"Please go right in, Xander. He's expecting you."
He could hear Kagero speak through the doors of his office. Everything sounded louder than it actually was, and his head wouldn't stop pounding. Sitting back in his chair behind the large desk, his right arms rested over his closed eyes in hopes of blocking out any residual light that tried to seep in.
Hearing the doors creak open and then slide shut, footsteps growing louder and causing the pounding in his head to worsen, he threw his arm down and opened his eyes, glancing to the right to see a tall, handsome blonde standing in front of him, the white suit he donned hurting his eyes.
"White looks tacky on you."
Chuckling as he stood there, dropping his head for a moment before observing the long-haired Asian, the blonde couldn't help but relax and side his pale hands into his pockets. "Good to see you too Ryoma. Kagero whispered to me you've been having those migraines again. Judging by how… shady your office is, I'm going to go ahead and guess that she wasn't joking."
"Does she ever joke?" Ryoma whines, leaning forward with both hands gripping his desk. "Regardless, I'm glad you came."
Clicking his tongue, Xander's eyes went to the window behind the brunette. "She jokes. Mostly only with you. How are the wedding plans coming, anyways? Done yet? The wedding's when, two months from now?"
"Yep. July 19th, 8 weeks. I can't believe it's almost here…"
Cocking his head to the side, Xander smiles to him. "Don't tell me you're getting cold feet."
"Nothing like that. I just…" He trails off, carefully contemplating his words. "Just can't believe it's coming up so fast. I mean, I'm 28, we've been together since I was 17. And now, we're finally getting married. Even then, I don't feel excited about it. It feels more like a chore."
"Marriage, a chore? Oh please do tell." Xander japed, laughing when Ryoma scrunched his face up and sneered. "Anyways, you wanted to see me for a reason, and here I am. So what is going on, dear friend?"
He wants to argue, bring up Xander's old girlfriend, but bringing up Selena at something he knew was a just a joke at his expense? He decided against it and instead straightened up in an attempt to make himself look presentable.
"Remember that guys who was released on false conviction two years ago, the sexual assault case we reported for?" Ryoma asked, seeing Xander nod. "Well, he went and talked to a few of my journalists, claiming everything we ever published about it was pure fraud, which it wasn't. We told the facts as the police presented to us, and the statements he made that were captured on film. Everything that ever came out of my company was stated fact. So now the bastard's gone and written a book about how we helped incriminate him, and slandered his good name and now he's trying to sue us for slander and... what's the word? Defamation?" He waves his hands as if to scrap the words. "Not important." He pauses, hands overlapping as he squeezes his them together. "Think you could help me out?"
"He's not seriously pursuing this, is he?" Xander asked, bewildered.
Shaking his head, the head of the publishing firm leans back and closes his eyes. "Far as I know, he is."
"That's hilarious. He wants you to pay damages or something? Put his good name back in action?"
Ryoma shakes his head again before he responds. "I'm not sure. Either way, I'd rather not have to deal with all the crap that this will generate. Can you help me out or not?"
Xander shrugs, leaning back as he rests his hands in his lap. Becoming comfortable, his hazel eyes scan the room once more, noticing a tiny dent in the wall to his right. "I'll talk to Camilla. You know she's capable." He responds, getting up to leave.
"Xander. I asked for you, not your sister."
Before he turns around, the blonde stares at the floor. Then the ceiling. Then the windows past Ryoma. The floor again, and then to the brunette. "I'll think about it. I'll get back to you in a few days. See you."
"See you guys next week!" Corrin calls back to the boys, waving to them as she climbs into her mother's sedan.
They wave back, smiling wide as they stand side by side and send her off. Sun getting low, Leo looks to the sunset in the west and exhales heavily. It's not a sigh, but it doesn't go unnoticed by Takumi.
"Something wrong?"
Leo crouches down, planting his butt on the steps of the entryway to the tawny-haired bass-player's home. "Just thinking." He answers, shivering briefly before Takumi sits beside him. "It's weird I guess. Corrin seeing my sister, it kind of freaks me out."
"Corrin seeing your sister? What?"
Leo faces him, glancing away, distracted. "I don't know, they're sort of seeing each other? It's weird and freaks me out a bit. I mean, Camilla is 24, and Corrin's 18. It's weird." He rants, crossing his arms over his legs. "Either that or Camilla is just obsessed with her. Beats me. I don't care."
"You can say that all you want, but you obviously do care." Takumi retorts, nudging the blonde in the side. "Hey, did you want to stay for supper, or do you need to get back? Ryoma had Kagero call and apparently he won't be home for a bit since they're going to her place, and Sakura is out with Hana and Elise, so she probably won't be back for a few hours yet."
Leo shrugged. "What about Hinoka?"
"She's working nights for three weeks." Takumi griped, rising up from the steps. "Come on, I'll make whatever you want."
"Last time you cooked for me, you practically poisoned me." Leo complained, rising up and placing his hands on his hips. "If anything, I'll stay, but I'm cooking."
"Fine!" Takumi throws his hands up, a smile growing wide on his face. "Twist my arm some more, why don't you!"
"Shut up…" Leo grumbles, following Takumi back inside. "You dork."
"Mr. Hoshido, sir. We're ready to leave at once, but I'd like to advise waiting for the security detail!"
Walking side beside with Kagero, his focus is distracted at hearing his name called. "I beg your pardon?"
"Maybe it's just a precaution, I'm sure it's fine, Ryo…" Kagero trails off, staring out the glass front to the firm. "Maybe he's right, Ryoma. Look." She orders him, pointing at the clamor that's gathered outside.
Reporters, journalists, the two of them even recognize a few members of the crowd, all waiting with cameras, pens, pencils, tape recorders ready to capture whatever is said as soon as they leave the structure.
"It's 7 pm. Why are they here?" He questions, eyes glaring daggers as he inhales and exhales deeply, nodding to the team of five security guards who've now arrived. He grabs Kagero's arm and looks her in the eyes. "Either say nothing or say 'no comment,' alright?"
She nods to him, and they proceed to exit the 87-storey building made of metal and glass, though the palace still falls down around them.
A/N: I AM NOT A LEGAL PROFESSIONAL and I'm taking these uh… case facts, I guess you can call them, from my Intro to Law for Canadian Business course. It's a poor example, but whatever. Things'll pick up anyways, regardless. Anyways. So this is a thing. Enjoy.
Oh the things you make me do, Fen. You're either laughing at me or screaming at me, I'm sure.