Thanks to those who wrote and left comments. And for those who asked, yes, Genzo does have his own storyline coming up. Please vote and comment. I love hearing from you all!
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"Minamoto-san, there's someone here to see you," Kaori's assistant informed her through her dressing room door.
"I'm busy," she snapped as the makeup artist fussed over her.
"He insists that you will want to speak with him. He says his last name is Nagamori."
Her face brightened and she sat up straighter in her chair. "Send him in at once!" Impatiently shooing away the makeup person, she smoothed down her hair and quickly undid the top button to her blouse. "Come in," she called at hearing the knock. Her face registered surprise, then annoyance when she saw that it was not Noboru who had come in to see her. "I think you have the wrong room." Hopefully the stranger would take the hint and get out. He was extremely seedy looking.
"I think you might want to listen to what I have to say," he rasped.
She cringed at the sound of his voice. It sounded like he was trying to speak with a throat full of razor blades. "What could you possibly have to say that could interest me?" She involuntarily shuddered when he smiled at her from behind his mirrored sunglasses.
"You were eager to speak to me when I said my name was Nagamori." Sitting down in a chair without waiting for the invitation that would never come, he removed a bottle of a protein drink from his jacket and began drinking it.
She didn't know how much more of his voice she could tolerate. "Yes, I had you mistaken for someone else, sorry."
"Not quite." He grinned, and she started back at the sight of his teeth. "I am Nagamori, but I am Nagamori Saburo. I am Noboru's younger brother. That being said, I wonder if you would be interested in a means of becoming closer to him."
As he knew she would, she went for the bait. "What do you know?"
He smiled again. "Meet me at this bar at ten o'clock tonight." Handing her a card, he finished his protein shake and stood up. "Do not be late."
When he left the room, Kaori allowed herself a shiver of disgust. It would be difficult to tolerate being in the same room with him again, but if he truly had a way to make Noboru hers, she had to at least hear him out.
"Five minutes, Minamoto-san," her assistant's voice called. Putting it out of her mind for the moment, she gave herself a satisfied once over and walked onto the set
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Sitting in a dark booth in a far corner of the appointed bar, Kaori impatiently looked at her watch and wondered what the hell she was doing. "Baga," she scowled. Taking her purse, she was about to get up when she felt someone slide next to her, effectively blocking her from leaving.
"Going somewhere?" Saburo said, leering. At least his voice was less raspy than it was earlier in the day.
"You kept me waiting for ten minutes!" she shouted irately, her face twisted with ire. "I have a good mind to leave right now."
"Not interested in how to keep your face and body looking exactly how it does now?" he asked with a raised brow. He took a sip from another protein shake that he produced from inside his coat.
His words caught her attention and she briefly forgot to be angry. "What did you say?"
"I know a way that you can keep your good looks even when you are an octegenarian," he repeated.
"How?"
"Before I show you, I need something from you. A...sign of good faith, as it were."
It was unnerving how he smiled at her from behind those reflective sunglasses. Who the hell wore sunglasses at night anyway? "Fine. What did you have in mind?" she asked warily.
"Come with me to my home. I must show you what my solution is, but it is a heavily guarded secret and I do not wish to divulge it in public." He waited for her answer.
Even though she knew he was not to be trusted, the promise of such long lasting beauty was too good to pass up. "Alright, but this better be worth it."
"Oh, I promise it will be," he laughed. [For me, it will, in any case], he thought to himself. "[Dozo]." He beckoned for her to follow him.
A taxi dropped them off at a simple house just outside of Tokyo. His accommodations were spare and he opened a door for her. "Follow me." She did as he asked and found herself in a basement area that was larger than the house above that was more lavishly furnished. A marble fireplace had a fire going and the furniture was simple but tastefully expensive. A large bar stocked with every possible liquor and spirit stood on the far wall of the room. In the center of the space was a large four-poster bed, fitted with black sheets, framed in stainless steel. Taking off his jacket, he strolled to the bar. "May I offer you a drink?"
"Vodka martini," she said blithely, trying to look unimpressed β and unafraid. "Alright, so I gave you my gesture of good faith. Now tell me what this secret is!"