"What's wrong Ai?"
"Why didn't you tell me about your father?"
"What?"
Kyoya had walked out to the garden, ordered Mori and Honey to leave, before starting to talk to her. Ai was just sitting in the chair drinking her tea.
"Why didn't you tell me that your father talked to you before our wedding?"
He looked dumbly at her, and she felt how she just got angrier.
"He told you?"
She looked at him.
"You made me break my promise."
"Now there you go with that promise again."
"Don't patronise me. I want you to be happy."
"I am happy."
She looked away. She could feel how he walked over and stood beside her.
"Why can't you believe that I'm happy?"
"Because it was your dream."
"Dreams change."
"No they don't."
Ai looked at him again. She had tears in her eyes.
"You dream didn't change Kyoya. The only thing that's changed is that you've found something that you love more than your dream, but that doesn't mean it changed or went away."
She could see she had hit a nerve. Even thou he thought he had hid it she still saw it.
"I love you Kyoya, I want to see your dreams come true, like you made mine."
"And you really think I would have been happier if I hadn't married you?"
She looked away. She didn't know.
"You should allow me to make my own decisions Ai."
"I did it for you."
He hit the table and it cracked. It caught her by surprise, but she didn't show it. She didn't show any feelings anymore. Another skill she had learned during her time as a young girl.
"Don't say that. Don't say that you did this for me, or the girls or anyone else when you are making us so unhappy. Making yourself so unhappy. You are yelling at your friends. Shunning them. You hit Arisu. Don't say that you are doing that for me because I don't want it."
He turned his back to her.
"Why? Just tell me that. Why?"
"You of all people should know the value of merits."
Her hands where shaking and she placed the cup down on the table.
"The next thing would be that you run away."
Mom.
Ai closed her eyes as the suddenly overflowed with tears.
I haven't turned into dad, worse. I've turned into mom. I don't ask for help, I just wallow in my own pain until I can't take it anymore and run. My job is to protect the people I love from pain, which means asking for help when I need it.
"They said I had to stop working or they would disgrace you, me and the people I work with in Paris."
He turned and looked at her.
"My father is out and hiding in Paris. I don't know how they found him, or what deal they made with him, but he is capable of ruining the Fuhuri company and all my merits. Destroying everyone in connection with me in the process."
He walked towards her and their eyes met.
"Why didn't you say something?"
"I wanted to be strong. I wanted to be strong enough for you and the girls and my friends and associates. I wanted to prove to my dad that I actually could run a company. I guess he was right."
He walked over and placed his arms around her. Her tears making him wet.
"I don't think I know anyone as strong as you Ai, but you don't have to carry so much weight all the time. You must allow us to take some of it some of the time."
She nodded.
"I know."
"Anyone can be blackmailed, it takes a true leader how to not follow their demands without hurting people."
She nodded again. He was right. Of course he was right. He was Doctor Ootori Kyoya. He was her husband.
..
Ai was scared and ashamed as she walked up the stairs. She had a lot of people to apologize to, but one in particular. She stopped in front of the door and knocked.
She might not forgive me, why should she? I'm supposed to be the one protecting her, not be the one she needs protection from. So if she won't forgive me, I won't push it.
The door opened and the girl looked out and up.
"Hi Arisu…"
The girl's turned into one big smile before she wrapped her arms around her.
"You're back. Mom you're back."
Ai's knees almost broke, but she forced herself to stand. She hugged the girl tight.
"Arisu I…"
"I knew you would be back. I knew you wouldn't turn out like him."
"Arisu what I did, I'm so sorry."
Arisu looked up at her, her smile even wider. Ai couldn't hold back the tears anymore.
"I know. I forgive you."
"How can you forgive me?"
"Because when we lived with dad you used to run into our rooms at nights before him and hide us under the bed. Then stand there and take the beatings for us. If it hadn't been for us…"
"No. Don't ever think that. Promise me not to think like that again Arisu. What dad did, what I did, no one deserves to get hit."
Arisu clung even harder to her, which was hard due to her stomach.
"I know, you thought me that, but I still forgive you."
"Oh Arisu. I'm supposed to be the one to protect you, not the one you need protection from."
"No. Dad's the one who should have protected us. That woman should have protected us. We were children. You just as much as us."
When did Arisu get so grown up?
"How did you get so smart?"
"My mom."
Ai pulled her even tighter.
"Thank you Arisu. Thank you."
"Working late again Kyoya-san?"
Fuyumi. Kyoya didn't stop what he was doing, but his air changed when she entered his office. He became softer.
"This is private."
"Ai?"
"You know what our brothers did to her?"
Fuyumi sat down and looked warmly at him.
"But are you sure this is what you're supposed to do?"
Kyoya stopped and looked up at her.
"What do you mean?"
"Are you sure you're supposed to do this work for her? Because if you do this, she might never have the courage to run a corporation again."
Fuyumi smiled and leaned back.
"It's hard growing up and being told you can't do certain things because you're a girl."
I almost forgot that. I guess that's why Fuyumi and Ai get so well together.
"She once told me that she would never inherit her families corporation, her husband would. Don't prove her right."
There was something different in her voice. A pain and determination he hadn't known was in her.
"Fuyumi…"
"She's a good leader Kyoya. She took a broken corporation and fixed it. She made a name for herself. Don't spoil her hard work by taking it from her."
He just nodded and Fuyumi's face softened again.
"Okay. I just came by to talk to you about the family dinner dad is holding next week."
Kyoya's look went to the drawer where the invitation had been thrown into a few days earlier.
"I think you should come."
"After what they have done to Ai, no."
"Listen Kyoya I think it would do you good. Both of you."
How? No has ever come out of that part of the family.
"Besides Ai has already accepted the invitation."
Kyoya looked shocked at her. Then he sighed.
"I guess I don't have much choice than."
I will never understand her determination to be involved with them.
"One would never guess she was seven months pregnant."
"No, she looks nine, maybe ten even."
The parrots snickered and Ai tried to ignore them. They didn't know she was carrying twins. She caught Fuyumi's look and they smiled to one another. The four women were sitting together drinking tea with the men on the other side of the room.
"It's so nice to not have to talk about work, work, work like the men."
"But Hiromi some women like playing men sometimes. Maybe Ai would be more comfortable sitting over there."
"Would you Ai? Then you could talk about corporations to your hearts content."
"You know, just because you two don't understand something, you shouldn't look down on those smart enough that they do."
Ai smiled gratefully to Fuyumi, who just continued to drink her tea. The parrots looked insulted at one another, but they kept their beaks shut. The door opened and a servant entered. Doctor Ootori got to his feet.
"Yes."
"There is a man here doctor."
"I said no business today."
"He's not for you."
The three other men got to their feet, but the servant just shock his head. Then he turned and walked over to Ai.
"He says he's sorry for coming here, but he wants to talk to you Mrs Ootori."
With Fuyumi's help Ai got to her feet.
"Excuse me."
Then she followed the servant out into the hall. The man was quite splendid dressed. He saw Ai and bowed.
"Ootori Ai Fuhuri?"
"Yes."
"Here."
He gave her a letter and Ai read it. Then she smiled and folded it again.
"I would be honoured. Please send the details to my house as soon as possible and after the birth I will talk to him if that is sufficient."
"He would be honoured. He knows about your situation and sends his congratulations."
"Thank you."
Then he turned and left.
Ai was smiling as she walked back into the room. She could tell everyone was dying to know.
"I'm sorry for the interruption Doctor."
"Don't think about it Ai."
Then she walked over and sat down again. Kyoya walked over and sat down next to her.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yes Kyoya, splendid. That was just the emperor asking me to be the head chef for his daughters wedding in six months."