"Kouen." I managed to call without griting my teeth.
Just wait till I get my hands on that no-good-pervy-procrastinating-son- of-a-stupid-goateed-idot; inwardly scowling and wonder just how long he was planning on hiding from the blueprints that were due yesterday!
The door abruptly slammed open, startling me, and a bearded man strode in- a worried Koumei scurried in behind him.
"Where is he?!" The man bellowed, his black beard speak on his large chest as he carefully studied the room, eyes falling on me. "Well?" He demanded expectantly.
Curiously, and pondering if he was referring to Kouen, I decided to ask for clarification. "Just to be clear, are you looking for Kouen-san?"
The man snorted. "Yes, now tell me his whereabouts."
Before I kould open my mouth, Koumei nervously replied; "Father, I told you, he is at a meeting."
"Do not take me for a fool, I recall no such thing and if you dare suggest old age I assure you that I will not be leaving this world anytime soon." He practically snarled.
Remembering that their father was the dictator and the strained relationship I had gotten when inquiring about their father the younger Eren's either grimaced or scowled- Kouen more so- and how Kouen explained how against his father was with he first attempted to marry.
"I'm here." Kouen grunted stepping out of his hiding place and tightening his tie, with a deep frown. "What do you want father?" He spat.
"I have told you multiple times what I desire, yet you stubbornly refuse to listen to your father with a childish grudge!"
Should I leave? I glanced at Koumei, glancing at Kouemi worriedly when Kouen's nostril's flared in anger; he began assisting me to leave the room when his father cast a glare our way. Or not, I could stay here and estimate the money needed for repairs when you two are done bringing the apocalypse with a staring contest- oh wait did I say staring, I ment glaring.
"Are you attending Hakuryuu's birthday party?" Kouen suddenly asked.
Right, that was tonight.
"I'm afraid not." The man answered, almost solemnly. "Do not avoid me any longer." He glanced at me curiously before walking out.
Kouen sighed, waving off Koumei's soft apology beckoning me closer. Obediently I walked into his embrace and he let out a small sigh as he rested his chin on my head.
I really love his goatee, but I would never give helium to that balloon known as his ego.
"What are you wearing to the party tonight?" He fingered the buttons to the coat I had yet to take off since I was running around trying to restore files that had gotten mixed up by the testing division.
"Clothes." I answered vaguely.
"Koumei tells me that you and Sarah are helping him get ready."
I laughed. "Well, Kouha asked since he seemed to have some grand outfit planned out for him and the birthday boy."
I could feel his pout when he kissed my neck. "I'm going to be lonely, who's going to help me get ready?"
"Kougyoku, and Hakuei." I answered, then started to tease; "If I did they would be waiting on us and we won't get to see all the stuck up nobels with their snotty noses smile up to you guys." I grumbled out the last part.
"I could get rid of them if you want." He offered.
"Don't bother." I kissed his cheek, happy that he would do something like that for me.
"I heard from a little birdie..." Kouen grinned, nibbling on my ear. " that your birthday is next week." He purred.
"How did you find out?" My eyebrows were raised in surprised as I attempted to look back at him.
"Information is an easy thing to get when you're a prince." He shrugged.
Rolling my eyes I sighed. Of course he would go through all the trouble to find some personal information- and he no doubt forgot and forced Koumei to remember it for him. "No presents."
"Too late."
"What did you do?"
"Its a surprise." Another kiss. "I think I was a little rough last time. "He muttered pulling back the fabric to revealed what I was positive a bruise on my neck and some teeth marks surrounding it.
"Its not that bad."
He huffed. "Guess I'll have to try harder."
No you idiot! Its hard enough hiding those hickeys already! Oh Gods above why are you doing this to me?
The moment after Kouen roughly awoke Koumei and he caught sight of Sarah grinning down at him as she began to open her cosmetics bag with a malevolent aura that caused the red haired man to bolt into his room- with more energy than I had ever seen him exhibit, causing me to dash after him and wedge my foot between the door and pry it open so Koume could be ready at a reasonable time.
"Stop acting like a child!" I chided, attempting to pull the door open further as my muscles pleaded my brain to come up with a rational solution that didn't end with me clobbering sense into the man.
Koumei, suddenly the incarnate of Chuck Norris, pulled harder almost squishing my fingers between the door. "Stop insinuating cruel and unusual punishment!"
Another hand joined my effort and a bewildered Koumei stumbled forward as a black haired man glanced to at Koumei in slight amusement.
"Hot!" Sarah gasped.
"Uh...did Hakuryuu have a growth spurt, because that's totally unfair." I asked looking back and forth between the two.
A chorus of laughs reached my ears as another man with a similar mole on his chin grinned at me. "He's funny." Striding over to me the older clone of Hakuryuu pulled at my cheeks. "So this is the cutie Kouen is dating."
"Hakuren, Please." The taller reprimanded gently, turning back to me he explained; "We're Hakuryuu's brothers, as well as step brothers to Kouen and his siblings. We have heard much about you- it's a pleasure to finally meet you." He gave a small bow and a charming smile.
"Also we monitor stock and sales between countries, so we work with you!" Hakuren added cheerfully.
Wait...are these the guys...that actually do their work? Throwing my arms up I embraced them with a sob. "Why can't Kouen be socially appealing like you two, and hget his work done on time!" I don't know how they interpreted my wails but they chuckled, and Hakuryuu poked his head out Kouha's door.
"Broth- waaaaahhhhh!" He yelped as a hand covered his mouth and pulled him back into Kouha's room.
"Was that Hakuryuu?" Hakurem laughed. "Looks like Kouha got hold of him." Stepong out of my embrace he turned to Kouen. "Gykoken is coming."
That earned a scowl as Kouen began to walk into his room. "I'm not going."
"Kouen, its Hakuryuu's birthday, you should go." I attempted reason wondering who would make Kouen...well now that I think about it social outing and Ren aren't the most synonymous, but still.
With a scowl he slammed the door behind him, ignoring my attempt to convince him otherwise.
I caught Koumei sneaking back into his room, snatching the collar of his shirt I started to pull him into the bathroom, Sarah skipping after us as I growled. "Koumei I swear I'll rip the head off every pigeon statue you own and burn them if you don't behave!"
"You're so mean!" He sobbed, complying now that his precious vermin were in danger.
It's your own damn fault! Oh gods above why do I have to babysit these people!?
"Kouen." I called opening the door warily, hoping he still wasn't upset. "Are you alright?"
He sat at the small cubicle in his room typing away on the projected keypad. "No."
Avoid stray clothes that were thrown about haphazardly- ignoring the hot sauce he had probably been too lazy to put away- I wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders and kissed his messy hair. "You don't have to go- the others will miss you though."
"Stay?" He looked up, deciding that tilting at such an angle would leave him sore he spun around in his chair and pulled me into his lap. Inhaling deeply he smiled. "What Cologne is that?"
"You like it?"
He nipped my exposed collarbone.
I laughed, pulling a comb out of his AI storage system.
"You know sexy, you could just ask! I'd even bend over for you!" LARRY laughed, earning a growl from Kouen. "Chill your balls dude, the most I could do is Banff him with my metaphorical-"
"Larry, does Kouen have an outfit for today." I interjected, not interested in what vulgar things the quirky AI had to say despite blushing at his comment.
"I believe sir Alibaba does not fond your comment amusing." Dave offered.
"Oh suck it, and come back online when you get that stick out of your ass." Larry scoffed.
"I do not believe I have an anus. And that would be horribly painful." Dave replied impassively.
"Wow stick in the mud-"
"I thought is was in an anus?"
"Its a phrase for crying out loud!"
"I believe that is what you are doing now."
"Fuck! Its godamn stinking seventy two degrees outside - here's some cl Larry finnaly growled.
I flipped through the display and settled on an outfit. Kouen glanced at the dark sunglasses with an amused smirk. "I forgot I had those." He admitted, obscuring his eyes with the amber orange lens.
Would it be weird if I said he was undeniably sexy, or has the devine gods of love finally made my life not suck!?
I looked around the room, sighing as I refrained from howling at a very tremulous employee who was quivering under my gaze when I commented on his mistake - which were that he had managed to break three glasses in a row between tripping over a seat. Scampering off I sighed in relief as the mess was quickly fixed and guest began arriving.
"Alibaba."
"Hello Seishuu, I didn't know you were coming." I waved to the tall man whose dreads loosely on his broad shoulders.
"I decided to drip by after returning from Riem, is Kouen running late?" He raised a eyebrow, scanning the room quickly.
"No, just Kouha and his usual extravagant plans." I laughed, and he let out a a small chuckle.
"I see- you've never met Hakuryuu's older brothers, have you."
"Actually they visited Hakuryuu this morning. Honestly its like one half of the Ren family was allowed to do their own thing like sleep during meetings, never finish papers until the day after, or lock themselves in their bedrooms for am entire week." I groaned.
"Alibaba." I turned at the call of my name, and Kouemi tuggged at the collar of his shirt. "Kouen needs to see you in his office."
I narrowed my eyes in confusion, "Is something wrong?" I inquired.
"Go, I'll take over." Sarah's sister gave me a sympathetic glance.
"Okay." Weird. I took the elevator a few floors up, knocking on the aquatex glass. "Kouen, its me, I'm coming in." My jaw nearly dropped when I opened the door. "What happened in here?" I glanced at the overturn and broken furniture, until my eyes landed on Kouen who only glanced at me placidly with a blackened eye. Immediately I rushed over to his side, trying to figure out how to ease the pain of the dark clouding on his skin. "What happened to you, do you need ice?" I fumbled with the door of the mini fridge as I stumbled over his broken desk lamp.
"Come here." He almost whispered, pulling me close onto his lap as he hurried his face into the crook of his neck. "Let me hold you." He mumbled.
I ran my finger in circles in an comforting attempt, but when a cold liquid dripped onto my shoulder I listened to the sound of his uneven breathing. "Kouen, please don't cry. Tell me what's wrong." I turned on his lap, wrapping my arms around his shoulders.
He shook his head and sniffled for a few minuets. "Reim." He sighed, tiredly pecking my lips. "And Kou." Another kiss, this time on my cheek. "Have been at odds these past few years."
I nodded, recalling the growing tension between the two nations. "Did your father do something?"
Kouen nodded, burying his face into my chest. "I'm supposed to marry...the high priestess Scheherazade."
What? I leaned back studying Kouen's expression as his eyes remained downcast on the carpet with bits of shattered glass scattered about. "Are you..." I cpoyuold barely force the words out as my hands trembled, tightening on Kouen's shirt. "Kouen." I sobbed. "Please...don't...please." Don't leave me, please.
"Alibaba..." A hand wove itself into my hair.
By the time the door opened I had resigned to staring out the window, below the cars drifted past on their routes, large, gentle hands shook me as I felt Kouen shift beneath me. Forcing myself to stand on my heavy legs that refused to work faster, I ignored Koumei and Kouen's whispers- staring down at the broken desk light I had stumbled over earlier; its metal stem twisted in a grotesque way, its shade crushed into it's bulb. Yet somehow I could relate to that broken lamp that was never to be repaired.
When asked Ugo if I could spend the night he gave me a kind, understanding smile while Aladdin guided me into his room by my hand, let me crawl onto the small mattress that had been mine from my previous sleepovers and felt Morgiana's familiar weight on my back as she embraced me in a hug.
Later in the middle of the night when I had started up at the ceiling my GCAIMS rang, and after a few minuets of halfhearted listening the device fell onto my chest.
My father had passed away.
Life really sucks.