I N N O C E N C E (Shu Sakamaki)

Epilogue

"Can I have another glass?" Manami sipped on her glass as she looked through the newspaper. The 20 years she had spent abroad were catching up to her, with her gradually depleted knowledge of Japanese becoming the consequence of her absence. "What were we talking about?"

"The transfer of the company."

"Yes, of course." She glanced at the waiter, who was now pouring her another glass of Rosé. "I presume you have handled all the legal documents and signatures through the appropriate channels."

"Indeed, ma'am." The young man in a suit laughed. "Our lawyers will finalize the final details and you will still have a huge stake in the enterprise, as was discussed. Your yearly salary will persist accordingly. Truly, your efforts throughout these years have been invaluable for the company. No one could have imagined that the international branch would grow to such extents."

"I suppose." She took a sip of the champagne, her only loyal companion throughout these long years.

"If I may say, the 30s are treating you well, Mrs. Fitzwil-"

"Mayazaki." She corrected the man. "If you do recall, I changed my last name back to my father's after my divorce."

"I apologize, that was ignorant of me." He cleared his throat as he fixed his tie. "I have been meaning to say, you have done an impeccable job. I understand you are retiring however, isn't it too soon?"

She chuckled at his unsolicited question.

"Why soon?" She questioned. "Is there anything else left to be done? My brother has successfully taken on the duties of my father, the firm continues to grow every day and our futures are nothing but guaranteed. Is there anything else left for me to do?"

"I mean... what will you do now?"

She smiled softly.

"I don't know." She simply sighed. "I guess the only thing left for me to do is to live out my days."

In moments like this, she cannot help but feel regret at her decision to not have children. After her two marriages succumbed to the pressures of her work and unresolved feelings, she dedicated her free time travelling and pursuing philanthropy. After all, what else is a rich woman with no family of her own to do?

"Well, it was nice to see you again, Mrs. Mayazaki." The young man stood up, fixing his jacket. "I sure hope we meet again someday."

She raised her eyebrows in amusement. "Let's hope not, that would mean bad things happened and honestly, I'm tired of working."

The man laughed half heartedly, nodding in response as he walked out of the hotel lobby.

"I wonder..." She leaned her head back, staring at the ceiling, crossing her legs as she wiggled the champagne around in the hourglass.

The hall was filled with people in suits, women in extravagant dresses and overpriced wine. Posh laughter and silly small talk as they entertained each other. It was 20 years ago that in this same room, she had made the decision which had led her down this path.

The stage was different now and the flooring has been changed entirely, but still, it was reminiscent of that day.

Her memories of that time had become foggy. The brief couple of months she spent in a house filled with vampires, it was starting to feel like that was just a fever dream. And that man with blond hair was nothing else but a figment of her imagination.

"Shu." She mumbled under her breath as she tried to recall how he looked like. "At least I still remember his name."

Since she had left Japan, she had graduated both from school and a prestigious university in London, becoming the CEO of the foreign branch of the Mayazaki group. Soon enough, her father passed the duties onto her and her brother, leaving them in charge of securing the firm's future. Despite her busy schedule, she tried to find the time to pick up her violin but with years passing by, the frequency had gradually decreased. She had not touched it for two years now.