Chapter 1.
Fujino Shizuru looked around the engagement party. HER engagement party, to be honest. It was held at a classy restaurant in the heart of Osaka, reserved for only the elites of the society. Such things could be expected of the Kanzaki, the family she was married off into.
Her father had insisted that Shizuru join Reito, the only heir of the Kanzaki family, for the sake of the Fujino family. In fact, this marriage things had been settled far back in time, when they were still children and innocent, unwary of the adults' cunning calculations and schemes. It was reasonable enough: the Kyoto big-cheese Fujino and the Tokyo top Kanzaki joined together in an indestructible, close-knit alliance; furthermore, Shizuru and Reito were childhood friends and had been close throughout all the year. There should be nothing getting in the way of this big event, and everybody was happy.
That was what people thought, and Shizuru found that quite acceptable. At least, it was worth the bazillion hours she spent from the earliest of ages to learn all of the ceremonies, arts and whatnot. All prepared to make Shizuru a worthy bride. A trophy wife. And she had almost nothing to complain. Some of her elitist… acquaintances, for lack of a better word, were married off to men twice their age. Some got into scandals that brought their families to shame. But Shizuru was different – she led a traditional way of life, away from annoying newshounds; she got herself a close, young and handsome man to be her husband.
But even that felt off. Somehow. And her premonitions were about to be proved.
Shizuru did her duties very well: she went and greeted her guests with such grace that made every mom jealous with her mom; she danced with the same grace that made every man jealous with Kanzaki Reito ("That lucky bastard!" Shizuru heard some of them said); and she definitely didn't look like those miserable girls whose fiancés either were old enough to be their fathers or young enough to be their sons-to-be. Shizuru looked decently "happy".
Suddenly, the front door was kicked open violently, and two of the bouncers came crashing in. One was even unconscious. All of the merry chatter and laughter stopped as a gang of people, men and women alike, dressed in black and armed with guns invaded the place. And this whole group blocked the main entrance. The guests were terrified, but Reito quickly calmed them down. He looked pissed though.
The sound of a bike could be heard in the distance, and moments later, an dark blue Ducati pulled up. The suspicious gang immediately scooted to the sides, giving way to the biker – a woman, by the look of things.
The (obvious) leader of the gang walked between two rows of gangster as if she owned the place. The frown on Reito and his father's faces became even more scrunched-up. It appears that the latecomer was such a great annoyance to them. The older Kanzaki spoke up first:
"Kuga Natsuki, how bold of you to come here today." His face grew to a purple shade. "I don't even remember inviting you, so your presence is not welcomed."
Natsuki took off her helmet, revealing a lustrous stream of midnight blue hair, a shining pair of emerald eyes and unblemished porcelain skin. Such was a beauty that Shizuru held her breath. Her mind was temporarily overwhelmed at that very moment, when the (literal) gate-crasher removed her head gear. But thanks to rigorous training, the bride-to-be managed to keep her cool.
"I wouldn't have joined this wasteful party, if I had a choice. But Grandpa had personally invited me, so I can't afford to let him down." Natsuki talked back coolly. "Speaking of which, where his Grandpa? The only reason I even bothered to come to this soul-sucking party is to meet him."
"I'm afraid you are not allowed to meet with Grandpa Kanzaki." Reito stepped in. "Not when you have yet to quit your wicked way."
"Wicked?" Natsuki laughed "Heck, if that's true, then blame our father. I inherited it from him. Stop being so naïve, brother, dad ain't the hero you think he is."
"Why you…" Mr. Kanzaki got really angry. "Guards, throw this insolent, arrogant little brat out!"
Mr. Kanzaki's order alerted Natsuki's underlings – their guns clicked as bullets were loaded into chambers.
"Kanzaki Tetsujin, you will not kick Natsuki-chan out." An old, respectable man in a high-class, black kimono said. Everyone, including Natsuki, bowed at his presence. "As the leader of the Kanzaki clan, I announce that Natsuki has the equal right as any of your guest in this hall, and she may stay as long as she wishes until and after the wedding."
Angry as he was, Mr. Kanzaki had no choice but to keep his anger to himself – Grandpa Kanzaki's orders were supreme. Reito was also displeased, but other than that, he didn't have the aura of a bomb about to go off. He merely came to Shizuru's side, ready to fend of any of his half-sister's antics.
"Is that your new bride Reito?" Natsuki said. "Congrats, that's quite a nice catch. Good job."
"I'll take that as a compliment." The groom-to-be huffed, though he didn't think it was a compliment at all.
Natsuki ordered her followers to lower their guns: "As much as I want to stay, I have a few errands to run, so I'll take my leave… for now. I'll come to your wedding, though" Then she bowed to Grandpa Kanzaki again: "Grandpa, thanks for all of your help. See you later at the wedding." And, as quickly as they came, the mob disappeared, leaving the venue in a tense atmosphere.
Mr. Kanzaki gripped his fists tightly: "If only I can get my hand on that rascal…"
Reito stopped frowning and calmed his father down: "There, there, father, watch your blood pressure, would you?"
Shizuru could already felt that her supposedly peaceful marriage wasn't going to be peaceful by all means. Thanks to one Kuga Natsuki.
A/N: I'm back, after for God knows how long. I know I should be updating my old stories but I can't help writing new ones.
Also I need your help to decide which story I should update (because I can't update them all at once) and I promise I won't drop any story. Seriously.
Read & review; and if you have time, please give me some constructive crit.
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
PS: I don't own the character except for the future OCs. You and I all know that by now.