Chapter 1
Ren Kouen sat on his living room coach with a glass of scotch and a book in his hand, as he took a sip he couldn't help but steal a glance at his new wife beside him who was curled up in a duvet watching tv. Her long black hair was tied up in a messy bun while her fringe was pinned back out of her blue eyes, she had a strange patch on her cheek over a pimple and was without any makeup. It was a strange domestic scene considering he'd met his new wife only a couple of hours ago and they'd been married just as long.
"Kouen, I would like you to meet Yurie Raira," said his grandfather the current chairman of the Kou group. He was of small stature, grey hair and balding at the crown with a near white mustache over his lips yet there was life in his eyes that made him look so much younger. Kouen's grandfather preferred to wear traditional japanese clothes however today he wore western style clothes and his top of the line suit was wrinkled and fraying from being treated so roughly and carelessly. The old man was forever running around all over the place that he looked more like a homeless man than the rich chairman that he was.
The first thing Kouen noticed about his fiancé was her indifference, she smiled and shook his hand however there was no affection in those dark blue eyes. It was a sentiment he shared, his grandfather offered him a chance to prove himself worth of being his heir and part of that was to get married. Perhaps it was about time anyway, Kouen was 30 years old, many of his colleges who entered the work force at the same time had long gotten married and had children, his cousins Hakuyuu and Hakuei among them. All but one of his younger sisters had wed and had children as well, and even his little brother Koumei was in a long term relationship.
"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you," he said.
"You as well," she answered. The second thing he noticed was that she was pretty, that was good, if he had to marry someone he would prefer it that way. Yurie was quite tall for a girl, black haired with dark blue eyes and dressed simply in a t-shirt and jeans. She looked quite young as well, in her early or at most her mid twenties. They sat down around a coffee table in his grandfather's office, she poured him a cup of tea but said nothing while doing so, practically ignoring him.
"I'm sure you've seen Yurie Raira around the office, she worked here for a short time to help fund herself through university," said his grandfather. "She's since left but I've asked her here to help you."
"I don't need help," said Kouen. "What I need is your blessing, regardless of what anyone else says, you're the one who'll make the final decision."
"Perhaps, but it doesn't mean that others won't object, and I won't be around forever putting an end to their nonsense. Hakuyuu is well liked and respected, he is married to a beautiful wife with two children. Hakuyuu is a family man and the first born of my eldest son, his father may not be around any longer but by succession the Kou group is rightfully his. You on the other hand, may be the first son of the current CEO, you're smart, successful, much more so than Hakuyuu and in terms of business capability you far surpass your cousin. However you're not liked, you're cold and you're single. People will object, and if enough people do, my blessing is not going to keep your arse on the throne. So you need allies."
Kouen looked at his soon too be wife, her face remained expressionless, she'd heard all this before, she already knew why she was here.
"Unlike you, Raira is a people person, she'll support you and help you, she is clever and cunning and manipulative. Not only that she is stunningly pretty," said the Chairman, Yurie smiled at the compliment "She'll need to be if you two are to play a convincing couple. I've already spoken to her and she understands the terms of this arrangement." His grandfather placed three sets of documents in front of them. "One is a marriage license, the other a prenuptial agreement, once you read it Kouen you'll see it is valid for only 3 years. That is how long you have. Right before the prenup expire she'll divorce you and be on her way, if you can't stand on your own two feet by then I'll give my company to Hakuyuu."
"What's the last one?" asked Kouen indicating to the third set of papers.
"A legally binding document that'll states you and your descendants will relinquish any claim to my company," replied the Chairman. "You'll sign all 3 right now. Do you accept?"
Kouen frowned in thought, it was the chance he'd been waiting for, now all he had to do was grab it, yet if he didn't succeed he would never have another chance again. Perhaps it would be better for him to say no and wait, it was the safer option. He look at Yurie Raira, she was fiddling with her nails, not even paying him any attention.
"What's in it for you?" he asked her. She looked up and smiled at him, she really was pretty, the type men would stop in their tracks for, however it had no affect on Kouen, gorgeous woman threw themselves at him all the time.
"That's between me and your grandfather," she told him. "It doesn't matter to me whether or not you say yes, regardless I'll be paid for my time, the only matter up for debate is whether you'll take the easy road and say no, or if you'll show you have the balls to take what you want and say yes." She smiled, there was a sarcastic element to her words that pissed him off.
"How do I know you won't sabotage my efforts?" Kouen asked. Yurie shrugged.
"You don't," she answered. "But I won't."
Yurie suddenly laughed bringing Kouen back to reality. He couldn't figure her out, at first he saw her as another social climber, a gold digger, yet there was something different about her. She treated their relationship like a business transaction, always polite and friendly. She made no attempts to seduce him. No attempts of convincing him they were anything other than what they really were. She was frank and honest, yet he could tell she had secrets of her own.
"I'll have a key made for you tomorrow," Kouen said as he opened his apartment door and let his new wife inside. He turned on the hallway lights and helped carry her luggage inside, it wasn't difficult, she didn't seem to have many possessions anyway. Yurie didn't reply and silently followed him inside. She put her handbag down on the coach and looked around, it was a spacious apartment with 2 bedrooms. The place was clean and tidy especially the kitchen, however to her it looked like a place he merely slept in at night rather than a home. "There's a spare bedroom," he continued. "However there's only one bathroom, so we'll have to share that."
Yurie didn't reply and continued to look around, she ran her finger along the shelves, they'd recently been cleaned however judging by what was left behind it was by someone who was fairly short and couldn't reach all the way to the back. He had a maid it seemed, or a housekeeper at least who came once a week or so. She then entered the kitchen and opened the fridge, all there was inside was several cans of beer. She then opened a few cupboards, and like the fridge they were basically empty. There was a coffee maker at least, an expensive one at that.
"You don't cook?" Yurie asked. Kouen shrugged.
"I work till 8 most nights," he answered. "I normally eat out."
"You mean always," Yurie said softly still looking around. The oven looked like it'd never been used, the stoves as well. "I'm not fond of take out," she continued. "Is it alright if I use your kitchen."
"Sure. just clean up after yourself," replied Kouen.
"Would you like to join me?" Yurie offered which surprised Kouen. "I'm used to cooking for more than one anyway, otherwise I get the ratios wrong."
"It's fine," he answered. What was she trying to do? "I get home far too late anyway." Yurie laughed quietly. "What?"
"Home," she said. "You called this place a home." Yurie shook her head and went to pick up her bag. "I like to shower at night right before bed, you?"
"Mornings," Kouen replied however he was baffled by her previous reaction.
"That's good, we won't clash then," Yurie then proceeded to move her luggage into the spare bedroom and closed the door behind her without a word.
Kouen found himself starring at the door before he finally sighed. Was the dinner thing her way of offering an olive branch? She was just trying to be friendly, if they were to live together for the next three years they needed to at least get along. He though back to his parents. Or not, although his childhood home was a lot large than his apartment.
Kouen was still surprised at his grandfather's choice, he need a wife with a good family background that would benefit his position, Yurie didn't have that, she grew up in an orphanage. Perhaps his grandfather was lying, having him wed Yurie was a way for him to get rid of him, to kick him out of the running. Perhaps his grandfather wanted his mistress to be taken care of even when he was gone. It was no use to complain now though, they'd already signed the marriage certificate and the papers were already filed. Legally in every way, they were married.
The first morning was an unusual experience for Kouen, he'd awoken to the sound of his coffee grinder and when he went to find its source he found Yurie in the living dressed in a navy suit watching the morning news.
"Morning," she greeted him without a second look at the distinct lack of garments on his person, he slept in the nude but managed to remember he was no longer alone and put on a pair of sweatpants before he left his bedroom. "There's coffee in the pot, I don't eat breakfast so I didn't make any, you?"
"Just coffee," he answered while stumbling his way to the coffee maker. His brother often told him they he was never truly awake or remotely human until he drank his morning cup of brew, Kouen poured himself some and took a deep gulp before he said. "It's barely 6:30am," he said. "You normally up this early?"
Yurie was sorting out a series of folder and putting them into a leather bag. "I have a morning meeting, I'm usually up as late as I can manage," she replied. "Not really a morning person." Yurie manuevered her way between the coffee table and Kouen and hurried out.
"Bye," Kouen said as she closed the door behind her but he doubted she heard him. Kouen was usually an early riser, up before 6am most mornings however he had a hard time falling asleep the night before. He was worried how things would be with someone else in the apartment but it seemed it was unnecessary, she was gone before his eyes was even properly open. When Kouen went to work he'd practically forgotten the fact he had just gotten married, he didn't wear a wedding band and his wife was never brought up in conversation, he knew he'd need to tell them eventually however he enjoyed his peace while he could. Yurie never even occurred to him until he stumbled home after drinking with a few co-workers.
He could hear the water running from Yurie taking a shower. Kouen opened the fridge to find leftovers with a note reading "If you're hungry ~ microwave for 1 min" attached to it, surprisingly he found himself heating up the food and sitting at the kitchen counter eating. It was a first for him in a long time, eating at home, at that apartment in particular.
After eating he put the dishes in the dishwasher and turned it on, it was one of a few things his housekeeper had insisted he learn to do, she was a middle aged woman who came once a week to tidy up. Without thinking he opened the bathroom door, to find his wife towel drying her hair in nothing but her underwear. The cold draft made her look to see Kouen in the door way, quickly she covered herself with the towel. "Welcome home, you forget someone else lived here now?" she asked trying to seem unfazed.
"Sorry," Kouen replied quickly closing the door. Alone again Yurie couldn't help but giggle, while it was her who should have been embarrassed, his face was bright red.
The next morning Kouen awoke early as usual to find her still in bed, he was reluctant to use the coffee grinder which would no doubt wake her but she seemed to sleep through it. He felt guilty for what happened the night before, however she seemed to understand it wasn't intentional but it didn't stop him from feeling any less embarrassed. It was only half an hour before he was about to head off did he hear her stumbling while changing into her work clothes, her bedroom door opened and with sleepy eyes she said a quiet 'morning' to him while she made her way to the shared bathroom with a small bag of toiletries. It actually surprised him how quickly she brushed her teeth, combed her hair and put on her makeup, less than 20 minutes and she was ready to walk out the door, it took him roughly the same about of time and he had less than half the number of steps not including the time he took to shower.
"That was quick," he remarked sitting at the kitchen counter while she poured coffee into her mug.
Yurie shrugged. "I strive to obtain as much sleep as possible, so I have it down to a science." It was a sentiment he didn't share, most nights he usually got less than 5 hours of sleep, he'd tried it all, however no amount of medication work. Yurie proceeded to turn on the television. "It'll rain today, do you have an umbrella?" she asked.
"Yeah, I keep one in my car," Kouen replied, it was the closest to a proper conversation they'd ever had yet, like the day before the couple went their seperate ways and had no contact until they returned home. Yurie had made pasta and was sitting at the kitchen bench eating her dinner when Kouen returned home, it was late into the night and he was exhausted from a days work.
"Welcome home," Yurie greeted him as he stumbled and collasped on the coach.
"I'm home," Kouen answered.
"There's more in the pot," Yurie indicated to the saucepan on the stove before continuing to eat. Kouen found himself smiling, without so many words she'd basically told him 'I cooked so get it yourself', he helped himself to some pasta and sat on the seat next to hers. Without thinking he'd gotten a pair of chopsticks however Raira had a silver fork in her hand instead, he'd never realised he even owned forks.
"There's a family dinner this weekend," Kouen said after a long silence. "Grandfather said he'd like to introduce you to the family then." Yurie shrugged.
"Can I wear jeans?" she asked.
"Huh?"
"Jeans, denim pants?" she clarified. "I'm told that fancy rich people folks distain the notion of comfort," she indicated to his own attire, he'd been home for a while yet he still had his tie knotted tightly around his neck. "I take it casual wear doesn't fly well with your family." When Kouen held his confused look and didn't respond she asked a different question. "Will you be wearing a suit?"
"Yes," Kouen replied, finally a question that made sense. Yurie nodded.
"Got it, cocktail dresses it is," she said before turning her attention back to her food.
Silence returned, it wasn't so much that they were ignoring each other however there was no topic either could thing to talk about, finally Kouen said. "The food's good." He was never the type to really make friends however despite himself he found himself rather fond of her, it was like having a pet cat, they were there but they didn't bother you. They were married and living together, even if he didn't want to, he had to at least try to be pleasant.
"I'm glad you like it," Yurie replied after a while. "You know what you're going to wear to the dinner?" she asked.
"Just a suit I guess," Kouen answered, fashion was never his strong point. Yurie turned her head to face him, she had a strange look on her face, one between disbelief and suspicion.
"If you want to be CEO of your grandfather's company, image is everything you know," she said matter of factly. Kouen just nodded in response, it made sense. Yurie stood up and grabbed hold of one of his arms, pulling him to his feet. "It seems we'll need to start with your wardrobe."
"No, no, no, no, no," said Yurie as she rummaged through Kouen's closet. "What is with this wardrobe? There's not a single style consistency anywhere, where did you buy these?" She held up a peacock print shirt in disgust. Kouen just shrugged.
"Suits I had custom made, I just tell the tailor to choose the styles and colours for me. Most of the other clothes are things my exes got me over the years."
"Did they hate you that much?" Yurie held up a lime green bow tie at arms length as if its bad taste was infectious, Kouen couldn't help but crack a small smile.
"I don't know, maybe, none of them stayed around very long," Kouen replied. Yurie proceeded to make three piles, one were things to keep, the other were things to be donated and the last things that needed to be burned because they were that awful.
"Thank goodness, something decent!" Yurie pulled out a black leather jacket, she ran her fingers across the leather. "Lamb skin, this was pricey," she commented.
"Sakurano, my last…lover got it for me, I think," said Kouen. Sakurano Mika was an executive at a cosmetics brand or something along those lines, he didn't remember, she left with the last words 'I'm bored'. He didn't mind so much though since he was beginning to feel the same way about her.
"Keep!" said Yurie putting it gently in the first pile which mainly contained his vast collection of suits. "Why do you have so much purple?" She indicated to the pile of purple business shirts and ties which needed to be burnt.
"That bad?" asked Kouen, he was personally rather fond of the colour, however judging by the look she was giving him she disagreed.
"You have red hair," she pointed out. "Not regular ginger but dark DARK crimson red hair, no purple for you," she said firmly. Kouen just nodded.
"No purple," he echoed. There was no point in arguing, after all, what did he know about clothes and fashion?
"This is nice," Yurie picked up and examined a pinstripe suit, it was one his grandfather had given him and one he'd never worn before. "Wear this to the dinner," she said holding it up against him. Kouen took the hanger from her while she rummaged to look for a suitable tie to go with it.
