Apologies for how long this took to get posted! The next posts should (hopefully) only take 2-3 weeks each.
Yoshio wanted to be furious when he got off the phone. He wanted to have the urge to drive up to the hospital and fire every single one of them for causing his family so much worry and pain, but he was far too relieved for that. Instead, the businessman ran through the house to his wife's bedroom, knocking once before flinging open the door. Standing there, red-faced and exhaling heavily, Yoshio took a moment to catch his breath before rasping out, "Yuka...it's...it's Kyoya..."
Yuka looked up, having retired to her room for an hour of alone time to watch outside of her window. Her heart stopped when she saw her husband, breathless and croaking about their son. Tears filled her eyes. It was too soon for this. She didn't want this to be a reality already, especially not the day after he had fought with the whole family. Was it because he'd ran out into the storm? Is that what had driven her son into an even earlier grave? "Oh God...he's...?"
Yoshio saw the dread in Yuka's eyes and rushed to correct the terrible conclusion that she had drawn. "No, no. He's fine. Better than fine." A disbelieving laugh broke from the businessman's chest. "Yuuichi was right, after all. It was all just a terrible misunderstanding." Yoshio ran over to the window to join his wife, putting his hands on her shoulders affectionately. "Kyoya...our son isn't dying, Yuka! He never was!" It was a miracle, to be freed from the dreaded fate of burying one's own child.
The air escaped from Yuka's lungs, a huge sigh of relief and she threw her arms around her husband. She sobbed with relief and gripped Yoshio's jacket tightly. "Kyoya...is okay? He isn't going to...?" The whole situation seemed too good to be true. She needed confirmation, just to make sure that this wasn't dreaming; that their son truly wasn't dying.
Yoshio's arms moved back to Yuka's shoulder blades, where he rubbed gentle, comforting circles. "Kyoya is not dying," the businessman reiterated, a gentle smile touching his lips. "Our son is going to live a very long life. These last tests reflect nearly perfect health." Even though Yoshio had a feeling that the doctor had hammered home that point a little too hard in attempt to pacify him, the president was happy to take his victories where he could get them.
Yuka laughed through her sobs. "He's okay...He's okay...!" Yuuichi had been right to be hopeful all along. She didn't know how, or why, her son was miraculously in perfect health, but she didn't care right now. She just counted her blessings and thanked God for such a miracle. Her son was going to live, grow up, do whatever he wanted with his life, and not die until after she was gone. It was a strangely comforting thought. "Oh thank God..."
Yoshio kissed his wife more lovingly than he had during the entirety of their marriage. If their despair at the imminent death of their youngest son had brought them closer together, he felt like Kyoya's 'miraculous' recovery might be enough to mend nearly all the cracks in their relationship. Yoshio was so excited to tell his other children, and to bring his child home where he belonged. "The doctors say that he can come home in a day or so. I would like to make sure that everything is perfect for his return." The businessman hoped that his wife would be pleased to help welcome Kyoya home, happy that she could be a part of his life again.
A shaky smile formed on Yuka's lips and she nodded. "Yes, yes I agree. I want him to be welcome and comfortable..." Another laugh escaped her. "This is unbelievable, Yoshio." She rested her head on his chest and released a contented sigh. "I'm sure Yuuichi will be more than pleased to hear about Kyoya's recovery."
Yoshio gently ran his fingers through Yuka's hair, carefully just in case his wife didn't like the gesture. The businessman mentally slapped himself for not even knowing what signs of physical affection that his wife preferred. The past few days excepted, he hadn't touched her in so long that every time their skin brushed, he felt like an uncertain virgin again, even though he had participated in the creation of four children with this woman. But he liked this tender intimacy with his wife, and wanted it more often. "I am sure all of our children will be delighted. Fuyumi will probably insist on helping get the house ready for Kyoya's return." His faint smile grew, the idea of his daughter infiltrating their house not as unwelcome as it had been to him in the past. "We'll prepare his favorite foods, and maybe some gifts would be in order." The Ootori patriarch wanted to shower his son with the love and attention that he had been denied for seventeen years.
"Don't put too much on him at once, though. There's no need to suffocate him with affection. The best way is to spread it out and still treat him like your son." She lifted her head to look at her husband. It was an amazing feeling to know that your family was whole once more, and the strangeness of actually being a mother again was oddly comforting and familiar. "I doubt Kyoya would enjoy you suddenly becoming a whole other person. Still be strict, but loving about it."
"You're right," Yoshio sighed, trying to calm himself. He couldn't remember the last time he had gotten so worked up (in a positive way) over one of his children, and the excitement was getting the best of him. He just couldn't help but want to spoil his youngest child rotten, to let him know how much of a miracle this was for all of them. "I'll be the father he has always known, just a better version." The businessman was glad that Yuka was standing by his side through all of this; he appreciated his wife's ability to keep him grounded.
"Yoshio 2.0," she mused, accompanied by a small giggle. "It seems that everyone calls our family robots so that's just as well." Maybe the girls at the social club didn't think she could hear them, but their gossip and insulting comments about the 'Ootori Machines' did not pass over her head. She had never found the courage or the desire to correct them or defend her family, but after the trials that the Ootoris had gone through together, she would be certain to say a word or two to those rude women the next time a word left their mouths.
Yoshio's eyes softened even further. In the past, he would never have considered the terms 'robot' or 'machine' in reference to himself to be negative monikers. These were words that reflected productivity, analytic skills, and a consistent work ethic. But now, the businessman had to admit that they also referenced coldness and apathy. He did not wish to be that man anymore, not at home at least. "I wish to make time in my schedule for you, Yuka. And the children. I want to be a more consistent presence in all of your lives." He kissed his wife's forehead, finding her giggle quite charming. "Tell me what I can do for you."
"Stay like this." She took his hand and looked up at him, a serious expression planted on her face. "Don't revert back to how you were before. No matter how much time passes, and even when Kyoya moves out and all that you're left with is to focus on your company. Stay as Yoshio 2.0. I don't want either one of us to become how we were before." It sickened her to think about how much time with her children she had lost, how much intimacy was now unable to be retrieved because of how little she had been involved in her youngest son's life. But there was nothing she could do about it now. All that was left was to try and be a good mother for the next couple of years before Kyoya moved out and moved on with his life.
Yoshio nodded. "As long as I have you by my side, Yuka, I am confident that I can keep such a promise." His wife would be Yoshio's anchor; an ever-present reminder of the better father and husband that he wished to be, and of his motivation for being a successful businessman. For too long, he had been working from the wrong angle: using his family as tools to achieve a flourishing business, when he should have been working for the purpose of giving his children and wife a secure future. He wouldn't become lost again. Kyoya would soon become independent; his youngest son would leave their family home and become his own person, just as Yuuichi and Akito had done. Yoshio wished to strengthen their relationship while he still could.
"Good." She finally pulled away from her husband and smiled. Yoshio looked more vibrant now. Before, he was a stick in the mud and was fading away from the stress of running such a grand business, but now with the combination of good news and the prospect of a better family life, he was practically glowing. "And I'm sure that the servants will be happy as well. They had always seemed a bit worried at how hard you worked."
"Not to mention my doctor," Yoshio said with a small chuckle. The irony of the head of a medical group having declining health was not lost on the Ootori patriarch. "Slowing down and taking time off from work should improve my blood pressure." Yoshio kissed his wife's forehead once more, breathing in her delicate scent and memorizing it. "Should we call up the children and let them know the good news?"
Yuka closed her eyes as he pressed his lips to her forehead and smiled. "Yes, I'm sure they'd like to hear it. Shall we do so together?" Before, she understood that Yoshio had felt too tired and guilty to explain about Kyoya's supposed death to the others, but with such empowering and positive news, she guessed that her husband would be more than willing to accompany her on delivering the news to their children.
Yoshio nodded and guided Yuka to her bed where he sat down beside her and picked up the telephone sitting on the nightstand. The businessman pushed the 'speakerphone' button on the phone and the red light next to the printed word lit up, signifying that both of their voices would be heard over the line and that they would both be able to hear the response. "Who should we call first?" the businessman inquired of his wife.
"Fuyumi," Yuka replied with a smile. Their only daughter would be utterly ecstatic to know of Kyoya's recovery, and after the mess she had been the night before the poor girl deserved some good news. She reached out and dialed the number herself. She did hope that Fuyumi wasn't too busy at the moment, as this wasn't something to leave on a voicemail message. And saying "Call us back, dear; it's important: would make it sound like something terrible happened.
In actuality, Fuyumi had spent the entire day in bed, not being able to muster the strength or emotional resolve to move from that spot. The young woman was certain that her terminally-ill brother hated her, and that she was partially responsible for him going out into the rain, which would damage his health even further. There was no way that Kyoya was ever going to allow them to come visit him again, despite Akito's assurances that Éclair would speak to him on their behalf. The Ootori's only daughter had spent the day drinking juice, eating chocolate, and watching TV, so when the phone rang, it was a welcome interruption to this mindless monotony.
The caller ID displayed the number of the Ootori Mansion, and Fuyumi picked it up straight away, her heart racing as she anticipated the wost possible scenarios. "Hello?" she said frantically into the receiver.
Yuka's smile saddened a bit at her daughter's panic, knowing full well how she was feeling as she had experienced the same frantic emotions just minutes before. "Hello, Fuyumi," she greeted in a soft voice. "Your father and I have...wonderful news." She paused for a moment before a short chuckle escaped her. "Kyoya's not going to die, Fuyumi. He's completely recovered." The mother held her breath, waiting for her child's reaction and wishing that she could be there in person because Fuyumi would definitely desire a hug after hearing this.
Fuyumi's eyes widened. She pinched herself, just to make sure that this wasn't some crazy, hopeful dream. When she didn't wake up, an enormous flood of emotion swept through her whole being. Joy was at the forefront of this emotional typhoon, followed closely behind by disbelief and a small bit of regret for how things had worked out the other day. But mostly, Fuyumi was elated. She was ecstatic with the knowledge that her younger brother was not going to die. He was going to live for a long time.
In contrast to the sobs she had produced upon learning of Kyoya's critical condition, the news of this miracle was met with very quiet tears of relief. "Thank God!" she cried out softly. "Are you certain?"
"Absolutely," Yoshio assured his daughter, also wishing that they could have delivered such important news in person, especially to their emotional middle child. "Kyoya has near-perfect health. He will be leaving the hospital in a few days."
"That's wonderful!" Fuyumi exclaimed, her tone brightening. "Do Yuuichi and Akito know yet?"
"Not yet," Yuka admitted, "but we were just about to call them and tell them. We wanted to let you know first." While she didn't doubt that her two eldest children would be overjoyed to hear the news, her emotional daughter had been the one to come to mind as deserving to hear first. Fuyumi had probably been despairing all day over Kyoya and the incident the night before. Her daughter shouldn't have to deal with that any longer than she'd had to.
"Thank you. I'm so glad that you called." Fuyumi's heart swelled with the knowledge that her parents had thought of her first, surely sensing that her sensitive nature was the one that needed assurance first. "Let me know what I can do to make Kyoya's transition back home comfortable."
"We will. We are certainly going to need your help and support. All of us," Yoshio assured his daughter kindly.
Fuyumi smiled, even though she knew that her parents couldn't see it. "I love you papa. I love you mama."
"We love you too, Fuyumi. We'll call you again soon. Have a nice night." Yuka reached over and ended the call, letting out a soft, content sigh. It comforted her to know that her daughter wouldn't be upset about the situation any longer, and it was an even bigger relief to know that the family wouldn't have to go through the painful process of Kyoya's funeral and mourning his death.
Yoshio rubbed his wife's hand affectionately. He shared Yuka's relief. If Kyoya had been truly sick, then they would be planning a funeral right now. The very idea of picking out flowers, a casket, and a space in the family plot was sickening to the patriarch. If time was on his side, Yoshio would be long dead and buried by the time his children reached the end of their life spans.
"Onto Akito next?" asked Yuka quietly.
He nodded in response to his wife's inquiry and dialed Akito's number, waiting with impatience for his middle son to pick up the phone.
Akito had been in the middle of studying for exams, but he wasn't making any progress. Every time he had to study about terminal illnesses he felt sick; when he look up medications he thought about if Kyoya could possibly be taking them; and if he saw anything about the heart it felt as though his own heart were breaking. How could he be studying for a final in medicine while his own brother was dying in a hospital? It was an impossible task that pained him to have to endure, so he was grateful for the distraction of a phone call. When he saw it was his parents, though, his stomach fell to his toes and he prepared himself for the worst as he answered with a shaky, "Hello?"
Yoshio decided to speak first this time. "Hello Akito. Your mother and I are calling with good news." The businessman paused so that this phrase could sink into his son's mind and relieve some of the anxiety that he must be feeling. "Your brother Kyoya is not in danger. He is almost perfectly healthy. Put your mind at ease; Kyoya is not going to die for a very long time."
Akito blinked and dropped the pen in his hand. He sat back and repeated his father's words twice over in his head. Kyoya is not going to die for a very long time. He...He's going to live. "But...But how? His condition, it...it shouldn't be able to be cured..." Nothing in that sentence made sense. The doctors must have made a mistake and provided the family with agonizing false hope. Kyoya couldn't be suddenly magically cured overnight. It was a medical impossibility.
Neither Yuka nor Fuyumi had questioned the particulars of Kyoya's miraculous return to health; they had been too overjoyed by the prognosis to think about such things or to voice skepticism, as Akito was. But that was to be expected. Yoshio took a deep breath and explained the situation to his middle son. "The X-rays which showed the heart defect never belonged to Kyoya. Somehow the test results were mixed up on his first day in the hospital. His high blood pressure and shock from the accident mimicked the symptoms of a congenital disorder, but his heart was never suffering from anything direr than that."
Akito listened intently, nodding silently as his father provided the explanation. It was a slim chance that the doctors would mix up such important test results, but it wasn't impossible. Kyoya had simply been taken in on the wrong day. The panic of an Ootori's life on the line probably stressed the doctors and nurses and tests were misplaced in their panic. It made Akito angry that their family had had to go through such difficulties and emotional pain because of their mistake. Hell, he hadn't even finished going through the stages of grief! But at the same time it had brought his family close together, so he wasn't entirely furious at the hospital staff.
"That's amazing," he said finally. "He's going to be okay...that's wonderful."
Yoshio, even though he wasn't well-versed in such matters, could hear the conflicting emotions in his son's voice. The businessman wished he could be there so that the two of them could let off steam about the incompetence of their hospital's staff and so that he could assure his son that Kyoya really would be all right. But Akito was a grown man and probably didn't want or need his father to 'help' him cope with his emotions. "We wanted you to know that he was all right so that you wouldn't have to worry. And so that you could focus on your exams." Normally, Yoshio's sentiment would have ended there, but 'Yoshio 2.0' figured that his middle son would appreciate encouragement of some sort. "Your mother and I are proud of you; we know you will perform well."
Akito smiled. "Thank you, Father. I will try my hardest, now with a clear head, to ace my exams. I won't let either of you down." He paused for a moment as he looked back down at his books. It was strange to know how fragile life can be. People usually went through life choosing not to acknowledge such a fact until it is thrown in their face, either by their own end or that of a loved one. Akito was not a very sentimental person, unless his temper got the best of him, but after everything that he and his parents and siblings had to go through in the past couple of days, he supposed that sentimentality had a place in everyday life after all. "I love you both."
Yoshio smiled and wrapped an arm around Yuka's shoulders. "We love you too, son. You could never let us down." For all of Akito's stubbornness and short temper, his middle son was an extremely hard worker and seldom—rarely—complained about his lot in life. Now that the businessman thought about it, Akito was more patient than anyone gave him credit for. Not to mention loyal to his family. Even though Kyoya had been the one in the hospital, this whole experience had made Yoshio appreciate each of his children more. "Have a good night. Study hard and be sure to get enough sleep."
"I will," Akito agreed as he hung up. He let out a long sigh and smiled, sobering relief sparking his determination once more. Now that his mind was cleared and he had no reason to worry about his brother, he was able to concentrate on his notes once more. He turned back to his books and got down to business.
"All that is left is Yuuichi," Yuka said as the tone dial sounded. She ended the call on their end and dialed her eldest son, biting her lip anxiously. By this time she wouldn't doubt that Yuuichi would ignore a call from them. He would try too hard to ignore any bad news that may come his way. But this wasn't bad news this time, and instead was something that would hopefully over joy him, so Yuka could only wait and hope that her son wasn't "busy" enough to answer.
Yuuichi was working, as usual, when he saw the incoming Caller ID light up with his parents' phone number. He was extremely hesitant about answering the call; the last time he had accepted a call from the main house, it had been his mother informing him of his youngest brother's imminent demise. The young businessman's first conclusion was that this call was a harbinger of even more bad news. His fingers curled and uncurled while he battled with the decision of whether to answer the phone or let the machine take it, but his more level-headed nature prevailed. If his parents were calling, he couldn't be discourteous and let it ring until the answering machine turned on. Slowly, Yoshio picked up the phone and held the receiver to his ear. "Hello?" Without meaning to, the greeting came out sounding like a question. He was filled with anxious dread to know why the main house was calling him directly for the second time in three days.
Yuka let out a tiny sigh of relief that her son had in fact answered. She smiled despite herself, and such inflection showed in her voice. "Hello, Yuuichi. It's me and your father. We were calling to inform you of good news...Kyoya isn't dying. The hospital made a mistake, and there's nothing wrong with your brother. He's going to be just fine." It felt so much better to be delivering good news than bad news. It left butterflies in her stomach, as she was still silently celebrating the fact that her son was not at death's door and that he would instead be able to lead a whole and healthy life.
Yuuichi blinked incomprehensibly, his stunned silence dragging out over the line. He had been in denial about Kyoya's death and insisted that some sort of oversight had been made, but the young businessman had never expected those claims to be true. They had been a defense mechanism, a way to distance himself from the pain of grief and loss. Never in Yuuichi's wildest dreams did he think that Kyoya was actually going to recover, that the hospital had in fact made a mistake in their prognosis of his youngest brother.
"I...I don't understand..." he said softly.
Yuka glanced at Yoshio with amusement in her eyes. Even when granted what he'd been wishing for, their eldest couldn't believe it for a moment. "The hospital had mixed up Kyoya's tests with someone else's who had the condition. Therefore the doctors thought it was what ailed Kyoya. After they ran the tests again to see if he could go on a trip he'd proposed, they found that there was no condition. It was just stress that piled up and finally snapped because of his accident. But now that he's had days to relax and recover, he's better. He's not going to die, Yuuichi."
Yuuichi's hand began to tremble so fiercely that he had to put his pen down, or else risk getting ink everywhere. The Ootori heir didn't know whether to be relieved, infuriated, or calmed at this information. The news that his brother was going to die was excellent, but the fear that their own hospital workers' incompetence had caused his family was outrageous. Kyoya had been perfectly fine (as far as his heart was concerned), but he had been kept in a hospital bed and made to believe that he was dying when that simply wasn't the case. Unspeakable. Their entire family had been put through the wringer of grief because their staff couldn't keep two sets of test results straight?
Yuuichi coughed, a strangled sound that contained buried tears of relief as well as growls of anger. "I see..." was the response that finally came from him.
"Calm down, dear; no need to be so excited," she said with vague sarcasm. Yuka leaned against her husband and her smile softened. "Don't be so upset, dear. Your father is going to speak with the staff about what happened. For the moment just be happy that there is going to be no Ootori family tragedy." She could easily imagine how the anger at their hospital was interfering with Yuuichi's relief, and for good reason, but she just wanted her son to feel happiness at the moment. He could deal with his anger toward the staff another day. Today, his brother was alive and was going to stay in that state for a long time.
Yuuichi put his hand over his eyes and emitted a sound that resembled a quiet sob. Kyoya was going to live after all. There wasn't any reason to worry about his younger brother or the rest of his family. They wouldn't have to suffer the terrible eventuality of a seventeen-year-old relative dying. Kyoya's remaining wounds from the accident would heel, he would return home, and everything would be as it was before. For that small bit of relief, Yuuichi reasoned that he could let go of his anger for a little while. "Thank goodness," he said quietly. "I'm glad that the matter could be resolved."
"He is coming home in a few days, and we want you to be here with the rest of the family to welcome him back. It won't be for very long, but we think he deserves a warm welcome after a terrifying experience." Although Yuka wasn't sure if Yuuichi would actually choose to come, she thought it would be worthwhile to ask him. Maybe he had enough sentimental reason to agree to humor her and see his brother come home from two weeks in the hospital.
Yuuichi took a breath, getting his feelings back under control. There was nothing to be emotional about, really. His brother was perfectly all right and would be coming home in a few days. Everything was as it should be. "Very well," the Ootori heir consented, not wanting to cause a scene. He had already gotten his family members riled up enough in the past few days. "Let me know the date and time, and I'll make room for it in my schedule. That is if you are certain that Kyoya will even want me there, mother."
"I'm sure he will," Yuka assured him. "You two had a spat is all. If you two make up, then I'm sure everything will be better than resolved. You were both emotionally unstable, and I'm sure Kyoya has realized that." She paused for a moment before adding, "I would bet anything that he just wants his older brother to acknowledge him."
A sigh came from the eldest Ootori child. Kyoya wanted his acknowledgement, hm? That was easier said than done. There was a good reason that the two of them hadn't exchanged more than a few polite, small-talk sentences at one time for the past several years. Yuuichi wasn't even sure what he was supposed to say. 'Congratulations on doing what was expected of you'? 'Excellent work trying to take away my job'? 'I'm so proud of you for complaining about the easy life you've had'? Something told Yuuichi that none of these statements was going to win him "Brother of the Year". But he would just have to come up with something. "Very well. I will be in attendance. And I won't be tardy."
"Good. We look forward to seeing you and I will inform you when he will be coming home." There was a momentary beat of silence before she added, "I love you, Yuuichi." She never said it enough to her children, even before Kyoya's birth. Her parents had been distant with her and that had rubbed off onto her own personality. She had been close to her siblings to make up for the lack of parental affection growing up, so she had assumed that her own children would be close with one another as well. But while Fuyumi seemed to be close with all three of her brothers, Yuka's sons were not as keen to be on good terms with one another. Yuka doubted that Yuuichi heard praise any more than Kyoya did, even though he did just as much, if not more, work than their youngest. "I'm proud of everything that you've done for the company."
Yoshio echoed his wife's sentiment. "I am also proud, Yuuichi. You have worked harder than I ever did at your age. You have become a fine man."
Yuuichi swallowed deeply, so overcome that he didn't know how to respond. "Ah...yes..." The young man pushed his glasses back up his nose, grateful that his parents couldn't see how much their affirmation had unsettled him. As their first child, he had always enjoyed a unique privilege in the Ootori family. He had grown up with his parents during their prime years, back when his mother wasn't as distant and his father not as obsessed with work. He had always curried a certain amount of favor with his father by nature of his birthright, but it was never something that was spoken aloud. He wasn't prepared to hear this from his mother and father, not yet ready to say that he loved them in return. "Thank you."
"We'll let you get back to whatever you were doing," Yuka assured him. "We just wanted to let you know. Have a good night and we'll keep in touch. Goodbye, Yuuichi." She ended the call and let out a small breath. "I think that went well," she murmured quietly as she looked up at her husband. It was something different, to talk to her child like that, but it left a satisfied warmth spreading through her middle, as though she were young and caring for her first child again.
Yoshio nodded. "We have quite a family, Yuka." Though his children shared many traits, they were all unique individuals. It seemed to be a reoccurring problem that the Ootori patriarch had tried—purposefully or subconsciously—to make all of his sons into carbon copies of himself, without giving any thought to their personal talents or desires. But not anymore. He wanted to get to know each of his children personally, to find out what made them tick besides their desire to impress him. "I wonder...How do you think Kyoya would feel about coming to work with me once or twice a month? He isn't in medical school yet, but surely there are some things I could teach him." During Yuuichi's high school days, Yoshio had taken his eldest son to the hospital all the time, so that he would become acclimated to the environment of his family's trade. But with Kyoya, Yoshio had all but written him off, assuming that his youngest son did not need such advanced preparation, as he would merely end up working under his brothers. Maybe it was high time to change that.
"If Kyoya wants to be a part of the Ootori Group, then I'm sure that he would love that." Yuka could still remember Yuuichi's excited eyes on the days that Yoshio took him to the hospital. It was not extremely noticeable, as he had already started to sink into a stricter, tinier version of his father, but his eyes still sparkled in wonderment to know that he was going to get his father's undivided attention for a couple of hours, even if it was to prepare him for work in the long run. Yuka wondered if Fuyumi would have been like that, had she suggested that the two of them spend a day sewing together, or going out for brunch or the like. She knew almost nothing about her daughter, which came as a sudden but unsurprising shock.
Yoshio chuckled softly. "Honestly, I don't know whether Kyoya will even want to be part of the Ootori Group anymore. Even if we don't take into account what has happened in our family the past few days, his talents are too great to be wasted working as one of Yuuichi's underlings." More than once since finding out the splendid news about his youngest son, a small voice in the back of the businessman's head had whispered that he should make Kyoya his successor. But was that really fair to Yuuichi, who had grown up expecting the Ootori Group to be his and devoted the better part of his life to that expectation? Even though it would be less painful for the 'losing' party to know his decision sooner than later, Yoshio knew that if he switched the succession now, at such a sensitive time, Yuuichi may hate and resent Kyoya forever.
"Well, whatever he chooses, we'll be sure to honor it. Whether he wants to continue with the Ootori Group or create his own company, it is up to him. He gets to choose his own life from now on, and we have to support him through his decisions." Yuka stifled a small yawn. She had trouble sleeping the night before, too restless about yesterday's events to relax enough into a peaceful slumber. Now that her mind was clear of those troubling thoughts, her tiredness was starting to seep back into her consciousness. "And you have to be able to support the decisions of the rest of your children, granted that they're positive choices. I'm sure Yuuichi has felt his position as the Ootori heir was threatened on multiple occasions and it wouldn't do to dangle such uncertainty for long."
Yoshio pet his wife's head soothingly, sensing that she would need to turn in for the night soon. All of Yuka's words made sense; each of the patriarch's children deserved equal support for their endeavors. For too long Yuuichi had been the favorite, and the time and attention Yoshio spent on each child had decreased exponentially with each birth, the only exception being Fuyumi, who had been neglected by her father in terms of investment in her future, outside from the arranged marriage. Still, the burning question remained in Yoshio's mind, and he decided to ask his wife her opinion on the subject. "If you were in my position, and assuming that our three sons were equally interested in the position, which of them would you choose as your successor?"
Yuka looked up, the corners of her mouth raised as she looked into her husband's eyes. He was conflicted; that much was obvious. He wanted to be fair to his three children, but after practically handing the position over to Yuuichi years ago, it would be unfair to suddenly grant Kyoya that title. Yuuichi had worked plenty hard for his position. Even being born first, he did not relax with his studies nor neglect his training to become an important businessman. He'd executed everything to a tee and did as his father asked of him. Yet, at the same time, Kyoya had worked just as hard, if not more. He'd been put in the failing position of the third son. He was given almost no advantages, except that he could take it easier because nothing big was expected of him. Yuuichi was expected to lead the company as the first-born, Akito was expected to hold a high position as the second-born, and Kyoya was expected to go along and live a quiet existence helping the company as the third-born.
But Kyoya hadn't wanted that. Instead of taking the easy road, relaxing with his schoolwork, and choosing to live a minor role in the company, Kyoya had striven for the goal of becoming its heir. He had no chance of succeeding, not with two older brothers, and yet he had not hesitated in the least. He'd become even more determined upon entering high school, from what Yuka had seen from the sidelines. Not only that, but he had saved the Ootori Group from going under by a hostile company. Their youngest had done impossible things given his birth. But of course, Yuuichi had worked plenty hard himself. Where both of them had the opportunity to take it easier, they both had opted to work harder and do the best they could for the sake of the company and their father. They were both incredible workers and it seemed as though either one of them would make this company better.
"I would choose the one that deserves it," she finally replied cryptically. "The one who worked the hardest, who has the best ideas, who never slacked off even when they could...The one who would deserve this title whether they were the first born, third born, or not born into this family at all." Yuka smiled, confident in her husband's ability to ultimately choose the best heir. "I'm sure even you realize who is going to be your successor, Yoshio."
Yoshio groaned softly. "I should have known you would be evasive." It was just like Yuka to not pick favorites. Unlike the Ootori's patriarch, his wife had always been extremely egalitarian with their children. Before Kyoya's birth, she had paid equal attention to their children (with just the slightest bit of deference to Fuyumi, the only other girl in the household), and afterwards she had ignored them all equally as well. Even now, Yuka was leaving the decision up to him, only providing cryptic clues for what he should be looking for in a successor.
"It truly isn't that cut-and-dry for me, Yuka," he ran a hand through his own hair in exasperation. "Yuuichi is brilliant. Always top of his class and the talk of every business function. He rose to the occasion of his birthright and threw himself into the task of becoming the perfect Ootori heir. I have admired his accomplishments ever since he was young. He was everything I ever hoped for in a son and I see so much of myself in him. He has been dutiful, respectful, and incredibly hardworking for as long as I have known him. When I work side by side with him at the hospital, I feel confident that I could leave the company in his hands, and for so long I had made up my mind to do just that. It would seem unfair to take away the position that Yuuichi has worked for since birth; I've practically guaranteed it to him over the years."
Now the patriarch sighed. "However, Kyoya is also exceptional. I've never expected much of him, as my youngest son, but he has risen to the challenge and passed every test that I have set before him. His disadvantage in age has never been an observable obstacle to him, in fact he seems to relish the challenge of proving himself, of elevating himself above his older brothers. He has more than exceeded my every expectation. Though he is different from me, I feel that those unique traits might be an asset to the Ootori Group. What is more is that Kyoya is far more visionary than his older brother. Yuuichi is a numbers-person, a businessman. He hasn't got a firm grasp on innovation beyond picking which projects to fund and what alliances to make. Kyoya is far more creative; he knows what will succeed and fail and has his own ideas. The Host Club has proven that." In spite of the uproar he had caused at the Ouran Fair, Yoshio had spent the better part of two days inspecting his youngest son's little venture. Looking back, he was nothing but impressed with how smoothly Kyoya had been able to handle such an elaborate scheme.
"For so long, I was certain that my favor for Yuuichi—my eldest son—made him the child I loved the best. But now I have to wonder Yuka, if it was really Kyoya that I loved more all along. Could the reason I pushed him so hard be that, in the end, he was truly my favorite? But is it really fair to change my mind this late in the game? What if I'm wrong?" And there was now one more factor to consider, a wild card that had been thrown into the mix. "The woman Kyoya has chosen is the heiress of a prestigious international company in her own right. Is it fair to give Kyoya ownership of not one but two corporations, and leave my eldest son with nothing?"
Yuka sighed, crossing her arms in disappointment. "Leave it up to you to focus on favorites. Choosing an heir isn't about favor, Yoshio, it's about who's best." She glanced up at him. "And it doesn't matter if Kyoya would be in charge of two companies or not. It's not guaranteed that he and Eclair are going to last, and even if they are, they certainly won't be married for several years! But what you really want is who would be best for the Ootori Group, and that has nothing to do with other corporations or previous favor. It's about who can work hardest and produce the best results.
I know nothing about running a business, and I probably never will. But I'm fairly certain that the head of a company can't be terribly emotionally involved, at least that's what you've shown me over the years. Kyoya gets very emotional, as I'm sure you've seen. He's always been like that, even as a child." Yuka paused, trying to suppress the tide of memories that pooled in the back of her mind, faint memories of watching Kyoya throw temper tantrums in the hall or hearing him get into arguments with Fuyumi over this-and-that. "Yuuichi is more stoic, like you are. And if creativity is an issue, it's not as though making Yuuichi the heir would utterly separate him from Kyoya and his ideas. Yes, our eldest is a very proud man but I'm sure if it is in the best interest of the company, even he would put down his pride to ask for advice from his youngest brother."
She let out a small sigh. "And there's one question that you haven't asked yourself, yet." Yuka closed her eyes, the cryptic smile planted on her lips once more. "Has Kyoya worked this hard because he believes in the Ootori Group and he wants to improve it...or is it because he's only ever wanted your approval?"
The goal that Kyoya had been striving for all of these years was to be better than what was expected of him. As the third son, he received almost no attention from his father and was guaranteed nothing but a laid-back, unimportant job at the company. No one would want that. So of course Kyoya would try with all of his determination to beat his eldest brother and earn the title of heir to the corporation, but what came after that? After he gained his father's approval, the key to the company, and everything else he'd worked so hard for, where would he find the determination that had ignited all of that work? It would die out. Maybe not completely, and he would certainly take good care of the Ootori Group, but he'd always used that approval as his incentive, and once he was recognized, that incentive would be gone and his work, subconsciously, would deteriorate. Yuuichi, on the other hand, had only ever thought of the Ootori Group and what was best for it. The company had been the only thing on his mind; Yoshio's approval had been secondary. By all means, it seemed quite cut-and-dry to her.
Yoshio knew it was unfair to drift back to the 'favor' and 'unfavor' binary, but it was such a force of habit by now. Qualifications + birthright = favor = succession. That had always been the equation that allowed Yuuichi to come out on top in the game of who would be the next Ootori head. But if he took out the birthright factor altogether and started to treat his sons as equals, Yoshio found that Kyoya also had his favor. It had been a massive wake-up call for the businessman, who was still getting used to openly loving his sons.
But Yuka had many good points to contribute. Kyoya was far too emotionally connected to things. His relationship with Éclair was enough proof of that. The world of the Ootori president was cutthroat and dog-eat-dog. Insults, open or cloaked, were often exchanged and had to be maneuvered with delicacy and grace. What would happen the first time Kyoya was among business partners, stock holders, potential investors, or press and his wife/children/friends had their honor impugned? If Kyoya didn't snap, he would form a bitter, long-lasting grudge against the offender, which could potentially damage the company irreparably. His third son was the kind of man who would never be willing to put the business first and the people he valued second: a wonderful trait for a human being, but one that was disastrous for the head of a corporation.
Yuka was right about another thing. Yuuichi, though distant, truly did care about the Ootori Group, about pushing the company forward and giving their customers a better quality of health care, and about the welfare of their employees. Kyoya was kind, and he had interest enough in the family business, but that wasn't enough. This was a job that needed to be eaten, slept, and breathed. To be the Ootori patriarch was a full time commitment, and it had nearly cost Yoshio his wife and children. Kyoya wouldn't make that sacrifice; the Ootori Group wasn't nearly important enough to him. It had only ever represented one thing: his father's approval.
Yoshio sighed again, heavier this time. He knew what he had to do. "It looks like I will have to sit down and have a long conversation with Kyoya." Probably the longest and most sincere they had in years, and the hardest to boot. Yoshio would have to inform his youngest son that the position he had vied for was forever out of his reach; that his father would not be swayed in his decision. Kyoya would have to stop chasing Yuuichi's shadow and find his own path to follow, wherever it would lead. But at the same time, Yoshio would have to convince Kyoya that this decision had nothing to do with age, love, trust, or capability. The hardest part would be persuading his youngest son that he already had his father's approval.
Yuka let out a small sigh of relief. So Yoshio had finally realized what was inevitable. Despite Kyoya trying his hardest to achieve something that was out of his reach, it had only created more limitations for him. And it was because of these limitations that he had become more than his eldest brother or his father or even her; he cared more for people and interactions with them than the numbers of a company and its stocks. Maybe Kyoya would be disappointed, devastated even; after all, he had spent his entire life trying nothing more than to achieve an impossible goal. And rather than in the usual underdog scenario, he had achieved nothing. At least, that was probably how her youngest would view the matter. But he had honestly gained more than he probably realized himself.
If he had continued to be so obsessed with the company past junior high, Kyoya would have grown to be just like Yuuichi and Yoshio. He would have distanced himself further from people and had all of his relationships reduced down to manipulation and usefulness. He would have been married off to someone he couldn't stand and the future of his family probably would have been bleaker than Yoshio and hers had been. He would have continued to work hard, perhaps even into an early grave. And yet, despite all of that, nothing would have changed. Kyoya still would not have become heir to the Ootori Group and he would never have gained his father's approval. It would have been a terrible end to a seemingly unimportant existence.
But it was because Kyoya gained friends that he was able to change all of that. He met Tamaki who introduced him to so many wonderful people in the Host Club. It was his friends that convinced him to start his own tiny "business", the Host Club. Through them he was able to meet Eclair and now he's more empathetic and emotional than he probably would admit. And that wasn't a bad thing at all. Maybe it wouldn't make him the cutthroat businessman that Yoshio was looking for in an heir, but it would make him a better human being and ultimately improve his life. And if Kyoya could grasp that, then it would make this difficult conversation that her husband had to have with their son easier.
"You should have that conversation with him sooner rather than later, Yoshio. If Kyoya still is interested in the company, then he should know now instead of later on that he has no chance of becoming the patriarch. The last thing we want to do is dangle something in front of him just to take it away."
Yoshio nodded. It wasn't going to be easy. Kyoya was going to be hurt by his father's decision. He would immediately jump to all the wrong conclusions about why he hadn't been chosen as successor to the Ootori family. Yoshio didn't know if his youngest son trusted him enough to believe anything he said to refute these ideas. The businessman had repeatedly abused Kyoya's trust, admiration, and loyalty over the years. The relationship between them was so strained that it would be difficult to repair. But Yoshio believed it was possible. He and Kyoya already had a better relationship now than they had a few weeks ago (at least before Yuuichi's outburst at the hospital).
"We will talk as soon as I can get him alone," Yoshio assured his wife. "But I'm afraid that I have already been cruel enough to dangle the hope of outwitting his brothers in front of Kyoya's face. I should have put my foot down in the beginning." He sighed. "I never had this problem with Akito." His second son had been content with the life and position given to him; that's why Yoshio never anticipated having to make a firm stance on his successor. Then Kyoya came along and decided that he wasn't happy with the status quo. His son's determination, if nothing else, was admirable. Secretly, maybe he wanted Kyoya to succeed, and that was why he had provided his son with countless opportunities and hopes of defeating Yuuichi. Yoshio had been unfair; he had allowed whatever feelings he had for Kyoya (whether love or disdain) to cloud his better judgment.
"So long as you understand now, everything will work out just fine." Yuka truly believed that, too. Her son had been through a lot, and if his desire to become the head of the Ootori Group was for his father's approval, as she suspected, then the letdown should be easier by now. Kyoya knew that his father loved him, so if becoming the heir to the company was a secondary goal in Kyoya's eyes, then the talk that Yoshio seemed to be dreading should be easier than he imagined. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I think it's about time I got a proper night's sleep." She yawned again, covering her mouth with her hand.
Yoshio wasn't sure at all that things would work out. While his conversation with Yuka had convinced the businessman that this was the right course of action, for his sons and the company both, he had no assurance that Kyoya would take the news well. On the contrary, Yoshio was certain that his youngest son would be either furious or devastated, or both. But at least the Ootori patriarch could keep any more tension from building between his first and third son; the more Kyoya hated him for this decision, the less likely he was to resent Yuuichi. That was something. Yoshio would much rather his children hate him than hate each other. The businessman kissed his wife's forehead gently. She had been of great help to him this evening. "Very well. I wish you a pleasant night's sleep." The businessman stood and turned to walk away, leaving Yuka with her preferred privacy.