Kyoya typed in his family's ATM code, a duffel bag by his side. He took out all the funds in his family's bank, only leaving enough for his family to pay necessary bills until the profits from the companies came in. He'd have enough to live by himself in an apartment in Sydney for years.

He'd have to get a job, obviously. Maybe he'd be able to get a secretarial position at a corporation and work it up from there.

The machine spit out the cash and Kyoya pocketed it. Hours later, Kyoya was in the Kyoto airport, falling asleep on the plane. 'And to think,' Kyoya thought as he dozed off, 'that I was at my best friend's funeral only a couple hours ago. I wonder if Father has noticed I'm missing yet...'

Xxxxxxxxxx

Ten years later.

Kade Oliver glanced at his calendar for the day. Today the wallpaper was an image of the Sydney Opera Hall. In Kade's opinion, it didn't quite capture the majesty of the real thing, which he could see below him, out the window of his office. Apparently he had a meeting soon, in about ten minutes, in fact. He wish Shannon, his receptionist, had let him know. He thought about it for a minute. Shannon was better at catalogues then people, maybe he'd shift her to the inventory department and move Amy to the reception. He smiled. Shannon would enjoy that position more than her current one.

Ring, ring. "Yes, dear?" Kade answered. His fiancée, an immigrant from Japan named Michiko, was on the line. "Kade, Lily's back- to- school night is at six tonight, do you think you'd be able to make it?" Kade skimmed the rest if his calendar. "Yes, I do have an opening from five- thirty to closing. I'll be there," he reassured her. "Thank God, I'd have no idea how to act in front of her teachers," Michiko said with relief.

Kyoya knew what she meant.

Lily, her adopted daughter, was black. Michiko loved her, but she did worry that Lily would be teased about it by her classmates, who would also be there. "Don't worry, Michiko, I'll be there. I have to go, my next appointment is coming in." "I love you, Kade, have a good day!" "Love you too, Michiko. Good- bye."

Kade hung up and looked up at his guest. He was gazing out the window, at the Australian scenery. "Well well, little brother, looks like you are living the corporate dream," a gravelly voice said from the window.

"Ichiro," Kyoya whispered in shock. "Would you rather me call you Kade Oliver, or Kyoya Oturi since we're in private?" Ichiro chuckled. "Kade, if you don't mind," Kyoya said in a clipped tone. "Or Mr. Oliver, if you wish." Ichiro turned to face Kyoya. "It doesn't matter who you call yourself, little brother. You're an Oturi, no doubt. Owning a multi- national medical manufacturing corporation and a private security firm before you turn thirty? That's only something an Oturi could do." There was a note of pride in Ichiro's tone.

"Your ID says you're thirty, little brother. That might be pushing it," Ichiro mused. "Is there a reason why you're here?" Kyoya asked abruptly. "Isn't there always?" Ichiro grumbled. "Yeah. I'm sick, little brother," Ichiro said matter- of- factly. "I'm not gonna be here much longer, and the company's gotta go somewhere." Questions whirled around Kyoya's mind. "Sick?" Kyoya inquired.

"Cancer," Ichiro said, suddenly somber. "Cancer? What kind?" Kyoya blurted out. "Doesn't matter, Kyoya. It's everywhere. I only have a couple weeks." Kyoya stared at his brother. "If you hadn't killed everyone I loved, I might feel sorry for you," Kyoya said flatly. "Why not give it to Jiro?"

"Hah, Jiro. Jiro fell in love with some Russian babe and last I heard, he was in Kiev with no intention of coming home. And let's face it: you're better equipped to deal with our family's money," Ichiro said with a hint of irony.

"I have the paperwork here," Ichiro said, more business- like now. Kyoya was speechless. "Which signature do you want to use?" Ichiro quipped.

'How ironic,' Kyoya thought dryly. He signed the name he hadn't used in nearly a decade on the dotted line: Kyoya Oturi. "By the way, what happened to Father?" Kyoya asked. "Hm," Ichiro grunted. "Father. He went nuts after he found out you were gone, tossed the house, tore up your room. He was gone the next morning, but left a note complaining that he couldn't depend on anyone."

"Ichiro," Kyoya started to say, then stopped. "Have a safe flight," he said instead. Ichiro said nothing, but simply left. Kyoya, or Kade, as he was called by all that knew him nowadays, stared at the door his brother walked out of. A faint, fragrant smell reached him. On the window sill was a white lily.

AGAIN WITH THE DAMN LILLIES GOSH.

But really, holla if you understand!