The Beautiful Downfall - An Aiba Masaki Fanfic (Chapter 18/?)
Pairing: Aiba Masaki x Kusunoki Shion (OC)
Rating: R for whole series, R for Ch.18
Genre: Romance, Mystery Drama
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 began The 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 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 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17
Chapter 18: Smoke Signals
Silence filled the space but my mind was racing louder than ever. I wasn’t sure what angered me more, her betrayal or the fact that I let this happen. This is why things like love and trust are worthless virtues. For a blip in time, I had forgotten how I had lived all my life. How could I let a mere woman do this to me? My lapse in judgment was to blame. As Matsumoto collected the pieces of the now-broken desk lamp, I felt the sudden urge to be alone. It was the only way I knew how to protect myself.
“Matsumoto. You’re excused.”
“...As you wish, Young Master.”
His concerned look, albeit warranted, was unnecessary. I gave him a quick nod, a sign to hasten his departure. Though reluctantly, he bowed and excused himself. As the door shut behind him, an earlier vision overlapped in my mind. Her lack of an excuse infuriated me. She was not one to waste words. Her audacity came from a need to express her mind. If she didn’t care, she chose not to say anything. And that’s why her silence angered me to no end. A lifelong dream, I had shared with her in my vulnerability. What did she think of it? Her silence was her answer, her name on the contract, a stab in the back.
Still, the worst part was not my warranted anger at her; it was the nagging hope that this was all a misunderstanding. Is this what love does to people? No wonder I refused such emotion my entire life. Believe what you see and know. I’ve no time to be wasting on worthless things only fools have the stupidity to entertain. Perhaps this was her biggest crime: she made me believe love was of value. As I glanced down at the contract with her name clearly printed on it, I scoffed at how pathetic I had become. Did I almost lose myself in the process of loving her? Surely, I wasn’t that consumed with her, was I? Maybe this was the wake up call I needed to bring me back to my senses.
Even though confusion reigned my mind, I knew I had to take care of business. Ignoring the computer monitor on the ground, I pulled out my laptop and reviewed my contract with Takenaka Corporation. The document took effect nearly half a year before the one with Ruby Ventures. Why did Takenaka Corporation override an existing promise? More importantly, how was Kusunoki able to void my contract? I took another look at hers. April 2, 2020. Hm? I furrowed my eyebrows as I recalled the night I invited her onto my boat. That was early May. She couldn’t have known what I had planned to do with that empty lot until then. Why, then, was her contract dated April 2nd? I had taken extra care not to mix my personal endeavor with business. The funds for the baseball field came from my personal bank account. The only thing connecting me to the construction site was a sign on the fence surrounding the lot, with my name written at the bottom to note who owned the property.
Had she randomly come across it in the past? Even then, what was her motive? I hadn’t given her a reason to betray me. Was there someone else manipulating her actions? It was then I caught myself trying to defend her. Was I seriously trying to make excuses? Her name stared back at me and I felt disgusted with myself. Even if she had signed the contract against her will, the fact of the matter was, she betrayed me. Furthermore, if I hadn’t given her reason to be disloyal, it only meant this whole thing was premeditated. She had approached me with intent to plant a Judas kiss. The thought made me sick to my stomach; I had personally let the traitor in and worse, fallen in love with her.
I could point the finger but what good would it do now? I was to blame for letting this happen, for not seeing who she truly was. In a hurry, I made a phone call to the Directress. It pained me to be the bringer of bad news, but I vowed to her that I would set things right, that I would fix this and take responsibility for my negligence. No matter what it takes, I would save the orphanage and build that baseball field. That was a promise not only to her, but also to myself.
Just as I hung up, my cell phone buzzed in my jacket pocket. Though I wasn’t in the mood to talk to the caller, I pressed the answer button and brought the device to my ears.
“Maa-kun? It’s me.” Nino’s voice seemed more alarmed than usual.
“Yeah, what is it?”
“Did something happen between you and Shion-chan?” He’s straight to the point today, it seems.
Somehow, it irritated me to hear him say her name. “Why?”
“Answer my question.”
I heaved a sigh. “If by ‘something’ you mean I told her to get the fuck out of my office, then yeah, something happened.”
“I knew it…”
“Huh?” What did he mean by that?
“She could be in grave danger. I need you to tell me everything.”
He was speaking quickly, as if adrenaline was rushing through his veins. I noticed his breathing was loud as well.
“What do you mean she’s in d-”
“Damn it, just tell me what happened!”
Anger and terror were evident in his shaking voice. What was so urgent about this information? I didn’t understand, but told him the course of events, from the phone call from Takenaka Corporation to the contract with her name on it. He listened quietly but I could feel the tension on the other end of the line. Once I had explained everything, he sighed a deep and heavy sigh.
“Do you know where she is now?”
“How should I know that?” I replied irritably.
“Then, that may have been the last time you’ll ever see her again.”
“Huh?”
“She’s in the king’s hands.”
I clicked my tongue. If that were really my last time seeing her, good riddance. Moreover, I didn’t have time for his cryptic conversations.
“I really don’t have time for this,” I snapped.
“Her father.”
“What?”
“The king. It’s her father.”
Find the king, Maa-kun. Suddenly, I remembered Nino’s warning from long ago. Kinoshita had showed up at the charity auction and threatened Kusunoki. At the time, I thought he was her abuser. But, I had underestimated the danger she was in. Nino sighed again as if he had made up his mind about something. I soon realized that this grand reveal was too much for my mind to digest.
“Shion-chan and I were engaged 4 years ago.”
“W-What…?”
I was in shock. How come I didn’t know about this until now? Why didn’t he tell his best friend about the good news back then?
“Until her father showed up at my family’s restaurant and threatened to burn down the building if I married her. What the fuck was I supposed to do: choose her and betray my family, or save my family and lose the love of my life?”
The pain in his voice was almost too much to bear. I felt helpless, unable to find the right words to comfort him.
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me about this?”
“If I did, you would have never met her.”
“What?”
“He would have killed her.”
My mind froze. Usually, those kinds of threats were merely warnings to control someone’s behavior or action. And yet, it was clear from Nino’s stern voice that this was no hyperbole. It was not an empty threat, but an ultimatum.
“Do you understand now why loving her and protecting her are two, different things?” Nino lamented. “If I continued loving her, I wouldn’t have been able to protect her all these years.”
Imagining the anguish on his face silenced me. How had he gone through this alone? In the name of love, he had let Kusunoki go in order to save her life. But, what was he left with? An insatiable addiction to protect her at the cost of his own joy. He may have volunteered for the role, but it was clear the arduous task was more than he bargained for. Only when her wellbeing is secured, would he rest easy. But, a smart guy like Nino must see the paradox of it all. How could he ensure her wellbeing if she remained in her father’s care? It was a lose-lose situation from the beginning. If he held on to Kusunoki, he would lose everything else. If he let her go, he would be responsible for endangering her and live with that guilt for the rest of his life. That was it: guilt drove his actions; only love made it bearable.
“Wherever she is now, I can guarantee he’s with her.” Nino paused briefly. “I despise the fact that I can’t save her myself. So, I’m asking you, please--find her before it’s too late.”
“Nino…”
“I’ll do what I can on my end. But, time is of the essence. If you love her, trust her. Save her.”
I couldn’t imagine how defeated he must have felt having to plead with me to save the woman he loves, to throw his pride aside to abide by the confines of his role in her life. This was how important she was to him. The urgency in his voice triggered an adrenaline response and my mind raced to find a solution. Frustration and anger gave way to panic. Where could she have gone? How would I be able to find her?
Just then, there was a knock at the door. The visitor didn’t wait for me to respond and barged in. Following close behind was Matsumoto, who had a concerned look on his face.
“I’m very sorry, Young Master. I told her she couldn’t see you without an appointment but…”
“Aiba-sama. You may not remember who I am but this needs your urgent attention.”
A curvaceous woman in a conservative suit locked eyes with me. She had just committed two crimes: intruding into my office without notice, and underestimating my memory. I stared her back with indifference.
“Is this how things work over at Everlight, Ashikawa-san? Secretaries can barge in at their own convenience?”
Her expression was proof she belittled my impeccable memory. Her large eyes grew even larger, shocked that I remembered her name. Those same eyes had gazed at Kusunoki with jealousy that night I poured hot sake over Umeda’s head. But this time, I sensed a kind of confidence in her. I had my guesses as to why.
“I left Everlight a few weeks after I met you.You made me realize the worth of a secretary. You said that you could only save one of us as you left the room with Kusunoki-san. But, I must correct you, for I cannot thank you enough for giving me the courage to leave and save myself.”
She bowed deeply before continuing. “Nothing I do could ever repay you for the kind gesture you showed me, but I’d like to to try.”
“I don’t have time for this,” I replied irritably for the second time today. “I’m in the middle of something and you’ve interrupted me.”
She didn’t seem to care. “On my way to the train station, I spotted your secretary in front of your Akasaka hotel.”
I whipped my gaze toward her, unable to hide my surprise. Suddenly, her intrusion made sense. Nino’s warning echoed in my ears and I knew I had to hold on to Ashikawa’s every word if I wanted to save Kusunoki.
“...From the looks of it, it seems like you were unaware of this, which concerns me even more.” She pursed her lips uncomfortably. “She was with an older man who seemed to be forcing her into the building.”
I felt my extremities grow cold. Nino’s conviction had hit bullseye.
“I know an abuser when I see one.”
From the sorrowful look in her eyes, I realized her statement was more of a confession. I wouldn’t put it past Umeda to use force to get his way. How much longer had Kusunoki suffered under the hands of her menace?
Before I could reply, the office phone rang and demanded our attention. If my last conversation on this thing was any indication, I was not going to like what I was about to hear. Matsumoto moved quickly to answer the call, but I put up my hand to stop him.
“This is Aiba.”
“Aiba-sama! This is Fukuda from Yamakaze Hotels Akasaka. We just received a call from a woman in Room 4825 reporting a fire. Hotel personnel have begun evacuation procedures for all guests, but I’m afraid I can no longer reach the woman on the 48th floor. The fire department is on their way now.”
“I’ll be right there.”
I looked over at Matsumoto.
“I’ll bring the car around front immediately.”
Ashikawa nodded. “Don’t worry about me. I pray you’ll get there in time.”
Though neither had heard the conversation, they instinctively knew what I needed from them. There was not a second to spare. Once I made it down to the first floor, I rushed out the elevator and climbed into the backseat of the car. Not a word was spoken; only the humming of the engine and occasional clicks from the blinkers filled the space. It surprised me how calm everything seemed to be, though I suppose that could be attributed to how focused I was. My Akasaka hotel has the highest ROI out of all locations and boasts the highest traffic by far. A fire in such a building would surely be detrimental to business, not to mention the steep repair costs that would result. And yet, those worries concerned me very little.
I began recalling events from earlier today and regretted my actions. Had I allowed her to explain herself, she wouldn’t have ended up in this situation. It was my fault for driving her to confront her father. I had a dozen questions as to who her father was and why he was after me, but right now, my priority was to rescue her. I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh, even amidst the disquiet. Even when her life was in danger, she had the sound rationale to save others in the building by calling the front desk. She was all business, and all heart at the same time. Why didn’t I trust her? That’s when it hit me. It was not she who betrayed me, but the other way around.
As we neared the burning building, I could see gray smoke escaping rapidly from a window on the 48th floor. It seemed the fire department had just arrived before us.
“Matsumoto. Call my personal doctor and explain the situation. Have him meet me at my house.”
He met my gaze in the rearview mirror, an apprehensive look on his face. “You’re...not thinking of going into the building…are you, Young Master?”
“I let this happen. It’s my responsibility to right my wrong.”
“...But--”
“Matsumoto.” I stared back into his worrying eyes.
“...Yes, Young Master?”
He parked the car at the curb and turned around in his seat, reluctant to see me go.
“I’m the CEO of Yamakaze Hotels, the largest, most successful hotel empire in the nation. Don’t underestimate me.”
Gripped with fear, he closed his eyes and said no more.
“I’ll see you at home,” I nodded confidently.
With that, I exited the vehicle and headed toward the scene of the crime. Instead of using the main entrance that the fire department had closed off, I snuck around to the building and used a private entrance. All reasoning goes out the window in such life-or-death situations. Though I was apprehensive about using the elevator, I knew it was the only efficient way up to her floor. I used a card key to unlock an elevator labeled, ‘hotel personnel only’ and stepped in. Fortunately, it was located at the other end of the building, farthest from the fire site, and functioned just fine. I began sprinting the moment the doors opened to let me out. As I got closer to the room, I could see smoke seeping through the cracks of the door. I grabbed the nearest fire extinguisher in the hallway and stood in front of Room 4825. Under extreme heat like a fire, the card sensors on every one of my hotel guest rooms release, allowing for easy escape and rescue. My attempt to save her would be in vain if I succumbed to the fire. I placed a handkerchief over my nose and mouth, used the extinguisher to push the door handle down, lowered myself to the ground into a seated position, then kicked the door open.
The smoke, freed from the confines of the room, escaped ominously and mercilessly. I instinctively looked away, held my breath, and closed my eyes until the initial wall of smoke made its way down the hallway. The sprinkler system had been activated inside but the fire still consumed most of the room. It was then I realized that it smelled like gasoline. That motherfucker had full intent on killing her. The anger fueled me to enter the room without hesitation.
Through the flames, I could make out the silhouette of the woman I loved so dearly. Only a fool would so recklessly and willingly place himself in a life-threatening situation. It all made sense now. A fool in love is neither stupid nor insane; he is merely driven by an unwavering confidence that what he hopes for will be. And surely, it was love that led me into this burning room.
Rating: R for whole series, R for Ch.18
Genre: Romance, Mystery Drama
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 began The 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 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 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17
Chapter 18: Smoke Signals
Silence filled the space but my mind was racing louder than ever. I wasn’t sure what angered me more, her betrayal or the fact that I let this happen. This is why things like love and trust are worthless virtues. For a blip in time, I had forgotten how I had lived all my life. How could I let a mere woman do this to me? My lapse in judgment was to blame. As Matsumoto collected the pieces of the now-broken desk lamp, I felt the sudden urge to be alone. It was the only way I knew how to protect myself.
“Matsumoto. You’re excused.”
“...As you wish, Young Master.”
His concerned look, albeit warranted, was unnecessary. I gave him a quick nod, a sign to hasten his departure. Though reluctantly, he bowed and excused himself. As the door shut behind him, an earlier vision overlapped in my mind. Her lack of an excuse infuriated me. She was not one to waste words. Her audacity came from a need to express her mind. If she didn’t care, she chose not to say anything. And that’s why her silence angered me to no end. A lifelong dream, I had shared with her in my vulnerability. What did she think of it? Her silence was her answer, her name on the contract, a stab in the back.
Still, the worst part was not my warranted anger at her; it was the nagging hope that this was all a misunderstanding. Is this what love does to people? No wonder I refused such emotion my entire life. Believe what you see and know. I’ve no time to be wasting on worthless things only fools have the stupidity to entertain. Perhaps this was her biggest crime: she made me believe love was of value. As I glanced down at the contract with her name clearly printed on it, I scoffed at how pathetic I had become. Did I almost lose myself in the process of loving her? Surely, I wasn’t that consumed with her, was I? Maybe this was the wake up call I needed to bring me back to my senses.
Even though confusion reigned my mind, I knew I had to take care of business. Ignoring the computer monitor on the ground, I pulled out my laptop and reviewed my contract with Takenaka Corporation. The document took effect nearly half a year before the one with Ruby Ventures. Why did Takenaka Corporation override an existing promise? More importantly, how was Kusunoki able to void my contract? I took another look at hers. April 2, 2020. Hm? I furrowed my eyebrows as I recalled the night I invited her onto my boat. That was early May. She couldn’t have known what I had planned to do with that empty lot until then. Why, then, was her contract dated April 2nd? I had taken extra care not to mix my personal endeavor with business. The funds for the baseball field came from my personal bank account. The only thing connecting me to the construction site was a sign on the fence surrounding the lot, with my name written at the bottom to note who owned the property.
Had she randomly come across it in the past? Even then, what was her motive? I hadn’t given her a reason to betray me. Was there someone else manipulating her actions? It was then I caught myself trying to defend her. Was I seriously trying to make excuses? Her name stared back at me and I felt disgusted with myself. Even if she had signed the contract against her will, the fact of the matter was, she betrayed me. Furthermore, if I hadn’t given her reason to be disloyal, it only meant this whole thing was premeditated. She had approached me with intent to plant a Judas kiss. The thought made me sick to my stomach; I had personally let the traitor in and worse, fallen in love with her.
I could point the finger but what good would it do now? I was to blame for letting this happen, for not seeing who she truly was. In a hurry, I made a phone call to the Directress. It pained me to be the bringer of bad news, but I vowed to her that I would set things right, that I would fix this and take responsibility for my negligence. No matter what it takes, I would save the orphanage and build that baseball field. That was a promise not only to her, but also to myself.
Just as I hung up, my cell phone buzzed in my jacket pocket. Though I wasn’t in the mood to talk to the caller, I pressed the answer button and brought the device to my ears.
“Maa-kun? It’s me.” Nino’s voice seemed more alarmed than usual.
“Yeah, what is it?”
“Did something happen between you and Shion-chan?” He’s straight to the point today, it seems.
Somehow, it irritated me to hear him say her name. “Why?”
“Answer my question.”
I heaved a sigh. “If by ‘something’ you mean I told her to get the fuck out of my office, then yeah, something happened.”
“I knew it…”
“Huh?” What did he mean by that?
“She could be in grave danger. I need you to tell me everything.”
He was speaking quickly, as if adrenaline was rushing through his veins. I noticed his breathing was loud as well.
“What do you mean she’s in d-”
“Damn it, just tell me what happened!”
Anger and terror were evident in his shaking voice. What was so urgent about this information? I didn’t understand, but told him the course of events, from the phone call from Takenaka Corporation to the contract with her name on it. He listened quietly but I could feel the tension on the other end of the line. Once I had explained everything, he sighed a deep and heavy sigh.
“Do you know where she is now?”
“How should I know that?” I replied irritably.
“Then, that may have been the last time you’ll ever see her again.”
“Huh?”
“She’s in the king’s hands.”
I clicked my tongue. If that were really my last time seeing her, good riddance. Moreover, I didn’t have time for his cryptic conversations.
“I really don’t have time for this,” I snapped.
“Her father.”
“What?”
“The king. It’s her father.”
Find the king, Maa-kun. Suddenly, I remembered Nino’s warning from long ago. Kinoshita had showed up at the charity auction and threatened Kusunoki. At the time, I thought he was her abuser. But, I had underestimated the danger she was in. Nino sighed again as if he had made up his mind about something. I soon realized that this grand reveal was too much for my mind to digest.
“Shion-chan and I were engaged 4 years ago.”
“W-What…?”
I was in shock. How come I didn’t know about this until now? Why didn’t he tell his best friend about the good news back then?
“Until her father showed up at my family’s restaurant and threatened to burn down the building if I married her. What the fuck was I supposed to do: choose her and betray my family, or save my family and lose the love of my life?”
The pain in his voice was almost too much to bear. I felt helpless, unable to find the right words to comfort him.
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me about this?”
“If I did, you would have never met her.”
“What?”
“He would have killed her.”
My mind froze. Usually, those kinds of threats were merely warnings to control someone’s behavior or action. And yet, it was clear from Nino’s stern voice that this was no hyperbole. It was not an empty threat, but an ultimatum.
“Do you understand now why loving her and protecting her are two, different things?” Nino lamented. “If I continued loving her, I wouldn’t have been able to protect her all these years.”
Imagining the anguish on his face silenced me. How had he gone through this alone? In the name of love, he had let Kusunoki go in order to save her life. But, what was he left with? An insatiable addiction to protect her at the cost of his own joy. He may have volunteered for the role, but it was clear the arduous task was more than he bargained for. Only when her wellbeing is secured, would he rest easy. But, a smart guy like Nino must see the paradox of it all. How could he ensure her wellbeing if she remained in her father’s care? It was a lose-lose situation from the beginning. If he held on to Kusunoki, he would lose everything else. If he let her go, he would be responsible for endangering her and live with that guilt for the rest of his life. That was it: guilt drove his actions; only love made it bearable.
“Wherever she is now, I can guarantee he’s with her.” Nino paused briefly. “I despise the fact that I can’t save her myself. So, I’m asking you, please--find her before it’s too late.”
“Nino…”
“I’ll do what I can on my end. But, time is of the essence. If you love her, trust her. Save her.”
I couldn’t imagine how defeated he must have felt having to plead with me to save the woman he loves, to throw his pride aside to abide by the confines of his role in her life. This was how important she was to him. The urgency in his voice triggered an adrenaline response and my mind raced to find a solution. Frustration and anger gave way to panic. Where could she have gone? How would I be able to find her?
Just then, there was a knock at the door. The visitor didn’t wait for me to respond and barged in. Following close behind was Matsumoto, who had a concerned look on his face.
“I’m very sorry, Young Master. I told her she couldn’t see you without an appointment but…”
“Aiba-sama. You may not remember who I am but this needs your urgent attention.”
A curvaceous woman in a conservative suit locked eyes with me. She had just committed two crimes: intruding into my office without notice, and underestimating my memory. I stared her back with indifference.
“Is this how things work over at Everlight, Ashikawa-san? Secretaries can barge in at their own convenience?”
Her expression was proof she belittled my impeccable memory. Her large eyes grew even larger, shocked that I remembered her name. Those same eyes had gazed at Kusunoki with jealousy that night I poured hot sake over Umeda’s head. But this time, I sensed a kind of confidence in her. I had my guesses as to why.
“I left Everlight a few weeks after I met you.You made me realize the worth of a secretary. You said that you could only save one of us as you left the room with Kusunoki-san. But, I must correct you, for I cannot thank you enough for giving me the courage to leave and save myself.”
She bowed deeply before continuing. “Nothing I do could ever repay you for the kind gesture you showed me, but I’d like to to try.”
“I don’t have time for this,” I replied irritably for the second time today. “I’m in the middle of something and you’ve interrupted me.”
She didn’t seem to care. “On my way to the train station, I spotted your secretary in front of your Akasaka hotel.”
I whipped my gaze toward her, unable to hide my surprise. Suddenly, her intrusion made sense. Nino’s warning echoed in my ears and I knew I had to hold on to Ashikawa’s every word if I wanted to save Kusunoki.
“...From the looks of it, it seems like you were unaware of this, which concerns me even more.” She pursed her lips uncomfortably. “She was with an older man who seemed to be forcing her into the building.”
I felt my extremities grow cold. Nino’s conviction had hit bullseye.
“I know an abuser when I see one.”
From the sorrowful look in her eyes, I realized her statement was more of a confession. I wouldn’t put it past Umeda to use force to get his way. How much longer had Kusunoki suffered under the hands of her menace?
Before I could reply, the office phone rang and demanded our attention. If my last conversation on this thing was any indication, I was not going to like what I was about to hear. Matsumoto moved quickly to answer the call, but I put up my hand to stop him.
“This is Aiba.”
“Aiba-sama! This is Fukuda from Yamakaze Hotels Akasaka. We just received a call from a woman in Room 4825 reporting a fire. Hotel personnel have begun evacuation procedures for all guests, but I’m afraid I can no longer reach the woman on the 48th floor. The fire department is on their way now.”
“I’ll be right there.”
I looked over at Matsumoto.
“I’ll bring the car around front immediately.”
Ashikawa nodded. “Don’t worry about me. I pray you’ll get there in time.”
Though neither had heard the conversation, they instinctively knew what I needed from them. There was not a second to spare. Once I made it down to the first floor, I rushed out the elevator and climbed into the backseat of the car. Not a word was spoken; only the humming of the engine and occasional clicks from the blinkers filled the space. It surprised me how calm everything seemed to be, though I suppose that could be attributed to how focused I was. My Akasaka hotel has the highest ROI out of all locations and boasts the highest traffic by far. A fire in such a building would surely be detrimental to business, not to mention the steep repair costs that would result. And yet, those worries concerned me very little.
I began recalling events from earlier today and regretted my actions. Had I allowed her to explain herself, she wouldn’t have ended up in this situation. It was my fault for driving her to confront her father. I had a dozen questions as to who her father was and why he was after me, but right now, my priority was to rescue her. I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh, even amidst the disquiet. Even when her life was in danger, she had the sound rationale to save others in the building by calling the front desk. She was all business, and all heart at the same time. Why didn’t I trust her? That’s when it hit me. It was not she who betrayed me, but the other way around.
As we neared the burning building, I could see gray smoke escaping rapidly from a window on the 48th floor. It seemed the fire department had just arrived before us.
“Matsumoto. Call my personal doctor and explain the situation. Have him meet me at my house.”
He met my gaze in the rearview mirror, an apprehensive look on his face. “You’re...not thinking of going into the building…are you, Young Master?”
“I let this happen. It’s my responsibility to right my wrong.”
“...But--”
“Matsumoto.” I stared back into his worrying eyes.
“...Yes, Young Master?”
He parked the car at the curb and turned around in his seat, reluctant to see me go.
“I’m the CEO of Yamakaze Hotels, the largest, most successful hotel empire in the nation. Don’t underestimate me.”
Gripped with fear, he closed his eyes and said no more.
“I’ll see you at home,” I nodded confidently.
With that, I exited the vehicle and headed toward the scene of the crime. Instead of using the main entrance that the fire department had closed off, I snuck around to the building and used a private entrance. All reasoning goes out the window in such life-or-death situations. Though I was apprehensive about using the elevator, I knew it was the only efficient way up to her floor. I used a card key to unlock an elevator labeled, ‘hotel personnel only’ and stepped in. Fortunately, it was located at the other end of the building, farthest from the fire site, and functioned just fine. I began sprinting the moment the doors opened to let me out. As I got closer to the room, I could see smoke seeping through the cracks of the door. I grabbed the nearest fire extinguisher in the hallway and stood in front of Room 4825. Under extreme heat like a fire, the card sensors on every one of my hotel guest rooms release, allowing for easy escape and rescue. My attempt to save her would be in vain if I succumbed to the fire. I placed a handkerchief over my nose and mouth, used the extinguisher to push the door handle down, lowered myself to the ground into a seated position, then kicked the door open.
The smoke, freed from the confines of the room, escaped ominously and mercilessly. I instinctively looked away, held my breath, and closed my eyes until the initial wall of smoke made its way down the hallway. The sprinkler system had been activated inside but the fire still consumed most of the room. It was then I realized that it smelled like gasoline. That motherfucker had full intent on killing her. The anger fueled me to enter the room without hesitation.
Through the flames, I could make out the silhouette of the woman I loved so dearly. Only a fool would so recklessly and willingly place himself in a life-threatening situation. It all made sense now. A fool in love is neither stupid nor insane; he is merely driven by an unwavering confidence that what he hopes for will be. And surely, it was love that led me into this burning room.