~Chapter 11~
"Good morning" Misaki greeted her still drowsy fiancé.
"Hm… Misa-chan~" cuddling her tightly.
"Wake up you lazy alien" pinching his nose.
"Five minutes, please?" nuzzling his nose to her bosoms.
"Seriously Takumi, get up we need to meet your grandfather and talk about the official engagement"
"Okay, okay… but you're helping me bathe" kissing her.
"Remember what your mother said about things we shouldn't do before we get to be married?"
"But we often bathe!" he childishly whined at him.
"Fine…" giving up.
As both prepared for the day the maids who entered their room giggled at the couple's antics, well mostly Takumi teasing Misaki inside the bathroom.
Placing neatly another of their matching outfits, the maids dismissed themselves and headed back to their own duties.
Joining the family eating breakfast, "Gerard, do you have any matters to do today regarding the party?" asked by the duke.
"As a matter of fact yes, I would be meeting the elders for the family gathering regarding the announcement for Takumi's engagement"
"Is that so? Well then I'll be coming with you because I have my matters to discuss with them" the old man wiped his mouth as he finish his breakfast.
"Do you have any appointments for us today?" asked Misaki.
"Actually yes, both of you are to have a pictorial for the pre engagement photos" Gerard announced.
"I see, well then I'll be borrowing Misaki in the afternoon after the pictorial finishes, we still need to fit her on some dresses, also Takumi you need to come along for us to get you on matching outfits" Patricia added.
"Well, that is settled, who is our photographer?" asked Takumi.
"You don't need to worry about that, a friend of mine is willing to give us a hand" Gerard finishing.
"Scott, any plans?" Gerard asked.
"Yes, I decided to do grandfather's work for a while and give him some rest, occasions are coming so does he paper works for him" he stated.
After they separated to do their tasks, the couple who sat at the garden hammock waiting for the photographer.
"Hey?" Misaki patted Takumi who's hugging her from the back.
"Hm?" he hummed tightening his hold on her waist and nuzzling his nose to her crook.
"Why did Scott, Gerard and your grandfather became so serious all of a sudden?"
"Well, they're always like that. They're not always the teasing type nor not so busy type, but considering for you and me to relax around them they acted like it was our usual family moments"
"Wow… and I never knew Scott can be that kind of a person, all I know about him is that he's a laid back guy who loves food…" she thought.
"Well, you never saw his strict and authoritative side, he took up his personality from grandfather"
"I see? Well how about you?"
"Hmmm? My Misa-chan suddenly got interested with me?" kissing her.
"Stop it pervert, the maids can see us" she scold, "But I'm serious who did you take up to?"
"Mother said, I resemble my father's personality"
"Oh… but for me you're you and you're perfect"
Takumi was touched on what she said kissed her.
"Oh… Sorry Am I interrupting?!" said by a familiar lady with big glasses.
"Ahem… No actually. Are you the photographer?" asked by Misaki.
"Yes… My name is Liza, nice to meet you" shaking Misaki's hand.
"And I'm Misaki, and I think you already know this guy because you're from here?" she giggled.
"How harsh, Misa-chan!" whined Takumi.
"Aww… is Takumi but hurt?" Misaki teased.
Takumi pouted like a child, Misaki sighing, "Darn it, Takumi" she hugged his waist.
"Misa-chan~"
"Stop with the lovely-dovely so early" grumbled by Gerard being accompanied by Cedric.
"Speaking of but hurt" Takumi snorted.
"You're back early?" Misaki greeted.
"Shot up Takumi… and yes, I just came back to check if my guest arrived already and settle, and I guess she just arrive shortly before I did?" Gerard kissing Liza's hand.
Blushing, "Yes I just did, and welcome back"
"Cedi, get all my papers and put it on my tea table, I'll be working here in the garden, it's such a nice morning to join my brother and his fiancé in their own task?" Cedric bowed and took what he was asked for.
As Gerard made himself comfortable in the near table and chair.
"Shall we start?" Liza finishing up her set up with the reflectors.
"Sure" Takumi replied.
"Uhm… Do we need to change clothes after some shots?" asked Misaki to her fiancé.
"Yes, I think… Mother mentioned earlier" he thought, looking at the maids on standby who're gonna assist them later on.
Their first shot was the usual pose for the couples, Takumi standing behind Misaki tightly wrapping his arms around her waist while her hand was on top of his, both have natural smile.
Second was both sitting on the hammock, Misaki was seated between Takumi's legs, Takumi's chin was rested on her shoulder and hands still wrapped around her waist.
As the carried on with their shoot, the maids were all awing at the cuteness of the couple, the head maid was squealing, "She reminds me of manager" Misaki remarked.
"I can see flowers coming out" Takumi agreed.
"NOOOOOOOAAAAAH!" a familiar voice can be heard.
"I hope Noah-san survive that one" Misaki sweat dropped.
"WHERE ON BLOODY HELL IS MY COFFEE?!" after that.
"Bless Noah's soul" thought of Cedric making the maids shiver on the remark.
"Uh… can you both hold hands showing your rings and if possible can you both kiss?" Liza asked making the maids squeal.
Misaki blushed but Takumi took hold of her and danced her around with a chuckle and did what was told.
"NOAAAAH!" the voice called out again and to their surprise the man in full combat uniform with a bored look carrying a coffee was walking towards Gerard's table.
"S-sir!" rushed by his secretary.
"I'm taking a short break" he announced, "Grandpa is one sly oldie, he let his work pile up for me" he sighed.
"You better get used to it" Gerard sipping his own tea.
Scott taking notice of the photo shoot, "You know the shoot can be fun if you both would play in water" he gave out an idea.
"can you elaborate please?" asked Liza.
"Hold on" standing and taking the hose from the gardener and pointing it to the couple, Misaki protested at first but Takumi laughed getting the idea, taking the hose from Scott.
Both couple forgot about the other's presence and started to play childishly, "Candid photos are beautiful, might as well take some you know" he patted the lady's shoulder and sat back to his place, "Noah, I'll finish up my work here" and poor Noah rushed to get the remaining pile of paper.
Getting back, "You didn't joke when grandfather piled it up" Gerard said out of shock.
"That's the twin tower" commented by Noah catching his breath.
"Uhm… the outdoor shots are done, shall we proceed indoor?" she asked.
"They need to change first, miss" said by the head maid.
The laughing couple headed back inside to change, "You should stay for a while and have some break" offered Gerard to Liza.
"So Are you going to be my date for the party?" he shamelessly blurted making the lady fluster and almost dropped the camera.
"Takumi, It confirms Gerard is desperate" he laughed.
"Shut up" grumbled by Gerard.
"So? Your answer?"
"Well, if it's alright I guess, but I don't have a dress yet" she panicked a bit.
"Mother get it covered" he smiled.
Getting back to her work she proceeded to get the couple's picture, first it was at the piano both playing side by side, the next one was both standing on top of the staircase with the same pose as their first photo and until they have took so many shots, Liza thanked them while the couple thanked her for her hard work.
Finally the couple were greeted by Patricia who just came back from her short trip and brought back Lydia and Edgar with her. After the couple changed they proceeded to the well known boutique, Takumi was fitted with silver three piece suit with white button up and red ascot tie.
Misaki on the other hand with a modern strapless white dress going down her mid thigh, silver lace with red ribbon on her side, coming out from the fitting room Takumi's eyes almost fell seeing how cute and gorgeous his fiancé is.
Also Patricia enjoyed the shy company of Liza who refused clothes which are revealing, but Patricia played a little rough when she dressed her in a backless dress and showed it to Gerard who had a nose bleed shortly after.
Finishing with their errand, Richard called them that the brothers need to have a new painted portrait for some event and it needed to be formal.
Calling Scott who visited the airbase for inspection answered back that he will be home shortly.
Immediately Takumi changed on his khaki colored suit with black ascot tie, Gerard on his classic British suit while Scott as a soldier he is, he had worn his formal dress with full collar, thick braids of aiguillette and beret.
It was late in the evening when they finished all their planned tasks, still the family ate dinner as they usually have.
"Good night" Takumi kissed his fiancé.
"Good night" she yawned and snuggled comfortably.
"Perfect fit" he gently chuckled.
"Hm…" nuzzling her face to his chest.
"I guess you're to tired to talk" patting her back and he too drifted to sleep.