" "Did you bring your car?" Haruki asked as they were leaving the coffee shop.
"No, I walked here. It's been a while since I took a walk in the city," Jun responded
"Then let me give you a ride. I was going to take Iori home anyway,"
Jun nodded and they all headed toward Hariki's car. He was still thinking about the fact that Iori could be his first love. It had been years since then and Jun wouldn't say that it was faith to meet the love of his life after all this time and that it was meant to be. He wasn't that much of a romantic...
But, the thought that he and Iori had had a moment is in the past, and the fact that she was the person who represented the fleeting moment like the sakura petals that filled the library back then, gentle, beautiful, but fleeting like an illusion. That fact made him smile.
Back then they had bonded over their mutual love of books and literature. They talked about that and other things for hours to no end. H
Iori motioned to Jun who was answering his phone and headed down the hallway toward their apartment.Two bodyguards who were different from the ones assigned to her were waiting by the door. They both turned toward her and bowed and she realized that she knew the older one. “Genta,” she said and the old man nodded his neutral look never wavering. “Miss Iori, it has been a long time,” he said “Yes, it has,” Iori said smiling at the man who had been present through many of her childhood memories, “how have you been?” She asked “Thanks to your kindness I have been doing well.It’s good to see you well and in good health,” he said and his eyes crinkled in the corner in the closest semblance of a smile. “It’s good to
"No," Iori said "What in the world are you..." Her father began "I said no, Father. I am not going back to the main house. I made this clear a long time ago. I am not living in that house again. You were the one who chased me away from it, to begin with," Iori responded wondering how this would go. This was the first time she talked to her father directly about this and she didn't know how this would go. If her brother's suspicions were true. Maybe they could clear up any possible misunderstanding. "I never chased you away from the main house. Why would I do that?!" Her father exclaimed, "I knew that you wanted to be away from the pressure of the succession and the problems with the mountain clan, but our agreement had always been that you would come back to the family eventually..." "How about the time you said that you never wanted to see my face again and that I was as dead to you as Mother?" "I never said anything of the sort. What
“We’re screwed…” Jun said looking at the calendar in front of him on their new dining table. “We are screwed,” Iori said from the other side of the table staring at that very calendar with the bright red circle with the word deadline written underneath it. “How did it get to be like this?” Jun asked trying to ignore the voice in his head that kept saying ‘you know-how, you slacker!’ “This usually happens when no one sticks to the word counts and skips plot meetings…” Iori said with a distant voice as if she was trying to convince herself that she was in no danger if she talked about the problem like it didn’t concern her. Yeah… good try… “I can’t believe that we’re this behind on our schedule. We barely finished half of the required material …” “The manuscript isn’t even halfway through, and the deadline is in two days. Kimiko and Kajima are going to do a quadruple suicide taking us with them if we tell them this…” A shiver ran
Iori stopped running as soon as the lights went out. She stood there in the middle of silence and darkness in what felt like ages. Every cell in her body went still and she felt the cold air seeping through her clothes as if the frost was eating out the air around her in slow deliberate agony.She thought she heard footsteps and something else in the background but she wasn’t sure if those noises were inside her head or actually from the real world. That’s when she felt it, the warm humid breath against her neck and the acid words as they whispered into her ear.“I’m here to get you…” The all too familiar voice said, “you won’t get away from me this time, Suzuna-sensei…”Fear gripped Iori’s heart and nausea flipped her stomach. This has become the case whenever someone called her by that name. Iori wanted to run, she wanted to scream but she couldn’t.Her body didn’t belong to
Knowing that you have a deadline and working on it are two different things. There was always this deciding factor of whether you can get into the trance-like mood that would let you work through it nonstop until you finish.Jun couldn’t get into that mood. He knew that he was skirting the danger zone and that he would be screwed if he doesn’t start working, but, he just couldn’t. He was still reeling from the events that happened to them earlier that day.Iori didn’t seem to be having any problems, she had been cradling her laptop and typing away for a few hours now. She was on a roll, her fingers were moving on the keyboard so fast that he could barely keep up.She’d go for the laptop as soon as they entered the apartment and had been at it since then. Jun could only write two paragraphs since then and he was seriously considering deleting it.It ticked him that he was the only one agitated because of what happened, even th
Iori was reaching her limits. She was tired, sleep deprived, and the constant vibration in her phone were making her wince every time she hears it.She hadn’t slept in twenty four hours, which is a normal occurrence for a writer who could play Olympics in breaking deadlines. But, the stress was piled up more than usual and Iori felt more tired then she should have after staying up all night trying to meet their deadline she felt like she was dead on her feet and the bed was her only salvation.“You look terrible,” Jun commented from where he was sprawled on the couch leaning back and covering his eyes with his harm papers and books sprawled around him looking like the remainder of a battle field with their bookshelves.“That’s the pot calling the kettle black…” Iori responded her voice coming out in a slow slur as if she needed both the time and the low tone not to disturb the peaceful morning they were having after a n
“Yo!” Jun heard from behind him and turned to find Haruki walking toward him.“Fancy meeting you here, you mind company?” He asked and Jun motioned to the empty bar stool beside him with his half full whiskey cup.Haruki sat down beside him and motioned for the bartender to give him the same.“Drinking after a rough night?” He asked“Yeah, I spent the last two days juggling between my office and the family company. We really need Iori there if I’m going to survive until next year…” Haruki complained.“She’s going to be there next Monday, so hang in there…” Jun said with a smile.“Yeah, thank god for that…” Haruki complained. “How did the deadline go?”“Barely made it on time. I swear to god every time this happens that I will be more organised next time but it always ends up hap
The air in the bar was still and Jun felt as if he breathed he would disturb the equilibrium of the moment and lose Haruki’s words in the deafening silence. But when Haruki opened his mouth to speak, there was nothing to lose or confuse in his words.Everything was stilted black truth that could not be denied…“When I got the phone call, I still remember thinking that It was probably one of my clients. I answered and the police officer asked me to sit down before he told me everything…She was out on an evening jog when they got her. She had been with them for hours before someone found them. Apparently, they didn’t even bother to choose a well-hidden place, they took her to a deserted parking lot that was apparently still being used by a few people. And one of those people found them and called the police…”Haruki remained silent and Jun realized that he must be having a hard time talking about this… He
“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