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Chapter 4
"You're fucking kidding me!" were the first words out of Yuki's elder brother Ken Matsuoka's mouth when she told them about Soujirou.
"Kenji!" Her father warned as he glanced at his eldest son Sho's little daughter and Ken's son who were looking up at them innocently. "That kind of language is not permitted in this house especially when there are children around!"
"Isn't this the same Nishikado Soujirou that broke your heart years ago?" Yuki's eldest brother Sho asked. Although he wasn't openly showing his outrage like Ken, it was clear from the tone of his voice that he was not happy about it at all.
"Err…well; he's not like that anymore. He's changed" Yuki replied hastily.
"I can't believe you're telling us this now?" Ken exclaimed as he kicked the table "I don't like this". Turning to his parents who were seated calmly on the couch he exclaimed. "This guy is the biggest Casanova since- since Casanova!"
Yuki's eldest brother Sho rolled his eyes. "Stop being so melodramatic Ken" he said. Being the eldest of the three Matsuoka siblings, Sho was always calm in comparison to his hot headed younger brother. Even Yuki was a tad more irrational than him.
"Didn't this guy hurt you before? What makes you think that he's not going to hurt you again?" Sho asked.
"I-I just know" she replied feeling the bile rise in her throat. She had never lied before and now she was lying through her teeth.
"And isn't he the same baka that ran from you time and time again?" Ken asked.
"I-I…yes" she replied and he raised an eyebrow.
"So…you're getting married to the guy who repeatedly ran from you? Is that what you want your marriage to be like? How do you know he'll not go off with another woman and leave you?" Ken asked.
"Because I trust Nishikado-san" she exclaimed and looked helplessly at her two sister in laws in the corner.
"Bullshit" Ken exclaimed and he kicked the table again.
"Will you stop reacting like this?" Yuki asked
"I will react however I want!" Ken shouted "I mean how can you tell us this half an hour before the guy is supposed to arrive??"
"Actually I told everyone else three days ago" Yuki replied smugly and Ken's face turned red. By everyone she was referring to her parents, Sho and his wife Miki and Ken's wife Akiko.
"And you didn't tell me?" he exploded.
"It's because I knew how you would react that why I didn't tell you sooner!" she exclaimed.
"She's got a point there Ken" Sho added "I mean you are over reacting quite a bit".
"And you're ok with this?" Ken asked looking at his parents and his brother.
"I may not like it but if this is Yuki's decision then there is nothing we can do to stop her. She's a grown woman who can make her own decisions now, she has to live by her own choices" Kyu Matsuoka said with some finality.
"And you?" Ken's eyes flashed as they gazed upon Sho. "You're ok with this too?"
"No, not really but I agree with papa. It is ultimately Yuki's decision and if Nishikado-san is who she chooses then so be it" Sho replied and Ken stared at his brother in disbelief.
"This is ridiculous!" he exclaimed.
"No you're being ridiculous" Yuki shot back.
"I'm not being ridiculous; you're too young to get married!"
"Excuse me? You got married when two years younger than I am now in case you've forgotten" she exclaimed.
"Well that's because I'm more mature than you and I can handle it!"
"You? HAH! Don't make me laugh; you're the least mature person I know, hello? Look at the way you're acting now".
"Well I didn't marry someone who ran from me every time I went near them" he shot back.
"I'm sure nee chan would have run away from you if she could! Especially since you're such a self centered piece of"-
"I think I know the reason why you're in a hurry to get married, you're pregnant aren't you?"
"WHAT?? ARE YOU CRAZY? Of course I'm not pregnant"
"Then why are you in such a hurry?"
"It's none of your"-
"ENOUGH!" Sho shouted. As the eldest, he stepped up to the plate. It didn't look like his parents were going to intervene any time soon. They usually let Ken and Yuki argue until they got tired of arguing. Sho usually did the intervening, if his parents were not going to do it then somebody had to right? Besides, he was not in the mood to hear their mindless bickering. He'd had a hard day at the hospital that he worked at as a doctor. Sho had been busy fighting against the officials of the health system to get rid of filling up forms before the doctor could be seen by the patient. If a patient was dying, the time spent filling up the form could be crucial in saving the patients life. "For goodness sake the two of you are going to give me a headache! Now listen, Nishikado-san will be here shortly and is this the kind of impression that you want him to have of us?"
"I don't care I"- Ken began but was cut off by his brother.
"I don't care if you don't care Ken, just because we don't like him doesn't give us the right to be rude. Whatever it is, remember Yuki has made her choice and you should respect it. I don't expect you to be nice to Nishikado-san but the least you could do is to be civil" Sho told his brother sternly.
Yuki's father nudged his wife and leant in to whisper into her ear. "See I told you that there was no need for us to interfere, Sho always does our job for us".
Ken gave a resigned sigh and his shoulders slumped. "Is this what you really want?" he asked softly as he approached his sister.
"Yes" she replied and she felt her heart deflate with her lie.
"What about Akira Kun? He loves you! And didn't you love him too?" he asked softly.
"I-I don't know" Yuki replied.
"Fine, then I won't push it anymore, I just don't want to have to say I told you so" he said looking at her seriously.
"And you won't have to" she replied firmly, as if trying to convince herself. Sho's wife Miki gave her a thumbs up while Ken's wife Akiko smiled.
Yuki sighed, the battle had been won but the war had yet to be over. Soujirou was due to arrive any minute now and her heart contracted in anticipation. She hoped to god that her family would treat him politely. She walked over to the window and pulled aside the curtain. Where was he?
"Waiting for Nishikado-san?" Akiko asked walking over to her with her ten month old daughter Azusa in her arms.
"Something like that" Yuki replied when in actual fact, she was trying to come to terms with what a lying cheat she was.
"Don't worry he'll be here soon I'm sure" Akiko said kindly as she readjusted Azusa in her arms.
"Want me to take her from you?" Yuki asked as she noticed her sister in law struggling slightly.
"Oh yes please" Akiko sighed gratefully.
"She's growing up so fast" Yuki remarked thoughtfully as she cooed at her niece. Azusa gurgled happily and gripped one of Yuki's fingers in her chubby hands.
"Very soon, you'll be having one of your own too you know?" Akiko remarked and Yuki choked.
Kids? With Soujirou? HAH! As if! She couldn't see him as being the fatherly type. He was too self centered to be a father. He was more concerned about the state of his hair than the state of affairs. Her thoughts trailed off when the doorbell echoed throughout her parents' house.
"He's here" Yuki whispered.
"Go and get the door Yuki" Kyu Matsuoka told his daughter.
"We should act stern papa" Ken advised looking at his father and brother.
"You're right" Sho agreed "we should show him whose boss".
"No matter what, be stern and don't show him any emotion. We don't want to give in too easily" Ken commanded.
"Yes, I agree with you both" Kyu Matsuoka said crossing his arms, waiting for his future son in law to arrive.
Yuki tottered off towards the door with baby Azusa in her arms. Taking a deep breath, she used one hand and opened the door to reveal an impeccably dressed Soujirou. He was wearing an Armani suit and he smiled as soon as he saw her. There was even a spark of tenderness in his eyes that Yuki had only seen when he had talked about Sara.
"You're a good actor aren't you" she whispered to him out of the corner of her mouth.
"Who said this was all acting?" he whispered back with a wink.
"Stop teasing me Nishikado san" she hissed sternly.
"By the way Yuki chan, I'm your fiancé now so I think it would be better that you call me Soujirou" he remarked.
"Fine" she replied looking disgruntled. "Soujirou san would you like to come in so I can introduce you to my charming family?" she asked with fake sweetness.
"Yes my dear Yuki chan" he replied in a sugary syrupy tone that rivaled hers.
"Mama, Papa" Yuki exclaimed pushing past Soujirou "this is Nishikado Soujirou". Then turning to Soujirou she said "Nishi- Soujirou san, these are my parents"-
"Matsuoka Kyu san and Matsuoka Eri san right? Although at first when I saw you Eri san I thought you might have been Yuki chan's sister" Soujirou interrupted. "Yuki chan has told me so much about you".
Yuki blinked dumbly "err…I have?" she asked looking at him in confusion.
Yuki's mother blushed "what has she told you Nishikado san?" she asked shyly. Soujirou smiled, she was totally lapping it up.
"I was told of your legendary culinary skills, okaasan. I've heard you make the best cream puffs" Soujirou flattered.
"And what has Yuki told you about me?" Kyu Matsuoka added, trying not to look interested.
"Ahem" Ken cleared his throat and his father's face went back to a mask of stoic display.
"Yuki has told me that you're a bit of a judo enthusiast and that you've got a black belt in Judo, Karate, Aikido and Tae Kwon Do" Soujirou added with amazement.
"Hmmm" Kyu replied, his mask never wavering.
"I wish I could be like you but I've only got my black belts in Judo, Karate and Tae Kwon Do" Soujirou added.
Kyu blinked at Soujirou "you mean you're interested in martial arts as well?" he asked. His face shone with interest.
"Father" Ken warned but Kyu ignored his son.
"So how old were you when you got your black belts?" Kyu asked.
"I was nine when I got my black belt for Karate and ten when i got my Tae Kwon Do black belt"-
"Nine? Wow you were so young and you got your black belt then?" he asked in amazement.
"Yes" Soujirou replied with a smile and Yuki felt the bile rise in her throat at how sickly sweet he sounded.
"That's amazing" Yuki's father burst out and Ken slapped a palm to his forehead. The old man had forgotten. Ken glanced to his side and noted that at least Sho still seemed to keep to their agreement. His parents on the other hand had crossed over to the dark side, to join Nishikado Soujirou.
"Not really" Soujirou replied waving a hand modestly.
"Come, come and meet my sons" Kyu said ushering Soujirou into the modest living room. Sho and Ken stood trying to look as intimidating as possible but it was no easy feat considering who they were up against.
Soujirou didn't back down. "Ah you must be Yuki chan's brothers, Matsuoka Sho san and Matsuoka Kenji san yes?"
"Hmmm" both boys replied back in unison and Yuki began to feel the worry settle in her stomach. Her parents were easy for Soujirou to win over but her brothers were an entirely different chapter. Soujirou was going to have problems.
"So the boy has actually gone to meet her parents?" Takeshi Nishikado asked his trusted Micah as they had tea in the living room.
"Yes, they seem like decent enough people. Although it wouldn't be wise to cross Yuki chan's father. He's somewhat of a martial arts expert" Micah added helpfully.
"What does her family do?" Takeshi asked. He was now intrigued. He had wondered for a long time who Soujirou would pick and for his grandson to choose Yuki, there must have been something about her.
"Her father has two companies set up and he's opened a dojo near their house recently. Her mother was a teacher but has retired from the profession for a few years now. Her eldest brother Sho has a business degree and an accounting degree and seems to be in line to take over the companies from her father. Her youngest brother Kenji a graduate from the elite Tokyo University is an editor for the local paper".
"Hmm" Takeshi let out after a while. "It seems as though the boy has chosen well. Her family seems to be from an alright background. But I think the boy has to watch his back though, her family seems capable in decapitating him".
"Nishikado san, is there anything else you'd like me to do?" Micah asked as he bowed his head dutifully.
"Not really. I just want you to follow them around once in a while; I'm giving you some time off so that you can visit your daughter's gravesite today. Wait actually there is something that I need you to do. Bring me all the articles written by Kenji Matsuoka, he sounds like an interesting fellow" Takeshi boomed and Micah nodded his head.
"Yes Nishikado san" Micah replied.
"I wonder how the boy's doing" Takeshi thought with a chuckle as he imagined Soujirou being strangled by the Matsuoka men.
Soujirou had never been more uncomfortable in his entire life. He was the one that cause others discomfort. Not the other way around. He used to people fearing him and usually he was given whatever he wanted because he was a Nishikado. But this? This was something else. The way Sho and Ken Matsuoka were eyeing him made him feel like he was a criminal. He had come with a game plan prepared but nothing was going according to plan. Sho and Ken should have been eating out of his palm by now but instead they were seated across from him, staring at him like he'd kicked their cat and then stoned it to death.
"Have you met my daughters in law?" Kyu Matsuoka asked gesturing to the two women seated beside Yuki's brothers.
"No Matsuoka san I don't think I have" Soujirou replied flashing them his heart melting smile.
"This is Sho's wife Miki and this is Ken's wife Akiko" Kyu introduced and both women smiled back pleasantly, bowing their heads slightly.
"Nice to meet you".
"And these" Kyu Matsuoka announced as two children toddled into the room "are my grandchildren. This little girl here is Niji Matsuoka, she's Sho's daughter. She's four years old and this is Ken's four year old son Ryun. Baby Azusa is Ken's second child" Kyu Matsuoka said as he pointed to a sleeping baby Azusa in Yuki's arms.
Soujirou had to admit, Yuki's nieces and nephews were cute. But he couldn't help but stare at the way Yuki handled baby Azusa in her arms. She had a spark of tenderness in her eyes and there was something about the way she cooed over baby Azusa that made Soujirou think that she would be a great mother to their kids. He halted his thinking and sat up straight. What the hell was he thinking? If he had his way, they'd be divorced within a year. There was definitely no time for him to even think about kids with Yuki. But this was something he had to keep to himself because if his mother and grandfather heard that they'd be none to pleased. He saw Sho and Ken eyeing him in a way that was most unfriendly and he decided that he'd have to win them over somehow if he wanted to marry Yuki.
"The other day I sent my grandfather to the hospital and they made me fill up a form before the doctor could see him. Apparently it's the hospital regulations. I mean just imagine if a person is dying and then their loved one or someone had to fill up a form before they're seen by a doctor. Don't you think that the time spent filling up a form could save the patient's life?" Soujirou exclaimed giving a frustrated sigh.
Sho leant forward, his eyes wide and alert in interest. "Exactly" he exclaimed surprising everyone especially Ken. "That's what I've been trying to say for so long and no one's been listening to me. One patient died the other day because we were too late to give him shock treatment. I mean if we had just a few more minutes, he would have been saved".
"I know what you mean. Every life is precious, we should do whatever we can to save lives" Soujirou added sympathetically and Yuki felt like throwing up. Since when was he so interested in this type of stuff?
"Nishikado san, I wasn't aware that you we interested in the health system" Sho said conversationally.
"Please call me Soujirou. Actually Matsuoka san, my brother was a doctor so I have had no choice but to hear about the health system over and over again".
"Oh I see Soujirou Kun; maybe it's better if you don't call me Matsuoka san. I mean there are three of us Matsuoka men so it might get confusing. There's no need to be so formal, we're practically going to be brothers ne?" Sho remarked startling Yuki.
"Hai Onii san" Soujirou replied back with a grin. Yes! He thought to himself. One down and one more to go! Ken snorted sarcastically. It didn't seem like he would succumb to Soujirou's charm as easily as his brother did.
"I read your article in the paper about the corrupt real estate agents and I must say I found it very interesting" Soujirou remarked.
"Oh uh yes" Yuki jumped in trying to act as a buffer. "Nii chan wanted to buy a house a few months ago but he was cheated by the real estate agents. Instead of giving him a house in pristine condition like they promised, the house was badly run down and was falling apart. It hardly a place to raise children so now Nii chan has to wait for it to be renovated before he and Nee chan can move in".
"Hai, and until then we're staying at a rented property a street away" Akiko replied.
"I see, it must be terrible for you. We were once cheated like that so I can only imagine what you must be going through" Soujirou remarked. Ken didn't even bat an eyelid.
"Soujirou kun" Kyu Matsuoka said suddenly. "May I speak to you in private for a moment?"
"Hai" Soujirou replied and although he didn't show it, he wasn't feeling so confident anymore.
"Maybe papa is secretly going to give him a good bashing, oh I hope he does that" Ken whispered to Sho who shushed him.
"Don't worry" Yuki whispered to him "I don't think my father will do something like that, or at least I think so".
Soujirou followed Kyu Matsuoka into a large bare room that contained only cupboards of trophies, plaques and various awards. There were certificates on the wall that Soujirou noticed belonged to the members of the Matsuoka family.
"Are you looking at the awards?" Kyu Matsuoka asked. "They mostly Tae Kwon Do awards and Judo awards that the boys and I have won" he remarked casually.
"Uh Matsuoka san didn't you want to talk to me about something?" he asked trying to change the subject. If only he had known what lay in store for him, he would have delayed the conversation a bit more.
"Did you think I was going to hand over my only daughter that easily?" he exclaimed and Soujirou blinked.
"I don't understand" Soujirou remarked.
"Yuki is my only daughter and the man that marries he has to be worthy of her" Kyu Matsuoka replied. "For that I have one condition for you to fulfill before you can marry my daughter".
"What do you want me to do?"
"Well let's have a Tae Kwon Do sparring contest?" Kyu Matsuoka proposed and Soujirou looked flabbergasted.
"Eh?"
"If you win me, I'll give you my full blessings to marry Yuki. But if you lose, you have to leave Yuki and never see her again. Not even as friends". Kyu Matsuoka looked at him expectantly.
Soujirou wondered briefly if it was even worth going through all this trouble just to marry Yuki. He wouldn't have minded not marrying Yuki but he couldn't bear the thought of not being able to see her as friends. It was true that he hadn't seen her for five years but he had thought about her often during those five years. He had wondered how she was, where she was. He wasn't about to let her go now, especially since he'd just gotten her back.
"What say you eh?" Kyu Matsuoka challenged.
"I'll do it" Soujirou announced with some finality as he shrugged of the coat from his Armani suit. Loosening his tie, he prepared himself for what was to come. It was going to be hard to defeat Kyu Matsuoka. According to his information, Kyu Matsuoka was martial arts extraordinaire. He still participated in tournaments when he wasn't busy with his business and he even trained his nephew to become Japan's Judo champion. Oh this was not going to be easy at all. In fact, if Soujirou came out alive he would make an offering to the gods.
"Are you ready?" Kyu Matsuoka asked as he clenched his fists in a guarding block.
No, he wasn't ready. But Soujirou didn't have a choice. He had to do this if he ever wanted to so much look at Yuki again.
"Yes I'm ready" Soujirou replied as his face hardened into a mask of determination. When in actual fact all he wanted to do was run from the room.
"What are they doing in there?" Yuki asked as she paced up and down the front garden. Her mother had insisted on having tea in the garden with the rest of the family while her husband and Soujirou did whatever it was that they were doing. She had a vague idea what her husband had in store for her future son in law but Eri Matsuoka was not about to worry her daughter further.
"Don't worry I'm sure everything's alright" Sho's wife Miki soothed.
"But they've been in there for almost an hour already" Yuki replied as her face etched itself into a frown.
"Just sit down Yuki, you're giving me a headache" Ken exclaimed rubbing his temples.
"I'm sure they'll be out soon" Sho said kindly and Yuki plopped herself down next to her brother. He stroked her hair fondly, in that brotherly fashion of his that always seemed to calm her down.
"I hope papa isn't doing anything bad to Nishika- I mean Soujirou san" she corrected when she realized that her family was looking at her.
"He'll be ok" Akiko comforted.
"No, it's been far too long already. I'm going in" Yuki announced and she got up from her seat.
Before she could reach the door, it opened to reveal a triumphant looking Kyu Matsuoka supporting a beaten up Soujirou.
"Soujirou san!" Yuki exclaimed when Soujirou stumbled forward. "Are you alright?"
He held up a hand as if to shush her "I'm fine Yuki chan" he groaned and after bidding everyone goodnight he limped of in the direction of his car.
"What happened?" she asked her father.
"Oh nothing Yuki, don't worry about him. He'll be fine in a few days or a few weeks, depending on how bad his injuries are" Kyu Matsuoka replied as Ken snorted with laughter.
"But why?" was all that Yuki could ask.
"I just challenged him to a sparring contest. I told him that if he won, he'd have our blessings to marry you but if he lost, he could never see you again. I would have let him marry you either way but I just wanted to see what the boy would do. He fought. He knew that the chances of him beating me were slim but he did it anyway. He did it for you, Yuki".
"Rubbish, he did it for himself" she replied.
"No, he did it for you. If you had seen the way he fought, you would have realized. It was like a desperate man fighting for something as if his life depended upon it. You have my full blessings to marry him" Kyu Matsuoka exclaimed causing Ken to look like someone had slapped him.
"You'd better go after him and see if he's ok" Akiko advised.
"Yes, now would be the best time to comfort him" Miki remarked wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
Yuki looked to her parents for the green light. "Go" her father said and she shot off after him.
Soujirou had never been so humiliated in his entire life. He had just been beaten by a fifty something year old man. He should have just left instead of fighting for Yuki, but he couldn't. He could just let her disappear from his life totally like she'd done before. He needed a drink. Badly. Which is why he was currently sitting in a deserted bar, knocking down his fifth whisky shot with Yuki watching him through those almond eyes of hers. He wasn't exactly sure why she was there with him but she'd refused to leave him so he had no other choice but to let her stay. He ignored her for most part focusing only on the burning of the cool liquid down his throat.
"Nishikado san that is enough" Yuki said stopping him just before he could knock back another glass.
"No it's not enough" he slurred.
"You've had too much to drink already" she said and took his shot glass from him and set it down on the bar top.
"Leave me alone Yuki chan"
"Come on, lets get you home" she said "we have to meet your family tomorrow and you need to get some rest".
"I don't need rest" he exclaimed a while later when they reached his car.
"Give me your keys, I'll drive" she said and when he didn't, she rifled through his pockets.
Yuki glanced at Soujirou as he slept, leaning his head against the glass of the car's window. Looking at him now, no one would think he was the heir to one of the largest fortunes in Japan. He now looked like a pathetic excuse for a man. She felt a twinge of sympathy for him when she saw his split lip and the bruise on his cheek. She wondered why he decided to spar with her father; he probably had something to gain from it. Then her father's words rang in her ears. He did it for you. There was no way that he would have done something like that for her. He was too self centered.
"I did it for you Yuki chan" he slurred and Yuki looked over at him. His eyes were shut but he was mumbling in his sleep. "I did it for you. If I didn't, I'd never see you again".
Her heart lifted in hope. Did he really do it for her? Or did he do it because he had something to gain for himself? She couldn't understand him. But now wasn't the time to get her hopes up. She had been a fool for giving herself false hope the last time and now she would be a bigger fool again for doing it a second time.
"I'm sorry" Soujirou exclaimed in sleep all of a sudden. "I didn't mean to hurt you".
Yuki closed her eyes and forced herself to harden her heart. It would do her no good to get hurt again. Plus, she had to be tough. She was going to meet Soujirou's parents in fifteen hours.
Author's note: Hello me lovelies! I'm so sorry that I haven't updated this for a while…I've had so much trouble with this that it's not funny…Even with this chapter I struggled with it and re wrote it a good twelve times…and I'm still not happy with it…but anyway if you want to read it please do and if you don't then I'm not going to worry about it. Take care lovelies and I do hope you leave me reviews to let me know of your suggestions so that I can improve…and if you want anything specific to happen in the next chapter please review and let me know too…thanks!!