Necessary double post is necessary.
Wow, so I almost forgot I was writing this. Jokes jokes~ But yeah, whoa. So since I'm intentionally giving everyone hell in QPQ, we're gonna have more fun here!!! Whee~ 2 bottles of port and a sandwich later, and we've got an update! WOOOOP! LOL This is update #1 in my series of 3
grac - bwahahah oh how the tides have turned~
kawaii beam - you got the crazy part right LOL I think the more I keep writing this story, the more weird things pop up in my head, and the more ridiculous the plot gets
Like at this point, I don't even know how to tone it down to the kinds of endings I want. Oh well~
rndy - Outdoor sex in mama's garden sounds better than goin' indoors and wakin' mama up, ne? I guess it depends on their thrills they're willing to experience, ne? durrhurr...And we'll see what's goin' down inside Risa's sexually confused head eventually.
risa_ai - PIZZA!!!!! And a perv you have received
arisa03 - PARTY DON'T STOP TILL THE SUN COMES UP, BABY! And I've come to the conclusion that I enjoy trolling more than delivering happy endings, which probably doesn't mean anything good for everyone that wants Takagaki to run off into the sunset, all happy and in love and whatnot~ But we'll see!!!
mochi.rini - LAWL I'll leave it to your imagination about Mama T. And stop, get out of my mind =P If you're a cracked fangirl, I don't even wanna know what I am LOL And geez, am I the only one rooting for Ryousuke x Gaki to make it through the storm? *cricket chirping* Forever alone~
Quietriot - YEEEEEEEEEE~ *glomps* Glad to have you on board!!!
For the record, I totally take bribes in the form of chocolate, peanut butter, or both. Just putting that out there. Ship 'em to the east coast, USA
Oh, so just a note: If there are any quotes in italics, that means the dialog is in Spanish. I fail too hard to even attempt, soooooo~ just lettin' you know =] Ok ok *cracks knuckles* CHAPTER 6 STAATO~ I did not write this shit-faced, I swear. The ending only seems like I did lol
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The enthusiasm to search for their wedding location had been revitalized in her. No, it was no thanks to that Spanish wine, water, or sunshine; none of that. Just seeing the excitement in her fiancé's face as they walked the charming streets of Barcelona was enough to invigorate her senses, to make her jump back on her feet and face tomorrow with enough positivity to make Barney the dinosaur look like a graduate burnout. Yes, indeed life was good because her love was at her side, and nothing would get in the way of that!
Surprisingly unsatisfied with what Barcelona had to offer, the two lovebirds had decided to extend their search to the heart of the Spain: Madrid. As the couple exited yet another basilica, Ryousuke stopped briefly in his tracks as they passed some stores that lined the streets. His companion turned to find him staring at a flyer for some type of show. Risa walked closer to examine said flyer, squinting as her mind attempted to make sense of the jumble of Spanish words that were scattered about the advertisement. As her eyes skimmed further and further down, brows furrowing in frustration with each word left untranslated, Risa could feel the color from her face drop to the center of this damn Earth.
Had she forgotten so soon? Because, fuck her dead brain cells from all this damn wine consumption! On that poster was none other than that damn Takahashi, looking flawless and perfect in a still-frame capture as she danced alongside a male partner. This advertisement could only be for that woman's nationwide flamenco tour!
"Come on Ryousuke, we've barely made a dent in the list that Nacchi provided for us!" she cried, hoping to god the man would budge and listen to reason.
But despite her efforts, her stubborn fiancé was planted in place. "It seems as though there's a showing at that auditorium across the street right now. The performer has a Japanese name. Odd...but exciting, don't you think? If we're lucky, we can probably catch a bit of the show before it's over!"
Risa silently cursed her fiancé's gift for languages, tugging insistently on his hands. But the man was set on his ways, pulling her instead toward the direction of the concert hall. "Oh, come on! It'll be fun," he pressed, failing to notice the look of absolute horror on his love's face. His enthusiasm be damned, she cursed.
The couple had stumbled upon the auditorium, devoid of ruckus or even hushed conversations the two had just escaped from the outside world. There were no doormen at the lobby, asking for tickets or proofs of purchase, so Ryousuke boldly took Risa inside the concert hall to catch a glimpse of the show they were told they had to see. Hovering a safe distance from the seated audience, the couple had still managed to catch sight of the impressive display below. The security guards that had apparently traded their times at the post for the same experience as the admiring crowd.
And here she was again, Risa thought, caught in a familiar rapture as the sound of heels clacking, hands clapping, and strings strumming captured her in some hypnotic daze. Her hand limped against Ryousuke's hold as her eyes widened, her hearing sharpened to drink it all in. It was second nature at this point, and something she never wanted to grow acclimated to, but temptation can be so difficult to resist, especially when it was in the form of a lovely woman. She felt her heart race as her eyes fell upon that cursed, beautiful figure, watching intently as she twirled and spun with such grace, such poise. Even from afar, Risa could see the sweat glisten from her skin as bright, unforgiving stage lights shined upon her, leaving her under the impression that she could just reach out and taste it...
But as timing would have it, Gaki's trance was lifted upon the booming applause that filled the hall. She blinked back to reality, watching as various members of the audience rose one by one in a standing ovation, the occasional cheer and whistle melding into the chorus of praise. Risa waited until the dancer had eased from her final pose into a perfect 90 degree bow to pull Ryousuke and herself quickly out of the concert hall back into the bustling streets of Madrid. She could be absolutely damned if the dancer saw her.
"I'm a little hungry," she whined, giving her fiancé the best pout she could muster. She knew he had wanted to stay for the whole show, and she knew his businessman mindset made him want to stay behind and personally praise the dancer for the wonderful performance. They were the same person after all. But she had to get out of there before that possibility could become reality. Risa was always one to think of solutions to jump out of sticky situations, but she found it rather difficult to find a solution for that possible encounter. It was best to just avoid it completely.
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After promises of late afternoon romance and midnight passions, Risa had successfully lured her fiancé to an outdoor cafe for some delectable afternoon delights and much needed coffee. It was, after all, the simple things that made moments such as this so wonderful...Wonderful until the crowd from before emerged steadily out of the theater they had just occupied.
Her palm met her face by the time Ryousuke stood from his seat and hurried over to the theater in search of the dancer. Honestly, Risa should have been slightly concerned with her fiance's infatuation for that wench, but she knew in a matter of seconds she would have to face the music, and somehow save herself from a situation that could only do more harm than good.
Through the distant, fleeting faces of the crowd, Risa was able to spot Ryousuke and his target. She watched the two converse and engage in the typical businessman handshake her man was so used to performing. Once he pointed toward her direction, Risa's eyes briefly met with the dancer, swearing she could see the woman smile. She cowered behind an open hand, covering her face from the unwanted attention she was receiving for the most damnable person imaginable.
"...And might I add that your Japanese is still fantastic as ever, Takahashi-san."
Ai examined the man from head to toe through critical, but smiling eyes before turning her attention back to a pale-faced Risa. "Is this your fiancé, Niigaki-san? You never told me how handsome he was!" Her voice was dripping with sarcasm that only Risa could detect. Ai offered a cheeky grin in response to the glare she was being given from her seated companion.
The dancer pulled out a seat across the table from the couple as Ryousuke more than eagerly allowed her to join their company. "You're a very lucky man, Ito-san. Niigaki-san is a very beautiful woman, ne?" Catching the tinge of red on Risa's otherwise pale face, Ai could only smile in amusement.
"Arigatou, Takahashi-san. She is quite a sight, isn't she? And may I ask, how do you two know one another?" the business man asked, turning to fondly cup his love's haggard-looking cheek.
Risa could feel her heart dropping and her eyes widening as she struggled to formulate words in her state of panic. She looked to the devil woman, praying to the high heavens that she would say nothing. 'Don't say it, don't say it, don't you
dare say it...' she mentally chanted. And thankfully, Risa had been a good enough girl throughout her lifetime to have her prayers answered.
"Through a common friend," the dancer responded simply.
"Ah, why didn't you say anything earlier, Risa?"
Risa flashed Ryousuke an uneasy smile, before honing her attention solely on the coffee cup in front of her. Looking that witch in the eye could only spell trouble for her. Ryousuke would undoubtedly notice her nerves on edge if she stared at him for longer than a split second. She was trapped in the same situation she was trying so hard to avoid. She began to zone out of the conversation, wishing and praying that her company would take the hint and leave her the hell alone while she panicked inside the confines of her mind. Before tuning out completely, she heard her fiancé and the dancer engage in a conversation about their reasons for being in Madrid.
Ai nodded periodically in response to Ryousuke's lovely, and completely uninteresting monologue, leaning her head against the heel of her palm as she listened politely despite herself. As the businessman drowned in his own self-interest of his tale, the dancer found this to be the perfect opportunity to have some fun. She noticed Gaki avoiding eye contact like the plague, and smiled. After all, one does not ignore Takahashi Ai. It simply isn't done!
The nervous Risa stole a quick glance at the dancer, only to find her staring back, her lips twisted in that infuriating, devilish smile. She looked back at her coffee, with her legs fidgeting to hurry up and get the hell away from this Satan spawn. But why all the nervous tension? There was absolutely nothing to be discussed, nothing to be afraid of!
...Aside from the inescapable looming cloud of guilt that stemmed from the horrendous one-night stand...BUT SHE WAS DRUNK! And even the dancer had made it clear when she left without saying a word that the fun and games were over. And she knew that behind that pretty face and the carefree facade was a woman that had enough moral value to not say a damn word about that evening they shared. Or at least that's what Risa was telling herself at this point...
The sound of a phone ringing interrupted the awkward silence in the trio's midst. The three individuals simultaneously checked to see if it was their own respective devices making the noise, but it was only Ryousuke's. A business call, most likely. He adjusted his glasses to check the ID of the caller, eyes squinting against the glare on the screen. "Ah, if you'll excuse me for a moment ladies," he said, standing from his seat. He gave Risa a quick peck on the lips before stepping aside to take his phone call elsewhere.
Risa didn't think it possible to drown in air, but she felt as though she were suffering from alveolar collapse with every step her fiance took away from their table. And oh god, here she was, left alone to face her not so inner demons in the middle of the day. She didn't have nearly enough wine in her system to properly approach this situation. There was just no other way of putting it: she was absolutely fucked.
"You know, Risa-chan, I never though that sort of man would be your type," Ai said, her attention fixated lazily on the man marrying the woman across the table.
"What gives you the right to tell me what type of man I can fancy? And what's with this 'Risa-chan' talk? Don't speak like you know me so damn well," Risa hissed, palms flat and firm against the table as her anger failed to be contained any longer.
The dancer's face contorted to look of mock surprise. "Oh, Risa-chan! Such hostility! Surely you are not mad because I had left so suddenly? As much as I had wanted to prolong our love-making, you knew very well that I had a tour to continue."
Before she was given a chance to retort, Ryousuke had returned to their table, apologizing for interrupting an otherwise pleasant conversation. Risa bit back curses as the dancer flirted so blatantly with her fiancé, batting her eyelashes and flipping her hair ostentatiously. She knew the woman only did it to bother her. How did she learn what buttons to press so quickly?
"I'm afraid I must cut this conversation short, Ito-san. I have another performance I must prepare for. However, might I suggest we meet for lunch some time later this week? I will gladly show you around the beautiful city of Madrid and help in your search for a wedding location," Ai offered, once more fooling only Risa's gullible fiancé.
"That's an incredibly kind offer, Takahashi-san, but wouldn't that wear you out? You have these daily performances at the theater, after all, and you will surely need some time for rest."
Ai shook her head, a devilish smile locked on her lips as her eyes met with Risa's widened pair. She winked playfully to the nervous woman, elliciting a reddish hue on her cheeks. "Nonsense. It's the least I can do for my new friend from Japan."
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As expected, the dancer had kept her word and met with the couple later that week to initiate their full-fledged search for a wedding chapel. And also expected, Risa had not been satisfied with what the dancer had shown her, even with her fiance by her side to help the decision-making process along. If the dancer wanted to play a game, well by all means, Risa would be more than happy to play along.
Their first night of actual searching in Madrid had been all too fruitless, but true to form, one night of failed attempts would still be a reason for a dinner celebration to lighten up their spirits. The conversation over dinner had been innocent enough. There were plans to search a different section of the city another day, along with possible reception hall locations and dining services. However, with a blink an eye, a seemingly innocent conversation could rapidly turn for the worse, and with the presence of an evil woman in her midst, Risa had no choice but to heed total attention to the conversation at hand.
Thankfully, Ryousuke was unable to handle the profuse amounts of wine the dancer had continuously poured for him throughout dinner and the man had all but passed out in his seat from near alcohol poisoning. Risa had kindly settled him in their bed at the hotel room, taking great care to close the door with as little noise as possible. As she turned on her heels, she found herself staring into the eyes of that beautiful dancer.
"I need to talk to you."
The two women found themselves in a situation of particular deja vu, walking along dimly lit cobble streets in the late evening, even hearing the faintest melodies being played on a Spanish guitar at a distance. It made Risa particularly nervous being left alone with the dancer, and no amount of alcohol would help this anxiety.
"You know, Risa-chan, your husband-to-be can't seem to hold his alcohol. Not a very redeeming quality for a man, if you ask me," Ai joked, laughing good-heartedly in her own amusement.
"If dragged me out here just to insult Ryousuke, then I'm going back to the hotel," Risa responded, turning to walk to the hotel building. But a hand on her wrist held her firmly in place.
"I apologize," the dancer replied. "I really do want to talk to you about the other night..."
It wasn't the wine this time, but Risa could feel her head grow lighter and her heart pace faster. Would the woman apologize sincerely? Would she want to do
that again? Ai was too much of an enigmatic creature to tell, but curiosity had a hold on her. Reluctantly, Risa gave the woman permission to continue walking and speak.
"The other day I had left without a proper apology for the night before. If you were worried or offended, I assure you that was not my intent. And I can confess that I did not regret a single thing we did that evening. In fact," the dancer paused to force Risa to look her in the eyes. "Ever since that evening, I could not stop thinking about you. When the sun comes up in the morning, when the sun goes down in the evening, you are the first and last thing on my mind. Before I perform, even...I get these thoughts of you and the way you were on the stone bench...and it thrills me. While I perform, I get hot just imagining what your reaction would be to the sound of the Spanish guitar accompaniment, and it drives me insane. Sometimes I wish my partner were you, but he leaves me so unsatisfied. I need you to stay with me, but you...I realize you belong to someone else. But, can you grant me the satisfaction of having you again? This is brash, but you must understand: I
need you. And even if it is only for one night, I will make sure it will last the rest of our lifetimes."
Well, this conversation was certainly...unexpected. Or as unexpected as far as conversations with Takahashi goes. As wrong as it was, Risa found herself moved. The dancer had spoken of such a fiery passion it rendered her speechless. This wasn't the type of passion she heard from Ryousuke. No, it wasn't the type of passionate speech that resulted from impressive productivity numbers and sales figures. It was the type of passion that every woman had wanted to hear for themselves, to have for themselves.
But as wonderful as it was to hear that Ai had apologized for leaving so abruptly, Risa had to remind herself of her situation. One night of passion could escalate into something more, and given the circumstances, Risa should might as well call off the whole engagement. And she would have, too...maybe, if the person she would elope with was not as capricious as she made herself out to be. Ai was a reckless creature, with no stability in any aspect of her life, even in the act of love. Though the dancer had told her people had perceived her incorrectly, the woman was still alone and that did nothing to help her case.
But one more night? Could it hurt?
"DAMNIT, RISA, GET IT TOGETHER!" her conscience screamed.
Dulled only by that cursed Spanish wine, Risa failed to compute what happened next. The vixen of a dancer had latched her lips onto hers, pushing and leading their tangling limbs to an alleyway behind the stores that lined the open streets. She could feel Ai's hands as they encircled her body, fingers crawling underneath her shirt while her mouth busied itself with the woman's neck. "ARE YOU INSANE?" Risa seethed through clenched teeth. "SOMEONE MIGHT SEE US!!!"
Ai led the woman's hands to the buttons of her shirt, urging her to just rip the fabric in two. "Let them see. I want them to."
As though it was an automatic impulse, Risa had, despite herself, began to comply with the dancer's request and undo the buttons of the woman's blouse. She was just about to reciprocate a kiss when a ringing had interrupted.
Both women quickly reached into their pockets with free hands to check if their device deserved to be thrown against the brick wall. It was not Risa's, and though Ai had instigated this whole fiasco in the alley, she had suddenly put her passionate actions to a halt upon seeing who had called.
"What? What's wrong? What happened?"
"She's in trouble again." Her voice was solemn and her features were uncharacteristically stern. The dancer had turned to give Risa a quick peck on the lips before running off to the hotel parking lot, paying no mind to the woman she had left behind. As she rushed to her vehicle, Ai quickly smoothed out her clothes, buttoning the few loose ends her partner had managed to undo in their heated conversation.
Risa was able to catch up to her partner, her breath being released in short, sharp pants. She honestly needed to work out more. The dancer had given her a momentary glance before gesturing Risa to join her in the vehicle. She was not sure what was going on, or where they were going, but she knew for the meantime, it would be alright to trust her companion.
The way Ai drove with inexplicably reckless abandon had surprisingly not bothered her. Risa didn't even bat an eyelash as they were speeding through red lights, swerving last minute to avoid drunken collateral damage, and taking no time to bother with the break pedal until they had arrived at the police department. But the sense of urgency on the dancer's pale, gaunt face was telling. Whoever this person was, they were incredibly important to the dancer that now seemed even further from her reach. And as they stepped inside the building, for the first time that evening, Ai had let go of her hand.
"
Where is she?" Her voice had a tinge of mania as she faced the lone officer at the front desk. He shook his head in disappointment, scribbling something down in his log book before he stood to lead the two women to the back of the building.
Risa followed behind the officer and the dancer. Not once did Ai even turn back to acknowledge her; she seemed completely preoccupied with retrieving the unknown figure locked up in the Madrid jail cell. This high tension, this anxious Takahashi was not something Risa concluded she liked, nor wanted to ever have to see again. It was strange and unfamiliar, but as her stomach twisted in knots as they continued to pace the dimly lit hallway, she knew it would somehow manage to get worse.
"
You need to keep a better eye on your woman, Takahashi. If she keeps acting up like this, we might have to lock her up for good."
Even with a foreign tongue, Gaki noticed the hint of sarcasm in his voice. This sort of thing seemed have to occurred on a regular basis if the officer could converse so casually with Ai in the way that he did. She continued her stride of four or so paces behind the two leading figures, stopping only when they did in front of the cell containing the person of interest.
The moment of truth.
The jingle of the officer's keys echoed through the empty hallway as he took his time leisurely to find the appropriate key for the cell. He shot Ai an irritated glance once he caught wind of her impatient toe tapping, silencing her almost immediately. With the turn of the key, metal bars clanked in cold friction as the officer slid the cell entrance open before turning to walk back to his station at the front desk. "
If you're going to bail her out, you better get on it. Don't even try to pull that shit you did last time. We don't have a problem with locking both of you up in here."
The dancer shot the uniformed figure a venomous glare, uttering a few curses in Spanish under her breath until the sound of soft shuffling from the cell caught her attention. Ai's face immediately fell into a look of concern, maybe even pity as she crossed the metal threshold of the jail cell.
Risa timidly stepped closer to the cell, hoping to catch sight of the person that had driven the blood straight from Ai's face with distress. A few steps closer, and Gaki could see a woman curled up on the wooden bench, lost in the world of dreams. She rested peacefully, her mouth opened slightly as she took in quiet breaths. Her hair was a shade of chestnut, cascading partially against the bench and partially upon her slender shoulders. The woman donned a fitting dress, accentuating her slim waist, the skirt of it draped along curled legs and it donned on the onlooker that the outfit seemed very familiar...
Risa dared to step closer, hoping Ai wouldn't mind as she eavesdropped on the precious moment. She watched silently as Ai sat herself beside the convict's sleeping head, petting her hair like a mother would her child. The scene was saccharine sweet to the bystander, regardless of the envy that coursed through her veins.
Ai's tender actions seemed to have awoken the prisoner from her sleep. She slowly lifted herself up, yawning and stretching lazy bones alive before flashing her company a goofy, lazy smile. "Aichan~" Her voice was higher pitched, very girly. It fit her kind of nicely, Risa thought as she watched the scene intently.
The dancer's lips formed into a sad expression, her brows furrowing to a look of pity and concern. She brought a hand to cup the woman's cheek, sighing her meager woes over the girl before her. "What am I going to do with you, Eri?"
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So yes, peanut butter? Chocolates? Red wine? Yes? =D
Topic: Honto no Kimochi - True Feelings (CHAPTER 7 - updated 07/10) (Read 14766 times)