Hi, currently, we're on exams week, but I made an effort to write a portion so that when I update on Christmas break, there's won't be a lot more work to do here. :D
Oh, um, I'm having the case of author's block, it would help me a great deal if you guys give me suggestions for the flow of the story... thank you.
Thanks a lot for those who reviewed. They were great supports! Your words urge me to update as soon as possible. :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Kaichou wa Maid-sama
~Chapter 2 - Father~
"You're doing well Misaki-san."
Misaki lifted her head a few centimeters to look at her grandmother who just entered her room, all the while she was aware of the stack of books balanced on top of her head and that she's wearing 3-inch heels.
"Thank you, grandmother." Misaki replied, she placed her right foot crossed behind her left and bent her knee gently—a bow.
"I see you're getting the hang of it. There'll be a party a month from now and there'll be several important guests. I'd be proud to have you presented to them."
"That's such an honor." Misaki answered, though deep down she just hated that idea. She wasn't fond of parties. Much more the exquisite ones. Even though she's slowly being trained to enter the world she originally belongs to, she still can't help feeling like an outcast.
"Your session can end here. I suggest you pick up again next week. We're going to have an important dinner tonight."
"Yes madame." Misaki's tutor, who was silent the whole time, answered. She carefully removed the books from Misaki's head.
"An important dinner?" Misaki asked, slowly taking off the painful heels.
"Yes. We have a guest. Your chambermaids have already fixed your bath. Please go be ready. We will leave the mansion at 8 sharp. I expect you to be ready in an hour." then she left the room along with Misaki's tutor.
Misaki sank onto her couch as soon as they left. Her grandmother sure knew how to put her under pressure all the time. She's been at this for three weeks already. The first few weeks were dreadful. She had to learn about proper language, proper etiquette, proper everything. She felt like a doll, but this is what she asked for. She just have to bear with it.
"Misaki-sama, your bath is ready." a maid entered from the connecting bathroom. Misaki sighed again as she stood up.
If they're eating outside, then that means they'll return home around 11 or so. She needs at least an hour to finish her council works and maybe another hour to finish her homeworks. She's so tired these days, she wondered if she could keep this up for much longer...
"Eh? Usui-kun? Why are you here? Are you here to help out?" Satsuki, the manager, asked.
"Isn't Misa-chan here?" he asked, looking around, and it seems that Misaki wasn't around at all.
"No, she looked really drained and tired when she came here for work earlier, and so I sent her home early. But it seems there's still a lot of things in her mind. Is her council duty too much?" she asked worriedly.
Usui leaned on the kitchen counter and looked thoughtful. Misaki was acting like usual at school today. Scolding him for eating at the council room, countering several other male students who dared to break the law of the school and such. Nothing seemed odd, except...
"Well, she's not as fierce as before." he nodded to himself, again. with his blunt expression, "which is really odd. She could smash a wall when she gets angry, but today nothing like that happened." he nodded again, already in his chibi form.
Honoka's head popped into the kitchen, "Well, she's become more...dainty."
"Elegant, you mean." Erika's head popped above Honoka's.
"You guys, you were eavesdropping." Satsuki chastised as Erika and Honoka entered the kitchen too.
"Misaki hasn't been her usual self lately." Erika said, looking at Usui, as if he had the whole explanation for it.
"Though, she is elegant when taking care of the costumers, she's different these days. Back then, she wouldn't mind about how she looks, but these days I see her fixing up." Honoka said.
"She's a girl. Of course she'd be—" Satsuki sweat-dropped.
"She's much too lady-like." Honoka interrupted.
"She's not even bothering to treat the idiot trio like she usually does." Aoi suddenly entered.
"Aoi-chan!" Satsuki said.
"Usually those idiot trio are a pain, but they can be observant. They've written down every detail that has changed about Misaki, talk about scary. They said that she didn't even bother to be all 'evil' on them when they were getting noisy in the cafe." Aoi said, folding his hands to his chest.
"Well...you're right..." Satsuki slowly agreed.
"Do you have any idea what she might be up to?" Aoi asked, looking at Usui, who had been silent the whole time.
"No." he said bluntly.
"Then, we'd better find out soon," Aoi said, smiling.
"Aoi-chan...don't do anything rash." Satsuki warned.
"Come along child." Grandfather prompted Misaki, as she stopped in awe, seeing the large restaurant where they were to dine.
"S-so...high class." she thought, as she slowly followed her grandparents. She walked carefully, hoping she won't trip in the heels she was wearing. As she entered the restaurant, they were immediately directed into a VIP room.
"Your guest just took a stroll outside, he will be returning soon." one of the attendant told Grandfather.
Grandfather nodded. "Very well." and he took his seat.
Misaki looked at the rectangular table, currently decorated with flowers and such. She was thinking of where to seat.
"Just take a seat anywhere." Grandmother said, sitting beside Grandfather.
"Yes, grandmother." Misaki automatically replied. She immediately took a seat across her Grandfather. "About the guest, grandfather..." Misaki began to ask.
But before she could finish speaking, a waiter announced the arrival of the guest. A tall dark blond haired man with deep aqua eyes entered the room. Misaki squinted her eyes, she wondered how come the man triggered something in her memory, though she couldn't recall meeting any foreigner.
"Good evening," he greeted Misaki's grandparents formally. "it would have been better if we just had dinner at the mansion."
"Well, it's nice to eat outside once in a while, especially since you got back." Grandfather said coldly.
"It's nice to see you again Mikeru." Grandmother said softly, the way she talked, it was the first time Misaki knew she was even capable of such kindness. Usually she was too strict and cold.
But at the mention of the name, Misaki flinched. Mikeru. That name...
"Father?"
Mikeru smiled, "I haven't seen you in a while Misaki."
"Go take a seat," Grandfather instructed.
"Yes father." he said, taking his seat beside Misaki.
Misaki froze, she wasn't comfortable with this man yet, even if he is her father. This man who had been missing in her life for as long as she could remember. The man whom she had been blaming the whole time as to why they were living a hard life. He seem well and carefree as if he had forgotten that he even has a family. Could her mother be wrong? Could she only have been tricked into thinking this man really cared for them?
"How are you doing? Are you getting use to the life in the mansion?" he asked familiarly, as if they were just old friends who haven't seen each other in quite a while.
"I-I'm doing fine." Misaki stammered, she was losing her composure and accidentally replied like she usually did if she were not in the presence of her grandparents.
"Your tone is very rude, Misaki-san." Grandmother chastised.
"It's alright mother." Mikeru laughed, "It's my fault. I haven't seen my daughter in years and I'm sure I'm just like a stranger to her right now."
"I hope you're not trying to imply something." Grandfather said, eyeing his son.
"No, not at all. Let us just enjoy the meal." he said, as waiters and attendants began entering the room, filling up the table with delicious food.
There was tension in the room the whole time, Misaki became confused. She didn't know Grandmother could be so kind and gentle, at the same time, she didn't know Grandfather could be so cold. He was cold when he talked to Father. But, that must be the real him, he was, after all, the man who separated his son from his family...
"So, Misaki, tell me more about what you have been doing?" Mikeru asked his daughter after the meal.
"I..." Misaki answered speechlessly, she didn't know what to say at all.
"I was quite surprised when you sent me a letter, well, father sent me the letter you sent."
"I'm sorry, it was selfish of me..."
"Not at all." Grandfather said, "We have been waiting for the time for when you can join us. We were quite fond of you when you were young."
"Then why kick us out of the house?" Misaki thought, then she remembered that it was her father who left and tried severing all ties.
"She's the president of the student council at her school." Grandmother pointed out, probably trying to lift the building tension.
"Really?" Mikeru exclaimed, though he looked surprised, Misaki could tell that he was just faking it. She wanted to say that out loud, but thought better of it.
"That will add to her good reputation." Grandfather said.
"Would it be fine if I talk to my daughter privately, after all, there is much we need to discuss." Mikeru said, he looked at Misaki and smiled.
"Of course." Grandmother answered before Grandfather could say anything else. "We could just talk again back at the mansion."
As soon as her grandparents left, her father looked at Misaki and sighed, "Well then Misaki, it seems there are a lot of things I have to talk to you about."
"That's right." Misaki said, not bothering to keep up the well-mannered pretense.
"Mother," Suzuna called, her head poking into the small room where they usually eat.
"Hmn?" Minako replied, not looking up as she continued to write.
"You're writing a letter to him again?"
Minako smiled at Suzuna, "Yes, he's about to meet Misaki now."
"Aren't you going to tell onee-san about this?" Suzuna asked, but Minako just shook her head.
"I'm sure that she'll be hearing it from your father, himself."
"Onee-san sure made a rash decision."
Minako smiled, "You're still too young to understand Suzuna, but in due time, you will."
"How sure is she that Usui-san is even from the high class?"
Minako smiled, "Your father can pretty much pull a lot of strings even when he's away,"
Suzuna smiled too and shook her head, "Onee-san will be very angry if she knew you had father do a background check and didn't tell her."
"I'm sure."
"I really wonder why you haven't told her that you've been in touch with Father recently...Why you didn't tell her the truth earlier, or at the same time you told me the truth..."
Minako frowned, "I guess...I just didn't know how to bring it up. Your sister can be quite hard headed and stubborn, just like Mikeru."
"I really want to meet him soon," Suzuna smiled as Minako stroked her hair.
"I've decided that it was the best way to give you, your mother and Suzuna, a good life." Father said, he just finished explaining why he disappeared from their lives. Even though Minako had explained it to Misaki already, she just wanted to hear it from him, himself.
"I..." Misaki was speechless yet again. What was she suppose to say anyway?
Mikeru leaned on his chair and sighed, "And now, you've fallen in love and came to seek my help." Misaki's eyes widened but Mikeru gave her no space to interrupt, "I'm sure Minako already explained to you the risks and chains you're to encounter if you want to come back to this household. Though there are things she doesn't know, let me be the one to tell you. Your love will be futile." he said, looking straight at Misaki with cold eyes.
"W-what?" Misaki flushed, suddenly standing up, "You don't have the right—"
"You are still a child!" Mikeru said, "You don't understand. You may be part of the high class already, but your hands are all tied. Father may have promised you freedom, but those are just lies. There are traps hidden beneath those words. He promised me back then that I'm allowed to visit you, my family. But what do I get? Work, pile of work to do, which prevented me from seeing you. If I had free time, Father would tell me that there's an important guest I have to meet."
"But Grandfather—"
"You didn't tell him the real reason why you wanted to be trained to be a proper lady, did you?"
Misaki shook her head, at that, Mikeru sighed in relief.
"Don't tell him." Mikeru said, standing up. He moved towards the window, gazing at the street lights below. "If you do, you might lose him."
"Why? I don't understand!"
"Misaki," he said, looking at her with sad eyes. "It's futile. I haven't told Minako the whole story yet but—"
"What are you talking about? It's like you've been talking to mother for quite a while now. A while ago, when Grandmother mentioned about me being in the student council, you weren't genuinely surprised, have you been spying on me? On us?"
"No," he slowly shook his head, "I've been in contact with Minako recently."
"What?" Misaki felt like she was just slapped across her face. What? Her mother didn't mention about anything like that!
"It's suppose to be a secret. No one can know that we've been in contact, not even you. And why am I telling you this now? Because, right now, you deserve to know. I care about you, my daughters, my family. I insisted that Minako let you and your sister think what you want about my disappearance. Especially you. As you were growing up, your personality could already be defined. You were always fighting for the right thing. And I'm sure you would do something if you knew about the family situation."
"Of course I would! It's not fair to—"
"No matter how strong you are, Misaki, you should know who your enemies are."
"Minako?"
Minako jumped, she almost dropped the phone when she heard the voice on the other end of the line.
"Mikeru, why are you calling? Is it—"
"Don't worry. I'm at a public pay phone. I just want to hear your voice." Mikeru sighed, he leaned on the telephone machine, his eyes watching the people outside the booth. "It's been years."
Minako smiled, "Did you finally find a loophole in the chains?" she asked softly.
"Maybe a little rust in the chains. I'm still far from being free. But now that they have a new doll to indulge in..."
"Was it wrong for me to tell Misaki?" Minako frowned.
"Even if you didn't, she'll still end up here. Only worse. Father had been keeping an eye on Misaki, and if the spies picked up that Misaki is in love with that boy...from that family..."
"Is...something wrong?" Minako asked, picking up something in his voice. Worry? Dislike?
"No, it's nothing. It's just that...Misaki's being here could be good, at the same time bad. Bad, because she'll be tied down like me. She won't have her free will. Good, because she'll be able to pull some strings herself once she gets use to her new life, also Father won't have enough time to tie me down."
"I see...then, about the boy Misaki—"
"I'm sorry Minako, but there's something I've failed to tell you..." He said sadly.
"What is it?"
"The boy Misaki likes...is from a well distinguished family..."
"You think that your Father would disapprove of him for Misaki?"
"Yes, well, it's something more than that..."
"Mikeru, I'm getting worried. What is it?"
"Well, you see. This Takumi that Misaki likes is..."
The next day...
"Ayuzawa."
Misaki suddenly jumped when she heard her name and cursed when she realized she'd been spacing out in the middle of her council work. She looked up from her papers and was met by a pair of emerald eyes.
"Usui!" she gasped in surprised.
"You're spacing out, Kaichou."
She suddenly blushed. How long had he been there? "Wh-why are you here again? How many times do I have to tell you that you shouldn't be here?" she asked, placing a pile of papers into a folder. That was when she realized the time. "I'm late for my part time!" she jumped, but suddenly fell back on her chair when she felt a sudden wave of dizziness.
"Kaichou." Usui said in surprise, immediately standing by her side.
"I'm fine." She said stubbornly. Actually I'm not. She groaned internally as her head started aching.
"What have you been doing?" he asked.
Misaki didn't look up at him, she closed her eyes and answered, "Nothing."
"You're lying." All of a sudden, Misaki felt her chair being pulled and Usui suddenly pulled her up. She tried to struggle as he pulled her into a hug. "You don't have the energy to fight me, Ayuzawa." he whispered.
"What do you want?" she asked, clearly irritated at being powerless, but at the same time, her heart was racing.
"What have you been doing? You always look tired now and then."
"Nothing," she insisted. "And," she pushed him away with all her remaining strength, "Stop teasing me."
"Then, tell me what you're up to." Usui persisted, leaning on her table as Misaki began packing her things.
"You won't understand. It's nothing, stupid Usui." then she walked out the door.
Usui sighed as she closed the door behind her, then he noticed another folder on her table which she didn't put away. He saw the label. "Study"
"Heeh, is Kaichou that organized with her studies?" he browsed the contents, as he browse his eyes widen. "Why is Kaichou studying something like this? Normally people who study these are those who study abroad. Or heirs of an elite company." he closed the folder and placed it on her table again, "What is she up to?"
A/N: Please review! A good review always help! I'm really thankful for the reviews I've been getting . Please continue to support me.