Jun eyed Iori, she was curled on the couch staring at the laptop and sometimes stealing glances at her phone. He walked slowly behind her and blew a breath at her nape making her jump up startled.
“Jun!” She squeaked out and Jun shimmied into the small spot between her and the side of the couch,
“Call them…” He told her and she stiffened beside him.
“What are you talking about?” She responded and Jun sighed, she was going to be difficult about it…
“Since you got that text from your aunt yesterday you’ve been on edge and staring at your phone as if expecting it to ring if you keep looking at it expectantly.” He told her and she sighed,
“I don’t want to call father, we just started getting along again. I know that he wants me to get married because he’s worried. I don’t want to disappoint him…”
“It wasn’t your father who organiz
“That’s not where the shopping mall is…” Iori announced as Jun drove them into the city,“I thought you might like a shop that I know…” Jun responded, “It’s owned by a friend of mine and I always get my formal clothes there,”“Hmm, A friend…” Iori responded“Not that kind of friend…” Jun said with a chuckle“With you, you never know…” Iori muttered and he turned silent,She turned to look at him to find him stealing worried glances her way,“I’m kidding, you know…” She told him and he made an awkward sound and exhaled.“I know that I don’t have the best reputation when it comes to this…” He commented“You’re worried because we didn’t openly talk about it when we started dating?” Iori asked“We didn’t talk about much&hel
Jun sat back on the couch provided at the waiting room and waited. His leg was vibrating up and down in impatience. His gaze kept flickering toward the curtain where Iori and Anna disappeared.The occasional sound of laughter and murmurs drew his attention and he had to stop himself from bursting inside and interrupting them. He knew Anna would have a fit. She was particular about her customer service and that no one sees the customer before they are deemed acceptable by her.But he couldn’t care less about that now. He was rethinking his choice of taking Iori here. He had done that because he knew Anna was the best and he had been looking forward to seeing her dressed up. But, he somehow forgot that Iori was exactly Anna’s type.Anna was going to make him live through hell and back…“You must be sitting on needles by now…” Anna commented as she slipped outside,“Did you finish ogling my girlfriend?
Iori stood in front of the mirror staring at her reflection and liking what she saw. The dress was marvelous and everything about it was made to show just enough and entice whoever was watching into wanting more.Since she had decided not to face her father with the gathering’s invitation, Iori could barely sleep. She knew that she wasn’t making the right choice, she knew that she was taking the easy way out, but, still, she just couldn’t contact her father about it…Jun had respected her decision and taken it without even trying to change her mind. He knew her enough by now not to push her when she couldn’t take it. And she was grateful for that…Besides, Jun seemed to be preoccupied with other matters. His phone vibrated all day long and there seemed to be a lot of calls that he wasn’t taking. His concentration on their work wasn’t effective and he barely reached the required word count this week. Jun had somet
Iori leaned back on her heels as she half paid attention to one of her fellow mystery writers as he talked about the perfect plot for a closed room mystery. Fighting a sigh of annoyance, she smiled and nodded letting him go on with his monologue as she scanned the ballroom for the attendance.Jun was in a corner talking to one of the printers, they were so engrossed in their conversation that Jun didn’t seem to notice her.Her heart tightened and her annoyance grew at her colleague who went on from critiquing Conan Doyle to talking about Agatha Christie’s lack of plot tricks. Why the guy was a writer and not a critique was beyond Iori.Jun’s story had stopped as soon as their driver stopped by to pick them up for the ball, since they arrived two hours ago, they didn’t have a moment for themselves to breathe. Everything was a blur, she was introduced to so many people that her head was spinning and she could barely remember half of them.
Jun took Iori’s hand and pulled her to him on the dancing floor, he felt her stiffness and wondered what made her like that. It was true that the night was trying and he was too tired from sweet talk and forced smiles. He’s had enough to last him for a lifetime. She must be the same, but something told him that there was something else.Looking up, Jun realized that he had been right, and the reason was staring back at him with expectant eyes. Jun felt anger swirl within him and he would have loved nothing more than to go to Emi and give her a piece of his mind, but he wouldn’t make that mistake. Because it would be exactly what she wants.She was provoking him so that he would talk to her, and then she could build upon that and weave her webs around them like the black widow she was.Jun leaned down pulling Iori to him and he couldn’t help the satisfaction when she fit against him like a perfect match. He pressed a kiss at the back of he
Jun still remembered everything about those days. It had been a hell of a strange week. Emi was on her phone all the time and every time he asks her, she tells him that it was her family back home.It was a nice and well-done surprise when he leaned that she didn’t even have a family in Japan. Or anywhere else for that matter…Aya kept saying that he was busy and Jun was getting sick of his friend’s avoidance. Planning to face him once and for all, he drove to his apartment. When he got there, he saw Aya leaving the apartment in his car so on a whim instead of calling out to him or just calling him on the phone, Jun decided to follow Aya.Perhaps that had been where he went wrong. If he had called Aya, surely, he would have stopped him from going where he was never going to return from.As he drove after him, Aya went to the part of town where old offices were. Jun wondered what his friend was doing when he parked his car in front of on
“He’s dead…” Jun said with a voice he didn’t recognize as his own,A strangled scream came out of Tohru and he kneeled beside his brother shaking him and trying to wake him up as if that would do any good.“Aya! This is a lie! Aya open your eyes. Stop joking around, Aya!” Tohru kept yelling at his brother to open his eyes but it was too late. Aya was already dead.Jun gritted his tooth and looked up at the man who killed his best friend. The man who defended his family and friends until his last breath. The tattooed American was looking at him with a smirk on his face.He was smiling. The man was smiling after he just shot Aya. Rage blew through Jun like a vortex. His limps were so tense that he thought that his tendons were going to snap.“You’re a bunch of stupid wussies, I knew that you wouldn’t be able to pull it off in the end,” He told Tohru as he lifted his gun up.Toh
“You told her?” Shou asked leaning forward on the counter and looking more than just surprised.“You thought that I would never tell her didn’t you?” Jun asked with a skeptical look at his friend“No… Not that, It’s just that…” Shou leaned back rubbing the back of his head“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Jun reproached his friend who had the decency to look bashful.“So you told her everything. Even about the old man?” Shou asked as he regained his curiosity pretty quickly.“Not about him…” Jun responded looking down at his coffee mug,“You really… You told her about your past and you couldn’t even tell her about your father?!”“I couldn’t tell her so soon after dropping one bomb at her…” Jun said“You have to tell her! You know that what you’re hiding from h
“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