Updating on time two weeks in a row, yes! This chapter is longer than I normally make them – and longer than the last one – but it's all good and I'm positive you would rather have them longer. Am I right?
I'm glad to see that you all liked the last chapter and I hope you like this one just as much!
Review Responses:
Samara16: I think whether or not the solution is bad is a matter of opinion… Thanks for reviewing again!
Takumisa17: I try to get these out quick but I don't want to ruin the quality either. It just so happens that the words have been flowing right out of me! Thanks to you, also, for reviewing again!
Okay, I'll stop with the author's note so you can read. ;)
In the middle of Michio and Suzume conversing, Kei woke up. He began to cry and it wasn't hard to tell what was wrong. Now, the three of them sat in the living room, Suzume feeding the hungry little boy. He shouldn't be so hungry anymore, though, since the bottle's contents are nearly gone and he had eaten a whole cup of applesauce before that.
Michio was preparing to leave, his business with his little sister done. Just as he opened the door, that business became incomplete. The man standing on the other side of the door frame had his hand raised, ready to knock, but soon lowered it.
Clearing his throat, the unknown man spoke. "Is Miss Asai Suzume here?"
She walked forward when she heard her name. "That's me. What can I do for you?"
"Your presence is requested at the Igarashi household, as well as your son's." Blinking back her shock, she came up with scenarios in her head. None of them were good news.
"My sister and nephew won't be going without me," Michio asserted, unwilling to take the risk of her being undermined.
Sighing deeply, the man – who turned out to be one of the Igarashis' drivers – reluctantly gave in. Mr. Igarashi probably won't like this but he wanted her there as soon as possible and he probably just cut out five minutes of arguing. "Very well then."
In the back seat of a sleek town car, the two siblings conversed in hushed whispers. Both knew the reasoning for the request was due to all of the press about an illegitimate child. Their nervousness drew from the fact that they have no idea what to expect when they arrive.
The driver opened the door for them to step out of the vehicle once they made it to their destination. A maid then directed them inside the mansion towards a parlor.
Three slim, yet tall windows allowed sunlight to stream in from the wall opposite of the door. Light and neutral colors made up the color scheme for the room. They sat next to each other on one of the couches that faced the windows, Suzume holding Kei in her arms.
A woman walked into the parlor, greeting the rising guests with a soft smile and small bow. Her brother bowed while Suzume dipped her head in greeting since she held Kei in her arms. "Hello, Miss Asai. I'm Igarashi Hanako. My apologies, my husband is tied up in a very important call at the moment. May I ask who this is?" She fixed her attention on the older male.
"This is my brother, Asai Michio."
"I can see the resemblance between you two." After a couple seconds of awkward silence, Mrs. Igarashi gestured with a hand for them to sit back down as she sat while drawing in a breath. "I am sure you know the reason for your being here." Her eyes settled on the infant, her smile now faint but fond. She's a grandmother…
Suddenly, a buzzing noise sounded from a pocket of Michio's suit jacket. He sported a sheepish grin and pulled his cell phone out, his eyes widening just a fraction at the caller ID.
"I'm terribly sorry but I must take this call."
"Of course." Hanako gave a small nod to one of the maids who, in turn, showed Michio to a room with privacy. And now Suzume was left all alone…
Stepping into one of the other parlors that was empty, Michio finally answered the call with a swift hello.
"These articles are driving your father crazy, enough to the point that he's considering finding Suzume. Where is she? Please tell me she's not at home, yet still somewhere safe," his mother pleaded in a hushed tone.
"Well, I was with her at her apartment but we're currently at the Igarashis' main estate."
Hatomi's eyes bugged out of their sockets. "What? What do you mean 'at the Igarashis' main estate'?" she hissed but got no further explanation from her youngest son because of an interference on her end of the line.
Through the phone, he could hear his father raging. Apparently, he overheard their conversation – more like eavesdropped. From what he could clearly make out before she ended the call, there would soon be quite the scene here.
Not wanting to stress his sister further, he decided he wouldn't tell her about the impending doom and deal with it on his own.
It was clear to her that Hanako wanted to hold him. Her bronze eyes had that sparkle in them that her own mother had when she first laid eyes on her grandson. That's what made Suzume abruptly stand up and place him in her arms.
The expression on her face when he wrapped a hand around one of her fingers was priceless. If one grandmother didn't spoil him enough, two would definitely spoil him rotten.
Keeping Kei away from his paternal family had never been Suzume's intentions. She addressed that concern with Hanako already, her face regrettably heating up during that part of their conversation seeing as it led to… deeper topics. Surprisingly to her, she received a sympathetic look that told her Hanako knew about her son's womanizing.
"It's been a long time since I've held someone as little as you," Hanako whispered to the nearly six-month-old boy, her expression bright and full of adoration. One of his hands stretched up and latched onto the simple, glinting amethyst pendant necklace that hung around her neck. Lightly laughing, she spoke to him. "That's daddy's birthstone. I'll have to get one for you now, too."
At the mention of Tora, Suzume went from a content state of mind back to one of worry. What were they going to do about this issue? That is the whole reason she's here, after all.
As if reading her mind, the doors opened and in walked Mr. Igarashi with Tora right behind him. They remained standing, stopping next to the couch where Hanako resided.
"Miss Asai, let me get straight to why you're here," Tashiro began. "I'm sure you're aware of the position this scandal puts the Igarashi Group in since you yourself are from an upper-class family. I believe the proper solution is the most obvious one: you and Tora must marry."
Her breathing pattern quickened while her face paled and she suddenly wondered where her brother was. He came to help her, so where is he now that she really needs him?!
"M-marriage?" Suzume looked between the three Igarashis. Unease settled in when she glanced at Tora and she saw his blank gaze. Was he not going to even try and fight against this decision? Certainly, he couldn't be happy about it.
Tashiro gave his son a pointed look and received a glare in return but didn't care to acknowledge it since Tora followed his pre-discussed orders anyway.
Stepping in front of where she sat, he got down on one knee. Warily, she watched his movements very closely. He pulled a small, expensive-looking box from an inner jacket pocket and popped the lid open to reveal an exquisite diamond ring. Before Tora could grab the thin band from its cushion, angered yelling could be heard in the hall.
A man burst into the room, staff shouting that he couldn't go into the parlor and he needed to leave immediately. Suzume briskly stood out of fear of seeing her father so infuriated. Behind him, she could see her oldest brother who almost matched their father's anger. Her mother and Michio were attempting to reason with them but had no such luck. She realized that's why he was gone for so long.
The Asai patriarch's eyes zeroed in on his only daughter – whom he spurned well over a year ago – and the Igarashi heir. That image refueled the flames. He began approaching, set on exacting his vengeance.
Knowing that his parents would expect it of him in this situation, Tora rose from his kneeling position and grabbed Suzume's arm to pull her behind him for protection. "You have no right to barge into this estate. I'm afraid I must ask you to leave," he announced in a low voice.
Blatantly ignoring him, her oldest brother, Akira, started running his mouth. "If you think this stunt of yours is going to get you established back into the family, you're wrong. It's shameful."
"No, what's shameful in this situation is the fact that you are trespassing on private property. I suggest that you leave. Now," Tora interjected without skipping a beat.
Mr. Igarashi took a menacing step forward. "My son is right. I would hate to see what might happen to your company if we have to involve the authorities."
"Ichiro..." Hatomi placed a hand on her husband's shoulder.
Narrowing his eyes at Suzume, he proclaimed, "No matter who you marry, you will never be a child of mine." Getting his last bitter words out in the open, he turned and stalked away with Akira following.
Hatomi entered into a deep bow after the two walked out of the room. "I'm terribly sorry for the actions of my husband and son."
Coming out from behind the tall blonde that was shielding her, Suzume ran over to her mother and engulfed her in a tight hug. When they pulled away from each other, the older woman gave her a subtle smile.
"Please, continue as you were." Her mother's words were shocking to hear. Surely, she had to have figured out that Tora is Kei's father. Everything that Suzume had to endure because of him, how could she just…?
Michio's eyes were as wide as his sister's. "Mom, are you alright with this?"
Staring at her daughter whilst replying, she held back tears. "It's not my choice to make. I have faith that your sister will make the right decision. All I'm saying is that if she accepts, she has my consent."
Before turning around to face the father of her child, Suzume bit her lower lip and looked to the floor. Snapping her eyes shut, she nodded to Tora. He proceeded to place the ring on the appropriate finger and, as she watched him do so, she thought of how this was the best thing for her son. It wasn't just her life she had to be concerned about, but Kei's also.