Kiara POV
Yelling in frustration, I throw my pencil across the room and smash my head into the dining table. Why, why must math be so freaking hard?! Aunt Katie pokes her head around the corner. “That sounds like it hurt.” I groan. “I don’t want to do this anymore, Auntie!! It’s too hard…I just want to be finished for today.” She laughs. “You mean, you want to go hang out with your prince?” I bury my face in my hands so she can’t see the blood rushing to my cheeks. Emiko has referred to Takashi and I as a prince and princess ever since we saved her a couple months ago. When Aunt Katie got wind of that, she found it adorable and has used those terms for us pretty often. “You know, a princess who isn’t educated doesn’t make very good decisions. So as your royal advisor, I can’t allow you to quit your studies. Besides, the prince is studying right now too.”
I roll my eyes and giggle. “Alright, Aunt Katie. No need to be so sarcastic.” She grins and sits down across from me. “Here, let me review your work.” She checks my work and nods in satisfaction. “You’ve done enough for today.” Relieved, I jump to my feet. “Thank you! I’ll see you later!” She throws me the keys to her red jeep. “Have fun dear, and tell everyone I said Hi!” “I will! Love you!” I cry as I rush out the door and hop into the car. “I love you too!” She calls right before I shut the drivers side door. Moments later I’m heading down the driveway and then onto the main road. I can’t wait to see what Takashi and I are going to do today!
Around half an hour later I arrive at the Matsuya mansion. Emiko is outside feeding the chickens. She runs to me and wraps her arms around my waist when I approach her. “Good afternoon Ms. Kiara!” I hug her warmly. “Hello, Emiko. Have you had a good day?” The smile leaves her face and she rubs her toe into the ground in discomfort. “Well, it’s not the best day ever….” Concerned, I try to ask what she means, but Lady Chino steps out onto the porch before I can. “Hello Kiara dear, would you like to come inside? Takashi’s almost done with his homework.” “Sure. I’ll see you later Emi.” I tell the little girl. She nods and returns to her chores. I follow Lady Chino into the mansion. She hums quietly to herself, but there’s an undertone of anxiety in here that I can’t help noticing. “Is everything alright, Ma’am?” She squeezes my arm gently. “Of course honey.” I give her a skeptical look, but she just leads me to Takashi’s room. “Sweetheart, Kiara is here! Are you finished yet?” We hear a deep sigh followed by the sound of a drawer closing. “Yeah I am. You can come in Kiara.”
Lady Chino walks away, and I enter the bedroom. “Hey Takashi! What’s up?” He smiles kindly, but for the first time his happiness at my presence seems forced. “Nothing really. I’ve just been doing schoolwork.” “Same here.” I reply. “Are you okay? You don’t seem like yourself today.” He shrugs. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.” Now I’m worried. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like this. “You sure? You know you can tell me anyth-” “I said I’m fine!!” Takashi snaps. I immediately shut my mouth. We are both silent for a few minutes, then he turns to me in horror. “I’m so sorry, Kiara, I swear I didn’t mean to sound so angry. I just received some bad news..” My blood runs cold.
“What is it?” He rolls his chair closer to me as I sit down on his bed. “Well, the thing is that my family has called a meeting tomorrow…and meetings never go well for me.” I can plainly see the fear in his eyes. “Are they mean to you?” He doesn’t need to answer, the expression on his face provides the answer. His skin is a shade paler than usual too. I stand up, position myself behind his chair, and place my arms around his shoulders. He takes hold of me, and I do my best to be comforting. Just the thought of anyone hurting Takashi makes me upset, but the fact that he’s afraid of his own family is enough to make me a bit nauseous. “Is there any way you can skip the meeting?” He shakes his head. “All Matsuyas are required to attend.” I bite my lip thoughtfully, trying to think of a way to help. Then a thought hits me. “Hey, are you allowed to bring a guest to these meetings?” Takashi peers at me quizzically. “It depends…the only guests we’re allowed to bring are people who are somehow involved in a familial way. Like a boyfriend or girlfriend. Why do you ask?” “If you want me to, I could go with you for support. I know we haven’t made anything official, but I could pose as your girlfriend like I did at Arakawa Yuen. That is, if you aren’t bothered by that.”
He stares at me wonderingly. “You wouldn’t mind doing that?” I laugh. “Of course not!” Takashi leans his head into me. “Selene-chan, I don’t know what to say…I don’t know how to repay you for everything you do for me.” I reach up and run my fingers through his silky black hair. “You don’t have to repay me. I’m happy to help.” An hour later Lady Chino comes in carrying her magenta purse. “Let’s get ready to go, honey. We can’t afford to be late.” “Alright, Mom.” Takashi stands up and puts on his black coat. “I’m so sorry, Kiara. I completely forgot that I have a photo shoot tonight. Would you like to ask your aunt if you could come with us?” Surprised and a little excited, I pull out my cell phone. “Are you sure it wouldn’t be a problem?” “Of course it wouldn’t be, dear.” Lady Chino replies from the hallway. I hurriedly call Aunt Katie, and of course, she has no problem with it. So I hop into the limo with them, barely able to contain my happiness. This will be my first time at a photo shoot without needing to worry about cameras or equipment. An hour later we arrive at an enormous studio with an equally large parking lot. According to Lady Chino we arrived in good time, but already most of the parking spaces are taken.
The driver takes us to the very back where our reserved spot is. All of the models have specific places saved for them. “It must be nice to have a parking space reserved for you specifically, Takashi.” I comment, and he laughs. “You have no idea…just wait until we get inside.” He leads the way around to the front of the building and we enter through big glass doors. “Oh my gosh, it’s Takashi Matsuya!!!” A shrill voice cries out, and an eruption of screams fills the modeling studio. I quickly notice how natural Takashi is as the center of attention. His steps are soft and graceful, and you can tell he takes great pride in his work. I wonder how he holds back from being clumsy in front of all of these people…”I know it looks natural, but trust me, it took years of training for him to master this gait.” Lady Chino whispers to me. “He would always trip, no matter what type of flooring he was walking on. But as you can see, he has complete control while in the presence of cameramen. All of his natural clumsiness disappears when he’s on stage. It’s a good thing too, because if it didn’t, he would never have been allowed to perform.”
Takashi continues his walk until we reach a row of doors. There are people everywhere, but fortunately the walkways are blocked off on both sides so the models can easily move to and from the rooms. All of the rooms are positioned in a way that shows the rankings of the models using them. There are twelve doors in all, and they all have a name posted on them as well as a star signifying their publicity status. The first several doors have little to no decorations on them, with only bronze stars below the name plaques. The last three doors are different. The third to last door has a silver star and the second to last door has a gold star along with several other medals from various photo shoots. The final door is the most beautiful of all; it’s covered in medals from top to bottom, most of them gold. The star below the plaque is made of pure platinum. I can’t help but be proud when I see Takashi’s name emblazoned boldly on the name plaque.
Lady Chino recognizes my feelings and ruffles her sons hair. “That’s right, my baby boy is a champion, the best model in all of Japan.” Takashi blushes. “Mom, you’re messing up my hair.” She chuckles and opens his door. “Relax dear, we will just give you a couple touch-ups while we’re waiting for the director to come get you.” The inside of Takashi’s room is just as decorative as the entryway. There are trophies and medals all over the walls and shelves. Takashi sits down in front of a desktop mirror and lets his mother brush his hair. She fusses over him for several minutes, and I find it adorable. “Do you guys need help with anything?” I ask. “Well, I am a little thirsty…” Takashi pipes up, but Lady Chino immediately shushes him. “No no no, I will not have you staining your teeth before the photographers see you! Not to mention, you might have to pee while on stage if you drink something now!” Poor Takashi…I giggle a little bit.
“Well, I saw a Starbucks across the street, so I’m going to go get a frappucino. Do you want something for later?” Lady Chino sighs and gives me a thankful smile. “That would be nice. I’ll take a salted caramel frappucino if you don’t mind. Do you want a regular iced coffee, sweetie? For after the shoot, of course.” She asks Takashi, and he nods. She pulls out her wallet and removes a twenty dollar bill, insisting that I use it. I know better than to argue with her, so I take it and leave the studio. Once I make it across the street, I notice that the Starbucks is pretty full. Oh well, I wasn’t planning to stay anyway. I get in line behind an old couple and take a look around the outlet. Every single table is taken, and the air is filled with chattering voices. I pick out all sorts of conversations, ranging from small talk about the weather to deep discussions about personal beliefs. The old man in front of me steps backward, causing me to trip and fall into the person behind me. “Oof!” I grunt and immediately turn to the person I landed on. “I’m so sorry! Are you okay?”
The person behind me is a girl around my age with long brown hair, rich brown eyes, and dark glasses. She’s wearing a t-shirt that is the same color as her eyes, as well as black leather jeans. “Don’t worry about it, I’m fine. Are you okay?” She asks timidly. I smile and help her up. “Never better.” I see that she’s holding a list in one hand and is carrying a tote bag in the other. It’s full of camera equipment…”If you don’t mind me asking, did you come from the studio over there?” She makes eye contact with me. “Yeah, I’m an apprentice photographer. My dream is to one day take photos for a living…” “That’s really cool. My aunt is a professional photographer, but she isn’t here tonight. The only reason I’m here is because my best friend invited me to come with him.” Her eyes widen. “Wow, your aunt is a professional?! That’s amazing!” Suddenly her shy demeanor returns and she breaks eye contact. “I’m sorry, where are my manners? I get a little overexcited when it comes to photography.” I chuckle. “That’s alright. My name is Kiara Bakerson. What’s yours?” She lifts her head up at me again. “I’m Hannah Rogers.” We shake hands politely.
The couple in front of me finish ordering their drinks, and I step up to order mine. After paying, I move aside to wait. Hannah joins me a moment later. “Do you wanna walk back together?” I inquire kindly. She grins. “Sure.” We receive our drinks, and I decide to help Hannah carry hers because she had to order so many. “Wow, did you have to get something for everyone in your group?” She nods. “Yes, but there wasn’t enough money for me to get one. My boss said that I don’t deserve a drink of my own because my photography is crappy.” My eyes widen. “What?! That’s horrible! If you managed to become an apprentice, you can’t possibly be that bad at it!” She just shrugs glumly. “That’s not what he thinks.” A little angry for Hannah’s sake, I pull my frappucino out of its holder. “Do you like chocolate?” When she says yes, I take the other drinks she was holding and give my drink to her. “Here, you can have this.” She gasps. “Oh, no! I couldn’t possibly take that from you!” “Really, it’s no trouble.” Her panic intensifies, and I’ll admit that I’m growing more and more concerned for her. “Please, just keep your drink. I appreciate it, I really do, but I can’t take it…my boss would kill me.”
Before I can respond, I suddenly hear someone approaching us. We turn our heads to see who it is, and Hannah’s face flushes beet red. A young man wearing a shiny black jacket is moving in our direction. He’s attractive, but not as handsome as Takashi, at least in my opinion. You can tell from looking at him that he is of pure Japanese heritage, just like Takashi, and he has silky black hair as well, but that’s where the similarities end. This boys hair is wavy instead of straight, his eyes are a deep onyx color, and his skin is a shade lighter than my best friends skin. He has a fairly serious aura, but at the same time there’s a calm confidence in his step. I’m intimidated for a minute until he breaks into a flirtatious grin. “Well hello, ladies. Are you heading into the studio?” He gets so close to me that our noses are almost touching. “If you want, I could give you a tour.” I stutter for a moment before pushing him away. “No thank you. She has to get back to her boss, and my boyfriend is waiting for me.” I feel compelled to say boyfriend so I can hopefully scare this guy away. “Oh, really? Who’s your boyfriend? I guarantee that I could show you a better time than he ever could.” I glare at him indignantly. “For your information, Takashi Matsuya is my boyfriend, and he is a better guy than you could ever hope to be!” The smile drops from the young mans face, and he stares directly at me in disbelief. “Matsuya??!! You’re with Takashi Matsuya??!!” I gulp, scared by the anger in his voice. “Y-yes, I am.” Hannah looks at me in awe, and the young man snarls before punching a nearby wall. I can’t move…the only thought running through my mind is “What have I just gotten myself into?”
I really don’t know what to do. I’m frozen with uncertainty. The young man is shaking with rage, and Hannah is cowering beside me. The fury didn’t appear on his features until I mentioned Takashi. I wonder why that is…”E-e-excuse me, but we really do need to get going.” Hannah utters. “Yeah, she’s right. See you around.” I take Hannah’s arm, and we bolt across the street once I’m certain there isn’t any danger from cars. We make it to the main studio doors before the man catches up. “Wait, please! I didn’t mean to scare you, I just-can’t believe you’re with Matsuya of all people.” “Why is that?” I ask him, genuinely curious. “Let’s just say he isn’t the man you think he is. He’s a monster.” Anger takes hold of me too when I hear that. “How could you say that?! If you knew him, you would never say that he’s anything but a kind and noble person!” He takes me by the shoulders and presses my back against the wall. “You don’t understand, he took away the thing that matters to me more than anything in the world.” “What could that be?” Hannah adds her two cents. The young man and I both look at her, and she flinches back again like a turtle trying to hide inside its shell. “What I mean is, I recognize you from the other photo shoots. You’re Jekazi Kuzco, the second best model in all of Japan. The only thing Takashi could have taken from you is the first place spot. Is that what you were talking about, maybe?”
The young man, Jekazi, stares intensely at her, and she lets out a frightened meep. “No, that’s NOT what I meant. What he took from me is much more precious than fame could ever be; because of him, my baby sister is gone.” Hannah and I gasp. “You’re lying, he would never do anything to hurt anyone! Especially not a little girl!” I snarl contemptuously. “You don’t understand, Takashi used to be my best friend! He and I did everything together for five years…then last summer, my little sister Mitori went missing.” He shows me a picture of an adorable little girl holding a stuffed lamb. “The police performed an investigation and confirmed that a member of the Matsuya clan took her.” He reaches into his left pocket and pulls out a burnished gold pocket watch. It has a Japanese dragon emblazoned on it. “All Matsuya clan members carry either a watch or a necklace just like this one. However, this watch in particular was found at the last place Mitori was seen…it’s Takashi’s.”
My heart sinks and tears begin to form in my eyes. He’s lying; he has to be lying!! I shove Jekazi away from me roughly and take off into the studio. Hannah tries to call after me, but I don’t acknowledge her. I keep running, past the throng of people, past the row of doors, until I smash into something hard. I nearly fall, but a pair of strong arms hold me up. Through my tears I can make out Takashi’s face. His eyes are glistening with worry. “Selene-chan, what’s wrong? What happened?” The moment I hear his voice, I know in my heart that what Jekazi said couldn’t possibly be true. The Takashi I know isn’t capable of being a kidnapper. I try to answer him, but Jekazis arrival on the scene commands our attention. “Matsuya! Take your hands off her!” He stomps up to us, and Takashi pushes me behind him protectively. “What do you want with my girlfriend, Jekazi?” He replies. “Girlfriend??! Don’t you mean victim?? Tell her Takashi, tell her how much of a monster you really are.” Takashi turns his head to me. “Just stay behind me for now, okay? I promise I will explain everything later.” I nod wordlessly, and Jekazi recaptures Takashi’s attention. “You shouldn’t talk about things you don’t understand, Jekazi.” “Things I don’t understand??!! I understand plenty!! This is clearly YOUR watch!!” If Jekazi was angry before, he’s furious now! He holds the watch up high for us to see, then leans toward us with a terrifying glare. “What do you think, woman? You saw the watch, you heard what I told you, who do you believe??!!”
A shiver runs down my spine, but I muster up as much courage as I can from my position. “Look, I just met you a short time ago, and you’ve already managed to make me think you’re crazy. You claim to have been Takashi’s best friend, yet you also believe with one hundred percent certainty that he is responsible for the disappearance of your sister. If you really believe that, then there’s no way you know him the way you think you do. He was my best childhood friend, and he means more to me than anything. I know for a fact that he would NEVER hurt little girls, EVER. I watched him rescue a girl from her kidnapper!! What do you have to say to that??”Jekazi sighs and then suddenly becomes somber. Intrigued, I pay close attention to him. “I’m afraid he’s reeled you in too close….he’s a highly skilled psychopath. He abducts some kids and saves others. He knows that no one would ever suspect him of kidnapping if he went out of his way to rescue endangered children.” It’s official, Jekazi is INSANE. He grabs Takashi’s jacket and yanks him forward. “This is for Mitori, you piece of filth.” He lets go a second later and throws a punch right at Takashi’s face!! I flinch, but regain my composure when Takashi dodges the fist flying at him and throws one foot out, successfully knocking Jekazi flat on his back. Jekazi desperately grabbed the table next to him, but it did nothing aside from dump an entire bowl of Hawaiian punch onto his head.
All of the other people around us come over to investigate. Jekazi coughs and splutters. Takashi faces our audience with a wide grin. “Sorry about that. I accidentally bumped into Jekazi here, and he went flying.” Everyone laughs for a moment, then returns to whatever they were doing before. Takashi pulls Jekazi to his feet and looks him directly in the eye…the darkness of Jekazis onyx eyes contrasts so sharply with the brightness of Takashi’s green eyes that it’s kind of mesmerizing. “Like I said, you shouldn’t talk about things you don’t understand. Enjoy the rest of your night.” With that, the entire confrontation is over. Jekazi stalks away through the crowds, and I start looking Takashi over for any injuries. “Are you okay? That dude was completely out of hand!” He takes my hand reassuringly when I try to touch the small bruise forming on his right cheek. Jekazis knuckles just barely managed to graze him. “I’m fine, Selene-chan, really. And I will tell you all about why he did that on the way home tonight.” This helps me calm down a bit. “By the way, thank you…for standing by me. You don’t know how much that matters to me.” I brush off his jacket some more. “Of course. I know you…you may be crazy, but you’re trustworthy. Besides, what kind of best friend would I be if I judged you based off of what other people said?”
Takashi takes a deep breath and hugs me. “Still, I’m more grateful than words can express. You’re wonderful, Selene-chan.” I giggle and lean into his chest. “Thank you. So are you.” “Takashi-san!! Your stage awaits!!” Takashi’s director calls to him from the other side of the room. He gently releases me. “I have to go now. The fans are expecting me.” “Right.” He winks at me, then makes his way to the back of the stage where he will be presented to the spectators and, more importantly, the judges. I want to watch, so I meander around until I find a spot with a good view. Hannah sees me and quickly adjusts her position so we are sitting next to each other. “Are you okay Kiara? You were crying.” She comments compassionately, and I smile at her. “Yeah, I’m fine. There was just a misunderstanding.” She nods and points her camera at the exact point where Takashi will appear. It takes several minutes for anything to happen, and I frown. Is Takashi hurt more than I thought he was? Did they need to get a doctor? All of a sudden the director grabs a microphone and taps it a couple times to make sure it works. We all wait expectantly for whatever he has to say.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, we apologize for the delay. There’s been a slight change in our presentation due to recent events. But no need to worry, the shoot isn’t canceled.” A makeup artist leans out from behind the curtain and whispers something in the directors ear, making him grin. “Alright, it looks like everything’s set! Introducing Japans finest model, the Prince of Tokyo, Takashi Matsuya!!” The uproar that follows this statement is enough to make me cover my ears. Girls are shrieking like banshees and throwing their arms in the air wildly. All of the photographers, including Hannah, have started taking pictures. Takashi completely takes over the stage once he comes out from behind the curtains. His fineness of form and unique eye color dominate the attention of everyone in the studio. The judges have him do a variety of poses, and I can tell that they changed the setup so that it would correlate with the “beat-up” look Jekazi gave him. His torn jacket and bruised cheek were exaggerated by the makeup artists, and yet they don’t seem out of place at all. If anything, they make him look even sexier than before. I blush a deep red as the judges have him remove both his jacket and shirt for the next set of photos. It’s impossible to describe the beauty of his perfectly toned body…his muscles are well defined but not bulky, and every move he makes is as graceful and powerful as a wild stallion. Like Lady Chino said, all of the clumsiness he has in everyday life doesn’t show up on stage at all. Speaking of Lady Chino, she appears beside me as well in the middle of the shoot. She watches my reaction just as closely as she watches the judges, and I am immediately self-conscious of the fact that streams of drool have been pouring down my chin for the past ten minutes or so. I quickly wipe it away and lower my head in embarrassment as Lady Chino calls Aunt Katie to tell her all about what’s been happening.
The photo shoot finishes up without a hitch, and before I know it Takashi is leading me outside to the back of the building. We have to rush in order to avoid the horde of fangirls trying to grab at him over the rope lines. Once we make it to a private spot, he has me sit down next to him on a concrete bench. “Alright, now that we’re alone, I have kind of a long story to tell you. Are you ready to hear it?” I swallow hard and motion for him to begin. “It all started when I was eleven years old…I was enrolled in modeling school along with all of the other models that are here tonight. Jekazi and I met on the first day, and we immediately hit it off. We were both the top students of our class, so we had a fairly easy time learning. The only issue I had was walking properly on stage, but that’s another story.”
I giggle, remembering what Lady Chino said about him needing to get past his clumsiness. “Anyway, the two of us were like peas in a pod for a long time. We did everything together, and our families became fairly close as well. Everything was great…then one day last summer, tragedy struck. Jekazis sister Mitori went out to play and was kidnapped. This happened at the exact same time as my photo shoot, but the creepiest part was that the abduction took place at the exact same time as my dinner break. My watch was used as evidence of foul play, and I had no idea until my first court summons. I accidentally dropped it in the park on the way to the restaurant I went to during my break. I didn’t find out until later that all of this was planned by Tofume…he did everything he could to ruin my friendship with Jekazi, and unfortunately it worked. After I found out the truth, I went to Jekazis house to explain things to them. But they saw me coming…Jekazi and Mitori’s uncle Roku came out onto the porch with a shotgun, threatening that if I ever enter their property again, he would end my life. I begged for a chance to speak to them, but he fired a shot past my head. That’s when I knew it was too late to patch things up…Tofume’s set-up was too convincing. I don’t blame them for not believing me, but…I just wish I could turn back time and find a way to stop all of that before it happened.”
My heart breaks for Takashi; I’m so sad that I don’t even know what to say. I place my hands over my face and begin to cry. Why must life be so unfair to him?? He doesn’t deserve any of the hatred people give him. Tears make their way out of my eyes, and Takashi pulls me into his arms. “It’s okay…” “No, nothing about that is okay!” I exclaim, my sorrow swiftly shifting into anger. “Why must Tofume do this to you?! What did you ever do to make him detest you so much??!!” He sighs and runs his fingers through my hair. “I didn’t do anything…all I’ve ever done is love my family, yet they all hate me. The only thing I can do is continue to be the person my parents raised me to be, and hope that they change their tune.” We hold onto each other for several minutes until, suddenly, we hear someone rush past us. It’s Hannah! And it looks like she’s in distress! Takashi and I break apart, and I race after her with him right behind me.
“Hannah, wait up! What happened?!” We catch up with her, and she drops to her knees sniffling. “It’s over for me, Kiara. All over!” “What do you mean?” She looks up at me with despair. “My teacher fired me! My apprenticeship is over…I’m going back to the US soon.” Shocked, I take her by the shoulders. “Why were you fired?” “He said I was a disgrace…that my photographs were mediocre at best…that he isn’t here to help mediocre students.” My eyes flash in indignation. How dare this person be so cruel??! The sound of running footsteps hits my ears again, and Aunt Katie appears beside us within seconds. “Aunt Katie?! What are you doing here?!” I cry out in genuine surprise. She shrugs. “I was bored at home by myself, so I decided to come and hang out here. That’s how I met this young lady.” She turns to my new friend. “Hannah dear, are you alright? I saw what happened, and it was totally out of line! If it makes you feel any better, I think you did a beautiful job tonight.” Hannah smiles gratefully at her. “Thanks. I’m glad someone thinks so.” “Looks like you met my aunt.” I comment, and Hannah nods. “She’s as talented as you said…I wish I could become like her, but without a teacher I don’t have a chance.” She stands up and rubs her eyes. “Well, it was nice meeting you all…Takashi, you should know that your performance was as impressive as ever. I probably won’t meet another model like you anywhere, not even in America.” He smiles warmly at her. “Thank you, Ms. Hannah. If you would like, I could go in and try to convince your teacher to take you back.”
She opens her mouth to reply, but Aunt Katie cuts her off. “Actually I already talked to him, and we came up with an agreement.” Hannah’s eyes widen. “You did? What did he say?” “The bad news is that he refuses to take you back…but the good news is that your apprenticeship here is not over.” She tilts her head to the side confusedly. “What do you mean?” Aunt Katie places a hand on her shoulder. “The only way you can stay is if you find another teacher. If you so choose, I would be delighted to become your new mentor.” Hannah nearly falls over at that statement. “Do-do you really mean it? You wouldn’t mind??” Aunt Katie laughs jovially. “Of course not! It will be good to have someone talented like you under my wing. We could learn from each other. I saw your pictures, and your teacher couldn’t have been more wrong…you are definitely not a mediocre student. You have great potential, you just need someone patient to help you improve. Would you like to move in with Kiara and I and give it a shot?” Hannah’s eyes well up with tears again, this time from joy. “Oh, yes I would Ma’am!” She looks at me again. “Do you mind, Kiara? If I stay with you, that is?” “Not at all! It will be nice to have another girl my age around.” She squeals in excitement. “Thank you, thank you all so much!!”
Takashi and I watch as Hannah takes off back to the studio to grab her things. Everything is arranged within a few minutes. I decide to ride home with Aunt Katie since Takashi and his mom are getting ready to leave too, and it would be easier for them to go straight home instead of going out of their way to drop me off at my house. Besides, we have to pick up the rest of Hannah’s belongings from her former teachers place. Takashi walks us to Aunt Katie’s jeep, and I squeeze him hard. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? What time is the meeting?” “It starts at noon, and it can go on all day. Are you sure you want to come with me?” I give him a steely look. “Yes, Takashi, I’m sure. I’ll be there for you the entire time.” He strokes my back affectionately. “Thank you…Don’t worry about coming to my place first. We’ll pick you up on the way.” “Alright.” He lets me go and waves as he walks toward the limo where his mother is already waiting. “See you tomorrow.” “Yeah, see ya.” I reply. I watch him until Aunt Katie turns out of the parking lot. “I love you…” Hannah hears what I said under my breath and grins at me. “It’s incredible that Takashi Matsuya is your boyfriend. Is he as wonderful as he sounds?” I return her smile. “Even more so, Hannah. Now that you’re staying with us, you’ll get the chance to know him better.” “That will be great..” She says happily. I go back to thinking as soon as Hannah settles into the backseat. What will happen tomorrow at this meeting? What can I do to help Takashi if they decide to become nasty? “The only thing I can do is stand by him, just like I did tonight with Jekazi. I won’t leave his side, not for any reason.” With that in mind, I return my focus to the here and now. No one knows what will happen in the future, but things always work out in the end. I just hope it won’t be as bad as Takashi fears it will be…
“Are you all set?” Hannah inquires as I pull my purse strap over my shoulder. I smile at her and nod. “Yeah, I think so. Takashi should be here any minute.” She notices the small flicker of worry in my eyes and touches my arm. “It will be alright..I’m sure everything won’t be as bad as you think.” I take a deep breath. “I hope you’re right.” Suddenly Aunt Katie pokes her head into my room. “Hey honey, your ride just got here…but I have to admit, it’s not what I expected.” I frown a little, not sure what she means. “Anyway, good luck today Kiara.” Hannah tells me sincerely. I give her a quick hug. “You too. Have fun with Aunt Katie’s lessons.” I say goodbye to Aunt Katie too, then go outside. To my surprise, there is no limo in sight. All I see is Takashi sitting astride his beautiful black stallion Lance. He dismounts and walks toward me. I give him a warm greeting, then stroke Lances muzzle. He nickers at me affectionately. “Where are your mom and Emiko?” Takashi hands me the light blue riding helmet he brought along and readjusts the black one he’s wearing. “They took the limo. I woke up this morning and almost got sick, so I figured that riding to the meeting would be more calming.” “Oh..well now I know what my aunt meant by an unexpected ride.”
We giggle a bit. “Anyway, we had better get going. The clan leaders mansion is a forty minute ride from here in good weather, and you never know when conditions might change.” I agree and put on my helmet. He helps me get up onto Lances back, then climbs into the saddle in front of me. The saddle is big enough for two people, but we have to stay connected the entire time in order for it to work. Once he’s in front of me, I wrap my arms securely around his torso. I tell him I’m ready, and he sends Lance into a trot down the driveway. We leave the roads behind within minutes. The trees close in around us, and I gaze at them. The sunlight pokes through the nearly endless sea of branches and leaves above my head, and birds are singing happily. It truly is a delightful sight. “It’s a beautiful day” I say out loud. “It is…” Takashi replies in a quieter tone. “I wish we could go on a picnic, or do something else like that. There’s a big hill not far from here that is absolutely perfect to roll down.”
I burst out laughing. “Rolling down a hill?! I haven’t done anything like that since I was a kid!” “Me neither! That’s why it sounds so fun.” We laugh together for several minutes as Lances pounding hoofs take us closer and closer to our destination. Twenty minutes of riding pass before the anxiety starts building up again. I lower my head, allowing it to touch Takashi’s back. “Let’s just get out of here, Takashi. Ride away into the hills, get as far away from your clan as we can.” He sighs sadly. “I want that more than anything else. But it’s impossible.” “Why? They can’t stop you from doing what you want.” “Oh, but they can, Selene-chan. If we decided to ditch today, my life would be hell for a long time afterward. You know that I have enough difficulties as it is…so as tempting as it is to run away, I’m not going to. I appreciate your concern, and I also appreciate you coming with me, more than you realize. But there is no way to avoid this…”
Both of us fall silent again after that. The cheeriness brought on by the countryside view is dulled by the uneasiness in my heart. I have to accept the fact that there is no way I can keep Takashi safe from his own family. Lance shifts into a gallop as soon as he turns onto a dirt driveway. “It won’t be long now” Takashi tells me. “The mansion is at the end of this path.” “Alright” I reply. Ten more minutes pass, and an enormous building appears on the horizon. It rests on a hill that overlooks the forest. We can see Lady Chinos limo and a bunch of other cars parked around it. Takashi urges Lance into a sprint so that his speed will carry us up the steep hill without too much trouble. I can’t do anything but stare at the clan leaders mansion…sure, Lady Chinos place is huge, but this Japanese style palace takes up the entire top of the giant hill! Lance slips on a few loose stones on the way up, but Takashi keeps him in check, and before we know it the carved wooden doors are right in front of us. Takashi dismounts and helps me get down as well. We link arms and take slow, nerve-wracking steps up to the ominous entryway. A dragon statue is positioned beside each door; the same type of dragon as the one I saw on Takashi’s watch. The doors swing open, and a servant dressed in black and silver walks onto the porch. “Greetings Lord Takashi, your family has been expecting you.” Takashi gulps and subconsciously pulls me closer to him. “Thank you. In the dining hall, I presume?” The servant nods, takes a small bow, then escorts us to the eastern wing of the palace.
After navigating our way through a couple corridors, another set of double doors appears before us. The servant bows one more time before pushing them open. After our eyes adjust to the brightly lit room, all we can see are literally hundreds of faces staring at us. Old faces, young faces, and some in between…all of them fixated on us intently. “Welcome, Takashi. Your mother saved you and your girlfriend seats near the head of the table. Please, sit down.” The elderly man at the head of the long, crowded table gestures for us to come closer after finishing his greeting. We move toward him at an even pace so our movements don’t betray our fear. “Here we go…” I whisper to myself.
Emiko POV
I look up as Ms. Kiara sits down beside me and Takashi settles himself down alongside her. I smile as Ms. Kiara ruffles my hair. Now that they’re here, I don’t feel as vulnerable. Lady Chino is here, but she’s only one against two hundred….if any of them wanted to hurt me, it would have been easy for them to do so. Fortunately I belong to the clan now, which means I must be treated with respect. I’m not sure how comforted I am by that rule though. “We’ve been waiting for you Takashi. How was your ride?” The old man at the head of the table asks my brother. Takashi lowers his head respectfully before making eye contact with him. “It was pleasant, Grandfather. Thank you for asking.” The old man grunts, seemingly irritated by being called “Grandfather.” He was very loving with Tofume when he called him that…what a prick. I don’t really know what a prick is, but I heard Tofume say it so often while I was a slave that I know it has to be bad. He always used it whenever he was angry with someone. “Why hello young lady, we meet again. Tell me, how is your wound?” Tofume asks the blond woman next to me. I turn to Ms. Kiara and see her hands are curled into fists. “Better now that your knife isn’t in it…” She replies with an undertone of venom in her voice.
Tofume laughs and shifts his attention to me. “What do you think, Emiko? What injury is worse; a stab from a knife or a beating from a whip?” I feel all of the blood drain from my face, and he laughs out loud again. My adoptive mother pulls me toward her protectively, and I lean into her side. “Hey, buttface, leave my baby sister alone.” Annoyed, Tofume glares across the table at Takashi. “Watch your words, demon boy.” Tofume and Takashi’s grandfather, who Lady Chino told me is the clan leader, claps his hands together loudly. “That’s enough of that. Dinner is ready, and I will not have you two fighting while the servants are bringing it out to us.”
Kiara POV
I look at Takashi questioningly. “Why did he call you that?” He tries to answer me, but Tofume interrupts him. “I’ll tell you why. Your little lover here was born a demon. The green eyes are a dead giveaway.” My jaw drops. “How the heck does that make him a demon?!” Tofume snarls at me. “You know nothing about that boy, so don’t talk to me like I’m crazy. He’s the disgrace of our entire clan…it would have been better for us all if he never existed.” All of the other clan members cheer loudly at these hateful words, and the clan leader does nothing to stop them. “You’re insane, all of you!! How would you like it if someone judged you for the color of your eyes??!!” They don’t acknowledge me and continue cheering. I try to stand up, but Takashi pulls me back down. “Don’t bother. Just ignore them…it’s what I do.” A moment later the servants enter the room with giant silver platters of food. The delectable scents of noodle dishes and grilled meat fill my nostrils, and I have to admit that I am hungry. Maybe if we just avoid conversation and eat, things won’t be so bad.
Once all of us have a good amount of food on our plates, we dig in without attempting to speak to each other. The next several minutes are spent in relative silence. Suddenly a little boy appears behind Takashi and taps his shoulder. We both turn to him simultaneously. “Do you need something?” Takashi asks politely. “Actually I do…could you hand me that bowl of noodles? We ran out at our end of the table.” Takashi smiles and picks it up to hand it to him. The boy takes it, pretends to trip, and dumps the entire bowl onto Takashi’s head! He screams as the steaming contents burn his skin and stain his clothes. I frantically remove the bowl and pull him away from the table to try and clean him off. The entire clan laughs and congratulates the boy on his trick. “Well done kid! You got him good!” Tofume tosses a twenty dollar bill at the boy. He catches it and grins broadly. “That was fun! In your face devil!” The boy grabs a few other kids, and they all punch and kick at Takashi as he’s still mentally recovering from what just happened. I lose my temper and grab two of them by the ear. They cry out in pain. “You have two seconds to get back to your seats before I make you wish you had never left them…” I let them go, and they race back to their parents. The boy who dumped the bowl on my best friend is still laughing at what happened, and I step toward him intimidatingly. “You better get going too.” He stops laughing and gives me a haughty look. “What are you gonna do if I don’t?” I slap him hard across the face, and he ditches back to where he was sitting before. Serves him right.
Emiko POV
I leap to my feet as soon as I see Ms. Kiara take Takashi out of the room after those nasty kids leave. My poor nii-sama….I have to make sure he’s okay! Lady Chino gets up with me and we follow them out into the hallway. Fifteen feet down the corridor from the dining hall, I find Takashi sitting on the floor outside the bathroom. Ms. Kiara is still removing noodles from his hair and checking him for burns. “Big brother…are you alright?” I dare to ask. He lifts his head and gives me a small smile. “I’m fine, Emi.” “Are you sure?” He motions for me to come closer, and when I do, he wraps me into a gentle hug. “Yes. I’m not seriously hurt, and as for being called a demon, let’s just say I’m used to it.” I whimper and dig my head into his chest. “NO ONE should have to get used to that…especially not a prince like you.” He sighs and strokes my back. “I’m not a prince.” “Yes you are!” I lean back, take his chin, and make him look into my eyes. “A prince is a man who stands for nobility, who isn’t afraid to step in and do the right thing. He also does everything he can to take care of his kingdom. Our mansion is your castle…Mom is the queen, Ms. Kiara is your princess, I am the slave who became a princess, and you, Nii-sama, YOU are the prince.”
His eyes widen at the intensity of my speech, and I can see Lady Chino and Ms. Kiara smiling warmly at me. “And those people in there are nothing but trolls…trolls who think they’re royalty.” We all giggle a little bit, and Takashi playfully tugs my ear. “Thank you, Emi. It’s nice to know you think of me, of all of us, like that.” “Well, I don’t think a demon would read me bedtime stories or stay in my bed with me until I fall asleep every night, so the title of prince definitely fits you better.” I reply teasingly. Lady Chino pulls Takashi to his feet after Ms. Kiara is certain that he’s fine, and my anger at the other clan members comes back. Before anyone can tell me not to, I rush back down the hall and burst into the dining room. Everyone looks at me, but I’m only focused on one person. I stomp back to my seat across from Tofume, but I don’t sit down. He raises an eyebrow at me amusingly. “What’s wrong, Emiko? Did we make your big tough protector cry?” I slam my hands down on the table. “I hate you….I hate you so much that I hope someday you lose everyone and everything you love.”
The disgusting smile on his face broadens. “Oh…you mean like what happened to you?” To my horror, he draws the gun that he kept in a holster on his hip. It’s the same gun that ended the lives of my entire family… Takashi and the others enter the room and freeze when Tofume aims the gun at me. “Come on in. There’s no reason to be afraid.” He tells them with an evil glint in his eye. “Tofume, put that gun down..” Takashi growls. “Why should I? I’m just playing with you.” He asks. “Because Ms. Kiara has a phobia of them just like I do, and your sick games aren’t helping.” I blurt out angrily. Takashi and Ms. Kiara look at me in shock. Intrigued, Tofume points the gun at them. “Is that true?” When neither of them answer, he pulls the trigger. A bullet breaks through the wall right beside them. Everyone jumps, and Ms. Kiara audibly yelps. “I’ll take that as a yes” Tofume chuckles merrily. He takes turns pointing it at each of us and pretending to pull the trigger.
After about a minute of this disgusting behavior, Ms. Kiara seems to regain her courage. “Masterful Clan Leader, is it really okay for your grandson to be pointing his gun at any fellow clan members or their guests, even if it’s done in a playful manner?” The clan leader appears thoughtful, and all of us watch his reaction. “No, it isn’t. Tofume, put your gun away and quit acting like a fool.” The man sitting beside Tofume, who I recognized as the man who was with him the night i met Takashi and Ms. Kiara, starts laughing. Tofume quickly holsters his pistol in embarrassment and apologizes to his grandfather. “Shut up, Jacques! It’s not even that funny!” “Oh, but it is! Nobody has ever spoken to you like that, especially not a woman!” Jacques comments. Tofume looks at Ms. Kiara as she tells Takashi that she is going to head to the bathroom at the other end of the hall. “You’re right..”
Kiara POV
After assuring Takashi and Lady Chino that I’ll be right back, I re-enter the hallway and go into the bathroom we were all sitting outside of a few minutes ago. After turning on the light and closing the door, I sit down on the closed toilet seat and run my fingers through my hair. My entire body is wet from perspiration…I almost had a PTSD episode when Tofume nearly shot us. I reach into my purse and pull out a stick of deodorant. I need to pull myself together. After lathering my underarms and using a paper towel to clean off my forehead, I decide that it’s okay to go back now. I step into the hallway, but the second I start heading back down the corridor, a hand grabs my face! A piece of cloth is shoved into my mouth and nose. It has a weird smell to it. Immediately I start to feel woozy, and I figure out what’s happening…this person is drugging me!! I struggle to get away and manage to get out a muffled scream. It doesn’t seem like anyone heard me until Takashi rushes out of the dining room and charges at me!! He throws a solid punch at the person who is holding me, and a resounding crunch is heard. He yanks me away, and I realize that my attacker is none other than Jacques. Without saying a word, Takashi practically drags me back to the others. He runs to Tofume and grabs his shirt. “How dare you have Jacques attack Kiara??! You despicable pig!!” Tofume calmly looks at him. “How presumptuous of you to think that I would do that…then again, I won’t deny that I do want to teach her a lesson.” “I’ll shred you to pieces!!” Takashi roars. “Is that so? How about a wager then…we duel. Whoever wins will take Kiara as his woman.”
“Duel you??! For Kiara??! You’ve got to be kidding me!” Tofume smirks at Takashi’s outburst. “You did say you were going to shred me to pieces…now’s your chance.” “She isn’t a prize to be won, Tofume. She’s a human being, just like the rest of us.” We all see what the older mans comeback will be, so before he can call Takashi names again, I decide to interrupt. “Takashi please don’t do anything rash…it isn’t worth it.” “Actually I concur with Tofume! A good duel would be an enjoyable sight!” A loud voice calls from the doorway. We turn and see Jacques making his way toward us. He is holding a bloodstained towel over his nose. It’s definitely broken. Tofume’s mood sours as he takes in his subordinates condition. “Jacques, you’re fired. Get out of my sight, now.” The Frenchman gasps in utter shock. “What?! But sir, I-” “I said GET OUT!!” He snaps, drawing his gun again and aiming at him. Jacques bolts down the hallway as the bullet misses him by mere inches. I swallow hard. I’m so sick of guns I could vomit…Takashi senses my discomfort.
“Geez, Cousin. Didn’t we already establish that using your gun like that is inappropriate?” I stare at him like he just grew a second head. Tofume gives him a nasty glare but lets his comment go. Instead he focuses on the elder sitting at the head of the table. “Grandfather, what is your opinion on a duel between me and the demon? The winner will get to keep Kiara for himself.” The clan leader strokes his long white beard, and a sick smile appears on his ancient face. “I approve. However, we shall raise the stakes even higher…you two will fight not only for the lovely girl, but also for your birthright.” Lady Chino seems completely floored at that statement. “Master, my husbands bloodline was chosen to be next in line for leadership of the clan a long time ago!! Takashi is the rightful heir!!” He looks at her disdainfully out of the corner of his eye. “After Fomiku died, there wasn’t anyone else in your line that I found worthy of my position. Things change…My older son Hiros lineage is better suited for the throne of the Matsuya than your husbands ever could be.” Tofume’s father, Lord Hiro, proudly straightens up in his seat across from Lady Chino. “But if you don’t think Takashi is worthy, then why risk Tofume losing his right to the throne with a duel?” I inquire.
Lord Hiro, the clan leader, and all of the other Matsuyas start laughing yet again. I’m thoroughly annoyed now. What the heck is so funny about that question?? “Young lady, there is no possible way that your dearly beloved could defeat Tofume in a duel…he is the highest ranking warrior in the clan, with the greatest speed, strength, and stamina we’ve ever seen in one of our own. Takashi is nothing compared to him.” The leaders words fill me with rage, but I’m not the one who erupts from it. “Nii-sama is a prince!! He could beat that greedy dragon any day!!” The Matsuyas are even more amused by Emikos indignant defense of her adoptive brother. “Well that settles it. Let us see which of them truly deserves honor; the fierce warrior, or the accursed demon. The winner will take all of the glory, which includes the girl and, more importantly, the right to one day rule in my stead.” The leader announces before standing up and signaling for the kitchen servants to come back. They return in an orderly fashion and clean up the dinner dishes within mere minutes.
While they work, both Tofume and Takashi are whisked away down the hall by a different group of servants. Lady Chino, Emiko, and I hurry after them. We catch up with Takashi after he’s been placed inside a room at the opposite end of the palace. When we step inside, the first things we see are a two-piece black robe and a long sharpened sword on top of a bed. A large silver dragon is emblazoned on the top half of the robe. Takashi is standing at the opposite side of the room, getting ready to undress. Emiko runs to him and gives him one last tight hug. “Remember, you are a prince. And princes always win in the end, no matter what.” Takashi kisses the top of her head. After Emiko lets him go, Lady Chino launches herself at her son and begins sobbing. He tries to appear strong for her sake, but I can tell that his resolve is beginning to crumble. “Do you remember what your father and I told you when you were a child?” He looks at her and shakes his head wordlessly. “In life you will have to make choices every day…those choices will define who you are as a person. My sweet boy, you have always strived to be good. You have had plenty of rough patches, but you never stop trying. Your heart is bigger than the sun itself, and my love for you cannot be measured. You have always held my heart in your hands, and I want you to know that no matter what happens today, that will never change. You have more honor in your pinky finger than the entire clan has put together. Do your best out there, and remember that your mother believes in you.”
By now all of us are crying. Takashi embraces her for several moments, then she takes Emiko and leaves the room. Emiko waves at her brother, and he waves back with a smile, wanting what could possibly be their last interaction to end on an affectionate note. The door closes, and Takashi and I are left alone. He disrobes quickly and pulls on his battle uniform. My heart is aching with emotion….Tofume is the best fighter in the entire Matsuya family. As much as I want to believe that Takashi can beat him, I know that the odds aren’t good. Most likely, these will be my last few minutes with him. There’s so much that I want to tell him, but where do I even begin? From the day I met him, I felt a connection between us that couldn’t be explained with words…even though the first thing he did was prank me, I couldn’t hold it against him. Unlike my family, I knew that his mischief was all in good fun, and he was very guilty for scaring me. I smile a little when I think about everything we’ve gone through as best friends; some things were very pleasant, some weren’t, but we’ve always managed to stick together when it really counted. Dad never liked me playing with him during our time in Tokyo, but I was willing to defy him to continue my friendship with Takashi.
We were pen pals for a while between the two times I got to visit him and Aunt Katie. It wasn’t until the end of our second trip to Tokyo that my father forbade me from ever seeing or contacting him again. It’s not a day I like to remember, and for a long time I did forget about everything that happened in my childhood. My therapist helped me remove those memories so I could get better after Mom and Dad died. Who would have thought that so many years later, Takashi would come back into my life…it had to be part of a holy plan for the two of us, there’s no other explanation for it. God wants us together, and now the Matsuyas threaten to split us up again!!
I grit my teeth and collapse onto my knees. Please, God, don’t let him fall to Tofume!! “Selene-chan? Are you alright?” Takashi kneels down beside me, and I grab onto his torso with all of the strength I have. “Please, please, don’t go out there…” I whimper into his chest. He sighs sorrowfully. “I have to…I don’t have a choice.” Powerful sobs wrack my body, and I curl deeper into his arms. “Listen to me, Takashi…I have something to tell you..” “What is it?” He asks, running his fingers through my hair soothingly. “You mean more to me than anything…From the moment we became friends as kids, I felt whole…you brought out the other side of my personality, the side that wasn’t as shy and loved to go on adventures. I wasn’t always comfortable showing that part of me to other people, including my sisters, because all it did was get me in trouble. But when I went on adventures with you, I didn’t care if we got caught. Just being with someone who helped me feel alive was worth it. When I wasn’t able to play with you anymore, I felt like I was missing half of myself. I know we were only kids, but no one understood me better than you. And not having that type of connection with anyone else was miserable.”
I sniffle, and Takashi continues stroking my hair. “Then a few months ago, we met again…I had no clue it was you until later, but once I did, all of my feelings from the past came rushing back. I felt like I had finally come home after forgetting about where I was from for so long…you represent everything good about my childhood. Sure, the things we got ourselves into weren’t the best, but like I said, it was how you made me feel that mattered. But things have changed again, Takashi…I no longer see you as my best friend. I know that we have pretended to be more than that in public, but what I want most is to make it real. Takashi Sasuke Matsuya, I love you. I love you, not just because you’re sweet, clumsy, and downright beautiful, but because you complete me. I’m not me without you…you are the most important person in my life.”
I close my eyes tightly, afraid to see what Takashi’s reaction is to my blubbering confession. If he rejects me, it will kill my heart…but at least he’ll know the truth. It seems like an eternity before I force myself to open my eyes a tiny bit. At that same second a pair of soft lips crash into mine, and my eyes snap open completely. He captures me with his kiss, and I allow him to show me how he feels through action rather than words. I can sense his overwhelming adoration, passion, and yes, even relief. We break apart, and his emerald eyes gaze at me in pure joy. “You have no idea how much I wanted to hear that from you, Selene-chan. I have loved you too, for a while now…but I was terrified that you didn’t feel the same. When you kissed me at Arakawa Yuen, I was hopeful, but now I know with absolute certainty that you return my affection.”
Suddenly a loud horn blares throughout the palace, and his body freezes. It must be the call to the arena…”Selene-chan, can you do something for me?” “Of course.” He leans forward until our foreheads are touching. “All I ask is that you pray for me….if it is truly Gods will for us to be together then it will happen. But if it isn’t, I want you to accept it. I want you to live a full and happy life no matter what the outcome of this duel is.” A lump rises in my throat again, but I nod to say that I will do as he requests. “With God as my helper and you, Mom, and Emiko as my supporters, I can win…will you trust that?” I can see the fire of determination building in his eyes. “Yes, I will. Like your mom said, fight your hardest and give Tofume more than what he bargained for.” “Right.” He gives me one final smirk before taking up his sword. “Goodbye, my lady. I will see you later.”
Bethany Anne Productions 