack" would be putting it mildly.
It began innocently enough, amidst strictly formal piano lessons with Takahashi's little sister sitting by the side, book in lap.
Awwww...:oops:
Ai was nothing if not attentive, and Eri found herself picking things up pretty quickly, though she was far more interested in the teacher than the lessons.
No surprise there. ;D
Little tidbits of conversation passed between them during breaks, mostly initiated by Eri. Ai tended to be rather passive, or was usually absently keeping an eye on Yuuka, who always looked a little pale and shaky and generally not too well. If Eri had felt any jealousy about the attention given to another before, she stopped feeling so after seeing for herself how the little girl was like. How could she begrudge the sickly little girl any attention from her doting elder sister? She wasn't that much of a spoiled brat.
Wow, bringing Yuuka into the act/scheme? Very nice touch, not to mention very effective (seeing as how it's getting to Eri). It's also good training for Yuuka, both in that she gets to observe how Aichan does her work, as well as getting her own practice "in the field".
Ai had come in quietly sometime during her dancing, watching her with interest. Eri had been slightly embarrassed afterwards at her wild hair and generally unkempt appearance, but Ai had surprised her by walking calmly over and helping Eri to tame her wild hair. The quirky smile on her lips when she suggested that they dance together had surprised but elated Eri at the same time, who had usually done it alone after picking up the basics. She had improved a lot by watching videos, but nothing quite compared to having the energy of someone else to play off to, the heated gazes and intense stares as they moved with and against each other.
VERY smart move by Aichan. Find out something that they like, and using it to your advantage. :yep:
For the moment it's not that bad of a situation for Eri either. :D
She found that she liked a lot about Ai. Eri soon found herself smiling in a silly way whenever they were together, be it at lessons or simply just hanging out. Ai never made her do anything she didn't want, never asked anything of her, and generally just kept her company.
Oh boy, is this going where we think it's going? :inlove:
Eri had been rather amused by one fact though. She had grown so used to the idea that there was little that Ai could not do, that when she did find something that her seemingly perfect friend was unable to accomplish, it completely blindsided her...and provided an endless source of entertainment for the mischievous turtle.
Oh this could be fun. :lol:
*AICHAN'S WATER "thing"*
Definitely surprising that Aichan apparently has this "issue". Considering her line of work, one would have expected that there would have been some instances where she would have had to have been in a similar situation. Of course, Aichan could very well be faking this all in order to "get closer" to Eri. 8)
Eri pouted and whined cutely, clinging like a koala to the currently very stiff Ai. Yuuka, as usual, had quietly slipped out of sight, leaving the two older girls to cozy up to each other as they always did somewhat unconsciously. Eri thought that that was very intelligent of the little girl, and liked her better for it. She wanted Ai all for herself.
Hmmm...can't help but wonder...what's Yuuka doing when she disappears like that? Could it be that Aichan IS the distraction while Yuuka goes about doing something towards their REAL goal (whatever that is)? After all, Otosuke suspects Aichan, but he probably has no idea that he should also be keeping an eye on Yuuka.
"I won't let go of you. You'll be ok!" Eri gave her the puppy eye treatment. Ai wavered slightly, but still managed to refuse with a weak excuse.
"But I don't have anything to wear..." Only for Eri to grin deviously and tug Ai to her room. Ai began to suspect the worst right about then, only to be proven right when Eri showed her what she could in fact wear.
"It's a bikini...?" Ai didn't think that Eri would go that far.
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah. O0
Eri had wanted to put on a plain black one-piece swimsuit, but Ai had flatly rejected that idea. In a fit of childish vengeance, she insisted that if she had to wear a bikini, Eri had to too. And Ai would get to pick it for her as well.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH. :twisted:
She cared about Ai's opinion about her, and despite whatever everyone else had said about her looks, every girl is just a little insecure about that aspect to some degree somewhere inside.
Not that she should be bothered. It was just Ai. They were friends, right? It should not matter so much.
In any case, she really wanted to see how that red bikini looked on her...friend. It was just curiosity, of course. She wanted to see if the other girl looked better than her. Yes. That was all there was to it. Really.
Yes...really. :roll: :roll: :roll:
*TAKAKAMEI "POOLSIDE FASHION SHOW"*
:drool: :drool: :drool:
*TAKAKAMEI IN DA POOL*
:mon bleed2: :mon bleed2: :mon bleed2:
They had been at the shallow end, but no one could accuse either girl of being very tall. As Ai had started to haul herself out of the pool hastily, she must have slipped, because she lost her footing and plunged right back in, her head going underwater.
Ai panicked immediately, flailing wildly and spluttering madly. Even after Eri had pulled her head above water, she was still struggling, gasping with tears standing in her eyes. Her life had literally flashed before her eyes in that instant.
Chains. Cold.
"Put her in the tank."
Air! No air!
She was going to drown. The chains were very heavy. And she was so very small. So very scared.
Cold eyes. And then it was dark.
Eh???
:stunned:
So then...this whole fear of water that Aichan has is NOT an act? :o Somehow, from the description of the flashback, it was some part of her early "training"?
It was no more than a minute or so that Ai continued to struggle before she went completely limp in Eri's arms for a moment, scaring the turtle girl half to death. But the fainting spell was brief, and the light returned to those clear eyes almost immediately, though an old, raw fear burned in them.
Eri felt her heart squeeze painfully tight inside her chest. What had made Ai so terrified of drowning? Ai herself appeared to be trying to get a grip on herself, still clinging on to Eri as they drifted over to the safety of the side again.
"I'm sorry." Ai whispered, her arms dangling over Eri's shoulders, her eyes downcast.
"Whatever for?" Eri asked, baffled.
"For scaring you. I'm...really bad with water. Baths excluded." A heavy little chuckle at the somewhat forced joke, but Eri only smiled and bumped noses with Ai.
"It's ok. I shouldn't have forced you." Their faces were inches apart, but neither girl had noticed their closeness...yet.
:wub:
Predictably, Ai was the one who noticed first, and despite her best attempts to hide it, her eyes grew a little strange as her breathing became more shallow. The eyes of a predator, barely restrained. It was something Eri had no real experience with, but she felt a strange thrill run through her as she met those hungry eyes.
Oh boy...is Aichan gonna...?
*TAKAKAMEI....TAKAKAMEI*
Gawdammit....
:mon blood: :mon blood: :mon blood:
"I've looked around quite a bit, Onee-sama. Got a good idea of how the place is laid out, and there really are a lot of cameras hidden around..." Yuuka paused and looked at Ai, who was studying the floor plans that Yuuka had sketched.
I KNEW IT!!! :cow:
"Um...is it normal for you to be so...friendly with Kamei-san?" Yuuka blurted out. She had been more than aware that Ai was spending a lot of time with Eri, and the little girl was not ignorant of the fact that Ai swung both ways. It just didn't seem very right that Ai would be flirting with the target's daughter, somehow.
Ooooooooooooooh...awkward. :O
*AICHANxYUUKA TALK*
Aichan makes a lot of sense here. While their ultimate goal is always to accomplish the mission, there's nothing in the rules that states how they go about doing it. Therefore, why not have a little fun at it? Can't be a stuffed shirt all the time, after all. Everyone needs a "vent" or a "release" now and then? :yep:
Her Ai-oneesama had been a perfect role model and practically an idol to her when she was younger. Now on the field with her, Yuuka could see that her sister was a lot more human, a lot more real. Flawed, but all the more beautiful for it.
And Yuuka would have it no other way.
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
:ptam-glow:
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ah how I love how Ai chan is so talented yet is afraid of water. She's just so endearing when she becomes almost like a child when it comes to the water. You reflected that so well in the chapter~
I like how there's always some new aspect of the characters to enjoy in each chapter. Of course the added playfulness and the "action" was a nice touch too.
The little pool incident has got me even more interested in Ai chan's childhood. I hope we get to learn more about that.
Right now I'm wondering how Eri's father is going to react to Eri's new relationship with Ai chan. I was a little disturbed in thinking that he probably watched the whole thing on security cam :O Wonder if this will lead to an unexpected show down. Can't wait to see what happens next.
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File #14
If I had a piano teacher like Ai-chan, I might last longer at trying to learn how to play the instrument XD
File #15
You're my teacher. Teach me more." Ai never knew Eri could sound so coy.
Woah... *ahem....then coughs more as ears turn red* I never knew Eri could be so ______ (fill in the blanks either ) :oops:
*feels nose to check for blood lost*
I hope you aren't gonna put this on hold too long as you update on the nun story. Cuz I really wanna know what's gonna happen in the end. Besides Ai's big scene that we all know would be inevitable :P
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I'm finally here, do you remember me? :hee: Well, I was busy for many month, so I didn't have any time to drop by the forum. So, apologies for not dropping by a comment! :kneelbow:
Ohmygod. You made me love the evil Ai-chan a lot more than I should, and I'm starting to get obessed with TakaGaki. More, more, I want more! :luvluv1:
And, please, don't make me fall in love with AiEri too..~ :luvluv2:
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Ok there is no way that my brain can handle comment replying at this particular moment, so I'm really very sorry to everyone for not being able to do personal replies! *bows deeply*
Brain...hurts....
But, できた！やっとできた！Number 16! My brain feels funky.
Without further ado, let's post it!
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File #16
Few things troubled someone like Takahashi Ai. Even if certain things merited a certain amount of justifiable worry, she had since learned to maintain a facade of poised calm, regardless of what she personally felt about it.
Right now though, she was troubled. Well, perhaps the term was a little strong for what she currently felt. In any case, Ai deemed it a matter worthy of some consideration, especially considering the nature of her mission.
Then again, it wasn't really a problem to begin with. Not really, anyway. After all, who would consider having an attractive girl practically begging for your attention a problem? Certainly not anyone who enjoyed female company. And Ai definitely fell into that category.
The real issue then, was not the fact that a certain Kamei Eri was currently right on top of her and being 'educated' in the fine art of exchanging bodily fluids through some very physical means. No, it was definitely not a problem. Not that particular incident anyway.
No, it was just the fact that their current location was a little less than ideal for the erstwhile assassin. For one thing, they were in Eri's house. For another thing, they were right out in the open, and if one may emphasize again, in Eri's house.
Oh, the servants were hardly of any consideration. They were highly efficient and incredibly discreet, able to vanish into the proverbial background with hardly any visible effort. They would not prove much of an obstacle as they would not appear unless called for. And neither girl was of any mind to call for an obstruction to their activities, much less be in a position to actually do so.
Nor was Yuuka going to be a problem. If anything, that little girl was even less obtrusive than any one of the servants, or to wit, any one of the various vases taking up space in return for asthetic pleasure to the viewer. In fact, she was even less invasive than that, being conveniently elusive and happily absent from the luxurious sitting room where her sister and her newfound 'friend' were currently engaged in intimate contact.
What was a problem though, was the fact that Ai was acutely aware of the fact that at least half a dozen well hidden cameras were on them at any given point of time when they were in Eri's home, and that her paramour's father would most likely have an apopletic fit as and when he were to review the footage. Well, if that happened she would most likely save herself a great deal of trouble, Ai mused idly as her hands wandered over Eri's curvaceous body.
The young woman was fully tempted to flip her younger partner over and take charge of the proceedings, but resisted the temptation to do so. In this position, she would still maintain some sense of plausible deniability, since this particular encounter was most definitely not of her instigation. Rather surprisingly (or possibly not), Eri had taken the initiative to nuzzle and tease her 'teacher', which had rapidly escalated into a full scale make out session as expected.
Ai was not complaining. Eri was very affectionate towards the people she liked, and Ai saw no trouble taking advantage of the fact. In fact, despite knowing that one Kamei Otosuke would be due back from his business trip soon, she did not do much to discourage Eri from clinging to her like a remora. One that was currently fairly intent on leaving some visible marks on her neck. The turtle had sharp teeth, Ai thought with some amusement.
"Eri, stop." Ai ordered briskly, gently but firmly pushing the pouting girl just enough away so that she could sit up properly. Eri looked at her through lidded eyes, like an indignant child separated from her candy. Ai smiled and patted the taller girl on the head, planting a soft kiss on her forehead to placate her.
"I was having fun..." Eri whined as she leaned her head on Ai's shoulder, nuzzling the spots she had bitten earlier. Ai chuckled, shaking her head.
"I don't mind experimenting with you, but I don't intend to be a mere plaything for someone engaged to be married within a year." There was a thinly veiled edge to Ai's offhand tone, a tone that brought Eri up short as she pulled away to look up at Ai.
"Are you jealous?" Eri sounded rather pleased with herself, pressing her cheek to Ai's. "That's so cute, Ai-chan~"
Ai laughed despite herself. "You're adorable, Eri."
"Of course I am." The smug confidence of that statement prompted an eye roll from the older, which in turn drew a pout and poke from the younger. The chain of action and reaction ultimately led to a cushion fight, for lack of pillows in the immediate vicinity, and would have gone further and on to the activities they were engaged in previously, but for an untimely interruption.
"What is going on?"
The girls froze, Eri dropping the cushion on Ai's face and scrambling off the older girl in a hurry. Ai sat up slowly, pushing her hair away from her face as she calmly eyed the latest development.
Kamei Otosuke regarded the situation he had walked in on. He had been keeping up with what had been going on in Eri's life, as he was always wont to do, and he could not help but notice that his daughter had been getting unwholesomely attached to one Takahashi Ai. He did not particularly like that turn of events, although he had to admit that Eri did look a lot happier when Takahashi was with her.
Still, there had to be limits. He narrowed his gaze at his shifty-looking daughter. Eri looked terribly awkward, as if she had been caught doing something inappropriate. Takahashi, on the other hand, was still looking as if all was well. However, his sharp eye caught the fact that the other girl moving her hand over his daughter's in an almost reassuring manner, which appeared to calm Eri down a little. Otosuke decided that it was about time he had a chat with the girl.
"Takahashi-san. Come with me to the study." His tone held a peremptory note of command, and he did not miss the flash of panic that flitted through Eri's eyes. Their joined hands tightened, Eri obviously unwilling to let go, but Ai shook her head and pulled away, standing up and straightening her clothes.
"Of course." The tiny young woman fell into step obediently beside the imposing male figure, glancing back at Eri as they walked up the steps.
She was rather surprised by the bubbling pot of emotions contained in Eri's dark eyes. Fear and resentment directed at her father's back, her lips drawn into a thin line, flat with unexpressed anger. When Ai met her eyes though, she wondered if she had been imagining things as Eri looked at her with pleading, hopeful eyes. As if hoping that Ai would rescue her, and not abandon her.
Ai returned the gaze with as much sincerity as she could muster in a nanosecond, before turning back to catch up with Otosuke. A self-mocking sneer played ghost-like on her lips before reverting to her usual impassive mask.
I'm not going to be your hero, Eri. I never was.
~*~*~
Three weeks of not having to spend late nights out for all the wrong reasons should have done one Michishige Sayumi a world of good. In fact, it did, to some extent.
However, she had had another thing with which to occupy her time, in the form of her senpai, Niigaki Risa. Sayumi might have been a narcissist and a very good one at that, but she wasn't so self interested as to ignore the suffering Risa.
The bunny girl did her best to cheer the depressed Risa up during that time when Ai had been all but incommunicado, both to her and to Risa. Despite her best efforts though, Risa had still been quietly withdrawn, her eyes sunken in and her entire frame always seeming to turn inward on herself. The fact that Ai had not made any contact with her during that time only seemed to worsen her condition.
Sayumi had tried to turn Risa's attention away from her obsessive fixation on Ai, but to little avail. The only benefit(?) that had sprung from that pointless venture had been a veritable wealth of information of how Ai had been when they were children.
Apparently, she wasn't always a monster... Sayumi thought laconically. Risa's childhood memories of Ai had been multifaceted: earnest, serious, crybaby, dependent yet dependable. Nothing like the somewhat flippant and coldly uncaring adult she had grown into. Sayumi wondered what went wrong in between.
At least Risa hadn't expressed any more suicidal tendencies during the time she had been keeping watch on her. Sayumi felt some small relief at that. But for the lack of cheeriness, Risa was fully functional as a student. She went to classes, did her homework, and ate and slept enough to continue functioning.
Unfortunately, that was also all she was doing: functioning. She did not socialize beyond what was strictly necessary, did everything she had to do and then went straight home. Sayumi had followed her back on a couple of occasions, discreetly looking around the scrupulously neat apartment. There had been a bottle of sleeping pills by the bed, but Risa had reassured her that she never went over the limit in using them to help her sleep at night. Sayumi had only been half convinced, but she couldn't very well flush the pills away or force Risa to stop using them. She couldn't, even if she wanted to. She didn't have any right to do anything.
Still, she tried her best. Sayumi cared about her friends, and would do anything to help them out. Besides, a Gaki-san that wasn't genki just wasn't Gaki-san at all. Sayumi just wanted her cheerful senior back. Was that too much to ask?
It all came back to Takahashi Ai, of course. It was all her fault. Sayumi believed in that. That idiot was always just following her own desires, doing whatever she liked without caring about others around her. Sayumi herself had also been the recipient of such capriciousness, so she knew.
Yet, Gaki-san was still so foolishly attached to her. Sayumi repressed a sigh; was she not also attached to Ai, albeit in a very different way? They had a peculiar relationship, if it could even be called that. There was a peculiar understanding between them, and Sayumi was certain that she had peeked into a world that Ai had never shown to Risa, and if her intuition was right, Ai would never let Risa anywhere near that world either.
It was not safe. Sayumi knew it, had brushed past it in her business dealings, and didn't want to know any more than she already did. It was tough enough having to live a double life as an escort and a normal student; she didn't want to have to deal with the underside of Tokyo any more than she already did.
"Sayu, are you alright?" Sayumi blinked, almost upsetting her juice.
"Ah, Gaki-san, I'm fine." They were out, mostly because Sayumi had insisted and Risa could have no room for disagreement. She was not yet fully alright, but she was less depressed now as well. Baby steps, Sayumi thought wryly. Some improvement was better than none.
"Did you know, Ai-chan only drinks 100% orange juice? She spits it out automatically if someone tries to pass anything other than that off to her. Really, she's always been so picky..." Again with the random trivia. Sayumi hid another sigh. No matter what they did or where they were, Gaki-san could always bring up something related to that woman.
I'm sure I know a few things about her that you don't... Sayumi thought a bit ironically. Secrets in bed really shouldn't be shared though. Without really thinking about it, Sayumi looked across the street from the cafe they were seated at. Instantly, something caught her eye, and before her mind had processsed it, her mouth was already working.
"Is she always popular with girls or what?" Risa blinked. "Huh?"
Sayumi shook her head and quickly looked back down at her juice, fiddling nervously with the straw. "Um, nothing, just..."
"I know." Sayumi looked up sharply. Gaki-san was smiling sadly.
"Ai-chan likes girls. You know too, right?" Sayu gaped at her, straw slipping from her fingers. Risa looked down. "That time we were at the ice cream parlor, you looked like you knew about it. Maybe you saw her with someone? That's what I thought..."
I did more than just that... Sayumi thought faintly. I was one of those someones. Gathering her wits together, she tried to focus on Risa and not on the couple just across the street and thankfully, out of Risa's direct line of sight.
"Isn't it hard for you? You like her, but she's always with other girls...?" Sayumi couldn't believe they were actually having this conversation, right here and now. Somehow, they had managed to swerve around it during all those weeks that Sayumi had been trying to rehabilitate her senior.
"So you're not weirded out?" The question seemed important to her. Sayumi shook her head.
"Not at all. It's just...different." She couldn't very well say anything else. Anything else would simply brand her a hypocrite, even if Gaki-san didn't know about it.
Sayumi was feeling incredibly uncomfortable at the moment. Her personal issues aside, the fact that the object of their discussion was currently just across the street with a very hot girl on her arm made everything even more awkward than it already was. Right now, she had to prevent her still oblivious senior from noticing them before it was too late.
Risa was still talking, and Sayumi tuned back in quickly.
"...I'm just happy that Ai-chan still takes time for me. She's changed a lot, but somewhere inside, she's still my Ai-chan." Such belief. It was almost touching. Sayumi was half tempted to retch, slap Risa, turn her around, and point her right at where one Takahashi Ai was currently flirting with the slightly taller girl clinging to her, and apparently, having a lot of fun.
Sayumi was under no illusions about what kind of a person Ai was now. The Ai that Risa had described to her; that gentle, earnest little crybaby, she didn't exist anymore. That was what Sayumi believed, but how could she tell that to Risa? How did one break another's illusions in a gentle way? Was it even possible?
Her own situation was somewhat different. She knew full well that she was one of Ai's many girls, although she also knew that Ai favored her because there were only so many girls who would put up with all the games that the demon liked to play, and was good at keeping secrets at the same time. She had a peculiar kind of affection for Ai, something born out of repeated intimacy, but it was a different kind of attachment from the kind that Gaki-san had for her.
"Sayu? Is something wrong? You keep spacing out..." Risa waved her hand in front of Sayu, who jolted with a start, and did manage to spill her drink this time.
"Ah!" The juice did not splash onto her, but the damage was done. The liquid soaked into the thick tablecloth, disappearing into the heavy material and discoloring it. Just as the secrets she bore did with her.
Smiling faintly at Gaki-san, Sayu continued to entertain her senpai, her gaze travelling fractionally upwards and off to one side...
...and met a familiar chocolate gaze, tinged heavily with mirth. The demon had become aware of her, and Sayu sucked in a deep breath, averting her eyes and fixing it on the concerned face before her.
"It's really nothing...I just haven't been getting proper sleep, that's all...nothing at all..."
Across the street, Kamei Eri leaned on her shorter partner, their hands intertwined together. Ai was looking across the crowd, the edge of a smile haunting her lips, before turning back to the spoiled rich girl on her arm.
"Let's go back. We can have more fun hanging out at your house."
"Un!"
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Sorry about the delay. But it's here!
About the layout of this chapter, the bottom part happens right before the top part. Just so no one (and myself) gets confused. Lol.
Freaking tired. Class in a couple hours. No sleep at all. Brain breaking down...
Please forgive any mistakes in the chapter. I'll fix it later. Eventually. Will help if you guys pointed out any mistakes. Ja!
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The real issue then, was not the fact that a certain Kamei Eri was currently right on top of her and being 'educated' in the fine art of exchanging bodily fluids through some very physical means. No, it was definitely not a problem. Not that particular incident anyway.
No, it was just the fact that their current location was a little less than ideal for the erstwhile assassin. For one thing, they were in Eri's house. For another thing, they were right out in the open, and if one may emphasize again, in Eri's house.
:shocked
... *nosebleed*
*faints*
I'm not going to be your hero, Eri. I never was.
*wails* :cry: (I can't use the other smileys because the instead I click for the full list my computer freezes. :sweatdrop:)
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*cough* Okay now onto the real review...
Somehow, I'm still in love with the relationship between Ai and Eri... Very much so. But like Sayu, I want to shake Risa and tell her the truth. I want to see just how it'll end up... the relationships between Ai and the other girls, I mean. :(
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I sorta knew that the order of the top part didn't directly connect to the bottom in that order, but I amused myself with thinking that Kamei Otosuke pulled Ai into his study and told her that he approved of her ways of making Eri happy. Then promptly called off Eri's engagement and told her to "go take my daughter out for some ice cream to celebrate." Ahaha, how did I make something so serious funny to me all the sudden. I'm totally spoiling it, I'm sorry. XD
But yes I'm still reading and loving every bit of it! So please continue (at your own pace)! :D
Poor Gaki's so broken! Good thing Sayu blocked her view or else she might have cried a river and drowned all mankind. How long can they hide things from Gaki? Dun dun dun...
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oh no~ I'm a little lightheaded...I think I've been holding my breath for too long during this chapter. First with Eri and Ai and daddy-spy-turtle. So my thought was right...he does watch them on camera...creepy~! He's still playing it sort of cool...maybe Ai chan can still stick around...hopefully anyways...though I wouldn't mind it if Ai chan did get booted out of the house. Then Eri will have to interact with Ai chan in the outside world, in Sayu and Gaki's world :D
I loved that part btw! I was really holding my breath...when Sayu saw Ai chan and Eri. It was very suspenseful! I was so worried that Gaki would see them when Sayu spilled the drink. I love how the devilish side of Sayu wanted to point Ai chan out to Gaki...it added to the sense of danger!
Sayu's funny as usual and the vase comparison was hilarious XD
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Ufufufufufu~ Ai and Eri get caught by daddy. XD
Hmm, I wonder what talk will happen between Ai and Dad. From the looks of it Ai is not going to leave Eri with any hope at all in the end.
Yay, it's nice to see that Risa isn't trying to kill herself anymore, although still depressed. Like Sayu said, baby steps, baby steps. While Ai may be what she is now, I wonder if there still is the Ai-chan that Gaki-san knew. I mean if Ai is trying to protect Risa and have her avoid the underworld at all costs, there still exists a little of old Ai underneath all the bitter layers above it.
Perhaps, I'm a bit too optimistic? XD
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File #16
Few things troubled someone like Takahashi Ai. Even if certain things merited a certain amount of justifiable worry, she had since learned to maintain a facade of poised calm, regardless of what she personally felt about it.
In her line of work, being troubled is something one cannot afford to suffer from. Steely resolve is what's needed not only to do well, but to keep one's ass alive.
Right now though, she was troubled. Well, perhaps the term was a little strong for what she currently felt. In any case, Ai deemed it a matter worthy of some consideration, especially considering the nature of her mission.
Really now? Question then is, what about? :?
The real issue then, was not the fact that a certain Kamei Eri was currently right on top of her and being 'educated' in the fine art of exchanging bodily fluids through some very physical means. No, it was definitely not a problem. Not that particular incident anyway.
Oh boy...:O
No, it was just the fact that their current location was a little less than ideal for the erstwhile assassin. For one thing, they were in Eri's house. For another thing, they were right out in the open, and if one may emphasize again, in Eri's house.
...
What was a problem though, was the fact that Ai was acutely aware of the fact that at least half a dozen well hidden cameras were on them at any given point of time when they were in Eri's home, and that her paramour's father would most likely have an apopletic fit as and when he were to review the footage.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh boy. :o
If Eri's dad finds out about this... :shocked
The young woman was fully tempted to flip her younger partner over and take charge of the proceedings, but resisted the temptation to do so. In this position, she would still maintain some sense of plausible deniability, since this particular encounter was most definitely not of her instigation. Rather surprisingly (or possibly not), Eri had taken the initiative to nuzzle and tease her 'teacher', which had rapidly escalated into a full scale make out session as expected.
Oh really? Eri you little minx. :twisted:
Ai laughed despite herself. "You're adorable, Eri."
"Of course I am." The smug confidence of that statement prompted an eye roll from the older, which in turn drew a pout and poke from the younger. The chain of action and reaction ultimately led to a cushion fight, for lack of pillows in the immediate vicinity, and would have gone further and on to the activities they were engaged in previously, but for an untimely interruption.
"What is going on?"
The girls froze, Eri dropping the cushion on Ai's face and scrambling off the older girl in a hurry. Ai sat up slowly, pushing her hair away from her face as she calmly eyed the latest development.
Kamei Otosuke regarded the situation he had walked in on. He had been keeping up with what had been going on in Eri's life, as he was always wont to do, and he could not help but notice that his daughter had been getting unwholesomely attached to one Takahashi Ai.
Well...at least he walked in on them during the pillow fight, instead of during the making out. :sweatdrop:
He did not particularly like that turn of events, although he had to admit that Eri did look a lot happier when Takahashi was with her.
Ah, so he DOES notice these types of things? Makes one wonder if he ever took into consideration that she's NOT happy when she has to be around the "fiance" that was selected for her.
However, his sharp eye caught the fact that the other girl moving her hand over his daughter's in an almost reassuring manner, which appeared to calm Eri down a little. Otosuke decided that it was about time he had a chat with the girl.
"Takahashi-san. Come with me to the study." His tone held a preemptory note of command, and he did not miss the flash of panic that flitted through Eri's eyes.
Eri's worried that he's going to fire Aichan as her tutor...meanwhile I'm worried about there being a "bigger confrontation".
:scared:
She was rather surprised by the bubbling pot of emotions contained in Eri's dark eyes. Fear and resentment directed at her father's back, her lips drawn into a thin line, flat with unexpressed anger. When Ai met her eyes though, she wondered if she had been imagining things as Eri looked at her with pleading, hopeful eyes. As if hoping that Ai would rescue her, and not abandon her.
Aichan still doesn't get just how...attached other people get to her. In some ways it obviously makes her job easier to do. If she knew about these sorts of emotion attachments it would be harder for her to "do what needed to be done" in terms of her job because she'd become concerned with the how her actions would affect those around her.
Ai returned the gaze with as much sincerity as she could muster in a nanosecond, before turning back to catch up with Otosuke. A self-mocking sneer played ghost-like on her lips before reverting to her usual impassive mask.
I'm not going to be your hero, Eri. I never was.
The ease with which she said that.....it's like she's actually become unable to express any emotion.
:mon scare:
Three weeks of not having to spend late nights out for all the wrong reasons should have done one Michishige Sayumi a world of good. In fact, it did, to some extent.
She's finally getting caught up on her homework? :D
The bunny girl did her best to cheer the depressed Risa up during that time when Ai had been all but incommunicado, both to her and to Risa. Despite her best efforts though, Risa had still been quietly withdrawn, her eyes sunken in and her entire frame always seeming to turn inward on herself. The fact that Ai had not made any contact with her during that time only seemed to worsen her condition.
Awwwwwww...Sayu's such a caring kouhai. :)
But does she know about how Risa feels the same as she does about Aichan? Furthermore, what if she finds out about what happened with Risa and Aichan?
:gmon blonde:
Risa's childhood memories of Ai had been multifaceted: earnest, serious, crybaby, dependent yet dependable. Nothing like the somewhat flippant and coldly uncaring adult she had grown into. Sayumi wondered what went wrong in between.
Geez, if either of them only knew. :'(
At least Risa hadn't expressed any more suicidal tendencies during the time she had been keeping watch on her. Sayumi felt some small relief at that. But for the lack of cheeriness, Risa was fully functional as a student. She went to classes, did her homework, and ate and slept enough to continue functioning.
Unfortunately, that was also all she was doing: functioning. She did not socialize beyond what was strictly necessary, did everything she had to do and then went straight home. Sayumi had followed her back on a couple of occasions, discreetly looking around the scrupulously neat apartment. There had been a bottle of sleeping pills by the bed, but Risa had reassured her that she never went over the limit in using them to help her sleep at night. Sayumi had only been half convinced, but she couldn't very well flush the pills away or force Risa to stop using them. She couldn't, even if she wanted to. She didn't have any right to do anything.
Risa...
:hip aww:
Aichan needs to be told about this. Even if she can't reciprocate what Risa feels towards her, there's got to be something she could do...a way to let her down less traumatically.
:gmon tears:
Gaki-san was still so foolishly attached to her. Sayumi repressed a sigh; was she not also attached to Ai, albeit in a very different way? They had a peculiar relationship, if it could even be called that. There was a peculiar understanding between them, and Sayumi was certain that she had peeked into a world that Ai had never shown to Risa, and if her intuition was right, Ai would never let Risa anywhere near that world either.
Never thought about it that way. As harsh as it may seem, it could be that Aichan has been keeping Risa at such a length to keep her from becoming hurt by her current life. Sayu has seen that life, so she knows that if Risa means as much to Aichan as she thinks, it isn't something that she wants her to become involved in.
No matter what they did or where they were, Gaki-san could always bring up something related to that woman.
I'm sure I know a few things about her that you don't... Sayumi thought a bit ironically. Secrets in bed really shouldn't be shared though.
Oh, if only...
Then again, it might be better if neither of them knew what went on "in that manner" between Aichan and the other. :-X
"Ai-chan likes girls. You know too, right?" Sayu gaped at her, straw slipping from her fingers. Risa looked down. "That time we were at the ice cream parlor, you looked like you knew about it. Maybe you saw her with someone? That's what I thought..."
Oh this could get...awkward.
:on freeze:
Sayumi was feeling incredibly uncomfortable at the moment. Her personal issues aside, the fact that the object of their discussion was currently just across the street with a very hot girl on her arm made everything even more awkward than it already was. Right now, she had to prevent her still oblivious senior from noticing them before it was too late.
Across the street??? Aichan??? With who...Eri?
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh boy this has so much potential to end badly.
:mon curtain:
Notice how Sayu thinks that Eri's hot? This has potential.^_^
Sayumi was under no illusions about what kind of a person Ai was now. The Ai that Risa had described to her; that gentle, earnest little crybaby, she didn't exist anymore. That was what Sayumi believed, but how could she tell that to Risa? How did one break another's illusions in a gentle way? Was it even possible?
Sayu's in quite the pickle. On the one hand, she knows that if Risa finds out about Aichan, it would just devastate her again, possibly to a point where she can't/won't be saved. On the other hand, she doesn't want Risa to continue to hope for something that obviously will never happen. She knows that unless Risa can get over Aichan, she may never have a chance to truly be happy and live her own life.
Smiling faintly at Gaki-san, Sayu continued to entertain her senpai, her gaze travelling fractionally upwards and off to one side...
...and met a familiar chocolate gaze, tinged heavily with mirth. The demon had become aware of her, and Sayu sucked in a deep breath, averting her eyes and fixing it on the concerned face before her.
Shit. Aichan's not going to cause a scene, is she? If Risa were to see her there, she might relapse to her depression.
Across the street, Kamei Eri leaned on her shorter partner, their hands intertwined together. Ai was looking across the crowd, the edge of a smile haunting her lips, before turning back to the spoiled rich girl on her arm.
"Let's go back. We can have more fun hanging out at your house."
"Un!"
If there's one thing that Aichan's good at, it's keeping things discreet when they need to be.
So...this second part takes place BEFORE the makeout session at Eri's house/getting caught by Eri's dad, right?
About the layout of this chapter, the bottom part happens right before the top part. Just so no one (and myself) gets confused. Lol.
Thought so. :)
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I'm totally hooked into your story.. ironic as it may seemed, I can't stand long chapters. But, your story seems to be doing fine to me. :on lol:
Hmm.. I should've known. Ai-chan was never going to be the 'hero' that Eri had wanted her to be. She was going to make use of Eri's affection, right? The way Ai-chan is going on now.. It's like she's ruining Eri's life. And when she leaves Eri, Eri's heart would be crashed and her life would be ruined. At least that's what I think.. Playing with Eri's feelings and later on, ruining it.
Ahhh~ Risa and Sayu's relationship is a little weird, but I like it a lot though. :kekeke: I'm glad that Risa had stopped attempting suicide, but the fact that she's still depressed over Ai-chan's changes are not making me happy. When can she snap out of it? Even I feel like slapping Risa and making her look at how evil Ai-chan is right now. Booo.. :tantrum:
I wonder.. Why do I've got a feeling that Ai-chan just wants Risa to stay out of that world that Ai-chan is in now? It's like she doesn't want Risa to find out.. afraid that Risa would break even more. Gah.
Your story is great, take your time to update if you're busy, I'm not in a hurry to read it. :on gay:
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There's nothing worse than getting caught by a parent (or someone else's parent) during an intimate moment. But I think this case is even worse b/c I'm not thinking Papa Kamei is going to be very forgiving, once he sees Ai-chan's hickeys. Ugh, and here goes Ai again, making someone fall in love with her and then dropping them like they're worthless. It's becoming quite a bad habit.
Aww, Sayu's so sweet. Glad she's being so nice to Gaki, even though she knows all this stuff that Gaki probably can't even imagine. I guess that's part of the reason. Poor Gaki doesn't know..... :sweatdrop: As long as my bean stays safe and alive. :heart:
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OMG :shock:
This have to be Done!!!! :angry1:
You can't let Gaki-san in the air :on voodoo:
Love this <3 make me blow my mind xD
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I'm tempted to see GakiShige instead of TakaGaki in this chapter. Dare I say it...Ai doesn't really deserve Risa? Besides, she's getting to be really cute with Eri. I can't believe I'm supporting Ai x Eri instead of my longtime fave pairing *shoots self with water pistol* XD
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^ For some reason I don't think we should get too attached to Ai/Eri in this. :lol:
I actually think it'd do Risa some good to see Ai in a situation like Eri hanging off her arm. Sure it'd keep her in bad shape for awhile (though she has Sayu to help her through that now), but getting a dose of reality outside of the fantasy worlds that she enters whenever she's actually with Aichan might actually be helpful....
I'm curious about Sayu's real feelings in all this too. She obviously knows what Aichan's like, and knows her place in it, but I also know she has deeper feelings for her than just that... and... unlike Risa... has occasionally had them reciprocated.
Daddy taking Ai into his office... is it time for her to strike? It's taken long enough already. :lol: I may be an evil person, but I wanna see her destroy Eri... :onionwhip:
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wow, you'r story's awesome, i read all of it in 1 day X3 keep it up! and i hope you're brain doesnt fully shut down!
XD
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Yo, comment replies everyone! Yes, you know what that means. New chapter coming up soon!
SxY: Aww poor you for not being able to use a full range of smileys. It's really ok though. I love the Ai/Eri going on too, it's interesting for me to write. XD I too want to see how the relationships will all end up, since I only have a vague idea of what's going to happen. Ok, acutally I lied. I know what will happen in the end. Hee. Not telling though. :P Thanks for continuing to put up with my slow buildup!
rev2hd: LOL! You made me laugh with that. XD Gaki's indeed broken, but eh, too bad for her? *shot by all good Gaki fans* XD Her suffering isn't quite over yet~ You'll see. >D
Sukoshi: Breathe more! Lol. I hope I'm able to perform up to everyone's expectations, really. And maybe even spring a surprise or two up on you guys, heh. XD Devil Sayu is always fun, and yes, Sayu is truly entertaining all on her own, isn't it? I'm glad you liked the vase comparison, makes me happy that someone liked it. ^_^
Fenrir: Ai's not a good person, as I have repeatedly emphasized. XD Whether or not she is actually evil really depends on your point of view lol. It's nice to be optimistic though. :P Keep on hoping (and reading)! XD
JFC: The confrontation you have all been waiting for! I can only hope that it doesn't disappoint too many people...but eh, you'll have to judge for yourself. And yeah, Sayu has it pretty hard in her "get Gaki better" plan. Should she break Gaki some more and then glue the pieces back, or try to patch her up as she is, missing a few big pieces of herself? Ah, choices. XD
rainer: I do remember you! Haha. I'm glad you don't mind reading the chapters, been trying to keep them at a manageable length. Risa does seem rather delusional with regards to Ai, doesn't it? XD Well, we'll have to see what happens. Thanks for reading! ^_^
Ichigo-chan: Ai does seem to have a bad habit of loving and leaving people here, doesn't she? Heh. xD Biased Gaki fan, aren't you? Oh well. XD Things are going to get worse before they get better though, I'm afraid. :P
Haruka: Sorry, but Gaki-san still has some ways to go. XD I have no idea if you want me to continue to be evil or not...but well, thanks for the compliment? XD
Hammy: Ai doesn't deserve a lot of things. She still happens to be getting a lot of them though. XD Come to the dark side! I shall convert you~ :P
rokun: Hehe. You already know...stuff. :P I agree though, Risa could do with a good dose of reality in order to break her dependency on Ai. Then again, circumstances must cooperate for her to be able to do so. Hehe. Sayu's also a complex entity here. Does she or does she not really love Aichan or is it just all about business? Or is it in that grey zone between? I'm betting on the grey zone personally, but eh, who really knows how deep it goes? XD Evil evil you. :P
kawaii beam: Hello there! You read it all in one day? Haha. Thanks. :) Please do continue reading!
There. Now with some editing I shall be ready to post...
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File #17
"Take a seat."
Otosuke did not leave his back open to Ai, not for a second. Be it instinct or just plain paranoia, he was not comfortable with letting the young woman out of his immediate field of vision. The girl didn't seem particularly bothered or even edgy, merely looking around the elegantly yet simply furnished study with some curiosity as she stood a respectable distance away from the large desk that was the focus of the room.
There were two chairs situated right before the desk. One was a plush leather armchair, large and comfy, made for the user to sink right in and feel at ease. The other was a more utilitarian swivel-chair, barely padded and encouraging a straighter pose. Ai picked the latter without a second thought, sitting down daintily, keeping a certain distance between herself and the edge of the desk. Otosuke noted that it was just the right distance for a person her size to spring up instantly without banging her knees against the desk. Ai simply waited, folding her hands on her lap.
"What do you want with my daughter, Takahashi-san?"
No preamble. Ai lifted her eyes from the board she had been studying, raising one hand to push her hair back from her face. Otosuke could clearly see the reddening marks that were showing on the girl's neck, but showed no obvious reaction save for the subtle flaring of his nostrils.
"Nothing more than a little entertainment, Kamei-sama." Her voice was cool, detached. Her hands returned to their original place on her lap as she continued.
"I have no intention of being any more than a phase in your daughter's life." Ai returned her gaze back to the complex patterns of black and white arrayed on the wide table before her.
"This...game of yours will hurt her." His voice was just slightly accusatory, even as he came away from the windows on the side, arriving at the side of the desk. True to his nature, he never sat with his back to any opening, be it window or door. Too easy to be surprised in case of ambush.
"You spoil her too much, Kamei-sama." Clear eyes met hazy grey, a stubborn lift of a young chin in defiance as Ai held his gaze. "Eri...is no longer a child."
A small twist of a smile. "Perhaps. But you are not a parent, Takahashi. What would you know?"
Her answering smile was grim. "Enough to know that Eri is more capable than you think." She gave him a look. "She no longer needs to be protected like this."
"And yet there are still wolves like you hovering around her..." He had moved to the other side of the desk, directly opposite Ai. One hand played with a silver letter opener, though he still remained standing.
"A wolf that you let into your own den, if I may remind you." Ai pointed out calmly. She did not seem phased by the accusation. Otosuke grimaced briefly, but otherwise maintained a cool expression.
"A moment of folly, perhaps." He leaned down, closer to an impassive Ai. "I could remove one such as you easily enough though." So don't push your luck.
"I will not harm her, rest assured. She will do as she will, and be the good daughter she has always been." A wry grin. "Though she does seem rather aggressive at times, as you have probably seen."
Otosuke coughed discreetly, moving away from Ai. He glanced at the visible hickeys on Ai's neck, a distinct look of distaste crossing his face.
"She will marry Kobayashi. It is for her own good."
Ai nodded. "I do not intend to change that. I will leave at the right time." She looked seriously at Otosuke. "Until then, I will be Eri's summer romance, before she settles down for good."
"I will hold you to that." The implied threat was not said, and never would be, but both parties understood it well enough. Ai inclined her head politely in acknowledgment, then reached out with one hand. Otosuke's fingers tightened around the letter opener, but did not move rashly.
She took a black pebble from its ornately carved receptacle, placing it with a sharp clack on polished wood, unlocking the puzzle. The black serpent had been revived, coiling around the board like a malevolent force.
Otosuke stared at the panel, then up at the girl who had unlocked the pattern. Ai blinked sleepily at him, in a way that peculiarly reminded him of his own daughter. He shook his head briefly to clear it.
"Do you play this?" More to cover the awkward moment than out of any real interest.
"I dabble. Beginner's luck, most likely." Ai replied modestly, standing up. She was still almost a head shorter than the stately Otosuke, but she did not seem that much smaller with the way she held herself.
"If there is nothing else, I will leave." Otosuke nodded his assent, but Ai didn't turn immediately. Instead, she matched his gaze evenly.
"A word of advice, Kamei-sama, if you would listen." Otosuke raised an eyebrow, but did not raise any objection. Ai moved along the length of the desk, coming to stand by the side where she could look straight out of the window. Her hand lingered on the table edge, finger tips brushing the grainy surface.
"Even a caged bird knows how to fly. All it needs is an opening." Ai glanced over at Otosuke.
"Eri is ready, Kamei-sama. Give her a chance." With that, she bowed, making her way out.
Otosuke remained silent, eyes turned downwards to the go board, transfixed by the compelling pattern. The coiled serpent seemed almost alive, both eyes open and writhing through a sea of white. Only when Ai did exit with a soft click of the door did he look up, eyes narrowed.
"Really..."
Who are you, Takahashi?
~*~*~
Ai let out a breath as she closed the door behind her, and was immediately assaulted by a frantic Eri, who enveloped her with a back-breaking hug that threatened to cut off her air supply.
"Eri...can't...breathe..." Ai managed to choke out just as she began to see spots in front of her eyes, and Eri finally let go sheepishly, allowing the older to catch her breath.
"What happened? Did father do anything to you? Are you ok?" Ai held up a hand to cut off Eri's rapidfire questions, then linked arms with the taller girl as they walked side by side away from the door of the study.
"Everything turned out just fine. Don't worry so much." Ai put a finger on Eri's lips to cut off any further questions, a twinkle of mischief glittering in her eyes.
"But..." Eri whined, tugging insistently on Ai's sleeve as she snuggled up to the older girl. Ai patted her a bit awkwardly on the head, an indulgent smile playing on her lips.
"Just leave everything to me, ojou-chan." Eri pouted, and Ai leaned across to lay a soft, chaste kiss on those full lips. Eri seemed a bit startled by the forwardness, her eyes shifting a little nervously in the direction of the study where her father was, but Ai had already withdrawn, a self-satisfied smile on her face.
"You're terrible Ai-chan..." Eri mumbled, clinging to the older girl. "But that's why I like you..."
Ai smiled. "I know."
Of course I do. You're as good as mine. Just a little more...
~*~*~
"What is it, Father?" Eri asked meekly. Otosuke had his back to her, staring out of the window into the gardens below.
"Do you know why I betrothed you to Kobayashi?"
Eri started slightly, wringing her hands together. She looked at the cold back of her father, feeling a surge of indignation well up within her, but suppressing the instinct as usual.
"Because he can take care of me, and Father's company." Eri answered honestly, in an even a voice as she could manage. She knew that as a girl, she could not take control of the company without some substantial backlash from the shareholders. Her father had known that, which was why he had arranged the marriage to someone he believed to be reliable. Always planning ahead, that was what he did.
"The company is yours too, Eri." He dropped the suffix from her name, calling her directly without any honorifics attached. It felt like a peculiarly adult conversation, for once. Eri shifted on her feet, clearly uncomfortable with the sudden shift in atmosphere.
"You are my daughter. You should know about the business, even if your husband will be in charge of operations after the marriage." Otosuke had turned around, fixing an intense gaze on Eri.
Eri set her jaw firmly, meeting her father's gaze full on for what was probably the first time in her life. A hint of steel was in her eyes as she replied.
"I won't disappoint you, Father."
~*~*~
It was like waking from a hazy dream, the state between wakefulness and total unconsciousness. With it came a throbbing headache, as if her skull was too small to contain everything within.
She might have been dreaming, but she knew well enough that there had been no dream. No dream beyond the chemical, of drug-induced sleep. Her dependency on the pills set on the dresser next to her was distressing, but she no longer cared. Anything to quiet the nightmares.
It was somewhere past midnight, much later, or rather, early in the morning. The blinking red numerals seemed like an accusation, questioning her conscious state at this time.
Unconsciously, she reached out for the bottle of pills, ready to take another dose to knock her out for the remainder of the night. A pause, with the realization that she needed water. She could not swallow the pills dry, no matter how often she was used to taking them.
Her body ached in protest as she swung herself out of bed, one hand still clutching the bottle like a veritable lifeline, even as her vision swam from the abrupt movement. Her headache did not seem ready to let up, and it was with some difficulty that she navigated the short distance from her bed to the door leading to the sitting room.
Her hand shook as she poured herself a glass of lukewarm water, her vision still bleary and marred by darkness. She had not turned on the lights, did not need to, not in her own home where everything was so familiar to her.
No lights. She turned her head slowly back to the sitting room. She was sure she had turned off all the lights before retiring to bed earlier. Did she miss a lamp earlier? The soft glow by the couch drew her, like a moth to the flame, and so she proceeded, shambling like a zombie towards it.
Her mind being what it was, ravaged by headache and weariness, could not process what entered her vision right at first. It took the sound of the pill bottle clattering to the ground, spilling its contents in every direction, before her mind finally audited the input.
"Ai...chan?" The chill air seemed almost to rob the raspy whisper of her voice, swallowing it into the darkness. She reached out with one shaky hand, to touch the soft, pale cheek of the person laid in slumber on the couch.
Just one inch shy of contact, an iron grip snaked around her wrist, dark eyes snapping open. She cried out, more in surprise than fear, and their eyes met.
"Ai-chan...why are you here?" Ai stared up with unreadable eyes, pulling the hand she had just snared down to caress her own cheek, even as she slowly closed her eyes again.
"Am I not welcome?" Her voice was quiet, barely more than a whisper.
"I've missed you......Risa."
===========================================================
Ohohohoho~
*skips off*
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Well, I would comment on the AiEri that's still present, but that last part of this just... :shocked What in the world is Ai doing at Risa's place?? And how is Risa gonna respond to this!? Ai-chan just what are you doing/planning!? *shakes head confusedly*
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EH~!?!?!?!?!? what??!?!?!?!? how dare you cluf hang us~!!!!! XD
*runs after you*
what will risa do???? MOU~! not fair >.< XD
keep it up though~!
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Evil! You're evil! XD XD
It seems Ai's plan for Eri and Otosuke is running smoothly.
But now why is Ai back at Risa's!?!! WTF?!! XD Ai-chan must have dark intentions of being there. So bad, yet so good. XD
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Hah... Ai probably needed a break from Eri. Eeekz I'm beginning to feel bad for Eri!!! Don't be mean to her!!!!
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File #17
Otosuke noted that it was just the right distance for a person her size to spring up instantly without banging her knees against the desk. Ai simply waited, folding her hands on her lap.
Wow, the old man's pretty sharp. Well, if he wasn't he'd probably be long dead.
"Though she does seem rather aggressive at times, as you have probably seen."
LOL. Ai really has the upper hand at making him lose his mind here.
"And by the way, I like her new tattoo."
"WHAT?!"
"Oh, you didn't know about that? It's right above her--"
*Otosuke pulls out a lightsaber*
Who are you, Takahashi?
"I AM YOUR FATHER."
*both engage in a battle to the death*
Okay, I think I'm having too much fun here. XD
Ahem, anyways, I think Otosuke will let the little "summer romance" slide for now, but I think he's gonna be gunning for Ai's head later because well, she touched his daughter and triggered the turning of the rebellious gears in Eri's head.
Eri set her jaw firmly, meeting her father's gaze full on for what was probably the first time in her life. A hint of steel was in her eyes as she replied.
"I won't disappoint you, Father."
It would be a bit lol if Eri ended up killing her own father. Man, could Ai really be that good at pulling strings? I wouldn't mind seeing a raging turtle. :D Or is Ai trying to bait Eri into practically asking her to do the deed for her? Hmm.
"Set me free so we can run away together <3<3<3"
"Okay!"
"I've missed you......Risa."
Does she really?
Why do I get this feeling that there's a giant subplot we're not seeing? And like lil_hamz mentioned in an earlier post, this Ai/Eri is rather addictive. Even if I'm usually all for TakaGaki, I wouldn't mind seeing Ai and Eri going gaga over each other in this fic. It seems so right. 8D
Can't wait to see what you have next in store for us. Do write more awesomeness =)
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So daddy "accepts" his daughter's wayward relationship eh. I don't doubt at all Ai saying she has no intentions to keep things going indefinitely with Eri - I'd be very surprised if she did actually, she's just not the type - but I am a bit worried about how this newly aggressive Eri thinks of things. She won't want to let Ai go quite so easily I think, assuming it comes to that point. Of course, circumstances could change things, like if daddy somehow died in his sleep. :roll: Glad to see the potential for some more Ai/Eri hotness to come though, although knowing Ai it could get to a point that daddy definitely wouldn't approve of... >.>
I third (or is it fourth? :lol:) the sentiment: Wtf is Ai doing at Risa's?! :lol: Maybe she felt like she's left Risa alone for too long. Still, she has to know she's torturing the girl. I guess her intention was for it to last longer than just that night (or two)... Can we see her with Sayu next? :w00t: Yet another thing of "poor Eri if she finds out" lol.
Hmm, it seems to me rev might have some good thoughts on things. ;)
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Ooo Ai chan's so smooth~ while reading, it has crossed my mind that Ai chan might be using Eri for more than a little entertainment...after all Ai chan is such a good liar. I wonder if Ai chan would have any use for Otosuke's company. Assassin associations have to get their money somehow too, right? Okay..that maybe a weird thought but I can't really see Ai chan getting Eri to kill Otosuke...so there has to be a reason Ai chan dropped that hint about the bird cage. Out of kindness? ho ho ho...I think not.
Yeah...I just can't give Ai chan the benefit of the doubt...well not after that whole Risa incident anyways. I bet she's up to no good visiting Risa too! I think she actually forgot about her for awhile until she saw Sayu the other night. I can see her being relieved that Risa has someone taking care of her but I can also see her being jealous deep down and that's why she's at the apartment now.
I may think Ai chan's up to no good but heck she's the best when she's evil. Totally can't wait to see how this midnight visit pans out.
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haha.....as usual, the chapters always pique my curiosity............esp at the end! argh! ai-chan so arrogant.....going back to risa after making out with eri.........well, *sigh* can't help it! what a play girl! haha :bigdeal: :bigdeal: :bigdeal:
more sweet moments, author-san! :kneelbow:
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I think I kind of like Papa Kamei, he may not always be there for Eri but he didn't fire Ai. And that takes a lot of guts, especially when he knows what's going on. He knows she makes Eri happy but he doesn't want to see his little girl be hurt. Ai still scares me....in a sexy kind of way~ :lol: As for my thoughts about Ai-chan's little hints, I have no idea what could possibly happen. :P
Kyaa, Eri just sounds so cute, all determined to make her papa proud. The girl is definitely more capable than he gives her credit for, but then it comes back to the whole overprotective father thing. I suppose the fact that her mother isn't around kind of reenforces his guard around her.
Ack, no more pills, Gaki!!! :cry: Please stop. Oh shit, Ai-chan??? :sweatdrop: My first thoughts were that Ai will twist Gaki's pining affection for her and fuck her senseless again. :shocked
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Ohohoho, I return! Short chapter this time, but eh, comment replies first. :3
SxY: Lol the question of just what exactly Ai is doing at Risa's place seems to be the main question. Hehe. >D I love confusing people. :3
kawaii beam: I can, and I did! *runs away laughing evilly* I wonder what Risa does indeed...hehe...
Fenrir: Yes I am. :D Why does everyone suspect dark intentions immediately? Oh well, then again, this version of Ai does seem pretty evil, so well...XD
stefy: I'm not gonna be that mean to her. Haha I love your simplistic answer to things. XD
rev2hd: ROFL! Continue spoofing, I don't mind. I need a laugh every now and then. :P Raging turtle? I do wonder. Hehe. I have plans~ I know, Ai/Eri is really fun, but well...I have plans. Hurhur. More awesomeness (?) coming up soon!
rokun: Yeah Eri could possibly throw a spanner into the works given her recent assertiveness. We'll have to see what happens. :P Daddy definitely wouldn't approve of what Ai has in mind for Eri, but Ai has her ways of getting what she wants. XD Lol everyone wants to know what Ai is doing with Risa. Pitying Eri already? Heh. We'll see what happens soon enough.
Sukoshi: Ai always plays her cards close to her chest. XD Hard to tell what exactly she's up to, ain't it? :P That said, she has plans, and so do I. Hoho. Another person added to the "Ai is up to no good!" theory list. We'll see in the coming chapter. Hehe. Evil!Ai FTW!
ayase909: Yeah Ai-chan is pretty arrogant, ain't she? She still rocks though. Sweet moments? Wait for it, they're coming. :D
Ichigo-chan: Ai is sexy. Especially when evil. XD Don't worry, just sit back and enjoy the ride, no need to think so much. :P Yeah Eri is more capable than she seems, everyone isn't giving her enough credit actually...lol. And yeah, Gaki makes me sad, she does. Why does everyone have such a low opinion of Ai? Oh wait, I kinda gave her that rep in this story...haha.
Well, that's all for comment replies! Some editing and the chapter shall be out!
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-wedge-
My very first wedge!! woo~
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File #18
"Mama, did you know? I think I've found someone I really like."
Chin to cushion, large dark eyes staring unblinkingly. Bare feet kicked idly at the plush covers, even as one soft cheek tilted down to nuzzle into the smooth fabric, perspective shifting.
Her audience said nothing, smiling steadily with gentle warmth. One finger reached out, stroking almost tentatively as full lips parted with a soft sigh. The surface was cool to the touch, and only reminded her of the distance between them.
"I..." She started, then broke off. "She..." More hesitation, as the girl on the couch rolled onto her back, staring blankly up at the ceiling. Words bubbled up within her, but she found herself picking frantically through them, trying to find the right words to say.
"There's someone I like..." She began again, slowly this time. "Father doesn't approve, as usual." Her lips curved into a self-mocking sneer. "When does Father ever approve?"
Another sigh, and her vision shifted abruptly as she rolled back onto her stomach. Her cheeks were puffed out now, giving her the appearance of a petulant child as she squinted at the person in the frame.
"Mama, do you know? There's so many things about me that Father doesn't know about. He can't even really look at me anymore, not after you were gone. He says he's keeping me safe, but he doesn't even know what I want or need."
The words had exited in a rush, the air leaving her cheeks as they reddened in her agitation, her fingers clenching and unclenching with obvious tension. Her eyes squeezed shut for a moment, even as she inhaled slowly to calm herself down. She was no longer lying down.
"I really do like her, Mama." Her voice was even again, her eyes returning to the image of her mother gazing tenderly at her. She reached out and pulled it closer, cradling the frame in her arms.
"She reminds me of you." Her voice had dropped to a whisper. She hugged her knees to herself, the framed photo of her smiling mother tucked between her thighs and her stomach. Her eyes were fixed on an invisible spot some distance in front of her, even as she rested her chin on her now raised knees.
"Would you really approve of what I'm doing now, Mama?" One hand reached down to pull out the photo, her thumb rubbing slow circles on the glass cover. Her eyes were wistful, the hidden depths misted over with layers of unshed tears and even more secrecy.
"Is it really alright...?"
~*~*~
"Ai-chan! Don't sleep here, you'll catch cold!" Risa scolded, her voice more motherly than sharp as she had originally intended. Ai merely blinked sleepily and squinted up at her childhood friend, having readily rested her head on Risa's lap the moment the younger girl sat down on the couch.
For her part, Risa wasn't actually doing anything to reinforce her complaints, one hand still placidly stroking Ai's hair like how one would coax a child to sleep. A contented smile appeared on Ai's lips, complacent and secure in the assumption that Risa would indulge her whims.
"Ai-chan..." A gentle smile touched Risa's lips, the fog that had descended around her momentarily lifting as she threaded her fingers through the fine strands of Ai's hair. Her other hand was currently trapped in between Ai's hands and chest, such that she could feel the steady rhythm of both her heartbeat and breathing.
Ai was here, she actually was. Not some figment of her imagination, nor some hazy hallucination that her mind had cooked up. Risa let out the sigh that had been trapped within her chest for ages, a genuine sigh of relief.
Looking down at the peaceful visage of her Ai-chan, Risa moved one finger down the older girl's cheek and on to her jawline, giggling a little as Ai's nose twitched when Risa's hand brushed past it. It was almost just like old times, when Ai always came to her like a spoiled child seeking attention, and her the mature one indulging the older girl's every whim.
Almost like old times. The smile faded a little. They were both older now, for one thing. They were currently in Risa's apartment, where Risa now lived alone, away from her foster family, for her education. It was now in the middle of the night, way past her bedtime, and she was sitting in her living room with Ai dozing on her lap.
A whisper of the nightmare came back to her, of demonic eyes and impassive face, the veritable stranger that had violated her, right here in this very place, leaving her broken and in tears.
One a demon, the other an angel. Both lay slumbering within the deceptively innocent young woman dozing on her lap, and that sleeping face seemed more angelic than any newborn babe. The contrast could not be any more jarring, and conflicting emotions warred within her.
She threw that battle aside though, and focused on the moment. Ai appeared so unguarded right now, so at ease and at peace with the world. Just like how the Ai-chan that had belonged solely to her was, back in the day. Before she had left. Before everything changed.
Something wet fell onto that flawless cheek, making the skin around her eyes twitch as she frowned in her sleep. Ai opened her eyes to see Risa hurriedly wiping at her own face, as if embarrassed by the outpouring of emotion.
Risa started a little when Ai reached up to cup her cheek gently, using her thumb to flick away the rest of the tears. The tenderness of the gesture only made the tears come faster, practically reducing the younger to a sobbing mess.
Somewhere along the way, Risa found herself crying into Ai's shoulder, clinging to the older girl like a lifeline in the middle of a storm. Ai said nothing, merely continuing to pat Risa's back comfortingly, letting the younger cling to her and sob all her fears out.
"Ai-chan...baka..." There were so many things that Risa had wanted to say to her. To this cruel, gentle person that she loved and hated at the same time. A torrent of emotion, beyond words or action, surging within her. Yet all she could utter was those banal phrases, in that torn, tear-choked way that tugged at one's heartstrings.
"Risa." That voice, infinitely gentle, patiently tender. Ai guided Risa's head away from her shoulder, resting her own forehead against Risa's own, both of them enjoying the closeness.
"Ai-chan..."
"I want to sleep now." Risa stared at the earnest expression on Ai's face. The eyes were guarded, but the rest of her face was ripe with sincerity. Yet it was the eyes that had cut her off, preventing further discussion. Risa bowed her head, leaning against Ai as she wrapped her arms around the older girl's waist.
Risa clung tightly to Ai even as the older easily lifted her, wondering only in passing just how strong the fragile-seeming girl really was. The thought flitted out of her mind as quickly as it had come, even as Ai laid her down gently on her bed, before scooting in under the covers next to her.
Ai was asleep within moments, her breathing evening out and becoming smooth and regular, the tension draining from her face as she curled up into Risa's embrace. The younger girl held the older in her arms protectively, almost possessively, as if reluctant to let go or even let her out of her sight for even one moment.
With a sigh, Risa cuddled up closer into Ai, feeling the kinks in both body and mind unwind and relax at the familiar warmth. They had slept like this often, many times before, back at the orphanage when they were but mere children. In the darkest of nights, they always had each other, and always knew the way into each other's arms.
A brief, hazy thought entered her mind as it slowly began to fog with sleep's haze. Was it always Ai-chan who crawled into her bed, or was she the one who went to hers?
Her mind barely entertained the question as it winked off into dreamland, dropping off between one thought and the next. Her breathing became steady, a contented smile curving her lips.
Yet the question of her next thought that had been so abruptly cut off remained.
Was I the one holding you, or have I always just been holding on to you?
===============================================================================
Hmm. I feel very retrospective now. TakaGaki had a lot of backstory here. It makes me sad. XD
Comment freely everyone!
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-dibs- o-o
Oh yay, Eri talks to pictures now xDDD ...... o_O
Ai-chan is very... o_O... how to say this... This scene is a parallel of their past together in the orphanage. Could Ai-chan have purposely made this scene happen so she could re-live it? Frankly, I was surprised that they treated it as if their last broken scene never happened, (well, more on Ai's part since Gaki-san cried) so I'm guessing it's that reminiscent tone o_O... And you mentioned that Ai-chan was defenseless-looking as well, so it adds more to that back-in-time scenario xDDDD...
On the other hand, I haven't seen a motherly figure in Ai-chan's life yet, since she apparently was only with Takeda and possibly a lot of male figures in her bringing up. So could Gaki-san possibly be the mother-like figure that she was looking for? I mean, she was pretty much acting like an adorable child in this chapter while Gaki-san was like her mother... o___O.... Your intention? xDDDD
Looking forward to the next chappies, deary <3
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Aww... Poor Eri... hmm and Risa.
Well Risa thinks too much. She should just enjoy Ai's presence while it lasts. xD
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Awwwww~~~ Eri talking to Mama Kamei's picture= :inlove: I see now that Papa Kamei has that issue where he can't look at Eri b/c she looks like her mother. :( And yikes, Eri's getting awfully attached to Ai-chan.
Dare I say it, the TakaGaki here is cute...never thought I'd say that in this fic. :lol: So many internal conflicts for Gaki... Hmmm, the last line, does that mean that Gaki has been using Ai-chan too? Just in a less malicious way?
I'm feeling slightly optimistic now, I'm not sure why. :P
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Chapter 17
What can I say, you just write angst so darn well! And since Risa is my fav and I happen to like reading angst, I implore you to be even meaner to her XD The pills was a nice touch. It really showed how hard Risa was taking this. I can't even being to fathom why Ai came to her. My first guess was...well you already know. I have not read Chapter 18 yet but I thought I'll post this comment first just in case you know who pops in unexpectantly and I must make a hasty exit :P
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Hmm... another whole new perspective on Takagaki. :heart: It's very sweet, despite knowing what Ai-chan can do to people physically and mentally. I think they both been using each other, except Ai in a more violent and painful way than Risa. Perhaps Ai went back to Risa as a way to escape reality even if only for a brief moment as the way she reverted back to her "original" self. To escape the stress of her work, although I highly doubt she gets that stressed doing her job. XD XD But this also doesn't explain why Ai did those things to Risa the last time she was there. Ah, perhaps Ai-chan is just evil. Sexy and evil. Rawr! :theking
I believe Risa summed it up quite nicely: A demon and an angel rolled into one. The question is which one are you going to get. :O
Eri: Seems to have discontent and hatred running in her. I wonder if Ai saw this back in the beginning and will be using that to her advantage. Hmm...
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ah I thought the opening was a flashback for a second...Eri's like a cute child even as an adult. Wait...do we know how Eri's mom died? Was it Eri's fault in some way? :O
Strange how Eri sees Ai chan being similar to her mother...yet Risa is the motherly one to a childish Ai chan. Eeek maybe Ai chan and Eri are really more similar than I originally thought. :O
"Risa." That voice, infinitely gentle, patiently tender. Ai guided Risa's head away from her shoulder, resting her own forehead against Risa's own, both of them enjoying the closeness.
"Ai-chan..."
"I want to sleep now."
I can't believe her.... Risa crying her eyes out and Ai chan just wants to sleep. *shakes head* I would still be in disbelief over the matter if it weren't drowned out by the incredible TakaGaki tenderness.
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*runs after her* I SHALL GET YOU!!! XD
chappy 18
aw~! eri sounds so cute X3 poor thing......eri must feel pretty lonly since her mama's gone... :cry:
plus~
TAKAGAKI MOMENT~! X3333 for that i'll stop chasing you...
it's so sweet ~ :mon lovelaff: but i bet risa must be emotionaly screwed up..poor thing~ >.< but atleast ai-chan'swith her for now X333
ai-chan! you better not be mean to sweet mama risa-chan again!(even thought it'll probably happen again XD)
keep up the good awesome work yo!
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I got kinda confused at the start until I realized it was Eri talking. She sounds like such a kid with her mom. <3 I'm worried about her getting so close to Aichan, though. As much as I love Ai, it'll kill me if/when she does something to Eri. But I can't deny the awesomeness that is TakaGaki, either. It was just...so cute. Risa's thoughts are thrown in now, too. I wonder if she's really just hanging onto Aichan or not... I guess we'll find out.
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Well, I'm more than happy to read your story, whether it's long or short. It just attracts me too much. Your story is has got me hooked up and addicted now. :D
@ Chapter 17:
Even Papa Kamei can't figure Ai-chan out.. Tsktsk. As much as I like the attraction between AiEri in your story, Eri is being too attached to Ai-chan right now. That could ruin her future.. So. Is Eri gonna listen to her dad, or is she gonna take up her rebellious side and be with Ai-chan?
@ Chapter 18:
Eri was just so sweet when she's talking to her mother's picture.. It's like she's back to being a kid. Not that she is an adult yet. XD Ah. I can sense the hatred Eri is beginning to feel towards her dad.. Is this part of Ai-chan's plans? Hmmmm.. Ohmygod! :O Ai-chan's back to Risa.. Is it just me when I feel that Ai-chan feels like going back to her past? The one when she's still a child, a very innocent and gentle child.
Gah. Your story is addictive. Moremoremore. :inlove:
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:onioncheer: :badluck: argh! really, gaki so deeply inlove with that playgirl............
hmm........but that scene is so sweet, like ai-chan's only comfort zone is risa that's why she kept going back at her! grr,,,,,,,,i want to see the play girl hurt.......like, risa liking sayu! haha just a mere thought, y'know~ :wahaha: :whistle:
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File #17
"Take a seat."
Otosuke did not leave his back open to Ai, not for a second. Be it instinct or just plain paranoia, he was not comfortable with letting the young woman out of his immediate field of vision.
Considering how they're both in the same line of work, they both know that it would have been incredibly stupid for him to let his guard down in any case.
There were two chairs situated right before the desk. One was a plush leather armchair, large and comfy, made for the user to sink right in and feel at ease. The other was a more utilitarian swivel-chair, barely padded and encouraging a straighter pose. Ai picked the latter without a second thought, sitting down daintily, keeping a certain distance between herself and the edge of the desk. Otosuke noted that it was just the right distance for a person her size to spring up instantly without banging her knees against the desk. Ai simply waited, folding her hands on her lap.
Comfy is nice, but Aichan's "on the job" as they say, almost all the time, thus making the "utilitarian" chair a more obvious choice for her because of practicality. She's always observing, always planning, and re-planning, making sure that she's aware of what's around her and, more importantly, what she can use to her advantage. :yep:
*AICHAN-OTOSUKE "CHAT"*
/me makes cutting motions in the air.
Damn tension. The fact that they're both able to keep such calm demeanours makes it even tougher to gauge what they're really thinking about.
She took a black pebble from its ornately carved receptacle, placing it with a sharp clack on polished wood, unlocking the puzzle. The black serpent had been revived, coiling around the board like a malevolent force.
For some reason, I'm picturing something similar to a board used for Go (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_(game))? Not sure what to make of the serpent reference though. :?
Otosuke stared at the panel, then up at the girl who had unlocked the pattern. Ai blinked sleepily at him, in a way that peculiarly reminded him of his own daughter. He shook his head briefly to clear it.
"Do you play this?" More to cover the awkward moment than out of any real interest.
"I dabble. Beginner's luck, most likely." Ai replied modestly, standing up.
It almost sounds like Otosuke's been stumped by this particular one, and in comes Aichan, who "solves" it (with or without beginner's luck) within a few minutes.
"Even a caged bird knows how to fly. All it needs is an opening." Ai glanced over at Otosuke.
"Eri is ready, Kamei-sama. Give her a chance." With that, she bowed, making her way out.
Eh? Didn't expect this little turn. What is this now about Eri? :O
"You're terrible Ai-chan..." Eri mumbled, clinging to the older girl. "But that's why I like you..."
Ai smiled. "I know."
Of course I do. You're as good as mine. Just a little more...
So then, it really was ERI that was Aichan's target after all??? :o
"You are my daughter. You should know about the business, even if your husband will be in charge of operations after the marriage." Otosuke had turned around, fixing an intense gaze on Eri.
Eri set her jaw firmly, meeting her father's gaze full on for what was probably the first time in her life. A hint of steel was in her eyes as she replied.
"I won't disappoint you, Father."
:shocked
She might have been dreaming, but she knew well enough that there had been no dream. No dream beyond the chemical, of drug-induced sleep. Her dependency on the pills set on the dresser next to her was distressing, but she no longer cared. Anything to quiet the nightmares.
Nightmares? They've caused insomnia in someone?
Fuck, it's Risa, isn't it? :cry:
"Ai...chan?" The chill air seemed almost to rob the raspy whisper of her voice, swallowing it into the darkness. She reached out with one shaky hand, to touch the soft, pale cheek of the person laid in slumber on the couch.
Just one inch shy of contact, an iron grip snaked around her wrist, dark eyes snapping open. She cried out, more in surprise than fear, and their eyes met.
"Ai-chan...why are you here?" Ai stared up with unreadable eyes, pulling the hand she had just snared down to caress her own cheek, even as she slowly closed her eyes again.
"Am I not welcome?" Her voice was quiet, barely more than a whisper.
"I've missed you......Risa."
:mon wtf:
File #18
*ERI'S "TALK" WITH MAMA*
Aichan reminds her of her mom? Then her mom must have been a strong, confident woman.
Makes you wonder if Eri knows the real circumstances behind her death.
*AICHAN AT RISA'S*
While this is really sweet and all...it's also pretty damn confusing. Given Aichan's previous (i.e. recent) behaviour towards Risa, this is a complete 180 degree turn. Risa herself thought it, it's like she's with the Aichan she knew when they were growing up, before she got placed in her foster family and before Risa started having feelings towards her. Just what is Aichan doing here? :?
A whisper of the nightmare came back to her, of demonic eyes and impassive face, the veritable stranger that had violated her, right here in this very place, leaving her broken and in tears.
Shit, her nightmare is of that last night they had?
:mon scare:
Risa clung tightly to Ai even as the older easily lifted her, wondering only in passing just how strong the fragile-seeming girl really was. The thought flitted out of her mind as quickly as it had come, even as Ai laid her down gently on her bed, before scooting in under the covers next to her.
Ai was asleep within moments, her breathing evening out and becoming smooth and regular, the tension draining from her face as she curled up into Risa's embrace. The younger girl held the older in her arms protectively, almost possessively, as if reluctant to let go or even let her out of her sight for even one moment.
Okay, this can't be part of some plot Aichan's cooked up, right? She's ACTUALLY there at Risa's because she...well...really did miss her? If so, is this the closest thing to "letting her guard down" that Aichan knows/is able to do? Is this the most she can "leave the work behind?" :huhuh
A brief, hazy thought entered her mind as it slowly began to fog with sleep's haze. Was it always Ai-chan who crawled into her bed, or was she the one who went to hers?
All references so far in this fic (I believe) would indicate that it was Aichan coming to Risa. It's almost like children wanting to sleep in thier parents' bed; not out of fear, but simply for the comfort of somewhere they felt comfortable...and more importantly, somewhere they felt safe.
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Got my eyes on this awesome fic just the other day and I read it till dawn and got locked out :grin: I love each personality of Ai towards the 3. My interpretations (1) with Gaki it's friendship love (2) with Sayu it's lust and love.?. I could fell the love in there (3) with Eri it's work, teenage lovey-dovey and who knows... would develop into something.?. The little sister is too young to put a bullet on someone :O But I love the fic's entirety. :twothumbs Why do I get to imagine that Ai's a s** machine :grin: damn, but I love it XD
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Whee! I'm late for comments!
File #18
"I really do like her, Mama." Her voice was even again, her eyes returning to the image of her mother gazing tenderly at her. She reached out and pulled it closer, cradling the frame in her arms.
"She reminds me of you." Her voice had dropped to a whisper. She hugged her knees to herself, the framed photo of her smiling mother tucked between her thighs and her stomach. Her eyes were fixed on an invisible spot some distance in front of her, even as she rested her chin on her now raised knees.
Gosh, that scene was sweet, heartwarming, and a bit sad at the same time. I bet even Ai would be moved if she saw that happen. :lol: Though seeing what this NICE author (:D) is doing to the rest of the girls, I think Eri will have to endure a lot of pain, since she hasn't experienced that yet.
If Eri likes Ai that much, I'm sure she will be willing to change and take risks to be with her. Maybe enough to eventually accept what Ai really is? Who knows, not me. Hi Estrea. :D
About the Takagaki relationship...Ai probably sees Risa as the only connection left to her past, so she will instinctly come back. It is where a part of her heart is. Only Risa has seen certain sides of Ai, and she's already experienced a good portion of her life with her. What I'm trying to get at, too, is that this scene with Takagaki can be compared to the scene with Eri talking to her mother's photo. There's a similar connection/feeling to it.
Calm before the storm guys! Shit's gonna go DOWN! WAY DOWN! :twisted:
Maybe at the very end of this story we'll catch a glimpse of Ai's perspective on things. Being ever so curious, I'd be looking forward to that if it comes up. Haha, no spoofing this time, I didn't want to ruin such delicate scenes. XD
Why does everyone have such a low opinion of Ai? Oh wait, I kinda gave her that rep in this story...haha.
I don't have a low opinion of Ai! <3 In fact...
Ahem. *In a little girl's voice*
"I wanna be JUST like Ai-chan when I grow up. I want to kill people and sleep around with cute girls, just like her!" :pimp: Shit, wrong smiley...um... XD XD XD
Oh, one last thing, how long is Ai's hair in this story? I must know this. :|
EDIT: God damnit Ai, get into her pants already. SHEESH.
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WOW, Papa Kame is so cool! but Ai-chan is cool too. XD deadly! :twothumbs
Kamei is so cute, talking to pictures....about Ai. :cry: so sweeeeet. :3 her mom.
Ai-chan is aevil! :shocked
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Comment replies again! Many many! I feel loved. :)
Thanks everyone~
Yuuyami: It does rather look like a parallel of their past together, doesn't it? Are you sure Ai is defenseless? I thought she was more...relaxed. Lol. More like an absolute confidence that Risa would never betray or even attempt to hurt her. XD Oops, shouldn't reveal too much. :P Gaki-san does fit the motherly figure image rather well, doesn't she? Well, do reconsider that image after this chapter. :D I think it'll be useful for realigning your perspective. :P
stefy: Yeah Risa always thinks too much. *coughlikeHammycough* ;)
Ichigo-chan: Eri should watch what she's doing a little more closely. Then again, we don't see all that much of Eri's inner thoughts, except those on the very surface. XD I wonder why. But yeah, I think I surprised myself with the cuteness of TakaGaki...can't deny that they naturally bring out that feeling when you subtract the angst. XD Your observation makes me happy btw. Then again, everyone can be seen as "using" each other on some level, so who's to say if it's wrong or right? XD Optimistic? Hmmm~ I wonder. >D
lil_hamz: You bad, bad Gaki fan. :P And yes, I know what you guessed lol, your sms was seriously...well, stefy had the same reaction so you weren't alone. :P Do leave me your thoughts about Chapter 18 eventually though. Lol. XD I shall be meaner to Risa...eventually. XD Fun fun~
Fenrir: Yup I guess from what has been shown here so far, Ai-chan does seem to be using Risa in a more violent and painful way. :3 In actuality, well, who knows? XD Ai went back to Risa to take a break, so to speak. She wasn't as much stressed as she was in need of some sleep, as she stated. XD Well, at least, a relaxed sleep, rather than a tense one. Her profession makes her twitchy. :P As for why she did those things the last time, well yes, she IS evil! :D That and I must point out that this version of Ai-chan basically does as she wants, without much heed to conventional morality. She doesn't usually deliberately do things to hurt people, she does them because either 1) she felt like it, or 2) she just wanted to prove a point. I'll leave you with that to chew on. :3
Sukoshi: No, you don't know how Eri's mom died. Except that it was in some relation to Eri's dad somehow...I think I intimated as such in a previous chapter. Eri's fault? I wonder. Lol. Yes it does make one wonder how Eri can see someone like Ai-chan as similar to her mother when Ai-chan acts all childish...in front of Risa. And only in front of Risa. What image does Eri see? :P About Ai-chan's seeming callousness when it comes to Risa crying, see my above reply to Fenrir. XD She has her own agenda, so she does things when she wants. Very "my pace" of her indeed. XD
kawaii beam: Haha yay I can take a break~ :P Yeah Eri does feel pretty lonely a lot... And as for Ai-chan...eh, you know she's gonna be evil again. :P Comes with the job lol. XD Thanks for the compliment? XD
SxY: Ah yes, you're an Eri fan too. Don't worry too much, I won't be too evil to Eri. I have plans for her. *nods* Yeah the TakaGaki was cute...I couldn't help it, they just ARE. Draw your own conclusions from the coming post~
rainer: Hehe I love it when I get people addicted. Ohohoho~ Eri does seem awfully attached to Ai-chan. Where will that lead her? Hehe. Only I know~ *cackles evilly* So you see the hatred/resentment that Eri feels...I was afraid that no one did...lol. Why does everyone think Ai-chan plans everything...oh wait, she does, most of the time. XD Hehe. More story coming up!
ayase909: Yeah Gaki really is in love with the playgirl...tough for her but oh well. Hmm you have just given me a little bit of an idea...wanting to see Ai-chan hurt? I already have that scheduled somewhere in the future. Hehe. You might hafta wait a little while though, still setting it up. XD
JFC: One of the reasons why I love (and hate) to write scenes between Ai and Otosuke is because they're both so good with their poker faces that all the tension has to be generated through dialogue and partially through body language. It's challenging but fun. And yes, it IS a Go board, but instead of an actual match, it is more a set scenario, sort of like a puzzle, that is used in sharpening the mind to a complex situation. About the serpent thing, basically I'm referring to how all the pieces of one color are basically one continuous chain across the board, sort of like a snake. Normally one tries to win more territory by spreading one's influence across the board, or one could use the serpent strategy and keep a long, unbroken group of your own pebbles and keeping it "alive", that is, without being blocked by the opposing side...and I'm rambling. XD Decipher that as you will. ;) As for the Ai/Risa thing in chapter 18, well, I answered a lot in the rest of the comment replies. XD Ai needs a break from the tension of her job, so she either takes it out on Sayu (by having lots and lots of sex XD), or takes a break with Risa. She seems a little insensitive sometimes but well, that's her. XD More will be revealed about the connection between Ai and Risa with the coming bit...you'll see. :D
kRisZ: Lol I'm glad you like the fic. :3 I like how you look at the relationships, but I wonder...heh. I liked the idea of Ai as a pimp too, which is why this story exists! Lol. Thanks for reading!
rev2hd: Harhar, all the little comments directed at me. :D Nice observation about the parallel between the Eri scene and the Takagaki. They were meant to portray a similar atmosphere, though of course many other things remain hidden out of immediate sight since I'm evil like that and want to spring stuff on you guys. Hehe. And yes, this is just the calm before the storm. :3 Aww no spoofing...oh well, another time maybe? Ai's perspective will come eventually, when this particular arc wraps up. Just a bit though, and it's really coming soon. >D And LOL at your little girl impersonation! :P Don't we all want to be cool, sexy assassins that gets all the girls? XDDD Fun times. Her hair? I was aiming for High King length. Cos she's the pimp yo. Gotta have pimp hair. XD Don't worry, Ai has plans. :D She knows what she's doing. :P
ringo-hime: Yes Ai-chan is evil. :D Don't you just love it? XD
Okie dokie, that's done. Fun. Well, the next part won't actually be a chapter, but a SIDE STORY that was well overdue to be written. :3 Doesn't everyone want to know about the past? ;) Have fun~
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Wedge??
Edit: Yay, first wedge! XD
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Archive #1
"Mama? Papa?"
Wandering down a half deserted street, the only other people bundled up to their ears and forging on ahead, oblivious to their surroundings in their haste to get to wherever they were headed.
In weather such as this, where one's breath crystallized almost before it left one's lips, these city folks could hardly be blamed for wanting to get out of the weather as quickly as possible.
Not so for one little soul. Scrawny and petite, that fact was hardly hidden by the extra layer of clothing that barely served as adequate protection against the cold. Wide eyes rolled around searchingly, scanning the lowered faces of the taller adults brushing past her at their own, quicker pace. The street seemed distorted, immense and daunting with its emptiness, and the fact of a rapidly approaching night.
The little girl moved forward, as if driven by some unknown instinct. Still searching, always searching, little hands rubbing together to provide some meager warmth with the friction. Her step was halting, almost jerky, more a shamble than a walk. Obvious signs of exhaustion, but determined to continued, regardless.
The street lights blinked on some time along the way, the pathway seeming even more deserted by that hour. The little girl continued walking, shoulders hunched in on herself, shaking with every step.
Time seemed to have little meaning; the cold was uniform, and it numbed the senses. One moment was very much similar to the next, save for the fading light. Her breath came in little puffs, eyes reduced to a squint. Thought was nearly impossible; movement came through instinct, the urge to search for her parents.
Somewhere along the way, she had stopped; or rather, her body had ceased to respond to that instinctual drive that had kept her moving all that time. Grime and snow seemed one and the same, all wet and cold and grey, staining her hands and knees as she was reduced to a crouch.
A few meters ahead lay a pool of light; some base urge prompted her to move there, though "crawl" would be a much better term. The pole of the dim streetlight was very cold, yet it seemed oddly comforting in its solidity as she leaned her emaciated frame against it.
She did not know where she was, only that she had wandered far from where she had first been left by her parents at a street corner. They had promised to come back; but one hour had passed, then two, but there was no sign of them. Her first childish intent had been to go find them, and now here she was, crouched next to the curb under a street lamp, numb with cold and ignorant of her surroundings. Fat lot of good that idea had been.
Her vision was getting darker, growing murkier by the second. There was a strange detachment within her; some primordial instinct recognized the approaching demise, acknowledging her helplessness in the face of that event. The will to live though, rejected that. Yet, that voice was tiny, drowned out by the bleakest of images: the increasing awareness of rejection and separation that had been thrust upon her.
Yet, some childish resilience rejected that. For a child, they were the whole world; their parents were essential to their consciousness, and they were one with them. Only through the process of growing up would the child slowly develop a conscious sense of self, a degree of separation from that singular world, yet without fully breaking those links, at least not all at once.
Thus, it was with that childish determination that the little girl rejected that frightening notion: that her parents were not coming back, that they had abandoned her.
Object and sound seemed both distant and within reach to her at the same time. Her field of vision had essentially been narrowed down to whatever was directly before her, to within a few meters. At the moment, all she saw was iron bars, set within an ornate gate that led to a walled compound.
She did not look away, she could not. Even if she could summon the energy to look away, there was nothing else on the street that was even remotely interesting. Not that the gate was particularly fascinating in itself either. It was merely there, right across the street from her, and she did not have to look very far to see it.
So tired. She felt exhausted, partly from all that walking, but mostly from the fact that she had not eaten anything since the morning. And a piece of bread was not the most satisfying for a growing child. Already, she could feel her eyelids growing heavy, fluttering open and shut at every interval that was becoming ever shorter.
Dimly, within her limited range of vision, she perceived movement, though she made no move to respond to it. It was getting to be almost comfortable, slumped next to the pole and staring into empty space, stupid with cold. It was absurd, but that was the way it was.
A larger patch of shadow separated from the veil of darkness that had been the gift of nightfall, a human-shaped blob that approached the light surrounding her. Her breathing slowed even more, even as weary eyes lifted fractionally to regard the stranger.
She was small, probably not much bigger than the freezing girl herself, though that fact was considerably better hidden with the layers of clothing that had been wrapped around the new little girl. The coat seemed almost too big on her, and the scarf bundled around her neck practically hid half of her already tiny face.
About the only thing that really got the abandoned girl's attention were those dark, liquid orbs that stared with fascination at her. The strange little girl said nothing, standing just beyond the limited pool of light in a kind of eerie silence.
Moments passed, with the first girl growing more and more tired, her consciousness slipping further from her, while the second girl merely observed her impassively, a kind of abstract curiosity in those eyes.
So cold that she couldn't think. Her head bobbed downwards, no longer looking at the stranger. All that existed was the cold; she could no longer focus on anything else.
That tiny, growing seed of fear finally bloomed, with the realization that death was imminent. She would cry, if she had any strength left. Even as such, she could and did muster up something, warm liquid blazing down reddened cheeks like a knife, in sharp contrast to the bitter chill.
And then, warmth. Her awareness blinked sleepily as something warm cupped her cheeks, shocked into a marginally more conscious state by the new sensation. Eyes lifted weakly to stare straight into dark, serious ones. She finally saw little lips pursed in concentration, even as the warmth left her cheeks as the other girl detached her hands from her face to unwind the scarf from around her own face and neck.
"Wake up. Don't sleep here." It sounded so serious, so unlike a child. In that dream-like state between life and death, she could only bob her head a little, shivering a little as suddenly, a warmth wrapped around her neck.
The fabric was soft, heated by close contact to a warm body. The lingering scent of another human was oddly comforting, as was the residual warmth. The little girl closed her eyes briefly, but was shaken lightly awake again by the stranger.
"Come on, let's go." The voice was coaxing, gentle. The childish lilt was evident, yet the serious note remained. She felt the proximity of the other girl as her rescuer struggled to support her, pull her to her feet. The closeness comforted her even more than the warmth from the scarf did, and she leaned in close, burying her frozen face in the crook of the other's neck.
She had very little memory of the journey; only fragmented pieces of staggering, leaning on a complete stranger, and the gentle warmth of another human being. The feeling of the scarf against her face was vivid, as was the image of dark, serious eyes.
Yet, another sight remained burned into the very recesses of her mind, even if she had not been able to consciously recall it for a long time.
The image of a charm pendant, swaying just out of her immediate field of vision, a single word inscribed on it.
'Ai'.
I wonder, if you had not found me, would I have died?
Thank you for finding me.
Thank you for saving me.
Thank you for everything, Ai-chan.
My love, my life, it all belonged to you, ever since then.
Now and always.
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Yes, in case no one guessed, this is from Risa's POV. Circa 5 years old. :3 Blast to the past~
And o_O Fenrir wedge. Is that a first?! XD Congrats anyway. :P
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A bittersweet chapter! Risa was an abandoned child. :cry:
Now I see why she has such a undying devotion to Ai.
I'm beginning to see why Ai's adopted father chose her. Even at a young age, she shows traits of a assassin: lurking in the shadows silently while quietly observing her "prey." Also, Ai's seriousness and dark eyes that are able to hide everything going on inside of her.
Hope you write more about their past! Quite fascinating. :theking
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Oh jeez. :shocked Her parents abandoned her, in the snow, on some random street corner. :cry: I honestly don't see how anyone could do that to a child, let alone a child that is Gaki. :D But it's nice to see how they met, a time when Ai-chan was genuinely loving and kind. And Gaki's reasons for feeling the way she does have finally been confirmed. I don't know whether to cheer or cry.
My optimism is wavering now. XD
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RISAAAA!!!! :cry: I can't believe her parents abandoned her like that! *wants to smack them silly* It's totally understandable now; how she feels about Ai, I mean.
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yay~! blast from the past~! X3poor risa! who would leave such a cute little kid?! man, something's wrong with her real parents! it was so sweet of ai to give her the scarf X33 plus in risa's point of view it's like ai had the more motherly role XD mabe that rubed off onto risa?? anywho, keep it up~! X3 can't read the next chap~!
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Ah. Well, your updates are always a cure towards my cravings for more. :P But, I usually just end up craving more. :-X
Hmm. So Risa was the abandoned child? At first, the thought of Ai-chan being the child came across my mind. But after reading that part whereby Risa saw Ai-chan's name and her thoughts, I then knew it was Risa. Slow of me, sorry. :roll: I'm a little curous as to why Ai-chan saved Risa.. out of empathy? Or maybe she was still innocent at that time. Hah. Me and my weird mind. XD Ah.. So that is why Risa is so devoted to Ai-chan.. 'cos she saved her. Hmm.. Now I know the connection.. But, why did Ai-chan change? I wanna know that..~ :cry:
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nice story..^^..addicting.. :lol:
i also wondering what causing ai to change..
and she will get hurt in the end??she deserve it since she hurting 2 person now.. XD..but hope she have a happy ending too..XD..
either aigaki or aieri = win... :wub: :wub:
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Damn, why do I fell the urge to cry. It’s been a while since I felt that way, the first one was that of Kata’s, YoMiki’s... childhood diary... and then this, TakaGaki… childhood memory...so ouches :cry:
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Awww, poor kid. :( Wonder if Ai showing up is pure coincidence, and Risa just got really damn lucky. But one thing for sure is that there's no doubt in my mind Risa would die for Ai anyday.
"Wake up. Don't sleep here." It sounded so serious, so unlike a child.
In fact, the voice almost sounded demonic. "UR ON MY LAMP POST, SLEEPING IN MY SPOT." :|
Thus begins the romantic story of how Risa fell in love with a demon. Takahashi Ai, pimpin' since age 7.
I feel so guilty now. XD *is going to hell*
... since I'm evil like that and want to spring stuff on you guys.
BRING IT!
Ai's perspective will come eventually, when this particular arc wraps up. Just a bit though, and it's really coming soon.
Yays! :D
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Archive #1
I got past the first couple of lines and knew this was probably going to be something pretty big. As always, not disappointed. I mean...holy crap, Risa was found/rescued by Aichan after her parents ABANDONED her?!?!!??
:mon wtf:
Is it any wonder that Risa feels as deeply/strongly for Aichan as she does?
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Hmm, well unlike some I dunno if I can say this changes my opinion of the TakaGaki relationship all that much, but it does offer some insights. I would have never guessed Risa was abandoned as a child and had to be rescued (unless you mentioned it somewhere and I totally missed it >.>). I mean, if that was the case then she's definitely come a long way - starting college, having her own place... Maybe it taught her to be independent well. If Aichan was her teacher that's very possible.
As for the Ai "rescue"... I did think Ai might have been different back then before she went through whatever she was put through (unless it had already started?), but I see now that's not the case. I mean, who would stare at a poor child who's obviously frozen and likely close to death for a while as if watching her die was just a curiosity? I suppose really young kids might be so apathetic like that, but I don't think Ai was that young nor oblivious. It makes me wonder at her motivation for saving Risa even when she did. Did she do it knowing that she'd be forever indebted to her because of it? Knowing that because of it she could rely on her unquestionably for absolutely anything from then on? That's more like the Ai we know now... I wonder if she's able to think any more of Risa than as a loyal pet. That would explain the reaction we all remember when Risa told her she wanted her... Pets don't request things like that... Ok I'm entering really disturbing turf here haha.
So dark... :ph43r: You better keep it up. ;) Eri next! I wonder what mistreatments you have in store for her... (though I have a feeling it'll include more hotness as well ;))
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That's more like the Ai we know now... I wonder if she's able to think any more of Risa than as a loyal pet. That would explain the reaction we all remember when Risa told her she wanted her... Pets don't request things like that... Ok I'm entering really disturbing turf here haha.
I strongly agree with this statment. It makes a lot of sense to me now that you mention it. Lol, now I can stop wracking my brain over something I was trying to express into words myself.
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Comment replies! Hohoho. I love what's to come. >D Let's get this done quickly. :P
Fenrir: Yeah, Ai showed a lot of potential even as a child. There had to be a reason why she was chosen instead of someone else, after all. :3 More about the past? Sure, whenever I feel it's the right time to insert it. :D
Ichigo-chan: There are always terrible people like that, who abandon their children. Some of them even have good reasons to do so, but eh. Ai, genuinely loving and kind...? *rereads chapter* Did I do something wrong? :P Lemme continue to shake your optimism!
SxY: Yeah poor Risa. She had no choice but to end up clinging to Ai. Hehe.
kawaii beam: Do note that all that was from Risa's point of view, so everything is viewed through her perspective. It's your judgment to see whether it's accurate or not. :P I hope the next chapter won't disappoint you. XD
rainer: So my fic is now like a drug. Awesome! I should market it. XD Did Ai-chan change? Hmm, I guess she did to some extent. We'll see. :3
XiaoAi: Hello, welcome to the thread! Lol Ai-chan has a lot of bad karma waiting to rebound on her, but eh, we'll see what happens in the end. Hehe.
kRisZ: Aww, sorry for making you cry? *pats* Thanks for the compliment though, I made someone cry again yay! *is warped* XD Hope you like the coming chapter.
rev2hd: You make me laugh. In a good way. :D Pimpin' since age 7 indeed. Hehe. Don't worry, you'll have good company in hell. After all, I'll be there too. XD And I'm glad you could see what rokun saw, makes me a happy writer. :3
JFC: Yup, no wonder that Risa feels so strongly for Ai-chan. But what does Ai really feel about Risa? Now that's the real mystery. Hehe.
rokun: I love you. XD In a strictly platonic way. But yes, Risa has come a long way, and is really strong...except when it comes to Ai. Her one weak point, I guess. XD And yes, young!Ai could be viewed as sort of callous and apathetic in her behavior. She was old enough to realize what was going on, but yet she just stood there....makes you wonder what she was thinking about. Heh. You already know what I think about the rest of your comment. :3 And yeah, Eri hotness coming up. ;)
There, we're ready. Everyone, strap in your seatbelts! It's gonna be a rough ride. XD
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-wedge- HAHA!! :cow:
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File #19
It was the most restful sleep she had gotten in 3 weeks or more, if the loose feeling in her muscles and the lingering sensation of absolute contentment was any indication.
With a lazy half-turn, Niigaki Risa rolled around in her own bed, arms flailing to one side...and hitting empty air. A sleepy frown knitted her thick brows together, even as unease snaked its way through her barely awake consciousness.
Eyes fluttered open slowly, adjusting gradually to the dim light of her modest bedroom. The curtains cut off the source of light from outside, so she was able to wake to a pleasant gloom.
I think...I had a dream... The plain white ceiling seemed oddly comforting as she stared blankly at it, the fog of sleep slowly clearing from her head. It reminded her of snow, both the good and bad memories associated with it.
I met Ai-chan on a snow day too... A dreamy sort of smile parted her lips slightly, before another thought crept into her head. Her hand groped the spot on the bed next to her, instinctively.
Empty. Her vision swirled with nauseating speed as she sprang up from the bed, finally remembering her late night visitor. Or had it just been a dream?
I don't know anymore... She found it hard to trust her senses nowadays. Past and present all mingled into a confusing mess in her head, making it difficult to distinguish what had already happened from what was currently happening. An unfortunate side effect of her distressed mental state, but she kept silent about it, not wanting anyone, particularly Sayumin, to worry about it.
The experience left her feeling somewhat dejected, as well as in need of a drink of water. Her mouth felt dry, and a bit musty from her sleep. Standing, she headed towards her door, passing by her dresser on the way.
And noted that the usual bottle of pills was no longer at its customary place.
That's odd. Briefly, an image of her dropping the bottle upon discovering the intruder into her home came to her, and she shook her head vigorously to clear the image. It simply could not be. She was probably just dreaming. That had to be it.
Shrugging, she left the room, her head turning automatically to check the spot near her couch. No bottle, no mess of pills scattered on the ground. That only reinforced her belief that the previous night had only been a very beautiful dream. A dream that Ai had come back to her...
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block off the twin sensation of euphoria and oddly, loneliness. A dream was a dream, it was not real. Better to not think about it.
Turning again, she stepped into her kitchen. And stopped.
Froze. Halted. What have you.
Takahashi Ai very calmly turned the page of her newspaper, one hand reaching out and taking a sip of orange juice from a clear glass. A steaming plate of pancakes was just beyond her glass, with a loosely capped pot of jam next to it.
All in all, it looked absolutely normal. Except that it wasn't. Risa continued to gape, unable to come to terms with the fact that Ai was actually there.
"Morning. Breakfast?" Ai asked without looking up. She seemed totally focused on whatever she was currently reading, pausing only for her precious orange juice.
"Ai...chan?" Risa's voice was tinged with disbelief, and reasonably so. Haltingly, she stepped closer, still trying to reconcile what her eyes were seeing with what her mind was telling her. The utter normalcy of the situation seemed to baffle her. It just did not mesh with what had been going on.
"Risa, stop dawdling and sit down. The pancakes will get cold." Ai commanded calmly, turning over another page of her paper. Risa sat, still not really comprehending the situation.
"Why?" She finally managed to get out after a few more moments of stunned silence. "Why are you here?"
"I was in the neighborhood and decided to drop by." Came the detached answer. Ai handed the plate of pancakes to Risa, eyes still not leaving the tiny print on the page. Risa took it, idly lifting a piece and starting to munch on it, her own eyes fixed on Ai.
"By the way, I dumped the pills. Stop using them, it's not good for you." Ai reached over for another pancake, fingers just brushing the topmost piece when her cellphone chirped.
"Who is it?" Risa asked, more to break the strange silence between them than out of any real curiosity. Ai was reading the text message even more intently than she had been scrutinising the newspaper. A hint of a smile curved her lips, though it was so brief that Risa thought that she might have been imagining it.
"My little sister." Ai said a bit tersely, even as she snapped the phone shut again. Her face had returned to its usual impassive state, and for the first time since Risa had entered the kitchen, she was looking at the younger girl.
"Oh, Yuuka-chan? How is she?" Risa asked, fidgeting a little under Ai's unreadable stare. Ai continued looking at her for a moment more, before returning her attention to the paper. Her hand reached out automatically for another pancake as she replied.
"Doing alright." She bit of a chunk and chewed, then swallowed. "Better than you, at any rate."
Risa paused in mid-chew, not knowing what to do or say for a moment. Fortunately, Ai continued on, saving her the trouble of responding.
"Take better care of yourself, Risa. I can't be there for you all the time."
"So you do care." The bitterness of her own response surprised Risa. Ai did not seem to turn a hair at the unspoken rebuke. In fact, her reply was most unruffled.
"We've been together for a long time, Risa." A pause. "Don't be catty, it doesn't suit you."
A deluge of angry remarks built up behind that emotional dam of hers, threatening to break through...but didn't. Risa simply sat there, unsure of whether she should burst into tears or throw a fit. Or both.
Moments passed again, and again Ai broke the silence after another sip of orange juice.
"Things change, Risa. We're both not quite the same anymore. We can't go back." Her voice was even, calmly accepting of the circumstances. Risa half wanted to reach over and shake her for it. How could Ai so easily let go of things? It just wasn't fair.
Their eyes met, Risa's mute with suppressed grief and resentment, while Ai's was again, a blank slate, coldly measuring and giving nothing away.
A lump was forming in Risa's throat, the burning sensation of unshed tears welling up in her eyes, making them prickle. Ai seemed very far away, despite being seated no more than 3 feet away from her. The newspaper hung limply on Ai's lap, glass half empty in the older girl's right hand.
The clear sound of a ringtone broke through the tense atmosphere, Ai putting down her glass to reach for her cellphone, answering the call.
"Morning." Pause. "Don't sound so excited this early in the day." Smirk. "Pouting doesn't work when I can't see you." Another pause. "Dinner? Alright. What time?" A half nod. "I'll be there. See you later." She snapped the phone shut.
"I have to go now." Ai stood, leaving the papers open on the table where she had last stopped. She downed the last of the orange juice, putting the glass down.
Stepping past a still silent Risa, Ai stopped just as she passed the girl. Her voice was once again neutral, almost friendly in advice.
"Grow up, Risa. It doesn't get any better than this."
A pause, then the older girl left. Risa continued to sit there, tears starting to overflow from her eyes, but still silent. Her upper front teeth gripped her lower lip with a taut force, threatening to break the skin. Her eyes remained fixated on a random spot directly in front of her, which just happened to be the abandoned newspaper open on the Business pages.
Since when was Ai-chan ever interested in that?
And that was where her thoughts remained even as they shattered into an avalanche of misery, a wave of tears and despair at the lines drawn between them.
I don't want it to end like this...
~*~*~
"...and then I clinched that deal after two weeks of negotiation. It was difficult, but very profitable."
Ai discreetly hid a yawn by lifting the wine glass to her lips, catching Eri's eye in the process. The rich girl was doing a much better job of hiding her obvious ennui, no doubt the result of much practice in handling such situations. Eri returned the look with a quick wink, as well as a derisive eye roll directed at her other dining companion, currently seated on her left.
Kobayashi seemed immune to the disinterest surrounding the table, his only actual audience, and technically the only one that really mattered, being Kamei Otosuke himself, who was seated at his rightful place at the head of the table.
Ai was currently seated directly across from Kobayashi, neither party having been very pleased by the arrangement, but tolerating it in deference to the senior Kamei.
Kobayashi had been surprised when he had first discovered that Ai was there, enthusiastically greeted by his future wife to boot. A vague sense of discomfort had shot through him when he saw the unfettered smile Eri had been giving a smiling Ai, further reinforced by the slightly smug glance that the offending person in question had shot him out of the corner of her eye.
Although, he had to admit, both girls were rightfully stunning, especially since Ai was not, as before, dressed in plain clothes. The simple black number embraced her slender form elegantly, lending an air of refinement to the young woman. A far cry indeed from the insolent journalist that had confronted him before.
Ai, for her part, had not been intending to be so dressed up, but Eri had prepared the clothes for her and insisted, and so she had given in. She too, was not particularly fond of Kobayashi's presence, but ignored it rather than allowing it the pleasure of even having her attention, be it distaste or even plain annoyance. Boredom, however, seemed to rule the evening, especially with Eri being seated so far away from her, and with Kobayashi's attempts to impress his future father-in-law.
Eri was oddly serene despite being seated right next to her fiance, even with Ai diagonally across from her, or perhaps was so composed because of it. She was the very epitome of the well-raised daughter, if one discounted the minor acts of rebellion through the looks that passed between the two girls at the table. Her glass was not filled with wine, but with juice, since her father was strict about things like that. It did not bother her though.
Otosuke, the host of the evening and master of the house, appeared almost regal at the head of the table, presiding over a minor court. With Ai on his left and Kobayashi on his right, he engaged both, as well as his daughter, with light conversation, the focus being mainly on his future son-in-law. His appearance was perfectly composed, though he did not touch his wine as much as he would have liked, as per his doctor's advice.
They were on dessert when Kobayashi smilingly suggested opening the bottle of champagne that he had brought along as a gift. A quick gesture brought the servant to the table, bearing the aforementioned bottle.
"A good vintage. You have excellent taste, Keisuke." The senior Kamei complimented the young man, who flushed at the compliment, beaming at the praise. The servant stopped at Ai's side, bottle in hands.
"I think I'll pass. I've had enough alcohol for tonight." Ai declined politely, brushing the servant away with a demure sort of air. The servant bowed and retreated, having been instructed to serve everyone except Eri, who was still not quite yet 20, the legal age for drinking.
Lightning flashed outside the windows even as the two men clinked their glasses together, sipping as thunder rumbled in anticipation of a downpour. Eri flicked a glance at the worsening weather.
"It's getting late, and it looks like rain..." She observed, looking back at her father. Otosuke lowered his glass, now half-empty.
"Perhaps our guests should stay the night. Would it be inconvenient for you, Keisuke?"
"Not at all. My chauffeur can come pick me up in the morning with a fresh change of clothes." Kobayashi glanced briefly at Eri next to him, his face and neck still flushed from the alcohol. Eri pointedly ignored him, directing her interest at her almost finished dessert.
"Maybe I should leave then. It is getting rather late..." Ai spoke up quietly, laying her spoon down. Eri jerked upwards slightly, her own spoon clinking against the glass bowl.
"I want you to stay too." The request tumbled out of her lips, heedless of her audience. Eri continued to stare at Ai intently, the message in eyes clear.
Don't leave me alone with him.
Otosuke broke the moment with a light cough. His eyes steered to Ai after settling briefly on Kobayashi, reassuring the man while intimidating the woman.
"Of course, Takahashi-san is welcome to stay as well." His voice was neutral, betraying nothing of his personal feelings on the matter.
"We can have a sleepover, Ai-chan!" Eri grinned, totally ignoring her fiance next to her. "Don't worry, you can wear some of my pajamas." She nodded vigorously. "It'll be fun!"
"Eri." Otosuke said firmly. Eri quickly quieted down, lowering her head like her a chastised child. Ai smiled reassuringly.
"If you say so, Kamei-chan." Eri looked up hopefully, a shy grin on her face. Ai returned the smile just as easily, the two girls communicating without a need for words.
Otosuke remained silent at the exchange. Tipping the delicate vessel back, he finished the last of the champagne, putting it down with a definite sounding thunk. His jaw seemed a little tightly set, and he puffed slightly before taking another deep, deliberate breath. Ai watched him out of the corner of her eye, but said nothing.
"It is getting rather late. You should go to bed, Eri." Otosuke stood, nodding at Kobayashi, who followed as the two males headed towards the lounge for a bit more talk.
Eri was grinning girlishly as she pranced over to Ai's side the moment the two men disappeared into the lounge. Ai couldn't help but return that enthusiasm with a smile, letting Eri pull her from her seat.
Even as she was being hauled up the stairs, Ai half turned to face the open doors of the lounge, a self satisfied smirk on her face as she whispered.
"Checkmate."
~*~*~
"The proposed merger of our companies after the marriage will surely boost our operations, Kamei-san." Kobayashi said earnestly as he leaned foward on the lounge chair.
"I would prefer if certain branches remained independent though." Otosuke leaned back into his chair, studying the young man across from him.
"You understand that of course, my daughter will retain her shares in the corporation, regardless." The meaning behind his words could not be missed, not for someone like Kobayashi.
The younger man straightened a bit, but did not reveal his own reaction to that declaration. He was, after all, also an experienced businessman who knew when to hide his own feelings.
"I see." Kobayashi nodded, studying the older man. "I hope that I can meet your expectations, Kamei-san."
"We'll see." A non-committal response, coolly delivered. Kobayashi stood and bowed, knowing a dismissal when he heard one.
"Thank you for your hospitality."
Otosuke watched him leave, his face a careful mask, at least until the doors swung shut. Then his cheek muscle twitched, rippling down from his neck and then on to his shoulder and arm.
He did not stand for a moment, and when he did, he did so hesitantly, before overcoming his moment of weakness and putting up a solid front again.
I must be getting old... He thought a bit grimly to himself as he ascended the stairs to his room, just past his daughter's. He was tempted to look in on the girls, but decided that not even someone like Takahashi would try anything at a time like this.
Eri's room though, was the one place without cameras. Otosuke did respect her privacy enough to leave that one area untouched. Although, of course, he still had listening devices in there. Anything to guarantee the safety of his precious daughter.
He entered his own room, closing and locking the door behind him, before heading towards the elaborate set-up off to one side, hidden by a screen. There he sat, and with practiced hands administered the medication his doctor had instructed, to keep his condition under control.
Eri...what will you do if I'm gone...
He shook his head. Evidently, he really must be getting too old if he was even thinking this. Silently he sat, observing the monitors arrayed around him, deep in thought even as the drug pumped through his system, alleviating the heart block that had plagued him for some time.
Slowly his eyes drooped, his thoughts still cycling restlessly. He continued staring at the camera view of Eri's door, as if to see past it by sheer force of will. He still had a bad feeling about the whole thing, and his instinct hadn't failed him in decades.
Takahashi, I won't let you win so easily.
The cameras continued working silently, as they always have.
~*~*~
The low strains of classical music permeated the room, matching the dimmed lights of the room to create a delicate sort of ambience. Eri stepped back from the stereo, her hair still slightly damp from her quick shower, the nightie she was wearing clinging to her curvaceous form in all the right places. Looking around, she eyed the door of the attached bathroom where Ai was currently situated, taking her own shower.
Biting her lower lip nervously, Eri paced around a bit before sitting down at the foot of her wide bed, restlessly picking at the strands of her hair. It was the first time she had had Ai stay over, and in her room to boot! She flushed at the implications, shaking her head vigorously to clear it.
The door clicked open, and Eri started, jerking her head upwards to look. Ai's hair was almost boyishly mussed, still wet from the shower and with parts of it sticking up in strange places. Ai was rubbing at her head with the towel, seeming completely at ease with her surroundings.
"Are you alright?" Eri's voice came out a little too high pitched, shaky even. Ai smiled gently at the obviously nervy girl, walking over to pat the younger on the head.
"Relax, I don't bite." Ai teased, letting the towel fall to her shoulders as she sat next to Eri. She pushed back one side of Eri's lustrously long hair behind her ear, leaning in as she did so to whisper into the younger's ear.
"Not unless you want me to." Eri shivered, blushing faintly as she looked almost shyly at the older woman next to her. Ai returned the gaze, their fingers edging towards each other on the sheets, intertwining after only a moment.
"Ai-chan..." Eri's voice trembled almost uncertainly, but there was no mistaking the underlying note of decision in it. Ai smiled; well, smirked, actually.
"You'll have to be quiet." Ai warned, eyes burning dangerously. Eri swallowed nervously, but nodded anyway, closing her eyes submissively as Ai closed the remaining distance.
Their entwined fingers clenched together, digging deep into the sheets with growing force, almost ripping it but not quite. Sighs grew, almost in harmony with the background music, a peculiar concordance growing between that purr of pure pleasure with the stringed murmur.
Lightning flashed outside, punctuated by rain and thunder, to last for the rest of the night.
~*~*~
"Death confirmed. Cause of death appears to be cardiac arrest."
"Any suspicion of foul play?"
"Unconfirmed. We need post-mortem for confirmation."
Detective Saehara looked around the large, severe-looking room, eyes falling on the uncorked bottle of champagne that lay on its side, cushioned by the impact of its fall by the carpeted surface. Its contents lay spilled in a mess on the rug that lay by the dead man's body.
"Take samples for analysis. We'll need to look into this closely." Saehara's face was grim. "Not everyday that an important person dies on us like this. Can't let any evidence pass if there really was foul play involved." He wiped at the beads of sweat on his forehead with his handkerchief, stepping away to allow his subordinates to collect the rest of the evidence.
Walking over to the side, he nodded apologetically to the mute girl who was staring blankly at the corpse of what was once her father.
"I'm sorry for your loss." He said sympathetically, bowing to the daughter. "We will get to the bottom of Kamei-sama's death, don't you worry."
Eri said nothing, only clinging to Ai next to her, her face completely unreadable, as if in shock. Her eyes though, were passively accepting, even as she continued to lean against Ai for support.
Saehara nodded at the two girls, before stepping past them and on to the outside.
He had plenty of work to do.
=================================================================
And there. :D I am proud of myself. This was done in approximately 4 hours. :D
Have fun everyone~ Comment lots. ^_^
*sneaks off to bed*
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-DIBS-
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Yes, I am aware that I'm lazy with commenting, but I'm here. :theking
-punts Yuuchan for taking my spot-
ANYWAY
I like this chapter, it'd make a cool movie >D Actually, this entire fic would be badass in movie form. :D But I like this chapter 'cause it's like a mystery. I've already chatted with you about my ideas on how Eri's father died, so I wont share them here ;)
AI/ERI PERV! PLZKTHX :prayers:
I find it funny how cute Eri is, it makes me just want to hug her, especially when she ignores her fiance. :) But I'm afraid Ai is gonna ditch her and make her emo =_=; I dun like emo characters...
...which leads me onto Gaki-san. I feel REALLY bad for her :cry: I thought it was really cute how Ai was there in the morning with the newspaper and OJ, but DAMN...I just want to slap the woman sometimes for putting Risa through all this. ;_; (But I still love Aichan more LMAO)
Write moar. :w00t:
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i was supposed to sleep already when i decided to check the updates and tada!.........nyahaha :on lol: :on lol: :on lol:
er,,,firstly, that hurts a lot, the tagaki scene,,,,i felt it, really. i know the feeling of biting my lower lip as to prevent my tears from pouring out......ehem! :sweat:....poor gaki, i hope you'll find your shiawase soon...... :pleeease:
eh??? :shock: eri's father....died already??? poor eri -chan! mission accomplished then! :cool2:
but.....will ai-chan leave her? abandoned her since she already got her mission completed???? but....but.....but.....but....but....but....but......but how about eri????? :frustrated: :frustrated: :frustrated:
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"Pouting doesn't work when I can't see you."
No Ai, you're wrong. This is KAMEI FUCKIN' ERI. Her pouts ALWAYS work over the phone. THEY WILL WORK EVEN IF YOU'VE HAD YOUR EYEBALLS REMOVED. There should be a 6th sense called "pout detection".
Ahh shit, I'm late for work!! Will actually comment properly later. I just had to make a point.:D
Don't worry, you'll have good company in hell. After all, I'll be there too.
Good company indeed! Then I'd tell my amazingly cold/lame jokes, cold enough to freeze hell over.:D
Ah, Risa Risa Risa, she should realize that it is time to move on with life. She had it spelled out to her, loud and clear. First step's the hardest, but once gets past that, she'll realize not everything has to be about Ai...and that she actually *gasp* can live without her. Be strong Risa, be strong kiddo.
The door clicked open, and Eri started, jerking her head upwards to look. Ai's hair was almost boyishly mussed, still wet from the shower and with parts of it sticking up in strange places. Ai was rubbing at her head with the towel, seeming completely at ease with her surroundings.
That must have been one adorable sight to witness.
"You'll have to be quiet." Ai warned, eyes burning dangerously. Eri swallowed nervously, but nodded anyway, closing her eyes submissively as Ai closed the remaining distance.
Their entwined fingers clenched together, digging deep into the sheets with growing force, almost ripping it but not quite. Sighs grew, almost in harmony with the background music, a peculiar concordance growing between that purr of pure pleasure with the stringed murmur.
PERV OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. :D
Eri said nothing, only clinging to Ai next to her, her face completely unreadable, as if in shock. Her eyes though, were passively accepting, even as she continued to lean against Ai for support.
Seems like she aprroves, even if she won't admit it. Eri's probably a bit torn though, since she basically chose Ai over her father.
It's time to celebrate your freedom, Eri, withsomehotsecks. What's she gonna do now that she's out of her cage? Wonder if Ai will drop her here and disappear. Though I'm pretty sure if that happened Eri would give chase. I wouldn't be surprised if that happened, but then I DO hope that Eri did manage to somehow add a bit of warmth into Ai's cold heart. Perhaps the beast learned to love...a little? Or is it way too early? XD Maybe if Ai was threatened with something she could lose...something she cared about. But then, there isn't much she cares about to that extent...except for maybe Yuuka?
You actually scared me with the opening of that last scene. I thought she had killed Eri for a second. Man Ai, that rough in bed huh?
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"Death confirmed. Cause of death appears to be cardiac arrest."
"Any suspicion of foul play?"
"Unconfirmed. We need post-mortem for confirmation."
Walking over to the side, he nodded apologetically to the mute girl who was staring blankly at the corpse of what was once her father lover.
"We will get to the bottom of Kamei-sama's death, don't you worry."
Little did they know, that Eri died the happiest person alive. By Ai's...hand.
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Omg. This chapter was awesome. XD Ai-chan finally moves in for the kill!
Hmmm, after the breakfast encounter between Ai and Risa, I feel this is like a pull/push relationship, although its seems Ai finally tells Risa a more direct comment of there's no way of them being together is going to happen. Yet, Ai-chan seems to enjoy dangling a carrot in front of Risa. Oh, Ai, how evil you are. I suppose this reinforces Rokun's idea of Risa being a pet XD However, Ai does seem to care for Risa well being as she gets rid of the sleeping pills, but then again... can't have your pet dying on you. o.O I'm just using a bunch of contradiction words today.
All this talk of pets now reminds me of Kimi wa Pet.... Name only. I don't think the story fits Takagaki's relationship...
Anyways, maybe Ai is finally telling Risa to let go by telling her to grow up. Or is it Ai finally letting Risa go... or both? Hmmm.... >.> lol
Ai-chan finally moves in for the kill!! Otosuke is finally dead! Woot! :w00t: I mean, nooo! Poor Eri! >.> *cough*
Of course, now we are all curious on how Ai-chan did it. I'm guessing that there is something in the champagne that Kobayashi brought and when mixed with the pills that Otosuke took later, it caused a cardiac arrest. That's only because Kobayashi drank the champagne as well and unless he's dead too, I believe that it was the champagne and his pills. And is she perhaps framing Kobayashi for it? Hmm... *taps chin*
I love it when Ai-chan has her "I won" smirk and says, "Checkmate." :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :heart:
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*stares blankly at screen while scratching back of head*
I've missed alot...huh? *smiles sheepishly* :sweatdrop:
This is alot to take in considering my long ass absence from the forum so forgive my lacking post.
But this whole "ERI ARC" WAS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!! from how it start to the climax, the character development was fun and natural.. i loved it!
I promise you... this story should be made into an HBO mini series or something XD! I read it and imagine it like episodes of a show XD! It cannot be helped! I blame it one the way you let out details of the characters' past.
Anywho... im now looking forward to the next "file"... keep up the good work... or else ~.~
Yes, I am aware that I'm lazy with commenting...
AND READING!
Oh wait... that's just me ^^;;;; I've been lazy about both :'(
*punts yuuchan aswell for no real reason* =) yay for cyber bullying :lol:
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^
OMFG Poe-chan!!!!! :w00t:
I'm back now. Hmm, perhaps Gaki slept well b/c of certain "activities" she and Ai-chan partook in the night before? :P Just kidding but gah.... :sweatdrop: I don't know how to feel about the TakaGaki situation we have here. On one hand, I feel grateful towards Ai-chan for not leaving and making Gaki breakfast, as well as disposing of the pills which I just don't think were a good idea. (I know Gaki needs them though....) But on the other hand, I'm so pissed that Ai-chan is basically choosing to ignore what she knows Gaki is feeling and saying such harsh (but true) things. Even though this relationship is almost poison for Gaki's well-being, it seems that Ai-chan actually makes her better...if you get what I mean. I don't know how to explain it. It's just like losing Ai-chan as even just a friend will totally kill her. And I DEFINITELY don't want that. (You hear me, Estrea?! XD ) All in all, TakaGaki is TakaGaki, whether it involves fluff or angst.
:lol: Family dinner. I can just picture Ai/Eri making subtle faces at each other while Papa Kamei and Kobayashi blab about business and stuff. I like how even Kobayashi notices Ai-chan's sexiness. :D Papa Kamei's invitation was a nice save for Eri. B/C I don't like this Kobayashi guy too much. He could have tried to make a move on Eri (I know they're engaged but still), but with Ai-chan's protection, he won't have a chance. Aiya, should have known the engagement was also a business deal. :sweatdrop: Hmm, so Eri's room doesn't have cameras, huh? All the easier for Ai/Eri. :twisted:
Oh damn, Papa Kamei's dead?! :shocked: I knew it was coming but I didn't think it would be this quick. I was starting to like the old man. :( But poor poor Eri. She loses her father and on top of that, part of the company is now hers. Can't say she had much time to plan or learn the ropes. :(
Keep it up, Estrea! :heart:
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OMG!!!!! I finally realized why Risa is still so hung on Ai even after all that she has done to her *sigh* I can almost understand her :cry:
However, I can't forgive Takahashi for treating poor Gaki-san's place like a cheap hotel room. Waltzing in and out whenever she feels like it. I mean wth, she didn't do anything nice to her during that visit. Unless you count the dumping of the pills.
And don't get me started on poor Eri~~~!! She's completely in love with the woman who killed her father. And she used her too. OMG...this is all to much for me *faints* XD
On a happier note, I'm all for turning this into a movie...no make it a drama. 11 episodes would be much longer than a 2-3 hr film no?? ALL HAIL ESSY THE MOVIE DIRECTOR cum script writer :P
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File #19
It was the most restful sleep she had gotten in 3 weeks or more, if the loose feeling in her muscles and the lingering sensation of absolute contentment was any indication.
Is it because of Aichan's presence, isn't it?
And noted that the usual bottle of pills was no longer at its customary place.
Hmmm...going to be interesting to see Aichan's reaction to finding out about Risa's prescription. More importantly, will Risa tell her (or will she find out through other means) the reason WHY Risa has said prescription? :?
Turning again, she stepped into her kitchen. And stopped.
Froze. Halted. What have you.
Takahashi Ai very calmly turned the page of her newspaper, one hand reaching out and taking a sip of orange juice from a clear glass. A steaming plate of pancakes was just beyond her glass, with a loosely capped pot of jam next to it.
All in all, it looked absolutely normal. Except that it wasn't. Risa continued to gape, unable to come to terms with the fact that Ai was actually there.
"Morning. Breakfast?" Ai asked without looking up.
Now...this part of Aichan is actually starting to get a bit frustrating to deal with. She either has absolutely NO clue that she's causing so much angst/drama for Risa, or she simply doesn't care or think that it's that big of a deal.
Well, at least she thought enough to make Risa breakfast.
"By the way, I dumped the pills. Stop using them, it's not good for you." Ai reached over for another pancake
Gah, like I said, this seeming "indifference" of hers is starting to get to be a pain in the ass to deal with. Can't help but want to just shake her by the shoulders and yell "IT'S YOUR DAMN FAULT RISA HAS TO TAKE THEM TO BEGIN WITH!" :banghead:
"Who is it?" Risa asked, more to break the strange silence between them than out of any real curiosity. Ai was reading the text message even more intently than she had been scrutinising the newspaper. A hint of a smile curved her lips, though it was so brief that Risa thought that she might have been imagining it.
"My little sister." Ai said a bit tersely, even as she snapped the phone shut again.
Ah, Yuuka's accomplished the next phase of the plan, I take it?
"Take better care of yourself, Risa. I can't be there for you all the time."
"So you do care." The bitterness of her own response surprised Risa. Ai did not seem to turn a hair at the unspoken rebuke. In fact, her reply was most unruffled.
"We've been together for a long time, Risa." A pause. "Don't be catty, it doesn't suit you."
A deluge of angry remarks built up behind that emotional dam of hers, threatening to break through...but didn't. Risa simply sat there, unsure of whether she should burst into tears or throw a fit. Or both.
You know what, at this point, I can't really see that there'd be any harm done if she did both...or either. Sometimes it almost seems like Aichan can't see/deal with other peoples' emotions unless she's trying to manipulate them for her won goals. If Aichan's clueless about what Risa's going through, then telling her straight out might actually open her eyes a bit.
Stepping past a still silent Risa, Ai stopped just as she passed the girl. Her voice was once again neutral, almost friendly in advice.
"Grow up, Risa. It doesn't get any better than this."
Ok, looks like maybe Aichan's not that clueless after all, which means that it's more likely that she just isn't concerning herself with it. If this is Aichan's way of telling Risa that she needs to move on and get over her, then she needs more practice at psychology and using tact. She's been trained all her life to control her emotions, practically to a point where she can show or hide them as easily as you or I could turn a faucet. Problem is, Aichan's the exception, not the rule. Most people in general can't stop that faucet completely that easily. Risa can't just "move on", not when she's felt this way for her for so long. :(
Her eyes remained fixated on a random spot directly in front of her, which just happened to be the abandoned newspaper open on the Business pages.
Since when was Ai-chan ever interested in that?
Doing a little research into Otosuke's business empire, perhaps?
I don't want it to end like this...
Sorry Risa, but you might not have a choice here. :cry:
Otosuke, the host of the evening and master of the house, appeared almost regal at the head of the table, presiding over a minor court. With Ai on his left and Kobayashi on his right, he engaged both, as well as his daughter, with light conversation, the focus being mainly on his future son-in-law. His appearance was perfectly composed, though he did not touch his wine as much as he would have liked, as per his doctor's advice.
His doctor told him to cut back on wine? Hmmmmmmm...
Lightning flashed outside the windows even as the two men clinked their glasses together, sipping as thunder rumbled in anticipation of a downpour. Eri flicked a glance at the worsening weather.
"It's getting late, and it looks like rain..." She observed, looking back at her father. Otosuke lowered his glass, now half-empty.
"Perhaps our guests should stay the night. Would it be inconvenient for you, Keisuke?"
"Not at all. My chauffeur can come pick me up in the morning with a fresh change of clothes." Kobayashi glanced briefly at Eri next to him, his face and neck still flushed from the alcohol. Eri pointedly ignored him, directing her interest at her almost finished dessert.
Are we sure that it's the booze that's making Kobayashi flush like that? :-\
"Maybe I should leave then. It is getting rather late..." Ai spoke up quietly, laying her spoon down. Eri jerked upwards slightly, her own spoon clinking against the glass bowl.
"I want you to stay too." The request tumbled out of her lips, heedless of her audience. Eri continued to stare at Ai intently, the message in eyes clear.
Don't leave me alone with him.
Otosuke broke the moment with a light cough. His eyes steered to Ai after settling briefly on Kobayashi, reassuring the man while intimidating the woman.
"Of course, Takahashi-san is welcome to stay as well." His voice was neutral, betraying nothing of his personal feelings on the matter.
Otosuke a strict parent, but even he knows there are some things he shouldn't push too far, especially when someone like Aichan (who can push back just as hard) is involved.
Even as she was being hauled up the stairs, Ai half turned to face the open doors of the lounge, a self satisfied smirk on her face as she whispered.
"Checkmate."
Here we go. Only question is, what exactly is Aichan going to do, and who is her target?
"The proposed merger of our companies after the marriage will surely boost our operations, Kamei-san." Kobayashi said earnestly as he leaned foward on the lounge chair.
"I would prefer if certain branches remained independent though." Otosuke leaned back into his chair, studying the young man across from him.
"You understand that of course, my daughter will retain her shares in the corporation, regardless." The meaning behind his words could not be missed, not for someone like Kobayashi.
The younger man straightened a bit, but did not reveal his own reaction to that declaration. He was, after all, also an experienced businessman who knew when to hide his own feelings.
"I see." Kobayashi nodded, studying the older man. "I hope that I can meet your expectations, Kamei-san."
Looks like Kobayashi was expecting to gain 100% control over EVERYTHING after the merger. To now hear that Eri was to keep her own part of the empire, independant from what would be his control, seems to have caught Kobayashi off-guard a bit.
He was tempted to look in on the girls, but decided that not even someone like Takahashi would try anything at a time like this.
Eri's room though, was the one place without cameras. Otosuke did respect her privacy enough to leave that one area untouched. Although, of course, he still had listening devices in there. Anything to guarantee the safety of his precious daughter.
Listening devices? Is Otosuke sure that he can handle hearing what might be going on in there?
He entered his own room, closing and locking the door behind him, before heading towards the elaborate set-up off to one side, hidden by a screen. There he sat, and with practiced hands administered the medication his doctor had instructed, to keep his condition under control.
...
Silently he sat, observing the monitors arrayed around him, deep in thought even as the drug pumped through his system, alleviating the heart block that had plagued him for some time.
Ah, so it's a heart condition that he has, eh?
*ERI'S ROOM*
Dayum. :O
"Death confirmed. Cause of death appears to be cardiac arrest."
Oh shit.
Looks like Otosuke's medicine might not have helped him as much as he needed it to.
"Any suspicion of foul play?"
"Unconfirmed. We need post-mortem for confirmation."
Detective Saehara looked around the large, severe-looking room, eyes falling on the uncorked bottle of champagne that lay on its side, cushioned by the impact of its fall by the carpeted surface. Its contents lay spilled in a mess on the rug that lay by the dead man's body.
"Take samples for analysis. We'll need to look into this closely." Saehara's face was grim. "Not everyday that an important person dies on us like this. Can't let any evidence pass if there really was foul play involved." He wiped at the beads of sweat on his forehead with his handkerchief, stepping away to allow his subordinates to collect the rest of the evidence.
Good move by the cop. With his heart condition, it's only prudent to take a look at other potential evidence to rule out any chance of foul play. After all, it wouldn't have taken much to induce a heart attack in him and make it look like it happened naturally.
Eri said nothing, only clinging to Ai next to her, her face completely unreadable, as if in shock. Her eyes though, were passively accepting, even as she continued to lean against Ai for support.
Now then, when you said "her face completely unreadable, as if in shock", I saw 2 possible ways that it can be looked at. If it was a reference to Eri, then it's quite obvious. No one, after all, actually expects to wake up and find their father dead of a heart attack. IF, on the other hand, it was a reference to Aichan...then this would be the first instance of surprise that we've seen in her. It would be the first time here that something had happened that she had not accounted/planned for. There are a lot more "IFs" that can be brought out into the story if it was indeed a reference to the latter.
-
Ah...darn the way you end your chapters. You always make me forget what I wanted to say about the first half XD
It was the most restful sleep she had gotten in 3 weeks or more, if the loose feeling in her muscles and the lingering sensation of absolute contentment was any indication.
I can't help but think this is from Ai chan's point of view. Probably because it was my initial thought and because the next sentence has Risa flailing about in her sleep.
It's always interesting reading things from Risa's point of view. I love how everything seems a little distorted.
With the talk about the sleeping pills, I half wondered to myself if Ai chan would resort to replacing the pills with something else. Why? No idea but the thought did cross my mind.
"Doing alright." She bit of a chunk and chewed, then swallowed. "Better than you, at any rate."
I can't believe her! Yes, Risa, go slap her or shake her or something!
After reading about Otosuke...I'm back to wondering if Ai chan swapped the pills or perhaps tampered with the champagne, since she did decline on it. I hope we get a chapter on Otosuke's death...I don't want death from just poisoning...cause that's just too easy. Well the champagne bottle on the carpet does give me hope though. Perhaps of guns or swords (yes, very unlikely since his body seemed perfectly intact to commoners but I'm sure they have crazy skills) or maybe of...bare hands and the champagne bottle XD I guess I'll have to wait and see.
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Damn this is just like Killing myself xD
Ai-chan have no more mission ._.
mmmmmm...
Poor Eri T_T... Poor Risa T_T...
the hell!!! This is spoil me xD
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:shocked Oh...my...GOD!
my poor risa-chan! >.< half of me just wants to beat ai up, but the other half agrees with her! i want risa to "grow up" as you put it, but at the same time i want her to keep lovin' ai >.< aw man!
poor papa kamei! >.< eack poor eri! :cry:
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Aww, TakaGaki's relationship's kinda :( Ai's trying to be a normal bff but Risa wanted more, kinda complicated. Risa should try her best not to push on something Ai can never give her because that would make Ai uncomfortable and lost her on the process, but then again how can you teach your heart not to beat the way it does XD love is too complicated to comprehend sometimes... or maybe Ai's just hiding her true feeling for Risa... makes me think :D Their relationship's mysterious and i love it :yep:
"Morning." Pause. "Don't sound so excited this early in the day." Smirk. "Pouting doesn't work when I can't see you." Another pause. "Dinner? Alright. What time?" A half nod. "I'll be there. See you later." She snapped the phone shut.
If I was Risa, I'd steal the phone that instant and bang it on the wall, or maybe not XD
A recollection of the 'thunderous night' would be awesome :grin:
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checkmate..wow..
poor risa.. :cry:..but somehow i have the feeling that ai love risa..but she doesn't want risa to know what bad things happen on her and change her to the current state..so using both hard and soft way..she wanna risa to put her down..she wan risa to be happy.. :cry:
seem like if the truth is out..ai chan killing people..risa,kamei and sayumi will leave her all alone..
and now so so so wants to know what cause ai to change..i think it will be a bad incident and bad memory to her for her changes..and i htink e others will know it only when your story is finishing.. :lol:
no matter what..still hope ai have a happy ending.. :(
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OMG!!!! :OMG: Frick, so much happened that my brain is numb (even more than that, since I just came out of a calculus review). Papa Kamei is dead... :cry: I lack...information...need...next chapter... *curls up in a ball* o-o
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I am back! Whoa I see that the events of the last chapter garnered some attention. Hehe.
Comment reply time~ And you know what that means by now. :3
Yuuyami: ...wtf.
Saikami: -punts Yuuchan with you too- Anyway! Yup I really imagined the whole story panning out like a movie. Damnit Sai, become a director so we can produce kickass movies together! Lol. XD You'll see how Eri copes with the situation soon enough. Hurhur. As for Gaki-san, well, she got the short end of the stick here so...too bad for her. Lol. Don't we all love Aichan no matter what she does? XD
ayase909: How about Eri indeed. Hehe. You'll see here, this chapter really concludes the Eri arc...sort of. :P
rev2hd: As usual, you make me laugh. :D Pout detection FTW! Why does everyone keep demanding perv, hmm... Love in Ai's cold heart? HMMM. I wonder. XD Btw that last part cracked me up. If I end up writing an omake it will entirely be YOUR FAULT. :P Feel ashamed (or proud?) of yourself!
Fenrir: Hehe Ai's attitude towards Risa really is rather ambivalent, isn't it? XD A pet? That's a nice description. Pretty accurate too. Lol. Ah, the TakaGaki in this story makes my inner author happy because of the tangled relations between them. I adore complication. XD The modus operandi regarding Otosuke's death will be revealed in the coming chapter. Hehe. You'll see what happens.
poets: THERE YOU ARE. XD *huggles* Don't disappear so much. D: I'm glad you like the Eri arc though. :D Hope it doesn't disappoint you. ;)
Ichigo-chan: Aww you and your loyalty to the TakaGaki pairing. XD Too bad my heart is made of stone~ XD Yeah I don't like Kobayashi too much, but still...*cough* You'll see what happens to him. I was liking Otosuke too, but he had to die. Oh well. Lol. Thanks for the continued support!
lil_hamz: I wish to correct your assertion that Ai did nothing nice to Gaki during the visit. She did make breakfast for her. :P *fans Hammy* Are you ok? Don't faint on me! Lol. Turning Nocturne into a drama...if only we could get the girls to act in it...XD...
JFC: I would reply more coherently to all the points you've made, but my brain is on the verge of shutdown...and there's still so many comments to go. Lol. About the last bit, it was in reference to Eri. If you want something interesting to see about Aichan, it's in this coming chapter instead. You'll see. :P I won't spoil you any further~
Sukoshi: Yeah Risa's point of view in this story is really, well, warped. It reflects the instability of her mental and emotional state. Which goes to show that we shouldn't trust the narrator implicitly since everything is colored by their own perceptions. :P What is true and what is not? Who knows? XD Someone finally notices the champagne bottle...lol. I hope I won't disappoint you with the actual modus operandi though...well, you'll have to judge for yourself about that. :P
Haruka: Yup Ai-chan's mission is technically over. Whatever will she do next~ I have plans. :D The story isn't over yet~
kawaii beam: Yeah it's hard to decide whether to let Risa continue loving Ai in her deluded way, or just move on and grow up. XD Especially if you're a TakaGaki fan. Hehe. Yeah poor Papa Kamei...he just had to die...XD
kRisZ: Amazing how you can still hold some hope that Ai actually does love Risa. :P Ah, optimism. XD Yeah, complicated relationships are always fun. :D Another perv request? ...hmm, I'll think about it. :P
XiaoAi: I wonder if Ai's double life will truly alienate her...I don't think Risa would ditch her even after finding out. She's in too deep. XD Sayu though, I wonder? And Eri's an unknown factor in this case. XD Ai? Happy ending? Hmm. How to give her a happy ending that doesn't have random pairing fans trying to kill me...XD...
SxY: Aww poor you. *pats and gives cookie* Calculus is evil. *nods* Next chapter coming up! :D
Alright, that has been a lot of comments to reply too, but keep them coming people! I love seeing comments, it's very motivating...and it gives me a lot of opportunity to :wahaha: at people. Hehe. >D
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-RUNS TO WEDGE-
-Falls face flat in it- '_'
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File #20
"Oneesama! Takeda-niisama was very pleased with the results...Oneesama, are you listening?"
Yuuka trotted over to where Ai was staring off into space, waving one hand in front of her sister while her other hand clutched a cellphone. Ai blinked and focused briefly back on the little one, who looked concerned.
"Ai-oneesama...you've been awfully distracted for a while. Is something bothering you?" Yuuka took the initiative and sat down next to Ai on the single bed. They had moved their base of operations some time before the whole incident had reached its inevitable conclusion. The seedy little motel probably didn't have the best reputation or environment, but it did come in handy when one was seeking anonymity. No questions asked, no records left, and no attention given unless one caused trouble. A useful hideout, all things considered.
Ai continued to sit in a contemplative sort of silence for a few more moments, having returned her attention to the far wall she had been staring at previously, with Yuuka fidgeting a bit anxiously next to her. It was times like this when Yuuka truly felt the distance between her and her beloved big sister. The inability to guess what the older woman was thinking and feeling left the little girl more than a little edgy.
"Did something happen?" Yuuka asked a bit more cautiously now, peering around nervously. In a smaller voice, she added.
"Did I do something wrong?"
The uncertain tone seemed to draw Ai back out of her reverie, for she turned fully this time to regard her little sister with a smile tinged with something a lot like parental pride.
"No, you did everything perfectly. It's not about you." Ai assured her, patting Yuuka on the head fondly. Abruptly standing up, Ai paced around the spartan area, coming to a halt by the meager little window that was only feebly shuttered, allowing for a limited view of the dark street outside.
"Did something else happen outside of Oneesama's plans...?" Yuuka deduced intuitively, watching the impassive back of her sister intently. Ai pulled away from the window.
"Everything went as planned."
Yuuka cocked her head curiously. "But Oneesama still isn't satisfied about something."
Ai started ticking off her fingers as she walked slowly back towards the bed.
"The files, the medical condition, the dinner." She closed her hand into a fist, then opened it again, palm up. Yuuka nodded, picking up where Ai left off.
"I switched the critical files some time ago, while Oneesama was the distraction." Yuuka raised another finger. "We already had the target's medical records before we even started, so it was a matter of engineering a situation from which the target could not escape."
Ai nodded, continuing. "The dinner was...convenient. You did an excellent job in staging the scene afterwards, Yuukarin."
Yuuka flushed at the praise, beaming widely up at her sister. Ai smiled vaguely again, brows knitted together in thought as she started pacing once more.
"The catalyst will be found in the bottle, because you left it there..."
Yuuka grinned just a little deviously. "But the key was in the IV drip...or rather, the needle."
Ai's lip twisted into a mocking little smile. "I'll have to thank Mitsui for that little suggestion. A biological toxin that dissolves almost instantly into the bloodstream and leaves no traces on an ordinary toxin test." She smirked. "Not that anyone would suspect that he died of that sort of poison, since it works too slowly and isn't as effective as other poisons."
"And the irony was that his medication was what really killed him in the end..." Yuuka added.
Ai looked slightly smug about that. "Botulism takes too long to take effect, with too many obvious symptoms which would alert the victim, but the atropine he uses for his heart condition speeds up the process significantly." Ai tapped her chin thoughtfully. "It helps that the relatively long incubation period of wound botulism as opposed to its food-borne counterpart definitely meshes with the staged situation we were aiming for."
"Oneesama is a genius." Yuuka concluded proudly, beaming at her sister. Ai shook her head, once more returning to her contemplative mood. Yuuka frowned.
"So if everything went as Oneesama expected, then what are you bothered about?" Yuuka blinked, then asked in a smaller voice. "Could it be that you didn't get to...you know...with..."
Ai chuckled out loud at the embarrassed expression on her little sister's face, reaching over to pat the young one on the head. Yuuka looked down at her toes, awkward.
"Don't worry, I did get what I want...and I made sure the old guy heard the good parts before his heart gave out." Ai smirked. "His pure, precious little daughter moaning and begging for more...that might still have given him a heart attack even if the toxin hadn't worked."
Yuuka blushed at the implications, quickly changing the subject to avoid any more detailed reminiscing about that night. "Then, what bothers you is..."
Ai tapped the side of her forehead. "Instinct."
Yuuka stared uncomprehendingly at her. "What?"
Settling down on a little stool, Ai crossed her arms pensively. Yuuka waited patiently for an answer. Finally, Ai replied.
"When you've been in the business long enough, you get...hunches." Ai struggled for a moment to convey her meaning. "It's like a little feeling that you get, that something isn't quite right."
"Oh." Yuuka didn't really know what to say to that. Ai smiled grimly, staring at a spot in the floor as she started tapping her foot restlessly.
"I'll figure it out." Hands clenched into fists, in a symbol for determination. "Definitely."
Because I really hate being led around by the nose.
~*~*~
"I am truly sorry for your loss. Your father was a great man." Another face in the endless procession that had come before him, cut from the same cloth, their faces a patchwork of careworn years and grim experience. Men much like her father had been; friends, colleagues, comrades. All there to pay their final respects to someone who had been both feared and respected in life.
Kamei Eri, age 19, her youth obscured by the sober black outfit she wore, only nodded and repeated the lines expected of her as a filial daughter. Her face felt strained by the expression she felt compelled to wear, her nerves strung by the oddly tense atmosphere surrounding the funeral.
She was gifted with an all too welcome break from the monotony when a familiar arm whisked her away, retreating from public view if only briefly to an isolated corner. Eri did not fight it, only contentedly snuggling up into the arms that now loosely encircled her.
"I'm so tired, Ai-chan..." Eri mumbled, massaging her temples wearily. "There's so much ahead of me, so many things I have to settle..."
"Hush, I know..." Ai laid a tender kiss on the younger girl's cheek, then another further down, near her collarbone. The shiver that ran through Eri's body at the latter brought a smile to Ai's lips.
"We're in public..." Eri protested weakly, though she didn't try to move away at all. Ai blew lightly into the younger's ear, making Eri tremble lightly in her embrace.
"You're too stressed..." Ai's voice was a husky murmur, and Eri turned around, her eyes reflecting the desires of her body. The two girls backed further into the dark corner.
"Not now..." Eri broke off as her lover deliberately nibbled at her earlobe, Ai's hands already breaking the bounds of propriety. Fortunately, or would that be unfortunately, the sound of approaching footsteps quickly curbed Ai's actions, the two girls separating into a more friendly and neutral position next to each other, though Eri's face still carried faint traces of a blush.
"Ah, Kamei-sama, there you are! We need you to speak with the guests..." The obsequious young man bowed as he delivered the message, not daring to look directly at the young successor to the Kamei name.
"I understand. I'll be right along." Eri reverted to the stiffly correct pose required of her in an instant, though her fingers were still interlaced with Ai's. Half turning around, she smiled a bit wanly at the shorter Ai, leaning close to quickly land a friendly peck on the older girl's cheek. Their eyes met briefly, dark on dark, and Ai stiffened suddenly as Eri let go of her hand, turning to throw a dismissive glance at her follower as she headed out to the crowd.
Ai watched as Eri mingled easily into the waiting crowd; jackals, every last one of them, truth to be told. Yet she felt no trepidation about that, her gaze solely focused on that newly released fledgling, completely at ease in a den of wolves as if she had been born to it.
At last, everything fell into place, and a chill settled over Ai, her jaw clenching with suppressed frustration. Vaguely, she felt like she had been cheated somehow.
Her hand twitched as she eased it back to her side, fingers closing into a trembling fist. Letting out a quick breath, she closed her eyes briefly, then turned and exited as silently as she had come.
Her hand did not stop shaking until she was some miles away, absolutely alone on a wandering road leading away from the grounds. Slowing down, Ai exhaled sharply, tension still running through her muscles. Grimly, she thought back of Otosuke and his Go board, the game undecided still.
Looks like you knew exactly what you were doing, old man. Head bowed, Ai hit the dashboard with one tightly clenched fist.
"Damn it."
~*~*~
"On other news, the successor of Kobayashi Industries was just arrested early this morning on suspicion of involvement in the murder of respected ex-government agent, Kamei Otosuke..."
The phone rang, breaking off her concentration on the tiny television screen perched on top of an equally tiny dresser. One Michishige Sayumi frowned as she put down the nail polish, careful not to disfigure the still wet nails as she gingerly picked up her phone.
"Hello, who is...oh, it's you." Some surprise, mixed in with a slightly flat note. Sayumi would have been more pleased with the identity of the caller had it not been for the fact that she had quite a few bones to pick with the other woman.
"Now?" An incredulous note, followed by a glance out of the window. It was already almost full dark outside, not to mention the heavy smell of approaching rain in the air.
"But I'm still doing my nails..." Some feeble protests later, Sayumi hung up in a huff, pouting.
"To hell with my nails she says...the nerve of her..." The college girl muttered to herself even as she reluctantly put her things away, ignoring the ongoing news broadcast as she started getting ready to go out.
"...the daughter of the late Kamei-sama will assume full control of the corporation her father has left behind. Addressing the press, she states that she would not dishonor the joint legacy of both her deceased parents. Kamei Corp, formerly known as Hikusei Inc, was founded by the wife of the late Kamei Otosuke...
"Bag...bag...ah, there it is." Sayumi scrambled around trying to pull everything together in a hurry. Ai did not like to be kept waiting, and Sayumi didn't feel like pissing the woman off. There had been something atypically edgy about Ai's voice on the phone earlier, and Sayu rightly felt that she really shouldn't provoke the woman any more than absolutely necessary.
"Heels, mirror..." She got ready in what was probably record time for her. The things Ai demanded of her... Sayumi sighed as she made a grab for her keys on her dressing table.
"...Japan waits eagerly to see how a young girl will run a mega-corporation that is one of the engines to her economy. And on other financial news...
The television blinked off. Sayumi looked around her room speculatively, hands on her hips.
"Yosh, I'm ready." She headed to the exit, turning off the lights on her way out.
And the door closed behind her.
====================================================================
There. How was it? Hehe.
The difference between the incubation period of the different transmission methods of botulism toxin is as such: wound botulism takes anywhere from 7-14 days to take effect, longer sometimes. Food-borne botulism can take effect within 24 hours. Atropine speeds up the process either way. :D I researched. Hehe.
Anyway, hope you guys had fun reading this~ *ninja pops away*
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-Dibs-
I swear I'll comment this time! O_O
And so I shall~
Seeing the aftermath of the Eri arc is interesting... Like Ai, I also felt like something was off, and with the way you wrote the chapter, you seem to be subtly hinting at something, yet it's not there no matter how hard I look... o_O
It's a bit creepy, Essy.... >_>; <_<;
Maybe as readers following Ai's story, we've slowly developed Ai's hunches too? '_'...
Though, the poison thing was genius xDDD Gotta heart that. Though I was surprised to find that Eri was readily accepting the Kamei empire... OH GAHH, remember those star wars turtle jokes back in AA?! The turtle strikes back '_'... But yes, it's weird to see her toughen up so quick. You'd think that she'd have a fragile pushover personality where she'd be freaking out 'cause her father died and now she has responsibility over the empire...But nope, she accepts it no sweat? That's a bit suspicious~ '_'....
Anywho, now that we see Ai and Sayu meeting up again, let's see what happens~! Seeing that Sayu wanted to scold Ai for being rawr to poor Gaki-san o___o... Conflict~
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Whee!! What an awesome morning. More updates! :heart:
I feel like Sherlock Holmes. :lol: The champagne, the medication, the arrest of Kobayashi. XD A well thought out plan indeed. And Mitsui! I'm guessing she's like the scientist/techie person that helps her out with more complicated medical stuff?
And there seems to be a more darker, complicated plot to all of this now that Ai's spider sense is tingling. XD While I don't think Ai has fallen in love with Eri, it wouldn't be Ai if she did :P, is it because Eri has become the head of the company and with the ease she moved into that corporate world? It was exactly what Otosuke hoped for. For Eri to basically take control of the entire company and leave Kobayashi in the dust? And basically become what Otosuke was? Hmm.....or maybe it's just Ai can't have her way with Eri as often as she likes now. XD
Ah, I wonder if Sayu will give Ai a piece of her mind. XD
Edit: Just thought of this, but did Otosuke basically use Ai to set Eri up?!!!! Omg, that would be an awesome plot twist.
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And so the disastrous arc comes to an end...somewhat. No matter how hard I look, I can't seem to find just what it was that's ticking off Ai. *squints* Although perhaps it's how readily Eri picked up the company... Hm... Oh, and as far as Ai's planning... That was freaking genius. (There was a Mitsui mention, too!) I wonder how the meeting between Ai and Sayu will play off... I used too many "..."s in this post. XD
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*draw drops* howly cow!! all all i can say is that sayu's a reluctant "pet" XD
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Ahhh, between you and Rokun updating, I'm barely keeping up. :lol:
Ai-chan, bothered by something about the job? 8) I'd say it was that she was falling for Eri but that seems too...sensitive for Ai-chan to feel. I really want to know what's up!!! :grin:
Hmm, so Otosuke obviously see this coming and set something up so Eri would be ok? Such a well-prepared man. He was clearly on par with Ai-chan, if not better. Strange to see her all...frustrated? :P
Oh shit!!!! They set up Kobayashi?! :w00t: Clever, girls, very clever. Sayu cracks me up. XD She's just so Sayu. :heart:
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AHAHAHAHA...*inhales*...AHAHAHA. Ai got PLAYED.
Even though it's a bit vague, this chapter pieced a lot things together for me. I've got a lot on my mind and lots to say (or speculate), but I don't wanna spell it out to the entire audience, I might ruin things for people lol.
No matter, Otosuke (and his wife) lives through Eri now. She had her brief moment of freedom and adventure, now she's living the life she was born into in the first place. Can't escape your duty huh?
Well, everyone got what they wanted in the end and got their job done (whether they were fully satisfied or not...or whether or not their route was the best one to take).
"On other news, the successor of Kobayashi Industries was just arrested early this morning on suspicion of involvement in the murder of respected ex-government agent, Kamei Otosuke..."
Owned.
Why does everyone keep demanding perv, hmm...
You know very well why. :D But like I said...perv or it didn't happen. :heart:
Watch this:
"Don't worry, I did get what I want...and I made sure the old guy heard the good parts before his heart gave out." Ai smirked. "His pure, precious little daughter moaning and begging for more...that might still have given him a heart attack even if the toxin hadn't worked."
"You're full of SHIT, Ai."
"WHAT did you say?" *eyes narrow*
"I said you're all talk. You didn't get any from Eri and now you're running off to Sayu." *trying not to look intimidated*
*Ai proceeds to beat rev2hd to a bloody pulp*
Well shit, it didn't work. D:
Write that omake so I can be ashamed of myself! DO IT. *waits for steamy omake*
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Ah no wonder Ai chan was all dissatisfied...the old man got exactly what he wanted. Well except that having sound devices in Eri's room probably wasn't the greatest idea after all. >.>
I wouldn't have believed Eri had it in her to kill her own father previously but this chapter sure put that into doubt. A caged bird with a sharp beak could still be a dangerous thing. Her father and Kobayashi both taken care of, that really is two birds with one stone. Er then again she wouldn't have bothered to cry and talk to her mother's picture if she was just going to get rid of him, right? It'd be a really nice kicker if Otosuke was the one that requested the mission in the first place.
too bad there wasn't a big fight.....or was there? I guess someone had to inject the man with the bacteria. I'll use my imagination for this one.
Hikusei Inc....wife of the late Kamei Otosuke....that news blurb has me very interested in knowing more about Eri's mother. Seems like she was a very powerful individual herself.
I can't wait for the Ai x Sayu showdown! Risa never did slap Ai chan but I'm hoping the bunny will :D
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File #20
"Oneesama! Takeda-niisama was very pleased with the results...Oneesama, are you listening?"
Wait, so Otosuke really was Aichan's target after all? :O
Yuuka trotted over to where Ai was staring off into space, waving one hand in front of her sister while her other hand clutched a cellphone. Ai blinked and focused briefly back on the little one, who looked concerned.
"Ai-oneesama...you've been awfully distracted for a while. Is something bothering you?" Yuuka took the initiative and sat down next to Ai on the single bed.
Almost sounds like something's troubling Aichan, and considering the circumstances and considering how Aichan keeps such a cool head, the it would sound like something didn't go quite the way she planned. :?
*AICHAN-YUUKA TALK ABOUT THE HIT*
Well, I'll be damned. :o
In a lot of ways, bravo.
In another way, holy crap it's scary how Yuuka's getting to be like Aichan.
"So if everything went as Oneesama expected, then what are you bothered about?" Yuuka blinked, then asked in a smaller voice. "Could it be that you didn't get to...you know...with..."
Ai chuckled out loud at the embarrassed expression on her little sister's face, reaching over to pat the young one on the head. Yuuka looked down at her toes, awkward.
"Don't worry, I did get what I want...and I made sure the old guy heard the good parts before his heart gave out." Ai smirked. "His pure, precious little daughter moaning and begging for more...that might still have given him a heart attack even if the toxin hadn't worked."
I'm even more uneasy about how easily and openly Aichan talks about "this type of stuff" with Yuuka. :shocked
"When you've been in the business long enough, you get...hunches." Ai struggled for a moment to convey her meaning. "It's like a little feeling that you get, that something isn't quite right."
"Oh." Yuuka didn't really know what to say to that. Ai smiled grimly, staring at a spot in the floor as she started tapping her foot restlessly.
"I'll figure it out." Hands clenched into fists, in a symbol for determination. "Definitely."
Very little to disagree with here. :yep:
Because I really hate being led around by the nose.
:mon huh2:
Kamei Eri, age 19, her youth obscured by the sober black outfit she wore, only nodded and repeated the lines expected of her as a filial daughter. Her face felt strained by the expression she felt compelled to wear, her nerves strung by the oddly tense atmosphere surrounding the funeral.
She was gifted with an all too welcome break from the monotony when a familiar arm whisked her away, retreating from public view if only briefly to an isolated corner. Eri did not fight it, only contentedly snuggling up into the arms that now loosely encircled her.
"I'm so tired, Ai-chan..." Eri mumbled, massaging her temples wearily. "There's so much ahead of me, so many things I have to settle..."
"Hush, I know..." Ai laid a tender kiss on the younger girl's cheek, then another further down, near her collarbone. The shiver that ran through Eri's body at the latter brought a smile to Ai's lips.
Holy shit, Aichan. You're at a FUNERAL for fuck's sake.
:mon pissed:
Ai watched as Eri mingled easily into the waiting crowd; jackals, every last one of them, truth to be told. Yet she felt no trepidation about that, her gaze solely focused on that newly released fledgling, completely at ease in a den of wolves as if she had been born to it.
Aichan's probably right about the people in the crowd. With the death of Otosuke, they thinking the Kamei business empire is more or less up for grabs. They're all undoubtedly looking to swoop in and take over the fortune.
At last, everything fell into place, and a chill settled over Ai, her jaw clenching with suppressed frustration. Vaguely, she felt like she had been cheated somehow.
...
Looks like you knew exactly what you were doing, old man. Head bowed, Ai hit the dashboard with one tightly clenched fist.
"Damn it."
:dunno:
"On other news, the successor of Kobayashi Industries was just arrested early this morning on suspicion of involvement in the murder of respected ex-government agent, Kamei Otosuke..."
Huh...so they framed him for it? Well, at least now Eri doesn't have to worry about marrying him.
One Michishige Sayumi frowned as she put down the nail polish, careful not to disfigure the still wet nails as she gingerly picked up her phone.
"Hello, who is...oh, it's you." Some surprise, mixed in with a slightly flat note. Sayumi would have been more pleased with the identity of the caller had it not been for the fact that she had quite a few bones to pick with the other woman.
"Now?" An incredulous note, followed by a glance out of the window.
Sounds like Aichan's needing to get rid of some...tension. :-X
"...the daughter of the late Kamei-sama will assume full control of the corporation her father has left behind. Addressing the press, she states that she would not dishonor the joint legacy of both her deceased parents. Kamei Corp, formerly known as Hikusei Inc, was founded by the wife of the late Kamei Otosuke...
...
"...Japan waits eagerly to see how a young girl will run a mega-corporation that is one of the engines to her economy. And on other financial news...
Whoa...so it was actually Eri's MOM that founded the business??? :shocked:
With Kobayashi arrested, the merger that would have given him control of the company is obviously off, which now leaves Eri without opposition in running the company. More importantly, his death gives Eri an actual reason to WANT to take control of and run the company. She's undoubtedly got the brains to do it (seeing as how that would have been something Otosuke would have seen to), but as far as we know, she had never before expressed any actual interest in the business.
Could it be that Otosuke set up his own hit to keep the business "in the family"? If so, Otosuke would have known that if foul play was suspected, Kobayashi would have been the obvious choice for the patsy (aka "the one who gets framed").
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:on GJ: nice indeed! i was waiting this chappie.......
:glasses:hmm.............but i got this feeling that eri's arc is not quite finish yet......
did the old man made a last will testament or something? that if he will die, suspect will be point to Ai-chan.....yeah, something like that.......then, will Eri take her revenge? "the little turtle's revenge" lol :wahaha: kidding........
er.....i can't believe Ai-chan......is her a heart a stone, or what? :on cloudeye: she's making out with eri, the night she kills the girl's father and.....er letting him hear the sort of thing they're doing........ :on bleed: poor otsuke, ne? :on_puddle:
oh, well.....love this.....author-san! :on GJ:
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Hmm... something's fishy. Eri's behavior will make you think O0
I'm excited about how Ai will be on bed when pissed... or maybe they'll just hang around and talk XD
And Sayu's TV, somehow fate's working for a KameShige :grin: well this is the second, the first one was at school :shakeit:
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No update yet, but I just dropped by with a little gift for everyone.
Lost Innocence (Piano Carol mix) (http://www.sendspace.com/file/4y8hpx)
I mixed the track myself using a couple of Silent Hill tracks. XD Specifically Laura Plays the Piano and Lost Carol. :D This track would probably fit in with what happened in chapter 19, the AiEri bedroom scene. :D
So yeah. >.> *ninja scurries away*
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How are people gonna know if the track fits if there's no bedroom scene to begin with? :|
If you leave it to my imagination I could very well just play a death metal track...wow, are you sure Ai didn't kill Eri?:D
So yeah. >.> *ninja scurries away*
Oh no you don't.
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yay! can't wait :muffin:
edit:
AiEri bedroom scene
Omg, reading and listening at the same time would certainly be org****c :grin:
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Uh, short note to those with perv access.
Secret File #1 is up in the Perv Fanfic section. *points*
There, now stop bothering me about it. Haha.
*scoots off for dinner*
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OMGOMGOMG!!! I have no perv access!!! :sweatdrop:
Oh well, I shall have a certain someone PM it to me~~ NEE-CHAN!!!!!! :lol:
EDIT: :drool: That was hot. I think it was sensual, especially the first line. Just the words you used were pretty smooth~ :lol: Really love all the little things Eri says, reminds me of her cuteness, even in this SEXY situation!! :P Glad Ai-chan was fairly gentle with Eri. :heart:
Trying to keep my comment appropriate. XD
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O.O i wanna read it~! >.< can someone pm it to me??
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Ok I'll admit, I got lazy with comment replying, but hey, I got several updates up in short order recently! XD I'll get back to comment replying for the next chapters, I swear! :D
Well, here's the next chapter. :3
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File #21
The musical jingle of windchimes marked her entry as she stepped into the quaint little store, looking around curiously. The lone person behind the counter turned to greet her, wiping her own hands with a tattered old rag.
"Welcome! How may I help you?"
"Ah..." Yuuka stared at the person behind the counter. "Mitsui...san?"
"Eh~ Yuuka-chan! What brings you here alone?" A smiling Mitsui Aika greeted her, putting down the rag on a stool behind her. Her fingernails still had a hint of grease underneath them, quite unlike the image of the antiquities and assorted items the shop sold.
"Ah, Nii-sama said to pass this along..." Yuuka walked up to the counter, and Aika took the plain manila envelope wordlessly, casting a sidelong glance at Yuuka.
"So it's your turn huh?" Aika murmured, stepping out from behind the counter and hurrying over to the door, flipping the sign over to 'Closed' and locking it.
"Mm...I'm still nowhere near Ai-oneesama though..." Yuuka followed behind Aika as the young proprietor of the shop led her to a back door that led to an ordinary-looking storeroom.
"Well, if it helps, as far as I can remember, Takahashi-san was younger than you when she first started. Of course, it was my Neechan helping her at the time." Aika shrugged, moving some boxes aside to reveal a patch of floor that looked no different from the rest of the ground.
"Can't be helped though, we must do our best." Aika said practically as she bent down and pressed at some invisible catch, the seemingly normal floor sliding smoothly out of the way to reveal a ladder leading down into the darkness.
"There's so many details though..." Yuuka said aloud, after both girls had successfully entered the hidden basement. Aika flipped on a light switch, revealing a spartan setting that was not so much different from a laboratory out of a futuristic nightmare.
"First time down here?" Aika grinned as Yuuka stared wide-eyed at the strange things all around the hidden basement. Yuuka nodded.
"Ai-oneesama always left me upstairs whenever she brought me along." Yuuka seemed impressed by the setup of the place. "So Mitsui-san handles everything around here?"
"Mm, Neechan's out of town for a bit, so I'm taking care of business for a while." Aika stopped at a large work table that was impeccably neat, proceeding to open the manila envelope and scan through its contents.
Yuuka wandered over to a rack full of weapons, careful enough not to touch anything without permission. She didn't want to have something blowing up on her if she wasn't careful. On yet another work table next to the rack, several spent bullets were scattered around, some half-finished, as if interrupted in the process of crafting.
"Seems like a pretty standard mission you've got. Shouldn't be too difficult to hook you up." Aika noted professionally, putting down the file. Moving next to Yuuka, she picked up one of the plain handguns and handed it to Yuuka.
"Eh?" Yuuka blinked. She was hardly unfamiliar with a gun, but what was the point of giving her one now? Aika merely grinned.
"Come on, let's go over to the test range. I need to know your skill level before I can do anything." Aika led a bemused Yuuka down another narrow tunnel that opened up to a small firing range that appeared to be heavily reinforced.
At Aika's instruction, Yuuka shot at a range of targets, hardly missing at all. Ai had drilled her very well, so the girl had steady hands. Aika merely nodded, asking a few other questions, before bringing her back to the main room.
"You definitely have a long way to go before matching Takahashi-san, but you'll do." Aika noted as she went back to one of her many work tables, picking up some unidentifable gadget to fiddle with. Yuuka sighed.
"Oneesama's so perfect at everything...I didn't even know how much work she had to do until Niisama started me out on this." Yuuka looked a bit dejected. Aika laughed, walking over and patting Yuuka comfortingly on the shoulder.
"Don't worry about it, everyone has to start somewhere." Aika shrugged. "Takahashi-san has had a lot of practice, so all you really have to do is put in the same kind of effort and you'll reach her level some day."
"Really?" Yuuka brightened up a bit. Aika grinned.
"Of course, not everyone can look as good as Takahashi-san does doing whatever she does. It seems to be natural talent in that area." Yuuka seemed a bit disappointed about that.
"Alright, then! Come on now." Aika rubbed her hands together in anticipation. Yuuka blinked.
"What?" Aika rolled her eyes.
"Since you're starting out too, you get to be my new guinea pig while Takahashi-san isn't around." A strange glitter sparkled in Aika's eyes, making Yuuka step back nervously.
"Don't worry, I don't bite." Aika grabbed hold of Yuuka's wrist, hauling the wide-eyed girl towards yet another door.
"Hey! Do you do this to Oneesama too!?" Yuuka protested.
"Of course not, I'm not that insane...but then again, she's usually pretty willing to help me out." Aika continued dragging a reluctant Yuuka towards that unidentified door.
"Oh yeah, speaking of Takahashi-san, where is she? She promised to get me something the last time she came by."
"Oh, Oneesama went on vacation..." Yuuka was still struggling to get out of that death grip, but Aika was surprisingly strong, pulling them both into the next room.
"Her? A vacation? How odd..." The door slowly swung shut behind them.
"Yeah I know...wait, what's that! What the hell are you doing? Hey!!!"
"Don't worry. It won't hurt...much."
And then the door slammed shut.
~*~*~
Sun, sand, and sea. A balmy breeze, bringing in the faint salty tange of the ocean, yet cool enough to relax the senses.
Perfect time for a suntan. Slender limbs laid out on a plain beach towel, large sunglasses covering almost half her face. Her now long hair cascaded in shimmering waves around her, earpieces plugged into her ears as she shut out the world around her.
She kept one eye open though, hidden behind those enormous shades. Takahashi Ai never fully let her guard down, not like this. Her instincts were too firmly ingrained to throw away such cautious habits.
Then again, part of the reason why she kept one eye open was really to look at all the bikini babes strutting around on the beach. Technically, she was also one of them, but it was a lot more fun to look at others than to stare at herself.
It was nice having a vacation every once in a while. Ai sighed. She had really needed the break, especially after that run in with the Kamei case. It still left her with a bad feeling, the whole incident. She still felt somehow cheated by the whole case.
That was what this vacation was really about, of course. Partly just to get away from Japan for a while, avoid the attention of one Kamei Eri in the meantime. She wasn't sure if she was up to dealing with that girl. Something about her gave Ai the chills, deep down.
Also, she needed to deal with a few things herself. Just generally calm down, get her inner self in top shape again, before she could go back to work. Getting away from it all usually helped.
Usually.
"Hey there, babe. You seem awful lonely there. Want us to keep you company?" A group of young men in beach wear smirked down at her, their accented English grinding on her nerves.
"How about no?" Her own English was also lightly accented, but there was no mistaking the venom in it. She ignored them, hoping that they would go away, but they seemed awfully persistent.
"Hey there, we just tryin' to be friendly, yo." One of the other guys, bulkier than the first one that had spoken, stepped closer. Ai was on the verge of feeling really irritated now.
"I said no. Don't make me repeat myself."
"Or what?" The lead guy squatted down next to her. Ai shot him a sweet smile.
Minutes later, Ai sauntered down the beach with her towel draped around her. Behind her, the surfer dudes crowded around their wounded friend, who had dropped to his knees clutching a very sensitive part of his anatomy.
Humming softly, Ai headed back to her hotel. Perhaps some time with a book to herself in her room would be a better idea. Then shopping in the afternoon And maybe some drinks later in the evening.
Yes, a vacation was just the right thing for her.
~*~*~
Evening came, and Ai was now seated at an open-air bar facing the sea, nursing a fruity cocktail in front of her. Casually dressed in comfortable streetwear, Ai seemed like any other young adult out for a good time, or even possibly a teen, since her long hair had the tendency of making her look younger than she already appeared.
Flipping her hair over one shoulder, Ai sat quietly at one side, not bothering to socialize much and just blending into the background. She was not interested in picking up random girls tonight, even though some of the girls were pretty hot. She always did like Hawaii.
Something jerked her attention away though, and Ai glanced casually down one side, two tables away, where a young girl was apparently binging away on drinks.
It wasn't so much the fact that the girl was cute, or dressed in a barely there mini-skirt and top, with a bunch of pink accessories on her. No, it was the fact that she was speaking in Japanese that got her attention. Ai was sensitive about things like that sometimes.
"Hmph, Kanon thinks she's so great cos she has a boyfriend. Pfft, if Reina wants, Reina can have 10 at the same time..." The girl wasn't quite drunk, but she was definitely working on it. Ai hid a smile behind the pretext of taking a sip of her drink. How interesting.
There was a nagging feeling at the back of her mind though. The girl seemed oddly familiar. Ai's gaze fell on the table, where the girl's overly decorated cellphone was lying carelessly on.
Now where have I seen that.. Ai mused as she put down her drink, leaning back in her chair to observe the antics of that quirky Japanese girl, who was still gesturing wildly to her makeshift audience while throwing back drinks like it was nothing.
"Reina's cooler than all of them! Hmph! I'm their senpai, those girls have no respect at all! I'll have Daddy teach them respect when I get home, that's right!"
Ai shook her head in amusement. This was turning out to be quite entertaining for a change. Suddenly, her mind clicked, putting two and two together.
Ah, I saw her this afternoon while shopping! Ai snapped her fingers together at the memory. She had picked up the girl's cellphone at the department store after it had fallen from her bag, and had returned it to her.
She had found it amusing at the time that there was someone even shorter than her. Now, to meet her again... Surely, it was a small world.
There was something else though, another detail. Ai raised an eyebrow as this 'Reina' downed another shot of what looked like tequila without pause. Well, at least she had to give credit to the girl for her alcohol tolerance. For someone so small, it was incredible that she hadn't fallen over from how much she had consumed so far.
What's a high school student doing in Hawaii...? Ai thought to herself, more interested in that fact than the issue of underage drinking that was going on. Well, they were out of Japan, and it was not like Ai was a champion of moral values or the like.
Yes, Ai had seen Reina earlier that afternoon, with a bunch of other girls dressed in seifuku. How interesting that a high school student was out on her own, minus entourage, and drinking hard liquor at a bar in a foreign country. Very brazen, if nothing else.
Shrugging, Ai picked up her glass again. It was none of her business after all.
Her business or not though, it seemed trouble was approaching the petite little girl who was still aggressively drinking everything in sight. Some men were approaching her with a suspicious sort of glint in their eyes. Ai took another sip of her drink. It looked like that little girl was going to learn the hard way why she shouldn't be drinking so much on her own, without protection.
She could not hear the exchange too clearly, but it was obvious that Reina was not pleased by being hit on by random guys, seeing how she threw her drink into their faces. Ai smirked. The girl had spunk, but it wouldn't be enough.
Watching somewhat indifferently, Ai took another sip of her drink as one of the guys took hold of Reina, clearly intent on dragging her out to do...well, everyone knew what they would do. The tiny girl gave it as good as she got, really, since she kicked and clawed like some kind of wild animal, but the alcohol was clearly affecting her senses since it was barely effective.
Ai finished her drink just as the men succeeded in hauling the half drunk Reina out of the back door. Standing up, Ai left a rather generous tip on the table as she picked up her jacket, heading out through the nearest door, which also happened to be the back door.
She did not immediately step out though, standing in the entrance to let her eyes adjust to the gloom outside before she exited. Off to her left, she saw the men who had grabbed the girl.
"Hey, me first!" One of the guys was saying, pushing another aside. They all seemed slightly drunk as well. Reina was on the ground, all but passed out from the alcohol. Of course, being knocked around a bit while being dragged out also contributed to that.
A tsking sound made some of the guys turn around, even as the one who wanted to go first was undoing his belt. Ai was looking at the men with a derisive expression.
"At least have the decency to bring her to a motel, dude." Ai rolled her eyes, about to turn away and walk off. One of the still partially sober guys stared at her ass.
"Hey, she's hot too..." They tapped the other guy, who was having trouble trying to pull down his pants. Drunkenness definitely affected coordination.
"Let's grab that girl too, yeah..."
Biggest mistake they would ever make.
"Please, I have better standards than this." Ai said almost conversationally as she ground one booted heel into the face of one of the fallen guys. She walked ominously over to the other guy who was still crouched over the comatose Reina, eyes bulging at how easily Ai had dispatched of all his friends.
"Do you even know which hole to put it in, jerk?" The guy started to cry. Ai rolled her eyes and booted him in the head, hard. He collapsed like a sack of flour.
"What a bunch of assholes." Ai grumbled, dusting her hands off professionally. She half turned, ready to walk off, when she caught sight of Reina still curled up on the street.
"Hmm..." It really wasn't any of her business if the girl got herself raped. She had very little sympathy for people who didn't know how to take care of themselves.
Reina groaned, shifting on the hard ground. Ai turned away, stepping out into the street. Everything seemed so very peaceful. Her cellphone beeped.
It was from Yuuka, a cheery message that brought a smile to her face. Her little sister was so adorable. If there was anyone that Ai even gave more than two shits about, Yuuka was probably one of them.
Glancing back at the alleyway where her victims laid strewn about, groaning or knocked out, Ai looked back down at the message, then back up. She sighed and put it away.
"Aw, what the hell..."
==========================================================
Hehehehe. New arc! =D
;)
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How old is Yuuka again?? Unless Mitsui's taking her back there to practice some massaging techniques, forget I ever asked. :D
Partly just to get away from Japan for a while, avoid the attention of one Kamei Eri in the meantime. She wasn't sure if she was up to dealing with that girl.
Read as: She wasn't sure if she was up to dealing with that girl, Kamei Eri, the one she suddenly had a hard time keeping her pants on in front of. Can't keep it up with Eri, Ai? That's too bad.
The mental image I had of a drunken, pissed off Reina I found to be absolutely hilarious.
Pfft, if Reina wants, Reina can have 10 at the same time..."
Hi Reina, be careful what you wish for. Srsly.:twisted: She almost did get 10...at the same time.
"Do you even know which hole to put it in, jerk?" The guy started to cry. Ai rolled her eyes and booted him in the head, hard. He collapsed like a sack of flour.
Lmao, PWNED. That was the BEST. LINE. EVER. :pimp:
HEY GUYZ, I have a joke for you fellow readers. (Since that last scene with Reina reminded me of my twisted sense of humor...)
What do 9 out of 10 people enjoy?
Did I ever tell you that Ai is my fucking hero? Or did I ever TELL YOU that Ai is my fucking hero? No? Well, Ai is my motherfucking hero. :heart:
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Ho shit... Guys had it coming. Very interesting way to start another arc.
"Do you even know which hole to put it in, jerk?" The guy started to cry. Ai rolled her eyes and booted him in the head, hard. He collapsed like a sack of flour.
Oh DAMN! That's gotta sting. *winces*
Say WHAT!? There was a perv?! *has no access to forum* Now I'm not one to normally read pervs, but I'm really curious (read as: I want my AiEri action) to read it. Anyone who has it PM it to me? :(
EDIT: Ai...Eri... :shocked :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:
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aika * yuuka..!!!!!..does aika does someting to yuuka.. :lol:
reina enter e scene nw...should i expect some renai scene..XD..
let reina be e one to chase after ai in tis..XD
btw..e aieri action was :shocked.. :lol:
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Then again, part of the reason why she kept one eye open was really to look at all the bikini babes strutting around on the beach. Technically, she was also one of them, but it was a lot more fun to look at others than to stare at herself.
XD
The Reina is here :muffin:
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Aika is the weapon lady. XD Don't know why but I find that extremely funny. I wonder who her Neechan is. Aww, sorry Yuuka-chan, but you will probably never be as hot as Ai-chan. :D But it's cool (I'm not sure that's exactly what I mean but I can't think of anything else) that she's getting her first job. I'm sure she can handle it. *is starting to like Yuuka* But whoa, what's Mittsi gonna do to her..... XD
My first thought was this pic: (http://www.imgur.com/files/090315/Th.lovehellotakahashiai130lj5.png) (http://www.imgur.com/i.php?i=090315/lovehellotakahashiai130lj5.png)
Damn, gotta love how perverted Ai-chan is, just laying there scoping out the hotties. 8) Oi, but I don't like to hear what she has to say about poor Eri. :( Though, I do like how she handles the annoying guys. :P
Oh, Reina? :twothumbs I'm liking this new addition. I'm glad Ai-chan took care of those guys. But still, she's pretty heartless to leave Reina like that. Unless.... :grin:
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Oh boy... I knew you couldn't leave out Reinai in this fic. XD Let's see what you have in store for them. :twisted: Drunk Reina = Hilarious XD
Hmm.. Yuuka's got her first mission! Hope it goes well. If she survives Mitsi that is. :lol:
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o.o wow loks like aika's testing out yuuka now huh XD
yay~! now ai-chan's in hawaii~! and she meets up with reina?? XD wow,a drunkan reina's kinda funny.
and what was the message that yuuka sent ai??
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drats I was really looking forward to the Sayu and Ai showdown...must have been really good if it made Ai chan leave the country to clear her mind.
while Ai chan was pondering over having met Reina before...it made me realize that Reina really hasn't been in this story at all until this point...pretty shocking realization. I wonder how that slipped my mind...I guess when Ai chan's around it's really just too hard to think about anyone else.
liking the fresh addition...can't wait to see what Reina's arc is about!
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File #21
"Welcome! How may I help you?"
"Ah..." Yuuka stared at the person behind the counter. "Mitsui...san?"
"Eh~ Yuuka-chan! What brings you here alone?" A smiling Mitsui Aika greeted her, putting down the rag on a stool behind her.
Enter...Aika? :O
"Ah, Nii-sama said to pass this along..." Yuuka walked up to the counter, and Aika took the plain manila envelope wordlessly, casting a sidelong glance at Yuuka.
"So it's your turn huh?" Aika murmured, stepping out from behind the counter and hurrying over to the door, flipping the sign over to 'Closed' and locking it.
Ho boy...Aika's in "the business" as well?
And so this...Aika's final test? Or even...her first solo mission??? :?
"Seems like a pretty standard mission you've got. Shouldn't be too difficult to hook you up." Aika noted professionally, putting down the file.
Yay! Aika's first mission! :cow:
"Oneesama's so perfect at everything...I didn't even know how much work she had to do until Niisama started me out on this." Yuuka looked a bit dejected. Aika laughed, walking over and patting Yuuka comfortingly on the shoulder.
"Don't worry about it, everyone has to start somewhere." Aika shrugged. "Takahashi-san has had a lot of practice, so all you really have to do is put in the same kind of effort and you'll reach her level some day."
Aika's right. Aichan hasn't always been this good. It's taken time and patient persistence to get there. As long as Yuuka keeps at it, who knows how far she could go? :)
Aika grinned.
"Of course, not everyone can look as good as Takahashi-san does doing whatever she does. It seems to be natural talent in that area." Yuuka seemed a bit disappointed about that.
Well, there ARE some things that just come naturally easily (and well) to Aichan. :P But hey, Yuuka's a cutie pie too. I'm sure she'll be able to find ways to use that to her advantage.
"Since you're starting out too, you get to be my new guinea pig while Takahashi-san isn't around." A strange glitter sparkled in Aika's eyes, making Yuuka step back nervously.
"Don't worry, I don't bite." Aika grabbed hold of Yuuka's wrist, hauling the wide-eyed girl towards yet another door.
"Hey! Do you do this to Oneesama too!?" Yuuka protested.
"Of course not, I'm not that insane...but then again, she's usually pretty willing to help me out." Aika continued dragging a reluctant Yuuka towards that unidentified door.
Oooooooh, now I'm curious. Just what is it that Aika is planning on doing? ;D
*AICHAN'S VACATION*
Wow...never really pegged her as the vacation type. Though I guess, even Aichan would need a break now and then...especially given the circumstances of what just happened with the Kamei hit. She probably needs to veg...or vent...or both. :?
One thing for sure, she picked a pretty awesome place to have her vacation. :twisted:
Partly just to get away from Japan for a while, avoid the attention of one Kamei Eri in the meantime. She wasn't sure if she was up to dealing with that girl. Something about her gave Ai the chills, deep down.
Eri's kind of......clingy. Considering how she fell pretty hard for Aichan, and the fact that her dad just died, it shouldn't really be surprising.
*AICHAN PWNS LOSER SURFER DUDES*
Hey, I said she might need to "vent", didn't I? :twothumbs
*REINA AT THE BAR*
WTF??? :shocked:
She did not immediately step out though, standing in the entrance to let her eyes adjust to the gloom outside before she exited. Off to her left, she saw the men who had grabbed the girl.
"Hey, me first!" One of the guys was saying, pushing another aside. They all seemed slightly drunk as well. Reina was on the ground, all but passed out from the alcohol. Of course, being knocked around a bit while being dragged out also contributed to that.
Oshit.
Aichan, you're not going to just stand by and do nothing, are you??? :shocked
A tsking sound made some of the guys turn around, even as the one who wanted to go first was undoing his belt. Ai was looking at the men with a derisive expression.
"At least have the decency to bring her to a motel, dude." Ai rolled her eyes, about to turn away and walk off. One of the still partially sober guys stared at her ass.
"Hey, she's hot too..." They tapped the other guy, who was having trouble trying to pull down his pants. Drunkenness definitely affected coordination.
"Let's grab that girl too, yeah..."
Biggest mistake they would ever make.
Well, guys ARE stupid, after all...especially when they're drunk. :sweatdrop:
Damn I wish I had a good seat to see the pummelling that's about to happen. 8)
"Hmm..." It really wasn't any of her business if the girl got herself raped. She had very little sympathy for people who didn't know how to take care of themselves.
Under other circumstances, I'd actually have the tendency to agree. If you're going to drink yourself stupid, it should be your own fault if something bad happens. But c'mon, she's already beaten up a second set of losers, and Reina IS underage.... :cry:
Her cellphone beeped.
It was from Yuuka, a cheery message that brought a smile to her face. Her little sister was so adorable. If there was anyone that Ai even gave more than two shits about, Yuuka was probably one of them.
Glancing back at the alleyway where her victims laid strewn about, groaning or knocked out, Ai looked back down at the message, then back up. She sighed and put it away.
"Aw, what the hell..."
NICE TIMING YUUKARIN!!! :muffin:
Hehehehe. New arc! =D
WOOOOO! :banana:
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Back! Thanks for all your kind comments. I feel a bit better here.
Comment reply time!
rev2hd: Yuuka's 13 going on 14 here. Yeah, young. XD Wouldn't everyone want to know what Mitsui was going to do in there. Hehe. Reina just can't win lol. And your joke...damn...gangbang much? XDDD THE 10TH PERSON IS THE ONE WHO GETS RAPED. Dude, you're sick. I love it. XD Ai is my fucking hero too. <3
SxY: Yup those guys had it coming. Hehe. I love new arcs. Glad you like the AiEri action. :P
alwaysYou: I intend to let Ai pimp every single one of the Gorokkies. Reina was the last one that hadn't shown up yet. What do you think? Lol.
kRisZ: Yup, in comes the Reina. Hehe. What will happen, I wonder?
Ichigo-chan: Yeah haha, Aika being the weapon lady is fun, no? Glad you're starting to like Yuuka. XD Hehe of course Ai-chan would scope out the hotties. Wouldn't you? :P Annoying guys should always be given a swift kick in the balls if they refuse to go away. Sorry guys. XD Hehe.
Fenrir: Yes I love drunk Reina. The girl gets into the best kind of trouble, methinks. Lol. Haha yeah Yuuka has to survive Mitsi first before she can even do anything. Hehe.
kawaii beam: Lol yeah drunken Reina is hilarious. Yuuka probably just sent a normal message to Ai. Yay sister love. XD
Sukoshi: Sorry about the lack of Sayu and Ai? I'm making up for it this chapter anyway, you'll see. Yeah, I was wondering if anyone noticed that there has not been a single mention of Reina in the story thus far. Haha. Yup Ai's a great distraction to work with. XD
JFC: Yup Ai's pretty badass, beating up loser guys. XD Reina's an idiot for getting drunk, but you have to wonder if Ai is actually nice enough to pick her up. Maybe, maybe not. :P You'll find out. New arcs are fun!
Okie dokie. New chapter coming out soon. :D Stay tuned.
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WEDGE!
BOOYA motherf--sorry, I got carried away. D:
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File #22
Tanaka Reina was a very sound sleeper. Anyone who knew her knew that. She could probably sleep through a typhoon and an earthquake, and only be annoyed if the quake somehow managed to shake her off her bed.
Come hell or high water, it was pretty much a bad idea to wake her prematurely. Let sleeping lions lie, or so they say. Or in her case, let sleeping kittens snooze, or risk getting kitty claw in the face.
Reina was sleeping now, very comfortably indeed. The hotel bed was nice and fluffy, the sheets smooth and soft, perfect for cuddling in. Slowly, she was beginning to stir, nose scrunched up in a tiny yawn, before snuffling back facefirst into her pillow.
The feel of the sheets was very soft against her skin, and felt strangely unobstructed by the absence of any material in between. Reina made a sleepy little frown, half turning and stretching lazily in her sleep, eyelids fluttering briefly, not fully ready to open yet.
A soft touch trailed down one side of her face, almost sharply cold against the warmth under the sheets. Reina frowned again, this time cracking open one sleepy eye to regard her surroundings.
"Morning, kitten." Reina snapped back into focus immediately as the hazy image before her solidified into reality. First reaction: she screamed and hid her head under the pillow.
Oh my god this is not happening. Reina repeated to herself mentally. She shifted around, realizing with a sinking feeling that she was completely naked as her mind shifted into full consciousness.
Oh god what happened last night?! Reina was hyperventilating inside, her chest tightening painfully with panic. The bed shifted slightly as the person next to her moved closer, putting one hand on her shoulder.
"Ahhhh! Get away from me, pervert!" Reina shrieked, chucking her pillow blindly at her assailant, who ducked smoothly with an impish grin on her face.
Wait, her face?! All blood drained from Reina's face as she gaped at the person sitting next to her. Clutching the sheets close to her body, Reina struggled to process the fact that she was currently naked in bed with another girl. The splitting headache from her hangover was not helping.
"Who the hell are you?!" Reina blurted out stupidly, trying frantically to figure out what had happened the night before. Vaguely, she recalled someone stripping her of her clothes, but there were too many blank spots in her memory to remember correctly.
"Is this any way to greet someone who saved you from being gang-raped by a bunch of guys?" A lazy smile split the other girl's face, even as the stranger flipped her long hair over one shoulder and settled into a cross-legged position. Belatedly, Reina noticed that aside from the over-large t-shirt that her rescuer (?) was wearing, she was apparently not wearing anything underneath.
Trying valiantly to suppress the rising blush on her face, Reina gripped the sheets around her even more tightly, as if they would miraculously save her from this embarrassing situation.
"Why am I here? Where are my clothes?" Reina was starting to feel mildly better about things. After all, if a girl was the one who picked her up, she shouldn't have been violated or anything like that. Right?
"Why the hurry to leave?" Reina blinked and swallowed nervously as the strange girl moved still closer to her, with a distinctly predatory look in her eyes. Reina shifted away, her bare back hitting the wall. No escape.
"We were having so much fun last night too, don't you remember?" A devilish grin was evident on the other girl's face, and Reina paled again, her throat constricting in shock.
Oh my god, I didn't, did I? Fleetingly, broken up images of this girl embracing her and carrying her to bed surfaced in her memory, and she flushed hotly at the skin to skin contact.
"You...you..." Reina was at a loss for words. Opposite her, the girl smirked.
"Maybe this will help you remember?" Swiftly, the girl dove in and captured Reina's lips with her own, Reina's cry of shock only allowing her assailant's tongue entrance into her mouth.
"Mmrgh..." Reina struggled futilely against the weight pinning her against the wall, her fingers scratching and clawing at the shoulders of the other girl. She was about to burst out in tears when she was released quite abruptly, a mischievous grin still on the stranger's face.
"Don't be so scared, you were so much cuter last night." The stranger shrugged again. "It's not really that big a deal."
Reina snapped right about then.
"How dare you say that, you pervert! It is a big deal! How could you just take advantage of someone who's drunk! You immoral, twisted, perverted asshole! I hate you! I hate you!!!"
In the heat of her outburst, Reina had lunged at the other girl, pinning her down and flailing at her with her fists. She was still so busy shaking the other girl that she failed to notice her new position until a sneaky arm snaked around behind her back and pulled her down nose to nose with her companion.
"Now this is a new position for me..." The strange girl purred, darting her tongue out to lick at a startled Reina's lips. "Feisty, aren't you?"
"PERVERT!!!" Reina screamed again, this time really digging in with her nails, all while trying to push away from the girl that held her captive.
"I have a name too, you know." Ignoring the wince of pain that came from Reina's frenzied attack, the girl flipped their positions over smoothly and pinned Reina easily down on the bed.
"You can call me Ai." Reina continued struggling against her, but Ai ignored it and kissed the young girl again, enjoying how Reina continued yelling obscenities at her through that intimate contact.
"Ease up, spitfire. It won't be all that bad." Ai pinned Reina's wrists down on either side of her head, since the constant scratching was getting annoying.
"Besides, I think you owe me for rescuing you from those drunk guys..."
"WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM AND YOU! BASTARD!" Reina yelled again, but was silenced with another kiss. Pissed off, the cat-like girl bit down hard on Ai's lip, drawing blood.
Ai let go of Reina's wrists, lifting the back of one hand to wipe at her bloody lip. She still sat firmly on Reina, straddling her such that the younger girl could not get away from her. Licking up the blood, Ai looked down with a new fire in her eyes.
"You know, you're really interesting. I think I like you even more now."
Panicked, Reina tried to cover herself with her arms while trying also to get out from under Ai. Calmly, Ai simply watched impassively for a while, studying Reina like some kind of insect under a microscope. Inexplicably, that gaze made Reina feel even more naked than she already was.
"Stop looking at me like that! Rapist!" Reina growled, trying to twist away from Ai. Suddenly, an iron grip clamped down around her neck, forcing her to look straight at Ai's suddenly darkened eyes. A tremor of fear ran through Reina, making her cower back as Ai leaned in close.
"I don't do rape." Those dark orbs seemed to deepen in intensity, making Reina shudder. "Don't make me cross that line." The grip tightened, and Reina gagged slightly, gasping for air.
Abruptly, Ai released Reina, climbing off her without a second word. Reina shivered and curled up, frightened out of her wits as she stared at Ai.
"Get out."
~*~*~
Sayumi winced as she lifted her textbooks off her desk, following the line of students filtering out of the lecture hall. Her muscles screamed with every step, and she felt hyperaware of the number of marks that a certain someone had left on her.
Which was why she felt the need to be covered up so totally today, in coat and turtleneck, as well as long pants. It would be hard to explain all the bite marks to other people.
It had only been a couple of days since Ai had peremptorily commanded her appearance, and the event had been, well, eventful to say the least.
Sayumi had fully intended to lecture Ai about what she was doing to Gaki-san, but before she could even put in two words, Ai had simply grabbed her and pretty much making short work of her clothes right there in the car. The bunny girl had rarely ever seen Ai so coldly upset about anything at all, even in their previous trysts. It was as if a demon had taken over her entirely, instead of merely possessing her.
It had been much later, when Sayu was still heaving from the unexpected exertion, that Ai had climbed off her, apologized shortly, and told her to go back. Sayu had rarely seen Ai worked up over much of anything, and this behavior had worried her.
She could have just saved herself the trouble by getting dressed and leaving the car, but some deep instinct within her had seen that Ai was brooding over something, and she just couldn't leave that alone.
Ai had not been very responsive to her questions, but seeing that Sayumi would not leave her alone that night, Ai had driven them to some nondescript motel and gotten them a room.
It was not in Ai's nature to talk about herself, much less any of her problems. Sayu instinctively knew that. Instead, she chose to express herself through other means, and Sayu currently bore the remaining marks of how Ai chose to vent her frustration.
It had been much later, in the dark, when she had been close to exhaustion and was curled up against Ai, that the other woman had started to talk, as if to herself.
"I don't like it. I didn't want to know. I shouldn't have to know." Pause. "I'm just a tool. And I have my use-by date."
Silence, then in a low tone. "People are scary. I'm only just doing my job. Just my job. I've never..." Pause. "Never mind. Forget it."
Then quietly, barely more than a whisper.
"Thank you for listening, Sayu."
Sayumi shook her head, squinting against the bright sunlight as she stepped outside. She had sensed a real emotion in Ai's voice there; a deep, dark emotion that disturbed the soul.
Takahashi Ai. Sayumi sighed. What an enigma. She could never tell if the woman was a demon or just another human being with a dark secret. Too many mysteries and contradictions surrounding this one person, like a black hole sucking in everything into the endless void within.
Ai-chan, what are you hiding?
Sayumi could only hope that she had the chance to find out.
~*~*~
"This never happened. I never saw you. We never met. Nothing happened at all."
Ai rolled her eyes, her sunglasses sitting high on her head. Sending an impish wink at Reina, she slapped the younger girl's butt playfully as the younger got off the taxi. She seemed to be completely back to her normal, flirtatious self.
Reina yelped and scowled darkly at her. Ai only blew her a kiss and pulled her sunglasses back down even as Reina slammed the door shut on her.
Turning resolutely away from the cloud of exhaust that the taxi left, Reina stomped up to the hotel where she was staying.
"Tanaka-san! Where have you been?!" The screeching voice of a harpy, better known as the teacher in charge of this school trip, resounded through the large lobby. Reina rolled her eyes as that ugly matron crowded her and bombarded her with questions.
"Just fuck off, old hag." The harpy of a teacher just gaped as Reina flipped her a finger and entered the elevator. It was far too early for lectures.
Right now, all she wanted was a good, long shower.
=====================================================
And there. Congrats on wedging, dinny. XD
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-DIBS-
Muahahaha
-coughs- Anyway
REINA ARC!! :cow: :muffin: :theking
Sorry, you know me and Reinai. XD But in chapter 21, gahhh, I would've cried if Reina ended up getting raped :cry: But I did find it funny how she was drunk XD Bad Reina~
As for chapter 22, man...when Reina woke up, that was amazing XD I couldn't stop laughing. But then it got all...rawr :shocked I honestly felt bad for Reina even though something in the back of my head said that Ai wouldn't do it (and thank god she didn't!!)
The whole bit with Sayu and Ai amused me a bit, because I think Ai's irritated because she always got a girl when she wanted one...and now that she can't have one, it (more or less) pisses her off to no end. XD Also, Ai has morals (!!!) she wouldn't do a girl (or anyone?) unwillingly, which is cool O0
-waves Reinai flag- I wanna know what happens next!!
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ah...the appearance of the wonky little yankii.... :hiakhiakhiak:
Ai-chan......tsk, tsk....still the player even in hawaii..... :dizzy:
im starting to like the tanakamei......but renai...... :glasses: im still easing up with this pair....
but.....er, ai-chan.....open up with sayu a little....... :err: im still hoping she would find comfort to nii nii...... :badluck:
is ai-chan a bipolar, or something? :wahaha:
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"Ahhhh! Get away from me, pervert!" Reina shrieked, chucking her pillow blindly at her assailant, who ducked smoothly with an impish grin on her face.
Belatedly, Reina noticed that aside from the over-large t-shirt that her rescuer (?) was wearing, she was apparently not wearing anything underneath.
"How dare you say that, you pervert! It is a big deal! How could you just take advantage of someone who's drunk! You immoral, twisted, perverted asshole! I hate you! I hate you!!!"
:lol: :w00t: XD
"This never happened. I never saw you. We never met. Nothing happened at all."
yeah right XD
"Thank you for listening, Sayu."
aww, looks like Sayu gained the trust, almost
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I could not control my laughter when reading this. XD Reina...in bed...with Ai-chan... :drool: But the whole "I don't do rape" kinda proves nothing was done, yes? Ack, seems like Sayu got nearly the same treatment as Gaki...but she's taking it much better. :D Maybe she's just used to it all by now. It seems like she's the closest to Ai-chan, the only one the girl can (sort of) confide in. But even she doesn't know what's going on in that little head. OMG Reina's a student on a school trip?!?!?!?! :w00t: The butt slap was :grin:
Glad you're back. :heart:
@rev2hd: So YOU'RE dinny. :P
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Yay update! :heart: I hope things are going better in your life. Just don't disappear on us. :cry:
XD Reinai interactions are so much fun. The image that I get in my head is a giant lion toying with a little kitten. Teasing yet can crush with one hit when ticked off. o.O *imagines a bloody mess. Quickly wipes image from brain*
I'm more interested in Ai's little conversation with Sayu. I'm guessing Ai found out something during the Eri arc. Ai knows she's expendable and there isn't much she can do about that, but there's something there. What is Ai-chan hiding...
This is going to bother me all day. XD
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Did I ever mention how much I love the interaction between Reina and Ai? It's a like a catfight...but better! :D Loved this chapter... Though I can't help but wonder, just what did Ai find out that was related to Kamei-san's murder that ticked her so? Hm... Oh, and poor Sayu. :sweatdrop:
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man that was fast~!
lol reina waking up to ai XD nice~ XD plus it's good to know hat ai won't go THAT far to get what she wants...
plus,good to see that she cant open herself up a tiny bit to sayu.. i wonder what she has never done?
nice to see that reina's still acting all yanki, so early in the morning XD
and WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO MY GAKI-SAN!!!!?!?! XD
keep it upX3
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Struggling and helpless Reina... :twisted:
"Feisty, aren't you?"
I could swear this isn't the first time I saw this word this week. Might have been something that came out of my own mouth...or rather, through a conversation of clicking of keys. :D I wonder...
ReinAi tension never ceases to amuse me...especially when you have such lol reactions coming from a freaked out Reina. That girl's got an impressive attitude. I would applaud her for the quick entrance and exit she made at the end there. Every girl in this story is...let's make a new term here: Ai whipped.
Sending an impish wink at Reina, she slapped the younger girl's butt playfully as the younger got off the taxi. She seemed to be completely back to her normal, flirtatious self.
Reina yelped and scowled darkly at her.
Lol! *Fist bump for Ai*
Ai is but a pawn to a much bigger force that we can't see. And I guess she might have gotten a glimpse of it? I could go about wildly speculating that Ai might end up running away from a job later or something because she felt her life was threatened or something going horribly wrong. Feel free to shut me up if I'm talking too much, BTW. Not that I know anything, but I do tend to blab about whatever's on my mind. D:
"People are scary. I'm only just doing my job. Just my job. I've never..."
So many ideas on how to end this sentence. Some more amusing than others lol.
Dude, you're sick. I love it. XD
I know. :D
So YOU'RE dinny. :P
Yet another one of life's mysteries is solved. :lol:
But the whole "I don't do rape" kinda proves nothing was done, yes?
Personally, I think the only thing it proves is that no rape took place. Reina was piss drunk. Any form of consent could have taken place, especially with Ai's ability to being rather...convincing. Also, it's not rape if you yell "SURPRISE!" first. :pimp:
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I'm loving the beginning of the Reina saga. I can only imagine what the next Reinai encounter will be like :twisted:
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Reina! :theking now i can't wait for their next meeting. XD
Ai and Sayu moment ... sweet. so is Sayu gonna spy on Ai? :O hihih.
Reina is so badass. :twothumbs
cant wait for teh next chappie! :wub:
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Ah I'm glad you are back with an update...I hope this is a sign that things are a better now.
love Reina's encounter with Ai chan. I'm sure the kitty cat isn't going to do any over drinking any time soon....or actually...I can see this leading to Reina being a pub, drinking away, cause she's ticked off over what happened with Ai chan.
"I don't do rape." Those dark orbs seemed to deepen in intensity, making Reina shudder. "Don't make me cross that line." The grip tightened, and Reina gagged slightly, gasping for air.
This makes me think of the incident with Risa again. Of course, she did give Risa a choice but the out come was just as bad. I wonder if Ai chan ever realized that she did cross a line that time. Or perhaps she learned a little something from that encounter.... In any case...I still consider Ai chan's divide between right and wrong to be razor thin.
so looks like Sayu's showdown with Ai chan wasn't much of a showdown at all....poor thing couldn't even get a couple of sentence in. but from what I gathered this meeting took their relationship to a new level. Ai chan actually opening up a little was surprising....as well as Sayu hoping to know more about Ai.
The more I read, the more I see Ai chan feeling guilty over Eri. I wonder if it's because she feels she somehow turned Eri into someone much like herself...or perhaps a different kind of monster.
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File #22
Reina was sleeping now, very comfortably indeed. The hotel bed was nice and fluffy, the sheets smooth and soft, perfect for cuddling in. Slowly, she was beginning to stir, nose scrunched up in a tiny yawn, before snuffling back facefirst into her pillow.
The feel of the sheets was very soft against her skin, and felt strangely unobstructed by the absence of any material in between. Reina made a sleepy little frown, half turning and stretching lazily in her sleep, eyelids fluttering briefly, not fully ready to open yet.
Wait a sec...Aichan stripped her nekkid before putting her to bed? :O
*REINA FULLY WAKES UP*
Well, now she knows why one should NOT get all piss-drunk like she did the previous night. That way, you don't wake up nekkid in bed with a girl you don't remember. :yep:
"Is this any way to greet someone who saved you from being gang-raped by a bunch of guys?" A lazy smile split the other girl's face, even as the stranger flipped her long hair over one shoulder and settled into a cross-legged position. Belatedly, Reina noticed that aside from the over-large t-shirt that her rescuer (?) was wearing, she was apparently not wearing anything underneath.
Na-na-na-na-na-naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....
:mon bleed2:
Oh my god, I didn't, did I? Fleetingly, broken up images of this girl embracing her and carrying her to bed surfaced in her memory, and she flushed hotly at the skin to skin contact.
"You...you..." Reina was at a loss for words. Opposite her, the girl smirked.
"Maybe this will help you remember?" Swiftly, the girl dove in and captured Reina's lips with her own, Reina's cry of shock only allowing her assailant's tongue entrance into her mouth.
Now, considering Reina had passed out by the time Aichan would have brought her indoors, it could be that the latter is simply teasing Reina and having a little fun watching her freak out. Then again, we don't know if Reina came to, during that time, either. :pimp:
"You can call me Ai." Reina continued struggling against her, but Ai ignored it and kissed the young girl again, enjoying how Reina continued yelling obscenities at her through that intimate contact.
Cursing WHILE in the middle of making out? That's a new one...I think. :grin:
"Stop looking at me like that! Rapist!" Reina growled, trying to twist away from Ai. Suddenly, an iron grip clamped down around her neck, forcing her to look straight at Ai's suddenly darkened eyes. A tremor of fear ran through Reina, making her cower back as Ai leaned in close.
"I don't do rape." Those dark orbs seemed to deepen in intensity, making Reina shudder. "Don't make me cross that line." The grip tightened, and Reina gagged slightly, gasping for air.
Abruptly, Ai released Reina, climbing off her without a second word. Reina shivered and curled up, frightened out of her wits as she stared at Ai.
"Get out."
Uh-oh... :shocked
Aichan's fun went a little bit too far. She has to remember that willing partners are a LOT different from UN-willing ones.
Sayumi winced as she lifted her textbooks off her desk, following the line of students filtering out of the lecture hall. Her muscles screamed with every step, and she felt hyperaware of the number of marks that a certain someone had left on her.
Like I said...having a WILLING partner makes a huge difference.
It had been much later, when Sayu was still heaving from the unexpected exertion, that Ai had climbed off her, apologized shortly, and told her to go back. Sayu had rarely seen Ai worked up over much of anything, and this behavior had worried her.
Aichan's not used to getting "one-upped" by anyone the way that Otosuke had done. She didn't know how to deal/cope with that feeling, and thus she lashed out...big time.
*AICHAN'S TALK TO SAYU*
Whoa...that's the most vulnerable any of us have seen her. It's like she's let her guard down...for once...for real.
"Tanaka-san! Where have you been?!" The screeching voice of a harpy, better known as the teacher in charge of this school trip, resounded through the large lobby. Reina rolled her eyes as that ugly matron crowded her and bombarded her with questions.
"Just fuck off, old hag." The harpy of a teacher just gaped as Reina flipped her a finger and entered the elevator. It was far too early for lectures.
Teachers in charge of school trips have a lot, and I mean a LOT, on their shoulders. Considering that Reina's been MIA for what's probably the past 8-12 hours or so, her flipping out isn't that surprising to me. O0
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I gotta come clean here. I have not read this update properly yet. I only saw the words, Reina, Sayu and shower. I don't even know if they have anything to do with each other XD I will read this though... in time. I'm happy to see you writing so much though. Now go write that story I wanna read. I'm gonna bug you no end :D
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mou~ i guess this chapter's going to be epic uh~? XD
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The more Mr. Moonlight Ai I watch, the more I miss this fic. D:
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I liiiiiiiiiiiiiiive. *collapses*
*picks self back up* Ok comment replies first. Yes you all know what that means by now!
Saikami: You love your Reina lol. Glad you laughed at it. I'm sure you'll laugh more at the Reina parts here. She's just...XD Morals? What morals? Ai has no morals. Too uncool. XD I know what happens next!!! :P
ayase909: Ai is a player wherever she goes. Hurhur. XD I WILL CONVERT YOU TO REINAI. That's a statement of fact. It will happen because I say so. Muahahaha. Clearly, I lack sleep. If you accuse Ai of being bipolar you might as well apply it to me too. XD
kRisZ: Ai and Sayu...they're so vague. XD Who really knows what Ai thinks? Hehe.
Ichigo-chan: Glad you find it funny too. Hehe. Yeah Sayu's probably used to the rough sex lol. More Reina in the coming chapter. I think you'll be sufficiently amused. Hehe.
Fenrir: Thanks for your concern. :) I'll be alright, if just a little insane. But you know, sanity is overrated. Hehe. You and your imagery...*also imagines the bloody mess* :lol: Poor Reina lol. I shall continue to bother you! I hope. XD
SxY: I love the interaction between Reina and Ai too. Hehe. I shall continue to keep secrets from the audience. Hoho. See if you can figure anything out from the coming chapter. :P
kawaii beam: Doesn't everyone wonder about the mystery that is Ai. Hehe. Reina is always yankii, especially when she's uncertain of what's going on. XD Fun times. Gaki-san...well, you'll have to wait on that. :P Sorry about that lol.
rev2hd: There, your chapter! So stop whining about it. XD Yeah yeah, I admit, that was a useful word to use. XD ReinAi tension is always fun. I love these two. Reina in particular is like a ball of fire. Hard to handle but oh so challenging. XD I second the Ai whipped. Hehe. Ai has good instincts, and you know that you can blab to me instead of blabbing on the forum. Haha. Oh and yes, Mr Moonlight rocks my socks! :D Oh and have fun watching H&A. You better tell me all about it when you get back. Haha.
mode107: Hello there! Welcome to this thread. Hehe. ReinAi is always fun. Do stick around to watch the fireworks! XD
ringo-hime: My brain is dying, but I can still manage a reply. XD I can't wait for their next meeting either, and yes Reina is badass! Haha. Next chapter should be coming soon once I plow through all the comment replies.
Sukoshi: Haha yeah, Reina does appear to like being contrary. Little rebel after all. Yes, I would agree that Ai has a very flexible sense of right and wrong. She hovers right on the edge of being a sociopath, really. XD Guilty over Eri? Interesting hypothesis. I look forward to your thoughts after this chapter. XD
JFC: I would say more but it's like...dawn where I am now and I've had absolutely no sleep. Ai's a complicated character to work with, but I enjoy the challenge. I hope you are enjoying the ride too. :)
lil_hamz: Ohhh hammy. I love your selective attention. :lol: And I shall continue to ignore you! Nyahahaha. XD
That was a lot to get through. Well, time to edit and then post. Watch this space!
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File #23
Be back soon.
Ai
Takeda put down his cell phone with a sigh. The brevity of the message was just so typical of the girl. Then again, she probably picked it up from him, so he couldn't very well complain about it.
"Is it her?"
The deep basso of his father's voice made him jerk involuntarily, eyes snapping to attention to the figure sitting in a plush chair, wreathed in shoulders. The brandy glass he held in one hand sparkled ominously in the dim light of the electrical fireplace just across from him.
"Yes. She says she will be back soon." Takeda did not seem entirely comfortable in the patriarch's presence, as if unsure how to properly conduct himself. Fumbling a little, he put his phone away, then found himself at a loss with what to do with his hands. He resolved that by putting them behind his back, not unlike a posture commonly seen in the military.
The patriarch did not offer any comment to Ai's impending return, instead shifting to a related topic. Takeda nodded at what he said, replying.
"She is...independent. But committed to her duties." A non-committal answer if there was one, but yet it was also clearly protective of his charge. Ai was a free spirit, and he was proud of the way she had turned out. Given that he had an active part in the raising of her, he could not help but feel a little defensive about her.
"Do not get too attached to the girl. She is one of many. Even if she is exceptional."
"And only we will remain." Takeda hated having to say that, but it was expected. He could not afford any weakness if he was to keep his position. It was not so stable that he could just mouth off and expect to get away with it. He was, as Ai herself was, eminently replaceable.
And they all knew it.
"How's the little one coming along?" Yuuka. Of course. He should have expected the question. It was only natural, given that should anything happen to Ai, Yuuka would have to take over her role. There were others, as was to be expected, but those were separate matters from what he had to deal with personally.
"Still a little green, but she takes after Ai herself, so she should turn out alright, given some time." Which was the truth. Yuuka was a little less assertive and even more quiet than Ai had been at her age, but it would not impede her progress too badly at this stage. In fact, her passivity would make her more tractable than Ai ever was.
"Get her ready. Soon." Takeda nodded, bowing and retreating out of the room. He knew a dismissal when he heard one. And he was glad to be out of that room. He had never got along with the old man. They were just too different.
His phone trilled again, this time with a message from Yuuka. A good girl, that one. A pity that their line was not for good girls. Already she was no longer quite the same.
Pity indeed.
~*~*~
Reina was not entirely sure how she ended up outdoors in the bright afternoon sun again, right after her shower and still grumpy over that incident she had woken up to in the morning.
On the bright side, she was out on the beach on a fine sunny day, with plenty of hunks around for her to ogle at. On another plus side, after much scrutiny of her body during her extended shower, there had been no marks in any conspicuous places save for a couple of bruises that she wasn't sure how she had received. She wasn't sure if she wanted to know. Fortunately, they were easy enough to cover up, and she could still wear a bikini top without fear.
Resolutely keeping her mind off any negative aspects, Reina concentrated on having fun. Currently though, she was gaping at one of her schoolmates behind the large sunglasses that covered half her face.
"Beach volleyball?" It wasn't quite incredulous, but there was definitely a hint of doubt in there. Reina was pretty alright with sports, she just sucked at running. Having decent hand-eye coordination skills was a definite plus point.
"Tanaka-senpai! We're short of people on our team! Please join us!"
Well, at least the girl had good manners, Reina had to give her that. She hated being disrespected. Shrugging a little, Reina stood up, brushing the sand from her shorts.
"Sure. Why not?" Following after her taller junior, they soon joined the rest of the vacationing students. About half of them would be due to graduate soon, and Reina was one of them. She was pretty confident that her exam results would be good enough, despite having left studying to the absolute last minute (read: the day before each paper).
A bunch of high school girls playing beach volleyball in skimpy attire was bound to attract attention anyway, and Reina thrived on the fact that she could sense the numerous male gazes drawn to her. The attention made her perform better, even though she had to duck from a couple of overly powerful shots made by the opposing team.
Slightly ticked off about their team trailing, Reina spiked the ball hard across the makeshift net, sending it hurtling across at high speed. There was a disturbing thwack as the ball impacted heavily against the other girl's head, sending her staggering and falling backwards...
There was a rush, then a suddenly hushed moment as someone caught the falling girl before she hit the sand. A pause, then the other girls swarmed around their fellow schoolmate, worried.
"Mororin!" "Kanamin!" "Are you ok?" Those who knew the girl better were already ringed around her, with her best friend knelt down on the other side of the person who had caught her. Reina, feeling just a twinge of guilt at having hit the girl, also drifted over, hovering anxiously outside the circle of worried girls.
"Ugh..." The stunned girl seemed to recover from her daze, her best friend squealing aloud with relief, clutching her hands. The stranger that had caught her also asked after her state, before helping her up with the best friend.
Being much smaller than the ring of girls, Reina could not see who the mysterious rescuer was, since that person was also, evidently, not so tall that she could see them over the shoulders of the others. However, when the circle parted in order to allow poor Kanami to stagger with the help of her best friend to the shade, the identity of that person was all too readily revealed to a horrified Reina.
Behind tinted glasses, Ai smiled in that winning way of hers, mostly directed at the other girls around her, but the edge of that smirk was definitely intended for Reina. And Reina knew it. She was standing so still, fists clenched, that her body was almost shaking. With rage or embarrassment, she knew not which. Probably a combination of both. In any case, she was too distracted to even apologize properly to Kanami, which drew dirty looks from her friends. Reina, as usual, ignored them.
Dressed in casual beach wear, with a white shirt tied off at one side and unbuttoned to reveal the black bikini underneath, Ai was a picture of cool confidence and sophisticated maturity, yet still managing to appear cute at the same time. Her long hair was tied back in a half ponytail, brown strands falling straight and unimpeded over her shoulders and back. She was hardly in 'bishie mode', as Sayumi had once termed it, but she still drew attention in her own way from male and female alike.
Small or not, and almost defiantly female to boot, she definitely got the attention of Reina's fellow students without even trying. The fact that Ai was also Japanese and conversant in the language helped. Communication was hardly a problem in this case, and Ai seemed all too sunny and just friendly enough to pique interest.
The mere fact that Ai was just standing there and looking as if that morning never happened at all was really pissing Reina off though, and before she even really thought through the consequences of what she was doing, the pint-sized girl had marched up to Ai and grabbed hold of the older girl's arm, pulling her away from the circle of giggling schoolgirls and off to some distance away.
Ai let Reina pull her along, an amused smile playing on her lips. She was curious as to what the fiery yankii would do. That and the girl's appearance was hardly unpleasant, and while Reina was dragging her, Ai could easily admire the view presented before her.
"You!" Reina exploded the moment there were no idle bystanders in convenient earshot. They were not completely out of sight from her classmates, but Reina didn't give a damn about that. They would have to walk way too long if she wanted to find a decently secluded spot. Then again, Reina wasn't sure if she wanted to be alone in a secluded spot with someone like Ai. Staying out in plain sight seemed like the best way to make the other girl behave, or so Reina thought.
"Me?" Ai was grinning now, knowing that it would make Reina flip out even more at her easygoing attitude. If this were an anime, one would probably be able to see the bulging veins on Reina's forehead by now. Her fingers were still clamped around Ai's forearm, tightly and almost painfully. For her part, Ai did not seem to care too much, putting her free hand on her hip in a languid pose.
"What the fuck are you doing here?!" Reina wanted to yell, but she settled for hissing in order not to draw too much attention to herself. Ai squinted at her in a lazy manner, her glasses slipping a little down her nose at the action.
"Last I checked, this was a public beach, kitten." That low, sexy drawl made Reina frown and shiver at the same time. Her grip tightened, and she glared at Ai, who continued looking like the most innocent person to ever walk the earth.
"I thought I told you to leave me alone!" Reina spat through gritted teeth, her nails digging into Ai's forearm now. It was certain to leave a mark or several, but Ai did not seem to exhibit any kind of pain at the action.
"I was leaving you alone. You are the one who dragged me here. And I might add, you're still holding on to me." Ai pointed out reasonably, her eyes sparkling with concealed laughter. Reina let go of Ai's arm in disgust, wiping her hand off on her shorts as if she had just touched something slimy. Ai massaged her arm, now freshly adorned with the deep nail marks that Reina had left on it. She seemed to still be in good humor.
"Don't sulk so much, kitty. You'll get wrinkles." Ai advised with a laugh, reaching out to poke at Reina's puffed up cheeks. The younger girl flinched away, giving Ai a flat stare of open dislike. Ai did not seem particularly rebuffed by this, still sparkling with positive energy.
"Just stay away from me." Reina growled, turning away from that annoying bane of her existence. Before she could take another step though, Ai suddenly grabbed at her shoulder, spinning her around to face her.
"How rude of you to just walk away after injuring me." Ai's face had moved disconcertingly close to Reina's in an instant, making the cat-like girl feel distinctly uncomfortable at the clarity of the unfathomable eyes just inches away from her own.
Before Reina could push her away, Ai leaned in to place a kiss on the girl's cheek, or at least, she had intended to. Upon sensing Ai's forward motion, Reina tried to move away, but Ai was still gripping her by the shoulder. Desperate, she jerked her face to one side, ironically allowing Ai to brush her lips against Reina's own.
Not one to turn down a free opportunity, Ai went along with the motion and captured Reina's lips with practiced ease, taking advantage of Reina's outraged protestations and silencing them in one move. She did not hold the kiss for long though, releasing Reina after only sucking a bit tauntingly on the outraged girl's lower lip. She did not fancy being bitten by the girl, knowing that Reina was fully capable of such an act.
Reina's cheeks were definitely burning after that little display, and her hand moved of its own accord once Ai had released her. The loud smack of Reina's palm against Ai's cheek was punctuated by the clatter of Ai's glasses falling to the sand, followed by the interested gazes of her classmates who were still staring at them from afar. Ai did not move for a while, head still turned to one side. She had expected the slap, had turned her head at the right moment to minimize the force of the blow, but it still stung. Raising one hand to touch her sore cheek, Ai seemed entirely neutral as she returned Reina's angry gaze.
"I hate you! I don't want to see you ever again!" Reina burst out, even though she was the one who had just hit Ai. Well, to some degree, her vehemence was entirely expected and even warranted. However, to others who did not know of the relationship between the two girls and were not close enough to hear the conversation, it was far too easy to misinterpret what was going on. Reina did not think of that though, still too caught up in the moment as she turned and ran away from what was probably the most infuriating person that she had ever met.
Ai continued standing there until Reina disappeared out of sight, one hand still resting on her cheek. Turning, she regarded the curious gaggle of Reina's friends still lingering around in the distance, whispering to each other with obvious vigor.
Her hand moved from her cheek to brush across the lower half of her face, her thumb rubbing speculatively across her lips as a slightly evil thought crept into her mind. Her eyes hooded over with that dangerous darkness that few had ever seen up close and lived to tell of it, and she took one step forward, sandaled foot crunching down firmly on her fallen glasses, cracking the lenses and pushing the cracked edges further into the sand.
She headed towards Reina's friends, an easy smile on her all-too-innocent face. The broken glasses she left behind still half-buried in the sand, in silent testament to how she treated things and people. The sun was still bright and shining down, but it was no longer quite the fine day that it once was.
Sparkling brighter to rival the sun itself, Ai conducted herself with admirable ease, a false light to which fair butterflies gathered around, unaware of the danger they courted.
Not that they had anything to fear though, since the target was never them to begin with.
Ai only smiled as she wove her web, secure at the center. Such fun she would have.
This really was turning out to be a wonderful vacation after all.
~*~*~
"Have you found her?"
At a glance, the speaker appeared almost languid, relaxing in a plush upholstered swivel chair, the back facing the person she was addressing. She seemed more preoccupied with the panoramic view of the cityscape from her office than anything else. Behind her, the nondescript man bowed his apology that he had not yet been able to trace the elusive target, the last known destination having been Europe before they had lost track of her entirely.
"Have you found anything else about her at all?" The trace of irritation in her voice was faint, yet the displeasure was entirely palpable. This was not a woman to cross, and the man knew it. To his credit, he was utterly calm and entirely professional, betraying none of his own thoughts or feelings on the situation.
"False trails, many of them. It is almost like this person has never existed." He did not suggest anything else. It was not his place to do so. Only solid evidence, and plausible inferences at the most. He was not being paid to overthink things, or at least, to state his personal opinion on the matter.
"You may go." A curt dismissal, and he bowed again, regardless of the fact that his employer could not see him. Within moments he was out of the room, as silently and unobtrusively as he had entered in the first place.
Once she was certain that she was alone, Kamei Eri sighed and turned back to the massive desk where any number of files were arrayed across the surface. She had a lot of work to do, and she did it to some extent, but only when she wanted to, at her own pace. She had delegated the most tedious tasks to her employees, but there were still many other things that required her direct approval.
Besides all the nagging details of daily work, there was also another matter that haunted her every waking thought. Something that at nagged her, leaving her irritable and unsatisfied in its absence.
Ai, where are you? Eri did not like the feeling. She had felt betrayed once, a long time ago. She did not want to go through it a second time. But if it were to be true, her vengeance would come, in one form or another, no matter how long it took.
"Rijichou, you have a board meeting in 10 minutes." The efficient, impersonal voice of her secretary sounded over the intercom. Eri pressed the buzzer, replying in a monotone.
"I'll be there. Get my materials ready for me and meet me outside."
19 going on 20, still bearing a childlike countenance, Kamei Eri did not look like someone who could shoulder the burden of Kamei Corp on her slender shoulders. Until one looked closely at the determined set of her jawline, that calculating marble gaze that gave nothing away. Then they would proclaim her a true daughter to her poor departed father whom no one in true fact actually missed.
She had left her chair with a frown and slack shoulders; she exited the chairman's office standing straight and tall, an imperious aura emanating from her person. Kamei Eri was no longer a child, not even really a girl anymore. She was board chairman and president of Kamei Corp, the most powerful authority heading one of the foremost companies in all of Japan.
"Let's go." Her tone left no quarter for obstruction of any kind. Confident, determined, poised. Yes, she was no longer that weak girl, at least not to all these people. She was powerful. She was in control. And nothing could stop her.
What Kamei Eri wanted, she got. That was how it had always been. And always would.
The door opened for her, and she stepped through. To a new world she would forge with her own two hands. The doors closed behind her, and she did not look back.
Would not look back. Never again.
==========================================================
I. Am. Exhausted.
Sorry about the delay, but I had trouble finding the right atmosphere to write this. Hope it doesn't disappoint.
*crawls into bed away from the sun*
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DIBS
Ahh, I love this fic! Did I ever tell you that? :lol:
I wonder who the old man is :huhuh The boss of the boss. Aww, and I was thinking Ta-kun was almighty and ichiban bad guy XD
Reina in bikini :on bleed:
That's so like Reina to get irritated over a beach volleyball game :lol: the girl is oh so competitive, gotta love it. But I do know how painful it is to get a volleyball spiked in your face x__X; At least somebody CAUGHT the girl...
Ai in bikini :nya:
...Why couldn't Ai catch ME when I got hit in the face with one of those things?! ;_; (but I do admit, I thought that was an interesting way to insert Ai into this chapter :3)
Ai kissing Reina (WHILE IN BIKINIS) :luvluv1: :wahaha: :on bleed: :on gay: :mon blood: :mon bleed2: :mon love: ...We need a ReinAi emoticon D:
XD I love how ReinAi interact because Reina is so obviously not gay that we all know she is LOL I love homophobic-gay Reina, she makes me laugh XD I demand MOAR! (please)
Aww...I dunno why, but Eri all serious makes me kinda depressed D: 'cause she's normally all...spacey...and cute (not that she still isn't)...and stuff. >_> Does Ai ditch her forever now that Mr. Kamei is dead? :err:
And I know this has nothing to do with anything, but I never noticed this emotion thingy before!!
:wigglypanda:
muahaha
write moar
PS - sorry if my comment is kinda crack, I'm really tired :mon sweat:
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WOOT~! X3 this was awesme~! lol what's ai up to now??X3 ah~ i cant wait for the next one~!
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*Frolics through a field of blooming flowers at the sight of an update* :lol:
Ah, Ai is up to no good again. XD Strutting her stuff in a bikini no less. XD Poor Reina. The image of the lion and kitten comes to mind again along with the bloody mess that follows. o.O
And Eri is looking for Ai?!!! She sure has changed now that she become the CEO of a major corporation. Wonder if that will lead to the termination of you know who. Hmm....
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What is Ai gonna plan?! Oh I hope it isn't too bad and then it'll make Reina go crazy. Though the scene between them is interesting I have to say. lol This story is great. Sorry I don't comment much, but I do read it! I love your stories. :D I can't wait until the next chapter. :twothumbs
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Oh wow, this whole assasin thing is a much bigger operation that it seems at first glance. I'm sad at the fact that Ai-chan is disposable. But Takeda clearly doesn't want to let her go. And why would he? Awww, Yuuka-chan~~ XD
LOL at Reina. She needs her respect. :P Ew, volleyball. OUCH! She smacked some other girl!? :shocked: She better feel bad, that shit hurts. :lol: HAHAHAHA! Of course it's Ai-chan that caught her, she can't stay away from hot girls in bikinis. LMAO, Reina's mad....I like. :lol: And Ai-chan's non-chalant behavior just makes it that much funnier. Oh my, we're gonna have some rumors swirling regarding Reina's behavior. :lol:
Eri-chan~ :( Ai-chan's not coming back, sweetie. But it doesn't seem like Eri even needs her. She's got this whole company president thing down. Definitely her father's daughter.
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I read this last night, but couldn't comment due to the fact that my iTouch and jphip don't get along very well... :sweatdrop: And I was a bit lazy to type on my iTouch... Meh.
Moving on, I still absolutely love the way you write the AixReina interaction. XD One calm tiger and another irritated kitty cat. *loves calling Reina by that* But damn... It hurts to get hit by a volleyball. *winces* I know that first hand. Actually, I know what it feels like to get hit by almost any flying projectile in sports. I can't wait to see what Ai has planned though. I just wish I knew a bit more about this whole assassin program thing is; it kind of stinks that they're calling Ai replaceable, but hey, it's true.
Ooooo... Big business Kamei... Reading about her being like this certainly is new... I'm kind of worried now. I know that Eri doesn't exactly NEED Aichan, but... Well, she's certainly going to feel duped/dumped/etc. And I don't think she likes that one bit. :-X I wonder if we'll still see more of her, what with the whole "never look back" thing...
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It’s getting even more mysterious :twothumbs
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File #23
Be back soon.
Ai
Takeda put down his cell phone with a sigh. The brevity of the message was just so typical of the girl. Then again, she probably picked it up from him, so he couldn't very well complain about it.
Art imitating life? :P
"Do not get too attached to the girl. She is one of many. Even if she is exceptional."
"And only we will remain." Takeda hated having to say that, but it was expected. He could not afford any weakness if he was to keep his position. It was not so stable that he could just mouth off and expect to get away with it. He was, as Ai herself was, eminently replaceable.
And they all knew it.
Well, the question isn't whether or not Aichan is replaceable. The question is, if the time comes...just how hard would be be to actually do it? :yep:
"How's the little one coming along?" Yuuka. Of course. He should have expected the question. It was only natural, given that should anything happen to Ai, Yuuka would have to take over her role. There were others, as was to be expected, but those were separate matters from what he had to deal with personally.
"Still a little green, but she takes after Ai herself, so she should turn out alright, given some time." Which was the truth. Yuuka was a little less assertive and even more quiet than Ai had been at her age, but it would not impede her progress too badly at this stage. In fact, her passivity would make her more tractable than Ai ever was.
Moreso than Aichan? Now that's a concept that's both interesting as well as intimidating. :O
His phone trilled again, this time with a message from Yuuka. A good girl, that one. A pity that their line was not for good girls. Already she was no longer quite the same.
Pity indeed.
Takeda = :(
Reina was not entirely sure how she ended up outdoors in the bright afternoon sun again, right after her shower and still grumpy over that incident she had woken up to in the morning.
On the bright side, she was out on the beach on a fine sunny day, with plenty of hunks around for her to ogle at.
Vice versa is also true. :D
On another plus side, after much scrutiny of her body during her extended shower, there had been no marks in any conspicuous places save for a couple of bruises that she wasn't sure how she had received.
Probably bruises from when she was drunk and klutzy.
*REINA AND CLASSMATES PLAYING BEACH V-BALL*
:mon bleed2:
Slightly ticked off about their team trailing, Reina spiked the ball hard across the makeshift net, sending it hurtling across at high speed. There was a disturbing thwack as the ball impacted heavily against the other girl's head, sending her staggering and falling backwards...
There was a rush, then a suddenly hushed moment as someone caught the falling girl before she hit the sand. A pause, then the other girls swarmed around their fellow schoolmate, worried.
...
The stranger that had caught her also asked after her state, before helping her up with the best friend.
Being much smaller than the ring of girls, Reina could not see who the mysterious rescuer was, since that person was also, evidently, not so tall that she could see them over the shoulders of the others.
Hmmm...wonder who it could be? ;D
However, when the circle parted in order to allow poor Kanami to stagger with the help of her best friend to the shade, the identity of that person was all too readily revealed to a horrified Reina.
Behind tinted glasses, Ai smiled in that winning way of hers, mostly directed at the other girls around her, but the edge of that smirk was definitely intended for Reina. And Reina knew it.
Aichan = 8)
Reina = :shocked
"You!" Reina exploded the moment there were no idle bystanders in convenient earshot.
...
"Me?" Ai was grinning now, knowing that it would make Reina flip out even more at her easygoing attitude. If this were an anime, one would probably be able to see the bulging veins on Reina's forehead by now.
Reina = :mon mad:
Aichan = :gmon sweet:
"Just stay away from me." Reina growled, turning away from that annoying bane of her existence. Before she could take another step though, Ai suddenly grabbed at her shoulder, spinning her around to face her.
"How rude of you to just walk away after injuring me." Ai's face had moved disconcertingly close to Reina's in an instant, making the cat-like girl feel distinctly uncomfortable at the clarity of the unfathomable eyes just inches away from her own.
Before Reina could push her away, Ai leaned in to place a kiss on the girl's cheek, or at least, she had intended to. Upon sensing Ai's forward motion, Reina tried to move away, but Ai was still gripping her by the shoulder. Desperate, she jerked her face to one side, ironically allowing Ai to brush her lips against Reina's own.
Not one to turn down a free opportunity, Ai went along with the motion and captured Reina's lips with practiced ease, taking advantage of Reina's outraged protestations and silencing them in one move. She did not hold the kiss for long though, releasing Reina after only sucking a bit tauntingly on the outraged girl's lower lip. She did not fancy being bitten by the girl, knowing that Reina was fully capable of such an act.
Dang, Aichan's not one to let an opportunity pass her by, that's for sure. :yep:
Reina's cheeks were definitely burning after that little display, and her hand moved of its own accord once Ai had released her. The loud smack of Reina's palm against Ai's cheek was punctuated by the clatter of Ai's glasses falling to the sand, followed by the interested gazes of her classmates who were still staring at them from afar. Ai did not move for a while, head still turned to one side. She had expected the slap, had turned her head at the right moment to minimize the force of the blow, but it still stung. Raising one hand to touch her sore cheek, Ai seemed entirely neutral as she returned Reina's angry gaze.
Okay, is it wrong that I'm hoping for an "angry passion" scene between the two of them? :twisted:
Ai continued standing there until Reina disappeared out of sight, one hand still resting on her cheek. Turning, she regarded the curious gaggle of Reina's friends still lingering around in the distance, whispering to each other with obvious vigor.
Hopefully Reina's teacher doesn't hear about this. :D
"Have you found her?"
At a glance, the speaker appeared almost languid, relaxing in a plush upholstered swivel chair, the back facing the person she was addressing.
As soon as I saw "languid", my first thougt was that it was Aika. :lol:
"Have you found anything else about her at all?" The trace of irritation in her voice was faint, yet the displeasure was entirely palpable. This was not a woman to cross, and the man knew it. To his credit, he was utterly calm and entirely professional, betraying none of his own thoughts or feelings on the situation.
"False trails, many of them. It is almost like this person has never existed." He did not suggest anything else. It was not his place to do so. Only solid evidence, and plausible inferences at the most. He was not being paid to overthink things, or at least, to state his personal opinion on the matter.
Hmmmmm...okay then...some questions:
- Who is the target of the search?
- Who is the searcher?
- For what reason is the target being searched?
:mon huh2:
Once she was certain that she was alone, Kamei Eri sighed and turned back to the massive desk where any number of files were arrayed across the surface. She had a lot of work to do, and she did it to some extent, but only when she wanted to, at her own pace. She had delegated the most tedious tasks to her employees, but there were still many other things that required her direct approval.
Besides all the nagging details of daily work, there was also another matter that haunted her every waking thought. Something that at nagged her, leaving her irritable and unsatisfied in its absence.
Ai, where are you? Eri did not like the feeling. She had felt betrayed once, a long time ago. She did not want to go through it a second time. But if it were to be true, her vengeance would come, in one form or another, no matter how long it took.
Oh boy, Eri's looking for Aichan? That answers the first two of my questions. Now the third is where it gets interesting. Depending on what Eri knows (or what she's found out since she took over the business), she could have several different reasons for this search.
19 going on 20, still bearing a childlike countenance, Kamei Eri did not look like someone who could shoulder the burden of Kamei Corp on her slender shoulders. Until one looked closely at the determined set of her jawline, that calculating marble gaze that gave nothing away. Then they would proclaim her a true daughter to her poor departed father whom no one in true fact actually missed.
She had left her chair with a frown and slack shoulders; she exited the chairman's office standing straight and tall, an imperious aura emanating from her person. Kamei Eri was no longer a child, not even really a girl anymore. She was board chairman and president of Kamei Corp, the most powerful authority heading one of the foremost companies in all of Japan.
"Let's go." Her tone left no quarter for obstruction of any kind. Confident, determined, poised. Yes, she was no longer that weak girl, at least not to all these people. She was powerful. She was in control. And nothing could stop her.
Yep, no doubt about it. Even if he did fall victim to the hit, in the end Otosuke definitely got what he wanted out of it all.
What Kamei Eri wanted, she got. That was how it had always been. And always would.
The door opened for her, and she stepped through. To a new world she would forge with her own two hands. The doors closed behind her, and she did not look back.
Would not look back. Never again.
Eri = :cool1:
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The RenAi interaction was all sorts of hawt and fiery! I can't really say why but I just feel so. Man, I'm really beginning to feel for Eri. So much so that I don't want her to end up alone. Any chance that she will have someone? *hopes*
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OHYA! so Yuuka changed?! hekhek. mi likey~
i knew it was Ai~ hehehe. XD , that was fun. again Reina, badasssssss!
Not that they had anything to fear though, since the target was never them to begin with.
Ai only smiled as she wove her web, secure at the center. Such fun she would have.
This really was turning out to be a wonderful vacation after all
i really liked these. i can imagine a dark and mysterious voice saying this. like in those tv shows. :P
Kame~, she'll have someone ryt?ryt? :w00t:
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Grrr darn father-boss-man....I don't like him! It's feels like he's already planning her demise. It might seem weird since she working for him but the way he wants Yuuka ready doesn't sound like good news for Ai chan.
Since the motive of the company hasn't been revealed...I don't know if they are doing the jobs for just money or their version of a "greater good". What if it's just money and they don't care who has to be eliminated...what if Eri finds out more than she wants to know about Ai chan and has her eliminated by her own company! :shock: I'm totally wrong aren't I? :lol:
Hmm I tried to see your point...I assume you were hinting at the fact that Eri's current state has less to do with Ai chan but more to do with something that's ingrained in her...BUT! You know I blame everything on Ai chan (well in your stories anyways XD) so I'm still not fully convinced. I'm just going to ignore the fact that Eri's all powerful and certainly has a mind of her own. :mon cigar:
I'm still going to credit Ai chan for creating a monster...or at least furthering its development. I don't want Ai chan to die but a part of me wants Eri to have her revenge...erm for Risa's sake and probably for the "special" chapter that I wasn't able to read. I bet that was hot yet down right evil :mon ko:
I hope Eri changes at the end of the story. No one misses her father and it would be a shame if she continued to walk the same path.
but enough about that cause I gotta talk about Reina too!
haha grumpy bear Reina is so cute~ I can't believe I still want to hug her or pat her on the head even though she just did some harsh damage on her classmate and Ai chan XD
Gotta love how Ai chan magically appears where Reina is though. She's so a stalker! :sweat:
Her eyes hooded over with that dangerous darkness that few had ever seen up close and lived to tell of it, and she took one step forward, sandaled foot crunching down firmly on her fallen glasses, cracking the lenses and pushing the cracked edges further into the sand...The broken glasses she left behind still half-buried in the sand, in silent testament to how she treated things and people.
Nice metaphor. I gave a little gasp at her stepping on them! I felt so bad for the poor sunglasses! plus she's littering and I can imagine some poor kid crying their eyes out cause they cut their foot on it....*shakes head at Ai chan* :pig refuse:
Can't wait to see what Ai chan does to Reina (and I don't mean that in a dirty way!). I'm thinking Ai chan's fun will cause her to wreak havoc on the poor cat and cause her to have to run away from the mess. It's the only way I see Ai chan's return to Japan at a less than leisurely rate XD
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Ahhh. I've seem to be dead for a while, my apologies! ><"
Hmmm. Reina and Aika are both in this story. That's great. :D Ai kissing Reina.. Evil Ai. Evil. Eri's looking for Ai? For once, I thought Eri was just going to disappear in your story, since Ai left her. But, I'm glad Eririn's back. ;D Eri's a changed person now huh.. And she's looking for Ai. Let's just hope she does find Ai-chan. -inserts evilness-
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There's something I think I should share.
I've been having trouble concentrating at work, doing poorly in school, poor appetite, losing an unhealthy amount of weight, and even not being able to sleep at night. Reluctantly, I forced myself to go seek professional help from a psychiatrist. It took many sessions and tries to open up to her because I couldn't pin point the source of my problems. But eventually with her help and support (and lots of prescribed medication) we were finally able to figure out why I'm in such poor condition.
She told me, "Dinny, I'm sorry to say, but your anxiety is all from a fucking fan fiction that hasn't been updated. This Takahashi Ai character sounds extremely appealing and all, but you need to get a hold of yourself."
With that said. Estrea, please update this fic. I don't think I can go on like this.
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^ Damn! I thought you were serious. Scared me for a moment there :P
I agree about this epic fic needing an update though. Come back and write this Essy!! *shakes fist* :D
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:lol: at the above post
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lol if that doesnt get estrea working idk what will XD
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wow, you guys like to pressurize her a lot huh?
chill~ she's writin, she's writin~ XD
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^No, no pressure. I dunno what you're talking about. >_> My feelings are genuine. ;_;
...
How about this, to make up for it, I dedicate my 300th post to this thread. I was saving it for Aichan's thread, too. D8
NOW YOU OWE ME A GOOD PERV ESTREA. Take your time with writing chapter 24. :D
I'll throw in a bonus, just to keep things happy and lulz.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y19/_dinny_/kittyreinai.png)
Captions quoted from Estrea.
FYI: Cat on the left belongs to my friend, kitten on my right is mine.
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^ O_O
that was kinda funny? but... CATS!!!
*runs away*
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Doesn't remind you of Ai and Reina? Ai giving "the look" and Reina being a freaked out kitten? XD
Oh and...
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE...
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Forgive me for my extended absence! *bows down*
And LOL at the discussion that took place. XD I feel loved. In a weird sort of way. XD
Comment replies! Yes, you know what that means by now!
Saikami: I wanted Ta-kun to be ichiban bad guy too, but he doesn't suit that role very well. Lol. I'm glad you like the girls in bikinis (who wouldn't?). I agree, we need a ReinAi emoticon. Haha. Homophobic-gay Reina is epic win. XD More of that in the coming chapter, I promise! Yeah, it pains me to write Eri in a non-spacey way, but well, that's how the ball rolls. This isn't quite the last we see of her though, I have plans. XD Dancing panda! Haha, suits you. :3
kawaii beam: Ai is up to no good. But we all knew that. XD Sorry for the wait!
Fenrir: Youuuuuu! Youuuuuuuuuuu! Ran off to bed just when I finished the chapter. ;_; Oh well. XD Poor Reina, yes. Fodder for evil!Ai. XD Eri has her own agenda, that's for sure...as for what that is, it's a secret! XD
writerjunkie: Reina won't go crazy. She'll just be pretty darn pissed off. As usual. :lol: Glad to know you read it too! :) Thanks. :D
Ichigo-chan: There's always more than meets the eye in my stories. I feel like I left a lot out even though everything's kinda clear and shiny in my head. Haha. I'll get round to it...someday. Heh. XD Yeah, who can stay away from hot girls in bikinis? XD Mad Reina is fun. So fun to tease. Hurhur. Rumors are a given! Hoho. Eri sure is quite a character here. XD
SxY: Yeah, I love the ReinAi interaction. Irritated kitty cat FTW. I got hit by a basketball once. That was not fun either. The assassin program huh...if there's enough request for backstory I might expand on it, but at this rate, there's not much need to delve too heavily into the whole thing. Heh. It's not the last we're seeing of Eri, I assure you, but as to how she is involved later on, well, you'll have to wait and see. XD
kRisZ: Yes it is. :D
JFC: Aichan's replaceability...well, let's just say that Yuuka isn't the only candidate in the running. She's just the one that's directly under Takeda's responsibility. :P As for ReinAi, yes, I'm looking forward to some angry passion from them too. These two fit that role so perfectly. Hehe. Eri does seem to have stepped into her father's role pretty well, doesn't she? Heh. Makes her seeming airheadedness before seem like a pose. I wonder how that is. XD
lil_hamz: Why is it that you feel the need to have everyone either pair up or die together??? Haha.
ringo-hime: Yuuka's development is fun, yes. XD As for Eri, who knows? And why is everyone so optimistic? XDDD
Sukoshi: Yeah it doesn't sound like good news for Aichan indeed, hmm...the motives of the company? It's all about the money! Yeah. XD Supply and demand yo. XD Who knows what will happen in the future? Heh. Meh, you're such an Eri fangirl...then again, I'm an Ai fangirl, so I can't exactly point fingers. Lol. There's more to Eri than we know. XD You didn't read the special chapter? It was hot, no evil in it at all! Rather cute, actually...haha. Yeah, grumpy bear Reina is adorable. And yes Ai does rather seem like a stalker, doesn't she? Heh. I'm glad you like the metaphor. :D These little things make me happy. I kinda skipped over a bit of intervening time again, but yeah, it's not important which is why I skipped over them in the first place. Heh. You'll see.
rainer: There you are! Don't worry, I kinda vanished from updating here for a while too. ^^; Evil Ai is evil, which is...good? :lol: Oh, you'll see what happens. *inserts evil cackle* XD
rev2hd: DINNY. DINNY. DINNY!!!! You crack me up, yes you do. I didn't know the withdrawal symptoms were this bad, I apologize! :lol: And cute kitty pic. Hehe. Thanks for the 300th post! I know it meant a lot to you. :P Fine you'll get a good perv eventually.
stefy: Lol, your cat phobia at work. Reminds you of that black cat near your house? XD And thanks for defending me btw. XD
And now on to some editing before I post. :3
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...EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDGE SAMMICH!!
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File #24
The sharp rap of metal on wood jolted her out of a perfectly good daydream, and Tanaka Reina could only glare at the malicious offender that had so rudely intruded on her personal time.
"Tanaka, since you have decided to show up for my class today, you'd better stay awake and pay attention!" That drill sergeant of a teacher barked out, cuffing Reina lightly across the side of her head. Reina glared balefully back at him, rubbing at her head and muttering under her breath.
"What was that?" His tone was threatening, and he did not seem at all intimidated by the death glare aimed his way, nor frightened of Reina's formidable reputation in the school. He was one of the very few who treated Reina like the student she was, and not the daughter of an influential (and illegally so) family.
That, if nothing else, earned the grudging respect of the young girl. Reina was not so petty a person as to call in the big guns (aka her brothers and their assorted cronies) on every little violation, and she could live with the occasional scolding. It was rather refreshing, actually.
"Nothing, sensei." Her tone was suitably grumpy, but she did sit up straighter and attempt to pay attention. Not that it particularly mattered, since she could just buy notes off someone else later. Reina would rather cram at her own pace than be forced to sit through a boring class.
Absently twirling her pen around, Reina looked out of the window. She could feel a few eyes on her, no doubt those of her classmates. People tended to pay attention to her, for one reason or another. Not that she minded, she rather enjoyed it, as a matter of fact.
Of late though, the attention was just a little on the annoying side, since she could easily hear the assorted rumors about her floating around the school ever since they returned from the trip to Hawaii. Reina was usually quite well tuned in to the gossip grapevine, but when it came to unpleasant things, she had quite a knack at ignoring them entirely.
Still, it was impossible to be completely blind to the fact, but Reina knew better than to try and stop it herself. A rumor, once it has taken hold, would not be so easily squelched. She knew that from personal experience. Best to let it die down on its own, which was why Reina was lying low for the time being and not making any excessive moves that would spawn even more ridiculous rumors.
Oh, she knew what had started those rumors, of course. If she ever saw that aggravating woman again, she would personally wring her neck. Slowly. Painfully. With nails extended and sharpened.
Reina could be very vindictive when the occasion called for it.
The bell rang, and after the overbearing teacher finished up whatever he had to say, they were free to go. Break would last a while, and Reina quietly made her way past the torrent of girly chatter and slipped up to the roof of the gym building. She had long since picked the lock of that access door, and it had become her personal hideout on school grounds.
Only those who were in her inner circle at school knew about it, and that inner circle was few and far between. Reina did not trust people easily, and those who won her confidence were remarkable people in themselves. Even then, each of them probably had their own secrets to keep, and no one in that circle begrudged them for it. Such was only normal for them.
Reina had been looking forward to spending the whole of break time in blissful silence and tranquility, but unfortunately, fate and sheer bad luck conspired to ruin her contemplation.
"Tanaka-senpai! I knew I'd find you here..." A voice huffed as Reina looked up irritably at the new arrival. As she had half expected, it was one of her friends.
Younger than her, but already very much taller, Umeda Erika was her junior, but also her friend. If nothing else, both of them were into the same sort of things and could click well. That was reason enough to be close to her, and Erika was tight-lipped enough not to leak any secrets they might possibly share. That and, she was fun to be around. Reina liked that in a person.
"So what's going on out there?" Reina asked grouchily, putting her lunchbox aside. Erika plopped down on the floor next to her, her appearance more or less immaculate. If nothing else, this was one girl who was almost just as fashionable and trendy as Reina herself was. That was one of the reasons why they got along so well.
"Oh, the usual. Gossip, backbiting, more gossip, pointless chatter, and did I mention a lot of gossip?" Erika also produced her own lunchbox, starting to unwrap the package. Reina eyed her critically for a moment.
"So you just randomly decided to come eat with me? How gracious of you." Her voice was sarcastic, but lacked true venom. Erika grinned, stealing an egg roll from Reina's lunchbox.
"Don't be such a grumpy bear. You haven't even heard what they're talking about you out there yet." Reina retaliated for the theft of her egg roll by pinching a slice of salmon, rolling her eyes at the same time.
"Do I want to know?" Erika grinned at Reina's exasperated expression.
"Probably not, but I'm going to tell you anyway." The younger girl seemed to be on the verge of exploding in laughter, if the mad grin on her face meant anything.
"Go ahead, enjoy yourself." Reina muttered, munching on a sushi roll sulkily.
"Well, Nishida from my class was saying that she heard from her senpai--unnamed, unfortunately; that you were sleeping around with strangers for money, which is why you always have branded stuff with you."
Reina didn't even bat an eye at that. "Old rumor. That's been going around for ages."
"And that you've had three abortions since middle school and was arrested for teenage prostitution."
Reina paused. "I was arrested, but for a totally different reason. The rest are all made up."
Erika nodded. "I'm just getting started. Wait till you hear the next one."
"I can hardly wait." Reina shot back, rolling her eyes skyward as she deftly stole a piece of tuna from Erika's lunchbox.
"Sugawara from class A said that you were having an affair with Nogami-sensei because he's always softer on you..."
Reina choked on her tuna. "What?" She swallowed, clearing her throat as she pondered aloud. "Now that's a new one...how did that happen?"
Erika shrugged. "Those girls have a fertile imagination. You would think that they have nothing better to do, the way they invent these stories."
"Still, old man Nogami? Please. I have better taste than that." Reina rolled her eyes again. Erika laughed. "I know you do. But what can I do? They just love speculating about you."
"Eh, I can't stop them. Let them have their fun." Reina said dismissively, waving her chopsticks around. "I won't have to deal with them for much longer at any rate."
"True. Just a few more months before you graduate." Erika nodded, starting to eat again. Reina raised an eyebrow. "Is that it?"
"Well, there is something else..." Erika said evasively, fiddling around with her food for a bit. Reina's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"What is it?"
"Promise that you won't hurt me first." Erika said quickly. Reina grumbled a bit, but agreed.
"Fine, I won't hurt you, but I won't guarantee the safety of any others." Erika looked mildly relieved at that.
"Good, I don't care about the others." Reina snorted. Erika let out a breath, gathering her thoughts.
"Iwashima from your class said that you took advantage of a girl that you met in Hawaii and that you were also vulgar and abusive and..."
"WHAT?!" Reina quite literally exploded, nearly jabbing Erika in the eye with her chopsticks. Erika ducked, scrambling away to a semi-safe distance.
"That is totally untrue!!!" Reina ranted, waving her arms around, her eyelid twitching furiously. "I am most definitely NOT in any way related to that, that...rude, perverted spawn of hell! And I am NOT GAY!"
Erika stared at her. "So there is such a person and you do know her? Iwashima wasn't making it up?"
Reina gagged on her own spit. "NO! I mean, that bitch Iwashima is just lying! I definitely do not know such a person! Lies, I say! LIES!"
"You know, you're hardly making a case for yourself here..." Erika muttered half to herself, even as Reina ranted on about how she would never be involved with a girl, that she most definitely did not know that sadistic creep who was out to ruin her life, and that she would kill her if she ever saw her again... Erika raised an eyebrow at the last declaration.
"If you say meet her 'again', doesn't that imply that you've met her 'before'?" Erika pointed out, taking care to retreat a few more steps away from an irate Reina. Reina twitched violently at the remark, snapping her chopsticks in half in her fist. Erika moved back some more.
"It was a mistake! Nothing happened! I don't even know her! It's just...it's just..."
Erika blinked when Reina suddenly choked, tears brimming in the older girl's eyes. In between one angry sob and the next, Reina continued.
"I-I haven't even gotten to date a boy seriously for long, not without my family finding out and getting rid of him, and then she comes along and...and..."
Erika's jaw dropped as Reina crumpled into a bawling heap. Quickly, she hurried over and awkwardly patted her senior on the shoulder. Reina sniffed pitifully, curling into herself.
"So she...uh, did something to you?" Erika ventured cautiously, not wanting to set Reina off on more crying or ranting, or both. Reina bit her lip, her eyes red and swollen, and nodded slightly.
"So, um...how far?" It was a fairly important question. Reina winced, shaking a bit.
"I wasn't wearing anything when I woke up, and then she..." Her voice was very small, and seemed choked towards the end. Erika winced sympathetically, tentatively reaching out to hug the smaller Reina comfortingly.
"It's over now, it's ok..." The younger girl coaxed gently, seeming far more mature than her age would imply. "At least you won't get pregnant since it's a girl." She joked half-heartedly.
"Piss off." Reina muttered back, though it sounded weaker than usual. She sniffed again, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand.
"If you tell anyone about this, I will hunt you down and make you wish that you've never been born." There was a definite hint of steel in Reina's tone, and her eyes glimmered dangerously. Erika nodded, mimicking a zipper sealing up her lips with her hand.
"Your secret's safe with me." Erika patted her own chest confidently, then paused, cocking her head to one side as she eyed Reina speculatively. Reina glared back.
"What?"
Erika hummed thoughtfully, prudently backing away as she said.
"So, how did it feel with a girl? Good, I hope?" Her grin was decidedly evil. Reina's eyes bugged out, then narrowed to mere slits as she growled.
"Umeda, you're dead."
~*~*~
"Ah, I feel better~"
"How is it that violence improves your mood?" A red-faced Takeda huffed from the floor from where Ai had put him only seconds ago. The girl in question dusted her hands off professionally, turning wide, innocent eyes at her brother.
"Isn't that how you raised me, onii-chan?" Takeda sighed. He couldn't exactly refute that. He had, in fact, raised her to kill. What better defense could she have employed?
"So, how was your vacation?" He inquired curiously, standing up with a wince. Ai had not pulled any punches, and he was sure that his neck would be in desperate need of an ice pack later.
"Fun." Ai replied succinctly, picking up her towel and wiping her face with it. Takeda handed her a bottle of water, which she took, but did not drink from immediately.
"Anything worth mentioning?" The older man gingerly touched the sore area on his neck and shoulders, wincing at the touch. Ai set down the bottle and calmly reached for an ice pack, handing it to him.
"I met a girl." Takeda rolled the ice pack on his neck, while raising an eyebrow.
"Why am I not surprised?" Ai grinned, winking roguishly.
"And I didn't do anything to her."
Takeda paused, then turned to look at her fully. Ai continued smirking as she unscrewed the bottle. Her erstwhile brother seemed to be honestly surprised by that.
"You...didn't?" Ai glanced at him.
"What, you think I can't keep my hands to myself?" Takeda laughed heartily.
"Of course you can, but for what reason would you do that now?"
Ai shrugged, staring into the bottle. "She was unconscious. It's no fun doing something to someone who isn't even aware of it." Then she smirked again. "Although I bet she thinks I did something. It was fun watching her explode."
Takeda snorted, taking another bottle for himself and drinking. Ai watched him idly, taking little sips from her own bottle. She seemed somewhat distracted.
"So how's the cleanup effort?" She asked, settling on the floor of the practice room. Takeda shrugged.
"Not too messy, but you might still want to lie low for a bit. Word's out that your last fling is still keeping an eye out for you. You sure left an impression on her." He eyed her critically. "Try to keep it professional next time. You tend to mix fun into work a bit too much."
Ai mock saluted him, sticking her tongue out at the same time. "I got the job done. That's what counts." She stretched lazily. "Though I kinda miss the old days where it was just kill and move on." She paused. "Is Yuuka doing that now?"
Takeda nodded. "We letting her handle simple cases for now. Fairly standard gangland assassinations, not too many complications. She's doing pretty well."
Ai bobbed her head in agreement. "Probably helps that she looks like such a cute little kid that no one expects her to be up to anything."
"Kind of reminds me of you, once upon a time..." Takeda sighed dramatically. "All wide eyed and adorable, like a cute puppy. And then you grew up..."
Ai rolled her eyes. "Don't do that, you sound like an old man." She flicked her ponytail over her shoulder carelessly, staring around the room as her mind wandered again. Takeda laughed.
"At least you're still adaptable. I think you can still pass off as a high schooler if you really wanted to..." He teased her gently, and Ai frowned.
"Ugh, please, now you sound like a pervert." She paused. "Wait, you are a pervert."
"Be nice." The older man said mildly. He walked over to a table by the side of the room, picking up his folder and flipping through it.
"Which reminds me, you're going to have to show up for a party tonight."
Ai groaned out loud. "Can't I get out of it? I do have to lie low like you said..."
Takeda ignored the puppy eyed look by the simple expedience of facing his back against it. Out of sight, out of mind. "No can do, kid. Father said that you have to show up."
"Urk..." Ai stood up sulkily. "There goes my evening of peace and quiet..."
"You have to wear a dress." Takeda added with an innocent little smile. "And I get to pick it."
"...What?"
~*~*~
"What?"
"I said, Tanaka-san, that due to poor attendance records, I'm afraid that the school has decided that you need to repeat a year to make up for it."
Reina gripped the edges of the table tightly, her nails digging into the wood. She couldn't believe her ears. Stuck in school for another year? The nightmare.
"But my exam results...!"
"...are of a passing grade, but if you think that's the only thing that allows you to graduate, you are sadly mistaken." The principal, a stern-looking woman in her early 40s, seemed like the very incarnate of hell to the shellshocked Reina at the moment.
"But...but...!" Reina tried to find some plausible defense for herself, but came up empty. She had in fact skipped classes with impunity throughout the school year, and without good reason. She had simply done as she liked, and now she was paying the price for it.
"If you have nothing else to add, you may leave now." The bespectacled woman paused. "And please try to keep a decent attendance record this time around, Tanaka."
"..." Struck speechless, Reina could only walk blankly out of the principal's office. In a daze, she somehow managed to navigate the hallways without running into anyone. Not even the murmurs of her watching schoolmates managed to jolt her out of her stunned state.
In the end, it was her cellphone that brought her out of it. Home, it read. That usually mean "dad". Her father, despite being feared by many, was at the core an overprotective father who doted on his only daughter. Sons were nice, but Reina was the only daughter he had. That meant that he paid very close attention to her most of the time, and Reina couldn't decide if that was a good thing or not at times.
"Yes daddy, I'm coming home. No, I don't need an escort. Yes daddy. No daddy. I'm fine. Yes. I know. I know. Alright. I'll be there. See you later." Reina simply went through the usual ritual of answering the call in her usual way, her mouth producing responses without filtering them through her mind.
She would learn to regret that habit soon enough.
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This takes place a little while after the Hawaii trip. I skipped over the not so important parts. Heh. Rumors are fun~
We'll see what happens next. >3
EDIT: You did it again. Congratulations? Lol. Make it a triple decker and dibs! :P
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yay~ first!
Lol. Reina's rumors are way hideous/hilarious! The ErikaxReina friendship is so amusing! Erika's afraid of Reina and yet she dares to ask such a question lol.
Struck speechless, Reina could only walk blankly out of the principal's office. In a daze, she somehow manage to navigate the hallways without running into anyone. Not even the murmurs of her watching schoolmates managed to jolt her out of her stunned state.
Man.. I know that feeling verrrrryyyyy well.. Poor Reina!
btw... DON'T REMIND ME OF THAT STUPID BLACK CAT EVA! It still wanders around at the car park okay! :ph43r:....
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reina's rumor were XD XD..poor reina :lol:
and aichan gonna show up for a party and in a dress :wub: :wub:
i bet it gonna be a great party for her..XD
i guessin either she will met reina or eri there.. :lol:
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nothing happened :lol: and Reina's :scolding: :frustrated: over nothing... Ai's such a tease :on lol:
"Umeda, you're dead."
:lol: can't blame Umeda though for asking XD
Parteyyy... I wonder what's in there and who's going to be there, perhaps Reina.?. or both Reina and Eri and Ai will bring Sayu along.?. That would be a blast XD
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Good god XD I was gonna laugh at stefy for being afraid of a little kitty cat...until I reached over my keyboard to move my earphones...only to see triple 6s on the reply screen :stoned: (I hope it's from accidentally hitting the number key in the process...) okay...now I'm creeped out. no. mocking. the. black. cat. :ph43r:
as for the special chapter....you say it's cute?! Evil I can pass up on sometimes but cuteness? Ugh~ the temptation XD Too lazy to get cookie access though~ *cough cough* send it to me la~ XD
:on study:--->:mon blood:
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lol you know one of these days someone's gonna write a story about Reina coming from a nice, loving, "respectable" family, and no ones gonna buy it XD
"That is totally untrue!!!" Reina ranted, waving her arms around, her eyelid twitching furiously. "I am most definitely NOT in any way related to that, that...rude, perverted spawn of hell! And I am NOT GAY!"
then you see Reina dancing and singing that she's not gay, with girlie underwear on her head, while the rest of her class witnesses the whole affair. oops XD hana kimi moment slipped in there XD
ouch Reina's has to repeat a year?! Wow...that harsh sucks. Now she'll be the scary older kid XD It'll be so messed up if Ai chan decides to enroll. then they'll both be the scary older kids XD
OOo! party party! Can't wait for the cat fight! or maybe Eri will be there too! 3 way showdown! :O and maybe Sayu's the date. I can see everyone getting in on this party except Gaki. poor Gaki, always so left out XD
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You made me spit on my computer screen....from laughing at the TanaUme convo. XD God, Reina is the kind of person I'd want to be friends with. Somehow, her intimidating-ness is endearing. :P I like all the rumors~~ Gave me a really good laugh. And Ume-chan is my new favorite C-utie, though Nakki isn't too far behind. :grin: Oh yes, Ume-chan, it was good. :P J/K nothing happened....
Ai-chan is so...I don't know what the word I'm looking for is. She's very efficient in her work, but she often seems quite light-hearted about it once the job is done. It's not a bad thing but it worries me, for some reason.
Oh noes, Reina-chan can't graduate?! :P Her Daddy's calling about a certain party, isn't he? 8)
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oh yay you updated! Lmao the rumors were funny, but damn the rumor about her and Ai I wonder how that will turn out. Damn Ai is as evil as ever. She just wanted Reina to think they slept together?! Damn. lol I kinda like how Ai is in this fic though. lol She's interesting. I also like the scenes that have her with Reina. Those are amusing. lol Great chapter :thumbsup I can't wait for the next one!
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File #24
*SENSEI WAKES UP REINA*
Heh, dude sounds like he treats his students the same way I do, reps and/or anything from outside the classroom mean nothing. The classroom is the sensei's domain, pure and simple.
He was one of the very few who treated Reina like the student she was, and not the daughter of an influential (and illegally so) family.
That, if nothing else, earned the grudging respect of the young girl. Reina was not so petty a person as to call in the big guns (aka her brothers and their assorted cronies) on every little violation, and she could live with the occasional scolding. It was rather refreshing, actually.
Ah, of course there has to be more to Reina's "yankii" background here. Makes one wonder (just a bit) if she would still be like this if she came from a more "normal" family (i.e. one that didn't have the ability to send in a bunch of goons whenever something didn't go their way).
It's going to be interesting to see what happens when Aichan finds out Reina's background (because you know she will). :yep:
*THE RUMOUR*
Heh, that kind of thing happens when a hottie like Aichan is sucking your face and then you proceed to scream out that you never want to see her again. :D
Still, it was impossible to be completely blind to the fact, but Reina knew better than to try and stop it herself. A rumor, once it has taken hold, would not be so easily squelched. She knew that from personal experience. Best to let it die down on its own, which was why Reina was lying low for the time being and not making any excessive moves that would spawn even more ridiculous rumors.
Generally speaking, that's quite true. Giving it attention will only fuel it to last longer. Ignoring it will give the impression that the falsehood is so obvious that it's not even worth dignifying with a response.
The bell rang, and after the overbearing teacher finished up whatever he had to say, they were free to go. Break would last a while, and Reina quietly made her way past the torrent of girly chatter and slipped up to the roof of the gym building. She had long since picked the lock of that access door, and it had become her personal hideout on school grounds.
Only those who were in her inner circle at school knew about it, and that inner circle was few and far between. Reina did not trust people easily, and those who won her confidence were remarkable people in themselves. Even then, each of them probably had their own secrets to keep, and no one in that circle begrudged them for it. Such was only normal for them.
In other words, Reina's not the only person attending that school who comes from..."a unique" background. 8)
*UMEDA FILLS REINA IN ON THE GOSSIP*
In a way it's funny, in a way it's worrisome, and in yet another way it's admirable the way that Reina's able to brush all of these off so easily. She knows that there's little she can do about what others will say or think, and that what's important is that she DOES have control over how she will react to what's being said herself.
*UMEDA TELLS REINA ABOUT THE HAWAII RUMOUR*
Ok, brace yourselves. :sweatdrop:
"That is totally untrue!!!" Reina ranted, waving her arms around, her eyelid twitching furiously. "I am most definitely NOT in any way related to that, that...rude, perverted spawn of hell!
Oshit! :o
And I am NOT GAY!"
Sorry, but just picturing Reina's spazzing in this scene...XD
"If you say meet her 'again', doesn't that imply that you've met her 'before'?" Erika pointed out, taking care to retreat a few more steps away from an irate Reina. Reina twitched violently at the remark, snapping her chopsticks in half in her fist. Erika moved back some more.
Careful Ume-chan...you're friends and all, but do you really want to risk the wrath of Reina?
Reina = :grr:
Umeda = :mon curtain:
"It was a mistake! Nothing happened! I don't even know her! It's just...it's just..."
Erika blinked when Reina suddenly choked, tears brimming in the older girl's eyes. In between one angry sob and the next, Reina continued.
"I-I haven't even gotten to date a boy seriously for long, not without my family finding out and getting rid of him, and then she comes along and...and..."
Erika's jaw dropped as Reina crumpled into a bawling heap. Quickly, she hurried over and awkwardly patted her senior on the shoulder. Reina sniffed pitifully, curling into herself.
"So she...uh, did something to you?" Erika ventured cautiously, not wanting to set Reina off on more crying or ranting, or both. Reina bit her lip, her eyes red and swollen, and nodded slightly.
"So, um...how far?" It was a fairly important question. Reina winced, shaking a bit.
"I wasn't wearing anything when I woke up, and then she..." Her voice was very small, and seemed choked towards the end. Erika winced sympathetically, tentatively reaching out to hug the smaller Reina comfortingly.
"It's over now, it's ok..." The younger girl coaxed gently, seeming far more mature than her age would imply.
Eeeeep. She still thinks that Aichan and her did the Hawaiian Hula together after she got hammered at that bar when all Aichan really did was save her from those idiots and take her back to her hotel room to sleep off the booze. :shocked
"At least you won't get pregnant since it's a girl." She joked half-heartedly.
"Piss off." Reina muttered back, though it sounded weaker than usual. She sniffed again, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand.
Attempt to lighten the mood...semi-successful. :P
Erika hummed thoughtfully, prudently backing away as she said.
"So, how did it feel with a girl? Good, I hope?" Her grin was decidedly evil. Reina's eyes bugged out, then narrowed to mere slits as she growled.
"Umeda, you're dead."
:wahaha:
C'mon, she was bound to ask sooner or later.
"Ah, I feel better~"
"How is it that violence improves your mood?" A red-faced Takeda huffed from the floor from where Ai had put him only seconds ago. The girl in question dusted her hands off professionally, turning wide, innocent eyes at her brother.
"Isn't that how you raised me, onii-chan?" Takeda sighed. He couldn't exactly refute that. He had, in fact, raised her to kill. What better defense could she have employed?
Aichan's response seemed to be part smart-aleck, part "don't know any better". Considering how Takeda was the one who raised her and brought her into "his world", yeah, he shouldn't be surprised.
*AICHAN TELLS TAKEDA ABOUT HAWAII*
Wow, even Takeda's surprised that Aichan could keep from being a horndog! :lol:
Ai shrugged, staring into the bottle. "She was unconscious. It's no fun doing something to someone who isn't even aware of it." Then she smirked again. "Although I bet she thinks I did something. It was fun watching her explode."
:rofl:
"So how's the cleanup effort?" She asked, settling on the floor of the practice room. Takeda shrugged.
"Not too messy, but you might still want to lie low for a bit. Word's out that your last fling is still keeping an eye out for you. You sure left an impression on her." He eyed her critically. "Try to keep it professional next time. You tend to mix fun into work a bit too much."
Eri's pretty tenacious now, isn't she? Well, as long as she still believes the frame-job that Aichan and Yuuka did, then we'll know that it's just because she wants Aichan again (which, c'mon, ain't that bad of a reason). :twisted:
"I got the job done. That's what counts." She stretched lazily. "Though I kinda miss the old days where it was just kill and move on." She paused. "Is Yuuka doing that now?"
Takeda nodded. "We letting her handle simple cases for now. Fairly standard gangland assassinations, not too many complications. She's doing pretty well."
Awwww...good for Yuukarin. :oops:
Ai bobbed her head in agreement. "Probably helps that she looks like such a cute little kid that no one expects her to be up to anything."
"Kind of reminds me of you, once upon a time..." Takeda sighed dramatically. "All wide eyed and adorable, like a cute puppy. And then you grew up..."
...and became a major sexy hottie. :hump:
Takeda laughed.
"At least you're still adaptable. I think you can still pass off as a high schooler if you really wanted to..." He teased her gently, and Ai frowned.
"Ugh, please, now you sound like a pervert." She paused. "Wait, you are a pervert."
They do say that it takes one to know one.
:ondick:
"Which reminds me, you're going to have to show up for a party tonight."
Ai groaned out loud. "Can't I get out of it? I do have to lie low like you said..."
Takeda ignored the puppy eyed look by the simple expedience of facing his back against it. Out of sight, out of mind. "No can do, kid. Father said that you have to show up."
"Urk..." Ai stood up sulkily. "There goes my evening of peace and quiet..."
"You have to wear a dress." Takeda added with an innocent little smile. "And I get to pick it."
"...What?"
Oooooooooooh hell yeah. :drool:
"What?"
"I said, Tanaka-san, that due to poor attendance records, I'm afraid that the school has decided that you need to repeat a year to make up for it."
...
"But...but...!" Reina tried to find some plausible defense for herself, but came up empty. She had in fact skipped classes with impunity throughout the school year, and without good reason. She had simply done as she liked, and now she was paying the price for it.
Oh boy...everyone had better stay out of Reina's way.
:OMG:
Really though, Reina does have to take some blame here for skipping out as much as she did. Regardless of test/exam results, most high schools have a policy stating that school credits will be forfeited if a student misses "X" amount of classes. While they can't force you to attend, they CAN make you face consequences for NOT attending. Students have to get that through their heads early, seeing as how it's things are in real life. If you don't show up to do your job/work, guess what? You're fired. 8)
*REINA'S DAD CALLS*
"Daddy's little girl", eh? It's going to be interesting to see how he reacts to the news that the school is keeping Reina back a year. :O
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YES~! FINALY~! X3
yay for takaxume love~! XDD and good to see that ai had fun with reina eventhough she realy didnt do anythingXDD i cant wait for the next one~! X3
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But I had work the next day!!!!!!! :o Next time I'll stay up until you finish!!!! And then I will do a Rev Sammich! XD
But so glad I'm home. Hehehe. Umeda! I would have never thought it would be her. XD Man, Reina gets shafted again. XD Do I sense another meet up between ReinAi or even better AiEri? :o
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wa yey lol~
Reina And Erika was cute. XD hehe. Rumorssss :P
So whats gonna happen to Reina now? :w00t:
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I'm back, and so are you. XD
So, Eri's still looking for Ai? Let's just hope that when she does find Ai-chan, she'll not pester Ai. As much as my love for AiEri has grown much through your story, I'd prefer TakaGaki more. :P
Reina's hot. (Not in that pervertic way. :hehehe: ) Heh. Her rumours were.. entertaining. Very, I'll emphasise. :kekeke:
I might not be able to check up often, but you better update often~ Or else.. :mon evil:
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What an exciting fanfic! You just can't stop reading once you've started XD (Hungry for more khrm krhm :mon noodle: :D)
Hahaha Ai-chan making Reina crazy :lol: I wonder what Eri will do if she finds Ai-chan :shocked:
I loved the chapter where Ai-chan and Yuuka went to eat ice cream and Eri was there~ :D
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*sneaks in*
I wonder if anyone still remembers this fic. :lol:
Oh well, comment replies first!
stefy: I enjoyed the rumors too. XD And you know, I kind of based her situation on yours...:P
alwaysYou: Aichan always has fun. XD This story is all about her having fun. Those poor girls...XD
kRisZ: Yes, the best part is that nothing happened. XD Ai just likes mindfucking other people. Wonder if Reina would even believe her if Ai told her the truth lol.
Sukoshi: All fear the black cat! :lol: I'm glad you enjoyed the "special" chapter. :P I intend to write Reina into a perfectly normal family one day, and nobody believing her...XD Yeah repeating a year sucks...poor Reina. XD Party will be fun. :3
Ichigo-chan: I wanna be friends with Reina too! :D Ai-chan's very flippant, I think that's the word you're looking for. Either that or just frivolous. :lol: She doesn't take things too seriously... And yes, the party party party~ :3
writerjunkie: And yes I update again! After an admittedly lengthy absence...can anyone forgive me??? XD Sorry about the long wait.
JFC: I want to answer everything, but I'm lazy. XD Cool that you agree with the teacher since you're one yourself. :3 Reina looks a lot like a bad girl, but i don't really think she's that bad. XD Reina interests me, that she does. :3 And I'm just rambling now...
kawaii beam: Ai has her own ways of having fun. :D Not always fun for others though... though Sayu might beg to differ. XD
Fenrir: Well, you get to read this when you eventually wake up. XD Hope you enjoy. :D
ringo-hime: Rumors are great. XD You'll see what happens to Reina next...
rainer: Are you back yet? :D I disappeared for a while... I can't say what's my favorite pairing for Ai, although I have a definite soft spot for either ReinAi or TakaGaki....AiEri is kind of like a side dish for me. :lol: I look forward to when you comment! :P
Fushigidane: Hi hi! Welcome to the thread! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you around more often. :3
Annnnnd new chapter coming up. :3 Anyone looking forward to it? XD
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File #25
"I can't believe you're really doing this to me." Ai glared at a smiling Takeda reflected in the mirror before her. He was holding a dress out in front of her body, a critical look in his eye that failed to conceal his glee at being able to play dress up for his adoptive little sister.
"Relax, it's not like I'm making you look ugly." Ai frowned at the next dress he held before her, the beginning of a pout curling her lips.
"I don't doubt your taste...but are you seriously sending me into that sort of party wearing something like this?"
The dress in question was sleek and elegant, something that Ai wouldn't have normally been ashamed of wearing, but she had posed a pertinent question. Normally, she cross-dressed for such parties, appearing as Takahashi Ryuuta. In other words, she had been standing in for her erstwhile brother most of the time. She had not questioned why; it was something that had been required of her by their father at such occasions, and in any case, it did not inconvenience her too much to do so.
"Sometimes you need to be Takahashi Ai too." Takeda remarked mildly as he handed the black dress over to her. Ai raised one delicate eyebrow, eying him suspiciously.
"There's something I have to do there." It was not a question. Ai had been in the business long enough to recognize the usual signs. Takeda grinned.
"I knew you'd figure it out, but no, I'm not going to tell you what you have to do." Takeda pushed Ai gently in the small of her back, sending her into the bathroom.
"Oh great, so I get the entertainment of going in blind and half naked into a den of wolves. Thanks a lot." The sarcasm lacing her words could hardly be missed, but the half-smile on her lips cancelled the malice behind them.
"You're welcome." Takeda waved her off and turned away even as the door shut in his face. Raising his voice a little, he added.
"I'm sure you'll be fine, this job was practically made for you."
The snort from behind the door was clearly audible, and Takeda smiled. Quietly, he stepped away, heading to the outer room. Sinking into a plush chair, he leaned back and considered what lay ahead.
He was reluctant to let her go as she was, that much he was willing to admit. Girls had no place being there as an independent entity; the patriarchal system was very much in place in societies like that. Yet, there were some things only women could do, and very well indeed.
With a shrug, Takeda crossed his arms and waited. He could on play the observer here. The rest was up to her...and to forces beyond his control.
~*~*~
"Stop sulking, little sis. I'll beat up anyone who makes you cry." A rough voice coaxed with surprising tenderness as he playfully ruffled a pouty Reina's hair. The wonky eyed girl sucked on her lower lip grumpily, but didn't say anything.
Having older brothers could be a problem sometimes, Reina reflected. Either she would get bullied by them, or they would get overprotective. The first option was annoying, the second was just irritating. Despite all that though, Reina was genuinely fond of her family, warts and all. After all, they were family...not to mention that her brothers and her father all spoiled her outrageously.
Right now though, she was really not looking forward to having to leave her room. After the shock of learning that she would have to repeat an academic year, Reina was in no mood to be social. However, her father had requested the presence of all his children at the event, something that somewhat bucked the trend, since the theory of not putting all your eggs in one basket was very much put in practice in that particular household. It was rare that all the Tanaka siblings would be together at any one time, but Reina supposed that since this was their own estate, it was highly unlikely that any gatecrashers could eliminate all of them at one go.
Still, precautions would have to be applied. Only a selected few would be invited, and their entourage limited to a bare minimum. Naturally, no weapons would be allowed on the grounds...save for those under the employ of the Tanaka family.
The only thing that was of any temptation for Reina to put in an appearance was the prospect of seeing all her brothers together again. She hadn't seen a few of them for a while. As the youngest and the most doted on member of the family, Reina had fond memories of each of her brothers...ignoring the fact that they had all picked on her at some point in their lives. Boys would be boys, after all.
Currently, her third brother, Tanaka Masato, was trying to persuade her to come out into the main hall. A quiet man, he was about 5 years older than her, solemn and not given to practical jokes. He was fiercely protective over his baby sister, and despite his somewhat fragile-seeming build, he was far stronger than he appeared.
"Oh all right." Reina gave in, pushing her pestering brother out of her room none too gently, citing a need to dress up. Since it was more or less a formal occasion, Reina couldn't very well go in there looking anything less than perfect. She did have her father's reputation to consider...
~*~*~
"Father."
The greeting was tightly formal, and the doddering old man with sharp eyes only looked up briefly to acknowledge it, climbing out of the dark limo with the aid of a fine crafted cane. Soliciting hands supported his other side as he found his feet solidly on the pavement, father and daughter walking in silence as they approached the gilded entrance guarded by suited men.
Flashing the elaborately printed invitation card did not gain them immediate entry. The guards first scrutinized the card, then the visitors. Next came the obligatory turning over of all weapons, which neither of them claimed to possess, which led to the necessary patting down...
"Don't get so familiar." The girl smiled pleasantly, although her voice was edged with steel. The man gulped and quickly finished up, careful not to touch anywhere else longer than necessary. His partner had already finished with the old man, and the pair was soon admitted into the great hall.
"It seems that you did grow up." The old man commented distantly. His daughter flashed a charming smile. "I'm no longer a child, Father."
"It wasn't so long ago when you broke someone's arm for touching you inappropriately, my daughter." She flushed slightly at the reminder, but her lips curled into a slight smirk at the memory. That had been an interesting experience, to say the least.
"Youji, my friend, there you are!" A strong voice, bursting with vitality, hailed them. The greeter was none other than the host of the party, one Tanaka Takeshi, who hardly looked his age save for the silver touching his temples. A barrel-chested man, he stood straight and tall, and his face was unlined. His hand was rough as he clasped Youji's wrinkled one, and the two men shared an indecipherable look that passed in a moment. Only Youji's daughter caught the exchange, given that she was right beside them and was observant enough to pick up on these things.
"And who is this beautiful young lady?" Takeshi turned his attention to the girl, who inclined her head politely, allowing her father to reply for her as was proper.
"My daughter, Takahashi Ai." Youji replied calmly. "Quite a wild girl, so I haven't actually brought her out into society much."
"Father!" Ai protested mildly, inwardly amused but playing along as necessary. It certainly hadn't been her first time out in such company, but it certainly was the first time she had come as a girl.
Takeshi looked her up and down, taking in her appearance. "You resemble your brother...speaking of which, where is Ryuuta?"
"He had a little business to take care of, so I had to settle for bringing this wildflower along." Ai strongly resisted the urge to roll her eyes, and Takeshi caught her gaze, clearly aware of her intention to do so. Ai lowered her eyes submissively, as if embarrassed to be caught. The Tanaka patriarch laughed heartily.
"Well, I'm glad you are here. Feel free to mingle around. We can discuss other matters later."
Youji nodded his acquiescence, and they moved on into the main hall where small pockets of well dressed, yet somehow shady, people were socializing.
"Father, am I..." Ai started, but was cut off by a sharp look.
"There is no mark for you here tonight." The old man, despite his apparent frailty, had a deceptively strong presence. Ai was briefly caught off-guard, her surprise showing on her face.
"Go and play, my butterfly. Try not to show your sting." His words held a strange compulsion to them, veiled in meaning as they were. Ai nodded subserviently, unable to disobey this man who held power over her life and death.
Drifting aimlessly, she was accosted more than once, and forced to make small talk. That part wasn't too much of a chore, despite how often the men tended to strip her with their eyes. Ai had long since gotten used to that, but she didn't always like it.
She was still engaged in conversation with a lean young man when a familiar voice was heard.
"Musashi-niisan!"
The man who had been chatting her up turned to greet his little sister, and Ai resisted the urge to grin like a Cheshire cat as her suspicion was confirmed. Turning on her charm, she moved smoothly to Musashi's side, smiling winningly up at him.
"Is this your little sister?" Ai tried her best not to burst out laughing as the response she awaited came right on cue.
"YOU!"
~*~*~
Of all the places Reina had expected to see that infuriating woman again, her own home had never factored into the equation. Much less the fact that the shameless hussy was almost clinging onto her beloved brother, who seemed all too pleased by the attention.
Men! Reina thought with evident irritation. A number of mostly ugly emotions were churning within her, the least of which was embarrassment. Hatred wasn't too far from the list either. She loathed that confident smile that oozed sexiness...she did not just find that smile sexy!
"Do you two know each other?" Her clueless brother asked innocently. The witch next to him smiled pleasantly, her answer spilling lyrically from her full lips.
"We've...met...briefly." Their gazes locked into fiery battle, most of the flames spouting from Reina's end. Ai grinned like a cat that got the canary as she continued.
"I forgot to ask you the last time, but can you please return me my clo--"
She didn't get to finish as Reina abruptly yanked on her arm, pulling her away from her surprised brother. A few quick steps and they turned a corner, hidden in shadow within a dark alcove.
"Don't you dare say anything!" Reina hissed. Ai quirked an eyebrow.
"I was just telling the truth. You did borrow my clothes the last time."
"But not in front of my brother! What will he think?" Reina growled dangerously. Ai laughed.
"Aren't you overreacting? Girls trade clothes quite a lot, and we are about the same size, you know."
"Girls who are close friends do that." Reina glowered at her. "We are not even friends to begin with."
"You wound me." Ai clutched the front of her dress dramatically, although her eyes still sparkled with mirth.
"Get out of here before I really do." Reina threatened dangerously, clenching her fist. Ai frowned.
"Is that how you treat a guest?" Reina glared.
"Just stay away from me." Ai glanced at their current position, where Reina had all but pinned her against the wall in the dark alcove.
"I would, but first you have to stop dragging me into these questionable positions. If I didn't know better, I would have thought that you wanted to make out or something." Ai teased.
Reina flushed a deep red, suddenly glad that the lack of lighting hid that from that damnable woman as she backpedalled hastily to put some distance between them.
"Hmph, I have better taste than that." Reina shot back in a huff, turning on her heel and marching off with her head held high. Ai stared after her, an amused smile playing on her lips.
This evening wouldn't be a complete waste after all.
~*~*~
"Oi Reina, you look like a thundercloud." The youngest of her older brothers accosted her as she stormed away from Ai. Masaki was a boisterous sort, only a year older than Reina, and the two had always been close. Reina ground her teeth together and stomped on, her brother trailing along beside her.
Once they were out of convenient earshot of others, Reina turned to Masaki with a serious look in her eye. The older boy raised his eyebrows at the slightly maniacal and somewhat dangerous glint in his baby sister's eyes.
"If I asked you to kill someone for me, will you do it?" Reina asked. Masaki's eyebrows went up higher at the request. Of all things Reina could have said, this was the probably the last thing he had anticipated.
"Uh, well, I could get it done if you really wanted it..."
"Good." Reina looked out of the doorway of the private area they were in, and pointed Ai out of the crowd. Masaki whistled as he caught sight of her.
"Hey, that girl's really hot..." He trailed off as a death glare came flying his way. Blinking, he looked back at the pretty girl his sister had just pointed out to him. "That one? What's she do to you?"
If possible, Reina's face got even darker, but Masaki also caught the hint of red on his sister's cheeks. Reina might act all tough on the outside, but Masaki knew that his sister could be quite a softie on the inside, and just as easily embarrassed like any other girl. Jokingly, he added.
"What, the girl too hot for you to handle?"
The intended effect of adding levity to the situation didn't work. If anything, Reina seemed to get even more worked up, though she did a decent job of not exploding right there and then.
"She...she humiliated me...I won't ever forgive her for that." Reina spat. Masaki blinked again. He hadn't seen Reina this serious in a long time. Clucking his tongue thoughtfully, he glanced back at the girl in question, weighing his options.
"Well, if my baby sister wants something done, I'll do it for her." He hummed under his breath. "Though killing might be a bit excessive, don't you think?"
"I don't care. No one does that to Reina and gets away with it!" Reina flared. Masaki met her gaze coolly.
"And just what did she do to you?"
Reina pressed her lips together into a tight line, the flush on her cheeks even more obvious now. She was obviously angry, as well as embarrassed, about something. Masaki wanted to wheedle it out of her before he did anything precipitous. Sure, killing someone wasn't too big a deal for him, but he wanted to know what had gotten his little sister all worked up like this.
"Saved her from a bunch of drunks who were going to rape her, lent her my own clothes because hers were wrecked, and got slapped by her no particular reason."
The answer came from the outside, and the siblings turned in shock to see Ai leaning against the doorway with her arms folded. Masaki was stunned; the last he had seen of her, she was still some distance away. He hadn't even felt her presence until she had spoken.
"You tried to take advantage of me!" Reina accused a little shrilly, trying to defend herself. Masaki stared at the two girls, trying to comprehend the situation.
"I was just teasing you, silly. I didn't really do anything." Ai laughed, then turned to the baffled Masaki. "I'm sorry, it seems that my brother's bad habits rubbed off on me. I said some things to her that I shouldn't have."
"Brother?" Now that Ai was up close, he looked her over more closely. Something clicked in his mind at the resemblance. "Are you Takahashi's sister?"
"In the flesh." Ai replied, trying not to show too obviously that she already knew Masaki as Ryuuta. "Ryuu-nii mentioned you a few times."
"Yeah, Takahashi's a cool guy." He nodded with approval. "He never said that you were this pretty though..." Reina glared at him. Traitor!
"You exaggerate." Ai flashed a winning smile at him, and a cocky glance at a fuming Reina. Turning to face Reina completely, she held out her hand.
"I never meant any harm before. Sorry if my having fun disturbed you." Ai said quite sincerely, although her eyes still sparkled with hidden laughter. Reina glared at the offered hand like it was a live snake, her own eyes still hostile.
There was a tense moment as neither side made a move, before Ai withdrew her hand and lowered her head.
"I understand if you can't forgive me. You can hit me some more if you like, if it'd make you feel better." She seemed genuinely apologetic, which confused Reina all the more. Masaki edged over to Reina, whispering.
"Don't be a spoilsport, Reina. She doesn't seem so bad..." He coaxed. Reina clenched her fists again, resisting the urge to reach out and shake the other girl silly in order to reveal that wily vixen's true colours.
"Alright, but only because of Masaki." She thrust her hand out forcefully, and when Ai extended her hand as well, Reina dug her nails deep into Ai's hand as they 'shook' hands.
To her disappointment, Ai didn't even flinch, continuing to smile as if nothing had happened. Leaning in a little so that Masaki wouldn't hear her, Reina hissed under her breath.
"Don't think I won't take up your offer to beat you up, you hypocrite."
Ai's smile was lazy as she purred her reply.
"I'm looking forward to it, kitten."
==================================================
Hope it doesn't disappoint...
*sneaks away again*
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Yay~~ You updated!!!!
Fun, fun, lots of fun Reinai action!! XD XD
Ai is going to have way too much fun with this. :lol:
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Wow, an update. :o! Is this a theme with us now? Don't tell me I motivated you to do it again in doing my own? XD Think I'll do something a little different this time and write down thoughts while reading, so it may sound a bit rambling without the complete picture from the beginning like sbk or JFC usually do. :P
Anyway, uh oh, Reina's daddy's getting into the mix. I didn't think of it last time since it was just a rushed phone call (and may have not necessarily meant much, despite your reference to that it did), but with Assassin!Ai around, this can't bode well. XD Especially now we're getting to know him a bit too... Speaking of which, when Ai first meets him, I know you likely won't do this... but might Ai be going into "father lover" territory? :ph43r:
LiveLeak.com - SNL "Mother Lover" (http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=29a_1241979325)
Anyway, after Reina's next meeting with Ai (XD): I really hope her brother doesn't take her direction and try to kill her lol. Somehow I think Reina would have a better shot at it. XD If only while in bed with her... :ph43r: <-- using this quite a lot here, I see... Speaking of which, if her brother doesn't think offing someone for her is a big deal, what sort of business is her family actually involved in? XD Or was there mention of Yakuza or something somewhere when we first met Reina? It's been too long; I forget. :P
And I thought it earlier, but have to say it now... can seriously nobody tell the different between Ai and Ryuuta? XD I would think, with all the cross-dressing that goes on in Japanese pop culture... Ah well. :P
Ah, so he won't try anyway. That's good. I still wouldn't put it past Reina though... Poor kitten, she really is literally asking for it... :twisted:
More~ :D
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YES~! FINALY~! X3 god you dont know how long i waited for this~! :yossi:
ai forced to being all girly and meeting reina again is just epic XDD and poor reina must be having a horrible yr XD but i bet she'll surely begin to like our player ai-chan XD
but there's a few questions i must ask...
what happened you our yuu-chan?! what happened to kame?! what happened to sayu?! and most importantly......
WTH HAPPENED TO MY GAKI?!
XD that last one wasnt anger..just excitement that u started again XD and dont worry, i'm sure noone forgot about ur lovely epic fic X3 keep it up~! and hopefuly the next chapter wont take as long XD but take ur time ^^ i'll be waitning for it~! X3
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Ah yet another story I need to reread. I'm glad you updated though, there's quite a shortage of Playboy Ai around here lately which is something I only enjoy when written by a few people, you included in that short list.
Hmm, the RenAi thing is building to an interesting storyline, I wonder if Eri will show up later to give it some trouble?
Don't take too long to get the next chapter out Estrea-sama!
Hmmm, I don't think I've been commenting on this for some reason, that will definitely have to change.
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WOW!!! <3
updateeee~!
I wanna see how Reina beats up Ai...
thanks for the update!
Tanaka Family is cute!!! XD
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Yay! Been waiting for this update :gmon twirl:
"Oh great, so I get the entertainment of going in blind and half naked into a den of wolves. Thanks a lot."
I so want to see that :drool:
"I would, but first you have to stop dragging me into these questionable positions. If I didn't know better, I would have thought that you wanted to make out or something." Ai teased.
:lol:
"Don't think I won't take up your offer to beat you up, you hypocrite."
Ai's smile was lazy as she purred her reply.
"I'm looking forward to it, kitten."
I'm imagining something ebil :twisted:
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Update~ :heart: :heart: :heart:
Although Ai looks mighty hot cross dressing, I think she'd look hotter in that dress. :drool:
Reina vs Ai is totally epic. :lol: I love how Reina thinks Aichan is sexy when she's like "I did NOT think that :angry:" Come on, Reina, just admit it, it'll make life so much easier (but...less interesting.)
"Don't think I won't take up your offer to beat you up, you hypocrite."
Ai's smile was lazy as she purred her reply.
"I'm looking forward to it, kitten."
For some reason, I really like that line. :twisted:
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Woah it took me the whole day to read through the thread and what I can say is...WHAT A RIDE! :O
I like this Ai who lives her life f**king everyone (literally or not) XD I guess this is what happens when you live a superficial existence. My guess is that she's meeting her match substantially soon? Maybe Reina or Eri or even both?
Can't wait for more mind-boggling drama :twisted:
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Aaaa yay an update!! :inlove: Hehehe Reina and Ai-chan meeting again XD :heart:
"Just stay away from me." Ai glanced at their current position, where Reina had all but pinned her against the wall in the dark alcove.
"I would, but first you have to stop dragging me into these questionable positions. If I didn't know better, I would have thought that you wanted to make out or something." Ai teased.
Reina flushed a deep red, suddenly glad that the lack of lighting hid that from that damnable woman as she backpedalled hastily to put some distance between them.
Hehehe! XD Reina caaan't resist Ai-chan's hotness :D
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Lol, the Tanaka family crime syndicate. Just how many brothers does Reina have?
"Don't get so familiar." The girl smiled pleasantly, although her voice was edged with steel.
It's touchy-feely Aibutt time :D even she is dangerous.
Takeshi? Isn't that the other guy's name?
Ah wait, his name is Takeda XD Too many T's.
"Don't think I won't take up your offer to beat you up, you hypocrite."
Ai's smile was lazy as she purred her reply.
"I'm looking forward to it, kitten."
ooo, does this mean there's some S&M ReinAi fun coming up?
And yay for assassin Ai. She's like James Bond minus the special agent and twice the fun with the girls :P
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*skulks in*
I'm back! :ph43r:
Comment replies first.
Fen: ReinAi :heart: :heart: :heart: Hehe. XD And yes she will, eventually. :D
rokun: You motivated me to update this. :heart: And haha, very funny...although you don't have to rule out what might have happened when Ai was still a teen-in-training. >_> Yeah Reina might have better luck killing Ai herself if she held her temper long enough for the clothes to come off. :lol: Well if there wasn't mention of Yakuza before, it's kind of out there right now, isn't it? Oh and they can't tell the difference because of two things: 1) Ryuuta has short hair all the time, and Ai came in with long hair and really girly mannerisms. 2) They're pretending to be twins. -shrug- As long as they behave differently enough, people will buy it. Besides, when they're looking at Ai, they aren't looking at her face, if you know what I mean. :P
kawaii beam: Sorry to make you wait so long again. ^^; It's not so much being girly that bothers Ai, its the whole not-being-taken-seriously thing that gets to her when she goes to such places as a girl. But yes, poor Reina. She just can't get away from Ai. :lol: And as for everyone else, don't worry, they're fine. More or less. They'll show up eventually. XD
rndmn: I guess with the length between this update and the last, you might to reread again. ^^; Sorry. Playboy Ai does need more airtime, despite how OOC it actually is. But hey, it's hot. XD And sorry I did take too long, didn't I?
ringo-hime: Don't we all wanna see how Reina takes her revenge? Or rather, more likely, have it backfire on her. :lol: I like the Tanaka family too. :D
kRisZ: I hope you'll enjoy this update!
Sai: I agree, she'll be exceptional in that dress. XD Reina's internal struggle will always be entertaining. That's why she's Reina. XD
badsaints: Haha well, good for you! And yes, this Ai is like a female version of James Bond, except on the other side of the law and way hotter. XD She may or may not meet her match, but we'll see how it works out. XD
GoodEngrish: She has 6 brothers. I didn't name them all in order not to confuse everyone. XD S&M ReinAi fun? I wish! But Reina might resist...:lol: And yes, assassin Ai pwns James Bond in every way. I mean, she has the fast cars, less responsibility, and more girls. XD And she's way sexier too. XD What's not to love?
Time to edit and post.
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File #26
The event seemed to last forever, though towards the end some of the more influential attendees had vanished into a side lounge where the host of the evening was holding court. The rest of the guests remained in the great hall, feasting and drinking while holding raucous conversation.
Most of them were young men, though a fair few had their female escorts with them. Quite a number of those who had escorts had already discreetly vanished down side hallways and other empty rooms scattered around the mansion.
Reina was not pleased. Regardless, this was her home, and right now she wasn't sure if she wanted to walk around the place, not with the young sons of her father's business associates cluttering the place. Her status would guarantee that no one would mess with her without her approval, but it was still awkward to walk in on certain things were she to wander freely at this point.
However, staying in the main hall wasn't turning out to be such a great idea either. Not with the persistent presence of a certain someone who could probably make a career out of annoying her, by simply existing.
It was not like that woman was actually doing anything to her at the moment, oh no. After that confrontation earlier, they had drifted apart into different circles, though remaining in the same room. There was no further contact of any kind, unless one counted on how Ai was somehow always there in Reina's peripheral vision, as if she was part of the background no matter where the little yankii tried to turn.
It annoyed Reina. How could it not, especially when at least two of her brothers kept trying to hit on that annoying woman every chance they could. It felt offensive, with how easily Ai was charming her idiot brothers, wrapping them around her little finger like no one's business. Reina felt threatened somehow. How could someone like that weasel into her family structure so easily?
So other than scowling with a glass of juice in her hand, Reina was practically doing nothing except to glare at anyone who got close. Not the most particularly thrilling way to spend an evening, but it beat staring at the ceiling in her room alone. At least here she had something to scare away.
A raised voice, all too familiar to Reina's ears, made her break off her hostile stance, wonky eyes searching for the source. Abrupt movement at a corner drew her attention, and she nearly dropped her glass when she saw Masaki push Musashi away aggressively. This was probably the main reason why her brothers were usually separated; put together, they were more hazardous to each other than outside forces.
Except that this time, Reina sensed that their upcoming altercation had less to do with the alcohol they had both consumed, and more with the woman that was standing between them. Cursing under her breath, Reina abandoned her drink and strode quickly over, hoping to prevent a fight before it started.
Suppressing her rising irritation as she got closer, Reina shoved her way between her glowering brothers. Masaki was flushed with drink, while Musashi seemed little affected. Ai stood a small distance away from the angry siblings, watching with a suitably vapid expression that seemed to carry hidden laughter at the two alpha males willing to fight over her. Reina resisted the urge to reach over to slap her, though she did cuff her idiot brothers over the head, knowing that they would never knowingly hit her no matter what she did.
"Don't be stupid! It ain't worth fighting your own brother over some stupid girl." Reina scolded them, raising her voice enough so that the words "stupid girl" could be easily heard by the intended party. Ai raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile touching her lips as she shifted her weight from one leg to another. The movement made her dress flutter, the material sliding and shifting to reveal an expanse of creamy thigh. It did not go unnoticed.
Reina flushed in anger when she noticed both her brothers, as well as any number of nearby men, turn to stare openly at Ai. The sneaky vixen artfully ignored all the gazes with cool indifference, appearing well nigh untouchable with her proud, graceful stance.
"I'd hit that..." Masaki muttered, before wincing when his little sister stepped on his foot quite deliberately. Reina folded her arms, glaring at him.
"You don't even know where she's been." Reina said caustically. Considering how shameless Ai had acted with her before, Reina did not have a good impression of her character. For all she knew, that woman probably slept around with anyone on either side of the gender line.
"That's rude." Somehow, Ai had managed to drift to a position almost right next to her, making Reina jump at the sudden proximity. Even Masaki blinked, stepping back. None of them had seen her move.
Musashi was observing Ai with a studied eye. Even he had not caught how fluidly the woman had moved. Few individuals managed to achieve such economy of motion. Those who did were inevitably trained to do so. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled. He should not have expected anything less of someone who was adopted by Takahashi Youji.
"W-what?" Reina blurted, startled by Ai's sudden appearance next to her. Ai smiled.
"I don't insult you, do I?" Her smile was entirely pleasant, yet not at the same time. The hand on Reina's arm was cold, and Reina had to wonder when exactly Ai had placed a hand on her arm. The grip tightened ever so slightly, but Ai released her before Reina could even bunch her muscles to pull away.
The moment was oddly tense, and even Masaki seemed sobered by it. Musashi seemed troubled by it, stepping away to look over Ai with new eyes. Suddenly the hot young woman seemed less a rose with thorns, and more like a beautiful butterfly with a deadly sting. He could feel more than see the similarity and also the difference between her and Ryuuta.
If Ryuuta had been coolly confident with an edge of dangerous competence, his sister Ai was deadly nightshade: soft and beautiful, but fatal in certain doses. Both Takahashi siblings were apparently not to be trifled with, which reminded him just what business his father had with their father. He shuddered. Perhaps it would be better to let Masaki have her, if of course, the girl was willing to begin with.
Perhaps sensing the chill she herself had caused, Ai smiled radiantly, resting one hand delicately on Masaki's arm to settle him down. Reina's automatic glower did not go unnoticed by her, and she felt a surge of pleasure at that. For some reason, riling up the youngest Tanaka was a highly entertaining activity. Probably because it only made Reina look all the more adorable. Ai slid closer to Masaki, feeling him relax and puff up more at the attention, though her own eyes remained on her main target: one very pissed off Tanaka Reina.
"Time to stop playing." A third voice cut in suddenly, making Ai freeze visibly. The old man had a hold on her that could not be underestimated, and she let go immediately, obediently slinking back to her adoptive father's side.
A strange thread of unease slid around Reina's insides at the sight. While she would normally have been smug about seeing someone she did not like being humbled in front of her, she could take no pleasure in the way Ai deferred to the older Takahashi male. There seemed to be no humiliation in the act, and the whole scene felt more like a sword being sheathed back into its scabbard than a wayward child being called to heel.
"I see my sons were quite captivated by your charming daughter." Tanaka Takeshi murmured from behind the much smaller Youji, who kept a neutral expression on.
"She is not quite fit to be a bride, even as old as she is." Youji sighed, even as Ai bit her lip and lowered her head. Reina stared at the conversation, distinctly aware that she was somehow missing something from it.
"You put her down too much. Surely a capable man like yourself will also have exceptional heirs." There it was again, that hidden nuance. Reina wondered just what kind of conversation the two older men were really having.
"None as exceptional as yours, it would seem." The elder Takahashi's gaze swept over the Tanaka siblings present, pausing a tad longer on Reina. Reina shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, her own shifting gaze somehow meeting Ai's in a single moment of shared camaraderie. The sudden unexpected connection made Reina turn away abruptly, and she shortly missed the quick flash of disappointment that went through Ai's eyes.
"If your beautiful daughter could teach my wild scrap of a daughter some manners, I'll be more relieved." Takeshi was saying, making Reina tune back into the conversation abruptly.
"Only if you wish for your daughter to be even more rebellious." Youji deadpanned, and both men laughed. Their children seemed lost to the humor, though Ai's lips quirked briefly at the notion, eyeing Reina discreetly.
"But we must leave soon. It has been an excellent evening, Takeshi my friend." The old man said expansively as he clasped the taller Tanaka patriarch's elbow appreciatively.
Reina watched the Takahashi pair exit the main hall, before she too made her leave of the place. Silently stepping through hallways known only to the family, she passed through an alcove overseeing the lower hallways, freezing abruptly at a solid-sounding "thwack" that echoed through the silent halls.
Her curiosity raised, Reina crept to a nearby peephole to look down. She only just managed to keep from gasping out loud when she saw the proud Takahashi Ai holding her face defensively, her body turned inward as if to shield from any further blows.
The elder Takahashi male said something to her, something Reina could not hear at that distance. Reina could only watch as Ai lowered her head, her sharp eyes catching the way Ai's shoulders trembled briefly before stilling with ruthless discipline. Reina could not help but feel slightly impressed as Ai straightened to face the now somehow very scary Takahashi patriarch with an empty mask that gave nothing away.
Even as they turned to continue their way out of the mansion, Ai glanced back upwards, staring straight at where Reina was looking down at the scene. Reina froze, even though she knew there was no way Ai could have known that she was there. In any case, the glance was brief, searching and curious. Almost suspicious, but it passed quickly as the two made their way over the threshold and out of the house.
Reina did not move until the doors closed. Her heart was somehow thumping very fiercely at the shared gaze that could not have been, since Ai could not possibly have known she was there. She did not understand what was going on around here, never had. She knew better than to get overly involved with the family business. With 6 brothers ahead of her, she knew that the business would be in good hands, and she had no pressing need to get involved.
Still, what happened intrigued her. Reina knew she should not bother, but found herself thinking on it nevertheless. Turning on her heel, she went looking for one of her brothers. A little more information on the Takahashi family wouldn't hurt.
As she thought about it, Reina tried very hard to ignore the niggling little warning about how curiosity killed the cat. She wasn't a cat, and she wasn't being too curious.
I'm just asking, what could go wrong? She reasoned to herself.
Famous last words, a little voice murmured ominously at the back of her head. Scowling, Reina quashed it and moved on. Time to get a hold of one of her brothers before they got too drunk to talk, much less answer any questions.
=================================================================================
And there.
*slinks down the nearest ferret hole*
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YAY~!!!! u finaly updated~!!!!! :yossi: :otomerika:
lol at reina XD just beating up her older brothers and can easily get away with it XD
plus i wonder what ai's old man said for her to act like that??????*is filled with questions*
good to see that everyone's alright,but i still wanna know about my risa XD
and curious kitty reina ftw~! X3
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Holy crap, what is this story about again? Yeah, it's been too long again. :lol:
*searches mind* Hmm, assassin Ai, Risa being vaguely there, Ai teasing Reina, no vampires. Oh yeah! I remember now! Weren't we just talking about this story not too long ago, Kawaiwai? Speak of the devil and so on.
She only just managed to keep from gasping out loud when she saw the proud Takahashi Ai holding her face defensively, her body turned inward as if to shield from any further blows.
Oooo, ouches. *wince*
curiosity killed the cat.
I think Ai might be an expert cat killer. Also a bean killer, but I was trying not to talk about her...
Glad to see you (sorta) back, Essy-sama! Is this going to be an updating trend or random chance encounter?
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Went back and read the previous chapters to catch up on this story :lol:
Let me see - Ai is an assasin, Yuuka is her (adopted) little sister, Sayu is in there somewhere, Risa is the heartbroken best friend who holds a torch for Ai, Eri was used and abandoned(?) by Ai, Ai met Reina in Hawaii and have continued their teasing relationship to now. I already see Reina slowly thawing towards Ai, I just hope she doesn't end up like Eri :( I do wonder what Ai's true feelings towards Eri had been, and now towards Reina. She surely is deadly with the GoRokkies XD
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:w00t: update :w00t: update :w00t:
Not with the persistent presence of a certain someone who could probably make a career out of annoying her, by simply existing.
XD XD XD
There was no further contact of any kind, unless one counted on how Ai was somehow always there in Reina's peripheral vision, as if she was part of the background no matter where the little yankii tried to turn.
Why do I find this cute
an expanse of creamy thigh
:mon blood:
that woman probably slept around with anyone on either side of the gender line.
:lol:
he only just managed to keep from gasping out loud when she saw the proud Takahashi Ai holding her face defensively, her body turned inward as if to shield from any further blows.
:shocked :angry: *looks for the samurai*
She wasn't a cat
She's a kitten :D
Now she's intrigued :pimp:
More :cow: More :cow: More
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Oh you updated! Damn me for not checking the forum often enough. But where are all the comments??? Everyone must have forgotten :cry:
Well... a direct continuation of the last chapter eh? We're getting it in little increments. I can detect a little bit of a difference in the way you wrote this though compared to how you were writing it before. Perhaps partly a result of the conversations we were having? XD You also seem to be having conversations with yourself in the words you're writing. It's a rather curious read. Anyway, as to the content.
Not gonna say I caught onto all the stuff you're trying to imply, like in the Takahashi and Tanaka patriarchs' discussions, but that may partly be because I'm quite tired now too. It strikes me though that this is a bit different from Ai's earlier escapades. Her and Reina's "father"s seem to be on a similar level and footing, and I wonder if whatever Ai's plans are involving them, if she's trying to bite off a bit more than she can chew. I'm not sure she's really thinking of it the same way either. It's almost like... perhaps while doing the job too, she really is trying to choose a mate. Which in this case, knowing you and ReinAi, I wouldn't be all that surprised at.
Then again, it could all just be a clever ploy set to fool and snare the Tanakas, but if so, it's a damn good ploy where a lot of things may really be even up to chance, and I think might be a little more than the Takahashis are even capable of. Then again, I may be forgetting some things that happened in the past too.
Anyway, that's most of what I wanted to say, except that you seem to get carried away in your metaphors sometimes too. XD Glad to see this back :) :heart:
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Just finished reading through the story, and am now awaiting the next chapter. :bleed eyes:
I really, really like your portrayal of Aichan in this story. She is so undeniably cruel, evil, horny, and extremely naughty; however, the moments when she shows her more gentler and vulnerable side (which is quite rare...), it just makes me want to take her in my arms and hug her 'til her ebilness has gone away. Knowing her job, it must be difficult for her to express any sort of genuinely warm emotions, and maybe even vulnerabilities, toward others (save for a very few exceptions.)
No matter how much fun she's having playing with girls, I feel that she's kind of a lonely individual. :cry:
Anyhow, on your newest chapter -- yay! Moar hot ReinAi tension! :twothumbs I swear, I don't think it really matters to me how they act around one another, because both of them together will always be endearing to me, lol. And, finally, Reina's decided to get into Aichan's business! I've been looking forward to that. :ptam-glow:
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HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!
I was really bored in my vacation when I started to read Nocturne!!! and I really really really really liked it!!!!!!!! :inlove:
And I can't wait for the next chapter!! Your fic is so intriguing and it's very well written!!! :heart:
Ai-chan is a bad person, but I still love her! XD!...AND REINAI IS THE BESTTTTTTTT!!! :love:
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This has been a pleasing chapter…
Sorry to start reading from this chapter…
But... curiosity won me…
Um…
You are intense in your writing, has an overwhelming detail that captivate…
Your complexity in the writing is so wonderful…
I can see to you love writing and enjoy doing that…
I suppose to in that moment when you take your pen with your hand, in that moment you
Becomes Estrea a writer who radiates a magnificent detail in your history
Um… As I advanced in reading, every word and action I can image in my mind.
Thank you for allowing me to delight your writing…
And enjoy a moment funny and nice.
And thank you for transport me to the dimension of a good history…
I don’t usually read stories of a ReinaxAi.
So I feel privileged of enjoy this history.
The characters are intense, full of feeling…
I see to you love your characters ^^
By the way … What’s mean Estrea?
Estrea is like Star (“Estrella” in Spanish)… XD
But.. Estrea is without “ll” (double L):P
where can enjoy the inspiration and travel to the world of the imagination…
that’s so funny and kind sometimes, right?
sometimes we can be so disappointed or sad and we try to escape of the confusion and the sorrow…
but … you know?
you make happy and have fun to so much people with all your awesome stories…
giving us an awesome reading
keep going ahead, with your great spirit and smile in your life, don't matter how dark look the way you go …
always exist light in the dark .
See you later ^^
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yay! its been a while since i last posted a comment here! :err: :err: :err:
i really like this fic, Ai-chan the deadly vixen strikes again.......Reina is the target now right? of her flirtings? :hehehe: :hehehe: :hehehe:
but im wondering what happen to Eri :dunno: she's investigating Ai-chan right? :ding: :ding: :ding:
and also Risa and Sayu.... :glasses: i hope u will include the chapter u said to me....remember? :hee: the one that makes Ai-chan jealous cos Gaki has someone of the sort......hahaha :wahaha: :wahaha: :wahaha:
anyways, im rambling! update soon! :kneelbow: :kneelbow: :kneelbow:
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Yay update-to~! :mon inluv:
Ah...I was just thinking about this recently...and then you happen to update. Hehe I should think about this more often :mon star: or maybe I should comment sooner :ph43r: ....erm but anywho~
let's see...this chapter has me hating on old man Takahashi big time. Why having an ex-spy or a mobster for a dad doesn't seem as bad anymore XD
lol I think it will be pretty funny when the brothers find out that Reina got the girl instead XD well...if that ever happens though. Maybe Risa will pull herself together and crawl out of the woodwork! :mon scare:
now that Ai has almost every girl on the block after her....I wonder who I should support.
Risa? No...I don't think they can ever be happy with each other after what happened last time
Eri? No...they are both so scary :shifty:
Down to either Sayu or Reina...probably Reina since she will probably understand Ai's world the best but she also seems to be very innocent (aside from the booze and wishing to have people killed) :sweat:
as for Sayu...I just want her to get together with someone safer. I think Ai chan would end up getting her killed.
hmm...that seemed to be too easy....
Risa, Sayu and Eri seem to be a distant memory XD I need for them to come back sometime so I can be all indecisive again :mon whimper:
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I think I already bumped with this story long time ago in ff.net (that Estrea is you, right? :?)
So actually Nocturne was the first H!P fanfic that I ever read though only few chapter :P
I only knew MM little bit and couldn't tell who is who at that time. I even didn't knew which the heck was Takahashi Ai XD
But I enjoyed read your work nonetheless. Dunno why. Maybe your writing style that I like. It's so detail.
After become H!P fan, I reread this fic here and I like it more and more :heart:
I love Aichan's character here. It's so badass but kinda lonely inside :(
Aichan pimp everyone in GoRokkies :wub:
I really love this story. Estrea, do you mind to update?
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I'm glad I randomly decided to go looking through this again. I can't believe i missed an update :( Probably since it was around midterms.
I still love it~! And I wish for you to update it more~ <3
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Just for academic discussion, why is Reina hating on Ai like dat? Please explain her (mis)behaviour and (over)reaction in five sentences or less.
reeeeet-coooon..... :on hypto:
(oh look, they *do* have a smiley for that. there really is a smiley for everything. my life is complete.)
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I was blatantly ignoring my life duties and read this instead (it's amazing what a few beers can make me want to look up at night haha). It's practically been a year, so it's a stretch and i doubt you'll update it, but it was definitely quite a ride for 26 files-worth ahha
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Hi everyone! I'm too lazy to comment reply! But kjpop, you don't have to turn any purpler! :D
Yes, it is update timeeeeee!!!
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File #27
School was a chore.
Tanaka Reina could not help but think this again as she made her mandatory appearance with a sulky face. Bad enough that she had to be held back a year. Even worse was how she basically had to keep a near perfect attendance starting now. Otherwise expulsion was a very real possibility.
"You have to understand, Tanaka-san, that if you demonstrate no wish to be educated here, we will be forced to...take steps."
Reina mentally cursed that damn principal again. If her father hadn't been such a traditionalist, she would have asked him to back her up. Unfortunately, he would not pull his not-inconsiderable weight even for such a matter. He had bigger fish to fry, so to speak.
Besides, she didn't really want her father to know that she had been skipping school with impunity. Granted, he might already know, but it was something she rather not discuss with him. Reina was a great believer in avoiding argument unless they were inevitable. She just couldn't be bothered to get into one.
So when the bell rang, the yankii-looking girl was practically the first out of the door and winging it like a bat out of hell. She hated to be forced into anything.
Reina's a free spirit, and NO ONE can stop me...
That thought lasted as far as the school gates. There was a crowd of chittering girls clustered around the main gate, making it difficult even for someone of Reina's small stature to squirm through. She did manage it though, eventually.
She would wish she had taken the back exit instead.
It evidently wasn't enough for that woman to keep dogging her steps even at home. Over the past few weeks, for some unfathomable reason, a certain Takahashi Ai had been an on and off guest at the family estate. Her father seemed to have taken a shine to the charming young woman. Not in the same lovesick way her brothers did, thank goodness, but her father seemed equally taken in by the wellspoken rogue, as did any number of the family servants. Those traitors!
Granted, that Takahashi woman generally left her alone, but she also demonstrated an uncanny sense to show up in places where Reina least expected her to. Like the roof, her favorite thinking/napping spot. Or the lounge. The music room even. Reina almost exploded that one time when she found flowers on her dresser, scented with that annoying bitch's perfume.
Not that she knew what the woman smelled like. She did not have a scent fetish, goddamnit.
Now that same woman was here, probably determined to ruin her social life as well. Not that Reina had much of one, but really. She did have some kind of reputation in school.
Ai was leaning casually against the door of her fancy sports car. It was a different car from the last one Reina saw her driving...she did not notice these little details on purpose, it was just that they were so OBNOXIOUSLY in her face that she couldn't help but notice them!
Deep down, Reina had to admit that Ai wasn't really a bad person despite that incorrigible behavior and all that innuendo in her voice whenever they spoke. It just made her so...mad...that Ai could read her so easily. And get under her skin so, so...blatantly.
Reina refused to be just another plaything. She would not stand for it. She wouldn't let this annoying woman get the better of her, if it was the last thing she ever did.
It also didn't help that what little information she managed to squeeze out of her brothers regarding the Takahashi family was distressingly vague. They were linked by "business", so to speak. Which didn't say much. The Tanaka-gumi had connections both legal and otherwise. It proved nothing.
She did hear more about Bakahashi's older twin brother though. Apparently quite the lady-killer, to hear her brother tell it. The sister was just as bad, if Reina had anything to say about it. It disgusted her, this whole...gay thing.
Then again, even if this Takahashi Ai had been a boy and had done all those things to her, she would still have slapped her without hesitation for daring to assume that she was an easy mark. Reina wouldn't be owned so easily, not by anyone.
So it was in a spectacularly foul mood when she emerged from the crowd to see her idiot schoolmates swarming around the luxury car, with a bold few actually speaking to the cool girl in shades. Ai had a winning smile on her lips, her posture relaxed as she laughed and joked with her adoring crowd.
As if drawn by some sadistic instinct, the woman seemed to notice the scowling Reina immediately, waving at her and beaming like the sun on a summer day. That got everyone's instant attention. The chatter intensified with Reina's deepening scowl, but she refused to show anything as she walked casually, if a little stiffly, to the smugly grinning woman.
"What are you doing here?"
Ai took off her shades, revealing warm chocolate orbs. If Reina didn't know better, she would have thought the woman sincere. But having been the recipient of her tricks that first time, the kitten would not trust Ai as far as she could throw her. Which to wit, wasn't very far, if at all.
"It's a Friday, so I thought you'd like to go out for a change..."
Such an innocuous invite. If it had been anyone else, Reina would have jumped at the chance, no matter how short her time would have been. Her father would probably send his henchmen to bring her back if he found out, or surround her with the most obvious bodyguards ever if she even wanted to take a jaunt through Shinjuku. Things seemed to be heating up on the business side of things, though her family tended not to discuss them around her. But Reina didn't grow up in a mob family without picking up a few things. When the guard around the estate tripled the frequency of their patrols, not to mention her escort to school starting to pack some real heat, Reina knew that things were bad.
It was tempting to just go somewhere though. Her father kept her out of family matters, and she was largely unknown except to the most trusted inner circles of the organization. Anyone outside didn't even know Tanaka Takeshi had a daughter. The best defense, as always, was secrecy. It had enabled Reina to lead a semi-normal life, which was why her father was reluctant to get personally involved in something as trivial as Reina's school issues. If he made any large moves, their rivals would notice, and it would only be a matter of time before someone realized that she was a daughter of the Tanaka family.
Her mother had been killed in such a gangland dispute. It was one of the reasons for her father's general paranoia when it came to her. She was his last child, the only daughter. He would never risk her, not for anything. Reina knew it, loved him and respected him more than anything, but it could get fucking annoying to be coddled and protected every second of her life.
She would have said "yes" to anyone else in a heartbeat, if only for a chance to have some time for herself. But this was Ai. That impudent woman who had made mock of her virtue. It was unforgivable. Reina was not a forgiving person. However, she was also a rebel by nature.
"In that thing?" Reina lifted her nose dismissively. A Lamborghini? As if that was going to impress her like the rest of her idiot schoolmates. Ai blinked briefly, probably unused to anyone dissing her sweet ride, but that moment passed quickly.
Recovering instantly, she put on the best face she could, bowing extravagantly like a prince, her ponytailed hair sweeping elegantly over one shoulder.
"It would do me great honor for the great Tanaka-sama to grace me with the pleasure of her company." Ai announced, as much for Reina's benefit as it was for the girls surrounding them. There were actually squeals among the watching girls. Reina rolled her eyes heavenward. People actually fell for those?
Good thing that Takahashi's frequent appearances around her home was starting to help her build some immunity to that roguish grin and irreverent charm. But her inner girl couldn't help but be flattered by the extravagant compliment, no matter how much bullshit she knew it to be.
Reina feigned a sigh, also playing to the crowd. Two can play at this game. Reina hated losing, so she was going to fight back in every way she knew how.
"I suppose I could make do just this once. You may chauffeur me."
Besides, Reina thought, the fact that you're here and that my guards are nowhere in sight, not even behind the nearest bush, means that Father sent you. Reina was not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. It was a rare chance to go out and have fun after surveillance on her had gone up to intolerable levels. Reina was a watchful person, and she hated having eyes on her. She seemed to have a sixth sense regarding that. None of her bodyguards, not one, could escape her notice eventually.
She chalked it up to hereditary paranoia. A healthy sense of watchfulness coupled with caution led to a long and healthy life. Reina was a little short on the latter, but she was young. These things came in time.
Besides, with the kind of business her family was involved in, Reina decided that caution or no, trouble would still find its way onto her doorstep eventually. Best to just seize life as it came, even if it meant having to put up with Takahashi's presence for a while.
"Tense, aren't you?" Ai murmured as she guided Reina to the passenger side, one hand on the yankii's slender waist. Reina scowled briefly, barely moving her lips as she hissed a reply, restraining her temper as best as she could.
"Don't think you can catch me off guard. I'm not one of your toys." Reina lifted her chin proudly, climbing into the leather seat as Ai held the door open.
"Of course you aren't. That'd be no fun." Ai whispered, mostly to herself, even as she swung the door shut. She smiled charmingly at the adoring crowd (such adorable girls!), gracing them with a jaunty wave that had more than one confused girl sighing in pleasure.
"Where to, ojou-sama?"
There was just the barest hint of mockery in Ai's tone as she slid smoothly into the driver's seat. Reina considered it, then shrugged almost imperceptibly. Best to just make the most out of the trip, since the Bakahashi was decidedly more tolerable today.
"Harajuku first. Did Daddy say when we had to be back?"
"Nope!" Ai was cheerful as she shifted gears, lurching from a dead standstill to a speed that left the surrounding scenery a blur. Reina turned pale as they accelerated. She always did fear rollercoasters...
Two minutes later, Reina decided that she hated Takahashi after all. She was going to kill that woman, if it was the last thing she ever did.
Just, not now. No, right now, she had to focus on not losing her lunch all over her own lap even as her life flashed before her eyes.
Later. If there was a later. Reina paled even more and let out a tiny squeak as they took a hair-raising turn at F1 speeds, Ai laughing maniacally all the way.
It didn't take much longer before Reina actually screamed. Well, Ai did promise to make her do so some time. Reina just never thought it would be like this.
Revenge. This. Needed. Revenge.
Once she made it through this hellish ride in one piece, there would be HELL to pay. Tanaka Reina was a woman of her word. The Bakahashi wouldn't even know what hit her. Reina nodded to herself, then turned a distressing shade of green as they very nearly sideswiped another car.
She might have started crying somewhere in between, but she would never have admitted it. When they reached their destination, Reina seized the pro-offered handkerchief that Ai wordlessly held up to her and dabbed fiercely at her eyes. Her hands were still shaking. Takahashi didn't say anything for once, a surprising turn of events. Reina blew her nose noisily into the kerchief, then tossed it back defiantly back into Ai's lap.
"I hate you." Reina said without inflection, managing to climb out without betraying her frazzled nerves. Ai shrugged, an ironic smile twisted around her lips. She'd expected...more. Such a non-reaction was almost a disappointment. She shrugged again. You win some, you lose some.
Tanaka Reina. Feisty, easily flustered, yet capable of pre-possessing self control when required. Ai chuckled lightly again as she exited her prize vehicle as well, locking it remotely before trailing after the reckless kitten.
This was going to be such a fun assignment.
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Lalalala~
:ph43r: away~
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Bakahashi.... bahahaha
What kind of game are you playing at?? Coming out of nowhere and updating one fic at a time :bleed eyes: (I'm glad you are though)
I'm gonna reread all the chapters now :)
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Yeah, I have completely forgotten what this story was about... Something something, Ai's an assassin. Something something, Reina's a mob boss's daughter. Something happened.... Something...
Glad to see you update though! :cathappy:
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I LITERALLY JUST CHOKED ON AIR AND IM NOT EVEN CRYING ABOUT THAT. OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD. IF YOU COULD ONLY SEE MY TEARS!!!! OF PURE AND UTTER JOY TT____TT
BRB WHILE I READ EVERYTHING AGAIN <3333 OH YOU GORGEOUS PERSON YOU <3333
Edit: from what I recall, this arc was a lot more on the fun side than the others ;D wont stop me from re-reading when i have the time, though. But man, Reina <3 she's great in this! I needed a smile on my face!! can't wait to see how Ai screws around with her some more xD
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What's with everyone's return with vengeance? Not complaining here though.
You fleshed Reina out here really well. I hafta admit, she was a tad unlikable when I first met her in previous chapters, but in here- you got it all down pat. I look forward to the breaking of the ojousama as much as Ai does.
Reina was a little short on the latter, but she was young.
I lol'ed here. Poor Reina.
Good update! It was such a fun read.
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Hi guys! Writing Nocturne is so easy once I regained my inspiration ahahaha. So I'm back again with a chapter done in less than 2 hours! Teehee! :D
astro: I like Bakahashi too. :D I must say, the reason why I made a return is because I suddenly regained my writing energy. I was pretty burned out for a while, but now I've recovered! Yay!
rndy: I knew you would have. Sorryyyyyyyyyyyy~ But yeah, you kinda got most of that right. XD
kjpop: I should stop making you cry. But I like making you cry. Hmm, this a problem. XD; And you are most welcome, Reina's arc is meant to be a lot more fun. XD I like having Ai screw around with her too! :D
grac: I can't speak for the others, but I kinda came back to life because I was feeling inspired lately. I was pretty burned out writing all the time, and it became less fun. But now it's fun again! Yay! So I'm back! The last few chapters were the product of my burned-outness, and frankly I hated them with a vengeance. I might have to rewrite those chapters sigh. I finally got back in the groove, so to speak, so this is what it's supposed to be like! And I knew you would catch the short joke. :P You of all people wouldn't miss it lol. XD Thanks, I had fun writing it too!
Ok time to edit and post. :D
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File #28
Takahashi Ai had almost forgotten how much fun it was to simply spend a day out shopping.
How could she have forgotten? Well, work was one thing, and also, her only other shopping alternative was with Sayu, and the shopping hadn't been so much about getting new clothes than it was about getting the bunny new clothes to peel her out of later.
It did tend to have rather interesting effects on the process, admittedly. Changing rooms, for example, were a great deal more entertaining when not used solely for their original purpose.
Sort of a pity that a certain Tanaka Reina would never let her get away with that. However, since the suave approach was proving to be the wrong move with the girl, Ai was swiftly adjusting gears. It helped that Reina was almost off-limits on this case. Emphasis on the 'almost'. Seducing the kitten wasn't really the point, of course, but Ai enjoyed flirting with the girl just solely for the reaction.
It was almost too easy to fall back on just being an ordinary 21 year old girl out shopping with a little sister. Not as little as Yuukarin of course, since in that case her baby sister was pretty much her own personal Barbie doll to dress up as she wished. Reina had a very specific style, and while Ai had her own, the two eventually discovered that they did have something in common: fashion.
Which was why two hours into the shopping, they were arguing over the relative merits of matching shoes and accessories with one's outfit, all while debating what any article of clothing could or could not go with something else. It was all very relaxing and almost disgustingly normal, but Ai found that she could get used to that.
It was refreshing not to have any expectations resting on her. Reina certainly seemed to be treating her like an insect smeared on her boot -- the girl had swiftly changed out of her school uniform the moment they hit Harajuku -- but that was only right at first. Once Ai started commenting about her fashion choices, the kitten started biting back with some ferocity. That was just the beginning of their fashion exchange. In one store and out of another, they argued endlessly over the most minor things, which started degrading to the level of comparing opinions on other people's coordinate as well as various items on sale.
Ai was starting to enjoy herself, and if Reina was honest with herself, she was too. Having grown up in an almost exclusively all-male environment, and having few friends in school, Reina didn't have many female friends, save for the exception of Ume-chan at school. While both girls enjoyed shopping, they never did have the opportunity to go together. The timings just didn't match, and with her ever-present escort, Reina did not want to advertise that fact to anyone.
It was universally known that shopping and bitching about other people was the best bonding activity between females, and so about 3 hours later, the two girls were lounging at Starbucks with their shopping bags around their feet, most of their animosity (mostly coming from Reina) gone. They couldn't be called "friends" in any stretch of the term, but there was significantly less hostility on Reina's part. For Ai's part, she was behaving herself, and when she put her mind to it she could be very likable, as Reina was fast finding out.
"Ne, see that guy over there?" Reina whispered, hunching over her frappe. Ai, in the process of lifting her soy caramel latte to her lips, let her eyes swivel discreetly to where Reina was indicating.
"I like his shoes." Ai started simply. "...but those pants need to burned. Right now."
Reina snickered. "And that shirt...he doesn't have the body to wear it. But you're right about the shoes, I didn't notice that."
They chatted amiably for several more minutes, Reina either forgetting that she hated Ai or simply just putting it aside for the moment, and Ai simply revelling in just being a girl. Not an assassin, not a femme fatale, not anyone's anything. Just being herself.
Even if she did kind of have a purpose being here with Reina at all. But that didn't subtract from her enjoyment of the moment.
Reina made Ai carry everything. Cheap shot, but since Bakahashi started the whole ojou-sama game, Reina figured she might as well just run with it. Plus, ordering the woman around gave Reina a pleasant, if somewhat cheap, thrill.
They dropped off the bags in the car, Ai being the sensible one of the two. She did need her hands free, and for more than one purpose. Next stop: Shinjuku. Despite Reina's protests, Ai managed to shove the indignant girl into the car, lock the doors and drive there.
Admittedly, there was a great deal of fun manhandling the kitten. Less fun though, when upon arrival, said kitten launched herself at her and proceeded to start choking her. Ai spluttered and managed to pry the furious girl off her after a spell, but Reina wasn't done. The older woman winced when the kitten ground her booted heel onto Ai's toes, before turning and stomping off in a huff.
Grinning wryly, Ai followed again, her eyes ever alert. As guest of the Tanaka-gumi, she had taken it onto herself to keep an eye out on Reina. Granted, the Tanaka patriarch had hinted it to her in not a few words, but had not come out to formally ask her anything. This was not how things were done in these circles.
Formal requests required other formalities. Ai could deal with the subtle hints, even if they were never blatantly stated. Tanaka Takeshi wanted his daughter protected, but her hissy fits and tendency to try and ditch her bodyguards gave him a headache. If Ai could but teach her some manners during her stay, it would be most appreciated.
Obvious enough for someone of Ai's training. Look after my daughter. Screw up...
The rest was unnecessary. Ai had spotted more than a few thugs with their little fingers missing lurking around the estate. She knew the stakes. And this being the ojou-sama of the family...
Ai shrugged. It was rare to be on the protection side of things. She knew perfectly well how to kill people. Trying to keep someone from getting killed just entailed approaching the problem from a different angle. She simply had to consider how it could be done, and how best to hinder it.
It also helped to know your enemies, and Ai was pretty sure they had picked up a tail not 20 minutes into stepping into Shinjuku. In between bantering with Reina, Ai made sure that any potential assassin or two-bit thug could not get anywhere near the bratty kitten. It was a delicate balancing act requiring all her attention, and if Reina noticed that Ai was less involved in their banter, she didn't show it.
There was a close call though. A youth with a buzz cut and piercings, just like any of the more punk looking boys on the street, had managed to come just a bit too close. Ai only suspected something was off when she spotted an unobtrusive tattoo on one arm, barely hidden by his sleeve. That, and the hand in his jacket triggered every single warning alarm she had.
In a crowd like that at Shinjuku during the evening, it would be a simple business to stab a person several times in the kidneys if you were fast enough about it, and then disappear into the crowd before your victim collapses and dies of blood loss.
Ai had used a similar move before in her early days. It was a time-honored tactic any aspiring killer knew to take advantage of. No self-respecting assassin would make it so public and so messy, of course, but hired thugs who thought themselves killers always used the simplest methods. It was cheap, fast, and the perp had a good chance of making an escape if they knew what they were doing.
Not if Ai had anything to do about it though. When the man came close, she shifted positions to Reina's other side, intercepting his arm even as he was about to pull the short, wide blade out of his jacket. Sliding a hand down to his wrist, she twisted his hand brutally and pinched a nerve at the same time, forcing him to drop the weapon. Then she broke the small bones in his hand for good measure. It was over in seconds, and Ai allowed the crowd to sweep both her and Reina away, leaving the crippled thug behind them, moaning in pain.
It was time to bring the spoiled kitten back home. There was only so much Ai could do alone in such an open space. They had had their fun, and Ai wasn't going to take any more risks as night fell. It cut visibility for one thing, and even Ai was not superhuman. There was never only one thug, after all.
Not only just one watcher either, as she would soon find out.
~*~*~
"We've found her."
Assorted pictures scattered across a table. Ai smiling, Ai laughing, Ai having fun.
Ai with some other girl, goofing around. Playing like an overgrown child.
That picture was soon crushed in a tight fist, a moment of self control slipping. Cold eyes were cold, reflected in the black screen of the monitor.
The speakerphone was silent. Idly, a slim hand picked up a lighter, flicking the wheel to produce spurts of flame. On, off, on, off.
"Your orders?"
The flame burned steadily. Touched to the crumpled edge of the photo, it caught brillantly, searing and curling away into a blackened mess. Ai's smiling face vanished into ashes.
"Bring her to me."
The photograph continued burning, until nothing was left.
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Daa daa doo dee da~
:ph43r: away~
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ok lol this is wonderful. im just gonna keep crying and dehydrate myself LOL <333 *throws love and chocolate around you~*
WILL READ SOON <33333
EDIT: OH SWEET JESUS WHO IS LOOKING FOR AI!?!?!
btw, you make RenAi appeal to me in so many ways, it's crazy. I didn't even like the idea of those two together until you came along :love:
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Oh yeah, Sayu was there too! Hmm, and it's seems as though, now this is just a hunch, someone is looking for Ai! Am I right? Am I? Noo, couldn't be... :lol:
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I'm in a weird mood.
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File #29
The last thing Tanaka Reina ever imagined herself doing was crying over someone she didn't even really care about.
"Oi! Baka! You aren't allowed to die on me! Get up! Annoy me like you always do! WAKE UP!"
Her hands were already red with blood. The underground garage was both claustrophobically small and loomingly oppressive. Ai's head lolled to one side in her lap, and Reina was shaking the woman desperately in a frantic attempt to garner a response.
Her cellphone beeped faintly a few feet away from her, finally getting a weak signal. Reina's hands were slick and shaky as she scrambled over to pick it up, her touchscreen stained with bloody fingerprints as she slipped all over it trying to dial home.
"Papa..."
This was officially the worst day of her life.
~*~*~
When one of her brothers came back home in a body bag one day, Reina knew things had finally gone from bad to Officially Fucked. It was amazing something like that hadn't happened any sooner, but Reina should have expected something like it given her family business.
Years of seeing her older brothers coming back wounded but alive had bred a sense of hope regarding their invincibility. They always made it back in one piece. Always.
Seeing family die was always ultimately personal. There would be retribution. Vengeance. The entire clan was out for blood. Reina was left alone to mourn while the men went out to exact a blood price for the life of one of her brothers. The only one to grieve.
Ai never left her side in those days. The older girl never said a word. No annoying comments, no saucy come ons, not even a single gesture of pity. She simply hovered in the background unobtrusively, never intruding on Reina's personal space and appearing like little more than a shadow. Whenever Reina found herself needing something, she had only turn around and everything was basically laid out for her. Reina would have thanked her, except thanks weren't in her nature, not right now. She was all cried out after days of mourning her brother.
She couldn't avoid school forever, even with excuses of family tragedy. The territory war had escalated, though it was still fought in shadows. Night raids on the enemy's income sources. Assassinations of top brass, staged as accidents. Sabotaging their legitimate links. An average citizen could crack open the papers and not see what was going on behind the scenes. Such was the nature of the conflict.
Reina went back to school. Amazingly, her only bodyguard was still Ai, which made the kitten more than a little suspicious. She had already suspected that Ai was basically her new bodyguard after the following weeks where she was basically guard-less whenever Ai happened to be around. But given how big the conflict had become, Reina would have expected her paranoid father to double or even triple guard duty around her. It was somewhat shocking that her father entrusted her to someone as flippantly unreliable as one Takahashi Ai, unless the woman was more than she seemed.
They moved off the family estate into one of the other safe houses, an apartment in an unobtrusive neighborhood. Reina would be safely anonymous that way. It was better than risking her identity being made common knowledge by staying at the family estate.
Naturally, Ai came with her. In fact, she introduced her little sister Yuukarin to Reina, who found herself liking the affable girl a lot more than the obnoxious older sibling. Even though Ai had been a little less annoying of late. If anything, the woman seemed to be more distracted than usual whenever they were safely at home. She stopped teasing Reina entirely the moment they stepped back into safety, though the light-hearted image she presented was firmly in place whenever they were out. It was as if Ai switched personas with the ease of an actor switching masks, and Reina was almost annoyed by how the older girl seemed to be on edge while making numerous phone calls whenever they were at home.
Reina found herself letting her guard down around the formerly annoying girl. Irritation had melted down into detached indifference, even a calm acceptance of Ai's presence in her life. It was a steady reassurance to have the beautiful young woman shadow her steps without making her feel stalked. Reina felt a little creeped out by that sometimes though. It was as if she were alone in the room sometimes, until she turned around and saw Ai sitting quietly in a corner, staring out of the window through a crack in the curtains.
It was frustrating. She was completely cut off from home, only surmising the progress of the subterranean war through the vague reports in the papers. Ai helped her a little in that, pointing out details she might have otherwise missed. Reina gained a new respect for the older girl, though there still remained a niggling suspicion on how Ai came by all this information. What was Ai? Not just a mere bodyguard. Bodyguards didn't assume and drop personas at the drop of a hat. Bodyguards didn't feel like they didn't exist at all -- not even the best guards that Reina had ever had managed to completely erase their sense of presence the way Ai did on a regular basis. It was unnerving, even creepy.
But for all that shadowy business, Reina was observant enough to pick up on the tiny hints of Ai's discomfort, even distress, underneath that cool mask. It was in the vaguely distracted flick of a glance, barely noticeable in the subtly tense motions as she stalked from one end of the room to another. No, Reina did not spend too much time watching Ai. It was just that...living together with little other entertainment did that to you.
Reina had gotten so used to Ai being in her life that when their next bust-up happened, she never even saw it coming. They had just been watching TV, chatting idly (to think a civil conversation at length was possible between them) until an innocuous comment made by a fictional character on the talking box set them off.
"That's stupid. No one should have to live for anyone else."
"Really? Reina thought it was really romantic! Must be nice to have someone who can't live without you..."
"Someone who can't live without you doesn't deserve to live at all."
It got worse from there. Such a trivial comment from a made-up story, and they took it all out of proportion. Reina was certain it had somehow gotten personal halfway through the discussion-turned-argument, but couldn't figure out what exactly made Ai so adamant on her position. The woman refused to budge on the issue, and that just fired Reina up to argue the point. Before they knew it, they were both on their feet, and if they weren't exactly shouting at each other, there was a lot of repressed rage in the room.
And then Ai suddenly kissed her, the first time this had happened since Hawaii, and Reina was so shocked by the action that she allowed it for a while, before snapping back to her senses and pushing the infuriating woman away from her.
There was no remorse in those fathomless eyes. Just a calculative coldness, and a hint of smug triumph at the scandalized expression on the kitten's face. Reina, already angry, felt her temper go through the roof. It didn't even mean anything to this, this bitch. Like it was all just fun and games for her. As if Reina did not matter, and to her own surprise, that hurt.
But Reina would not give her the satisfaction of seeing that. She slapped Ai, of course, but that was par for course. Her turning on her heel and marching straight out of the apartment in the dead of the night without a word might have been reckless and impulsive, but Reina didn't care. She couldn't stand being in the same room with that heartless witch. She had gotten too comfortable around her, and she hated it.
That led to her current predicament. Walking into an ambush was all well and good. Walking into an ambush not even meant for you, as she figured out about 10 or 15 minutes into the ordeal, was just lame as hell. Finding out that the ambush was going to be modified with you as bait was even worse. Especially since it was for someone you didn't even really like.
Perhaps the more important question would be why that woman had people after her in the first place. Then again, she had been sent to stay with the Tanaka household for her own protection, but Reina couldn't figure out what for. What could possibly be so bad for someone to think that sanctuary in a yakuza household in the middle of a turf war would be a good idea?
That mattered little when people started dying around her. Reina had always been far removed from the worst acts of violence. Oh sure, she saw a couple of beatings and a maiming once. She had felt slightly squeamish but been otherwise fine. Not for nothing a daughter of the yakuza, she was.
She hadn't even been aware that people were dying. This was supposed to be an ambush; the ambushers were all hidden and spread out. So when they started dropping like flies to walking death in the shadows, there was little indication until a sick crack dropped her nearest captor to the floor, his head at an unnatural angle. Next to him stood a darkly amused Ai, who didn't look like she had just ninja-killed her way through half a dozen people -- not that Reina was fully aware of what the girl did.
"You're a handful, you know that?" Was all Ai said to her, loosing the hastily tied knots around her limbs. That look on her face wasn't quite a smile, but her eyes were feral and alive, in a way. The eyes of a predator. No longer just a shadow, but death in the dark.
In a moment, Reina saw Ai for what she was. Just that moment, almost too brief to grasp.
"You killed them." Statement of fact, hardly accusatory. Ai was once again guarded as Reina rubbed awkwardly at the rope burns. The older girl smiled suddenly, disconcertingly.
"I might not live for anyone else, but I can kill for them."
Always the last word. Reina licked her parched lips, trying to find the right emotion to summon in such a situation. She settled for irritation. It came the fastest, in any case.
"I don't like you."
Ai smiled grimly.
"You don't have to. I might not live for you, but I do need you alive." And I will kill anyone who gets in the way of that. It wasn't said, but it was understood. Reina closed her eyes. Her headache was growing. She opened her mouth to say something, when a familiar sensation of being watched crawled down her spine. Ai was no stranger to it either, seeing how she ducked low and grabbed Reina's wrist, pulling the kitten along with her as they scuttled for cover.
It was then that Reina remembered something important. The ambush hadn't been for her. So it follows naturally that...no. But yes, it had to be. Ai was a killer. It made sense.
"They're not here for me." Reina whispered breathlessly. Even with the cold mask on, Reina felt Ai grimace, muscles tightening subtly.
"Already?" She set her shoulders, head lowered in a thoughtful pose. It lasted maybe a second or two, before the old devil-may-care confidence found its way to the fore again.
"I'll manage somehow. Can't do much with you around though..." If that stung, Reina did not let it show. Truth be told, the girl was frightened. It was as if part of herself had stepped back into herself when that dead body fell next to her earlier. Reina had found herself one foot in the darkness, and discovered that she didn't like it at all.
Reina also discovered soon enough that people could die all too easily. Life was precious? She couldn't see it in the hurried moments between one refuge and the next, only saw how a life could end between breaths. The erasure of that spark in a pair of human eyes. And above it all, the coldly efficient killer Ai had become, as if Reina did not exist. But the same pair of hands that snuffed their watchers also held hers in an unrelenting grip, firm without paining her. Ai hauled them out of an impossible situation, and landed them squarely in Hell, it seemed. Was there no end to the numbers? Where did all these people come from?
Cornered in an underground parking lot, things were grim. Ai assessed things with cool clarity, but the pressure of her fingers on Reina's wrist betrayed the hidden anxiety. Her breaths were shorter already, her body tense and taut for battle. Reina was just numb. The past half hour (was it shorter?) had felt longer than a lifetime. She was exhausted. She wanted to cry. She wanted to hide from the world and pretend that bad things didn't happen in the night. She did none of those things. Instead, she laid a hand on Ai's shoulder. That shoulder wavered briefly, then hardened once more. Reina said nothing. There was nothing to be said.
"Stay here." Ai ordered. Reina stared blankly at her, and Ai stared back, as if expecting a refusal. But nothing. The kitten lowered her head. Ai shook hers, letting Reina's hand slip from hers. A flick of the wrist and a knife slid into her fingers. She would fight.
The last thing an assassin should ever do. The attackers' blood was up. Too many had died. There would be a price. Never mind what they had been hired to do. They wanted blood.
And there was a lot of it. Reina felt worse than useless, huddled in the shadow of a monster SUV. Her hands were shaking. She bit hard into her lip when Ai was knocked back against a wall. 3 to 1 odds were bad, especially when any one of the 3 were easily double the size and weight class of Ai. She did manage to hamstring one though, which just made them mad.
Ai never seemed smaller under the assault. She acquitted herself well though. One of her knives was lodged in the throat of Scar-Face, and she had opened a second grin in the neck of Muscle-Bound. She limped though, and one of her arms was held awkwardly. Her grin was a feral red, and the open gash above her right brow probably impeded her sight in that eye, judging from the blood staining her iris an eerie scarlet.
She lost her knife. Tall-and-Wiry had her in a chokehold, and he seemed particularly livid as Ai sputtered in his grasp, her struggles growing weaker as her airways drew closer to strangulation. Not that it was enough for the man. His knuckles found the side of the tiny woman's head over and over, his rage and knuckle dusters beating a bloody pattern.
He was so focused on the battered woman in his hands that he was surprised by a sharp pain in his kidneys. Several sharp pains. It was debiliating. He was dead within minutes. He did also manage to let go of Ai before that, saving her from choking to death, though bleeding out and/or a concussion still seemed a possible reality.
Reina cried. The knife fell from her hands. The same knife Ai had lost, that fell in front of her like a whispered message. The knife's master would have died, the Knife did not want that. Reina, to her own surprise, did not want that either. Before she even knew herself capable of such an act, she was up and swinging. Good thing she was short. The blade went exactly where it should have gone for fatal damage. She had killed, and she didn't even know how she managed it.
On her knees, Reina scrambled for the only thing that made sense. Even if the only thing that made sense was currently bloody, unconscious, and had always been the only reliable source of irritation she could ever count on. It was easy to push aside the horror of what she had done, if she just pushed it all onto her.
All your fault. Don't die. I hate you. Wake up.
Things unravelled around them, as they have a tendency of doing. Reina held herself together, even managed to call for help. She clung to the rag doll lying limp on her lap, heedless of the blood, heedless of the dread that clung to her as the body seemed to get progressively cooler.
Ai would not die. She would not. Reina gritted her teeth, her eyes red-rimmed but no longer wet with tears. She was all cried out.
"I killed for you, you idiot. You owe me." Anger was a safe emotion. It was what was choking her up. Yes. Nothing else. Ai lay soundlessly in a puddle of blood, not a trace of her usually infuriating smirk on her face. This only maddened the irrational kitten further.
Reina would never admit what happened next. She would not voluntarily kiss the woman. No, not in this life or the next. It was not a kiss. It was a debt she intended to collect in full. That was all.
I might not live for you, but I have killed for you, and your life is mine.
And that was all there was to it.
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I have too much darkness in my heart, I think. Just a fraction and things go all to hell.
Yeah. Whatever. Like anyone cares.
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*Makes brian shattering squeal*
Finnally!!!!! This is one that has me on my toes !!! What is going to happen!!! Estrea-sama!!! :bow: :bow: :bow:
I can so picture everything happening IRL It's quite astounding!
*Will properly re-read once again lol to properly comment later XD*
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File #30
This was not a hospital. It just looked, felt and smelled like one.
This was most definitely not a morgue. A corpse wouldn't need IV drips and the bed would not be padded otherwise. Cold steel might have given that impression, along with the puke-green tile and dim lighting. Cold, too.
They were in a basement somewhere. Reina wasn't sure if that quack was even properly licensed. He didn't look it, for sure. But he did seem to know what he was doing, and anyone would look raggedly unprofessional from being rousted out of bed in the middle of the night, driven to a secure location blindfolded, and then ordered to fix up a broken and bleeding young woman with equipment bordering on medieval. The only anaesthetic was morphine, if you could believe that, and it was fortunate that the patient was unconscious, so the man could do the worst of the work without having to worry about administering the drug. He didn't like using morphine unless the circumstances were really dire. Side effects, you see.
Reina was simply diagnosed as having a mild case of shock. The only prescription was chocolate and hot tea. She had added the chocolate in peremptorily, and brooked no argument on that case. Her eyes were slightly crossed, but trained fully on the unmoving person on that slab that doubled as a bed. She hadn't said a word since describing the exact particulars of the attack. No desperate pleas to make sure the injured girl would be alright. No tantrums to demonstrate her frustration at the vague reasons leading up to the attack.
She. Just. Sat.
And watched. She did not remove herself from the room as the doctor tut-tutted while cleaning the area of the head wound. From Reina's description the doctor knew that the girl he was patching up had been lucky. The fact that her assailant had been holding her in the air with one hand while pounding at her head with the other meant that it cut down the maximum force applicable. It looked bad, for sure. Head wounds were always tricky, and all that blood was certainly unnerving. The woman might be slightly concussed, but as far as he could tell nothing seemed broken apart from skin, and any other side effects would only be apparent after she woke up. He didn't have any scanning equipment, so he could only hope there weren't any blood clots beneath the skull. He was optimistic though, but still checked her eyeballs for swelling. There was none, so there was a good chance that there was no internal bleeding. Unlucky to be injured, this girl, but fortunate enough that the worst had been avoided.
He had popped the shoulder back in, treated the open gashes, and cleaned what he could using what little he had. Street doctoring required guts and a lot of creativity. Certainly, he could be killed by his patrons if they thought he wasn't doing a good job, so he had to have good nerves too, to work under pressure. Then again, what doctor didn't work under pressure? He was paid well in his time, in cash, and it went undeclared. He would say nothing and be sent back home with no knowledge of where he had been or the identity of who he had been treating. That was the way things were.
Reina did not comment. She seemed to have taken a lesson or two from Ai in the art of erasing her presence. Not quite as well, perhaps, but most people didn't have the heightened sense of paranoia that she or Ai had. Her hands were clean, but she had ceased munching on the chocolate ages ago. The bar lay forgotten on the side table next to her. She did not put her hands anywhere near her face. It might have been a hallucination, but she felt as if she could still smell the blood on them. Could you even hallucinate scent?
Reina discovered one thing though. Fresh blood didn't really smell of anything. The smell only started a little later, when it was no longer slick on her hands, when it started to get thick and parts of it flaked off her fingertips. She had spent some time scrubbing under her nails. With hot water. It washed away all too easily, but memory would not be so denied.
Her tea was getting cold. It seemed red under the single bulb hanging above her, and after the first few gulps she had put it down and not touched it since. The basement was silent since the doctor had left. The sound of breathing was faint, ragged but present. Her own was quiet, shallow. She was tired, but something kept her awake. Her neck ached, but she continued staring forward, fixed in that hunched position.
She must have fallen asleep at some point though, because one of her brothers was with her and a blanket thrown around her shoulders when she opened eyes she did not remember closing. Big brother Musashi had a grim look on his face, and bandages were around his right hand, but he seemed otherwise fine. He spoke to her, and Reina found herself answering mechanically. When he attempted to remove her from the basement, she resisted, her eyes flaring with emotion for the first time since he entered and laid eyes on her. It didn't stop him for long, and she did not speak to him in the entire ride back. His injured hand throbbed painfully where little Reina had clawed at him. His baby sister had grown some claws.
Reina was cold inside. Something had changed, and she no longer felt like the naive girl she had once been. All the difference from a knife and some blood. So that was how it felt like to kill. How it felt like to take a life. She had thought there would be more blood, maybe. Perhaps stab wounds simply made less mess. She would have to ask Ai. Ai would know. Ai was not with her. She wanted to slap that woman awake already. Wake up, damn you, you owe me answers and a life.
Life had suddenly gotten more complicated. But events moved on. Reina went from standoffish to genuinely cold at school. The difference was subtle and most people wouldn't notice either way, but Reina felt that they couldn't help but know. That she was different. That she no longer walked among them as an equal. She was a separate existence that had hunted forbidden game. They should know. How could they not? How could everyone be so blind?
She was being watched by incompetent bodyguards again. There was a difference she could obviously sense. They were about as subtle as a mallet to the head. They tried though. They were just doing their job. She couldn't blame them for that. Just as she couldn't blame Ai for doing hers. Why fight?
Questions and answers. Reina actually applied herself to school for once, and while she was never a top student, she at least made the average and a little better on certain subjects. Life was bland, tasteless. She couldn't go anywhere, she had no one to talk to.
Two weeks of boring monotony. Reina was almost getting used to it. Almost. She still dreamed of blood sometimes. Held a pen and remembered the heft of a knife. Recalled the helplessness of being a burden. The fierce rage, satisfaction at a job done. Horror factored in somewhere, or she assumed it had to.
And she remembered feral eyes, not one that took joy in killing, but it was a thrill Reina found herself groping blindly to grasp. There was a satisfaction in meeting and winning, of mastering your situation, of not being powerless. She had held that sensation for a moment, but it slipped through her fingers like sand. Hard to hold on to.
The words stayed on the tip of her tongue. Words that begged to be asked, whenever she spoke to her father on the phone. She did not let them slip, but waited. For...something? Reina wasn't sure. There was a certainty she wasn't sure how she came by.
You owe me. She had not known why she felt that way. Did not know why she expected it to be honored. If nothing else, Ai had never shown herself to be a person of honor. At least, never seemed to. She couldn't tell. Ai was a shadow, the knife in the dark. Assassins didn't last long. Reina knew that much.
So when she jerked awake again for the nth time in a night as she always did, she was not entirely surprised to see her window open and someone sitting on the sill. There was a strong stench of antiseptic, and in the moonlight, the assassin at the window looked pale and gaunt as death. She was smiling, in that way that wasn't a smile, the kind that hid a stab when you least expected it.
Reina found herself matching it. She shifted in bed, her eyes never leaving the dark pools trained on her. Ai padded over, after a moment of silence. She did not sit down, not immediately. They did not touch.
Then Ai settled in, and they lay side by side, shoulders brushing, not saying a word. The ceiling held their gazes. Their breathing was even, so much so that for the longest moment, it was as if both of them had fallen asleep, until Reina broke the silence.
"Would you kill me?"
"Yes."
The reply came without pause. Ai did not elaborate. She didn't have to. Reina knew she was an assassin. A killer for hire. There wasn't much to explain. She wasn't a psycho serial killer than slaughtered for jollies. If there was a contract on Reina and it was accepted, Ai would receive and execute. That was her life.
"Would you kill for me then?"
"..."
Stupid question, really. Ai had already done so. Reina exhaled. She thought she could see, but there was so many layers in the enigma next to her that she couldn't really be sure. Did she understand? Could she understand? Did she want to?
"Would you kill me if I asked you to?"
"...you wouldn't be around to pay me, would you?"
Reina barked a laugh, suddenly and unexpectedly. She could almost feel Ai smiling. Or was that another illusion? Reina sobered quickly.
"You're mine."
"For now." Ai agreed noncommitally. A hired blade belonged to the master. That was all. Reina closed her eyes, exhaling softly.
"Good."
Ai didn't respond, simply waiting until Reina's breathing went back to long, smooth patterns. She sat up then, retreating to a safe distance. Her eyes were dark and deep.
She stayed in that corner until dawn. Reina did not wake again until then, and when she did, she was alone in the room. Alone, but for the knife on the pillow next to her. It was simple, unadorned, and the weight was familiar.
Unable to help herself, Reina laughed. Held the...gift? Warning? Joke? Whatever it was, and laughed, until tears came to her eyes and she quieted. She looked at the knife, then put it away. She went nowhere without it.
She never saw Ai again.
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Nocturne never takes that long to write when I put my mind to it. This took what, 2 hours? That's fast by my standards. Heh.
Keep going, keep going. Almost to the end. Doesn't matter what is said. I simply have to finish. Right? Right?
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SO MUCH GROSS SOBBING I WILL BE BACK OMFGSDJFSDGFKSDGHFJKSDGHFKJSDGHFDF
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You know, maybe it's a bit sad, but I think you do some of your best writing when in moods like this. I suppose it makes sense considering how great writers have written throughout history though, huh? At least those who know me know that's what I've always thought...
But...
She never saw Ai again? :cry: It's really over? I have a hard time thinking Reina would be interested in and have the resources to enter that world. She'd already learned so much about it, after all.
That said, although I'm a bit curious how you'll continue, this could almost be an end in itself to me... even if it wouldn't really make sense to the story overall lol. But then this story has always been a bit avant-garde, eh?
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Guess what, I'm back. Episode FINAL. Hoho. XD
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File #31
"President, your 3 o' clock is here."
The secretary's voice buzzed from the speakerphone, perched as it was on the immense, oak-panelled table that took up half the inner office and could easily have doubled as a fort. There were no windows in the inner sanctum, and only a narrow way in that opened up to a much bigger parlour area that looked more fitting for the CEO of a corporation. Had someone deigned to stop and observe, the main doors leading into that front parlour would probably be of more service guarding a bank vault than business secrets.
The inheritor of such finely honed paranoia did not necessarily have to share those instincts. There were still no windows in the inner office, yes. But now comfy sofas were set by the glazed windows in the outer parlour, just opposite a well-stocked mini bar. Unlike her austere father, Kamei Eri had to resort to different methods of charming her opposition. Then again, she was also less likely to have someone after her life, or at least, less aware of the possible methods through which that course of action could be pursued.
She was by the windows now, drink in hand. Her organizer lay open at the coffee table, though only unrecognizable scribbles could be seen on it. Condensation sweated its way down the sides of the glass, past her tightly clenched fingers and staining the rich carpeting. She stared out from behind the glass, and wondered, not for the first, if her mother had shared the same view.
A soft tone at the door brought her back to her surroundings. No knock could have penetrated those blast doors guarding her late father's lair. Eri allowed herself a brief chuckle; reinforced doors and layered defenses had not saved her father from a premature death. Which was why she was going to have them replaced by nice glass ones soon. Hell, she might as well just remodel the entire place for the heck of it!
Another button pressed to allow the internal locks to disengage, even as she engaged the intercom to let her secretary know to let the visitor in. Her heels left slight indents against the lush carpeting, only to spring back up in the wake of her passing. At the bar she poured herself another drink; whiskey was her poison of choice these days.
The doors rolled open slowly, and a diminutive figure in a business suit and slicked back hair stepped in. Gaudy black wire frames sat like a defensive bulwark on that pale face, and the hand clutching the nondescript briefcase was almost skeletally thin. Her visitor stood quietly at the entrance as the doors rolled shut once more, clearly waiting for some sign of acknowledgement from her before moving. Manners, at least. Or was it a sense of intimidation from a personal audience with the CEO of Kamei Corp?
Eri pursed her lips, recalling from memory the details of her 3 o' clock appointment. An up-and-coming IT startup that had developed a promising program. The beta testing had gone well and there was market demand for it, but they required funding to go further. The banks had not approved of further loans seeing how the little firm was still in the red from their investment in their product, and so the company had had to look further afield for options. Eri had taken studied the proposals after they had been filtered through her top executives, and arranged the meeting not long after personally testing their program. If she could maneuver things properly, instead of simply sponsoring the company, she could broker a deal to turn them into a subsidiary of her corporation. She didn't go to business school for nothing.
"Kawayama-san, was it? Do take a seat." Her smile was gracious as she waved the nervous young executive towards the plush sofas by the window. She took the second glass of whiskey with her and walked over to the sofas. There she waited as the young man padded softly up to her...
...and froze. A whiff of a familiar scent made her lose her grip on one of the glasses, which was deftly caught by the same thin hand. Deja vu, much?
"You shouldn't be drinking on an empty stomach." It was jarring to hear a voice switch in mid-sentence, going from a rolling contralto to a husky soprano. The ghostly hand placed the still-full glass on the coffee table, having spilled not a drop from it during the save.
"Ai-chan." Eri found herself breathing out, a thread of feeling between anticipation and cold fear curling her toes, stealing her thoughts and senses. She could only feel, and not all of those feelings were pleasant.
No reply, only a sliding sensation as Ai uncoiled herself away from Eri, moving sinuous as a snake. The tiny distance helped the heiress breathe, and she took the opportunity to turn and step back further, putting a sofa between them. Not that it would have stopped the assassin, she knew. And yes, she knew very well what Ai was. Not who she was, but what.
"I was looking for you all this time." Truth that stank of lies. Eri took the opportunity to look the other woman over. Ai was pale as death, and the carefully applied makeup concealed only her more feminine aspects. When the glasses came off, she was only somewhat recognizable as the mysterious young woman who had crossed paths with her months ago. Now a shadow of herself, cheeks sunken in a way makeup could not replicate, the lack of the concealing glasses revealed hints of scars at her temple. Battle-worn and battle-scarred, she stood as a wisp or wraith, the only bright things left were her eyes, and those burned cold.
"I received your...invitation." Ai's voice was low, and her lips curled in a sneer. She ran a hand through her short locks, deliberately pushing strands far enough back to reveal ugly stitches running underneath. Eri swallowed. She had known that the people she sent had not returned, that they were unsuccessful. She did not, could not know how much damage they inflicted. But they were gone and Ai was here. Was she going to be next?
"There's no contract on you, rest assured." Ai let her hand fall, dead eyes still pinned to the taller girl. There was something dark and hungry and desperate in that tiny frame, danger caged within her unassuming form. If there was anger, it did not burn. There lay a hollow depth instead, devouring all who looked into those dead orbs. Eri shuddered. It was like looking into Hell itself.
"Why have you come?" Eri wanted to know. Her minions had been sent to bring Ai in, so if Ai had not resisted, they would have brought her here. Instead, Ai had butchered them all, but still showed up. Why?
"You can't sheathe a bloody knife." Ai whispered, stalking close. Eri stepped back subconsciously, mirroring the move. A ghost of a smile touched Ai's lips.
"Tell me, was it your idea or was it the old man's?"
What? Eri blinked. Abruptly, Ai crossed right past her, walking to the liquor cabinet and tracing one nail around the lacquered edges. Caught off guard, Eri almost tripped on the sofa she was standing next to, and rescued herself by sitting on its arm. She stared mutely at Ai's back, mind whirring. Ai's voice had lost the menacing edge, taking on an almost conversational tone as she pretended to study the bottles behind the glass.
"You know, I thought it was too easy. Not a cakewalk, yes, but it shouldn't have come so close, become so personal. So I asked a question a person in my line should never ask: who took out the contract?"
Now Ai was pacing behind the mini bar, slow deliberate steps that ended at the other end, where she leaned against the counter and rested her full weight against it, folding her arms as she cocked her head quizzically at Eri. Again, with that ghost of a smile. That look on her face, of one who had seen and known and done too much.
"I'm a weapon, you know. Point me and off I go. I don't ask who does the pointing. It doesn't change a thing. It shouldn't matter." The smile was brittle, eyes emotionless.
"Tell me, does it feel good to be standing in your father's place?"
Eri flinched at the unspoken accusation. Cold needles ran down her spine. She forced herself to stillness, not wanting the assassin in front of her to read the tension in her trembling fingers. It didn't really work, but Ai didn't seem inclined to point it out. Taking a deep breath, Eri squared her shoulders as she pushed up from her position on the sofa.
"This was never my father's place. He married my mother for it."
"Is that why you did it then?" Ai seemed genuinely curious. Not judgemental. Merely curious. Then again, perhaps one should not look towards a paid killer for examples of morality.
"I didn't know it was real..." Eri started uncertainly, then her mouth firmed into a thin line. "I didn't know who you were until...after."
"Didn't know, eh?" Ai shook her head, bemused. "Well, that answers a few questions at least."
"It's over and done with. I have to pick up the pieces anyway, so it's not like...!" Eri blasted back defensively. She would not stand and be insulted by this person, regardless of how she personally felt about her. And she definitely had some very mixed feelings about Ai, assassin or not.
"You know, he would have died anyway." Ai said suddenly, tapping her jaw reflectively. Eri blinked, took a half step back.
"What?"
"Your father. He was already dying." Ai paused, waiting for the fact to sink in. "He wouldn't have lasted another year. Two at the most."
"You're lying." Eri ground out through clenched teeth. Ai smiled coldly.
"I researched his medical background for the job. He had a heart condition, and that's what I worked on...but after the job I went back and dug a little further. Turns out the heart condition is just a symptom for something else." Ai shook her head. "Some kind of muscular dystrophic disease. He was wasting away on the inside."
"No...he would have said something, wouldn't he?" Eri looked uncertain, backed into a corner. Ai chuckled lowly.
"Ever wondered why he retired so early? He could have stopped field work and continued on in an administrative or training capacity, and don't look at me like that. You knew what he did for a living before he married your mother and had you. He was pushed into an early retirement when his condition manifested. Oh, but it was mild, and it took years before it weakened him significantly. His heart, for example, was just one of the first..."
"Why are you telling me this?" Eri said lowly. She did not seem amused. Who would, when placed in her position? "Are you trying to make me feel guilty or something?" She took a deep breath. "It's not going to work, you know. I made a choice, I'll live with it."
Ai stops, and then she laughed. Deep, rolling chuckles that seem to draw out some deep ache from within. She actually had to hold on to the bar counter for support. Eri frowned, her knuckles turning white with tension as she clenched again. What was so funny?
"You are your father's daughter, aren't you?" Ai grinned, a shadow of her old persona falling back into place. It was gone in the next minute, replaced by a deadly serious look.
"He was going to die, you hated him for causing your mother's death -- yes I knew about that -- and wanted him dead, and next thing you know he does turn out dead. You think you killed him, then go on to take his place, oh I'm sorry, your mother's place as head of the company." Ai pauses, spreading her hands out in front of her as if laying out the points on an invisible screen. "Fits so neatly together, doesn't it?"
"You have a problem with that?" Eri wondered if she could somehow call security and get rid of Ai, but dismissed the thought almost as quickly as it came. By the time security came, Ai could probably kill her in ten different ways without breaking a sweat. Even if she stalled.
"I don't. There's just one little problem, you see." Ai's smile was artificially bright as she draws on an imaginary chalkboard. "How did you contact us?"
"Well I..." Eri stopped herself before she said more, wary of Ai leading her into some kind of verbal trap. Thus far she had never come out and admitted orchestrating her father's demise. If she had. The way Ai was twisting things around, she was starting to doubt herself. She had just been poking around her father's office, and those files had just been left there...contact codes for a shadow organization. She never had to see anyone, make any direct contact. It was completely impersonal, a secure and anonymous transaction over the web, just a shot in the dark...and then her father died, and the payment request came back through the same channel. That was when she realized what she had inadvertently done, and decided that she had no choice but to live with the consequences. It couldn't be traced back to her in any case. Everything was encoded, and she had burned the files after making the payment. Wiped the computer from which she had made the transaction as well, took a hammer to it actually. Not that it would have mattered; the original transmissions were scrambled, encrypted and dissolved within hours. But she didn't know that, of course. Better to be safe than sorry in any case.
Ai did not seem much interested in her reply, or her lack of one. She simply raised a finger, wagging it back and forth. "You couldn't have had access to us, not without your father."
"He worked for the government." That means he wouldn't use you guys. Eri had simply assumed that her father still worked freelance for his former employers, perhaps in a different capacity, and that his possession of those codes for contacting them were perhaps part of an attempt to crack the organization and bring them down. She could not have been more wrong.
"And I work for them as well." Ai said calmly. Eri's eyes widened, but Ai held up a hand to stop any protests. "Officially, I don't exist. Not on paper, no computer records, no legal trail. I'm a ghost in the machine." Her smile was cold. "Now, just think for a moment. How useful could that be when you want something done without being officially involved?"
"You're a killer." Eri said flatly. Ai shrugged.
"And people always need something done. Sometimes...permanently." Ai's face went back to being an impassive mask. "I've been on more missions than you know. Not all of them have been in Japan. One target here, another one there. I've been in fancy hotels as often as the lowest gambling dens. A dark alley is no different from a glitzy district. Sometimes the mark is high profile, sometimes just a thug from the street. There are no patterns. Nothing obvious, anyway. Not until I started paying attention." Ai's voice was mechanical as she spoke, separating emotion from the logic of her analysis. It made Eri's blood run cold.
"I know I'm a weapon, sold to the highest bidder. And the highest bidder isn't always illegal." Ai pretended to look at her nails, buffing them idly against the fabric of her suit jacket. "Your father knew of us, I'm sure. I wouldn't have known him, and he wouldn't have known me. That's not how the system works." A shadow flitted across Ai's face. "Plausible deniability, always."
"Are you sure you should be telling me all this?" Eri asked shakily, trying to distract herself from the scenario Ai was building for her. "Don't these secret organizations usually try to kill you when you reveal things like that?"
"I'm already dead." Ai said flatly. She shoved her hands into her pockets, stalking out from behind the counter and advancing towards Eri, who backed all the way until she hit the glass windows behind her. Ai smiled suddenly, deceptively angelic as she continued.
"And you killed me."
Eri shook her head. She did not understand. Ai sighed, walking back a few paces to sit on one arm of the sofa. She seemed worn out all of a sudden.
"You wouldn't let go. I'm a liability now. Compromised. A shadow can't be a shadow with a trail. I'm marked. Living on borrowed time. I'm dead, from the moment they picked me up and made me what I am. And now I'm headed for my expiry date, because you wouldn't let go."
For a moment Ai seemed almost vulnerable, like a poor lost child caught in a horrible nightmare. So much so that Eri actually took a step forward, one hand outstretched, her face already twisting in sympathy. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I only wanted...
The hard shell snapped back into place, leaving only the worn warrior in its place. Ai had a cynical expression on, all sharp edges and bitter reproach. The look she gave Eri was not gentle, but there was no rage or hatred in it. Whatever it was, Ai was resigned to her fate, but not above striking a final few blows before the critical moment came.
"Don't say it." Eri cut in abruptly before Ai opened her mouth. A sudden fear had risen in her, a cold dread that simmered balefully in the pits of her stomach, hinting and whispering and she did not want to know. For a moment, Ai's face seemed to soften, as if in pity...and then a cruel twist came to her lips, and she smiled without mirth.
"Why not? You should be happy to hear it. You killed no one, little girl. Your hands are clean." Ai held her own hands up. "That's more than I can claim."
"Stop." Eri bit the inside of her cheek, nausea roiling in the deep of her throat. She felt ill with possibility, old doubts and fears coming back to taunt her. And so very vaguely, hints of a guilt she had refused to feel beginning to surface.
"For God so loved us he gave us his only Son, and for our sins He died." Ai recited with great gravity, cocking her head as the malicious glint in her eye grew. Her eyes never left Eri as she continued on, relishing every word.
"Your father arranged his own death. You think you set it up? He set you up. He set all of us up. We were always dancing to his tune, all the way to his death and beyond." Ai looked at the deathly pale expression on Eri's face, noted her clenched jaw, the shaking shoulders.
"The best part? He knew you wanted him dead, and he still loved you enough to let you kill him. He had your measure, you know. He knew you would step up after his death. And the way he did it...he made sure you were untouchable. I wasn't allowed to kill you to erase my trail..."
"Then why don't you now?" Eri growled through gritted teeth. "It's not like you even care anymore!"
"That's true. I don't." Ai said half to herself, then refocused on the situation. "But why should I? There's no purpose, it won't change my situation at this stage, and I rather leave you alive now that it has come to this..."
"So you can come gloating? Rub it in? Yes I hated my father! Mama died because of him. He was always controlling my life, every single step of it. If I made friends, he drove them away eventually with his paranoia. He gave me everything I wanted, but nothing I needed. I hate him. It was always about what he wanted, and he took over Mama's company and renamed it after himself. He tried to marry me off to some corporate flunky that could keep controlling my life even after he died. I don't need a father like him. He deserved to die."
Eri spat out the last in a rage, her nails digging into the flesh of her palm, bile rising in her throat as the hidden resentment of years spilled over. She was shaking, and she tasted iron on her tongue -- she had bit her lip in her rage.
Ai was silent for a moment, her head bowed. She allowed Eri some time to control herself, rein in the rage, master her emotions. Then she spoke, clearly and slowly.
"I kill people. I don't ask if they deserve it. I rarely even wonder why. Sometimes it amuses me to learn the significance of their deaths, but I keep it to myself and show no sign of understanding -- it keeps me alive for another day. My life is not my own, and I have never wanted to kill the people I killed. I do it for me. Kill or be killed; for me it is literal. I don't know what it's like to hate someone and want them dead. Lives are cheap in my line of work; I talk money, not feelings, when I kill."
Ai gazed at Eri, not without pity.
"He loved you and you killed him. He raised you, made you strong, and you repay him with murder. You will live, because to die would cheapen the decision you made. But I would have you know that he would have wanted you to live too. He wanted you to be strong, and you proved it with his death. You never escaped him, even in the end."
"Shut up!" Eri yelled, clamping her hands over her ears and shutting her eyes tightly. "Shut up shut up shutupshutupshutup!"
Mocking laughter, ghostly in the air. Ai drifted close, putting her lips to Eri's trembling ear.
"I won't kill you, princess. Not now, not ever."
Because you deserve to live with the truth.
=================================================================
CLIMAX AND END.
Well actually there is an epilogue after this. But I need to sleep.
Papa Kamei had a Xanatos Gambit going on. Ergo:
1) Eri doesn't want to kill him. He will die eventually anyway. He sets her up with a reliable husband, one she can work her way around eventually to assume at least partial control of the company, or if she doesn't, the husband will care for her after he is gone.
2) Eri does want to kill him. He sets up the contract, working clauses into it to make sure that Eri has immunity (probably trading off favors and other possible information) and allowing Eri to think that she set it up. His will in the event of his death would have given her all his shares in the company in any case, and the husband he set up for her will still care for her and tend to the business should she demonstrate no interest in running it. Granted, the husband got bumped off in the process here, but it still all works out because Eri has the strength of will and the training to run the company...training that he has been giving her by essentially guiding her and making sure that she went to business school and was aware of the internal affairs of the corporation even before his death.
And let's not forget 3) He was dying of a wasting disease (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myotonic_muscular_dystrophy) and rather than die slowly, he chooses when to die instead of essentially letting his muscles and organs rot away. I think I rather a quick death too in this case.
Oh and this was why Ai was so pissed off at the end of Eri's arc. She had a feeling she was being played, and spent time looking it up because pride.
I'll get the epilogue up after I get some sleep. :P Enjoy in the meantime!
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I'm going to have to reread the whole thing because I've forgotten what was supposed to be going on XD
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Guess what, I'm back. Episode FINAL. Hoho. XD
OHMAGAD ESSY'S BACK!!! update update update! did you know how long it took you? i've been waiting for ages wondering what might have happened to ai after her not-so-good lovestory ending with reina! XD
File #31
"President, your 3 o' clock is here."
The secretary's voice buzzed from the speakerphone, perched as it was on the immense, oak-panelled table that took up half the inner office and could easily have doubled as a fort. There were no windows in the inner sanctum, and only a narrow way in that opened up to a much bigger parlour area that looked more fitting for the CEO of a corporation. Had someone deigned to stop and observe, the main doors leading into that front parlour would probably be of more service guarding a bank vault than business secrets.
ahhh.. yeah... what was the story again?? :nervous *rushes back to track where the nocturne files are within my chaotic brain*
The inheritor of such finely honed paranoia did not necessarily have to share those instincts. There were still no windows in the inner office, yes. But now comfy sofas were set by the glazed windows in the outer parlour, just opposite a well-stocked mini bar. Unlike her austere father, Kamei Eri had to resort to different methods of charming her opposition. Then again, she was also less likely to have someone after her life, or at least, less aware of the possible methods through which that course of action could be pursued.
ahhh~ kamei... wait, i thought her piece in this story is already done? guess a turtle fades slower~ get it ? lol HOORAY for kame :cow:
She was by the windows now, drink in hand. Her organizer lay open at the coffee table, though only unrecognizable scribbles could be seen on it. Condensation sweated its way down the sides of the glass, past her tightly clenched fingers and staining the rich carpeting. She stared out from behind the glass, and wondered, not for the first, if her mother had shared the same view.
lol. scribbles. :lol:
great, i can totally imagine rocking-up that elegant, a no nonsense businesswoman look! her appearance had always to fit such personality, the aura.. if not only to be ruined by her usual turtle antics. yeah. gawd, how her role evolved that much since the last time...
...and froze. A whiff of a familiar scent made her lose her grip on one of the glasses, which was deftly caught by the same thin hand. Deja vu, much?
guesses who?
"You shouldn't be drinking on an empty stomach." It was jarring to hear a voice switch in mid-sentence, going from a rolling contralto to a husky soprano. The ghostly hand placed the still-full glass on the coffee table, having spilled not a drop from it during the save.
"Ai-chan." Eri found herself breathing out, a thread of feeling between anticipation and cold fear curling her toes, stealing her thoughts and senses. She could only feel, and not all of those feelings were pleasant.
who else? hahaha. it would not be a final chapter without an Ai in it. but i wasn't expecting for Ai to enter the scene through the young executive. good cosmetics ai, wonder if you can share some? i wonder if you.. at least good in the appearance of the male.
"I was looking for you all this time." Truth that stank of lies. Eri took the opportunity to look the other woman over. Ai was pale as death, and the carefully applied makeup concealed only her more feminine aspects. When the glasses came off, she was only somewhat recognizable as the mysterious young woman who had crossed paths with her months ago. Now a shadow of herself, cheeks sunken in a way makeup could not replicate, the lack of the concealing glasses revealed hints of scars at her temple. Battle-worn and battle-scarred, she stood as a wisp or wraith, the only bright things left were her eyes, and those burned cold.
"I received your...invitation." Ai's voice was low, and her lips curled in a sneer. She ran a hand through her short locks, deliberately pushing strands far enough back to reveal ugly stitches running underneath. Eri swallowed. She had known that the people she sent had not returned, that they were unsuccessful. She did not, could not know how much damage they inflicted. But they were gone and Ai was here. Was she going to be next?
:shocked the encounters with reina ? it was all eri's fault ?!!!
bat naaahhh~ ain't going to hate you eri, you still look hot with your corporate attire :yep:
i was completely clueless of what was the conversation all about, confused but feeling the tension and anticipation welling within me. kept reading.. reading...
"Why are you telling me this?" Eri said lowly. She did not seem amused. Who would, when placed in her position? "Are you trying to make me feel guilty or something?" She took a deep breath. "It's not going to work, you know. I made a choice, I'll live with it."
Ai stops, and then she laughed. Deep, rolling chuckles that seem to draw out some deep ache from within. She actually had to hold on to the bar counter for support. Eri frowned, her knuckles turning white with tension as she clenched again. What was so funny?
"You are your father's daughter, aren't you?" Ai grinned, a shadow of her old persona falling back into place. It was gone in the next minute, replaced by a deadly serious look.
"He was going to die, you hated him for causing your mother's death -- yes I knew about that -- and wanted him dead, and next thing you know he does turn out dead. You think you killed him, then go on to take his place, oh I'm sorry, your mother's place as head of the company." Ai pauses, spreading her hands out in front of her as if laying out the points on an invisible screen. "Fits so neatly together, doesn't it?"
oh ai-chan, she's a kamei and of course a daughter of her father as well~ you humour me--- e? KAMEI WANTED HER FATHER DEAD :panic:
aya gasps. daddy looks. lil bro and lil sis stares at me. i briefly glance at them, i continue to read... it's nothing tee-hee XD
so kamei planned it all. she might have been surely shocked that it worked... but she actually earned two great things from this deed.
a)yes her father is dead. great
b) SEXY ESCAPADE WITH AICHAN :roll:
"Are you sure you should be telling me all this?" Eri asked shakily, trying to distract herself from the scenario Ai was building for her. "Don't these secret organizations usually try to kill you when you reveal things like that?"
"I'm already dead." Ai said flatly. She shoved her hands into her pockets, stalking out from behind the counter and advancing towards Eri, who backed all the way until she hit the glass windows behind her. Ai smiled suddenly, deceptively angelic as she continued.
"And you killed me."
O_o whaz da meaning of diz?!
"You wouldn't let go. I'm a liability now. Compromised. A shadow can't be a shadow with a trail. I'm marked. Living on borrowed time. I'm dead, from the moment they picked me up and made me what I am. And now I'm headed for my expiry date, because you wouldn't let go."
:cry: so this is really the end e? for ai-chan... for the story...?
i'm still not blaming you kame, you're just really slow to realize things and ai-chan wouldn't have told you anyways
"Your father arranged his own death. You think you set it up? He set you up. He set all of us up. We were always dancing to his tune, all the way to his death and beyond." Ai looked at the deathly pale expression on Eri's face, noted her clenched jaw, the shaking shoulders.
"The best part? He knew you wanted him dead, and he still loved you enough to let you kill him. He had your measure, you know. He knew you would step up after his death. And the way he did it...he made sure you were untouchable. I wasn't allowed to kill you to erase my trail..."
good old man. terribly genius old man... seriously eri, are you your old man's daughter?
"I kill people. I don't ask if they deserve it. I rarely even wonder why. Sometimes it amuses me to learn the significance of their deaths, but I keep it to myself and show no sign of understanding -- it keeps me alive for another day. My life is not my own, and I have never wanted to kill the people I killed. I do it for me. Kill or be killed; for me it is literal. I don't know what it's like to hate someone and want them dead. Lives are cheap in my line of work; I talk money, not feelings, when I kill."
guess this is the conclusion of ai's life in this story. i feel terribly sorry, sad... whatever appropriate word it could be... for her. yeah it's cool that she wages guns like that, and draws bloody death as easy as that... and swoop girls out of their feet as swiftly as that... in the end, she was just a mere killer with no history. no life to be surrounded by warm bodies that would reciprocate all those love that she could have given if not because of this job. this is sad essy, and epic at the same time. gawd, all these emotions i have kept within me along with this story, ai of nocturne is one tragic masterpiece.
"He loved you and you killed him. He raised you, made you strong, and you repay him with murder. You will live, because to die would cheapen the decision you made. But I would have you know that he would have wanted you to live too. He wanted you to be strong, and you proved it with his death. You never escaped him, even in the end."
awww~ papa. his genuine love for eri, how could you have done that eri... in the end all she wanted is for eri to be strong, knowing how brutal the world had been to him and could be for his princess. parents will always know the best, the best.. no matter how wrong it might seem often. please visit your father's grave eri! daddy i love you !
"Shut up!" Eri yelled, clamping her hands over her ears and shutting her eyes tightly. "Shut up shut up shutupshutupshutup!"
Mocking laughter, ghostly in the air. Ai drifted close, putting her lips to Eri's trembling ear.
"I won't kill you, princess. Not now, not ever."
Because you deserve to live with the truth.
was that truth a happy life-worth salvation or life-long torture...?
now i feel sorry for eri, surely she'll be forever tormented, ai. how mean :P
with that, one thing have sprang-out of my mind. in desperation to wash the guilt out of her, eri might as well become an assassin :glasses:
essy~ :farofflook:
oh there's an epilogue? let me reserve a few more words for that :cow: :cow: i want to know what will happen with sayu... with the surprise revival of eri, now i'm not entirely sure if gaki's arc is also finished. and maybe before the final judgement to her life she'll come back to atleast see reina, right? then seeing reina, she'll realize she wanted to live and fight for her lifeee!!!! wiii~!
edit: this is my first time ever commenting here. lol.. *a few seconds* maybe i haven't still, i cant remember any. lol
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The long awaited (?) epilogue. Not that anyone even really remembers the story. It took me, what, 4 years to finish? Even worse than NR. :lol:
Anyway, here ya go~
============================================================
There are times, if she were to be tempted to reclaim what was left of her family's darker history, she would simply pull out a plain-looking knife, be reminded of murder's weight, and the value of a full night's sleep.
There she would rest, and abide in peace. In the sun.
~*~*~
She lives with her sister now, and sneezes infernally at the presence of that mangy furball her older sibling keeps. She likes cats, but allergies were markedly less forgiving, preferences notwithstanding. There is the occasional date with interested men, and she honours those outings for the sake of her parents, but would have been quite content in her current state, forever.
Sometimes she wakes in the dark expecting a call, and night-time always invites a thrill of danger to her senses. She dreams, and sometimes she is even asleep when she does so.
She does not speak of her, nor is there anyone to speak to. Some ghosts were best left buried, but for sweet kisses and lingering touches in memory.
~*~*~
She takes to drink far more heavily than advised, but keeps sufficient wits about her to not over-indulge. Her liver may protest, but she is young still, and it should serve her a good decade or so. Maybe even more.
Life is ever a harsher mistress than Death. She keeps neither picture nor photograph where the eye may follow, and even the mirror is shunned but for personal hygiene. More often than not, her eyes are bloodshot and her skin sallow. But makeup is a wonderful innovation, and her suit is her armour. She sallies forth each day, work her only distraction.
When night falls the bottle is her only companion. The rope lies coiled in the bottom of her dresser. She does not look there. But she knows, remembers why, and tries to forget.
Some days, she even succeeds.
~*~*~
The day she says 'yes' to that nice young man who has been courting her for years, she made up her mind to discard that box she has kept all this time.
Little things, really. Notes, tokens, memories shared and best forgotten. Life goes on. Stairway to Heaven remains at the bottom of the box, the complete collector's edition back in her possession, pristine but for the little dent in the casing and a scrawled apology stuffed within the casing. She has not taken it out since.
That night she dusts off that old box for the first time in years, and touches a hand to the amulet at her throat. It hangs there still, as it had for the last dozen years, the veritable albatross around her neck. It is weight and burden and protection, the gargoyle guarding her heart. Even now, she feels but only faint affection for that nice young man, but that is more than she has felt for anyone in years.
When she finally removes it, she breathes deep, and finds herself finally ready to love beyond its aegis. Ai, the inscription read. Funny how she could only move on after discarding it, even if only symbolically.
Fingers brush across the token. She never does throw the box away. She never will. But she never takes it out again.
Her husband deserves better. She deserves better.
But she never will forget. She could not.
~*~*~
Death improves some people.
In a town best called Obscurity, by the proverbial banks of Lethe, she toils as one more faceless drone in the mass of Humanity. There is a simple charm to normality, she finds. Dull days and an uneventful existence are a balm upon her shrivelled soul.
She plays at a role like any number she has assumed before, but for one difference. She plays for Life now, not Death. Every day lived is another day earned. A triumph won without cost to another. There is some small satisfaction in that, daily deception notwithstanding.
Her face is not the one she was born with. Her knee still aches in cold weather, and the scars are but a small price to pay for freedom. To exist, to live, to have an identity...these are beyond price.
The hunt calls to her from time to time. She resists the pull, as she has always done. There are lines to be drawn to prevent a descent into the madness of beasts. A human chooses, a slave obeys. She is no longer a slave, in either body or mind. She remembers this, and clings to it.
There is but one occasion where she was sorely tempted. To put an end to things. To redress the wrongs done to her. But one does not right a wrong with another. There is no end to vengeance. Where could it end if she were to begin?
She is not without sin. But she would not add to the weight of them. She may never be truly clean, but her life is her own now. The choice is hers. And she chooses to sin no more.
I will not be what you made me to be.
I will be free. I will live.
I will be myself, whoever I may be.
~*~*~
Life goes on.
We laugh, we cry, we smile, we hurt. Our lives are but pieces in a puzzle. We might not fit together, but there is a place for us somewhere.
Our paths cross, our lives plunge headlong, but we remain even as others pass into and beyond. We are limited, but the possibilities are infinite. We may not know it, but people come into our lives for a reason, and even if we do not realize when or how, we will have been changed by their presence.
We can see but one part of the picture. Who can say if we have been changed for the better?
But because we have lived and loved, we have been changed for good.
=============================================================================
So. It has ended. I changed the epilogue, I must admit. Something came to me and I decided to alter a few things. Let's say that this is a happier ending than I intended. XD
I might come back with further thoughts about the whole series. It's too late (early?! 6am...) so I can't really put thoughts coherent. I thank any and all patient enough to wait for me to finish, and if I have lost readers midway, I have no regrets still, for I have finished something else at last.
And now I rest.
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it done! im happy and sad that its over ;3; its good to see how everyone ended up, and feels like how some real relationships would end. i'd also love to hear your thoughts after you go get some well deserved rest XD
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Ah endings. I can't say I'm displeased with 'happier' endings, I really will have to reread this to form a better analysis. Believe me, it's on my To Do List...
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So. I went back and skimmed through the story from the start. My bad, it was 5 years. :lol: Well, around 4 and a half if you want to be precise. XD
What can I say? I originally wrote this story because poe-chan wanted an evil, amoral Ai. I gave her assassin!Ai, who even in the end never really repents. Yes, in the epilogue she survives (as I originally planned), but she chooses not to kill anymore. But that's not really pentience as it is practicality. If she went back to killing eventually she might cross paths with people from her past. She didn't fake her death for nothing, you know. XD In the original epilogue she killed one last time. The old man who raised and trained her. I chose to abandon that angle though. As for Ai faking her death...well, there are a few things to leap through and I probably should cover that hole somehow XD Yuukarin is involved, definitely. I know how that scene plays out, and it actually has a bonus of a flashback to when Ai had to execute her own predecessor... :P The Ai of this story has been a darker construct than I had to work with, and I hope any inconsistencies in her characterisation eventually smoothed out towards the end. I went for nihilistic and I hope I achieved it.
Ok, so for the rest of the epilogue. I gave a short summary of each of the characters' eventual fate. Their personal stories continue, but I won't be following them anymore. XD Let's see...
Reina. Her section is the shortest, but when you think about it, she is the only one who never ended up sleeping with Ai. Kisses, yes, but they never actually had sex. There are a number of reasons why I chose not to let them go that way, but foremost is that I wanted Ai to have a non-physical-only relationship with someone. Yes, she flirts with Reina at the beginning, but eventually it evolved (de-evolved?) into a more protective semi-sisterly relationship. It was business, of course, but Ai chose not to take advantage of Reina. Then again, Ai had a lot on her mind at that point in time. Faking one's own death takes a lot of work, you know. XD But Reina eventually breaks away from her family's history, and basically goes legit. Good for her. XD She is probably the only one who knows who Ai really is and gets away safely with it. More or less. :lol:
Sayu. Ok so she is the other person who got out more or less unscathed, but to the end she can only guess at what kind of a person Ai is, without the iron certainty that Reina has about exactly who Ai is. Her ending isn't really a "bad" ending, but I did borrow from her radio show irl where she said that her ideal future is where she lives with her sister and they grow old together... Everyone, repeat after me: gaaaaaaaaaaaaay. :lol: I see Sayu having a number of short-term relationships that don't really work out, but she may eventually find someone. Who knows? XD
Eri. Originally I contemplated her committing suicide. But that doesn't really jive with how she works in my head, so I went with the alcoholism instead. Even the alcoholism was a strike of inspiration from that last chapter, really. I didn't plan for her to turn into a raging alcoholic, but it worked out. Guilt is a powerful motivator. She does contemplate killing herself, but I don't think she has the guts to do it. At least not directly. XD
Gaki-san. Ok, I admit hers was the biggest change in the epilogue. Considering she had to choose between either suicide or ending up in a psychiatric ward in my original epilogue, I must say that getting married to a nice person is a definite step up. If anyone ever wondered about what happened to the boxset Ai borrowed, well there it is, she returned it before going off and faking her death. XD Risa will never forget Ai, but she would never mention her. Ever. Would you?
So, looking back through the chapters, there have been some ups and way too many downs along the way. Too much inconsistency, I think. The plot is more than a little shaky, but I think I did a fair job trying to tie my remaining loose ends together with what I had. Ai's choice to not kill in the end...I must say, it's not because she isn't evil anymore. It's more pride and stubbornness. Imagine, you have been raised and trained for only one function. You escape. To rebel, you choose to go against that function. That's how it worked out in my head. She doesn't regret what she had to do. She probably only regrets being deprived of the choice. Is that a very bad Ai? Why, yes. I wouldn't want to be her friend here. XD I like her, personally, but she's not a very good person. Doesn't stop me from liking her, of course. XD
Also, cookies to anyone who can spot the references to Ray Bradbury, Neil Gaiman, and Bioshock. There are a number of inside jokes for myself in the text, but I don't expect those to be spotted (if you think you spot anything, feel free to shout out XD).
Lastly, I would like to thank everyone who has persevered with me through my non-updates and slow writing pace and general laziness. XD I hope the story was worth the wait (I don't think so, but there are parts which I liked myself). It's been fun on this journey, and I hope everyone is satisfied with the ending!
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I'm ever so slowly trudging my way through this. I've been trying to get through all of the chapters in one go, but I think I overloaded my brain instead. It's actually an interesting go at things since I've never actually read many things as crazy as this in any fandom I've been in, except for Criminal Minds. That stuff is bat-shit crazy when it's in written form. I'll come back to edit this once I finish reading through everything. Hopefully I live?