His Only Princess: Chapter 6
Dr. Tsukishima contacted Chairman Cross early the next morning, informing him they were releasing Yori into their care, as long as they kept her quarantined for a little while.
Naomi had stopped by to drop off some clothes for her to wear, figuring she wouldn't want to come back to the Academy in her hospital wear. She waited patiently on the little sofa, fiddling with the fringe of her scarf and humming a senseless tune.
"Naomi-san?"
Yori stepped out of the washroom, running her hands down the soft navy material of her skirt. Her friend had brought her that, along with a long white sweater and knee-high socks; those were the easiest to pick out, seeing as how she only had white and black ones. The only thing she had missed was shoes, but Yori assured her it was okay. She still had her uniform boots there.
"Sayori-san, you look lovely. So much healthier, too," she smiled at her and stood up. "Chairman Cross should be here soon to pick you up."
"Eh, and you, too?" Yori questioned, examining her face in the mirror. A good portion of color had finally returned to her, meaning she no longer looked sallow and grey.
"No. My parents are coming to get me. I'm going home for the next few weeks to spend Christmas with my family."
"You all do that?"
"Yes," she covered her mouth, trying to cover up her giggles, but Yori soon joined in with her laughing. "My mother is from America, and it's a big thing over there to celebrate. So, she convinced my father to let me be raised with it, too. I love it!"
Yori nodded. "What do you all do?"
Sitting back down, Naomi explained everything about her family's tradition, from decorating the tree to wrapping presents together and singing carols. Yori was enthused and listened very intently, eyes sparkling like a child's on Christmas morning, as Naomi had called it.
"It all sounds really wonderful, Naomi-san. I've only exchanged gifts with my friend on New Year eve."
"Well, we could do that!" Naomi stood back up and walked up to Yori.
"Oh, no. I couldn't let you buy me anything."
"You're not. I'm doing it without your permission," she pulled the younger girl into a tight hug, a bright smile that made her cheeks hurt forming. "Sayori-san, I'm so glad we're friends."
For the first time in a few days, a true smile crossed Yori's face. She placed her arms around Naomi's waist and hugged her back.
"Me too."
A knock against the door pulled the girls' from their hug. They looked and saw one of the nurses that had cared for Yori standing there.
"Wakaba-san, the person picking you up has arrived." She left when Yori nodded to her.
"Well, I had best be going to. I can't make my parents wait very long."
"Be safe, and have a wonderful time, okay?" Yori surprised Naomi when she stood on her toes a little and pulled her into another hug.
"I will. And you finish getting better!" She waved her goodbye before leaving the room.
Sitting down on the bed, she slipped her socked feet in her boots, lacing them up and allowing her thoughts to wander a bit. She hadn't thought any of the event that had occurred last night, nor did she really want to, but it tugged at the corners of her mind. That letter. She didn't want to face it, so she had tucked it away deep inside of her bag. Her father had surprised her from mentioning what he did in it. He had always been so formal with her, and his writing proved to be the same. What surprised her even more though was that her fiancé was going to present himself to her instead of waiting for a suitable time that both of the families could meet. Whoever he was, he seemed to be a very bold individual.
"Wakaba-san?"
Yori saw the same nurse from a few minutes ago had returned, a little fidgety looking now.
"I'm coming." She hopped up from the bed, threw her bag over her shoulders and walked out of the hospital room, looping her scarf around her neck.
Outside, she was in for a shock. Naomi had told her that Chairman Cross said he would be picking her up from the hospital, but that didn't seem to be so. In his place was a man taller than him with short, bronze colored hair. She made a small noise to signal her being there, and he turned around. She was shocked.
"Takamiya-sensei?"
Takamiya smiled warmly at the girl, extending a hand towards her.
"Wakaba, it's good to see you in better health. Your bag?" She handed it over to him, still watching him with wide eyes. He chuckled. "You really should get that look off of your face. You look as though you've seen a vampire."
"E-eh?" She felt her panic kick in when he spoke those words. "What are you talking about, Takamiya-sensei?"
His unrestrained laughter quickly dissipated the tension that had been quick to form.
"Relax, Wakaba-kun. Things like that don't exist, right?"
Yori inwardly sighed with relief. That was close. She slid in the passenger seat of the sleek black car when Takamiya opened the door for her, missing the look of ownership he cast towards her.
Soon, my dear Sayori, he thought, smiling grandiosely. Taking his own place in the driver's seat, he started the car, willing it to warm up quickly. Reaching in the back seat, he produced a rather large blanket and all but forced it in her unsuspecting arms.
"What's this for?"
"You're still sick, correct?" She nodded curtly. "Then think of this as a precaution. We can't have you getting any sicker on us." He laid the blanket across her lap, smoothing it out, which caused a nervous expression to cross her face.
"Thank you," she bowed her head, subtly shifting her legs to knock his hands off. Her curiosity still peaking, she hesitantly brought up her question. "Um, Takamiya-sensei...?" she trailed off.
"Hm?" He didn't verbalize it, but she still knew he was listening. He kept his eyes on the road.
"Why did you come instead of Chairman Cross?" Anyone who knew anything about her knew that she was a very blunt girl. She didn't beat around the bush, didn't play any of those silly games. She furtively believed that if you had something to say then it should just be said as is.
Takamiya was fast on the heels of her question with a response, almost as though he expected it.
"Chairman Cross has been very busy for the past few days with the holidays coming up. So many of the students are actually going home this year, apparently."
"Is that so?" she whispered to herself, turning her attention to the clouded window. Sneakily, she raised her thin fingers to it, tracing small patterns along the bottom of it. Little did she know, Takamiya glanced over at her from time to time. He realized how young she was, and, to a degree, she still acted like a child, and it made him feel odd since he had always pictured his wife-to-be being a modest, mature woman. While Yori was indeed quite the modest young lady, she wasn't so much what he was anticipating. But still, he found her to be intriguing, and therefore could not make himself back out of the engagement. Now, he only had to wait for the perfect timing to introduce himself fully to her, in high hopes that she, too, would accept the arrangement.
The car ride was relatively silent after her questioning him at the beginning, but it was a comfortable silence. She sat, curled up in the blanket he had given her, watching as the snow covered trees blurred by in a rush, and neither of them uttered a word until they reached the Academy grounds.
"Wow."
Things had certainly changed for the two days she had been in the hospital. Gold and red occupied almost every spot across the courtyard, ribbon having been tied around the posts and ornaments hanging off of lavish looking tinsel wreaths. It was far more grandiose than it had ever been, that she could remember. It almost seemed as though they tried to pull the sight of someone off of the wreckage that once was the Moon Dorm by decorating so much. It worked, or at least it did for her, for that's all she could really focus on. Takamiya pulled up to the front of the Academy and the second the car stopped, Yori jumped out, stumbling a little from still being so weak. He was quicker, though, practically ripping himself from the car and rushing over to aid her. He gripped her arms and pulled her against him at the same moment that two people stepped out of the front doors.
"Yori-chan, I'm so glad to see your bright and adorable face once again!"
Chairman Cross stood there, looking comical with his over-sized, puffy white earmuffs, all wrapped up in a dark green winter coat, clasping his hands together as he looked at her. Embarrassed from the position she was in, she jerked out of Takamiya's grip, side-stepping a few feet for good measure before greeting him in return.
"It's good to see you, too, Chairman," she smiled brightly at him, and her eyes fell on the person beside him. Zero was completely still, the ends of the belt that was supposed to be fastened around his jet-black coat the only thing on his being moving. He didn't even really look like he was breathing, and he kept his eyes on the ground, almost as though he refused to look at her. Which he did, but she had no clue about that.
"Isn't it good to see her again, Zero-kun?"
Zero didn't say a word, nod his head, nothing. He turned around and walked back inside, leaving Yori slightly wounded. What did she do to him?
"Ah, you'll have to forgive him, Yori-chan! He's not been in the highest of spirits since we came back here last night," he scratched the back of his head. "I'm sure he's just gotten himself in one of those moods again."
"Not that Kiryuu has ever been one for being in high spirits," Takamiya joked, retrieving Yori's bag from the trunk of the car. "Would you like for me to carry this for you?"
Coming back to reality, Yori looked up at him.
"I'm sorry?"
"Your bag. Shall I carry it for you, Wakaba?"
"No, it's fine. I can carry it. Thank you, Takamiya-sensei."
"Alright, Yori-chan. Follow me!" Chairman Cross scurried back inside like a small animal escaping the cold with her close behind him. Zero hadn't gone far; he was leaned against one of the pillars in the darkened foyer, one of his legs bent up and his arms crossed. To her, he looked like he was staring at the ground, but in actuality, he watched her carefully, eyes hidden behind the hair falling across his face. "Come on, dear." She hadn't noticed she was trailing so far behind him until he spoke up, making her jump. She hurried over to him, trying to forget about the young man she had left behind. Chairman Cross led her up a stairwell that took them to his office.
"Chairman Cross?"
"Yes?"
She rocked back and forth on her toes in the doorway of his office, unsure about whether to go inside.
"Shouldn't I be going back to my dorm?"
"Ah, well, you see," he paused and pushed his glasses up higher on his nose. "Dr. Tsukishima only let you come into our care as long as we promised to keep you quarantined from the other students'. And, well, we figured you wouldn't want to spend your holiday in the hospital, so we agreed." Yori nodded. "Good."
"So, where will I be staying?"
"Great question, Yori-chan! You will be staying here," he opened a door, waving her over. Standing beside him, she peered into the room that had been behind the door. It wasn't really a simple room, quite a few lavish things about it, and it was larger than her own dorm. A pink and champagne bed was pressed against a window, sheer white curtains hugging around it. There was a fireplace that was currently empty, decorated with decorations similar to those hanging outside. A chest of drawers was backed into a corner, and beside that, a intricate looking vanity, cluttered with several bottles of perfume and necklaces.
"It's...pretty," she breathed.
"Yes. It was Yuuki's before I allowed her to stay in the dormitories."
Blood rushed to Yori's ears.
"I couldn't stay in here, Chairman. It's Yuuki's room. You know how she gets when people bother with her things." Fond memories entered her mind of her best friend, and a deep embedded pain shot through her chest.
"Yes, well, I don't think she really has much use for it anymore," Chairman Cross mumbled sadly, averting his eyes from the room.
"I'm sorry," she apologized quickly.
"It's alright, Yori-chan. Here," he took her bag from her hand. "Let's get you situated in." He made fast work of unpacking her bag and placing her things in correct drawers. "We'll move some more of your things in here later today. Is that alright?"
"Of course." She made her rounds around the room, stopping at the fireplace and looking at the pictures sitting on the mantel. There were ones of Yuuki when she was a little girl, cute face beaming and round eyes shining, of herself and Yuuki when they had first become friends, and several of Chairman Cross with Yuuki. She was in every photograph, and it made Yori's heart hurt from seeing her face like this.
"Yori-chan?"
"Yes?" she pulled her attention from the pictures, looking over her shoulder at Chairman Cross.
"I asked you if you were hungry."
She hadn't even heard him speak, too wrapped up in her memories.
"No, I'm not," she assured him. "I'm still not feeling well enough. It might not be a good idea for me to eat."
"Well, you will have to soon. Even if one of us has to spoon feed you," she could tell he was kidding, or at least hoped he was, but it still made a blush rise up her neck as a thought of a certain person entered her mind. "Okay, well. I'll leave you to your things for now, and I'll be back to check on you later." He waved, but then realized he still held something in his hand. "Oh, here you are." He held it out to her. That letter. She took it between her fingers, smiling a thank you, and keeping the happy look on her face until he closed the door behind him, then visibly drooped, dropping to the ground and burying her head in her hands. She knew that this day would come, but for it to sneak up on her so unexpectedly had made her feel more ill than she had while in the hospital. The day she turned sixteen was the day her parents had begun to search for the perfect husband for her, in their eyes. She knew she'd be one to end up in an arranged marriage, since her parents were one, so she never showed any objection to it. Not that she really could have. And now, she had been engaged to a man she had never met, or even seen, before for an entire year, only to be surprised with a letter saying he had arrived and was going to show up in front of her soon. Throwing the letter across the room, she fell backwards and covered her mouth, muffling her scream with her hands.
"Can things get any more complicated?!"
"Why did you put her in there?"
Chairman Cross squealed dramatically when he heard Zero speak from behind him, causing him to sigh.
"Oh, Zero-kun, don't sneak up on me like that. Really, I thought I taught my son better manners than that." He jumped once more when Zero's hands meet forcibly with his desk, causing a crack to splinter the middle of it.
"How many times do I have to say it? You may have raised me, but I don't ever remember becoming your son," he spit out between gritted teeth, causing Chairman Cross to tremble.
"Oh, Zero-kun, you're so mean!" he whined.
"Why did you put her in there?" he repeated himself, enunciating the words slowly.
"Well, you see, she's still sick. And the only reason why the hospital gave her to us is because I promised I would keep her away from everyone so she can heal and become her sweet self again," he carried on lovingly, clasping his hands together.
"It's Yuuki's room," Zero obviously wasn't in a good mood, his anger almost at its peak. His hands trembled as he clamped them into tight fists.
"Yes, I know that. But, Yori-chan is also Yuuki's best friend-,"
"But she's not Yuuki!" he yelled, causing Chairman Cross to cover his ears and cower. "She'll never be her." Zero was usually a very calculating man, thinking about things in detail before acting out, but when things tugged at his most aggressive emotions, sometimes they got the best of him and he spoke or acted without and before thought. That was when he was brought down from his angry high when the door cracked open.
"I never said she was Zero-kun...," his voice quieted and he too noticed the door having opened.
Yori stood there, still fully clothed in her winter gear, the letter from her father crumpled up in her hand. She had heard every word they said. Giving neither one of them any acknowledgement, she walked briskly past them, barely reaching the door before Chairman Cross started freaking.
"Where are you going, Yori-chan?" he cried out, trying to rush over to her, but tripped over his lion feet slippers.
"Really, how can you ever be taken seriously?" Zero muttered, looking down at the pitiful lump at his feet.
He shook his head and stood up, restating his question.
"Back to the hospital," she answered tersely, turning the doorknob and stepping out.
"But, they released you to us," his argument was no good.
"I know, but I can't stay here," she kept her back turned to them, afraid she'd break if she had to face them. "I'm causing too much trouble," she added in a whisper. Her hand tightened around the letter.
"What are you talking about?" It was the first words he had spoken to her, but the way they sounded so detached, as though he were asking for the sake of Chairman Cross, which he probably was, made her temper flare, as well as her sadness.
"I'm just going to stay there and wait for my fiancé," she forced the word out, not liking the way it sounded one bit. She was meant to wait for him at the Academy, but with the way things were turning out, she figured this would be best. Tears pooled in her eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to cry now. Instead, she took off down the hallway and the stairwell, a distant shouting of her name from Chairman Cross being the last thing she heard. She didn't know where she was running to, or even how she'd get to the hospital, if that was her true destination, but when she collided with something solid, her thoughts scattered. The figure held on to her, keeping her from falling, and she felt a sense of déjà vu.
"Where are you headed to, Wakaba?"
Yori looked up, only to be met with the concerned laced hazel eyes of none other than...
"Takamiya-sensei," she breathed out, trying to back away from him. He wasn't letting go this time, instead pulling her towards him. He noticed the tears clinging to her eyelashes, and was determined to figure out what had happened.
"Why don't you come to my classroom for a moment? I can help you catch up on what you missed so you won't fail," he knew she was one who wouldn't want to fail, and used that to his advantage, smirking a little when she nodded and followed him. Tilting his head back, he noticed a very irate looking young man standing at the top of the stairs, gripping the banister harshly, having witnessed this, in his mind, victory. He signaled him an "OK" and casually put a hand on Yori's shoulder.
Zero's eyes followed them until they were out of sight.
So, after a few days of writers block, I came up with...this. Which, now that I reread it, it's not much. But, if I promise that Yori will figure something really big out (spoiler alert!) next chapter, will that make up for it?
Also, Yori, shouldn't you know better? Don't ask if things can get more complicated, because then they will. Zero will make sure of it ;D Just like he's not ignoring you. He's just a jealous mess that's yet to figure it out. Right?
Here's a bundle of thanks to my reviewers',
DrkSpphrGT: Ohoho, your review ^_^ I loved it. I'm totally with you about loving the side-characters more, which is why I adore Yori and hate Yuuki. I have read Left Behind, and I loved it, too! Don't you worry. I won't abandon His Only Princess; I'm anticipating what I'll write too much to do that! Here's you a cyber hug back, as well as an update :) I hope you like it!
Anon: I'm glad you did :) I was wondering how people would react to that twist.
Julianne: Of course Mr. Fiancé wouldn't have been able to keep quiet for long ;) I'm glad that I am actually keeping them in character! I thought maybe I just believed I was. Just wait, though. He's about to make his presence much more known.
HYPERASSGIRL5: That naughty, naughty Kaito ;) When will he ever learn? And a hell bent Zero is always the most fun to write, in my opinion. You're welcome; keep up the awesome work on your story!
crazy reader: It was a major surprise. I was even surprised while writing it, but I'm glad it's getting a positive response.
Lakemet: Thank you so much! I am unspeakably happy that my story is :)
And to the rest of you awesome readers', thank you! Feedback is greatly appreciated, if you feel like something should be different, or just want to give opinions on how you think the story will/how you want the story to go :) I read every review. Or PM.
So, there's Chapter 6. Chapter 7 should be up tomorrow. And in my spare time while trying to clear the cobwebs in the writing part of my brain, I did a drawing of Yori in her wedding dress for this story. It's on my DeviantArt, which there's a link for on my profile, if any of you want to see it :)
Until Chapter 7!
-IdleScribe