The Man Without a Name, Chapter 7
Work Title: The Man Without a Name
Authors:
kokiden and
alexandragun
Chapter Title: The Lawnmower
Rating: PG
Genre: Runs the gamut: angst, humor, romance
Status: 7 out of 20
Pairing: All the regular ones, plus much, much more
Warnings: This story departs from canon.
DIsclaimer: These characters belong to the lovely Shungiku Nakamura, long may she prosper!
This one is even shorter than the previous ones, so I'll update on Thursday! Hope you like it! Cheers!
Chapter 7
The Lawnmower
Akihiko knew that at some level the search for Misaki was a game to Aikawa. It was her strength: a certain detachment from the sturm und drang of ordinary human life. It was one of the things that made her so dangerous. She loved people in the way that most people love cake. He had done his best to keep her away from Misaki for that very reason; his innocence and openness made him grist for her grinding jaw.
But now, he was completely at her mercy. He needed her energy and persistence and her sheer lack of fear on his side. In this case, it helped that she was unaffected by the grief of losing Misaki. Akihiko was not someone who was able to step back and look at himself objectively with the eye of an outsider, but even he could tell that the departure of Misaki had weakened him, physically and mentally.
But he held to what he’d sworn to in the hospital: he had rededicated himself to finding his lover and to not giving up. Aikawa was one of the tools he planned to use to find Misaki and bring him back. His job was to make sure the tool didn’t dominate the craftsman, like a runaway lawnmower with the hapless gardener trailing along behind in terror.
Though the thought of keeping Aikawa in check was daunting, he tried to keep his focus on Misaki. He needed him back. This damned penthouse was too empty without him. It was odd to think that he’d lived here alone all those years and not realized how empty it was without Misaki, and now that was all he could think of.
The phone rang, and Akihiko jumped off the couch to pick up.
“Good morning, sensei! It is I, Aikawa!”
“What is it? Did you get the phone number?”
“Sorry to get you all excited, sensei!” Aikawa giggled over the line, and Akihiko felt a surge of murderous intent. “Ah, ah!” She hesitated; apparently murderous intent can be sensed over the telephone. “I just wanted to let you know that I have an appointment today with the head of the culinary institute! I’m leaving now! And don’t forget to work on your current chapter!”
Akihiko hung up without responding. Lawnmower. Chewing up his heart and throwing it out in little bits all over the place. He dived back onto the couch, grabbing Suzuki-san as he did so and hugging him.
“How do I do it, Suzuki-san? How do I find Misaki without letting Aikawa eat me up?”
Suzuki reached up a furry paw and stroked Akihiko’s cheek. “I’m just a stupid stuffed bear, but you’re smart, master. You’ll figure something out.”
“Thank you, Suzuki-san.” He kissed the bear’s paw.
******
“Amaterasu Aikawa to see the director,” Aikawa sang in her editorial voice to the school secretary. Aikawa was led into a small office that would have been light-filled if it weren’t for the stacks of books and papers that partially obscured the tall windows.
A handsome woman with her hair in a bun and one curl escaping over her cheek looked up over her glasses with distracted eyes. Aikawa bowed and held it a moment before straightening. “Thank you for seeing me, Madame Director. My name is Amaterasu Aikawa, and I represent Akihiko Usami, the award-winning author of-“
The director half-rose and sat again and said, “Yes, I know who you are; please be seated. Your business with me is?” The director’s voice was deep and pleasant, but definitely frigid. Aikawa wondered in a moment of distraction whether she specialized in frozen foods.
“Usami-sensei is conducting a private search for his protégé, Misaki Takahashi. We’ve recently discovered that Misaki is afflicted with amnesia and is pursuing rehabilitation by means of taking the cooking course at your school. Through an unfortunate turn of events, no one has been able to find him to tell him about his identity, and I am seeking to contact him through your school, Madame Director. He is registered here as Noboru Nakamura.”
“Yes, I’m familiar with Nakamura-kun’s file.”
“Not to put it too bluntly, Madame Director, but I can see you are a busy woman. I am here to request your assistance in the form of Nakamura-san’s phone number and address.” Aikawa fixed the director with a steely and determined eye. She was giving it her best shot.
“I’m afraid I can’t help you, Aikawa-san.” The director rose, as if to dismiss her guest.
“But…”
“It’s impossible. Our student records are confidential. Even though Nakamura-kun isn’t famous like Usami-sensei, I’m sure you wouldn’t give away his phone number and address to just anyone who came in and looked you in the eye,” here, the director paused meaningfully, “and asked.” She smiled faintly.
“But, Madame Director, I’m not just anyone. I’m Misaki-kun’s friend! His friends and family miss him and are waiting to welcome him back.” Aikawa remained seated, even though her training urged her to stand.
“Aikawa-san. I don’t know of any Misaki Takahashi. My student is Noboru Nakamura, and I protect his privacy just like any other student, no matter who wants to know about him.”
“But, Madame-“
“When classes begin, Aikawa-san, the public are allowed to observe on Fridays on a first-come first-served basis. Usami-sensei or yourself would be permitted to enter the classroom just like any other member of the public and observe the lesson. Perhaps you would care to visit us this coming Friday and observe?”
Aikawa stood, admitting defeat. She had met her match-for now. She bowed deeply. “Thank you for your time, Madame Director. I’ll leave you.”
“Good day, Aikawa-san,” came the deep and lovely voice as Aikawa exited the office.
Previous Chapter
Next Chapter
Authors:
kokiden and
alexandragun
Chapter Title: The Lawnmower
Rating: PG
Genre: Runs the gamut: angst, humor, romance
Status: 7 out of 20
Pairing: All the regular ones, plus much, much more
Warnings: This story departs from canon.
DIsclaimer: These characters belong to the lovely Shungiku Nakamura, long may she prosper!
This one is even shorter than the previous ones, so I'll update on Thursday! Hope you like it! Cheers!
Chapter 7
The Lawnmower
Akihiko knew that at some level the search for Misaki was a game to Aikawa. It was her strength: a certain detachment from the sturm und drang of ordinary human life. It was one of the things that made her so dangerous. She loved people in the way that most people love cake. He had done his best to keep her away from Misaki for that very reason; his innocence and openness made him grist for her grinding jaw.
But now, he was completely at her mercy. He needed her energy and persistence and her sheer lack of fear on his side. In this case, it helped that she was unaffected by the grief of losing Misaki. Akihiko was not someone who was able to step back and look at himself objectively with the eye of an outsider, but even he could tell that the departure of Misaki had weakened him, physically and mentally.
But he held to what he’d sworn to in the hospital: he had rededicated himself to finding his lover and to not giving up. Aikawa was one of the tools he planned to use to find Misaki and bring him back. His job was to make sure the tool didn’t dominate the craftsman, like a runaway lawnmower with the hapless gardener trailing along behind in terror.
Though the thought of keeping Aikawa in check was daunting, he tried to keep his focus on Misaki. He needed him back. This damned penthouse was too empty without him. It was odd to think that he’d lived here alone all those years and not realized how empty it was without Misaki, and now that was all he could think of.
The phone rang, and Akihiko jumped off the couch to pick up.
“Good morning, sensei! It is I, Aikawa!”
“What is it? Did you get the phone number?”
“Sorry to get you all excited, sensei!” Aikawa giggled over the line, and Akihiko felt a surge of murderous intent. “Ah, ah!” She hesitated; apparently murderous intent can be sensed over the telephone. “I just wanted to let you know that I have an appointment today with the head of the culinary institute! I’m leaving now! And don’t forget to work on your current chapter!”
Akihiko hung up without responding. Lawnmower. Chewing up his heart and throwing it out in little bits all over the place. He dived back onto the couch, grabbing Suzuki-san as he did so and hugging him.
“How do I do it, Suzuki-san? How do I find Misaki without letting Aikawa eat me up?”
Suzuki reached up a furry paw and stroked Akihiko’s cheek. “I’m just a stupid stuffed bear, but you’re smart, master. You’ll figure something out.”
“Thank you, Suzuki-san.” He kissed the bear’s paw.
******
“Amaterasu Aikawa to see the director,” Aikawa sang in her editorial voice to the school secretary. Aikawa was led into a small office that would have been light-filled if it weren’t for the stacks of books and papers that partially obscured the tall windows.
A handsome woman with her hair in a bun and one curl escaping over her cheek looked up over her glasses with distracted eyes. Aikawa bowed and held it a moment before straightening. “Thank you for seeing me, Madame Director. My name is Amaterasu Aikawa, and I represent Akihiko Usami, the award-winning author of-“
The director half-rose and sat again and said, “Yes, I know who you are; please be seated. Your business with me is?” The director’s voice was deep and pleasant, but definitely frigid. Aikawa wondered in a moment of distraction whether she specialized in frozen foods.
“Usami-sensei is conducting a private search for his protégé, Misaki Takahashi. We’ve recently discovered that Misaki is afflicted with amnesia and is pursuing rehabilitation by means of taking the cooking course at your school. Through an unfortunate turn of events, no one has been able to find him to tell him about his identity, and I am seeking to contact him through your school, Madame Director. He is registered here as Noboru Nakamura.”
“Yes, I’m familiar with Nakamura-kun’s file.”
“Not to put it too bluntly, Madame Director, but I can see you are a busy woman. I am here to request your assistance in the form of Nakamura-san’s phone number and address.” Aikawa fixed the director with a steely and determined eye. She was giving it her best shot.
“I’m afraid I can’t help you, Aikawa-san.” The director rose, as if to dismiss her guest.
“But…”
“It’s impossible. Our student records are confidential. Even though Nakamura-kun isn’t famous like Usami-sensei, I’m sure you wouldn’t give away his phone number and address to just anyone who came in and looked you in the eye,” here, the director paused meaningfully, “and asked.” She smiled faintly.
“But, Madame Director, I’m not just anyone. I’m Misaki-kun’s friend! His friends and family miss him and are waiting to welcome him back.” Aikawa remained seated, even though her training urged her to stand.
“Aikawa-san. I don’t know of any Misaki Takahashi. My student is Noboru Nakamura, and I protect his privacy just like any other student, no matter who wants to know about him.”
“But, Madame-“
“When classes begin, Aikawa-san, the public are allowed to observe on Fridays on a first-come first-served basis. Usami-sensei or yourself would be permitted to enter the classroom just like any other member of the public and observe the lesson. Perhaps you would care to visit us this coming Friday and observe?”
Aikawa stood, admitting defeat. She had met her match-for now. She bowed deeply. “Thank you for your time, Madame Director. I’ll leave you.”
“Good day, Aikawa-san,” came the deep and lovely voice as Aikawa exited the office.
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