To See the World: chapter ten
I'm BACK!!!
Okay… I know that I've been away for a long while—I didn't really have Microsoft Word (the trial expired), so I didn't have much to write… until now!!
Again, many thanks to my beta editor for editing this chapter!
Hope everyone's having a happy holiday and a great vacation! -x-
Last time on To See the World…
"You are nothing more than the son of a whore. No matter how elegant you make her sound, she's nothing more than a slut that slept with father. She wasn't worth much to even be his mistress."
Tatsuya cringed at Fuyuko's and Itsuko's words.
'Those girls…'
"Have nothing to say?" The girls asked.
"Nothing except when I leave, all I ask is that you take care of Aiko-chan for me and don't make her life a miserable shithole." ---- Aiko rubbed her tears away and looked into the pond, seeing a faint reflection of her red eyes and her pink face. She tried taking deep breaths, wishing that her face didn't look as ugly as it did and when she went in, no one would notice her.
'Ootori-san… he knows now. Even though he doesn't make a big deal of it, he probably knows.'
-x-
The day before the social, Aiko walked to her classroom, plastered a smile on her face, and opened the door.
To everyone else, she looked happy—happier than most days, but inside she was trembling. The fact that someone knew her secret scared her. She wished that he could just forget about it, because the fact that Kyoya knew the truth meant that he could spread it to the world.
Her poor health was one of the biggest flaws of her character. It was a hindrance, an attribute that wasn't needed. She needed to focus on the family corporation and to win the race; winning was all that mattered.
"Kazuhiko-san?"
Aiko glanced up to see her teacher looking at her.
"You are wanted in the nurse's office."
Aiko nodded as she slipped out the door, slipping a couple of pills into her mouth as well.
She thought carefully as she walked down the hallway. "Could someone have found out? They could most definitely use it as blackmail material. I have to be careful with what I say.'
She arrived at the Nurse's Office and opened the door, only to see none other but Kyoya Ootori standing before her.
"Hello Kazuhiko-san, how are you this morning?"
"Kyoya-san, what are you doing here?"
"Hmm. I guess you're calling me Kyoya-san now? You must consider us to be on good terms then."
Aiko winced at her mistake, but looked straight into his eyes. "What is he planning? I shouldn't have made that slip. It figures he would have noticed."
"Ootori-san," she cleared her throat, "Where is the nurse? Sensei said that she called me down here."
"No she didn't—I did. I'm barrowing the nurse's office for the next fifteen minutes. By that time," he looked at the clock, "I hope to clear out and be done with it."
"The nurse must work for his father. But isn't it strange for us to be all alone… in this room that no one is going to come into. And fifteen minutes… that's long enough for him too…"
"Please don't worry Kazuhiko-san," he interrupted her thoughts, "I have no intention of touching you. I just want to ask a few questions and then leave."
She looked up and her face got pink. How could he think that she was thinking about that—she deemed it as absolutely disgusting and repulsive, only something that immature teenagers would do.
It is definitely not something that any upper-crust young adult in the rich, aristocratic world, like her, would do.
"So, Ootori-san, what are your questions?"
"The other week, when you came into the hospital, why were you there?"
"I was at the hospital to get a checkup."
"But why at the Ootori Hospital? I believe that the Kazuhiko Industries have their own share of clinics as well."
She was at a loss for words.
"I was there only because I have a family friend that works there, and his father been my doctor since I was a child. His father died approximately three years ago and now his son, my current doctor, has been taking care of me. He has recently been transferred to the Ootori Hospitals."
"Yes… Shiro Kazuma, is it?"
She nodded. "Now," she asked, "May I leave? I have to go back to class."
"As do I."
"Well, unlike you, I find that my classes are extremely important. Oh look, your fifteen minutes are up anyways, so we should go to class." She turned quickly and began walking to the door.
Just as she reached for the handle, Kyoya slammed his hand against the door, blocking all possibility of leaving.
"Don't think this is over, Kazuhiko-san." He said quietly. "We will meet here every Friday at the same time and at the same place. I wish to know more about you."
"Why can't we do this anywhere else? People will get suspicious once they hear about us being here in the Nurse's Office together. This place has many negative connotations to it. I don't wish that my reputation be lower anymore than it already is."
"You shouldn't think about it like that… think about it as a way to get to know me and the Ootori family better. I wish to have a strong connection and alliance with the Kazuhiko Family, and with this bond, both of our families and our companies will get international status."
"So you're saying," Aiko began, "That you want to get to know me better and to 'break the ice' so then you will be able to find a flaw and blackmail me, then threaten and shove a contract in my face. Clever… but it won't work. You're assuming that I'm the future heiress, do not forget that unlike you, I have three other siblings in my family."
"But out of all the siblings in your family," he smiled and continued, "You're the smartest and the most intelligent out of all of them. I'm surprised at how you handle yourself in these kinds of situations and how you present yourself to others in public."
Aiko resisted his charm and tried not to fall into it. Even if what he said was true, she didn't want it all to go into her head so she wouldn't say something stupid.
"Wow Ootori-san," Aiko quickly said, "I'm impressed! You actually managed to be able to speak more than ten words!"
She pried the door opened and left.
-x-
At the Kazuhiko Estates….
"AIKO!!! GET OVER HERE NOW!!!"
Aiko pried herself out of her chair and went to her mother's bedroom.
That woman wasn't really her mother, just some new lady that her father managed to impregnate. Her real mother died of a heart disease much like her own, and once she died, her father needed to get a new wife.
And then she came.
Aiko opened the door slowly and asked, "Did you call for me?"
"Yes, I wanted to know whether or not you were doing something important."
Aiko gave her a questioning look and answered, "Yes… I'm currently doing my homework right now."
"Well… that's not important then, is it?"
"Well it depends, Kazumi-san, since we must have different points of view about homework. I find homework very important and it is vital in order to…"
Kazumi interrupted her, "Homework is not important. Do you understand?"
Aiko stared at Kazumi and moved her eyes down to Kazumi's large stomach. She said that she was pregnant and was bound to deliver in a few months. Inside her stomach could be the new heir of the Kazuhiko Industries, and all four of them (save for Tatsuya) were upset and nervous.
What if that kid would be the heir? What happened if the four of them were stripped from their father's will and everything would be in the new kid's name? All four Kazuhiko children looked at Kazumi's coming child as if it was some leech that stayed stuck to her stomach.
Aiko closed her eyes and nodded. "I understand perfectly."
"Good. Why don't you help me with some chores—I need to get them done before tonight."
"Couldn't you ask the maids? They can definitely help you."
"No… you see, Aiko, Itsuko and Fuyuko are having a sleepover at the house tonight and I need somewhere for you to go. When I ask you to do chores, I want you to get out of the house and do something with your life; have some fun for once!"
"You mean that means you're asking me to do these 'chores' just so you can have my sisters party all night? Where am I supposed to go?"
"Why don't you go to a friend's house to hang out? You definitely have a lot of friends at school don't you?" She chuckled, then took a deep breath and continued, "Well… I really do have some chores for you, so why don't you finish the chores and then you can go and have some fun. I want you to go the Ootori Hospital and look for Doctor Matsuzaka Hiroki for me? I need you to give him these… forms."
Aiko walked to the table and saw a large envelope and took it. She looked at Kazumi. "This one?"
Kazumi nodded and said, "Make sure you give them to him directly. And don't open it."
Aiko walked down to where are the cars were and asked the driver to drive her to Ootori Hospital.
On the way to the hospital, Aiko looked at the envelope and opened it carefully, making sure not to leave any folds or dents on the paper.
Hiro—
I can only lie to him for so long... What am I going to do? I need more pads. I'll come by to the hospital on Friday to get them.
-Kazuhiko Kazumi
Aiko's eyes opened wide. Could it be true? There isn't a baby after all?
-x-
Family flashback…
"So… the Whore is pregnant… what do we do now?"
"Itsuko… don't talk like that. Kazumi-san is not a whore." Fuyuko responded. "Besides, you shouldn't be speaking like that."
"Well… it is the truth… I bet she's just using us and our family title to get what she wants. I bet that the baby isn't even Otou-san's!"
Aiko hesitated; what if someone heard them talking about Kazumi? The maids who are walking around could hear them and say something. Word spreads fast.
Shizuo looked at the three sisters and began saying, "We should do something. That leech could inherit everything if we're not careful. We need to make sure that at all cost, that baby doesn't get anything of ours."
"Wow Shizuo, that's the smartest thing you've said in…. oh I don't know… five years or something?"
"Itsuko!" Fuyuko reprimanded, "Be nice to your elders!"
"I know… I know… Sorry Shizuo. I love you, you do know that right?"
Shizuo looked at her with a dazed glance, not caring about what she said.
"Exactly my point." Itsuko added.
"Shizuo-nii, perhaps we should attempt to do something to have her lose the baby… perhaps then, she will not be able to have any more children in the future and we wouldn't have to worry anymore." Fuyuko asked.
Aiko looked at Fuyuko, "That's not a bad idea, but if Otou-san finds out or if that lady squeals on us, we're all screwed. We have to do something subtle so we won't be noticed."
Shizuo looked at Aiko, "Then what should we do?"
Aiko responded, "We do what we do best… we find dirt on her and use it as blackmail material. In the case we find something out that is about the baby… that's even better. We can tell Otou-san or threaten that lady so she will feel guilty and she'll tell him."
The three looked at Aiko and nodded. Aiko smiled and left the room, watching the other three going to the computer and looking through the Archives.
-x-
Aiko entered through the automatic doors of the Ootori Hospital.
Watching all the people walk by, she went to the Receptionist and asked, "Excuse me, do you know where Matsuzaka Hiroki-sensei is?"
The Receptionist paged him and asked Aiko to sit and wait for the doctor.
As Aiko was sitting down, she noticed Kyoya walking by with his clipboard, probably asking and interrogating doctors. She hoped that he wouldn't see her.
Kyoya turned around and saw Aiko reading a magazine, looking inconspicuous amongst the others sitting at the Waiting Area. Kyoya slowly sauntered to where Aiko was sitting and sat next to her.
"Kazuhiko-san, I didn't expect you to come again today? Is everything all right?"
"I'm fine, Ootori-san, I just need to deliver some papers for my stepmother."
"You have a stepmother?"
"My mother died of heart complications, and after a couple of years, my father remarried and now we have a new mother. She's pregnant now and she wanted me to deliver some papers to her doctor."
"You could just give it to me and I'll put it in the mailbox. You're just wasting your time here waiting for her doctor."
"It's fine… she specifically requested me to wait for him."
"And who's her doctor?"
"Some… Matsuzaka Hiroki. Have you seen him anywhere?"
"Ah…" Kyoya began looking at his clipboard, "I haven't seen him. But I can tell you that Matsuzaka-sensei is not an OBGYN. He's an anesthesiologist, so I do not know what he has to do with caring for your stepmother."
"Is he really? Well… I don't know… She just asked me to give him some forms. I bet she just wants me out of the house so I won't be a bother to her. She kicked me out for the night since my sisters are having some slumber party and they don't want me to be there."
"So where will you be staying?"
"My mother's family owns many apartment complexes, I contacted the manager about half an hour ago asking for one of the suite rooms to be prepared for me. I have clothes with me as well as other accessories. It's not a problem for me to stay at the apartment since I usually do that whenever my parents don't want me in the house, it's practically routine for me."
"Are you that boring for your sisters?"
"No… Well, I guess that I can't 'fit in' with my sisters' kinds of friends. They're all girly and obsessed about looks and boyfriends rather than education and knowledge."
"Shouldn't the perfect person have a balance of both knowledge and beauty?"
"Well then, I guess I'm not the 'perfect person.'"
A man walked up to Aiko and asked, "Are you Kazuhiko Aiko?"
She nodded and asked, "Are you Matsuzaka Hiroki?"
"Hai."
"Ah… Kazumi-san wanted me to give this to you. She says that they're forms and she needs your signature or something…"
"Kazumi-san? Oh wow… thank you very much. I will call her letting her know that I have the forms. Thanks again."
He looked at Kyoya and lowered his head and then walked away.
"Well, I guess I must take my leave now. Thank you for entertaining me Ootori-san, I guess that the Ootori Family can work and entertain. It is the 'perfect combination,' isn't it?"
"Hn."
Aiko lowered her head and walked out, with the automatic doors opening.
Kyoya walked outside with her and asked, "Are you going to the Social tomorrow?"
"Ah yes… it will be my sister Itsuko and me. My sister seems to have a small infatuation with you. She has specifically instructed me not to speak with you tomorrow night."
"Well then, I will have to resist the temptation."
Aiko laughed and smiled before walking into the car.
"Temptation," she whispered to herself, "what an interesting word."
-x-
Aiko took her bags and opened the door to her apartment.
It was cozy and very simple, unlike most apartments with busy-patterned carpets and lots of expensive furniture and priceless items—just the way she liked it.
She neatly folded her clothes and put them into drawers, trying to maintain order and neatness in her apartment, unlike the chaos in her house.
She was humming a tune while hanging up her sweaters until the intercom went off.
"Aiko-sama," the receptionist started speaking, "Your sister, Fuyuko-sama, is here to see you."
"Ah… bring her up."
Just a few moments later, Aiko heard a knock on her door and Aiko shouted, "It's open!"
Fuyuko went in and sat down next to Aiko, who was currently sitting on her couch reading her English book for homework.
"How come you're here? Aren't you supposed to get ready for your big slumber party?" Aiko questioned, not putting down the book.
"What slumber party?"
"That Lady said that you and Itsuko-nee are hosting a slumber party and she explicitly said that you both didn't want me in the house… so now I'm here in the apartment and you're supposed to be getting ready for your party."
"There isn't a party. She lied."
"What are you talking about?" she put down her book on the table, "Then why would she want me out?"
"It's true… except that Itsuko and I are going to a slumber party, not hosting one. You can come back to the house, I hate for you to be all alone in here."
"Eh… it's fine. I guess Shizuo might have a party of his own."
"That's the thing… there is no party. Everyone is out. Itsuko and I are going to a party, Shizuo is going clubbing with a bunch of his friends and you're here."
Aiko was about to ask the question "Where's Tatsuya" until she remembered him storming out of the house, going to his apartment to stay. When she asked him why, he ignored her and drove away. All of his things were gone and his room was now empty except for a giant black piano in the middle of his room."
"Otou-san?" Aiko asked, wondering if he was going to be gone.
"He has to prepare for a conference in France, so he's leaving right about now… so that just leaves Her."
"Hm… then what would she be planning…"
"She also mentioned to all the staff with the exception of a few that they have the rest of the day off, so there's practically no one in the house!" Fuyuko exclaimed.
"So you're saying that no one is home, and Kazumi-san kicked me out tonight because she wants the house to herself?"
"Well… we don't know what she's planning, but apparently Otou-san doesn't know anything. He just keeps on saying that we can't leave her alone in the house since she's pregnant and she'll get lonely."
Aiko knew that Fuyuko wanted her to come back to the house so she wouldn't get in trouble. Fuyuko was given the task to keep Kazumi happy and to make sure she wasn't lonely and now Aiko realized that Fuyuko was just giving the job to her."
"No." Aiko clearly stated and picked up her book and continued reading, "I'm definitely not going to talk to that woman. I have no desire to have a conversation with her."
"Aiko… she could be up to something and we wouldn't know, would we?"
"No."
"Aiko-chan…" Fuyuko began saying, "Will you please help your onee-san just this once?"
"I'm sorry Fuyuko-nee, but my mind is set. I'm not leaving… there is no way I'm going to be alone with her."
Fuyuko stood up and walked herself to the door. Before she closed it, she looked at Aiko and said, "You know something? I thought you actually worth something… we were taught to care and listen to our elders, but you're just a stubborn little bitch who refuses and is reluctant to listen to anybody!"
She slammed the door.
Aiko looked up from her book, "Oh, she left already? Thank god!"
-x-
A few hours later, after eating dinner (that she had cooked herself) and taken her pills, she continued to complete her homework.
"Ah… I forgot my math textbook and my science book!" She muttered to herself.
She looked at the clock which said 7:30pm and then looked at the window. She wondered if her father had departed yet from his flight, if her sisters were having fun drinking and have people paint their nails, if her brother was dancing and making out with other rich girls…
… But most of all, she wondered about Tatsuya.
He wouldn't answer her calls or her emails. She tried contacting him in every way possible but nothing worked. No one knew where he was and he kept it like that. He wanted no more attachments to the Kazuhiko family.
What Aiko wondered was why he didn't want to be part of the family.
Aiko then looked at her homework on her laptop and started editing her essay again, but this time she couldn't focus. What if Kazumi invited some stranger over to the house? What if that doctor came over to see Kazumi?
"I can't do any more homework," she started muttering to herself, "I can't focus like this."
She went to her closet and put on her coat and walked out the door.
-x-
Aiko took a deep breath and looked around. This is what city life at night was like: bright, filled with lights, crowded streets—the entire atmosphere of it was completely different than what her normal life was like.
She put her hands in her coat pockets and started walking down the streets, watching people line up at clubs and couples eating at restaurants, teenagers heading down to Love Hotels. It was different than what aristocratic life was like, and Aiko loved it.
All her life, she had to watch city life through the windows in the car—only getting a passing glance at the people and places, but now she got to see it all.
Aiko walked to the park that wasn't far from her apartment and took a seat down at a bench. She took out her cell phone out and called her driver.
"I forgot some things back at the house, can you come and pick me up?"
-x-
When Aiko got home, she slowly opened the door and saw the entire house lit up but completely empty. She walked up the stairs until she heard a woman's voice.
"Ah… Hiro!"
"Ahh…."
Aiko looked around and figured out the sound was coming from… the master bedroom.
She looked through a crack on the door and saw Kazumi and Hiro, the doctor she had just met this afternoon, on the bed, and Kazumi on top of Hiro.
"Oh my god."
"Aiko! You… came home so soon? Aren't you supposed to be at that… slumber party?"
"No, that's Fuyuko and Itsuko. I just forgot some books, as well as my dress for tomorrow's Social and I need to pick them up."
"Ah… well… you can go now right?"
Aiko nodded and turned around, hearing the two continue what they were doing.
'She isn't pregnant… she was completely faking it!' Aiko began thinking, 'that's the only way she can stay and be a member of our family!'
-x-
OKAY. THIS CHAPTER IS GETTING WAY TOO LONG.
According to Word, this is about 12 pages. I know I promised to write about the Social… well… I lied.
Sudden development: we meet Kazumi, the newest addition to the Kazuhiko Family, yet although people believe that she's pregnant, Aiko discovers the truth. We also find out that Kyoya wants to know more about Aiko and now they will be having secret rendezvous??
NEXT CHAPTER: THE SOCIAL!!!