Epilogue... Finale... Fin... *cries happily*
and so we arrive at a post that for quite some time in the past, i was actually afraid i'd never reach...
for one, i was half-afraid i was never going to finish this story... and then there's the fear that i would actually, really reach its end... plus i've also had this constant fear that the readers wouldn't like it since i went my own way for most, if not all, of the story (there were stuff like having too much toma, or too little junxmao interaction) which would in turn make me not finish it... but One Chance (Falling...) had a good run (in my mind)... it's been over a year since i started posting it and the time has come for me to post the very last chapter... the epilogue, so to speak...
this epilogue was done in a way that i hope managed to tie up most of the loose ends i've left in the story... and while i may actually have left some loose ends on this chapter itself, i'm aware of 2 but there might be a few minor ones i have overlooked, i hope this chapter clears up everything well...
but before i proceed to the actually chapter, fair warning: there is only one chapter in this story that's only junxmao... that was Chapter26... this chapter touches most, if not all, of the characters i've used in the story... i love all these characters, side as they may be, as much as i love jun and mao (and toma)... :)
and so.... drum rolls please.... lolz... (Officially finished at 2:26am, October 18, 2011.)
TITLE: One Chance (Falling...)
CHARACTERS: Matsumoto Jun, Ikuta Toma, Inoue Mao, Horikita Maki, Toda Erika, Mizushima Hiro, Nishikido Ryo, Takaki Yuya, Sakamoto Masayuki (please proceed to cast list for more of the cast)
GENRE: AU
RATINGS: Pg
DISCLAIMER: The only thing i own in this story is the plot...
SUMMARY: She was waiting for a guy to sweep her off her feet. He was waiting for that girl he could sweep off hers... And then a new guy came to change the story... This is a story of falling in love, and realizing that you've fallen in love... Typical isn't it? Maybe... Maybe not...
Prologue, Chapter1, Chapter2, Chapter3, Chapter4, Chapter5, Chapter6, Chapter7, Chapter8, Chapter9, Chapter10, Chapter11, Chapter12, Chapter13, Chapter14, Chapter15, Chapter 16, Chapter17,Chapter18, Chapter19, Chapter20, Chapter21,Chapter22, Chapter23, Chapter24, Chapter25, Chapter26, Chapter27
Epilogue: Everyone Deserves At Least One Chance
It’s the day Toma was finally discharged from the hospital.
Erika and the others had organized a little Welcome Back/Welcome Home party for the guy in Erika’s apartment. Toma had, after all, finally agreed to stay with Erika for the meantime to allow him to fully recover before they allow him to stay at his own house. It was either that or he remain at the hospital.
Toma ended up agreeing. He’s already way too tired of being holed up in the hospital plus there are certain unexpected perks of staying in wit Erika. One of which was having Maki live nearby.
After that talk with Mao, he had pretty much admitted to himself that Maki is a lot more special to him than what he originally thought. He had told Maki that, during one of those moments when she’s there to keep him company and they’ve come up with an agreement. They’re both going to take it slow.
Toma’s not complaining though. From where he was seated under the shade, he’s pretty much happy with what he’s seeing. He could see Mao and Jun talking by the barbeque area, with Mao having quiet a happy, contented smile on her lips. Not far away, Erika, Ryo and Maki were having a rather animated discussion on the dressing Ryo wanted to do for the salad but was being opposed by the two girls.
It seemed like Ryo was winning though, something Erika was not keen on allowing to happen which is why she stepped closer to her boyfriend and started poking the guy at the sides, making Ryo retaliate. Maki stepped back laughing as she watched. And then, just as when his eyes focused on her, Maki turned around and caught him looking.
He didn’t look away but he smiled. And he could feel the warmth spread throughout his body the moment he saw her smile back.
-----
Back at MSMT, Shun had just seated himself behind the table that just until very recently was Jun’s. It’s his already. General Manager.
He looked around the room he had been in so frequently under the two GM’s he’d worked with (Hiro and Jun) and saw himself being overwhelmed with the opportunity he was presented. When he started, he was just a model who knew how to work with people. And now, he’s there, at the top position of one of Japan’s top ad companies.
He could feel his heart pounding loudly but still, he smiled. He was scared all right, but he’s also excited.
This is one challenge he’s not backing out on.
-----
Lower down the building, Aiba watches as Mabo shouts ‘Cut!’ and every member of the crew scatter around like ants on the main shooting area to adjust what needed to be adjusted, to clean what needed to be cleaned. They were shooting the next set of commercials featuring Becky. The client, Nagano, had enjoyed the commercials so much that he had actually extended the original contract.
He watched as Becky approached Mabo and as the two conversed over a script. Knowing the woman, she would be suggesting an idea that suddenly pops in her head.
Just then Becky glanced at him and Mabo turned around, signaling him to come closer. With a nod and a smile, he approached the two with Becky immediately holding on to his waist to rest her head on his shoulder the moment he approached them. Mabo didn’t seem disturbed.
-----
At the Matsumoto mansion, Masayuki had just told Nakai to sit next to him and Gussan by the patio as they did nothing but watch Yuya and Yuri below playing ball. Hiro at Nanako had just dropped off Yuri because the two had a date to go to and as always, he’s glad to take in his grandson.
With the sight of the two boys below them and the thought of his other two sons, Masayuki couldn’t help but smile.
“You seem happy,” Nakai observed.
“That’s an understatement,” Gussan grinned.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Masayuki smiled. “My family is complete.”
-----
“So, do you have a plan of ever coming back?” Kame asked just as he and Meisa approached the checking-in area of the airport. It was also Meisa’s scheduled flight to London. Jun and Mao were supposed to slip out of Toma’s party to drive her there but Kame insisted that he do it. Meisa didn’t oppose.
“My job is in London, I’ve established myself there,” Meisa shrugged.
Kame was just about to sigh in disappointment when Meisa smiled and added “But we’ll never know. Maybe I’d be lucky like Jun and find my own reason to stay here.”
“Have high hopes of that happening?” Kame inquired rather meaningfully.
And Meisa immediately got that meaning evidence by her eyebrow shooting up as she looked at Kame amusingly. There was also some sort of a dare in those eyes as it met with Kame’s.
“Hopes, maybe. But I can’t say that it’s that high,” she said, the last part with a mischievous grin. Whatever response Kame has prepared for that was drowned by the airing of the last call to board the London flight, the very flight Meisa is booked to. “Anyway, I don’t want to miss my flight. I have to go. Thanks for the ride!”
Kame could only smile ruefully as he watched her departing back. That smile turned to a confident grin though the moment Meisa presented her passport and ticket and she ended up glancing at Kame.
That’s when Kame realized that she’s going to have to return to London at least one more time, for Jun and Mao’s wedding.
“You are going to be mine.”
-----
“Where are we really heading to anyway?” Mao asked about 30 minutes into the drive.
She and Jun had left Toma’s party like planned but they didn’t head to the airport, Kame having picked up and dropped off Meisa. Instead, they headed off to a different route. Mao, somehow, feels like she’s already gone through that route but she can’t say for sure.
“You’ll see,” Jun simply smiled.
That’s when Mao heard the sound of the sea rushing in to the shore and her eyes grew large. She had been there before! It’s just that the last time she went there, she was too preoccupied to notice the way to that place. And she wasn’t mistaken when a few seconds more, Jun pulled up in front of the house Meisa had said was Jun’s.
In surprise, Mao turned around to look at the guy only to find him leaving the car. It was in no time that he had opened the door for her and helped her alight from the car.
“I heard you’ve already been told of the story of this house,” Jun said in answer to the questioning look in Mao’s eyes.
Mao chuckled, of course he knew. “Meisa-chan?”
Jun shook his head. “Nakai-kun,” he grinned as Mao laughed in surprise.
“So, why are we here?” she asked eventually.
“My brother, Hiro-kun’s, strongest memory of our mother was during his own wedding, when he saw how happy our mom was the moment he and Nanako-chan faced her as husband and wife,” Jun started. “Our mom told me that she felt really happy when Hiro-kun first introduced Nanako-chan to her because she finally got to meet the woman who would make Hiro-kun’s life sparkle.”
Mao couldn’t really pick up how Jun was answering her question but she still listened and rightly so because after a brief silence, Jun turned to look at her seriously and added “Now, it’s my turn to make her happy, even though she’s already in heaven.”
Mao gasped as her eyes looked at him.
“This was my mother’s own house,” he continued in explanation. “And it feels to me as though this is my way of introducing you personally to her.”
“Oh! Jun…”
Jun smiled as his eyes bored into hers.
“I love you…” he whispered.
Mao, who’s eyes had started to water couldn’t help but smile.
“I love you too…”
And with only the clear blue sky, the crashing waves, and his house as witness, Jun claimed Mao’s lips as they slowly melted into each other’s embrace.
From a distance, the birds sounded almost like they were singing. Someone in heaven is smiling.
-----THE END-----
and so ends One Chance (Falling...)...
how was the chapter?
how was the whole story...
do tell... :D
for one, i was half-afraid i was never going to finish this story... and then there's the fear that i would actually, really reach its end... plus i've also had this constant fear that the readers wouldn't like it since i went my own way for most, if not all, of the story (there were stuff like having too much toma, or too little junxmao interaction) which would in turn make me not finish it... but One Chance (Falling...) had a good run (in my mind)... it's been over a year since i started posting it and the time has come for me to post the very last chapter... the epilogue, so to speak...
this epilogue was done in a way that i hope managed to tie up most of the loose ends i've left in the story... and while i may actually have left some loose ends on this chapter itself, i'm aware of 2 but there might be a few minor ones i have overlooked, i hope this chapter clears up everything well...
but before i proceed to the actually chapter, fair warning: there is only one chapter in this story that's only junxmao... that was Chapter26... this chapter touches most, if not all, of the characters i've used in the story... i love all these characters, side as they may be, as much as i love jun and mao (and toma)... :)
and so.... drum rolls please.... lolz... (Officially finished at 2:26am, October 18, 2011.)
TITLE: One Chance (Falling...)
CHARACTERS: Matsumoto Jun, Ikuta Toma, Inoue Mao, Horikita Maki, Toda Erika, Mizushima Hiro, Nishikido Ryo, Takaki Yuya, Sakamoto Masayuki (please proceed to cast list for more of the cast)
GENRE: AU
RATINGS: Pg
DISCLAIMER: The only thing i own in this story is the plot...
SUMMARY: She was waiting for a guy to sweep her off her feet. He was waiting for that girl he could sweep off hers... And then a new guy came to change the story... This is a story of falling in love, and realizing that you've fallen in love... Typical isn't it? Maybe... Maybe not...
Prologue, Chapter1, Chapter2, Chapter3, Chapter4, Chapter5, Chapter6, Chapter7, Chapter8, Chapter9, Chapter10, Chapter11, Chapter12, Chapter13, Chapter14, Chapter15, Chapter 16, Chapter17,Chapter18, Chapter19, Chapter20, Chapter21,Chapter22, Chapter23, Chapter24, Chapter25, Chapter26, Chapter27
Epilogue: Everyone Deserves At Least One Chance
It’s the day Toma was finally discharged from the hospital.
Erika and the others had organized a little Welcome Back/Welcome Home party for the guy in Erika’s apartment. Toma had, after all, finally agreed to stay with Erika for the meantime to allow him to fully recover before they allow him to stay at his own house. It was either that or he remain at the hospital.
Toma ended up agreeing. He’s already way too tired of being holed up in the hospital plus there are certain unexpected perks of staying in wit Erika. One of which was having Maki live nearby.
After that talk with Mao, he had pretty much admitted to himself that Maki is a lot more special to him than what he originally thought. He had told Maki that, during one of those moments when she’s there to keep him company and they’ve come up with an agreement. They’re both going to take it slow.
Toma’s not complaining though. From where he was seated under the shade, he’s pretty much happy with what he’s seeing. He could see Mao and Jun talking by the barbeque area, with Mao having quiet a happy, contented smile on her lips. Not far away, Erika, Ryo and Maki were having a rather animated discussion on the dressing Ryo wanted to do for the salad but was being opposed by the two girls.
It seemed like Ryo was winning though, something Erika was not keen on allowing to happen which is why she stepped closer to her boyfriend and started poking the guy at the sides, making Ryo retaliate. Maki stepped back laughing as she watched. And then, just as when his eyes focused on her, Maki turned around and caught him looking.
He didn’t look away but he smiled. And he could feel the warmth spread throughout his body the moment he saw her smile back.
-----
Back at MSMT, Shun had just seated himself behind the table that just until very recently was Jun’s. It’s his already. General Manager.
He looked around the room he had been in so frequently under the two GM’s he’d worked with (Hiro and Jun) and saw himself being overwhelmed with the opportunity he was presented. When he started, he was just a model who knew how to work with people. And now, he’s there, at the top position of one of Japan’s top ad companies.
He could feel his heart pounding loudly but still, he smiled. He was scared all right, but he’s also excited.
This is one challenge he’s not backing out on.
-----
Lower down the building, Aiba watches as Mabo shouts ‘Cut!’ and every member of the crew scatter around like ants on the main shooting area to adjust what needed to be adjusted, to clean what needed to be cleaned. They were shooting the next set of commercials featuring Becky. The client, Nagano, had enjoyed the commercials so much that he had actually extended the original contract.
He watched as Becky approached Mabo and as the two conversed over a script. Knowing the woman, she would be suggesting an idea that suddenly pops in her head.
Just then Becky glanced at him and Mabo turned around, signaling him to come closer. With a nod and a smile, he approached the two with Becky immediately holding on to his waist to rest her head on his shoulder the moment he approached them. Mabo didn’t seem disturbed.
-----
At the Matsumoto mansion, Masayuki had just told Nakai to sit next to him and Gussan by the patio as they did nothing but watch Yuya and Yuri below playing ball. Hiro at Nanako had just dropped off Yuri because the two had a date to go to and as always, he’s glad to take in his grandson.
With the sight of the two boys below them and the thought of his other two sons, Masayuki couldn’t help but smile.
“You seem happy,” Nakai observed.
“That’s an understatement,” Gussan grinned.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Masayuki smiled. “My family is complete.”
-----
“So, do you have a plan of ever coming back?” Kame asked just as he and Meisa approached the checking-in area of the airport. It was also Meisa’s scheduled flight to London. Jun and Mao were supposed to slip out of Toma’s party to drive her there but Kame insisted that he do it. Meisa didn’t oppose.
“My job is in London, I’ve established myself there,” Meisa shrugged.
Kame was just about to sigh in disappointment when Meisa smiled and added “But we’ll never know. Maybe I’d be lucky like Jun and find my own reason to stay here.”
“Have high hopes of that happening?” Kame inquired rather meaningfully.
And Meisa immediately got that meaning evidence by her eyebrow shooting up as she looked at Kame amusingly. There was also some sort of a dare in those eyes as it met with Kame’s.
“Hopes, maybe. But I can’t say that it’s that high,” she said, the last part with a mischievous grin. Whatever response Kame has prepared for that was drowned by the airing of the last call to board the London flight, the very flight Meisa is booked to. “Anyway, I don’t want to miss my flight. I have to go. Thanks for the ride!”
Kame could only smile ruefully as he watched her departing back. That smile turned to a confident grin though the moment Meisa presented her passport and ticket and she ended up glancing at Kame.
That’s when Kame realized that she’s going to have to return to London at least one more time, for Jun and Mao’s wedding.
“You are going to be mine.”
-----
“Where are we really heading to anyway?” Mao asked about 30 minutes into the drive.
She and Jun had left Toma’s party like planned but they didn’t head to the airport, Kame having picked up and dropped off Meisa. Instead, they headed off to a different route. Mao, somehow, feels like she’s already gone through that route but she can’t say for sure.
“You’ll see,” Jun simply smiled.
That’s when Mao heard the sound of the sea rushing in to the shore and her eyes grew large. She had been there before! It’s just that the last time she went there, she was too preoccupied to notice the way to that place. And she wasn’t mistaken when a few seconds more, Jun pulled up in front of the house Meisa had said was Jun’s.
In surprise, Mao turned around to look at the guy only to find him leaving the car. It was in no time that he had opened the door for her and helped her alight from the car.
“I heard you’ve already been told of the story of this house,” Jun said in answer to the questioning look in Mao’s eyes.
Mao chuckled, of course he knew. “Meisa-chan?”
Jun shook his head. “Nakai-kun,” he grinned as Mao laughed in surprise.
“So, why are we here?” she asked eventually.
“My brother, Hiro-kun’s, strongest memory of our mother was during his own wedding, when he saw how happy our mom was the moment he and Nanako-chan faced her as husband and wife,” Jun started. “Our mom told me that she felt really happy when Hiro-kun first introduced Nanako-chan to her because she finally got to meet the woman who would make Hiro-kun’s life sparkle.”
Mao couldn’t really pick up how Jun was answering her question but she still listened and rightly so because after a brief silence, Jun turned to look at her seriously and added “Now, it’s my turn to make her happy, even though she’s already in heaven.”
Mao gasped as her eyes looked at him.
“This was my mother’s own house,” he continued in explanation. “And it feels to me as though this is my way of introducing you personally to her.”
“Oh! Jun…”
Jun smiled as his eyes bored into hers.
“I love you…” he whispered.
Mao, who’s eyes had started to water couldn’t help but smile.
“I love you too…”
And with only the clear blue sky, the crashing waves, and his house as witness, Jun claimed Mao’s lips as they slowly melted into each other’s embrace.
From a distance, the birds sounded almost like they were singing. Someone in heaven is smiling.
-----THE END-----
and so ends One Chance (Falling...)...
how was the chapter?
how was the whole story...
do tell... :D