“Everyone, thank you for coming,” Iori’s father said as he stood at the head of the table facing the family members in attendance.
“It had been such a long time since we had such a gathering at the main house and I am glad to see us all together again in good health. And I am more overjoyed that the occasion that put us all together here is the return of my one and only daughter among us after years or estrangement.”
He said throwing an affectionate gaze on Iori’s way and she returned her father’s look with a warm smile.
“The reason why I wanted you all here today is to discuss what happened over the last few days.
I’m sure that most of you must be confused after hearing bits and pieces of information and not the whole story. Especially since the arrest of Kazuma. So I took it upon myself to inform the members of the main house myself to avoid any other misunderstanding…”
After that
The sound of bare footsteps as they ran through the damp slippery floor reached her ears through her heavy breathing and the pounding of her heart. She could hear those sounds echoing through the empty space like an illusion slipping through the darkness taunting her. Mocking her…She kept running none the less her breaths coming out as half-muffled sobs as desperation began to grow within her as her muscles grew more and more tired. Still, she ran as far and as hard as she could not looking back until she stepped into a small puddle and slipped into the ground her body slamming against the hard concrete floor.Before she could regain the breath that whooshed out of her she was slipped by hard hands and soon they were all over her, touching, caressing, and grating against her skin. Like cactuses rubbing against her skin, she felt the pain spread through her being at every intrusion and transgression.She wasn’t crying anymore, she wasn’t sobbi
Jun stared at his phone for a moment, sometimes it was so tempting to throw the offending device and detach himself from the world. The Idea was quite tempting considering where they were heading right now…“Ready?” Iori asked behind him and he turned toward her putting his phone in his back pocket and smiling at her.She was dressed in black pants and shirt. He long hair pulled back in a chignon making her pale nape stand out, and tinted sunglasses were put on top of her head in preparation for the morning sun.“Yeah,” He responded, “Shall we?”She nodded and Jun took her hand in his entwining it. He forgot about the text in his phone as soon as he set foot outside. There were many more things that interested him than that. Mainly, Iori’s goodbye to Shun.“We’re taking my car…” She announced as soon as they got to the underground parking lot and Jun nodded silently following
Iori hurried away from Jun trying to subside the blush of her cheeks by fanning them. Taking a deep breath, she made her way inside the cemetery out of his sight before stopping…Jun had kissed her… Not just a kiss, he had taken her mouth into his in a possessive and almost devouring manner leaving both of them breathless and wanting more. She had stared at him for a while with glazed wondering why he stopped eyes before she realized where she was,He had effectively made her forget everything about her surroundings and think of only him. Normally Iori’s mind would be working over hours overthinking every aspect of today’s visit. Jun was a dangerous person….Iori continued walking down the familiar path. She had been coming here every year faithfully for five years…And this would be the last time…She stood in front of the great holding Shun’s family name… The grave was already cleaned an
Jun parked the car in their underground parking lot and got out of the car in a hurry making his way toward Iori’s side who was making her way out while eying him cautiously.He took her hand in his, pulled her out gently, and then circled her waist with his arm heading toward the elevator in hurried steps.The silence went on until they got into the apartment where he locked the door and rushed toward his room holding his phone to his ear. She heard some muffled talking and realized that he was speaking on the phone with someone.Iori stood in the middle of the room putting her purse down and waiting for Jun to emerge from his room patiently.Jun came out of the room changed and his hair was ruffled from him running his hand against it. A nervous habit she noticed in him.His eyes widened when he found her standing in the same spot where he left her, guilt marring his feature as he sighed and came to stand beside her,“I…
Iori smoothed her dress for the tenth time as she watched herself in the mirror. The fabric flew over her knees not too short nor too long.She had painstakingly styled her into a loose chignon at the back of her neck letting some strands curl around her neck and the sides of her face. And even went through the trouble of putting some makeup on.Taking a deep breath she tried to calm down the nerves swirling in her stomach, why was she nervous in the first place?Sighing with exasperation, she headed out to find Jun standing in the living room looking down at his phone. He looked at her as soon as he heard the door open and his eyes widened at the sight of her.He stood there staring at her for a moment until she cleared her throat and he blinked,“You look… You look stunning.” Jun said in awe as he stepped toward her.“Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself…” Iori responded and Jun gave her a s
Jun stood there staring at the back of the old man’s friend’s lad head. Would he stop leering at Iori if he smacked him at the back of the head?Since he got to know Iori and her family, he never ceased to be amazed at the leering the mention of their family name caused. He hadn’t been aware of it until Kurosaki did her stunt unknowingly exposing her and in consequence him as her boyfriend.He was still being approached by people who hoped to get to her through him to her. And that’s exactly what Saitou was trying to do right now…“We should have dinner together one of these days,” Saitou was saying, and Iori’s expression turned into a cool smile as she opened her mouth to answer him,“If you can excuse us, Saitou-san. It hadn’t been long since Iori’s discharge from the hospital and she shouldn’t be kept standing up for long,” Jun said rounding the table and pulling Iori’
“You know… Back in high school, I used to have a special spot…” Jun told her as she stared at him unable to move.“The corner of the library. No one ever goes there. I could nap all I wanted and there were as many books as I wished to be there, the library was a true treasure… For the first two years, it had been my sanctuary. Until one day in my third year, someone stumbled into my corner. It was a second-year transfer student, and the most beautiful girl I had ever set my eyes on.” Jun continued and Iori’s heart caught.He was definitely talking about her. He was the guy she got to know for a short time back then… Her first love…“We got talking about books and things like that and it turned out that we got along much better than I would have thought. We had almost the same interest in books, and we got along pretty well. She went on from being the intruder in my space to the presence I was
Jun shifted in the bed waking up but not daring to open his eyes yet. It was still too warm and comfortable to move. Reaching out to the other side of the bed, planning to snuggle into the soft warmth he was sure to find there, Jun found nothing.His eyes snapped open when he realized that the other side of the bed was cold. He sat up and looked around. Was it all a dream? No, it can’t be…The taste of warmth and saltiness from Iori’s tears was still lingering on his tongue, among other things. Her scent still surrounded his skin like a branding soft smell that made him relive last night’s moments as if they were an illusion coming up to surround his senses again.He was in his room, in his bed. But everything seemed to remind him of her… The door where she stood looking up at him with her beautiful black eyes whispering his name softly and coarsely. The balcony where she playfully escaped and he carried her back inside as she lau
“How…” She whispered,“I picked him up on my way from the airport. He made his way up the mountain on his own and waited for me to come and pick him up so that he could come in.” Her father explained and Jun smiled.“You went through all this trouble…”“Sorry I couldn’t contact you, there was no cell reception on the way and I couldn’t reach you or your brother,” Jun said coming into the room as her father made way for him and went outside,“I’ve missed you,” He said, “God you look so beautiful,” He added and Iori laughed throwing her arms around him.He was there, he came for her… Iori felt on top pf the world.“How have you been?” He asked her“Fine! How have YOU been! I was worried about you, how did things go?!”“I settled everything,” He said‘What did you exa
Iori leaned against the wooden walls of her room in the mountain estate her eyes on the scenery in front of her, the beautiful cascades of the mountain forest views as they peeked through the misty presence that always seemed to cover the mountain early in the morning left Iori breathless whenever she looked at it.Usually, this view was enough to make her feel so fulfilled and empowered that she could take on anything that may come her way. But these days she couldn’t help but note the loneliness that was taking root in her heart.Her mind kept wandering to Jun and wondering how he was doing, how his meeting with Tohru’s father went. Since he had contacted her to ask if she arrived well there had been no signal from him. It’s been three days since then. Iori’s phone had been taken away two days ago. Her aunt claimed that she needed to disconnect from the city and reconnect with the mountain spirits.In any other circumstances, Iori would
Iori stood beside Jun as he spoke on the phone her hand on his tense shoulders silently reassuring him."So everything is settled? How about Kokuro are they going to plead guilty?" Jun asked and waited for the answer,"If they want to settle things with money drag them on for a bit longer and make sure that they will be under our hands next time. Tabloids can be valuable in the trade for the long term, I don't want to destroy them. Just make sure that they take a big hit... a public one..."Iori sighed, Jun was out for blood, after both the tabloid and Tohru fell for his trap, he was playing with them like a cat playing with his meal until he falls hungry and devours them. Who knew Jun could be so ruthless in business, he surely seems to be his father's son.But, Iori was worried that this was more than that. She was worried that Jun was exercising his revenge in the most rightful way he could find, not even daring to admit to himself that he was taking h
A few days later Iori walked out of the elevator with her brother walking beside her. Haruki nodded at the slightly surprised secretary and they went straight for the office. Then they went inside without knocking.Inside, the president sat alongside Jun as they talked. Iori and Jun’s eyes met for a brief moment but Iori quickly averted her gaze from his. She wasn’t there to exchange gazes with him, she was there for a reason and she couldn’t afford to let her feelings for Jun be in the way of what she needed to do.“Iori, I know we had an appointment but I didn’t know that you were bringing a guest,” Satoru said with a welcoming smile his poker face ever-present.“Since I came to the conclusion that you can’t be trusted, our meetings can’t go on unwitnessed anymore so I brought my lawyer with me to ensure that everything is legal here,”“Don’t you think that’s
Jun guided Iori toward the side of the terrace and they descended down the stairs that led to the Japanese style garden.“No one will bother us here,” He said and Iori smiled up at him.Jun led her toward a bench where he leaned and spread his arms for her to lean on him and she obliged relishing in the comfort of his arms around her.“Are you cold?” He asked as she snuggled into him.“No,” Iori answered her eyes closed as she breathed in the scent of his perfume. A scent that became so familiar to that she would sometimes miss it at night whenever she’s alone.“Back then all I could think about was how if I hadn’t wanted to become a writer none of this would have happened” She finally said and Jun squeezed her tighter and she felt his protest before she heard it.“There’s no way that any of tat is your fault,”“I know now… But back then it was
“Where are you taking me?” Iori asked Jun as they walked toward the center of the room.Jun grinned at her and she looked up at him in confusion. A small smile broke on her beautiful rosy lips making Jun want to wipe the make-up off them with one fell swoop of his mouth.He had been trying to hold back since the evening started, but he was reaching his limits. He wanted her more than anything, so at least he could have her all to himself for a few short moments like this before she had to return to her duties.“May I have this dance?” Jun asked her extending his hand to hers.Without hesitation, Iori put her hand on his which made him inwardly smile. Iori never hesitated to take his hand anymore, no matter the reason, Jun was always sure that she would reach out back to him if he extended his hand.It may seem like a small gesture, but to Jun it meant much more than that. Iori’s honest and instinctive reactions to him
“I would like to announce approaching retirement from my position as the second clan leader,” Akagi-sama said and a wave of gasps filled the room.Iori felt calmness fill her, she knew this was coming and she couldn’t describe how nervous she had felt when Akagi-sama had told her about her plan when she arrived the previous day.She had agonized over whether she was ready or if she was going to be enough, but, when she felt the moment come, all f her doubts disappeared and she felt herself being surrounded by a calmness that felt ethereal.This is her duty, the role she had been ready for for a long time. There was nothing to be scared about, there was nothing to fear because she was born to be the mountain clan’s leader. More importantly, she was born to be the priestess of the mountains.“I had been the leader of the mountain clan for such a long time that I feel that it’s long overdue for me to leave my place to some
Silence reigned over the room as soon as Akagi-sama stood there in front of them her presence reassuring and welcoming, yet at the same time overwhelming and imposing.It’s been a long time since Iori felt as if her aunt’s presence was imposing to her. Her training and frequent contact with the older woman had assured that Iori doesn’t view her aunt like the others do.Rather than saying that Iori got used to her presence, it was rather that Iori began to look at her aunt like an equal and sometimes a rival. And without the respect that had been ingrained in her back when her mother was still alive, she would have overstepped the bounds with her aunt long ago.That’s because that’s how things were supposed to be in their case. They may be mentor and disciple, but they were also a leader and her successor. And a few clashes between them were inevitable.Iori knew that her aunt liked her, she even considered her like the daught
“I hear your talk with akagi-sama went well?” Haruki said as he made his way toward them with Rina by his side.They both looked like a couple out of a spy movie, both tall and elegantly dressed. Her brother and his fiancée may have a peculiar relationship, a relationship where it was hard to decide whether they were together because it was decided for them or because they were the only compatible people who could put up with each other. But there was one sure thing, they both suited each other to the point of it being even perfect to look at.“Gee, thanks for the support,” Iori mumbled under her breath and Rina laughed,“Oh come on Iori! We all know that no one is willing to confront Akagi-sama other than you. I face cold blooded criminals on a daily basis and I can’t stand to have a talk with that woman for longer than necessary. She sends chills down my spine every time she looks at me with that piercing gaze o