Sweet pleasure - Chapter 20 /?
Title: Sweet pleasure
Author: andreja1989
Collaboration: raene_9
Length: chaptered
Pairing: Sakurai Sho x OC (Takahashi Ryka (Anny))
Genre: romance, angst, smut (even rape so be prepared!), violence
Rating for this chapter: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own Arashi… Sadly xD
Summary: Johnny knew that every man has his desires, pleasures and needs. To prevent his idols to have girlfriends and causing troubles for him by doing so, he makes a contract with a night club to offer their girls to his idols. What Johnny doesn't know is that there is a different girl who is in that club by mistake and that one of his idols finds an interest in her.
MASTERPOST
Chapter 20 ~ Let me become a better person for you
The fingers of two hands were intertwined tightly while the owners were standing in front of a large house, Sho’s family house. The night already won over the day and silently over their souls. Both were scared of what will happen this night and feared of the worst.
“Sho-kun… is this really okay?” Ryka asked him, reluctantly looking at his eyes that looked back at her and he squeezed her hand even tighter.
“I have never been surer about anything, especially since you look this beautiful.” Sho commented, scanning her for the nth time this evening since she put the dress on. Ryka followed his gaze, observing the short-sleeved, knee-lenght dress. The black, upper part of the dress fitted her tightly around her breasts, the lower part, until her waist was still tight but had imprinted the beautiful pink-golden flowers on still black textile all down to the end of the dress. A pink ribbon was tied around her waist, gently falling along the curls of the dress around her knees and she wore black, yet simple shoes. Her long hair were combed particularly, flock or her front hair tied to her nape, showing the smooth skin of her face. While Sho picked the dress the other day he also paid attention to the fact that her back had to be covered which he was sure would make her more comfortable because it would hide her scars.
A/N: Something like this:
“And you are handsome.” Ryka whispered while enjoying the rarely seen view of Sho’s style of clothes. Formal suit, black pants and jacket were fitting him perfectly, hiding his sloping shoulders and making him more like an adult. His jacket was covering the white shirt, neck was decorated by the grey-black stripped necktie and out of his pants were looking, to his outfit, fitting shoes.
“Onii-chan!” They suddenly heard the call and turned to the calling person, seeing Mai standing there by the opened door, wearing a nice black-white checkered dress, her hair falling freely on her shoulders and back. “All are here already, come, come.” She continued.
“It will be okay, I’m here.” Sho whispered to Ryka as they slowly went towards Mai, ready to face what was before them.
Sadly no one expected the sudden turn of events that struck them when they entered the dining room. Ryka was firstly overwhelmed by the bright room, filled with expensive decorations, paintings and others, telling her that she entered a totally different world than she expected. Then she slowly looked over the small table, decorated with small bunch of flowers and four people sitting around it. Firstly she saw Sho’s father, sitting at the end of the table, as a king in those medieval movies she saw, having a frown over his face which was also covered by a slight beard, making him even scarier than he already was. On his left side she saw the already familiar lady, Sho’s mother who was sternly looking at them but had a slight smile plastered on her face. Was it because of politeness or was inside her mind a hidden plan to crush Ryka. No one could know that just by looking at her. Beside her were two empty seats which Ryka thought were for her and Sho but then she noticed the already used glass beside Sho’s mother and she realized it was a place where Mai sat. Swallowing the building saliva in her mouth she looked over at the other side of the table. Opposite the second empty seat sat a high-school boy whom she remembered from Sho’s pictures as his younger brother Shu. Her look stayed on him a bit longer, seeing the similarity with Sho, just a bit younger as the latter was. Then, a sudden bang hit her as she saw another person sitting beside Shu. It wasn’t just any girl… it was Haruna. A girl she occasionally met at the club, who was like her, serving the customers and the same one who always had the sharp mouth. Usually Ryka avoided her but there were also the times she talked to Ryka and those times were really annoying. The girl was sly and always planned her actions well. She didn’t accept any customer, no, always the best and safe ones. Ryka never understood what it was that made her special, made her able to choose her own path in that club. What she also knew about her was how she always attracted any kind of man. It could be only her way of saying, her gestures, moves, touch or just simple presence in the room. This was once again proved as Ryka stared at her sexy dress. It was red with small black prints on it with black belt around her waist, smooth, straight hair falling down her shoulders as she was smiling sweetly which would surely make any man melt. Lastly there was an empty seat beside Sho’s father and she realized it was meant for Sho while her seat was on the beside Mai, the farthest away from Sho.
“What is she doing here!” Sho suddenly raged, jerking Ryka out of her mind who just now noticed that they were still standing there obviously because of Sho’s rigidness since until now she bravely followed his lead. Eh? Does he know Haruna-chan? Why? How? Ryka’s mind was rushing around all the questions about the girl and Sho but couldn’t find any right answers.
“Sho, this is not the time to argue about this. You just came.” Sho’s dad replied calmly, observing his son closely but with the corner of his eye caught how his daughter sat down beside his wife.
“Sho-cha~n!” Haruna called him and patted the seat beside her. Sho-chan??? Both Ryka’s and Sho’s mind screamed, Ryka shocked and Sho shivered because of the way he was called by a woman he didn’t like in any possible way.
“Watch your mouth!” Sho raised his voice to the woman.
“Sho!” Sho’s mother was on her feet coming nearer. “Sit down already.” She showed to the place beside Haruna and his father, turning to Ryka. “Hello, again Takahashi-san.”
Ryka knew she had to be polite and bowed low to the woman, swallowing all the memories of the fight they had the last time they met. She knew this wasn’t the time to start heating old conversations up. “Good evening.” She said to greet her and the rest. Haruna also came to Ryka bowing and introducing herself. Ryka repeated the bow and felt a slight hint of fear when she saw the girl’s eyes, showing the interest and just by glancing at them, Ryka knew that Haruna remembered her. Oh God… help me! If she says anything… I’m screwed… Sho’s brother, Sakurai Shu and Sho’s father, Sakurai Shun also introduced himself politely.
“Then, let’s take our seats.” Yuko announced and pointed to Ryka the seat beside Mai. Ryka glanced at Sho a little, still wondering why he has to sit beside Haruna and to add at the farthest seat from her. She felt a bit bullied, pushed to the side, as if she had no right to sit beside or near him. It was a nonverbal sign of unwelcome and she knew it was done on purpose when she saw the gentle grin on Yuko’s face. Not wanting to be seen as a sensible, weak person, Ryka swallowed her pride, showed the calm expression, didn’t oppose Sho’s mother and slowly sat beside Mai while looking at Sho who observed her reactions too as he took the assigned seat. He most surely noticed the situation too, didn’t like it but decided it was the best to stay calm for now.
“I like your dress.” Mai praised Ryka which couldn’t leave the latter untouched and at least a bit welcomed and accepted. “Where did you buy it?”
“Ummm… Sho-kun bought it.” Ryka whispered because she didn’t want everyone else to hear it.
“Mai! No whispering at the table.” Shun scolded his daughter and signaled the staff to bring the food on the table. When they started bringing the service Ryka confusedly stared at the many forks, knifes and spoons. Luckily Mai was really kind to her and explained it as unnoticeable as possible while Yuko and Shun had the talk of their own about the business and while Haruna tried to talk to Sho but he ignored her. The two girls only noticed Shu’s look on Ryka when she silently listened to Mai but neither said anything.
“Takahashi-chan need some help over there?” Haruna slyly asked, her view dangerously teasing as she sat really near Sho, almost touching his calm arms that rested on the table. Sho’s and Ryka’s eyes met and both knew they weren’t enjoying the current situation.
“Mai-chan is really nicely helping me, thank you.” Ryka replied calmly, ignoring the hidden bullying. Noticing that her plan to embarrass Ryka, has gone, Haruna continued to ask Sho all kinds of questions while Sho had a hard time ignoring her and at the same time hold back his nervousness at the constant talking. It’s noisy! So god damn noisy!
Dinner was finally over and the staff cleaned the table as Ryka unintentionally heard Haruka as she asked Sho:
“Ne~ Sho-chan why are you ignoring me?”
“Because you are annoying.” Sho replied coldly while taking a quick, worried peek at Ryka. “As far as I remember, the last time we saw each other you told me you never want to meet me again. What I said that day about you, I still didn’t change my mind.”
“You are really cruel you know that…”
“I’m when a person like you deserves it. I could have never been with you since you have never done anything else than flirting with everyone else when it was our meeting.”
Eh? Be with her? What is their relationship! Ryka thought and showed troubled face which didn’t escape Mai’s eyes and she gently took Ryka’s hand. Ryka looked at her and saw the reassuring smile on her face telling her that it’s all right.
“Is she any better?!” Haruka now erupted, glaring at Ryka. “I at least have the status, money and good education. She is nothing compared to me!”
“Stop right there!” Sho raised his voice at her, defending Ryka.
“You youngsters calm down.” Yuko uttered calmly to the pair and looked at Ryka as she continued, “It’s not nice to argue before the wedding.”
A sharp pain struck Ryka as she heard the spoken words. It was painful. The way Yuko looked at her, the way Haruna smiled, the way Shun’s eyes brightened up… it was embarrassing to even be there. As if she was a clown that they laughed at. As if she was dust that they could wipe off the furniture and out of their lives and blown away by the wind. Her heart was suddenly heavy as if it turned to stone, pushing her down to the ground. The bird’s wings were cut and she fell on the cruel reality, smashing her in the face. At the same time the lump in her throat was unable to be swallowed, no matter how much she tried. Her hands trembled inside Mai’s, whose grip tightened.
“Mother I already told you long ago that I can’t marry this… girl!” Sho’s voice crashed inside her hollow head. “Father, you agreed to listen to me! You can’t force me!” Ryka dared to look at Sho and saw his angry look directed to his own father, sending the deadly threads. Pain… so much pain to see him argue like this… to be told to do something he doesn’t want… and she… Haruna-chan… she enjoys it! She enjoys torturing the whole family. The father who started to turn red like a tomato from the building anger, the mother who was scolding her son as if he was ten years old. She tortures Sho’s sister who only stares at the table, still gripping my hand tightly, maybe supporting herself too, not only me. Opposite me is his brother who had a troubled look all over his face, as if all the matter was about him. He looks really in pain. Lastly, Sho who defended me as the fight with his family began. He doesn’t mind what he says as long as he tries to make his parents understand that he doesn’t want to have anything with their family business but what he wishes is for an understanding that he has his own free will. Not only who will he love but also with what he wants to do in his life. Now I really understood what he meant the previous evening as he told me not to change my opinion about him if he will turn into someone that I don’t know. This is him… the troubled, caged bird who wants to be free, fly freely in the sky, choosing his own path or just where the wind will take him. But I perfectly well knew that this was about me too.
“Sho!” Yuko yelled at her son as he once again declared that Ryka is the only girl he can be with when the sudden noise of the chair rubbing against the floor made them all quiet and turn the way the sound came. It was Shu who hasn’t spoken a word for the whole evening but now, in the middle of all arguing, he decided to stand up and leave the table.
“Shu!” Shun called his son.
“I can’t listen anymore of this. Excuse me.” Shu explained, turned around and walked to the garden outside. Ryka who saw the face of the youngest member of Sakurai family through the whole dinner and when the arguing began, knew that there was something about him that wasn’t right. Following her intuition, she got up slowly, gaining the attention of the others.
“Excuse me, I will go after him to check if he is all right.” She said, slowly bowed and without looking up she turned around and rushed after Shu. It is true I want to check up on him but I also can’t listen to that anymore… the arguing… is this how a family is? Is this what they call parent’s good wishes for their children? I wonder how my real family would be… not the foster parents that I lived with since god knows when… but real family. Why are Sho’s parents making him marry a girl he doesn’t like? Just because of business? That’s surely true… and to add they started this conversation in front of me… to show me what a lowlife I am… unwanted… shoved to the very end of the cliff with no way back. If I wouldn’t leave at that moment, I would fall into the depth with no way out.
“Shu-kun!” Ryka rushed to the sitting man on the bench in the garden.
“I don’t want to talk to you or anyone. Leave me be!” The younger replied sadly.
“Ano… if you have any problems… you can talk to me.” She replied gently, still standing by him.
“I can’t talk about it…” Shu still looked somewhere past her.
Some slow moments passed as Ryka only observed him, not sure if it would be okay to just leave him alone out here. Thus she decided to stay here. “May I sit down?” After her question, Shu looked at her surprised, unexpectedly she wanted to stay here and it was confusing for him who was always alone or with Mai. When he saw determination in her eyes, he slowly moved over to the side, allowing her to sit beside him.
For a while they sat there in silence, no one starting the conversation. Then Ryka silently sighed and spoke up:
“You know… two years ago… I was forced to join a sex club…” She looked at her palms, sensing the shocked expression on Shu’s face who suddenly turned to her. “I have done a lot of things that I’m not proud of…”
“W… why are you telling me this?” Shu wondered, observing her face closely.
“I had no one but myself. Until one day Sho showed up and pulled me out of my hell. Suddenly I knew I was not alone. I had someone I could lean on, talk to and that person saw me as much more than just a body. He saw deep inside me, read me as no one else before. When I was at the lowest point in my life, he showed as a sun after the heavy rain. I admit I was scared of him at first and I didn’t trust him. But his being showed me the way out of the labyrinth that I was in. You ask why am I telling you this? It is easy. The way Sho showed me that I’m not alone, I also want to show you that it’s okay to talk if you are troubled about something. Once, I was like you, keeping everything to myself. I didn’t want people to know me, I hid my true self deep inside myself… but things changed when I met your brother.” She explained and smiled sincerely. “It’s your chance now, Shu-kun. I shared something personal with you. I hope you can keep this to yourself. But I’m here now, I will listen to you if you want to talk about something and I swear I will not talk about this to anyone. I am sure your parents and Sho still don’t know about your problems. Am I right?”
“No one knows…”
“Shu-kun, one way or the other you have to speak to someone. It can help you. This can be also our little secret.” Ryka winked at him and saw his serious gaze at her. Due to sensing her sincerity in her voice and eyes, he slowly lowered his defenses down and smiled hesitantly.
“I like this classmate of mine…”
“Oh~ is she a nice girl?”
Shu nodded. “She is really sweet and pays attention to what I say. She is also beautiful and smart. But…”
“But…”
“I’m afraid she will not be good enough for my parents and that is why I didn’t tell her how I feel yet. I don’t want to start something that I would have to let go later. I’m sure you understand the situation now…” Shu stopped and looked over to the house, Ryka following his gaze. They saw the family still fighting, yelling at each other. Ryka turned back forward with a sad and depressed look. “Don’t mind them ne~… it’s always like this when Sho-nii visits or if Mai-neechan or me does something inappropriate.”
“I understand…” Ryka replied but didn’t bring back a smile on her face. The situation brought her back to the real problem that she also has to face. “But I still think that what your parents is acceptable. They are too strict, thinking only of the well being of the whole family but they don’t realize that this is hurting their children.”
“You are right but we can’t oppose them… Sho-nii was brave for leaving home and I really respect him. I’m proud on him for being a good man, helping you too. He manages on his own, doing his decisions as much as possible. I really look up to him, to become like him.”
“You are a nice guy Shu-kun, you are able to become him.” Ryka complimented him.
Shu smiled briefly but then asked curiously:
“Ano… about what I told you… Will you tell Sho-nii about it?”
“If you don’t want me to tell him, then I won’t. I promise. If you need someone to talk to from now on, you can count on me, okay?”
“Un… arigato… ano…” he looked at her with smile plastered on his face, “…Onee-san.”
“Eh? How come you called me that way?”
“Because I like you as a sister because I think you are really nice and understanding, great listener and perfect for Onii-chan.”
“Thank you Shu-kun, that means a lot to me but if you call me Ryka is enough.” She replied and a second later they both heard loud steps. Sho was storming their way with anger written all over his face, holding his fists tightly together. When he came to them, he took Ryka by her arm, saying:
“We are leaving!!”
Before she could say anything, she was already dragged after Sho. She only managed to turn around to wave at the surprised Shu who waved back with a smile plastered on his face.
“Sho! Wait a little, I can’t follow you so quickly…” Ryka turned to Sho and tried to stop him but without noticing they were already by Sho’s car. Sho opened the door to her, waited for her to sit, closed the door and ran on the driver’s side, jumping in, closed the door behind him and leaned his head on the steering wheel, breathing deeply. “Sho?” Ryka called him concerned. She traced her hand over his messy hair, stroking it lightly.
“I’m sorry…” He muttered. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t say enough for you… and they talked badly of you. You felt uncomfortable I saw that… They even dared to invite Haruna-chan… I really can’t stand them!”
“Sho… you have done enough… I’m really glad you defended me… but it hurt me to see you argue like this… They are your family…”
“No… it wasn’t enough and they never acted as my family. My family are Mai and Shu since they were the only one who acted like one.”
“Shhh, Sho you are only angry at the moment. Calm down and let’s go home, okay?” Her hand stopped as he looked at her, his eyes full of regret but love for her which made her heart flutter a little. She smiled gently at him and repeated, “Let’s go home Sho.”
***
[Two days later…]
Ryka was looking for a job trough the newspapers that Sho brought the previous day for her. She marked the good ones and crossed the ones that weren’t good for her. Firstly she looked for jobs according to her education but while not finding a lot of jobs like this, she decided that any job was all right. She just needed to work and not only clean around Sho’s place and sit around for the whole day, or she would turn lazy. Sho was also working at the moment, coming home in the evening and she had a lot of time to find a nice job for her.
Just when she was about to call for a certain job the door bell rang and wondering who was it, she got up and went to open the door.
“S… Sakurai-san?” She stammered as she saw the man standing by the door. She rushed to bow to him and invited him in before the man could turn impatient. She rushed to give him slippers and when he got inside the living room, she rushed to remove all the news papers and magazines marked with a red marker.
“Looking for a job?” Shun asked interested.
“Ah… h…hai!” Ryka replied, still nervously chopping her words.
“Is Sho not home?”
“He is… working…” Ryka replied while taking the seat by the table.
“I see… I’m glad.”
“Excuse me? Glad?” Ryka wondered, exploring his face closely.
“Yes because I came to talk to you.” He replied and Ryka swallowed hard, secretly wanting to escape this conversation. She knew what he wanted to talk about and it scared her to the very core of her.
***
Sho came home a bit earlier than he thought he would. While he greeted his girl, kissed her forehead, he didn’t notice any change than the little silence over her. When they were eating the prepared dinner, he noticed her view being glued to her plate and didn’t peek over to him like she always did. He knew she was looking for a job today and thought it had something to do with this and didn’t want to but in her problems and depressive over the jobs. If it were his will, he would never let her work and wanted her to depend on him on every possible way but it was her who wanted this and he accepted her wish.
While they were cleaning the dishes, he talked about the work that he had to do this day, told her many funny things that the others did, just to make her smile a bit but his trying failed. Giving up for the day, he crashed on the sofa, inviting her over to him.
“Sho…” She started as she still stood beside him, not looking at him. Her view was lowered, indicating some bad news. “Will you please let me become a better person for you?”
“Eh? What are you talking about Ryka? You don’t need to become better for me, you are good enough. But if you want to then I don’t oppose it, just explain what does this mean?”
“Would you give me some time and let me go until I achieve my goal.”
"What do you mean by 'let me go'? I just don't get it.” Sho wondered, his inner self starting to be afraid of her words.
“Sho, you know exactly what I mean. Please don't make it even harder for me than it already is.”
Sho finally understood what she meant and hasty stood up, holding her shoulders. “Ryka, you can achieve that without me letting you go! Why do you need to leave? Why do you have to do this? To us?” His voice begged and at the same time he was accusing her wish to let him go.
“I can stay but I want to find myself and stand on my own first. Ever since I meet you, Sho, you were there for me all the time… which I don't mind… but I can’t live for the rest of my life doing that…” A tear escaped her eyes as there was so much to bear at the moment. Facing Sho and telling him that it’s over between them for the time being was what she never wanted to do but she knew this was the best for both of them. She didn’t want to just leave as she once before did, she didn’t want to part while not seeing his face, spending some last moments with him. When all the building emotions finally erupted, there was no way to stop them and what left was his sudden, tight embrace, wrapping his arms around her as she buried deep into his chest, gripping on his shirt on his back while muttering:
“For the time being… please let me go, Sho.”
_______________________
A/N: Hiiii even though I'm on hiatus and working and planning the sequel for the Sakuraiba oneshot... I still managed to write this chapter... Sorry forgot to warn you about the sad part... hmmm... oh and you met the annoying girl, Haruna again :D do you still remember her? Sho's arranged marriage from chapter 1 or 2... not sure now huhuhu well the one who flirted with the waiter... now she is back and not yet gone... and it looks like Ryka knows her from the club... eeeeeh? what is all behind this? hehe a new mystery xDD well uuum for the next chapter is set a lot of sadness and a bit of fluffiness... prepare the tisuess ne~~ xD
Oh and again many many thanks to raene_9 xDDD
Oh and another thing... is it just me or just the summer time but the number of readers/comments decreased??? Eh? I really hope it's only the summer that it's not something about the story... I'm really troubled over here... thinking all the time that it's something about my way of writing or something... but at the same time hoping that it's not the case...
Well comments are welcomed ne~ don't be shy xDD It will keep me motivated to write on...
Author: andreja1989
Collaboration: raene_9
Length: chaptered
Pairing: Sakurai Sho x OC (Takahashi Ryka (Anny))
Genre: romance, angst, smut (even rape so be prepared!), violence
Rating for this chapter: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own Arashi… Sadly xD
Summary: Johnny knew that every man has his desires, pleasures and needs. To prevent his idols to have girlfriends and causing troubles for him by doing so, he makes a contract with a night club to offer their girls to his idols. What Johnny doesn't know is that there is a different girl who is in that club by mistake and that one of his idols finds an interest in her.
MASTERPOST
Chapter 20 ~ Let me become a better person for you
The fingers of two hands were intertwined tightly while the owners were standing in front of a large house, Sho’s family house. The night already won over the day and silently over their souls. Both were scared of what will happen this night and feared of the worst.
“Sho-kun… is this really okay?” Ryka asked him, reluctantly looking at his eyes that looked back at her and he squeezed her hand even tighter.
“I have never been surer about anything, especially since you look this beautiful.” Sho commented, scanning her for the nth time this evening since she put the dress on. Ryka followed his gaze, observing the short-sleeved, knee-lenght dress. The black, upper part of the dress fitted her tightly around her breasts, the lower part, until her waist was still tight but had imprinted the beautiful pink-golden flowers on still black textile all down to the end of the dress. A pink ribbon was tied around her waist, gently falling along the curls of the dress around her knees and she wore black, yet simple shoes. Her long hair were combed particularly, flock or her front hair tied to her nape, showing the smooth skin of her face. While Sho picked the dress the other day he also paid attention to the fact that her back had to be covered which he was sure would make her more comfortable because it would hide her scars.
A/N: Something like this:
“And you are handsome.” Ryka whispered while enjoying the rarely seen view of Sho’s style of clothes. Formal suit, black pants and jacket were fitting him perfectly, hiding his sloping shoulders and making him more like an adult. His jacket was covering the white shirt, neck was decorated by the grey-black stripped necktie and out of his pants were looking, to his outfit, fitting shoes.
“Onii-chan!” They suddenly heard the call and turned to the calling person, seeing Mai standing there by the opened door, wearing a nice black-white checkered dress, her hair falling freely on her shoulders and back. “All are here already, come, come.” She continued.
“It will be okay, I’m here.” Sho whispered to Ryka as they slowly went towards Mai, ready to face what was before them.
Sadly no one expected the sudden turn of events that struck them when they entered the dining room. Ryka was firstly overwhelmed by the bright room, filled with expensive decorations, paintings and others, telling her that she entered a totally different world than she expected. Then she slowly looked over the small table, decorated with small bunch of flowers and four people sitting around it. Firstly she saw Sho’s father, sitting at the end of the table, as a king in those medieval movies she saw, having a frown over his face which was also covered by a slight beard, making him even scarier than he already was. On his left side she saw the already familiar lady, Sho’s mother who was sternly looking at them but had a slight smile plastered on her face. Was it because of politeness or was inside her mind a hidden plan to crush Ryka. No one could know that just by looking at her. Beside her were two empty seats which Ryka thought were for her and Sho but then she noticed the already used glass beside Sho’s mother and she realized it was a place where Mai sat. Swallowing the building saliva in her mouth she looked over at the other side of the table. Opposite the second empty seat sat a high-school boy whom she remembered from Sho’s pictures as his younger brother Shu. Her look stayed on him a bit longer, seeing the similarity with Sho, just a bit younger as the latter was. Then, a sudden bang hit her as she saw another person sitting beside Shu. It wasn’t just any girl… it was Haruna. A girl she occasionally met at the club, who was like her, serving the customers and the same one who always had the sharp mouth. Usually Ryka avoided her but there were also the times she talked to Ryka and those times were really annoying. The girl was sly and always planned her actions well. She didn’t accept any customer, no, always the best and safe ones. Ryka never understood what it was that made her special, made her able to choose her own path in that club. What she also knew about her was how she always attracted any kind of man. It could be only her way of saying, her gestures, moves, touch or just simple presence in the room. This was once again proved as Ryka stared at her sexy dress. It was red with small black prints on it with black belt around her waist, smooth, straight hair falling down her shoulders as she was smiling sweetly which would surely make any man melt. Lastly there was an empty seat beside Sho’s father and she realized it was meant for Sho while her seat was on the beside Mai, the farthest away from Sho.
“What is she doing here!” Sho suddenly raged, jerking Ryka out of her mind who just now noticed that they were still standing there obviously because of Sho’s rigidness since until now she bravely followed his lead. Eh? Does he know Haruna-chan? Why? How? Ryka’s mind was rushing around all the questions about the girl and Sho but couldn’t find any right answers.
“Sho, this is not the time to argue about this. You just came.” Sho’s dad replied calmly, observing his son closely but with the corner of his eye caught how his daughter sat down beside his wife.
“Sho-cha~n!” Haruna called him and patted the seat beside her. Sho-chan??? Both Ryka’s and Sho’s mind screamed, Ryka shocked and Sho shivered because of the way he was called by a woman he didn’t like in any possible way.
“Watch your mouth!” Sho raised his voice to the woman.
“Sho!” Sho’s mother was on her feet coming nearer. “Sit down already.” She showed to the place beside Haruna and his father, turning to Ryka. “Hello, again Takahashi-san.”
Ryka knew she had to be polite and bowed low to the woman, swallowing all the memories of the fight they had the last time they met. She knew this wasn’t the time to start heating old conversations up. “Good evening.” She said to greet her and the rest. Haruna also came to Ryka bowing and introducing herself. Ryka repeated the bow and felt a slight hint of fear when she saw the girl’s eyes, showing the interest and just by glancing at them, Ryka knew that Haruna remembered her. Oh God… help me! If she says anything… I’m screwed… Sho’s brother, Sakurai Shu and Sho’s father, Sakurai Shun also introduced himself politely.
“Then, let’s take our seats.” Yuko announced and pointed to Ryka the seat beside Mai. Ryka glanced at Sho a little, still wondering why he has to sit beside Haruna and to add at the farthest seat from her. She felt a bit bullied, pushed to the side, as if she had no right to sit beside or near him. It was a nonverbal sign of unwelcome and she knew it was done on purpose when she saw the gentle grin on Yuko’s face. Not wanting to be seen as a sensible, weak person, Ryka swallowed her pride, showed the calm expression, didn’t oppose Sho’s mother and slowly sat beside Mai while looking at Sho who observed her reactions too as he took the assigned seat. He most surely noticed the situation too, didn’t like it but decided it was the best to stay calm for now.
“I like your dress.” Mai praised Ryka which couldn’t leave the latter untouched and at least a bit welcomed and accepted. “Where did you buy it?”
“Ummm… Sho-kun bought it.” Ryka whispered because she didn’t want everyone else to hear it.
“Mai! No whispering at the table.” Shun scolded his daughter and signaled the staff to bring the food on the table. When they started bringing the service Ryka confusedly stared at the many forks, knifes and spoons. Luckily Mai was really kind to her and explained it as unnoticeable as possible while Yuko and Shun had the talk of their own about the business and while Haruna tried to talk to Sho but he ignored her. The two girls only noticed Shu’s look on Ryka when she silently listened to Mai but neither said anything.
“Takahashi-chan need some help over there?” Haruna slyly asked, her view dangerously teasing as she sat really near Sho, almost touching his calm arms that rested on the table. Sho’s and Ryka’s eyes met and both knew they weren’t enjoying the current situation.
“Mai-chan is really nicely helping me, thank you.” Ryka replied calmly, ignoring the hidden bullying. Noticing that her plan to embarrass Ryka, has gone, Haruna continued to ask Sho all kinds of questions while Sho had a hard time ignoring her and at the same time hold back his nervousness at the constant talking. It’s noisy! So god damn noisy!
Dinner was finally over and the staff cleaned the table as Ryka unintentionally heard Haruka as she asked Sho:
“Ne~ Sho-chan why are you ignoring me?”
“Because you are annoying.” Sho replied coldly while taking a quick, worried peek at Ryka. “As far as I remember, the last time we saw each other you told me you never want to meet me again. What I said that day about you, I still didn’t change my mind.”
“You are really cruel you know that…”
“I’m when a person like you deserves it. I could have never been with you since you have never done anything else than flirting with everyone else when it was our meeting.”
Eh? Be with her? What is their relationship! Ryka thought and showed troubled face which didn’t escape Mai’s eyes and she gently took Ryka’s hand. Ryka looked at her and saw the reassuring smile on her face telling her that it’s all right.
“Is she any better?!” Haruka now erupted, glaring at Ryka. “I at least have the status, money and good education. She is nothing compared to me!”
“Stop right there!” Sho raised his voice at her, defending Ryka.
“You youngsters calm down.” Yuko uttered calmly to the pair and looked at Ryka as she continued, “It’s not nice to argue before the wedding.”
A sharp pain struck Ryka as she heard the spoken words. It was painful. The way Yuko looked at her, the way Haruna smiled, the way Shun’s eyes brightened up… it was embarrassing to even be there. As if she was a clown that they laughed at. As if she was dust that they could wipe off the furniture and out of their lives and blown away by the wind. Her heart was suddenly heavy as if it turned to stone, pushing her down to the ground. The bird’s wings were cut and she fell on the cruel reality, smashing her in the face. At the same time the lump in her throat was unable to be swallowed, no matter how much she tried. Her hands trembled inside Mai’s, whose grip tightened.
“Mother I already told you long ago that I can’t marry this… girl!” Sho’s voice crashed inside her hollow head. “Father, you agreed to listen to me! You can’t force me!” Ryka dared to look at Sho and saw his angry look directed to his own father, sending the deadly threads. Pain… so much pain to see him argue like this… to be told to do something he doesn’t want… and she… Haruna-chan… she enjoys it! She enjoys torturing the whole family. The father who started to turn red like a tomato from the building anger, the mother who was scolding her son as if he was ten years old. She tortures Sho’s sister who only stares at the table, still gripping my hand tightly, maybe supporting herself too, not only me. Opposite me is his brother who had a troubled look all over his face, as if all the matter was about him. He looks really in pain. Lastly, Sho who defended me as the fight with his family began. He doesn’t mind what he says as long as he tries to make his parents understand that he doesn’t want to have anything with their family business but what he wishes is for an understanding that he has his own free will. Not only who will he love but also with what he wants to do in his life. Now I really understood what he meant the previous evening as he told me not to change my opinion about him if he will turn into someone that I don’t know. This is him… the troubled, caged bird who wants to be free, fly freely in the sky, choosing his own path or just where the wind will take him. But I perfectly well knew that this was about me too.
“Sho!” Yuko yelled at her son as he once again declared that Ryka is the only girl he can be with when the sudden noise of the chair rubbing against the floor made them all quiet and turn the way the sound came. It was Shu who hasn’t spoken a word for the whole evening but now, in the middle of all arguing, he decided to stand up and leave the table.
“Shu!” Shun called his son.
“I can’t listen anymore of this. Excuse me.” Shu explained, turned around and walked to the garden outside. Ryka who saw the face of the youngest member of Sakurai family through the whole dinner and when the arguing began, knew that there was something about him that wasn’t right. Following her intuition, she got up slowly, gaining the attention of the others.
“Excuse me, I will go after him to check if he is all right.” She said, slowly bowed and without looking up she turned around and rushed after Shu. It is true I want to check up on him but I also can’t listen to that anymore… the arguing… is this how a family is? Is this what they call parent’s good wishes for their children? I wonder how my real family would be… not the foster parents that I lived with since god knows when… but real family. Why are Sho’s parents making him marry a girl he doesn’t like? Just because of business? That’s surely true… and to add they started this conversation in front of me… to show me what a lowlife I am… unwanted… shoved to the very end of the cliff with no way back. If I wouldn’t leave at that moment, I would fall into the depth with no way out.
“Shu-kun!” Ryka rushed to the sitting man on the bench in the garden.
“I don’t want to talk to you or anyone. Leave me be!” The younger replied sadly.
“Ano… if you have any problems… you can talk to me.” She replied gently, still standing by him.
“I can’t talk about it…” Shu still looked somewhere past her.
Some slow moments passed as Ryka only observed him, not sure if it would be okay to just leave him alone out here. Thus she decided to stay here. “May I sit down?” After her question, Shu looked at her surprised, unexpectedly she wanted to stay here and it was confusing for him who was always alone or with Mai. When he saw determination in her eyes, he slowly moved over to the side, allowing her to sit beside him.
For a while they sat there in silence, no one starting the conversation. Then Ryka silently sighed and spoke up:
“You know… two years ago… I was forced to join a sex club…” She looked at her palms, sensing the shocked expression on Shu’s face who suddenly turned to her. “I have done a lot of things that I’m not proud of…”
“W… why are you telling me this?” Shu wondered, observing her face closely.
“I had no one but myself. Until one day Sho showed up and pulled me out of my hell. Suddenly I knew I was not alone. I had someone I could lean on, talk to and that person saw me as much more than just a body. He saw deep inside me, read me as no one else before. When I was at the lowest point in my life, he showed as a sun after the heavy rain. I admit I was scared of him at first and I didn’t trust him. But his being showed me the way out of the labyrinth that I was in. You ask why am I telling you this? It is easy. The way Sho showed me that I’m not alone, I also want to show you that it’s okay to talk if you are troubled about something. Once, I was like you, keeping everything to myself. I didn’t want people to know me, I hid my true self deep inside myself… but things changed when I met your brother.” She explained and smiled sincerely. “It’s your chance now, Shu-kun. I shared something personal with you. I hope you can keep this to yourself. But I’m here now, I will listen to you if you want to talk about something and I swear I will not talk about this to anyone. I am sure your parents and Sho still don’t know about your problems. Am I right?”
“No one knows…”
“Shu-kun, one way or the other you have to speak to someone. It can help you. This can be also our little secret.” Ryka winked at him and saw his serious gaze at her. Due to sensing her sincerity in her voice and eyes, he slowly lowered his defenses down and smiled hesitantly.
“I like this classmate of mine…”
“Oh~ is she a nice girl?”
Shu nodded. “She is really sweet and pays attention to what I say. She is also beautiful and smart. But…”
“But…”
“I’m afraid she will not be good enough for my parents and that is why I didn’t tell her how I feel yet. I don’t want to start something that I would have to let go later. I’m sure you understand the situation now…” Shu stopped and looked over to the house, Ryka following his gaze. They saw the family still fighting, yelling at each other. Ryka turned back forward with a sad and depressed look. “Don’t mind them ne~… it’s always like this when Sho-nii visits or if Mai-neechan or me does something inappropriate.”
“I understand…” Ryka replied but didn’t bring back a smile on her face. The situation brought her back to the real problem that she also has to face. “But I still think that what your parents is acceptable. They are too strict, thinking only of the well being of the whole family but they don’t realize that this is hurting their children.”
“You are right but we can’t oppose them… Sho-nii was brave for leaving home and I really respect him. I’m proud on him for being a good man, helping you too. He manages on his own, doing his decisions as much as possible. I really look up to him, to become like him.”
“You are a nice guy Shu-kun, you are able to become him.” Ryka complimented him.
Shu smiled briefly but then asked curiously:
“Ano… about what I told you… Will you tell Sho-nii about it?”
“If you don’t want me to tell him, then I won’t. I promise. If you need someone to talk to from now on, you can count on me, okay?”
“Un… arigato… ano…” he looked at her with smile plastered on his face, “…Onee-san.”
“Eh? How come you called me that way?”
“Because I like you as a sister because I think you are really nice and understanding, great listener and perfect for Onii-chan.”
“Thank you Shu-kun, that means a lot to me but if you call me Ryka is enough.” She replied and a second later they both heard loud steps. Sho was storming their way with anger written all over his face, holding his fists tightly together. When he came to them, he took Ryka by her arm, saying:
“We are leaving!!”
Before she could say anything, she was already dragged after Sho. She only managed to turn around to wave at the surprised Shu who waved back with a smile plastered on his face.
“Sho! Wait a little, I can’t follow you so quickly…” Ryka turned to Sho and tried to stop him but without noticing they were already by Sho’s car. Sho opened the door to her, waited for her to sit, closed the door and ran on the driver’s side, jumping in, closed the door behind him and leaned his head on the steering wheel, breathing deeply. “Sho?” Ryka called him concerned. She traced her hand over his messy hair, stroking it lightly.
“I’m sorry…” He muttered. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t say enough for you… and they talked badly of you. You felt uncomfortable I saw that… They even dared to invite Haruna-chan… I really can’t stand them!”
“Sho… you have done enough… I’m really glad you defended me… but it hurt me to see you argue like this… They are your family…”
“No… it wasn’t enough and they never acted as my family. My family are Mai and Shu since they were the only one who acted like one.”
“Shhh, Sho you are only angry at the moment. Calm down and let’s go home, okay?” Her hand stopped as he looked at her, his eyes full of regret but love for her which made her heart flutter a little. She smiled gently at him and repeated, “Let’s go home Sho.”
***
[Two days later…]
Ryka was looking for a job trough the newspapers that Sho brought the previous day for her. She marked the good ones and crossed the ones that weren’t good for her. Firstly she looked for jobs according to her education but while not finding a lot of jobs like this, she decided that any job was all right. She just needed to work and not only clean around Sho’s place and sit around for the whole day, or she would turn lazy. Sho was also working at the moment, coming home in the evening and she had a lot of time to find a nice job for her.
Just when she was about to call for a certain job the door bell rang and wondering who was it, she got up and went to open the door.
“S… Sakurai-san?” She stammered as she saw the man standing by the door. She rushed to bow to him and invited him in before the man could turn impatient. She rushed to give him slippers and when he got inside the living room, she rushed to remove all the news papers and magazines marked with a red marker.
“Looking for a job?” Shun asked interested.
“Ah… h…hai!” Ryka replied, still nervously chopping her words.
“Is Sho not home?”
“He is… working…” Ryka replied while taking the seat by the table.
“I see… I’m glad.”
“Excuse me? Glad?” Ryka wondered, exploring his face closely.
“Yes because I came to talk to you.” He replied and Ryka swallowed hard, secretly wanting to escape this conversation. She knew what he wanted to talk about and it scared her to the very core of her.
***
Sho came home a bit earlier than he thought he would. While he greeted his girl, kissed her forehead, he didn’t notice any change than the little silence over her. When they were eating the prepared dinner, he noticed her view being glued to her plate and didn’t peek over to him like she always did. He knew she was looking for a job today and thought it had something to do with this and didn’t want to but in her problems and depressive over the jobs. If it were his will, he would never let her work and wanted her to depend on him on every possible way but it was her who wanted this and he accepted her wish.
While they were cleaning the dishes, he talked about the work that he had to do this day, told her many funny things that the others did, just to make her smile a bit but his trying failed. Giving up for the day, he crashed on the sofa, inviting her over to him.
“Sho…” She started as she still stood beside him, not looking at him. Her view was lowered, indicating some bad news. “Will you please let me become a better person for you?”
“Eh? What are you talking about Ryka? You don’t need to become better for me, you are good enough. But if you want to then I don’t oppose it, just explain what does this mean?”
“Would you give me some time and let me go until I achieve my goal.”
"What do you mean by 'let me go'? I just don't get it.” Sho wondered, his inner self starting to be afraid of her words.
“Sho, you know exactly what I mean. Please don't make it even harder for me than it already is.”
Sho finally understood what she meant and hasty stood up, holding her shoulders. “Ryka, you can achieve that without me letting you go! Why do you need to leave? Why do you have to do this? To us?” His voice begged and at the same time he was accusing her wish to let him go.
“I can stay but I want to find myself and stand on my own first. Ever since I meet you, Sho, you were there for me all the time… which I don't mind… but I can’t live for the rest of my life doing that…” A tear escaped her eyes as there was so much to bear at the moment. Facing Sho and telling him that it’s over between them for the time being was what she never wanted to do but she knew this was the best for both of them. She didn’t want to just leave as she once before did, she didn’t want to part while not seeing his face, spending some last moments with him. When all the building emotions finally erupted, there was no way to stop them and what left was his sudden, tight embrace, wrapping his arms around her as she buried deep into his chest, gripping on his shirt on his back while muttering:
“For the time being… please let me go, Sho.”
_______________________
A/N: Hiiii even though I'm on hiatus and working and planning the sequel for the Sakuraiba oneshot... I still managed to write this chapter... Sorry forgot to warn you about the sad part... hmmm... oh and you met the annoying girl, Haruna again :D do you still remember her? Sho's arranged marriage from chapter 1 or 2... not sure now huhuhu well the one who flirted with the waiter... now she is back and not yet gone... and it looks like Ryka knows her from the club... eeeeeh? what is all behind this? hehe a new mystery xDD well uuum for the next chapter is set a lot of sadness and a bit of fluffiness... prepare the tisuess ne~~ xD
Oh and again many many thanks to raene_9 xDDD
Oh and another thing... is it just me or just the summer time but the number of readers/comments decreased??? Eh? I really hope it's only the summer that it's not something about the story... I'm really troubled over here... thinking all the time that it's something about my way of writing or something... but at the same time hoping that it's not the case...
Well comments are welcomed ne~ don't be shy xDD It will keep me motivated to write on...