Capitolo 10 :: 10

Pubblicato: 26-12-05 - Ultimo aggiornamento: 05-04-06

Commenti: Mick and Cory hop on a plane for Japan, but the poor girl doesn't have a nice trip... The night of their arrival she learns of a certain name... Enjoy!!!

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At Dulles airport, Bridget tugged her into a bear hug, eyes stinging. She felt such pity for her poor friend, knowing the flight would be hell for her. Not to mention when she actually got there.  

»Good luck, Cory, « she whispered. »I hope everything turns out fine. Chin high, girlfriend. Relax on the plane, okay, or you’ll puke your guts out. «  

Cory laughed, kissing her cheek.  

The flight across the states to L.A. went smoothly, both Cory and Mick surprised she wasn’t nervous.  

She breathed a sigh of relief, thankful she wasn’t too far gone, when all she got were butterflies in her belly during the landing.  

He breathed a sigh of relief, thankful she wasn’t thinking about their trip in such bad terms to blow chow.  

Unfortunately, Bridget’s prediction came true on the flight over the Pacific, the best portion of which Cory spent vomiting in the small confines of the bathroom. At one point she feared she might actually turn inside out. »Oh, God, « she whimpered into the toilet, her knees hurting like hell. »Why don’t you just kill me? «  

Mick flinched as another groan resounded through the plane. A young woman across the aisle sent him a grudging look, covering her son’s ears with a gasp as the groan was followed by heaving noises gruesome enough to make a few of the passengers turn green.  

»Sir, « a flight attendant whispered. »Is your friend alright? Why didn’t she take something against motion sickness? «  

»She’s just a bit nervous, « Mick smiled sheepishly. »She hasn’t been to Japan for a long time. «  

»Afraid of her family’s reaction? «  

»Yeah, « he sighed with a distant look. »That’s it. «  

…  

Cory heaved again, gagging. She hated her damn nerves. But at least she didn’t hear shots this time. She still didn’t know what the hell happened that night three months ago. She never told anyone, and she’d be damned if she ever did.  

»Enough, « she groaned as her stomach rebelled anew. »I can’t do this anymore. «  

There was a soft knock on the door. »Miss, miss, are you okay? «  

A flight attendant, no doubt about it. You could hear it in their nagging little perfect voices that they were just trying to be helpful. Whatever!  

Cory didn’t want to be helped. She just wanted to be shot! Period.  

»Go away! « She whined, quickly leaning back over the toilet.  

»Miss, please, could you come out? The seat-belt sign is on. « There was a pause as if the girl outside didn’t want to be the one to give her bad news. »We’re about to land…« The sentence ended as a question, the voice acquiring a higher pitch.  

»Landing? « Cory whispered, restraining her hair at the nape. Landing where? Then she remembered. And as she remembered, another fit of nausea hit her, almost making her spit her intestines.  

Lucy, the flight attendant, looked at her coworker with pleading eyes. She so didn’t want to do this. But Emily just smirked, checking if the other passengers were buckled in.  

So Lucy took a deep breath, barging into the small bathroom.  

What she saw there, made her blood run cold.  

A beautiful, slender redheaded woman lay sprawled on the floor, her head stuck into the toilet. She looked pitiful.  

The whole scene looked like the scene from ‘The Exorcist’, except there wasn’t any green mucus on the wall and on the poor woman – she looked remarkably unscathed by the whole ordeal – she didn’t curse in weird languages, there was no priest, and it stunk like hell! It never stunk at the movies, but in there… Oh, Lord, what a smell!  

»Miss, « Lucy shakily whispered, trying not to gag herself. »Please, miss, let me help you. We’re landing, you must return to your seat. «  

»Go away! « The woman’s voice echoed out of the toilet, since she still hasn’t pulled her head out. »I’ll be just peachy here. I’ll hug this godforsaken pit and I’ll land just fine, thank you very much. «  

»But, miss…«  

Cory pulled her head out of the toilet, glaring at the scared flight attendant with puffy, red-rimmed eyes. »Look, I’m throwing up like crazy in here. And if you want to keep your stupid plane clean and the passengers happy, you’ll shut your mouth, close this door, and leave me the fuck alone! «  

…  

Mick heard his fiancée’s outburst, his heart thudding in his chest. She really hated going to Japan. But finally the guessing will be over. He’ll finally learn her secrets.  

…  

Lucy realized she was heavily outnumbered, sort of, and decided to call for backup.  

»Ma’am, « the copilot looked down at the toilet-hugging redhead. »Please, return to your seat immediately. «  

Cory once again lifted her head, glaring at him. »Look, buster, « she ground out. »If you haven’t noticed, I’m puking my guts out! «  

»I realize you have an upset stomach, ma’am, but we’re landing, and you have to be in your seat. « He grabbed her upper arms. »Let me help you up. «  

Her stomach lurched, and Cory quickly slapped a hand over her mouth.  

»Take it easy, man, « Mick growled, tugging Cory into his arms.  

»Sir, « the copilot looked at him sternly. »Go back to your seat, please. «  

»He’s her fiancé, « Lucy whispered into his ear.  

»That’s right, « Mick sneered. »And I’ll help her to her seat. Slowly! « He looked at the greenish woman in his arms. »C’mon, baby, nice and easy, we need to get you buckled up. «  

»I can’t, « she whimpered, burping inelegantly. »See, I’m sick. «  

»I’ll get you some sick bags, miss, « Lucy smiled reassuringly. The poor woman didn’t look so dangerous now. She looked absolutely miserable.  

»Thanks. « Cory gurgled. »I didn’t mean to yell at you earlier. «  

»It’s okay, miss. « Lucy helped Mick tie her seatbelt, dropping some bags onto her lap. »Need anything else? «  

»How about a bullet between the eyes? «  

Lucy smiled, patting her hand. »Just try to relax, we’ll be on the ground in no time. «  

The bag snapped open, Cory’s eyes filled with tears, and the nearby passengers cringed at the sound coming from her mouth.  

Mick smiled sheepishly at the disgusted flight attendant, gently massaging Cory’s nape.  

Narita International Airport, Tokyo  

Cory’s ears buzzed, her eyesight was blurry, her stomach rolled, but at least the vomiting ceased as soon as the jet’s tires touched Japanese soil.  

She clutched at her handbag, her knuckles completely white. Her limbs were cold, she was white as a sheet, and her breath kept hitching in her throat.  

What was I thinking? I can’t do this! When’s the next flight home?!  

»Baby? « Mick watched her with concern. She looked ready to bolt. She also looked ready to swoon. It was disconcerting, seeing the strong woman he came to love, turn into a frightened little mouse.  

What are you so afraid of, Cory? What happened to you all those years ago?… What the hell happened?  

»Are you okay? « He sounded strangled to his own ears.  

Cory winced. Pasting a brilliant smile on her face, she turned to him. »Never been better. «  

»Cory…«  

»Don’t! « Her voice shook. »Don’t ask me anything, Mick, please… I’m here to meet your friends, not to reminisce on my past. «  

What if it catches up with you? He gazed at her with sad eyes. Will you be able to handle it?… Will I?  

»C’mon! « Cory grabbed his hand, towing him with her. »Let’s grab our bags and then let’s get the hell out of here. I’m starving. «  

Mick looked at her with a raised eyebrow. She could smile and joke, but she couldn’t fool him. He could see the strain around her lips and the anxiety in her large eyes.  

Hotel SunCity, two hours later  

The waiters and other guests in the hotel’s restaurant stared wide-eyed at a table by the large panoramic windows, where a beautiful couple, a blond man and a redheaded woman, dined.  

Well, the man just gawked at his companion who was stuffing herself with roasted duck. In front of her there was a myriad of empty plates.  

»Are you okay? « Mick chuckled as she licked her fingers.  

»Never been better, « Cory mumbled, burping delicately. »So… when are we meeting this buddy of yours? «  

A fair eyebrow climbed. »Why are you so anxious to meet him? «  

»The sooner I see him - and his friends - the sooner we can go back home. «  

»You were born here, Cor, « he whispered. »This is your home. «  

Hazel eyes narrowed. »Not any more, « she snapped.  

A tired sigh. »Cory…«  

»Listen, Mick. I left Japan four years ago. I’ve decided to start a new life and I made it. So I want to get back to that new life as soon as possible. «  

»What’s the rush? « Mick smiled. »I was hoping we might stay here for a few weeks. «  

Cory gaped. »A few weeks?! «  

Mick put a finger on his lips. »Keep it down, will you. What’s wrong with staying here for a while? «  

»I’ve got stuff to do back in the States. « And people to avoid here.  

»Like what? « Mick crossed his arms over his chest.  

»Like…« Shit! C’mon, Cory, think of something! ASAP! »I’ve got press conferences to do, TV appearances…«  

»They ain’t going nowhere, baby, « Mick interrupted with a crooked smile. You really are scared shitless, aren’t you? I’ll find out soon enough why that is.  

»Bridget…«  

»… might even organize some appearances here in Tokyo. Why don’t you contact her and make arrangements. «  

Not even dead! I can’t risk it!  

She had to play it cool. Stay in the shadows. Keep a low profile. She couldn’t just go out there in front of TV cameras and hundreds of people, risking meeting him… Risking her heart all over again.  

»Sweetheart? « Mick waved in front of her eyes. »Earth to Cory. «  

She shook her head, smiling sheepishly. »Sorry, woolgathering. You were saying? «  

He winked. »How about if I call him tonight? Is tomorrow soon enough for you? «  

She smiled. »Funny. «  

»I know, babe. « He cleared his throat. »Anyway, I’ll call him and see if he’s available. «  

»Busy fella, huh? «  

»Searching for the woman he loves. It must be quite hectic. «  

»The woman who broke his heart? «  

»Yeah, « Mick sighed wistfully. »He can’t even say her name without breaking down. «  

»Wow! «  

»Tell me about it. « He caressed his jaw. »He even slugged me one day for not being worthy of saying it. «  

Cory’s jaw dropped open. »Holy cow! What is this divine name, anyway? «  

»Kaori. «  

»Hmm…« 

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