chapter 21: This ends now
All members of the former host club, Fuyumi included, gathered in the Ootori mansion by Kyoya's request. None of them had any idea why though. While wondering for the reason, Ms. Priti entered the room to bring them some tea. Fuyumi was too embarassed to even look at the poor maid anymore- she was still feeling like a traitor and a fool.
Kyoya finally arrived in the room, his daughters accompanying him:
- You are probably wondering why did I call you all here so suddenly?
None of the former host club say anything in response, only nodding their heads instead, believing this would be enough.
- Let me answer your question then.- Kyoya continued.- It is time for operation: "Melt the witch"!
Everybody was pretty surprised at the delivery of this announcement. Various thoughts were going through their heads- Hikaru and Kaoru were excited what Kyoya had in mind, Tamaki and Haruhi were confused, Mori and Honey did not care much about the reason and were ready to help anyway, and Simran and Nandini themselves were wondering about what part would they have in their father's diabolical plan.
- Fellow Kyoya!- Haruhi finally spoke.- What do you mean?
- I mean, that we finally need to teach Ren a lesson about messing with my staff and my family. You see,- Kyoya pushed his glasses- ever since we got married, it has been Ren's intentions to make my life into a living Hell. The entire plan for a wedding between Ootori and Shen was for no reason other than to form a business partnership, and this is exactly what me and Ren were- business partners. Our daughters were nothing more than part of the deal for her.- Simran and Nandini were listening to their father with a lot of attention- there were some details that they have never heard before. Kyoya kept talking.- Lately, she has been thrying to get my twins away from- he patted their heads affectionately.- She is fighting tooth and nail to get what she wants, and will not give up any time soon. The cherry on the top of the cake was when she targeted other people in my life.- he quickly looked at Ms. Priti, remembering Ren's investigation on his loyal maid.- I think that now is my own turn to fight dirty.
- Yeah!- Hikaru and Kaoru shouted with glee.- Let's get that vixen!
- Count me in!- Honey expressed his support too.
- And me too.- so did Haruhi.
- Don't forget about me!- and Tamaki.
- I have been waiting for this for so long.- Priti said in a high-pitched voice.
- I have things to settle with her anyway.- Fuyumi said annoyed.
Mori only smiled, but they all knew that meant he was in as well. Kyoya felt happy that everyone was on his side (not that he expected otherwise), then turned to his daughters:
- Girls, will you help me?- Simrn and Nandini looked at their father, with hesitation in their eyes.- We can do something together as a family. If we succeed, I can finally give you the life you have always wanted.
- I am in, father!- Simran answered.
Kyoya and Simran looked at Nandini waiting for her answer. After a few minutes of thinking, she spoke:
- You know what, Simran? You were right! We have to give something if we want something in return.- Kyoya seemed a little surprised by her words.- Daddy, all this time we thought that love and respect is something a child can only get, but as time passed by, I started to realise that we cannot expect you to do all the work. You are already very busy with your own job and troubling you with my outbursts ceirtainly was not much of a help.
- No, Nandini! This is all...- Kyoya tried to say something, but Nandini quickly interrupted him.
- No, dad! We are all in this together. I know that now. family takes a lot of teamwork!
- I am so proud of you!- Kyoya smiled and hugged his daughters.- Both of you!
- Kyoya, I need to tell you something!- Fuyumi and Kyoya left the office and found some privacy in the corridors. She was still feeling guilty about her mistake. She wanted to tell someone, without revealing her betrayal to Priti.- It's about your maid Ms. Priti. She told me...- "told" did not sound like the right word.- More like I found something personal about her. I promised not to tell anyone and I haven't. I swear! But...but...
- She has a crush on me, doesn't she?- Kyoya said with his usual calm voice.
- What? You know already?! Who told you?
- I found out by myself.- he answered.- It was not hard, especially with the blushing.
- Ah, so...- Fuyumi was trying to find the proper question to ask her brother. She was curious what was he about to do to Priti. She simply asked- What are you going to do to her now?
- Nothing.- he answered casually.- There is no reason to kick the girl out. She has a little crush, so what! This happens all the time. Even with her crush, she has always been very professional towards me and a good influence to my daughters. This says a lot about her, don't you think?
- Are you going to tell her that you know?- Fuyumi asked.
- This will happen in the very near future.- that was Kyoya's only answer. That was so typical of him- never sharing the whole details, unless you ask him very specifically. However, just knowing that Priti's job was secure, was enough of a comfort for Fuyumi.
Happy that everything was coming to a happy ending, Fuyumi hugges her brother gently and he hugged her back without hesitation, feeling lucky to have a sister like her.
Back in Kyoya's office, the entire gang, including Priti, Fuyumi, Simran and Nandini were planning how to get rid of Ren once and for all. Everyone had suggestions.
Simran and Nandini simply suggested to take pictures, proving of inapporpriate or suspicious behaviour once they see her doing something like this. Hikaru and Kaoru laughed at the girls' idea (much to their annoyance) and suggested to make Ren she won a prize only for her to find out, she was only scammed, and then take pictures of her desperate expression. Kyoya liked this idea and wrote it down, but it was still not what he was looking for. Mori and Honey were speechless. Haruhi and Tamaki, being the kind-hearted and forgiving people they always were, also did not say anything, leaving most of the thinking to the "evil genuises". Priti offered to make Ren taste her own medicine by sneaking spies into her personal life, who will then make rumors from the juicy stories they have learned. Kyoya approved the method, but found the following idea too risky.
After a lot of thinking, after a lot of suggestions, Kyoya finally got an idea.
Ren's phone rang. That surprised her, she was not expecting anyone to call:
- Hello!- Ren picked up.
- Hi, Renny! It's me, Fuyumi!
- Fuyumi?- Ren was confused. Why the Hell, would Fuyumi call her? Did she want something? This must be it. Whatever the reason was, she must not show vulnerability to that woman or anyone else who has connections to Kyoya.- To what I owe this pleasant surprise?- she lied.
- Oh, I just felt in a mood to see my former sister-in-law again.- Fuyumi answered with a seemingly friendly tone.- You were right- it's a shame we could not spend enough time together while...you know.
- While your brother and I were still married.- Ren finished the sentence for her.
- Exactly!- Fuyumi responded.- I don't think that our last meeting went well. How about we compensate?
- What do you have in mind?
- Nothing atypical. Meet at the mall. Today at 2PM.
- Okay. I'll be there.- was Ren's answer, after which she hang up. She was as much interested in this "ladies' afternoon" as her former husband was in sleeping with her, but she was curious what Fuyumi was up to, or to be more specific, what Kyoya was up to.
Said and done. At 2PM, the two women met in the mall, went to a cafe and looked at the menu. They both ordered some tea, and while waiting for the waitress to come back, they looked at each other, seemingly trying to find out what the other was thinking about:
- So,- Ren started first- what do you want to talk about? Is everything alright with your brother?
- Which one?- Fuyumi mocked her.- I have three, you know.
Ren was not amused. Was Fuyumi insulting her? It was obvious about which one she was talking about:
- Kyoya, Mrs. Hercule Poirot.- she answered in a somewhat annoyed voice.
- Ah, yes! Of course!- Fuyumi pretended to remember, which irritated Ren even more, but she tried to hide it. She really despised Kyoya's sister.
- How are the things with his maid?- Ren kept the conversation going.
- Ms. Priti? She is fine. As hardworking as always. She is such a nice girl!
- How are things between her and Kyoya?
- Normal.- Fuyumi answered.- Why? You think that there might be something between them?
The waitress returned, carrying two cups of tea. She placed them on Ren and Fuyumi's table and left. After which Ren showed Fuyumi her phone saying:
- I know that there is something fishy going one in that mansion, Fuyumi.- she clicked on a button on the screen and a tape started playing. The voice in the tape sounded like Priti's and it said "Of course, I can replace you. I won't let you say anything bad about us anymore. WHY WON'T YOU LEAVE US ALONE!". This was the last conversation Ren had with Ms. Priti (if one can even call it a "conversation"). If Ren spreads this, without the context, this could be intertpreted in a lot of ways.- I think it's pretty clear what could happen if someone else got their hands on this tape.
- Is that your plan?- Fuyumi said in an accusing tone.- Spread rumors that Kyoya may or not be in an affair with his teenage maid.
- Well, well, well!- Ren responded amused.- Looks like Kyoya is not the only quick-thinker in the family. So what if I do? What can you do about this?
- I am warning you, Ren!- Fuyumi seemed determinated.- You do not wanna do that!
- Who are you- the emperor?!- Ren said sarcastically.- I do want to do that. And I will. Face it, Fuyumi! People will believe me. The Shen family is quite influental, as you should know. You can tell Kyoya all of that! My word against his.
- The Ootori family is just as influental.- Fuyumi said.
- Maybe.- Ren answered.- But how about letting society decide.
- After your marriage failed, you lost all parental rights.- Fuyumi said.- What makes you think you can change that?
- Well, one little mistake from Kyoya's party would be enough.- Ren answered.- I have never given the tabloids any reason to doubt me when it comes to these things.- Ren paid for the tea and prepared to leave.- I wish we could chat more, but I think that you and your brother have better things to do.- she turned her back to Fuyumi.- Sayonara!
"Witch!", Fuyumi thought while watching Ren going home. Fuyumi took her phone and called her brother:
- Kyoya?- Fuyumi asked her brother after he picked up his phone.- Did you get all of that?
- Yes, big sister!- Kyoya answered.- I did. Thank you for doing this for us!
- Any time, little brother!
