Ai Yori Aoshi – Koi
Disclaimer: I don't own Ai Yori Aoshi.
Thanks for waiting for me. I've been busy, but I'm going to try and take about an hour or two each night to work on my writing. Also, I want to say that the professor that will be working with Kaoru is different then the one from the show. I couldn't remember the guy's name, but Professor Itzuki is important to the story. I also want to go on record that everything you read about Japan corporations involved in illegal funding is COMPLETELY fictional. So, don't start getting conspiratorial on me, okay?
This will be a longer chapter. Forgive me if I have a very loose understanding of business and marketing.
Chapter 3 – Internship and the Future
It didn't take long for Kaoru to finish everything he needed to do to have his internship decision be recorded at school. In the months ahead, Kaoru busied himself with the work Miyabi gave him, as well as making his own observations about the type of work. He'd never thought Miyabi had an easy job, but was even more impressed and astounded once he was hip deep in the paperwork. It seemed he saw less and less of his friends and Aoi as nights got longer and longer. He was grateful there was little schoolwork to do during internship. Finally, he was allowed to accompany Miyabi on her latest business trip one chilly December morning. Aoi watched him pack his suitcase and briefcase as it would be an overnight.
"I wish I could come with you." Aoi said quietly as she and Kaoru paused to drink some tea.
"Nothing would make me happier." Kaoru said as he rested his hand over Aoi's. Aoi blushed at his tender motion. He moved to sit beside her and wrapped her into a warm embrace. As Aoi leaned against him, he kissed the top of her head. Then, he turned her to face him.
"I love you, Aoi-chan." Kaoru said softly. "I love you so much. That's why I'm going to do everything this weekend to make sure the Sakuraba's see me, for who I am, not who I was."
Aoi slipped her hands around Kaoru's waist and hugged him tightly. Kaoru reigned in his emotions quickly and bent down to kiss Aoi. Aoi responded in kind. Kaoru, feeling suddenly bolder, pulled Aoi closer to him and deepened the kiss. He moved slowly, unsure of how Aoi would react. He wouldn't rush her.
Aoi was unsure of how to respond at first. Kaoru had never kissed her like this before. It both thrilled and frightened her. She decided to take a bold move as well and she slipped her arms around his neck. Kaoru felt his heart leap in excitement. He wanted to be so close to her, but he didn't think they could get any closer. It seemed forever that they shared a warm and romantic kiss before Kaoru pulled back gently to kiss her forehead.
"That's going to have to hold me until I get back." Kaoru said with a mischievous grin. Aoi grinned back and tapped his nose.
"You are impossible!" she laughed.
Mayu Miyuki knocked on the door of the Sakuraba mansion. She'd been coming by every afternoon after school to visit with her dear Hanabishi-sama. She'd watched him work hard at his intern position and had reported to her Father each evening about what a wonderful businessman Kaoru would make.
"Wait until he hears the good news I've got for him!" Mayu chuckled. Her smile vanished when her least favorite person answered the door.
"Oh, konnichiwa, Mayu." Tina yawned. She'd had a very long day at the zoo and had been catnapping on the couch in the thready winter sun.
"That's Miyuki-san to you." Mayu said loftily, turning her nose up at Tina's lack of manners.
"Since when?" Tina said, feeling more awake now. "And would you mind coming in so I can close this door!"
Mayu entered and smiled, her chin coming up in pride. "I have accepted a position with the Grand Symphonic Orchestra to perform with them."
"Really? Wow, that's great, Mayu, I mean, Miyuki-san." Tina said in delight. Mayu was surprised.
"Arigatou." Her chin came up a bit higher as she prepared herself for more praise.
"I didn't know the big orchestras had trained seals that play with them." Tina said.
Mayu erupted in fury.
"I am not a trained seal!" Mayu screeched.
"Well, you had your nose so high up in the air, I thought you were practicing to have a ball on it."
Mayu and Tina were soon heard all through the house, but were mostly ignored by all except Miyabi, who demanded peace and quiet.
"Miyuki-san, to what do we owe such a pleasure at this time of day?" Miyabi asked.
"I came to see my dear Hanabishi-sama." Mayu cooed and sat down to wait for him. Tina sighed. She dearly wanted to tell the girl that she was dreaming if she ever thought she'd get Kaoru, but she also couldn't wait until the girl found out on her own, as she would eventually.
Kaoru came down a moment later, followed by Aoi. Miyabi collected their things and deposited them into her car. Miyabi had told him to pack for a traditional and formal meeting. Kaoru had sighed, but had pulled out the traditional clothes again.
"Hanabishi-sama!" Mayu cried. "Are you leaving?"
"Oh, Mayu-chan, when did you get here?" Kaoru asked. "Um, yeah, I'm going with Miyabi-san to a business meeting. I want to observe and, maybe even make some recommendations if they ask me."
"I see." Mayu said. "Well, I wanted to tell you that I was accepted into the Grand Symphonic Orchestra as a pianist and to give you some wonderful news!"
"Mayu-chan, that's great!" Kaoru said.
"Congratulations, Mayu-san." Aoi said happily.
"Hanabishi-sama, arigatou, but I have news for you too." Mayu said. "The Miyuki offices have an opening for someone as an investment accountant and I've been telling Papa all about you and he thinks you'd be a wonderful addition to our company."
Kaoru was shocked into speechlessness. There was silence all through the house, even from Tina. Aoi felt her as though her heart were being squeezed. But she could say nothing.
"Well, Mayu-chan, that is good news." Kaoru said, trying to appear happy. "But I'm sure your Otousan would prefer to interview me."
"I know." Mayu said. "Papa said you can come in anytime next week to talk."
"Listen, Mayu-chan, I don't…" Kaoru started, but Miyabi stepped in.
"Kaoru-dono, we must be leaving. This discussion will have to be continued at a later time."
"Right." Kaoru said and joined Miyabi.
"Ittekimasu!" they chorused and closed the door.
"Itterasshai!" Aoi called out.
Tina went back to her couch to continue her nap, but not before glancing curiously at Aoi. Mayu was cooing about something to her and Aoi gave a forced happy smile.
"I just can't wait until Hanabishi-sama returns." Mayu said. "He'll be so happy working for my family. And then, we can realize our dream and be together always."
Something inside Aoi snapped and she hurried to the kitchen. Tina followed noiselessly after her. Mayu was not left alone long before Taeko returned home.
Aoi was wiping her eyes of tears when she felt Tina rest her hands on her shoulders.
"Sumimasen." Aoi said tearfully. "I just didn't think I could hold my voice anymore.
"I know." Tina said. "It must be really hard for you to keep your love quiet. I know how that feels."
Aoi looked at Tina in surprise.
"I ran away from my love for Kaoru because I didn't think he'd want me." Tina said. "And I was sort of right. He never could love me the way I would want him to, but he still would have cared about me. I made the mistake of running away from that."
"Tina-san." Aoi said.
"But listen, you don't have to worry about Mayu." Tina said. "Kaoru adores you. He gets that same sick puppy love look around you and it grows more and more."
"I know." Aoi said. "I just wish we didn't have to meet in the shadows or hide away because of public opinion. In the end, all it's done is hurt people. And it will hurt people when the truth is known. And Kaoru-sama is so gentle; he'll hate to hurt them."
Tina nodded in understanding.
"I think you've done the right thing in keeping it silent, especially where the politics are concerned." Tina said. "But I wish we could do something to make it easier on you. And on Mayu and Tae-chin."
"Taeko-san?" Aoi asked. "You don't mean that she loves Kaoru-sama as well?"
"Wouldn't surprise me." Tina said. "It would be nice if we could find a way to hurt them less, although I personally don't care about Mayu."
Aoi sighed.
"Let's think on it while Kaoru's gone." Tina said. "When he and Kanrinin-san get back, we'll talk about what to do."
What Tina and Aoi did not know was that Kaoru and Miyabi had been thinking the same thing and had already put a plan into motion that would hopefully solve the needed secrecy plan for good.
"Are you prepared to do this, Kaoru-dono?" Miyabi asked.
"Hai, I am." Kaoru said. This meeting was not only for Kaoru to observe and attend, but also the opportunity he'd been seeking to prove his worth to the Sakuraba Corporation.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this will conclude the meeting agenda; however, you will notice a continuance at the bottom for announcements." Miyabi, dressed a blue kimono, addressed the conglomerate of corporations. The Sakuraba Corporation meeting was attended not only by the Sakuraba family, but also various networks and independent companies, including the Miyuki offices. Mr. Miyuki was there to discuss the possibility of investments from the Sakuraba Corporation. He looked up expectantly.
"I would like to turn this portion of the presentation over to my intern."
All eyes turned to focus on the podium where Miyabi stood. One set of eyes in the audience paid particular attention to the young man striding toward the podium. The dark blue eyes widened in surprise and cold fury.
"It's him." the mouth below the eyes whispered to himself. A young man with pale skin and dark hair gripped his PDA tightly.
"Thank you, Kagurazaki-san." Kaoru said. He turned toward his audience with determined eyes.
"My name is Hanabishi Kaoru." Kaoru started off. As expected, there was a flurry of shouts of surprise and anger. Mr. Miyuki leaned forward in expectation. This was the young man his daughter was so enamored with. He'd been impressed with his daughter's reports of his work and had considered giving him a position if he were qualified enough. However, he had many other applicants in line that, although not as competent or experienced, were willing to learn. Now, he focused his attention on the young man.
"Allow me to correct myself as I misspoke." Kaoru said. "My name was Hanabishi Kaoru. I have stepped down from the succession of the Hanabishi house for various reasons. However, that has not changed my mind of which career I wish to pursue. Nor does it change a promise that was made."
The uproar settled slightly as everyone was drawn into the young man's speech. He spoke with such maturity and authority. There was also something gentle in his voice that caught everyone's attention.
"Hanabishi-san." a woman stood. She was dressed in a green kimono decorated with lilies and Koi fish. "Do you speak of your engagement to Aoi-sama?"
Kaoru paused. Something led him to believe he could trust this woman.
"I do." Kaoru answered.
The noise in the auditorium was positively thunderous as shouts of anger and distrust were thrown. The woman who had addressed Kaoru did not blink or move. Rather, she strode forward to the podium and raised her hand to silence the din. Kaoru was amazed at how the simple gesture was obeyed.
"Hanabishi-san." the woman said. "The promise between the Hanabishi house and our own that was made for you and Aoi-sama was discontinued. You have no claim to her."
A rustle of movement from the front caught Kaoru's attention as Aoi's parents came forward. Aoi's father gazed stonily at Kaoru.
"I wish it to be known that I have no qualms about my daughter wishing to keep the engagement official and lawful." he said. "I do not forgive this action that was taken by the Hanabishi house, but I have come to realize that it was not without precedence."
Kaoru looked at Miyabi and she bowed to him. He realized that Aoi's parents must have learned the truth behind his departure.
"My daughter loves this man." Aoi's mother said. "We wish to have the board accept this decision."
"We have an agreement in the works with the Hanabishi house!" another board member shouted. "You were aware of this!"
Aoi's father nodded. "I could not allow my daughter to be forced into such a position."
The woman in the green kimono called for silence again.
"To which family do you now claim, Hanabishi-san?" she asked.
"I claim to my own." Kaoru answered. "The Honjo family."
Muttered questions buzzed through the audience. Mr. Miyuki's eyes widened. He'd heard of the Honjo family. He had a cousin named Kumi Honjo. Or at least he had. Was this young man her son?
"Meiko-sama, you can't be serious about accepting this arrangement to such a commoner?" another voice rang out. Meiko could not find the owner, but she had no doubt in her mind whose it was.
"I cannot make the decision alone." Meiko answered. "It must be a decision of the board as a whole."
Meiko turned her attention to Kaoru. Her face was stern and set, but Kaoru saw in her eyes a hint of a smile. Kaoru felt encouraged.
"My purpose has been of late to prove myself to the Sakuraba family. Not because of who I was in the Hanabishi house or what was made between the two families. Rather, I wanted to show you, the family that loves Sakuraba Aoi, that I am as worthy as she will gladly tell you that I am. Perhaps I bring nothing of worth to you, but if one of your own can love a man who comes from nothing and has lost everything, I pray and hope that you are able to do the same."
"It is not illegal to allow this." Meiko said. "And I for one would prefer this arrangement rather than the one that was in negotiations."
Mr. Miyuki smiled. He felt no anger at the man for having led his daughter on. It was clear that there had been no choice. And he could certainly tell that Kaoru had done nothing to encourage Mayu's affections. His daughter had always been spirited and forceful.
"I move that the board accept this arrangement." one of the executive elders spoke up.
There was silence for a moment.
"Seconded." Mr. Miyuki said from his place in the back. He hoped no one would notice that he was not a member on the board.
"All in favor then?" Meiko asked.
Time seemed to slow down to a crawl as one had after another was raised in approval. Kaoru felt his lungs burn with the need to breathe as he released the breath he'd been holding without realizing.
"All opposed?" Meiko asked. One lone hand was raised fiercely.
"Done." Meiko said and turned a smiling face to Kaoru. "You have been approved, Honjo-san."
A polite applause followed by cheers of joy by those closest to Aoi and her family. The elders remained still but wore smiles of happiness.
Kaoru sank to his knees as tears of gratitude and joy welled in his eyes. He couldn't wait to tell Aoi the wonderful news.
At the back of the room, the young man clenched his fist so tightly that his nails drew blood.
"Kanaye-sama?" his valet asked him. "What do you wish to do now?"
Hanabishi Kanaye gritted his teeth and stared in fury at the former Hanabishi.
"For now, we return home." Kanaye said. "And await the opportunity to take back what was promised."
To Be Continued
Don't worry, I won't end there. Things are going to get very interesting now. I'm going to warn you Mayu lovers out there that I don't really like Mayu, so she's not going to get too favorable treatment from me. Also, just so you know, I like both the Japanese and English versions of Ai Yori Aoshi, especially Kaoru's English voice. Most of the time, I have the English playing in my head when I'm thinking of the characters, so if they seem different to you, that might be why. Chapter 4 is on it's way so keep reviewing!
Stay cool minna! From her on in, this will be fun!