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"Urgh," he groaned as he tiredly sat up from a hard bed. No matter that it was hard but the problem was that it was too small for him. The bed, no matter how one would look at it, was meant for a dwarf sized person. Definitely not for him. He frowned and turned his head slowly to survey a room so foreign to him.
A small, pathetic and worn-out bookcase was filled to the brim with all sorts of books- textbooks, novels, encyclopaedias and dictionaries. An old oak table was too tiny to hold a laptop and a messily piled of papers and scattered stationeries. A new wardrobe that seemed quite of place- either because it was too shabby looking or it was too grand looking compared to its companions. He sighed as he completed his survey of this...this room.
It was a room he could not call a bedroom nor could he call it a slum or a prison. It was the kind of room that was in between a proper bedroom and a prison... and he concluded it was simply a small badly managed bedroom.
"My, my cousin," a voice cooed slyly, "That was one long snooze."
Apparently, the uninvited had decided to stretch the word long just to emphasize how day had transformed into evening. He would not heed that person, he would control his twitch and remain compose. After all, what is a little snide comment compared to what he saw and heard in his head? The premonition... Oh Seiryu. That was a lot more disturbing than his cousin's constant irritating jabbering.
Seeing that he was not going to reply to his snide comment, for the first time, the guest continued to mock, "Perhaps taking a long nap had weakened your muscles and decayed your brain terribly?"
"Ryo, why the impatience?" he replied coolly as he inwardly fend off the bad feeling he had in his stomach, "Your sophisticated taste for make-up is simply too breathtaking that it stupefied me. More than that, it numbed me and decayed my ever-active brain. What misery, Ryo!"
A moment of silence waned on as Ayuru's words slowly sunk into his cousin's brain. Ayuru on the other hand, swung gracefully out of bed, picked up his discarded white dress shirt, and stood before a pathetically, small, body length mirror. It was a mirror too small that he had to back away a lot of distance before he could actually arrange his entire crumpled outfit.
As soon as every word Ayuru said sunk in... "AYURU!" Ryo roared in enraged as he tackled his cousin forward, "You beastly bastard! This is art! ART!" Slinging one arm around the taller man's neck, Ryo tried to pull the man down... unsuccessfully. Unfortunately, Ayuru was the stronger one between them.
"Took you long enough, dear one," Ayuru chuckled as he removed his cousin's arm and adjusted his clothes to perfection. He straightened out every crumple on his dress shirt, and combed away every snag. He would appear as the perfect knight on a white horse just like he always did. He is the most sought-after bachelor and he'd be damned if his fans saw how unruly and messy he was. Not that he was ugly when he was messy. On the contrary, he looked a lot sexier when he was messy which he actually frowned at. How could anyone looked sexy when they're messy, thought Ayuru with disgust. To him, he was ugly when he was messy. To the world, he was simply sexy when he was messy. Conflicting yet quite agreeable thoughts. "Anyway, Ryo, what are you doing?" Ayuru asked as he turned away from the mirror, satisfied with how handsome he looked, "No, let me be specific. Why are you smoking in her bedroom?"
"Uh that is..." Ryo gulped sheepishly. The question was not why he was smoking in the girl's bedroom but more so, why he was in Ayuru's bride's bedroom. "I was checking on you since you, for some odd reason, collapsed after comforting her," he snorted quietly and met Ayuru's dangerous pair of clear blue eyes. Possessive bastard.
"I see. Well then, shall we?" Ayuru walked towards the bedroom door with no thoughts that he could very well be questioned further. Indeed, he walked with his usual swagger and proud air and the usual tilt of his nose up.
"Ayuru, you're in for questioning once you leave the room," Ryo warned as he skipped ahead of his cousin with an almost boyish vigour, "Don't say I didn't warn you."
Before Ayuru could reply, Ryo was well out of the room leaving a confused Ayuru. "There is no question I cannot answer. There is no answer I do not have," Ayuru settled his nerves as he stepped out of his haven, "By Seiryu's grace, they will not have any question I have not heard."
"Mr Kings, are you alright?" Yui asked as the tall blonde man who declared her his bride sat on the sofa.
Oh, so it's back to formality? Ayuru thought sourly as he met her gaze with his cool eyes. He was not one for false hopes; he could not afford having any more of those hopes. And he was a realist. One moment of vulnerability cannot possibly make her look at him as a dependable lover. It was impossible... unless they were truly a match made in heaven and if the God of Love, Suzaku paired them.
When he saw her eyes raked his frame and giving a subtle nod of appreciation, Ayuru smirked. Well, at least she liked what she saw. That was a good sort of start, no?
"Very well, Miss Hongo. Very well," he replied politely despite the smirk that seemed to grow, "The nap I had was one of the better naps I had, in this life at least. Except the bed could be bigger..." He simply could not help teasing her lightly and lying was not a really bad thing, was it? After all, most people lie throughout their lives to the people they love, simply to make both parties feel a little bit better, no?
Yui's cheeks turned a polite shade of scarlet at the mention of her bed. And before anyone could say more, Ayuru continued, "Tomorrow, I'll pick you up. We'll go get new things for your room."
A pregnant silence fills the room as everyone pondered over Ayuru's last few words. '..I'll pick you up.' Does that not sound like an invitation to a date? Ryo thought as he looked quizzically at his composed cousin. Then again, Ayuru has never asked any lady out so perhaps he was not that aware that such words command that sort of speculation.
Miaka grinned widely as she pat Yui's back and gave the girl a thumbs up. Somehow, Miaka came to the conclusion that both her best friend and her fiancé's boss would be, if not already, dating each other! "Sure, Yui will be free tomorrow after classes!" Miaka agreed happily for a stunned Yui. She would do anything to get Yui to be with her most beloved man, even if it meant that that man looked to be a reincarnation of a fallen warrior.
A phone buzzed gently and Ayuru frowned at it before sighing and looking at his host. "It seems I have to get a rain check but tomorrow still stands." Taking a polite sip, Ayuru stood up and looked at Yui in the eye and continued softly, "Call me." With that, he swiftly left the apartment without a backward glance and Ryo scampering after quickly with an apologetic smile.
Well, she'd just call him tomorrow regardless if she wants to or not. After all, she saw sparks of his temper this afternoon and she was no idiot. That man had a vicious sort of temper. And it didn't help that Miaka agreed in her stead and Ryo was looking all expectant and hopeful that she'd accept. Oh Seiryu, she felt the heavy feeling of peer pressure. Well, she can't actually call it peer pressure since it is a good chance to be dating an unattainable. But then again, dating an unattainable requires a certain level of class and air which Yui felt she didn't have.
Yui nibbled on her bottom lips nervously as she said it aloud, "Tomorrow will be a challenging day."
Miaka looked at her confused before she smiled encouragingly. "It'll be fine. I'm sure he'll take care of you."
The Priestess of Seiryu looked at Miaka quietly and shook her head. That brunette didn't understand.
"Ayuru, what's wrong?" Ryo asked as he caught up with the long powerful strides of his cousin. It didn't help that his cousin was brisk walking so quickly that it seemed like Ryo's half-and-one footstep is equivalent to his cousin's one long footstep. "Slow down man, what's the hurry?"
Throwing open the door of his black Jaguar car, Ayuru slid in with shocking grace. Without a second wasted, Ayuru sped off with his cousin in the passenger sit not well seat-belted and the door hardly closed. "He called me. He summoned me."
"Oh."
In half an hour flat, Ayuru and Ryo entered a fine house on a stretch of long quiet road. A house that looked normal and common. Nothing too extravagant. Nothing quite that sophisticated. Just ordinary. Brownish red tiles for the roof and a beige colour for the walls. It looked pretty much like an old house on a common street in Rothenberg.
"First time seeing him after so long, isn't it?" Ryo asked gently despite his usual mischievous behaviour. "Will you be alright?" He could not help asking despite the cold, emotionless mask his cousin chose to wear. After all, to answer the call of duty and obligation to a person you promised to sever all ties with, the feeling must really be akin to having kicked in the guts.
"Yes." It was a one word answer with a cold straight face and a tight lip; something Ayuru hardly ever do. This could only mean that he was either bloody pissed or he was simply too irritated to care. By Seiryu's grace, Ryo hoped it was the latter because if it was the former, someone will end up buried tonight.
"Young Master," the butler greeted them with a low bow of his head, "May I have your coat?" He was an old man who had a deep, permanent scar that ran ugly across his left eye and down to his left cheek. Must be a war scar. Ayuru simply gave a sharp look that would have stopped anyone cold in their tracks; but the old man simply held the gaze and remained composed. "Very well; in that case, the Master and Lady awaits your arrival in the Family Wing, Young Master," the butler turned his attention to the handsome black-haired grey-eyed young man, "Mr Flinch, you will wait in the drawing room. The Master and the Lady explicitly request to meet Young Master Kings alone."
"Lead me," Ayuru commanded formally and softly after dismissing Ryo's companionship with a slight wave of his hand. If his parents wanted to deal with him alone, then so be it. It was not a necessity to be listening to them; he just needed to hear them. Passing by a few rooms, Ayuru finally entered the last door.
Upon turning the knob and entering the room, a single word "Gareth." sent shivers down his back. Turning with deliberate slowness, Ayuru braced himself to match the merciless icy blue glare of his lookalike. He knew that most of his features and possibly mannerisms as well as ideals had to be taken from his most loving father.
Senior Kings looked handsome enough to be mistaken as a forty-year-old man instead of an old man who would probably turn sixty in a few years. He had the same golden hair and exuded the same mysterious aura that made him the epitome of a tall, dark and mysterious man. No doubt that those three characteristics were probably the ones that made many women swooned and fantasize him despite his age. However, true to that nature, Senior Kings is not one to trifle with. He believed most ardently in crushing all his enemies and obstacles completely and mercilessly, and the one who is most powerful is the one who has every right to lay the laws for the world. As such, it is truly not that surprising that he is an avid believer of Seiryu, the God of War.
"Father. Mother," Ayuru acknowledged his parents and strode lazily towards his mother, took her hand and gently kissed it, "How are you?"
"Oh my, darling son!" She hugged him and Ayuru numbed himself within her embrace, "You've grown to be such a handsome gentleman! I believe if I were to meet you the time I met your father, I'd definitely have chosen you!"
"What high praise you sing, Mother," Ayuru smiled gently as he disentangled himself from his mother politely, "I cannot possibly compare to Father now, can I? After all, both of you gave me my looks..."
"Red or white?" Senior Kings asked as he retreated to a wine cellar with purposeful steps, "No, you're always one for the more sophisticated taste. Red has always been your favourite."
Pouring a glass for his son, the man presented it to Ayuru who looked at it tiredly. In actual fact, he was tired of dealing with the pretentious old bastard in front of him but he would thank nonetheless because Ayuru was no pretender. "Thank you, Father." Sitting down opposite his parents, he took a gentle sip of fine wine and moan almost soundlessly in his throat as the thick red liquid flowed down very slowly. "I'll cut to the chase. Why have you called me back?"
"I have something for you and I want you to take it."
"Indeed Father, indeed. You gave me Seiryu & Co. Science & Tech when it was in the red, hoping I could revive it to its throne again," Ayuru matched his Father's hard stare with one of his own bored look, "What's the new mission? And in case you didn't already know, for some reason you haven't been reading the papers, Seiryu & Co. Science & Tech has once again become one of the leading spears in the advancement in science and technology." Ayuru could not help boasting his success. After all, the old coot opposite him never was really pleased and proud of him, like a father would be of a smart and talented son.
"I know of your successes. I've read it in the papers," the man sneered. It was his way of showing his love and care for his only son, though a little bit too harsh and unorthodox. Plus, throughout his entire life, most of the times, if not always, he had to sneer and snort and scoff at everyone and everything. Perhaps it is a pathetic excuse, but still, a fact that cannot be ignored. "Precisely because of your ongoing explosive successes, I'm handing to you my leadership."
"Your leadership?" Ayuru took it as his turn to scoff, "No, Father. I will not take over you. Whatever you have and want me to take, forget it. I'm not interested."
"Forget your young immature disinterest for leaderships, Gareth. You'll be a better leader than I am for the Organization," he growled and Ayuru glared. If anything, both of them knew how much Ayuru hated the name 'Gareth' because only one person in the whole damn world calls him that. Never mind, if it was a special person but the fact that it was his father, the dreadful, devious, manipulative, pretentious scum bag.
"Keep your group and network of loonies to yourself, Father. I'm not interested in leading a crowd of spineless goons," Ayuru snapped as he stood up hastily, "A better leader than you? I cannot possibly be. After all, I can't lead a whole group of useless people better than you ca-"
A force so strong pushed and pressed itself on an unsuspecting Ayuru. A tight grip around his neck and a hot breath of mint blew calmly into his face. "You better listen and listen well, Gareth." When the older blond man saw his son glaring at him, inwardly he smiled. He knew his son was growing up fine. But he definitely can't show it, because it was uncharacteristic of him. "With the Organization, there is no information you won't and can't know. You'll be able to easily get access to any information of any kind on anything and anyone. And I'm getting too old to be the helm for them, they need a new leader. They need someone as capable as or more capable than me, someone such as you."
"Stop this bull, old man." Ayuru growled as he pushed against his father, "With Seiryu & Co. Science & Tech, there is no information I cannot get. There is no answer I do not know. And there is certainly no question they can ask that I do not know the answer to."
"Do you ever wonder why?" the man asked softly and Ayuru stiffened. It can't be... "Because Seiryu & Co. Science & Tech is one of the more prominent branches of the Organization."
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