Author's Note: Again, thanks to people who've read. Sorry about the whole editing thing on chapter 2 I believe. Everything belongs to Bisco Hatori except my characters.
Nanalee stared at the dress. A maid had brought it to her room a few minutes before, telling her that it was her new school's uniform. It was yellow, with puffed sleeves, and a removable padding at the chest. Gingerly, she picked it up and held it in front of her in the mirror. She winced.
Still holding the dress, she marched out of her room, across the hall, and knocked on the door to Kyoya's room. "It 's Nanalee."
"Enter." He looked at her, surprised to see her mortified expression.
She scowled, not even trying to keep it back. The main reason she ever withheld her expressions was her pride in the face she could do it, and that it often made human contact easier, so what reason was there doing it now.
"What is troubling you?" He went back to typing on his laptop.
Smiling sarcastically, she said. "This. Its hideous."
"Many of the girls at Ouran love the outfit."
"Well, maybe it looks good on them."
Kyoya looked up at her and dress she held next to her. He could see how the dress wouldn't suit her. "And why are you disturbing my peace for this?"
"Do you still have your uniform from your first year?"
"No, and even if I did, it would be too big. And the middle school uniforms are different."
"That's why I didn't ask for one." She muttered, wishing she was taller.
"You aren't actually that short for Japanese girls, though I think you've actually grown a centimeter since we met. And you aren't thinking of disguising yourself as a boy, are you?"
"I know, but I am for an American, and no I'm not. I was going to...feminize it so its clear I'm a girl. Did you know that these dresses came with a padded chest to make it look it bigger? You can take it off, but..."
"No, I didn't. I'm not interested in dresses and what they come with it." He looked her over, stopping to look at her chest. It was obviously there and bigger than Haurhi's, but was still small. "Would you use the padding?"
Resisting the urge to go and smack him and trying her best not to turn red, she answered , "No." After a pause, Kyoya pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. "Haruhi only has two, though he's the closest to your size. I guess I'll see if Hunny has any extra he can loan you, the outfit might be a little short though."
"I can fix it. By the way, when is your father returning from his business trip? I would like to meet him."
"Tomorrow. And then we start school the day after."
She nodded and turned to leave the room. As she closed his door, she said, "Thank you."
Someone knocked on her door. Not looking up from the book she was reading, she called "Enter."
A maid entered. "Nanalee-san?"
Nanalee sighed inwardly. Nanalee-san was the most casual term she had convinced the servants to call her. "Yes, uh, aren't you Kotone?"
"Yes, Nanalee-san. You requested that you be notified when Yoshio Ootori-sama arrived. He has. I think he's coming up here to greet you."
Nanalee's eyes widened. "What?" She looked around at her room. It wasn't messy, but not that neat. "Do you think I should clean up, or go meet him?"
"Neither is required." The maid, Kotone, turned around, and Nanalee nearly jumped out of her seat.
A man entered the room. He wasn't that tall, making Nanalee wonder why Kyoya was so tall. His face was chiseled and stern, and though his hair was still black, she saw a few whites in it. The man, while keeping up a calm composure, looked to her as if he were eternally weary.
He walked over to her, "Yoshio Ootori. Good to meet you Nanalee Carson." He held out a hand.
She took it. "You too. Just call me Nanalee."
"Then call me Yoshio." Though his face remained the same, something in his eyes told her he had relaxed a little.
"Father." The new voice from the hallway was Kyoya's and he too stepped into her room. "I didn't know you had arrived."
She saw Yoshio tense up, though she wasn't sure why. Kyoya hadn't told her much about his father, and even though Haruhi had said a little more (though Kyoya didn't know about that), Nanalee didn't see why Yoshio should tense up at the sight of his son.
"I have returned from my business trip. I hope you are well, Kyoya."
Kyoya nodded, "I am. I hope your business trip was productive."
"It was. On another matter, we will be having a dinner with several other families, including others with scholarship students, as well as the Suohs, tomorrow night. Now Kyoya, please leave. I wish to discuss some things with Nanalee."
Kyoya bowed and left. Yoshio nodded to the maid, dismissing her.
"Er...what did you want to discuss?" Nanalee asked.
"Come with me to my office. I don't want to be overheard."
Yoshio's office was smaller than she had imagined it would be. While still spacious, it wasn't much bigger than the average bank manager's. On the wall without windows or shelves were two paintings. One was of a man sharing many characteristics with Yoshio, except for his old age and the even sterner expression on his face. The other was a beautiful woman, who was painting within the painting. She was tall, and she shared many facial characteristics with Kyoya, but a small genuine smile played on her lips. Nanalee instantly liked her.
"My father and my wife. She painted both." He sat down behind his desk.
"She was quite the artist." Nanalee followed his example, sitting down in a chair on the other side of the desk.
"Indeed." He spoke wistfully. "I think Kyoya and my daughter Fuyumi take after her more than my other children, though in completely different ways." He was quiet for a minute, then suddenly cleared his throat. "So. When you plan on notifying Tamaki Suoh that you know his mother?"
"That has been a very popular question. Not tomorrow night. I wish to get to know him a little before I tell him."
"I was going to suggest that you not tell him at the party. His grandmother will be there."
She sat up, interested. "I must confess I've been eager to meet Shizue Suoh for quite a time. Well, I've been eager to meet you too."
"Indeed. Why so?"
"Well, she's the cruel and unreasonable government. You and I are co-conspirators of the rebellion."
He frowned for a second, then said, "You've read too many novels."
Nanalee laughed. She glimpsed the fleeting of a smile on Yoshio's face as well, which made her glad. "Perhaps."
"I hope your not trying to turn our whole world on its head."
"Well, it isn't my intention. It might happen as a result of something I do, but its not m intention at this point in time."
Time passed without anyone speaking. Nanalee smiled inwardly, Ah awkward moments are wonderful. Noticing the photographs framed on his desk, she motioned that she wished to look at them.
He nodded, giving his permission. One was of all his children standing together. By Kyoya's appearance she guessed it to be pretty recent. The other was a picture of his wife, a young Kyoya and a young girl sitting on her lap, while Yoshio and Kyoya's brothers standing up behind them.
"Um...Yoshio, if you don't me asking, why do you seem so...tense around Kyoya? You seem much different sitting here than you did back in my room." She watched him, suspecting he had the same reluctance to talk about personal matters as well as the same ability to hide his feelings from others, an ability which didn't work with her.
"I...When my wife, Riko, was alive, we were a family. I acted like a proper father. Then, she died not long after that photo was taken. I...stopped being a father then. Now, I..."
She understood. "You feel guilty for how you disconnected from your children after your wife died. And now you can't tell them how you feel, due to pride and lack of knowledge in even knowing how to." She sighed. "Pride can be good, but its also very painful. I hope when my time comes, I can overcome my pride. But even if I do, I'll probably still butcher it, especially if its involved with romantic love. I don't do well with crushes and, I would imagine, even worse with that kind of love. You must have really loved your wife."
He smiled gently, similar to the smile his wife had in her pictures. "I did, even though our marriage was arranged. You are very wise."
Nanalee blushed. "I also don't take compliments well. I wish I could help reconcile you with your children, but I don't know Kyoya, much less anyone else, well enough to suggest a strategy. But if Kyoya is like your wife, and she is how I imagine her, then I don't think I should be too hard once you work up the courage."
"But you see, he's also like me."
"A dilemma then." She stood and stretched. "I'm sorry, this conversation is too depressing for me."
"Well, I've said what I needed to about Tamaki. You may go."
She turned and walked out the door, winking at him as she left.
Author's Note: I wanted to say more, but the top of this didn't seem the best place. While writing this, I was reminded of fruits basket, and how I got bored near the end because there was so much relationship stuff (I persevered and finished though. And I liked it, but not as much as Ouran). So I'm going to try to put some other plot twist in. I had an idea which I still might use, but that will take several more additional chapters. So yeah. Happy weekend.