Chapter 6: Ah, So That's How It Is

Flashback:

"Here we are Kori, Wayne Manor." Kori stared at the massive estate, rather impressed by its size and grandeur. Her house back in Tamaran had been large, but not this large.

"Thank you Victor for your help."

"Not a problem. Just answer me this."

"Yes?"

"Umm… Why are you here?"

"Oh." She blushed a little, slightly embarrassed. "My Uncle is head of a… rather large company, and wishes to do business with Mr. Wayne. So, as a show of good will, Mr. Wayne has allowed me to stay with him for this year so that I may attend the American high school."

"Hold on. You're saying that you're going to live here?"

Kori looked puzzled. "Yes?" Then she remembered. "Oh, and please do not tell Richard. I would not want him thinking I am the 'strange'." Victor chuckled.

"No worries, Kori. See you later." After seeing Kori walk in the front door, he drove off, saying to Raven, "Though somehow I think Richard'll find out soon enough."

End flashback:

"Kori! What are you doing here?"

"I am staying at the Wayne Manor this year for business purposes. What are you doing here?"

"I live here! Bruce Wayne is my adopted father!"

"What?"

"Yeah! ... Wait. Kori, you're the heiress to Sholvac Industries?"

"Yes! And you are the heir to Wayne Corp?"

"Yeah! Didn't you know?"

"No! Did you not know my position with Sholvac?"

"I really had no idea!" Richard and Kori stared at each other again, and then broke out laughing. Richard then turned to Mr. Borren.

"So, I take it that Mr. Borren is…."

"My uncle, Galfore Borren. He has cared for me ever since I was very young."

Bruce stared at them, confused by the high paced and convoluted conversation.

"You two… know each other?"

"Yes! Richard and I have met this morning during the homeroom class! He was most kind in showing me the ways of American high school, introduced me to his friends, and even introducing me the pizza! The Kitten was rather horrible, but the experience was most enjoyable none the less."

"What is this horrible Kitten you speak of? And what is this pizza?" Galfore looked slightly confused.

"Pizza is a most delightful American food, Uncle Galfore! We must venture to the Mike's and eat of it. You are sure to love the taste as much as I have!"

"Hold on a second Kori, I just thought of something," Richard said. "When you said you didn't want to talk about your business this morning, that was because…" He let his sentence hang, and Kori blushed, slightly embarrassed.

"I apologize for not informing you sooner. In my country, I have always been treated rather differently because of my wealth, and I wished to experience the high school as a 'normal' person. I was afraid that if you knew I was rather, um, 'well off', that you would…"

"…Treat you differently than if you weren't totally loaded. Don't worry Kori. As the son of Bruce Wayne, I completely understand where you're coming from." Kori seemed to relax, and smiled.

"Yes. However, if I had been aware that you were the heir to the Wayne fortune, I would not have been so hesitant to speak."

At this point, Bruce, who finally caught up on what had been happening, retook charge of the situation.

"Well, I guess there's no need for more introductions since we obviously all know each other. Richard, why don't you help Kori carry the last of her bags to her room? Then give her a tour of the house."

"Sure thing Bruce. C'mon Kori, your pack mule awaits," he said with an exaggerated bow.

"Of course. This way please, Mr. Mule." Kori giggled and led the way, Richard following behind. When they left the kitchen, Bruce turned to Galfore. He spoke, but now in a lower, more hushed tone.

"So, did you tell her?"

"No. You?"

"No, not yet."

"Hmmm. When do you think we should?"

"I was thinking about giving them a couple of months. Let them get more familiar with each other."

"They seem rather familiar already." Galfore grunted. True, he thought Richard was a nice boy, but he had raised Kori since she was three and her parents had died. As a result, he had all of the paternal instincts of a real father, and one of them was that no boy, no matter how rich, well-bred, or polite, would ever be good enough for his little girl. Bruce understood this and laughed.

"Relax. I would hope that they get along well, or this would never work."

"Perhaps." Silence. Then, "I suppose you will make the announcement?"

"Yes. Most likely at the New Year's Gala I'll be hosting. All the head of both our companies will be there, and there'll be plenty of media coverage for it."

"Good, good. Will you be telling them our decision before that time?" Bruce thought for a moment.

"No, probably not."

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And there you have it! The mysteries and shocks of Chapters 4 and 5 are all revealed. Hope you liked reading it as much as I liked writing it. Oh, and about the end of Chapter 6, don't worry about it. It could be another several chapters before that gets all explained. Anyway, R & R, and thanks for everything. Gracias!