Thank you so much for the feedback for the last chapter; it motivated me to write this one quicker.
Kyoya's flushed face surprised Hotta, when the bold-headed man opened the door to the car and handed him a yellow folder. Kyoya, who was indeed blushing for some reason, opened the envelop and peeked in. He closed it swiftly and focused his attention on the driver, who looked a little startled by his young master's flustered face.
"Did you send them to her family?" he asked flatly, making the man more alarmed.
"Yes, sir," he replied readily and bowed. "I closely followed your instructions and handled everything discreetly. Is that all, sir?"
"Yes, thank you, Hotta-san," the young man said after moment of thought in a pleasant tone and discarded the folder aside.
The man bowed again and, then closing the door, headed for the chauffeur's seat. The car promptly moved, leaving splashes of melted snow on the sidewalks. The early spring drizzle had drenched the streets and spritzed some of its aromatic, earthy droplets on the trees that would blossom soon, because the nature had woken up from its sweet slumber and was ready to blow its fertile breath over the earth.
Those frozen icicles had melted, and Kyoya's heart melted too, and he wasn't sure he was ready to be warm. As the car moved forward through the streets of the city, he closed his eyes and tried to remove her flushed face from his consciousness. The entire incident between them was so strange, he didn't even know what to think about it. What has happened to Haruhi's blood? It has changed in a peculiar way; it became so enchanting and intoxicating, he still felt drunk. There must have been some kind of explanation.
Kyoya leaned against the seat and rubbed his cheeks. Haruhi's blood was so warm, and it was flooding his system with prurient thoughts. He shifted in his seat in furtive manner, a little embarrassed with himself and grabbed the folder his driver had handed him earlier. The photographs inside were more than he could ask for to get the little brat behave herself. Ayanakoji Seika's family wasn't going to be happy about it. But that's exactly what Kyoya was hoping.
In the meantime, he needed to understand the strange taste shift in Haruhi's blood, or it would drive him completely mad. He didn't know how he would react next time he came face to face with her, and Kyoya didn't particularly like losing control over himself. He couldn't risk unpredictable behavior, especially, with her. The car entered through the Ootori security gates and parked in the yard of the estate. Aijima-san hurried to open the door for him, and he walked home, grabbing the yellow folder.
"Kyoya-kun?" his mother stumbled upon him, as he was heading to his room. He paused and politely greeted her. There was a strange apprehension in her eyes. She must have noticed the deep blush on his face that even the menacing coldness of Ootori mansion walls couldn't freeze down. "Are you tired? Your father insists on your presence at family dinner."
"I will be in a minute, Mother," he answered courteously and disappeared in the shadows of the long hall.
He wondered what made the Ootori patriarch summon him for dinner this time. He had rejected his demands of medication treatment several times, and he was sure his father knew better than to use the same tactics that failed him, rather than find a new way to manipulate him into compliance. No, this was about something else, and judging by the way his mother looked at him, he knew that she had no idea about what his father was planning.
Getting to his room, he took a shower in a futile attempt to cool himself down and changed into a neat button-up shirt and dress pants. His father detested unkept appearance, and if he requested his presence, Kyoya didn't want to draw any attention towards himself.
"Wow," Akito gasped, seeing him and then chuckled. "I don't remember seeing any color on your face other than the deadly pale. Had you by any chance robbed a blood bank?"
Kyoya snorted and glared at him. "Very amusing," he said dryly.
"What!?" Akito complained. "Have you seen the blush on your face? It almost looks like..."
His voice trailed off, as he noticed their father entering the dining room in quick, hasty steps. The maids hurried to serve the food when they all sat down at the table. Kyoya rubbed his temples frustrated when he realized that the rest of the family was also glancing up at his flushed face curiously. He shifted in his seat uncomfortably and sighed in a low voice. The dinner was going to be tense.
"This is for you," Yoshio stretched a blood filled medical plastic bag towards Kyoya. "I know I have said a few days ago that you won't receive anymore, but this is the final time. I hope you understand."
Yoshio's hand hang in the air, as Kyoya tentatively eyed his father. He wasn't an idiot and knew that the old man didn't bring another blood bag out of his bleeding heart and concern for his youngest son; he was just testing him. But it seemed Kyoya was the only one who realized it, judging by the soft gasp from his mother lips, who looked lovingly at her husband―a little relieved and grateful and ire gaze his eldest brother shoot at him. Akito looked intrigued and glanced between Yoshio and Kyoya. After all, nobody knew about the incident in the old man's study.
"Thank you, Father," Kyoya said politely and took the blood bag.
His mother's sudden shift in seat grabbed his attention, as he placed the item in his plate. She took her spoon confidentially, as if truly happy to dine with family. Most days she looked like the food was choking her, and she would rather be in another place, but her body language told Kyoya that day that she was going to enjoy her meal. And he felt guilty; because of him his mother felt always sad. She smiled at him when she noticed his gaze.
Kyoya sighed and took the blood bag. When he rolled the tube to be able to drink the blood from the open slit, the smell of it nauseated him, and he turned his head in revulsion. He gulped, and shut his eyes, trying to concentrate on controlling himself. The blood smelled foal, like it had rotten and was covered in mold. Kyoya's face twisted in disgust when the smell reached him.
"Are you alright?" Akito, who was sitting next to him, asked surprised.
"Yes," Kyoya replied politely, closing the slit of the tube and putting it down. "I am just not hungry."
Yoshio's eyes twinkled curiously, and he sighed. The old man must have suspected that he wouldn't be able to drink the blood and was just testing to see if that was the case for certain.
"I have requested the presence of all of you for this dinner," Father spoke, and if Kyoya felt bold, he would have mouthed how they always were present for all dinners they wanted it or not, but he wasn't feeling very adventurous. "Because I have an important announcement to make," the old man declared.
What was on his mind this time?
"Ishida Hideyo from Pharmatech company approached me a while ago, and I must say I have decided it is time to see marriage arrangements for my sons. Ishida's daughter Yuriko-san will be an appropriate bride for Yuuichi. The formal meeting will be held next week, and if everything goes according to my plan, I think Yuuichi will be married by the end of the year."
Saori covered her mouth, surprised by the sudden decision. She looked at her husband a little worried and then glanced at the eldest son. Akito let out a smothered laugh and tried not to burst into a laughing fit in front of his whole family.
"Poor girl," he sniggered, earning Kyoya's glare.
Kyoya stared at his eldest brother who looked like he didn't care either way and wasn't bothered at all by the way his life was being scheduled and planned by their father. Yuuichi only nodded and then turned his attention to his food. Kyoya couldn't decide what disturbed him more; the fact that their father was planning their life with such ease and lack of consideration, or that his eldest brother didn't give a damn about it. Yuuichi's docile obedience was disturbing.
Kyoya was the first to excuse himself and leave for the family library. He didn't really feel comfortable sitting in the room with his family, besides that, he couldn't eat anything. The silence, where the high raising shelves full of books lay, was comforting. Kyoya admitted begrudgingly that recently he hadn't enjoyed enough silence. Concentrating on reading took his mind away from Haruhi and her creamy, soft neck. But he didn't get to enjoy that silence too long.
"I knew I would find you here," Akito spoke in his grating, amused tone.
Kyoya silently cursed and turned to face his brother; he had a glass of whisky in his hand, his tie undone and looked a little too excited for Kyoya's liking.
"I thought you would stay longer and finish your dinner," Kyoya commented, turning back to his book.
"Yeah," Akito said with a sigh, as if that's what he had assumed as well, then turned and, pulling a chair, sat in front of Kyoya. "But I wasn't hungry, and Yuuichi's boring reaction put me off."
Boring reaction? Their eldest brother didn't react at all if that was possible.
"What were you expecting?" Kyoya said flatly. "Crying hysterics?"
"Well, at least, not him being more interested in his food than the possible marriage," Akito chuckled. "Poor girl, she is doomed. If she is not a patient with strange illness, I don't imagine Yuuichi paying any attention to her or even..." he tittered and crossed his legs. "Even getting into bed with her."
"Akito-san," Kyoya rolled his eyes. "I don't see why you are so interested in Yuuichi-san's sexual preferences."
"Of course, if he has any!" Akito chuckled again and seemed to find the topic particularly amusing. "I am just concerned about my future sister-in-law, that's all."
Kyoya put down his book and looked at Akito quizzically. "If I were you, I would be more concerned about the other sister-in-law our father has in stock. Do you think after Yuuichi's marriage Father is going to let you continue your merry bachelor life? I would be more concerned about that and less on Yuuichi-san."
The teasing expression faltered from Akito's face, and he became serious. That was true. If Yuuichi got married, Yoshio would seek another arrangement for Akito.
"And I don't think he will be happy to learn about your commoner girlfriend, either. What are you planning to do?"
"And what about your girlfriend?" Akito asked with a sigh.
"I don't have a girlfriend," Kyoya said with an almost amused chuckle.
"Oh, please don't feed me that bullshit about you being friends with her," Akito rolled his eyes. "I had seen how you were staring at her, and if she isn't your girlfriend, it's only because you are too scared to make any moves. But that is probably for the best. You will just get hurt in the end. It's not good to start these relationships with your condition. If she finds out about you illness, she is gong to run like a bat out of hell."
Kyoya looked away. Was it really what most people would do? Run away from him? Then why was Haruhi still around?
"Why do you think she would run away?" he wanted to know.
"Are you kidding me?" Akito gave him a look. "You think you are the main character of a supernatural romance novel where the heroine's kind heart saves you all. God, you are so naive if you think your blood diet is going to make a pleasant impression on her."
"She is a friend," Kyoya said curtly. "I just wanted to know your reasoning on why Haruhi-san would run away if she knew about me."
Akito was wrong. Not everyone would run away. She wouldn't ever, and she didn't care about his illness. It was almost surreal how normal Haruhi treated him.
"Well at least, Father won't make me marry anyone," Kyoya teased his brother. "I think, it would be for the best if you tell her the truth. Her name was Nanako, right? You should tell her the truth about you, and what she should expect."
"I can't," Akito sighed again and swallowed the contents of his glass. "I like her a lot, and I like our relationship. I am the second son, and so I don't think I should hold the same responsibilities as Yuuichi."
"If Father finds out about your affair with that girl, he will skin you alive," Kyoya said more like a joke, but they both knew that the Ootori patriarch was a ruthless man when it came to his children's obedience. He wouldn't ever accept Akito's relationship with a common girl. He wouldn't consider her worthy of the Ootori name, nor even of Akito, whoever she was, and Kyoya knew that regardless of how irritating and unserious Akito could be at times, he was very obedient and wouldn't go against their father.
"God, I don't even want to think about it," Akito mumbled. "If he finds some boring, pea-headed bitch and makes me marry her, I will go crazy."
"She might be a nice girl," Kyoya joked.
"Anyone who isn't Nanako isn't interesting to me."
"I assume, you are head over heels in love with her," Kyoya said with a hint of disapproval in his voice. "Just make sure there are no children out of wedlock, or Father really would skin you alive."
.
Saori closed the door and sat down; she leaned against the soft cushions and closed her eyes. Yuuichi's marriage was going to make a lot of headlines, and she wasn't sure she was ready for journalists roaming around the Ootori household. Her husband would of course take care of that, he always did, but she didn't feel very happy. She sighed frustrated that she had no idea about anything and grabbed her cream. If she stressed more, she was going to get wrinkles.
There was a firm knock on the bedroom door, and she jumped up, thinking it's her husband. He normally never entered the bedroom unless he planned to sleep and recently he had spent a few sleepless nights in his office. He must have been really tired. She quickly fixed her skirt and cleaning her throat, invited him in.
"Saori-sama?" the maid opened the door and popped her head in indecisively. So, it wasn't her husband.
"Miwa-san," she said politely, "come in."
The woman walked in and closed the door behind her. She looked around quickly as if to make sure that they were alone and then leaned forward with a big grin on her face.
"I have found her, Saori-sama," she said almost triumphantly.
"Found her?" Saori quirked a brow. "Found who?"
"The girl," the woman whispered. "Haruhi Fujioka, the honor student at Ouran who has written that note to young master."
"Oh," Saori said, finally realizing what the woman was speaking about. "You know her address?"
"Of course," she took out a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to her mistress. "I have found so much more information about her if you have time Saori-sama."
Saori stared at the address and nodded. "Um... did you...? Did anyone notice you?" she asked. "You know if my husband finds out―"
"Don't worry," she waved her hand proudly. "I was very subtle. Nobody would know a thing. I might not be Harada-san, and I might not have those fancy toys they use, but I sure know how to get my hands on information I want. If things were different, I could have been a journalist."
Journalists didn't do what Miwa-san assumed they did, but Saori smiled regardless.
"Didn't have the money for college," the woman said with a sigh. "But I have talent."
A talent Yoshio would fire her for, if he found out that she was gossiping around, but Saori needed to at least once in her life be ahead of her husband.
"You had a niece living with you Miwa-san," she asked, remembering that the woman would take day-offs for taking care of her sister's daughter.
"Yes," the woman sighed again. "She is all I have after my sister's death. Her idiot of the husband ran away, leaving the child behind, and now I am taking care of her."
Saori felt bad for the woman and she smiled sadly. "I could perhaps include her in a charity program we are doing so she can get a good education."
"I would be so thankful, Saori-sama," the maid screamed to Ootori Yoshio's wife's surprise.
She smiled awkwardly worried that the maid's scream would bring the security to her bedroom, and she didn't want her husband to suspect what she was up to.
"Are you planning to visit and give that girl a piece of your mind?" Miwa-san grinned at the prospects.
"Oh, no, no, no!" Saori hurried to say. "I wouldn't want Kyoya-kun and my husband to know about this. If I meet her, they will find out. I wonder if my husband already knows about her. Can you find out, Miwa-san."
"Of course, I can," the woman said proudly. "You can't imagine how much those young boys talk once you praise them a little."
Saori didn't really want to know, but that was besides the point. She nodded with an awkward smile and dismissed her.
A/N-Hope everyone had a great New Year. And I hope it isn't as cold where you guys are! hahah! Tell me what you think of this chapter. Do you think Saori will take Kyoya's side? Are you looking forward Yoshio finding out about Haruhi? And what do you think of Yuuichi?