"No no no no.."
"Misaki! Atleast hear me out!"
Grabbing the railing , Misaki made a way to move up the staircase "No use Mom. You know I will never do it"
"Misaki! But you haven't ever totally heard me out"
"I lost interest as soon as you mentioned the Old Lady's name. Besides , why would she of all people , think about us now?!"
Taking ahold of her daughter's hand , the older one turned her around "Misaki. It won't hurt you to hear me out. Once. After that you can take whatever decision you want"
The serious tone her Mother had suddenly adopted made Misaki wonder a little as to what actually the case was. Sitting down on one of the steps , she sighed "Okay okay. I'll hear you out"
The older one among the two sighed and sat down next to her daughter "Let's start from the beginning?"
"Like every one of your story does" Misaki smiled.
"So.."
/\/\/\
"Come in"
Led in by a butler , the raven haired woman entered and faced the back of an older woman with the same black hair she had inherited tied in a bun , standing behind the desk.
"M'lady" The butler bowed as the older one among the two waved him off.
Once the door slowly closed behind him , the woman turned , her striking amber eyes piercing through her daughter "Minako"
"Mother"
"How have you been?"
"In the same condition you left me in" Her daughter replied coldy , gaze not once averting.
"Disobedient as always" Minako's Mother's eyes narrowed "You haven't really changed Minako"
"I could say the same for you , Mother" Minako sighed as she adjusted the muffler on her neck "Let's cut this meeting as short as possible. I know you are as thrilled as me to have this meeting end as soon as possible" Looking her Mother straight in the eye , she continued "So? Why did you call me here?"
"Does Misaki know?"
"About our meeting? She wouldn't let me in the house again if I tell her I was out to meet you"
"I see" Turning her back to her daughter again , Yoshida Shokó crossed her arms and stared out of the window of her study overlooking the entire garden "You do know why we disowned you right , Minako?"
Eyes narrowing to slits , Minako answered , tone cold yet sharp "I am leaving if all you can do is dig into unpleasant events and keep reminding me how I chose love over my family"
"That is a crime you have to live with Minako. Neither you nor anyone else can change what's happened. Besides , see where choosing your love over family got you-'"
"-Don't step into-"
"- Without a husband to take care of your two daughters. I heard Suzuna's living with Minami?" Turning back to face her daughter , Shokò rose an eyebrow.
"Don't cross your limits , Mother. We wouldn't be in such a situation if you hadn't made it worse for me after I left. Purposely"
"Have you forgotten how we raised Minami and you? With every mistake you make , specific punishment has to be given to teach you not to do it again"
"For God's sake , Mother!" Minako cried "It's been 21 years since I got married! 11 years since Sakuya left! And 4 years since Suzuna left to live with Minami! If you really think your pesky little punishments can have me falling at your feet , stop dreaming. You have played your little game enough"
"Mind your language , Minako. I am still your Mother. And despite all these circumstances , you will have to respect me"
Minako laughed "You wish , Mother. You wish. For a Mother who disowned me as soon as I disobeyed her the first time in my life sure knows how to demand things like respect from me"
"Minako-"
"-Just get to the point already. Or I'll be leaving"
Sighing and debating whether to go ahead with what she had called her daughter here for was what she should do or just dismiss her. Choosing the former she started to speak "Tojo ..wants you back in the family"
Minako felt as if she had lost her hearing "What?"
"Your Father ..wants to reclaim you as his daughter"
"Why?"
"You don't want to be part of the family again?"
"No way. I am happy with Misaki and Suzu-"
"- Your current situation begs to differ. Reminds me , how is Misaki doing? After her accident?"
"So you did hear"
"Why ofcourse"
"And still didn't make an attempt to do anything to help"
"Some crappy pride you have. Wasn't asking Minami for help enough for you that you wanted me to do something too?"
"Atleast someone in the family did not abandon me. Besides , I paid her back for all the expenses she had paid for"
"You? Didn't Misaki work in a Maid Cafe for it where she still works?" Shoko's face morphed into one of disgust.
"My daughter believes in her hardwork. And she will never mind paying for her needs. Atleast I could raise her better than you could ever have raised me albeit the difficulties we faced"
The older woman's eyes narrowed and she grit her teeth to stop herself from asking her bodyguards and butlers to throw Minako out of the estate right now for talking to her so rudely "Let's go back to where we were-"
"-I am not coming back" Minako interrupted making Shokó rub her temple in annoyance.
"If you come back.." She started again shooting a warning look towards Minako again as if daring her to interrupt "I will make sure to have Misaki get into Tokyo University once she graduates"
"What? No thanks. Misaki is working hard to get in herself. We can do without your help"
"And also , get her the scholarship to New York. The one she wants"
"What do 'you' want?" Minako's eyes narrowed as she realized the hidden motive her Mother always has when she offers someone a good deal.
Shoko smirked "We are setting up a new company-"
"-Not this again"
"With a company you are all too familiar with"
"What are you getting at?"
"For the new company to set up , we are going to merge a few of our departments with some of the leading companies in Japan. One of them being..Igarashi Corporations"
Minako's eyes widened "Igarashi Corporations?" The name being familiar to her was an understatement.
"Yes. Igarashi Corporations run by Yuuji Igarashi. I don't think I need to tell you that"
"Get to the main point already. What do I have to do with all this?"
"You will be leading the new company formed"
Minako felt as though all the air in her lungs had been whipped out of her "What?"
"I didn't give you the best education for nothing. But on one condition"
"You know I don't like all these con-"
"Hear me out first. I know you are no idiot Minako. You'll figure it out yourself"
"Will I?"
"Yuuji Igarashi's only son is single"
Everything became crystal clear now. Minako to come back in the family meant Misaki would also be joining the family. That would bring both of them under the Yoshida's household name. Which meant , to seal the contract between the two companies the answer would be Misaki marrying-
"What is your answer going to be Minako? Let's not pretend that you love the current situation you are in"
/\/\/\/\/\
As the two woman sat in silence staring at the wooden steps , both of their minds were in different directions. Minako slowly slid an envelope towards Misaki.
"So.." The younger one among the two broke it "What'd you say?"
"I told her I would ask you"
"What? You didn't straightaway deny?!" Misaki burst as she stood up , looming over her Mother "Mom! Please don't tell me you are actually considering this!"
"Misaki-"
"Mom? Are you kidding me? Now's a good time to come out with it"
"Misaki. What my Mother says is partially correct. No matter how much I try I can't ignore the fact that I miss the lavish life I had once lived-"
"- Are you serious-"
"- I am not blaming anyone for the situation I am in except myself. But I hate myself for the situation I put Suzuna and you in and if I had gone ahead with the marriage originally set for me with Yuuji , perhaps we would be in a different situation now and I would be the CEO to the Yoshida Industries for which I had originally been trained for which meant you could study without worrying about expenses"
"Hey Mom" Misaki felt guilt creeping into her stomach as she sat back down next to her Mom and pulled her into a hug suddenly realizing what all could change if Misaki took the right decision for herself and her family.
"You know what?" Minako smiled through her tears "Forget it. We can easily manage through all this because my daughter has walked through storms" Patting Misaki"s cheek , she got up "I'll go back tomorrow and ask them to find someone else for leading the company and marry off to the Igarashi's" Getting up she helped Misaki up to "Sleep sweetheart. You have school tomorrow. Goodnight"
As Minako wiped her tears on her sleeve and walked into her room , Misaki gulped and proceeded to go upstairs too as she noticed the envelope her Mother had initially passed to her. Opening it , she read it out of curiosity.
The lone paper held a few terms and conditions with a final I agree to these terms and conditions along with space for her signature.
Glancing at the direction of her Mother's closed door and then back at the paper , Misaki held the paper horizontally with each hand holding a tip. She knew what she had to do.
"Misaki?" Minako called out descending the steps "She might have left already.." Minako smiled as she saw Misaki's shoes gone.
Entering the dining hall , Minako passed the dining table and made her way to the refrigerator to make some coffee for herself before she took a few steps back and pulled a sheet from below the spice cellar holder.
I agree to the terms and conditions
- A. Misaki
"MISAKI!" Minako shouted and then remembered she had left "That girl signed..?" Biting her lower lip , Minako's eyes started to water "Oh Misaki. I wish you weren't so selfless sometimes.."
An advance gift for Misaki's birthday which is tomorrow. Please tell me your thoughts about it 'cause well 'again' I am trying something new.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Kaichou wa Maid sama or any of its characters. What I do own is the plot and the characters I made.
Till next time ~
TBLAZE