| Fan Fiction |
by biniBningPunkista
This was a mystery to me. Toma has been close mouthed about what he’s been up to lately and has been very busy because of it. We rarely see each other these past few days, even when I attempt to set a date or try to call him, he would just say he’s in the middle of something or he can’t make it.
What’s wrong with our schedules? We’ve never been this way before, besides it also felt like he was doing it on purpose. Adding to it, I was still the ringless girl that I was three weeks ago, what the hell was he really up to?!? I didn’t even nag to him about any damn ring, but acting like this for a week is just plain crap. This was just too much.
Grabbing my phone from the table, I started to dial his number and call once again.
“The number you have dialed is not in service or out of coverage area. Please leave your message after the beep.” It was still the same voice mail I hear every time I call. When the beep went on, I left a message.
“Where the hell are you?!? Today is your father’s inauguration day and my gallery show. If you still want to see me you better fucking call me back or you are soooo… dead IKUTA TOMA. SO FUCKING DEAD.” I shouted at the receiver after the beep then slammed my phone shut before tossing it furiously on the table.
I was fuming mad for being treated like this for a week.
“Where were the peace, serenity and trust you told me a week ago?” Erika’s voice butted in my silent thoughts.
She entered the apartment without knocking at the door, knowing that I would be home preparing the last set of my art work for the gallery show tonight, which would be held during the inauguration of Kennishiro-san’s building. I was already done with the mural for the building two weeks ago, the artworks I have right now are the ones I have done and my old ones that I have never sold to anyone. I was only waiting for my pick-up boys to get the painting and set it up in the building. They were supposed to come by at 3 pm, but it was just a couple of minutes past 1.
“Would you find peace, serenity and trust if your fiancé keeps neglecting you for a week?” I told Erika defiantly. Feeling agitated that Toma hasn’t contacted me yet today.
“Well… I guess not. But I would still trust him.” She said meaningfully.
“I do trust Toma, it’s just… patience isn’t one of my virtues Erika. You know that. I also hate being set aside, it makes me feel down.” I said pouting at her.
“Then train yourself to have one.” Erika insisted.
“You always say those things as if it’s easy to do.” I complained. Then I noticed she was carrying something that smelled really good.
“What’s that?” I asked her excitedly, my mood turning around a 360 degree.
“Curry.” Erika answered nonchalantly as she arranged the curry on my kitchen counter.
“But you hate cooking curry!” I exclaimed very surprised that she decided to cook this on all days.
“I do… but Shota’s relatives love this food, and well… I thought I should give you one since I felt that you needed some comfort food.” She said.
“Hmph... You don’t have to say you have an ESP. It just means that you’ve cooked too much, and this was just the excess.” I told her grumpily for not putting me in the priority list, as I took a seat and dug into the chicken curry she brought. It was still hot and tasted good. Erika shrugged, not bothering to answer and took a seat opposite mine.
“…but this still tastes good, though it was cooked half heartedly.” I said after shoving another spoonful of curry into my mouth.
“That’s what professionals do Mao.” Erika said smugly as she watched me pig out on her dish.
“Yeah… whatever.” It was all I could say since I was definitely hungry, I didn’t just notice it that I have already missed my lunch for being too engrossed on concentrating between my paintings and Toma.
There was also this nagging feeling that has been bothering me since earlier this morning when I woke up, I just can’t seem to remember it. It feels like I was forgetting something really important… I just can’t put my mind on it.
I fed myself with curry caught in deep thought.
“What’s on your mind?” Erika asked, looking concerned.
“I have this feeling I forgot something very important… I can’t put my mind into it.” I said honestly.
Erika put her hand under her chin and thought deeply.
“Maybe because it’s your birthday today?” She suggested.
“NO SHIT!!! How the hell could I forget my own birthday???” I cried out loudly.
“You’re getting old, that’s a sign of aging.” Erika chuckled then brought out something from her paper bag. It was a small cake with a candle stuck in it.
“Happy Birthday Mao chan...” Erika said loudly while laughing, and then suddenly people came through the open door of my apartment.
The pick-up boys were there carrying a huge cake, Tamaki sempai and Aoi both held a banner with Happy birthday letters on it, while Shota carried a huge bouquet of flowers in his hands. Even Juri and Becky was there, bringing gifts with them. There were three other people whom I never expected to come. Rainie Yang, Mike He and Jun Matsumoto was there… along with their perfect smiles.
“I’m here to take pictures.” Rainie said as she hugged me.
“And we’re both here to make your party livelier.” Mike exclaimed while pointing to himself and Jun.
“A couple of famous actors wouldn’t hurt right?” Erika winked at me as she clutched Jun’s arms while Shota shook his head looking very amused.
“Right… your doing.” I chuckled at Erika.
“But where’s Toma?” I asked.
Wasn’t he supposed to be here too?
“I… gome Mao. Even I couldn’t reach him. I went to his apartment but he wasn’t there… I have no idea where he works now since Juri told me he indeed resigned from work. I tried calling his phone, so I thought he would just be here.” Erika shrugged.
I looked at her suspiciously, it all sounded so weird. Erika wasn’t a good liar, but this one sounded really convincing. Besides, she seemed like blabbing too, but I had to be nice to her right now… after all this was a surprise party, I didn’t want to ruin it for everyone.
“Thanks everybody…” I smiled sheepishly instead, letting Erika’s lie slip for now. I’ll grind her later tonight about it.
They all took their places and sang a happy birthday song, and then after I sliced the cake they all roamed around my apartment.
“Mao, you really have a great apartment here. There’s a lot of space… considering that you are a girl.” Rainie said as she her eyes grazed around.
“I hate having too many furniture, you can say I got that in my family.” I told her knowingly.
“Ah… I heard you’re from a samurai clan. That’s cool ne?” Mike said as he looked at Rainie for approval.
That’s when I noticed Jun standing alone at my working area looking at the artworks which were arranged. He was staring at a certain painting I couldn’t see, but I have a certain idea what it would be.
“What do you think?” I asked as I came closer to his side and looked at the same painting.
“Incredible.” He replied in awe.
“Are you selling it?” Jun asked hopefully.
“No.” I instantly replied.
There had been a lot of people inquiring about this painting; it was the 3 silhouette figures. It was one of my earlier paintings and a much sought out painting too, but it was never for sale. The painting had always been like my reminder of everything I have gone through. It represented my whole life and friendship with the two people dearest to me.
Jun looked at me confusedly and started to speak again.
“No, still not for sale… no matter how much you pay for it, it’s staying with me.” I told him firmly.
He shook his head dejectedly and gave a small smile instead.
“I knew you were a really hard person to convince.”
His statement made me smile.
The party was short because I had to haul the paintings to Kennishiro-san’s building. There was still a lot to be done. I said my good bye to everyone and told them to come to the gallery show tonight, but before I left I spoke with Erika just right outside my apartment.
“You better find Toma or he’s going to be dead meat if he doesn’t come tonight.” I told Erika with a warning look.
“Why me?!?” She exclaimed.
“Because you know well where to find him!” I insisted. Erika was still acting to be all innocent, it was starting to get all annoying.
“Hai hai… I’ll tell him.” Erika said, finally giving up all her pretenses.
“Ja ne. I’ll see you tonight… and thank you.” I said sincerely this time, before I left.
“You’re welcome!” She shouted after me.
This also made me smile.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wish things would go well for her tonight. There were some things I wanted to finish before actually telling her. Like finally having my own company with the help of investing my stocks by the use of research, my mother finally accepting the fact that I will not be following her footsteps in any way but could eventually absorb her company when my own gets bigger in five years time and at last the one thing I have been preparing for.
I’ve been standing right across the street of my father’s building; I didn’t bother to go inside to check what’s going on. I knew Mao would do everything perfectly, she has always been like that with her art. Right now though, I imagine she’s going to rip my head off for sitting this event out. I have never missed a gallery show she ever had. This was a first… unless…
The sight of Mao getting outside the building was my cue; this made me stand up straight. She looked stunning in her silver evening gown. Mao looked like a star shining in her dress, as she paced back and forth outside the building on top of the stairs.
She looked cute and impatient as always.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Where the hell are you Ikuta Toma?!? Erika told me you were coming. So where the hell are you???
I asked myself silently as I looked around the area searching for any signs of Toma.
There were a lot of people walking at the streets tonight, but not one of them was Toma. It’s been hours since we have opened and the speech that Kennishiro-san has given is even over, why is he taking his time to get here?
Once again I opened my phone and tried to call him, but I keep on getting connected to his voicemail.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?!?” I shouted at the phone when suddenly a couple of high school girls approached me. I was caught off guard by them as they looked shocked by my reaction.
“Gome. Sorry you had to see that.” I said sheepishly.
“That’s ok.” One of the girls said while the others giggled.
I noticed they were each holding gerbera daisies on their hands and before I knew it I blurted out what I was thinking.
“You guys have beautiful flowers with you, from your boyfriends?” I asked.
“No. It’s for you actually… someone asked us to give them to you.” The tallest girl said as they reached out the flowers to me.
“Eh?” I was utterly surprised. Then the girls run away from me giggling.
Was this a prank? Were the flowers going to explode any moment?
I tried sniffing one of them, but the flowers seemed all normal. They were all fresh even with moisture. The flowers were so alive with their different colors. Who will give them to me just like that?
“Ano… someone asked us to give this to you.” An old couple approached me this time holding a small box in their hand. It had a purple ribbon tied around it.
“Who?” I asked insistently after taking the box, but both obachan ignored me completely and walked back down the stairs and out on the street walk.
I started untying the box and removed the lid, when I was finally able to open it all I could see were scraps of shredded tissues inside.
Who would give me a…
My trail of thoughts stopped when I noticed something glint from the small box. The light from the entrance building reflected it, my hand moved to take it out. To my astonishment, it was a ring. Not just any other ring but it was THAT ring.
It looked exactly like the ring from Taiwan. Three diamonds imbedded in that thin silver ring, forming a triangular shape, with intricate designs on the band and had dents to give it a capturing look, and at the back of the ring were words etched in… kanji.
“Stay with me.” A voice called out in front of me.
“How…” I was at loss for words as I looked at Toma walking towards me wearing a light coat and casual pants.
“I lost it somewhere in the hotel I stayed back in Taiwan. Then to my surprise I found it in the party, I accidentally stepped on it when I was running after you. I almost slipped because of this…” Toma held my hand that was holding the ring.
“…I guess it found you.” He said earnestly.
“So it was mine after all?” I couldn’t believe the coincidence of it all.
How great were the odds of me finding the ring and him getting it back just to be able to give it to me?
“I guess we really are somehow connected with each other.” Toma said as he took the ring from my hand, with his head tilted down, he looked through his lashes then asked…
“Will you stay with me?” He finally said it.
“For better or for worse, Toma.” I replied and then he slipped the ring in my finger.
Somehow my hand felt lighter than it was supposed to be and then something clicked on my mind. My head snapped at him, my eyes wide and a bit alarmed.
“Did you check your voicemail?” I asked worriedly.
“Why?” Toma asked curiously.
“Give your phone to me.” I said hurriedly before he hears all those nasty things I left on his voicemail.
Turning away from him, I dialed his voicemail and listened to check his inbox. There was one voice mail unchecked, I clicked it and listened to my own voice to come out.
“You have one message.” Came in the automated voice and something else…
“Happy Birthday Mao chan… Aishiteru.” My heart jumped a notch. I turned around to look at Toma totally bewildered.
“You already heard!” I shoved him playfully, my face red with giddiness.
“I like you the way you are.” Toma said as he swiftly took me into his arms.
“Aishiteru Toma-kun.” I murmured as I buried my face into his chest.
“I already knew that.” He said as he kissed the top of my head then held my hand.
We walked inside the building hand in hand as the lights reflected on the engagement ring I wore while it sparkled gloriously on my finger.
~The End~
This is purely a fan-fiction.
------------------notes------------------
Yatta!!!!!!!!!! I’m finally done!!! I’m going to miss their characters… I swear. Toma is Kakkoi…forever. I also felt that Mao’s character has been quite a bit toned down in this sequel and this made me look back at her previous character in Stay with me, and eventually realized that there was a really big difference. Still, I love her in this fic… you never seem to know what she’s thinking. I wonder if all girlfriends were like her how would every man react ne? ^_^v just a piece of thought.
I wonder how you guys took the insert thought of Toma, someone did comment that she missed Toma’s POV. So I tried inserting it as much as I could but to the extent that it wouldn’t ruin the whole plot line and answer quite a few questions to some of Mao’s lingering thoughts. >_ _<
enitsirk20, believer, Evangeline, kaNa05, becky, Lindy, kareezsa, discoteque, hydic, otakugal_anime, cactyz, jmc_iuqcaj~~~ thank you guys for the comment, your “keep up the good work” and “waiting for the next one” really helped me not to give up on this story line all together.
Sankyu minna san!!! Until my next fic.
Please watch out for my other fan-fic in progress…
Shinku Minami - http://www.winglin.net/fanfic/biniBningPunk6/
The Recollection - http://www.winglin.net/fanfic/biniBningPunk5/
For my other completed fan-fics:
Kiss a beautiful stranger - http://www.winglin.net/fanfic/biniBningPunk4/
More than friends - http://www.winglin.net/fanfic/biniBningPunk2
Kiss a beautiful stranger - http://www.winglin.net/fanfic/biniBningPunk4/
The unknown - http://www.winglin.net/fanfic/biniBningPunk
Innocent kiss - http://winglin.net/fanfic/dhen_shaneen