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CHAPTER TWENTY
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Ryoma Fuuyumi couldn't get that stupid grin off his face as he leaned against Shoko's bedroom door. The scene before him was priceless.
He was about to drive his cousin's family, under his cousin's request of course, to a nice restaurant in a neighboring town when he received a text message from one of his Shoko's friends, Len Tsukimori - if he was not mistaken, that his teal-haired cousin, Shoko, has a fever. So naturally, he told his passengers this and advised them to just take the public transportation to the place as he will be going back to the villa. And also, naturally, his nephews were against it.
They insisted that they should at least see their aunt and tell her to get well soon before going anywhere.
Childish, true but Ryoma got to give the kids some credit for their determination. Once they set their thoughts on something, they are really determined to fulfill it the best way they can.
Since they won't really fit anymore, with his cousin's luggage at the back, Ryoma called and informed his companions that due to certain things that came up, he can't pick them up from the meeting point so they would just have to take a public transportation back to the villa; by which the others didn't object.
And so here he was.
An idea popped in his mind. Without hesitation he took out his mobile phone and walked a little bit closer to get a better shot. His grin became wider than before when he finally saved the image, automatically creating five back-up copies in case something ill befall the original image.
"Well, this is interesting," Ryoma heard his cousin say. He turned and walked towards the door where his cousin was now leaning on the spot he was previously at.
Ryoma gazed at his current blackmail material, a.k.a. the image on his phone, with a smile; a glint of amusement and mischief sparked in his eyes. Their other cousin just continued to look at Shoko, an unreadable expression in his features. Ryoma stood beside him and faced the scene before them once again, casually slipping his phone back in his pocket.
"I wonder what that guy's reaction would be when he 'accidentally' saw this," Ryoma said, raising his eyebrows in thought, already having a mental image at that, "It will be priceless if he gets pissed off at something as simple as this,"
"Why did you take a picture of that anyway?" The man beside asked then something pops in his mind that made him roll his eyes, "It's not like the guy likes her, right?"
"How am I supposed to know that?" Ryoma rolled his eyes as well, "Besides, this is just a blackmail material….and also, a test."
The two stared at each other for a good three seconds, a smile already growing on Ryoma's face while the other was doing the exact opposite of it. Then finally a wave of realization crossed the man's features, making him frown even more while the other just kept on grinning, rolling his eyes in the process; silently teasing his cousin that he was slow.
"Well, given his family background, I wouldn't picture him as an easy-to-get-jealous type of guy so how will you know if your hypothesis is correct?" the man asked, raising an skeptical eyebrow.
Ryoma shrugged, "I don't know but I know what I am doing,"
"Really convincing couz," the man said sarcastically, "You seem to already know him -"
"Haven't met him before," Ryoma cut it. Then he sighed and shook his head disapprovingly, "Honestly I don't agree with this whole arrange marriage thing but fighting them is like kicking on a sharp stone,"
"Don't I know it but what's decided is decided. Everything will somehow turn out right," the man answered, almost robotically.
Ryoma glared at him, "Say's the person who was forced to marry someone he didn't like and look at what happen; they are in the brink of annulment,"
The man glared back and was about to say something when Reiko and Tachi passed by; each holding a piece of paper in their hands; completely oblivious to the adult's discussion. Ryoma shot a warning look at his cousin that gained a curious look from his cousin's wife, who was trailing her sons not far behind. Ryoma smiled cheerfully and suddenly changed his mood for his nephews.
"What have you got there guys?" he asked
Tachi beamed, "Get well cards. Mom says it will make Sho-neechan feel better when she wakes up."
Ryoma just have to smile at that, "Knowing your Sho-neechan, I bet she will feel better when she saw your cards."
That statement caused the siblings to beam proudly at their uncle; a beam that is so contagious that even their parents cracked a smile at their children's antics. Ryoma laughed lightly and ruffled their hairs in each hand.
"Can you give it to her when she wakes up?" Tachi asked, holding out the cards he and his older brother made to their uncle with a matching puppy-dog eyes that is absolutely irresistible.
Ryoma looked up to his cousin, "You're not going to stay for the night?"
"I was going to tell both of you this but since Shoko is asleep, you have to relay the message," the man said. Ryoma raised his eyebrows impatiently, which caused to man to sigh then with a rather straight face he said, "She came here with me. We went our separate ways after arriving at the airport but if she knew that Shoko is here, I'm guessing it will be a matter of hours, days - if you are lucky, before she decides to visit. And in all fairness, I wouldn't want to be here when she does,"
"Yeah, no kidding," Ryoma muttered then he beamed at his two nephews, "Alright, I'll take those cards for your Sho-neechan to see. Is there anything else you want me to relay to her?"
"I have one," Reiko said then he pointed at the general direction where their aunt is sleeping, expression full of curiousness, "Do she and Keiichi-niichan like each other?"
The three adults were taken aback by the innocent question, true he didn't mean any harm as he was just a boy and therefore was curios but Ryoma couldn't help but imagine how Shoko would react with that question. For someone so young, Reiko thinks maturely. Ryoma gave a laugh as he patted the boy's head.
"I can promise you that I'll relay that question Reiko,"
"And so we must be off," the man said after clearing his throat, looking at his watch anxiously. He then looked at his wife then nodded, "Everything set?"
The woman nodded, and then she turned to Ryoma, "Say hello to Shoko-chan for me,"
"I will, I sure she would love to have a talk with you if she were in a better condition." Ryoma said, "Please consider what I have said to you earlier, Arisa-chan, okay?"
The woman smiled and patted Ryoma's cheek in a motherly way, "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you dear,"
"Let's go or we'll miss our train," a call came from downstairs making the woman sigh.
"Well, I better go." Arisa smiled at Ryoma. She was already walkway down the hallway when she turned as if she remembered something, "Oh and tell Shoko-chan that they really do look cute together,"
That made Ryoma laugh.
When the woman was already out of his line of vision, he looked back at the room again with a small smile on his face. He then shook his head lightly and then pulled the door close as quietly as possible. Then he followed his cousin's family outside to see them off. It was only a few minutes after they left when a taxi stopped in front of the villa and out came Kahoko and her companions; Nami and Hihara.
"How's Fuuyumi-chan? Is she okay?" the red-haired violinist asked almost immediately.
Ryoma just have to chuckle, "She still has a fever but I think she'll be okay by tonight. You can go see her if you like but I have to tell you in advance, try to hold in your squeals so you won't wake them up,"
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Nami Amou already knew that something unusual was up. It was in the way Ryoma smiled when he talked to them; a glint of amusement and mischief in his eyes. Without even guessing much, she can tell that what he saw amused him very much. Given her personality, unfortunately, her curiosity is making her skin crawl. She gave herself a good three seconds of self-control before finally giving in.
She didn't even wait for someone to suggest that they should go up to the room and look at what the young lad was talking about; she just sprinted up the stairs towards the clarinetist's bedroom. She barely even listened to the calls of her two companions outside as they followed to catch up with her.
Thankfully, Nami remembered to be quiet as Ryoma had suggested.
So quietly, Nami twisted the door knob and peeped inside. She didn't really have a general picture in her head on what she should expect there so when she finally saw what was behind the door, all she could do was stare dumbfounded at the scene before her.
Lying sideways on the bed, back curled into what seems to be a comfortable position, was Shoko. She must have moved so much when she was asleep because the only part of her that is hidden beneath the covers were her thighs down to her foot. The only thing that caught the young journalist off guard was the person leaning on the side of the bed, using his folded arms as a pillow. He was facing the opposite direction so Nami couldn't see his face but she could tell that he was asleep as well. He wouldn't be called the sleepy angel of Seiso if it weren't that. Besides, the afternoon was just so calm that one could easily fall asleep in its serenity.
Subconsciously, she walked a bit closer to the two, careful not to make any unnecessary sounds. Given their positions, they were lying face to face each other - not really that close to one another but would surely earn a nice crimson blush to whoever among them woke up first.
Nami felt a smile cross her features.
She just can't help but marvel at beauty of the scene; the warm colors of from the sunset flooding the room, the shadows created by the furniture and the peacefulness of the two sleeping musicians.
And being the young curious and mischievous journalist she was, she just couldn't let something like this fade in memory.
Her hands made their way to her camera hanging around her neck as always. Without any hesitation, she lifted it to her eye level, hands moving to adjust anything in the said device that will make the picture even more beautiful as if it has a mind of its own. Then with a determined push, followed by the sound of the camera shutter, she finally catching what seems like a perfect scene; preserving it digitally in her camera.
After a good five seconds of gawking with her camera still in hand, she finally found it in herself to react to the sight before her.
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my -"
"Amou-san," came a call not far from the room but it was enough to make the young journalist turn to the door. In a few blinks, Kahoko came into view, panting from the sudden sprint up the stair case, "I don't see the reason why you have to….." she trailed off once she saw the two, still completely oblivious that their seniors are making a big deal out of it, and gasped; one hand over her mouth and eyes full of surprise mixed with happiness and amusement. "Oh my gosh!"
"Quiet, Hino-chan." Nami chided but it was more of a playful rebuke than anything. The violinist voice was not that loud, of course, but if any of the two were light sleepers, one of them should have woken by now and thus, ruining the sight before them.
"Oh sorry," the red-head whispered, loud enough for the journalist to hear.
Then something unexpected came.
"WHOA!"
The two girls immediately turned to face the new comer, startled by the sudden outburst. In complete unison, they placed their finger over their lips with a stern 'Shhhhhh'
"Oh sorry," Hihara said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly but that action didn't contain the grin that was forming on his lips, "I was curious as to why you girls ran off so I followed but didn't expect to see something like this,"
He then gestured to their kohais still, thankfully, asleep; still completely oblivious to what is happening around them. The trumpet player then sighed and shook his head lightly, smiling at some sort of inner joke in his head, "Well, I have the right to be that surprised. It's something you don't even think to seeing,"
"You're making it sound like you caught someone in a crime scene," a deadpanned voice came from behind them, automatically causing the three to turn around.
Len Tsukimori stood near the door way with his arms crossed, emotionlessly looking at his companions. Kahoko knit her eyebrows a little in slight confusion, there was that glint in his eyes. She can't specifically place it correctly, but there was still something they were missing; as if he knew something the three of them don't.
"You act so calm about this," Nami stated, raising an eyebrow.
Len snorted, "And you shouldn't be intruding their privacy like that. Did you even think of how their relatives would react when they saw that picture you took?"
"I'm not going to publish it. It's for my personal album. How did you even know that I took a picture?" Nami countered back, by which she found useless since it was pretty obvious but she was up for a good argument anyway so why not go with it.
Len gave her a blank stare, "You're Nami Amou, that's enough proof already,"
Nami glared at the blue-haired violinist and was about to answer back an equally snarky retort when the sound someone slamming the door in such force brought her out of that thought. At least in all fairness, all of them looked surprised and equally confused by it. From below, they could hear voices coming from someone they don't know and Ryoma.
It only took a few minutes before they could hear the heavy pounding of footsteps coming up the stair case. Nami wanted to leave the room immediately but something was keeping her rooted to the spot. Nami felt her blood turn cold; like something bad was about to happen and she could tell that her companions were thinking of the same thing, as they were looking at each other in the eye.
Then a petite woman, wearing an attire fit for a company manager came into view, freely barging in the room like she has every right to do that. One look and one couldn't tell that she was intimidating but once one caught her hawk-like eyes, it is only but natural to shrink back a little.
Nami really thought the woman was the Fuuyumi family's lawyer so she was thoroughly confused when Ryoma entered the room called the woman Aunt Chichi. If anything, she doesn't look anything like Shoko or Ryoma but Nami know she just couldn't end her judgment on just that.
The woman stopped and stared at the two sleeping musicians for a moment then slowly she turned around to face them, her surprised expression made it look like she walked on something seriously scandalous. She then gave Ryoma a look of pure annoyance and the young lad just stared back, expression unreadable.
"Are you not going to explain the meaning of this, Ryoma?" the woman asked in a cold tone
Ryoma crossed his arms, "What's to explain? It's it obvious, they are sleeping. Like I said, Shoko has a fever so it would be much appreciated if you reschedule whatever it is that you are planning on some other time,"
The woman then turned to the four unwilling audience at the door way. Though it wasn't directed to her in particular, Nami involuntarily took a step back at that look the woman is giving; her back colliding with Hihara's chest in the process as he was the one standing behind her. Unfortunately, her sudden movement caught the woman's attention, like a snake sensing for its prey.
"You girl," the woman said, her predator like eyes still trained on Nami who was trying hard not to turn around and cower in the corner, "Who is that human?"
The woman then turned to where Keiichi lay sleeping. Nami felt cold inside, she instinctively glanced to Ryoma, silently asking for help on the situation, in which he answered by shaking his head. However, the silence from the young journalist was starting to get on the woman's nerves so when Nami chose not to answer the question, the woman turned to glare at the poor girl.
"Don't take out your frustrations on them Aunt Chichi," Ryoma said, immediately taking a step forward ready for anything that might happen, "Leave them out of this, if anything it should be us you are nagging on, not them. They are not even in the family,"
The woman eyed Ryoma up and down, as if he just evolved from a whole new species of algae. Then a sudden glint flashed across her features, a thought must have sprouted in that conniving mind of hers. The woman, Chichi, smirked at the boy before she turned her attention to her sleeping niece. She walked up to the nightstand on the left, took the basin in which Keiichi must have used when he was trying to get Shoko's fever to go down and spilled its contents over the poor girl.
Everyone else inside the room didn't expect that. The four unwilling audience was utterly shocked with a fair amount of anger at what the woman did. Ryoma was seething in anger, annoyance and hate. Keiichi, who was woken up at that action, was equally confused and surprised as the unsuspecting victim known as Shoko Fuuyumi.
"Aunt Chichi you -"
"Rise and Shine my sweet," the woman said in a sickly sweet tone, interrupting whatever Ryoma was about to say.
Shoko finally snapped out of her surprised state to look at the woman, as if she just realized who the new comer was. Her eyes immediately went wide in realization and fear, hands subconsciously touching her lips as she gasped.
"Aunt Chichi," she managed to say, though her voice was shaky and was merely a whisper but with the quietness of the room, everyone else heard it.
The woman rolled her eyes, "Such a drama queen. Yes it's me, your beloved Aunt Chichi. Now, get out of that bed and put on something nice. You and I are going somewhere for the night and you better not feel unwell,"
When nobody moved a muscle after that statement, the woman went bug-eyed and let out a cry of frustration. She stormed over to her niece and forcefully tried to get her out of the bed. It wasn't a difficult feat given Shoko's physical status but unfortunately the girl didn't last long standing on her own feet, so just resolved on grabbing the end of the nightstand, anchoring herself there.
"Stop being such a sloth and move girl. We only have a couple of hours to prepare," the woman snapped.
Shoko managed to keep her hold on the table's edge, "Prepare for what?"
The woman looked at her niece as if she asked the most idiotic question ever, "Your marriage interview, of course."
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