Capitolo 7 :: 7

Pubblicato: 03-09-05 - Ultimo aggiornamento: 05-04-06

Commenti: Howdy folks! Vacations ended, school began, and I'm posting a new little chapter (which wasn't at all affected by my writer's block). Anyway, enjoy and see you soon. Kisses, Mojca

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Tokyo, one month later  

The chair scraped on the floor.  

»How do you feel? « Ryo looked at his best friend on the bed.  

»Like shit, « came the husky reply, sky-blue eyes still a bit glazed.  

»You look the part, too. « Ryo smiled sadly. »You had one hell of luck to make it, Mick. You could have died. «  

»Yeah, « Mick turned his blond head, staring out the window. »I feel like I don’t own my body, Ryo. «  

»The sensitivity will return… eventually. « The raven-haired man grew silent. »I know how it feels, « he finally whispered.  

»I know…«  

Ryo sighed.  

Sky-blue eyes met the midnight ones. »What is it? «  

»Nothing. « The dark head lowered, eyes fixed on the floor.  

Mick understood. »Can’t find her? «  

Ryo winced. The last few days everyone seemed to be able to read him like an open book. Slowly lifting his head, he met his friend’s gaze. »I don’t know what you’re talking about. «  

The blond man rolled his eyes. »I’ve called you an idiot so many times now, but I’ve never before meant it. «  

»I’ve always been an idiot when it came to Kaori, « Ryo whispered with a crooked smile.  

»At least you said her name, man. «  

Staring blankly at the wall, Ryo continued as his friend wouldn’t have spoken. »You know why I sent her away? I said it was for her own good. For her protection…« His chest lifted on a deep sigh. »It was for my protection. I couldn’t… I couldn’t continue with being who I was, with doing my job, if that would mean jeopardizing her. If something should have happened to her… I don’t think I would have been able to take it…«  

Mick gazed at him in silence. He sensed it was the first time in four years Ryo talked to someone about what happened between him and Kaori. Of what was going on in his mind as he was sending away the woman he cared about. Severing all contacts. He really did love her.  

»… I was being selfish. Keeping her with me, knowing I put her in danger… and still I couldn’t help it… She was my savior. She was the light to my darkness… I kept pushing her away, and yet kept dragging her back into this hell full of blood and death… Until that damn day…«  

»Silver Fox? « Mick softly asked.  

Ryo nodded. »He threatened her life thinking she was my woman… God, if only she had been…. I made two mistakes, like a rooky. First, when he shot her heel, I thought she was dead, and then I fell into his trap, shooting at a curtain, exposing myself, thinking she was in danger… It was then I realized it… I loved her… Plain and simple. I loved Makimura Kaori. And I knew I had to send her away. She would have always been in danger and I… I wouldn’t have been able to do my job… In this line of work love has no place in our lives. Love makes us weak… She was the only weakness I had. «  

He sighed, shaking his head ruefully. »The only woman I had ever loved, and I had to send her away. I had to keep my distance, for my sake, not so much as hers. «  

»Ryo…«  

Midnight eyes finally met Mick’s gaze again. »No, I can’t find her. It’s like she never existed. She disappeared, Mick. « Ryo swallowed past the lump in his throat. »She’s gone…«  

»Look harder. « Mick fisted his hands in the sheet. »It’s not like you to give up, Ryo. You will find her. And when you do find her, you know what to do. «  

Ryo lifted an eyebrow, his eyes twinkling. »You’re the ‘Love Doctor’ out of the two of us. You tell me. «  

Mick’s lips extended into a large, goofy grin. »Okay, here’s what you’ll do. When she’s in front of you, you don’t say anything. «  

»Huh? «  

»‘Love Doctor’ talking, here. « Mick cleared his throat. »You don’t say a word. You just pull her to you and kiss her blind. «  

Ryo laughed. »Who needs words when you can play tonsil tennis. «  

»Exactly. «  

Ryo heaved a sigh of relief. It was good to see his friend coming ever closer to being his old self.  

»Ryo? «  

»Hmm? «  

Mick gave him a sheepish look. »Could you do me a favor? «  

»Sure. «  

»Could you call Cory? I… She…«  

»Saeko is taking care of it. Don’t worry, Mick. She’ll be waiting with open arms. « Ryo winked at him.  

»Thanks. «  

»How is our patient today? « Natori Kazue opened the door, a brilliant smile stamped on her face. »Hello, Ryo. I hope you’re not tiring him too much. He’s still weak. «  

Ryo stood, smiling at her. »Don’t worry, Kazue-chan, I was just leaving. Patch him up, okay. «  

She nodded seriously. »We sure will. « She turned to her patient. »Give me your hand. «  

When Mick obediently extended his hand, she grasped his wrist, glancing at her watch with a frown. »Your pulse is getting steadier by the minute, Mick. Another couple of days and you’ll be just fine. « She flashed him a beaming smile.  

Mick actually blushed.  

Ryo chortled.  

»What? « his friend snapped.  

»Oh, nothing. « Whistling, he disappeared down the hall.  

…  

Everybody was in Doc’s living room as Ryo poked his head in. »Hey, gang. « He spotted Reika by the terrace door. »Anything? « he asked her.  

She slowly turned to look at him. She hated seeing the hurt look on his face whenever she came back with nothing. Sometimes she hated Makimura Kaori, the woman she’d never known. Her rival. The constant shadow surrounding Ryo.  

Still she kept looking for her. Searching databases, bribing the Yakuza and Mafia bosses all around the globe, beating up delinquents and pickpockets… Only to come up with nothing. Four years ago Makimura Kaori disappeared and for all she knew she might even be dead.  

She didn’t have to say anything. Ryo could read the answer on her face. His eyes emptied as his face darkened. »It’s okay, Reika. «  

»We’ll just keep trying, won’t we? « she said with an enthusiasm she didn’t feel.  

Ryo nodded, a fist tightening around his heart. »Saeko, any luck with contacting Mick’s girlfriend? «  

»I finally got through to her agent, « the Detective sighed. »After a few well placed threats I finally got her home number…«  

»And? « he enquired, fearing what she might say next.  

»Her friend answered, yelling at me, thinking I was a reporter. « She sat, crossing her legs. »When I said I wanted to talk about Mick, she explicitly told me, in no kind words, what she thinks of me and hung up. «  

»Well, try again. «  

»The line’s busy! «  

»Pity, « Kazue said from the doorway. »He could use her presence. «  

»How is he, Kazue-chan? « Doc asked.  

She released her hair out of the pony-tail. »Recuperating. He has a long way ahead of him, though. «  

Doc nodded, scratching his chin with one hand, the other resting on Reika’s bottom. »His immune system suffered greatly. « He gently squeezed.  

Reika’s slap sent him flying against the wall.  

»And he has to build the muscle mass he lost, « he finished, one leg up the wall, a tooth missing.  

»But carefully, « Kazue corrected. »His muscles have suffered, too. If he exaggerates…«  

»Yeah, « Ryo murmured darkly. »I’ve memorized the drill by heart. «  

L.A., two months later  

»Miss McGuire, « a middle-aged woman stopped in front of the table in the middle of the bookstore. »Could you sign a copy for my daughter, please? She’s a fan of your work. «  

»Sure, « Cory smiled, picking up another copy of ‘Spirit of Love’. The pen hovering over the first page, she looked up. »What is your daughter’s name? «  

»Oh, Sabrina. «  

»Sabrina… One of my favorite names. «  

The woman’s eyes misted. »She’s in the hospital with pneumonia, that’s why she couldn’t come in person. «  

Cory scribbled a short note, handing the woman her book. »Here you go, ma’am. I hope Sabrina feels better soon. «  

»Thank you so very much. « The woman paused. »I’m sorry for your loss, Miss McGuire. «  

The smile vanished from Cory’s face as her lips tightened. »Thank you, « she whispered shakily.  

Bridget, noticing her friend’s distress, was at her side in a heartbeat. »Thank you, ma’am, « she practically pushed the poor woman toward the till. »All fans are appreciated, but the line’s quite long, you know. «  

»Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset her. « The woman looked stricken.  

»I know you didn’t, « Bridget bit out. »Thank you again. Next, please. «  

Cory was clutching a copy of her new book, making her knuckles completely white. Her lower lip wobbled as her eyes swam with unshed tears.  

»Are you okay? « Bridget asked, concern lacing her voice. »Maybe we should call it a day. «  

»No, I’m fine, « Cory whispered, not trusting her voice. Standing up, she blew her nose, steeping away from the table. »I just need…« The book fell to the floor with a resounding thump.  

»What? What is it? « Bridget followed her friend’s wide-eyed stare… and her mouth fell open. »Oh, my God…« 

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