Capitolo 13 :: 13

Pubblicato: 18-03-06 - Ultimo aggiornamento: 05-04-06

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The late afternoon sun flooded the cemetery with its warm, golden light. Everything was calm and tranquil, not a blade of grass stirred, not a bird chirped. It seemed as if every living creature quieted down, leaving the beautiful young woman alone with her thoughts.  

She was seated on a low bench in front of her brother’s grave, her hands clasped in her lap. Her head was thrown back, her eyes closed, as she basked in the warm sunlight.  

Kaori sighed. It was like feeling her brother’s fingers caressing her cheeks, whispering soothing words of comfort.  

And she needed that peace, that comfort right now. She needed it desperately. She’s just found out, Saeba Ryo, the man she has been in love with for the better part of her life, loved her in return. He loved her even the day he sent her away.  

And he sent her away for her own good, or so Mick told her.  

Her lips tightened into a thin line. Mick, her fiancé. Mick, Ryo’s best friend. Mick, the sweeper. Could she continue to trust him? Should she continue to trust him? He lied on this aspect of his life… What else did he lie to her about?  

And now… Now that she knew the truth… Now that she knew Ryo loved her… Now that she knew the truth about him, about his childhood… Now that she knew the reasons behind his behavior… What was she to do now?  

The silence remained undisturbed, the breeze didn’t lift… But still, she tensed.  

»What are you doing here? « she asked softly, her eyes still closed.  

He chuckled behind her back. »Don’t tell me you heard me. «  

She shook her head, smiling slightly. »I didn’t. I’ve never been good at that… You should know. «  

Ryo sat beside her, staring at Makimura’s tombstone. »What gave me away then? «  

She shrugged. She wasn’t about to tell him, she could always sense his presence, because her heart knew when he was close.  

They sat for a while in silence – they were always good at that, because whenever they talked they ended up fighting – until Kaori finally opened her eyes, lowering her head, blinking languidly.  

»Ryo? «  

»Hmm? « He slid a glance at her profile. She wasn’t looking at him.  

She shook her head. »Nothing. «  

He smiled. »Mick is out of the business. «  

She turned toward him, her eyes wide. He always knew what she was thinking. And now he also knew she was doubtful.  

»He is out, Kaori. « He sighed, turning his eyes back on his friend’s tombstone. »Because of you. « He sighed again. »He came to Japan, because someone commissioned him to kill me. «  

She gasped.  

»They used you as leverage. «  

»It was my life against yours, right? «  

Ryo nodded. »I even told him to do it, but in the end he didn’t. He wanted to start anew. With you. No more killings. And so…«  

»They blew up his plane…«  

»He survived. They drugged him. He didn’t recognize anyone. He was a puppet… You brought him back. «  

She just stared at him.  

»The mention of your name brought him back. « Ryo sighed. »He loves you, Kaori. And I don’t know of any man who deserves you more. «  

»What about…«  

He chuckled, looking at her. »I know what he told you. «  

Kaori cocked her head, waiting.  

»He came up with this bizarre idea I was in love with you. « He laughed. »God, it’s so funny. There I was talking about you, telling him I sent you away for your own protection, because I promised your brother I wouldn’t let anything happen to you…«  

A fist squeezed around her heart. What was he saying?  

»… and Mick goes and misunderstands everything. «  

»Misunderstands…« The word was barely a whisper.  

Ryo nodded, slowly standing. »You’re like a little sister to me, Kaori. And I’m glad you’ve found happiness. «  

She swallowed past the lump in her throat. She was like a baby sister to him? Mick misunderstood everything? She slid a quick glance in his direction. He wasn’t looking at her.  

»Oh, what a relief. « She saw him flinch and clench his fists. »You know, seeing you there in that café, remembering what Mick’s told me, I got scared I would have to go through the whole scorned suitor thing…«  

His knuckles turned completely white.  

Kaori smiled. »I’m glad we worked everything out, Ryo, I really am. « She stood. »Now I really should return to my… fiancé. «  

Hearing her emphasize the word ‘fiancé’ made his blood boil. She was relieved he wasn’t in love with her?! He expected her to cry, to wail, to demand the reasons why… And she was just glad it was all a misunderstanding?!  

It wasn’t a misunderstanding, damn it! He loved her. He really loved her. And seeing her at Cat’s Eye, caressing Mick’s cheek… wearing Mick’s ring… knowing she was his now, knowing Mick was the lucky man who could make love to her, kiss every inch of her skin, sleep beside her, with her in his arms… It made him want to shoot his best friend.  

So he had to gather all his gall and lie blatantly into her face – or almost – that all he felt for her was brotherly love. Damn, but what he felt for her wasn’t brotherly at all. No brother even dreamed of doing to his sister what he wanted to do to that woman. Brotherly love, his ass.  

Kaori waved at him. »It was nice talking to you, Ryo. Bye. «  

She just left him there. She was running back into Mick’s arms. Ryo wanted to roar in rage, but he just slipped on his usual idiotic mask and: »Hey, Kaori?! «  

She turned with a grin, that quickly slipped as she saw his face. He was back at his old stupid self. She lifted an eyebrow in inquiry.  

»How many pills do you pop a day to look that feminine? «  

Her eyes widened for a moment. It was like being transported back in time. But now, knowing what she knew, she wasn’t mad. On the contrary. He’s just confirmed her theory. Kaori smiled. »Did you have to work on that line long? «  

Ryo was left speechless. Four years ago, he’d already be stuck in the ground under a huge mallet, but now she just stood there, smiling at him.  

Kaori’s smile widened as he just stood there, gaping at her. Finally she has managed to shut him up. With a wink, she turned on her heel, her tinkling laughter echoing in the graveyard.  

Ryo turned to his friend’s tombstone with a sad expression. He didn’t like the Kaori she has turned into. This detached, calm doll. He preferred his impulsive, tomboyish Sugar Boy, with her hammers and her traps.  

»What happened to your sister, man? «  

As soon as the suite door closed behind her, Kaori kicked off her pumps and jumped on the plush sofa, unbuttoning her blouse.  

Sighing, she picked up the receiver… »I’d like to make an international call, please. «  

After a few rings, an annoyed female voice barked: »Hello?! «  

»Hey, B. « Kaori pulled the stick out of her chignon, shaking her hair loose.  

»Cory? «  

»The one and only. «  

»What’s up, girl? « Bridget didn’t like the tone of her best friend’s voice. »What happened? «  

Kaori sighed. »Do you have some time? «  

There was a long silence on the other end of the line… Then… »Oh, my God! You saw ‘him’, right?! You saw your guy! «  

»He’s the best friend of my other guy, « Kaori confessed in a whimper.  

»Holy crap! «  

»Tell me about it…«  

…  

Half an hour later, Kaori’s skirt lay in a heap in a corner and she was left only in her underwear and her unbuttoned blouse.  

»What are you going to do? «  

She closed her eyes, leaning her head back. »I don’t know, B. God, it’s all so damn complicated. «  

Bridget sighed. »It’s complicated, only because you make it so. From what you told me – and let’s just say you’re intuition is right on the mark – the hunk loves you, too. But how do you feel? «  

Kaori couldn’t answer. She was so bloody confused, her head started hurting.  

»Mick loves you, Cor. He gave up a profitable career for you. He almost died for you. He was prepared to risk everything for you… Something your hunk came up with short. «  

Kaori opened her eyes. Her friend did have a point. But then, Ryo sent her away to protect her. He loved her and yet he sent her away to protect her. Wasn’t that the most selfless act possible?  

Bridget thought the same exact thing, but she kept her tongue. She’s already said too much. She didn’t want to condition her friend. Cory had to make up her own mind. She was the one who had to decide whether to move on or walk backwards.  

»Bridget…«  

»Do you still love him, Cory? «  

»Yes. «  

Bridget was afraid of that answer. Before her departure Cory has told her the story of her life, but she didn’t tell her what she still felt about that man. Now she knew. »What about Mick? «  

Kaori sighed. »I love him, too. It’s just… just…«  

»Different? «  

»Yes. «  

Bridget sighed. »Sorry, I can’t be more helpful, girlfriend. Bottom line, you’ll have to decide all on your own. The only advice I can give is to follow your heart. «  

»Thanks, B. Bye. « Kaori hung up, shaking her head. Her eyes flew wide as the door opened. Turning her head, she saw Mick at the door.  

Mick breathed a sigh of relief. She was there. So maybe she’s decided to stick with him, despite the lies… Despite Ryo… But was it right to keep her with him, while every cell in his body screamed she still loved his best friend? And the look in Ryo’s eyes when he saw her. It still tore at his heartstrings whenever he thought about it. It must be hell for Ryo… After searching for her for so long, to see her before him in a blink of an eye, engaged to another man.  

Her hazel eyes met his sky-blue ones. Her heart squeezed at his forlorn gaze. He loved her. Unconditionally. She knew that. He was prepared to kill his best friend to save her life and then he was prepared to die, so as not to betray her trust in him. What more did she need? There, just a few feet away, stood the man who loved her more than anything, the man who gave up everything for her, the man who asked her to marry him and she accepted. What more did she need?  

She stared at her left hand…  

Mick cleared his throat. He needed to say something. »Kaori…«  

She stood and his jaw crashed to the floor. She was half-naked! He tried again. »Kaori…«  

She walked to him. »Yeah, Makimura Kaori. « She extended her hand. »It’s nice to meet you at last, Mick Angel. « She arched an eyebrow. »The real one. «  

He nodded stupidly, his eyes devouring her body.  

She quickly drew the edges of her blouse over her breasts, extending her hand again. »Excuse me! «  

»Oh, sorry. « With a sheepish smile, he grasped her fingers. He frowned, turning her right hand. His ring shone on her ring finger.  

She stared directly into his eyes. »I didn’t take it off. I just decided to transfer it for a while. «  

His gaze met hers. He understood. She needed to learn to trust him again. But that also meant, she made her choice. She chose him. Again.  

»Mick? « She sounded scared. »Don’t get mad. I just thought we could get back to being friends for a while. You know, getting to know each other again, before…« She fell silent.  

Just be friends and get to know each other again, before they were intimate again? Oh, yeah, he could wait. Mick grinned, shaking her hand. »It’s great to finally meet you, too, Kaori. I’ve heard so much about you. « 

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