De Plot Bunniez... dey iz everywhere...
Hoppity hop... another chapter for you, my beautiful readers :3
Tuesday approached with a frightening intensity.
Merry rarely spoke, and when she did her replies were vague and brusque. Because of the time zone difference between Japan and England, Merry was granted special permission from the Dean to leave school early to attend the conference.
At ten in the morning, Merry was perched on the edge of a chair in front of a large television and web camera Ran had set up with an expert touch. It was seven at night in London. Her grandparents should still be awake.
Sure enough, a minute later the screen blinked on and there was her grandparents and father, their expressions as carefully blank as hers. Her father was pointedly staring at the bottom of the camera.
For a moment she pretended his dark gaze saw her.
She waited as was proper, head bowing.
Her grandmother, Kimi, sniffed condescendingly. She still exuded grace despite her body slowing down with age. "Sora-kun. Merry. This meeting has long since been overdue."
"Grandmother, grandfather," Merry greeted softly. "I hope you are well."
"London is dreary," her grandfather intoned, bored. Yuichi's countenance rarely shifted into anything else.
"I'm sorry to hear," Merry replied, making sure to lace just enough sympathy to sound believing but not condescending.
"What is the meaning of this summons, Sora-kun?" Kimi cut off deftly.
"I have been in contact with Yoshio Ootori," her father informed. The sound of his voice made Merry's chest tighten. Look at me. "It seems his youngest son, Kyoya, has expressed an interest in my daughter."
My daughter, never Merry.
Do I disgust him so much? She wondered, ice in her veins.
"Yoshio Ootori of the Ootori Conglomerate?" Kimi pondered. "I suppose the child could do worse for marriage prospects."
Merry bit the inside of her cheek, hiding a wince. "Forgive me, but there is no romantic interest between Kyoya-san and I."
"We are not talking about romance, but of marriage," Yuichi stated.
"Quite right," Kimi nodded.
As regal as the couple looked, dressed in their finery, they carried themselves like long-term business partners. There was no love lost between them and the way they were regarding Merry, like she was chattel, made bile burn at the back of her throat.
"My apologies," Merry murmured.
Her father twisted in his chair until he was gazing off screen. "Yoshio is a smart man. He will try to skew this in his favour."
"He is difficult to deal with," Kimi sighed. "But it is to be expected. He is a brilliant businessman." Yuichi nodded in agreement.
"The fact of the matter is that no doubt Yoshio already has plans for his son," Sora mentioned. "This matter is delicate but an Ootori shouldn't be underestimated."
Merry resisted saying that she shouldn't be underestimated either.
"Kyoya is the youngest son you said, Sora-kun?" Kimi hummed.
"Yes. Third, in fact."
"I suppose third is better than nothing. What of the others?"
"The eldest is married. The second son has already entered into the beginnings of a contract."
Merry fought against dizziness. They were speaking of her future as if she wasn't sitting right there. As if she had absolutely no say in her own life.
Perhaps she didn't.
"Pity," Kimi tutted. "You go to school with the Ootori boy. Correct, Merry?"
She sat a little straighter, blinking away the odd stinging at the back of her eyes. "Yes, grandmother."
"Establish a connection. A marriage should have friendly foundations and a mutual interest."
'Mutual interest' was said with such a blithe, uncaring air that Merry doubted the woman meant love interest.
Despite her breakfast trying valiantly to try and come back up, she swallowed thickly and nodded all the same. "Yes, grandmother."
"Ran will keep us updated. If that is all, we must be going. It is getting late. Goodnight Sora-kun… Merry."
"Goodnight."
One half of the screen blinked off and suddenly it was just her and her father.
She couldn't breathe because there was a rock in her stomach, cramping her lungs and making it hard to breathe but she opened her mouth anyways, to say something, anything, to this man who was practically a stranger but meant so much to her because she had no one else in this strange place but the words wouldn't come and she still tried, she tried, but…
Look at me. Please.
"Study hard," was all he said, still not looking at her and the screen turned black and Merry was alone.
She stared at the blank screen for a long time, fists clenched on her skirt until the fabric almost tore, feeling as if her own life was completely out of her own hands.
Merry screamed and suddenly she was swinging the camera at the flat screen, breaking them both into a million pieces.
Now it was just like her.
Shattered.
Merry apologised to Hideo with tears swimming in her eyes. He assured her that it was alright, that she could leave the cleaning up to him and go rest.
She shook her head and grabbed the broom.
Once that was done she locked herself in her music room, haunting violin music filling the mansion with melancholy.
Ran turned a blind eye and deaf ear.
Merry sat up straight in bed, brow furrowed.
What a ridiculous plan.
It was risky and terrifying and would be difficult to pull off but, but…
She sighed, slumping back into her sheets.
"This is going to suck."
She stared at Kyoya, brows furrowed and hazel eyes sharp.
His hand was poised above his notebook from when she accosted him in the middle of the hall between classes.
"Could you repeat that?"
She took a fortifying breath. "I need your help."
He snapped his book shut and tucked it away, adjusting his glasses before replying. "You have my attention," he said slowly, "But…"
She sighed. "Nothing is free. I know this. You should give me more credit, Kyoya-san."
He smirked, eyes flashing. "Rather astute of you. You need my help. What is in it for me?"
Merry quirked a brow. "That's it? You don't want to know why I need your help? Nor what for?"
"That will come in time, I'm sure. If the reward is worth the price, of course."
Merry felt her teeth grind, her composure struggling to maintain its calm self. "I'll owe you one." She practically spat the words out.
His infuriating smirk was still in place. "Why do I have the feeling that 'one' will not be enough?"
Merry's eye twitched. "Two, then."
"I'm quite enjoying this," Kyoya chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. "You are bartering for my help. You must be desperate."
"This involves both of us," Merry pointed out. "And if you do not agree, then I will continue on without your help. Not impossible, but highly illogical. And frustrating."
He narrowed his gaze. "Both of us, you say? How?"
"I won't say anything more until you agree."
Kyoya hummed. "You must promise to do anything I say until the new school year starts."
She balked. "That is almost a month away. I refuse to be at your beck and call for a month."
"Just the vacation days then," he assented.
"No. I have prior engagements."
"Are you sure you need my help for whatever harebrained scheme you've cooked up?" he mused. "It seems as though you are quite busy already."
"True, but that still doesn't change the fact that I need your help."
He held her gaze for long moments, gears whirring before nodding slowly. "Fine. Yes. You owe me one."
She was careful to not let her shoulders slump with relief but couldn't help the small smile lighting her face. "Alright. Thank you. Yes, I promise."
He tilted his head then, just slightly. "And what do you need my help with, exactly?"
"Our parents are playing around with the scintillating idea of creating stronger company bonds." She waited until his focus was completely on her. "Through our marriage."
She wondered if Tamaki had seen how purple Kyoya could get when he chokes on air.
Read and review if you want to~ :)