Originally posted Match 9, 2010
((Kori, Akemi, and Chance settle in at the penthouse in Millennium City.))
He set the rose on the tray and the tray on the nightstand. For a moment he just stands there, watching her. She had likely shared more with him than any other, and yet he felt he knew only the tiniest bit. He loved those bits, all those bits that made the whole.
He had slid out of bed to make breakfast. He waved off her chef, cutting the fruit by his own hands, mixing grains and honey. He carried it all to the penthouse, placed it all by the bed then settled down to watch her. She would wake soon. She always woke at the same time.
Sleep removed the tension from her face. He learned that she sometimes trembled in the night. He could feel it as she pressed against him. He would just hold her and wait for them to pass and they would sleep together for a while.
Her eyes opened as she stirred. She wore no makeup. Her crimson hair fell unkempt around her face. She smiled. "Hi." She reached up and pulled him to her, pushing his lips against hers. He slid back into bed to lie next to her. They enjoyed the sunrise, and eventually breakfast, together.
-- by Theresa Bathory
Sleep does not come even though she feels so tired. Her mind and emotions move like shaken oil and vinegar between extreme sorrow and grief and anger and vengeance. The latter scares her to her soul. She feels shame at having such feelings and yet…
She sighs sitting up; she can’t sleep here, not alone like this, so setting her feet to floor walks out of her bedroom quietly to her mother’s bedroom door. She hesitates as images of her mother and Chance maybe ‘doing it’ fill her head and she shudders with a grimace. She leans her ear against the door listening and hearing nothing slowly opens the door.
Moving with silence that was ingrained in through her training she moves to the foot of the bed and looks at her mother and Chance. There faces are peaceful and happy. She knows that look as she remembers watching Kameko sleep, after their wedding, and seeing the same look.
For a while she just stands there watching so happy for her mother and Chance. He is a good man, she thinks, he will not hurt her.
Slowly she begins to crawl into the bed, wedging herself slowly between them and lays her head close to her mother’s face and closes her eyes. It is comfortable between them, safe, warm and her mind and heart feel at ease as sleep finally takes her.
-- by Rex Celestis
Chance exhaled as he stood by the bar. The idea of meeting his father for drinks seemed odd to him. Standing around the predominantly male and middle aged crowd in khaki's and a wrinkled button down felt odder. Looking at the dress and size of the other clientele, he should have stopped at home to pick up a tie and thirty pounds. He sipped his martini. Ordering a beer would seem to put him even more out of place.
Hunter Thomas entered the club from the street, sliding out of his overcoat and throwing it over his arm. He waved to Chance and spoke to the maître'd. The politico greeted his son with a slap on the back and an embrace. The strength of the hug reminded Chance that his father had not let his body go to waste. "Chance."
"Hi dad." For all the lies and betrayal perpetrated by him, Chance still felt a love for this man. How did it happen, the affair? At what point did Hunter decide to deny his vows? That would be a conversation for another time.
"Have you eaten?" Hunter asked. "This place has great steaks. My treat." Chance nodded and his father led them over to a table.
They chatted of things, about Japan and the negotiations there. The waiter came and took their order. Chance traded the martini for a chewy Silver Oak Zinfandel. "Shinoda Dantaro is in the kettle, Chance," he father explained. "Everyone wants to cook him. The Yak, some of his old allies, the FBI. It's just a matter of time."
Chance nodded, thanking his father for his hard work. It did not go as planned, but the negotiations that separated Shinoda from the Yakuza had succeeded overall. Chance looked away from his father and sipped his wine. He closed his eyes and thought of a gravesite in a faraway land.
"So what's this big news of yours?" Hunter asked as the waiter placed their plates before them. "Yukiko won't tell me a thing."
Chance took a sip and ordered another glass as the server hovered. "I'm seeing someone, Dad. It's fairly serious."
"Oh," his father remarked, cutting into his steak. "Anyone I know?"
"Yes." Chance ran his fingers through his hair and reached for his glass. "She's asked me to move in with her."
"That's a big step. Isn't it, Chance?" he father asked as he bit down. Hunter reached out for a sip from his wine. "What will you do with the apartment?"
"Move out," Chance answered. "I gave my notice. Yukiko and I have until the end of the month to gather our things."
Hunter nodded. "I'll need to set aside some space for Yukiko I imagine."
"Yeah," Chance agreed. "Any chance you can move into her building and let her keep my place?"
"No," Hunter replied. "Not at sixteen, Chance. Where will you be living?" Chance rattled off an address. His father blinked. "That's pretty upscale, son. Who did you say you were moving in with again?
"Korinna Arasaka." Chance noticed a few heads turn at the mention of the name. Hunter grunted as he took another sip from his glass and dabbed at his chin with the corner of a napkin. "Good to dream big, Chance," he chuckled. "No really. Who is it? Someone from Chicago?"
"Dad," Chance exhaled. "I've moved in with Korinna Arasaka and her daughter." Hunter blinked reached for his glass before discovering it empty. He grinned. He chuckled as his head shook back and forth. "Let it go Chance," he mused. "Walk away before you hurt yourself."
Hunter continued as his son stared at him, slack jawed. "You don't know these people, Chance. You're a bright boy, good looking. You haven't finished school. You're not even interested in business. What will the two of you talk about after…" He noticed his son flat expression. "After the novelty has worn off?"
"She's not like that," Chance choked out.
"No. No. Of course not." The waiter came to refill their glasses. Hunter took a long drink. "They never are at first. She's a captain of industry, a trendsetter, well past the bleeding edge; intelligent, good looking for her age. You're an out of work hottie, who's not even in school at the moment and barely out of his teens. You figure it out.
"It's not like that." Chance had paled. Hunter considered taking another bite, then pushed his plate away. "Don't you think she's a little old for you?"
"Dad, how old are you?"
"52."
The young man sharpened his tongue behind a broad-tooth grin. "Dad, how old is Terri, your girlfriend?"
"25"
"Amazing," Chance said with a snarling smile. "That's a bigger gap than between Kori and me. And look at that. Terri's almost twice as old as the all the time you were cheating on my mother!"
"Chance. That was uncalled for."
"Oh no, dad. I dialed it in 15 minutes ago. You needed the delivery," Chance spat across the table.
"Son, Terri understands the nature of our relationship," Hunter said in carefully measured tones. "It's clear to me that you do not understand the nature of yours. Look at you. Puppy dog and doe eyes, like over that pale girl I met in Japan. Like the girl before that. Not every tryst and fling is the one that lasts forever, Chance. You're an adult now, son. It's time you realize that."
Chance fingers gripped the stem of his wine glass. "One will, Dad. One will." The blond headed man stood. "If you'll excuse me."
"Chance, don’t." His father shook his head and gestured towards the vacated seat. "Finish dinner. They have excellent cannoli here. You can tell me more about 'this thing'"
"No." Chance swallowed. "No, dad, I can't. Thanks for dinner."
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