Chapter 2! Thanks for reading everyone and I hope you like it :) Enjoy!
"Heh," Sora wiped her sleeve across her mouth, tasting blood. She'd just been thrown back by Mori. She'd managed to keep her footing, and waited until the dust cloud cleared before lunging again. She struck out with her left arm, and aimed a skilled uppercut with her right. She swiped immediately with her leg and managed to knock Mori down, something not many people could do. Her blades missed his neck and sliced cleanly through his jacket collar. He grunted in surprise.
"Don't make us hurt you!" The call alerted Sora just as Honey slammed into her. She'd known she was going up against some of the most skilled martial artists in the country, but she hadn't expected this much of a fight. Their skill and preparedness made her confidence waver. No, no! You can do this! The thought drove her on, aiming a shattering blow at Honey's left knee, but missing by a centimeter. I won't let them beat me! She leapt back, panting, and reassessed her moves.
"I think you've got it the wrong way," she called, putting on the most confident and carefree tone she had. "But don't take it personally," she added, dodging a hit from Mori, "It's just my orders." Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Honey take out three thin spikes. The first whizzed by her and sliced a few strands of her white hair. The second nearly pinned her arm to a tree. She ducked and ran at Honey, avoiding the third spike. She was two steps away from him when she swerved and struck out at Mori, managing to land a blow on the arm that was reaching toward her to stop her attack on Honey.
Even with her hit on Mori, Sora knew she wasn't going to take him down easily. Don't give up, the encouragement burned in her head and she breathed, trying to catch her breath. What's with these people? Why can't they just give up!? A ringing interrupted her thoughts. She spared a quick glance at her pocket before rolling out of the way of Honey's fists. She tossed one of her knives aside and dug for the phone.
"What?" She swung herself around the tree and managed to avoid both Honey and Mori's attempts at capture. At least I can dodge… she thought wryly.
"Sora? I'm checking in on the mission. How is it proceeding?" Sora rolled her eyes and huffed.
"You tell me." She let out a gasp as Honey knocked her to the ground. She winced, but held up a finger, refusing to go down without at least a few snarky remarks.
"Are you in the midst of fighting?" The voice on the other end didn't sound very concerned.
"No, dad, I'm getting my nails done," Sora growled, "Now either tell me what you want or hang up."
"Oh, right… well, you can stop now," the voice had an amused tone that made Sora's blood boil, "Come back and we'll discuss the details."
"What!?" The phone called ended.
Sora glanced at the phone in anger and crushed it on the ground. She leapt up, prying off the strong hand that had immediately gripped her arm, and began to make an exit. As tired as she was, she was proud of how long she'd been able to evade them. Mori and Honey weren't as winded, but neither looked like they could keep this up for much longer. Good thing I'm going then, Sora thought, still annoyed at having her mission cancelled. Why in the world would he cancel it!?
"So guys," Sora began backing up, "It's been really fun, but I've got to go." Neither replied, but both advanced, ready to capture, interrogate, and get on with their day. "Hey, I didn't say I wouldn't be back," she held up her hands and laughed, turning and sprinting toward the nearest gate. Mori and Honey ran after her. She jumped and caught hold of the railing before either of them could reach her. "Don't miss me too much!" She was over the gate, and then she was gone. Honey and Mori looked at each other in dismay. Who was she?
"No way!" Sora slammed her hands on the table. Her hair still dripped with water from her recent shower. She was glad to have gotten out of her dusty and bloody clothes, but the news from her father instantly dampened any good mood she had.
"Sora, this is serious!" Her father tapped his cigar lightly on the edge of an ashtray.
"Like hell it is!" She kept her head high, refusing to believe what he was saying, "This is my life we're talking about!"
"Just one meeting. That's all. It's one meeting!" Her father's tone grew more commanding.
"I can't believe it…" Sora put a hand to her head, "You ended my mission for… for this!?" Her father gave her a look. It was the kind of look that ended their discussion. Defeated, she threw up her hands and stormed off. This is ridiculous! I don't even know who I'll be meeting!
The next day:
"Dear god, Sora," her father's exasperation made her grin. "Couldn't you have cleaned up a little? You have a reputation to uphold!"
"Why? Do these people know what we do for a living?" She crossed her arms defiantly, glancing at her outfit. She wore a burgundy tank top underneath a well-worn leather jacket, and dark jeans with combat boots. It doesn't matter anyway, she thought with a shrug, I bet I'll scare off whoever it is in an hour. The thought made her excited.
"Alright, here we go," her father, in a show of unusually good spirits, opened the thick, oak doors of the rented conference room. Sitting behind a table were two well-dressed people. A man and a woman. Both had stern, neutral expressions. And to their left was… him!? Sora froze. In an instant, Mori had stood from his seat, eyes narrowed at Sora.
"Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Morinozuka," her father walked gallantly into the room and went to shake their hands. Sora and Mori stood frozen, glaring at each other. "A pleasure," her father continued with his pleasantries, "I'm Ran Eraito, and this is my daughter, Sora Eraito." He looked expectantly at his frigid daughter.
"Pleased to meet you. This is our son, Takashi Morinozuka. He goes by 'Mori'," the woman said with a curt nod. Sora tore her eyes away from Mori and managed a weak bow. She looked up to see her father practically giggling with joy.
"What exactly is the meaning of this?" Sora said through gritted teeth, fists balled up.
"Oh well," her father shot her a sly look, "What better way to test a match than to see competition between the two subjects, eh?"
"Match? What kind of match?" Sora asked suspiciously, not wanting to know the answer.
"Why, a marriage match," the man, who Sora assumed was Mori's father, gestured to the two of them. Sora felt her insides turn to stone and then fire. No way in hell, she turned a furious glare on her father.
"No." The first opposition came from Mori, who looked at his parents with steely resolve.
"I second that," Sora raised her hand, earning a shrewd frown from Mori.
"This isn't your decision," her father growled. Sora crossed her arms in disbelief.
"Oh, it isn't?" She raised her eyebrows in mock surprise, "There's no way in-" the rest of her comment was muffled by her father's hand over her mouth. She glared at him, sincerely wanting to throw him out the window.
"The decision is final," Mori's mother nodded to his father. Sora's father smiled.
"Good. I'm glad we agree." Turning to Sora, he released her, saying, "You two are marriage candidates for each other and from now on are expected to act like it." The seriousness in his voice crumpled Sora's hope that this was all one big joke. "And furthermore," he father added, a gleam of amusement in his eyes, "You will attend the same school."
"You've got to be kidding me," Sora shook her head, suddenly tired. Her father smiled sweetly at the others, and then turned back to her.
"From now on you will be enrolled at Ouran Academy. I know you'll both make the most of this close contact to encourage our little arrangement." Sora risked a glance at Mori. He frowned back at her with hostile eyes. Right… Sora thought with a smirk… This is going end well.
The classic "marriage meeting"... Her father seems like a really tricky guy... anyway, at least Sora's got enough fire in her to deal with it ;D
thanks for reading and let me know what you think!