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Disclaimer: In no way do I own or claim to own OHSHC. I am not selling this FanFiction and it is purely for personal use only.

Chapter 9 – Shinda Kusa

Grains choose when they will stick to the fibers of gloves and when they will rejoin its vast kinfolk below one's foot. But when the blade of a shovel parts them, draws a rift between them, there exists change totally out of their control. Much like the soil, life will tear you from what you know, torrents of strife will blow you from comfort and in between two hard places, the feet of those above you will stomp you down, forcing you under their weight until they feel like moving. However, rains will come to wash away troubles and underneath it, something will grow. It is but one reprieve for the many hardships yet it the acceptance of such knowledge that will decide whether one breaks or becomes something greater.

Grains of dark soil were in fact sticking to the fibers of his gloves as he pulled the plant out of its pot to give it fresher water. The gardening club was a place where his mind could go blank and for a few hours, nothing else mattered. Few bothered him and when they did, it was short. It's not that they feared him or were put out by him. He'd been there long enough for them to understand he was in his zone – it was just him and the vegetation – which is the likely reason why he didn't hear his name, "-oda-kun? Kasanoda-kun?"

It wasn't until he saw a hand waving in front of his face that he jumped back and saw Yuu, "Hey, you ok?"

"Y-yeah. Just…yeah." His pot was next to the open door so he was crouched in the shadow she made over him. The umbra over her face was accenting the green in her irises and the afternoon sunlight was setting her bleach blonde locks on fire. "What were you thinking about?"

"Nothing really. Just…" Ritsu motion to the plant, looking down to conceal his blush. "Isn't that a Christmas plant?"

Ritsu nodded, "Yeah." Yuu leaned forward to see it better but when she realized her being in the sunlight whether it is or not was messing with her view, she moved to the shade on the opposite of him, "It's yellow."

A lock fell from her shoulder and landed on a petal. He noticed how it was the same hue just about. "I got the wrong seeds."

"But why a poinsettia?" She brushed her hair behind her ear. "I wanted a plant that would take a while to grow and I got it on sale from a flower in January. This was the first thing I started on when I joined the gardening club. It bloomed faster than expected." She looked up to him then back at the vegetable, "Well…it's really pretty. You did a good job on it. But Christmas is a ways off. What are you going to do with it?"

"Dunno. Probably take it home to decorate the yard a little. Though it might be out of place." Yuu nodded, "Very. But maybe inside, like a bedroom, or the kitchen."

"I don't know how the guys will feel…"

"Don't worry about them. They've shown support for your interests this far in. I doubt they'll have anything negative to say." Ritsu nodded. He could feel the awkward air despite Yuu's efforts to lessen it. First he learned she was engaged, then there was the boxing match where he tried to keep his distance, then the arcade where she got weird on him and forced him to relax around her, then the Mioji's. It hadn't really been a full 48 hours since they were attacked and now he knows a little about why she strong armed HIS dad into letting her stay at his house.

"Can we go somewhere to talk?" She could sort of feel what was running though his mind at the moment, or at least the part about what she said the day before last, "Or will your father allow it? The guys can come too if they must. I don't mind."

Somehow they convinced Saaji and Shitaro to make one pit stop before heading home. Ritsu was curious as to where she had in mind but then the area started looking a little familiar, though only slightly as the last time he was here, he was walking. The pagoda trees he knew from his time studying plants in the gardening club. He remembered the wind playing a very emotive song, drawing him in. at the end of the pagoda tree street, there was a sight to truly recall. The willow trees over the water, swaying in their waltz, a fairy in a cerulean furisodo marked by bird-of-paradise flowers, her hair appearing cinnamon in the light as it shown through the tree and reflected on the water making ripple inflections on her. Her tsuchibue initially manipulated to melancholy before being thrown into the algae floating on the pond's surface.

She didn't seem in a rush. His dad would be pissed. He followed her to the tree where she just slumped against it watching the lake. He eventually joined her. It was calming – the soft wind, the reflecting ripples, the wines of the willow swaying – everything moving slow and steady, in no rush. "You were here that day. Why?"

That sense of patience and tranquility seemed contagious. He wasn't flustering for an answer and in no rush to say it. He responded half a minute after she asked it, "I don't know. I can't remember what I was thinking about. Just kept walking. Probably took a wrong turn. Followed my ears."

"You saw that, didn't you?" Ritsu looked at her confused but she continued, "My mother's not all that bad. She was…stressed out. I was stressed out. She just doesn't know how to cope." Ritsu realized she was talking about how her mom tossed her tsuchibue in the pond and yanked her away.

"Then again, that wasn't the proper time to relieve stress either, I guess. I just wanted so badly to be somewhere else. My Opa wa…oh…that's what I called my grandfather. Opa was from old Dutch blood. He gave me my tsuchibue, said it holds the winds that travel the world. He loved traveling, hardly the business type. He left that to Obaa-san and she entrusted it to my father. It would be my inheritance, if I can fix what Ienari did to it."

Ritsu looked her in the eye, anticipating the true topic. She looked back and sighed, "We were forced into merger with another company but the catch was that I marry the head of that group, a guy named Hiroshi Ienari, in exchange for buying the company from my father and letting him maintain 80% ownership. He was too cocky about it and acted like he owned everything before it was even final. It was a little too fast and too convenient so I investigated. Found that Ienari covertly corrupted our stocks along with a few other things. I still can't understand how my father didn't notice all this while it was happening. It was raising very noticeable flags. Now it's a nightmare to fix."

"So what are you going to do?" Ritsu turned back to the water. Yuu pulled in her knees to hug them, "I don't know yet. I need those papers to get through before I can act but they're taking a while. Meanwhile, who knows what Ienari is doing to the company."

"Anything I can do to help?"

"NO! You've done more than enough and I can't ask for your help after how I forced myself onto your home."

"It's fine. The guys don't seem to get much excitement around the house and they like having you there."

"But your dad doesn't." Ritsu tensed then rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah…"

Yuu loosened her hold on her shins and let then slide the dirt a little, "So…what's been happening lately?"

"Well…" Ristu looked uncomfortable, like it wasn't his place to share this info, "There's this…uh… other family…"

"The Mioji's? I heard the guys screaming it." Ritsu looked down to the dirt, "Yeah…we're at war with'em. They want control over the Kanto region, our domain. The other branches of the family in Kanto have it worse. They're going to battle in the streets. The bodies are piling up. My cousin got hit last week. She's still recovering."

"Wow…and here I thought I had it worse. Will she be okay?" Ritsu was fighting tears but his lip was quivering, "She might not walk again, and it's because of me. They want me to shake down my dad and they're all fighting to keep me safe."

"Yuu restrained her arms from embracing him suddenly but managed to hug his right arm and lay her head on his shoulder, her right hand sliding down to grip his. Ritsu shuddered for a moment but then took her hand tight into his.

There is a disturbance at the front gate. They stood to gunfire and Shitaro running at them to get them to move, "Wakaa! Oj ō-sama! Get to th' car!"

Ritsu took Yuu's hand and yanked her up when he jolted to his feet. They raced to the car, Yuu stumbling behind as his legs were longer. Ritsu pulled her down and looked towards Saaji who was ducked behind the passenger side checking for the assailants, "Is it the Mioji's?"

"No! It's those men Oj ō-sama warned us about." Yuu shot down lower, "They're here?! But…how…who…"

Yuu looked back towards the temple to see the priest telling his attendant to go do something while hiding behind the doors, likely call the police as this had gotten out of hand. "Oh god, I'm so STUPID! I can't BELIEVE I thought this place was safe! We need to go! The priest ratted me out and he might be calling the cops."

Yuu noted how much she sounded like one of the guys, likely a side-effect from being around them. Shitaro had joined Saaji behind the passenger tire, "That's nice an'all but it don't mean shit if I can't get to th' driver's seat!"

"Try this!" Saaji handed Shitaro a grenade of sorts. "Wakaa, Oj ō-sama, when I say, jump in the car, get down, and cover your faces."

Ritsu looked at the can then at him in anxious confusion. Shitaro didn't wait for a nod and threw the can towards the men. Saaji shot the can and a green gas burst out upon the suited men, "NOW!"

Ritsu opened the car door and pushed Yuu inside first. She moved as fast as she could without tripping and Ritsu jumped in behind her. She got down and covered her face and he got over top of her not bothering to cover his own to put his hands over hers, just shutting his eyes tightly. Shitaro slide over the hood and got in the driver's seat with Saaji leaping in on the other side. The instant the engine hummed, they screeched off. Saaji twisted around towards the back seat, "Clear! How are your eyes, can you breathe?"

"We're fine." Ritsu concurred. Yuu sat up and took a deep breath, scared enough that she didn't notice she was holding it, "What was that?"

"Tear gas." called Shitaro, "No one is to say a word about this to the boss." Saaji turned back around, "What are you talking about?"

"You like Oj ō-sama being with us right?! If the boss finds out something like this happened, he'll deem her too dangerous to keep around. We've handled worse than this but given all that's happened recently, he won't see it that way. So keep yer mouth shut!"

Saaji sat back in his seat quietly as Shitaro continued, "Oj ō-sama, I don'know what yuh got yer'self into but all th' boys – we're with yuh. Yer family now."

Yuu blushed, knowing what he really meant. It's not like she hadn't thought of him that way. She just didn't want to involve Ritsu but at this point, it probably wouldn't matter…at least that what she wished.

"Okay…You're a life-saver, Ran…Yeah yeah, and a monument half the size of your ego…but that's…" Ritsu was approaching Yuu who was waiting near the car. He waited quietly as she was on the phone, "Oh, Kasanoda-kun. Ran can I call you back? Oh…but…that's too risky…why, he's totally trust-…I know b-…Ra~n…why? He isn't, well I mean he is but he isn't…b-…" he watched in confusion as she sighed, "Well I can't make that call…how do I know you'll behave…tell that to someone who doesn't know you…uhg…Kasanoda-kun, I am so sorry, my friend wants to talk to you. Don't let her bully you. Ran, play nice."

Ritsu took the phone from Yuu, "uh, moshi moshi." The other voice had significant volume and girth and didn't sound like a composed person, "You, you're Kasanoda Ritsu, right?"

"Uh, yeah…" he also noted how rudely and easily she referred to him as 'you', "We're meeting up before you go home for the night."

"Actually, that's not my call. My dad-…" the girl on the other end cut him off, "You're the next heir to the family? That is how you Japanese work things right? Well, then when your dad retires, you'll be in charge so start taking some initiative now."

"But that's not what I-…" again he was cut off, "Now put Yuu-pii back on." Ritsu held the phone and stared at it in disbelief that someone could be so…pushy. He looked at Yuu who seemed irritated as she took the phone, "What did I tell you?...No, I…wait, NOW?!...but we…no, we…well that's too bad…please don't do this…where and when?…don't love you so much now…well I suddenly feel like being fickle…yeah…it needs to be quick…fine…Do you think your father will mind if we drop by the school for a second?"

"Maybe not if we're quick." Ritsu could still see the suspicious glare of his dad when they came back from the temple the other day. Yuu remembered it too, "That's what I'm hoping too."

Today, it was Ryouta, Gendo, and Ishioto himself, likely there on orders. He would share something like what happened the other day to the boss. Ritsu got in the car and stopped Ishioto from taking off towards home, "Um, Ishioto-san…could we stop by Lobelia Academy?"

"Wait…" Yuu turned towards Ritsu, "Why Lobelia?" Ritsu was confused, "Didn't you say in class that you went to Lobelia?"

Yuu looked confused then started laughing, "Kasanoda-kun, how old do you think I am?" he still seemed puzzled so she continued, "I graduated from Lobelia a year and a half ago. I'm almost twenty. I'm a ninensei at Keio Daigaku."

Ritsu looks closely at her but she still looks about his age. He was the one to arrange for her to be at Ouran, a high school, but he never thought to ask her how old she was. They noticed how Ishioto was still looking back at them, unamused. Ritsu only managed a nod towards him. Ishioto looked at him then her who nodded as well but more confidently. He turned back around as if his body was the one rolling its eyes.

Entering the school, they did draw some attention. Yuunami was familiar enough having often turned heads around campus at random but still just as stunning. Ritsu certainly stood out but college students weren't as fixated on looks as high school students. The ones standing out the most were their bodyguards who looked less than savory to the rest of society. They appeared like bodyguards as they were all older and looking around and kept close to two much younger people who in comparison looked forward only – well one was looking around in marvel, this being his first time on a college campus – however they walked like common street thugs, the one in the middle more straightened but still as threatening. People kept walking to their destinations but it was difficult not to stare.

When they came to the café and sitting area, Ran was easy to spot waving from her table. Gendo and Ryouta took up stations around the room looking for anything suspicious while Ishioto took up post near the table. Ran stood to greet them, "It took you long enough. I got hungry and had to eat without you. And what's up with the stiffs?"

"Hi, Ran. I've missed you too." Ran glared then smiled and snatched her friend in for a hug. Ritsu started to notice that this girl had an accent. She looked Ritsu up and down, noting he was wearing a Keio hoody, "So this is him?"

"Oh, Ran, Kasanoda Ritsu. Kasanoda-kun, Pérez Veronica. She prefers Ran. She's been my pen pal from the Bahamas since middle school and my best friend since college."

Ritsu thought to comment her to break the ice since she was looking at him like a pitbull does an intruder, "You speak very good Japanese."

"It's not that hard. Japanese is the closest in pronunciation to Spanish." Yuu explained, "Ran's parents are Cuban so her main language is Spanish. She came to Japan to learn business."

"And pester you. Don't forget such important information. Never mind that. Why is he in our merchandise?"

"He's from Ouran so I thought he's stand out less." Ran looked him up and down, "He's from Ouran?"

"Ran, don't be rude. What was it you wanted to talk about?" Ran must have learned her business face from Yuu as she can turn it on just as fast, "It's your dad. I don't have any evidence but – and don't get mad at me – but I think your dad is involved."

"Involved in what?" Yuu sat down as Ran pulled the papers out of her bag, "Look at these. Ienari didn't just corrupt your stocks and buy off the higher ups. This is what your dad's been manufacturing under the table." Yuu looked over the papers, "Oh my god."

"You may not be the only trophy Ienari's after. It looks like some of those numbers went sour. You're not just collateral for your dad, you're black mail and possibly a target if it gets that bad. But that's not the worst of it. Check this out." Ran gave her a USB, "That holds information that will give you a few hints on what Ienari's going to use that merchandise for. It's enough to convict your father but not your fiancé, and it may put you at further risk. I'll let you look that over before you decided what to do but I couldn't just send it through the mail. You should know the password. It's our code."

Yuu stared at the tiny rectangular metal in her hand, "Thank you, Ran."

"Well that's all the information I got so if you want to do something with it, we should meet again. You two better get going before the weasel's stiffs show up. Hey, you, Kasanova or whatever. If anything happens to her…if you so much as lay a hand on her…" Ritsu stopped her right and got down on knees in a crude bowing fashion, "No one will harm Wakamiya-san. I will cut them down."

Ritsu couldn't believe what he was saying or that he meant every word, neither could Ishioto who got down with him, "Pérez-san, you have the word of the Kasanoda Syndicate that Oj ō-sama will be protected like family."

Ran's eyebrows went into her head line, "Quite the loyal following you got there. I wish I was so lucky."

"They've been so kind to me and they're no pushovers. You don't have to worry as long as I'm in their hands. Ran, take care of yourself. Stop eating junk all the time."

"Don't lecture me on health. What you've got yourself into is far more detrimental. Now get out of here before my radiance overwhelms you."

It was a quiet ride home. Yuu felt flattered but a little awkward that Ritsu said such a thing. She pegged him to be more the gentle type, but then so did his men and all three of them heard that. She knew it would be awkward for him but she took a chance and leaned on his shoulder. Ritsu tensed up from shock but didn't dare move or protest. A manhole that was too exposed off the pavement shook the car enough for Yuu to fall from Ritsu's shoulder to his lap. He looked down in disbelief, she fell asleep! Where Ran seemed to learn her business face from Yuu, she must have learned her lack of shame. He tensed up but then realized his tensed leg might be too hard for her pillow so he tried his best to loosen up. No matter what he did, she didn't stir. 'She must have been real tired. Maybe whatever's going on with her dad drained her. It sounded like she may actually have it worse than me.'

The car came to a slow stop. Ritsu regretted it but had no choice, "Wakamiya-san, we're here."

Yuu nuzzled his leg, then saw his lap close to her face and shot up wide awake. She felt drool hanging from the side of her mouth and wiped it. She was so embarrassed but before her brain could catch up to apologize, she looked out the window to see where she was then saw the boys lined up at the gate waiting to greet them and Ritsu's dad at the end. But he didn't have the upset glare both of them expected. In fact, all of them were blushing having seen only Yuu shoot up from Ritsu's lap and wipe her mouth through the window. They stared at that look bewildered but then realized they'd have to get out and face Kasanoda Hayato. Hayato regains his composure and signals Ritus to follow him first and left Matsuo to take Yuu to her room until she was summoned. They get to Hayato's room and Ritsu sat down on the pillow before where his father sat. "Stand up, boy. No one told you to sit."

Ritsu shot back up and stood at attention. "I was under the impression that my rules since the Mioji's first came at you with a car…were clear. Was I mistaken?"

"O-otou-san, I..."

"You speak when I tell you to. As the Head of a Syndicate, I'd have you do push-ups over flames with cement blocks on your back." Ritsu flinched, not daring to look his father in the eye to see if he was serious. Hayato continued, "However, as a Father to his son, soon to be a man, I feel it would hurt more to not look you in the eyes for a long…long…time."

Ritsu looked up and his father was doing just that. Yet he still spoke, "I have only one son, and he's growing up before my eyes. I worry about him every time he's out of my sight but he keeps doing things that would make me worry more. He's becoming a man and following his own path, but I'm too selfish to let him."

Ritsu bowed his head with guilt and there was silence in the room. Hayato turned completely away from him, "I can't accept him as a man yet. I can't agree with what he's doing. But I can't stop him forever. So until I can look at him without disappointment, I won't look at him at all. Leave my presence."

"But, dad…"

"Leave…" Ritsu stood there and hesitantly walked out the shogi doors. As he finally turned around, he heard his father call out, "Send in the girl."

(A/N) So I got two jobs now…shoot me. I'm starting to believe that this thing called "a life" doesn't exist…like Santa…or Income Tax Refund. I felt I've done enough character development and made Yuunami interesting enough so I could focus on the story and getting to what everyone wanted to see in the first place…SOFT CORE POR- WOAH wrong mentality…*ahem* a love story. Yes, you peons can finally see Kasanoda get some Poont- *ahem* TLC. Keeping this one short, more story depth on its way, working on Chapter 2 of Serotinal Incidents. I only managed to get chapter one out because I had an idea of how to do it but I only knew I wanted to introduce another character but didn't know how so now I do and it's likely going to be as long as the first chapter because I wanted to do this complicated. The HUGE difference between chapter one and chapter two though: I FINALLY got to play FFXIV! I love it and in two days, the new instalment comes out for rouge! I'm SO on that. So expect people to start sounding like they do in Realm Reborn because I now know simple things like "Twelve" swears. Till next time.

Here's the translations:

Shinda Kusa – Dead Grass
Furisodo – Kimonos with "swinging sleeves"
Tsuchibue – ocarina; a wind instrument that can be ovular with 4 or 6 holes, or sweet potato shaped with 10 to 12 holes
Opa – German for 'Grandfather'.
Obaa-san – Grandmother. Not to be mistaken with Oba-san which means aunt.
Moshi moshi – the phrase used when answering a phone; similar to hello but specific only to the telephone.
Ninensei 「 二年生 」 – sophomore: ni 二 means "two", nen 年 means "year", sei 生 means "living". To change the year, you'd change the number. Ex.) If you were a freshmen, you be ichi-nensei 一年生. If you are a senior, yo-nensei 四年生.
Kieo Daigaku – Keio is the name of the university. Daigaku 大学 means "University/college": dai 大 means "big" and gaku 学 means "school".

***Check out a picture I did of Wakamiya Yuu and Kasanoda Ritsu at Xai16 on deviantArt if you haven't already (I got lazy and used a base and substitute Photoshop tools but it came out great for someone who has NO IDEA how to use Photoshop)***

The link is below: copy and paste, delete the space, and don't forget the dot-com. And Enjoy.

xai16. deviantart

/art/Kasanoda-Ritsu-X-Wakamiya-Yuu-312704544