Disclaimer: Bisco Hatori owns this wonderful manga, not me. Please don't sue me. Thank you.
CHAPTER 7: ANTAGONISTS
Author's note: Fair warning to the reader, this chapter deviates from the main storyline, but it was also the most fun for me to write. Hope you like reading it as much as I liked writing it.
Inside the chairman's office…
Not long after her grandson's departure, Sayoko Suoh turned from the window she was staring out of and faced her son. She had refused to look at the half-French blond even after he left, and what little patience she had was all but gone. Clearly, this…child would never be a proper heir to the Suoh family if he kept on this current path. He was totally unfit and unclean in every way in the eyes of the Suoh matriarch. But because the cause of her distaste was no longer in her presence, Sayoko turned to a more convenient target for expressing her anger.
"Still loud and unorthodox I see. He acts nothing like a proper Suoh. Are you that incapable of disciplining him, Yuzuru?"
Before the chairman could respond to his mother's scathing question, the door to his office opened again. His secretary bowed low to the office's two occupants before she addressed Yuzuru. "I apologize for the interruption, Suoh-sama, but there's someone here to see you. She says she's an old schoolmate of your mother's." Those words caused Tamaki's grandmother to look at the younger woman sharply. She could not recall any of her old friends being alive at this present time.
Yuzuru frowned slightly at the interruption, but nodded politely to the secretary. He wished he could somehow blame her for informing his mother of what he and his son had discussed, but since the primly-dressed young lady answered to Sayoko as well as to him, he bit back any accusations. Besides, he didn't want to sink to his mother's level by starting to sound like her. Instead he simply told her, "Send her in."
"Yes sir." the woman responded neutrally, once again bowing low before bringing in the unexpected guest. "This way please, madam."
An unusually flamboyant elderly woman stood in the doorway flanked by two female servants. She had long gray hair which she had tied in an ornate geisha-like hairstyle. A large orchid rested on the right side of her head tucked primly behind her ear, which gave the woman a unique and stylish look. Her slightly-wrinkled face had high cheekbones and she had flashy amber eyes with barely-perceptible crow's feet around the edges. Her kimono was brilliantly colored with a black-and-purple floral design which fitted her perfectly. No part of the outfit was creased or sloppy, and even her obi was precisely detailed with a beautiful floral pattern of its own that complimented the kimono in a way no other sash would.
The woman was taller than Sayoko and looked rather youthful for her eighty-four years. She was also slender and she had a commanding presence about her, despite being bent over due to age. Although she was evidently of wealthy lineage, there was nothing haughty or stuffy about her mannerisms. As a matter of fact, her face was kind and almost playful. And a refreshing change from the sad and angry faces that Yuzuru had had to endure up until this point.
"Hitachiin-sama, welcome. Please, have a seat." Yuzuru bowed and acknowledged Hikaru and Kaoru's grandmother as she swept into the room gracefully yet slowly because of her age. Akemi Hitachiin nodded to the chairman and then faced her old school rival.
"It's been a while, Sayoko-chan." Those words caused Tamaki's grandmother to wince and narrow her eyes in anger. Only that brazen Hitachiin woman would dare address her in such an informal way. Never mind that Akemi was two years older than Sayoko even though she looked ten years younger, but the flowery old woman had to rub it in by acting as if they were still in school. Not wishing to make a scene, however, Sayoko swallowed heavily to bite back any retort, and responded to the newcomer in a coldly civil tone.
"So it has, Akemi." Sayoko deliberately left out any honorific. "What brings you here?"
Smiling slightly, the matriarch of the Hitachiin family took Yuzuru's invitation and sat down on the sofa while her servants stood behind her silently. "I had a feeling that you wouldn't be too fond of the idea of Haruhi Fujioka living with your family. Clearly, Sayoko-chan, you are just so set in your ways it almost makes me laugh."
The matriarch of the Suoh family winced again at being addressed as if she were a child and glowered at the other woman, who graciously accepted some tea when Yuzuru's secretary offered it to her. After sipping the light green liquid, the twins' grandmother set down the cup and saucer and met Sayoko's glare with a forceful look of her own.
"I'll get to the point, Sayoko. Since you can't bring yourself to help a young lady in need, I will take her off your hands for you. Haruhi will be staying with my grandsons at my daughter's house. Even though Yuzuha is on a business trip until next week, she already knows of this arrangement. So she had a room prepared."
"Is that so?" Tamaki's grandmother responded neutrally, but with a hint of distaste. "So that little commoner whore can further the debauchery of those boys?"
Akemi's eyes narrowed at the other woman's mentioning of "those boys." Her beloved grandsons had only recently come out of their self-centered shells and were growing into wonderful young men thanks to their commoner friend. "Haruhi-chan has been nothing but a good influence on Hikaru-chan and Kaoru-chan. She's the first person they've met who has had no problems telling them apart, and she's been able to steady Hikaru-chan emotionally in such a way that even Kaoru-chan has not been able to do. I'm reminded more and more of my own son every day because of the kindness and unconditional love Haruhi-chan has shown my grandsons."
"How is bringing your late son into this conversation relevant, Akemi?" Sayoko asked as she sat down opposite her old schoolmate while Yuzuru's secretary served her another cup of tea. The Suoh matriarch barely acknowledged the young woman when she bowed low for the older woman.
"Perhaps it's because unlike in your family, every child in the Hitachiin family is loved and cherished unconditionally." Akemi picked up the cup and saucer and sipped her tea again. "I've noticed that over the years my grandsons and your grandson have gotten close as well. Tamaki-chan certainly helped them out of their so-called perfect little world. Too bad you'll never acknowledge the good person your grandson has become."
Sayoko glared at Akemi coldly. When she didn't say anything, Akemi continued.
"Maybe I'm not descended from the Seven Great Families, but that hardly matters. My family is still powerful in its own right. And I can promise you one thing." Akemi set down her tea cup and met Sayoko's gaze fearlessly. "If you, Sayoko Suoh, cause any trouble for my family, and yes, that includes Haruhi-chan, you will be very sorry. If you doubt my words, go ahead and try me."
Sayoko stared fixedly at the tea in her cup and reflected on what the Hitachiin matriarch had just said said. There was no telling what Akemi would do, or more precisely, what she would have her daughter and grandsons do. The Suoh matriarch didn't want to create an awkward or embarrassing situation for the family. But that's precisely what kind of situation that brazen Hitachiin woman would create. And if those boys and that half-breed were truly in cahoots with one another, familial embarrassment would be the least of her worries.
Akemi nonchalantly sipped her tea again, finishing the contents of the cup. "Well, I believe it is time for me to go." She stood up slowly and nodded to her servant girls, who bowed low for her. "I thank you both for your hospitality." Bowing to the other occupants of the room, she motioned to her servants, who followed her to the door.
But just before she left, she turned once again to her old rival. "Remember what I said, Sayoko. If you doubt my words, go ahead and try me."
For a brief second, the Suoh matriarch raised her eyebrows and blanched ever so slightly, but then covered it up before her son could see that small bit of weakness in her façade.
But Akemi caught it, and shot back a catlike smile. Then she was gone.
TBC
A/N: Whew! That was fun. Granted, it does indeed deviate from the main storyline, but with any luck, it will answer the question of where Haruhi stays. Besides, it was sort of fun having the twin's grandmother go up against Tamaki's grandmother. Someone had to shoot that old bat down, and I figure who better than one of her contemporaries. Wow, this opens things up to another set of possibilities…but I digress.
I got the feeling that Granny Suoh would ban Haruhi from her property solely on the grounds that she's a commoner. If she treats her own grandson, who at least has his father's lineage within him, like he's lower than dirt, imagine how she would treat Haruhi. But I have been wrong before, and for all I know, the cannon could have a completely different perspective. There's no telling what the great Hatori-sensei has in store in the manga (unless you've read that far ahead…but I digress AGAIN!).
Anywhoos, now that I've had my fun at seeing Granny Suoh squelched, as Hikaru put it, it's time to get back to Haruhi and the gang. Wish me luck, and read, review and feel free to offer suggestions if you like. And thank you again for your patience and for not flaming me.
I just wonder what the twins would say if they saw the confrontation…any ideas?