It was brought to my attention that the name of Renge's father is Reynard Hoshakuji so I will just add the Kane to his name and everyone will be happy that way.

Hoshakuji Reynard Kane eyed his daughter who was sitting on the bed seemingly paying attention only to him. He wondered how he should break it to her. Renge was unpredictable at best, much like her mother, Kikue. Maybe he should've let his wife tell their daughter the news but now it was just too late. He could only pray that Renge was mature enough to recognise the benefits that were being offered to her. Either way today was going to be a long hard day for him, and he would be so much happier knowing he had his daughter's approval. He was her father and he wanted her to be joyful, to always have a smile on her pretty face.

Renge sensed her father's distress and rapidly went through all sorts of problems, trying to identify one that would apply to their situation. Finding none she gazed questioningly to her papa-dearest. He opened his mouth to say something but stopped and racked his fingers through his hair. Sighing he sat down on the bed next to Renge and grasped his daughter's hand in his. Kane's thumb rubbed Renge's hand in slow, circular motions.

"Renge there is something I wish to discuss with you and I want you to try to be rational about it."Reynard stated in a firm voice.

"Am I not always rational, papa?"Renge frowned at him.

Reynard dodged the question by inquiring something very serious."Ma petite, have you considered getting engaged? I wouldn't want to pressure you or force you into doing something you are not ready for, but Renge, know that you are no longer a child. Now you are a young lady and as such we must find you a suitable match." He finished watching his daughter attentively.

Renge paled and swallowed rather heavily before answering." To be honest papa I have given no serious thought to it. I supposed that I was not old enough to worry about such things. Besides what use is there in trying to acquire a suitor when I know that whomever I marry will be your choice." Her voice cracked at the end but otherwise she seemed to have regained her previous state of being." Do you have someone in mind? For me to get to know?" She asked after a slight pause. She didn't seem too happy about it but she wasn't out rightly rejecting the whole idea.

Reynard's brown eyes softened and he started informing his daughter about some events to come."There is nothing set but I got a call, along with an invitation from Ootori Yoshio." Renge's eyes widened but she held her tongue and he continued."Apparently he noticed that you were quite close to his youngest son at the boy's birthday party and he confessed that Kyoya also has a liking for you. Ootori-san was wondering if it would be possible for you two to spend some more time together."

"And are you going to accept?"The girl's voice pitched as she enquired.

"Are you against it?" This simple query had Renge's head give a vigorous negative shake. Pleased with her answer Reynard made up his mind."I'll meet with Yoshio and we will discuss details then. Until further notice please hold this piece of information for yourself. Are we understood?"

"Yes father."She would not disobey him; Renge was a woman of her word. He kissed her forehead slipping off her bed and walked to the door. Reynard looked, one more time, to his daughter before exiting her room.

Renge remained seated on her bed thinking about the conversation she had just had with her father. Worry made her bite the inside of one of her cheeks. Her tongue swept under her teeth, feeling the hard edge slice at the soft appendage. Unconsciously she drummed her fingers on the rumpled sheets under her.

Deciding it would do her no more good to just sit there she went straight to the ad-joined bathroom. Her clothes were discarded on the way, leaving a messy trail behind her. The warm water provided by the shower relaxed Renge as it was being sprayed over her body. Her hair was washed with extreme care using her favourite shampoo. Next she applied some shower gel to herself enjoying the way its scent soothed her. Showers were so comforting it was no wonder she liked them as much as she did.

Once she was down with her shower she wrapped a white, fluffy towel around herself and proceeded to her room, picking her clothes up along the way. She threw the towel and the discarded the clothes on her bed. Tugging the doors of her closet opened she chose a new outfit to wear. Renge decided on a pair of black jeans and a white sweater with a loose collar and elbow-length sleeves. She took the towel and dirty clothes and deposited them in a basket knowing that the maids will wash them. Using a blow-drier she dried up her long light auburn locks and than pulled her hair in a high tail.

Meanwhile Renge's father Reynard had just finished talking to Ootori Yoshio. The two parents agreed to give the couple a chance and if the chemistry was good they would make everything official and announce the engagement. Yoshio had insisted that Kyoya should be with them during their talk and the boy proved to be very intelligent. Yoshio's youngest son was a good match for his daughter, Reynard decided. 'Renge should be glad that this young man shows such a great interest towards her.'

Kyoya had used the meeting as means to analyze the kind of man Renge's father was. If he wanted this arrangement to end with a marriage then he had to know what he was up against. Reynard seemed to have a favourable impression of Kyoya and that pleased the younger man. Kyoya was sure that if he was careful enough the situation would end up in his favour and Renge would become legally his not because her father wished it but for herself. He just had to convince her, and if necessary he would even manipulate her. He was Kyoya, already known for his ruthlessness and cunning demeanour, and he certainly wouldn't lose Renge to another.

Hoshakuji drove home intending to tell his wife and daughter what had happened. The front door was opened by a maid and as he was taking his coat off Kikue came before him. Flashing a smile to his wife Reynard relished in the feel of her arms wrapped around him as Kikue hugged her spouse. The beautiful moment was interrupted by someone clearing their throat. Looking in the direction where the sound came from they saw Renge with a look of mock-disgust on her face. Kikue glared in warning at her daughter but Renge just rolled her eyes and made a gagging sound, soon after fleeing upstairs as her mother detangled from Reynard's embrace. The older woman raced upstairs fully determined to teach her daughter a lesson. The man of the house watched all these with great amusement.

Suddenly a thought flashed across Reynard's mind. Soon enough Renge would start dating and if everything went well she's eventually marry the Ootori boy however her father Reynard didn't feel like parting with her so soon. Renge was already seventeen which gave him only a few more years to keep his daughter close to him and such small amounts of time passed quickly, far too quick for any parent's liking. "Ah, the joy and pain of being a parent..." He whispered quietly as only for himself. Reynard smiled and followed his two women upstairs, using Renge's shrieks to find them.

He found mother and daughter in the master bedroom on the huge bed. Kikue was tickling her daughter and poor Renge's face was so red that Reynard worried if she laughed much more she'd explode. Finally taking notice of him the two stopped and shared a giggle at his expression. Renge and Kikue exchanged looks and smiled evilly at him; Reynard knew he was in trouble. The two women pounced on him and started torturing him. The agony, the pain; they had no mercy; the two continued to tickle him.

The happy family laid back on the bed, the father in the middle with his arms around his girl and his spouse. They were all smiles, having no worries at all. Reynard used this opportunity to tell them how his earlier meeting went. Kikue was watching her daughter with a warm look and a knowing smile as Renge fidgeted under her mother's gaze.

At the Ootori residence father and son sat together in silence, each with a cup of tea in their hand. Yoshio watched his youngest son's blank face and wondered what the boy was thinking about. The silence was not broken by any of them however Akito came through the door with a grin on his face followed close behind by Yuuichi. Kyoya internally groaned wondering just what did his brothers want this time.

The newcomers each grabbed a seat before greeting Yoshio and Kyoya. The older man inclined his head while Kyoya just glared at them. Yuuichi broke the peacefulness using his older-brother-tone to say something that made Kyoya want to punch him.

"Eh, little brother it seems that you've got yourself a woman. Finally! Akito and I were starting to get worried."His words were accompanied by a dumb grin.

Kyoya's eyes flashed dangerously. "Are you implying something?" A vein popped to show his irritation.

"Me? Implying something? Never, I'm merely stating facts." countered Yuuichi before looking at Akito and complaining. "See Akito, I told you he would be angry but you never listen to a word I say." Akito's eyebrow twitched as he stated in a calm voice."I believe I was the one who told you, nii-san."

'I can't believe I'm related to them. God, I think you placed me in the wrong family.' Kyoya thought as he watched his two older brothers. Their bicker was stopped however by Yoshio. "That's enough you two. If you have nothing to say you may leave."

"But we do have something to say!"Protested Akito."Kyoya treat her nice, okay? Don't be a block of ice around her! Understood? Girls just don't like that."While Akito was coaching his younger brother, Yuuichi was busy sniggering and Yoshio threw all three of them a disapproving look.

"...and when she says something..."Kyoya tuned his older brother out. 'I hope he stops soon enough.' He zoned out and absently started playing with a pen. How it got in his hand shall forever remain a mystery.

"Well, that's about it. The rest you will find out on your own." 'Finally.' Kyoya gave a dull stare towards Akito and then once again glowered at Yuuichi who by this time was chocking from all the laughter. Having had enough of his brothers for one day he raised from his seat ready to go, seeing as Yoshio too had disappeared.

"But you know brother that Hoshakuji girl is really good looking. If it doesn't work out can I give her a try too?" This time Kyoya did punch Yuuichi. Akito got between them before it could get any worse. With his teeth clenched Kyoya stormed out of the room.

Akito looked after his younger brother then stared angrily at the older one. "Why do you always feel the need to challenge him? That comment about the girl was totally uncalled for, and not to mention rude. One of these days he's going to do more than just punch you. You're playing a dangerous game here Yuuichi."

Yuuichi merely shrugged before countering. "Aw, come now Akito. If when they are not in a relationship he's like this about her, what will he be like when they finally start dating? Besides I'm just teasing him."

"It's clear that he likes her. Don't interfere Yuuichi because I'm not going to diffuse any further conflicts between the two of you. Just leave him alone."

"Whatever."

Akito didn't argue with his brother more and just helped him up. They resumed their seats and sipped tea before moving onto other topics. One could just hope that Yuuichi was smart enough not to get in trouble. Kyoya may be their little brother but he could very well be their worst enemy if provoked. Akito wished that would never be the case; he just had to find a way to make Yuuichi keep his mouth shut though.

Kyoya marched to his room, slamming the door after he got in. His fist collided painfully with the wall. He looked around trying to calm himself. The room was not really his own, it had been his as a child. Now he lived on his own but for tonight he had agreed to stay at his parent's house. He knew it had been a bad decision right from the start. The way his family interacted was after all what had prompted him to move out. And speaking of family, Yuuichi was such an idiot. Kyoya resolved not to let Renge anywhere near his eldest brother unless he or someone he trusted accompanied her. Being next to Yuuichi was like taking a walk down a mine field, you could never be sure where you foot landed; one wrong move and you were gone.

Akito was something else. The young man was understanding of other people's needs and very tuned in to his siblings and how they felt. Renge would make great friends with him, Kyoya was sure and for whatever strange reason it didn't bother him. Probably because Akito was nothing like Yuuichi and he wouldn't try to aggravate his younger brother.

Feeling better Kyoya sat down on the bed. As a child this bed seemed huge to him and now, now it was a normal length but it still seemed empty. The spectacles wearing teen just sighed and went to sleep. The whole night his dreams were plagued by Renge and her sweet smile, the way she was so easy to hold and her warmth. Being alone in the bed meant no warmth and that was what woke him up in the middle on the night. He cursed softly pulling a blanket over himself and drifting to sleep once again. Renge was all he saw for the next few hours.

Morning found him awake and going down for breakfast; staying at his parents' meant following certain rules. This rules included waking up early. Kyoya couldn't help but feel it was such a good thing that he didn't usually come here. He rather liked living on his own. There was no Yuuichi to bother him, no parents to worry about and no waking up early. It could get pretty lonely but he had the host club come over sometimes and soon enough Renge would be too. The image of Renge in his apartment had his grinning.

'I wonder what she would look like sleeping, or simply sitting there with me on the couch. It must be nice.' His eyes softened and the grin became a smile. He schooled his face in a blank look before entering the dining room where the rest of his family was seated.

I'll stop here. I promise to give you mare palpable RenKyo in the next chapter.