Seasnake: Not my usual fare, but a friend asked me to write something for her. She wanted a Kyoya and Tamaki fic. So, I gave her this.
Yoshio Otori sat in his office at the headquarters of Otori Medical. It had been a bad few years for his business and an absolutely disastrous month. His company's influence had dwindled through a variety of methods. for example, last year a small time manufacturer came out with a cheaper and just as good model of a product the company was about to release.
The final indignity had happened at the beginning of the month. Through a series of unfortunate events and small miscalculations he had lost ownership of the company. He was still in charge, officially. The new owner had yet to express any displeasure with current management. From what the Otori investigators could dig up, the new owner fancied himself a fixer. He liked to buy up companies, keep them for a few months, and then sell them at a profit. Yoshio Otori was currently arranging funds so that he could buy back Otori Medical.
"Mr. Otori," his secretary called him over the intercom, "your youngest son is here to see you." Per request, she specified between his three sons. Kyoya, genius that he was, was currently one of Otori Medical's best assets. But no matter how true it was, he couldn't tell his secretary to introduce Kyoya as "your best son" so "youngest" it continued to be.
"Send him in." Hopefully he had come up with something useful. Kyoya strode into the office in a suit and carrying a brief case. It looked like he had just come from an important meeting, even though Mr. Otori didn't remember one being on Kyoya's schedule.
"Good morning, Father," Kyoya began formally. Yoshio Otori surveyed the man standing several feet in front of his desk. Over the years people continued to confuse his coldness as disinterest. He had always been and still was very interested in his children's progress.
Ever since his childhood Kyoya had been flawless. Until high school he had worried that Kyoya would only be polished and perfect but not brilliant. Which wasn't a concern to the Otori name considering how talented his brothers were. However, in high school Kyoya simultaneously improved relations with the Suoh family, used the ridiculous Host Club to gain several customers and connections, and actually managed to collect a profit thus proving he could run a business. From there he continued to climb upward. He stayed at the top of his class all through university. Made powerful business connections at every social function for Otori Medical and independently. By the time he graduated he had bested his brothers in every manner. Kyoya had finished school over a year ago and could now stand before his father's desk as a man. Yoshio couldn't help but feel a swell of pride whenever he reviewed Kyoya's accomplishments. How could he not feel proud after creating and molding a man like Kyoya. His brothers had already bowed to his superiority and didn't question when he officially became the heir. Kyoya was truly everything Mr. Otori ever wanted in a son, loyal, dedicated, and intelligent enough to undoubtedly surpass his father one day. A perfect son and a perfect heir.
Unfortunately, at present he had no company to pass on to his heir. While Kyoya had done fantastic damage control during the recent events, he could offer no advice to prevent the sale of Otori Medical. Not that Mr. Otori was overly concerned. They were in a predicament but an Otori never bowed to anyone. He and his three sons would get the company back by the end of the year, of this he was certain.
"Good news, Kyoya?" Mr. Otori returned his attention to the current situation.
"I plan to get engaged," Kyoya stated evenly. "As per family policy I am speaking with you before hand." Mr. Otori wasn't particularly surprised by this. Through University Kyoya had two girlfriends for longer than a week. The first he dated right after high school for over a year. She was in the top percentile of her grade but not particularly high standing, not high enough for an Otori anyway. Fortunately, he left her and found himself a much better partner. Ayumi only had average performance at university but she had excellent social status and connections. A partner with charm would be more beneficial to Kyoya's career than a rival intellect.
"While I approve of your relationship with Miss Ayumi it would be better to hold of a wedding until current matters are settled." Mr. Otori said simply. He was slightly surprised that Kyoya hadn't thought of that. Unless he had a plan to strengthen relations through an engagement.
"Miss Ayumi is already married," Kyoya pushed his glasses up his nose. "She and her long term girlfriend eloped two days ago." Mr. Otori took a moment to process this unexpected statement. His son had been dating a lesbian for the past two and a half years? There was no way Kyoya didn't know about her sexual preferences, which meant… Mr. Otori gave his son his business stare.
"You have been sneaking around." It wasn't a question.
"Yes," Kyoya answered it anyway. Mr. Otori kept his composure. This was not the worst case scenario. Kyoya would still be brilliant even if he married some useless rice farmer. If the press was handled appropriately, it could even be used as a sob story for the masses.
"Then tell me, what about this mistress required secrecy?"
Kyoya looked his father in the eyes and answered in absolute deadpan, "His gender." Shit. The elder Otori broke eye contact to look down at his desk and pinch the bride of his nose in the vain hope of warding off a headache. Worst case scenario. His prodigal son was gay. This situation was so bad, it wasn't even on his radar, he had no plan for this.
Mr. Otori wracked his brain. How had he missed this? How long had Kyoya known? How long had he managed to appear straight? All surveillance Yoshio had ever ordered all indicated a perfectly healthy, straight, loyal, Kyoya. Mental note to fire head of surveillance. Had Kyoya bribed the security team? No, he had made sure his sons couldn't hide anything from him. How had…wait. Kyoya and Ayumi occasionally had a romantic dinner together but the most often went on double dates with Tamaki Suoh and his girlfriend. Everything fell into place. God damnit. Ayumi and the Suoh's girlfriend were reported to be best friends and spend a great deal of time together. It was the perfect scenario, a pair of heterosexual female best friends dating a pair of heterosexual male best friends. Nothing suspicious. Clever Kyoya. No doubt he had searched high and low for a closeted lesbian couple to play the part of the perfect beard.
"How long," he started to speak then paused to school his voice. He would not shout at his heir, not yet. "How long have you been sleeping with the Suoh boy?"
"My sex life is not something I will discuss. But, we have been dating in secret since high school." Kyoya answered coolly. Clearly he was in charge of this conversation, that needed to change. But, high school? He had been having an affair since high school! So, during all the years he had worked to build the Otori reputation, in secret he had been doing something that would soil it if ever found out. The Otori patriarch didn't look up at his son, if he did he would loose his temper.
He needed to think about this carefully. It would be a shame to loose Kyoya, neither of his brothers would be able to run the company like he could. But public perception was important. Gay marriage may have recently become legal but that didn't mean anything for upper class society. The entertainment industry didn't mind so much but the idea was still taboo in their circles. Mr. Otori couldn't think of a single openly gay company head. Kyoya really planned to be the first? There would be press and speculation about the worth of the company. Not to mention there would be the issue of children. Whose children would they even be? Hell would freeze over before Yoshio Otori would allow his grandchild to be the biological child of that illegitimate Suoh boy.
This was not acceptable. His son showing up to meetings with a man on his arm. Kyoya discussing business while his husband socialized with the other wives in the adjacent room. And of all the men in the world he had to choose that insufferable Suoh bastard. He could have at least found…no, he couldn't think about Kyoya with other men, even the idea made him nauseous. The Suohs were a fine business connection but in-laws? That dysfunctional family? The Suoh boy as a member of his family? Hold on, Madam Suoh was a huge stickler for tradition. She may have accepted her grandson as an heir but if she found out he was gay she'd disown him in a heartbeat.
"Have you spoken with the Suohs?"
"Mr. Suoh has been aware that Tamaki is bisexual for years. He does not however know that we are a couple. Madam Suoh has yet to be informed." This just kept getting better and better. No doubt Madam Suoh would disown her grandson on the spot. Even if Yuzuru, by some miracle, didn't mind he wouldn't have the authority to override Madam Suoh's decision. At the very least the Suoh boy would have no inheritance until his grandmother retired and his father got full control of the company. The Suoh boy was not only insufferable, he was also about to be penniless. What could Kyoya possibly see in him? His good looks? He didn't bother asking that question out loud, though. Kyoya would never give him a straight answer.
Yoshio Oroti took a long breath, for one of the few times in his life, he had no idea what to say. If he was doomed to have a gay son, why did it have to be his best son? If one of his other sons caused a scandal it would be half the problem this was. The more he thought about it, there seemed to only be one course of action.
"Kyoya," he began after an eternity of silence. Mr. Otori finally looked at his son again. The young man stood perfectly still. He looked like he understood the gamble he was taking. Either he would be disowned or accepted, Mr. Otori hoped to meet him half-way. "You are invaluable to the company. The best of my three sons by far. Still, I'm sure you know that a business of this prestige would never survive if run by a homosexual. I wanted you to inherit Kyoya and if you stop this now, I still will. But if you insist on going through with this suicidal action, I will have no choice but to demote you to a position below both your brothers." Mr. Oroti paused for a brief moment. Kyoya didn't try to get a word in, in fact, he didn't react at all. "You deserve to be my heir. Don't throw away everything you've ever worked for. Don't throw away your entire future and the future of this family for some fling. There will be no turning back if you do." Yoshio Otori sat behind his desk and tried to convey his meaning through his voice. He didn't care if Kyoya was gay. Kyoya was brilliant enough that it wouldn't matter if he never got married. He could even hire as many rent boys as he wanted as long as he kept it quiet and didn't, God forbid, marry that useless Suoh.
After a short pause, Kyoya spoke up. "To be absolutely clear, you do not approve of my decision. I will only remain your heir if I keep my sexuality quiet. If I am openly gay, you will never accept me as an heir and keep me from advancing in the company. If I marry Tamaki despite your disapproval then I will be disowned or placed so low in the company that I may as well be. Do I exaggerate?"
Mr. Otori met his son's even stare. "No, you do not."
"Very well." Kyoya said abruptly. He strode two steps forward and set his brief case down on his father's desk. Yoshio Otori stared at his son with confusion.
"Mr. Yoshio Otori," he snapped open his case, "due to your lack of interpersonal skills and inability to conform to company policy, you here by released of all duties at Otori Medical without compensation or pension." He held out an official document towards his father, whose head was suddenly spinning. His son was the one who bought Otori Medical? His son had outplayed him? His son was firing him? Firing him because he didn't approve of him getting married to the bumbling Suoh idiot? With disbelief and instant anger, he glared at the boy in front of him. Kyoya stared back coldly. His face was solid, he showed no weakness. He didn't regret this decision. He would ruin everything but didn't care. There was no way Kyoya would act like this on his own. Somehow Tamaki Suoh had stolen him away. He had kidnapped Kyoya from the land of sanity and dragged him to a world where it was acceptable to fire one's father or kiss another man in public. The Suoh bastard child had corrupted his Kyoya and used him as a weapon against his own father.
Kyoya held the form steady, silently demanding that Yoshio take it. There was no way out of this. Slowly Yoshio Otori reached out and took the termination order. He bowed to his youngest child and the Suoh that had seduced him.
"You are to vacate the premises by the end of the business day today," he said mercilessly. He closed his case with a final click. Kyoya turned and walked to the door. Mr. Otori looked down at the papers, at his son's retreating back, and lost the calm he had been hanging on to so precariously.
"Damnit, Kyoya!" He lunged from his chair and slammed both fists down on his desk. "Why…"
"Why what?" Kyoya cut him off with the fierceness of a sharpened blade. He paused at the door to look over his shoulder at his father. "Why would I betray you? Why would I throw away everything I ever wanted? Why would I ruin my prefect future as your perfect son?" His voice was calm but his words vicious. Light flashed off his glasses and his gray eyes narrowed to menacing slits. He continued with the words he had clearly wanted to say for years before his father could shout again. "My whole life I have worked to create a place for me and the man I love. My future and my family is with him, it always has been." For a second he not only met his father's gaze but shattered the older man's angry glare with his own. "This concludes our business, Mr. Otori."
Seasnake: Please, forgive my homophobic bigotry. It hurt to write but I wanted to try and make the character accurate.
My friend's reaction to this: "Um, thanks but I really don't care about Kyoya's dad. Where's Tamaki?"
Seansake: "Uh… I don't know. I guess I just like writing about magnificent bastards?"