it's cold... brrrr....
Sep. 18th, 2011 01:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
angelshilla few days ago (was it just a few??? sorry!), i promised a Jun-centric chapter for One Chance...
today, i deliver that promise...
Once Chance chpater 22!
douzo!
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, Chapter 9, Chapter10, Chapter11, Chapter12, Chapter13, Chapter14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16, Chapter17,Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter20, Chapter21
Chapter 22: London's Surprise
“So technically speaking, he’s already out of danger?” Kame couldn’t help but clarify from where he was seated, on Jun’s chair, behind Jun’s table, at MSMT.
In front of him, seated on the visitor’s chair, is Shun, looking thoughtful and just a tad bit amused as they both looked at one some man, currently standing by the mini-bar pouring himself a drink.
The sight of the president of the company drinking isn’t really that much of an unusual thing especially considering Jun’s age and the fact that it’s already nearing the evening.
“I told you, he is,” Jun sighed before taking a sip of his glass. “But he still needs to stay at the hospital because he needs to recuperate. He did break a few ribs and got beaten up pretty badly in that incident.”
It has already been a about a week since Toma’s car incident and while the guy had been cleared of the danger zone for quite some time now, the doctors made him stay at the hospital for further observation and check-ups. It also meant that it’s already been about a week since Mao had ignored Jun and focused and fussed on Toma.
Well, ignored wouldn’t actually be the right term for what is happening, Jun acknowledges that. He knows that he just has to stay at the back burner for a bit.
“So it basically means that while he’s at the hospital, that guy is going to take away a huge chunk of Inoue Mao-chan’s time?” Kame continued to ask.
“He is her best friend,” Jun simply chose to reply. “And it’s not like he got injured on purpose.”
“But he’s also your competition!” Kame exclaimed. “Are you telling me that you’re all right with him taking advantage of his current situation? Accident or not, I wouldn’t agree if it was me!”
“I’m not going to stop her from going there. And I’m not going to compete against her injured best friend for her time and attention whatever their relationship has become. The key word there is injured,” Jun declared. “All is fair in love and war.”
Personally speaking, he didn’t really think that Toma was or is taking advantage of his current situation to get Mao, not that he’s always been there because he had only dropped by to visit twice other than the first time they were there, and on both times, he only just stopped by for a bit. But still, he somehow could feel that he can trust the guy.
“So, what are you going to do?” Kame continued to ask. “I can injure you too, you know. Level the playing field.”
Even Shun ended up chuckling at Kame’s suggestion as Jun exclaimed “I’m not going down that route!”
“Hey! You were the one who said that all is fair in love and war!” Kame reasoned, half jokingly and half seriously.
“You’re really not concerned?” Shun ended up asking, his eyes looking at his boss and friend curiously.
“Concerned?” Jun repeated. “Who says I’m not concerned? Who says I’m not affected by everything that’s happening right now?”
“You seem oddly calm about it,” Shun shrugged.
“Yeah,” Kame agreed. “The Matsumoto Jun I used to know wouldn’t be this calm. My old cousin would have done something about this by now.”
“Things have changed. I’ve changed,” Jun said before he took another drink and walked towards the two men.
“Obviously,” Kame sighed, shaking his head. “Looks like London did change you a lot.”
“So what are you going to do about it then?” Shun asked.
“Nothing,” Jun replied much to Shun and Kame’s surprise. But before either guy could do more than look quite taken aback, Jun continued “Not yet anyway. I can’t make her choose, not when her best friend is in the hospital. And I won’t be competing with the guy while he’s in there. I wouldn’t be making this harder for Mao-chan than it already is.”
“Wow, that’s very noble of you,” Kame clapped, not bothering to hide the slight sneer in his voice. “Let me just say that most men wouldn’t do that. In fact, I’d say that most men would take advantage of that, especially with your ‘all is fair in love and war’ mantra.”
Jun could only sigh. He can’t really contradict what his cousin has just said because he knows that the guy has a point. But however reasonable it is, he had already made his decision.
He was saved the trouble of having to come up with a comeback though when there came a knock on the door and in came Nakai. The guy didn’t say a word. He simply bowed lightly to no one in particular before heading straight to Jun and handing him an envelope.
Confused because he wasn’t expecting the guy or anything that could have come from the guy, Jun took the item and opened it only to find himself surprised at the content. Looking up, he saw Nakai smiling.
“When?” Jun asked much to the confusion of Shun and Kame who had been watching them and were obviously expecting something more than just a one-word question from him.
“When is what?” Shun even asked but was promptly ignored by Jun and Nakai.
“In 30 minutes,” Nakai smiled as Jun handed him back the folder. “I’d be going now if I were you, or you’re going to be late.”
Jun simply grinned before he grabbed his coat and ran out of the room without so much as an address to those he was going to leave behind, let alone an explanation about where he’s going or why.
Shun and Kame, both still thoroughly confused at the guy’s actions, turned to the only guy who can give them explanations and Nakai immediately understood those questions even without the two voicing them out. It was quite obvious in their faces anyway.
His first response weren’t in words though as he silently handed the two the envelope Jun had returned him. That act alone told Shun and Kame two things: that it wasn’t confidential but it was private (ergo, non-business).
“She’s the one Jun-kun left in London?” Shun asked with a satisfied appraising eye raised as he and Kame looked at what the folder contains. “Hot.”
“Yes,” Nakai replied.
“Very hot,” Kame whistled as his own eyes scanned the sole content of the folder, a company profile of a woman. A Matsumoto Group of Companies profile, to be exact. “And she’s coming to Japan?”
“On this very day,” Nakai replied.
Catching each other’s eye, Kame and Shun each raised an eyebrow and shrugged before they both looked at the profile again.
“She is very hot!” Kame repeated.
-----
“Kuroki Meisa!” Jun exclaimed the moment the woman he’s had his eyes on as soon as he saw her figure pass through the arrivals section got close enough to hear his call. “Why was I not aware that you were returning to Japan?”
A tall woman, with a slender built, striking features, and a really fierce set of beautiful eyes smiled as she stopped in front of him.
“Is that the right way to greet the most important woman you left in London, Matsumoto Jun?” the woman asked with a raised eyebrow promptly followed by a grin and a chuckle as they both reached out for a quick half-hug.
“So, how are you?” Meisa immediately asked as soon as that hug ended and Jun took hold of some of her luggage with one hand while the other arm is linked to her waist the same way her arm is linked to his. She didn’t wait for him to reply though as she let her eyes wander to the surroundings, the two of them having reached the open air parking space where Jun had parked his car. “It’s been a long, long time since I stepped foot in Japan, a lot of things seemed to have changed.”
“Some things had, some things remained the same,” Jun simply shrugged as he loaded her things at the back of his car. “You though, still have not answered my question.”
“Why? Just because we’re no longer the only Japanese within a five mile radius, I can no longer surprise you?” she asked quite innocently, causing both of them to end up chuckling as they entered the car, with Meisa not even bothering to wait for Jun to open up the door for her.
When Jun did nothing else but shake his head before he started the car, Meisa continued “You don’t look and sound too surprised.”
“Oh, I am,” Jun guaranteed. “But I realized on my way here that I shouldn’t be that surprised since Hiro-kun, my brother, among the many others, did tell me that dad’s going to do everything to make me stay home.”
-----
The moment the door to his room slid open, Toma found himself involuntarily jerking to a seat as he looked out to see who just arrived. The girls had continued their original arrangement of taking care of him, this time though, only during the night. All three women; Maki, Mao and Erika, would drop by occasionally, accompanied by Ryo or some of their other friends and colleagues. He had even met the girls’ quite un-boss-like boss, Aiba, who came over for a visit with Mao the other day.
But when he saw who came in the door, he couldn’t help but sigh. It wasn’t of relief though, but of disappointment, not that he would admit it out loud. If it’s any indication though, his shoulders actually fell.
“You don’t need to look too disappointed you know,” Erika pouted playfully as she deposited her bag on a chair there. “I know I’m not Mao-chan but I still am your cousin, remember?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Toma quickly claimed with a smile as Erika leaned over for a quick hug.
“Oh, I know I’m not the girl you wanted to see,” Erika said confidently. “But both Maki-chan and Mao-chan are busy with work right now. They have a shoot so you have to contend with me for the night. They did say they’re dropping by later before they go home though,” she added.
For some reason, Toma found himself smiling after hearing that.
Erika chuckled after seeing that smile. “I know, I know. You are excited to see Mao-chan again,” she told him.
Toma simply shook his head endearingly at his cousin and smiled too but after a while and as Erika busied herself with arranging some of his things, he fell into a thoughtful silence.
Sure he wanted to see Mao. Her mere presence in his room had already given him lots of reasons to smile and laugh even with boredom slowly and surely eating his way to him. But somehow, there’s a part of him that really wants to see Maki there.
It was what’s confusing him, really, the thought that kept him company during those times when the doctors and nurses are not making their rounds and he has no visitors.
Looking back, he realized and subsequently found it weird that the last person in his thoughts before he lost consciousness after that incident with Yamapi and the person that first entered his head after he regained consciousness was one and the same. Maki.
It made sense in a way because Maki was, after all, directly connected to the incident but it still confused him.
It confused him a lot.
-----
“So why am I being invited to dinner at the boss’ house on my first day back at the country?” Meisa couldn’t help but ask as she and Jun alighted from the car.
Midway from the airport to the hotel where Meisa was booked, Jun received a message from his father. It seems that he was made aware that Meisa had already arrived and that Jun had picked her up (“Nakai-kun of course!” Jun had exclaimed then) and had therefore invited her to dinner at the Matsumoto mansion.
“Your dad was a good friend of my father back when he was still alive,” Jun simply shrugged. “I’m sure he just wants to see you.”
Meisa stopped on her tracks and looked at him in disbelief.
“Yeah, right,” she said. “And this has nothing to do with the fact that after years and years in London, I was asked to return to Japan only now. Right?”
Jun chuckled and shook his head lightly. “Hey, lighten up. You’re looking fierce again. Don’t tell me the Kuroki Meisa is scared.”
“Scared?” Meisa repeated. “In case you have forgotten, your father is the big boss, not just the boss because that makes it just you, but the big boss. The last time I saw him was when I was just a teen-ager or something!”
“Relax,” Jun chuckled. “This is not a meeting-the-family thing okay.”
Meisa could only shake her head and roll her eyes at how dismissive Jun is but then her eyes sharpened again and said “Which reminds me, I still have to meet the woman who’s going to have to ‘meet-the-family’, especially since you haven’t told me anything about her yet.”
Although quite taken aback, Jun smiled “How did you know there is someone?”
Meisa raised an eyebrow as she looked at Jun from head to toe. And then she shrugged. “You look softer. Looks like you found a reason to stay in Japan after all.”
When Jun gaped at the woman in surprise, Meisa simply shrugged proudly and turned around to face the house again.
“Oh well, here goes…”
-----
and there goes my Jun-centric One Chance chapter!
a few more chapters and One Chance is already finished!
so, how was it?
and you finally meet Meisa!
like her or not?
more on her and Jun's backstory on the next chapter... Plus! Mao and Meisa meets!
comments/critics are really, really, REALLY loved!
today, i deliver that promise...
Once Chance chpater 22!
douzo!
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, Chapter 9, Chapter10, Chapter11, Chapter12, Chapter13, Chapter14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16, Chapter17,Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter20, Chapter21
Chapter 22: London's Surprise
“So technically speaking, he’s already out of danger?” Kame couldn’t help but clarify from where he was seated, on Jun’s chair, behind Jun’s table, at MSMT.
In front of him, seated on the visitor’s chair, is Shun, looking thoughtful and just a tad bit amused as they both looked at one some man, currently standing by the mini-bar pouring himself a drink.
The sight of the president of the company drinking isn’t really that much of an unusual thing especially considering Jun’s age and the fact that it’s already nearing the evening.
“I told you, he is,” Jun sighed before taking a sip of his glass. “But he still needs to stay at the hospital because he needs to recuperate. He did break a few ribs and got beaten up pretty badly in that incident.”
It has already been a about a week since Toma’s car incident and while the guy had been cleared of the danger zone for quite some time now, the doctors made him stay at the hospital for further observation and check-ups. It also meant that it’s already been about a week since Mao had ignored Jun and focused and fussed on Toma.
Well, ignored wouldn’t actually be the right term for what is happening, Jun acknowledges that. He knows that he just has to stay at the back burner for a bit.
“So it basically means that while he’s at the hospital, that guy is going to take away a huge chunk of Inoue Mao-chan’s time?” Kame continued to ask.
“He is her best friend,” Jun simply chose to reply. “And it’s not like he got injured on purpose.”
“But he’s also your competition!” Kame exclaimed. “Are you telling me that you’re all right with him taking advantage of his current situation? Accident or not, I wouldn’t agree if it was me!”
“I’m not going to stop her from going there. And I’m not going to compete against her injured best friend for her time and attention whatever their relationship has become. The key word there is injured,” Jun declared. “All is fair in love and war.”
Personally speaking, he didn’t really think that Toma was or is taking advantage of his current situation to get Mao, not that he’s always been there because he had only dropped by to visit twice other than the first time they were there, and on both times, he only just stopped by for a bit. But still, he somehow could feel that he can trust the guy.
“So, what are you going to do?” Kame continued to ask. “I can injure you too, you know. Level the playing field.”
Even Shun ended up chuckling at Kame’s suggestion as Jun exclaimed “I’m not going down that route!”
“Hey! You were the one who said that all is fair in love and war!” Kame reasoned, half jokingly and half seriously.
“You’re really not concerned?” Shun ended up asking, his eyes looking at his boss and friend curiously.
“Concerned?” Jun repeated. “Who says I’m not concerned? Who says I’m not affected by everything that’s happening right now?”
“You seem oddly calm about it,” Shun shrugged.
“Yeah,” Kame agreed. “The Matsumoto Jun I used to know wouldn’t be this calm. My old cousin would have done something about this by now.”
“Things have changed. I’ve changed,” Jun said before he took another drink and walked towards the two men.
“Obviously,” Kame sighed, shaking his head. “Looks like London did change you a lot.”
“So what are you going to do about it then?” Shun asked.
“Nothing,” Jun replied much to Shun and Kame’s surprise. But before either guy could do more than look quite taken aback, Jun continued “Not yet anyway. I can’t make her choose, not when her best friend is in the hospital. And I won’t be competing with the guy while he’s in there. I wouldn’t be making this harder for Mao-chan than it already is.”
“Wow, that’s very noble of you,” Kame clapped, not bothering to hide the slight sneer in his voice. “Let me just say that most men wouldn’t do that. In fact, I’d say that most men would take advantage of that, especially with your ‘all is fair in love and war’ mantra.”
Jun could only sigh. He can’t really contradict what his cousin has just said because he knows that the guy has a point. But however reasonable it is, he had already made his decision.
He was saved the trouble of having to come up with a comeback though when there came a knock on the door and in came Nakai. The guy didn’t say a word. He simply bowed lightly to no one in particular before heading straight to Jun and handing him an envelope.
Confused because he wasn’t expecting the guy or anything that could have come from the guy, Jun took the item and opened it only to find himself surprised at the content. Looking up, he saw Nakai smiling.
“When?” Jun asked much to the confusion of Shun and Kame who had been watching them and were obviously expecting something more than just a one-word question from him.
“When is what?” Shun even asked but was promptly ignored by Jun and Nakai.
“In 30 minutes,” Nakai smiled as Jun handed him back the folder. “I’d be going now if I were you, or you’re going to be late.”
Jun simply grinned before he grabbed his coat and ran out of the room without so much as an address to those he was going to leave behind, let alone an explanation about where he’s going or why.
Shun and Kame, both still thoroughly confused at the guy’s actions, turned to the only guy who can give them explanations and Nakai immediately understood those questions even without the two voicing them out. It was quite obvious in their faces anyway.
His first response weren’t in words though as he silently handed the two the envelope Jun had returned him. That act alone told Shun and Kame two things: that it wasn’t confidential but it was private (ergo, non-business).
“She’s the one Jun-kun left in London?” Shun asked with a satisfied appraising eye raised as he and Kame looked at what the folder contains. “Hot.”
“Yes,” Nakai replied.
“Very hot,” Kame whistled as his own eyes scanned the sole content of the folder, a company profile of a woman. A Matsumoto Group of Companies profile, to be exact. “And she’s coming to Japan?”
“On this very day,” Nakai replied.
Catching each other’s eye, Kame and Shun each raised an eyebrow and shrugged before they both looked at the profile again.
“She is very hot!” Kame repeated.
-----
“Kuroki Meisa!” Jun exclaimed the moment the woman he’s had his eyes on as soon as he saw her figure pass through the arrivals section got close enough to hear his call. “Why was I not aware that you were returning to Japan?”
A tall woman, with a slender built, striking features, and a really fierce set of beautiful eyes smiled as she stopped in front of him.
“Is that the right way to greet the most important woman you left in London, Matsumoto Jun?” the woman asked with a raised eyebrow promptly followed by a grin and a chuckle as they both reached out for a quick half-hug.
“So, how are you?” Meisa immediately asked as soon as that hug ended and Jun took hold of some of her luggage with one hand while the other arm is linked to her waist the same way her arm is linked to his. She didn’t wait for him to reply though as she let her eyes wander to the surroundings, the two of them having reached the open air parking space where Jun had parked his car. “It’s been a long, long time since I stepped foot in Japan, a lot of things seemed to have changed.”
“Some things had, some things remained the same,” Jun simply shrugged as he loaded her things at the back of his car. “You though, still have not answered my question.”
“Why? Just because we’re no longer the only Japanese within a five mile radius, I can no longer surprise you?” she asked quite innocently, causing both of them to end up chuckling as they entered the car, with Meisa not even bothering to wait for Jun to open up the door for her.
When Jun did nothing else but shake his head before he started the car, Meisa continued “You don’t look and sound too surprised.”
“Oh, I am,” Jun guaranteed. “But I realized on my way here that I shouldn’t be that surprised since Hiro-kun, my brother, among the many others, did tell me that dad’s going to do everything to make me stay home.”
-----
The moment the door to his room slid open, Toma found himself involuntarily jerking to a seat as he looked out to see who just arrived. The girls had continued their original arrangement of taking care of him, this time though, only during the night. All three women; Maki, Mao and Erika, would drop by occasionally, accompanied by Ryo or some of their other friends and colleagues. He had even met the girls’ quite un-boss-like boss, Aiba, who came over for a visit with Mao the other day.
But when he saw who came in the door, he couldn’t help but sigh. It wasn’t of relief though, but of disappointment, not that he would admit it out loud. If it’s any indication though, his shoulders actually fell.
“You don’t need to look too disappointed you know,” Erika pouted playfully as she deposited her bag on a chair there. “I know I’m not Mao-chan but I still am your cousin, remember?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Toma quickly claimed with a smile as Erika leaned over for a quick hug.
“Oh, I know I’m not the girl you wanted to see,” Erika said confidently. “But both Maki-chan and Mao-chan are busy with work right now. They have a shoot so you have to contend with me for the night. They did say they’re dropping by later before they go home though,” she added.
For some reason, Toma found himself smiling after hearing that.
Erika chuckled after seeing that smile. “I know, I know. You are excited to see Mao-chan again,” she told him.
Toma simply shook his head endearingly at his cousin and smiled too but after a while and as Erika busied herself with arranging some of his things, he fell into a thoughtful silence.
Sure he wanted to see Mao. Her mere presence in his room had already given him lots of reasons to smile and laugh even with boredom slowly and surely eating his way to him. But somehow, there’s a part of him that really wants to see Maki there.
It was what’s confusing him, really, the thought that kept him company during those times when the doctors and nurses are not making their rounds and he has no visitors.
Looking back, he realized and subsequently found it weird that the last person in his thoughts before he lost consciousness after that incident with Yamapi and the person that first entered his head after he regained consciousness was one and the same. Maki.
It made sense in a way because Maki was, after all, directly connected to the incident but it still confused him.
It confused him a lot.
-----
“So why am I being invited to dinner at the boss’ house on my first day back at the country?” Meisa couldn’t help but ask as she and Jun alighted from the car.
Midway from the airport to the hotel where Meisa was booked, Jun received a message from his father. It seems that he was made aware that Meisa had already arrived and that Jun had picked her up (“Nakai-kun of course!” Jun had exclaimed then) and had therefore invited her to dinner at the Matsumoto mansion.
“Your dad was a good friend of my father back when he was still alive,” Jun simply shrugged. “I’m sure he just wants to see you.”
Meisa stopped on her tracks and looked at him in disbelief.
“Yeah, right,” she said. “And this has nothing to do with the fact that after years and years in London, I was asked to return to Japan only now. Right?”
Jun chuckled and shook his head lightly. “Hey, lighten up. You’re looking fierce again. Don’t tell me the Kuroki Meisa is scared.”
“Scared?” Meisa repeated. “In case you have forgotten, your father is the big boss, not just the boss because that makes it just you, but the big boss. The last time I saw him was when I was just a teen-ager or something!”
“Relax,” Jun chuckled. “This is not a meeting-the-family thing okay.”
Meisa could only shake her head and roll her eyes at how dismissive Jun is but then her eyes sharpened again and said “Which reminds me, I still have to meet the woman who’s going to have to ‘meet-the-family’, especially since you haven’t told me anything about her yet.”
Although quite taken aback, Jun smiled “How did you know there is someone?”
Meisa raised an eyebrow as she looked at Jun from head to toe. And then she shrugged. “You look softer. Looks like you found a reason to stay in Japan after all.”
When Jun gaped at the woman in surprise, Meisa simply shrugged proudly and turned around to face the house again.
“Oh well, here goes…”
-----
and there goes my Jun-centric One Chance chapter!
a few more chapters and One Chance is already finished!
so, how was it?
and you finally meet Meisa!
like her or not?
more on her and Jun's backstory on the next chapter... Plus! Mao and Meisa meets!
comments/critics are really, really, REALLY loved!
