chapter 10: New path with old obstacles
After the Peligrosa case, everything in the Ootoris' life was practically perfect in almost every way. Simran and Nandini were doing pretty well in school without any problems. Everything at Kyoya's work was calm and with no stress, but despite this, he still thought that it was time for him and his daughters to do something they have never tried before-going on a family vacation.
For an unknown amount of time, he wanted to do something that would help in bonding with the girls. Something that other families do as well. Something they have not done before. Vacation was one of them. You see, due to his career as the owner of a highly successful holiday club, Kyoya has already traveled abroad, but only for business. He picked Greece, Olympiaki Akti to be more specific, as their destination. After work, he went home and was ready to tell the news to Simran and Nandini, but while he waited, somebody came to visit.
The doorbell rang. , the maid, went to open the door. Part of her was afraid that it was Ren again, but when she opened it, she was relieved to see that it was just Tamaki Suoh:
-"Hello there, ! Is Kyoya here?"- he said with a polite smile.
-"Yes, of course, Mr. Suoh!"-she responded with the same politness and called her employer.-" , sir! You have a visitor."
-"I know, . I heard him."-Kyoya said while climbing down the stairs.
After he was finally in front of his old pal, he greeted him with his typical smile:
-"Hello, Tamaki! What brings you here now?"
-"I just came to talk to you about our plans. I thought you would not mind discussing the reunion of the host club we talked about a little time ago."
Suddenly, Kyoya's smile disappeared. Not because he was angry or upset, but because he already had other plans:
-"I am sorry, Tamaki, but I cannot right now. I am planning a holiday to Greece."
Despite that it was not what he was expecting to hear, Tamaki was delighted:
-"A holiday?! To Greece?! Count me in!"- his tone became louder and faster-"Just wait! I have to tell Haruhi and the children. Oh, we can call the others too-Hikaru, Kaoru, Mori and..."
But before he could finish, Kyoya interrupted him politely:
-"Tamaki, let me finish. You misunderstood. It is a familiy vacation. For me and my daughters."
-"I understand that."
-"No, you still do not. Only for me and them."
Tamaki's excitement disappeared completely and his smile faded away. He seemed a little disappointed. He wanted the whole former host club to go to a holiday together with their families. He thought it would be fun:
-"I want to be alone with them."-Kyoya explained his intention.-"Away from the city, away from work and school, away from worries. Just for a few days."
Tamaki did not say anything, While still a little disappointed, he understood. He did not want to stay in Kyoya's way:
-"Okay, I understand. I am glad that you are still trying to be there for your daughters. Good to see that your life is in a new healthy direction."- his voice was pretty monotone, but he put a small smile on his face, in an attempt to be a good friend.-"I will leave you be then. Just call me when..."-before he could finish, Kyoya interrupted him again:
-"I never said anything about not reuniting with the others."- his words seemingly changed Tamaki's expression.-"We will have our reunion, but not for now. As a matter of fact, I am already planning a different trip, where we can go to with our respective families."
That last part was the honey that poured on Tamaki's heart. He immediately jumped in the air and landed on Kyoya, in order to give him a huge hug, just like when they first met:
-"Thank you, Kyoya! Thank you! I knew you would understand."-he was sqeezing him hard, while Kyoya was trying to take him off his body:
-"Let me go! Let me go, you idiot!"
After Tamaki left, Simran and Nandini finally came back home. Their father was already there to say welcome:
-"Welcome back home, girls!"
-"Good to be back, father!"-Nandini responded, without looking at him.
-"Go change and after you are done, come to my office. I have something to tell you."
The twins did not say anything. They did what they were ordered to do. They went to their room, changed their clothes and after they were done, they went to their father's office, kind of curious. Simran knocked on the door and after she heard the words "Come in." coming from the other side, she opened it. The girls entered the office and they saw Kyoya sitting on his chair and working on his laptop. After he saw them entering, he stopped what he was doing and turned in their direction:
-"Good news, girls! I am taking a few days off, so that we three can go on a holiday to Greece."
The good news caught the girls off guard. They were pleasantly surprised to hear that. They have always wanted to go somewhere abroad:
-"Really?"- appearantly, Simran was too excited to believe it.
-"But, of course."
-"When?"
-"In two days. It is going to be a long trip, so you better take everything necessary. You can make a list. Things, such as books, neck pillows, blankets, et cetera."
-"Okay!"-Simran responded obedientely and after that the two girls rushed to their room and started to prepare for the trip. They put their suitcases on the floor and started to put anything they would need during the flight and the stay in Greece.
While preparing, was in the kitchen cooking dinner for tonight. She immediately stopped when she heard another doorbell ring. Thinking that it was Tamaki again, she recklessly went to the door and opened it without hesitation. How dissappointed, and even disgusted, poor Priti was when she saw that it was Ren this time.
"Do the gods hate me or what?" she thought.
-"Hello, Priti!"-Ren said before entering, without asking to.
-" , who is at the door?"-Kyoya's called.
-"Your worst nightmare, sir." responded.
-"Why are you here again, Ren?"-he asked, without coming down.
-"Come down, Kyoya! I have something to tell you."
Kyoya did come down and faced Ren. He still wanted her to leave, but he decided to put up with her for a few seconds.
-"You do not answer my phone calls, so I decided to come here and talk to you personally."-Ren shared her excuse for visiting.
-"That is because when he sees it is you, he immediately rejects the call, as a survival reflex."-Priti answered, instead of Kyoya, but he did not mind. He was even grateful.
-"Shut up, Priti!"-then she turned to Kyoya.-"I came to inform you that I am still not ready to give up. I will take the girls."
-"At least, you have ambitions, Ren."-Kyoya did not feel threatened.
-"I mean it, jerk. I now have the necessary men to assist me. You WILL lose the fight. And in the end, when you have nothing, I will be there to mock you. You will regret that you have ever messed with me."
-"Ren, you are no threat to me. Do not forget that it was you who left. I was not the one who kicked you out."-Ren did not respond, and she was not smiling either.-"Even if you actually do manage to get the girls, they will never follow you. They are way too smart to follow an empthy path."
-"Keep talking! I wonder for how long you can come up with comforting words like these."-then she turned, facing the door.
Kyoya and Priti were wondering if Ren was about to leave. And they were right, when they saw her walking to the door and opening it. But before leaving, she turned in Kyoya's direction for one last time and said:
-"Everybody fears something, but you can always count on your father, right?"-she smiled and then she finally left, but her presence was still in the air.
Her last words caught Priti off guard. She was shocked by what she heard. She felt worry in her body, and then she turned to her boss, who surprisingly, was not showing much reaction, but his hands were shaking:
-"Sir?"-she said quietly, but he did not answer. After a few more seconds of silence, he finally spoke:
-"No! Do not worry, !"- he said without facing her.
Then he moved his hands, put them in the pockets of his jeans and finally looked at his maid and faced her:
-"Do not worry!"-despite what he said, she was still worried.-"I can handle everything she is going to put me through. What anyone is going to put me through."
After he said that, he turned and went back to his office, without saying anything else.
To be continued...
