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Winter

Chapter 1

"Flight 287 to Tokyo, now boarding at gate C4," the announcer speaks over the intercom. It is my cue to collect my belongings and head toward the gate. It is so crowded at this airport, but I should have expected it. After all, this is Charlotte. I wonder how many of them are going to Japan also. Oh. What if they are going somewhere else like New York or Vegas, maybe they are going to Vancouver. Who knows? I wonder why they are traveling. Hopefully it's just for fun. It's mind boggling to think about how everyone has a complex life of their own.

Honestly, I am so anxious to make this journey. I am all alone now that my mom passed away. She is my only family- was my only family. I found out I have a dad. My very own "you break her heart, I'm coming after you" dad. Though, according to Jaquelyn, my mom's best friend, there was a lot of drama between my father and my mom. She didn't go into detail, but she didn't have to. I am angry that I never knew until now, but I trust my mom knew what was right for me. I can only hope that she will still be able to guide me in memory, especially now that I must live with my father.

I show the airport employee my boarding pass, and she allows me to board the plane. I place my bags over head, buckle in, and get comfortable in my economy class seat. My father originally bought me a first-class ticket, but I donated it to someone who deserved it. I don't feel comfortable taking such luxuries. I don't know even know him, and he is trying to spoil me. I will not allow money to define who I am as a person. He is probably a rich, spoiled brat. I sigh at the thought.

None of this is fair and should be happening to me, but it's reality.

Almost a full day passes, and I arrive in Tokyo. I rush to the front to find my ride. Everyone is speaking in Japanese. Everything is written in Japanese, and I have no inkling as to what I'm doing. Finally, I spot a man holding a sign with a name written in English, Hannah Winter. That's my ride! I greet the man, but he only speaks Japanese. He leads me to a –

Crap.

My father has outdone himself and provided transportation for me. That's right. A shiny, black limousine. It is all so much so quickly. I don't know if it's the nerves or the gorgeous car, but I want to vomit. I am not used to this.

The driver said something else to me in Japanese, but I have no experience with the language. He opened the door for me, and I got in. The limousine is extravagant. I wonder if it is safe with all the decoration? I fall asleep on the way to my father's, what I presume to be, mansion. What? Don't judge me. Jet lag is a real thing that no one is immune to.

"Miss Winter?" someone nudges me. I groan. I am not ready to wake up yet. "Miss Winter, you have arrived. Your father is expecting you. I am your interpreter and Japanese language tutor, Elizabeth Meyers."

"Meyers?" I mumbled while rubbing my eyes. That is definitely not a Japanese name. "Where are you from?" Miss Meyers let out a hearty laugh, gaining us the attention of all the staff at my father's home. She tells me she is also from the US. She lived in New York as a translator and jumped on the opportunity to travel to Japan.

"Come along, now. Your father, Mr. Takahashi, is waiting for us."

We enter a large foyer with a high ceiling. There are a few columns that toward a large staircase. The floor is marble, and the drywall is grey with white accents. I am in awe over the chandelier. I've always wanted one. "Are you alright, Miss Winter?"

"It's quite decadent, don't you think?" I ask.

"You shouldn't tell you father that," she states matter-of-factly. "He has been very excited to meet you, and he is very doting despite not having met you yet." How does Elizabeth Meyers know what my father has been talking about? I wonder if she was hired originally to help translate a message to Jackie. I don't think Jackie would have paid much attention to him, considering he and mom have had 'drama'.

"Hannah! My sweet girl! How I've longed to meet you!" my father greets me. He is practically flying down the stairs ready to greet me. His hair is black like mine, but we share the same nose structure. "How are you feeling?"

"I am well, thank you." I don't want to be rude, but I don't know him. I don't even share a name. My interpreter is hard at work translating our conversation. "Yourself?"

"I am fantastic now that you're here! I have missed you so dearly." Yeah. Right. Missing someone is not as simple as waiting to meet them. The person I miss will never come back. I will never see her again. Now I have this strangely optimistic person in my life who shares memories with mom, but he is also a person my mom only ever mentioned once. She told me it is what's best, and there is where she left it. I start crying, unknowingly. "Dear Hannah, what's wrong?"

"I'm just jet lagged. I get emotional when I'm exhausted." Ms. Meyers translates, knowing what I said was a lie. I just miss my mom so much, and I have no one to talk to about it. It's not common for 16-year olds to lose their mothers'. My father knows what is happening, but the doorbell rings before he can mention anything. The butler allows me to dry my tears before he opens the door, welcoming a guest into the home.

"Ootori-san. Pleasure to see you again," my father greets the men at the door, "I see you've brought along your son today. How are you doing, young man?" Or two guests, apparently.

"Well, thank you for asking," the boy says as he pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. I am unlucky enough make eye contact with him. His piercing gaze is rather intimidating. Who is this person?

"I hope it isn't a bother. I heard your daughter would be arriving yesterday and will be attending Ouran Private Academy very soon. My son, Kyoya, attends that school as well. I had hoped they could meet so that she doesn't have to start out not knowing anyone." That's kind of them, I think.

"How very kind. Her plane was delayed, and she has only just arrived about 30 minutes ago. It is up to her," my father responds to the man.

Don't do it. Don't do it. You don't owe him anything. "Of course. I'd love to chat." Great. My southern hospitality truly fails me sometimes. Kyoya and I were escorted to the lounge, Ms. Meyer's following behind me.

"I understand you lived with your mother in America up until now," Kyoya states, "What brings you to Japan now after all those years?" How do I answer that without letting him know what happened? Do I be honest? Do I brush it off? Do I lie?

"I don't know why I'm here." Kyoya is shocked by my answer, but he does not push. "Have you traveled anywhere outside of Japan?" I return a question.

He grins. "Yes. I've been to many countries. None of them are quite like Japan, though." Thus sparks a conversation about Europe, Asia, and America. I learned about his father's business in the medicinal field, and how my father owns a company that manufactures important equipment for their hospitals. Despite his demeanor, Kyoya doesn't seem like that bad of a guy after all. "Perhaps in a few days, you will be able to take your tour of Ouran Academy."

"Will I be able to take my classes despite not knowing Japanese?"

"You will have me there, Miss," Ms. Meyers speaks up.

"I suppose that's true," I grin. Kyoya and I talk a little more about Ouran Academy. He talks very highly of it. He says his friend's father owns it? The translation is a little sketchy—not that it's Ms. Meyer's fault, of course.

Why did mom keep all of this from me? I cry again, only this time I am wailing. Kyoya is in disbelief. I'm sure he thought the conversation was going well. "I-I'm so sorry," I sob. "I'm just so tired and I miss her." Kyoya says something to Ms. Meyers in Japanese. She leaves the room, and he sits next to me. He doesn't touch me. This is so embarrassing. I can't even believe this is happening. I just met the guy, and now I am boo-hooing right next to him, but I can't stop.

In the words of my sweet mom, 'bless [my] heart'.

xXx

"Miss Hannah," one of the maids wake me up using broken English. "Miss Hannah, your father would like to see you." Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. I jump up, get dressed as quickly as possible, and I run to the corridor where Ms. Meyers waits.

"Miss Meyers. I am so sorry about yesterday," I apologize. She tells me to be quiet because my father doesn't know yet.

"How did you sleep?" she changes the topic well.

"I slept like a baby."

She laughs, "You also cry like one if you're tired." Ouch. That hurt. I'm so embarrassed. This is what I get for taking a two hour nap on a 24 hour flight.

"Don't give me that, Liz," I jest.

"Liz?" she ponders.

"Of course! We are going to be spending a lot of time together. I mean, you're practically my maidservant now." I laugh out loud, the real servants checking to make sure everything is okay.

"I beg to differ," Liz scoffs.

We arrive at my father's office. "Good morning to you two. Today is a busy day. Hannah, you will be taking a tour of Ouran Academy." Today? I just arrived yesterday. "Also, we will meet with a designer for your room. You can have anything you want within reason."

"That's cool and all, but I don't need anything too extravagant. Just a place to sleep will do," I mention. "Not to say I don't appreciate this, but it's all happening so quickly. I'm not ready for anything."

"You are also scared of our finances."

I scoff, "Yeah, right."

"I know that face. Your mother gave me the same face when she thought I was doing too much," he said. He sat on his desk in front of me.

I am furious. "What right do you have to talk about my mother? You left her. You left her, and you left me. You have all this money, but you left us struggling. She died because we couldn't afford proper healthcare, and you think I fear your money? No. I recognize this is my new home, but finances will not define who I am as a person." I feel my face grow red, not out of embarrassment but anger instead. He doesn't deserve the memories he has with my mother.

"Your mom and I were really close, even after we split. We were afraid what trouble the family business might cause you growing up, and we wanted you to have a normal childhood unlike some of your peers here. So, we split up. I ran the business here, and she took you back to her home in America. We thought it would be best if you didn't know who I was, unless something tragic happened. Which… it did." He put his hand on my chin, forcing me to look up at him. My vision is blurred due to the dreaded tears again. "I loved her, and I've always loved you."

"I know you don't trust me yet," he continues, "but I am your dad, and you don't have to be afraid to take what I offer, like the first-class plane ticket I bought you."

"Like I said, I don't want money to define me."

"It will never define you. I just want you to live your life to the fullest. That's all your mother and I ever wanted for you."

"I miss her."

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