DISCLAIMER - I do not own Battle Royale, in any of it's various forms, this fic is based on the manga only.
"Kazuo, how was school?" Father asked as I entered our living room and crossed to my chair with its small worktable, where I would sit until I had finished the night's homework.
"Fine." I replied as I pulled my books out. My father was unsurprised at my response, it was the same one I had always given, but tonight his eyes lingered on me a little longer than usual. I continued my work, taking the biro from my pencil case and opening the first book I came to. Science, biology to be precise.
"You remember the ball of course?" Father said questioningly, eyeing me over the top of his newspaper. I didn't pause in my response as I flicked through my textbook to the pages we were studying and began reading the questions,
"Yes Father." I replied, but it seemed he was not going to sit back silently and allow me to work as he usually did,
"Your tuxedo is back from the cleaners. I expect you to wear it." He added, lowering the new paper to scrutinise me, but I continued to work unfazed, forming a response as I pondered the answer to the question on the page before me,
"Of course." I replied, I wore the tuxedo he had bought me on all social occasions unless traditional clothing was required, in which case I had an alternative outfit hung in my wardrobe in packaging so that it didn't get dusty or crumpled as I went through my clothes.
"The Mizushima's will be attending." He continued as he rang for a maid, who entered quietly and approached him quickly. I heard him order tea for the both of us before she hurried away. I began to write the answer on the page, pondering momentarily whether to remain silent, but he expected a response.
"Is that so." I replied, moving on to the next, slightly harder question.
"Indeed…they have a daughter about your age you know." He said. So that was it, he had been leading up to this. I didn't look up from my book as I wrote the second answer down. "I also hear she is very beautiful, not only that, she easily matches you in intelligence." He added. I knew he was watching me closely for any sign of interest or change in my demeanour, but there was none, I simply moved onto the next task.
"You wish me to wed this woman?" I asked, knowing already that he did, but also knowing he would never admit it. It had been an agreement with mother that I would choose my bride, but in reality, he may as well choose my bride and tell me to marry, marrying for love is something I could never do. Not a regret. Merely a fact.
"You know I would never say that." He replied, but the undertone was still there.
"Father, you know that unless you tell me, I will never marry. No one would love me, because I would never love them." I said, moving quickly through the next question, flicking to a previous page for confirmation before writing my answer down.
"Kazuo, there is someone for everyone. Even you." he replied, and this time he was not expecting a response. He knew he would not get one, and if he did, it would only be things he didn't want to hear, this being the reason I did not respond, it did no good to anger father, he would shout all he liked, but I would never raise my voice. All that would happen is that something would be broken or I would be hurt, then he would apologise, and I would brush it aside to continue my work. Biology was complete. The next was English, a tricky language to most.
"You wish me to dance with this girl at the ball?" I asked as I flicked through the book, my eyes barely lingering on the words as I read it quickly,
"If that is your wish." He replied as I continued to write,
"And if it is not?" I asked as the maid returned with the tea, giving a cup to father and then placing mine on the table beside me before withdrawing as silently as she had entered.
"It is unfortunate…all the same, it would please me if you did." He added tiredly, and it was no surprise he was tired. He had been setting up balls and social events with other corporation heads and high-level families for months, but I had never shown any sign of taking to any of their daughters, nor they to me.
"Father, I know that this goes against my Mother's wishes, but why don't you find me a wife? My own search is unsuccessful, and there seems to be an urgency for me to be wed within the near future." I replied, but my father shook his head at that,
"No, there is no great need, but I am not getting any younger Kazuo, and I greatly desire to see you happily wed, ready to take over the company and produce an heir before I die." He replied, and as I wrote I nodded,
"Understood. I shall see this girl." I replied, lifting the steaming cup and sipping the tea as I looked over my translations, satisfied at the end that I had translated fully and correctly. That was all for tonight, it was the first week of junior-high school after all so the workload was acceptable for a normal human of thirteen, but since I have been a year behind for most of my life and my intelligence is greater than many final year students I found the work lacking and easily completed. Had I not had the accident in earlier life and had time taken out for recovery it is likely I would have been in my second year, getting ready to sit my high school entrance exams the year after by now, not that I wasn't ready now, but my father was worried about me, thinking the brain damage that locked my emotional processors away may cause me more harm if I push too hard at my studies. This is not true, but it is best to please father where possible.
"You finished your work quickly Kazuo." Father said as I returned the books to my bag and pushed the table away, sitting back with my tea and looking out of the window over the gardens.
"It offered little challenge." I replied absently, raising the cup to my lips once more.
"You work hard." He praised,
"Not at this level. I already know all of the work expected for this year and next, and most for the year after." I replied, seeing my father's troubled expression,
"Don't push yourself Kazuo." He warned.
"I don't." I replied, after which we lapsed into our usual silence, he returning to the newspaper while I watched the sky slowly fade across the gardens and the lights gradually switching on one by one. A maid came and took the empty cups as I turned my attention to the book I was currently reading; a chemistry works, which would come in handy over the years.
"Kazuo, we should get ready. Our guests are expected to begin arriving within the next hour." My father informed. I turned to read the last page of my book, acknowledging my father with a nod of understanding as my eyes swept down the page. Another book finished. I would have to order a maid to fetch some more, one of the older ones who knew what I preferred. The younger women always brought back fictional books, hoping to broaden my imagination, but though I read them, they rarely gave any intellectual information, making them rather unnecessary. I left the book on my table and went to my room, taking my bag with me so that the house did not appear cluttered, and so that I could swap the books in my bag for those of the next day. I did so quickly before showering and dressing, almost ready as my father knocked on my door. I opened it and he joined me, tying my bow tie and straightening my collar as I twisted my cufflinks into place, the cufflinks I always used. They had been a gift from mother to father in their youth, and he had given them to me. It always pleased my father to see me wear them. As I opened my door to leave there was a maid already outside, her hand raised to knock on the door, she hastily withdrew it at my appearance, my father not far behind.
"The first of the guests have arrived." She informed quickly with a bow. My father took over from there, stepping past me into the corridor with the maid, who waited to do his bidding.
"Who was it? Have they been served refreshments?" he demanded quickly, already heading towards the large landing, which over looked the empty entrance hall below.
"It was the Hikari's Sir, they await you in the living room. Refreshments are being brought as we speak." She replied quickly, almost jogging to keep up with father's pace in her green kimono,
"The ball room?" he inquired as they reached the stairs,
"Almost ready Sir. I shall join the others and come for you when all is prepared." She replied. Father nodded approval and looked back for me, not expecting me to be quite so close behind. At the bottom of the stairs the maid scurried away into the ballroom, leaving my father and I alone.
"Kazuo. Keep an open mind about this one, she is of good blood, and her family are very high up in the business world, higher than us even." He said, I merely nodded, I always kept an open mind, however I felt nothing for them, and that is not what they want to hear. They want to hear whispered words of love, words I could give, but ones I could never feel, they want passionate embraces, which I am not capable of, and once they see this, their interest quickly fades. "The Hikari's are here. Be polite, but not too polite, their daughter is also of age, so make it clear you hold no interest in her, their status is far lower than yours." Father warned needlessly, showing interest in their daughter was not a likely event. We entered the living room, and the Hikari's were instantly on their feet. A mother, tall and graceful with long delicate feminine legs, a father, firm in stance and powerful of build and a daughter, bright eyed and full of youth, inexperienced in the political games of the adult world. She looked at me with her bright hazel eyes; absently tugging the black fabric of her low cut dress, obviously not used to the attire. It is likely that her parents thought this likely to catch my eye; she was well endowed for her age of thirteen.
"Hikari-San, welcome, such a pleasure to meet you outside the board rooms, and this must be your wife, what a fine woman, welcome, and who is this young beauty? Your daughter I take it? Well Hikari-Chan, I hope you enjoy the ball." My father said, humouring them for the moment until our other guests arrived, but using the title 'Chan' for the Hikari girl to show he saw her as a child rather than a prospective match for me.
"Thank you Kiriyama-Sama." The young girl replied with a bow, her breasts becoming more full in the motion, and as she pulled back there was a blush in her cheeks as she stole a glance at me and saw I had been watching.
"This must be young Kiriyama-Sama, I hear you're quite the hard worker." Mr. Hikari said, trying to draw me in so that I was closer to his daughter and more likely to notice her. I stepped to my father's side and bowed,
"I do what is expected, I am to run my father's business after all." I replied as I straightened, receiving a firm nod of approval from Mr. Hikari,
"You've raised him well Kiriyama-Sama, a fine young man." He praised, receiving the usual courteous reply of thanks from my father. There was a knock at the door and another family was ushered in, the Yagami's this time, they too with a daughter to catch my eye, and so the greeting process started again. The living room grew busier, there were now five families present, four with young daughters and one with a daughter and a son, who was wandering the room mixing with the girls, and seeming quite popular. I stood by the window, having mingled for almost an hour with my father, being introduced and exchanging courtesies.
"Kiriyama-Sama, the ball room is ready for you now, and the Mizushima's have just arrived." A maid informed my father, who was beside me at that moment, having seen me standing alone, not entertaining his guests. He nodded and turned to me, receiving my nod of understanding. We walked to the doors where my father informed the guests that we would now begin the ball, and as we crossed the hall I saw her, the daughter of the Mizushima family. She was an elegant girl, definitely about my age with long ebony hair tied out of her face and a very delicate white kimono, which gradually melted into a pale blue on the ends of the sleeves and the lower half. Her eyes were a piercing dark brown; enhancing her natural beauty, for it cannot be said, even by me, that she was not beautiful.
"Mizushima-Sama, welcome." I greeted as I approached and bowed, as was expected of me, the young master of the house, and prospective partner for their daughter. As I straightened Mrs. Mizushima looked up at her husband, a look that spoke of her approval of me, and Mr. Mizushima returned the favour as he laid a hand on his daughter's shoulder and nudged her forward a step,
"It is a pleasure to be in your company once again Kazuo-San. This is our daughter, Aoi. I don't believe you've met." He introduced. Aoi looked at me coldly, clearly unhappy with her parent's pushing. I bowed low to her, taking her hand lightly on the way up and brushing my lips lightly against her soft fingers, though her palms seemed a little rough, and I wondered briefly what she did in her free time, after all the higher classes rarely joined the work of the lower classes, and women were more prone to painting and sewing than the fighting of men.
"An honour to meet you Mizushima-Dono, you may use my given name, Kazuo if it pleases you." I greeted as I looked once more into those cold dark eyes. I believe any other man would have felt shivers of fear looking into those eyes, but the darker her looks the more curious I became, which seemed to anger her further. She would not have replied had her father not tightened the grip on her shoulder slightly to prompt her.
"A pleasure I'm sure. In return you may use my given name." She replied. Her voice was hard, but the sound had softness to it, it was a beautiful voice, one I wished to hear again.
"May I escort you to the ball room?" I offered, speaking only to her, as was custom when courting. Again her father squeezed her shoulder lightly and she grudgingly accepted my offer, stiffly slipping her hand into the crook of my elbow as I proffered my arm. We walked silently, she glaring at the white marble floor while I looked ahead and listened to the light step of her feet. My father watched proudly as I passed through the doorway before he went to greet the Mizushima's, who were walking behind us, probably discussing the chances of me taking to their daughter. They knew I was keen, or at least that I had been instructed to be keen.
"Would you like some refreshments? The chefs have made some of their best delicacies for this occasion." I offered as we walked slowly by the buffet table. She nodded silently and I handed her a delicate china plate, one of my mother's favourite collection, a collection that my father always used for these balls. I followed her along the table, telling her of the various foods she could choose from and selecting various pieces for myself. We found some chairs at the edge of the room and sat together, as was expected, and ate quietly.
"Your chefs are certainly skilled. My compliments." She said politely as she took a bite of a small rice ball,
"They would be thankful for your praise." I replied with a nod. We lapsed back into silence, neither of us seeing it necessary to speak for now. There were hours ahead of us and for now she was still reluctant to acquiesce to her parent's wishes. Once we had eaten, I ordered some drinks brought for us and we remained seated beside the doors leading to the gardens. Many of the guests turned heads at us, many of the adults looking disappointed that I was in a lady's company, and many of the young girls looking relieved that they were not in my company.
"So, is your father pleased?" she asked after a while. I raised an inquisitive eyebrow,
"I'm afraid I don't follow." I replied, my interest peaking at the bitterness in her dark eyes,
"Is your father pleased with his choice of wife for you?" she elaborated. I sat back slightly, my eyes shifting to the crowd where I could see her parents and my father talking in hushed tones on the opposite wall, their eyes shifting to us constantly.
"The choice of wife is not his, it is up to me to find a wife, but this match would be advantageous to him yes, and to me." I replied, seeing her give me a sharp look, a spark of anger hidden in the depths of her eyes,
"I see, so I am the only one being used in this game." She said as she glared at her parents turned backs, then turning to my slightly puzzled glance, "You truly are naïve if you can't follow what I'm saying." She added impatiently,
"If I had to guess, I would say that you were referring to the fact that you have no choice in this meeting. You parents are taking you from ball to ball, dressing you in the finest clothing, giving you the finest education and hoping that you will be useful in furthering their business interests by marrying another corporation's son." I replied, seeing her nod from the corner of my eye,
"It seems you are not as foolish as I had first thought." She said, "Though I am puzzled by their move this time, after all your father's corporation is not nearly as successful as ours, and your name not nearly as rated." She added. Had I had emotions I suspect I would have been stung by her words and her superior tone, but she was right, this move would make little sense to her, so it was my turn to explain.
"It is hardly surprising that a woman knows nothing of the business world, so let me explain your father's thoughts. He has looked at these richer corporations sons, has even tried to make you court them, but on closer inspection these others are merely rich, living from their fathers with no idea of how to run a business, just how to act as if they know and blend in. I am far more intelligent than they, and I know the ins and outs of the business world as if it were my playground, that is why your father chose me this time, because if we marry and our businesses merge I will them have the power and the name to further the business, which is all I need." I replied, seeing her grit her teeth in annoyance, though she knew what I said was true. She knew nothing of the business world, while I lived in it everyday, helping my father with meetings, reading through notes and checking reports while I was not in school where other boys my age would be relaxing and using their father's money for recreation. If I had not been in the accident it is likely that I would be the same to some degree.
"So, this is an advantageous match to you as well. Do yourself a favour and turn me down, I doubt you are worthy of me." She replied as she got to her feet. As she stood I found that I too was standing and was reaching out for her arm as she began to walk away. I grabbed her wrist, watching as she turned, a confused and impatient look on her face.
"What would make one worthy of you?" I asked, still holding her wrist and only now realising how warm and soft her skin was, though for some reason I had expected it to be cold. She pulled her arm away, breaking the contact,
"There is a challenge you would have to pass. It is the one way of getting around my father." She replied, pausing to look up and down my body, her eyes probing my build, analysing me.
"And what is that challenge?" I prompted, seeing a slight blush spread across her cheeks for a moment, but just a moment, as she broke her eyes away from my torso.
"In business you must be strong of mind and strong of body, at least these are my father's ideals. To become my husband you must first defeat me in a physical match. None so far have passed, and they have been far stronger than you. You should give up." She replied as she turned and began to walk away once again.
"I accept your challenge." I replied, analysing her body as she had mind. She was not physically strong, at least not as strong as I. It is a wonder she could even match a man of my stature, let alone defeat him, but I must not underestimate her, she was clearly athletic, and if what she said was true then she certainly had skill.
"Very well, a bout of long staff then, or would you prefer katanas? I can even go hand-to-hand if you prefer." She offered as she turned, a new glint in her eye, it was excitement I believe, pure excitement for the task before her, a rare thing to see, particularly in a woman.
"Why not a free-for-all? Both weapons available and interchangeable." I suggested, seeing her excitement growing each moment.
"That would indeed be an interesting bout." She replied with a smile for the first time. I bowed as her father approached and took her shoulder, looking down at her unsure.
"Aoi. I trust you are being polite to Kazuo-san?" he asked, looking briefly from her to me, perhaps wondering where the new glint in his daughter's eye had come from.
"She is an intriguing woman." I replied. Mizushima-sama looked a little puzzled, but decided to take it as a compliment to his daughter,
"Aoi, go to your mother. I wish to speak with Kazuo-san on matters of importance." He replied. I saw that dark look cross her eyes once more as she nodded to her father stiffly and then bowed to me before gracefully walking away, "Kazuo-san, since I saw you with Aoi I have been wanting to speak with you. Is she to your liking?" he asked. It seemed that my father had not told him the extent of my condition.
"To most I believe she would seem pleasing." I replied, "However my father should have warned you, I am not like other people. She is beautiful, that I cannot deny, for many others have said this." I replied, "But relations aside, this is a good match for both of our families. It would be foolish to pass up this match, I doubt a better one could be found." I replied, seeing his nod of approval, his well structured face smiling down at me thoughtfully.
"Kazuo-san, I wish my daughter were like you," he said. He meant it as a compliment I knew.
"Believe me Mizushima-sama, you do not." I replied, unwanted memories of my youth creeping back, faded images of my running in the gardens laughing while mother tended the plants and father read from the paper.
"Kazuo-san? Are you feeling well?" Mizushima-sama asked, his large hand on my shoulder, steadying me. Why are these memories returning now? I wondered, pushing them aside as always when they tried to break through, though they had never gotten so far before.
"I'm fine, my apologies." I replied, waiting for him to continue. His dark eyes scrutinised me a moment longer before he relaxed,
"In that case if you should ask, she is yours." He decided, picking up where he left off.
"I thank you for your blessing, I do indeed wish to wed your daughter and unite our families." I replied, bowing low at this honour. I felt Mizushima's hands on my shoulders, lifting me out of my bow so that I faced him as an equal,
"You no longer need to bow before me Kazuo-san, soon we shall be family. The betrothal shall take place as soon as possible!" he decided excitedly, though it was not the same pure excitement I had seen in Aoi, this was an excited form of greed as he thought of what advantages were to come,
"You forget Mizushima-sama, first I must defeat Aoi-sama." I reminded him, but he waved it aside as if it were nothing,
"Nonsense, this is too important a match to ruin with her childish games." He decided, but I shook my head,
"It is a wise system. After all, if I can be defeated in combat by a woman such as Aoi-sama, I am worthy of neither the business nor her hand. I respectfully request the challenge to go ahead, besides, your daughter seems most excited to prove herself." I replied respectfully, bowing low once again,
"Kazuo-san, I told you there is no need to bow…very well, the challenge may proceed, however, you must not lose." He decided after a moments thought,
"There is little chance of that. I have never been defeated." I replied simply,
"No, your skill is well known, but Aoi has also never felt defeat." He warned, his eyes shifting to his daughter, who was standing silently at her mother's side silently as she and my father spoke.
"Indeed? In that case it shall be an interesting bout." I said, seeing Mizushima-sama nod in agreement.
"Well, it grows late Kazuo-san, we shall take our leave for the night. The bout will take place Saturday afternoon at our household, is this convenient?" he asked as we slowly made our way through the crowd towards my father and the two ladies. I thought for a moment, but didn't recall any pressing matters for this Saturday,
"That would be fine. What time would you like me to be there?" I asked, seeing Aoi turn and look at us as we approached,
"That can be sorted out later in the week, for now I wish to invite you to join us for dinner tomorrow evening. You can meet Aoi once the school day is over and she will bring you here, and Kiriyama-san, I hope you will join us too. Dinner will be served at six O'clock, but please feel free to join us before hand." Mizushima-sama added as we joined the others, but my father shook his head and bowed low,
"I'm afraid I must regretfully decline. I have an important meeting set up for tomorrow evening." He apologised,
"I see, that is a great shame. Come, we are leaving." He said as he held out his arm to his wife, who elegantly slipped her hand into the crook of his shoulder, her dark eyes softening as she looked up at her husband, and as that gently look crossed his face I wondered for a moment if that was love, but I pushed the thought aside as I offered my arm to Aoi, who took it a little less grudgingly than she had before.
"So, where should I meet you tomorrow?" I asked as we walked through the ballroom, lagging slightly behind her parents.
"I go to Ryounaga Junior High School. Meet me at the archery building, do you know where it is?" she asked. I knew of Ryounaga, their uniform was a lot like ours, the boys wore navy blue trousers and jackets while the girls wore a navy blue skirt with a white stripe around the bottom of the skirt and the normal sailor designed shirt, the scarf also navy blue with a white stripe around the outside. Many of the girls also opted to wear navy blue over the knee socks to go with the uniform, though there were some who chose normal white. The school itself was only ten minutes away from ours, I had driven by it many times before, and the archery building was to the right of the playground beside the school. I nodded in reply, "Then I shall see you there tomorrow afternoon." She said as we reached the door, her parents already waiting for us. I walked her to the door and she released my arm, turning and bowing to me as I bowed to her, once again brushing my lips against her hand,
"Until tomorrow then." I said as I looked into her eyes, her hand still resting in mine until she withdrew it, nodding as the door opened behind her, and then she was leaving. I stood at the door was watched her walk to the limousine that waited with it's door open for her. She looked back once and hastily looked away as she climbed into the car. The chauffer closed the door behind her and bowed to me before climbing into the driver's seat and pulling away from the mansion.
"Something on your mind Kazuo?" Father asked as he appeared at my side. I pulled my eyes away from the empty driveway and turned from the outside,
"No, nothing." I replied, though he showed concern,
"It's not like you to day dream like that, you were standing there for five minutes after they left." He said, I shook my head in denial,
"You are mistaken, I was watching Aoi-sama go to the limousine, nothing more." I replied simply, and my father accepted this to escape an inevitable argument about my health, he knew I was no fool; I knew my bodies' condition, and my mind's. I was fine. "May I retire for the night father? I have martial arts training before classes tomorrow." I asked. My father looked at the gradually thinning crowd and nodded,
"Very well, I shall make your excuses to the guests. Good night Kazuo." He replied,
"Good night father." I said as I excused myself and climbed the stairs, telling a passing maid to bring me a glass of water as I went. Once inside my room I began to undress, briefly pulling on a dressing gown as the maid brought my water inside and then retreated with my clothes to take them to the dry cleaners tomorrow. Once she was gone I sat in bed for a short while thinking about Aoi. She was a curiosity to me, though she had been dark and cold this evening she was clearly energetic and full of energy. I fell asleep wondering if I would learn anything new about her tomorrow.