[Fanfic] We'll Always Have Paris - Chapter Thirty - Two: Acting on Anger
It’s quite evident how Sakurai Sho is not in his usual self today. He arrived an hour late for their Arashi ni Shiyagare recording and the members are already set in the waiting room when he comes in, welcoming him with worried looks. No one can contact him this morning, even the members’ calls are being ignored. He quickly apologized for being late, saying he got stuck in a meeting with Johnny-san but the members and their managers know better just by looking at his gloomy face. His eyes are red and puffy, eyebrows almost tied together at how he frowned at everything and he’s unusually silent since he arrived.
But Sakurai Sho’s professionalism could not be overshadowed just by anything. As soon as the camera rolled, he puts on his idol smile, waves his hands to the young, screaming girls in the audience and dutifully takes control of the show. He was a totally different person. The people watching on the television could never tell that this man is carelessly speeding his car in the highway as he cried buckets of tears hours ago.
The recording went on with no disruptions as Sho remained in his usual variety show self on-cam but off-cam is a different story. He didn’t speak a word whenever the director would call for a break, instead, he would seclude himself in the corner of the waiting room, absent-mindedly reading a newspaper. The members know that he was called by Johnny-san earlier but no one knew what happened in the meeting, not even their managers although judging by how Sho is acting today, it didn’t end well.
After almost two hours, the director signalled the end of the recording as their Aniki guest was escorted backstage. The members stayed on set, munching on the gourmet food they left behind. Hurriedly, their chief manager discreetly went to Sho’s side as he whispered something to his ear.
“You have to come with me now.” His voice is anxious and when Sho turned to look at him, there is a serious look on his face.
Sho wondered if this is about Johnny-san or regarding what they talked about earlier. “Why?” He asked irritably.
“Believe me, Sakurai, you would want to come with me right now. Your Princess is waiting in the dressing room.” He said firmly as he softly puts a hand on Sho’s back to lead him away from the set.
Sho quickly vanished out of the studio and before he knows it, he was striding off in the long corridor to their dressing room.
“What is she doing here?” Sho asked his manager. Surely, the IHA wouldn’t allow her to come and see him and her security team wouldn’t leave her out of their sight.
His manager is panting heavily as he tries to keep up with Sho’s steps. “She came in a taxi, without any security and a throng of media men following her from behind.”
Sho quickly stop his tracks as he look at his manager with shock. “What?” That’s all he can say to react. He knows Sayumi wouldn’t do anything reckless like this, unless something really bad happened that upset her to not even think about her actions.
“The building’s security informed me right away and luckily they were able to stop the media from mobbing her. But they couldn’t stop some NTV employees and probably their own media from taking pictures. They know I brought her to your dressing room.” His manager informed him. “She looks really upset. I was about to inform you as soon as she arrived but she asked me not to disrupt the recording. She said she can wait until it’s over so I asked our own security to look after her.”
Sho wondered how crazy the chase was earlier, it’s probably bigger than when they were first seen together. It’s not so often you see a Princess walking into a lion’s den of media people without a single security around, hailing a taxi and heading into a TV station. It’s another big scoop and he can just imagine how furious the IHA or her grandfather will be once they find out from the news reports and tabloids.
“Thank you.” Sho said to his manager. If it wasn’t for him, Sayumi probably won’t make it out unharmed from the mob.
His manager only smiled gently as he taps Sho’s back before instructing the security to go. He quickly opens the door to their dressing room and found Sayumi sitting at a corner with a cup of coffee on hand. She immediately jumps up to him for a hug as soon as she saw him and then she started to cry in his arms, not wanting to let go.
“Why did you do that? Why did you escaped from your security?” Sho asked her, softly caressing the back of her head. “I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if you get hurt trying to see me.” He gave her a tight hug.
“I don’t know what to do, all I know is I want to see you.” She cried, still in his arms. “I wanted to get away from them. They lied to me, Sho. Even my father, he kept things from me.”
Sho tried to hush her from crying. He sat her on the couch and took her hand in his. “Stop crying. I’m here now. You’ll be alright with me.” She dropped her head in his chest as she tries to calm herself.
How can he let go of this girl? Just a few hours ago he was so devastated for he knows that she’ll be gone sooner than he thinks. But now, he realized that he should fight for her just like how she fought for him before and how she’s fighting for them now. He knows that the odds are not on his side, he’s up against the most powerful man in the country but Sayumi is in the center of it all and their future together is at stake. He remembered what told himself the day he got her back, he will do anything for her.
“My family is supporting the amendment of the Imperial Household Law, spearheaded by my grandfather. The government is working on it in secret… once that law is passed I’ll be the third-in-line for the throne.” Sayumi told Sho once she settled down.
“You mean, they’re amending the law to allow the female members…” Sho didn’t get to finish his sentence after seeing Sayumi nodding to every word he say. “But Satsuki-san… isn’t she supposed to be third-in-line and Rika-chan after her? Since she’s older than you...”
“She got married before they revise the law, she’s just a plain commoner now. According to an article of the revised law, only the unmarried female members after the law is passed are allowed to ascend to the throne, making their husbands Imperial Princes and their children, regardless of gender, are given priority as an Imperial heir.”
Sho took a bit of time to digest everything she said. For a brief moment, silence fills the spacious dressing room.
“And they want someone suitable for you…” He managed to say in murmur as he stares blankly at the ground. “Someone they wanted to fit being a Prince or a future Emperor consort.”
Sho felt her hand squeezing his as she leaned forward. “I’m not going to be an Empress. I won’t let them take this choice away from us. We’ll find a way out of it.”
“How?” Sho find himself asking. “Sayumi, they are your family-”
“And they lied to me!” Her voice went higher. “I trusted them, especially my father. He knows what I wanted to be and being an Empress is never a part of it, and yet he took matters into his own hands, decided my future by himself without letting me know a single thing.” She was mad, a kind of anger he have never seen from her before.
“Everyone knows except me. Even Kiyomizu know but he kept silent all this time. I feel betrayed by the few people I truly trust…” She dropped her head to his chest again as she can feel the fast beating of his heart.
“I’m sure they have their reasons for not telling you. Kiyomizu-san probably didn’t say a word because he’s loyal to your father and he wanted you to hear it from him... Yumi, don’t act on anger, it wouldn’t do you any good.” He tried to put sense into her, to lessen the anger she’s feeling inside.
“When will they tell me? When the law passed and I don’t have time to object?” She raised her furious voice.
“You know what I hated most about this? They tried to take you away from me. I will never forgive them for doing that. I will not let go of you, Sho. Never.” She firmly stated as she cupped her trembling hand on his cheek.
Sho places his hand on top of hers as they their foreheads touched each other. “I will not let go of you too, Yumi. I will fight for you no matter how tough it is, remember that.” He closes his eyes and felt the warmth from their intertwined hands.
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It’s already two hours after noontime and the Arashi members and their staff are still stuck in their dressing room inside the NTV building. They expected the media to subside when the IHA remained silent on the new issue but instead, the crowd outside increased as they wait for anyone involved to appear before them.
Arashi’s remaining schedule was postponed for another date, there’s no way they can escape the pack of media without getting followed to where they are going. Luckily, the rest of their day only consists of magazine interviews and photo shoots. They are strictly instructed to stay inside and never leave that dressing room, they were given enough food to eat and good thing they have their own gaming console to pass the time.
The members tried to liven up the mood in the room. Sho and Sayumi already told them everything and they know they couldn’t offer them anything but their support. They huddled up in the middle of the room playing silly Nintendo Wii games to get two off their problems even for a little while, just seeing them getting smile back is enough.
Arashi chief manager appeared on the door in the middle of their game, no one gives attention to him. He cleared his throat loudly and called for Sayumi. “Princess Sayumi, your sister is here.”
“What?” Sayumi dropped her Wii remote and stood up from her seat. Satsuki appeared from outside even before she manage to take a step.
“Father sent me here. He wanted to see if you’re okay.” Satsuki explained right away. “I’m not going to take you away, Yumi. I’m just making sure that you’re okay.”
“Good… because I’m not going back home.” Sayumi announces. “I’m staying at Sho’s place.”
“Yumi.” Sho quickly stood up to her side. They didn’t talk about this yet and as much as possible, he didn’t want to create more problems that can aggravate the Emperor.
“You know about that too, right, Nee-chan? And yet you act as if you don’t… You all fooled me.” Sayumi accuses her sister.
“Oh please, Yumi! Don’t be such a brat about this!” Satsuki loses her patience.
“A brat?” Sayumi sarcastically repeated. “They are taking my life away and you think I’m being a brat about it? You don’t know how I feel because you are living your own life now! You don’t have to worry about the family or the IHA because they can never dictate you anymore. You’re free… and I envy you so much.”
Satsuki shakes her head and grips her sister hard on the arm. “You are given a chance to redeem yourself to everyone who puts us down in the past, all the people who wrote cruel things about us just because we are girls born into the family, the ones who treated us wrongly and those boys who bullied you until you fear the sight of anyone you doesn’t know… You can prove to them that you’re better than them, that you’re capable of leading everyone despite being a girl, just a girl.” She is as angry as her sister and the members are feeling the tension creeping in the air.
“I can’t do that, Yumi. I can never redeem myself. To those people, I’m just a girl who secretly got married to escape the pressure of the family. That’s all that I am to them… And I envy you.”
Sayumi turned her back on her sister, her hands on her waist as she begins to sob quietly.
“Father said that he’ll give some time by yourself so I didn’t bring any of your guards here, just the excess of Father’s security so I can pass through the flock of media… If you wanted to go home call Kiyomizu so he can arrange an escort. If you want to stay the night with me at my house, tell me now.”
Sayumi softly shakes her head. “I’m staying with Sho.” Her voice is hollow and quiet, not bothering to turn around to face her sister.
“Okay, if that’s what you want.” Satsuki said before heading to the door.
Sho eyed the members to pacify Sayumi as he ran after Satsuki on the corridor. The familiar faces of the Crown Prince’s security are scattered on the floor.
“Take care of her, Sakurai-san. Sayumi can be rebellious sometimes.” Satsuki said after she turned around to face him.
“She’s not being rebellious, Satsuki-san. She’s upset and I think she has the right to be one.” Sho said meaningfully.
“Maybe it’s our fault for not telling her. But for the past two months, we are worried about Father’s condition. We can’t possibly sit her down and tell her everything about the plan and besides, it’s best if she hear everything from our Father.”
“Is it true, though… the Emperor is planning to marry her to someone…” Sho dared to ask.
“It was the plan before we even met you.” Satsuki answered truthfully. She studied the look on Sho’s face and she’s certain that he is bothered by it. “I would like to apologize for what my grandfather asked you to do… I think it’s a bigger reason why Sayumi is acting like this.”
Sho looked down on the floor as his hair covered half of his face.
“Don’t think that everything is just an act, Sakurai-san. I like you for my sister and I am sure you have gained my father’s approval. He will talk to my grandfather about you, he will tell him that he like you to be my sister’s future Emperor consort.”
Sho chuckled softly, that sounded so surreal. “But Sayumi doesn’t want that for us… and if you asked for my opinion, I would prefer having my future children out of the limelight.”
“But you don’t have a choice. The amendment is on-going, it might be passed in a year or a maximum of two years, at least.”
Sho shakes his head. “We can always have a choice, Satsuki-san. As long as that law is not yet passed, we still have a chance to get out of it…”
Satsuki lifted up her head as if an idea struck her. “Don’t tell me…” Her eyes are round in shock.
A small, timid smile appears on the side of Sho’s lips.