Alright, here's the next chapter of my story, I hope you all enjoy it.
I want to thank Katsura tree, Cake-san, and Just obsessed for reviewing my story.
Now that all formalities are over, go read and enjoy this chapter!
It was the Monday after I had gone to see Mr. Ohtori, and the past six days have been pretty rough. After dad gotten back from signing the papers he gave me a long lecture about the role of women and not meddling in other people's business, which ended with us fighting again. Then Wednesday morning, mom yelled at me for going behind my dad's back and manipulating him to accept the offer.
So starting after school that day, I've been staying with my friend Kiyomi in order to let my parents cool down and come to grips with our new reality. And honestly, I need some time to come to grips too.
School had ended today and I had already finished my homework. I sat in Kiyomi's backyard on a little wooden arched foot bridge that went over their coy pond with my bare feet dangling a few inches above the cool clear water.
A slight breeze was blowing as I sat there, pondering over my problems: I need to make up with my parents, I miss my brother and sister, I can't intrude on the Murakami's forever, and then there's Kyoya.
Making up with my parents is a simple matter of swallowing my pride and and asking for forgiveness; on the other hand, Kyoya is... Kyoya is... "Kyoya is impossible!" I sighed, burying my face into my hands.
I felt a few hot tears rolling down my cheeks, I immediately wiped them away. I chose this path, now I must continue to put up a strong front.
I spent the next half hour fighting back tears, then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see Kiyomi standing next to me.
"Is something wrong?" She asked quietly.
I nodded and she sat down next to me. I took a deep breath before plunging into the whole story, starting with Sakura's attack three weeks ago and ending with the fights between me and my parents.
After I finished my story we just sat silently, starring at the reflection of the fiery sunset on the water.
I turned my head and looked at Kiyomi before turning my face back to the water and saying bitterly, "I was so worried about loosing Sakura that I really didn't think that much about marrying Kyoya. But now that it's official, it's like a smack in the face; I barely know Kyoya.
"Sure I'm comfortable talking with him because we've been acquaintances since childhood, but I actually don't know that much about him. Every time I try to talk to him he just makes small talk and is stiflingly polite because of who my parents are. It's like he's always wearing a mask, and I don't want to marry a mask!"
I wiped away a few tears that had started to form in the corners of my eyes as Kiyomi put her arm around my shoulder and said. "It's going to be okay. Yuka and I will help you get to know the real Kyoya."
"Thanks Kiyomi. You're the best," I said while smiling at my friend.
Kiyomi smiled back and said, "I know. But before we worry about Kyoya, you have to make up with your parents."
I nodded and stood up. "Hey, Kiyomi. Can I get a ride home?"
"Of course," Kiyomi said, popping up from the ground, leading me to the limo with a huge smile on her face.
XXXXXXX
When I got home I told my parents that I was sorry and both my mom and I broke into tears; all was forgiven. It was then agreed that I would have my parents' support regarding my engagement which lifted a lot of unspoken pressure off my shoulders, making me unusually cheerful the next day.
I past notes with Kiyomi during class, I let Yuka steal my dessert during lunch, and I even let Yuka lick the spoon during cooking class.
"I see that you've finally made up with your parents," Yuka commented as we wandered aimlessly through the halls.
"Yep," I said while swinging my bag around my wrist.
"Why don't you tell Yuka about your participation in that business contract. Which was the reason you were fighting with your parents," Kiyomi said, elbowing me in the side.
"Ooo! I wanna know! I wanna know! I wanna know!" Yuka said.
"Okay," I replied. Looking around I saw that we were right next to Kiyomi's and my class room. Since all the class were over it was empty. "Over here," I said leading my friends into the class room.
Once we were all settled Kiyomi and I explained the situation to Yuka. When we got to the part about me being engaged to Kyoya, Yuka swooned. "Eeeeek! You get to have a host as your boyfriend slash fiancee! You're so lucky!"
"I knew you would say that," Kiyomi deadpanned while I laughed at Yuka's predictable reaction.
I whipped tears from my eyes while saying, "anyways, Yuka, I was wondering if you could help me learn more about Kyoya. You have connections with tons of fangirls so it would be easiest for you to get info."
"Sure thing, Madoka. But why do you want info on Kyoya?"
"Because after agreeing to marry Kyoya, she realized that she barley knows anything about him," Kiyomi commented dryly.
Yuka opened her mouth to comment when a thump echoed out side the door. All three of us glanced at each other before silently running to the door. We were all thinking the same thing; eavesdropper!
Kiyomi jerked open the door and a boy fell onto the floor. Yuka and I each grabbed an arm and pinned the boy against the wall. We looked up at the boy and gasped, "Tamkai?! What are you doing here?"
"I came here to ask if you had decided which host you want to escort you home when I heard you talking about how you're nervous about marrying Kyoya because you don't know him that well," Tamaki sniffed.
Yuka and I released Tamaki, my face had turned red with embarrassment while Yuka's eyes had turned into hearts.
Tamaki noticed and he grabbed Yuka's hand, kissed it, and softly said, "princess, I can't help but feel sorry for your friend. Will you be kind enough as to convince her to let me help you three learn more about Kyoya?"
"Uh-huh," Yuka whispered while Kiyomi and I just rolled our eyes.
"I appreciate the offer, Tamaki, but I just don't want Kyoya to know. If you get involved, Kyoya will know for sure," I said sternly.
"But!" Tamaki pleaded.
"No but's!" I snapped. Then I smiled and sweetly said, "please don't tell Kyoya what you heard. Could you do that for me?"
Tamaki smiled and bowed while saying, "I'd do anything for you, princess."
"Thanks," I said. Then My friends and I excused ourselves saying that we had to go home.
As we walked down the halls, Tamaki came running after us calling, "Wait! You never told me who you want to escort you home!"
I didn't stop to answer, I didn't even turn my head. I just said, "Isn't it obvious? Kyoya!"
xKYOYAx
It was another typical day at the host club. Today had just been a meeting so everyone was just lazing around, except for Tamaki. He had disappeared an half hour ago to ask Madoka which host she wanted to have escort her home after the ball this Friday.
I don't know why Tamaki bothered asking; from all the information I've gathered and from personal experience, I know that Madoka Yamada is a kind-hearted, loyal girl with a strong sense of duty. This means that she will choose me because we're engaged.
The double doors leading to the host club burst open as a blond streak flew through the room. With my note book in hand, I sighed and walked over to the blond streak, otherwise known as Tamaki.
"I assume you asked Miss Yamada whom she wishes to escort her home, right Tamaki?" I asked.
"Yes, she said that she wouldn't have anyone but you!" The blond idiot said while spinning around in a fantasy. "It's such a romantic story! Two childhood friends are forced to marry and from the second they're engaged they are completely loyal to each other! You truly are a lucky man, Kyoya!" Tamaki blubbered while shaking my hand.
"That's enough of your delusions," I said while ripping my hand out of Tamaki's grasp and promptly hitting him on the head once it was free.
While Tamaki whined about me hitting him on the head, the two devil twins slunk over to us. "I can't believe that innocent little brown-eyed girl agreed to marry you," Hikaru said while leaning onto the back of a chair with his brother.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked coldly while glaring at the twins.
"Oh, nothing," Kaoru said flippantly. "It's just that Madoka is lively and cheerful while you're just plain,"
"cold," Hikaru finished with Kaoru.
"I don't remember asking for your opinion," I said icily while flipping through my notebook.
"I don't understand why rich people feel it necessary to betroth their children in order to ensure the success of their business deals," Haruhi commented from her seat at a near by table. She looked totally bored to death as she sat there with her chin in her hands and her elbows on the table.
"Commoners like you couldn't possibly understand the complexities of higher end business deals," I said while closing my notebook with a thump.
"Obviously not," she muttered.
"So with Miss Yamada choosing her escort all the details for the ball have been completed?" I asked. Everyone nodded their heads yes in answer. I gave one of my famous smiles before saying, "then we're all ready for the ball!"
So, all of you who have been reading my story up to now probably realized that I've inserted section breaks into this chapter. Well, I hadn't realized it till last chapter but the section breaks I had been inserting were being auto erased on me because I was using a symbol instead of a letter. (I thought it had looked better) So from now on I'm back to using X's, I even went back to all the other chapters and fixed them. (Talk about a pain in the rear)
Anyways, I hope you'll excuse that silly mistake and I really hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Next time: The Ball.
-Karolyn Grace