DISCLAIMER: I don't own manga or anime especially KWMS TT_TT


"Gerard." President Walker began tersely, "Were you aware of Takumi's…situation?"

"Yes, I was, Grandfather." Gerard replied, tired.

"and why was neither your father nor I informed about such events?" He raised his eyebrow skeptically.

"Because I did not think it of high enough importance that you knew."

"You did not think it of high enough importance!" President Walker fumed, "You call getting married not of high enough importance?"

Gerard, fuming himself, dropped the polite act.

"Quit it Gramps. You don't give a rat's ass what Takumi makes of his life. All you want to do is take advantage of his accomplishments." President Walker opened his mouth to cut him off, but Gerard held up a firm hand in protest and continued. "Now that you've been hearing about how successful he's been, you, who has done nothing but shun him since his birth, wants the recognition of being the person who raised and educated one of the brightest minds of Japan."

"You dare insu-"

"Admit it Gramps. You wanted to use him to gain another alliance. You want publicity and you were going to use Takumi to do it by marrying him off to some rich girl."

President Walker's mouth opened and closed like a guppy for several seconds before replying "Well, I only have whats best for him in-"

"No you don't." Gerard's flat tone answered automatically. "I already read your files."

President Walker was silent for a few seconds, no doubt formulating a new approach to defend his plot. His response was disgusting.

"So you think that tramp is good enough then?" he hissed.

Gerard's face went stock white.

"What did you just call my sister-in-law?" a mad fire lit up in his eyes.

"She's a whore! A gold-digger! Why else would such a…such a…filthy low-born girl be with Takumi?"

"Misaki-san is not a tramp." Gerard defended her. "She is no whore, or gold-digger, as you so appallingly put it."

"Oh, so that's the tramp's name. If she isn't trash," President Walker challenged, "then just what is she?"

"She is Takumi's wife!" Gerard insisted, raising his voice. "If you had ever seen them together, if you had come to the wedding, you would see how happy they are together. Then again, this is you we're talking about. You can't see anything past your own nose. You're as blind as a bat."

"Why you insole - what are you doing?" President Walker hissed.

Gerard faced slightly away, ignoring the higher authority, cell phone pressed to his ear. He whispered in furious japanese into the phone, shouts and cries of indignation coming from both people on the other end. It only took a minute before Gerard snapped the phone shut with a little too much force, a permanent frown on his face.

"What did you just do?" he was asked again.

Gerard only smirked, finding his way to the plush armchair across from the desk.

"I just called Takumi. He and the tramp as you put it are on their way here." he sounded smug.


"Takumi!" Misaki cried loudly, trying to calm the furious man in front of her.

He wasn't listening. He was grabbing his jacket, muttering fleeting curses and swears under his breath, a murderous fury etched on his face.

"Takumi, wait. We can't just go barging in!"

Things began falling off the table where they had just been sitting. Odd stares were coming from Robert Finch and Julia, who were finalizing the last of the wedding arrangements. Akiyo and Koemi were off in their own corner, playing with a model airplane and train set.

"Idiot Alien! Listen when I'm talking to you!" Misaki grabbed his arm, effectively halting his movement but not his anger.

He turned and looked at her. His expression reflecting the pain of having his family criticized and the wrath towards the one who was criticizing. He couldn't speak accurately through the anger, only able to blast off sudden bursts of swears. Misaki, unaware of what else she could possibly do, pulled an old trick from high-school. She grabbed his head with both hands and yanked his head down. For a moment, Robert and Julia's eyes lit up with hearts, expecting she was about to initiate a passionate kiss with him. Instead, with as much fury as Takumi was holding in, Misaki rammed her forehead into his.

Takumi stood stunned for a moment. Rage still consumed his body with each shiver, but Takumi had been stunned enough to be able to clear his head. Misaki's hands released her vice-like grip on his hair and caressed his face gently.

"Feeling better?" she asked placidly.

"No." Takumi closed his eyes, taking in a long breath. "But I can think clearly now. Thanks." he whispered back.

Misaki smiled and leaned up to kiss his cheek. The affectionate gesture helped him calm a bit.

"Shall we go?" Misaki suggested lightly now that he was calm.

"Yeah we shou - wait. what we? You are staying here." Takumi answered, though he could clearly see the defiance in her eyes.

"No. I'm not." Misaki crossed her arms. "This concerns me too. The girls can stay with Julia. We won't be more than an hour anyways."

Before Takumi could reply, Misaki had already asked Julia to watch the girls and was grabbing her shoes.

The short ride down to the Reqiuem Bank's main building was as silent as ever. Takumi clutched his wife's hand, though he was so lost in thought, he had not the mind to face her at the moment. Exiting the taxi, both Takumi and Misaki realized they weren't really appropriately dressed for a meeting with the president. Misaki in faded jeans, a long amber shirt and sneakers, Takumi in jeans, tucking in beige dress shirt and runners, both wearing casual jackets on top.

Takumi did not comment on it and Misaki didn't mention it again. Still, Takumi kept Misaki's hand in his own. She walked briskly to keep up with his pace, refusing to be pulled along, head down as she didn't want to assert any authority she did not have. If someone spoke to her at the moment, she wouldn't be responsible for her actions. Still facing the floor when they reached the elevator, Takumi frowned at her as the doors closed and the lift started upward.

Reaching out for her, Takumi's unoccupied hand timidly lifted her head up by the chin to look at him. He smiled reassuringly.

"Head up. You have nothing to be ashamed about." he told her.

"Okay." there was a squeak of nervousness in Misaki's voice.

The elevator doors opened, the short dinging sound rang so loud that both Misaki and Takumi jumped. As the first to compose himself, Takumi clenched Misaki's hand and pulled her along with him, her stunned form chasing after him. Takumi bypassed the three secretaries, who shouted at them in protest when they ignored the line of people waiting to see President Walker and went straight for the door. The only unoccupied of the three secretaries, quickly planted herself menacingly between them and the door. She stood, hips angled in frustration, arms crossed severely, her heel-clad toe tapping impatiently on the marble floor.

"Excuse me, but if you are here to see the President, you will have to make an appointment." sneered the middle-aged woman. "If you already have an appointment, please sign in and wait your turn."

She sounded like she was scolding a child who was eager to go on a roller coaster. Takumi narrowed his eyes to glare her down. She did not relent. No matter what anyone said, he had authority here.

"Takumi." Misaki whispered, clutching his one hand with both of hers. "Please. Hold it in until we get inside. Think of the upcoming wedding, of the girls. Don't create a scene."

She sensed him calm a bit, but Takumi's glare did not let up on the secretary.

"I am here upon an urgent call from Gerard Walker." informed Takumi. "You will let me pass."

"I'm afraid I will need verification of that little fact before I let you pass, sir." she spat vehemently upon that last word, and both Takumi and Misaki knew it.

"What is all the ruckus about?" The right door to the office had swung open and Gerard stood in its doorway, glaring around before his eyes caught sight of Misaki and then Takumi.

"Takumi good. You arrived fast, and you brought Misaki-san. Excellent. Get in here."

Misaki preceded Takumi into the office, as the saying goes, 'ladies first.' Takumi strode in behind her, not even bothering to give the secretary a backward glance as she stared after them, stunned. Everything in the waiting area seemed to snap back to life the moment the office door slammed closed.


President Walker stared at the woman in front of him like he was finally seeing the light. He wanted to laugh at the irony. The high-cultured woman he had met at the hotel was the tramp! What were the chances. He eyed their clasped hands scornfully.

"You." He forced out angrily. "So that's what Takumi meant."

"Pleasure to meet you, President Walker." Misaki greeted nervously, feeling Takumi's tightening grip on her hand.

"You're a sneaky little tramp aren't you?" President Walker sneered. "Decided to keep yourself a secret, though not for long now was it?"

Gerard stared between them, confused.

"Have you…already been acquainted?" he questioned.

"Yes." Misaki replied before President Walker could open his mouth. "At the hotel the night of the bachelorette and bachelor parties."

"Well?" President Walker tapped his feet impatiently. "What of your bastard children?"

Gerard spun furiously on his grandfather. Takumi launched himself forward, the only thing holding him back was Misaki's hold on his hand. Misaki's head was bent. Her whole body trembled and she looked like she was going to cry. She could swear that Gerard and Takumi's screams of outrage could be heard in the waiting room. Though Takumi's rage immediately ceased when he felt Misaki's hand, which had not once left his own since they left the taxi, slip from his own. He snapped his head back in concern, his anger bubbling down temporarily.

Misaki's hands balled into sweaty fists and she lifted her head, revealing not coursing tears, but a look of dangerous wrath upon her face. The demon president had surfaced. That look was dangerous all on its own. God forbid their children ever see that face, they would be scarred for life.

"Takumi? I'd probably get fired for doing this, but," she accentuated carefully. "can I bomb him?"

"WHAT!" Gerard panicked, turning at her question.

"Misaki, you are not allowed to bomb this place." Takumi answered reluctantly, a smirk crawling up his lips. "Besides, don't you think its stupid to get fired over such a triviality."

"Fired?" President Walker looked Misaki over alarmingly. "She works? And what's this about bombing me? Surely that is a ridiculously impossible notion coming from you." he pointed reproachfully at Misaki.

Misaki stood straight and proudly, the murderous look still in place.

"I am the International Weapons Exchange and Purchasing Broker for the Japanese Army." She stated, crossing her arms menacingly.

She stared President Walker straight in the eyes, lips twitching momentarily into a smirk when she swore she'd seen him flinch and gulp.

"Well," President Walker coughed. "while your conduct was impeccable, I must say the rest of your demeanour is quite degrading in terms of status to this family. Why if you were anything like Gerard and Takumi's mother, y-"

"Don't you dare bring our mother into this." Takumi barked.

"Why not? She came from a cultured family, had an apt contribution to the community and was mother to two br -"

"Our mother was just another pawn to you." The occupants of the room were surprised to find that it was Gerard who spoke. "You married her off to father because you were dying to have a merger with their successful company."

The look of pity on President Walker's face got them all seething.

"Don't think I don't know!" Gerard slammed his hand down onto the desk. "Didn't think I would go snooping around, did you? I spoke with our mother's parents. You know what they told me? They told me you pestered them with marriage proposals the minute their business went big. But they said no! Apparently, you don't know the meaning of rejection because you kept sending them until you had to blackmail them into a merger."

Takumi about to start hyperventilating. Misaki held onto him, his pale face concerning her greatly. He looked like he was about to puke at any moment from all the stress. Well, in the end, someone did puke, but it wasn't Takumi.

"Misaki!"

"Misaki-san!"

In less than a second, Misaki became paler than Takumi, turned over on her side and retched into President Walker's trash bin. The heated argument suddenly forgotten, Takumi was now trying to soothe Misaki until the contents of her stomach were all out of her system. Once the heaving had stopped, Takumi helped her get to her feet. Arms wrapped around Misaki protectively, she struggled to balance herself on her feet. She couldn't remember the last time something like this had happened. Well, actually she could, but that wasn't the point! Maybe the stress was getting to her. After all this time, it was bound to have happened eventually.

"I'm fine, Takumi." she muttered, though her arm did not leave his shoulders, and that worried him. She didn't look fine at all.

"No, you're not. We're going back to the hotel." Takumi said firmly.

"No." Misaki held up her other hand, grasping his chest briefly, trying to steady herself. "I'm fine, ok-"

Her voice faded out as she passed out. Takumi caught her as she was already in his arms and, ignoring his grandfather's protests, laid her down on the plush seat in front of his desk, calling out Misaki's name over and over as if she would somehow hear him and wake up.

Both him and Gerard, were trying to shake her awake, but it wasn't doing any good. Takumi quickly checked her vitals.

"Gerard!" Takumi said desperately, both him and President Walker coming around at his call.

"Gerard, she's not breathing!"

Then there was someone pounding on the door.

"Excuse me! President Walker, we've heard shouting! Is everything alright?" It was the secretary that had tried to keep Misaki and Takumi from getting in.

Gerard flung open the door and stared her straight in the face.

"No, everything is not alright." he swallowed the lump in his throat before barking out, "We need a doctor. Call an ambulance. NOW!" he yelled when she didn't react right away. The door wasn't closed this time.

Takumi had lain her on the ground and had, with Gerard's help, continuously performed CPR until the ambulance got there, which was thankfully no more than a few minutes. He readily moved out of the EMTs way when he noticed that they didn't bother to examine her, catching onto the situation, and immediately worked to restart her heart.

Takumi breathed a heavy sigh of relief when they told him that she was breathing again. He stood by reluctantly as they attached a breathing mask and lifted Misaki onto a stretcher. As they carried her out to the elevator, people were surprised to see not only Takumi but Gerard following.

"Moral support." was his answer.

Takumi thanked him gratefully as they piled into the ambulance.


President Walker stood, shocked still in front of his desk. In the span of around 15 minutes, he had been lectured, defied, accused and ignored. The door to his office swung closed with a bang, snapping him out of his reverie. He sighed, trying to assure himself he had seen a momentary illusion, a fantasy his wild mind had conjured up in its old age. Too bad for him. As he made his way back to his chair, he stepped on something. Retracting his foot, President Walker found a piece of paper bent into the carpet, light creases fanning out from the vertex where his toe had just occupied. He bent down to retrieve the unknown scrap and was about to toss it when he noticed something scribbled in curly letters on the bottom righthand corner in slightly smudged pen.

January 27, 20XX

Title "A New Beginning"

Curious as to what else could be on the paper, President Walker flipped it over and took in a breathtaking sight. The picture was obviously taken through a window some sunny morning. The picture consisted of the, mostly side, view of a hospital bed from the hallway. Misaki sat under the white sheets in a hospital gown, looking exhausted but happy, Takumi sitting just beside her, looking just as blissful. In Misaki's arms was a newborn baby, apparently asleep, another newborn slept peacefully on the bed right in front of them. Takumi had his right hand threaded through Misaki's hair, about to kiss her. While Misaki's face was at an angle, only catching the side of her exuberant grin, Takumi's face was in plain view of the camera. He had a watery smile twitching into place on his face. He had his forehead pressed to Misaki's. The amount of emotion President Walker saw in those eyes just about mirrored, if not exceeded, the look he'd seen in Misaki's the night of the bachelor party - unbridled love.

He could almost swear that just by looking at the picture, the image of Takumi would cry from all the emotion. He had never seen Takumi show such emotion in his presence before. In fact, he'd never seen Takumi show such emotion ever. Just what was it about this woman that caused him to show that kind of expression, to feel that kind of overwhelming emotion?

It was something he couldn't possibly imagine.