Chapter 26- No Going Back

Through the ajar door of the music room, Hatano Minori stared worriedly at the hunched over figure of his little cousin. Single random note sounded one after the other, flat and hollow, echoing emptily throughout the room and into the corridor he was standing in. He could only guess the turmoil of thoughts and confusions going on in her head- but as much as he wanted to aid her, this was something she had to decide on her own- a test of sorts. Either option she chose would lead her down a vastly differing path from the other… It was really a matter of 'either' and 'or' this time.

Soundlessly, he shut the door and made his way back to his room. She'll be fine- he told himself in his retreat. She will be.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Sections of broken melody crossed Eri's mind as she hummed under her breath. Her head was rested against the cool wood of the grand piano, strands of honey-coloured hair pooling on the higher white keys.

Two hours had passed since she reached home. Two and a half hours since she had a short conversation with Kyoya- which, in reality, consisted of only a few sentences. An hour since she had found herself in her personal music room with a mind so jumbled up that it was hard to focus on one coherent thought. If she weren't so messed up right now, perhaps Shakespeare's 'To be or not to be' would have popped up in her mind- not that it had any connection with the situation at hand.

And Kyoya-

Eri sighed, biting her lips.

- Kyoya hadn't been of much help to her decision making.

"-What should we do?" She had asked him out of desperation.

He had gazed at her for a long time without a word, his eyes holding a calculating gleam that she had grown quite used to since their days in Ouran. Folding his hands as a support under his chin, he spoke, his voice calm and composed. But if one bothered to listen closely, he or she would've noticed the underlying concern and forced sangfroid.

"Even though I may not be allowed to give you any useful advice for this matter, but I think you should take your time, Eri. Think it through, weigh the pros and cons, and make the decision."

"Bu-"

He cut her off by reaching over to ruffle her hair, "Don't over-think it."

She bowed her head, her fringe hiding her face from view as she fell silent.

She couldn't quite remember what happened after that. However, there was one thing Kyoya said before she left that kept ringing in her ears-

- "Don't take me into account when you're making your decision. Whatever your answer is, it must be your own, and solely your own."

"Don't take him into account?" Eri buried her face into her hand, her voice becoming muffled, "How can I not, Kyoya?" It was a reproach that he would never hear, because logic told her that he was right in saying that. Nothing good ever comes out from choices made with an emotional state of mind- in moments like this, it was best to remain rational… Right?

Her fingers paused on a diminished minor chord, the sad and sombre sound ringing through the enclosed space.

Taking a long, deep breath, she closed her eyes.

Eri had always known that her father, Akino Hiroto, was an ambitious man. And though he loved her with all his heart, the business part of him would never give up a good opportunity to extend his field of power- even if he had to use his own daughter for this purpose. But he would not truly cause her harm in the long run… No matter how hard it was for her to come to terms with what he was doing, she still wanted to believe that her father would never steer her wrong- pushing her onto a path she did not want to go perhaps, but never onto a path that would cause her downfall.

So why did he give her this choice?

What did he want to accomplish by this? or- more plainly, what did he expect of her to say?

Though it was not written, there were obvious consequences she had to face no matter her answer.

…Consequences that were far too heavy for her to bear.

"Kyo-chan, are you alright? You seem very distracted since Ri-chan left."

Kyoya looked up at the unexpected interruption, a little bothered that he had been so deep in thoughts that he hadn't noticed his seniors' entrance.

Even though he had sent Eri off with that small 'suggestion'- not that the both of them would call it that- he was sure that Eri would disregard what he told her to do; not because she did it deliberately but simply because she could not. After more than one year of getting to know the girl- and five previous years being mere acquaintances- Kyoya could state with some conviction that Akino Eri was someone who cherished the bonds she had with other people. Despite the fact that she was never the one who would take the first step in any type of relationship, and despite the invisible barrier she had set up around her heart, once she took anyone into her life, there was no denying that those privileged few were always at the top and foremost in her mind…

This was a weakness that could be fatal in the future.

But… That was what made her unique.

Honey sat down in front of Kyoya, picking up the pillow beside him and hugged it close to his chest, "And Ri-chan appears to be very troubled too, right, Takashi?"

The tall young man nodded silently.

"Is that so?" It was a rhetoric utterance that escaped Kyoya's his glasses subconsciously, he began organising his response.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

"So does that mean that Ri-chan has to decide whether or not to work with you?" Honey asked, drawing a conclusion after Kyoya had explained the gist of his and Eri's situation. His quick and sharp mind- one which not many was aware of- began working through thoughts and possibilities of the outcome. Honey hummed as he mulled over the fact, his brown eyes fixed contemplatively at the bespectacled young man.

Kyoya sighed, "Not me but the Ootoris, I'm merely a representative. My family has proposed to become the main investor for the Akinos' new venture, just like how Akino Hiroto has invested in my family's medical research since last year."

"You mean like a limited partner?"

"…Not exactly. My father has more of his mind set on us being general partners- meaning that the both of us would assume responsibility for the partnership's debts and obligations and so on."

"Then… do you want Ri-chan to agree?"

...

It was a straight-to-the-point question that Honey had spoken, looking at how Kyoya's expression suddenly turned blank, the blond senior exchanged glances with his cousin. So even Kyoya did not know the answer to this question? That was unexpected, Honey decided- but it wasn't hard to understand why the younger male felt that way.

Perhaps if Ootori Kyoya and Akino Eri had been complete strangers, this decision would not have caused such an mental turmoil.

In reality, the choice was not hard to make at all- that was, if all there had been was a simple partnership between two families who, quite coincidentally, had young heirs of the same age. They would have been introduced to each other, would have- perhaps- be expected to get along well, and, if necessary, be joined together if both families deemed them good fit for each other. In this case, the main thing that would've deserved a little consideration would merely be the fact of whether their individual families would benefit, and if those benefits would increase through their partnership.

That was how their world ran, how they were brought up to expect. Everything they do, they must always place their families at the top of their priorities; there was no such thing as personal freedom, no such thing as what they want- Everything was for the family, their talents, their abilities, themselves… In a way, they were assets- pawns, in fact, if one may put it bluntly.

And somehow…them being friends just made this 'commitment' harder than it really was.

With their friendship they experienced emotional attachment, there was no way either one of them could think this issue through objectively- no matter how desperately they were trying to do so.

One wrong step could make them lose everything they had till this point. Everything.

...

Eri had no appetite for dinner that night.

After hours and hours of thinking, her temples had began to throb and her thoughts- which were already unorganised before- were left in a tangled mess. At one point of time- driven to desperation, the urge to just call her father up and tell him that no, she will not accept the offer had almost overtaken her. Her hand had held the cordless phone, her fingers ghosting over the call button when she slammed it back down onto the stand.

She was being impulsive and she knew it.

But… she had the right to 'rebel' a little even if it was one-sided, hadn't she?

"…Right after I finally realised that I like Kyoya more than a friend too…"

Those words left a bitter taste in her mouth as she stared at the photo she had propped up on her dressing table- the photo Kyoya gave her last Christmas. Gingerly picking up the wooden frame, she traced a finger across the glass surface.

There should have been no need for her to struggle for an answer- This much, Eri found it in herself to confess after trying hard to deny what her heart was telling her. The answer had always been an affirmation to sign that contract, there was nothing to lose for her family but everything to gain if they cooperated with the Ootoris. The answer had always been there, glaring at her, mocking her naivety.

At the end of the day, she confessed that the emotion she had allowed to reign over her entire being was Fear.

She was afraid to say yes; afraid of ruining the companionship she had with Kyoya; afraid of making the next move because she did not know what he was feeling right this moment.

Would he feel troubled if she accepted the offer? Would he mind that he would have to work with her, someone who still had means for improvement? Would she be putting his 'fate' at stake? Would he even want to be a part of this venture- willingly, not out of forced responsibility?

…Did he… know that she had fallen for him, not as a friend but something more?

...

Slumping in defeat, Eri knew she couldn't put off her decision making any longer.

Morning came.

"Kyo-chan, the mover is here!"

Kyoya looked up from his notebook, "Tell them to move the boxes in the living room first."

"Alright!" Honey chirped, giving the dark haired teen a playful salute before exiting his room.

Today was the day their belongings will be sent over first to their new apartment and, hopefully, by the end of next week the new place will be all ready for them to move in. Though it went unmentioned, the two older youths were painfully aware of irksome mood whenever he calculated their rent payment… That was, comparing the price they were paying and the facilities they were given.

From where he sat, Kyoya could faintly hear Honey's voice saying to Mori something about ordering seafood pizza for lunch.

He took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to ease the tension he had been subjected to since yesterday. Last night had proved to be of no reprieve for him, by the time he fell asleep, it was already time for a new day to start.

To be frank, he wasn't used to this- this feeling of waiting for news and not being able to do a thing. He had always been the one who was in control; like how he had been the mastermind of the Host Club, like how he had bought over his family's own company under the name K.O. only to return it to his father after he had proved himself… He had been in control each time- though for most, he did everything in secret.

He liked to think himself as someone who harboured a great amount of patience but waiting until time was right to execute his plan was a far cry from this wait. He had no control over this situation- Anything Eri said go will go.

Everything finally boiled down to the question he was asked last night-

- Did he want Eri to accept it?

If he had to be truthful, he would say-

His phone rang, cutting him off before he could finish that thought. Glancing down at the screen, he picked it up once the words 'Akino Residence' registered in his mind.

At first, all he heard was silence from the other side. However, he did not miss the faint sound of breathing that indicated that whoever the caller was, he or she was still there.

He waited.

And at last, her voice- the voice he had grown to know so well- came through the receiver. Soft, uncertain, and tired-

...

- "Kyoya, would it be fine if I said 'yes'?"

And… here it is! (I did some research about business partnerships but it only confirms my 'feels' that I don't like it XDDD)

I'm not sure how this chapter turned out… Not too bad, I hope.

I'm thinking of finishing this story within 20,000 words if possible. (So maybe around ten chapters more or so?)

I do not own Ouran; OCs and plots are mine.

Thank all of you who reviewed on the last chapter~ (I really think I should end with cliffhangers more often if that is what it takes to lure in more reviews… *sinister laugh* But on second thought, I won't do that so don't worry.) I hope I have replied to all of your messages but to guest reviewers aaa17, Sam15, and Strawberry2202, whom I can't reply to, I'll just have to say here "Thank you for your motivating reviews."

And for those who added this story to their follows and favourites, even though I know I'm saying this every chapter, still, thank you.