STORY INFO: This chapter and the next take place at the end of Volume 5/ Episode 11 – Big Brother is a Prince. The anime episodes are not in order with the manga, so use this info as your reference. Also, I used the term pâtisserie interchangeably with bakery/cakery/etc. I know in some cases it is used to describe items made by a pâtissier, but that's not the case where I'm from.
I originally intended for this to be one chapter, but because of chapter lengths, I divided it again.
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Between Freedom and Loyalty
Chapter 8: Precious Time, Part 1
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The pâtisserie sat huddled between the entrance of the manor and a large open park with trees towering over it. The sign above the bakery door was peeling somewhat; gold lettering generously curled on a faded, midnight blue background. The floor inside was a marble that showed the wear of at least a decade and a half worth of boots, sneakers, and high-heels. While the entirety of the shop seemed rather dated, it still had a warm, homey feeling, with iced Belgian buns and chocolate eclairs dominating the displays. It wasn't the kind of bakery that did fifty kinds of everything. The Miyamura bakery chain was known for its limited selection; they simply did a few things to perfection and stuck to them. They made a London Fog Cake so good it could make even the grimmest curmudgeon a civilized man.
But most of all, the Miyamura pâtisserie was known for their bakers that milled behind the worn counters. What drew costumers in of all classes were not the fancy crafted buns or cakes, but the way the bakers moved and smiled, with their synced choreographic dance. None of them bore the corporate, ghoulish grins that permeated the upper class. They were simply people that loved to work with food; they were bakers, not simply people who baked.
They were proud of their work…but one person, in particular, did not share in this pride. Still, it was expected of her. So, like any eager, passionate baker, Akiko often rose early, well before the sun, to toil in the kitchens not yet heated by the wall of ovens behind her. The hum of the mixers filled the air with the aroma of uncooked cookie dough as she wiped her hands on the apron set over her uniform dress.
She ignored the harsh glare that bore through her back from the middle-aged woman on the other side of the bakery kitchens, which had not yet open to the other workers or customers. Reaching up behind her head, she daintily tugged the ends of the red bow that was holding half of her now shoulder-length hair up in two braids circled around her crown. A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips when she saw her step-mother grow stiff at the gesture, eyeing her hair scrutinizingly.
She knew the sight of her hair in its natural state and styled, rather than straight and plain, greatly vexed her step-mother. As a general rule growing up, Akiko was never allowed to do bold and daring things with her appearance because it draws attention and, according to Reina, good girls do not want attention. But, as it happens, Akiko recently realized over summer break that she was the eldest, the firstborn of another woman, the one destined to fail and therefore incapable and unworthy of any sort of goodness so bold and daring, she must be.
Her rebelliousness was forgotten when she saw Naoki slowly stagger into the kitchen, blond, curly locks in disarray, dressed in his uniform, and rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he often did in the morning when making the short walk to the bakery. "Good morning, sleepyhead," she greeted him, squatting down to correctly tie the ribbon on his uniform as he stretched and yawned.
"Mornin'," he smacked his lips a few times and then squeezed his sister's hands in greeting. "Good morning, mama," he called absentmindedly to the silent woman, grabbing the warm cup of hot cocoa that Akiko had prepared earlier for him, as per tradition, and made his way to a swivel stool on the other side of the counter.
Akiko ruffled his unruly locks, setting down a warm cinnamon bun in front of him and going back to handle the cookie dough. Not long after, another sleepy pair walked in, her father and Miyuki also called out their mumbled greetings and moved about the kitchen, making their usual beverages. As she was assembling her tea, Miyuki paused for a moment, realizing that the kitchen was rather quiet without the shrills of her mother. "Well, I swear I must have taken a wrong turn walking down the driveway because I'm pretty sure I've walked into a morgue with all this dead silence," she quipped.
"Mama says that she still refuses to speak to Akiko-nee chan for her behavior back at the villa," Naoki informed her, blowing on his drink.
Miyuki gaped at her mother. "Back at the villa? That was during summer break. It's well into autumn!"
"Although I'm sorry to hear it, it's certainly made the house nice and quaint," her father chimed, laughing at the glare his wife shot his way and how her mouth twitched, itching to speak.
Akiko swatted her father's hand away from the cookie dough as she scooped them onto a tray. He looked offended for a moment, which was comical on the scruffy face of a mountain of a man, but then pressed a quick kiss to her temple and slyly stole a mound of cookie dough anyway.
Pushing her father back offhandedly, she turned her attention to her sister. "How are you doing, Miyuki?"
Taking a large swig of tea, she slammed it against the counter top as if it was a flagon. "Men suck," she muttered darkly.
"Indeed, we do, my dear!" her father exclaimed, hefting Naoki onto his lap and swiveling in the chair despite the boy's protests. "We are crude, hopeless, deplorable, inadequate, whiney—"
"You do realize you're a man, Papa?"
"—unintelligent, simpleminded, wretched, sniveling, boring creatures!" He came to an abrupt halt in his spinning and propped up his elbow on the countertop, squishing Naoki against it, and resting his chin on the palm of his hand. "Really, Miyuki, isn't it about time that women become more sensible creatures and start giving up on men?"
The girls looked at each other, straight-faced before their poker straight mouths twitched upward and they snorted, giggling despite themselves. Their father, pleased with their reaction, turned his attention to the boy in his grasp struggling to free himself from the space between his father and the countertop. Granting him his freedom, he lifted Naoki onto the countertop and handed him the cinnamon bun, pointing a finger accusingly at the boy. "Now, Naoki, my boy, you are mildly civilized, yes? You are this family's last hope. You must promise me you'll at least marry a loving, magnificent, accomplished woman to dilute the gene pool of these unadventurous creatures called men, okay?"
Naoki glanced between his father's finger and his father, finding his theatrics amusing. He then noticed his mother, properly red in the face and looking like someone had stuffed a sour candy in her mouth. He made the connection to his father's antics quite easily. Lackadaisically, he nibbled on the corner of the cinnamon bun and shrugged. "I'm not too sure about that, Papa. There's this boy, Takaoji Shiro, from the Classical Music Club that's pretty cute. And his girlfriend just left overseas, so it seems he's vulnerable. I might just need to use the Miyamura charm."
"Then, it appears that our family is ruined! To be dominated by useless men!" Their father laughed.
At her son's honest admission, Reina finally sputtered to life, shooting her husband a glare. "Of all the ridiculous—ugh! You enjoy vexing me, don't you, Sousuke?"
"Ah, she speaks!" He lifted his hand, that was not holding Naoki up on the counter, in praise. "And of course, love. It's one of my many favorite pastimes. Somewhere near the top, in fact."
Ignoring her husband, she turned her hackles on the girls. "Miyuki, you should take the opportunity when you get to school to apologize to Kyoya-kun about your behavior. Or else we're all doomed. He might very well consider you as a potential marriage candidate if you stay close."
"You want me to apologize…for my feelings?" she asked incredulously. "It's been over a month, and I don't want to. He already rejected me. And I'd rather give my attention to someone who loves me."
"Of course, my dear," Reina cooed, taking the trays from Akiko and putting them in the oven. "Only take care that it is a man with a large fortune. Besides, it's very likely that if you stay by Kyoya-kun's side long enough, he will learn to admire your persistence—"
"—Pity—" Naoki chimed in.
"—admire your persistence and agree to a match."
Akiko scoffed. "Why, yes. Because all successful marriages are built out of pity."
"Excuse me? Your behavior as of late has been unacceptable too, young lady. Your father and I did not raise you to speak so crassly. That is not a trait you got from us." Her step-mother replied as if her jaw had been wired shut.
"Hm, it must be an inherited trait then."
"Akiko!" her father reprimanded, causing her to snap to attention.
She looked up from her dough to see that her step-mother had cast her gaze to the ground, her eyes darkened, and pain etched in her expression. It was then that she realized the words she spoke and the damage they had done to a woman who she considered her mother. Quickly, instinctively, she reached for her step-mother's hand, "Mama," she pleaded, hoping her apology reflected her tone, hoping her words let her know that a woman who was long dead was not her mother anymore. "That was unworthy of me. I'm so sorry." She took a short inhale. "I only meant to suggest that Miyuki has so much precious time. It shouldn't be spent on a young man that doesn't love her. If Kyoya-kun says that he does not love Miyuki, then he does not love her. She should listen to him when he says who he is with civility and save her time for someone who will love her. There are many more other successful men in Ouran than those in the Ootori family."
"I have to say that I agree with her, Mama," Miyuki offered before her mother made to protest. "A relationship in which either party doesn't love each other or respect each other is hardly favorable."
"And we have a constant, daily reminder," Naoki muttered under his breath, earning a stern look from the girls and promptly stuffed his face with a cinnamon bun.
"They're quite right, love. They are old enough to make their own decisions," their father prompted, earning a grateful look from his girls. "We would not want a repeat of our own mistakes if they marry someone under the instruction of their parents, now do we?" His tone was sharp, a warning.
Akiko saw that her step-mother recognized that. She saw a stubborn, fixed glimmer in her eyes, one that spoke of relinquishing power that she did not want to give up. Caving into his demand would be the first step of a very steep and slippery slope that meant she would no longer have a pawn to control. Yet, refusing her husband would be an insult and she couldn't have that. Akiko watched her step-mother lower her eyes in begrudging resignation.
"I…" Reina swallowed, her face contorting as if she was being forced to drink poison. "I suppose you have a point," she agreed tightly. "Very well. I guess the girls are free to roam around like silly girls in love."
Their father gave the girls a victorious wink. "Oh, come on. Every girl deserves to be silly in love every once in a while. They have so much precious time for such things."
.
.
There was something magical about being part of a crowd, Kaoru thought as he observed his twin fussing over Haruhi's police uniform and Honey-senpai occasionally putting in his admiring comments about how cute she looked. A crowd tended to ease the loneliness within, if only for a moment. Crowds gave people an excuse to act the same, cheer at the same moments, feel the same emotions together in one synchronized harmony. It was like looking into a mirror but very different from looking at his twin. What was written on their faces, every emotion, reflected on his. And because of that echo of humanity, they were as close to one entity as they would ever be. It was in this unity, here in the host club, that gave them a sense of freedom that none of them, with the exception of Haruhi, had been able to have in any other part of their lives.
But there were some people who could not conform to the crowd, and it didn't even matter if they were in uniform too, Kaoru noted as he acknowledged the young woman at the opposite end of the room, lips pursed in concentration as she organized the treats on the table like a delicate piece of artwork. There was something bird-like in the angles of her arms as she worked, almost too sharp, as if her limbs hadn't been made for baking but for flying. Every part of her moved in a way that screamed 'temporary.' As if given the first opportunity to bolt, she'd take it, venture off into lands unknown, free and untethered…
It had been over a month since summer break and his recent acquaintance with Akiko and their progress in their friendship had been moving steadily. She approached him more on her own, and Kyoya seemed to loosen his leash on her depending on his moods. She did not mind that he and Hikaru came as a pair when it came to spending time together. In fact, she seemed to have made teasing and aggravating Hikaru her favorite pastime. Kaoru was thankful that Hikaru was tolerable around her and even, on occasion, agreeable. Although he still ran his mouth with harsh comments from time to time, Akiko was of quick wit and seemed to be able to put him in his place just fine. It was more than Kaoru could ask for, to be honest. But there was still something off about her. Something almost…otherworldly.
She was too…real. Too sure of herself. Too confident in letting you know that she wasn't a puppet or an excuse or an overdue apology or a victim. She was a young woman, with skin and bones, breath and life, and worthy of respect that she was not able to get from others in Ouran. She was someone that even after spending every day with her during club hours, Kaoru still couldn't understand her. But…there was one person who could…
Kaoru beelined his way past the other members of the host club and to Kyoya, who was seated next to a table with Tamaki close to his side. And by the various booklets spread out in front of them, they seemed to be in a deep discussion about another event for the host club. It concerned Kaoru, to be honest, to see Tamaki so untheatrical, but it seemed to be a behavior that only existed when he was discussing matters of the host club. It was a seriousness like that which captured the twins' attention in the first place before they joined the host club…
Tamaki looked up, surprised for a moment as if he was trying to figure out which twin had approached them and finally smiled fondly when he figured it out. Strangely, it was impossible for Kaoru not to smile in return. "Not going to greet the guests with Hikaru and Haruhi?"
"We've got a few more minutes, and I think they've got it covered. Besides, I needed to ask Kyoya-senpai something," he admitted, sinking into the chair facing them. Tamaki looked between the two for a moment, before shrugging and taking it as his cue to leave and prepare to meet the guests.
Kaoru waited for a time, playing with the mic on the headphones hanging around his neck and wondering how to phrase his question. Kyoya didn't seem to mind his hesitance and instead continued on scribbling away in his notebook. "Ano…Did Akiko-senpai finally fix things with her step-mother? She seems…happier." He tried to pitch his voice as casual as possible—as if he was discussing a passing curiosity—but based on Kyoya's expression, he didn't think he succeeded.
Organizing the scattered pamphlets on the table, Kyoya dared a glance at the woman at the opposite end of the room, meticulously arranging the various assortments of cupcakes. "Although it's not really my place to say, but yes, she did – as much as she could probably hope to anyway," he replied. "Her step-mother is an unusual woman with a…strong, single-minded pursuit. Her will to live is solely based on whether or not her biological children can be successful. And it seems that she's hammered those same responsibilities into Akiko-chan. In other words…" He slammed the pamphlets against the table a little too roughly. "…she's a manipulative and shrewd woman, who uses Akiko's original parentage as a means to control her."
"Is she the reason why Akiko-senpai has been overlooked as an heir to the company? I've met her parents over summer break when I visited her villa with Hikaru to thank her for the gifts, and I honestly can't imagine them having that old of an outlook on women."
Returning his attention to his notebook, he shrugged. "Who knows? Ever since we were children, her father has always been opposed to the idea of her as an heiress – even after my father suggested that she was better suited. Given her skills in fine arts and crafts, learning to take over the bakery chain might have appeared as a more fitting alternative. At least, that's what I'd like to think. It's highly unlikely."
Kaoru rested his chin in the palm of his hand, lost in thought. "It doesn't make any sense. She doesn't want to be an heiress to the company, and she also doesn't want to take over her mother's business, regardless of her talent for it. Then, what does she want? Any normal person at Ouran would be happy with those options."
"That's bold coming from someone who has never been pressured in his life to follow in his parents' footsteps." Kyoya arched a brow at him. "And you could very well ask her that yourself."
Kaoru fidgeted under that look. "I…haven't really had the chance or an opening."
Closing his notebook with a snap, Kyoya stood gracefully. "Then maybe you should try harder to make one – if she interests you that much."
Kaoru got to his feet as well and walked with the upperclassman as he joined the other members of the host club. He tried to appear more casual when he said, "It was just a harmless observation, Kyoya-senpai." He waved his hand dismissively.
That earned him an amused grin as Kyoya stopped in his tracks. "Kaoru, no observations you make are ever harmless." He gestured over to the woman in question with his notebook. "If you want to find out more about Akiko-chan, then all you have to do is talk to her. I assure you, she won't bite." He gave him a gleaming look that Kaoru didn't quite understand before continuing towards the rest of the group alone.
Kaoru scowled. Kyoya had said those words like it was the easiest thing in the world. But in fact, it was hard to change a behavior that just came so naturally. They spent years erasing people from their lives and carefully crafting a barrier to protect themselves. They'd outcast all those people that tried to get close to them for their family name, all those condescending girls with their false and pathetic sympathy, all those people that simply saw their outward appearances, and especially all the genuine ones that were trying to break through their walls. This was the first time that it was him making the effort to reach out to someone.
And he honestly didn't have a clue about how to go about it.
Apparently, Honey-senpai did though as he bounded over to Akiko when she announced that she had finished setting up the display and declared aloud, "Yay! Cupcakes!"
In her shock, she stumbled back a few steps as the tornado of an upperclassman plowed by, and Kaoru was quick to steady her by grabbing both her shoulders. Her posture was stiff at the sudden contact, on guard almost, until she saw who had grabbed her, and Kaoru felt her shoulders ease. Suddenly becoming hyper-aware that he was the one who caused such a reaction, Kaoru quickly hid his hands behind his back and nodded in greeting. "You should be more careful, Akiko-senpai. You know that Honey-senpai turns into a beast whenever sweets are involved."
The aforementioned beast had already had devoured an entire row of the display without any regard of the amount of effort it took to put it up. "I'm sorry, Aki-chan!" he exclaimed innocently, taking another large bite of a cupcake. "But one can never have too many sweets!"
"I know more than a handful of people with diabetes that would argue that claim." Akiko smiled and rolled her eyes. "Now, while that may be the case, club hours haven't even started, and you've already had ten in one sitting."
"This is actually the most restraint he's shown in a while. He can down a whole pantry in one sitting if Milord let him," Kaoru offered.
She sighed exasperatedly, seeing all her hard work being consumed in a matter of minutes. "I'm starting to wonder if I'm providing for the host club or simply Haninozuka-senpai."
As if it suddenly dawned on her that one of the twins was speaking to her, her eyes followed up and down his form. Since they befriended each other over a month ago, Kaoru was the only one of the twins that addressed her by her first name. It certainly did make telling them apart easier, but she also found that it wasn't necessary. Over the course of the month, she spent so much time with them as a client to the twins that she could already read him in a hundred different ways. Of course, she was not willing to push that on them. And whenever they offered, she still refused to play their twisted game, claiming that she was not confident enough to try and she would never disrespect them like that.
But it was a lie.
And although it was a lie—and Akiko did feel terrible about it—they weren't ready to be taken out of their shells, to be unwound, to be different. They were like two saplings sharing the same pot, stems entwined, linking them both together in the most beautiful, sophisticated way possible. It was a strange connection but alluring nevertheless. Somehow, in their minds, telling them apart was like forcing these small saplings to separate. They didn't understand that even when they bloomed into gorgeous roses, each with their own unique qualities, they would still be entwined together at their roots. They didn't know. But Akiko knew that they'd understand that themselves with time. So, time to blend into the world is what she would grant them – without her own interference…
She observed his outfit – which was a dark blue aviator style jacket with an Ouran patch on each shoulder worn over a light, loose turtleneck shirt, with dark jeans, a diagonally strapped holster, and large pilot headphones hanging around his neck. His hair was more tousled than usual, almost spikey, and she found herself speaking before her mind had the chance to catch up with her mouth, "I've been so absorbed in my work that I hadn't even noticed that today was the Ouran Police Department Event. You look incredibly handsome, Officer Kaoru. Would you like something to eat before you go off and catch some hoodlums that try to steal your spot as the mischievous type?" She gave him a coy, alluring grin and motioned to the labeled treats on the table.
Kaoru blinked, mouth wide open as the words got stuck on the route up his throat. If possible, he suddenly forgot how to speak. He was tempted to pinch himself. Was this legitimately happening? Was he actually being acknowledged without Hikaru by an attractive member of the opposite sex who had absolutely no obligation to even try to tell the two of them apart? Kaoru somehow tried to will his brain to start working because there were definitely words coming out of her mouth, and he was about ninety-five percent sure that those words had been directed at him. She just asked him a question and complimented him – him, on his own, apart from Hikaru. There was a pretty girl asking him, as an individual, a question and he was fairly positive he wasn't dreaming.
He was also positive that he was still awkwardly staring at her in awed silence, which seemed to be making her a little uncomfortable. So, when Kaoru finally willed his mouth to move and asked for the Cranachan on the table, what he meant to say was: "Thank you, Akiko-senpai. You're looking rather beautiful yourself" or something like "I love your hair like that, and I think it compliments you." But instead of saying that, he got really nervous and forgot all about his premium host charm and asked for the first thing on the table. Hell, he didn't even know what Cranachan was. Or what was in it, for that matter. But it tasted like it had a hint of alcohol in it, and man, was he thankful for small blessings…
When Akiko turned her attention to cleaning up after herself by stacking the crates she used to haul over the sweets, she inhaled and let out a deep, content sigh. "You look happier," Kaoru spoke lamely. But she really did. She looked…calmer. And like she was very comfortable in the host club – with him.
She hummed, stacking another crate and giving Kaoru an appreciative smile as he set down his dessert and alleviated her from some of the load. "I am happy."
"Is it because you fixed things with your step-mother or because you're getting along with Kyoya-senpai now?" His question was apprehensive, scared he may have overstepped his bounds.
She contemplated this for a moment, tapping her chin. "Perhaps a little bit of both? But also neither, if that makes any sense?" She continued when Kaoru looked at her expectantly. "It may sound strange but…I'm just happy for myself, you know? I feel…enlightened, as ridiculous as it sounds. I used to spend hours and hours of my day waiting for Kyoya-kun to even acknowledge my presence or spend a few hours wondering what it would be like to go on an adventure, to defy my parents. But now, they just feel like hours. I don't wait for Kyoya-kun to seek me out, I don't wait for permission to do what I want, I don't waste my time on things that negatively affect me. And…" she laughed beautifully. "…now I just feel like I have so much of it! I honestly don't know what to do with it all."
"Well, you could spend more of it here at the host club. It is a club for beautiful young ladies with too much time on their hands, after all." He froze, wide-eyed at the words that just left his mouth. Did he just…? Goodness, he did. He mentally kicked himself repeatedly for bumbling out that idiotic phrase casually. He also didn't know why he was freaking out. He's complimented plenty of young women in the host club. He is a host, after all. But something about saying a comment like that to Akiko felt wrong like it had weight to it – meaning. It wasn't just part of some game; he'd never want that. It wasn't just casual flirting to gain customers…
But Akiko seemed to pass it off as such, only blushing a little. "Beautiful, huh?" there was amusement in her tone that Kaoru caught.
He swallowed, his throat suddenly feeling dry. Okay, teasing. He could play along with that. He gave her a lopsided grin. "Of course. And you know it, senpai. You're a sophisticated, strong, independent woman and have every other quality that you'd probably kill me for not saying."
Laughing, she pushed her index finger into his chest, making him take a step back. "A charming and silver-tongued host, you most certainly are not." She studied him for a moment, her smile faltering. "Are—Are you? Happy, I mean."
He returned his attention to the group some little ways off from them, taking in the screams of Tamaki as he held Haruhi to his chest protectively over something Hikaru was trying to do to her. He frowned, finding no point in lying. "Happy might be a little too far away still. But I am…fine with the way things are on most days."
Akiko nodded sagely, not planning on prying into anything he didn't want to divulge. Another trait that Kaoru liked about her. She knew when to not pry, when to stop scratching off the scabs that covered his wounds and instead just soothe them. It was odd for him to make a connection so fast, to give her trust so easily, as tentative as it was. There was something in the way she smiled, a warmth, a genuineness, a softness that he had never seen in any other woman of their superior rank. She just…listened. Listened with rapt attention like she was absorbing his words, not simply awaiting her turn so they could be done with whatever he was saying and move on to some other topic to stroke her ego. No—the more time he spent with her, the happier he became. She was the new friend that he'd needed for so long. And he suddenly found himself wanting to remain close.
He was called out of his reverie when he felt soft fingers rest themselves on his forearms, electricity rushing a warmth through his body. Her gentle blue eyes held his and she asked kindly, "Is there anything that would finally tip you over the fence into being fully happy?"
He paused before answering, wondering just how well this woman could read his mind. His tone dropped to a softer octave as he admitted, "Maybe just the company of a friend for a moment."
The quirk of her mouth spread into a blinding smile as she motioned to a set of chairs for them to sit. "Then it appears that you're in luck. Because I now have a terrible amount of time on my hands."
A/N: Kyoya is the best wingman ever.
I also wanted to paint Akiko's father in a different light. He is someone who dotes on his children, much like the twins' parents, but just isn't home all the time. While he did discourage Akiko from her dreams, it was not out of spite but just as a parent being practical. I like writing him because it shows where Akiko gets her sass from.
Are you enjoying the story so far? Please let me know.
