“Are you okay?” The boy asked again this time looking at her with concern,
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Iori said automatically stepping away from the handsome stranger who was looking at her like she was a weirdo. And perhaps she was, for looking at him like that.
“Sorry, I didn’t see you on the floor,” She added trying to sound as civil as possible.
“No worries,” He answered giving Iori a heart stopping smile, “It’s my fault to be sleeping there in the first place. But in my defense, no one ever comes here so I didn’t think something like this would happen,”
Iori chuckled, “You’re straightforward…”
He chuckled alongside her, “Your english is good…” He commented stepping back and giving Iori her space.
As if she realized it for the first time, she looked up at him for a moment her mind doing a quick flashback. Back when she&r
Jun leaned back against the bookshelves and stared at the book he was holding in his hand. He had been reading and rereading the same paragraph for the best part of an hour... "I wonder if she's going to come back here..." He muttered then stopped himself not liking the track of his own thoughts. It was one time, one little meeting that happened in coincidence. Why was he expecting her to come back here? Sighing in frustration he stood up and made his way toward the shelf where he took the book he was reading. He couldn’t concentrate on the content anyway, he could as well take a nap until it was time to go back to that damned class. Since Shou just made another girlfriend, the traitor was rarely there, so Jun would be on his own against those annoying flies that keep circling around him… Memorizing the page where he stopped he put the book back in its place. He would be back here after school anyway, there was nothing to do back at home. His
"Where do you think you're going?" Sou called out from behind Jun just as he was leaving the classroom and heading down the hallway. Jun turned around and waited until Shou jogged to reach him before talking, "Why are you asking?" He asked his friend "It's been hard to get ahold of you these days. I rarely ever see you around anymore." He complained, "Isn't that because you've been so engrossed in your last girlfriend for the better part of the month and now that you're free you're starting to remember that you have a friend in the same class as yours that you've barely talked to these days?" Jun retorted "Ouch. Touchy much?" Shou said feigning being hurt. The guy was as thick skinned as a turtle shell. If he was going to get hurt by this much, he wouldn't have managed t become Jun's friend in the first place, "What's with the sudden interest in my whereabouts. Are you between girlfriends again?" Jun asked and Shou gave him a grin that
“You’re going there again?” Shun asked and Iori sighed“What’s the matter with you? Why are so hell bent on stopping me from going there?” Iori asked“You shouldn’t trust him. What if he knows who you really are?”“He won’t because I haven’t even told him my name yet. And besides there’s no harm with socializing with others. This is the reason we go to school. We get to know people and experience life…”“Are you sure this is what it is? Aren’t you hiding something from me about him?”“There’s nothing to hide,we’re friends and it’s not like I have to report my friends back to you…” Iori protested her annoyance spiking up. Shun was being a jerk and Iori didn’t even understand why.“You guys aren’t just friends, I saw the way you’ve been looking at each other when you thought n
Jun smiled when he heard someone approach him,"You're here early,"Turning around he realized that the person he was expecting to find standing there was different. He looked at the familiar face he had only seen from afar and straightened. He had known this confrontation was coming, it was inevitable since he met this guy's gaze a few weeks ago, he knew that it was going to come down to this. The question remains, what this guy wanted to say to him..."You're expecting someone else?" The guy asked sauntering toward him and Jun stood up casually brushing the back of his pants.This was something that they both needed to do on even grounds."As a matter of fact, I am waiting for someone. You seem to be here for a reason..." He commented"Stay away from her." He warned and Jun smirked.As expected, this was the jealous childhood friend..."Who are you talking about?" Jun asked, if he was lucky enough, he could
Iori stood there staring at him for a moment, somehow, he seemed… upset. Deeply so.“Is everything okay?” She asked himHe looked at her for a moment seeming startled,“Yeah, why?” he asked straightening up and approaching her,“You seem to be kind of off… Did something happen?”“Nothing worth mentioning. The usual annoying pests that’s all…” He told her, “More importantly, did you read the latest release from that magazine? It has a sequel of the story we talked about back then!”“Yeah,” Iori admitted accepting how he changed the subject, she wasn’t about to force him to tell her what was bothering him. He would talk if and when he was ready and she will be there to listen when that happened,“I couldn’t have imagined that that side character would be so interesting. He was always quiet in the background all the time.
Jun’s heart fluttered in his chest and he felt like his feet didn’t touch the ground anymore. Her beautiful eyes had lowered in shy approval making Jun almost lose the little hold he had on his control. Somehow, he knew that this was her first kiss even before their lips met.And the fact that she willingly gave it to him made him feel like he was ten feet taller and could carry mountains and run with them. This was how much he cherished her. Not as a conquest, but a special person whom he cared for more than he did for anyone before.This was the person he had fallen in love with.Jun pressed his lips to hers savoring the sweetness of the moment. Her soft fleshy lips made him want to bite them, but instead, he gently nipped at them until she opened them for him allowing him entrance.There was a level of exhilaration that he had never felt before. A rush of barely restrained energy and excitement filled him.Ever so slowly, Jun pulled
Iori sat there stunned for a long while her mind blank and her body feeling like it was on the clouds surrounded by fluffiness and warmth. Her hand reached up to touch her lips o so tenderly careful not to disturb the tingling remain of the presence of his lips against hers and she smiled to herself.It was her first kiss… Her very first kiss. And even though she lacked experience or comparison material she knew that it had been a phenomenal first kiss. A kiss that made her feel cherished and wanted at the same time…By the time Iori’s mind was present enough to realize anything around her it was already past the first period’s time. Sighing, she leaned back on the shelves picking up one of the books and starting to read it.She would deal with her absence and Shun’s annoyance later.Iori’s phone pinged just as she was starting to get into the book, a text from her brother.“Where are you?”&
Jun dashed out of class as soon as the bell rang. He was all but running into the corridor when Shou appeared in front of him.“Hi!” He called out.“Where did you go?” Jun asked him feeling restless for some reason.“Just looking up your mystery girl. There was a little bit of a hard game going on so I wanted to make sure of everything. I wanted to call you back then but there was no way of getting you out of class sorry man,”“What do you mean?” Jun asked his heart sinking at the way Shou was looking at him.“She left…” Shou said“What do you mean she left?” Jun asked not processing what Shou was saying“I don’t know what happened, but, before I could talk to anyone, someone from her family came to pick her up along with that guy she’s always with. I still have to look it up but it has something to do with her family and she had to transf
“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