Capitolo 11 :: 11

Pubblicato: 19-02-06 - Ultimo aggiornamento: 05-04-06

Commenti: Cory and Ryo are all dressed up and eager to meet each other... At Cat's Eye Mick and Cory wait for the sweeper to make his entrance... And what an entrance... P.S. The song is "Until I find You Again" by Richard Marx.

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Reika slowly eased the door open, peeking from around it.  

Sighing, she shook her head at the clothes strewn on the staircase.  

»He got drunk again, « she murmured resignedly.  

For the last two weeks this occurrence happened every single night. Since the day he realized it was impossible to locate Kaori.  

She sighed again, starting to pick up his discarded clothes. She desperately wanted to help him, comfort him. But he wouldn’t let her. He wouldn’t let anyone close.  

Her heart bleeding for him, she softly knocked on his bedroom door.  

»Ryo? «  

She slowly opened the door…  

… My mind won’t clear.  

I’m out of tears.  

My heart’s got no room left inside…  

Reika’s eyes filled with tears. Ryo…  

Ryo was on his bed, wide awake, staring at the ceiling, a framed photo on his chest.  

She knew that photo. She’s caught him staring at it innumerous times with an expression full of pain and sorrow.  

That picture showed him and a beautiful redhead laughing, his arm around her neck. That redhead was Makimura Kaori. Reika knew that instinctively.  

Silent tears started trickling down her cheeks…  

…How many dreams will end?  

How long can I pretend?  

How many times will love pass me by,  

Until I find you again?…  

Ryo sighed heavily not even noticing Reika’s presence. This morning he woke up with a strange feeling deep down in his gut. A feeling like his life was about to be changed. Like something important was going to happen.  

… I can’t hide, it’s true.  

I still burn for you.  

Your memory just won’t let me go…  

The mornings he missed her the most.  

Her angry yells at him to wake up, when he was already awake, only waiting for her to come get him.  

God he missed her. Her laughter, her smiles, her eyes. Even her hammers.  

What he wouldn’t do to see her again…  

I’d hold you tighter,  

Closer than ever before.  

Yeah.  

No flame would burn brighter,  

If I could touch you once more,  

Hold you once more…  

So, it happened again – as every morning before – that he woke up with the dawn, staring at the ceiling, holding their picture, listening to this corny song, and missing her with every fiber in his body.  

How many dreams will end?  

How long can I pretend?  

How many times will love pass me by,  

Till I find you again?  

Till I find you again…  

The song ended.  

Ryo sighed… and finally noticed another presence in the room.  

Turning his head on the pillow, he saw Reika at the door, her eyes brilliant with fresh tears.  

»Reika, what are you doing here? «  

She smiled, blinking rapidly. »Uhm… Mick called last night, when… when you were out…«  

He turned again, staring blankly at the ceiling, his fingers running absentmindedly over the frame of the photo.  

Reika swallowed past the lump in her throat, hating Makimura Kaori for reducing this proud man like this. »He… he’s in town and wants to meet us at Cat’s Eye. «  

»You can go alone, « he murmured.  

She stepped closer to the bed, wanting desperately to hold him close. »His fiancée is with him. «  

»I see. « He grew silent.  

Fighting back the tears, Reika turned, walking to the door.  

»What time? «  

She smiled. He was coming out of his morning gloominess. »Four p.m. «  

»Plenty of time to get ready then. «  

Candles shimmered in the spacious bathroom. From the stereo a saxophone sensuously crooned a romantic tune.  

The white bubbles in the bath were lightly sprinkled with rose petals, delicately scenting the air.  

Cory, her hair fastened high on her head, sighed contentedly, closing her eyes with a slow smile.  

»This is Heaven, « she purred, humming softly along with the tune.  

She’s finally gotten rid of Mick by throwing him out of their suite, deciding to take a long, luxurious, relaxing bubble bath to forget the butterflies, heck, the moths, fluttering about in her stomach.  

She had a strange feeling something was about to happen. Something really, really huge. Humongous, in fact. And she needed to relax and try to get rid of this apprehension…  

You’re just tense for being here, girl. Nothing more. Just relax and get ready to meet Mick’s friends. No biggie.  

…  

Half an hour later she was applying the last touch of mascara, when Mick knocked on the bathroom door.  

»Baby, are you ready? «  

»Just a second! « She replied, spraying the perfume in the air, stepping through the scented mist.  

Mick knocked again. »C’mon, Cor. I can’t wait for him to see you. He’s gonna fall in his a…«  

The door opened and it was Mick that almost fell on his butt.  

She was absolutely stunning. Four inch black stilettos with a dainty little strap around the ankle made her appear even higher, she was his exact height at the moment, and slenderer than usual.  

Tight black leather skirt brushing at the tops of her knees hugged her rounded hips and accentuated her long legs.  

But what made his jaw land at his feet was her shirt. An almost transparent white blouse, opened at the throat almost all the way to the cleavage, showed her lacy white bra, cupping her perfect breasts.  

He’s never seen her wear anything remotely similar to it. Anything remotely similar to the entire ensemble. She’s always preferred comfortable, smarter clothes like jeans and T-shirts, and maybe a pantsuit for the public appearances.  

But this… This entirely new woman made his blood roar and his heart drum in his ears. And she awoke a nagging little voice deep inside his head.  

Why is she wearing this? What provoked the change?  

»What? « She asked, her hand flying to her hair. »Is something wrong? «  

Her hair was pulled up into a knot at the back of her head, restrained by a strange chopstick, stuck right in the middle of it. A few wisps have escaped their restraint and were falling sexily on her forehead and brushed against her throat.  

Her eyes looked enormous, catlike, with long eyelashes. Her slightly shiny mouth just begged to be kissed.  

»Is something wrong? « He choked out. »Maybe I should I ask you that question. «  

She just smiled, brushing a kiss over his lips.  

»Come on.« Taking his hand, she tugged him out of the door. »Let’s go meet this too-good-to-be-true friend of yours. «  

»Cory, « he growled.  

Her tinkling laughter echoed through the upper floor of the hotel.  

»Hey, Miki. «  

The café owner lifted her head. »Hey right back to ya, Mick. «  

He sauntered into the café with a tall redhead at his heels.  

»Miki, this is Cory. « He turned to his fiancée. »Cory, this is Miki. She owns this place. «  

»Konnichiwa, « the redhead bowed slightly.  

Miki stared at the beautiful woman in front of her. She looked strangely familiar. She just didn’t know where to put her.  

Jeez, Miki, she’s a famous illustrator. You’ve probably seen her photo somewhere.  

»Welcome, Miss McGuire, « she smiled.  

»Please, call me Cory, « the redhead smiled back.  

Miki liked her already.  

»Please, sit down, Cory-san. Would you like a cup of tea? «  

»Coffee. «  

»Coming right up. What about you, Mick? «  

»Same. «  

Cory slowly sat on a stool, crossing her legs, resisting the urge to look behind her. Or bolt. She couldn’t shake the feeling of apprehension that came over her the moment she stepped into the café.  

It’s just your stupid imagination, girl. This might be Shinjuku, but a café is so out of his turf. Just take a deep breath, smile, and have a cup of coffee. Everything will be just fine.  

…  

A red Mini braked in front of Cat’s Eye.  

A tall, raven-haired man in washed-out blue jeans and a white T-shirt stepped out, joining his ‘part-time’ assistant that waited for him on the curb.  

Reika lifted an eyebrow. »What happened to you? «  

»What do you mean? «  

»Well… you look presentable. « She decided to ignore his ever tousled hair.  

He flashed her a deadly grin. »I’m meeting my best friend’s fiancée. I have to look drop-dead-gorgeous. How else can I steal her away? «  

Reika rolled her eyes, swatting him on his arm. »Behave. «  

He pouted. »You’re such a party-pooper, Reika-chan. «  

»Ready? They’re already here. «  

He looked at his watch. »They’re early. «  

Reika’s eyes bulged. »You’re wearing a watch? « What’s gotten into him?  

»Yeah, I appear to own one, too. « He tried to peer through the glass door. »What does she look like? «  

»No idea, « she shrugged. »She’s turned. «  

Ryo stared at one long leg in a stiletto tapping lightly into the air. A drop of drool appeared.  

Reika grabbed his ear. »Don’t you even think about it, Ryo, do you hear me? This time I will shoot you! «  

Is it me, or do those legs appear familiar?  

His hungry gaze traveled over the thigh visible to him, over rounded hips in that tight leather skirt, over the slender back, clearly visible through the thin material of her blouse. It paused on the strap of her bra, only to travel up still, to the long red mane restrained at the back of her head.  

That long neck… The color of the hair…  

»Ryo? « Reika looked at him with concern. »Are you okay? You look kinda pale. «  

»I’m fine, « he breathed, his eyes devouring the woman beside Mick. Those eyes widened a little as the redhead lifted her left hand to caress Mick’s cheek. A beautiful diamond ring caught the light, twinkling at him.  

Reika’s eyes turned a little green. »C’mon, let’s get this over with. «  

…  

»He was so romantic. «  

Mick rolled his eyes, leaning into her touch.  

Miki sighed, listening to Cory’s recount of Mick’s proposal.  

Hearing heavy steps, she grinned. »Oh, Cory-san, you have to meet Falcon. «  

»I’d be delighted to. « I’ll finally meet the bird-guy.  

»Falcon! « Miki called. »Mick and his fiancée are here! «  

»Coming, « came the deep reply.  

Cory’s eyes widened a little. No, impossible.  

A giant appeared on the door to the back. A bald giant with dark sunglasses on his nose.  

»Hey, Yankee idiot, « he boomed, his head turning toward her. His mouth snapped closed.  

Cory could feel his stare, even though she couldn’t see it. It had to be as wide-eyed as hers. Oh, my God!  

Miki and Mick stared from one to the other. What was happening?  

»Uhm…« Miki finally decided to say something. Anything. »Do you… do you know each other? «  

The tiny bell above the door chimed.  

»Beautiful stranger, leave that imbecile and let’s elope together! «  

Cory went rigid. God, no. Please… no.  

Mick watched his fiancée turn white as a ghost, her eyes almost filling her face as she slowly turned as if in a trance.  

Ryo stopped in mid-stride, his midnight eyes widening as they collided with two brilliant, well-known, hazel pools. 

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