The Beautiful Downfall - An Aiba Masaki Fanfic (Chapter 11/?)
Pairing: Aiba Masaki x Kusunoki Shion (OC)
Rating: R for whole series, PG for Ch.11
Genre: Romance, Mystery Drama
Word count: 1,130
Plot: Aiba Masaki (29) is the CEO of Yamakaze Hotels, Japan's top hotel chain. What began as a search for a secretary turns into a life-changing matter when he meets candidate Kusunoki Shion (26). As Shion challenges Aiba to question the only world he's ever known, she keeps to herself a dark secret that must remain undisclosed.
Author's Notes: Thanks for stopping by to read my fanfic! :D I have two ongoing series: this one, and Eyes Like Honey (Sakurai Sho fanfic). I beganThe Beautiful Downfall with a clear concept: I wanted to write a dark, DoS Masaki. ;) From there, I jotted down a rough storyline which became The Beautiful Downfall. Each chapter is relatively and deliberately short (under 2,000 words), so they are quicker reads than my other fanfics. Although I'm not sure how many chapters will be in this series, I hope you'll stick around to the end! ❤
Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10
Chapter 11: A Game of Chess
The puff of smoke escaped Nino's lips as he tapped the cigarette on an ashtray. Several days after the banquet, I received a call from Nino, who wanted to get together for a few drinks. The true purpose was, of course, not casual conversation over beers. He's a smart guy. He probably figured that Matsumoto would follow Kusunoki home to be able to report back that she did indeed get home safely. Why she went home to him? We both knew that he had invited me out to do some explaining.
I didn't ask him to. I wish he weren't so damn sharp about this sort of thing. In fact, I almost didn't want to hear it. Whatever the explanation, I was not ready to accept it. Either my best friend had been lying to me this whole time, or my secretary was keeping a secret. I couldn't see this conversation being pleasant, even civil.
"Go ahead. Ask me anything. I'll answer as much as I can."
He glanced over at me and chuckled before putting out his cigarette.
"...Ah," he sighed, as if he had picked out something from my expression. "Unless you don't want to talk about it."
It was so like him. Like I have a choice, I thought. What else would we talk about, now that I know what I know? Why would you invite me out otherwise?
"You're being unfair, you know that, right?" I shot him an annoyed look.
"Life never plays fair," Nino tested. "Look, if you want an explanation for why Shion-chan was at my house, I'm saying I'll give it to you."
He paused for several seconds before continuing his thought, as if he were debating whether or not to vocalize the rest.
"Not that I'm obligated to tell you. Last I recall, you're not Shion-chan's boyfriend or anything."
I clenched my jaw. He was right. His words felt like a slap in the face, a wake-up call. Why am I so irritated? Why am I jealous over someone who isn't even mine? I had no right to be angry.
"...You're right, Nino. Sorry."
He cracked his neck and looked curiously at me.
"Aren't you going to ask me why I know you know?"
"This is you we're talking about. You probably knew even before she got there that Matsumoto was following her."
He gave a quick, dry laugh. "I can spot his eyebrows from miles away. Besides, it wouldn't be like you to send her home alone."
Just then, the server came by with two glasses of beer. Nino picked his up and took a sip, letting out a small sigh.
"Anyway, I'm not blaming you. I know exactly how you feel."
"Hm?"
He took his thumb and forefinger to pinch the area between his eyes, as if enduring a mild headache. He wasn't saying anything, so I busied myself by taking a gulp of my beer. When he finally seemed ready to talk, he put his arms on the counter and leaned forward, keeping his eyes on his drink.
"I heard you met Kinoshita."
"Yeah."
"Did he threaten you?"
"He threatened Kusunoki."
He nodded. "You need to watch out for that guy."
"Why?"
Nino took another sip of his drink, then finally turned his head to look at me. His golden brown eyes shifted and seemed to foreshadow what he would say next.
"He's merely a pawn."
I didn't understand.
"The mastermind is elsewhere."
Nino picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the deep-fried octopus we had ordered earlier.
"What does that mean?" I asked skeptically.
He washed down his bite with the beer. "The king hasn't been cornered yet."
"Could you do me a favor and not be so damn cryptic?" I scratched the back of my head vigorously with my hand.
Nino tapped his fingers on the counter restlessly. "There's only one thing I want."
"What?"
"I want Shion-chan to be happy. Put another way, I despise anyone or anything getting in the way of that."
"What're you saying?"
"Let's just say that I hate Kinoshita."
Nino sighed a short sigh, then continued as if it were an afterthought to himself.
"No, I lied. There are two things I want, but the other is an impossibility." He smiled defeatedly and looked down at the counter.
"Nino."
"Hm?"
"...Are you still in love with her?"
I may not have grown up knowing what love felt like, but I'm not stupid enough not to know what it looks like.
"What makes you think I ever did?"
"Answer my question."
After another quick chug of his beer, he gave a side glance, his long bangs creating shadows over his eyes.
"If you know of a way to stop loving her, do me a favor and let me know, will ya?" he replied pitifully.
"Order up!" A young server shouted cheerfully as he placed an order of karaage on the counter.
Seeing him like this made me uncomfortable. I'd never seen him look so helpless.
"Why don't you just ask her out, then?" I asked genuinely. "It's like you said earlier. She's not mine or anything."
"I have."
"What?"
"I asked her four years ago." He took a piece of karaage and took a bite.
"...Then, why--"
"It didn't work out. She dumped me."
Things were not making sense. If she dumped Nino, then why was she going home to him? Why was she the one clinging to him?
"Then tell me, why did she end up at your place that night?"
"Because that's about the only thing I can still do for her," Nino sighed.
"Why's that? You could make her yours again, hold her, love her, protect her..."
"I can't."
"I don't get you, Nino. This whole thing is giving me a headache."
"Did it ever occur to you," Nino's voice became stern, "that loving her and protecting her are not synonymous or even directly proportional?"
"What do you mean?"
Nino sighed irritably. "I'm saying, that if I had to choose between loving her and protecting her, I'd choose the latter."
"So, you mean... she was at your place because she was in danger?"
He downed the rest of his beer. "Something like that."
He stood up and headed toward the cash register. Since I answered your questions, it's only fair that you pay, he said to me as he handed me the bill. I wanted to take that "life never plays fair" crap and throw it back in his face, but I had more pressing thoughts in my mind. I took out my wallet and handed the cashier my card.
"Why? Someone after her? Is it Kinoshita?"
As he put on his down jacket, Nino said in a low, secretive voice. "Find the king, Maa-kun."
Rating: R for whole series, PG for Ch.11
Genre: Romance, Mystery Drama
Word count: 1,130
Plot: Aiba Masaki (29) is the CEO of Yamakaze Hotels, Japan's top hotel chain. What began as a search for a secretary turns into a life-changing matter when he meets candidate Kusunoki Shion (26). As Shion challenges Aiba to question the only world he's ever known, she keeps to herself a dark secret that must remain undisclosed.
Author's Notes: Thanks for stopping by to read my fanfic! :D I have two ongoing series: this one, and Eyes Like Honey (Sakurai Sho fanfic). I beganThe Beautiful Downfall with a clear concept: I wanted to write a dark, DoS Masaki. ;) From there, I jotted down a rough storyline which became The Beautiful Downfall. Each chapter is relatively and deliberately short (under 2,000 words), so they are quicker reads than my other fanfics. Although I'm not sure how many chapters will be in this series, I hope you'll stick around to the end! ❤
Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10
Chapter 11: A Game of Chess
The puff of smoke escaped Nino's lips as he tapped the cigarette on an ashtray. Several days after the banquet, I received a call from Nino, who wanted to get together for a few drinks. The true purpose was, of course, not casual conversation over beers. He's a smart guy. He probably figured that Matsumoto would follow Kusunoki home to be able to report back that she did indeed get home safely. Why she went home to him? We both knew that he had invited me out to do some explaining.
I didn't ask him to. I wish he weren't so damn sharp about this sort of thing. In fact, I almost didn't want to hear it. Whatever the explanation, I was not ready to accept it. Either my best friend had been lying to me this whole time, or my secretary was keeping a secret. I couldn't see this conversation being pleasant, even civil.
"Go ahead. Ask me anything. I'll answer as much as I can."
He glanced over at me and chuckled before putting out his cigarette.
"...Ah," he sighed, as if he had picked out something from my expression. "Unless you don't want to talk about it."
It was so like him. Like I have a choice, I thought. What else would we talk about, now that I know what I know? Why would you invite me out otherwise?
"You're being unfair, you know that, right?" I shot him an annoyed look.
"Life never plays fair," Nino tested. "Look, if you want an explanation for why Shion-chan was at my house, I'm saying I'll give it to you."
He paused for several seconds before continuing his thought, as if he were debating whether or not to vocalize the rest.
"Not that I'm obligated to tell you. Last I recall, you're not Shion-chan's boyfriend or anything."
I clenched my jaw. He was right. His words felt like a slap in the face, a wake-up call. Why am I so irritated? Why am I jealous over someone who isn't even mine? I had no right to be angry.
"...You're right, Nino. Sorry."
He cracked his neck and looked curiously at me.
"Aren't you going to ask me why I know you know?"
"This is you we're talking about. You probably knew even before she got there that Matsumoto was following her."
He gave a quick, dry laugh. "I can spot his eyebrows from miles away. Besides, it wouldn't be like you to send her home alone."
Just then, the server came by with two glasses of beer. Nino picked his up and took a sip, letting out a small sigh.
"Anyway, I'm not blaming you. I know exactly how you feel."
"Hm?"
He took his thumb and forefinger to pinch the area between his eyes, as if enduring a mild headache. He wasn't saying anything, so I busied myself by taking a gulp of my beer. When he finally seemed ready to talk, he put his arms on the counter and leaned forward, keeping his eyes on his drink.
"I heard you met Kinoshita."
"Yeah."
"Did he threaten you?"
"He threatened Kusunoki."
He nodded. "You need to watch out for that guy."
"Why?"
Nino took another sip of his drink, then finally turned his head to look at me. His golden brown eyes shifted and seemed to foreshadow what he would say next.
"He's merely a pawn."
I didn't understand.
"The mastermind is elsewhere."
Nino picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the deep-fried octopus we had ordered earlier.
"What does that mean?" I asked skeptically.
He washed down his bite with the beer. "The king hasn't been cornered yet."
"Could you do me a favor and not be so damn cryptic?" I scratched the back of my head vigorously with my hand.
Nino tapped his fingers on the counter restlessly. "There's only one thing I want."
"What?"
"I want Shion-chan to be happy. Put another way, I despise anyone or anything getting in the way of that."
"What're you saying?"
"Let's just say that I hate Kinoshita."
Nino sighed a short sigh, then continued as if it were an afterthought to himself.
"No, I lied. There are two things I want, but the other is an impossibility." He smiled defeatedly and looked down at the counter.
"Nino."
"Hm?"
"...Are you still in love with her?"
I may not have grown up knowing what love felt like, but I'm not stupid enough not to know what it looks like.
"What makes you think I ever did?"
"Answer my question."
After another quick chug of his beer, he gave a side glance, his long bangs creating shadows over his eyes.
"If you know of a way to stop loving her, do me a favor and let me know, will ya?" he replied pitifully.
"Order up!" A young server shouted cheerfully as he placed an order of karaage on the counter.
Seeing him like this made me uncomfortable. I'd never seen him look so helpless.
"Why don't you just ask her out, then?" I asked genuinely. "It's like you said earlier. She's not mine or anything."
"I have."
"What?"
"I asked her four years ago." He took a piece of karaage and took a bite.
"...Then, why--"
"It didn't work out. She dumped me."
Things were not making sense. If she dumped Nino, then why was she going home to him? Why was she the one clinging to him?
"Then tell me, why did she end up at your place that night?"
"Because that's about the only thing I can still do for her," Nino sighed.
"Why's that? You could make her yours again, hold her, love her, protect her..."
"I can't."
"I don't get you, Nino. This whole thing is giving me a headache."
"Did it ever occur to you," Nino's voice became stern, "that loving her and protecting her are not synonymous or even directly proportional?"
"What do you mean?"
Nino sighed irritably. "I'm saying, that if I had to choose between loving her and protecting her, I'd choose the latter."
"So, you mean... she was at your place because she was in danger?"
He downed the rest of his beer. "Something like that."
He stood up and headed toward the cash register. Since I answered your questions, it's only fair that you pay, he said to me as he handed me the bill. I wanted to take that "life never plays fair" crap and throw it back in his face, but I had more pressing thoughts in my mind. I took out my wallet and handed the cashier my card.
"Why? Someone after her? Is it Kinoshita?"
As he put on his down jacket, Nino said in a low, secretive voice. "Find the king, Maa-kun."