Disclaimer: The characters definitely not mine. They belong to the talented artists from Japan, the one and only CLAMP sensei. I thank them for creating such wonderful characters to enliven the fantasy and imagination of their fan.

Chapter 1: Hatred

/This meeting is not going to get anywhere./

Nokoru could not help to think in that way. Not because he couldn't concentrate his mind in the meeting - God knew that he always put great attention in any family business - but he just couldn't stand listening to his family member shouting and quarrelling each other. Being the one of the wealthiest clan on Earth, he had to admit; it never made life any easier... or happier. The Imonoyama family, had always been the richest family that people could possibly mention. Each member of the family had been demanded to carry a great responsibility, even they were just at the young age. Unfortunately - Nokoru confessed in his heart - being the youngest son of the Imonoyama, it would be a disaster to him rather than a fortune. He had to attend the annual family business meeting. Nokoru knew he did not mind attending the meetings, in fact, he was always more than happy to know that it was also a chance to meet the entire family members. His father, brothers, and sisters, which he himself rarely met each other. Even though they could meet, but they communicated less. But now, knowing the fact that every time they meet would only bring themselves into an endless fighting, did he still have the courage to keep his hope? He wouldn't dare... And the last thing Nokoru could ever think of - and what he was afraid of - he began to HATE them!

'This doesn't make sense.. All the family's budget, the expenses is not balanced with the incomes and profits we collect in this project!' Owaru began his argumentation.

'On which part it doesn't make sense for you anyway?' Hajime replied.

'Everything! Why it is hard to make my point clear here?'

'Damn it! We have discussed it time and again. why we have to go over it again?' Owari added.

And so on, and so on. /when is it time for me to speak up?/

Nokoru seemed not to bother his brothers and sisters argument a lot. In fact, he did not want to involve that much. Even though he was now the Campus' new Chairman, replacing his mother; he kept on feeling it's impolite to interfere in his siblings, especially when they were in the middle of a conflict. He would not make things better, he would make everything worse. He looked to the main seat of the giant round table they were sitting together. /Father and mother are not here. What will they think if they have to see us fighting like this?/ Being the youngest son, made him realized that he had only a little right to contribute any significant decision. So he simply remained in silence as he followed the discussion.

'All of you can see our profit chart is decreasing month by month. And I supposed it is not a good sign at all for our family. We spent a lot, but yet we gain nothing, and the expenses mostly came from our... CLAMP CAMPUS.' Owaru applied.

Nokoru stunned. Speechless, he stared at his papers on the desk. Soon, he could feel all the eyes on the tables were aimed at him.

'Do you have any explanation regarding that, Nokoru?' Hajime asked.

Slowly, Nokoru raised his face. His angelic face remained silence. His sapphire eyes met the glares, but yet performed no answers. 'Wh... Wh- What do you mean?' /As far as my concern, Akira always does his tasks perfectly./

'You've heard it. I found the most unexplained projects proposed from your campus. Realizing how generous you are, as a matter of fact, I believe you always arrange an unlimited budget for any project proposed by your staffs, am I right?'

Nokoru's jaw struck in depth. 'I always permit all projects done in my campus based on a real purpose, and if it is not qualified, I will turn it down, I will reject it myself... despite the fact, I'm generous or not.' Nokoru argued, 'And furthermore, I have calculated the budget, and yes, if profit concerns you so much, fortunately, all the project we've proceed is profitable as well.'

Owaru felt his face redden by the emphasis - "profits concerns" - stacked the papers on the table with a quite loud thud, and began to raise his voice, 'That's not my point, Nokoru! The 'unexplained' project means the unnecessary project you do not need to perform.'

Feeling insulted by his brother's words, Nokoru declared, 'Tell me, which project do you think it is unnecessary to be executed?'

'Let me see. Duklyon, perhaps? Or your fancy parties or ceremonies in that school, if you assume, cultural festivals?' Owaru stared to him.

'I formed Dukylon to guard the campus' safety, and besides, it is part of the robotic technology experiment we had. If Dukylon is succeeded, it will open the possibility we can use robotic armors and equipments for the government's national security. And for the festivals, yes, I agreed with you, it's non-profitable for Imonoyamas, but is it wrong to give the students happiness and excitement in the air? Besides I believe if we can feel the excitement air in the school, students will feel more comfortable to learn, right? Of all the people here... YOU should understand it the most! And if you feel my explanation is still far from your satisfaction, why don't you ask Mother instead? She's the one giving me the approvals...'

'ENOUGH!'

Nokoru was startled as Owaru screamed at him.

'Stop being a spoil child! Do you think you can put away your responsibility if you mention Mother's support on you?'

Owaru's words felt just like a sentence to death for him. If the Earth in front of him can open itself, he would voluntarily jump into it.

/How could he say such a thing?/

Questions broke his mind, and the fact his brother would actually demeaning his pride in front of his (precious, precious, precious) siblings, hit him so much, and he barely felt his tears sting at the corner of his sapphire eyes. 'Look... I... I don't... I don't even think...' Nokoru couldn't finish his sentence. Stacking his report papers quickly, putting them in the folders, and locking his suitcase, Nokoru left the table, leaving his beloved siblings behind him (and that if they still concerned and valued him as their brother). He opened the room's giant door and fled away to his bedroom.

/They hate me./

Nokoru ended on his bed. Staring at the white ceiling with an illustration of an angel in the middle of it, Nokoru closed his wet eyes. He had been crying all alone on his bed for hours perhaps. He lost count of the time. He had assured his door was locked, so that no one could see him in such condition. But then again, why should he? Oh... yes.. Imonoyamas never cried. They laughed, they smiled, and perfect without any disgrace, and emotion was rationally unnecessary. Perfection. One key word.

Knock, knock.

Somebody was knocking at his door. Perhaps the maid...

'Yes?' Nokoru answered.

'Nokoru? It's me, Owaru.'

'What do you want?' Refusing to open the door, Nokoru rolled to sink his golden-hared head in the pillow. 'I want to be alone, if you don't mind.'

'Please open the door.'

Knowing the fact that Owaru was his eldest brother, and he still wanted to show a respect, Nokoru reluctantly got up on his bed, and headed to the door. He could see his brother's face right in front of him as he opened the door.

'Have you been crying?' Owaru noticed his blurry eyes.

'I...' Nokoru shook his head weakly. 'I'm just tired...'

'You understand that we are not supposed to cry.'

Nokoru sighed. /Typical answer, isn't it?/ 'Is there anything important you wanted me to know?'

'Yes, you left one of your reports back there.'

Nokoru received the paper into his hand. 'Thank you.'

'You're welcome. We still continue the meeting tomorrow, hope you'll join us on time.'

Nokoru didn't want to look at his brother's eyes, he just pretended he was busy reading the papers in his hand. 'I don't think I'll come tomorrow. I don't feel well anyway.'

Owaru observed him closely. It was clear that he disliked Nokoru's reply. Nokoru knew Owaru's asking was not a question. It was a command for him to come tomorrow, but at this point, he really felt he did not want to go. Nokoru could sight the disappointment in Owaru's firm face.

'Why am I getting the feeling that you're acting as you're the most respectable young master in this house and you have the power to do anything you like?' Owaru's voice was sharp just like a knife. 'I supposed if we held the family meeting, we don't want to hear any excuse or any reason. Do I sound clear, brother?'

Couldn't stand it much longer, Nokoru exploded, 'WHY ARE YOU TREATING ME LIKE THIS?'

Owaru was motionless.

'I understand you're the eldest brother in the Imonoyamas, and I'm the youngest of all, but shouldn't you treat me with respect as well? For God's sake, I'm not a little child anymore! I am your brother. I am an Imonoyama as well!'

/Don't you even care about me?/

But Nokoru didn't ask the last question in his mind. Not because he knew the answer already, but more because he was afraid to hear the answer for real.

Owaru only stared at him. 'I still assume you as my brother indeed, and I relieved to know you still assume you're one of us. If you are an IMONOYAMA, so ACT like one! Stop taking a pity of yourself, and you can rest assured that no one will have a pity on you if you continue acting this way... Believe me.'

Owaru was ready to leave Nokoru standing in front of the door, disbelieving what he'd just heard for his elder brother. But he stopped his footstep when Nokoru suddenly called him.

'Aren't you going to apologize to me?' Nokoru whispered.

'Apologize?' Owaru smirked, 'For what I supposed?'

'

//For hurting my feelings. For the fact you don't even care about me./

Nokoru looked down, desperate to find the right answer. Yet, he looked into Owaru's eyes deeply and answered, 'You know what? I understand. Thank you anyway.'

'What do you mean?'

'Thank you for making me realized one important thing.'

'Oh.. And may I know what it is?'

Nokoru smiled - but not one of those smiles he used to give - it was an evil smile, which of course was a misplaced on his angelic face. Doubtless, he revealed the answer.

'Realizing that I regret being one of the Imonoyamas.'

/Yes. I regret being an Imonoyama. I hate the name. I wish I'd never born in this damn family./

Silence fell among them, as they stood facing each other.

'What did you said?' Owaru asked again, slightly trembling his body.

Just then, Hajime came by the alley, and accidentally saw the two men standing in front of Nokoru's bedroom. Sensing trouble between the two, she slowly approached the men. But she disliked the scene she was about to see. Nokoru's face was pale, but she could tell that his eyes filled with anger. On the other side, Owaru seemed that he was trying his best to control himself, seemed to try not to fly hit someone or something like that.

'What happened?' Hajime asked, when she was close enough with both of them.

'TELL ME AGAIN WHAT YOU'VE JUST SAID!' Owaru raised his voice towards his brother. Hajime was startled; she understood that Owaru had been strict, but he rarely scolded or even raised his voice towards his siblings. As the Imonoyamas always did, always tried to be calm and pleasant to others.

Nokoru opened his mouth to answer once again without any doubt:

'I REGRET TO BE AN IMONO...'

Before he could possibly finish his sentence, Nokoru felt a sharp pain on his cheek. Hajime gasped and covered her mouth in shock. Into her disbelief, Owaru had just slapped Nokoru.

/He slapped Nokoru?/

Nokoru was trembling. For the first time in his life, his brother slapped him, and it was a hard one too. Tasting the fresh blood streaming out at the corner of his lip, Nokoru painfully rubbed his cheek down to his delicate chin. Same as Hajime, he was in disbelief. He closed his bold sapphire eyes as he was trying to hold himself not to hit his brother back. He was not a child anymore, and fighting like a child, would be a disgraceful, even if he really wanted to explode in anger, he knew he would regret it later.

'Stop it, Owaru! Have you lost your mind? He's your brother, for God's sake!' Hajime shouted.

'He started it! He's the one who lost his mind! He regrets to be born as an Imonoyama!' Owaru replied. 'Let me teach him how to be a grateful child!'

'I... hate... you.' Nokoru whispered.

Hajime stunned. Again she disbelieved her hearing. 'What did you say, Nokoru-san?'

'I... HATE... HIM!' This time, Nokoru screamed till his voice could be heard from all over the house. Hajime could swear she could see Nokoru's eyes turning from blue sapphire into greenish evil at that moment.

Owaru was just about to lift his right hand to give Nokoru another slap on his face, when Hajime grabbed it to stop him from doing that.

'Let go off my arm!' Owaru tried to twist her hands.

'Stop it! Enough of this!'

'Hajime!'

'I said enough!'

Nokoru stepped back into his room, and faintly closed the door behind him. He locked it and ran towards his bed, grasped his pillow, and hid his head under it. He didn't want to hear any fight from his brother and sister outside his room. He sobbed, and sobbed. He told himself time and again, that he would never regret what he just said to his brother. He REGRETTED being an Imonoyama. He hated his name. He hates himself.

HATRED.

To be continued -