Chapter 1 – To Be or Not To Be
The vows had already been exchanged. Here comes the new Mr. and Mrs. Aoshi Shinomori, fresh for the taking. Many people from both sides of the families whole-heartedly greeted and solemnly congratulated the couple on their wedding union. Most them said that they are a matched from heaven. From looks, connections, and good family background, there's no doubt the two were made for each other, born to spread another handsome line from both of their super influential, over-achieved families. They were the talk of the town for many months now. It will likely impossible for a single countrymen of theirs never know about the great union. Their families never lose a story to gossip and talk about.
Betrothed from birth, Aoshi and his new bride knew all about their responsibilities and roles being the heirs of their vast companies. And by honoring this sacred union, one step had already been done – combining the strength and great influence of both families. Many could see and mention that their union was based on business, but people cared nothing for it. They looked good at each other and the blessings behind their being heirs came along with it. In short, they were a perfect match.
Numerous numbers of broken hearts were laid behind them. Many swooned and mourned for having this bachelor finally tied so as with the beautiful bride. Their hopes had died after the exchange of marriage vows. It was no secret that the couple had physical looks to die for. Both of them were handsome people and along with that physical beauty had the brains to be proud with. They were bred for this, being the leaders of their powerful clan. They were known to be perfect with each other, even to the eyes of the reluctant, dishearten losers.
In the dept of the celebration, there was one soul hiding among the pillar that could not seem to enjoy the grand festive. She only crept closer to one of the said huge Greek pillars of the Shinomori mansion at the West garden, eyeing the lovely married couple with disappointment. It was understandable to know her reason. It was because she belonged to the group of those losers who quieted themselves, finally accepting the fate bestowed on them. She was among them, wearing the same mask to hide her pain, her heartache.
She loved Aoshi with all her heart since the beginning. If he only knew…..if he only dared to see it….if he only made an effort to get to know her…..maybe, maybe things would be a lot different. No. That will not be possible for Aoshi is known be a strict follower of right and honor, bound in his family's name, even most of the times it doesn't goes smooth on his way or to his sake. He will sacrifice everything just to honor the name of the Shinomoris to the high pedestal. Having a relationship with a low-life like her will be a great laugh to the world of high society and business. That was the bold truth. Compared to the great beauty he was holding in his arms at this very moment, she was just a peck of dust needed to be cleaned and forgotten.
Not once did she have had felt Aoshi's love interest on her. Only acquaintance, not even friendship.
Nothing, she said to herself. The battle of winning him over is forever lost. She just stood no chance at all against her. She ironically laughed of having entertained the thought that she could match her grace, wit and social standing. A commoner match against a princess – that gave her a momentarily shiver.
The glasses were impatiently tapped by their owners using spoons. They were calling for a good show; a wedding kiss was needed to be seen again. Tradition called for it. The couple didn't disappoint the excited crowd. They had kissed.
The woman behind the column had felt her heart plummeted to the ground upon seeing the joining of their lips. Aoshi's lips captured her luscious, red lips, tasting it with vigor. She could hear some men heartily yelling at them to stop the act, just so to save it to their marriage bed. Most of the guests laughed at the bold statement. The couple only smiled after that, still at each others gentle embrace.
She could no longer keep staring at the couple. It just hurt so much. Having to see your love of your life being forever locked to another embrace gave no further hope. The union should be honored, even though it hurts so much. A teardrop just rolled down to her left cheek. The poor, besotted woman whispered upon herself, convincing, to try to be happy for him, as a gift for their beautiful wedding.
Saying good-bye was the hardest thing to do even from afar.
As she was about to turn back towards her quarters, just to escape from this momentous pain in her heart, a young girl appeared. By the looks of it, she was also hiding behind the huge Greek pillar. But for what reasons?
She immediately wiped her tear from her pale face, hiding it on time so that the child would not have any idea of her pain. Feeling a bit frantic, she smiled just to aid the concealment of her sorrow. But hers was so poorly done.
"What's with the face?" Tsubame asked with great concern. She approached her and patted her arm to give comfort. "Is there something wrong?"
Still smiling with all her might, she only responded, "No."
"I sense a tear. You can't hide it from me." The youngster smugly assured as she crossed her arms to her chest.
"It's nothing, I assure you. Something stung my eye, 'tis all." She chortled afterwards. She couldn't believe she still had the power to lie to her friend. "There is nothing to worry about."
A girl only smirked and never pursued the topic further. She glimpsed at the celebrated couple just across the lawn. They were comfortably settled on an elevated platform, together with the bride's parents. Sad, Aoshi's parents couldn't see this momentous, grand event. They were now in heaven, together with their Maker. Behind the tables, they were settled like a newly crowned king and queen. It was so obvious from their looks and body languages.
"Why are you still doing here?" asked the older woman. "You should be out there, together with them, celebrating the wedding."
The girl sighed. "You think so?"
"Yes, of course, you silly. For one obvious reason, you are a Shinomori." She supplied.
The girl shrugged, pondering the words her older friend had just said. "Even so, I don't feel like celebrating."
Curious, she could only asked, "Why is that so? Did you have some arguments with your brother before the wedding?"
"Not really. I just don't feel like attending."
Tsubame was Aoshi's only sibling, his baby sister. Aged 11 and in a matter of months was about to step in the world of puberty, she already got a mature mind. He played a good role of being both her responsible parent and a loving brother. Some might call it that he over spoil her. Even so, she was not brought up to be a spoilt brat. She only gained the right to voice out and acted her thoughts, things that marked a Shinomori. She dearly loves her brother, and her brother reciprocated that precious emotion. Funny, most of the people around them never thought that he was capable of having that kind of emotion for he moved in a world of deceit and deviousness in the name of business success, but here he had proved them wrong. He could also love without showing much of the petty emotion. Just like he was showing at the tables, he was letting them all know that he was content and happy for what he had right now – his beautiful wife – by kissing and hugging her again.
"You should give your full support to your brother no matter how it sucks." Then she gave her a beaming smile. "You are his only family left. Your support is the best wedding gift you can give to him."
"I know that." She turned back against the guests and feast as she was about to look at the face of her friend. "And it makes me feel guilty of being not there beside him. I know that I should give him my full blessing and support but there is something about this union that I don't feel like celebrating. As if there is something wrong in this setting."
The older woman felt the same but she dared not to tell it to her young friend. "I think your brother's bride is easy to deal with." She glimpsed at the couple then turned back her attention to the young girl. "She seems pretty nice. All it takes is a good introducing and new days of honest bonding. Your brother will not choose a bitch to rule the house."
"That is not what I feared. I don't care if she's a bitch to me or what. She can have the house. I don't care. All I want to know if she truly……"
"Truly what?" The older woman crept closer.
There was a full minute before she finally answered. Many unknown visitors and busy servants passed by to their sides. She was a little reluctant to tell what she feels about the woman her big brother had just married. "Truly……loves my brother."
She had thought that also, if the woman really did love Aoshi. Even not, it was out of the question and care for her opinion to matter. They were dealing with an old tradition of marrying only their kinds – the rich and super influential kinds – just to preserve their heritage and high stance to the social norm. She got no say against the tradition that is why it hurt double.
Tsubame really loved his brother. She will be hurt on knowing that her brother will be tied on an arranged wedding for the benefit of their businesses. It was better not to marry at all in a loveless union. But she had no idea if her brother really had the bliss, same goes with his bride.
Just to end this crap, the older woman explained the situation to her. It was a surprise also to her that this very explanation could be the answer to soothe her aches. "Darling, you should look at the couple residing at the grand table right now." She turned the youngster to her back, cocked her head and made her peek to the married couple. "Do you see in their eyes that they don't love each other? They are smiling, laughing and embracing each other. There are enough proofs to dismantle your petty doubts, Tsubame."
"Easy for you to say," she softly mumbled but was also heard nonetheless. "Sure. You are right. I should be there beside him. I just hope that I could control my scowl and lighten my foul mood for his sake."
"Why? You still don't like his wife?"
"I don't care much about her. It will change if I happen to find out that he truly loves my brother. The possibility is there." She shrugged.
The older the woman smiled. At least there was a good chance for a better future with all of them living under one roof. "That's good. I had thought that you will not accept her as your sister-in-law. It's good to know that you have a room their in your heart for a change."
"I will be doing it for my brother," she beamed.
"How lucky your brother is. He should be proud on having you as his sister."
She smiled and nodded.
"I envy you because of that,"
Tsubame looked back to her friend with concern on her juvenile face. "Don't think about the past. It will only sour your mood."
If she only knew that her mood was already soured. Just standing and hiding somewhere in the corners had done it all. "Yes, I know. This is not the time for such trivial matters."
"You should think always that you are never alone." Then the girl clasped her hands and placed it above her own chest, near her heart. "I am here for you."
"Thanks. I always do think of that." She chortled. "Honest!" She made a gesture of crossing her heart just to prove that she's telling the truth.
The girl laughed. "Aoshi cares for you too."
After hearing that, she had gradually tamed her laugh. Maybe he did care about her…..but that was only once, at the very first time they had met.
The memories were still vivid to her mind. All the battering and the thrashing at the night of her almost lost hope had deeply affected her personality. She couldn't control her fear of the dark. That was one of the grievous consequences of that dreaded night. When she's in dark, she could still feel the hands of her oppressor roaming and taking most of his fill. She could also still taste the blood from her mouth. Her imagination for that night was so strong. Sometimes, it was hard for her to sleep at night. The natural darkness of the night seemed to affect her so much.
She gave a brief nod to Tsubame, as if she was agreeing with what the young chit said.
Tsubame took her hand and squeezed it tight. "Come with me. Let's celebrate Aoshi's wedding there with him." She honestly pleaded. "I'm afraid I have to walk alone in front of everybody else, staring at me as I will claim my seat. What a pain in the ass."
"Shush! Don't swear, Tsubame. It isn't lady-like." She reprimanded.
"Oh my…..here we go again." She rolled her eyes.
Both women laughed. "No. I can't be there. I don't belong out there." Tsubame gave a disappointing look. "And besides, Mrs. Craven asked for my help to finish preparing for the desserts. You know what chaos they might be having there right now without me. Not a pretty sight, you know." Then she meaningfully winked at her.
The young girl chuckled. "Yeah. I can imagine it now."
The older woman pushed Tsubame towards the celebrating crowd and waved a hand. "You go there now. Be happy with your brother and his new wife. I'll be alright. I'll just see you after the celebration."
Tsubame waved back with a smile in her juvenile, angelic face. "I'll see you later! Thanks, Misao-chan."
"Our guests are pretty impressed with our show, Aoshi." The woman seductively whispered to his ear.
"Let me remind you that this isn't a show, Megumi, it is our wedding." Aoshi said then sipped his wine languidly.
"I know that, dear. I was pointing it out figuratively." She retorted, giving him a mocking stare.
Aoshi only sighed. Then there was it again, the crowd wanted another kiss to be performed by them. When will they ever give up? But that doesn't matter. He enjoyed kissing the hellion's red lips, anyway. She tasted like this wine he was now sipping, one of his favorites. Later, in their marriage bed, he will take all what she can give, 'sipping' it all away from her with full vigor and virility.
He could see now in his wedding some men eyeing him with fierce regard. Was it because of her union with him? Megumi Takani had created a huge club of broken hearts by marrying him. But he wasn't clean on that part too. He too had a similar crime. He had produced numerous dishearten maidens, widows and liberated women to cry sorrowfully for loosing him in the marriage market. He's no longer available to them. He only now belongs to Megumi Takani's bed.
They were destined to be together, as his late parents had said. The Takani family had a close tie with the Shinomori family for many years now since the dawn of 20th century. They had gone and share several businesses that made them unbeatable often times. For instance, the Shinomoris owned the sea and the air by various shipping lines while the Takani owned the land and the medicine industry by farming and medicine research that always been proved to be successful. Together, nothing can stand up against their tandem.
He told himself that he had done a wise decision on combining their families. Their late parents will be proud of him. He had courted her through the years, given her all the things she wanted from him and had been a good lover to her. In stepping into marriage will seal their good future. He had promised to their late parents on doing the deed. He must marry Megumi, produce a legal heir and live a happy life.
Did he love her? Most likely, yes. She is all what he dreamt for a wife – beautiful, sexy, and lustrous and……what? Ah! Yes, they shared the same coldness and sarcasms in life. She too had the wits of an independent, intelligent and fiery woman that he fond most alluring. Megumi is the only woman he will need for his entire life. Only her……this must be love.
Most of times in their making love, he could not surpass her stamina. She wanted more from him, multiple glorious orgasms. He chortled. She got a voracious appetite for sex, one of the things that attract him to her. She is full of life and……naughtiness beyond his kind of expertise.
He must have loved her……and lusted after.
Aoshi smiled through his musing.
"What made you smile, darling?" Megumi asked as she snaked her hand to his thighs under the table. Then she gently squeezed his cock. "Is this what you have been thinking?"
Aoshi softly moaned. "You know me too well, Megumi."
"I know what drives you nuts, Aoshi. Only I can give you that."
Aoshi looked at her with smoldering eyes. "Only you, my dear."
"Do you love me, Aoshi?" Megumi suddenly asked, and then she caressed his cock further with much languid circular motion.
Aoshi groaned. "This is not fair. You are influencing me with your 'magical touch'."
"With my magical touch or not, I need to hear it from you."
"Megumi……your parents are here…..they might see our…."
"I want your pledge, Aoshi. Do you love me? I want to know right here, right now." She huskily murmured to his ear.
"Y….Yes, Megumi. I love you. I had fallen-in-you with you the first time my eyes laid on you." He meekly confessed.
"Liar. You have loved me the first time YOU LAID ON TOP OF ME." She smirked afterwards.
"Even so, the outcome is still the same." Aoshi wickedly replied.
"Bastard," she hissed, giving him a good playful dare. Then she squeezed his cock again, making him enjoy more of her 'magical touch'.
"Witch," he murmured back. "And you? Do you love me?"
Neither of them had noticed Tsubame's arrival to their table. They were half-startled when she spoke to declare her presence to them.
"Having a good time?" Tsubame asked.
Aoshi had a decency to blush a little while Megumi had none. His wife said hello to his new sister-in-law. "Where have you been? We were looking for you."
"Sorry for being away. I had my very own 'business' to take care of first. I hope you didn't miss all the fun while I am away."
Megumi hugged her husband. "We didn't miss it. Now that you are here, it will be more fun to us."
"What do you mean by that?" One of Tsubame's eyebrows was raised.
"There is no meaning to that, Tsubame." Aoshi ended the conversation. "Come here, celebrate with us." He cajoled her little sister to sit beside him.
The little maiden came to his side and became a proper lady a groom would ever want for his sister.
"Lovely couple isn't?" a voice was heard near the trellis, full of white orchids.
Misao was startled upon hearing a man's voice. She was about to enter the outside kitchen premise when she heard him. She stood there a second then decided to leave. She got plenty of things to do just to escape from her heart ache.
"What's with the rush?" The man behind the trellis asked her with such annoying arrogance.
"I have lots to do, sir. I got no time to mingle with the guess. I am not a guest here but a simple servant of the Mansion. Good day, sir." She immediately ended their conversation.
"Are you afraid of me? I don't bite, that I know." The man teased.
She stopped from walking towards the kitchen and gave him a fierce stare. "May I suggest that you find other maidens here for you to freely dally with? I am not up to the challenge, sir. If you will excuse me…"
"I don't want to talk to those brainless chits." Then he moved towards her but stopped as soon as he reached the spot where he can see her see her clearly and not invading her private space. "That is why I want to talk to you."
"I am not the only one here that got brains, sir." She countered back.
"I know that. But yours can simply not to be compared to them. I want honesty in our talking, not flattery."
"And you think that you don't do the same?"
"Ah! Such fierceness you have it there, Ms?"
She didn't answer. She turned back against him and hastily went towards the Mansion's outer kitchen.
"What is your name, demoiselle?" The man inquired, almost yelling.
"You don't want to know, sir." She yelled back. "I don't belong to your class."
"In case you want to know my identity, I am Soujiro Seta, close cousin of the groom and Ms. Tsubame Shinomori."
She instantly stopped. The name sounds familiar. At one time, Tsubame did mention to her that they have a cousin by that name. Suddenly, shame rushed through her. How could she be so rude, especially to a man with connection with the Shinomoris?
She turned around and gave him a slight, gentle bow. This was with full honesty. "I am so sorry for being so rude, sir. Try to understand my station. I should not suppose to be mingling with the upper class."
"And why I have this notion that you disobey this very rule of yours when you are near my cousin Tsubame?" He cocked his head to the side and smirked. "Do you take advantage of her youthful mind?"
"I do not!" she strongly stated.
"Forgive me. It was not my intention to accuse you of using people." Then he gave her a friendly smile. "And besides, people will think twice or even many times before they make a Shinomori a fool. Care to forget this little argument?"
She hesitated first. But after seeing his angelic smile, her fiery side subsided. All this young man wanted from her is a good conversation, 'tis all. Or is it?
"And forgive my temper. It must be the heat of the sun."
"Yes, yes. I thought it also. Well, now that we have forgiven each other, may I know the name of the fiery lady?" he gave a slight nod then smiled again. When will he stop doing that? He is always smiling, she said to herself.
Somehow, it began to annoy her but at the same time made her curious about his personality. He is not like his cousin Aoshi…..He is not Aoshi.
"My name is Makimachi Misao."
tbc...
A/N: Who would you want to have misao's hand? Aoshi, Soujiro or other young males out there that I still haven't mentioned yet:D thanks for reading it.