XVIII.

Seijuro.

My reaction?

You are curious as to what my reaction would be?

"Seijuro," Father called once we finished eating dinner. My eyes wandered to the eyes of my father, who was staring at me with an impassive expression. "How is your relationship going on with Yurika-san?"

"We're doing fine, Father," I informed him with a formal tone, my eyes never leaving his.

He blessed our relationship. Why? Because Yurika is an heiress.

She once told me that her father hates my father because they were also rivals back in high school, like us. Sendo-san never once won against my father, both in sports and academics.

A man of the Akashi family must excel in all fields.

Now, Father doesn't feel like competing with him. Not anymore for he is aware of his superiority. He wanted Yurika and I to be the bridge that connects the two families. To start a new relationship.

Imagine me, staring at my phone blankly, after hearing her voice mail...

I called her back at least 16 times but none of those were answered.

Junnichi Sendo.

He's up to something.

Do you really think I'll permit you to do as you please? Don't mess with me, I am absolute.

Think again.

She vowed to belong to me. I have carved and claimed her heart. She's mine.

I remembered my beloved mother.

Why, of all times, I get to remember her now.

16 missed calls? I guess I have done enough, I'm going to her place. Now.

But what I saw, just a few blocks away from her home, were a pool of crowd, a restricted lane and a trail of blood on the cemented road. The scene probably happened not too long ago. The blood's still fresh and the police were now starting to investigate.

My eyes darted to the dark road and I bent down as I found a familiar object on the floor.

A silver ring.

I unconsciously lifted my right hand and looked at the ring on my ring finger. I put the two rings together and an unknown feeling washed over me.

This is what I was afraid of.

I vowed to never feel attachment nor love after the loss of my mother.

Because the pain was too unbearable.

That's why... I tried to push her away.

The rings were identical.

The feeling that's too burden for me, I buried them long ago to the deepest core of my heart.

And now, they were alive once again, to haunt me.

The familiar heavy feeling in my chest.

I looked at the sky and the biggest star was twinkling, demanding my attention.

Yurika... could it be...

And now, I know why...

Why I remembered my mother that time...

It's the same intensifying pain I'd felt when I lost her...

And now...

I'm going to lose her too.

Why now?

Why now...?

When I already love her so much...

I cannot rate the pain because...

"No numbers could describe what I'm feeling right now..." I mumbled to myself before sprinting away to my next destination, where she might possibly be.

If something happens to her, hell is probably going to break loose.

And he better prepare to pay for the ultimate price.

Yuri.

I opened my eyes, wind and sunlight kissed my body. I was sprawled out on the pure green grass, my eyes blinded by the sunlight and I took the time to adjust. I blinked and grasp the grass on my side, so many questions bombarded my mind.

What just happened?

Where am I?

What is this place?

Who... am I?

I turned my head to the  side and saw trees and it's not just trees, it's cherry blossom trees. The cherry blossoms danced with the wind and a petal found its way on my cheek. My hand automatically went to pick it up and I just found myself staring at it as it blew away with the wind.

After a long time of lying there comfortably, I sat up, brushing off the imaginary grass or leaves that might got on my braided hair. I wore a simple white dress that reached my knees and no shoes. I stood up, wandering the meadow with my bare feet.

This place feels like paradise, there were hills, trees, rivers but there were no animals present. I was alone in this paradise, wandering off, searching for nothing in particular.

The wind blew, my skirt following the motion. I closed my eyes and breathed in then sprinted towards the meadow until I run out of breath.

Then I saw someone sitting under a tree of cherry blossoms. I made my way slowly towards the figure until I stood in front of a certain old man, playing shogi by himself.

When he noticed my presence, his head raised to look at me. And then he smiled. "Yurika..." He uttered and he slowly stood up.

My mouth parted and tilted my head to the side in confusion.

Yurika... is... is that my name?

The old man smiled at me warmly as he made his way to me then he sealed me inside his arms, locking me in a tight embrace. "I missed you, Rika," He muttered against my hair.

I stared at my hands as I was feeling reluctant in returning his hug but then I realized, when I breathed in his scent, he smelled so familiar... it was as if I had smelled this scent before... but where... when... why...? And his warmth as well, it felt so familiar to me. And I feel like I missed it too, so much.

"I'm... I'm sorry but who are you?" I asked meekly but my arms found its way wrapping it around the old man.

He pulled away with a grin. "Don't you remember me? I'm your grandfather," He stated and I stared at his eyes... hazel...

"Grand...father...?" I blurted out slowly and he nodded with a belly laugh. I smiled faintly, his laugh was very familiar too.

"Don't you remember? You used to hate me because you never once won in shogi against me!" He reminded as he grabbed my hand and pulled me across him. I looked down and stared at the shogi board and pieces on the floor that was close to an end.

He cleared his throat. "Sit down, child," He said as he sat down and reset the game. I sat down across from him, my gaze shifting to his face then back to the board. "You know you had a lot of practice with your boy. And I must say, he's quite a genius." He muttered just as he finished on putting the pieces to their rightful starting places.

I frowned. "My boy?" I asked in a perplexed manner.

Grandpa raised an eyebrow. "Your boyfriend! Duh."

My eyes widened in confusion but then I felt my cheeks heat up at the statement. He laughed at my reaction. "And might I add, he's quite hot. You know if I'm a girl and was born in your generation, I might have hit on him!"

I pouted and he continued to laugh. But then I just found myself laughing along with him.

He then faced me with a challenging smirk. "Let's see if you can beat me this time."

His smirk gave off an exciting aura and I mirrored his expression. "Okay, grandpa,"

"Feisty spirit as always, Rika."

He has the King while I had the Jewel. And he was the one who made the first move. I have seen this kind of strategy before. Just testing the waters using the pawns and generals and when there is an opening, that's when the true battle starts.

Move. Move. Move. Capture. Move. Move. Capture. Capture. Drop. More moving. Promote. More capturing. More dropping. More promotion.

I was grinning ear to ear as I had the game in my favor and grandpa looked at me with unbelievable eyes.

And... one more move...

"Checkmate," I stated and he screamed.

"Unbelievable!"

"Sorry, grandpa but you have to believe," I stuck my tongue out to him then giggled. "I won." I rested my hands on the grass and put my head back, sighing.

"Grandpa," I called out suddenly, my voice sounding sad for an odd reason.

"What is it, Rika?"

"This place is very nice," I closed my eyes and lied down, feeling the wind blow once again. "I think I'd want to stay here forever but..." I trailed off, and saw an image of a boy flash in my mind. His face was blurred but I saw the color of his hair, bloody red. "I can't help but feel uncertain about something." I admitted then sat properly to look at him. "Can you help me?"

My grandfather gave me a gentle smile then stood up and offered a hand. I accepted it and he yanked me up to my feet.

"I'm afraid I can't help you with that matter, dear," He informed me as he led me somewhere. We came across a bridge and we stopped in front of a well. It was so deep I couldn't see the bottom, all I saw was darkness.

I leaned my body against the well, looking deeply into the darkness.

"And you can't stay here, you need to go back. Seijuro-kun needs you."

My eyebrows furrowed and I looked back at my smiling grandfather. "Seijuro-kun...?"

He pulled me into a tight embrace once again. "You'll see," He laughed across my hair. "I love you, Yurika," He mumbled.

I returned the hug and buried my face on grandpa's shoulder, sniffing on his familiar scent. "I... I love you too, grandpa," I mumbled back. "We'll meet again, right?"

He pulled away and grinned at me. "Of course, I'm still not over with you yet. We're going to have a rematch."

We laughed. "Well, I guess I need to practice with 'my boy' again."

He ruffled on my hair. "Go. Now."

I tilted my head to the side. "How?"

He smiled mischievously then pushed me and I fell on the well while I scream my lungs out.

Seijuro-kun... needs me...

I opened my eyes, my blurry eyes adjusted and was greeted at the sight of a white ceiling. I hear nothing but the beeping sound of the heart monitor beside my bed and I looked down to my hand, thick needles and a bandage. I feel so numb...

I opened my mouth to utter a word but failed as I just felt the dryness of my throat. So thirsty...

"Whe-Where..." I croaked to myself and turned my head to the side, a guy with curly brown hair was sleeping soundly at the sofa.

The guy opened his eyes and when he noticed me looking at him, he jolted awake and rushed to me. "Yurika-san?" He panicked. "Thank God, you're finally awake!" He run his fingers through his curly hair and paced around the room. "I... I can't believe it. After 6 long months..." I heard him mumble to himself. I swallowed and croaked, feeling my throat on fire and he took notice. "Oh, you're thirsty?" His eyes shifted to the glass of water on the table and he gave it to me. He helped me took a sip of the water.

"Wait, I'm just going to call a doctor, real quick!" He informed me urgently and turned on his heels to storm out of the room.

"Wait!" I called out for him.

"What is it?" He peered over his shoulder to glance at me.

I licked my dry lips and bit it, tilting my head sideways. "Who are you...?"

He gave me a virile grin. "Yuta Kiryuu, your fiance." He winked at me before opening the door in front of him before closing it behind him, leaving me alone.

I stared at the ceiling once again, pondering about a puzzle that fate seem to have given me...

Yuta Kiryuu...

Yuta... Kiryuu...

"Seijuro-kun needs you."

Yuta is far from Seijuro.

He is not Seijuro...

So now...

Who is Seijuro?

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I'm asking you again, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your pain?

I just looooooooove Baymax. :>

Honestly, I am just as overwhelmed as you guys from the previous chapter. mehehe. I faced a conflict with this story because I am stuck between choosing two scenarios which decides Yurika and Akashi's lovey-dovey story. Hehehe I have consulted to a friend and she told me that this is better. :) The other scenario I thought is too cliche so nah, I guess this is better. What do you guys think? Do you wanna know the other scenario? :D XD

Thank you for reading! :D

Feel free to vote/comment or anything~! Let me know your thoughts in this story~!

I love you guys :'>