A/N: First of all I want to thank those who have reviewed the last chapter. I know, it was a shame. But can you please forgive me?? *does huge, glassy, pity-inducing puppy dog eyes*
In this chappy, I really don't know what to write, that's why I was hesitating on posting this earlier. Now I don't know where my plot is going. My ideas are clashing with each other and I can't seem to sort things out.
And I appreciate avamaleki's suggestion, but I kinda think that one's kinda cliche already in the world of KyouXOCs. Sorry, but I still am thankful for your generosity!!
Uhm... So here it is! The 3rd chapter. Unbeta-ed.
It was the shrill sound of his alarm clock that signaled the beginning of a new day. With one hard slap on the snooze button, the irritating sound stopped and an equally irritated Kyouya Ootori roused from his bed, still sullen from being woken up but nevertheless ready to take on the world.
After taking a quick shower and slipping into his suit, he managed to take a few sips of his customary black coffee and a couple of toasts as what he can consider his primary supplement of the day.
Taking a quick look on his Rolex, he was satisfied that there was still a good one hour before the meeting with the executives of the Fujii Corporation.
"Take the west route to the building, Shindou-kun," he ordered his long-time driver. "We still have an hour to spare."
"As you wish, Kyouya-sama."
And they drive off to the Ootori Corporation building situated in the very heart of Tokyo's business district, not knowing what misfortune awaits them.
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What Kyouya hoped for as a smooth drive to the company became a grueling bout with the painfully tight traffic.
There are still more or less 30 minutes left before the meeting starts.
The gods must hate me now. I'm about to go to a very important conference and look at what I found myself in. Kyouya cursed inwardly.
The big crowd of vehicles starts to move, but in a slow-pace. This made the young Ootori's face darken and prompted his foot to tap impatiently on the carpeted floor of his limo.
You have got to be kidding me…
A mere 15 minutes left for him to get to the building.
"What the he--" He started to mutter when he caught sight of a familiar face entering one of the high-end boutique stores that lined the sidewalks.
Wearing a plum-colored halter-style mini dress, revealing her creamy shoulders and shapely legs, and her dark brown hair tied into a high pony tail, Kumiko looked refreshingly beautiful. At about a 5-meter distance, he can tell that she wore little to no make up at all, but still managed to look striking with such a casual look. He was suddenly thrown into a state close to oblivion and kept his eyes on her.
He watched Kumiko enter the shop and upon entering, she was greeted by a couple of women who looked to be a little older than her: one with a head full of curls and the other with a pixie cut hairstyle. The one with the pixie cut brought a crème-colored dress wrapped in plastic and gave it to Kumiko, while the other woman held what looked like a gray (or was it black?) colored purse, also covered in plastic wrappings.
The three women seemed to be laughing and talking, when his observation was cut short by the low rumblings of the car engine. The traffic finally loosened and they started moving forward at a much faster pace.
Barely five minutes were left for them to get to the building, but fortunately, it was just a couple of blocks away. The car sped through the streets and it took them about eight minutes to finally arrive at their destination.
He was certainly a few minutes late, but oddly enough, he was unfazed with his slight tardiness. Although normally, even just a few seconds out of schedule would throw his mood from bad to worse. But now, he didn't even care about the shocked look his secretary had when she saw that he had satisfaction written all over his face. Hell, he didn't even bother thinking about the reaction of the Fujii Corporation executives when they noticed his sudden change of disposition!
He just smiled and shook his head with amusement. Because now he knows that sometimes, awful situations can also become blessings in disguise.
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"Gorgeous, darling! Just bloody gorgeous!!" gasped the 40-something co-owner of the boutique, Ame Kana, at what the curtains of the dressing room revealed.
"Yes, I agree Kana. It looks astounding on her! That dress was fated for you alone." Another woman, who wore her hair wild with curls, looked pleased with the same sight.
Kumiko stood there blushing; too overwhelmed by the comments of the two.
"I bet it would look good on anybody else as well.." She countered with their compliments, but was thoroughly flushed. She just didn't know how to handle flatteries well. She'd be red all over the face and look as if 20 people slapped her continuously.
"Oh, oh! But it DOES look wonderful on you! I could never think of anybody else who'll look better in it!" Ame Mari grinned at Kumiko while clutching her shoulders.
Kana Ame and her younger sister Mari had been running the boutique now for almost 20 years. They are Kumiko's godmothers and her mom's close friends. She had frequented the shop since her teens and even had the two become her unofficial stylists.
For years, the sisters have established a reputation of selling top-of-the-line clothing and were even trend-setters themselves. Kana with her retro chic and Mari with her taste for haute couture. So in the instances that she's a loss at what to wear, she knows just who to run to.
She stared back at her reflection in the full-length mirror. And she can't help but gape a bit at her own image.
Indeed, the dress gave her an almost ethereal look; angelic even. The paleness of the dress, along with some black patterns on its skirt, enhanced her rosy complexion and the flowy style the dress had accentuated her fine curves. The spaghetti straps exposed her fair shoulders; and the dress bared her smooth back since it dipped low on that side.
"So what's it for? A gala of some sort? A date?" asked Mari enthusiastically as she leisurely twisted Kumiko's hair into various styles. Meanwhile, the older one, Kana, went to their storage area to rummage for some other accessories.
"It's the engagement party of my friend. You know, Fujioka Haruhi?"
"Oh, her? That top-notch lawyer? Yeah, I know her; she's a tough beauty. To whom?" Mari was still dealing with her hair, now pulling it up and forming it into a bun.
"To Suou Tamaki. Also a friend of mine from Ouran." Kumiko was adjusting her bangs, sweeping it into the right side of her forehead.
"You mean that Suou heir? Wasn't he the one from that host club? My, he's such a hunk!"
"Uhm, you can say that.."
That should do it. She thought as she smoothed the dress. She very pleased with her appearance.
"But wasn't that blond a little too loud? At least for my taste," blurted Kana who had just appeared behind them and had caught a bit of their conversation. In hand were a white chiffon shawl and a flimsy black colored cloth choker, adorned with a blooming rose made from the same black fabric.
Mari eagerly got the shawl and choker from Kana. She seemed pleased with her sister's find.
"You bet he is. He blabs about just the most pathetic things and is obsessed with the proletarian living. I guess the fact that Haruhi's from a commoner background was a part of his attraction to her." Said Kumiko beaming as she helped Mari adjusted the shawl around her shoulders.
"Huh. No wonder," Kana said as she put the choker on their favorite costumer's, and not to mention their favorite godchild's, neck. "There. Cute and chic!" said the woman after finishing and gave her sister a high five.
And so to finish her black and white ensemble, Kumiko chose crème-colored strappy heels to wear. She was sure to catch some attention with the outfit. A lot of it.
"All eyes will be on you darling! I'm sure that by the end of the party, you'll be breaking some hearts…" teased Mari.
"….or better yet, winning some," added Kana knowingly.
Kumiko was caught unguarded.
"Say, Kumiko. How's your love life been going? Have you been dating anyone?" the older sister continued to ask.
"… Auntie.. That's.." Kumiko mumbled uncomfortably.
"Yeah, perhaps it's time for you to get settled. I suppose you're already in the marrying age and your parents have been whining about having more grandchildren," seconded the younger sister.
"I can't believe you're saying the same things like my mother…" There was a look of bewilderment and irritation displayed on the young woman's features.
"Well, we're your godmothers so it's only natural for us to be concerned with these matters," defended Mari.
"But I'm getting really tired from being prodded about that particular topic. In case you don't know, I get a daily dose of ranting from Mom. And I certainly don't want to get anymore of that from you," retorted Kumiko in a very matter-of-factly way.
Kana and Mari threw each other exasperated glances and held their hands up in surrender.
"Okay, okay. We give up. Since it'd all be pointless anyway," Kana sighed, clearly at the point of submission to her godchild's stubbornness.
A small smile of triumph made itself visible on the Kumiko Fujiwara's face; though it was gone before the older women before her even noticed it. But their topic did strike a few strings in her. She's affected, and it upset her to think so.
She went back to the fitting room and changed. After getting her purchases, she thanked her godmothers and bid goodbye.
Stepping out of the boutique, she was quick to join the crowd of people heading to their respective destinations under the prickly heat of the sun. There was another traffic building out in the streets and the nearby restaurants were rapidly filling with costumers queuing up for lunch. Feeling a little hungry herself, she immediately went to a café which was near the parking place of her car.
The café itself was packed with a lot of people; students and businessmen, even typical office workers on their lunch break. But she still managed to spot a table for herself, located near the wide tainted glass windows.
The waitress walked away after taking her order, consisting of a couple of chicken sandwiches and a tall glass of frappuccino. "Oh, and would you please bring me a glass of water as well?" she called out to the young woman who looked to be in high school.
"Of course, ma'am." And the waitress continued to head toward the counter, humming a little tune barely audible to the others because of the combined noises from the occupants of every table.
Kumiko sat there, idly and sated, as she patiently waited for her order. She watched as people came and went; as the waiters and waitresses walked to and fro the tables and the counter. What a relaxing atmosphere she was in. Everything was in place: the weather, the crowd, herself. Ah, bliss…
Finally, her food arrived. She indulged in eating for a while, still pre-occupied. "The sandwiches here are actually nice," muttering to herself as she took another bite of the delectable meal.
Then, the wind chimes above the door jingled, indicating the arrival of costumers. And surely, someone entered the quaint little restaurant.
There stood the individual, looking for a vacant table and possibly a waiter for assistance. Although the relative stranger didn't actually get a hold of either, a glint of recognition appeared in those eyes after spotting a familiar face among the throng of people.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, sat Kumiko as she nibbled on her sandwich and occasionally taking a sip of her frappuccino. Satisfied and totally oblivious of the one who was now heading towards her table,
"I never thought I'd see you here, Kumiko."
A/N: So what do you think? If you think this is worth crumpling and tossed into the nearest trash can, then say so. It would be my pleasure to have some constructive criticism thrown my way.