Disclaimer: Refer to past chapters.
A/N: It seems Natsuko's will be a recurring character in AnimeFanatic369's Ouran story. Although, it's just one thing… she seems a bit 'Out of Character' for me. Em… sumimasen, Leanne! But I really thought so.
Silence ensued in the car. Natsuko, as usual, in her moody atmosphere, and Kyoya, in his usual calm manner, was calculating the daily profit of the club.
"Natsuko?" he began. Natsuko gave a loud groan and turned to look at him.
"What now? Embarrassing me in front of the club not good enough for you?" She said, quite angry at the scene they cooked at the club. Kyoya simply gave her a light smile.
"There's going to be a firework display this Saturday at the park. Do you want to go?" He said, holding up a flier of the event, his smile growing wider.
"Huh? But I thought you didn't like commoner's festivals…" She said, taking the flier from him to look at it.
"I don't. I've never been to one either, but I know you like these things. Don't you?" He said, taking it back from Natsuko. "If you don't mind, I haven't even looked at it yet."
"Well, I do, actually. But I'm not sure…" She said, folding her arms to look out the window. They sky was beginning to grow dark again.
"If we're lucky, it might rain in the afternoon. That way, during the night, the air will be nice and cool, while the sky will be clear." Kyoya said, looking out the window as well. "Ah, looks like father's home today."
Natsuko diverted her attention from the window to Kyoya. His voice seemed to lower in disappointment, and somewhat anger when he said the word 'father'. She figured it must be tough for him, since he was the third son. She could see Kyoya was working hard just to gain his ambition as well. She lightly touched his arm to snap him out of his daze.
"Hey, if it makes you feel better, we'll go to see the firework display, alright?" She said, giving him a reassuring smile. He looked at her for a moment, and then smiled back. They both looked out the window together as they approached the entrance to the Ohtori estate. "Tell me, Kyoya, how long has it been since you ran in the rain?" She had a mischievous look written on her face, and Kyoya immediately understood what she meant. The rain had gotten heavy, perfect for a run in the rain.
As the car came to a stop, a servant was coming out of the house with two umbrellas, but Kyoya and Natsuko had other ideas. As soon as the car came to stop, they opened the car door, and ran outside, immediately getting soaked. They ran right past the servant carrying to umbrellas, and into the house, laughing away.
Their laugh was short lived, however, because they found Mr. Yoshio standing right before them.
"Ahem… father! I didn't expect to meet you here." Kyoya said, as he stood upright, dripping wet, Natsuko standing behind him.
"Hmph. Spending a nice day in the rain I suppose?" Mr. Yoshio said, in an emotionless state.
"Well, actually…" Kyoya began, looking down.
"It's my fault. I'm sorry, sir. I was the one who asked Kyoya to run in the rain." Natsuko said, stepping behind Kyoya, in his defence.
"Do you have any reason behind your meaningless endeavor?"
"Yes. I did it without thinking. I ask for your forgiveness." She said, bowing deeply. Mr. Yoshio paid no attention to Natsuko.
"You need not to take responsibility for my son's irresponsible actions. Go get changed, I'll meet you two at the dining hall. Good day." And with that, he left without another word. Kyoya kept his posture, looking down at the soaking wet carpet. Natsuko turned around to look at him for a moment.
"Sorry I caused you trouble, Kyoya. It's my fault." She said, turning her back on him to go to their room, but Kyoya grabbed her wrist just in time.
"No… it's alright… it was fun anyway." He said, his frown turning into a small smile. "Anyway, let's go dry ourselves up. My father hates waiting sometimes."
"Tell me… how are things with you and Nekozawa coming along?" Kyoya said as he finished changing into a white shirt.
"Everything's fine… but I haven't seen him in a few days." Natsuko said, not bothering to look at Kyoya as she sat on her bed. "Though… I heard that his family might be moving out of the country soon." She brought her knees to her chest and sighed.
Wait a second… she though to herself as she began to laugh suddenly. Kyoya looked at her as if she's gone mad.
"It's just that… I'm wondering why I'm acting so friendly around you all of a sudden. It's… weird." She said, as she continued to stifle her laugh.
"Hm… could it be your falling for me?" Kyoya said, smirking away as he stood in front of Natsuko.
"Hmmmm… Nope. It must be because I'm hungry, that's why." She said, getting up, looking straight into his eyes. "Well, you said your father hated waiting sometimes… are we good to go?"
The walk to the dining room was long and silent. Natsuko has other things on her mind than to put up with Kyoya, while Kyoya was thinking on how to make a good impression with his father. The atmosphere this time was more serious when they entered. It appeared that his brothers were also present. Natsuko suddenly felt uncomfortable being around these people.
They look so… strict… She thought to herself as she took a seat next to Kyoya. She noticed that his expression turned more serious and gloomy. And I thought rainy days were gloomier than this.
"So, Natsuko… how is your relationship with my son coming along? No arguments?" Mr. Yoshio said, taking a sip of water from him glass.
"Huh? Oh! Well, uh… things between us are fine, I guess… no arguments!" She said, giving a laugh.
What a complete lie… Kyoya and Natsuko thought to themselves.
"Yes, I do believe Natsuko and I are getting along quite well. Isn't that so, dear?" Kyoya said, putting a fake act along with Natsuko.
"Yes, I do believe so."
What an outright stupid lie. Natsuko thought frantically.
"Well, that's a good thing, because this weekend, Saturday I presume… we'll be having a special function… and I would like to announce your engagement. Natsuko, your parents should be back by then, so they'll be attending." Mr. Yoshio said, pausing for a moment.
"What?! This Saturday?! But-" Kyoya cut off Natsuko's sentence by giving her a peculiar look.
"What? Do you have other plans for this Saturday?" Mr. Yoshio said, looking at Natsuko through his glasses.
"No… It's just… isn't it too… soon?" Natsuko said, trying to make an excuse.
"Well, I certainly don't think it is… do you?"
"No, father, it's perfectly fine. I beg for your excuse, it appears that Natsuko and I are very tired from our school activities today. We'd like to retreat to our room." Kyoya said, standing up. Natsuko did the same.
"Very well, then. Go ahead, I'm quite tired, and I think I'll go to my room as well…" Mr. Yoshio said, finishing his glass of water.
"I'd like you to bring us two cups of coffee later, please." Kyoya said to a servant on his way out.
"As you wish, master Kyoya." The servant said, giving a low bow.
"Perfectly fine?! PERFECTLY FINE?! KYOYA! WHY?" Natsuko pleadingly said as she tugged on Kyoya's shoulder.
"Your acting wasn't good either. Have you thought of joining the drama club?" Kyoya said, flipping through the pages of a story book.
"Yeah but… but I thought we were going to see fireworks!" She said, tugging even more, and then proceeding to pinch him.
"Hey, stop that alright? You're that desperate huh?" Kyoya said, finally closing the book he'd been reading.
"Well, kinda. Anyway, it's better than just staying here having to take part in these boring functions!" Natsuko said, sitting in a cross legged position on Kyoya's bed.
"Who ever said we're not going?"
"Huh?" Natsuko looked confused. Kyoya just laughed and put a hand on Natsuko's head, in which she immediately removed.
"It seems you've forgotten I'm called the 'demon lord' for a reason." He said, pushing his glasses up.
"What are you scheming this time?" She said, suspiciously. "Are you sick or something? You've never been this cooperative. At least… I've never seen you so cooperative…"
"I'm not sick. You're the one who wants to see they firework display, right? I'm just helping you. Besides, I'd like to go see the display too." He said, giving her a genuine smile. "Your parents… what would they say if you told them you want to sneak off to see the display?"
"Well, I guess they'd say; sure. After all… they know how much I like these commoner festivals… I guess I get it from them…" She said, deep in thought.
"Exactly… we'll get permission from your parents to cover up for us while we sneak off." He said, with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Now listen up… here's the plan…"
Uhoh, what's this? Kyoya and Natsuko getting mischievous? Yeah, I know somehow Kyoya sounds quite OOC in this part… gomene, minasan!