Chapter Text
Prologue
You see him for the first time at one of the high end Tokyo restaurants on the top floor of Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Akasaka. The interior combines elegance and comfort, offering a stunning view of the night city with thousands of lights. The rooms of the place are filled with contemporary art and smooth dark wood accents.
You thought you’d be the first one to show up but there he is sitting at the table by the window. Turtleneck and slacks, all black and contrasting with his whitish hair. He is…you want to be objective: he is rather handsome and with nice physique. But you’re not looking for someone else, right now you’re looking for no one. And that’s one of the reasons why you’re here. Why you’ve agreed when your parents pitched the idea. Because it’s strictly business. And this emotions void business is all you’re capable of dealing with at the moment.
“Hello.” You greet when the hostess shows you to the table.
He stands up.
He is not tall, a little taller then you, by two-three inches.
“Hello.” His voice is deep, the cat like eyes appraising you from head to toe: there’s nothing sexual about it, he is calculating, attentive, methodical. “Please, take a sit.”
You nod in thanks as he lowers himself back to his own place.
“I hope we are both adults and we understand what this union is supposed to be.” There’s no prelude when he speaks next, nothing of the ‘it’s nice to meet you, you look great’ sorts.
You answer in kind looking straight at him, voice clear. “Of course. Let me be honest with you: when I agreed to my father’s proposal it was because I understand fully well what is expected of me. I know how these things work. We both were brought up in privileged families with certain expectations of us. I’m not looking for love. If lucky enough, partnership.”
“Very well. This I am willing to offer.” He replies, still searching your eyes, making sure you’re telling the truth.
Seemingly satisfied with what he’s seen, Chishiya picks the menu up and finally lets his gaze drift to the selection of dishes. Your own eyes linger on him for a moment longer before you mirror his actions and start studying the specials.
It feels good when everything is said, good to have an understanding. Because the unsaid leaves space for interpretation and guesses. And this is something you don’t ever want again or need for that matter.
It is a well known practice for influential families of the country to make appropriate matches for their children. Your father is a Minister of Health and your Mother has a PhD in clinical psychiatry and is a Professor at Tokyo Medical University. Basically you were born with a silver spoon as big as the expectations placed on you. You were always better at studying and working, you had to be a step ahead. But to your parents’ honour they really do love you and you have good relationships. With this said, they would have accepted anyone you would have brought to them as long as this man would be the one making you happy. But…that man did not exist in your life anymore: all that was left after him was a cold void in the place where your heart once was. Then your parents asked you to meet and consider the son of the Chef of Tokyo Medical University Hospital. They told you that he is medical student and a surgical intern. Your mother has known his for the longest time since their parents (your and his grandparents) worked together in cardio department ages ago.
You agreed.
In a month a wedding was scheduled for the next year.
It wasn’t difficult to jungle you studies in phycology, internship, and the patients you started taking with you deal with Chishiya. You had to show up together since the rules of society dictated that the relationships and the marriage had to seen believable enough.
You decided on two dinners a week. There’s not much talk but you enjoys when the two of you discuss each other’s cases. It’s stimulating even though the specialities differ.
There are almost no other contacts.
Both parents are ecstatic and there’s no more pressure on each of you.
You both are somewhat content with a partner so keen on the arrangement that works for the other.
“Could you plan a visit to my department?” He asks one night when the dishes are served.
You look up:
“What are we talking?”
“There’s a patient of mine who is on the list for a transplant. A boy. 7 years old.” Chishiya cuts into a piece of steamed broccoli. “I will e-mail you the chart if you will be interested.”
“Do you want me to talk to him?” You ask, sipping on the water. “Depression? Panic attacks?”
He shakes his head no. “Not him, his mother. What she feels and how she react to his treatment is impacting him.”
So he’s not thinking about this woman as someone who are losing a child, you note. Interesting. It’s always rather interesting with your fiancé, his mind is curvy puzzle. “I can do that.”
“Thank you.”
“Think nothing of it. It is my job.”
Everything else falls into the sounds violin the musicians in the corner of the dimly-lit restaurant are careful to produce and the taste of the over-priced food on their plates.
“The salmon is perfectly cooked.” He says with a hum, feeling the need to address something else other than acknowledging to himself that he’s asked for your help.
“Yes, indeed.” Is you reply as you take a hold of fork and knife and send another piece of fish into your mouth, lips closing around the cutlery.
You are on your way to meet Chishiya on Shibuya, headphones nestled in your ears, a small beg on your shoulder. It was a surprise he offered to meet for lunch. Thankfully on Saturday so you had time for a yoga class and an hour in the swimming pool in the morning, and even could squeeze in some research your mother has asked you to help her with.
Your music is on shuffle and you actually feel as if it’s a good day today.
Your Cartier watch says you’re a bit early so you decide there’s still time to step by 7-11 to get a bottle of water.
Hand on the door handle is when something changes in the air. Almost impossible to explain, as if something is drown from the atmosphere. And then there are fireworks. In a broad daylight.
Across the sky.
All the colours. They are there but feels like they are all around you and every one else.
And then everything goes quiet. Deadly quiet.