Chapter 74 Room 13

Chapter 74 Room 13

Mei POV

I freeze where I stand, nearly pinned against my own door by the mass of people rushing past.

The voices and shouts are so loud I have a hard time hearing myself think. People are everywhere, moving in both directions through the narrow hall, calling out names, laughing, panicking. Between this and last night I will be deaf by the time this festival is over.

With determination I plunge into the swarm. Dodging elbows and wincing as several people shout in my ear, I force my way through the crowd toward Cal's door.

Almost there.

Nearly pushed over by a man racing another man, I practically fall against door number thirteen. Flustered and highly disgruntled, I glare after their retreating backs. In an attempt to compose myself, I straighten my skirt and tuck my hair behind my ears.

Room thirteen stands before me.

It is then I realize I have no idea what I am going to say.

Hey there, Cal, will you spend the day with me?

My mouth goes suddenly dry.

Yeah, right.

Hovering before his door, I feel a surge of irritation as someone clears their throat from behind me. Not even bothering to turn around, I can already picture my rival's expression.

"Amusing, Mei, but if you would step out of the way."

I hold my hand higher, more firmly posed to knock, and glare over my shoulder.

"It's amusing that I was here first and you weren't. What's the matter, have to sneak out to avoid Sachi?"

Xiao Shen's pale cheeks tinge pink, but her face remains fixed in an unaffected expression.

"I do not sneak, unlike some people. Now if you won't move aside, at least knock and stop hovering like an idiot," she replies expectantly.

I give her a long look.

"You want me to knock?"

"Clearly, how else is Cal going to come out so I can ask him for his hand?" she explains coolly.

My eyes flash.

"Excuse me?" I protest as I lower my arm, turning toward her and blocking the door all at the same time.

A bit more color glows in her cheeks.

"Out of the way, Mei—"

I lean back against the door.

"No."

She steps forward.

"Knock, or I will," she threatens.

I grin. "I'd like to see you try."

A look enters her eyes and suddenly she is upon the door, her pale hand reaching out to knock. Desperately I do the first thing I can think of and grip the door handle, giving it a good twist. The door swings inward and the two of us stumble in with a cry.

"Mei!" Xiao Shen gasps in horror, her dark hair tossed in front of her eyes, which glare fiercely at me.

I regain my balance, but am unable to recapture my voice at the full realization of what I have just done.

I just burst into Cal's room.

But our collected panic and embarrassment is all for nothing, because we see in the next moment what is before us: an empty room. The bed is made, if not perfectly, the desk bare. No jacket on the chair. No tea cup. No Cal.

I start breathing again.

"He's not here."

Xiao Shen hastily brushes at her messy bangs and pulls at her kimono.

"Your luck amazes me. The nerve of you opening his door."

I blink rapidly and cross my arms, fixing her with a searing look.

"Well, if you hadn't attacked me—"

Her mask slips as her mouth opens in offense.

"Attacked you? Please."

But I block out the rest of her protest because thoughts of more importance are racing through my mind.

If Cal's not here, then where is he?

My eyes widen in realization.

The dining room.

Suddenly I'm darting from the room, barely registering Xiao Shen's shocked look as I hurry out the door. I rush into the hall and it seems impossible, but there are even more people filling the narrow space than before.

With great difficulty, going against the flow of bodies, I push forward, glancing over my shoulder often, hoping Xiao Shen is stuck back at the room.

Being prodded and jostled about, I pass Declan's door and wonder briefly where the monk is in all this chaos.

Probably hunting down Sonja.

Just then I come face to face with another hunter: Sachi. He looks sharp, if flustered, in his best black dress shirt. Upon bumping into me, his surprised expression turns to desperation.

"Xiao Shen?" he breathes.

"Cal?" I gasp.

"That way," we both answer, pointing in opposite directions.

With a shared nod we're off again.

I'm still enjoying a lingering smile from picturing Xiao Shen's horror as Sachi catches up with her, when I catch sight of someone who wipes that smile clean off my face. Jasper's head is bobbing in and out of the crowd several feet ahead of me, his eyes darting intently from person to person.

Shoot.

My breath hitching in my throat, I move as quickly as I can to the wall and press myself against it, hunching lower than the man walking in front of me.

Not now. This cannot be happening.

Feeling slightly ridiculous and getting knowing looks from those who glance my way, I creep forward stiffly.

Please don't see me. Please don't see me.

Fighting down a guilty conscience as Mrs. Koku's voice echoes in my mind, Jasper's room is located in the back half of the inn, I pass Sonja's door, moving in the direction Sachi had pointed.

The dining room is this way, and Cal had better be too.

"See something interesting down there?"

I freeze and the man I was using as a shield enters a room in front of me. Suddenly feeling very vulnerable, I stand and glare up at the person who so rudely pulled me out of hiding. Declan grins down at me and then finds himself being yanked forward.

"Oy, Mei, what?" he protests as I position him to block me from sight.

"Declan, don't move," I order, tugging on the back of his shirt to hold him still.

"Can I at least ask a question?" he wonders with some amusement, craning his neck to glance back at me.

"Hm?" I answer, peering carefully around his arm.

"Cal or Jasper?"

I give his shirt an unnecessary pull.

"What kind of question is that?"

"Well, you're hiding from one of them. My money's on Jasper."

"Is Cal in the dining room?" I ask, ignoring his last comment.

"So I am right," the monk smirks.

I poke him in the back. "Have you seen him or not, Declan?"

"Who, Jasper? I see him right now and here he comes—"

"What?" I cry as the monk steps forward and waves.

In a great panic I duck my head and slunk along the wall as quickly as I can. Then many things happen at once.

"Xiao Shen!" a voice shouts from some distance.

"Cal!" a breathless voice, much nearer, calls.

My head snaps up as I recognize it to be Xiao Shen's. Several feet behind me I spot Declan, whom I assumed had approached Jasper, but he's standing instead with Cal.

That Declan!

My attention then darts down the hall where I know my rival must be coming. Sure enough, through the mass, I catch a glimpse of a brightly colored kimono.

That Xiao Shen!

"Excuse me," I urge, fighting my way back toward the place I had all but run from.

"Xiao Shen!" a male's voice shouts again, this time closer.

Not pausing for a moment, I rise up on my feet, attempting to spot Sachi among the many men filling the hall.

"Mei, there you are!" another calls in the next moment.

Panic seizes me as I know it to be Jasper's voice. A quick glance over my shoulder confirms it. He's quite a few feet behind me, but has seen me anyway.

Shoot.

Fighting down my guilt, I pretend not to hear him.

"Mei!"

With my head down and a shameful blush tinting my cheeks, I press forward through the crowd, though I find I'm met with more resistance than before.

What's going on?

Anxiously peering past the people crammed in next to me, I catch sight of a large group exiting the dining room, causing the already congested hall to fill to its capacity.

"Cal!" Xiao Shen calls again, also stopped some feet away by the human wall.

I bounce on my feet nervously, hoping to glimpse Cal somewhere in the crowd, but have no such luck.

This cannot be happening. Xiao Shen cannot get to him first.

"Xiao Shen!" a voice shouts directly behind me.

Snapping around, I see Sachi breaking his way through the crowd, excusing himself through the impenetrable mass by reminding everyone of his importance.

"Pardon me, official playwright business. Mr. Sachi, owner of the Miyuki Theater coming through."

"Mr. Sachi!" I call, waving the agitated man over.

"Mei! We meet again, have you seen Xiao Shen?" he asks in a rush, glancing around uncertainly.

It suddenly occurs to me that the playwright is my chance to make it to Cal, maybe my only chance, and I am going to take it.

"Yes, I saw her somewhere over there," I answer, pointing vaguely in the area I had left Declan.

With a nod and not another word, Sachi begins forcing himself through the tightly packed crowd.

"Mr. Joji Sachi here, make way."

I hurry to follow, wondering if Jasper is making his way toward me in the same way Sachi is making his way to Xiao Shen. Would people part for the heir to the inn? With a knot of nervousness forming in my stomach, I keep my head down and stick close to the playwright ahead of me.

After progressing at a rapid pace through the masses, Sachi comes up against two things much harder to break through: someone who does not care who he is, and Naomi.

"What do you mean? I'm the owner of the renowned Miyuki Theater!" he argues hotly with a man who stands a good foot taller.

I shrink back a bit, hoping to sneak past another way, when a female voice cuts through the murmur around us.

"Joji! Joji!"

The playwright stops mid-sentence to blink and glance back. Making her way with equal efficiency through the sea of people is Naomi. I steal a look back at a distressed Sachi and decide it is time to go.

This is getting complicated. Where's Cal? I have to be close.

I push my way past Sachi just as the young actress is about to reach him and find there is a bit of a flow to the crowd once again. Moving through as fast as I can, I hear my name called again, but this time from a different direction.

"Mei!"

My heart skips a beat before I realize it is Sonja shoving her way toward me.

"This is madness!" she cries, glaring sharply at a man who opens his mouth to protest her pushing.

"Tell me about it," I agree, glancing behind us uneasily. "Have you seen Cal yet?"

She smirks. "Haven't found him yet? You had better hope Xiao Shen—"

I snap my attention back to her. "She hasn't. Sachi's searching for her anyway."

Never mind that Naomi has probably captured him by now. That Xiao Shen.

"Hmm, well I haven't seen Mr. Tall Dark and Brooding. Have you seen Ren?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Ren?"

She pretends not to notice this and goes on impatiently. "Have you or not?"

Still fixing her with a look, I shake my head.

"Well, some help you've been. I'm going to keep looking," she announces, and before she moves away she adds knowingly, "You never asked about your fiancé, and I have seen him."

Heat rushes to my cheeks. "We're just friends!" I protest, but it is only half-hearted and she has already disappeared.

I think of Jasper moving toward me, asking for my hand, and feel the knot in my stomach grow tighter.

We're just friends.

With renewed vigor, I urge my way through the suddenly thinning crowd. To my great surprise I stumble upon the first open area I have seen all morning, and standing in it are Sachi, Naomi, Xiao Shen, Jasper, and Ren.

Things happen very fast.

In shock I attempt to back up, but end up stumbling against someone.

"Oh, excuse me, Mei."

"Emeka?" I ask breathlessly, looking up into his warm eyes as he catches me from behind.

The bright smile he offers me fades slightly as he looks up at those standing around us.

"Mei?" Jasper says, just noticing me.

"Xiao Shen!" Sachi cries, hurrying to her, obviously having just come upon them as well.

Xiao Shen, with surprise equal to mine, allows a few people coming through to pass between herself and the playwright. That is when I spot Cal, Declan, and Sonja just off to the side.

Quickly I right myself and rush to the other end of the open space, which is quickly filling again.

"Joji!" Naomi cries, reaching for and just missing him as he attempts to get to Xiao Shen, who has now also caught sight of Cal and is moving quickly toward him.

I nearly break into a run as I see the medium coming up behind me.

Cal.

I am upon my boss rather sooner than I expected. I stop suddenly and his heavy gaze turns on me. A few heartbeats pass. I stand in silence, opening and closing my mouth, but suddenly nothing will come out. Beside my boss, I can make out Declan waving some kind of gesture, but I cannot concentrate with the blood pounding in my head.

"Yes, Mei?" Sonja prods, regarding me with an eyebrow raised.

Xiao Shen will be here any moment. I have to speak now.

"Cal—"

"Cal," Xiao Shen speaks, coming to stand beside me, "I would be grateful if you accepted my hand."

And then that is it. It is over. She has asked. I look over to my beaming rival and feel the knot in my stomach catch fire.

That Xiao Shen.

"Oh my, I had no idea you were so popular," a voice suddenly speaks.

Something about it strikes me and for a moment I forget my anger and look away from the medium. In my determination to get to Cal, I had not noticed the one other person standing with him.

Toki Miyuki.

Cal sets his gaze on Xiao Shen, whose smile is faltering a bit after having waited several moments for his confirmation.

"Cal?" she speaks in her softest, most careful voice.

The knot in my stomach is slowly sinking as the realization dawns on me.

Toki Miyuki got to him first.

"That is a very generous offer, Xiao Shen," Cal finally speaks, his face remaining impassive, "but I have already been asked."

My mouth falls open and Xiao Shen's sleeve comes to cover hers.

"Oh, excuse me," she murmurs, fixing Toki with a cold stare.

The woman merely smiles and takes Cal's arm. The knot in my stomach explodes.

But before I can do or say anything stupid, Sachi is upon them, and so are Ren, and Emeka, and Naomi, and Jasper.

"Xiao Shen, my dear," the playwright cries, taking her hands, "the crowds I have fought to get to you. Why did you leave so early this morning?"

"Joji!" Naomi interrupts, breaking through the people moving around them. "Joji, I ask—"

"Anyway, please take—" Sachi suddenly speaks, hurrying along as he spots Naomi.

"Accept my hand."

There is a moment of silence. Xiao Shen blinks and looks to Emeka, who has just spoken. Sachi appears taken aback.

"Yes, I will," Xiao Shen answers, though she hardly seems to know what she is saying.

"Uh, excuse me?" Sachi attempts to protest, but finds there is nothing to say.

"Joji," Naomi persists, reaching for his arm.

"Wait!" Jasper calls, working his way over.

I tear my eyes from the scene I'm watching unfold to face the young heir.

"Hey, Mei, do you want to stick with me today?" Declan suddenly asks, looking down at me.

My heart leaps.

"Yes," I answer quickly, looking up at him gratefully.

I look down and feel a rush of guilt, remembering what happened just moments ago with Cal.

"Jasper," I begin, but he gives me a quick smile.

"One moment, Mei," he says, moving past me.

I blink and watch him approach Naomi.

"I would be honored if you would take my hand," he speaks in a rush.

Naomi, her hand still gripping Sachi's arm, looks to Jasper in utter surprise.

"Me?" she asks.

Sachi is suddenly animated.

"Oh yes, what a fine idea! Our crowned Mr. Miyuki and Yoshi as partners today, nothing more auspicious! Great thinking, Jasper!"

And with great relief Sachi removes Naomi's hand from his arm and places it with Jasper's.

"Couldn't have planned it better. Now if you'll excuse me," he continues, giving a fleeting look to Xiao Shen and Emeka before moving away.

"Ren!" Sonja's voice cuts the tension-filled air. "How about spending the day with me?"

The Japanese-Brazilian man stands stiffly as she approaches, taking his arm with a confident smile. Unable to refuse, she takes his silence for a yes.

I shake my head and stare around at the pairs gathered around me.

If someone had told me that morning that I would end up as Declan's partner, that Cal would end up as Toki's partner, that Jasper would go for Naomi instead of me, I would have laughed. I glance up at the monk beside me wondering what his take is on this strange new reality. Had he hoped to be with Sonja?

Slowly my gaze slides from Declan to Cal.

Like a prize she is delighted to have won, Toki holds Cal close, smiling radiantly. Just off to the side of the surprising couple is another equally unexpected pair: Emeka and Xiao Shen. The medium, initially relieved to be free of Sachi, looks as though she is having second thoughts, sending the priest beside her small uncertain looks. Emeka himself appears slightly uncomfortable.

I catch Xiao Shen's eye. Then we both glance at Toki. A silent message passes between us. No matter what our normal feelings toward each other are, it is time to acknowledge a mutual complication.

Toki Miyuki has Cal's arm.

"Are we ready?" Cal suddenly speaks.

I cannot look at him without a slight pang of embarrassment.

I must have looked so dumb standing there, opening and closing my mouth like that.

"Sure we are, let's eat," Toki encourages, looking toward the dining room behind them.

Declan gives my shoulder a light squeeze.

"You were a little late," he whispers as we all start filing toward the double doors.

I look up at him sharply, my cheeks still burning.

"No thanks to you!"

"Me?" he says in surprise. "What did I do?"

"Don't play dumb, Declan. You told me Jasper was coming when it was really Cal!"

He looks down at me with wide eyes. "Jasper really was coming, I had just waved at him when he waved back and kept going. I tried to flag him down so you could get away, but he wouldn't stop, and then Cal strolled up with that dazzling thing on his arm."

My cheeks burn further, this time in anger.

"I looked like an idiot. You couldn't have warned me?" I persist with a frown.

He holds the door open for me. "You looked like an idiot, what about me? I was standing there doing this out of nowhere," he answers, pulling a finger across his neck repeatedly. "And if that wasn't enough of a warning, I'm sorry. I didn't exactly have time to grab my trusty neon sign."

I sigh and shake my head, taking up his arm again.

"I was so concerned with what I was going to say that I guess I didn't notice you trying to stop me. Maybe it was luck after all that I couldn't find my voice. Asking him and then being shot down like Xiao Shen would have been worse."

Stepping into the dining room, I am not surprised by the crowded tables and the loud murmur. Doing something between a dance and a walk, I dodge chairs being slid back, elbows, and even a waiter. Cal finds a table for them at the back of the room, near the windows.