A/N: Sorry for the disappearance! Forgive me (sets story out as bribe)
MARYLOVER – That he is for Ryoma but how to make them fall for each other? The old-fashioned way of course! Bonds are created from time with one another.
Frozen
Rated: M [for incidents in this chapter for sure!]
Summary: [AU] Life, as far as Ryoma was concerned, was just another obligation to Takeuchi Takahiro. He was to do as he was told but even chained, Ryoma had his own way to reach goal…what he didn't expect was Fuji Syuusuke in his business.
Chapter XII: Rinko's Story
Tokyo, Japan
Takeuchi Residence
"The day mommy died, she took daddy's smile with her. The day mommy died, I had to grow up and daddy never cried again."
Rinko looked at her brother whose hand she held tightly. He hadn't understood what was going on with all the people milling in and out of their house but she had. She had cried when their nanny had come to them and told them their mommy wasn't going to come back, that she had gone into the sky to become one of those angels that her mommy told her about.
Though she was sad that she would never see her mother again, she had been content to learn that her mother would no longer be in pain.
"Nee-san…. I want mommy," Hisoka whispered. "I'm tired."
"Mama is gone now remember," Rinko reminded her brother with a small smile. "Nee-san will take you to nanny and she'll put you to bed okay?"
Hisoka, who was in the middle of yawning, nodded his agreement. He allowed Rinko to pull him along and around the corridor to their nanny's side.
"Sherry," Rinko interrupted her nanny from talking to a maid. "Hisoka is sleepy, would you mind taking him up?"
"Not at all Ojou (young mistress)" Sherry said with a smile. "I'll take him off your hands."
"Oyasumi (good night) Hisoka," Rinko said with a brush of her lips to his forehead as her mother tended to do for both of them when tucking them in.
"Oyasumi Nee-san," Hisoka replied and took Sherry's hand that she offered.
She had seen her father early in his study. She had never seen her father drink and cry so painfully before. She had asked to see her mother's body but the maids had not let her. They told her she needed to be changed before she was ready to be laid to rest.
"Rinko, it's unsightly for a young girl to be roaming about like a lost soul in the hall."
Rinko looked up to see her grandmother standing before her with a hard stare with a disapproving frown on her face. Rinko had always thought her grandmother put on much more than she needed to wear on her body and face. It was obvious that her perfect skin was cosmetics at work and her handful of jewelry was only draped on to be admired and not tastefully selected. Her father had once told her that his mother, her grandmother who had passed on, had dressed and acted much better than his stepmother.
"I was looking for my father, Baa-san." Rinko justified with a slight bow of respect to her grandmother.
"He has no time to be patting you on the head when he has so much more to do in arranging your mother's funeral." Her grandmother said arrogantly. "Get back to your room and act like a lady! Of all days, she just had to drop dead the day before Sakoji's birthday!"
Rinko didn't say anything. She merely walked away like the lady she was. She knew perfectly well that her grandmother preferred her cousin to her brother and her but it had never bothered her because she had always had her parents and the happiness of this house. The burden of the house now fell to her unless her father re-married. She had watched her mother run the house and though she was only seven, she knew the ins and outs of having a successful household.
"Must be hard on you right now Rinko-chan," The woman bent to her level and smiled softly as her dark, brown eyes softened in a smile. She wasn't too worried that her expensive kimono was spread onto the wooden floors.
Rinko smiled for the sake of her aunt and moved forward.
"I'll do my best though." Rinko stated and accepted her hug of condolence.
Of everyone from her father's step family side, she only loved her uncle Koji's wife. She was originally a Sanada and her mother's friend. Though aunt Kinu had been married to uncle Koji through an arrangement, she often told Rinko's mother that he wasn't cruel towards her. They didn't love each other like her parents did but he treated her with courtesy and protected her from his mother's harsh words.
She watched as her aunt straightened when her grandmother came around the corner and fixed herself. Her aunt adjusted her kimono and placed her unemotional face back on firmly.
Rinko wished her aunt could escape her grandmother too but some things were just hard to change.
"Rinko! daijoubu ka?(Are you okay?)"
"Asami!" Rinko said with a smile as she hugged her closest friend and cousin.
They were related through Rinko's real grandmother who was an Anzai so Asami inherited the flawless, porcelain doll skin and warm grey eyes of wisdom.
"Well?" Asami asked backing up so fast to view her face that her black skirts swished forward making her look even more doll-like.
"I'm fine," Rinko said with an assuring smile. "I'm going to grow up Asami-chan."
"Will your daddy be okay?" Asami asked looking over to where he supposedly stood surrounded by many consoling adults and friends.
"I hope so," Rinko admitted. "But I'm going to try to not cause my daddy any problems and be a real lady to take care of mommy's job."
Asami nodded with a slight frown though.
"What?" Rinko asked as Asami continued to scrutinize her.
"What will they do after you get married and go away then?" Asami asked.
"Then I won't," Rinko said with a smile certain she had solved her problem.
"But you're engaged to Youji-kun silly!" Asami reminded her.
"Ah, that's true," Rinko said burying her face in her hands.
She didn't mean to forget the Oshitari heir in her haste to protect her father and brother. He was always polite and she liked him well enough. He was even taller than her and wasn't afraid to hold her hand.
"How about you Asami?" Rinko asked turning the table to her cousin. "Are you looking forward to your engagement to Ryuu?"
Asami sighed. "I don't wanna marry my best friend!"
"But those make the best husband!"Rinko said quoting her mother's words. "my parents were the best of friends."
"I want more than friendship in marriage," Asami said with a small smile. "I want love."
"Like who?" Rinko asked returning her smile. "You know our destiny is to marry according to family and our circle."
"Promise you won't tell?" Asami asked looking both ways before she turned back to Rinko.
Rinko nodded and leaned forward to hear.
"I like Takuya," Asami whispered turning her head towards the door.
Rinko eyes widened and turned also to stare.
All the girls always liked Morisato Takuya. He, in Rinko's honest opinion, didn't have much expression but he was intelligent and handsome though his family status was only average. That was enough to catch a husband if you wanted to though.
"Didn't Sakurarako-chan claim him though?" Rinko asked. She was a very beautiful girl who was in the same class as Rinko at school. She was a perfect girl unlike Asami and herself. She never ran around and played soccer with the boys like they did, or climb trees, or got dirty.
"That doesn't mean he claims her," Asami said with a smile. "I'm going to make him like me and not let go."
"How are you going to do that?" Rinko asked with a small twinkle in her eyes. One thing she loved about Asami was how daring she was.
"In my own way of course," Asami said with a sly smile.
Rinko shook her head in slight laughter but looked towards the boy who happened to have the misfortune of being Asami's chosen one.
It wasn't that Asami wasn't a good girl to fall for. She was a bit too prideful at times; stubborn other times and had a head to be daring in anything she undertook.
"Rinko,"
"Otou-san," Rinko said in greeting to her father.
He looked tired and harassed but he managed a small smile for her sake before he bent down to her level.
"Okaa-san… your Okaa-"
"Isn't coming back," Rinko finished softly for her father. She knew it was hard for him to say so and even harder to live the reality of it but she wanted to ease the burden on his shoulder if only just a bit.
Rinko placed a smile on her face for her father's sake and gripped his hand tightly.
"I'll be good daddy, so please don't worry. I'll grow up; I'll be a good girl and take care of Hisoka so don't leave too daddy." Rinko said softly.
Takahiro didn't say anything. He merely patted his daughter on the head softly and looked away. Her resolve and look was Miyo… it was a reminder that she lived everyday in his children and he couldn't allow himself to die and allow the vultures to swoop in. He needed to secure their future, get them away from this mess and protect what rightfully belonged to his children.
"Otou-san's not going anywhere," Takahiro finally spoke. "He just needs time."
Rinko nodded and watched her father walk stonily back to the other side where all the adults stood.
xXx
"Time hardened otou-san. He became strict and slowly I begin to feel like I failed my mother by not being able to bring his laughing face back… his true smile had left with her."
"Hisoka!" Rinko called out holding his bento. "You forgot your bento!"
"Nee-san!" Hisoka grumbled coming back for it. "I'm fourteen, not four."
"Then remember your bento," Rinko said with a fond smile to her younger brother. "Cook spent time on it for you."
He didn't say anything as Rinko watched him go off with his friends. It had been years and yet she felt as if she was still responsible for every little thing Hisoka did.
"Stop acting like a mother already and look at me!" A teasing voice entered her thoughts.
"Asami!" Rinko said fondly to the smiling girl beside her. Asami had grown beautiful as their years together proved and as she had stated so many years ago, she had caught and snared Morisato Takuya.
"Ne, do you think Takuya loves me?" Asami asked losing her smile now for a more serious expression.
"Why ask that after being with him for six years now?" Rinko asked surprised by the sudden turn of Asami.
"Onee said I should beware," Asami said with a sigh. "His family isn't doing so well financially so it could be that he just needs my money."
Rinko frowned. For as much as she loved Asami, her sister garnered the opposite from Rinko. Her sister always reminded Rinko of a younger version of her step-grandma. They always seemed calculating and intent on disrupting peace.
"Asami, do you really think he's like that?" Rinko asked holding Asami's hand tightly. "Do you think he's capable of doing that to you?"
Asami seemed to blink back tears but she shook her head. "No… I don't think so."
"Just look at him," Rinko persisted. "If you asked him to wait he'd sit there and wait forever for you!"
Asami followed Rinko's gaze and saw Takuya talking to Haritsu Toshio and Shiraishi Kiyoshi, Rinko's ex-boyfriend. As Rinko said, he didn't seem to notice any of the girls staring or bother to change his blunt expression when talking to them.
"But-"
"Forget what she said," Rinko commanded as she dragged her over to Takuya where she had spotted her fiancé as well joining their group.
Rinko smiled watching Takuya's expression. He had spotted them making their way over and a smile graced his lips… as she thought, it was all for Asami.
"Asa…" Takuya greeted.
Asami smiled and squeezed over to his side to lean against him. He enveloped her and Rinko felt a stab of jealousy.
For years she had strived to be the perfect hostess, respectful and anything else she could do to make her father's life easier. She scored well in school, was studious, and perfected the upper crust mask so well it had become her.
Though she knew her father was proud of Hisoka and her, he never showed outward affection to them as was expected from those raised in the upper crust as they were. Their father was constantly busy with work anyways and though she sometimes longed she could be a little girl again so she could crawl into her father's arms, she knew better.
"Rinko," Youji greeted.
She smiled and pressed an affectionate kiss to her fiancé's cheek before taking hold of his hand. She had come to like the peace she found with her intended. He was handsome in a clean-cut, suave way. Everything about was suitable and proper for a son-in-law of the great Takeuchi as many people often praised Youji.
Rinko leaned over to hug another girl who approached the group with Atobe Keijirou.
"Sakuya," Rinko greeted affectionately.
Of everyone, Sakuya, Asami and herself were the closest and the only ones who knew each other through and through. Rinko chatted happily with all her friends until slowly they all started breaking up to go on their own directions since class was going to begin soom,
"Be right back," Rinko said to Youji after everyone split.
"Where are you going?" Youji asked looking at her with questioning eyes.
"I have to put my tennis racquets in my gym locker, wait for me here?" Rinko asked realizing she hadn't done her usual pattern because Hisoka had forgotten his bento.
Youji nodded and let go of her hand so she could hurry away.
Rinko sighed as she turned away but along the way she nodded at the people who greeted her accordingly. Turning into the building, Rinko walked to the changing room and dropped her bag into her locker. She was just about to head out when she heard Asami laughing. Seemed she was dropping her racquet off as well. Rinko was about to tell her to hurry but she realized Takuya was escorting her. Rinko bit back her greeting and shook her head a bit as she realized she should've had Youji accompany her as well.
"Stop…" Asami gasped out.
Rinko felt a blush rush up as she saw the normally controlled Takuya pin Asami against the wall and kiss her passionately. Asami wasn't being modest both as she pulled him closer and didn't stop him as his hands slid under her skirt and settled on her butt.
Rinko turned away and walked into the showers to give them some privacy.
"We have to get going," Asami uttered.
"Hurry then," Takuya said shakily trying to recover.
Rinko didn't move till their footsteps were well down the hall. She wondered if she would ever feel that love Asami and Takuya had. Youji and she was more calm and collected then wild… for the most part.
"There you are," Youji said seeing Rinko dash over.
"Sorry," Rinko said with a sigh.
"Not feeling up to class?" Youji asked.
Rinko nodded and leaned against him. He smiled and pulled her along.
"Where are we going?" Rinko asked.
He didn't answer as he continued to drag her. As they approached the art building, Youji pulled her towards the storage side and into a small room inside a classroom used for storage.
"How did you know of this place?" Rinko asked looking at room. It had a nice view of the trees from this window and a comfortable but old sofa. She dropped her bag beside Youji and looked around the room.
"Sometimes I had to sleep or finish homework for another class." Youji admitted with a smile as he pulled her onto the sofa. He pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead and leaned back with a content sigh.
"It's comfortable and quiet here."
Rinko nodded her agreement and wrapped her arms around Youji. She could picture life with him at these times. They would be together, still enjoying each other's company and cuddling just like they would be doing now.
She turned towards him and placed a kiss on his lips. She had found Youji liked her to initiate some kisses rather than having him do all the guessing and kissing. Youji pressed his lips more firmly on hers and Rinko gave in to the butterflies in her stomach. She leaned back as she opened her mouth under his as he leaned over her. Twining her tongue against his, she accommodated his weight by shifting into a more comfortable position.
"Rinko…" Youji uttered breaking the kiss.
She smiled and was actually happy she could break his mask every once in a while during these situations. Running a hand through his hair, she arched as she felt him place a kiss to her neck and pulled his closer with one hand.
Rinko smiled as she pulled his head closer and allowed him to suck gently at her pulse on her neck. She felt desire swirl inside her as it often did when they did this. He pulled her closer as he nudged her legs apart and Rinko gasped feeling his hardness through his pants. A slight moan passed through her lips as he teased her pushing against her. She pushed back and pulled him back for another long kiss as her legs tightened around his waist.
It was tender and loving, a budding desire wanting to open any second yet continued to tease. Rinko sighed as she felt his hand brush under her bra. She trailed her hands under his uniform as well and smiled at him when he pressed his forehead to hers.
"Now," She uttered feeling him unhook the front of her bra.
He complied and covered one breast completely with his hand, all the while never stopping the constant grinding against her.
"How?" Youji asked harshly trying to contain himself. His hand had moved downward and stroked her through her panties only to feel her hot and ready for him.
"Your way," Rinko whispered and unzipped his pants. Pulling Youji's penis out, Rinko stroked it softly while he swore and dug into his bag for a condom.
"Shit…" Youji swore noting he didn't have any with him.
"Doesn't matter…" Rinko uttered pulling her panties off. She was tired of being the perfect princess; of following all the rules… breaking it once in a while wouldn't hurt.
"Are you sure?" Youji asked looking at Rinko.
"I'm on the pill." Rinko assured. "Just don't release inside."
Youji pulled Rinko on top and she lowered herself on feeling the budding pressure with satisfaction. She pressed her breasts closer feeling him suckle her nipple gingerly then harshly. The rhythm built and as she rode him, she tightened as she came roughly on him and felt him flip her onto the sofa as he groaned and pumped faster. He was finishing soon and out he pulled to do as she said but Rinko rose and gave him a hard kiss before putting her hands on his length to help him finish. In a few seconds, he came against her hand and she pressed a kiss to his lips before looking for a napkin she always kept handy in her bag.
"God Rinko… you're a temptress." Youji said leaning back on the sofa with a rumpled shirt and pants open.
"It was your idea," Rinko reminded him.
"Che," Youji uttered and pulled her close.
Rinko felt wicked. She went the extra mile and did this at school… now she was worst than Asami.
xXx
"Where did Youji and you go?" Asami demanded. "You missed the first few classes."
"Spur of the moment time together," Rinko admitted with a small smile.
Asami shook her head pointed a finger accusingly at Rinko. "And you always say I'm the bad one!"
"Ladies," a voice sounded right before a hand trailed Asami's back to Rinko's and off. It shot a chilling spike Rinko's back. She turned her head and frowned when she didn't recognize the man before her.
"Not cute Echizen-san!" Asami said with a smile.
"I wasn't trying to be," He said with a smile to both and off he went with a whistle and team of giggling girls behind him.
"Who is that?" Rinko asked. Already she had decided not to like him. He was everything Rinko didn't like in men. Acting like he owned the world, playing with so many girls, loud and shameless.
"If you were in class this morning," Asami accused "You would've known he's a tennis prodigy around our age from the states here to give our tennis team some pointers."
"How wonder he's so open," Rinko said with a frown. "Someone needs to tell him you can't go around touching girls like this."
"Stop being such a prune Rinko," Asami chided with a smile. "He means well and is charming."
"Not my type," Rinko stated and frowned at him for good measure when he turned back to wave at them.
"Might be mine if I didn't have Takuya," Asami said and pulled Rinko along.
'From the moment I met him, he had spiked in me a rebellion of my desire and my duty. Till the day he entered my life, I had never cut anyone with such an immature frown, never told anyone I hated them and was laughed at, nor lost my temper in public when I had been always careful of how I was seen.
In Nanjiroh, another me I hadn't known existed emerged and threatened my mask I had firmly set on me into breaking. Before I knew it, I fell in love with the wrong type of guy. He was everything a lady of my status needed to avoid and yet it probably made it that much more exciting to pursue. He was nothing like Youji. He was spontaneous, a far cry of properly mannered, and did as he wanted without a care to what anyone thought.
Yet, I fell in love because the one thing that set him a cut above everyone in my eyes was that he saw ME. Not the rich heiress, the proper angel of Tsuki academy…just plain old Rinko.
So I told my father when Nanjiroh told me he was staying here because he loved me what I wanted for my future for the first time.
"No," Takahiro intoned with a frown. "What are you thinking when you're to marry Youji in a couple of months now that you've graduated?"
"But I love him chichiue (father)," Rinko said looking at her father straight on in defiance for once.
"He loves your money and position," Takahiro said with a stern frown. "He hasn't even had the guts to come as me and ask for your hand Rinko. Forget about him and start to plan your wedding as Asami is doing with her time."
"I don't love Youji," Rinko said stubbornly now. "I won't marry him and suffer a high-class faux pas."
"If you marry that fool, I'll disinherit you young lady." Takahiro said looking his daughter straight in the eyes. "Don't cross me!"
I never wanted to be at ends with my father. I loved him dearly and I did all I could for years to make sure he wouldn't have to worry about Hisoka or myself. Still, as much as I loved him, I wanted to live my life and so after an unsuccessful talk Nanjiroh had with my father privately about our marriage I did what the one I loved asked of me. I ran away with nothing but a spare set of clothes, my family portrait of my family, my necklace from my mother, my bracelet from my father as a graduation gift, my brother's hair clip he got for me and a pair of earrings Asami and Sakuya had made for me.
"Will you regret this?" Nanjiorh asked from below Rinko's balcony.
"Will you make me regret it one day?" Rinko asked tossing her small bag to him.
"I'll try to never make you regret it," Nanjiroh said seriously looking into her eyes as she sat on the balcony with her legs dangling over the sides.
"Then I won't," Rinko said with a smile as she propelled herself downwards and into his waiting arms. She felt no regret about doing this for the one she loved except for the fact that her father, her brother, Asami and her friends couldn't be with her.
Then my happiness was complete the day before Christmas of my twenty second year in this world. We had a little boy we named Ryoma and though Nanjiroh and I lived only thirty minutes from my father, he never visited. Ryoma had his father's features but he had my father and my strength. We sent pictures of Ryoma and ourselves, I continued to write and though no response ever came, I'm sure;
Chichiue has forgiven me for doing what my heart wanted.
A/N: Because Rinko didn't really get any time in the story, I wanted to tell her back story as part of a short side. Her story that Ryoma read would be along this same basis and will explain the background of her, the Takeuchi's, and how many people in the "circle" are actually connected. If this is well received I'm also thinking of writing one on Takahiro and other characters to show a little more insight to the characters I've gotten so close to while writing. XD Do review and tell me what you all think.
