Chapitre 3 :: Chapter 3

Publiée: 01-04-05 - Mise à jour: 01-04-05

Chapitre: 1 2 3 4 5

Kaori was the first one to wake up. She almost fell off the bed upon opening her eyes. Ryo’s face was extremely close and for a few precious seconds she remained very still, just observing his masculine beauty.  

Ryo opened an eye and she immediately closed hers, pretending to still be asleep. He seemed not to notice and soon found himself in Kaori’s same predicament. The charming thought of taking her in his arms and kissing her sneaked around his mind, but the phone’s ringing captured his attention. Reaching out, he picked up the receiver.  

»Hello?« he mumbled.  

»Hi, there, Ryo! What’s up?« a male voice greeted. It was Takehiko. (A.N.: damn you, when thing were about to get interesting!)  

»What is it now?«  

»I just wanted to ask you for a boat trip, if you’d like.«  

»Fine, whatever. See ya later,« Ryo hung up.  

In the meantime, Kaori decided to stop faking it and sat up. »Ro? Who was that?« she asked, yawning.  

»Takehiko. He invited us to a boat trip. By the way, good morning. Slept well?« he asked, changing the subject.  

»Good morning to you, too. And yes, I slept quite well, thank you.«  

“And the awakening was even better,” she thought, watching him from the corner of an eye.  

She got up, pulling the curtains apart, noticing the beautiful sun shining in the middle of a gorgeous blue sky. She decided to wear a simple black top with blue shorts, while Ryo put on his usual black jeans and red T-shirt. (A.N.: how many does he have?!!)  

After getting ready, they went for some breakfast in the restaurant. Takehiko and Ken were almost finished when Ryo and Kaori joined them.  

Their boat was an 11’ motor launch, Takehiko at the helm.  

»It’s such a lovely day. You can’t even feel the heat,« Kaori said enthusiastically.  

»I couldn’t agree more,« Takehiko replied. »How about a tour of the island?«  

They found a secluded cove, perfect for anchoring and Kaori decided she could use some more sunbathing. Under her clothes she wore a pink bikini with a red Hawaiian flower print.  

Ryo remained speechless as soon as he laid eyes on her.  

“Damn, it’s even worse than yesterday… Luckily we have this two along, or all hell could break loose,” he thought, watching Kaori rub sunscreen into her skin.  

»Kaori, do you need a hand with that?« Takehiko suddenly asked.  

»Could you help me with the back?« she smiled.  

“What the… This schlemiel is pushing it and she’s OK with that?” Ryo was furious.  

»Hold on, I’ll take care of that,« he said, snatching the sunscreen out of the other guy’s hand.  

Kaori was flabbergasted.  

“I can’t believe it,” she amusedly thought, but Takehiko wasn’t that magnanimous.  

»Hey, Saeba, I wasn’t doing anything wrong. Besides you told me yourself you she isn’t your woman,« he said.  

»What if she was?« Ryo fulminated him with a stare.  

»Fine, I got the message.«  

Satisfied, Ryo rubbed the sunscreen on Kaori’s back and laid beside her.  

»Ryo, what is wrong with you?« she curiously inquired.  

»Huh? Oh, nothing. It would seem our dear Take has never laid eyes on a woman before in his life.«  

»Oh, c’mon, he was only being kind,« she chided.  

»Right. We’ll see how kind he’ll get trying to get you in the sack.«  

»You’re overreacting. Not everybody’s like you, you know!«  

»Kaori, the lights are on, but there’s nobody in there, is it? He’s eating you up with his eyes.«  

»But…« she stammered, but there was really nothing to say.  

The minutes ticked by and between the four of them hung a pacific and tranquil silence, when a revving noise of an engine interrupted their peacefulness. A motor boat made its way towards the small island. They were two strange men on board.  

»Kaori, get up, something’s wrong.« Ryo sensed danger permeate the air.  

»What is going on?«  

»I don’t know, but those two look armed.« Ryo went for his Python, but »Fuck! I left the gun under the bed!«  

»Gun?« Take asked surprised, but two shots rang through the air.  

One of the two thugs was packing a .38 Smith & Wesson (A.N.: I’m a connoisseur, eh, eh, eh!!!)  

»Well, well, well. We’re gonna have some fun,« he said, the boat closing in.  

They both jumped on board, pointing their guns at Take and Ken, demanding everything in their possession.  

»Ryo? What are planning on doing?« Kaori asked.  

»Certainly I won’t stand here with my thumbs up my ass. I have to distract them.«  

»Maybe I can help.« Kaori pulled her Colt .357 Magnum out of her bag.  

»Awesome, Kaori Give it to me, it won’t take but a second!« Ryo took the gun. »I don’t think you’ll have that much fun,« he told the two men.  

»What do ya want? Sit down or I’ll put a hole in your forehead.« The idiot pointed his Smith & Wesson at Ryo.  

»Ooh, scary. Look, I’m shaking,« Ryo mocked. Fast as lightning, he shot the guy’s gun in the sea.  

The man froze, while the other yelled: »I’m gonna kill you!« and took a shot, but Ryo hit the bullet, shattering it. (A.N.: you and your movie escapades, Ryo! Knock it off!) The two dashed off.  

»Ryo? Was the whole stunt really necessary?« Kaori retook possession of her gun.  

»I just wanted to scare them. What, did you want me to kill them?«  

»No, no… Just what we needed!« She laughed.  

Take and Ken were shocked.  

»So… sorry… but who are you people?« Take asked.  

»We? We’re City Hunter!« Kaori and Ryo responded simultaneously, laughing.  

»City Hunter? I don’t believe it? The Japan’s most famous sweepers?« Ken bulged his eyes.  

After a short explanation, they returned to the hotel. It was lunch time.  

In the afternoon, Kaori decided to go souvenir-shopping, dragging Ryo with her. After more than three hours of circling the tiny shops, Kaori finally bought her last gift.  

Kaori wasn’t in the mood to go out after dinner, so she decided to stay in their room, listening to some music. Ryo didn’t want to leave her alone, but if he stayed with her who knows what could have happened (A.N.: what are you thinking, Ryo??), so he decided to take a walk.  

Kaori was a bit disappointed by this turn of events, but got over it quickly, remembering all the other innumerous times they have been alone and he didn’t even know she existed. (A.N.: you’re right, Kaori, but a small effort on your part wouldn’t hurt!!)  

Changing into something more comfortable, she popped in a CD. A sweet tune crooned out of the speakers and Bono’s throaty voice filled the room:  

See the stone set in your eyes  

See the thorn twist in your side  

I wait… For you  

Sleight of hand and twist of fate  

On a bed of nails she makes me wait  

And I wait… without you  

With or without you  

With or without

Through the storm we reach the shore  

You give it all but I want more  

And I’m waiting for you  

With or without you  

With or without you  

I can’t live with or without you  

And you give yourself away  

And you give yourself away  

And you give… And you give  

And you give yourself away  

My hands are tied, my body bruised  

She’s got me with nothing to win  

And nothing left to lose  

And you give yourself away  

And you give yourself away  

And you give… And you give  

And you give yourself away  

With or without you  

With or without you  

I can’t live with or without you  

Ooh ooh ooh…  

With or without you  

With or without you  

I can’t live with or without you  

»This song was so not a good choice…« (A.N.: for those of you who didn’t recognize it – it’s “With Or Without You” by U2)  

A deep rumble shook the windowpanes.  

»It’s raining. Where could Ryo be?« She looked out the window. It was almost nine when there was a knock on the door. It was Take.  

»Hi! Am I disturbing?«  

»No, come in. What can I do for you?« she asked.  

»I just came to talk a bit.« He sat on the sofa, with her in front of him. »I just wanted to ask you something, but it’s quite private, so you don’t have to answer.«  

»Shoot.«  

»Well. You and Ryo… it’s purely professional, right?«  

»Why do you ask?«  

»He seemed jealous this morning.«  

»Well, you’re wrong. We’re not involved. We’re just business partners.«  

»If you say so… Let’s talk of something else, shall we?« And they stayed up, talking, almost ‘till midnight.  

When Takehiko left, he bumped into Ryo, who was just returning from his ‘perimeter check’.  

»Good night, Saeba,« Takehiko smirked.  

»Good night,« Ryo replied icily. Closing the door, he grunted: »I really dislike that guy.«  

»Who?« Kaori inquired.  

»Huh? Oh, just a guy I met at the bar…« he lied. »I’m beat, will you be up much longer?«  

»Nope,« Kaori answered, sashaying into the bathroom.  

In bed, Ryo finally asked: »By the way, do you like Takehiko?«  

»What? I don’t know, really. He’s nice, but I don’t know him that well,« she retorted.  

»I’d say tonight you spent quite some time together…«  

»True, but… I don’t think there could be anything between us.«  

»I don’t think he feels the same way.«  

»Meaning?«  

»C’mon, I told you. He’s coming onto you and quite tenaciously, might I add.«  

»If you say so… anyway, we’ll see. Now I’d like to sleep, if you don’t mind,« Kaori uttered, turning her back on him.  

»Good night,« he whispered, gazing at her back, before closing his eyes. 

Chapitre: 1 2 3 4 5