Author: I do not own Kuroko no Basuke or its characters, they all belong to Tadatoshi Fujimaki. The only thing that belongs to me is Shimuzu Aiko and the story plot.
Thank you and enjoy!
December was going a bit too fast for her liking, but the good thing is that she is going to Kyoto during winter vacation. She's been looking for a gift since there will be a party held in the household of the Akashi's in honor for Akashi Seijuro's birthday. Her father and mother forced her to join as she skipped it last winter. Not knowing what to give a person who practically can have everything, she went to a customized gift.
After hours of research, she finally found the right one. Now, all she can think about during her way to Kyoto is how she will give to him, without stirring gossips around the high-profilers that might be invited.
Given that the party is only a day away, as soon as she arrived in the main house of her father's, she immediately prepared the things she needed, such as dress, shoes and all of that sort. She never had time to rest since she needs to spend it with her family.
"I'm glad that you agreed to join this year's party." Her father said during dinner. She gave him a polite smile, her father was kind and patient but he was upset when she didn't attend last year and then founding out that she was no longer in a relationship with Akashi. He had supported the both of them since day one and the merger has nothing to do with it.
The merging of some of both companies still happened even when they were not together; the planned marriage was something that Akashi Shiori and Shimizu Kyoka planned when both found out the genders of their babies and before they passed away.
Shiori and Kyoka was best friends that shared the same fate, both from distinguished family, both are arranged to be married, gave birth with only months difference; as Shiori's son was born in December and Kyoka's daughter was born the next year in April. Both also died with the same fate, Kyoka was sick and passed away, and approximately 5 years later, Shiori was also diagnosed with the same sickness and followed her best friend a year later. Akashi Masaomi and Shimizu Houjo just simply respected their wives wishes that their only children were to be married in the proper moment.
Aiko found out about this when she called her step-mother, Shimizu Kaya, when her memories returned and confirmed that her relationship with Akashi Seijuro at that moment was merely coincidental, as both parents had no intentions of letting both children meet as such a young age. The progress of their relationship was genuine from the start, and the request and merger was just something that got unwantedly dragged.
"She was practically forced, Dad. As you and Mom kept calling her ever since the month of December started." Mayumi Tachibana defended her.
"Mayu-nee is right; Aiko onee-sama must have been pressured because of it." Asakura Kenji stated.
Mayumi Tachibana is the oldest among the step-sibling, as Mayumi was conceive due to an affair of her father and Kaya. Kyoka knew about this affair and even financially supported them as Kaya was a humble interior designer at that time in an almost bankrupt company.
Kyoka said that she can't give up her marriage as it will drag the name of Shimizu to ground if that ever happened and Kaya respected it. When Kyoka got sick, she personally requested to Kaya to be married with her husband once she has passed away but Kaya never accepted it at first.
Kyoka knew that her marriage with Houjo may be loveless but it was still filled with trust and respect. She knew that Kaya and Houjo were in love and all she wanted was the best for her husband once she passed. But Kaya disappeared and was never heard from again along with 10 years old Mayumi and Kyoka left the land of the living when Aiko was merely 5 years old.
Kaya and Mayumi returned to Japan after 2 years and her fate crossed Houjo once again. After two years of Houjo wooing her into marrying him, she finally agreed. Though it was difficult at first, as a 7 year old Aiko felt like her father is replacing her birth mother and it got even more difficult when the first son of Shimizu Houjo was born, Kenji, a year later.
Though Kaya and Houjo were officially married, Mayumi and Kenji was not an official Shimizu since they need the signature of the legitimate child that they fully accept the newly added family member hence unable to use the name. Though it took Aiko years to accept them and acknowledge that they are not after the wealth of her family. She can't give her signature because she needed to be 16 years old for it to be legal, which is now but her family never pressured her about it.
She has always felt bad when Mayumi was arranged to the heir of the Tachibanas still bearing the name of Asakura.
Slightly looking at her brother and Mayumi along with her husband Tachibana Shou, she realized that it's time to do the right thing.
"It was fine actually, as Father was doing the same thing when I decided to live alone in Tokyo." She smiled as she continued to eat; sensing the shock of her family that she joined their conversation was obvious since she was only quiet during family dinner.
Snapping of the reverie when her Father coughed
"It is normal to do so, as I worry about my child being alone in a big city." He continued the conversation acting as if nothing was strange, he was just happy that her daughter was talking when her siblings are around.
"But Mom has a business in Tokyo which she visits frequently, if I got in trouble I know that she'll come rushing." She smiled at her step mother who's already teary eyed, knowing that she had never called her 'Mom' before.
"Is everything fine, Aiko?" Her father asked her obviously curious at what is going with her. But she just maintained her smile.
"Everything is fine, but I do wish to talk with you after dinner?" Her father nodded and she excused herself to go to her room.
Her room has a safe where the documents she needed was in there, she immediately took the papers and the maid said her father was requesting her presence in his study.
As soon as she arrived with the papers in her hand, her father was looking at her intently.
"Did something happened, Aiko? What is it you want to talk about?" She sat down on the couch in front of her father with the papers are still in her hand.
"As you know that I am now sixteen, and am allowed to sign the things I needed to sign if I wished." Her father stiffened when he figured out where this conversation is going, as much as he wanted to have his other children bear the name he has, he can't force his daughter to sign the documents if she doesn't want to.
"Of course, and?" If he knew her daughter well enough, he knew that she got majority of her traits from her mother Kyoka, even Kyoka's endless compassion was in her, but he doesn't know if it still exist as of now or it went away the same time Kyoka passed.
He may not be in love with Kyoka but he did come to love her as a person so he respected and trusted her wholeheartedly and he still continued to do so to the person who is sitting in front of his which was the only remnant that he has of his past wife.
"I have thought about it a lot since whatever I decide now cannot be changed in the future. I have thought about certain conditions." Her father nodded and gestured her to continue.
"I will sign the papers but my first condition is to make certain adjustments."
He internally sighed in relief when she said that she'll sign the papers "And those adjustments will be?"
"Regarding the inheritance, both Mayu-nee and Kenji will only receive a quarter and the rest will be under my name which is I find it unfair. I want the inheritance to be divided equally among us three." He couldn't speak as he listens to his daughter's conditions.
"The second condition would be that Kenji has to manage one of the main companies that we have once he is of age. Mayu-nee can't do it as she is already a Tachibana and I will not bear the Shimizu name once I too get married. Kenji is the only one who can keep the name even after marriage, so it is a better to do so rather than to trust with your relatives who somehow managed to run a small company to the ground." He just simply nodded, understanding where she is coming from.
"And lastly, I want Mayu-nee to manage Mother Kyoka's perfume company as I have observed has always been her passion." That last request really caught him off-guard, to think that she was even willing to let someone else handle her birth mother's company.
"All of those conditions will be done; I will have the family lawyer do those adjustments as soon as possible."
"I don't know if it's possible, but I know that Mother Kyoka have an interior designing company, do you think it is possible for Mom to manage it?"
"It is possible if that is what you wish, since you have inherited everything your mother has made, they are only managed by trusted employees to keep it standing until you are ready to take over. But if you wish to pass it with other people, the lawyers can immediately work on it. Thank you for doing this, Aiko. I know that it has been hard for you, I do apologize for being a selfish father." She let out small smile, which really reminded him Kyoka.
"Selfish or not, you are still my father. I know that this will make you happy but I'm doing it because it is the right thing to do. I know that it is long overdue, but it's time to be a proper family." He has always been proud of his daughter but this takes it to another level.
"Please don't let the others know as long as the papers are still not finalized. Good night, father."
"Sleep well, my child." Aiko left the study and let out a sigh, as if the huge weight on her shoulders were suddenly lifted.
Losing parts of her memories made a huge impact in her life; a part of her is missing so she managed to learn to value every little thing. She lay on her bed and looked at her ceiling.
Tomorrow will be Akashi's birthday, she don't know how to act around him. Especially now that they never had a proper talk since the event that happened in the locker room, that was already weeks ago. Though reluctant to admit that she misses him, she still doesn't know if he still wants to be a part of her life again, whether it was friendship or something more. She also doesn't know if she can let him enter her life again without having the fear of losing him again. Once again, she held the ring on her necklace as she was lulled into sleep.