Misconceptions

Chapter Fourteen:
Transparent

Hana stomped her way through Burke's home and stumbled through his door. She snarled and glared at him. "You," she hissed. "You and that girl will be the death of me."

Burke sipped his tea calmly and slowly set down his cup as he fussed to straighten out in his chair. "Hana, how've you been? May I offer you some tea?"

"You can take your tea and shove it up your ass." She argued. "I want you out. I want you and your daughter out of my life, out of my son's life and out of this country! All she's done is ruin everything she touches."

"Hana, I am a man of respect but let me warn you not to speak of daughter in such a manner. You may insult me all you want but when it comes to Ayame you'll be a smart woman and keep your mouth shut."

She crossed her arms over her chest and held her head high. "I don't take well to threats, Mr. Burke. I especially don't like it when people head to my warning. If you're as smart as you think you are, then you'd leave Tokyo for good as soon as possible."

Burke sighed and took another sip of his tea before setting it down again. "Why should I move just to make you happy? What are you to me that I'd want to make you happy for any reason? Do you pay my bills, or perhaps do business with you? No, I don't. So why should I put my self in an uncomfortable situation just because you're a tad bit un happy?"

She slammed her hand onto his desk and leaned in as her other hand rest on her hip and shot him a vicious stare. "I don't like being made fun of, Mr. Burke. My bloodline has built this city to what it is today. I am of the royal Ookami-youkai bloodline. And what are you? You're nothing but a mere mortal—a weak, species of man."

"Ms. Hana, I don't like it when people wave their royal flags just because of their blood. These days' people marry into royalty. Blood is a strange coincidence between everything and every species. Just because you say you're royal doesn't make me respect you more than the homeless man down the street who tried to sell me his wash cloth this morning."

She lifted her upper lip in disgust. "Excuse me? Are you comparing me to that creature out there? Please, I'm higher than that. I'm amazed at how rude you are."

"You storm into my home spitting insult about my daughter and I and I'm the rude one in the room?"

She waved her hand in dismissal. "You're going to move Mr. Burke. You're going to move soon because I have the authorities wrapped around my little finger like a hungry herd of lions." She slipped on her designer Chanel sunglasses. And took a breath to ease herself into conversation again. "Now, unless you want Ayame to visit you in prison for the rest of your life, I suggest you buy a home somewhere quick. If you'd like I could get one of my real estate companies to help you out with that."

Burke smirked coolly and stood. "I could have you escorted out or you may leave freely. You can choose."

The door flung open and Ayame stepped into the room. "Dad I—Hana . . . what are you doing here?"

Hana glared at her through her designer shades and looked at her up and down as if she were judging her.

Ayame was usually calm and collected, but she couldn't even breathe the same air as Hana for another minute or she'd most likely implode. "Wait, don't tell me. You've come to ruin my father's life as well as mine."

"I don't like your tone, Ayame."

Ayame smiled at her fakely. "Don't call me that. My friends and family call me that. You are neither of those things. Since the moment I met you I could smell your hatred. Now you're on my turf and you've crossed the line. Now you can get out."

"Excuse me? You need to learn your manners, little girl. I can either make you or break you."

Ayame stepped closer to Hana. "Save your threats for someone who cares. You can make me miserable all you want but you leave my father out of this. Now you heard, you can get out or I'll be more than happy to drag you out."

Hana growled under her breath as she readjusted the strap of her purse on her shoulder. "Don't worry you little brat, I'm gone."

"Good." Ayame stared at the door till it was slammed shut by that walking skeleton. She rushed over to Burke. "You're okay, right? What did that witch say you? All she does is spread her evil around. It sickens me."

Burke suddenly laughed. "You handled your self well. I'm proud."

.o0o.

"Hey, Bitch," Carissa greeted Kouga as absently ran into him in the hall. "I know who you're looking for," she teased.

"Where's Ayame?" he finally asked.

Carissa shrugged. "Why don't you guess?"

Kouga sighed. He was in no mood for jokes. "Look, I don't want to play a game of I Spy, where is she?"

"Gee, someone woke up on the wrong side of the world. She's somewhere around here. She said she had to check out something. She didn't say what it was."

"Are you sure or are you just lying?"

"Don't be a fuck ass," Carissa countered. "I'm serious. She left and said she had to check something out."

With those words Kouga ran to the other side of the school.

"I thought Ayame said she was going to check out some art in the art studio?" Kagome asked Carissa.

She suddenly laughed. "I know, but he was being such an ass hole. I don't mind fucking with him a little bit."

Kagome rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You're evil beyond imagination, you know that, right?"

"I know—and it's fun!"

Meanwhile, Ayame was in the art hall looking over the student displays. She had originally wanted to go to the art studio to borrow some new pencils since she barely had an inch of lead left. However, the art was much more interesting than any pencil lead.

"Aren't you going to be late for class?" Ginta asked, surprising her.

Ayame jumped at his voice and spun around. "Ginta, you startled me. What are you doing here anyway?"

"I was on my way to class," he fibbed.

"Um, isn't our class room on the other side of the school?"

A blush crept up his cheeks.

Ayame looked behind her at a certain girl who was standing in the hall and laughing with two of her friends. She suddenly smiled and looked at Ginta. "Oh, I see. Ginta, you dog. I can't believe you had a crush on someone and I didn't even know about it. Who is she?"

"Her name is Vivien," he admitted. "She transferred from Romania a few weeks ago."

"Is she in our class or something?"

"No, I met her in the library a week ago. She needed help translating some stuff."

"You speak Romanian or whatever?"

"No, but she's fluent in English."

Ayame nodded and smacked his arm encouragingly. "Well go and get her," she offered as advice.

He shrugged and looked down at his shoes which he was dragging over the tiles of the floor.

"Wow, and here I was thinking the Ookami-youkai were fearless and unstoppable."

"Hey, when it comes to hunting or finding ten ways to kill a person in one sweep, I'm there. I'll even sniff out trail while stranded in the woods—but girls are a whole different story."

Ayame lifted a brow. It amused her how adorable Ginta could be when he was shy and bothered. She could see how flustered he was. "I thought you helped her translate something in the library."

"She actually came to me. Plus, it doesn't mean she likes me. I only helped her translate one thing for ten minutes."

"Well she's talking to her friends in Japanese—fluent Japanese at that. It doesn't seem like a girl who really needs help translating anything. I'm a girl, Ginta. Trust me. She probably did it because she like you too. Besides . . . she's coming this way . . . and she's waving in this direction—but I doubt it's me because I've never even seen her."

"Hi, again Ginta." Vivien greeted. She smiled at Ayame and bowed. "Hello, uh . . . Ginta's friend." She came face-to-face with Ginta once more. "I was wondering if you'd be in the library later. I got this worksheet in class and I need someone to help me translate and you were so helpful last time."

"Don't your friends help you translate anything?"

Ayame elbowed him in the ribs. "You have to excuse him. He's not feeling too well. He'll be there at four."

"Oh, okay." Vivien bowed to them. "Thanks, I'll see you later."

Ginta pouted and rubbed his soar ribs. "What was that for?"

Ayame shook her head. "—because you're an idiot!"

"Whatever, I'm going to class."

Ayame felt her elbow being grabbed as she was dragged into the nearest room. She squealed from surprise only to be faced with Kouga. She then stomped on his foot. "What are you doing?" She chastised. "You just scared ten years off my life." She took a deep breath to calm herself.

"Sorry," he spoke softly. "I just wanted to see you in private."

"Well you got your wish. Now what do you want? We're going to be late for class." He suddenly pressed his lips over hers. Ayame pushed away with a muffled yelp. "Kouga, what are you doing?"

"Look, I know you're really mad for what happened last time, but I swear I didn't know my mother was going to embarrass you like that."

"Well don't worry, she only embarrassed herself. I just wish you could work out your schedule a bit better so something like that never happens again."

He swallowed hard and nodded. "Alright," he agreed. "But you just ran off to Korea. Is it wrong that I thought you were furious?"

Ayame bit her lip with guilt. "Well, I guess I was a little mad," she admitted. "But I'm over it now. Look, Kouga . . . I . . . I think it's best if we don't see each other any more. Or, maybe we could be friends—but we can't be more."

"Why not?"

"Your mother came to my dad's house a few days ago. He wouldn't tell me why, but I have a feeling she threatened him. The last thing I want to do is involve him in your mother's mess. I don't want any trouble for my father."

"I'll take care of it. But I can't guarantee I can be friend with you."

"What do you mean? Are you saying you don't want to be friends with me?"

"I'm saying we both know we don't want to be friends."

Ayame sighed. "I better go." She moved toward the door only to be stopped by Kouga's hand resting on the wall next to her head.

"Look, I . . . I don't usually have to ask for things a million times. I just get them. You say that my mother wouldn't let it happen, but you haven't said what you want yet."

.o0o.

Ai slipped out of her shoes and let the maid set them next to the door. She followed Hana into the dining room as Hana inspected the work done by the help. "What did you want to talk to me about?" Ai finally asked. She had been nervous all day about this meeting.

Hana took a deep breath as she inspected a spoon for any water spots. She pushed it into a lanky man's chest. "Wash it again," she demanded. "So how've you bee, Ai dear?"

Ai shrugged and looked around the room before answering. "I've been good, I guess. I mean, there's nothing special really going on."

Hana grabbed a tea cup off a platter that was offered to her and gave it to Ai. "Have some tea, sweetie. I'm sure you're curious why I asked to meet you alone. I see you've made friends with Ayame."

"We're not friends. I mean, she's a nice person but we're merely acquaintances."

"That's good to hear. Look, you aren't an adult yet. Sure, you've come of age, but I understand that you still have the heart of a teenager. Maybe you've had some hopes on your future."

"What are you saying?"

"Your mother told me about a certain affair of yours. It's good that you seek a mate, Ai, but you must know my family and your family alike have high expectations of you. You have a far better future with Kouga than with that doctor or whatever he is."

Ai stood up in shock as horror was written all of her face. "How did you—no, Hana my life is none of your business. With all my respect I ask you to please refrain from getting involved with my personal life."

Hana smirked and drank her tea. She seemed mysteriously calm and satisfied. "Honey, do you really expect me to follow whatever you say? I'm already involved in your personal life—I have plans for you and my son, remember?"

"That doesn't make you my owner."

"True, but whether you and Kouga like it or not, you'll be the next generation of our family. You two will form an alliance and your family agrees as well. In life, it's all about power, Ai. It's about whose strong enough to make it to the top and who's weak enough to fall down. I'm going to give you a chance to break whatever relations you have with that doctor you're seeing immediately. It'd be best if it came from you."

"And if I decide I won't, what will happen then?"

"Then I'll take over your part. By another morning you'll be able to forget his face in peace."

"How . . . how can you be so evil, Hana? Haven't you ever felt anything . . . for anyone? Do you even know what love is? You go about giving orders thinking power is everything. Power is was you're hungry and greedy for. It's such a shame that a soul was wasted on someone like you."

Ai turned to leave but only collided with Kouga who stood in the door way with a bored stare. "I see you've met the real Hana," he noted. "Isn't she lovely? The way her eyes light up when she ruins someone's life is just so . . . magical."

Hana snarled and rolled her eyes as she took a martini from the silver platter that another maid offered her. "You flatter me, son," she teased with out a breath.

"Are you proud of yourself?" Kouga asked. "Enlighten me: exactly what do you feel as you tare happiness away from others. Should I get you a dictionary to look up the word happiness?"

"I'm tired of your disobedience. Can you stop acting like a fool long enough to understand that I'm doing all of this for you."

Kouga ignored his mom and looked at Ai. "You should go. It might get a little ugly." He turned his attention back to Hana. "Why don't you stop using me as your excuse and admit your doing all this for yourself? At least have the decency to be honest with yourself."

She glared up at her son and took another large dose of her drink. "What's got you mean and nasty? Don't act so ungrateful. Where has all your respect gone?"

"My respect for you went down the drain when I was seven along with every millimeter of your emotions," he countered bitterly. "I'm tired of you interfering in other people's matters. Mind your business for once in your life and stay out of it."

"Kouga, I don't need that smart tongue from you. You will do as I say or you can be cut off from all of your family responsibility—along with your thrown."

"You're right, it is my throne. I'll rule it someday soon when you do the devil a favor and finally part with what's left of your soul—"

"You ungrateful little—"

"That's enough!" Kouga's father suddenly hollered at the two from behind. "I've heard enough from the both of you. Will you look at yourselves? You're fighting as if the loser will be fed to the lions. All I've heard is yelling in this house since I got back from Hong Kong."

"You might want to learn to control that son of yours before you leave again."

He glared at his wife. "Keep your two cents to yourself from now on, Hana. You've had your fair share of controlling up to this point. He is our son and I'd like to keep it that way. There will be no disowning so long as I live."

Hana's nostril flared as she squeezed her glass so har5d it shattered in her hands. "You might not care that your son's fiancé is cuddling up with another man, but I do. You also might not care that he refuses to marry Ai because of a little twit named after a stupid plant—she hasn't a penny to her name at that!"

"That's enough, Hana." He growled warningly. "Ai's love life is not our concern. And if it's this Ayame girl that you're referring to—I don't want to hear another word about her either. She not our concern either. We have one son and he's the only one I'm concerned about at the moment." He took a breath and fixed his tie.

"It's no use, Dad. She'll interfere with anyone so long as she gets her way. She doesn't care who she destroys in the process." Kouga made is anger aware with his harsh tone. He grabbed his keys off the table next to him.

"And where are you going?" Hana snapped. "I bet it's to see Ayame, right?" She let out a cold laugh. "You see, your son is off to see that inferior girl. What are going to do now, huh?"

Kouga's father only shook his head at his wife. "You are an impossible woman. Kouga, you can leave."

"Excuse me?" Hana argued. "Are you kidding me? Did fall down the stairs this morning and knock the sense out of your head?"

"You seem to be forgetting your place, Hana." He hissed under his grinding teeth. "I said he'll go and he will. You on the other hand will stay home tonight. I don't want to hear another word from you till I get back. Then we'll talk."

.o0o.

"It sounds like your house is a war zone. Look, when I told you about your mom visiting Burke, I didn't exactly want you to start this whole family feud." Ayame shifted in her seat as she tried to get comfortable in the leather back seat of Kouga's car.

Kouga only sighed. "You didn't start this—we all had it coming."

Ayame shrugged. "I know I personally loath Hana, but she's your mom. I kind of feel sorry for her—"

"Don't: she will play off of that," he admitted. "I didn't tell you I caught her threatening Ai, did I?"

Ayame's eyes widened in awareness. "You're joking! What did Ai even do—feed the homeless?"

He chuckled. "She's apparently dating some doctor or something. Of course my mom tried to make me feel ad or something but the plan backfired."

"That's terrible. I feel so sorry for—" Ayame was cut off by her own squeal as the car door was yanked open and she stopped herself before her head hit the concrete. She stared up a familiar man and gawked at him. "Sang-Min, what star are you from?" She scolded as he helped her up. "You scared the life out of me—what are you even doing here?"

"I was on my break and thought I saw you in this car—and I was right."

Ayame rolled her eyes. How dumb could a body guard really be? "Yeah well—wait . . . were you following me?" She folded her arms over her chest. "Dad told you to follow me didn't he?"

Sang-Min shrugged nervously. "You're outside his house anyway. It's not really following."

"Sang-Min," she whined.

"What's . . . going on?" Kouga asked as he shut the back door of his car.

Ayame shook her head. "Nothing, Sang-Min's just a big idiot. Sang-Min, go inside now. I'll be right in. And warn my father, tell him I want o see him immediately."

.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.

A/n:

Yay new chapter. Thanks for your reviews. Keep them coming they inspire me!

Spoiler…sort of: Okay, Now that Hana ahs officially threatened Burke, will he go for it? And now that Kouga and Ayame are officially together, can they stay that way for long? And what's their next step in the love fest? And Bin will uncover and amazing secret that will open many doors to the life Ayame could and might lead later on. This secret will give a huge roll in later chapters. And what's gonna happen to poor Ai and her secret lover-doctor? And what will Hideki tell Ayame about her father that she doesn't know about? And it just so happen that Bin has been in Burke's life before, so what does he do now?

All next chapter! I'm going to try to make next chapter a big upload to try and keep up with my mini spoiler. It might take a little longer but don't worry, I will write all I can!