A Rather Deviant Damsel
Prologue

In a Manner of Circumstance

In the strangest of ways, the ethereal forces of the universe with cooperate with each other to specifically make a single person unhappy. What is exceedingly peculiar in this event is that while one party is left in misery, another is usually made glad.

However, in this particular instance, neither party is left happy. Yet, as you will soon learn, the two involved are both rather resourceful, and will not be left in their misery for long.

Ootori Kyoya was not one to accept fate easily. In fact, he had quite a talent of changing it.

So, when his father called Kyoya into his office one day for an unexpected announcement, Kyoya took the news in stride.

"Your fiancée," his father didn't even glance up from the mundane paperwork before him, "She's coming to visit."

Kyoya had known about his wife-to-be since he was young. They had been engaged since the age of six, and were planned to be married when they both turned twenty-one. Despite the long-time arrangement, Kyoya, now thirteen, had yet to meet the girl.

Truthfully, he had no interest in her whatsoever, at least not in the romantic sense. She came from a family of "new money," and was only a third generation into wealth. While this was fine for a boy like him, a third son, such qualities would be unheard of for a true heir. He had done his research, and knew she would make a suitable (though unnecessary) wife. Perhaps, if his future goals were achieved, he could cancel the engagement before the wedding date. However, for now, he would appease his father.

"To Japan?"

The older Ootori nodded, "She'll be staying with her father, as it were. It's her first prolonged visit to the country, and her father and I agreed that you would be the best one to host her stay."

'What a waste of time…' Kyoya thought inwardly. He was already engaged to her, there was no need for him to make a lasting impression on the girl.

Outwardly, however, he smiled, "Wonderful. I look forward to finally meeting her."

Just as Kyoya believed he was about to be dismissed, his father continued, "Her father's son—her half-brother—will also be coming to Japan, permanently. She will likely be moving here with him, or so her father suspects." His father's trademark glasses glazed over with the white light of the room, "It would be very beneficial for you to befriend the boy."

"Consider it done," Kyoya replied.

"She arrives in three days," his father's voice became suddenly short; "You're dismissed."

Kyoya provided a simple, yet formal bow before leaving the room.

'Three days,' he pondered, 'Conveniently coinciding with Summer Break.'

True as it was, Ouran Academy Middle School was ending its second term in exactly three days. Finals were a breeze for Kyoya, so there was no stress there… However, while other students were looking forward to month-long trips to exotic countries, Kyoya was forced to play tour guide for his foreign fiancée.

'How absolutely trivial.'

A warm summer breeze blew over the Ootori estate, ruffling Kyoya's short black hair. He sat at a small tea table, upon an elegant balcony just above the alabaster foyer of his home. His keen eyes watched the smooth stretch of pavement below with disinterest, awaiting the arrival of one Suoh Hiroko.

The last three days of term had gone by exceedingly easily for Kyoya. The final exams were as he predicted, obscenely easy. The only downside was that he had to decline several invitations of "summertime merriment" with perspective future business colleagues.

A sleek white limo appeared within his line of vision. The sides bore the familiar crest of the Suoh clan. Kyoya's eyes narrowed as it pulled to a stop. The chauffeur stepped out, rushing to the back door. The pudgy man opened it with certain haste, and removed his hat as the passenger stepped out.

Suoh Hiroko, thirteen years old, birthday October 25th. Born to Suoh Yuzuru and his first wife, Nadya Goryachev. Of course, the marriage ended when Yuzuru was unfaithful with a French noble, resulting in the birth of his son, Suoh Tamaki. Unfortunately, Nadya was already pregnant at the time of the affair, and won full custody of Hiroko in an off-the-grid settlement. This left Yuzuru with only part-time custody of both his children, under command of his mother, who greatly disapproved of his second wife.

Of course, it was rumored that Hiroko's grandmother, the matriarch of the Suoh clan, was more favorable to her granddaughter, than her grandson.

However, Nadya, bitter from the failed marriage, wanted as little connections with the Suohs as possible, and refused to allow her daughter to be involved business-wise. Instead, Hiroko was heir to her mother's company, a large robotics company based in Russia, which was Nadya and Hiroko's birthplace.

Hiroko had been chosen as Kyoya's wife solely due to the nature of her mother's company (the future of medicine lays with machinery). Her mother was supposedly very reluctant to accept the proposal, as she was still quite weary of Japanese men… But the Ootori clan provided much more than what the other suitors could and she eventually accepted.

Nadya never remarried, and never did business with the Suohs again.

Hiroko stepped out of the car with a forced grace that came with years of mandatory lessons. She wore a very simple, off-white sundress, which swished modestly just above her knees. A sheer light brown cardigan covered her arms from the impending evening chill. Over all, she was presentable. Modest, yet elegant, a fine specimen.

Kyoya left his perch to greet his guest. He took his time descending the main staircase, carefully listening to the chatter that already had begun in the foyer.

He paused on the last few steps, observing the scene before him. Hiroko was only a few steps in the door, already bombarded by Kyoya's older sister, Fuyumi.

"Oh, it's wonderful to meet you, Hiroko-chan!"

Kyoya vaguely remembered how excited Fuyumi got when socializing with her other sisters-to-be (ie, his older brothers' wives). She had been especially excited for this meeting due to Fuyumi's upcoming wedding. Hiroko was to receive a special V.I.P. invitation the last day of her stay.

"I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Fuyumi-san."

The voice was only laced with her home country's accent. She must have had a linguistics coach.

"No need to be so formal!" his sister chided with a laugh, "Are you hungry at all?"

Kyoya cringed slightly. Fuyumi had been recently experimenting with her culinary skills…

"Not at all, Fuyumi-san," Hiroko had obviously ignored the request for informality.

Kyoya continued down the rest of the stairs, making his presence known to the two girls, as well as the miscellaneous staff that milled about. "Fuyumi, perhaps we should allow our guest to be settled before interrogating her."

It was so easy to turn on this fake charm… He had it down to a talent, really. Hiroko was no different than any of the other tools which could be beneficial to his father's business.

That's all this marriage was. A business.

Fuyumi stepped aside, beaming at Kyoya. She knew as well as he that this was the first meeting between the two. By the looks of it, she was hoping for some sort of immediate romantic connection.

'As if.'

Without his sister in the way, Kyoya finally got his first good look at Hiroko. She looked exactly as she did in pictures… Medium-length wavy hair, which was a dull brown (reminiscent of her father's hair color). Her bone structure reflected her Russian heritage with a thin face, yet high and defined cheek bones. She was a lean girl, of average height. Absolutely nothing special or striking about her…

Well, at least he thought.

Their eyes met, and Kyoya experienced something he hadn't expected. Something that could not be properly depicted in photographs.

Her eyes, a deep, pitted black, stared at him with a sharp… loathing. An intense fire of rage which Kyoya had never really encountered before.

But it only lasted a second… Before he could properly register exactly what he saw, it was gone, and replaced with a cold indifference. "I am pleased to meet you, Kyoya-san," she bowed politely. "I thank you in advance for your hospitality."

Hiroko's voice held a soft coldness to it. Nothing even close to the vindictive flash that Kyoya witnessed moments before, but more so as if she simply didn't care at all, but was trying to pass herself off as lady-like.

Kyoya couldn't relate more than when he flashed the girl a charming smile, "Would you like to retire with me to the sitting room? I'll have tea made."

"That sounds lovely."

She didn't even attempt to look amused.

This sparked an interest in Kyoya. From what he had so far observed with girls Hiroko's age, is that they loved these sorts of situations. He had overheard plenty of overly-romanticized stories from his classmates when they first met their betrothed. Each girl gushed about "going weak in the knees," and how it was "love at first sight." Or, at the very least, they droned on about how nervous they had been.

Yet, Hiroko just seemed… bored.

The couple (how odd it was to say such a thing) walked into the lavish sitting room, taking a seat across from one another. A rather uncomfortable silence consumed them. Hiroko's black eyes remained on Kyoya the entire time.

"How was your flight to Japan, Hiroko-san?"

"Short."

"That's good. Have you settled into the Suoh estate yet?"

"No."

"I'm sure you'll have no problem adjusting. Are you excited to be in Japan?"

"Not really."

Kyoya inwardly seethed. 'She's not very cooperative.'

A servant arrived with the tea tray, setting it between the two teenagers before she dismissed herself.

Kyoya, ever the gentleman, poured the tea for his guest, "I figured you would like some traditional green tea. It's very fresh."

He placed the small cup in front of Hiroko, who stared into the liquid as if it were some sort of mysterious ooze. "Thank you," she said meaninglessly.

Another bought of silence surrounded them. Kyoya noticed that she drank the tea delicately, making absolutely no noise from picking up the cup to putting it down.

'Her mother trained her well...'

Surely, she met every qualification of a good wife, especially if this was how she acted in public. He had yet to see her socialize, but assumed she was used to speaking properly with clients and colleagues. So long as she kept her mouth shut...

"Kyoya-san," she suddenly addressed him, hands leaving her tea cup. "I feel that I must be honest with you."

'Oh, this is it...' He expected her to gush, to swoon, to confess her sudden, undying love. Perhaps her curtness was due to the nervousness most girls experienced before confessing their feelings.

"I have very high expectations for my life," her voice took up a very business-like tone. It was even more exaggerated as she folded her perfectly manicured hands together, leaning towards him over the table. "As of right now, you and I are to be married in less than nine years. If that changes, then you may disregard what I am about to say."

Kyoya was completely taken aback, but intrigued nonetheless. A smile pulled at the corner of his mouth, and his glasses flashed with the dull light of the setting sun shining through the window. "Go on."

Hiroko's face finally morphed into an expression. A sly smirk appeared on her lips, and those black eyes flashed with a sort of impressed appreciation, "I'm inheriting my mother's company. While I am in line for my father's it is still not definite whether or not I will take control."

Kyoya was well aware (though he wasn't supposed to be) of the situation between Yuzuru and his mother on whether Yuzuru's illegitimate son would inherit the Suoh company.

Seeing the understanding in his eyes, Hiroko continued, "As my husband, you will have a role to assume, just as I will as your wife. My ambitions are not typical of others in my position. I have already assessed my future potential, as well as the future potential of my company," Kyoya smirked when she referred to the business as her own, "I need to know that you will be prepared to handle what I will bring to our partnership." The smirk widened when she referred to their marriage as a partnership.

"Well, Suoh-san-"

"Goryachev," she interrupted, "I go by my mother's name."

Kyoya was not deterred, "Goryachev-san, as you should be aware, I am the third Ootori son. There is a very little chance that I will take control of my family company."

Hiroko pondered on this information for a second, "It would be beneficial if you would. However, total control is not necessary."

"Just as well, I too have 'assessed my future potential,' and can assure you that there is nothing you may bring that I will not be able to handle."

Hiroko seemed genuinely impressed with Kyoya's statement, and gave a very elegant nod of approval. She raised the tea cup to her lips, stating, "I believe this may work out after all."

Kyoya returned her nod, lifting his own tea cup in a sort of toast.

The couple smiled, continuing their tea with more pleasant conversation, just in time to give the prying eyes Fuyumi a scene of young courtship.

'This indeed may work out after all.'

So, this is actually a re-write of my other story "Behind the Facade." Of course, this is much less convoluted, and has an actual plot to it. AREN'T YOU EXCITED? I AM! Expect more. It's gonna be fun. Remember to tell me what you think!

~Hadley-sensei