Chapter 9
The next morning was a complete disaster. All everyone was talking about was the death of my parents and the impact on everyone else. They even had an Echizen Nanjiroh special, you know one of those biography specials and they also aired back-to-back replay of oyaji's old games. Not to mention, now that word got out about 'kaa-san's death, just like I predicted, the stock on our company has dropped considerably after the news of their death came out. The whole morning the phone was ringing constantly, all from reporters and television stations trying to get an interview with me. Eventually, we just unplugged the phone. At least they all had the decency not to swarm our house with cameras.
The rest of the morning was uneventful. Takahiro had taken up to installing our latest security system around the house and the temple so he could monitor the grounds, while Nanako and I had begun to finalize the preparations for the funeral and the wake, as well as informing others about the details. The hospital had already wiped the bodies clean and sent to our house. I know creepy right, but its tradition here. We set the bodies up at the temple behind our house, placed on dry ice, with incense, a candle, and flowers on a small table beside it
Unfortunately around lunchtime, the front of our house was packed with reporters trying to get interviews and fans dropping off flowers and lighting candles. Is it really so much to ask to be left alone when you're trying to grieve? I've tried my best to ignore the throng of people now situated at my front steps but it grows increasingly harder as the fans have taken it upon themselves to sing songs and the reporters are all sitting out there like ducks waiting for us to come out. Do these people have any deceny? Any respect?
Knock Knock Knock door opening
"Yousuuke-san. Welcome, please come in."
"Ryoma-sama. It's good to see you again. I'm sorry for your loss," He said as he bowed down in greeting. My heart grows heavier as I hear those words again. 'I'm sorry for your loss.' I better get used to it though; I'm going to be hearing it a lot from now on. I hope my face didn't betray my emotions. I wish I could just be a normal kid. Be selfish and allowed to grieve in my own way, but I can't I have to stand strong. I have to be strong. For everything that Okaa-san went through for our family, to leave this for me. I have to keep her legacy alive. I have to keep the Takeuchi's name and the Echizen name alive.
"I'm sure you know why I'm here." He continued on as he set his briefcase down onto the table. Yousuke is slightly shorter than Takahiro, standing at 5 feet 11 inches tall, with light brown hair and glasses framing his face. He's incredibly smart and an incredible lawyer. He attended Tokyo University and graduated at the top of his class. I'm not sure about this but I think he went to school with Okaa-san, I could be wrong though. He also attended Graduate school at Harvard Law in America and graduated as Magna Cum Laude. His law firm is one of the most prominent in Japan. In fact, I don't think he's ever lost a case before. He also is not someone to mess with. He's incredibly ruthless, if you're on his bad side, but he protects the people he loves and cares about with everything in him, like a certain tensai I know. He doesn't attack you physically or try to kill you or anything, but believe me, by the time he gets through with you; you'll wish you were dead.
"The will right? And all of the other legal matters regarding the estate." I say dryly to him as he pulled out some papers.
"Yes. It's fairly simple. Both of your parents left everything to you, the house, the money, the company, everything. However, it has been specifically stated that you are NOT to inherit any of the
aforementioned items until your eighteenth birthday and if you aren't eighteen, then it will all be left in the hands of your guardian, Nanako-san. She will make all the decisions in the company until you are ready to take over. Also, you cannot legally access your inheritance, Nanako-san will also hold on to this and can take out any amount that you may need." He said monotonously, shuffling through the papers in hand.
Damn it 'kaa-san! I laugh inwardly at this. It's so like 'kaa-san to do something like this. To consider all possible outcomes and to make sure the outcome was in her favour. Of course she would stipulate it in her will.
"Ryoma-kun, this is for the best. You shouldn't be joining the workforce at your age. You're fifteen you should do what kids your age do. Go out and have fun with your friends, play tennis, play your instruments," Said Takahiro.
I sit there silently brooding with a scowl apparent on my face. I watch and sit there as everyone tells me what I can and can't do. I can't believe this. This is MY future we're talking about and I can't have any say whatsoever regarding it. This is bullshit. I hate this. I have to sit here and listen to them babble on about my life, telling me what they think is best for me, that I should do this and that. It's so easy for them to say because they can do whatever they damn well feel like, while I have to watch everyone take over and control my life, my future. It's not fair!
"Ryoma, your mother would have wanted it this way. You know that. You know she wanted you to have a proper childhood. She didn't want you to take over the company at this age. You know very well she wanted you to spend time with all of your friends, that's why she insisted on enrolling you in Seigaku High. Please Ryoma-kun; trust me with the company. You don't know this, but oba-san has been very worried that something like this may happen, since her brother died so young as well. She's been showing me the ropes around her office. Things like what she does, what she checks up on. She's been showing me the most important parts of her job. She's also been entrusting the vice president with a lot of things, she's made sure that if something happened to her everything would be all right, that you would be taken care of," Said Nanako, placing a cup of tea on the table for me.
"Yadda! Everything's all messed up and their both gone and now you're telling me that I don't even have control over my own life. It's MY future you both are talking about. MY family's money and legacy that's at stake here and you all want me to sit back and have some fun and act like a normal kid." I say to them screaming as I stand up and prepare to storm out of the room.
However, before I'm able to take two steps away from the couch, Nanako brings me into a tight hug. "Ryoma-kun," she whispers softly.
Before I even know it, I say softly in a broken voice, "I-It's all I have left."
"Ryoma-kun, you still have me left. You're not alone Ryoma-kun, you still have family left, you still have a lot of people that care about you, that love you," she whispered softly, not letting go of me.
"But--I--Just…"
"Ryoma" she said in a more stern voice as she broke the hug to face me. "You are NOT ready to take over the company."
"I am ready! You're just saying that because I'm fifteen!" I say to her angry. I'm damn well smart enough to take over the company. I can do it.
"No, you're not. I know you have all the brains and you're smart enough to take over the company, but you're still not ready. Maybe it is because of your age that I'm saying this to you now, but I don't believe you are emotionally ready to take on the responsibility of a corporation as huge as your mother's. To tell you the truth, I don't even know if I'm ready to take on the whole company, but I'll do it, 'baa-san trusted me with this job and with the help of the VP, then I'm sure I can do it. I have to do it, for their sake as much as yours. So trust me with this Ryoma-kun."
I sighed in defeat and lowered my head. "Fine, I understand. I do trust you Nanako. I won't complain any longer about not being able to take over the company now." I should be used to this anyways. My whole life has been controlled. First it was because of Oyaji and tennis and then 'kaa-san's wishes. What else is new in my life? Have I ever had control over my own life before?
A/N:
Hey everyone. So how did all of you like this chapter? Please review! Sorry if there's any mistakes in this chapter, since I didn't proof-read it.