Sorry guys! It took so long to write this. I was so busy with thesis and everything I just did not have the time to put everything to words. Anyway I won't delay you guys much further. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OCs.
Peaceful Friday nights were rare for a busy people like Kyoya Ootori. Although the academic load of western curriculum was considerably lighter than what he experienced in Japan, it did not mean that he spent all his time having mindless fun and slacking off. The United States of America was known as the land of endless opportunities and possibilities and he made sure he made more than his fair share of investments. Though, this Friday night was special to him. His bodyguards had the day off and he had the entire place to himself.
Finally, a time where he can relax and finish the Renoir jigsaw puzzle Fuyumi bought on her trip to France. He opened a bottle of wine and had a content look on his face. Chardonnay, cheese, and dark chocolate was just the perfect combination to celebrate some of his gains in the stock market. He sat on the couch and started sorting the jigsaw puzzle pieces by color. It was a calming and repetitive action that kept his mind busy yet tranquil.
Everything was just absolute perfection until Tamaki slammed the doors open with a sense of unexplained panic.
"Kyoya! I need your help." Tamaki said urgently. He moved close to his friend and did not notice the small pile of jigsaw puzzles he was putting in a complete state of disarray.
"I'm not sure if I should change my outfit." Tamaki said. "You see, I'm not sure if my outfit goes well with the book I'm holding. I need to look learned…Intellectual! Like a man during the age of enlightenment!"
The man walked over in front of Kyoya and started to walk and show all possible angles of his outfit. Kyoya stared at the unwanted guest with contempt. He started taking a few deep breaths to calm himself down. He wanted to pray to the gods for the well-being of his friend, but he did not believe in such beings.
"So Kyoya, should I carry this book or the other book? What if I use my grey cardigan instead of the white one?"
"You look perfect. Absolutely intelligent you would get a Nobel Prize the moment you leave the room." Kyoya replied half-heartedly as he started to fix the puzzle pieces Tamaki ruined.
"You're not taking me seriously, Kyoya. This is a national emergency! Ranka-san is coming over and-"
"I'll tell him you slept with Haruhi. Took the innocence of his only daughter if you do not stop talking." Kyoya replied in a dangerously low voice.
"W-we both know t-that never happened."
"But I'm sure you want it to."
"O-of course. It is only natural for a man to want to express his love fully when the time is right. The innocence of my daughter must be protected at all costs until she is married!"
"Ranka-san thinks you're a pervert and I am the responsible friend watching over his daughter." Kyoya said in an amused tone. "I wonder who he'll believe in? You…or me?"
Tamaki started shaking, but he needed to stand his ground. He cannot lose to the shadow king. "You would never do that." He said with the best of his ability. The strength of his voice betrayed the shaking his knees felt.
"Get out now and I won't. Stay and I most definitely will."
Tamaki was paralyzed with fear. He thought that he's seen the worst expression on Kyoya's face, but he has unleashed something far worse than the depths of hell. He wanted to leave, but his legs would not move. His mouth dry and his heart was reaching a dangerously quick pace it was just about to fail.
"Tamaki-senpai! What are you doing bothering Kyoya-senpai?"
"Ha-haruhi! Save me!" Tamaki pleaded.
The girl looked at her hopeless boyfriend and ignored the dark aura coming from Kyoya.
"Sorry Kyoya-senpai. I'll make sure he does not go in here uninvited." Haruhi said with a bow.
The young woman took Tamaki by the ear and pulled him out of the room. Kyoya could hear her scolding Tamaki asking he why he just barged into his room just like that asking useless questions.
"But Kyoya always looks smart so I wanted to ask him." Tamaki said pleadingly.
"Kyoya-senpai can wear a caterpillar costume and still look smart. Senpai, you know better than to disturb him on a Friday night."
"By the way, is it true that Misuzucchi-san is coming along?" Tamaki asked.
"Yeah, otousan said something about Misuzu-san visiting a friend in New York."
Kyoya sighed deeply when he heard Haruhi's words. He knew about Ranka-san and Misuzucchi-san visiting which was why he gave himself this break. It was obvious that he would be fixing everything and handling everything for their accommodation because Tamaki cannot be trusted with such things. After all, his friend volunteered to stay in his apartment so that Ranka-san and Misuzucchi-san have a place to stay. Kyoya closed his eyes and pinched his nose bridge.
"Next week is going to be a long week." Kaoru said.
"What do you need?"
"The door was open and I knew you didn't have any company. Besides, you mean…Thank god you have something I need." Kaoru replied as he placed the cans of beer and a Johnny Walker Blue Label on the table.
"Hikaru is on a date again?" Kyoya asked.
"Yeah. He's trying out new things. He's dating the Chinese girl in our class. They won't be back until Sunday morning."
Kyoya took some shot glasses and another wine glass for his friend. Unlike most guests, he and Kaoru saw eye to eye with a lot of their hobbies. It surprised them both that they enjoyed the same things. Plus, they never pried unnecessarily with each other's affairs.
"Where did they go this time?"
"Monaco." Kaoru answered as he started helping Kyoya sort the puzzle pieces.
"Why didn't you go with them?"
"And be a third wheel? No thanks."
There was a brief silence between the two. Kyoya knew that Kaoru went on a date with some male model last week. He knew that Kaoru saw him leaving the apartment of the daughter of one of their business partners. It did not help that she was already in college and Kyoya was still in high school, but they were both trying different things and the experience gained was important.
"How did it your escorting orders go? It must have been weird for you because Maria-san was a lesbian."
"She's bisexual." Kyoya said with a smirk on his face. It told Kaoru everything he needed to know that Maria was most likely not the only woman present while they were engaging in their shenanigans.
"How was your date last weekend?" Kyoya asked Kaoru.
Kaoru looked at Kyoya suspiciously. "I was just with a friend. He's a nice guy so I'm not entirely sure with what you're trying to say."
"I'm entirely sure that you're entirely sure with what I'm implying." Kyoya replied. He looked at Kaoru with a curious expression.
"Ah, what can I expect from Kyoya-senpai. I was hoping you wouldn't notice. Well, I realized that boys are not my thing." Kaoru replied. His eyes never leaving the puzzle pieces laid out on the table.
"So, you're straight again?"
"I guess you can say that? There weren't plenty of girls catching my attention so I thought maybe I wasn't into girls. It only took two dates for me to figure out what I wanted." Kaoru said.
Again. Silence. Only the sound of puzzle pieces and shot glasses hitting the mahogany table were heard. By this time, they were already lining up the edges of the puzzle. They started with the outer pieces and once that was done, they worked their way in.
"What happened between you and Carmen when we saw her in Brazil last month?"
"Nothing. I stopped Nanako-san from making out with other men including myself. She called me Akito and started asking if I could kiss her. She even asked me if I did not mind dating younger girls."
Kaoru stared at Kyoya for any hints of sarcasm, but when there was none he burst into laughter. "Oh man! This is one for the books. She must have gotten so drunk."
"I'm not sure if it was a good thing that she and Akito-niisama saw each other again before he left for Barcelona. I think she genuinely likes him."
"Man…Akito-san is lucky then. His supposedly fiancé is quite a character." Kaoru replied.
"I won't be surprised if they end up getting engaged." Kyoya mused. "That would make family dinners more interesting though."
"That's true." Kaoru replied lightheartedly.
Comfortable silence filled the room again. After Tamaki, Kaoru was probably Kyoya's closest friend. The two had a mutual understanding with plenty of things. Kaoru was also the more rational half which made him tolerable for Kyoya. Kaoru also claimed that they were on the same boat since they were the younger brothers in the family. The two of them also observant individuals. They noticed things that did not usually catch other people's attention. Little details or subtle changes do not usually go unnoticed with them.
"Kyoya-senpai, when were you able to tell Hikaru and I apart?"
Kyoya was surprised by the question. Ever since Hikaru colored his hair a few shades darker, the twins have learned to accept their own paths and interests. Telling them apart has not been a problem for anyone.
"A little over 4 months after the Host Club first opened."
"Really? That long?" Kaoru said.
"I did not know more than what the records told me and it took the two of you a month to warm up to everyone which was why it took so long. I just knew the two of you were scheming, but the extent was not clear. There was no way of quantifying it."
"Let me guess, you had a hunch by then which one was which but by the fourth month you were absolutely certain."
"Yes."
"But sometimes we would switch on purpose and no one would notice."
"I know. If the both of you found out I could tell you apart, it would not make things more beneficial for me."
"So how exactly did you differentiate Hikaru and I?" Kaoru asked. He wanted to know how Kyoya did it since no one has done it so well before.
"I studied your records and observed for quite some time. I quantified your actions, summarized the data in my head, and made a conclusion."
"So, you quantified something like our evil-ness?" Kaoru asked confused.
"Yes. You are 10% less evil than Hikaru. For every 10 'evil' or 'mischievous' actions, you would say no once or talk him out of it." Kyoya replied while finishing one section of the jigsaw puzzle.
"I don't know if I should be scared or amazed." Kaoru commented. "By the way, what was milord panicking about before I got in?"
"You're asking a lot of questions." Kyoya replied flatly. He sighed before speaking once more. "I would suggest that you brace yourself. Ranka-san and Misuzucchi are visiting next week."
"That's why we're having a drink now instead of going out." Kaoru replied.
Isao "Misuzu" Sonada was putting some final touches. Everything had to be perfect and absolutely cute. There can be no exceptions to the rule. No area shall be undecorated with a burst of frills and cuteness. The drapes had a lovely pink Lolita shade and lace trimmings. All the beddings and matching pillow cases were pastel colors with chic patterns. The study area, lamps, kitchen, and everything in the room was a burst of color. It was like Harajuku turned into an apartment. Right now, he was just fixing the last few items needed.
"Is everything ready?" Ryusei asked as he entered the apartment. The colors shocked him. He did not think it was possible to get a room this decorated.
"Yes! Absolutely perfect." Misuzu said as he admired his work. He had a sense of pride with his decorating skills.
"Good. Thank you, Sonada-san...ah, Misuzu-san. I'm sorry I keep forgetting your genji name." Ryusei said.
Misuzu decided to prepare some tea for his employer and main investor. Without the help of his friend, his dream would have never materialized. It would have been just a dream.
"It's fine, Ryusei-sama. But if I may ask out of turn, why are we preparing living quarters for your children?" he asked.
"In the event that something bad happens to me before they find out anything they'll be safer here." Ryusei answered as he looked at his hands. He wished that there was never a purpose for this room. He wished that he could just take Julia and Lilian into the Mizushima family at once, but it would be too much for them. They just lot their mother and a brother they will never know. Throwing them into a life much different from their own would not help them.
"I'm not sure if it was by chance, but I recognized your daughter from photos of my own daughter, Mei-chan. It seems the two found each other."
Ryusei smiled at the thought. "Have I been a horrible father, Misuzu-san? Financially, I can provide anything for my children, but ever since…Lisbeth passed away…I feel like I have not been there for them. It's dangerous if I meet them. There are plenty of spies following me around, but if I do not see them for myself, it's like as if I'm neglecting them."
Misuzu can only imagine the conflict Ryusei was facing. He was suddenly widowed. It was obvious that Lisbeth's death was framed. Koharu Miyura seems heavily involved with killing his wife. He was also still hiding his identity as a member of the family, and there were some people suspecting that he was Sadanobu Mizushima's one and only heir. He was left alone to juggle a company, his safety, the safety and welfare of his children, while living a life with dual identities.
"You're doing everything you can, Ryusei-sama." He said in an attempt to comfort his friend. "But if I may ask, what exactly is going to happen once your daughters are officially part of the family?" he continued.
"Once my eldest has been incorporated to the Mizushima Family, we'll engage her to Yoshio Ootori's youngest child."
"Is this boy by any chance, Kyoya Ootori?"
"Yes, that's him. My father was right all along. I know that Julia may not agree to this at first, but she would understand. It would be safer to join alliances now and marriage is the only way to keep out families safe. Yoshio-niisan is working hard to defend his family and I believe it's costing him his marriage." Ryusei said.
"You have nothing to worry about. I have met Kyoya-san. He was a guest at my pension last summer."
"Really now? Why would he stay in a hotel in Karuizawa when his family has a summer mansion there?"
Misuzu smiled at the memory. The Ouran boys were a peculiar group but they left a good impression. "He stayed for tea as he watched his friends compete for a room in my pension."
Ryusei cocked an eyebrow. "I feel that this story requires another meeting. Though that boy never fails to surprise me. I've met him before at a party. Yoshio was formally introducing his three sons to various families. It also impressed me that he was able to keep his father's company away from the Tonnerre group. It takes more than just raw talent to pull of the stunt he did in the stock market."
"How exactly did he do it?"
"He just had a larger bid than me. I was buying shares that time making sure the Ootori Group hospitals were not under their family, they could at least be under the Mizushima Corporation. That was Yoshio would not lose his father's work." Ryusei recalled. "I had nothing to worry about though. His son was brave enough to fight for his family."
"Is that why you thought of engaging Julia to him?"
"That is partly the reason. There were several other men. Direct heirs or the eldest in their families that would be a much more logical choice for someone like Julia, but none of them have the thing I'm looking for." Ryusei said. "He left a striking impression as well, when I told Lisbeth that he was part of a Host Club, she told me that Julia might just eat him alive. But something tells me that Yoshio's youngest does not need to be an heir to anything to achieve greatness…that in itself is a greater asset that some boy inheriting an empire. I need someone who can build it with my daughter."
"When do you plan on telling Yoshio Ootori your plan?"
"I have to inform Julia first. Tell her everything from the very beginning. Once that's out of the way, I will tell Yoshio and his son my proposition." Ryusei said before sipping the tea his friend served. "If something goes wrong with the original plan, you know what happens next. My daughters go straight to this apartment and will hide until things die down."
"Then I escort them to Haruka-sama?"
"Yes, and whatever plan my father and I have for Julia and Lilian continues."
Misuzu nodded in understanding with what Ryusei has planned. This apartment in the heart of New York City is well guarded and is in one of the buildings owned by the Mizushima family. It will keep the two girls safe. Several members of the security team have been dispatched here and are already living in the same general area. Their job is to make sure that no one touches Julia or Lilian during their stay here. They will stay undercover to ensure that the two girls can still live their lives normally. Though, it would be difficult if the girls were to live in this apartment. It only means one thing if they were sent to New York. He hoped that the two girls would never have to see his masterpiece. It was the only time he wished that no one would see his hard work because it meant that they have lost their father if they did.
Kyoya found himself staring at the ceiling once more. December was the busiest time of the year. Besides the regular holiday rush, he was five days away from the yearly evaluation of the Ootori Group board members and from there his plans for the next year will be determined. It's juggling the current and future problems that makes this season challenging. He enjoys these kinds of events because it pushes his abilities to the limit. Each year, he makes it a point to outdo anything he's done in the past. What he finds difficult and practically unbearable to fix are more personal in nature. Work was work, but it's been a week since he heard the conversation at the party of Megumi's mother. There was so much going on in his mind he had no idea where to start and when to stop thinking. His thoughts were all jumbled up and getting mixed together. He found himself jumping from one thought to another instantly. Usually, he was able to compartmentalize these thoughts, but something has been bothering him.
Like somehow his intuition told him the answers he was looking for was right under his nose. Sure, he knew about his father's and Haruhi's investigation. Knowing when they met and where Haruhi went was not a challenge. It was getting information on what she found out was difficult, but all he knew is there was progress. For now, Haruhi's progress was what mattered. She found pieces of the puzzle he had no access to. He tried his luck with looking for the mysterious heir with all the available documents he could find. If they followed that tract laid out from all the available documents, there they would find the crime scene where his eldest child was killed and brutally murdered. It was a dead end. He was sure of that. If the heir of the Mizushima Family were alive, he would have found that person by now with that information. Though with the information he just received, it seems like all the documents were for show. It was deliberately placed there to fool people that the heir was killed and murdered. He was sure of this because he looked at the police reports himself.
The young lady did bare some resemblance to some members of the Mizushima Family, but it was too easy to find the body. It was too linear and perfect which only proved that they were still hiding something. Based on the relationship of Haruka Mizushima with her daughter-in-law, Koharu Miyura, there was a chance that she would not pass on the rights to her own son and granddaughter. Besides, that woman was planning something. He had a feeling that she forced Megumi to come to him. Megumi was no obstacle or foe, but her mother was someone to be wary of. Even if he was much closer to the Miyura Family now, he did not find anything remarkable that would lead him to the Mizushima heir. It only meant there was a chance Koharu was still looking for this person.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. These sleepless nights would warrant him a migraine soon. If this was something the Mizushima Family did, why would they go through such lengths to fool others that Ryusei Mizushima's daughter was dead…unless…Why kill the one who was next in line? Or why keep them away from the seat of power? He took a deep breath and sat up from his bed. There was no use in trying to sleep tonight so he took his coat and box of cigarettes. His vice of smoking when things got too overwhelming for him was something he should stop, but his sanity will not allow him. It was quite amazing that this tiny rolled stick of dried tobacco had the ability to calm the turmoil inside. He was not sure what was real and what was not at this point. The lines between friends and foes were unclear at this point, but he needed to use everyone at hand regardless of which side they stood on.
Kyoya made his way to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of scotch before going out to the balcony. Sometimes, he found it ironic that people thought of him as cool and stoic. It was true on the outside. He was just good with keeping his inner demons in check. Right now, his friends Lucky Strike and Jack Daniel's kept him company. He looked at the cloudy night sky that hid the stars and moon before lighting another cigarette.
A few minutes later, Noel decided to join him as well. The feline made his presence known by rubbing himself against his master's ankles.
"Hello, Noel." Kyoya said. He placed his glass of scotch on the table before picking up his cat.
"Sorry I haven't been home often. I'm sure Nanami-san's keeping you company." He said.
Noel looked back at him as if he understood what Kyoya said and meowed back.
"I saw the mess you made in my room." Kyoya said as he looked directly at his cat.
The poor feline looked guilty as a corrupt government official who was caught embezzling funds from a project, but he knew his master's weakness. He just brushed himself again and again against his master's lap. What evil could anyone do to a cat like that?
Kyoya knew that his cat won this round. "Alright. Alright. But the next time you mess up my papers I'll make sure you won't get anything else but tasteless cat food."
Noel purred with content before curling into a ball on his master's lap. Kyoya spent the next ten minutes pacing his thoughts at a slower rate. He considered every detail and all the information he had. He needed to play his cards right. Sometimes these late-night thoughts and ideas had the most weight so he cannot just cast them aside. Better fix them now than let it hamper his productivity later.
He lit his second cigarette and placed it in between his lips. He took in a deep breath let the nicotine calm down the things he cannot do on his own. He could hear Julia's nagging voice saying this was a habit he had to stop. But what could he do? This was the only thing that cleared his mind and placed his thoughts in order when everything was in disarray. Just like what was happening to him now.
Kyoya enumerated all the facts he had. Missing heir who was supposedly dead, Mizushima Family murder, no living witnesses, Koharu Miyura, Soichuru Fujiwasa, Kazuyoshi Miyura, and Haruka Mizushima. He thought about each one of them carefully and meticulously. What were these pieces of the puzzle? How are they related? What was the root cause? What was the extraneous variable? What are their intentions? There were plenty of speculations and plausible answers to his questions.
Then suddenly it just hit him. He saw a clearer image. Of course! Why didn't he think of this sooner? He sat up quickly and forgot the small animal sleeping on his lap. It all made perfect sense. His thoughts were racing faster than ever. Everything was falling into place. He poured himself another glass of scotch to celebrate. The game is just about to get interesting as long as he plays all his cards correctly. He was sure of one thing now: the heir is alive. The best way to protect the heir was to make everyone else believe that they would find no one. That this person was dead. No one could kill a person twice.
On the other side of the city, someone was also staring at the same pitch-black sky. Troubled with a different set of thoughts. Julia sighed for the nth time that night. She was absolutely certain that she does not want to fall in love ever again. It was not just bothersome…it was consuming everything she had. Her eyes were already swollen from crying. She never expected it to hurt that much.
A few days ago, Kyoya and Megumi started going out quite publicly. Statements such as people seeing them hold hands or going out for lunch in public places were in a few tabloids. People called them the perfect couple or the power couple of the century. It even made it to the tabloids that they were seen very close to each other during one of them charity ball functions. She heard people at work thinking how the two were made for each other. Both were from well-distinguished families. They had a certain air of finesse. Megumi Miyura was an elegant woman who had her entire life laid out for her. She was definitely a good match for Kyoya. It was not even far off that the two of them would come to have feelings for each other in the end. Julia knew she had no chance with Kyoya. She knew he felt nothing like that towards her. She was aware of her one sided unrequited love, but no one told her that sometimes knowing and feeling were two completely separate things. Her rationality told her that of course she should have expected something like that, but it did not make it any less painful. She knew Kyoya felt nothing for Megumi, but in the end, she was his first choice. Regardless of emotions, it was Megumi who would bring Kyoya to where he wanted to go.
"You're a stupid girl…stupid stupid stupid girl with stupid dreams who never learns." She said to herself with frustration. She buried her head between her knees and bit her lips. She bit her lips as she felt tears beginning to form.
It was hopeless. She was stuck in a cycle of hating herself for falling in love with Kyoya then she'll just remember him and his smile. His sarcastic sense of humor and witty comments. The competitive glint in his eye or how warm his laugh could get once he felt completely at ease then she would find herself falling even more. Then she would hate herself again and it just goes around and around.
"Whoever romanticizes unrequited love is an idiot. It's not admirable…it's pathetic." She said crying again.
Julia recalled her sudden sleepover at Hinako's place. It was that night that made her realize that she did not just have some simple crush on Kyoya. What she felt was something more than that. She could not believe how she failed to realize things sooner. It all stemmed from her curiosity and look at where it got her. Curiosity kills the cat and she was no different from a flattened cat who was run over by a truck on a highway.
Right after Kyoya dropped her off at Hinako's home, she ran instantly to her friend's guest room and wrapped herself underneath all the comforters. She felt that if she did not leave him, her heart would burst and she would most likely faint. Everything she saw in Kyoya during the short time they have been friends was raw energy. It was pure ambition. How could he hide his smoldering passion inside the cool exterior? That kept her on her toes all the time.
He was nothing like the other people she has met. His masks were perfect. Nothing was uncalculated and uncalled for. Everything he did was concerned with his plans and the future. Rarely did it involve his feelings. He was a man who lived to transcend the expectations of others. His passion for improvement was something she admired. She only heard stories and brief accounts about his experiences and never the full story, but to stand up after being slapped in the face and to prove everyone else wrong. She admired that. Kyoya Ootori was not a quitter. He did not run from his problems. He did not evade the issues of the past. He used everything to his advantage.
He wielded his weakness like an armor so no one could use it against him. She could only imagine how difficult his life was. Kyoya Ootori, the third son of Yoshio Ootori. That was basically a statement saying he had no choice but to have his wings clipped. To live underneath a shadow casted over him when he could shine even brighter. Julia knew that power resides where people believed it resides. It was a simple trick like a shadow on the wall and the brightest lights could cast the largest of shadows.
She never told him how much she could see, but Julia liked to think she understood him more than the others. She knew that underneath the cool, calculating, and distant exterior was a man filled with endless dreams and passions. She knew that Kyoya was a ruthless man. It was in his nature. Sometimes severity is the price paid for greatness. His determination and ambition was a double-edged sword. The only difference with her from most of the people that walked around Kyoya was she was not afraid. A lot were intimidated by him and she cannot blame them.
Who would not be intimidated and impressed with what he has done? When others saw a conqueror, she saw a visionary and a planner. She had this longing to understand those around her. She wanted to understand why he was like that? What was his drive? What kind of mindset did this person have? She looked beyond where her eyes could see and there she saw who Kyoya truly was. It was not a beautiful nor was it a perfect picture. His persona betrayed some of the core traits he had. He was able to mask it underneath to avoid scrutiny.
With everything she saw, she can only imagine the pressures he had to face as a child. To have a childhood where he was not a child, but a young man who had to fulfill expectations. He never had the opportunity to be carefree. His upbringing deprived him of that. It must have been a terrible feeling to live in a frame where he had no choice but to paint a beautiful picture, but was limited to that small canvas.
On rare occasions, she would see bits of the child Kyoya tried his best to bury. Yes, he was stoic, calm, and level headed. But he was possessive, horribly competitive, jealous, and terrible with expressing what he truly felt. It flattered her to know that she was one of the few people he let through, but it did have its consequences. He was like a sun and she was getting too close. If she came too close to the flame, she would get burned.
For years, she observed people and since can tell so much about them not with what they say, but with what they do. Her father taught her that skill. It was what kept her alive all this time. It was something she took with her everywhere. She must be like the water.
Julia moved away a few branches and followed the sound of the water. She and her father decided to hike around the mountains close to their small town. Nakanatsu lake was only an hour an away based on the guide book. The father and daughter have been hiking for almost two hours and they were barely halfway. Despite Shinagawa-ku being such a small town, the moment they were in nature's hands it reminded them how large the place really was.
"The best way to survive was to become agile and nimble to your surroundings." Ryusei said to a much younger Julia.
He held out his hand to help his daughter go down the stony path. When he saw Julia's tired and moping face, he smiled and looked at his surroundings. The air in the mountainside was much cleaner. They were walking by the stream which would hopefully lead them to the lake which was on the other side of the mountain. Before crossing the small stream, he saw a rock and decided it was time for Julia to learn a few things.
"You see this rock?" he asked as he held it up with his two hands. It was a large rock that was heavy enough for her father to carry it with much effort.
Julia, who was barely ten at that time, nodded. "Yes."
"What do you think is stronger? This rock or this tiny stream?"
"The rock would stop the flow of the water. So obviously, the rock wins this round." She replied with a straight face.
Ryusei dropped the rock on the ground and the water stopped flowing. He smiled at Julia and said "Yes, I agree the rock is strong, but do not underestimate the power of the water. Will you promise me we'll go here again in a few days?"
"Why would we do that?" Julia asked with a bored expression. "We haven't even found the lake yet, otousan. Is going back here for some rock such a good idea?"
"I want you to tell me where the rock is when we go back." He said with a goofy smile most fathers had.
At that time, the young Julia found the entire idea amusing. She thought that her father was peculiar. She loved her father very much, but sometimes he confused her with the oddest things. He was fond of literature and he would quote classics frequently. At times her father would teach her the oddest things about business and handling money. He taught her about the importance of weighing resources and looking at the odds. He was the reason why she learned how to do a calculated gamble. He taught her that the journey was just as important as the destination. In the end, they never made it to the lake because the hike was too long and the weather did not look like it would permit them to cross the mountain.
So, when her father came back to town a few days later, they took the same trail again, but this time they were determined to reach the lake. The results she saw they came back later surprised her even more. The rock was already swept away to the side. Her father was right. Water was stronger. When her father saw how much the rock has moved, he was like a child who won a bet.
"Always remember to be like water, okay Ju-chan?" he said.
She would never forget the lake in the middle of the mountain. It was said that this place used to be an active volcano, but after its eruption during the edo period, it became dormant and the middle of the volcano became a small lake. They visited a small shrine on the top of the mountain before heading down to the lake. It was said that all the visitors who paid their respects were given good luck by the gods.
Julia could still imagine her father's dark hair and blue eyes. He smiled at her and pat her head then gave her a big hug. It was unusual for Japanese fathers to be affectionate with their children. It was not an affectionate culture to begin with. But Ryusei Sakamoto was the most unorthodox man she knew at that time. He married a foreigner who was a few years older than he was. He married at a much younger age. Also, there was just something about her father that just never wanted to follow the regular rules. She even heard from his mother that he was helping a co-worker establish a business or pension in one of those famous tourist towns. She did not understand why that was so bad and how come people looked down on his actions. Her mother said it was because the person he was helping was an otokonoko.
"Your father is helping a friend." Lisbeth explained while chopping some vegetables for dinner.
"Then how come I heard a few people calling him bad names?"
"Because his friend is an otokonoko." Lisbeth replied calmly.
"Otokonoko? A Male-daughter? I don't understand, okaasan." Julia said to her mother.
"Your father's friend is a dad as well. He has a daughter around the same age as you." Lisbeth said with a smile.
"So why call him male-daughter?"
"Because he wears women's clothes and likes boys now." Lisbeth replied bluntly.
She looked at her daughter digest the information. As a mother, she knew it was important to keep her daughter innocent from certain things in the world, but Julia was horribly curious. Much like her father. Julia would not stop asking if she did not give into her daughter's inquisitiveness.
"I don't see the problem there. So what if he wants to wear girl clothes? It doesn't make him less of a dad." Julia answered. She was obviously unsatisfied with the whole thing. She did not see what the huge fuss was all about.
Lisbeth smiled to herself. She knew she raised her daughter well. Julia had the same aptitude and curiosity as her father, but she was glad that Julia had more structure in her life. At least certain parts of her were inherited by her daughter. The love for music and performing arts was one, but Ryusei loved it as much as she did. That was how they fell in love with each other. How did a university student melt her heart during her days as a performer was beyond her? Ryusei was horribly charming and she just fell instantly. He was clever, witty, and well-rounded. She has seen plenty of Asian men, but none of them were ever bold enough to ask her out. She had this impression that Japanese men were very reserved, conservative, and serious. Ryusei was not like that. He was bold and brave. He always stood his ground regardless of where other people stood. He did not care about what they thought.
She looked at her daughter and saw the same traits. How she wished she could tell Julia everything, but she was not ready yet. She and her husband came to the conclusion that it was better for their children to live normally first before being exposed to their reality. Lilian was barely two years old and Julia just turned ten. Being faced with the burden of being the heiresses to the Mizushima Family would deprive them of so much. Lisbeth knew everything about Ryusei from the beginning. He never kept anything from her. Even their 'divorce' was to keep them safe. There were people who wanted Ryusei's position and they were willing to go through certain lengths just to get it. A few sacrifices had to be made for the safety of their children.
Chiyumi Ootori was a woman who aged gracefully and has grown wise over the years. This woman was known for being Masayoshi Ootori's source of support during the hardest of times. She was his greatest and most trusted advisor and confidant. She raised all of their children to become strong leaders. Their youngest and only surviving child, Yoshio, was a testament with how well she brought up her children. Her son was bringing everything her husband achieved to greater heights. He had four wonderful children. Life has blessed her with plenty of ups and downs. She has lost so much, but has gained more than what she could have asked for. It was the birthday of her youngest grandchild. She never thought that she and her husband would live this long to see their grandchildren considering they had Yoshio at a much older age.
"Obaasama, are we going to the park?"
"Yes, Kyoya."
"Can I really play there?"
"Of course, my dear."
A 6-year-old Kyoya ran towards the sandbox where he could play like most children his age. It was amazing how perceptive he was as a child. Chiyumi knew that Kyoya had some kind of understanding with what his grandfather and father expected of him. He learned by watching them and his brothers. He knew that he was not like other children who could laze around and play all day. He made great use of his time. Playing and learning were not separate events for him.
She smiled at the sight of her grandson acting his age. She brought it upon herself to make sure that Kyoya gets as much experiences as a child. Times where he can play and be himself. She believed that children learn best through this method and not lectures. They were built to explore and interact with those around them. She wanted him to have good memories to look back at when he grows up. She walked slowly to the small café in front of the park where she could have some tea as she watched her grandson play.
"What a surprise to see you here, Sadanobu-san." She said as she recognized a very familiar face seated on the chairs facing the playground.
"Good afternoon, Chiyumi-san. It is a pleasure to see you as always." He greeted.
"What brings you to this small neighborhood café?" she asked.
Sadanobu had a small smile on his face. "I am most likely doing the same thing as you."
"Watching over a grandchild while having a nice cup of tea?" she asked in an amused tone. The only grandchild of Sadanobu already had children on his own. "I think Kazuyoshi is too old to be playing in areas like this unless his child is playing there as well."
The man smiled at Chiyumi's comment. She was not wrong. Legally, Kazuyoshi Miyura was his only grandchild. "No, my grandchild is there."
Chiyumi froze and understood instantly what he meant. "How long do you plan on hiding the child? Ryusei cannot keep them hidden forever."
"He knows that, but that did not stop him from wanting his child to have a normal life." Sadanobu said.
"Does Masayoshi know about this? How about Yoshio?" she asked in a hushed tone.
"No one knows. I suggest you act like we decided to have tea together and reminisce about the past."
She looked over to Kyoya and saw him running towards her. He had a worried expression on his face.
"What's wrong now Kyo-kyo?"
"Obaasama, the little girl is climbing too high. She wouldn't listen to me when I said she might fall." He said bitterly.
The woman smiled at her grandson. He was always protective of other people. The moment he saw something risky, he would ask for help so the problem could be solved.
"Leave her be. If she wants to climb the monkey bars, let her do so." Chiyumi replied. "If she falls, you'll be there to help her up, right?"
Kyoya had a pout on his face. "Why would she have to fall? It's simpler to prevent bad things from happening."
Sadanobu chuckled at the sight of the young boy. "He has Noriko's spirit and Yoshio's mind. That makes quite a combination."
"Go ahead Kyoya, introduce yourself." Chiyumi said.
The young boy looked at the old man his grandmother was with. He looked at him from head to toe before speaking. He bowed low and said "Good afternoon, my name is Kyoya Ootori. It is a pleasure to meet you, sir."
"There's no need to be so formal with me, Kyoya-san. I am a good friend of your grandfather and grandmother. You can call me ojisan." Sadanobu said warmly. Over the years, he realized that he had a soft spot for children.
Kyoya looked up and blinked a few times. "Ojisan, do you wear contact lenses? Why are your eyes blue?"
Chiyumi was shocked at the frankness of her grandson. "Kyoya, you must not ask such questions informally to your elders."
Upon realizing his mistake, Kyoya apologized and ran back to the playground. He did not always have an opportunity to play and get dirty so he was making the most out of his afternoon.
"You need not be so strict with him. He will grow up to be a fine man." Sadanobu said. "I would watch over him though."
"Why is that?" Chiyumi asked.
"Everyone in my family is trained to spot talent. I know potential when I see it." He said reassuringly.
"I always felt that Kyoya was different from his siblings even at this age. He looks at things differently. It is not entirely strange, but his behavior is not typical." Chiyumi said. "Oh there he goes again."
"Why?"
The woman pointed at her grandson holding the little girl's hand as she was walking on top of the monkey bars. He was most likely telling her that it was too dangerous to walk there or something along those lines.
She sighed and was glad she raised the young boy to become a gentleman. "Kyoya is scared of heights, but look at him."
Sadanobu was surprised at the scene unfolding in front of him. "Why on earth would he do that if he's scared of heights?"
"It's because he hates seeing people fall more than his fear of heights." She replied with a sense of pride swelling inside her. Kyoya was basically a pure child and she hoped that he would stay like that forever.
"That is very noble of him. I have to commend Yoshio and Noriko for raising such fine children. Even if I am not able to see them as much as I would hope, I hear stories about his sons and daughter. It is good that they live up to the tale."
The two looked at Kyoya put his jacket on the ground so that the little girl would walk on dry and clean ground. They ended up laughing lightly with how everything was happening.
"Your grandson is quite the charmer." Sadanobu said. "It is a good thing my grandchild is immune to such charms."
Chiyumi was confused with what Sadanobu meant. Sometimes the man spoke in riddles and sentences that can only be understood with a certain context. She stared at the child Kyoya was with. She looked like a foreigner or a child of an expatriate. When they started playing at the sandboxes where Kyoya felt safer, she saw the large blue eyes the little girl had. Sadanobu's grandchild was visibly few years younger than her own. At most she would be four years old.
"No wonder Kyoya was so worried. The little girl is much younger than he is so she could have fallen." Chiyumi said.
"That little girl has more spunk than most adults. The last time I watched her play, she fell from a very high place and in less than a minute she picked herself up and started playing like nothing happened. I wish she feared heights so she would avoid climbing such things, but experience will be her teacher." Sadanobu said with a slightly frustrated tone. He wanted to be there to catch his granddaughter, but he did not have the luxury of making himself known to her just yet. He had to be content with watching her from a distance.
"I feel it would take a lot of experience for her to be more careful."
"That girl is too brave for her own good." He said in an exasperated tone. "She might be just what we would need in the future."
"True bravery is hard to find these days. Most people are reckless, not brave. There is a fine line between the two and plenty of people confuse one for the other."
"I agree."
The two continued on with their tea and Sadanobu saw his daughter-in-law take Julia home with her. He longed to have his entire he family under one roof. He wanted to smother love and attention to Ryuse's children just as much as he expresses it for Kazuyoshi and his daughter, Megumi.
"Well, I must get going Chiyumi-san. It was nice seeing you around." Sadanobu said. "I hope that our families would be united with this generation."
"You do know their generation is not too fond of arranged marriages. Kyoya and your granddaughter are just far too young for such things." Chiyumi said. "But it would be nice though. How exciting of a story it would be if they met years from now and they fell in love not knowing they met here years ago as children." She said dreamily.
"You watch too many sitcoms. Such things do not unfold the same way in real life." Sadanobu said.
"An old woman can dream." She replied jokingly.
Sadanobu found the entire premise entertaining. He waved goodbye at his friend and put on his coat and hat. He walked away opposite the direction where his grandchild went. It was only there Chiyumi realized how fortunate she was to spend time with her grandchildren. Her friend only had the luxury of distant observation and no interaction. With the businesses their family was entering, she cannot blame Ryusei for keeping his family hidden. There are plenty of jealous men and women eyeing the power of the Mizushima family. There have been rumors that they have their hands on a company that can revolutionize the medical field or there is a possibility that they can entire biowarfare. The wealth the family has amassed is so great that they must live highly private lives. Meeting anyone anywhere can be hazardous for them. The Ootori family was not far off from the precautions the Mizushima family was taking. A private police force was formed by Masayoshi, Yoshio, and Sadanobu. She knew that her grandchildren will never live normal lives just because they bear the name Ootori. People fail to see that wealth is both a gift and a curse. It is a burden this family will be tied with for generations to come.
Kyoya Ootori hated having weaknesses. He hated how there were times when he simply had no choice but to comply. Sometimes, his mother and sister were just too much. He and his brothers were seated on the couch as they watched their mother, Fuyumi, and their wives move from one aisle to another. The three men all tried their best to be productive and tried to conceal the look of regret on their faces. Akito's wife, Nanako, just gave birth a few weeks ago and they were all shopping for toys, clothes, and basically anything that had the word maternity to it.
"My ass is getting numb already and they've been through that aisle thrice." Akito said.
Yuuhichi sighed. "But they look like they're having a good time. That should be enough."
"I don't even know how I got dragged into this." Kyoya muttered.
Yuuichi pat his youngest brother's back in an attempt to comfort him. "Think of it as preparation for the future. I heard that Megumi-san has the same shopping stamina as okaasama. You have the shorter end of the stick here, Kyoya."
Kyoya ignored his brother's gesture and looked at Akito. Yuuichi also noticed that their brother was already asleep.
"He must have been up the entire night taking care of his son." Yuuichi said.
"Akito-niisan could have just asked someone else to take care of his child." Kyoya stated. He thought that it was an absolute hassle to do things when someone who was trained and more competent to handle children was already hired.
"I think it's nice that Akito is being very hands-on. Nanako-san barely gave the child to the governess. They're making an effort of raising the child by themselves." Yuuichi said approvingly.
He was proud of his brother's actions. At the same time, he thought that Kyoya's sentiments were amusing. He thought that the moment his wife gave birth, he would throw his son to the servants and let them handle the dirty work, but it was different. The moment he held his son, it was only there he understood what their father meant. Akito is currently experiencing the same thing. Kyoya should follow shortly after. He has always caught up very fast with the both of them. But as for now, his younger brother should enjoy his life. Even if Kyoya was a quick learner, Yuuichi knew that his brother still had much he needed to see for himself.
"Finally, they have decided to leave this place." Kyoya said the moment he saw his mother, sister, and sister-in-laws walk towards the counter to have everything they bought packed. Kyoya and Yuuichi gently nudged Akito.
"Wake up, Akito." Yuuichi said.
"They're finally done, Yuuichi-niisan?" he asked groggily.
"Yes, but it you can continue your nap in the next store."
Kyoya internally groaned. He could be sleeping comfortably in his bed by now. Fuyumi walked towards the three of them. She was just bursting with energy.
"How are the three of you? Yuuichi-niisan and Akito, I hope the both of you get your wives something nice this year." She said.
"Yes, I already got Tsukiko something nice." Yuuichi said.
"How about you Akito?"
"I found something she would like."
The three siblings looked at Kyoya. They looked at him expectantly. Like he was supposed to say something important.
"What?"
"What are you going to get Megumi-san?" Yuuichi asked. "You might want to get her something unique if you want to leave a good impression."
Kyoya smiled politely at his siblings and said "I don't need to give her anything to leave an impression. But I already bought her something for Christmas."
Yuuichi and Akito were caught off guard with Kyoya's statement, but they understood what he meant by leaving an impression. Fuyumi, on the other hand, thought that her youngest brother was being an absolute darling by looking beyond gifts.
"That's wonderful, Kyoya. I'm glad you're looking beyond material things. You have the tendency to spoil people rotten." Fuyumi said.
Yuuichi and Akito looked at Kyoya questioningly and smiled to themselves. Fuyumi will realize that Kyoya implied something else.
"How about your friends from Lobelia? Are you getting them something as well?" Fuyumi asked innocently. Her sources told her that there was a possibility that Kyoya had feelings for someone. She will always fight for the possibility that her younger brother would choose his feelings and what his heart truly desires at the end of the day. Not what people expect of him.
Her brother did not answer her question and they moved on to the next shop. The three Ootori men sat down on the couches as they waited. Each one was busy in their own little world. Yuuichi started answering some emails on his phone and read whatever proposal or document was sent. Akito was looking at the demographics and statistics of the sales of their medical equipment for the past year. Kyoya was thinking about his business plan for next year, but his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Somehow, everything had something to do with Julia and it annoyed Kyoya to a certain extent. No matter what store, event, food, color, or anything mundane he ended up thinking about her. Even if it certain things had nothing to with her, he found himself associating everything with her. Tamaki's incessant ramblings about Haruhi suddenly made sense. The only difference was he never told anyone how much Julia occupies his thoughts. He cannot tell anyone that he fell in love with someone from a completely different industry and socioeconomic standing. He…an Ootori… Kyoya Ootori. One of the most successful entrepreneurs of his generation. He was a man who brought innovation and change to the market. He was the same man that started to raise the standards for business climate of Japan. Kyoya Ootori fell in love with a commoner crossdresser. Twice. If he might say so himself, but his pride refuses to admit it even to himself.
As usual, this was enough to keep him busy. It got the gears of his head turning. He did see some kind of pattern with women he thought was attractive. Not only physically, but the entire package. Both Haruhi and Julia did have their similarities. They both mean well, talented in their chosen field, intelligent, did not bother with gender roles, and had an open mind. Though, they had their differences too. Haruhi was righteous in anything and everything that she did. She had nothing to hide from others. Julia, on the other hand, seems to be that way, but underneath that warm exterior is someone who weighed benefits as much as he did. Haruhi is passive to a fault, but would have her head strong moments. Julia gave her all in anything and everything that she does. They are both horribly cost conscious and had a certain 'love' for food. Haruhi is quick to think on her feet, but Julia displays a different kind of cunning behavior. Haruhi would never hurt anyone intentionally, but Julia had the potential. But it would most likely be out of self-defense and her methods would be so well concealed people will not even notice that they have already paid the price.
Kyoya snapped himself out of his thoughts. It was not fair to compare the two of them. They were different women. It was a fallacy to compare apples to oranges. Both are fruits, but they are not the same thing. Apples were a completely different species from oranges…Oranges…it reminded him of the citrus smell Julia had. How her hair smelled so familiar, but he cannot seem to figure out what specific perfume she used. For some odd reason, Julia enjoyed the peach and orange marmalade Tamaki brought from France. She like her toast slightly burnt. Then he could picture her large bluish grey eyes that have this special sense of delight right before she takes a bite. There were times when he wanted to taste it for himself. She unknowingly teased him every time she bit her lip the moment she saw something her stomach wanted to consume. He wished he could just lightly bite those soft lips and…enough. He cannot let his thoughts wander there. It was dangerous territory. He was completely distracted from his thoughts when he heard Yuuichi speak.
"You look troubled." Yuuichi said. He looked cautiously at Kyoya and the hidden brotherly concern was there. They were never direct with their feelings. They were never good with expressing their feelings to begin with.
"Are you having problems with Megumi-san?" he asked passively.
"No, we're doing fine. I was just thinking about work." Kyoya replied hoping it would stop his brother from asking.
Yuuichi dropped the topic and ended his prying. Just like his brothers, he wanted nothing more than to finish this shopping trip and start working. Unfortunately, hospitals are busy places during the holidays. During the winter months, death rates always increased so there was a need to efficiently manage the hospital staff and the patients during these times. He looked at Akito who was passed out on the solo couch. It was a good thing that the mall they went to was so high end, only a few people went inside. It would be a shame if people saw his younger brother in such a state.
"Darling, which one looks better?" Yuuichi's wife asked as she held up two dresses.
"Both look good on you." He answered truthfully. To be honest the colors of the two dresses were similar so he could barely tell the difference.
His wife turned towards Kyoya. "Kyoya, what would be your pick?"
Kyoya, being a man well-versed with women and their wants and problems, knew the dilemma very well. Even if the two dresses looked similar, they were on different ends of the spectrum in the perspective of fashion forward females.
"I think the ecru colored dress is much better than the white one. It has a warmer and subtler feel to it and it appears more flattering." He said.
"You are a big help, Kyoya. I needed that second opinion."
"It is my pleasure, Tsukiko-neesan."
When Yuuichi's wife left, he looked at Kyoya. "Those two dresses were exactly the same."
Kyoya sighed. "We are in an unfortunate position of differentiating the most similar things that barely have a difference."
"How did you tell the difference?"
"Being friends with the Hitachiin brothers and running a Host Club makes you aware of these things." Kyoya replied flatly. He was not lying. That was where he gained most of his knowledge about clothing, makeup, and women. Well, the non-sexual knowledge about women at least. He did not want their club to be tainted with such a premise.
"I must admit that you gained skills in that club. I am amazed that otousama let you run it for a period of time." Yuuichi said without filtering his opinion.
"Otousama did not know I managed a Host Club until a few weeks after it opened. He would have prevented it hoping I would find another way to befriend Tamaki, but it was an interesting expereince." Kyoya said. It was the first time he told anyone in his family, besides Fuyumi, that he actually enjoyed his time at the Host Club.
Yuuichi had a small smile on his face. His youngest brother was lucky to have such an experience during his teenage years. There were burdens carried only by the eldest. Everything was much heavier on his end, but he knew that Kyoya was not given any leniency as well. In fact, he thought that the three of them had it equally tough in various ways. He had to live his life fulfilling his father's expectations. There was nothing wrong with it, really. He enjoyed the hospital and he liked managing the health facilities. People think that a hard and long path was laid out for him by his father, but nothing gives him more sense of fulfillment than this.
Akito is the same as well. He wanted to support his eldest brother, but he needed to equip himself with a different set of skills so that there was variety in the family. He asked to become an Orthopedic Surgeon while getting his MBA. It was much more realistic to have a person who knew what the equipment was for and how it can be used. He dealt with the more technical information in the Ootori Group. Most of the researches were headed by him. He was the brightest one among them. He was the best in academics and school so he would spend most of his time studying. Their own mother forced him out of his room to meet girls or friends.
Fuyumi was for the social projects of the Ootori Group. She oversaw the charities and social events of the family. It was a job only she could do. She made sure that the Ootori Group gave back to the society. It sounds like a menial job for some people, but it was extremely difficult to know who and how much money to give. Which projects would have the most benefit and much more. Though the technicalities of her responsibilities were not difficult, the emotional load that came with it was an entirely different thing.
Then there was Kyoya. He became someone else entirely. He left the healthcare business and went everywhere else. He expanded the reach of the Ootori Group like a modern conquistador. He made plenty of visions a reality. He knew that his youngest brother invested in the businesses of his peers. Especially those who took a different path from their family's original line of work. Kyoya made careful calculations with who to invest in and how much to give. Now, the Ootori Group's identity as a business conglomerate was strengthen. Originally, Kyoya was supposed to follow in their footsteps. Get a business degree and enter medical school. But Yuuichi never told anyone how dangerous it was for Kyoya to become a doctor. He observed his brother a few times. He was a good healer. He knew what to do and when to do it, but he had a tendency to get attached to patients. When the incident with the patient involved with the trial medicines Akito was developing, they had to shut the research down even if they knew the medications did not cause the death of the patient. That time he spoke to his father and asked that the truth be revealed, but he realized that it would cost Kyoya his career if word got out that medication was not the cause of death.
As an older brother, he wished he could protect Kyoya from the suffering that just happened, but the least he could do was make sure that Akito's misplaced guilt turned into anger did not reach his brother as much. Harsh words were the easiest consequence with this kind of mistake. The story would have been different if it were him or Akito because they would have been charged with malpractice had the patient died in their hands. Since Kyoya was a student, the premise of the situation was different. His father treated this patient with a different kind of secrecy that even he was not given access to. Akito only had records and was not allowed to see the patient as well. Kyoya was given a responsibility that was too large for someone in his level. To this day, he never understood his father's actions. Those were dark times he did not want to look back at. His youngest brother made a name for himself and was flourishing with success and talent he would have never achieved if he followed the original path. These were words he wished he could properly voice out, but in due time he knew that Kyoya would know his true thoughts.
That night Kyoya opened his eyes and saw nothing but darkness. His breath was shallow and staggered. It was difficult to move. There was a something heavy on his chest like a someone was sitting on him. When he tried to calm himself, he could barely breath and he could not move his entire body. It was like he was paralyzed from head to toe. He tried to scream, but nothing came out of his mouth. He used all his strength to scream once more, but his efforts were useless. Nothing was going to help him. No one will show up. He shut his eyes tight and reminded himself that everything was just a dream. It was like as if he was falling to oblivion and he had no control over anything. The feeling of falling and being unable to scream or moved paralyzed him with fear. He was falling into a pit of nothingness. He thought to himself that this was just a dream and repeated it to himself several times until everything went black.
When he woke up that morning, he got dressed for his shift at the hospital. He tried his best to shake off his nightmare. It was not the first time this happened. He looked at the mirror and combed his hair into place and straightened his scrub suit. Today was going to be a long day. He was more than glad to finish his round with obstetrics and gynecology. He was not sure if he wanted to see another vagina for the next few years. He also made a mental note to move far away or take a 9-month long business trip the moment he gets his future wife pregnant. The mood swings and everything that came with pregnancy was just too much for him to handle. It made the Host Club look normal.
He looked at his schedule and saw that he will be moved to the pediatric ward. He heard from the nurses that two days ago, a new patient was transferred to the pediatric ward. The patient did not say much and refused to eat. It was becoming bothersome because the child's stubbornness was already affecting her health.
'At least it isn't a fishy vagina anymore. Some kids would be better than that.' Kyoya thought to himself as walked towards the entrance of the mansion.
"Kyoya"
He looked back and bowed respectfully at the voice that called him. "Good morning, Otousama."
Yoshio nodded in return. "There is a special patient in the pediatric ward today. I expect you to take a close look at her."
"Of course, otousama." Kyoya replied.
"She is receiving trial medications. I expect that everything will be administered properly. Measure her vitals. We need every single bit of information that she can provide." Yoshio stated.
Kyoya bowed to his father once more before leaving the house. His father's assistant handed him a file with the child's photo, name, and medical history. He read through Lilian Sakamoto's file. Much of the information about her personal life has been omitted from the records. He opened his laptop and decided to look for more information about the patient his father assigned to him. There was nothing about her. It stated that the original documents were all lost during the fire in the suburbs a few years ago.
He sighed the moment he saw the short biography that was provided. The child lost her mother in a car accident 2 years ago and her father died a little over 6 months ago. She had a sibling that disappeared shortly after their father's death. Her legal guardian's identity was not mentioned in the records. Kyoya smirked to himself. He was sure his father knew this person. There was no way that he would allow someone in the hospital without the proper legalities. He read through the remarks from the caregivers and the previous hospital she was in. It stated that she hated drinking medications. She was scared of doctors and was highly uncooperative. He moved on to the vitals and review of systems and shook his head. They gave the child a mental status examination and said the results were there was a chance she was depressed.
'Some people are idiots. Let's see them lose their family and see if they would not grieve.' Kyoya thought sharply.
Personally, he admired healthcare professionals for their work ethic, but there were times when commonsense was the only thing needed in the situation. It was unnecessary to give her several psychological tests because it would give false results. Maybe if they checked on the patient a year or two from now, their assessments may have some weight. Now he understood why his father sent him. It was not the first time his father used him to put things into a more favorable situation. If the treatment of this patient was successful, the medication she was taking would be sold commercially and a large percentage of the profits should go to the Ootori Group.
When he arrived at the hospital, he clocked in and went straight to the intern's station. He saw several of his co-interns with gloomy faces.
"Man, that kid is difficult." Kimiko Sakurazuka said with a defeated expression.
Sakura sighed. "No, she's sad…" The moment she noticed Kyoya enter the room she smiled at him. "Ah, Good morning, Kyoya-san."
"Good morning, Sakura-senpai."
"Good morning, Kyoya-senpai." Kimiko Sakurazuka said.
"Good morning, Kimiko-san." He replied back. He looked at the two tired and sleep deprived women who were given the graveyard shift. It was an odd feeling to have a former Host Club customer as a colleague now. Kimiko Sakurazuka was in the same class as Haruhi and designated her regularly as well.
"The patient in room 301 is a special one." Kimiko said.
One of the nurses overheard their conversation. "I heard that her profile is top secret because she's the child of a famous actress."
"Really now?" Sakura said.
"Yamamoto-sensei said so. She looks so much like one of them famous movie stars. Such a pity that the poor thing was orphaned at a young age."
"Yes, she looks like a porcelain doll. She could even pass as Tamaki-senpai's younger sister." Kimiko said.
Kyoya felt a small part of him cringe slightly. The last person he wanted to be his patient was Tamaki. It was not because he hoped for Tamaki's good health, but he would be the most demanding and annoying patient in the universe.
"I'm sure she is just as striking as the Host King." Kyoya said with a smile. "I'll check on her vitals now. The two of you can go home now. I can handle this."
"We'll wait for Sanada-kun and Taki-kun before we leave." Sakura replied.
Kyoya nodded and took the medicine for Lilian and walked towards her room. The two girls smiled as they looked at Kyoya leave the station. The graveyard shift does not have much action so there was room for gossip. They were just talking about him during their break. He was one of the most pleasant doctors in the hospital. Patients, especially female ones, enjoyed his company. They attributed it to his experience at the Host Club until they saw his siblings and father tend to patients. It was like as if Ootoris were built to become doctors. Most people thought of them as stern and strict leaders, but towards patients they became different persons. It was only Fuyumi who seemed to be naturally pleasant even outside the hospital. They decided to follow him a few minutes after he left, just in case he needed some help with the medicine.
When they got to the room, they saw the child staring at Kyoya like as if she saw a ghost. He must remind her of someone she knew.
"Good morning, Lilian-san." Kyoya greeted politely. Not too stern and not too cheerful. "My name is Kyoya and I'll be your doctor for today."
He was expecting any kind of reaction, but the girl looked at him like she saw a ghost. He was starting to wonder if she spoke a Japanese. Maybe the language barrier was the reason why she was so cautious with everyone. He smiled warmly at her hoping to gain her trust so it would be easier for him to perform his duties.
"Y-y-you…You look exactly like…Miyabi-kun." The little girl said.
"Miyabi-kun? Was he a good friend of yours?" Kyoya asked. He was not entirely sure what the young girl meant.
"Miyabi-kun from Uki Doki Memorial!" Lilian pointed. "This is amazing."
Kyoya froze and looked at Lilian's profile. He was sure that she was only 8 years old, but how did she know about the dating sim game Renge played. How old did this otaku thing start anyways? Wasn't 8 years old too early for such things. He hid his discomfort and smiled he was about to say something but Lilian cut him off too soon.
"I'm not into those dating sim games. It's just that I know someone that looks like you." The little girl defended.
In less than a heartbeat, she started to sob and cry. The two interns watching them were amazed. No one was able to get a single reaction from her. She was very stoic the entire time, but it looks like Kyoya would be forced to stay with this patient more.
"Would you want me to get another doctor?" Kyoya asked softly. He was never comfortable with crying women regardless of the age.
"No." Lilian said with a sob.
Kyoya was about to leave the room until he felt a soft tug on his shirt. He looked at the small child with her eyes and cheeks all red. It was unsettling for him to be in a room with a crying patient. It just did not sit well with him.
"Can I ask for a favor Kyoya-sensei?"
"What is it?"
"Can I hug you?" she asked. Her request was barely audible since she was feeling entirely shy about it, but she missed her sister so much that this dummy replacement would do. He would never be as cool as her big sister.
Kyoya looked at the child hesitantly. He looked at the door and saw Sakura-san and Kimiko-san motioning for him to hug the little girl. He was uncomfortable with the entire situation, but he hugged Lilian until she stopped crying. Kyoya spent the next hour trying to soothe a crying child. He patted the little girl's back hoping that it would make her feel better. He was never good with comforting people and he was not exactly good with children. He hid his discomfort and suddenly, he felt like looking at heads of babies go through vaginas was a lot easier than this.
Hello! How was this chapter? It was more of a blast from the past really. There were some scenes set in the present, but I really put some thought with the past. There's just so much of the tale to weave. There's a need to build everything up before the explosion comes. So sorry about making you guys wait too long.
So as usual are there any comments or suggestions? What romantic situation/date would you like to see Kyoya and Julia in? Are there any pairing you guys think of? I'm curious. Also, which characters would you guys like to know more? Please leave your thoughts and review. I really find all of your comments interesting and seemingly motivating.
Also thank you for the reviews, follows, and faves!