A/N: Hi there, new friend. Or possibly old friend. I'm not really sure. But if you're reading this, then it's deserving of a welcome, don't you think? So, hi. If we've never met before, I'm Lumi. I've been writing on this beautiful website for almost four years at the time I'm posting this (Anniversary is on August 2nd, if you're curious and want to send me a present). Collectively, I've been writing for almost sixteen years. How are you? It's a pleasure to meet you. But I've written three stories for Ouran in the past and this one's going to mark number four. So, even if you've never read the Kiss, Kiss trilogy, that's totally fine. You won't be lost if you haven't. This is its own separate entity. And I've had the idea boiling in the back of my head for a while, but it's going to be a ride that not only you'll be able to enjoy here, but on Ao3, too. Because simulposts! Why not? So, now, how about we get into this, yeah? I think this will be an every Monday thing. At least, I hope so. Enjoy!
Daddy always knows what he's doing. He didn't get to the head of the family without having a plan. But I didn't think he'd ever go this far. I loved living in New York. I loved being this close to the family all the time. This was where I was safe. Who the hell was I going to know in Japan? I don't want to have to start from scratch, but at the end of the day, Daddy's word is law around here. And I'd be wise not to piss him off. I saw what happened to the last guy to do that. Let's just say he has a permanent residence in the narrows. At least until someone finds his body.
Even though I wanted to stay home with every fiber of my being, I couldn't say no to him. Daddy's just looking out for me. He worries about my future, so he's sending me to some fancy ass academy in Tokyo. As I finish my packing, that reality is setting in big time. I'll be completely alone over there. When I'm waking up in Tokyo, it'll be night here. When I'm going to bed, Daddy will just be waking up. The more I think like that, the more it depresses me. But Daddy didn't raise me to be weak. Or at least not on the outside. Once I get used to it, I'm sure it'll be fine. I'll be back to kicking all kinds of ass in no time. Japan won't know what hit them.
I could handle being tough. For the most part. Until I got to the gate. Daddy made it very clear to the rest of the family last night. When he and I go to the airport, no one is to follow us. They all said their goodbyes last night before we went home. I could handle that with no problems. It's only nine months. And I'll be back for Christmas. As much as I love my family, there are a few of them I could care less about. I could probably have them taken care of for looking at me funny, but I don't need to be that petty. There was a reason why no one could follow us to the gate.
"Please, Daddy," I sobbed softly in his warm, sturdy shoulder, "Don't make me go."
"I know it's going to be an adjustment, princess," Daddy's deep, gravelly voice comforted me, "But it'll be ok. I promise."
"It's not me I'm worried about…"
"Hey," he lifted my chin, wiping my tears away, "What are these all about? These aren't over me, are they?"
"Daddy…" I stood my ground, "I'm serious. Who's going to watch your back if I'm not here?"
"Look, sweetheart," Daddy wrapped his arms around me, "It's not your job to keep me safe. That's the other way around. Why else would I be sending you to the other side of the damn world? But you don't need to get tangled up in the family business quite yet. Let's get you through high school first. Then, if you're not careful, you may end up taking over the whole syndicate when I retire in Boca."
"Really?" He knew how to make me smile again.
"I know you could," he kissed my forehead, "I have no doubt in my mind, but before you can do that, you need to get through school. I won't hand the reins over to some dipshit still wet behind the ears, got it?"
"Yes, Daddy," I knew what he was trying to get at, but he wanted me to board my flight as much as I wanted to get on it.
"Hey," Daddy hugged me tight, "I love you, Rei. If you need anything, call me, ok?"
"I love you, too, Daddy," I shook in his embrace, reveling in it, never wanting to leave it.
"Go on," he nudged me toward the gate, "You don't want to miss your flight."
"Ok." And just like that, I let his hand go, the weight in my chest feeling like lead. I'm going to miss the hell out of him.
"Reila!" Daddy called after me. I turned around sharply, damn near giving myself whiplash, "Keep an eye on your mailbox. I'm sending you a housewarming present."
"Is it what I think it is?" I beamed, butterflies stirring in my belly.
"It could be…"
"Is it titanium?" I think I know what it is.
"No, no," Daddy hugged me one last time, "Come on, princess. You should know better than that. I only get the best for you, so it's a 440 stainless steel. How's that sound?"
"Thank you, Daddy." Only the finest in cutlery for his baby girl.
"Now, go," he kissed my cheek and I was off to Japan. Away from my friends and family. It's for the best, though. Daddy wouldn't have sent me for no reason. Even if I can't see what that reason may be right now, I will soon enough, I'm sure. Goodbye, New York. I'll miss you.
After a long as flight from JFK to Honolulu, then from Honolulu into Tokyo, I had finally made it. Laying down for a while sounded like a hell of an idea, but I needed to call home. Daddy has to be worried sick. I know I would be if my daughter took a twenty-three-hour flight and I didn't hear a peep. Let's see. Theoretically speaking, it should be nine o'clock in the morning in New York right now. I'm sure Daddy's awake by now. Just as I was digging my phone out of my bag, a man in a black uniform approached me. It's too bad I couldn't get my usual knife past airport security.
"Excuse me," the man kept a safe distance away from me, "Are you Reila Mendoza?"
"Who wants to know?" I felt around my pockets for a makeshift weapon. Nothing. But I made sure I had something in my right hand. Daddy always said that if I don't have a weapon, my fist will work better if there's extra weight behind it.
"My name is Roy," the man introduced himself, "Your father sent me to pick you up and bring you to your penthouse. I will also be your driver to and from school."
"Are you now?" You seem like a hell of a guy, Roy, but you wouldn't be the first person to try kidnapping me. I've done this song and dance before, "Then, you don't mind if I ask you a question, do you?"
"Not at all," Roy agreed, "Go ahead."
After my first abduction attempt, Daddy and I needed to come up with a way of telling if the strangers had good candy or not. Every time after, the question had stopped twelve more from happening, "How are you, Roy? Answer carefully."
"Carefully," Roy earned my trust. If he was really sent by my father, then he'd have strict orders to follow any order I had for him. In this case, when I tell him to answer carefully, just the word carefully would do.
"Alright," I followed him, "Where's my penthouse?"
"Shibuya," Roy gave me my new set of keys. Fifteen years old and I already have my own place in Tokyo. Good for me, "It's a nice neighborhood. A lot of shops and restaurants are within walking distance."
"Which renders you obsolete," I figured, "Except for school."
"And anywhere else you may want to go," he added. Damn, this guy has an iron spirit. I bet I can have him broken of it. For now, though, he's alright, "Well then, Miss Mendoza, would you like to see where you'll be staying while you're in Tokyo?"
"Might as well," I got into the back of Roy's limo, "And don't call me Miss Mendoza."
"Alright," Roy got in, "Would you rather I called you Reila?"
"Just call me Rei."
"Rei, it is, then!" Roy chimed, "Roy and Rei take on Tokyo. That sounds like a good buddy movie title."
"Hey, Roy," I shut my eyes, "I just got done with two excruciatingly long flights to go somewhere I don't even want to be, so if you're really wanting this buddy movie to not end as a horror movie, can we keep our chitchat to a minimum please? That'd be absolutely fantastic. Thank you. I appreciate it."
"Don't be like that, Rei," Roy's cheery attitude was getting old, "Tokyo's great! You'll see. Once you start school and make some friends, you'll come around."
"You've known me for a total of five, maybe ten minutes," I pointed out, "Why do you sound so damn sure of yourself?"
"We'll call it intuition."
"Yippie." This was the guy you hired, Daddy? What the hell were you thinking? I know. Don't question your decision, but really? He's a fucking Care Bear in a human being! Like a motivational cat poster on legs. You said this place would be good for me, but I'm having a hell of a time seeing it.
When we pulled up to my new apartment building, I started feeling a little more at home. This building had to be at least sixty stories up. Not much different than our building back home. Then again, it's Brooklyn. Big buildings are a dime a dozen. Maybe Tokyo won't be so bad. It still has a long way to go before I could ever call it home, but it's making a case for itself. That's for sure. Once I got into my new penthouse, that case only got stronger.
"Holy shit, dude," I gasped, walking into my penthouse. My giant penthouse all for my very own.
"Rei," Roy scolded me, "That's no way for a young lady to talk."
"Bitch please," I rolled my eyes, "I've made grown men weep and bleed and beg at my feet. Grace and civility waved bye-bye to me long ago."
"Your new school is going to have a field day with you," he shook his head, "To think, they let you in such a prestigious academy like Ouran. I would've killed to go there when I was your age, but the tuition there is insane, so I couldn't go. And the placement tests are impossible, so a scholarship is out of the question, too."
"It helps when you come from a shitload of money," I took a walk around my new home away from home. Damn, this place was nice. Marble counters, open floor plan. I have no doubt that the bedroom has a walk-in closet the size of a mini mall. The bathroom is probably a full service spa. My god, Daddy did say that I only deserved the best. And I'll be damned if this isn't the best. Granted, it's not New York, but this is alright.
"Alright then," Roy bounced on his toes, "Are you going to need me for anything else, Rei?"
"One more thing," I asked, "Are there any decent eats nearby?"
"There's a hibachi place around the corner," he recommended, "It's pretty good."
"No, thanks," I shot that down, "If I wanted to get yelled at while I ate, I'd go to my grandma's house on my mom's side. Try again."
"There's a ramen shop a few blocks down," Roy suggested, "They make some of the prettiest ramen bowls you'll ever see."
"That might work," I thought, "What else do we got?"
"There's a pizza place a block away."
"We have a winner!" I'm a girl that can appreciate a good piece of pizza. One of those perks of growing up in Brooklyn. Some of the best pizza I ever had was only a block or two from our house. Now, I understand my location.
"You want me to get you some?" he offered.
"Yes, please," I threw myself into my new white leather couch. Oh, yeah…This is nice. This is fucking bliss…I could die happy right here, "I'll text you my order. You'll have it by the time you make the lobby."
"Consider it done." I think Daddy left me with my own errand runner. Kind of like Uncle Bruce back home. Although, I think Roy might be more of my bitch than my errand runner. Regardless, I had the penthouse to myself for a while. As soon as I got the confirmation that my pizza order sent, I called up the only person missing from this place.
"Hi, princess." All was right with the world.
"Hi, Daddy," I couldn't hold back a smile if I wanted to.
"How you doing, baby girl?" Daddy asked, "All settled in yet?"
"Getting there," I threw my legs over the back of the couch, "Ray's getting me some pizza as we speak."
"Take the girl out of New York," he laughed, "What do you think of the penthouse?"
"A cozy place to call home," I reported, "But it won't ever beat home."
"Nothing will," Daddy promised, "I miss you, Rei. It's only been a day and a half and it feels like an eternity."
"Now, you're getting poetic on me?" I teased him a little, "Wow, Daddy. You've gone soft."
"I'm allowed a soft spot," he argued, "That doesn't make me any less of one of the toughest sons of bitches to ever come down the pike. And any man who says his soft spot isn't his daughter is either fucking lying or a piece of shit."
"I miss you, too," I awed, "I'll be back by Christmas. Pinky promise."
"Or," Daddy proposed, "I could spend Christmas with you in Japan."
"And abandon our time honored tradition of gelato and freezing our asses off in Rockefeller Square?" I scoffed, "Come on. I don't think so."
"Only screwing with you, baby," he settled me, "You'll be on the first flight back here once your exams are over. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, sir."
"Hey, Rei," Daddy asked, "What time is it over there?"
"A little after eleven," I checked the clock on my stove, "Why?"
"You start school in the morning, princess," he pointed out, "Eat and get to bed."
"I will."
"I love you, Rei," Daddy's voice shook, breaking my heart. I fought every urge to beg him to put me on a direct flight to New York, but that wasn't an option.
"I love you more."
"Good night, princess."
Click.
"Rei!" Roy walked in with a pizza box on his hand, "I'm back! I got in just before they closed. One spinach and feta pizza just for you."
"Thanks, Roy," I took my pizza from him. My god, this smelled fantastic, "If you want, you can go home now. As soon as I'm done eating, I'm just going to go to bed."
"And let you eat all by yourself?" he sat down next to me, "I couldn't do that."
"I don't think you heard me correctly," I ordered, "See, you seem to be under the impression that we're buddies. What I said was for you to let me eat in fucking solitude and go home. I'll see you in the morning. I promise I won't need you until then."
"Fine," Roy respected my wishes and got up, "We may not be friends now, Rei, but I think that over these next few months, we'll become great friends."
Keep dreaming, my guy.
A/N: So, how was that? Pretty good, yeah? I like it so far. This chapter is mostly just set up. Because when Rei wakes up tomorrow morning, her life at Ouran begins. And I'm very excited for how this is going to turn out. But Roy is a peanut and I adore him. Will Rei come around to him? Will she kill him with that new knife her dad's sending her? We don't know. But we'll find out soon enough. See you next chapter! xx