Twisted Karma [R] 2/?
Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 5:53 pm
Twisted Karma
By Andrea Sinisterra
Romance/Angst/Tragedy
Rated R
Standard Disclaimers Apply
Author's note: Sorry for the delay. Here's chapter two, it's not too long 'cause I wanted to post something before February and I get even busier. Hope you like it.
Thanks to Caliborn for proof reading this for me. I heart you, chica!
Warnings!: Strong theme. Violence, abuse, sex.
* * * *
Part 2
It wasn?t as cold as she had been expecting: instead it was mildly warm, the cold air mingling with the warmth of the sun. There was something so utterly fascinating about a city like Tokyo; the thousands of little stores, one after the other in an endless line along the streets, were colorful; and the people, the true Japanese, were welcoming and very charming.
A helicopter was waiting for them as they stepped down from the jet, the security crew, clad in their standard black suits, escorting them to their transport and then to the hotel. They were scheduled to remain in the city for two weeks at the most, Japan being a new market her husband?s company was trying to delve into. He had said, as he always explained to her in patient words, that the competition there would be gigantic, as drug developers were a thousand a penny, especially in the far north of the island. There was no better place than Tokyo to study market values and the strategies Japanese developers used. He was thinking of settling business near the west coast, specifically on Sapporo and Hiroshima, bordering with the Sea of Japan, and further west with North and South Korea and Russia was the wisest option. The shipping ports would naturally be settled in Kobe and Osaka, where Japan?s most important and distinguished marinas were located.
It was a great market, given that Japan surpassed 100 million inhabitants. Plus, it was one of the leading general markets worldwide. Before then, Pharmat, her husband's company, had settled in minor countries in Europe, South and Central America, and Australia, where costs and employment were cheaper and taxes weren?t so high; now, however, as the demand was increasing and the company expanding, his advisors and market analyzers had decided Japan was the next step they should take.
Relena didn?t think two weeks would be enough. There were a lot of things they had to do first, but she didn?t doubt Andr? would succeed. He was perseverant above all things. This was why she didn?t protest when as soon as they reached the Park Hyatt Tokyo Hotel, he ditched her for a meeting he had programmed first thing when they landed on the large island.
She spent most of her time strolling around the city, indulging in the local delicacies and the magnificent diversity of cultural traditions and history the country and its people boasted. The several Shinto and Buddhist temples and shrines throughout the city mesmerized Relena as they rose up on hills or at lakes, shrouded by the nature and the reverent silence of their ancestries in which they so believed in.
Unluckily for her, almost at sunset, she found herself rushing to the hotel?s suite, having had forgotten the utterly important gala to which her husband was one of the special guests. Her dress was brought up by a clerk, and along with him, a make-up artist and a hair dresser, both of which the hotel manager had insisted on sending to aid her.
When Andr? barged into the room almost an hour later, his face tired and his muscles tense, Relena was almost done, being in the midst of stepping into the beautifully delicate, white lingerie silk and lace gown with the help of one of the Japanese women. Her stomach jumped as his eyes feasted on her partial nakedness, even as he dismissed the women and slowly walked behind his wife to help her into the dress. He trailed his hand from the base of her bare back up the ivory expanse of her naked skin to her neck, where it met the strap of her halter dress. Relena shivered at his caress, letting her head drop onto his shoulder when he reached to kiss the side of her throat.
?You look exquisite.? His voice was low, hoarse as it whispered across her flushed cheeks.
True to his male nature, he showered and dressed in half an hour and then, her hand on the crook of his elbow, headed into the Venetian Ballroom. The high, antique Italian crystal chandeliers and polished hardwood floors were luxurious on their own, and combined with the simple-yet-elegant gold and red linens and curtains, the room had the ability to transport the guest to the time where dukes, lords and ladies strolled in <i>motoscafos</i> down the dark waters of Venice, indulging in the most tempting pleasures of life and the richest of wines.
There was a mild humming as the attendees talked in low tones, gathered in many influential but small groups throughout the room. And even if it was still early, as they had arrived 20 minutes before the hour, they could see that the Prime Minister of Japan and his wife were present, as well as many members of the <i>Shugi-in</i> and <i>Sangi-in</i>, most of which Andr? had met earlier that same day, who made up Japan?s National High and Low Bureau of Councilors and Representatives to His Majesty, The Emperor.
Dinner consisted of an exquisite arrangement of cold entr?es, like raw salmon with a touch of basil and garlic, followed by an elegant version of the popular <i>unagi donburi</i>, which was a national food consisting of grilled eel prepared in thick Soy-based sauce served on a bed of white rice. They were also served a wide arrangement of sushi and tempura, concluding in a delectable cream anmitsu, the likes of which she had never tasted before in her life.
Soon after dinner was finished, sake, gyokuro and green tea, along with champagne and a grand menu of pinot noir, chardonnay, merlot and cabernet sauvignon brands to those who preferred wines were served by the caterers who moved incessantly throughout the re-gathered groups.
Fervently wishing to extract herself from the group she was currently at, with her husband deeply submerged in conversation, Relena was suddenly snapped out of her reverie when another voice entered the chat and her husband called her name. Another man had joined their conversation, and from what she could see, taking in the familiarity with which her husband and he treated each other, she gathered that they were old acquaintances. She smiled cordially at him when he raised his glass of champagne, and she clinked her own glass of cabernet sauvignon with his before he reached for her hand.
?Darling,? Andr? drawled, his voice slightly slurring at the end of the word as she realized he had probably drunk over his limit, ?Meet an old, good friend of mine from college. Relena, Heero Yuy; Heero, my beautiful wife, Relena.?
?It?s a pleasure.?
She smiled, and before anyone could say another word, excused herself. ?I?m afraid to say the night has caught up with me. I?ve had an unusually fast day.?
Heero smiled. ?I take it it?s your first time in Japan.?
He had not phrased it as a question, but she took it as such. ?I?ve read a lot about it; I?ve always been intrigued by the difference between oriental and western cultures. So far, Japan has surpassed my expectations.?
?I?m pleased to hear that. How long will you be staying??
She was about to answer when Andr? laughed and then reached to clap Heero on the back. ?My friend, care to join me at the bar? There are a few things I would like to talk to you about.?
Heero nodded. ?It was a great pleasure finally meeting you, Relena. I hope this is not the last time we speak. I would like to know the final conclusion of this trip of yours.?
Relena laughed, taking a last sip of her wine, yet still leaving a decent amount swirling at the bottom of the crystal. ?It was a pleasure, likewise. Perhaps we could meet someday before we leave; I still haven?t found someone who will show me the city informally.?
?That?s a shame, but I would be glad to show it to you both.? He bent over her hand again, kissing it.
After that, she was left alone as both Andr? and Heero said their goodbyes to the other guests and departed to the bar, which was a little away from the main salon.
She excused herself as well, doing her best to avoid the several gentlemen she guessed would probably stop her for a chat. She successfully made it to her room, and she took no delay in taking off her dress and washing her face before making her way to the bed, which had been laid down for the night.
She was, quite honestly, tired, but still her mind wandered back to the night?s outcome, which amazingly enough had been quite uneventful. She had never really met anyone from Andre?s life prior to their meeting. On their wedding, safe for his immediate family, no one else had attended on his side, and she had always wondered about that, yet she had never really inquired about it.
More and more, she realized she didn?t really know her husband: specifically, his life before he ever met her. He was such a reserved man; he never really talked about himself, which was pretty obvious. Andr? was somewhat of an enigma to her.
Every day for two weeks after the ball, Andr? would leave early and have breakfast at the hotel restaurant, and if she was awake, she would go with him. Then, he would leave on his meetings and other appointments, and she wouldn?t see him again until nighttime and that only if he got back at the hotel at a decent hour.
But she knew in her heart that he wasn?t "busy" all those days. It didn?t matter what business one was in; it was impossible to have meetings every single day for over twelve hours, uninterrupted.
Christmas was fast approaching, and by the looks of things, they were going to spend the holidays in Japan, which was something Relena had no intention of doing. So, that day she picked up the phone and rang home to Sanq, first calling Pagan, their butler, to prepare the house for her return, and then calling her mother to tell her she was coming home with or without Andr?.
Her mother had been beyond ecstatic, crying happily as she talked, excited, of all the shopping and cooking they would be doing together. It had been three years in a row that she hadn?t been home for the holidays, and her visits had become even more sporadic. She intended to talk to her husband and tell him to take a break so they could go home. How many months had it been since they last stepped foot in <i>their</i> house? Much less visit her family. Perhaps they could even spend New Years in Spain. It had been many years since she had seen Mr. and Mrs. Arag?n. She really missed the warmth and easygoing personality of Madrid.
Her mood started to lighten up as she planned all that she wanted to do for the holidays, like shopping for gifts and having dinner with her family. Perhaps she'd even visit her brother, whom she hadn?t seen in years. She could already picture how big her nephew would be now; after all, the last time she'd seen Milliardo was at their mother?s birthday, five years ago. Matthew must be around ten years old by now. She was probably right; she could still remember Lucrezia trying to quiet down the baby when he had started to fuss at her wedding nine years ago.
She sighed as she thought of her wedding day.
<i>?I knew the moment I saw you- or well, the moment I almost ran you over-? He said to the delight of the crowd, ?-That you were the one for me. These months I?ve shared with you, your family, and your friends- these months I want to turn into a lifetime. I love you; I love the way you brush your hair; I love the way you dance, your eyes. Having you accept getting married here, in my homeland, meant the world to me. But it will never compare to the feeling of having you accept my proposal. I will take care of you forever; I will love you even a lifetime after that. You brought happiness to my life, Relena. You <b>are</b> the happiness in my life. I love you.?</i>
She brushed a stray tear away. She had been a mess that day. She could remember seeing her parents together, her dad holding her mother as she cried silently with happiness. It had been such a perfect day, she often wondered if it had really happened. Her life, now, was nothing but a faint shadow of what it used to be before she got married.
Casting her gloomy thoughts aside, she called the pilot to tell him they were flying back home, to give him time to refuel the tanks and run the jet through a pre-flight check up.
She wondered that if Andr? refused to leave with her, would he let her take the plane, or would he make her stay with him in Japan? Not knowing if he would let her go, she called an airline and booked a flight to SQX [1] just in case. She was determined to reach Sanq before Christmas, with or without him.
She looked at her wristwatch and saw it was only 8:30 am, and as she got up, ready to walk downstairs to the restaurant, she suddenly felt a bout of sickness hit her. She clamped a hand over her mouth as she rushed to the toilet. Because she hadn?t eaten anything the night before and she still had to take her breakfast, she ended throwing up only bile. Standing up after she was done, she went to the sink to wash out the nauseating sting of it from her mouth.
Maybe she had gotten up too swiftly, or maybe it was because she hadn?t eaten anything in over 16 hours? Yet the nagging thought that perhaps, in all the excitement of their visit to Japan, she had overlooked the very important fact that she had missed her period. She tried remembering when had been the last time she had menstruated, and as she thought of the night of her birthday, she prayed to God that if indeed she was pregnant, she had not conceived her baby then.
As the thought crossed her mind, she rushed to her purse to get her day planner.
To be continued...
*1. My own code for Sanq International Airport
By Andrea Sinisterra
Romance/Angst/Tragedy
Rated R
Standard Disclaimers Apply
Author's note: Sorry for the delay. Here's chapter two, it's not too long 'cause I wanted to post something before February and I get even busier. Hope you like it.
Thanks to Caliborn for proof reading this for me. I heart you, chica!
Warnings!: Strong theme. Violence, abuse, sex.
* * * *
Part 2
It wasn?t as cold as she had been expecting: instead it was mildly warm, the cold air mingling with the warmth of the sun. There was something so utterly fascinating about a city like Tokyo; the thousands of little stores, one after the other in an endless line along the streets, were colorful; and the people, the true Japanese, were welcoming and very charming.
A helicopter was waiting for them as they stepped down from the jet, the security crew, clad in their standard black suits, escorting them to their transport and then to the hotel. They were scheduled to remain in the city for two weeks at the most, Japan being a new market her husband?s company was trying to delve into. He had said, as he always explained to her in patient words, that the competition there would be gigantic, as drug developers were a thousand a penny, especially in the far north of the island. There was no better place than Tokyo to study market values and the strategies Japanese developers used. He was thinking of settling business near the west coast, specifically on Sapporo and Hiroshima, bordering with the Sea of Japan, and further west with North and South Korea and Russia was the wisest option. The shipping ports would naturally be settled in Kobe and Osaka, where Japan?s most important and distinguished marinas were located.
It was a great market, given that Japan surpassed 100 million inhabitants. Plus, it was one of the leading general markets worldwide. Before then, Pharmat, her husband's company, had settled in minor countries in Europe, South and Central America, and Australia, where costs and employment were cheaper and taxes weren?t so high; now, however, as the demand was increasing and the company expanding, his advisors and market analyzers had decided Japan was the next step they should take.
Relena didn?t think two weeks would be enough. There were a lot of things they had to do first, but she didn?t doubt Andr? would succeed. He was perseverant above all things. This was why she didn?t protest when as soon as they reached the Park Hyatt Tokyo Hotel, he ditched her for a meeting he had programmed first thing when they landed on the large island.
She spent most of her time strolling around the city, indulging in the local delicacies and the magnificent diversity of cultural traditions and history the country and its people boasted. The several Shinto and Buddhist temples and shrines throughout the city mesmerized Relena as they rose up on hills or at lakes, shrouded by the nature and the reverent silence of their ancestries in which they so believed in.
Unluckily for her, almost at sunset, she found herself rushing to the hotel?s suite, having had forgotten the utterly important gala to which her husband was one of the special guests. Her dress was brought up by a clerk, and along with him, a make-up artist and a hair dresser, both of which the hotel manager had insisted on sending to aid her.
When Andr? barged into the room almost an hour later, his face tired and his muscles tense, Relena was almost done, being in the midst of stepping into the beautifully delicate, white lingerie silk and lace gown with the help of one of the Japanese women. Her stomach jumped as his eyes feasted on her partial nakedness, even as he dismissed the women and slowly walked behind his wife to help her into the dress. He trailed his hand from the base of her bare back up the ivory expanse of her naked skin to her neck, where it met the strap of her halter dress. Relena shivered at his caress, letting her head drop onto his shoulder when he reached to kiss the side of her throat.
?You look exquisite.? His voice was low, hoarse as it whispered across her flushed cheeks.
True to his male nature, he showered and dressed in half an hour and then, her hand on the crook of his elbow, headed into the Venetian Ballroom. The high, antique Italian crystal chandeliers and polished hardwood floors were luxurious on their own, and combined with the simple-yet-elegant gold and red linens and curtains, the room had the ability to transport the guest to the time where dukes, lords and ladies strolled in <i>motoscafos</i> down the dark waters of Venice, indulging in the most tempting pleasures of life and the richest of wines.
There was a mild humming as the attendees talked in low tones, gathered in many influential but small groups throughout the room. And even if it was still early, as they had arrived 20 minutes before the hour, they could see that the Prime Minister of Japan and his wife were present, as well as many members of the <i>Shugi-in</i> and <i>Sangi-in</i>, most of which Andr? had met earlier that same day, who made up Japan?s National High and Low Bureau of Councilors and Representatives to His Majesty, The Emperor.
Dinner consisted of an exquisite arrangement of cold entr?es, like raw salmon with a touch of basil and garlic, followed by an elegant version of the popular <i>unagi donburi</i>, which was a national food consisting of grilled eel prepared in thick Soy-based sauce served on a bed of white rice. They were also served a wide arrangement of sushi and tempura, concluding in a delectable cream anmitsu, the likes of which she had never tasted before in her life.
Soon after dinner was finished, sake, gyokuro and green tea, along with champagne and a grand menu of pinot noir, chardonnay, merlot and cabernet sauvignon brands to those who preferred wines were served by the caterers who moved incessantly throughout the re-gathered groups.
Fervently wishing to extract herself from the group she was currently at, with her husband deeply submerged in conversation, Relena was suddenly snapped out of her reverie when another voice entered the chat and her husband called her name. Another man had joined their conversation, and from what she could see, taking in the familiarity with which her husband and he treated each other, she gathered that they were old acquaintances. She smiled cordially at him when he raised his glass of champagne, and she clinked her own glass of cabernet sauvignon with his before he reached for her hand.
?Darling,? Andr? drawled, his voice slightly slurring at the end of the word as she realized he had probably drunk over his limit, ?Meet an old, good friend of mine from college. Relena, Heero Yuy; Heero, my beautiful wife, Relena.?
?It?s a pleasure.?
She smiled, and before anyone could say another word, excused herself. ?I?m afraid to say the night has caught up with me. I?ve had an unusually fast day.?
Heero smiled. ?I take it it?s your first time in Japan.?
He had not phrased it as a question, but she took it as such. ?I?ve read a lot about it; I?ve always been intrigued by the difference between oriental and western cultures. So far, Japan has surpassed my expectations.?
?I?m pleased to hear that. How long will you be staying??
She was about to answer when Andr? laughed and then reached to clap Heero on the back. ?My friend, care to join me at the bar? There are a few things I would like to talk to you about.?
Heero nodded. ?It was a great pleasure finally meeting you, Relena. I hope this is not the last time we speak. I would like to know the final conclusion of this trip of yours.?
Relena laughed, taking a last sip of her wine, yet still leaving a decent amount swirling at the bottom of the crystal. ?It was a pleasure, likewise. Perhaps we could meet someday before we leave; I still haven?t found someone who will show me the city informally.?
?That?s a shame, but I would be glad to show it to you both.? He bent over her hand again, kissing it.
After that, she was left alone as both Andr? and Heero said their goodbyes to the other guests and departed to the bar, which was a little away from the main salon.
She excused herself as well, doing her best to avoid the several gentlemen she guessed would probably stop her for a chat. She successfully made it to her room, and she took no delay in taking off her dress and washing her face before making her way to the bed, which had been laid down for the night.
She was, quite honestly, tired, but still her mind wandered back to the night?s outcome, which amazingly enough had been quite uneventful. She had never really met anyone from Andre?s life prior to their meeting. On their wedding, safe for his immediate family, no one else had attended on his side, and she had always wondered about that, yet she had never really inquired about it.
More and more, she realized she didn?t really know her husband: specifically, his life before he ever met her. He was such a reserved man; he never really talked about himself, which was pretty obvious. Andr? was somewhat of an enigma to her.
Every day for two weeks after the ball, Andr? would leave early and have breakfast at the hotel restaurant, and if she was awake, she would go with him. Then, he would leave on his meetings and other appointments, and she wouldn?t see him again until nighttime and that only if he got back at the hotel at a decent hour.
But she knew in her heart that he wasn?t "busy" all those days. It didn?t matter what business one was in; it was impossible to have meetings every single day for over twelve hours, uninterrupted.
Christmas was fast approaching, and by the looks of things, they were going to spend the holidays in Japan, which was something Relena had no intention of doing. So, that day she picked up the phone and rang home to Sanq, first calling Pagan, their butler, to prepare the house for her return, and then calling her mother to tell her she was coming home with or without Andr?.
Her mother had been beyond ecstatic, crying happily as she talked, excited, of all the shopping and cooking they would be doing together. It had been three years in a row that she hadn?t been home for the holidays, and her visits had become even more sporadic. She intended to talk to her husband and tell him to take a break so they could go home. How many months had it been since they last stepped foot in <i>their</i> house? Much less visit her family. Perhaps they could even spend New Years in Spain. It had been many years since she had seen Mr. and Mrs. Arag?n. She really missed the warmth and easygoing personality of Madrid.
Her mood started to lighten up as she planned all that she wanted to do for the holidays, like shopping for gifts and having dinner with her family. Perhaps she'd even visit her brother, whom she hadn?t seen in years. She could already picture how big her nephew would be now; after all, the last time she'd seen Milliardo was at their mother?s birthday, five years ago. Matthew must be around ten years old by now. She was probably right; she could still remember Lucrezia trying to quiet down the baby when he had started to fuss at her wedding nine years ago.
She sighed as she thought of her wedding day.
<i>?I knew the moment I saw you- or well, the moment I almost ran you over-? He said to the delight of the crowd, ?-That you were the one for me. These months I?ve shared with you, your family, and your friends- these months I want to turn into a lifetime. I love you; I love the way you brush your hair; I love the way you dance, your eyes. Having you accept getting married here, in my homeland, meant the world to me. But it will never compare to the feeling of having you accept my proposal. I will take care of you forever; I will love you even a lifetime after that. You brought happiness to my life, Relena. You <b>are</b> the happiness in my life. I love you.?</i>
She brushed a stray tear away. She had been a mess that day. She could remember seeing her parents together, her dad holding her mother as she cried silently with happiness. It had been such a perfect day, she often wondered if it had really happened. Her life, now, was nothing but a faint shadow of what it used to be before she got married.
Casting her gloomy thoughts aside, she called the pilot to tell him they were flying back home, to give him time to refuel the tanks and run the jet through a pre-flight check up.
She wondered that if Andr? refused to leave with her, would he let her take the plane, or would he make her stay with him in Japan? Not knowing if he would let her go, she called an airline and booked a flight to SQX [1] just in case. She was determined to reach Sanq before Christmas, with or without him.
She looked at her wristwatch and saw it was only 8:30 am, and as she got up, ready to walk downstairs to the restaurant, she suddenly felt a bout of sickness hit her. She clamped a hand over her mouth as she rushed to the toilet. Because she hadn?t eaten anything the night before and she still had to take her breakfast, she ended throwing up only bile. Standing up after she was done, she went to the sink to wash out the nauseating sting of it from her mouth.
Maybe she had gotten up too swiftly, or maybe it was because she hadn?t eaten anything in over 16 hours? Yet the nagging thought that perhaps, in all the excitement of their visit to Japan, she had overlooked the very important fact that she had missed her period. She tried remembering when had been the last time she had menstruated, and as she thought of the night of her birthday, she prayed to God that if indeed she was pregnant, she had not conceived her baby then.
As the thought crossed her mind, she rushed to her purse to get her day planner.
To be continued...
*1. My own code for Sanq International Airport
wow Heero didn't say 'hn' 
i think this is one of the few stories where he didn't go 'hn' even if he only made a short appearence 
It's sooo worth the wait.