A/N: I'm Back! And freaking late! :D
This was originally supposed to be released for St. White's day but tests before Spring Break always suck!
BUT I promise PROMISE that for my anniversary in April I'll have a MASSIVE update!
Till then read and review these for me :D
MT Lyfe- I'm happy to see you enjoying this story. Although this is based on business like Fated, it's a deeper hate and revenge theme then Fated. Ryoma and Fuji will be baiting and trapping each other from here on out so their deepest secrets and desires are only bound to fall upon them. Kenzo and Leiling had the focus for the most part of the last chapter and in this chapter since the basis will focus more on Ryoma's movements and a bit on Fuji.
MARYLOVER- Yep… at the moment, Fuji doesn't quite know what he's really up against but the story always takes a bit of a twisted, darker turn when Ryoma narrates. They are going to find it hard to agree when they think so differently as well as the fact that they grew up differently as well. She WILL be showing up whether people want her to or not because she is HIS fiancée and they are going to have to deal with that soon. I did focus a tad more on Kenzo and Leiling because their wedding is going to make everyone's life harder/easier depending on the situation. In order for that to go through though, I had to deepen their characteristics and get everyone more used to them. Falling in love is an iffy right now because this is, no doubt a marriage of convenience and there is no love or attraction yet between them… time will tell but not now.
You're right about one thing though, Fuji's on to Ryoma in a way and he will definitely need confirmation of what's in the file, which will no doubt lead there… if he does stray there of course.
Tuli-Susi- I don't blame you for thinking that, it started out kind of slow but with the introduction of Fuji, nothing goes at a normal pace, thus introducing how they go head-to-head right now. Tezuka will be getting in-between a lot trying to protect Ryoma from Fuji clutches… but there's only so much he can do as well.
RuByMoOn17- There's a lot more happening :)
Lapis- It's good to know this story is anticipated by people so I'll sit my butt down and actually write the next chapter XD
tsub4ki- Does he? Or is this just another mask of his? At the moment I'm using the connection as a part of the plot right now but I don't have any plans for the two as a real couple yet… they may or may not develop. They are going to play key roles in some of the outer plots so that's why I consider them important. There's a slight association that connects all of them together actually… and it even extends to Fuji himself… but that will be much later.
The folder, knowing Ryoma is more than likely fabricated to the fullest.
xANIMExObsessedx- Yes, he's officially a stalker now and Leiling's father is just caught up in anger at the moment. People tend to become hypocritical when things hurt or frustrate them to blinding it.
Playgirl Eugene- Rofl, she may appear before you want her to appear and Niou gets more moments babysitting, as he calls it, his Ryoma dear. XD
TeNsHi No ToIkI- Evil huh? Maybe perhaps he's a bit revengeful but there will be other sides to him as time goes along.
Behind His Eyes
Rated: M
Summary: Fuji has no intention of taking over Fuji Inc. even if he is the oldest son and a genius at the business...that is until he meets Ryoma, an in-coming genius who threatens his reputation in the company.
Ryoma has a bitter past that crossed paths with the Fuji's. To get his revenge he sold his happiness for the opportunity, sold his soul to a smiling devil and learned business to beat his enemies at their own game.
Chapter 6: Forceful Pursuing
Night
Emperor's Bar
"Well then Kitten," Yukimura said looking over his shoulder to where Ryoma was. " You shall play best man at the wedding."
"Why?" Ryoma asked with a slight scowl. Really, he hadn't wanted a part in the wedding at all!
"Because you'll look good standing next to Kenzo." Yukimura said with a small smile. "Doesn't everyone else think so as well?"
"Aa!" ever other occupant in the room agreed immediately as some glanced at Ryoma a bit guiltily at having offered him so willingly.
"Well then that's settled," Yukimura said with a smile. "I, of course will be with Gen representing Kenzo's guardians!"
"Hn…" Ryoma merely let out as everyone seemed to ignore the fact that he was now the best man and had moved on in Yukimura's pace. He stepped out of the room and towards the window outside the room.
"Aww… cheer up Ryo-sweetie!" Niou teased lightly poking at Ryoma's shoulder annoyingly. "They say the best man tends to get married next… course who knows what kind of woman would want to marry you."
"You're so fuckin annoying!" Ryoma said with a frown
"And you're so adorable when you're mad!" Niou said imitating Jackal's voice so well, it seemed as if the guy who didn't speak more than he needed to was standing there teasing him.
"Not funny." Ryoma said turning away from Niou.
"Of course not kitten," Niou said imitating Yukimura soft voice now.
"Want to see my impersonation of Yuki-san?" Ryoma asked Niou with a tight smile now.
"Why not?" Niou said with a smile. He'd never seen Ryoma so an imitation before… perhaps he was pretty good.
"I'll be back," Ryoma said walking back into the room.
"Che!" Niou said imitating Ryoma now. " Running away?"
Reaching for the doorknob it turned and to Niou's horror Yukimura was coming at him with a very pissed tight face that gradually turned into a 'killer' smile.
"Eh.. okay Ryoma! That was a good imitation, you can stop now!" Niou said backing away from the murderous illusion of Yukimura.
"Hn… answer one question for me. What were you doing as you messed around with Gen earlier?"
Niou let out a laugh and looked at Ryoma. " Nice try Kitty, but what Sanada and I do stays between us."
"Oh?" Yukimura said looking scarier than ever. " Is that so?"
"Hn… looks like you better explain yourself Niou-senpai." Ryoma said coming out of the room from behind Yukimura. " Maybe that caress between Sanada and you as well." Ryoma added with a smile.
"Oi… BRAT!" Niou said torn between killing Ryoma and dealing with the REAL Yukimura who looked like he wanted Niou's head on a platter right now.
"You should know better that no one can do imitations that lead to illusions like you Ni-Ou-Sen-Pai"
"Niou…" Yukimura spoke softly as Niou shivered feeling the word creep up his spine.
Hell… he was in deep shit now
xXx
Ryoma smiled slightly as he headed out of the club and to the local mall. He figured he'd kill some time there tonight before going home to sleep. Everything was starting to fall into place and for the first time in a long time, he could see victory for himself at the end of the road. He was even fine being used to better Yuki-san right now, as long as he could point a gun and be the one to kill off the Fuji's he's gladly give his future over to Yuki-san.
"Ry…"
Ryoma glanced up to come face-to-face with Kenzo and Leiling. Nodding his greeting, he approached the two who looked every bit like the 'couple' they were playing. They made a good couple despite the real reason of their set-up.
"What are you doing here?" Kenzo asked wrapping an arm around Leiling's waist as his eyes scanned the crowd a bit.
"Just wandering around to kill time," Ryoma said as he shifted slightly noticing that their were people watching them. " How many with?"
"I have four with but who knows how many here," Kenzo said wording his sentence carefully.
Ryoma merely nodded and suggested they go to a private restaurant that would definitely cause 'war' if any other forces were to hurt them there.
"Let's," Kenzo merely agreed looking at Leiling who obliged immediately as well. She had known better that something was wrong when Kenzo kept her closer.
xXx
Fuji Corp.
Fuji sighed as he viewed Ryoma's folder one more time even if it was nearing eight PM.
It just couldn't be right…. Ryoma's folder and history was way to clean…. Too clean for frequenting bars as he had seen Ryoma do.
"There's definitely more to him than this…." Fuji mumbled as he tossed the folder onto his desk and flipped his cell phone open instead. If there was any dirt of Ryoma, there was one person who could find out!
"This had better be important."
"It is," Fuji assured, "Kura-kun, I need you to tell me a bit more about one of my workers."
"Who?"
"Echizen Ryoma."
xXx
Ryoma almost groaned when he noted who was coming out of the restaurant. It wasn't the best time to run into him… definitely not… perhaps if he overlooked a bit-
"Echizen… what are you doing here?" Tezuka asked noting Ryoma almost immediately.
"Tezuka-senpai," Ryoma acknowledge a bit unwillingly. "It's a surprise to see you here."
"Likewise," Tezuka said before shifting his gaze to the man with Ryoma. "Fukada-san…"
"Tezuka-san,' Kenzo nodded a greeting once acknowledged. "It's good to see you."
"Aa…" Tezuka said before shooting the woman beside Kenzo a look before resting a suspicious look on Ryoma again. "Then-"
"If you excuse us Tezuka-san, Echizen and I need to talk a few things over on business." Kenzo interrupted.
"Of course," Tezuka said noting that they seemed awfully quick to get rid of him. "Then have a good night."
"You as well," Ryoma and Kenzo echoed out before following the waiter to their seats leaving Tezuka to walk out of the restaurant a bit suspicious. So irked by the meeting, Tezuka picked up his cell phone and decided to call someone who may be interested in this 'meeting'. As he walked, Tezuka listened intently to see if the person he was trying to reach was going to pick up.
"What is it Tezuka?"
"Fuji… I think there's something you need to know." Tezuka said authoritatively.
"And what is that?"
"I just came out of a restaurant where I was having dinner with a couple of friends when I ran into Echizen and Fukada-san." Tezuka informed. "Fukada-san informed me that they were there to discuss business… perhaps he's offering Echizen a better position?"
"Saa…. How interesting… give me the name to that restaurant… I think I'll stop by."
xXx
"Hn… to think that world is suddenly so much smaller then I thought it was." Ryoma mumbled as he sat across from Leiling and Kenzo with a slight scowl.
"Seeing him was quite unexpected." Kenzo said with a sigh of his own. "Nonetheless, did Yuki-san finish all the details."
"Oh yes," Ryoma said with a frown now. " I was somehow, in the chaos of the meeting, voted as best man for your wedding."
"You think it's bad?" Kenzo asked with a raised brow at the frown.
"It wasn't all that bad, it was troublesome first… then it got bad." Ryoma said running a hand through his hair slightly in frustration. "Now there's talk of whose walking down the aisle next."
"Che! It's just a myth about the best man thing." Kenzo informed.
"Myth or not I wish some would just shut the hell up." Ryoma uttered out before his gaze landed on Leiling. "Excuse my language."
"No need… I've heard worst." Leiling said sipping on her tea a bit before glancing off. She was a bit uncomfortable that Kenzo and Ryoma were talking about the wedding as if it was just another small event that just had to come by. She was flustered enough with how her mother had already praised her husband-to-be so much and the baby on the way. But even more than that, she was amazed at how gentle Kenzo was to her.
'It's almost as if this wasn't all for the benefit of someone else….' Leiling thought as she watched the ripples of water that fell from the fountain beside where she sat.
"Something else seems to be bothering you," Kenzo noting Ryoma's frown as he sat thinking.
"Hn… it's just that… my past… it's bound to come back and haunt me right?"
"Isn't it haunting you?" Kenzo asked a bit confused at what Ryoma was trying to tell him.
"I mean… my records will show my past won't it… then eventually Fuji will know."
Kenzo merely let out a loud 'Hn' before taking the tea that Leiling poured out for him. "Baka… with Yuki-san behind you, you're file's definitely been 'cleaned'…. If not all of it, at least the majority of it will be 'not mentioned'."
"Cleaned?" Ryoma asked a bit interested in Kenzo's word choice.
"You could say that or even better, erased." Kenzo confirmed.
"Erased?" Ryoma repeated as if in a trance.
"As you may have it, Yuki-san is an expert at twisting our pasts." Kenzo said with an uneasy twist of his lips in almost a smile.
"… You mean…" Ryoma said suddenly clicking with what Kenzo was suggesting.
"Your past consists of being an orphan due to your uncle going crazy and killing everyone but you in a mass suicide." Kenzo said as if reading off a pre-written document.
"So they don't know that-"
"The craziness was due to Fuji scamming your uncle out of his part in the succession of Fuji corp. and the debts that were left for your uncle to clean while Fuji ran out scot free? No." Kenzo said finishing his tea before sitting back to study Ryoma's serious expression.
"How did he-" Ryoma started to ask looking back at Kenzo only to be cut off as Kenzo started to explain, already figuring that he wanted to know what else was up.
"He has his connections… it was the same with my own revenge." Kenzo clarified. "He does it personally and no one but the person who did it and he knows the full details so it's useless to spend too much time wondering about this or asking me who probably knows only a bit more than you because I've walked the road you're walking on now first. Don't think too much on it and worry more about your past coming back to haunt you soon… the truth always has a way of coming back, that's why revenge exists."
"As long as the reasons are concealed till I win, I won't care for anything else." Ryoma said bluntly as his eyes stared at his teacup as if he was re-living every second of why he was even in this position in the first place.
"Hn…. You think like me a lot… how wonder Yuki-san left you in my care." Kenzo uttered as he ushered a guard to come over and order what Leiling had picked out before focusing back on Ryoma.
"Even if they dig deep, Yuki-san's power and connections won't easily be broken with normal digging."
"You're hinting that Fuji may have connections to someone who can fully dig into my background if he becomes suspicious of me right?" Ryoma asked already knowing that's what Kenzo was hinting.
Kenzo merely nodded as he watched his guard read off the order to the waiter who rushed away with the order. "Ever heard of Shiraishi?"
xXx
Shiraishi let out a low whistle as he pulled up data about Echizen Ryoma. So far with his expert digging, he was able to find that Echizen was orphaned at the age of 13 where he was transferred from foster house to foster house, which was a pretty normal background… and everything Fuji already knew and was written in his file.
"Something must be fishy since Fuji suspects something…" Shiraishi mumbled as his fingers practically danced across his keyboard as he broke through secret passes and such on a bigger data base where everyone in Tokyo's data was imprinted in.
Finding out the past of anyone was as easy as pulling out history IF you knew how to go about it… something he was fantastic at actually. This was his job… if people paid the right amount and it was worthy enough for him to undertake, he could dig up any dirt, any hidden means to anybody. He was so used to it that even he could generally tell when someone's file was too clean or the person didn't fit the past that they said they lived. So it was no surprise that even he, was suspicious of how covered this profile seemed to be.
"Someone really good is the only one who could alter it or this is all there is to the boy…." Shiraishi uttered out to his empty room as he took a gulp of his coffee before hacking through a couple more covers to see if anything was under them….
The computer screen continued scrolling with multiple things until a flash brought Shiraishi attention back to the screen.
"Hn…. This piece was cleverly left out…." Shiraishi said looking at how Echizen was adopted by Sanada Genichirou who happened to own Emperor's Bar. "This may be more dangerous than I thought… and Syuusuke doesn't need to know more…"
xXx
"What took you so long after ore-sama had already came out?" Atobe demanded as Tezuka finally entered his limo.
"I saw someone I knew," Tezuka merely informed his impatient lover.
"Hn… well if you worked for me, we wouldn't have to have such limited time for dating either!" Atobe pointed out a bit accusingly.
"If I worked for you, we'd be 'dating' more than working." Tezuka deadpanned out without so much as a change in expression.
Atobe didn't say anything but merely glared at Tezuka to show his displeasure at having to be second to Tezuka.
"Fuji has a bad habit of scaring off everyone new and with the new recruit I have to be more alert or it'll be like the fifteen others who came before him." Tezuka mentioned rubbing his temples lightly just thinking of how Fuji would go about engulfing Echizen.
"So that's why you've been so distracted!" Atobe said wrapping an arm around his boyfriend's waist. "So the new recruit has caught the big man's attention huh?"
"You could say that… although Echizen is confident in defending himself." Tezuka mentioned.
"A tough one ahn? Well I'd like to meet this one." Atobe said with a smirk. "The choices Fuji makes never ceases to amaze me in one way or another."
Tezuka didn't reply… he was hoping more for the fact that Fukada wasn't installing thoughts into Echizen's head to have him switch companies. As far as he knew, Echizen was efficient with work and well-liked…. At least by the female population of the section he worked in. Then again, he had no wish to conduct another fifty interviews for a replacement.
xXx
Fuji strolled into the restaurant as his eyes skimmed the crowd looking for his prey…. To his disappointment, he couldn't see him anywhere near the front.
"May I help you sir?" A waiter asked rushing up to Fuji.
"Actually you may," Fuji said shifting his smile towards the waiter. "I'm looking for Fukada-san."
"Oh… Fukada-san and his company just left a few minutes before you walked in." The waiter apologized.
"Oh… well then, thank you for telling me so." Fuji said as he turned to walk out of the restaurant. He was minimally disappointed he didn't see Ryoma but then again, he had Ryoma's address.
'Why not pay him a personal visit?' Fuji though evilly as he hailed a cab and ordered him to Ryoma's address… which he had made note to memorize earlier that night while reading through Ryoma's profile.
xXx
Elsewhere that night
Leiling shut the door as she turned to head to her husband's and her room. They were sharing one for the benefit of her parents who were staying with them.
"Did you get Ryoma a room?" Kenzo asked as he passed by her.
"Aa… and you're…"
"Going to the study to make a quick phone call then I'll be in bed." Kenzo informed pressing a soft kiss to her forehead before continuing on his way.
Leiling unconsciously rubbed the place where his lips pressed as she walked the rest of the way to the bedroom only to see her mother standing there watching her.
"Mom…" Leiling uttered almost in embarrassment that she might have seen the scene earlier.
"He's caring towards you," Her mother said with a soft smile as she followed her daughter into the bedroom.
"He is," Leiling agreed as she sat on the bed.
It was true that Kenzo had been nothing but dedicated and caring towards her. She was well aware of the danger of stepping out of his sight and the guards he posted for her but she was also well aware of the meaning of the whole relationship as well. She was no stupid woman who would fall for the security and attention he threw at her. She knew the meaning of an arranged marriage and she knew that she loved the man that the man down the hall killed in front of her. Yet, the more she lived, the more she knew that the life she led with Cao was a lie. He had lied about everything… she was neither his wife, which Yuki-san had informed her the first night they met nor was he planning on divorcing his rich and powerful wife. She had met Mitsuzagu Jade briefly when she had gone to lunch with Kenzo and they ran into her. She was every bit as beautiful as everyone acclaimed. Her dark gray eyes were practically inviting Kenzo into more than just her office and her perfect body was a lot closer than she had EVER molded herself against Kenzo. She must be crazy stupid to think Cao would ever divorce such a trophy wife for a small fry like her…. And now her inheritance… it was in that woman's bank along with Yuki-san's money.
"Sweetheart?"
Leiling dark brown eyes met her mother's soft brown eyes. " Yes mother?"
"Are you happy?" Her mother asked after looking over her daughter's face.
"But of course I am… just-" Leiling protested
"You can fool your father but you can't fool me dear." her mother said with a small smile. "What is wrong between Fukada and you?"
"There's nothing… he loves my child and me so much… he buys whatever I may need, he spends time with me although he's busy and-"
"But does he love you?" her mother asked. "I can see her cares for you but does he love you."
Leiling let out a small smile as she looked at her mother a bit sadly. "Do I love him…"
"Darling, if you're not in love with him yet, you are on your way to." Her mother informed her. "I know he isn't the man you ran away with."
"But-"
"It wasn't him, it was you that gave it away dear." her mother explained. "If everything has been a lie, I haven't been able to tell from him… it's you my dear that made me suspect and you're hesitant answers prove me correct right?"
"Mom…"
"I don't know what is between you two but I believe that he'll care for you." Her mother explained before getting up. " I'll leave you to rest since you've been out all day with him."
"Aa… thank you mother… for understanding." Leiling said with a smile.
"Well I don't quite understand but I trust you're making the right decision for yourself." Her mother said as she opened the door to let herself out. "and Leiling…"
"Yes?" Leiling answered looking at her mother.
"It's okay to be in love with your husband."
xXx
The Next Day
"Good morning Ryoma," Fuji uttered against Ryoma's ear as he placed his hands on the wall to trap Ryoma between the wall and himself.
"Leave me in peace at least in the mornings." Ryoma snapped out with a glare as he pushed past Fuji to pass some papers to the women near the front of the office.
"Where were you last night? Hopping bars?" Fuji asked following him, noting that Ryoma's suit was the same as yesterdays and the fact that he was cranky must mean he had a LONG night last night.
"What would that matter to you?" Ryoma retorted to the surprise of many people. It was rare to see an amateur lecture and answer so rudely to the boss.
"Because I waited all night at your apartment only to be sadly informed by a good-looking women that if you weren't answering then you weren't home."
"What were you doing at my apartment yesterday then stalker?" Ryoma questioned with a glare at Fuji. " I don't remember inviting you for a sleepover."
"No," Fuji admitted. "But I invited myself."
"Serves you right for waiting the whole night then." Ryoma said not in the bit remorseful for his boss.
"Not sorry at all Ryoma-dear."
"I prefer Echizen," Ryoma informed as he sat back down at his desk and started on the next sheet of work.
"It isn't nice to ignore your boss while he's talking." Fuji informed a bit amused by how he was being treated. This was the first time one of his employees he was chasing wasn't paying full attention to him.
"Hn… if I really was ignoring you I wouldn't even answer." Ryoma said bluntly as his fingers typed the document out quickly.
"Oh… so you don't even care that I know you front and back now eh?" Fuji asked sliding Ryoma's profile folder in front of him.
Instead of anger as Fuji expected, Ryoma merely started typing again as if nothing had happened.
"Fuji-kaichou," Ryoma finally said as he turned the page of the documents he was working on. "If you have so much time to research and read through my profile, why don't you have enough time to work on making your company better?"
A few gasps could be heard behind the both of them. It was rare for anyone to lecture Fuji-kaichou more than Tezuka… it wa seven more rare for a newcomer to be doing that.
The mood was lightened all of a sudden as Fuji let out a chuckle at Ryoma's impetuous behavior and blunt reply.
"Saa Ryoma…. You really are something."
"I'm human." Ryoma stated, " not something."
"Saa… and you need to relax." Fuji uttered placing a hand on Ryoma who rose with his completed work from the printer to give to the woman near the front again.
"Why don't you stop being lazy and get back to your office to work." Ryoma snapped out to Fuji before turning around to go back to what he was doing only to run straight into a slap.
Ryoma frowned at the lady who wore only the best seething with anger with fire burning behind her dark green eyes.
"Hime?!" Fuji said all of a sudden breaking the silence.
"NEVER speak so cockily to my husband!"
A/N: And we're left with a slapped Ryoma, surprised Fuji and a woman named Hime. Do review and stay tuned for the next update!
