So I'm back with what is going to be my first multichaptered story. Well, depending on the response I get that is.
Would you believe that this was originally planned out as a story set in olden times with Kings and whatnot?
Disclaimer- PoT is, sadly, not mine.
"I'm home."
Even though the hall was empty there came the tantalising smell of cooking wafting from the kitchen and so Echizen Ryoma knew that his mother, at least, was home. There was no telling where his father was, probably still caught up in a business meeting or locked in his study upstairs completing paperwork.
Despite the fact that Ryoma had technically moved out a couple of years ago and now had his own apartment he could not stop himself from referring to this place as his home. In his family it was a tradition that the family would meet up every Sunday and have dinner together, since that was the only time his cousin Nanako was able to get away from her family, which now consisted of a husband and two adorable young children, and make the trip down to see them.
"Oh, Ryoma. Welcome back." His mother appeared at the kitchen door, wiping her hands on a dish cloth. "Nanako couldn't make it so it's just us for dinner."
Ryoma nodded as he pulled off his shoes and reached for the house slippers, even if Nanako was not around that was no reason for them to let good food go to waste.
It was not long before they were all sitting around the low table, plates of steaming food in front of them and conversation flowing easily between them. It was mostly about business, Ryoma's parents were workers at a slowly expanding corporation that dealt with fraud and Ryoma was a tennis coach at a nearby elite academy where his name was slowly starting to move up in the world.
They had just finished their meal when the sound of the doorbell disturbed them from their conversation, a rather strange occurrence since they were not expecting anyone.
"I wonder who that could be," His mother got to her feet and left the room where they could hear her opening the door. Not a moment later there came a high pitched scream followed by several large bangs and heavy footsteps that had Ryoma and his father leaping to their feet and racing out into the hall.
It all happened so fast that Ryoma was barely able to take in the mess in the hall, broken glass from picture frames littering the ground, before he was tackled hard and landed with a heavy thump onto the ground. Winded, he twisted his head around desperately, trying to at least get a look at his attackers, but before he was able to there was a sickening crack as something collided with the side of his head.
Everything went black.
--
"Keigo, be reasonable."
"Reasonable?! You come waltzing in here and drop this bombshell and you're telling me to be reasonable?"
The young man who, up until that very moment, had been pacing up and down the room suddenly stopped to whirl around and face the two people sitting on the plush white sofa, waving his arms dramatically. The sun was just starting to set outside of the large glass window which took up one whole side of the room, causing a warm orange glow to spread over the tops of the buildings which paled in significance to the height of the building they were currently in, but even this magnificent sight did nothing to placate the obviously irate young man.
"We're your parents, Keigo, we want what is best for you." The two were obviously not ones to be intimidated easily, else they were simply just too used to this behaviour to let it affect them anymore, for their tones were perfectly controlled and smooth.
"But a fiancé?" Obviously the one they were talking to did not have this kind of control, the sneering tone of disgust was evident in every fibre of his being, from his voice to his very body language.
"When we gave you this company we were quite content to sit back and allow you to run things as you saw fit but we realise now that may have been a mistake, you need someone to help with the running of things and a fiancé would be perfect for the job," It was become harder for them to keep calm, the strain in their voice was starting to show through, "After the suicide of that lovely young lady a month ago..."
"She was weak. If she could not handle the pressures of being involved with a large company then she should not-"
"Atobe!" At this a fourth member in the room stood up, who had previously been silent, hands clenched tightly into fists at his sides, "I don't think-"
"Silence!" The man whipped around to face the new speaker, "I do not pay you to voice your opinions."
An uncomfortable quiet fell over the room, punctuated only by the soft ticking of the clock situated on the wall and heavy breathing as they all fought to calm themselves down. When the next words came it was from the sofa, the tone soft but with an air of complete authority.
"If you do not comply with this then we will be forced to give ownership to someone more worthy, we shall be in touch again soon."
--
When Ryoma woke it was to the harsh chill of water droplets splashing methodically on his skin. Golden eyes opened slowly, expecting to the see the sky and thus where the water was coming from, but instead he came face to face with a dull grey ceiling. His hands were tied behind his back and already Ryoma could feel that the skin of his wrists was rubbed raw.
Although his head throbbed painfully and his vision blurred a little with the movement he was able to push himself into a sitting position in order to look around. The room he was in was only dimly lit but enough so to be able to make out that the furniture consisted solely of a small, lumpy looking bed in the corner and a toilet with a cracked sink. The room smelt of damp and water dripped from several holes in the ceiling, much like the one which had awoken Ryoma.
A small groan from his left had Ryoma looking around in panic but this feeling quickly made way for relief when he recognized the outlines of his parents laying on their sides a short distance away from him, gagged and bound but still very much alive. Struggling to his knees Ryoma had managed to shuffle a few inches towards them when he was suddenly stopped by a hand on the collar of his shirt.
"So you're finally awake. The boss wants to see you."
Ryoma was just able to make out a broad figure with dark hair before he was blindfolded and pulled upright so roughly his feet actually left the ground for a few seconds and his air supply was cut off by the fabric of his shirt digging in his neck.
Coughing, Ryoma was too weak to fight back as he was dragged down countless halls, nearly stumbling over his own feet as he battled to keep up and not just be towed along like an animal. He was almost grateful when they came to a stop and his captor knocked three times on a door before being beckoned inside.
There came the sound of a bolt being slid into place as Ryoma was pushed further into the room and then forced to his knees as his captor did the same, the stone floor cold through the fabric of his clothes but at least not damp like the room he had been in earlier.
"Ah, welcome. I've been waiting for you." Ryoma glared in the direction of the voice, which was coming from somewhere in front of him, but since he was blindfolded the effect was practically zero. When Ryoma did not reply the voice spoke again.
"Now, I won't keep you long. I'm sure you're a very busy man and don't like being tied up with things," There was a pause as several different voices sniggered at the double meaning of the words, "so I will try to be brief. I want you to help me."
"I refuse."
"Oh?" The voice sounded genuinely curious, "Even while you're in such a compromising position you still sound so sure of yourself."
Ryoma flinched a little when the cool metal of a pistol was pressed against his temple but otherwise made no move. This lack of reaction seemed to disappoint them, for they sighed loudly before continuing."And it would be perfectly up your street, your parents are in business right?"
At the mention of his parents Ryoma bristled, gritting his teeth.
"Release my parents," He ground out.
"Excuse me?"
"Release my parents and I will help you."
The voice laughed. "Oh don't worry, they will not be harmed as long as you cooperate. As soon as I'm certain everything has been confirmed they will be allowed to go home. Now," There was the rustle of fabric as the speaker leant forwards, "Listen carefully to what I have to say."
So there we go, chapter one. I actually have most of this story planned out (that's what happens when you're on holiday and the only entertainment for miles around is a golf course) and so it's merely a matter of typing it up.
Tell me what you think or what I could improve on.