they were there, they were all there surrounding her. she didn't have anywhere to run, there was nothing but the wall behind her and a mass of people surrounding her. No not people, a mass of monsters...
Iori stood there transfixed as they spoke in front of her shoving some sticks at her. Something at the back of her mind she knew that she should know what those things are, she knew but she couldn't remember. Her fear was overtaking all her senses and even though all she could think about was running, her feet stood there rooted to the ground as a cold tremor overtook her body.
She could hear a voice whispering close to her, was there someone who stood this close to her. Iori didn't know, she couldn't look. All she could see was the people running toward her, the monsters who were about to tear her apart again.
A hand wrapped around her chest and she was gently pulled into a warm surface. The faint scent of sandalwood and the ocean waffled her nose and as the
"What if the world is taking them so long?!" Jun exclaimed slamming his hand down on the table. Iori sighed deeply finishing the game of solitaire on her phone. It had been three hours since they were trapped in the room and the restaurant had closed its doors for a good two hours since then. When they kept calling their editors they got excuse after another and when they tried to get one of the staff to give them a lift the manager had insisted that no one had a car. He even couldn't call a taxi for them because of the crowds that seem to be still waiting for them outside. It was eleven o'clock and the two of them were already tired. As they kept waiting they decided to get some work done, but none of them felt like writing with the obvious reality that even the book was one of the president's schemes. To be honest, Iori was very tempted to nullify the contract and say to hell with the consequences. Her phone rang and she peeked at the screen to find
"And we're back to where it all started..." Jun said as he stood there watching the door in front of him, "That would make a great first sentence in a book..." Iori commented standing beside him. They were both eying the office door as if they were waiting for it to magically open itself. None of them was ready to face what was inside. Or rather, WHO was inside. Neither of them had barely gotten any sleep. Jun had a hard time sleeping thanks to all the ups and downs he went through all day long. He was already a light sleeper and with the energy still pumping through him, it was harder than usual to shut down his mind long enough to fall asleep. As he kept twisting and turning in bed, he could hear Iori quietly moving around in her room next door. Although he knew that they were both probably weren't going to get any sleep, they could get some work done, but, something stopped him from knocking on her room's door. Iori had been standoffish and
"Oh, that's rich..." Iori leaned back with a small chuckle, "What do you take us for Satoru-san? Do you think this is funny?" "Not at all, my dear. In fact, I'm as serious as a heart attack..." He responded the smile disappearing from his face, "You know that no one is going to believe you two aren't in a relationship right? The public is too convinced of your compatibility, they're already making you out as the perfect couple, and the book announcement is only going to make them ship you two together even more. You do realize this. even if you deny it, this is going to be what they think of you. In the world's eyes, you two are already dating whether you want it or not..." "And I'm sure you did nothing to solidify that image..." Iori said her ire growing as she listened the president "I've always thought that you two would make a good pair. I see that you're not resisting working together anymore" "Not that you gave us any choice, old m
Six months... Six months of living together with another person. Six dateless months. Jun was never one to mind female company. And it never hurt if that company was a raven-haired beauty who enticed his mind as much as she infuriated him and kept him on his toes. But that's completely useless when the person concerned is so much against it... Jun didn't mind having to live with Iori, he knew that it was going to be hard on too many levels but, strangely, it wasn't an idea that he hated as much as he was probably supposed to. Yet, seeing Iori's reaction made him reconsider his standpoint. Iori was emitting refusal vibes with her whole being. For a moment, he thought that she was going to panic like she did at the restaurant, but she was much more collected even though she was clearly distressed. After she left the room, Jun stole one glance at the old man who sighed watching her close the door. He didn't waste time going after her. The old man
Iori was in a fog when she left the president's office in a rush. All she could think about was his words. She had no choice, he gave her no choice...His strange condition to have one request that she should listen to no matter what hadn't been as strange compared to the weird conditions in the contract.She had been waiting for him to drop his impossible request anytime. Every time he summons her to his office she wonders if the time for payback was there. But it hadn't been back then. His request had to be the one thing that she couldn't do. The most difficult thing that she wasn't capable of...To think that ha had the nerves to make something like this his request and then plead with her to deal with it. How dare he make that face? How dare he look at her as if he wasn't talking about her utmost inner fears? How dare he look at her as if he was asking and not ordering her?!How dare he steal her choices away from her?!Iori slammed her fist in
"I know you're hesitant because it's something that you would never consider under any circumstances. But, If you leave your fears aside for a moment and think about why you're against the idea what would you think?" Haruki said Iori thought about it for a moment, leaving her fear aside, which would normally lead her to think that it was impossible to live with another man just like that. It may be okay to have male roommates in this day and age, but Iori didn't even like the idea of having a roommate, not to mention if that roommate is an incorrigible annoying player who got on her nerves. "Ugh, I don't know... I don't like that guy in the first place, he's annoying and infuriating..." "You said that before, yet, you agreed to work with him because you had to. You're a professional, so your decisions when it comes to the president's demands had always been practical and based on your work ethic. This is why you were able to work with him for so long, and he
Iori was deep in her thoughts when she heard the door open, she looked up in time for Jun to turn the lights on blinding her with the sudden brightness. "Uhh, What are you doing sitting there in the dark?" Jun asked eyeing her with a perplexed gaze, "I was lost in thoughts and forgot to turn the lights on," Iori responded standing up and heading toward the kitchen to fetch a glass of water. Her brother's words swam in her head not leaving her to concentrate on anything else. Jun was different, she knew that, she knew that her focus on him as a writer made her forget her fears of his gender, but she still didn't want to admit it until now. As the two of them were alone in the suite, and she didn't even feel an inkling of fear or the urge to run away. "I didn't ask you this before, but, what do you think of the president's demand?" Iori asked turning toward him. He slowly walked toward the breakfast bar in the small kitchen and sat in fron
"Are you ready?" Iori asked Jun as she finished her coffee mug already making plans to stop on the way and get another one."Yeah," Jun said closing his laptop and taking it with him, "Whenever you are," He smiled, no... he smirked"You seem to be in high spirits today," She commented as they left the suit"I'm looking forward to seeing the old man's troubled expression again," Jun said, "To think that the day when he feels bad for his actions would come.""You're having way too much fun with that. Besides, I don't believe that he feels remorseful in any way, perhaps afraid that I would end the contract out of nowhere.""You're seriously thinking about ending the contract and paying the fine?!" Jun exclaimed looking at her in shock,"Well, let's say that this time he asked too much of me...""Yeah, even I know that, but to give it all up... The sum to pay for that is ridiculous,""That's what my lawyer said..." Iori responded
“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