| Fan Fiction |
by biniBningPunkista
When I got in front of my door, I was about to get the key out of my pocket when I heard screams of a woman coming from the inside. In a flash an image of Mao came into my mind then I noticed that the door was slightly ajar. I came rushing inside the pad when there was a sudden gunshot. My heart was pounding rapidly as I stood there, frozen at my spot while my face quickly became pale as I started thinking of all terrible things that could have happened. When I finally became aware of my surroundings I was taken aback.
There were candles everywhere, the fresh scent of lilac was hanging in the air and when I took a glance at the dinner table, there were plates, silverware and candles lay on top with a 1983 bottle of wine that was carefully placed inside an ice bucket, but the ice had already melted.
I heard the loud music coming from the receiving area, where the TV set was. Walking to that area, I saw credits rolling on the TV screen, as I went closer to the couch, a foot was sticking out on top of the coffee table. There, sitting sound asleep on the couch with one leg under her, a foot stretched out on the table and a remote control on hand was Mao.
Deeply relieved and glad that she was alright and the screams and gunshot was just from the movie she was watching, I gazed at her carefully. That’s when I digested the scene around me. Guilt struck me head on after realizing that she had done these things for the both of us, while I was back in my office… hanging outside and letting time pass by for no apparent reason and then there was Rainie…
This trail of thoughts held me back from touching Mao, as guilt washed over me. Then all of a sudden Mao woke up and looked at me.
“Okairi.. welcome back.” she said softly while stretching out.
I looked silently at her, too guilty to speak.
“You’re late.” She frowned at me and crossed her arms on her chest.
I slowly sat beside her as she moved her feet down to the floor and rested her back on the couch.
“Something came up at the office.”
“That’s ok, it’s not like preparing something like this is a big deal.” She shrugged, obviously trying to hide something. Being her, she’s probably pissed off with me right now… but there is something very fishy with the way she’s acting. Mao should be screaming and throwing tantrums by now. I waited for a few more seconds for her reaction, but she just sat there silently.
“What happened?” I asked.
“What do you mean what happened? I just fell asleep watching a movie. That’s all.” She raised both her shoulders up once again avoiding my gaze.
Again with the shrugging. What’s up with her? She doesn’t even watch movies unless it’s in the theaters, let alone hold a remote and sleep on the couch. Something was definitely up.
“What happened while I was gone?” I asked her while I held her face in my hands.
Mao looked at me straight in the eye this time and blinked twice.
“Your mother came and demanded I leave your apartment.” She finally said.
“SHE WHAT?!?” I said out loudly.
“She told me to leave your pad, be gone, and said something like leave you forever.”
“Damn that woman!!! What was she thinking? How did she even get inside my place?”
“Ano…” she looked at me with guilt, “I let her in.”
“Why?!?” I bewildered.
“You should have pretended not to be here or something.” I told her feeling really frustrated as I kept shaking my head with disbelief.
“But it’s too late Toma. She saw me entering your apartment… so I had to let her in and besides she’s your mother. I should at least give respect to her even though she doesn’t like me and hates my guts.”
“What did you do then?”
“Well…” her voice trailed off as she gave me a side glance.
“I told her unless she buys the whole building off… I’ll probably leave.” She muttered nonchalantly as she stood up and walked over the dinner table to take the ice bucket with the bottle of wine in it, threw the water in the sink and swiftly strode towards the fridge. I turned my head to look at her as she opened the freezer to get ice and placed it inside the bucket. Then she brought the wine and ice bucket by the sofa, laid it on the coffee table and then sat on my lap.
“MAO!!! My mother could definitely buy this whole building off. I thought you already knew her when she made your life a living hell back then.” I told her feeling frustrated yet again.
“TOMA!!!” She emphasized mimicking me, which made my heart lurch forward.
God this woman could make me feel all things at the same time. How could I find this cute when the whole situation is so not in the right place?
“Your mother would never buy this building. As if she could find any profit in this place? I mean… it is a nice building and all… but isn’t there a purpose why YOU CHOSE this building?” She said smugly.
Well she did have a point about that.
“Oh and I almost forgot, once again your mother called me a brazen hussy. I’m really starting to like your mother you know… she never forgets calling me that.” Mao put her hand in her cheeks as if remembering dreamily about the whole incident. Then as if it was all an insignificant event to her, she shrugged her shoulders and faced me.
“Well I am your brazen hussy after all Toma-kuuuun. Although… I really so fucking wanted to show my fangs… but I don’t fight against old women especially if it’s your mother.” She grinned at me and moved her face closer to mine our nose almost touching.
“I wish you did show your fangs so she wouldn’t come back again. Ever.” I wrapped my arms around her waist and held her while I kissed her softly.
I parted my lips from her and carefully asked,
“Will you marry me?” I looked intently at her eyes waiting for her answer.
Mao looked stunned, she just looked blankly at me not saying anything.
“Mao?” I nervously raised my hand to touch her face, but she held it midway.
“Toma… this is… this is…” she stuttered not knowing what to say as I gazed at her expectantly.
I knew she was not into the idea of a holy matrimony, but I felt that I had to ask her this. It was now or never. Mao is the love of my freaking life and she’s probably the sole reason of my whole existence. If it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t be… me.
Slowly, Mao unwrapped herself from me and stood up.
“I…” her voice trailed off, then there was a sudden sharp knock on the door. We both looked at each other then she moved to answer the door instead of responding to my question.
I sighed exasperatedly as I slouched on the sofa thinking who could be disturbing us in this god forbidden hour.
“Is this Mr. Ikuta Toma’s place?” a male’s voice asked.
“Hai. It is, may I help you?” Mao answered.
My ears perked up when I heard the voice of the unknown visitor, curiosity got the best of me that I decided to walk towards the door and see him for myself.
The man looked like in his mid 30’s, tall and lean and was sporting a black suit and leather shoes while holding a brief case. Standing beside him was a young woman with sharp eyes and fierce look about her face, and was also wearing a black suit. The scene before me looks like something that would come out of a mafia movie or a page in a manga, a japanese comic book which high school girls nowadays love to read. This is like a situation where people in business suits would come barging in the night demanding something from the main character…
My mind flew in the midst of all these, when the man coughed to catch my attention. I was brought back to reality and composed myself to look at them.
“I’m Ikuta Toma.” I nodded at them trying to act normal, even though I’m already planning in the back of my head. Since they are in my place and a phone call to the police is easy to do if something comes up, my worries could be set for later.
The younger woman approached and bowed her head before me.
“Konbanwa, Mr. Ikuta we apologize for showing up this late and for not informing you that we are coming. I am Harada Natsuki and this is Fujiki Naohito… we both work for your father.”
Hearing this information, my head started to throb like a hammer was hitting me inside out. My hand went to my temples as I slowly closed my eyes to massage it.
“You’re telling me you work for my father? And who is this man you are talking about? I don’t have a FATHER if I may correct you Ms. Harada. My father… has left me before I was born.”
Natsuki looked at her companion.
“If we may discuss this inside Mr. Ikuta…” suggested by the man whom Natsuki just referred to as Naohito, which I willingly obliged. Since this whole situation was already giving me a headache. I looked at Mao, who worriedly looked back at me.
Mao opened the light while the two unwanted visitors came in looking around the pad, I motioned for them to sit at the sofa as I sat opposite them. Naohito laid his briefcase on the coffee table and opened it. He took out some files and papers which where all authenticated.
“Here are the evidences that we, indeed work for your father. Your birth certificate copy has been carried by your Otosan since he left your house hold. Upon his death you will receive all of his estate and assets not only in this country but as well in China, Taiwan, Singapore and Australia. Here are several pictures of you that he had while you were growing up. He wanted you to…”
“Hold on Mr. Fujiki, I don’t have anything to do with him. As much as possible I don’t want his money or his estate and assets. I’m comfortable living the way I am now, and I don’t give a damn about what he wants me to do.” I cut him short before he continued telling me things about what my father wanted me to do. Then Harada Natsuki casually looked at me in the eye and said,
“Are you not curious why he left your household before you were born Mr. Ikuta? I also heard that you have no idea who your real father is, nor his name or face. Are you not interested at all on knowing this man? Let’s remove prestige and fame Mr. Ikuta… your family name as I believe is taken from your mother, whom you would not want to associate with since you graduated in high school. You are supposedly the heir of your mother’s corporation, but you decided to cut all ties with her when you were 21.”
“How the hell…” I looked at them utterly surprised at how they knew these details in my life. This remark took a great deal of my attention. Mao slowly walked by my side and held my shoulder comfortingly.
Who the hell are these people???
“Are you curious enough now Mr. Ikuta? Here is our business card.” Natsuki reached out the card in her hand she was holding on the tip of her fingertips.
“By the way Mr. Ikuta, these things do not come in silver platter. We have a proposal to make.” She said after I took the card.
“So when it comes down to it, there is still a catch. I told you I don’t have anything to do with…”
“YOU have everything to do with that man, Mr. Ikuta. Your mother did everything in her power that the two of you never meet. Your father is restrained to contact you at all cost until your bank account has reached a certain level to declare that you are rich enough to buy yourself a company, thus this allows us to approach you legally. Your father is proud of you making a name for yourself in a low profile way, and now it’s time Mr. Ikuta for the two of you to meet. Our proposal is that you bring yourself to China and see that man, who is your father or there would be no job in Japan and probably in the face of the earth that would accept you in their business. Although we know you can survive without a work for a couple of decades, I doubt it that you can stay put with doing nothing for the rest of your life… unless you succumb to your mother’s will, which is very unlikely to happen.” She smiled coldly while Naohito started to pack the things he presented earlier.
“You come here in my home in this god forbidden hour, you tell me that my father wants to see me, you even have to guts to snoop into my bank account and now… you are blackmailing me?” I told them bewildered, completely angry at them for barging uninvited and revealing things that I never had the intention of knowing.
“It can’t be helped. You may call us anytime of the day and we’ll come and bring you to him.” Natsuki and Naohito stood up and bowed their heads before taking themselves out of the apartment.
There was a complete silence in the room as I spaced out, my head was completely blank. I still couldn’t digest what happened.
“So… Mr. Ikuta Toma. Your father is filthy rich then.” Mao plopped down at the couch and imitated Natsuki’s talking.
“Mao…” I shook my head at her. This totally overstepped my proposal earlier, and then I noticed Mao stiffen up.
“Gome ne… that was pretty much uncalled for. So what are you planning now?” she started while looking nervously at me.
“I honestly don’t know.” I slowly sat down beside her at the sofa as she brushed my hair with her hands.
“This day was definitely tiring.” I told her while I rested my head on her shoulders, she nodded with agreement.
“It definitely was. About our conversation earlier…”
“Let’s leave it as question for now.” I cut her mid sentence before she could continue. I was afraid that my suspicions would be true, that I would just regret popping up that question so suddenly.
“Souka…” she said muttered sounding relieved and then she added,
“Oh, and by the way… happy anniversary.” She softly whispered and kissed the top of my head.
“Happy anniversary too Mao-chan.” I smiled with my eyes closed and my head on her shoulders as I drifted off to sleep thinking that tomorrow might be a better day.
~To be continued~
This is purely a fan-fiction.
Words from me: this was kind of a bad day for me too… tomorrow might be a better day. As Toma said. Hekhek.. I hope you guys are not bored with this one. 0_o\m/