Chapter 13:

Sayuri's eyes widened in shock and for a moment her body was simply frozen but after a few seconds she started to struggle, pulling her head back and pulling her arms away from his grasp. With a hand over her mouth, she fell back to where her bed was, barely managing to keep her torso up as her left arm propped up her weight. She couldn't believe he just did that!

He let out a brief chuckle and then stated, "I guess you really hadn't been kissed before."

Her face heated up and now resembled a stop sign as she reached for the closest thing handy (thankfully it was only a pillow) and buried her face into it, attempting to bury her head in the sand per se. What could she even say to that? She felt her bed shift slightly as he sat down next to her and she tensed instinctively as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Sayuri-san I apologize; I didn't think that would upset you this much. I just want you to realize that what we are involved in together isn't a simple business transaction. And had you been engaged to a lesser man, he might have taken advantage of that. But I want you to know that I won't. However I also hope that we can grow to be…closer. As a lifelong partner I hope at least to find a friend in you."

She let that sink in for a moment before relaxing and drawing her face away from the pillow, unaware of how red and watery her eyes were until Kyoya's eyes widened slightly and his hand moved towards her face but he hesitated.

He had made her cry? Surely he had made girls cry before; but none that he felt so…empathetic towards. His hand reached forward again to stroke her cheek, but she turned away with a blank expression, rubbing the moisture away from her eyes. "Sorry," she mumbled.

His eyebrow rose at that. "And what exactly are you apologizing for?"

She took a slow breath in through her nose as she collected her reserve before stating coolly, "I didn't mean to get so emotional like that."

"…I see." He replied simply, pulling away as he pushed his glasses up. As he stood it felt to Sayuri as if he had drew up his walls again and she cursed herself for being the first one to do it.

"The reason I came by Miss Nitta was to ask if you would like to accompany me a ballet performance this Friday."

"Oh…Friday? Um…I'm afraid I can't senpai. I have an archery competition then and I've been practicing so much for it…" She explained tentatively.

"I see. Perhaps another time then. Have a good afternoon then Sayuri-san. I shall see myself out." He gave a minute bow to her before turning and walking out of her room, leaving his raven haired fiancée alone to wonder what on earth had happened.

After stewing on Kyoya's words for a good half hour, Sayuri finally could take it no longer and stormed out of the estate to the back gardens where she had her usual shooting range set up. She started letting the arrows fly as fast and as far as she could and occasionally let out an aggravated and half strangled yell. It didn't help that her glove only covered her first three fingers (as was standard for all archers) and gave her a lovely view of her ring whenever she notched another arrow, egging on her frustrated emotions.

"Stupid boy! Who does he think he is! I can't BELIEVE he did that AAUUUGH! Gentleman my arse, stupid glasses wearing, emotionless, scheming, encyclopedia, thoughtless…MAN! UGH!" She finally threw down her bow and stomped on the ground like a spoiled toddler before flumping down on the grass, leaving the servants doing odd chores in the garden to look at her worriedly before moving farther away. Nobody wanted to be on the wrong end of a temper tantrum.

But one butler stepped forward unflinchingly towards the young heir and said in his usual gravelly monotone voice, "Young Mistress, I suggest you get up off of the ground before your clothes begin to get stained."

"I don't care." Sayuri huffed in annoyance, wishing she could just fall asleep here.

"Miss Sayuri, what has you acting like such a petulant child? Or rather, more petulant than usual?" The head of staff sniffed.

Pursing her lips at the insult, she grumbled in answer, "Men."

"Hmm, or just one perhaps? I saw the young Ootori boy leave a little while ago."

"Hmph…" She grumbled, turning over to face away from the elderly man.

The butler let out a sigh before saying, "Do try to understand young miss that while you find him frustrating, me may very well be having just as much trouble trying to figure you out as well."

Sayuri paused at that, but stayed silent, to which her caretaker took that as the advice having sunk in. "Do not stay lying out here too long Miss Sayuri. Dinner is at six."

Once the servant had left, she turned over onto her back again and stared unseeing at the tree branches and clouds above. He might be having trouble too hm? Perhaps she would turn the tables then…