by Jade, Imari
Cristal stopped dancing. “Have you been reading teen magazines again?” She began dancing again. “No, I am not still dating Tae. We went out a couple of times, but I think he only invited me to aggravate Satoshi.”
“The two of them never got along,” Yi-jun told her. “Not even as kids. And why would going out with Tae aggravate Satoshi?”
Ooh, she was so not going to go there with him. “Because the two of them obviously have this sibling rivalry thing going and Tae was trying to make Satoshi jealous.”
“Why would Tae assume Satoshi would be jealous? I thought the two of you were just friends.”
“We are just friends. Maybe he just assumed.”
“Um hum,” Yi-jun said. “Why do I feel there is more to this story, Cristal? Have you been sexing up both the Hayashi brothers while I was away?”
“No, and don’t say it like that. You sound like Takumijo. I have not been doing the Hayashi brothers.”
“But you just said that you and Satoshi were close.”
“Not that close,” Cristal said.
Kioshi walked past them and headed for the men’s room.
Cristal tried to continue to watch him, but Yi-jun danced her in the other direction.
“Who are you watching?” Yi-jun asked.
“No one,” Cristal said. “I’m trying to concentrate on dancing.”
“You tensed in my arms like something had distracted you.”
“It’s all in your mind, Yi-jun. So what brings you back to Japan?”
“You,” Yi-jun said. “I missed you.”
“Sure you did. So what exactly happed to your fiancée?”
“She left me,” Yi-jun finally admitted. “She said we didn’t have anything in common.”
Cristal took some comfort in this information, but it didn’t change what he’d done to her. It also didn’t change the fact he had ditched her for another woman. “So she didn’t fall for that charming personality of yours? Damn, she must be a nut job. Didn’t she get impressed by your private jet?”
“No, and she and Beatrice were always arguing.”
Beatrice was Yi-jun’s female chauffer. And he had a couple of female pilot friends and stewardesses all over the world.
“She is so out of my system,” Yi-jun told her. “Now I can put all my concentration on you. Where would you like to go this time? Africa? Or perhaps some uncharted Brazilian island?”
“Sorry, sweetie,” Cristal said. “I can’t drop what I’m doing and just fly off with you into the sunset.”
The song ended and Cristal and Yi-jun walked over to the bar for a drink.
Satoshi and Akemi arrived at the bar at the same time.
“Yi-jun, is that you?” Akemi asked. She left Satoshi’s side and walked over and gave Yi-jun a hug.”
Cristal turned up her nose. What does Satoshi see in her? She was short, had an infuriating high-pitched voice, and it was rude of her to speak Japanese in front of an American.
“Yes, it’s me,” Yi-jun said when he finally broke free from Akemi. He ordered champagne for the four to them from the bartender.
“No alcohol for me,” Satoshi said. “I’ll have a soda.”
“What’s wrong with you?” Yi-jun asked Satoshi.
“Stomach problems,” Satoshi said. “And I gave up alcohol as a New Year’s resolution.”
“Watch my drink,” Akemi told Satoshi as she dragged Yi-jun off. Yi-jun put his glass on the bar before he spilled it.
“She’s a bossy little thing, isn’t she?” Cristal asked Satoshi.
“Don’t start. She and Yi-jun go way back.” He looked her over. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Cristal reached over to inspect his outfit. “I like the color of this vest. It brings out the color in your eyes.”
“I’m trying something new. Do you like it?”
Cristal nodded. “And you’re drinking soda?”
Kioshi walked past them but didn’t speak.
“Are you trying to be good for your fiancée?” She stopped fingering his clothes and picked up her glass of champagne.
“She’s not my fiancée,” Satoshi said. “My mother insisted that I bring her tonight.”
“You took her home to your mother?”
“No. Akemi went to visit her and the next thing I knew, my mother had told her about tonight’s party. Akemi wanted to come so badly, and I didn’t have the heart to turn her down.”
“Boy scout,” Cristal teased, turning her attention back to the dance floor. Akemi’s arms keep lowering down to Yi-jun’s butt.
“Would a fiancée do something like that?” Satoshi asked.
“No, I guess not,” Cristal said. “But you guys are known to swap girlfriends.” She didn’t feel bad at all for saying it. Their friendship was mending, but she had not forgotten what he had done to her in Amsterdam.
“Her parents never did warm up to me,” he said as they continued to watch the others dance.
“What? They did not fall for the Satoshi charm?”
Satoshi nudged her with his hip. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“A little,” Cristal said. “But it is kind of nice to see you out with a date. You’ve been living cooped up in the farmhouse since we met.”
“If another person tells me that, I’m going to scream.” Satoshi finished off his soda and placed the glass on the bar. “You have no idea what it’s like to be under the microscope twenty-four-seven. I stay home because I like being there. I’ve been on the road at least six months out of a year since I turned fifteen. And I’ve been dating women just as long. I’m just tired of having to put on a smile and pose for cameras and trying to be the bright and popular Satoshi Hayashi.” He paused. “I finally realized why Ichiro acted the way he did all these years. Sometimes, it’s good not to talk and just relax and observe.”
Cristal finished her drink. Who did he think he was fooling? He’d given everything up on the hope he could get next to Shaundra. Now it looked like Ichiro had taken that hope away from him by fixing his life and going back to his wife. Satoshi now sounded depressed and the only way to get him out of it was to either sleep with him or fix him up with a decent single woman. “I understand,” she said.
The music changed to a slow number. Akemi continued to monopolize Yi-jun’s time.
“Would you care to dance with me?” Satoshi asked.
Cristal took his hand. “Sure.” She’d dance with him, but sleeping with him was not an option at the moment.
Satoshi wrapped his arms around her neck and she wrapped her arms around his waist, and for a few minutes, they put aside their problems and were just Cristal and Satoshi…best buddies.
****
Amaterasu went to the ladies’ room, leaving Takumijo pretty much on his own for a couple of minutes. He looked around. The place was packed and the band Harper hired was playing some great songs. He and Amaterasu had danced almost every dance since they entered the door, and she looked simply beautiful in the red-and-black beaded gown he’d purchased for her for the party.
Of course she made quite the fuss when he presented it to her, even though he assured her it hadn’t cost a fortune and he liked doing things like this for her. He didn’t understand this generation of independent women. They wanted to do everything on their own and didn’t understand when a man was just being chivalrous.
And their outfits matched. He’d always wanted to go on a date with a girl and wear matching outfits. The red beading in her gown matched his vest. Takumijo sighed. When had their relationship gotten so comfy?
“Would you care to dance?”
Takumijo turned to find Osamu at his side. “Would you like a punch in the nose?”
Osamu smiled at him, revealing beautiful capped teeth. And his eyes sort of twinkled and made Takumijo happy to see that his old friend had not lost his sense of humor. “No,” Osamu said. “You know my face is my meal ticket.”
Why did actors always say that? “Have you been en
joying the party?” He’d been quite surprised to see Osamu there, since he didn’t work for KiNii or Mr. Niigata.
“It’s okay,” Osamu said. “Harper invited me and some other actors because he invited one of his movie producer friends.”
“Harper has movie producer friends?”
Osamu nodded and pointed. “That man standing next to him is Ken Chikako. He’s done a few films in Japan and a lot in the United States.”
“Who’s the fellow with him?” Takumijo asked, still looking over at him.
“I think he’s a makeup artist friend of his.”
“Oh,” Takumijo said.
“Or his boyfriend.”
“Oh!” Takumijo exclaimed. Funny, the shorter guy looked familiar.
“Anyway, back to what we were discussing. I came thinking I would be hanging out with you and the rest of Aomori, but you guys all have dates. Even Kenshin.”
“Her name is Kaede Shimizu,” Takumijo told Osamu. “They’ve been dating since before we left for Europe. I think he’s serious about her.”
“I thought he was trying to get his solo career together.”
“He is.”
“Well, I hope that relationship lasts. It’s not easy dating an idol.”
“Are you still sad about your divorce?” Takumijo asked Osamu.
“I’m not sad,” Osamu said. “I’m looking at it as a positive step toward the future. And maybe I can finally be with whom I truly want to be with.”
“You know that’s not possible,” Takumijo told him. “Think about your career.”
Osamu laughed. “That’s all I’ve been thinking about since we were kids. Why can’t I have a successful career and have the person that I love by my side?”
“The time isn’t right,” Takumijo said.
“When will it be right? Do I have to wait until I’m an old man?”
He’d never seen Osamu this solemn before. It saddened him, too, knowing his friend was hurting deep inside.
Amaterasu returned. She bowed to Osamu. “Nice to see you, Mr. Nakamora. I didn’t know you were here.”
Osamu looked Amaterasu over and shook his head disapprovingly. “I just came to bring in the New Year with friends, but now I’m suddenly tired.” He made an attempt to leave.
“Don’t go,” Takumijo told him.
“I think I better,” Osamu said. He bowed to both of them. “Have a pleasant evening and Happy New Year.”
“I’ll call you,” Takumijo said as Osamu walked away.
Osamu never looked back.
“What’s wrong with him?” Amaterasu asked, wrapping her arm around Takumijo’s waist.
“His wife is divorcing him,” Takumijo told her as he led her toward the bar. “He’ll be okay and back to his old self soon.”
“Why doesn’t he like me?”
“Don’t take it personally. That’s just how Osamu is.”
****
Yori looked down at his watch. Eleven. Just one more hour and he could leave this crappy party. He didn’t know why he’d let Amaya talk him into attending. She should have just gone with Harper since she’d been spending so much time at his side this evening. The band had stopped playing for the evening and a DJ now spun records for the partiers.
“What’s up, hombre? You looked pissed off at the world.”
Yori stopped scowling as he recognized that sultry voice. “Shaundra.” He looked over to his right. The beautiful Mrs. Yoshida stood there, looking up at him with those big brown eyes and the most charming smile. He allowed himself the privilege of checking her out from head to toe. “That dress is dipping dangerously low in the front. Aren’t you afraid your goodies are going to spill out?”
“No,” Shaundra said. “But it would bring some life to this party.”
She looked stunning in the black-and-silver designer gown. Damn, Harper knew just how to turn her into a temptress. “Where’s Ich?” He didn’t want to be caught off guard checking out the total package.
She pointed over to Mr. Niigata. “He’s talking with the boss. He told me to come over and keep you company.”
“That’s very generous of him,” Yori said. “And very stupid.”
Shaundra nodded in agreement. “I think he’s trying to prove to me he’s not jealous and that he’s confident in our relationship.”
“I bet he’s dying a little inside,” Yori said.
“What does he think is going to happen?” Shaundra asked. “Does he think we’ll slip off and have a quickie?”
Yori looked Shaundra over again. “It wouldn’t be a quickie. It would take me a couple of hours to get around all those luscious curves.”
“Ichiro would kill you before you made it out of this hall.”
Yori chuckled. “It’s so good to talk with you again. You really know how to bring out the best in me.”
“Where is your charming wife?”
Yori pointed to the left. “She’s over there dancing with Harper.”
“Why?” Shaundra asked. “I didn’t know they were that close.”
“They’re now business partners. She and Harper are into designing clothes.”
“Is that what they call it now?” Shaundra asked.
“They aren’t fooling you either?”
“No,” Shaundra said. “I’m just a little surprised. How long have they been business partners?”
“A couple of months,” Yori said. “I think, but it could be longer than that.”
Shaundra touched his arm. “I’m sorry.”
“I’ll be okay. I would say I deserve it, but I really don’t. And I’m getting used to women deserting me for other guys.”
Shaundra removed her hand. “Low blow, Yori.”
“But it’s true. And I always wonder what it would be like if I hadn’t given up.”
“Then you’d be in Ichiro’s shoes, thinking that I’m screwing your friends when you’re not around.”
The DJ put on a familiar song.
“Would you care to dance?” Shaundra asked him.
“No, not this time, beautiful one. I’ve had my share of flying over tables for a lifetime and besides, your Prince Charming is on his way over.” Yori pointed and Shaundra turned. “I believe it is Ichiro’s dance.”
“Yeah, I believe so. I’ll get back to you later,” Shaundra said as she left his side to meet her husband on the dance floor. She wrapped her arms around Ichiro’s waist.
“You are too kind,” Satoshi told him. “You passed up a prime opportunity to dance with Shaundra.”
“Do you remember what happened the last time I danced with Shaundra to that particular song?”
Satoshi nodded. “You ended up in jail. It was like the best night ever.”
Yori sneered at him “You can say that since you weren’t the one hauled off by the police. Where is your date?”
“She’s gone home,” Satoshi said. “She never could hold her liquor.”
“And you just let her leave?”
“Yes. I am not as chivalrous as you. And besides, we came in her limousine. I’m sure the driver will get her home safely.” Satoshi looked toward the dance floor at Ichiro and Shaundra. “I would give my right arm to dance with her to that song. And doesn’t her ass look good in that gown?”
“Forget it,” Yori told him. “For once, let’s end a function on a positive note, without going to jail.”
Satoshi looked around the room. “Why is your wife under Harper’s ass tonight?” Satoshi asked.
“They’re business partners,” Yori said for what felt like the hundredth time this evening.
“Are business partners supposed to hold hands and go strolling out the side door to the gardens?” Satoshi asked.
Yori froze and followed Amaya and Harper with his eyes. The least the two of them could do was be discreet. If they tried to keep their relationship a secret, it was all out in the open now. “No,” Yori answered.
“Are you going to follow them?”
“No. This is one time
I will not interfere. If she wants him then fine. But the next time she tries to take her life, hopefully he will be there to save her, because my days of feeling guilty are over.”
The song ended and Yori watched Ichiro go off to the men’s room. Cristal made her way over to Shaundra, dragging her secretary with her.
“We both have got to be the most stupid men in the world,” Satoshi said. “We should be with those two.”
Yori nodded.
Satoshi pointed. “Look, it’s the minimonsters.”
Young women mobbed Distraction as they made their way to the dance floor.
“I don’t even remember being that young,” Yori said.
Satoshi laughed. “We were that young, but we were never that short.”
“They look like they’re doing okay with the ladies.” All three had chosen a partner and were dancing up a storm on the dance floor.
“I wonder which one of those young ladies they’ll be kissing at midnight.”
Yori scowled at him.
“What? I can’t help it if I don’t have a life.”
“If Saburo is anything like Masaaki, he’ll have them out of here and home before midnight. That way they won’t have to make a decision. And besides, they are much too young to date.”
The song ended and the three young men bowed to their dance partners and headed toward Cristal, Shaundra, and Barbara.
“Why don’t I have a good feeling about this?” Satoshi asked.
Yori chuckled. “Don’t worry. What can they do? They’re just kids.”
Satoshi raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t I just tell you that we were kids once?”
Yori looked at him. “Oh yeah. This might turn ugly.”
Chapter Twelve
“Good evening, Mrs. Yoshida,” Satoshi heard Izanagi say to Shaundra after he and Yori eased over to eavesdrop on their conversation.
“Good evening, Izanagi. Are you enjoying the party?” Shaundra asked him.
“Very much so. Thanks for asking.”
“Oh how cute,” Yori said to Satoshi. “He has manners.”
“You’re looking very lovely tonight.”
Yori raised an eyebrow but did not comment.
