Capitolo 25 :: 25

Pubblicato: 10-06-06 - Ultimo aggiornamento: 10-06-06

Commenti: ... minus one!

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The sun barely peeked over the horizon when Kaori tiredly opened her eyes. She smiled as she noticed she and Ryo had changed positions overnight. She remembered quite clearly falling asleep with him on top of her, still nestled between her thighs. Now, his arm was around her waist and her head on his shoulder.  

The smile vanished just as quickly as it had appeared.  

Despite the overwhelming sex they had, despite her telling him she loved him and promising him she wouldn’t return to Mick, he – as she predicted – never offered words of love.  

He loved her, of that she was sure. She could see it in his eyes, sense it in his gestures, feel it inside and out… And yet, he didn’t say the words out loud.  

She knew he had all intentions of sending her away and she saw the flicker of fear of hurting her in his eyes. He hated himself for what he did – making love to her – and still knowing he had to send her away. He hated himself for having to treat her like a whore.  

But she didn’t feel like a whore. She could never reproach him anything. She had been more than willing. And now she was more than thankful.  

She didn’t feel like a whore, because he didn’t treat her like one. She felt like a woman in love that just spent the most amazing night of her life with the man she loved more than anything.  

And because she loved him more than anything, she knew she should respect his wishes. She had to go. She had to leave him. Forever.  

Slowly disentangling herself from his arms, she rose above him. Her lips wobbling slightly and her eyes stinging with fresh tears, she leaned over him, brushing her lips softly over his.  

»I love you so much, « she whispered.  

Then, heart heavy, she slowly rose, covering her nakedness with his discarded shirt. Tiptoeing out of the room, she softly closed the door behind her. Only then, did she allow the tears to spill down her cheeks.  

…  

With one last glance around her old room, Kaori picked up her bag, tucking the notebook under her arm. She needed to add the last touch to its contents.  

Sighing, she closed the door, slowly walking down the stairs and out of the building. She took a deep breath of the fresh morning air. She didn’t call a cab. She was going to walk. Not that she needed the exercise. She just wanted to say goodbye to the city.  

On the terrace of the hotel SunCity, a man was calmly sipping his morning coffee, when a commotion form the foyer caught his attention. A fair eyebrow climbing, he turned toward the noise…  

Kaori, a hand holding the bag hanging off her shoulder, nodded slightly in silent greeting. »We need to talk. «  

The bed beside him felt a little cold, so Ryo finally decided to open his eyes. She wasn’t there. In fact, the imprint of her body was barely visible. Even the pillow bore only a faint scent. She must have been gone long. He wondered how come he didn’t hear her leave.  

Sighing tiredly, he rolled onto his back. It was for the best, anyway. He hated saying goodbye to people. And having to say goodbye to her… it would probably have killed him. Ryo smiled. This was so like his little Kaori. She always knew his mind better than himself. She knew what he felt, so she decided to make it easy on both of them and leave silently.  

His gaze turned thunderous. But did she really leave as in ‘leave’ or did she leave only to go back to Mick? Even though she promised never to do it. She didn’t actually make that promise, she just nodded. Was it possible she went back to Mick and… the preparations for their wedding?  

Throwing the covers off his body, he pulled on his slacks, prowling downstairs in search of a note. Anything that would tell him of her true intentions. And at the same time he kept his ears alert for any sign of her being still inside the apartment.  

His heart thumped in his chest. What if she was still here? What would he do? Grab her and take her upstairs again? Beg for her forgiveness? Beg her to stay with him no matter what?  

He shook his head vehemently. He shouldn’t be thinking along those lines. He must stay strong. Adamant! Suffer in silence, even if she chose to stay with Mick. Because she wasn’t in the apartment. He couldn’t feel her presence. It was empty… and so was her room. She really left. Without saying a word. Without even a note.  

Clenching his teeth, he slammed his fist against the wall. Why was he angry with her? Wasn’t he the one who didn’t want to have anything more to do with her? He should be happy she so obligingly disappeared.  

He tried for a laugh. It came out rather bitterly as he stared out the window at the city flooded with warm sunlight.  

The sound of the doorbell made him pivot on his bare heel and rush to the door. She was back. She decided to give them another chance. Thank God! He knew he wouldn’t have enough guts to go after her himself, no matter how desperately he might want to. His little Kaori saved him once again. She was the one to swallow her pride and come back to convince him to start living.  

He opened the door.  

Mick winked. »Hey, man! «  

Swinging, Ryo brought his fist up under his friend chin, sending him sprawling. »Son of a bitch! «  

Mick sat up, shaking his head to get rid of the buzzing. »Thanks for the greeting! «  

In two strides, Ryo was in front of him, grabbing him by the shirt, and hauling him on his feet. »Give me one good reason not to cut you open right now! « He hissed in his face.  

Mick grinned. »I think I’m more entitled to issue threats, here. Weren’t you the one who spent the night between my fiancée’s legs? «  

Ryo’s face turned crimson as he released his friend. Then he glared anew. »How could you do something like that to her? «  

»I’m not proud of what I did, but it needed to be done. You two needed to work this out and I needed to know the truth if I had any hopes at the future with her. «  

Ryo went for his neck. »I’m not letting you have her! « He growled.  

»Why did you let her go, then? « Feeling the pressure around his neck lessen, Mick asked softly: »Are you going after her? «  

Turning, Ryo walked to the window without saying a word.  

»Though so, « Mick murmured. »Pity, she was right. «  

Ryo turned in a heartbeat. »What?! «  

»Kaori. « Mick shrugged. »She told me it was impossible for you to come after her. I just didn’t believe her. Now I do. «  

»Kaori told you that? « Ryo swallowed. »When? «  

»In the morning. « He chuckled. »I still can’t get it how she managed to find me. «  

Ryo’s heart started crumbling anew. So she did go back to Mick. She knew where to find her fiancé. His eyes started stinging.  

Mick turned away, seeing his friend’s moist eyes. Poor bastard. Poor, stupid bastard! »She told me you would never admit to loving her. You would never go so far as to follow her and tell her you love her. You would never admit it, because you fear it might put her in danger if she stayed by your side… She understands you, mate. She’s probably the only one who does at this point. «  

»Why are you telling me this? « Ryo managed to ask. »If she returned to you, it doesn’t matter if I say anything at all, does it? «  

»Is that what you think? That she went to the hotel to find me, so she would continue being with me? « Mick rolled his eyes. »What an idiot! «  

The other fair eyebrow joined the first as Mick stared at his former fiancée in front of his table. He knew instantly, he should use the word ‘former’. She’d never looked more beautiful than she did in that instant, and he sure as hell knew what brought that healthy glow to her cheeks and that slightly dreamy expression in her eyes.  

It also helped to note that she wore a man’s shirt. And it was not one of his.  

»Good morning, Kaori, « he smiled pleasantly. »So you found me. «  

»So I did, « she said grimly. »Thanks, by the way, for impersonating Silver Fox. One needs diversity in life, lest it gets too boring. «  

He was a little taken aback by the sarcasm in her voice. He half expected her to box his ears. But she just stood there, staring at him.  

He showed her the chair on the other side of the table. »Would you care to sit down? «  

She slowly sat. »Thank you. I won’t stay long. «  

»I see. « He waved the waiter away. »So, my ruse worked, huh? «  

»Yes, it worked. «  

He smiled sadly.  

»Not in the intended way, though. «  

The smile disappeared at her sad tone. »Kaori…«  

»What were you thinking of accomplishing, Mick? «  

He shrugged. »We all knew there was unfinished business between the two of you. I just gave you a little nudge. I’m sorry to have frightened and hurt you, but it needed to be done. For both of you. «  

»Mick…«  

»I know you love me… But you don’t love me like you love him. And I needed you to see it, understand it. «  

»Mick…«  

»And I’m okay with this. I really am, Kaori. I just want you to be happy. And he’s the only one who can make you happy. I know that now. I’m just sorry I have been so blind to it until now. «  

She nodded. »Well, you made things easier for me. « She rummaged around in her bag. »I came here for two reasons. This is the first. « And she pushed the tiny ring box toward him. »I’m sorry for screwing everything up, Mick. «  

»It’s okay. It’s not your fault. Kismet can’t be helped. « He grinned, winking. »Besides, there’s plenty of other fish in the sea for a man in his prime like me. «  

She gently touched his hand. »Thank you for everything. «  

He nodded slightly. »What is the other reason you came here? «  

»I need a ride to the airport. «  

He blinked. »What? «  

»The airport… The big flat place with lot’s of planes. «  

»Why do you want to go to the airport? «  

»I’m going home. «  

»What do you mean? Your home is here, with Ryo. «  

She smiled sadly. »That was four years ago. «  

Mick sighed. »Don’t give me that! You must have cleared things up. Even a blind man could see, Ryo loves you. «  

Her big eyes swam with tears. »He does,« she murmured, nodding. »But he’ll never admit it. He’ll never…« She fell silent, starring at her knees. When her head lifted, her cheeks were streaked with tears. »It’s better this way. Really, it is. I’m not disappointed, because I never held much hope in the first place. «  

He stood, pulling her into his arms. »Kaori…«  

Before she went to her boarding gate, he tenderly kissed her forehead. »There will always be a special place for you inside my heart, Kaori,« he murmured. »If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate, okay?«  

She gave him a brief hug. »Thank you. I hope you find a woman who deserves you, Mick. I never did.« She pulled a notebook out of her bag. »Could you do me a favor?«  

Ryo stared blankly at his best friend.  

»You’re such a colossal idiot, Saeba. « Mick shook his head. »They should give you a medal. How you always manage to muck up your life is beyond me.«  

»What would you want me do?! «  

Mick rolled his eyes. »Jesus! Run after her! Live, for Pete’s sake. Everybody has the right for a second chance! «  

Ryo was silent.  

Mick grabbed him by the shoulders. »Ryo! You’ve been miserable your whole life. Now, you finally meet the woman who makes you happy… Don’t deny it. She’s the only one who can give you peace. And what you do? You let her get away?! «  

»She would always be in danger, because of my work, Mick, « Ryo whispered.  

»You could get a new life, man. I was willing to do it and managed it quite successfully. You could give it all up. You SHOULD give it all up. For her! You could give up being a sweeper…«  

»And do what? « Ryo’s eyes were tormented. »That’s all I know, Mick. «  

»His work is his life. He’s always been a sweeper. It’s all he knows, Mick. «  

Mick recalled Kaori’s words and his heart squeezed. She was truly the only one who really knew Saeba Ryo.  

»He couldn’t be happy doing anything else. That’s who he is. A sweeper. And I could never ask him to quit his job. It would change him. It would change who he is. He wouldn’t be the man I fell in love with. I could never ask something like that of him. «  

»I understand. « Walking to the sofa, he picked up his jacket. Pulling the notebook from the inner pocket, he gave it to his friend. »And so does she. «  

Ryo stared at the notebook in his hands. This was Kaori’s. He could feel it. His fingertips ran over the cover as if caressing her skin.  

»She wanted you to have this, « Mick murmured, softly closing the door, leaving his friend alone with his thoughts. 

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