Chapter Seven: Daddy's Day Part II


Ritsu Kasanoda, from a young age, was taught never to let others intimidate him. That allowing others to use and manipulate him was not in his book of conduct. It wasn't good behaviour for a future Yakuza leader, or any man in general. His father had done a great job in instilling these beliefs within Ritsu. Ever since Ritsu could remember, others constantly feared him. Slowly but surely he was working his way up the ladder to take over his father's position as head of their Yakuza branch. But that wasn't Ritsu longed for; that was not the future that Ritsu wanted for himself. Ritsu wanted to become a veterinarian. It was his dream. Nevertheless, his father would never approve of such a… silly dilemma. Thus, Ritsu's forced to keep his lifelong dream a secret.

But, if you love tending to animals so much, shouldn't you follow your heart and become a vet?

Her words are what had caused his eyes to open for the first time.

I think that it's much better just to be happy with your own life. You only live once; so you might as well spend it doing something you like. Why waste your life living someone else's dreams and ambitions? Ritsu-kun, open your true wings and let them fly. Let your dreams become reality.

After their first conversation, her words, Kagome's words, had caused Ritsu to come to the realization that he could become what he wanted. Because deep down, this was his life: not his father's, not his servants, heck, not even his cousin, but his. And because it's his, he should be entitled to do what he wanted.

Ritsu gulped and stood on the Fujioka's front doorstep, his hair brushed, his breath smelling minty fresh, and a handful of her favourite flowers in reach. He was determined to tell Kagome how he felt today. After learning of her sickness from a conversation he overheard in the hallway, he dashed out of school and ran the entire way here.

Kagome-chan, you must be okay, he thought and walked inside, following Haruhi's small form.

"Thank you, Haruhi-chan," Ritsu bowed, "for allowing me to come in." He slid off his shoes.

Haruhi smiled and shut the door. "It's no trouble. If you want to see Kagome-chan, she's in her bedroom. It's just down the hall." Haruhi pursed her lips together. "She should be awake."

After all, who can sleep when Tamaki-sempai never shuts up? She added to herself.

"Just let me go and check." Haruhi stated, beginning to walk towards her bedroom.

"Sure," Ritsu nodded, his face bright red.


"Thank you for the flowers, Ritsu-kun, they're lovely." Kagome smiled, sitting across the way from Ritsu. She had a blanket perched on her shoulders and was still in her sleeping clothes, her hair braided and her skin a bit pale. Ritsu thought she looked adorable.

"Um, you're welcome." He fiddled with his palms. "I'm glad you like them."

"I love them," she corrected him, not noticing him squirming in his seat. "So tell me Ritsu-kun, why did you come all the way over here?" In between, she coughed a few times. Ritsu frowned.

She's still not feeling better, he thought, gazing towards her face apprehensively.

"Ritsu-kun, are you okay?"

"GAHHH!" he jumped, startled by Kagome suddenly saying his name. Knee hitting the kotatsu, he suppressed a groan of pain and slowly slipped down towards the ground. Eyes wide, watering over, he pursed his lips together, trying to keep his shouts bottled up.

Question marks hovered above Kagome's head. She titled her head to the side and asked sweetly, "Ritsu-kun is something wrong?"

"N-nothing's wrong!" He stuttered, jumping to his feet.

"Are you sure?" She inquired. "You don't look so good?"

"Ah!" His face turned a deep shade of red.

"Ritsu-kun, are you—"

"DADDY SAYS STOP!" Both froze and directed their gazes towards the west. A red-faced Tamaki was standing before them, pointing a finger in their direction while holding a cell phone in the other hand. Breathing in deeply, he looked upset about something.

Good grief, just what we needed, Kagome thought, looking away

"Daddy won't stand for this!" Tamaki said, walking into the room directly to where Kagome was sitting. "Daddy won't let his daughter be influenced by this hooligan!" He pointed a finger towards Ritsu. "And Mommy won't stand for it either!" Pressing a button on his rather expensive phone, Tamaki placed it down onto the kotatsu top, and inched closer towards Kagome.

"Hello Kagome-chan, how are you feeling?" Kyouya's voice was heard through the line.

"Fine," she droned, trying her best to move away from Tamaki.

"Is the medication that Hikaru and Kaoru got for you helping?"

"Yes, it is." She hissed, glaring towards Tamaki "Let me go!" Tamaki was trying to hug her.

"Never!" he shouted, pulling her close towards him. Glaring towards Ritsu, he was pleased to see him looking uncomfortable. Daddy's newest operation: save-Kagome-chan-from-falling-for-whatever-Ritsu-Kasanoda-has-in-store-for-her, was going right according to plan. Now, what remained was for Kyouya to keep up his part.

"That's good to hear," Kyouya spoke calmly, the sound of typing heard through the line, "and from what Tamaki has told me, you have a guest visiting you, no?"

"That's right," Kagome said, her gaze flickering over towards Ritsu.

"Ritsu Kasanoda, if I am not mistaken."

"Um, that's right." Kagome sighed.

"Hmm, well then, hello to you, Ritsu-san," Kyouya said aloofly. Kagome could just picture him smiling through the other end of the line. And when Kyouya was smiling, that meant that things would never end well.

"Umm, h-hello, Ootori-senpai," Ritsu stuttered, cringing to himself.

"And tell me, Ritsu-san, how are you doing?"

"Fine," he squeaked.

"Really?" the typing sound ceased. "Because that didn't seem to be the case before, was it?"

Ritsu stiffened, all colour slowly draining itself from his face.

"With the comical scene you were making in front of the commoner's flower shop this afternoon, I wouldn't have assumed that you would be fine right now." Ritsu trembled; sweat dripping down like a waterfall. "After all, from what the shop owner said, she's never seen someone scream so loudly before."

"Ah—"

"Would you like to retell the events to both Kagome and Tamaki, or should I?" Kyouya asked.

Kyouya-senpai, Kagome balled both hands into fists, you rotten, dirty little player!

Ritsu jumped to his feet again. "I-I need to g-get going." He stuttered, making a dash for the door. He slipped on his shoes, tumbling all the while. "S-see you at school!" he shouted, unlocking the door and running away.

"Wait, Ritsu-kun!" Kagome spoke, pushing Tamaki away, causing Ritsu and Tamaki to freeze. "Don't leave just yet, please." She clasped her hands together, pouting.

Ritsu's heart skipped a beat. More than anything, he would love to stay. An afternoon with Kagome was like spending a day in heaven to him, but then there was… Ootori-senpai. His gaze flew towards the phone that was lying innocently on the kotatsu's top. Just staring towards the phone, knowing quite well that Kyouya could hear their every word, and most likely would retell the story of his morning's events was enough to make him decide to leave.

Breathing in heavily, he bowed in apology. "I'm really sorry, Kagome-chan, but I n-need to go!" And with that, he took off, tripping occasionally.

"Ritsu-kun!" she shouted, though it wasn't of any use, Ritsu was long gone and wouldn't be coming back. Kagome frowned and shut the door. Tamaki stood tall, as she turned around, his eyes glittering, hopeful. Her expression darkened. "I hope you're happy," she said and pushed past him, reaching for his phone. "You ruined everything!" She snarled and shut the phone, ending the call. Gritting her teeth, she gripped the phone and threw it down towards the ground. The phone broke into multiple pieces, littering the ground.

Tamaki gaped, frightened, and bent down, sniffling, as he picked up the remains of his phone. "Kagome-chan!" he whined.

Kagome rolled her eyes and walked off. "Leave me alone!" she hissed causing Tamaki to retreat to a corner. "And stay away from me!"

Wailing to himself, Tamaki mumbled under his breath, "I was just trying to be a good Daddy. What did I do wrong exactly?"