This chapter was intended to demonstrate how even though Setsuna and Akashi no longer have dual personalities, the different sides of them will appear depending on situations. The story is written in the point of view of a new OC! Akashi and Setsuna are 19 years old, just months before their marriage!
It was in early Spring when the handsome brunette Goro Hideaki first met Kuroko Setsuna. He had just returned from London, graduating from a top university with a degree in law, and had return back to Kyoto in preparation to help out in his family business.
His was not one of those long standing aristocratic families, which was often the case with the ones in Japan's oldest capital. His childhood friend, Mibuchi Reo for example was one of them.
"Ah, Hideaki kun. Welcome." One of Mibuchi's sisters greeted Hideaki at the entrance when he decided to drop by to visit," I believe you are looking for Reo? He is at the back in the Kaede room, coaching a friend of his in tea ceremony. Would you want me to take you to him?"
"It is alright, Mibuchi-san." Hideaki bowed politely, and offered a charming smile," You must be on your way out. I still remember where it is, don't worry."
Mibuchi's sister nonetheless still requested one of the manor's servants to guide the guest along, promising that she would speak to him more now that he has return to Kyoto. One of the maids slowly guide Hideaki through the house, their footsteps padded gently on the wooden floored passage. The place where Mibuchi stays is in an incredibly traditional setting, a house with over a hundred year old history, and beautiful wooden cravings and patterns embellished its corridors and rooms.
When the maid excused herself and Hideaki stepped into the tea ceremony room however, he did not see anyone in sight. He glanced out to the veranda searching for the brunette, and that was when he first saw her.
From the back, he could see the girl was in a resplendently cerulean furisode kimono decked out with beautiful wisteria flower patterns, obviously chosen with care, given that it matched the current season. Her long amethyst hair was tied up in a French braid bun kept tightly together with a golden foil comb and a hair pin bedecked with little purple crystals, as if to mimic the swaying movements of Wisteria petals. As she was leaning forward, the eri or collar of the kimono was tipped back, Hideaki could catch a hint of her cream-white slender nape, and he unconsciously gulped in a nervous gesture.
His childhood friend, Mibuchi was also in a traditional kimono, positioned in front of her, all the while watching her tea whisking movements carefully, as if he is ready to admonish her at any time should she make a mistake.
The girl lifted her head up, placing the tea whisk gently by the side, turn the tea bowl clockwise twice, before placing it in front of her 'teacher' as an offering. They both formally bowed to each other, after giving thanks and Mibuchi had finished his tea, he smiled.
"How is it?" Her melodic voice asked with a tremble.
"It's good, Suna chan. You are more than ready for the exam tomorrow." Mibuchi patted her head in encouragement, before turning to the room looking up at Hideaki," Stop gaping and come out here, Hide-chan."
The girl turned toward the room and though her first reaction was to gape, opening her mouth in a small 'o', she quickly composed herself, standing up together with Mibuchi with a gentle polite smile to Hideaki.
Ah.
Damn it, Hideaki. Calm down.
As Hideaki stepped into the veranda, putting on one of the wooden clogs, this girl was even more beautiful up close. Her flawless porcelain skin contrasted beautifully against the deep azure kimono she was wearing, and her lips were painted ruby red, making Hideaki fantasized how it would look if it were to smudge after a passionate kiss.
Shaking his head out of his dirty thoughts, he quickly extended his hand to distract himself," My name is Hideaki. Goro Hideaki. Nice to meet you."
"Mou~! We haven't seen each other for years and you totally brush your little old childhood friend off like that!" Mibuchi sulked, standing beside her, shaking his head.
"Ha ha ha!" She laughed, such a melodious laugh he thought, before she clasped her hand in his with a surprisingly firm handshake," I'm Setsuna, Kuroko Setsuna. Reo-nee is just practicing with me for my tea ceremony exam tomorrow. Would you care to join us?"
"I... I won't be a bother?" Hideaki asked, which Mibuchi quickly intercepted with a devious smile," Sou sou! Hide chan doesn't like Japanese tea anyway!"
Setsuna chuckled, turning towards the tea room again," I will head in and bring in some thin tea leaves then? It won't be as bitter compared to thick ones. The tea powder is running out in the Natsume anyway."
Setsuna bowed lightly to both of them in recognition before leaving, as customary in the middle of a tea ceremony, and Hideaki's eyes could not help but followed her silhouette till she left the room entirely. It was only with Mibuchi's slap to his head that he managed to snap out of his reverie.
"Stop it, Hide-chan. She's already taken."
"What? Really? How old is she? And who is she with?" Hideaki asked in a flurry, wanting to squeeze every information out of his friend.
"She's 19 and engaged. She's here as part of her marriage preparation course."
"To who?!"
"To someone you can't hope to ever surpass." Mibuchi placed a finger up to his lips and winked, much to Hideaki's agony.
Setsuna shortly returned with the tea leaves, and the three of them spend some time talking while drinking tea, at times reminiscing and bickering in part between the two childhood friends, and others Hideaki learning as much as he could about Setsuna.
Setsuna portrayed a gentle polite demeanor with an underlying sharp wit during their conversations, as befitting of the host of the tea ceremony, and it increasingly made Hideaki more enamored with her.
Reo's advice be damned, he thought, I do not know who her fiancé is, probably a rich one to boot given she had to come to one of the most established Kyoto households to learn tea ceremony. But Hideaki was determined to have her. He may not be an aristocrat but he does come from a relatively rich family, surely he won't lose to this mystery guy.
The hours passed by pleasantly till a maid slide the fusuma, wooden door opened, bowing in respect to the tea room, and said," Kuroko-sama, it's time."
"Oh! Time flies when you are in good company." Setsuna giggled, bowing formally to Mibuchi," Thank you so much for the help today, Reo-nee."
"The pleasure is all mine. Once the exam is done, text me the good news." Mibuchi smiled, bowing in return.
Setsuna promised she will do so, as she walked down the long corridors with both boys tagging along with her. Once they reached the entrance however, both Mibuchi and Setsuna stopped abruptly. Hideaki was right behind the tall Mibuchi and not stopping in time, he bumped right into him.
"Why did you st.." His eyes traveled along their sight and landed on a crimson-haired boy with his back facing them from a distance. He was dressed casually in a white collar-shirt and red cable-knit sweater, paired together in brown pants. He appeared to be momentarily distracted, peering up at the cherry blossom tree that had blossomed magnificently.
"Sei kun!" Setsuna quickly picked up her pace as much as she could in her form-fitting restrictive outfit, and just when the boy turned to her voice, she had collided to him in a tight hug, disregarding the two rapt audience behind her," Why are you here?"
"My classes finished early," Akashi returned her hug, looking at Mibuchi," So thought I would come by to check up on you two. How's her practice, Mibuchi san?"
Mibuchi chuckled, also walking up to him, chatting amiably. Given both their reactions, Hideaki deduced quickly this must be Setsuna's fiancé Mibuchi was talking about.
Hideaki quickly took a once look over at the crimson-haired boy, and did not immediately see the reason why Mibuchi had spoken so highly of him. Akashi finally noticed him, and only then, did Hideaki give a double take.
If Setsuna is the fleeting purple beauty like Wisteria flowers in spring, then this man is like the perfect crimson rose blossoming in a fine spring morning, as inappropriate it is to compare a man to a flower. His stance, mannerism, even down to the way he gaze at Hideaki indifferently only reaffirmed the sophisticated air around him. As if it hits home how unworthy he is to gaze at such perfection and how unattainable this man is to be called Hideaki's equal.
His crimson eyes had a strange authoritative quality in it, and for that few seconds, even though this 'Sei-kun' was obviously shorter than him, Hideaki felt infinitely smaller and intimidated by his stance.
He froze and flinched when Akashi walked up and introduced himself amiably, but without an offering of handshake," You must Goro Hideaki. Nice to meet you, I'm Akashi Seijuro."
"W… What, how did you know about me?" Hideaki turned to glance at Mibuchi who shrugged, shaking his head, indicating that he had never told Akashi about him.
"I have the pleasure of meeting your father in a social gathering a fortnight ago. He had mentioned his son would be returning from London and had proudly shoved a photo of yours in his phone for me to see. Such love from his father is hard to come by and therefore, hard to forget."
Hideaki smacked his face with his hand, thoroughly embarrassed by his father's fervor, and even more so, when the girl he had tried so hard to impress earlier, was laughing. Laughing in the arms of another. How Akashi retained his hold over the girl, his hand not leaving her waist, did not escape Hideaki's observation.
The green horn monster appeared to have invaded Hideaki and wanting to say something humiliating back to him, Akashi however had continued on," The Goro family appears to be in good capable hands. With your legal proficiency, I'm sure you can bring new perspective and breathe new life to your family business."
Hideaki deflated a little, how the hell do you fight back in the face of such compliments?
Wait a minute. If his father had actually spent precious time to speak to the son of his business partner, this Akashi must be of some degree of caliber. Akashi… The last name sounds familiar.
His eyes widened in recognition as who Akashi is finally settled upon him. Mibuchi noted his look of acknowledgement and smiled when it finally sunk upon him.
Told you he's not someone you can surpass easily.
"Well, Goro san. Now that you are back from London for good, we will see you around next time?" Setsuna reached out her hand and shake his warmly, and Hideaki blinked again, not registering it till she released her hold.
"Ah…" Hideaki nodded, only able to numbly watch the couple depart hand-in hand, retreating to the black SUV. The lawyer noted how Akashi had waved off the driver, choosing to open the door himself for Setsuna to enter, then swerve around to his side. This did not indicate submission on Akashi's part, but demonstrated just how much this girl mattered to him.
Before Akashi board the vehicle however, he held Hideaki's gaze coldly, a 180 degrees turn from his warm, praising words earlier, and as if satisfied that he had conveyed his message, he left.
That one second look was enough, really.
It was a warning.
It was enough to send shivers up Hideaki's spine, was it his imagination that Akashi's eyes appeared to turn gold for a second?
Mibuchi interrupted his thought by messing his hair up, herding him back into his manor for a well-deserved drink and some form of explanation regarding the handsome couple at hand.
"Goro-san is an interesting man, is he not?" Setsuna giggled as the car sped through the streets of Kyoto returning back to the Akashi manor.
Akashi did not answer, his eyes remained up front evenly, his hand never leaving hers, but no doubt the wheels in his mind were clicking and spinning from the short encounter.
"He is, but unfortunately, he is attracted to you." Akashi simply replied.
"What?" Setsuna blinked in alarm," I didn't do anything! And you only met him for a total of 5 minutes, how can you tell?"
Crimson eyes now gaze at hers impassively," It's instinct. I'm trained to be good at sniffing out opponents. However, if the attraction is beaten out of his system, his legal expertise will be useful."
"Is that your business instinct tingling then, Sei kun?" Setsuna smiled. "It's rare for you to take a liking to someone so quickly."
"His honesty stems from his father. It's a rare trait in this society. A little simple-minded, but malleable in the right conditions."
"Simple minded?" Setsuna tilted her head in thought.
"He's probably taken by your physical beauty and mannerism." Akashi explained," But he probably didn't even consider that you actually dislike tea ceremonies, nor your feet were numbed from the prolonged hours of kneeling on the tatami mat. You probably came out with some kind of excuse to escape, didn't you? Like refilling tea powder or providing a shawl to keep him warm."
Setsuna was appalled and blushing furiously because as always, he was right. "Did you… have some kind of CCTV camera monitoring me or something, Sei kun?!"
He chuckled, brushing his fingers on her cheeks affectionately, not answering her question," Stay this way, Suna. I won't have you any other way."
A/n: How is it? *fiddles thumb* I swear I have the encounter better in my head. :( I will revise as and when, in the mean time, please review, thank you!