Ashes and Riches

By moonlight ray

Chapter 10

The Two Brothers Meet, One on One

Disclaimer: Maid-sama belongs to Fujiwara Hiro, not me. But I can wish, can't I?

[A/N: Sorry if I took so long… writer's block takes a while to overcome. Anyways, I'm back now and with a new chapter! Please review! Note: 'Aniki' is a polite way of saying 'Onni-chan/san', meaning 'elder brother'.]

Misaki stared at the small object in Katashi's hand. "What is it?" she asked cautiously.

"It's not poison, if that's what you're thinking." Katashi smirked. "So are we agreed?"

"Fine," Misaki wasn't completely sure if trusting him was a good idea; after all, he was an Igarashi. And after a few incidents with Igarashi Tora, she knew just how manipulative an Igarashi could be. But right now, it was the only way she could get answers. "Now how are connected to him?"

Katashi checked to make sure no one around them was listening in, then whispered, "He's my brother,"

Misaki, unintentionally, let out a surprised laugh. "President Igarashi doesn't seem like the brotherly type," she commented. Then again, neither did Usui. [A/N: Remember, Misaki hasn't met Gerard yet. Usui has told her he has an older brother, but that's all she knows.]

Katashi shrugged. "Well, whatever." he began walking away.

"Wait, that's it? That's all you're going to tell me?"

"That's all I agreed to, isn't it? Oh, and here." He gently tossed her the vial.

Misaki snatched it from the air, examining the glass object in her palm. She shoved in her pocket, figuring she could take it later. She ran after Katashi. Just as she was a few steps away from him, she heard sounds of a vehicle pulling up at the front gates. Both Misaki and Katashi stopped and turned to see what it was.

Katashi cursed quietly. I didn't think that he'd actually come here to check up on me…

Misaki couldn't say she was surprised. A sleek black limo was parked at the front gates, Igarashi Tora and Maki Kanade emerging from it. "Should I be worried?" she looked to Katashi, half joking, half serious. Katashi's stony expression was all the answer she required. She gestured for him to go, expecting him to hide or something. Instead, he headed in the direction of the gates. Misaki followed after him.

"Ayuzawa-kaichou," Tora put a hand to his chest, dipping down in a polite bow. Maki did the same. Tora glanced at Katashi, the slightest fraction of a smirk breaking out. "Ah, Katashi, it's been a while, no?"

Katashi only nodded, holding Tora's gaze.

Misaki's eyes drifted from one Igarashi to the other, taking in the signs that she'd missed before. Their angular facial features, as sharp as their occasional venomous tones; the perfunctory smiles plastered across their faces, showing a fake sincerity that must have taken years to master; the way they gazed at one another, blank and guarded but not hating.

"Do you need something here, Igarashi-kaichou?" Misaki asked, remembering her manners before he noticed her scrutiny. "How about talking in the Student Council Room?"

"That won't be necessary. We're just here to pick up Katashi-kun. I have something to say to him, in private."

Misaki bit down on her lip, unsure whether or not she should agree. But before she could say anything, Katashi answered for her. "Of course,"

Tora and Maki both bid her a quick good-bye, before escorting Katashi into the limo and climbing in themselves. It drove off almost immediately, leaving Misaki alone at the gates. She suddenly felt sorry for Katashi for some reason. Perhaps it was due to how she couldn't help but notice the panic in his eyes as he clambered into the limo…

Tora pushed open the polished oak double doors to the Student Council Room of Miyabigoaka. He expected a few committee members to be there, sneaking in a bit of work during lunch break, but thankfully, it was empty. "Maki, why don't you go and enjoy the rest of your lunch break?" Tora suggested, casting his companion a sidelong glance. "I can handle it from here."

"Ah, yes," Maki bowed in respect, before leaving the two brothers alone.

Tora waited until after hearing the soft click of the fully closed door before speaking. "You do remember what I said to you last time I called you here, right?"

"That time when I was being followed by kaichou and her friends?" Katashi leaned against one of the smooth wooden desks. "Yes, I remember."

"I told you to appease Father at any cost. I can only cover for you so much before I start to—"

"I get it, your image comes first. You need to maintain that perfect image of yours, and I can't get in the way."

"You have an image to maintain as well, Katashi. And so far, all you've displayed is disobedience and selfishness."

"So? It's not like anyone but Father cares. You're the treasure of the family, the sun everyone revolves around, the prestigious Igarashi heir. Barely anyone knows I exist."

"The media knows, and that's more than enough people to please. You don't get it, Katashi. The paparazzi are always out there looking for juicy gossip stories, and we can't afford to give them any. It's not only me they're after; if you get caught like this, all our success may go to waste. The family—"

"Yeah, yeah, I know. The family business comes before anything else," Katashi rolled his eyes. "That even includes our own happiness, huh?"

Tora sat down at the president's desk, lacing his fingers together and peering over them at Katashi. "A prospering business is happiness, in knowing that you've accomplished what so many can only dream for."

"I'm not dreaming for it,"

Tora sighed, his complexion completely calm and controlled. "Luckily for you, the news of your sighting has been taken care of. I have seen to it that the press was bribed into believing that it must have just been a mistake, and is nothing more than a rumor. The incident is forgotten as far as you're concerned. But this is the last time I babysit you, understood? The next time something like this leaks, you're on your own."

Katashi opened and closed his mouth several times, trying to find the right words, until he finally settled on, "…Thank you, Aniki." He wasn't sure what else to say. Whether it was on his father's orders or Tora just helping him out because he was his brother, he was grateful for it.

Tora nodded once, before gesturing that he was free to go. Katashi went for it as quickly as possible without appearing rude, then upon spotting a limo waiting for him at the entrance of the school, he headed for that to take him back to Seika. Tora stayed in the room awhile longer, pulling out some undone Student Council work. You'd better not cause any more trouble, Katashi, because you've no idea just how close your cover was to being blown this time…