Capitolo 20 :: 20

Pubblicato: 06-05-06 - Ultimo aggiornamento: 13-05-06

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»The number is unavailable at the moment. Please, try again later.«  

Kaori sighed heavily, staring at her cell phone’s screen. She’s been trying to reach Mick all day and nothing. His number was constantly unavailable. What was going on.  

She sighed again. She refused to believe something happened to him. But she also refused to acknowledge he didn’t even bother to call her. She hasn’t heard from him from the moment he left her in Ryo’s apartment. Not a single word. Absolute silence.  

Another heavy sigh.  

»You sound as if the world’s about to end.«  

Her head slowly lifted.  

Ryo’s smile disappeared. »What is it?« he asked softly.  

She shrugged, lowering her head again.  

Ryo sat on the small table in front of her. »Kaori…«  

She toyed with her cell phone.  

He clenched his teeth. She has probably been trying to reach Mick again. His eyes clouded as he tried to keep his voice neutral, while all he wanted to do, was shake her.  

»He’ll call.«  

She shrugged again.  

His knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists. This was not like her. She was not one to brood and mope. She was full of life, she was always on fire.  

She had been, he quickly corrected himself. She wasn’t like that anymore. At times, he barely recognized her. And at times, he missed his tomboyish Kaori so much, it felt as if he were looking at a stranger’s face.  

Kaori stared at his hands. His fists were clenched so tight, she was surprised his veins didn’t pop. The tendons in his forearms were wound tighter than bowstrings…  

Why? What could he possibly have to be angry about?  

And he was angry. She noticed the slightly strained undertone in his voice. A barely contained violence… Was it because she was sad for being unable to reach Mick? Was it even possible?  

Snapping her cell closed, she threw it to the other side of the sofa, lifting her head to meet his eyes.  

Oh, yeah! There was definitely something off.  

His dark eyebrow climbed as Ryo saw her cock her head to one side and study him. Why was she looking at him like that? And was that a smile blossoming on her beautiful lips?  

»What?«  

She leaned back on the sofa, folding her legs under her, and hugging a throw pillow. »Oh, nothing.«  

He growled. He hated this aspect of her character. It was so bloody obvious there was something.  

She flashed him a brilliant smile.  

His breath hitched in his throat as it seemed time had stopped.  

The smile turned into a mischievous grin.  

Ryo knew he had to do something, before he started behaving like a complete idiot. Clearing his throat, he snapped to his feet, beating a hasty retreat to the kitchen.  

Chuckling, Kaori decided to follow. She wasn’t about to let this golden opportunity to tease the teaser slip. No way!  

…  

Pouring himself a glass of cold water, Ryo clenched his teeth and closed his eyes in exasperation as he heard her soft footsteps following him. The woman was a plague and when she wanted, she could bite into something harder than a leech.  

»Is something amiss, Ryo?« she asked with an innocent tone.  

Ryo rolled his eyes, never turning.  

»Ryooo?«  

He sighed.  

She planted herself at his side, batting her eyelashes up at him. »Yoohoo! Anyone in there?«  

His head snapped around as she lifted her fist as if to knock him on the skull. »Don’t even think about it!« he growled.  

She smirked. »Oh, please. What are you gonna do about it? Break my wrist? You don’t hurt women.«  

»I DIDN’T hurt women,« he corrected. »It’s been four years Kaori. You have changed. What makes you think I didn’t? For all that you know, I might go around beating up everything with a skirt.«  

»I’m safe then.« Her eyes turned somber. »I was always safe from you… in every way.«  

»Precisely.«  

»Bull!«  

Ryo was taken aback by the vehemence in her tone.  

»Beg your pardon?«  

»I said bull! You’re full of it!«  

He blinked in incomprehension.  

»I’m engaged to your best friend, remember?«  

A furious tic appeared in his jaw as his eyes darkened.  

»He told me everything, remember?«  

His heart picked up pace and he swallowed loudly.  

»Everything!«  

He shrugged. »So what?«  

Kaori just stared at him.  

Ryo turned on his heel, striding out of the kitchen.  

As he was half-way to the stairs, he heard a frustrated shriek coming out of the kitchen, so he decided to pick up his feet and get to the safety of his room. Unfortunately, he wasn’t as quick as he used to be back in the day.  

»Oh, no you don’t!«  

Kaori came running out of the kitchen, grabbing him by the back of his jeans, tugging mightily.  

»Hold just a sec, buster. We’re not done yet!«  

He has forgotten her strength. As he tried to get free, he could hear the seams protesting.  

»Let go of my pants, Kaori!«  

»No!«  

He pivoted so quickly, she lost her grip.  

»What do you want?!« he squeezed between his teeth.  

»I want to talk.«  

His stare turned defensive. »About what?«  

Arms akimbo, she glared at him. »What do you think?«  

His eyes moved away from her face as he stared at the floor with a stubborn expression. »There’s nothing to talk about.«  

And he turned, striding toward the stairs.  

Kaori groaned in frustration, running after him, and planted herself on the first step. They were at eyelevel.  

»I beg to differ!«  

»Move.«  

She continued as if the word hasn’t been spoken. »Jesus, Ryo. I’ve been here for almost four days! I’ll die in another three…«  

She quickly lifted her hand to stop him from speaking. »Just give me a sec, here, buddy!« Taking a deep breath, she kept her eyes zeroed on his. »Look. We really should talk. I need for us to talk. We… I… Oh, to hell with it! We HAVE to talk!«  

»Why?« he whispered, his eyes empty. »What could possibly be solved with us talking.«  

Her eyes softened as she cocked her head. »Nothing… I just need to know.«  

He was silent.  

»Why did you send me away, if…« She couldn’t go on. She just couldn’t. Did he really love her as Mick kept telling her? Or did he send her away to be rid of her? She desperately needed to know the truth and yet, she feared it. She lowered her head, staring at her slippered feet.  

Ryo smiled slightly, tucking a finger under her chin, to make her look at him. »I sent you away for your own good, Kaori,« he said softly. »You were constantly in danger and I…«  

I couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to you.  

»… I promised your brother I’d take care of you.«  

Tears spilled from the corners of her eyes. Here it was. The truth. The naked truth. She wanted to hear it, right? And now she heard it.  

»Oh…«  

He wanted to kick himself. He made her cry again. But he couldn’t tell her the truth. He couldn’t tell her he loved her. Because if he did, she’d call off the wedding to Mick and stay with him. All her possibilities for a normal life would vanish. He couldn’t do something like that to her. He just couldn’t.  

And yet, he couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. But he had to let her go; he had to drive her away, if he wanted for her to be safe. To be happy.  

»Kaori…« He sighed. »I know what Mick told you.«  

»What?«  

»He thinks…« He chuckled. »He has this crazy idea that I love you and that’s the reason I sent you away.«  

Kaori could practically hear her heart breaking.  

»I know that, because he also has this crazy notion, that I’m afraid of loving someone, because of my childhood…«  

More tears spilled down her cheeks, dripping down the finger he still held under her chin.  

»Actually…« A leer curved his lips. »I’ve loved plenty of women.«  

Her lips quivered and he could tell, she was on the verge of breaking down. He really wanted to take her into his arms and swear eternal devotion to her, but he had to continue:  

»And am planning on continuing loving them. Lot’s of ’em.«  

»Just not me,« she added in a small voice.  

His eyes turned hard. »You’re like a sister to me, Kaori-kun. And… you’re engaged to be married… to my best friend… Or have you forgotten?!«  

She felt like a child being chastised for stealing candy. And it was too much even for her.  

Murmuring a quiet, »Sorry to have bothered you,« she hopped from the stair, slowly making her way to the door.  

Ryo watched her leave, his heart heavy. She was trying to maintain a picture of dignity, but he could see her hands trembling at her sides.  

»I’m so sorry, Kaori,« he whispered as the door closed softly behind her. »I’m doing this for you, baby. I hope you will be able to forgive me one day.«  

…  

As the door of her room closed behind her, Kaori quickly wiped at her cheeks with her sleeve, sitting on her bed.  

»This time I’ll let it pass,« she mumbled, lying on her back to stare at the ceiling. »I’ll let it pass until we solve this death-threat thing.«  

Curving her arms under her head, she smiled. »But when we do finish it, we’re gonna have another talk. A really long one. And you won’t lie to me then.« 

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