"Dad, can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Of course, son," his father glanced up from his paper.
He kneeled on the cushion across the kotatsu* from his father.
"What is it?" his father asked, curious; it wasn't often his son came to him for something.
His eyebrows shot up at his son's next shocking words.
"I want you to arrange a marriage."
"Thorne."
Thorne stopped in the doorway, glancing back at her dad. He gestured for her to come toward him.
"Amber, wait for me in the limo," she said, walking slowly toward her father.
"Um... ok..?" Amber frowned slightly, walking out the front door.
"What's up, Dad?" she asked, slightly apprehensive.
"I've... received a call," he said, slightly hesitant.
"Ok."
She took a deep breath; she'd expected it, but having it confirmed shook her slightly.
"When do I meet him?"
"Today, after school."
"So soon," she said, slightly surprised.
"You can go to that club of Tamaki's, then come home and change before we leave."
"All right," she nodded. "I've gotta get to school. Bye, dad."
She gave him a hug and darted out the door, dashing to the waiting limo.
"What'd dad want?" Amber asked the moment Thorne sat down across from her.
"Ah, just to tell me that he and I are going out after school. You'll be ok on your own, right?"
"Of course. Can you tell me what you're doing?"
"Oh, well-"
"It's ok," Amber cut her off. "I figured was something sensitive, since dad called you over to talk privately."
"Yeah..." Thorne glanced out the window nervously.
"Tell me afterward?" Amber asked hopefully.
"If all goes well, of course."
"Good," Amber smiled, satisfied.
Kirin sighed as she walked into school. There were two girls talking to Umehito, who was standing against a wall. The same two girls had been pestering him every moment since he'd beaten up Hiyoshi Sato in Kirin's defense. Every morning—the only part of the school day she wasn't at his side—she would enter to find them trapping and torturing him once again.
So annoying.
"Back off," she hissed, sliding past them and between them and Umehito, arms around his waist. The stumbled back and tore off down the hall.
"Thank you," Umehito sighed, hugging her.
She looked up at him, her death glare immediately subsiding.
"Why don't you stand up for yourself the way you did for me?"
"I don't know how."
"What?" she gave him a confused look.
"I'm not so good with people. With Sato, I just hit him. I can't do that with them- they're girls. I can't hit girls."
"You're really not good with people," she sighed.
"Thanks, dear," he said sarcastically, frowning.
"Well, it's true- and it's ok. Lots of people aren't good with people."
He sighed.
"We'll figure something out, Ume," she assured him. She leaned up and pressed her lips to his, kissing him softly.
"Mm..." he slid his hand behind her head, returning the kiss.
She slid her tongue along his bottom lip before pulling away teasingly. He groaned.
"That's not nice, Kirin!" he complained, pouting.
She giggled and smiled coyly up at him. She gave him another quick kiss.
"Don't worry," she whispered against his lips. "If you're a good boy today, I'll give you a treat tonight."
"Mm, ok," he grinned and pulled her in for another kiss.
The warning bell rang, and she pulled away, biting her lip as she looked up at him.
"C'mon, we're gonna be late," she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward their class.
"Good luck, Thorne!" Amber hugged her twin tightly. She could tell Thorne was nervous; whatever it was she and their dad were going to do, it was a really big deal.
"Thanks, Amber. I need it."
Thorne hugged her back and climbed into the limo, sitting across from her father.
"So, how is this going to go?" she asked.
"We'll meet them at the restaurant, and the four of us will get to know one another. If you like him, we'll set up another meeting to discuss the details."
"All right," she smoothed her skirt nervously.
She'd changed into a strapless knee-length black dress with a sweetheart neckline and a puffy skirt. She paired it with a pair of black flats, and accessorized with a silver heart necklace with a single pink stone, pink sapphire post earrings, a diamond bracelet, and a silver ring with a pink sapphire and tiny diamonds. She also carried a small black purse which held her ID, debit card, cell phone, makeup-eyeliner, eye shadow, concealer, blush and lip gloss-a compact mirror/brush combo, and a few bobby pins, clips, and hair ties. Her hair was pulled into a half up-do, left in its natural soft curls, and her makeup kept light and natural.
She did a quick hair and makeup check, applying another coat of lip gloss as the limo pulled up in front of the restaurant. She stepped out of the limo and followed her father into the restaurant. It was a nice traditional Japanese restaurant, complete with paper lanterns and kotatsu.
"Ah, Chivalier-san!"
A tall, slender middle-aged man stood from his cushion at a kotatsu in the corner. He had warm brown eyes and a full head of hair that had obviously once been coal black, turned by age to salt and pepper. He was extremely fit for his age, likely having been very athletic in his youth. He radiated kindness and humility, while simultaneously exuding an air of confidence.
"Thank you so much for coming," he said, bowing.
"Thank you for calling," her dad replied, returning the gesture. "And, please, call me John."
"All right, John. You can call me Akira. And you must be Thorne."
"Ah, y-yes," she said softly, bowing.
"Wonderful," he said cheerily. "My son should be here any moment- ah, there he is now. "
Thorne and John turned to see someone entering the restaurant, a limo visible outside.
Thorne gasped.
"No way."