Hey people, thank you for coming to read this next chapter! A lot of stuff happens in this chapter and it's pretty long but I hope you like it.
I want to thank everyone who followed, favorited, and, or reviewed my story; you guys rock and keep doing what you do! Anyways, here's the next chapter, enjoy!
"Reiko! You boyfriend's waiting for you!" Chizura called from the bottom of the stairs.
"Coming!" I called, straightening my dress and glancing one more time at the mirror. My dress was made of silver silk with turquoise accents. The dress was sleeveless with triangular neckline, with the top point resting an inch and a half below my neck with two thin strips of ribbon extending from the point that were tied behind my neck. Next, the dress was form fitting to the waist where it was gathered on the right with tiny turquoise and cream flowers, sprinkled with silver gems, resting in the middle of a turquoise bow with ribbon extending down past the knee. The skirt was full of soft pleats, flowing softly to the floor where the bottom of the skirt was sprinkled with turquoise gems and the skirt flared out when I twirled.
The back was open to the waist and I had a translucent scarf-like turquoise wrap that hung loosely behind my back and folded over my elbows. My hair was down with the top layer pulled back in a bun on the left side of my head with turquoise pins keeping it in place.
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ears, happy with my appearance then I slipped on open-toed turquoise two-inch heels before running out of the room I flew down the steps and flashed a bright smile when I saw Takashi. He looked handsome with his black suit and emerald green shirt that was underneath it. "You look beautiful," Mori said with a gentle smile.
I blushed and kissed him on the cheek, "And you look handsome."
"Shall we go?" Mori asked, offering me his arm.
"I slipped my arm through his and said, "Yes!"
"We'll be about forty-five minutes behind you," Tadashi called from the top of the stairs where he was fumbling with his tie.
"Okay!" I called as I shut the front door.
After a twenty minute drive we arrived pulled up to the Mizushima Mansion mansion where the party was being held. "Yoichi will be here," I said in a low voice. "He's probably planning something."
"I won't let you out of my sight all night... He won't be able to do anything and, if he does," Mori said, pausing as he gently cupped my face and kissed me. Then he finished as he pulled back, "I'll protect you."
"Thanks," I blushed. Arm-in-arm Takashi and I entered the mansion. Mr. Morinozuka, Mr. Haninozuka, Mr. Mizushima, my father, and a few other top executives were in the foyer greeting guests as they arrived. "Welcome!" They greeted as we walked in.
"Reiko!" Mr. Mizushima said when he saw me. "I'm so glad you could make it! Go ahead and enjoy the party. If it weren't for you this never would have happened."
The other men nodded and I blushed. "Thanks, I will." I said as Mori led me to the ballroom.
Long buffets over-flowing with food lined one side of the rectangular room. On one end of the room tables and chairs were stationed to allow people to sit, chat, or eat and on the other end of the room there was an open table for people to gather and talk.
"Rei-chan! Takashi!" Hunny called running over to us. He gave us a hug then said, "Come on, the food is great! The black forest cake is the best! Come and try a piece!" He pulled us over to the buffet and offered us a piece of cake.
Mori accepted but I smiled and shook my head, "Thanks, but I will have a piece later, I'm not hungry right now."
"Okay!" Hunny said, happily digging into the piece he had offered me.
I grabbed a glass of water for myself and then we made our way over to the seats. Slowly, our friends started to arrive; Tamaki came first and he giggled like an idiot while exclaiming like a moron about how cute a couple Mori and I make. The twins and Haruhi showed up next; Haruhi was dressed like a guy because a lot of families with children that attend Ouran were here. Next was Kyoya and finally my family arrived.
"When can we start dancing?" Aika asked, pulling on the skirt of my dress.
"Once the hosts announce the start of the party," I answered as I patted her gently on the head.
"Speak of the devil, here they came now," Yoite said, glancing at the middle of the ballroom.
We all quietly listened to the short speech and applauded at it's end. Couples began filtering onto the dance floor, preparing for the first dance of the night. My siblings who had just finished stuffing themselves eagerly eyed the dance floor.
"Do you know what kind of dance this will be?" Chizura asked.
"A Viennese waltz, I believe," Tadashi said.
"Aw, we don't know that one," Sotaru and Aika said with disappointment in their voices as they hung their heads. "It's okay," I said. "You two can dance how ever you want on the edge of the dance floor. As long as you don't get in anyone's way I'm sure nobody will mind."
"Okay!" They said happily as they ran away to find an empty spot.
"Let's go, Chizura," Yoite said, grabbing her hand and heading for the dance floor. Tadashi followed with his girlfriend who he had brought as his date.
I watched them longingly but I didn't say anything. Then I felt a gentle tug on my arm and I looked up to see Mori looking down at me with a small amused smile. "you want to dance, don't you?"
Yes!" I said eagerly. Takashi chuckled at me reaction and led me onto the dance floor. "Just so you know, the Viennese waltz is my weakest dance," I whispered as I put my right hand in his and rested my left hand on his upper arm.
"That's okay, I'll lead, you just follow," he whispered back as he place his right hand on my shoulder blade and pulled me close so that our lower bodies were touching.
I blushed shyly, then I squared my shoulders and prepared for the music. When the music started, we moved. Across the floor we glided, spinning at a dizzying speed around each other like a merry-go-round. I smiled in delight and laughed lightly as we danced; Takashi smiled softly at me and we kept on dancing.
"That was so much fun!" I panted as the four minute long song ended "Thank you, Takashi!"
"...You're welcome, Reiko," Mori whispered as he bent down and kissed me.
I flushed but still smiling I said, "Can we dance to the nex-"
"Reiko-chan!" I looked up in disgust to see Yoichi who had interrupted me. I hadn't seen him all night until now so I was secretly hoping that I'd be able to make it all night without seeing him but my hopes were shattered into a million pieces in one of the most unpleasant ways possible. "May I have the pleasure of the next dance, Little Princess?" He asked with a bow.
"No," I said flatly. "I'm dancing with Takashi."
"Hogging your prince all to yourself, Princess? Isn't that a little selfish?"
"How so?" I asked a little taken aback. Normally I'm always on the generous side so being called selfish stung.
Yoichi smiled playfully at me and said, "Look around, there appear to be many girls who wish to dance with Mori. Can you not let him go for even one dance? Also, some people will see it as rude that you refused to dance with me, the heir of the Mizushima Company. Some might even question the relationship between our two companies."
I hesitated, weighing the pros and cons; I looked up at Mori with a troubled face, I could tell by the look on his face that he was doing the same thing. "Well?" Yoichi asked, his signature playful grin. I gazed at Mori, asking for is permission with my eyes, Takashi sighed, we both knew that social obligations forced us to dace with other people.
When he nodded I turned to Yoichi and said, "Okay, but only one dance."
"That's all I ask for, Reiko-chan," Yoichi said happily.
"I'll see you when I'm done," I whispered as I pecked Mori on the lips.
Takashi's hand lingered on my cheek and he looked like he was about to say something but Yoichi grabbed my wrist and pulled me away saying, "Hurry! The next dance is starting!" I followed unwillingly; longingly I glanced at Mori who was being mobbed by girls. I watched him put on his host smile as he graciously accepted one of the girl's invitations to dance. "Hey," Yoichi smiled as he pulled me into the frame. "It's rude to be thinking of someone else when your dancing."
"Sorry," I blushed. The music started and I felt horribly uncomfortable with Yoichi's hand on my bare back, I also thought that we were closer than necessary for a plain old waltz. I sucked up my discomfort and managed to gracefully survive the waltz while showing the bare minimum politeness to Yoichi that I could muster.
"Thank you for the dance," I said with a slight curtsy to Yoichi, wanting to be relieved of his company immediately.
"My pleasure!" Yoichi said with a playful grin as he bowed. Then he grabbed my arm, "Come on, there's something I want you to see!"
"Wait!" I protested in a hushed voice. "You promised that I only had to dance with you once!"
Yoichi looked at me amused. "Did I say anything about dancing again? I said I wanted to show you something."
A little taken back, I quietly said, "Sorry, but I need to go find Mori."
"Oh, if that's all you need he's over there," Yoichi said nonchalantly. I followed his gaze and sure enough there was Mori surrounded by girls. He looked helpless, wanting to be with me and knowing that it would be rude to turn down every girls' invitation to dance. "Looks like he'll be there a while," Yoichi commented. Looks like you'll be free for a while so come with me!"
"Wait!" I whispered as he started pulling me off the dance floor. "I'll wait for Mori with Hunny."
"Sorry! I can't hear you! Let's go where it's quiet," Yoichi said, pulling me unrelentingly towards a door.
"Rei-chan! Do you want to try that cake now?" Hunny asked excitedly, running up to us.
My heart soared with joy when I saw him. "Ye-"
"Sorry, but Reiko's not hungry right now. She'll try some after she's rested for a bit. Now if you'll excuse us," Yoichi said, leading me away from Hunny.
"Wait!" I hissed, trying to yank my arm loose but his grip was too strong. "Hunny!..." I started but I trailed off as the door shut behind me.
"Come on!" Yoichi said with an excited smile. "I have a surprise that I can't wait for you to see! This way." He wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close.
Frowning, I pushed him away and said, "Please don't touch me like that, I'm Takashi's girlfriend."
"As you wish, Little Princess," Yoichi said with a suave bow as he took my hand and kissed it.
I blushed from a mixture of anger and embarrassment. "Don't do that."
Yoichi just grinned, gripped my hand, and led me down the hall. Reluctantly I followed Yoichi, nodding and smiling politely as he gave me historical facts and tidbits about the house and the decorations that I really wasn't listening to.
When we finally entered a room I was only half-listening and completely oblivious to my surroundings. "Gah!" I exclaimed, snapping back to reality when Yoichi kissed me on the cheek, mixing his tongue into the kiss. Laughter erupted behind me and I looked over Yoichi's shoulder to see two young men in suits.
Still chuckling, Yoichi led me over to the boys and introduced us. "Reiko, this is my childhood friend, Koji, and this one is my goofball classmate from high school, Osamu."
"Nice to meet you," I said, shaking their hands.
"I see why she's refused to date you, Yoichi, she's way too pretty and nice for a guy like you." Osamu said with a laugh.
Koji looked more serious and asked, "Are you sure about this, Yoichi?"
"Yes," he answered with resolve.
Butterflies filed my stomach at this exchange and I looked around the room; it was a rectangular room with hardwood floors, cathedral ceilings, and windows lining one wall. It was sparsely furnished with a few tables and chairs sprinkled near me but on the opposite end of the room the floor was raised up two steps with an alter on it and a cross hanging on the wall behind it. There were two long wooden benches in front of this and a man dressed like a priest sitting on one of the benches. "Yoichi, where are we?... What's going on?"
"Yoichi smiled softly at me and gently took my hand, "This is a chapel my great- grandmother built," he said, leading me over to the man on the bench. "Reiko, this is Father Nobu, he's going to wed us."
I froze as my brain processed what had just been said, then my knees gave out.
"Whoa!" Yoichi said as he caught me and held me up.
"N-no!" I stuttered. "I won't marry you!"
"Um," the priest said hesitantly, "For the marriage to be valid both parties have to consent to it."
"Don't worry," Yoichi said with a smile. "Give her five minutes to calm down and she'll be ready." The priest looked nervous but he nodded and Yoichi led me over to a neighboring room. He sat me down in a chair then he got down on one knee and slipped a thin silver ring with three small crystals in it onto my finger. "Reiko, will you marry me?" He asked.
"No!" I whispered.
"Please!" Yoichi asked with puppy-dog eyes. "I have the papers all ready. All we have to do is say our vows and sign the papers! Plus you'll get two rings in one day! That would make any girl happy."
"I'm sorry," I said shaking me head. "But I don't want to get married right now."
"Liar," Yoichi said, narrowing his eyes and smirking. "Before I met you your dad told me that his eldest daughter was about to graduate and that she really didn't want to go to college, what she wanted was to get married and start a family. He was talking about you, right?"
I blushed and looked away. Crossing my arms, I said stubbornly, "That doesn't matter, I don't want to marry you! I love Mori. I won't ever consent to marrying you."
"I wouldn't be so sure," Yoichi said with a dark chuckle. "Look," he said, grabbing my hand and leading me over to a large mirror hanging on the wall. Before he could ask a single question, he flipped a switch and I could see through the mirror
What I saw sent my heart into my throat and made me feel sick. I wobbled and Yoichi snaked his arm around my waist, pulling me tightly against hims thereby supporting me in a way I very much despised. "A-Aika!" I gasped out, my voice wavering in disbelief. "Yoichi, what did you do?! Take me to Aika now! Please!" I begged, my eyes watering as I clutched his shirt desperately.
On the other side of the mirror was Aika who was sleeping or more likely knocked out, on a bed. Her lip was busted open and her face was bloody; Aika's poor pink dress was tattered and spotted with blood, her wrists and ankles were bound together and her limbs were covered in cuts and bruises.
As I held Yoichi's shirt distraught and anxious, Yoichi stroked my head in an attempt to calm me down. "It's okay, don't cry," he cooed, stroking my head. "I'll take you to her and have her treated by my personal doctor the second we get married."
I froze and looking up at Yoichi I asked, "What happens if I say no?"
"I'm glad that you asked," Yoichi said calmly with a smirk playing on his lips. "If you say no, I'm afraid what's left of the resistance against our companies partnership will attack. You and I will be knocked out and locked up in some room and tragically, Aika will be captured by them." My hands shook but Yoichi continued. "If you marry me, I'll contact the Mizushima task force to raid their base to stop the attack but if you don't I won't say anything and they'll attack... I'm sorry that I'm putting you through this but after last time I realized that you'd rather hurt yourself instead of somebody else. Now I'm afraid you're going to have to choose, Reiko, so what's it going to be?"
"You're really going to make me choose?" I asked in a subdued voice.
"Yes," he said, looking at me sympathetically but with with a firm voice. I bit my lip and stared at the ground. "I'm afraid you have to hurry, Little Princess," Yoichi whispered gently.
"I... I-I'll..." I croaked hoarsely. "I'll marry you!" I cried.
Yoichi's face lit up and he leaned down and kissed me tenderly. "Thank you!" He said before kissing me again. "Thank you, Reiko! You've just made me the happiest man on earth; I promise that in return I'll make you happy too!"
I don't think that's possible, I thought as I rested my weary head on Yoichi's shoulder while he held me tightly and I cried my eyes out.
It took me five minutes to calm down and when I did Yoichi excitedly said, "I'll have my doctor attend to your sister right now and the second we finish our wedding vows I'll have my men raid the rebels' base. Here," he said, happily giving me a pretty white veil, "Put this on, Koji will come back here to get you; I'm going to tell the priest we're ready."
I slumped down into the chair and rested my head in my hands. My whole body, including my heart, felt numb; I felt like crying but no tears would come.
"Reiko," a soft voice said. I looked up to see Koji standing in the doorway. He looked at me sympathetically and offered me his arm. Numbly, I accepted it and he led me out of the room and down the aisle. Soothingly, Koji whispered as we walked, "I know this isn't what you want but although Yoichi can be be a stubborn blockhead, he truly does care for you. I can personally guarantee that despite his faults, Yoichi will do anything to make you happy."
Mechanically, I nodded but when I saw his worried face I managed to muster a weak smile as he handed me off to Yoichi. Yoichi's face glowed in ecstasy as he led me up to the alter. The priest started the ceremony but I was too depressed to hear anything; it all seemed to pass in a blur.
"I do."
This jolted me back into reality a bit. Yoichi had said his vows, now the priest turned to me and started, "And do you, Reiko, take Yoichi as your lawfully wedded husband..." As the priest continued, I started to sweat and I grew pale, my hands started shaking and Yoichi squeezed my hands in an attempt to comfort me. My heart was pounding louder than a drum and I barely heard the priest say, "... As long as you both shall live?"
I gulped nervously and Yoichi gave me a smile full of encouragement, love, joy, and anticipation. Maybe this won't be all bad... Hopefully. I breathed in deeply, exhaled, and said, " I... I-"
"Stop!" Yoichi and I whipped our heads to the side to see Hunny, Mori, all the hosts, and my siblings standing just in side the doorway.
"Takashi!" I whispered, my eyes watering. Mori gazed at me with eyes full of desperation, anxiety, relief, and love.
"Reiko!" Yoichi pleaded urgently, tugging on my hands to gain my attention. "Please say 'I do,' please!" I stared at him blankly. "Remember what will happen if you don't!"
With a jolt, my senses came back and I glanced uncertainly between Mori and Yoichi. "I... I-I..."
Suddenly, I was swept off my feet and dazed, I looked up at Mori's gently smiling face. "I love you, Reiko!" He whispered.
Tears sprang from my eyes but a smile lit up my face as I threw my arms around his neck and said, "I love you too, Takashi!" Slamming my lips into Mori's, I french kissed him.
When we pulled apart, I looked at Yoichi who hung his head in disappointment. "Rei-chan, are you okay?" Hunny asked.
"What did this jerk do to you?!" The Hitachiin twins demanded, grabbing Yoichi.
"Kidnapping a girl, despicable!" Tamaki declared.
"I didn't kidnap her, she did this willingly," Yoichi said subdued.
"What's he talking about, Reiko?" Chizura asked.
"What's going on?" Yoite asked.
"Why does it look like you're about to get married?" Haruhi asked.
"Let Reiko speak," Mori said calmly as he took the veil off my head and the ring off my finger and handed them to Yoichi. "Reiko... What happened?"
I blinked a few times, registering what Mori had said, then panic spread across my face. "Yoichi! He kidnapped and beat Aika... Aika!" I gasped clutching Takashi's shirt. "We have to find her! She looked badly injured."
"It's okay, Rieko, she's okay, I have Aika right here." Tadashi said, elbowing his way through the crowd. A few tears slid down my face when I saw Aika in Tadashi's arms; she rubbed her eyes sleepily, she looked like she'd just woken up.
"She looks so hurt," I mumbled.
"No, she's not," Tadashi said light-heartedly. "Look!" He took a damp paper towel and wiped at some of the blood on her face; it came off immediately revealing undamaged skin. "It's just make-up," he said with a grin.
"B-but, he said that he'd discovered a plot by the people who kidnapped about raiding this party. He said that if I refused to marry him he wouldn't stop the raid and if that happened Aika would be kidnapped!"
Everyone else started laughing and Mori pressed my head against against his neck and kissed my forehead murmuring, "Reiko, sometimes you're too kind for your own good."
"What?" I asked bewildered.
"Rei-chan!" Hunny said with a smile. "All three of our families knew what they were planning and we had already taken care of them. There's no way only Yoichi would know about something that big!"
"So it was all a big bluff?" I asked, turning towards Yoichi with disbelief.
"Yes," he said with a nod. Yoichi looked at me with eyes full of love, regret, and resignation; then he said with a hint of disappointment and sorrow in his voice, "I never could hurt your sister so I gave her a sedative and had a make-up artist make her look beat-up. I had hoped that you would be distraught enough to over-look the shortcomings of my story and agree to marry me. The plan would have worked but," he said with a sheepish glance at the others. "They showed up and that's the end."
"Hey Rieko," the Hitachiin twins said with a laugh. "Did you know that they took the word gullible out of the dictionary?" My cheeks flamed red and the others laughed.
Clearing his throat, Yoichi grinned and said, "Well, Little Princess, that was my last attempt to make you mine. I know now that nothing I do will stop you from loving Mori; I'll leave you two in peace from now on."
"Thanks," I mumbled as Mori set me down and I wrapped my arms around his torso and pressed my head against his chest.
"Don't worry about this lug," Osamu said, slapping Yoichi on the back. "We'll take care of him!"
I watched Yoichi's friends lead him away and I sighed in relief. Mori wrapped an arm around my upper back and cupped my face with his hand. "Well, all's well that ends well," Kyoya said with a push of his glasses. "I believe that if we don't rejoin the party soon our absences will be considered rude."
The others nodded and headed towards the door and Takashi used his arm that was around my back to pull me tight against him for support, slowly leading me out of the room. "Come on, Takashi!" Hunny called ahead of us.
"... Go ahead of us... I'm taking Reiko home."