Chapter 12.

I do not own Digimon.

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"Sincerity & Courage" – Speech
Sincerity & Courage – Thoughts
Sincerity & Courage – Narration by the character

Steps to Romance – Chapter 12
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Taichi's POV

We stayed in that position till daybreak. She sleeps so soundly. Mimi, I kind of like being in this position. If I wasn't Yagami Taichi, and you weren't Takuya Family Company's only heir, it would be good. Suddenly, she stirred, then sat up. I removed my hand from around her shoulders.

She looked at me sleepily, then asked, "What were you thinking about?"

"Did you know what I was thinking about? Again?"

She shrugged, then gazed sleepily around her. "You didn't bring any money with you?"

"Not even a single yen."

"You didn't think about this before you went out?"

"No."

"Then you should go back." I gestured to the house. "Didn't you loan money from Emp. to buy this house? It isn't yours now."

"I don't care. I don't want to see him anymore. I'll just go step by step, and figure out what to do."

I sighed. "Emp. doesn't have any evil intentions."

She stood up quickly, agitated. "He sent my parents to Brazil, and you say that he has no evil intentions? He simply has no humanity, that scary old man."

"He only wants you by his side. After all, he spent so much time looking for you."

"You don't have to speak on his behalf. Anyway, I won't be going back."

"I'm afraid that you won't have a choice."

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Mimi's POV

Suddenly, motorcycles and a black limousine came into my sight. Then they stopped, and Head Manager Gennai got out from the limousine.

"Master Yagami, Miss Takuya. If you've rested enough, we'll sent you back home."

"You betrayed me!" I shouted at Taichi.

"First of all, I don't think that you'll be able to survive on your own. Also, Emp.'s your grandfather, and it's perfectly justifiable to help him look for you. So, I have not betrayed you."

"Miss Takuya, don't blame Master Yagami. It's unrelated to Master Yagami. We came looking for you on our own accord."

"I'll go drive back. Deal with the matters here."

"Yes, Master Yagami."

Taichi walked off, leaving his business jacket with me.

"Hey, you're walking off like that? We were fine a moment ago!"

"Miss Takuya, please get into the car."

"I'm not going back with you, unless I'm forced to."

"Since Miss Takuya has requested for it to be like this, I'll act accordingly." He gestured to a security guard. Next, I was lifted over his shoulder, screaming for them to let me go, and then I hit my head on the limousine door, and everything went black.

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Taichi's POV

I was looking from a distance, feeling guilty, and strangely, angry. The vehicles drove off. Mimi, I'm sorry. It's best for you to go back, though. Even though I understand why you don't want to be there. I'm sorry.

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Mimi's POV

When I opened my eyes, I was in my room at the mansion. My hair was tied up in two ponytails, and I was wearing a white nightgown. Someone must have changed my clothes and tied up my hair for me. Sigh. In the end, I'm back here again. I rubbed my head. "The pain's killing me."

"Miss Takuya, you're awake. Would you like to eat or drink anything?"

"I don't want to eat anything."

"Miss Takuya, if you don't want to eat, would you like to drink a cup of tea?"

"I don't want to talk to you. You're a liar too."

"Okay. I'll just leave the food on the dining table outside." He held up some keys. "Mr. Tachikawa also passed me the house keys. He wanted you to have it. I'll leave it here. Thank you Miss Takuya." He stood up and left.

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Emp.'s POV

"Gennai. How's Mizuki?"

"Miss Takuya still won't eat or drink."

"Arrange for a medical team immediately. Tell them to wait outside her room. If necessary, inject her with a nutrition shot."

"Yes." Gennai turned around, only to be faced with Taichi, greeted him, then left.

"Emp., you called me?"

"Taichi. Where have I went wrong? Mizuki is my only granddaughter, my only family member. Was just asking her to stay by my side wrong? What did she mean by other people without the same bloodline still being family? Luckily, I sent that couple away."

"Emp., how can I help you?"

"Treat her better. Now, she keeps blaming me. It's all that couple's fault. So don't add fuel to the fire."

"Emp., I…"

"You're still denying it? I don't know what you're thinking. Do not oppose me. It won't lead to a good outcome."

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Taichi's POV

I was kicking the soccer ball around in the mansion's soccer field when I spotted Hikari sitting on the bleachers, watching me. I went to sit next to her.

"Big brother, I saw it."

"Saw what?"

"I saw you whisking Mimi off to the airport." I looked away.

"I just ran into her. What else did you think I could do in that situation? Don't read too much into it."

"However, I also heard that Mimi and Emp. had a huge fight. Then, after she left home, you left hurriedly to look for her. I also heard that you guys spent a whole night outside the house that Emp. loaned her." She leaned closer to me. "Big brother, are you thinking of accepting Emp.'s arrangement of marrying Mimi then becoming the successor?"

I snorted, not looking at her in the eyes, then said, "You're reading too much into it. I can't possibly like her."

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Mimi's POV

I had just received Daddy's sms. In it was a video. In it, Daddy said that he left for Brazil on his own accord. To prove himself. So grandpa really didn't force him and Mommy to go. Daddy also said that he would work hard, and after five years, come back and demand grandpa to give me back to them. I smiled a small smile, feeling happier.

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Emp.'s POV

"Emp., good news. Miss Takuya has started eating and drinking again."

"That child has started to eat and drink?" I smiled.

"Yes. Then Emp., you…" My stomach growled. "Okay, I get it. I'll get the kitchen to prepare the food." He left.

It's harder to refrain from getting hungry at this age. Just skipping two meals has made me dizzy. If she hadn't thought it through, then I would be miserable.

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Mimi's POV

I sat outside, enjoying the cool breeze. Five years to make 15,000,000 yen. How do I make enough to pay it all back? 3,000,000 yen in one year. That means I have to earn 250,000 yen in one month. This is too difficult. However, I signed a contract with grandpa. I must pay back the loan. Then I can get my parents to come back, then our family will be reunited. However, how do I earn the money? I looked at the bridge nearby to see Head Manager Gennai sending someone off.

"Head Manager Gennai, who's that man?"

"He's Emp.'s foot masseur."

"How much is he paid?"

"55,000 yen for a one hour session. In a week Emp. is massaged three times. In a month, twelve times, monthly."

"So that means he earns 660,000 yen per month."

That gave me an idea.

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Gennai's POV

"Gennai!" I walked towards him. "What's happening? Did the kitchen go on strike?"

I was about to explain, when Miss Takuya walked through the door, holding out the plate of fried rice that she had cooked.

"Delicious!" Emp. proclaimed, after he had taken a bite. (A/N: Mimi is a good cook, after all).

Then Miss Takuya handed him a piece of paper. "What is this?"

"It's the bill. One plate of the fried rice that you ate costs 27,500 yen."

"I have to pay for this?"

"Well, of course. From today onwards, I want to work here. And that's my price list. Though it's more expensive than market price, it's not much of a difference. Your foot masseur is paid 55,000 yen for a one hour session…"

"Gennai, give her 27,500 yen."

I paid her, then with a word of 'thanks', she left.

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Mimi's POV

See? I can depend on myself to earn money. When I've earned enough, I'll leave. Just wait and see.

Gennai's POV

"Gennai, do you know what she's thinking off?"

I nodded. "Just make sure that she can't find a job here." He gave a short chuckle. "27,500 yen."

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Mimi's POV

The next morning, I was dressed in the maids' uniform. I walked in-front of a maid who was wiping the tables.

"Morning."

"Morning. Are you new here?"

"Yes. I'm called Mimi."

"Oh, I'm called Mayumi."

"You're cleaning? I'll help you." I reached down and took a cloth. As I was walking towards the window, I felt someone grab my leg. And there was Mayumi, pleading, "Miss Takuya! I beg of you, don't do this to me! I have an 80 year old mother, three cats who were just weaned, and 137,500 yen to pay off of my credit card debt. I cannot lose this job."

"I'm just cleaning!"

"No! Miss Takuya! Take pity on me! I have not graduated from high school, have no skill and no proficiency! The most I can do is clean!"

"Okay, okay. Stop crying. I'll let you clean, I'll just go and do something else."

"Thank you!" She stood up, then started cleaning the corridors at a very fast speed.

The same thing happened when I tried to clean the fountain. And it happened when I tried to be a gardener. And the gardener who begged me was my old neighbor.

I walked around the garden. If I work in the Takuya family's mansion, I'll cause others to lose their jobs. Sigh. What do I do?

(Later that night)

I was sitting in the bathtub, foam all around me. If this continues, it'll take me 50 years. And even then, I don't think I'll be able to earn that 15,000,000 yen. I thought that working here would be a good idea. In the end… how am I going to earn money? Working outside will be very difficult too. Sigh. And there's no one to discuss this with too. Don't tell me that I'll have to go to him for help. Forget it. He'll probably not help me. His personality… it seems to keep changing. Everytime I think he's a good person, he seems to change into another person. That person seems to have a split personality.

I stepped out of the bathroom, wearing a nightgown with my hair tied up in two loose ponytails, and my fringe pinned up. I saw a young man sleeping on my bed. Panicking, I hit the alarm for security.

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Yamato's POV

We – Takeru, Tai, and I – were in Emp.'s room. Emp., Mimi and Head Manager Gennai were in-front of us.

"Grandpa, I have nothing against Takeru. Sorry Takeru, I didn't know that it was you. However, I don't want to leave in such a place in which anyone can just enter my room. I want to leave. Grandpa, you don't have any protests, do you?"

"Teeks, what were you doing?" I whispered.

"I was just waiting for Mimi to finish her bath, then introduce myself, but she took so long that I fell asleep."

"Don't worry. I'll tell the security guards to strengthen the patrol." Emp. then pointed to Tai, saying, "Taichi, starting tonight, move into the room opposite Mimi's room."

"I have to move there?"

"That's right! You're in-charge of Mimi's safety. You're her bodyguard now, and you're in-charge of her attending classes."

"Attend classes? What classes?" Mimi asked.

"A lot of classes. Cooking, Dancing, Global Interests (Is there anything like that?), Etiquette, for example. I'll be holding a ball to introduce you soon. You won't disgrace me if you already learnt all those different skills." He chuckled, then turned his attention back to Taichi. "Taichi, it's your responsibility. Even though this is an order that you cannot refuse, I still want to thank you."

Emp. and Head Manager Gennai then left the room. Taichi looked around, imploring us to help him. Then he ran his fingers through his hair and said, "Emp.'s command… seems very difficult to accomplish."

"You can refuse." She seemed angry for some reason.

"Didn't you hear Emp. say 'This is an order that you cannot refuse'?"

"Really? It doesn't look like you're someone who obeys others' orders." She marched up angrily towards Taichi.

"I'll wait for your mood to be better, then talk to you again." Taichi said, looking at her.

"Who would want to talk to someone like you with such a mean, vulgar personality?"

"Mean and vulgar?" He looked offended. "I admit that I have been treating you badly on purpose, but never go so far as to… I got it. It's because you are still feeling sour about what happened that day when you were unable to escape. I'll formally apologise to you now."

"Apologising doesn't always work!" She held up a vase, then threw it at Taichi. Taichi dodged before it could hit him. It shattered on the ground. Taichi stormed out of the room.

Now isn't a good time to introduce myself. I pulled Takeru out of the room. Lovebirds.

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