Hiyori is silent as she sits there next to Akane Origami who has come to chaperon the first meeting the young girl will have with her future husband. Nervous and wanting nothing more than to see Kanami walk through the door, Hiyori waits for the man to arrive with her head down. Akane tried at first to cheer up Hiyori, but she eventually stopped when she saw her efforts where futile.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity for Hiyori, the door opens, and she stands up to greet the man she is being forced to marry. Moving to greet him Hiyori can't bring herself to smile even when he compliments the green kimono that Yukari told her to wear or the makeup Akane helped her put on hours earlier. Sitting back down Hiyori really wishes she could be anywhere else right now.

"He's such a jerk," Hiyori thinks as she listens to him talk about nothing but how much of a success he is. The only time he changes the subject is when Akane nudges him into doing so.

"Did you say you were in managing your families hot spring in Dorogawa?" Akane asks when the man pauses to catch his breath.

"Yes, it's a small location but has plenty of business all your round," He replies with his voice that Hiyori is getting sick of hearing.

"I hear it's beautiful in Dorogawa," Akane comments.

"It is," He nods. "It may not be popular now, but I'm sure with me running the hot springs the town will flourish in no time."

"Have you ever been there, Hiyori?" Akane asks. Hiyori is gladful that at least Akane acknowledges her existence, but she would much rather stay invisible here.

"Once," Hiyori answers. "But I was only pacing through."

"Too bad," The man tells her. "I'm sure you would have loved the town if you stayed longer."

An hour crept by at the pace of a snail as Hiyori counts the cracks in the wall while her soon to be husband talks on and on about himself and how much of a success he will be in life. Hiyori wishes it was Hiyori here with her. Sure the Minoseki would talk a lot about swords and sword fighting, but she would also take an interest in Hiyori instead of just talking about herself. Kanami would take her hand and make their dates fun and exciting even if it was only a study date whereas, with this man, Hiyori finds herself bored out of her mind and left out of the conversation. Reaching and grasping the silver locket she wrapped around her wrist so Akane wouldn't notice Hiyori wishes more than anything to go back in time to relive those happy memories.

"Why can't I be with Kanami?" Hiyori asks herself, trying not to cry.

Kanami is one of the few people she can talk to, laugh with and cry with without the fear of being laughed at or judged. Kanami is the only person Hiyori wanted to stand beside and the only person to be able to tear down all the wall Hiyori built up around her heart to stop herself from being hurt. Kanami is the only person Hiyori has ever wanted to kiss and give herself to. Now all that has been taken away from her because of her bloodline that Hiyori is starting to think is cursed from all the misfortune she endured since the day her mother died.

"Why can't I just be happy?" Hiyori wonders seeing everything that brings her life joy being taken away from her, and there is nothing she can do to stop it. "Why does nothing but misfortune follow me around?"

Akane Origami has always been opposed to this marriage arrangements. However, despite being the new head of the family, she is still powerless against the influence her sister holds over the country. At first, Akane tried talking with her older sister, but Yukari wouldn't listen to her and then she tried to find a way to stop her only to discover an old law that has not been used in over a hundred years stopping her. According to the law regarding the Toji Akane was shocked to learn that arranged marriages can be forced on girls with dying bloodlines if they have special abilities connected to their families blood. After that Akane repeatedly tried to talk her sister out of this marriage, she's forcing on Hiyori only to hit a brick wall every time she tried.

Seeing there was no way to avoid the marriage her sister was forcing on Hiyroi Akane set about making sure the process is as easy on Hiyori as possible. Akane made sure her sister agreed to let the Hiyori and Kanami continue to at least be friends which Yukari was initially against seeing their relationship as something that could disrupt the marriage but Akane managed to talk her around in the end. The second thing Akane did was to help Hiyori prepare for her date and accompany her during her first meeting with her future husband.

But when the date began, Akane couldn't help but feel down as she saw how depressed Hiyori is over the whole ordeal. She tried to cheer up the young girl, but nothing she said worked as Hiyori kept her head down and a frown on her face. Akane wished she could end this marriage, but the law and her sister is against her leaving her powerless to do anything but stay by Hiyori's side and support the girl; however, she can.

When the man himself, Hiyori's future husband enters the restaurant, and they stand to greet him Akane only feels worse for Hiyori. Akane knew the man as his father manufacturers equipment Toji's use in the filed and was a supporter of Mokusa. But despite the outstanding man, his father is Akane knows this man is nothing like him. Where is father is kind and understanding Akane has come to know his son as cold and controlling. "How could my sister agree to something like this?" Akane wonders as she politely smiles at the man who is to marry Hiyori.

"It's a pleasure to see my again, Miss Origami," The man smiles. Akane prides herself on her ability to read people, and right now, she can tell right away that despite the man's words, he isn't happy she is here with Hiyori. "How's your sister?"

"She's doing well thank you for asking," Akane replies, making a mental note to complain to her sister later about her terrible matchmaking. "It nice to see you again, Mr Koide." Akane forces a smile before she regrettable motions towards Hiyori. "This is Hiyori Juujou."

"Hi," Hiyori mumbles sounding like she wishes to be anywhere other than here.

"I'm sorry," Akane mentally says to her wishing she could grant that wish.

"It's nice to meet you Hiyori finally," He smiles but Akane notices his eyes spend too much time examining the young ladies body for her comfort. "I must say that it is a nice colour you are wearing and your makeup suits you Hiyori."

"Why don't we sit down and order?" Akane suggests, and Hiyroi silently makes her way back to the table.

"Sounds good," Koide replies but Akane catches the anger behind his eyes that she knows comes from being told what to do.

"I really have to cancel this wedding," Akane tells herself as she takes her seat. "There must be something I can do, but until then I won't let Hiyori be alone with him."

Akane really wishes it was anyone other than Koide who was going to be Hiyori's husband. The only reason she agreed to stop complaining about the wedding was because her sister promised to find someone nice and that Hiyori will get along with not someone like him. Koide may be wealthy and could provide Hiyroi with a comfortable life where she would never wish for anything, but Akane has heard the rumours about him and seen several of his ex-girlfriends covered in bruises. "There is no way I can allow Hiyori to marry someone like him."

"How did you even find out about this Kanami?" Maki asks, shaking her head and wonder how she couldn't have seen an event like this from occurring.

"Sayaka told me," Kanami replies, trying to peak past the tall girl to see what is happening in the restaurant.

"Damit," Maki curses before turning her attention towards the Minoseki Toji once again. "You should go home Kanami and not interfere. It's for the best that you don't make this any harder on Hiyori then you have to."

"But I just want to see who he is," Kanami complains starting to jump and try and look over the elite guard's shoulder.

"Fine his all I know is his name is Koide, and his family owns a lot of business across the company with many of them supplying us Toji with our equipment," Maki sighs giving in and letting the girl take a peak while remaining ready to grab her is the Minoseki Toji tries to set foot in the building. "Just make it quick then get out of here."

Kanami eagerly looks into the restaurant to see the man that stole Hiyroi away from her an instantly throws seeing someone not worthy of her girlfriend's attention. Not only does his look not right for Hiyori, but Kanami hates the way he is looking at her ex with greedy eyes while boring Hiyori to death. Kamai wishes she could steal Hiyori away from their meal and put a smile on her face, but a hand on her shoulder reminds her not to go inside. Making the most regrettable decision, she has ever made in her life Kanami turns away and runs off before she does something to get her and Hiyori in trouble.

"I thought you didn't like to act soft in public," Suzuka says, stepping up beside her fellow elite guard.

"That wasn't soft," Maki tells her. "Letting her see that probably hurt her more than I could possibly do with Usumidori."

"I know," Suzuka replies, lowering her head. "If we were in their position, I would feel the same way."

Koide was feeling very happy with himself the moment he gets into his limo. Not only was Hiyori a lot prettier in person, then she was in her picture, but she was also his type. Quiet and docile just the way he likes his partners. Grabbing a beer from the mini-fridge hs has in the back limo Koide finds himself not waiting for his next date and one where Akane he hopes won't be there so he can get more intermate with the girl.

"Take me to the red light district I feel like celebrating," Koide tells his driver.

"Right away, sir," His driver replies before starting the engine. "Oh, by the way, I saw that Kanami girl came by during your date. The guards wouldn't let her inside, but they did let her take a peek through the window."

"Good," Koide smirks. "Now that dyke will no she has no chance against a real man like me."

Sat on the train Kanami does her best not to cry as she leans against the window watching the Japanese countryside pass her by. Everything feels so real now that she has seen Hiyori with her fiancé. Before it felt like a bad dream but seeing them together made Kanami's heartache and blood boil as she realises just how real this wedding really is. Kanami wanted to do nothing more than to run into that restaurant and kiss Hiyori telling Koide to get away from her girlfriend, but she was glad Maki was there to stop her before she got into trouble.

"I'm really going to lose her," Kanami sighs feeling depressed seconds before she feels her phone vibrate in her pocket.

"Hello," Kanami answers.

"Kanami did it help?" Mai quickly asks, and behind her, Kanami can hear her friends younger siblings playing. "Did he seem like a nice man?"

"Not really," Kanami admits wishing Mai could have come with her as they planned, but she had to babysit after her families maid slipped and sprained her ankle earlier this morning. "It hurt to see them together," Kanami holds a hand over her heart feeling the pain their intensifying. "Hiyori didn't look happy, and I get this bad feeling when I look at the man she's going to marry."

"I'm sorry, Kanami," Mai tells her. "I wish I was there with you right now."

"It's okay you had to look after your family," Kanami assures her.

"So did you find out anything about the man?" Mai asks.

"Not much," Kanami answers. "I only know his name is Koide and his family owns a lot of business related to Toji's."

"Kanami does this Koide have brown hair?" Mai asks making Kanami jump at the sudden seriousness her voice takes.

"Does he have green eyes?"

"Yes,"

"A creepy look in his eyes?"

"Yes," Kanami answers. "Do you know him?"

"Yes," Mai tells her. "Kanami listen to me we can not let Hiyori marry him."

"Mai, what's wrong?" Kanami asks not used to her friend acting this way.

"Kanami, Koide isn't a good man he's…" Kanami's face pales the more she hears Mai tell her about Hiyori's future husband.

"I should have punched him when I had the chance," Kanami growls wishes she should have done something back at the restaurant.

AN

With more of Koide's past coming to life and more people opposing the marriage will it be able to be stopped? Why is Yukari pushing Hiyori to marry a man like him despite knowing what he's like? Keep reading to find out.