RIVALS INCARNATE

Chapter Eight: A Woman, A Beauty, and A Vision

"Well, she's very pretty."

Two days after that email he had received directly from Yuko herself, Kyouhei Kurosaki started reviewing the identities from the quite long master list for the upcoming upscale social event that they were supposed to attend together soon. This Saturday, as she repeatedly reminded him which was somehow felt like a broken record that even when he was not expecting her to message him, she was already there in his inbox popping up.

This Saturday, don't ever forget. It would tell him and Kyouhei would just snort and ignore the message for the nth time. How can he ever really forget when it was always there lurking around in his emails, texts messages, post-its, reminders, and even in his secretary's notes?

Yuko really seemed so very eager and pretty much fixated on this event. Kyouhei felt the unrelenting pressure brought by it as it felt like there was something bigger than what he can ever really be expecting from it. And as he went to a casual after-time drink with his pal and colleague, Yamamoto Tori, he had finally decided to take a serious peek at a few names that were listed down on the document that was sent to him by Yuko. And at the time, one of them was a woman named Ami Komatsu.

Born and raised in Tokyo, she is the only and beloved daughter, youngest among the four children of two of the most prominent names in the business industry: the beautiful novelist and lawyer, Eri Komatsu; and her older husband, the influential retired politician, and economist, Abe Komatsu. This powerful couple had been on the media scene for almost three decades and had been very famous for their innumerable contributions to the evolving heritage of trade and industries in the country. And that one single detail had been more than enough to completely catch Kyouhei's entire interest in a snap of a finger. After a while, he found himself checking more information about the young Ami Komatsu.

Aside from being raised in the most top-end side of the population that roughly makes up two percent, at most, of the entire country, Ami Komatsu was also famous for being a very prominent show business personality who has been featured in many films and small-screen shows. She was an icon for beauty and luxury which was undeniably an evident case given that she also possessed such qualities that exceed even the very perfect standard of the superficial allure of a woman who can pull anyone's attention with just a blink of her eyes.

He just had finished reading a brief background of her life that he found online when a photo of hers instantly caught his eyes. It was a picture of something that had been taken in some kind of a red carpet premiere. Ami Komatsu was wearing a quite revealing silver sparkling dress, with that low dip on her front, and she was smiling with her short black hair perfectly groomed to match her outfit. 

She looked ethereal and the compliment that had smoothly come out of Kyouhei's lips was as sincere as it could be, as soon as he saw it.

"Man... Yeah, she's definitely hot," At the time, Yamamoto Tori, who was sitting beside Kyouhei by the bar counter where they had been both drinking beer, looked over Kyouhei's shoulder to check what had made Kyouhei say those words out loud and instinctively whistled. 

"She's way out of anyone's league, isn't she?" Kurosaki concluded. But instead of agreeing, Tori just simply snorted, gurgling beer as he rolled his eyes over Kyouhei's remark.

"I gotta warn you there, Kurosaki. Rumors around her were never really any good."

"What do you mean?" Kyouhei frowned back. He had not actually read any articles about Ami yet as he had just opened up her profile. And now, he was deeply curious.

"Well, I don't know that much but," Tori commented, tilting his head on one side with both of his eyes widening as if he was trying to provide an unspoken warning towards Kyouhei without being actually too vulgar about it, "you know what they say about rumors... When there's smoke, there's fire."

Vague answers, Kyouhei mentally inferred. But instead of asking for more specific details about the so-called "rumors" revolving around this charming beauty, Kyouhei was much even fonder of the fact that despite having such an angelic appearance, someone like her was still that flawed. Obviously, she was a human, after all. No one could ever really be that perfect.

And as he quickly moved on from the subject, choosing to completely take his mind off of it, he quickly exited the tab that had been opened on his phone which had been displaying the same flashy photo of Ami Komatsu for that entire moment. And after he did, Kyouhei Kurosaki downed the last gulp of his beer in one go. He gave Tori on his left side, who was starting to show signs that he was now over his limit of alcohol tolerance, a stern glance. Tori Yamamoto should really start watching his alcohol intake.

Not long after that, Kyouhei heard the incessant sound of the grumbling vibrations from Tori's suit pocket and he can already guess that it was his phone and most likely a call from Tori's wife. That was a clear sign that the man should really get himself home as quickly as possible. Concerned over this, Kyouhei also checked his watch, and it showed him that it was already half an hour past seven in the evening. He let out a sigh and dropped a few bills on the bar counter. 

"Yamamoto-san," he gently tapped on Tori's shoulder, who had his head bent low and playing his hands around his third pint of beer. "I think it's time to go home."

Tori Yamamoto groaned in an inaudible response that Kyouhei could not comprehend, so instead of clarifying it, he just took the initiative to help out the older man to stand from the stool where he was starting to doze off. Kyouhei gave the bartender a polite nod and half-carried the weight of Tori out of the bar as they swayed on their way to the exit. 

Luckily, a cab was just passing by the road right after they both had managed to step out onto the sidewalk and Kyouhei immediately hailed it. He gave simple directions to the driver about Tori's address and hastily settled the drunken man on the backseat. As he finally felt the coldness of the chilly evening wind hit his face, Kyouhei once again sighed in utter relief. He was suddenly no longer feeling any kind of drowsy effect from his intoxication. Surprisingly, he found himself already sobered up... Yet he still was not sure whether to feel good about it or be disappointed.

And when he started walking again, this time, towards the direction of the parking lot of their office building by the next few blocks, where he had left his car, he started whistling on his way back. It was a distinctive melody that he knew by heart but could not identify the name at the time. He just felt it.

The song was not some kind of a modern or familiar full-song you will hear or would have heard on the radio, nor was it even anything from the classics. It was just ordinary. Yet, Kyouhei easily smiled when he started playing it on in a smooth, soft rhythm. He actually liked the sound, and it made him inexplicably happy.

It had him instantly forgetting all the trivial things that had happened today, things that had bored him all day.

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839 AD, 9th Century of Japan (Kyoto)

(***both the Crowned Prince Shin and the noble warrior Rei of the Takugawa descent were twenty-one years old during this time***)

There was that one famous legend spreading around the young believers during the old times that when you met eyes with someone from the opposite s*x and felt that intense pull magnetizing you towards that person, it meant that you were bound to be connected to that person by fate... either intimately or familial. Your thread of destiny will constantly intersect with that person.

For Prince Shin, however, he was not one to blindly believe in that shallowness right away. He always knew that his life was already planned out for the greatness to rule the Empire. But things quickly turned around when he was brought to meet the young and very kind Lady Aoi of the Takugawa household. 

At first sight, Prince Shin found himself quickly entranced by her beauty and pristine personality. He had not yet talked to her directly but he was already falling too fast as he felt himself being swept away by her presence. She was really beautiful and her name was really famous for that. She charmed almost the entirety of the capital due to her utmost graciousness and humility. And since the moment Prince Shin had set his eyes on her, he was beyond enamored.

He started asking around for her name, her background, for the things that she likes, what she dislikes, and what sort of man would she have preferred. The young prince had almost resorted to even confidently and officially court her and if he had not only been prohibited by the royal counselors before he could even make a move on his brazen intentions, he would have really done it.

But as it turned out, even though he had been privileged to become the future Emperor after the term of his father, there were things that the Crowned Prince Shin could still not ever do so freely on his own accord. He never really had the power all to himself. He was not really the one that everyone should follow in all respect. 

Truth be told, he was actually the one who should follow and be controlled on how to become the future leader that would exemplify all the standards that his country would want him to represent.

In other words, he was nothing more than just a puppet. And that mere realization made him feel completely insignificant. It appeared so, that being destined to follow the footsteps of his father as the noble Emperor at that time, was not really a blessing nor it was even a divine opportunity bestowed upon him to revel on... It was actually a curse. A curse that seemed to have purposely concealed the truthful words that the Emperor had never once spoken of. Or for all of those who sat over the throne, it was just one of the many more secrets they could not ever reveal in any form. A small part of that power that was not ever promised when one had dreamt of owning the crown.

It was a curse, that only then did Prince Shin has finally realized himself. It was a burden that cost too much of his liberty and now he knew he can never run away from it. And even if he tried to risk everything for that one special lady who had captured his whole heart, he can never forsake the entire bigger responsibility. For it had been already written in his stars, that he will be the Emperor of their future...

And he can never avoid his fate because it had been already planned by the gods themselves.

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PRESENT, 2020 (Tokyo)

She can never get used to it, no matter how many times she would dress herself up. Yet Yuko Amazawa still did it because she had to. And despite the hesitance and anxiety, she would always find great satisfaction whenever she would come out looking great just like how she was definitely looking right now.

As she observed her reflection in the mirror, all she can ever do is to let out a whistle. Prince Shin inside of her was definitely grinning over what he was seeing. It was as if he was not really seeing himself as Yuko but rather, seeing Yuko as a woman.

You look ravishing, she could even hear Prince Shin's separate thoughts and that made her feel quite smug about having this new body as Yuko Amazawa of the modern era. If she had been alive during Shin's time, she would have been offered to be one of his concubines. 

Ha, she arrogantly smirked to herself. Men would surely gawk at her once she shows up at the party.

Upon checking the time, she realized that she was running out of spare minutes and Yuko quickly hasted her last touch of gloss on her lips. She took one more glance at her face by turning her head sideways to see her angles and decided that it was okay. She looked great. Then she immediately left her place and went to call Mr. Sugine as soon as she got out of her apartment to inform him that she was now on her way down the complex. The moment she walked out into the lobby on the ground floor she was surprised to find none other than, Kyouhei Kurosaki himself, waiting by the reception area. He quickly gave her a wave and an easygoing smile upon seeing her come out to view.

Yuko, on the other hand, just scowled right away. What was he doing there? She never said anything about meeting with him at her place nor asked him that they should go to the party together. So what was this? 

"Why are you here?" Yuko sneered immediately as soon as she got close to Kyouhei and pulled him by the arm as she strode out of the building. Yuko sharply glared back at him the moment they stepped out to the front driveway and she could see the black car Mr. Sugine drives for her, now waiting from a near distance.

"You said we'll go together," Kyouhei dumbly explained, and that only made Yuko flared her nostrils at him as she hissed back.

"I said we'll attend the party together," she told him with a stern voice, "I never said we'd go together."

"Don't see any difference," Kyouhei retorted, simply shrugging as he brushed off the emphasis Yuko put on the words, "Let's just conserve gas and go there in the same car. We got the same destination so it makes sense."

Valid point, but annoying resolve. Yuko can only bit back her groan. Her mood had been totally ruined now and she had to compose herself so she could prepare for the facade she had to put up later on. Does this guy even have any idea of what to do there? Yuko was supposed to suck up for the young Osamu Sato so she can close that good deal with the schmuck who had offered her a total partnership if she was to make it happen. 

She should never lose her focus tonight. She had to reserve her anger for this damn Kurosaki. She must keep her head straight on what she should prioritize first.

And so, with not much of a choice, Yuko let Kyouhei share the ride with her. They eventually walked their way towards the waiting vehicle on the driveway and Yuko immediately waved her hand to signal Mr. Sugine on the driver's seat to open the car doors. 

"Good day, Madam Yuko and Sir Kyouhei. It's been a long time," Mr. Sugine delightfully greeted with a grin and a tip of his head as soon as the door had been opened on both sides of the backseat. Kyouhei beamed back as if to acknowledge the greeting he had received and even took his time to give a small bow towards the old man from the outside of the car before he got inside.

Mr. Sugine found that quite interesting to see the two of them confined in the same space which was actually a very rare thing to happen for the several years that he had been working for Amazawa. He knew Kyouhei since the first week he had driven for Yuko, and he was a bit curious as to why these two unlikely pair, dressed in such glamorous outfits, were on their way to a party, that even though was still related to their line of work, was also comparably unusual. 

Seeing them going there in the same vehicle was definitely a first.

They never really shared a ride in the same car before whenever Mr. Sugine drove for Yuko. But he would always meet Kyouhei every time Mr. Sugine will pick Miss Amazawa up at work or from any place she would ask him to fetch her. This was just a really bit bizarre and quite interesting... And the old man could not keep himself from glancing from time to time through the rearview mirror and look at the two of them.

It felt like he was seeing a totally different version of them. Their usual distant treatment towards each other did not seem to appear right now. Are they possibly really lovers that he just hadn't known all this entire time?

Such thoughts did occur in his mind, but Mr. Sugine was already too old to be that nosey and try to poke on the subject so he kept his mouth shut instead and just drove straight to the given destination. Eventually, the mild traffic got them only half an hour before Mr. Sugine was already pulling over the grand driveway of the luxurious hotel where the party was being held.

"Here we are," Mr. Sugine informed them, which was really no longer needed as the two were quickly moving to get off of the car as if the mere atmosphere that they had been sharing was too much to bear.

Immediately, a valet opened the side where Yuko had been sitting before she could even touch the handle herself, and she was glad to take the assistance of the young man outside. Kyouhei gave Mr. Sugine a pat on the shoulder and a soft grin before he soon followed Yuko out. Mr. Sugine waited until the car door had been properly closed before he drove out of the place. Yet before he could even completely leave, he took one more glance from the side mirror on his left and observed. He quickly caught the sight of Yuko and Kyouhei walking up the front stairs of the red-carpeted entryway of the hotel.

It was just an approximately fraction of a second but something had happened in that quick yet quite magnified moment. Mr. Sugine could not really tell if he was imagining it all or he was truly seeing it, but during those few milliseconds when he had paused to give them a glimpse in the mirror, he saw it.

A little blurred but it was clear enough for him to quickly catch on to the details, and he could definitely identify it: the extravagant silky red and black traditional clothes that were once illustrated from the older generations of the royal family in history books. A male figure was walking alongside another bulky male figure, both emanating nobility, and prestigiousness. It was as if both Yuko and Kyouhei had transformed into heroic figures in that very second, that Mr. Sugine even abruptly pressed on the brake just to make sure he was not hallucinating or anything.

Maybe it was of his old age, or perhaps, he was just a little tired from the long drive, but when he looked at them again, they were there and they were back to being just Miss Yuko and Kurosaki. It was mysteriously bewitching, and Mr. Sugine still could not get over it. He was so sure he saw it happened, but now he was having doubts.

Was that just an imagination? But another car behind him honked to get him back to his senses and believing it to be just some kind of passing illusion, he quickly tried to forget about it.

Or maybe he never really did. 

Maybe, it really DID happen.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------next chapter: Chapter Nine