Hi! So, once again, here's chapter 3 of A Real Lady. I hope you guys enjoy!

Thank you for the reviewers! I got plenty reviews and suggestions for the next chapters, and yes, a lot of people suggested I find a beta reader, so those who are interested, please send me a PM. :D Thank you!

I hope I could include all your suggestions in my story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Kaichou wa Maid-sama

~Chapter 3 - Walker Family~

Usui stretched himself on his couch, tiredly taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes.

Seeing those "study notes" of Misaki had brought him back into his real life. It reminded him of who he really was. He wasn't any outer-spaced alien, nor any superhuman, he was just different.

Different.

Different from the rest of his classmates, different from the people he had learned to be friends with. He's different because he lives in a world miles apart from theirs. He wasn't like the others who had to work part time in order to continue studying. He didn't need to try hard to be able to receive a large amount of allowance. He didn't have parents who were always stressing on how to feed their family the next day. No, he didn't need the normal stuff his current life seemed to include.

Because he's the son of a rich English man.

More of an illegitimate child. His English grandfather had sent him here. Usui closed his eyes and sighed. Why was he relieving his past? This wasn't the right time. Right now, he has to worry about Misaki and what she has been up to...

Suddenly he heard a light click at the front door, he instantly became alert but pretended to be asleep.

He heard light footsteps and estimated that there were two people entering his place. He tried to think of a way to jump on them when they get too close, but his plans diminished as the first intruder spoke.

"Get up Takumi, I know you're awake."

Usui jolted up from the couch and when he opened his eyes, they met with his brother's. Half brother, that is. His successful British half brother, and beside him, stood his ever so loyal bodyguard, Cedric.

Usui immediately glared at his half brother.

"I'm only here in your place because of a favor from Grandfather." his brother said before Usui had the chance to talk.

But Usui was persistent to say something, "What are you doing here in Japan?"

His brother folded his arms on his chest, "The whole Walker family is here. We're staying at the usual vacation house. We'e been invited by the Igarashi group at a business party they had the other day. I believe you've met with the heir of that group." he looked at Usui with knowing eyes.

"I have." Usui said in a hard voice.

"Well then, as for my errand," he said, handing Usui an envelope. "It's an invitation."

"I'm not going, Gerard." Usui said, saying his brother's name in a tight voice.

Gerard snickered, "You're not given a choice. Grandfather is requiring you to go."

"Another political involvement?" Usui asked, glaring at the invitation as he took it.

"We're going to invite the enemy."

Usui raised an eyebrow at this. He opened the envelope and read the invitation's contents. He was the names of those invited. "The Ashford family." he said with a bit of shock. "Don't tell me they've patched up." Usui said.

He remembered that when he was still living in his Grandmother's place, the Walker group and Ashford group were always in bad terms since they were the biggest company which were rivals.

"Yes, but it seems that they have the upper hand these days and so our group wants to be in good terms with them. And so, we're going to use you as bait."

Usui looked at Gerard and laughed. He wanted to be shocked, but his laughter overrode his urge to looked incredulously shock.

"Your illegitimacy has been kept secret, all the other people know is that Mother gave birth to another son before she died. And my younger brother," he said with much venom, "needed to cared by a woman and so, he was adopted by our aunt."

"The story had been edited much." Usui said without a care.

Gerard smirked at his younger brother, "Of course, if we had said that you were sent to your grandmother, then everyone would get suspicious. Both Grandmothers are living in the Walker mansion."

"And the purpose of having me invited is because...?" It was clear that Usui didn't want to discuss about his fabricated life story.

"The Ashford group's current head has a son. His son has a daughter around your age, and Grandfather wants you to marry her just to be in ties with the family, though we can sense that the other party doesn't like that idea one bit. But for the sake of 'politics', they can't refuse."

"And if I refuse?" he looked at Gerard with challenging eyes.

It took Gerard a moment to answer back, but when he did, his eyes were deadly. Equally challenging Usui, "You know better than to defy Grandfather, Takumi."

"There's nothing he can threaten me with."

Gerard shook his head, "We've kept you on tabs Takumi, and although you've been careful, you've slipped up quite a lot of times. Anyway, you'd be surprised with Grandfather's plans for you. I think you'll like it."

"I—"

"Not a word Takumi," Gerard said, suddenly all smiles. "Just go and visit our place once in a while, grandfather would love to see you again. Well, now that my task is done, I shall go now." he said, walking out the door.

Cedric stayed and studied Usui for a while.

"What?" Usui said, obviously irritated.

"Gerard-sama is worried." was all he said before turning around and following his master.

Usui's brow furrowed, "Worried about me?" He shook his head and the impossibility.

He brought his hands to his face, letting the invitation fall on the floor. Now, his real life is trying to get him back. Then he remembered something that Gerard said. He said he slipped up quite a lot of times. What did Gerard mean? Did Gerard find something to threaten him with?

His eyes widen at the realization.

The only time he ever let his guard down was...

He smack the heel of his palm on his forehead. "Of course." he sighed in exasperation. "Ayuzawa."

"Misaki-san!"

Misaki flinched at hearing her Grandmother's angry voice, and with that, she had lost her balance as she was practicing on her heels while walking on a straight line, with books on top of her head. She prepared herself for the impact of her fall, but it never came. Slowly, she opened her eyes and stared into a pair of golden eyes.

Involuntarily, Misaki began to blush when she realized how close their faces were.

Ryuu chuckled. "Sorry sorry." he said, realizing the same thing. He immediately helped her stand upright.

"Th-thank you."

"Misaki-san." Grandmother said, a trace of anger still on her voice.

"Yes, Grandmother?" Misaki asked, looking humble.

"You haven't been paying attention. I didn't let your tutor come for one day and you're already slacking off!" she scolded.

Misaki stayed silent.

"I'm sorry, but don't you think Misaki has a reason? You told me yourself that she had been doing well." Ryuu interjected, but he still maintained a polite tone.

Misaki looked at her grandmother in surprise. Had she actually complimented her when she talked to Ryuu? Misaki caught her grandmother looking embarrassed.

"Well then, I'll let you go just for today. Go and entertain your guests." Her Grandmother said, immediately leaving the room.

While her Grandmother was leaving the room in a haste, Misaki noticed somebody else in the room. Someone strikingly familiar. Ryuu caught Misaki's stare and he chuckled.

"Let's hope your 'amnesia' of your life here wasn't that bad." Ryuu teased, then he turned to the person Misaki was staring at. "I hope you didn't take my catching her fall for the wrong thing."

The person he talked to pouted as he walked towards them. As he stood in front of them, Misaki studied his eyes. They were similar to Ryuu's. The boy looked familiar, but she couldn't put a hold of who he was. She studied his face carefully, she soon found a scar below his right eye and something hit her.

"Shintani!" she gasped.

"Waaah!" the said boy smiled as he brought her into a tight hug, "You remembered!"

Beside them, Ryuu grumbled, "At least she remembered you."

Shintani let go of Misaki and he laughed aloud. "You've changed Misaki-chan."

"You too...you used to be so..." Misaki tried to find the right words.

"Fat?" Ryuu supplied. He laughed aloud when Shintani gave him a hurt look. "It's true!" he defended, "Misaki always went on about how she always caught you eating. She used to complain that she had to take a good care of you."

Misaki laughed at the memory, "Ah! Now I remember you!" she told Ryuu.

"You just did?" Ryuu asked, feigning hurt.

"Of course she wouldn't recognize you now. You used to have jet black hair. Wear glasses. Had a nerdy look if you asked me." Shintani said, silently claiming his comeback victory after Ryuu called him fat.

Ryuu rolled his eyes, "Alright, before we get into a fight dear cousin," he told Shintani, "You better do what you came here for."

"Came here for?" Misaki asked curiously.

"Hinata shouldn't be here right now." Ryuu laughed when Shintani suddenly shivered, "I fabricated a research we had to accomplish. Anyway, he's suppose to attend a track and field meet today but he bailed. He had been busy, that's why he wasn't able to visit you."

"O-kay," Shintani cut Ryuu from saying anything more. "Um, well first of all, welcome back." Shintani grinned, "It was really awful when our parents were against us visiting you. You must've been lonely."

"I made new friends." Misaki smiled.

"Well, um, since you're here now, I'm glad. Well, more than glad. You don't know how much—"

"And before he prattles on about how much he misses you..." Ryuu interrupted, taking the tone of a narrator.

Shintani suddenly blushed in embarrassment. "Um, well...I...aargh." he suddenly panic. He start pacing around the room, clutching his head.

"Shintani..." Misaki said in surprise.

Ryuu shook his head, "He's still shy around you." he chuckled. "Well I guess I'll say it in his part, he was allowed to transfer into your school."

"What!" Misaki said, shocked.

"He's really thrilled about it since his parents didn't agree to that back then." Ryuu said, still watching Shintani pacing around the room, oblivious that Ryuu had already said the news.

"Why did they agree now?" Misaki asked in a whisper.

"You should know by now how our world works." Ryuu said in a serious tone. "Even if you didn't change your surname back to your father's, its already known that you have returned to this household, which means you will the be the daughter of the company's heir. Hinata's parents wants to use your friendship to heighten their status. Of course, being innocent as ever, Hinata has no idea about it."

Misaki unconsciously clenched her hands.

"You should know." Ryuu repeated his earlier words.

"But—"

"You should know better than anyone else if you start defying them." Ryuu said as quietly as possible, but enough for Misaki to hear, since Shintani was making his way back to them.

Misaki nodded stiffly.

"So, as I was saying—" Shintani started.

"I told her already." Ryuu said outright. An innocent smile upon his face.

"Ehhhh!" Shintani pouted.

"Well, it took you so long." Ryuu shrugged, a smile still on his face. "Now that we've told her already, let's go before your coach calls your Father that you bailed."

Shintani gulped imagining his father's wrath. He nodded at Ryuu at pulled him.

"Well," he smiled at Misaki, "It was nice to see you again after so long Misaki-chan!" he waved.

Misaki smiled too and waved back. As they left, Misaki was angry at how this world worked. Using someone as innocent as Shintani into the plans of an adult...it was just wrong. Maybe, just maybe, he finally truly understood why his father had to do what he did.

Misaki yawned. She couldn't sleep at all. She laid awake, staring at the ceiling of her dark room. She still kept on replaying that moment of distraction she had when she was practicing earlier. Something made her stop. But she kept on thinking it was impossible. It might be just a trick of her mind. But she was so certain she heard it loud and clear.

She heard Usui call her name.

She might be going crazy. Maybe with guilt? Why would she be guilty? Usui had no part in her life. But still...she was certain it was his voice she heard. What was bothering her the most was that the voice, Usui's voice, sounded to stressed and sad. She never heard him that way before. It's impossible for someone as talented as him to even have problems.

"But everyone has problems..." Misaki thought. She sighed.

She decided to leave her room and breathe air from the garden.

Misaki blindly felt the walls in her room until she reached the handle of her door. As she opened it, she was momentarily blinded by the lights in the hallway, contrast to the dimness in her room.

Misaki raked her brain, trying to remember where was the direction leading into the garden. She turned right, at the corner of the hallway and saw the door in one of the rooms slightly opened. She wondered who could be up at this time of the night. She quietly walked towards the door.

"This is ridiculous!"

Misaki jumped. She was surprised at the sudden outburst, she knew whose voice it was though, her father's. Misaki quietly stood beside the door and tried to listen on what the conversation was about.

"I think this is the right thing." Grandfather's calm voice said. "The other competitors already know about Misaki's return, this will be just the right thing to do for her."

"The right thing for her or for your own selfish wants?" Mikeru said angrily.

"Mikeru, listen to your father." Grandmother said, her tone the same calm manner.

Mikeru looked at his mother desperately, "Are you taking his side? Do you really think this is the best? My daughter has a mind of her own. Let her decide."

"We've let her run wild far too long Mikeru. Look at what has happened to her, she's hard to discipline." His mother countered.

"That's not true and you know it!" Mikeru said, voice full of venom.

His mother flinched. Mikeru instantly felt guilty. He knew how much his mother hated it when they were at conflict, especially ever since she saw him break down over his separation with his family...

"Mikeru," His mother said gently.

Mikeru took a deep breath to calm himself down, then he looked at his father straight in the eyes, "At least let her have a choice." he said softly.

"What more will she want. They're good friends and I think they get along pretty well already. It's been arranged that they'll be together most of the time." His father said, turning to look outside the window.

"Father," Mikeru said in a pleading voice.

"No, this is final. I'd rather hand her over to the family we're close with rather than hand her over to the enemies."

"Father, the enemies—"

"Don't pretend you don't know about it. I'm sure that lowly family had sent you a request too. As I said, this is final. Misaki is going to be engaged to the Shintani's next heir."

Misaki, who was leaning on the wall next to door, widened her eyes in shock. What? Engaged with Shintani? Is this what Ryuu is trying to say?

"Don't you think there is someone Misaki loves!" Father said angrily again.

Suddenly it was silent. Misaki froze. She was anxious to hear her Grandparent's response.

"That's not possible." Grandmother said immediately, "We've had spies follow Misaki and so far there isn't any guy she seems to be in favor of. If she does, we won't allow it anyway since they're all of low-class."

"Wait." Grandfather said. He looked at Mikeru with challenging eyes, "Is there someone?"

Mikeru glared back at his father, but soon the fire in his eyes died down, "No." he said helplessly.

Misaki let out a breath of relief. It seems like her father was serious about never letting her grandparents know about the person whom she's in love with. But an engagement with her childhood friend? That's crazy!

"Like I said, I'd rather hand Misaki to a family we can trust." Grandfather said finally.

"And so the request—"

"Your father didn't reply. He wants to see what kind of move they're going to make." Grandmother said.

She said it in a tone that indicated that father was crazy to even think they'd accept the request—whatever it was. Misaki noted.

"They will fall. And Mikeru," grandfather said. His tone sent shivers through Misaki.

"Father," even Mikeru noticed the change. Now, the predator had unshed his skin...

"You've failed to tell me something about Misaki's life, now that I think about it."

Mikeru unconsciously swallowed as his father took an envelope from his desk. "What is it?" he asked.

"Speaking of the enemy I want to crush so badly..." Grandfather said slowly, eye-ing Mikeru.

"Yes?"

"I will not hand my granddaughter to them!" Grandfather suddenly shouted. His face red with evident anger. He raised the envelope in front of Mikeru's face. "I just found out that one of those snakes is actually interacting with Misaki! Why did this information just come up recently! Are you trying to defy me!"

"No." Mikeru answered with hard eyes.

"Th-that's enough." Grandmother said, her voice was wary.

"Listen carefully Mikeru. You know very well that I hate it when people goes against me. So if you want Misaki to lead a happy life, at least. Keep her away from them."

Them? Misaki wondered who Grandfather was talking about.

"The Walker family." Grandmother said, seeing that her son was about to act dumb.

The Walker family? Misaki raked her brain and tried to think if she encountered anyone with that surname. But she came up with none. Who could they be talking about? And as if to answer her unsaid question, Grandfather spoke.

"Especially that illegitimate child of theirs. Usui Takumi."

A/N: Please review! . I hope I did well! Review please!

I'm sorry if there were confusing parts here. hehe. I'm also sorry for the late update. I had to catch up with my grades 0.o they not as bad as you think, okay. :)) Just that my 'average' score, is not enough for me. :)