I LOVED ALL THE REVIEWS FROM CHAPTER EIGHT. :D THEY MEAN A LOT. THANK YOU ALL.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN OHSHC AT ALL. PROMISE. :(
AND I KNOW I SAID I WAS GONNA BE A WHILE AT UPDATING BUT I HAVE SOME UNEXPECTED FREE TIME TODAY AND SOME NEWFOUND INSPIRATION. :) PLEASE ENJOY CHAPTER NINE.
Chapter 9
Once inside the house, I had to pause with my back to the door. I couldn't pretend that I didn't see the blush that had barely formed on Kyoya's face when I leaned over and kissed his cheek. I imagined him looking out the window of his limo as it drove away from my house, a confused look on his face. I mentally scolded myself for doing something that bold. Considering the situation and how neither of us wanted the marriage, I really shouldn't have done that.
I had barely a minute to think this all through before Mark practically ran down the stairs and targeted me. "Get ready! We have to leave in half an hour!"
Trying to shove down the hysteria I suddenly felt, I ran past Mark, up the stairs and into my room. I had put a knee length dress on a hook on my closet the night before. Grabbing the black dress, I ran to the bathroom and put it on before brushing my teeth and then grabbing a curling iron and attempting to arrange my hair.
(A/N: Link for a picture of the dress on my profile. :D Just in case you wanna know exactly what it looks like.)
While my curling iron heated up, I applied some light makeup and really tried to think of an answer. If I said no, mom would take me back with open arms. She's been begging me to come home since I left. I really didn't want Mark to hate me for ruining his chances of making a merger in Japan. I really didn't want to leave Japan. Every day that I was here, I was completely sure that this is where my father would want me to be.
Picking up my curling iron, I set to work. When the top layer of my hair had been put back in a barrette and all the ends curled lightly, I pinned back my bangs with some bobby pins and put on some strappy black heels. Mark was waiting by the door, looking impatient, when I finally made it downstairs.
"You're gonna make us late. Get in the car." He ordered before shooing me out and locking the door behind us. "I told you it was a bad idea to stay for the club meeting."
I sighed, feeling hurt and uncomfortable. I didn't even want to be on the same continent with Mark right now, let alone the same limo. The ride there was silent. The only noise was the sound of Mark's phone as he quickly texted several people. He had a briefcase with him, sitting at his feet.
He glanced at me as we entered the large iron gates of the Ootori mansion. "This is an important thing for me. Be on your best behavior. Be obliging. Okay?"
I looked at him, giving him the most empty look I could muster. "Of course. I'll do whatever it is you need me to do."
He seemed taken back by my response for a second before regaining his composure. As the limo stopped, we waited for the valet to open Mark's door. Mark got out and reached in, taking my hand and helping me out. He stepped forward then, always changing his pace so he remained two steps ahead of me the entire time.
At the door, a line of butlers and maids were waiting. In the very middle of the foyer was Kyoya, two boys who were a few years older than him, an older girl that looked a lot like Kyoya, a man that didn't look anything like the family and a man and woman I guessed to be Mr. and Mrs. Ootori.
"Welcome Mark Yukimura." Mr. Ootori said with authority. He stepped forward and shook Mark's hand, a forced but nonetheless obliging smile on his face.
Kyoya gave me a cautious look, making me feel very sick. I still didn't know what to say if I were forced to choose. I'd end up disappointing someone in the end. Something I tried to avoid at all costs.
"Hello Mr. Ootori. Please let me present my sister, Avianna." He said with a understated wave of his hand. I bowed formally, not speaking a word.
"Welcome to my home." Mr. Ootori said politely before taking my hand and placing a kiss on the back of it. I tried not to cringe. Everything about this man told me he was very unkind and was only playing the part right now.
"Thank you." I said politely, grateful when he let go of my hand.
He put his attention back to Mark then. "Let me introduce my family. This is my wife, Akahana, my two eldest sons, Ichiro and Jiro, my daughter, Fuyumi, her husband Lee and my youngest son, Kyoya."
I bowed to each of them, along with Mark. "It's wonderful to meet you all." Mark said with great respect. I repressed the huge sigh that wanted to escape. I really didn't want to be here.
Mr. Ootori seemed pleased with his obliging Mark was. "Please, let us enter the dining room. Our chefs had prepared a wonderful meal for us. I hope you don't mind French cuisine."
Mark assured him that we both loved all French foods before looping his arm in mine and practically dragging me to the dining room. When we were all seating, a tray of what they called 'toasted brie with pesto sauce' was placed in front of me and every other person. I focused on which silverware Kyoya picked up, not wanting to look stupid.
After we all finished that, the chefs brought out 'canard a l'orange' for us to eat. It looked like baked chicken with orange colored sauce on it but the chefs explained that it was duck. I've never had duck so I was a bit reluctant to try it. I've always been a picky eater.
All in all it was good, but I hardly tasted it. My focus was on the conversation. Mostly, it consisted of what would be done to better each company should this merger happen. I was waiting with bated breath, wondering who would bring up the proposal first.
Kyoya, more or less, spent most of the dinner giving me pointed stares. He seemed like he was trying to convey his words to me through mind reading. As much as I wanted to somehow leave the table with Kyoya and talk everything out, I knew that was impossible.
As my second course tray was taken from the table, I saw Kyoya actually hand the tray up with both hands. I was the only one to catch the little white paper being slipped from his hand to the waiter's. The waiter walked around the table and collected my tray before discreetly dropping the paper in my lap.
I unfolded it carefully and read his very neat handwriting.
I did my best. I may not be able to get a chance
to talk with you before everything happens.
Please be prepared to make a decision. I'm sorry.
I looked up at the sender and gave him a slightly panicked look. I really might have to... I can't even consider doing either option. I pushed the fear to the back of my mind and tried to focus only on my food for the remainder of dinner.
After two more courses, one of which was the most delicious dessert I've ever tasted, the party gathered in one of the mansion's many drawing rooms for tea. Mr. Ootori was very pleased to tell us just how many drawing rooms the mansion had. As I sat by the fire, my teacup warming my hands, Mr. Ootori surprised me by calling my name.
"Miss. Avianna. How would you like to see the garden? It's rather extensive."
I blinked. "Sure. I mean, of course. I'd love too." I smiled politely.
Mr. Ootori snapped in the direction of Kyoya who was sitting on an armchair about five feet from me. "Please escort Miss. Avianna on a tour of the gardens Kyoya. My wife and my other children will retire for the evening. Mark and I need to talk privately."
His smile seemed so kind at the moment that Mark seemed rather giddy about getting to finally discuss the fine print of the agreement they were beginning to have. I followed Kyoya from the room then, my teacup forgotten on the side table I had placed it on. Kyoya wished his family a good night before offering his arm to me and escorting me out the back doors.
Mr. Ootori was right. The garden was extensive. As I stood at the doorway that led to it, I couldn't help but be in awe of the acres of sakura trees and rose bushes. The most noticeable thing in the garden was the large koi pond that had a wooden bridge over it. Kyoya waited until we were standing on the bridge to speak.
"They're discussing it right now." He told me. "It'll be about fifteen or so minutes before they call us back in to tell you what they want to happen."
I nodded, putting all my effort into not crying. "What was the lead you thought you had?"
He seemed to choose his words carefully. "There was a possibility that my father would completely refuse to have anything to do with your family or your brother's company. If that happened, then there certainly wouldn't be any pressure put on you.
I thought this through. Even though it would still end in Mark's company not being able to flourish, I liked that outcome better. "And I've still got no answer."
His posture seemed to become very rigid. "None at all?"
"How do I choose between an arranged marriage and making Mark hate me? I just got my brother in my life. I've just got here... Being in Japan... It makes me feel closer to my father. I don't want to leave but I know that staying will result in..." I didn't finish. Swallowing the huge lump in my throat, I sighed.
I jumped, startled, when he placed a hand on my shoulder. "Maybe Mark will tell him he refuses to put you through that and demand that it not be a qualification for the merger."
"Do you really believe that?" I asked him, looking him in the eyes.
After a moment, he shook his head. "No. I don't."
I looked at the water. Taking a feel deep breathes, I pushed back the tears and said a prayer that things would turn out alright. "I'm sorry. I know this must be hard for you too." I said after I was finally in control of my emotions.
"I've been preparing for this moment my entire life." He said softly, taking his hand away from my shoulder and crossing them on the bridge's railing. "Whatever you choose, I really don't care."
His response shocked me. "You don't care who you marry at all?"
He seemed to realize that he had said the wrong thing. "Maybe that's not the right phrase. I mean that I don't care enough to make a big scene. Whoever I marry, I know that I'll have plenty of time later to get to know them. Even if we were to wed, it would be after graduation when it took place. Giving us almost two years to get used to it."
"Still...It would always feel like I never truly got to make a decision." I explained. "Like I had a sword over my head, forcing my hand."
I glanced at him and saw that his eyes were tight. "I'm sorry that you feel that way."
His reaction confused me. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like you think. I mean that... even if things worked out differently and you and I somehow ended up together, I would always want to feel like it was my decision."
He seemed to understand my use of words this time. He looked at me out of the corner of his eye, a slight smile on his face. "I've been through this sort of situation before. I was almost pushed into an engagement a year ago. But before the announcement could be made, she was given a better offer and now she's engaged to someone else."
My eyes widened. "I'm sorry." I mumbled, not sure what else to say.
He shook his head. "I barely knew her. No apologies needed. She was a classmate of mine that graduated last year. The engagement lasted for three days. My father and hers tried to get us to spend every waking moment of those three days together, hoping we'd somehow feel that connection necessary to keep us compliant. Not that it would've mattered. Her and I were both bred for compliance. And in those three days, I never once spoke to her this way."
"What way?" I asked, not sure exactly what he meant.
"With any sort of freedom in the things that I said. Because of the way we were both raised, the farthest we ever got in an intimate conversation was discussing who we might want present at the wedding from our group of acquaintances. Other than that, it was the weather. Endlessly the weather. It's not that way with you."
"Because I'm blunt and don't really care about what I say?"
"I would've put it that you were honest but that works too." He straightened out, looking more relaxed than I've seen him since entering the mansion.
I smiled. "Thank you."
He glanced my way again. "For what?"
"For being so understanding about everything. This... This all really scares me. I'm thankful for all you've done. You tried to help undo it all when my own brother wouldn't."
Before he could respond, we heard footsteps approaching.
"Excuse me." Someone said, making me jump. It was a maid. She curtsied. "Young master, your father would like to see you and Miss. Avianna in the drawing room again."
Kyoya nodded and surprised me by taking my hand. He gave it a gentle squeeze and I was thankful for his support. We both walked slowly back into the mansion, my legs shaking just a bit. When we entered the drawing room again, Mr. Ootori and Mark both had wine glasses in their hands.
"Ah, there you two are." Mr. Ootori said with a grin on his face. He seemed to be a lot more agreeable when drunk. Considering how spirited he seemed at the moment, this must not be his first glass of the evening.
"You wished to see us father?" Kyoya asked. He still hadn't dropped my hand, which surprised me. He must need the support as much as me. Or maybe he realizes just how badly I need him on my side right now.
"Yes, take a seat. I have an announcement." When Kyoya and I had both taken a seat on a sofa across from where his father sat, our hands still clasped together, Mark decided to stand up and take a seat on a nearby armchair instead of remaining seated by me. I repressed the urge to glare.
"It is my wish, and Mark's as well, that you both wed exactly a month after you both graduate high school." Kyoya's father said outright, not missing a beat. "This marriage will be beneficial to both the Ootori and the Yukimura families. It will also create a bond that will ensure the success of both Medical companies. My son is already compliant with my wishes. What have you to say Miss. Avianna?"
I took a deep breath, ready to speak my mind. "I've been aware of your wishes from the beginning. If I were to disagree, what would you have to say about it?" I asked, trying to be firm but trying to use a polite voice.
Mr. Ootori didn't even raise an eyebrow. He had expected my defiance. He wasn't even surprised to find out I knew. "If you do not wish to marry my son, then I cannot force you. Mark has made it clear that if this marriage is not accepted by all parties involved, that he desires that you leave for America. If you do not accept, you are aware that your affiliation with anyone from Ouran will cease to exist."
"I-" I tried to speak but Mr. Ootori wasn't finished.
"Also take into consideration that a member of the Ootori family has many opportunities that others do not have. Any college in Japan will gladly accept you and no expense will be spared to assure that your life is full of luxury."
I shook my head. "I don't care about the money or what your status can bring me."
"Is this your answer than?" He asked, his expression slowly hardening. Mark looked ready to jump across the coffee table and strangle me. "Will you or will you not marry my son?"
I tried to ignore everyone and look at it from a sane perspective. I owed nothing to Mark whatsoever. But what did I owe to myself? To my father? Even to Kyoya. Glancing at the boy in question, I saw that he seemed just as anxious as everyone else to hear my answer. The way his brows were set over his eyes told me he was confused as to why I hadn't given an answer yet.
My decision was made. The factors pulling my mind were too heavy for me but I was trying to keep myself level. It helped to know that Kyoya would be there through either decision. Even if I stood and walked out the door right now, he'd most likely help me until I had to leave.
By refusing, I would forfeit my right to live in Japan. I would have to sever all ties with everyone I've met in Japan and I would be responsible for causing damage to Mark's company. He would hate me for it and I would hate myself for bringing all of this down on everyone. But by accepting... I was opening myself up to a boy who I felt like I could quite possibly have feelings for. And who I felt... might just have feelings for me in return.
I looked down and rung my hands for a moment before looking Yoshio Ootori right in the eyes. "I..."
