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~Chapter 5 - Say No~

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Usui closed his eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air from the balcony which overlook a vast garden. He tried to shut off the music and chattering from inside the ballroom. He clenched his hands when he couldn't.

Usui growled with frustration remembering what happened just a few minutes ago.

He saw her.

The one he loves.

He became tongue-tied when he saw her in her dress. She looked so refine, so elegant, and he felt that she was so far away. Ever since discovering that she's the daughter of the Ashford heir, he didn't know what to do.

It's like a cosmic joke laid upon him by the heavens. Like it was his punishment on behalf of his mother for running away. The word engaged rang inside his head once again.

She's engaged.

"Having a hard time?"

Usui didn't bother turning around as he recognized the English accent.

"Shouldn't you be inside mingling with the others?" Usui asked, staring at the view below.

"I got bored." Gerard said casually, standing beside his half-brother. "Anyway, there's more entertainment here than inside."

Usui stayed silent. He watched as the lights in the garden switched on when the sky turned midnight blue. Gerard glanced at his half-brother and shook his head slightly. He caught Cedric's eyes by the door and signaled him to leave them alone. Cedric nodded and closed the balcony door behind him as he left.

Gerard turned around and watched the view with Usui, and after a while, he spoke again.

"What are you going to do?" he asked. His voice wasn't worried or concerned, but it wasn't filled with any cunning or insulting tone.

"Like you would help."

"I'm just curious." Gerard said, looking up the sky as the stars began to fill it up. "Two families who are at war with each other, and their future heirs fell in love with one another. One family wants to tie the knot for power, the other wants to keep themselves away. What will you do, Takumi? I'm sure you don't want her to be engaged—the Ashford's princess, I mean. But, if you follow Grandfather, stealing her from her current fiancé..." he shook his head.

"What's your point?"

"To steal her, I'm sure you'd want that. But at the same time, you don't want to give Grandfather the satisfaction of following his orders... What will you do, little brother?" he asked, looking at Usui.

Usui stayed quiet, and he suddenly had a flashback. Something he witnessed earlier. "I never saw her cry," he murmured. He was about to open the door to the council room when he suddenly caught the two hugging through the window. When they pulled away, Usui saw that she had been crying.

"Hmn?" Gerard asked, he didn't fully catch what he said.

I never saw her cry. She's comfortable enough with him that she could cry freely like that. She refuses to show weakness even to any one, and yet she cried in front of that person... Usui brushed his falling bangs away from his eyes.

"You made it obvious last time that you have feelings for her. That's your flaw. If Grandfather was convinced you didn't have feelings for her, he wouldn't have thought of this plan. Be careful, though. He isn't aware that that girl has feelings for you too."

"What made you so sure?" Usui asked, slightly irritated at his brother.

Gerard managed a shrug. "I know a lot of things. Don't deny it either. You're smart Takumi, and I'm sure you know how she feels about you."

Usui was about to say something to Gerard, when something caught his eye below. Someone running towards the dimly lit garden. He immediately recognized the dark colored hair. Gerard also saw what Usui saw, he chuckled when Usui went rigid.

"So, what are you going to do Romeo?" he asked, amusement starting to color his voice.

Usui tried his best not to glare when he looked at Gerard.

Gerard shrugged, "Go on. Just don't let Grandfather catch you. Meanwhile, I'm going to enjoy the view here." he sighed in contentment, leaning back on the balcony's rails.

"Have you seen Misaki-chan?" Shintani asked his cousin, who was standing at one corner, watching the room with boredom.

Ryuu shrugged. "Maybe she's just overwhelmed by the news and went to her room." He lied. In fact, he was watching her the whole time. He also witnessed that when no one was paying attention to her anymore, she quietly slipped out of the room through a certain door.

"Well, it was a big surprise. I heard that the Walker family had suggested having her engaged with one of their potential heirs. Thinking of their reputation...well I thought they would've accepted it."

Ryuu sighed, shaking his head slightly. "You really have no idea how the world runs, do you?" he sighed once again.

"Why are you in such a sour mood today?" Shintani asked.

"It's nothing. Anyway, go— " he stopped abruptly when something, or rather someone, caught his attention. Someone who was trying to look inconspicuous as he maneuvered around the guests. "Over there," Ryuu said, tilting his head.

"Eh?" Shintani looked at the direction his cousin gestured towards.

"That guy in the black tux with dark blond hair." He saw Usui talking to one of the waiters and the waiter gestured to a certain direction. Ryuu realized that Usui was going to the direction where Misaki had run off to.

"Eh? Isn't that Misaki-chan's school mate?"

Ryuu flinched and he stared at his cousin with surprise, "What?"

Shintani turned thoughtful, "Well, when I entered my new school a while ago, I saw him talking to Misaki-chan. They seemed close."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes," Shintani looked at Ryuu skeptically, "What's wrong?"

"Tch. So that is what's going on."

"What are you talking about? I'm not following you." Shintani said worriedly.

"That's the one the Walker family wanted Misaki to be engaged with." Ryuu said.

"Really? Whoa, he looks so cool." Shintani said, admiration coloring his voice.

Ryuu sighed in frustration. His cousin can get so annoying. "Try searching for Misaki in the library." he said, immediately blending into the crowd.

Shintani was about to say something when Ryuu suddenly disappeared into the mingling crowd. He frowned for a bit but turned to find Misaki in the library as Ryuu had suggested. But before he could reach the door, he was surrounded by adults who were congratulating him again.

Misaki ran towards the garden, wanting to get as far as possible from the ballroom. Her mind was racing with a lot of things. When she was inside, she tried to look for her father amongst the crowd but he didn't seem to be present. Where was he when she needed him the most?

She didn't stop even when the hedges from the garden shifted into tress around her. She knew that she was getting further and further away from the mansion, especially since the lights were also getting further away. She didn't seem to care if she got lost, there was only one thing on her mind at that moment— run.

She slowed down when her feet started aching. She was running with her heels on, after all. She finally stopped when she stood in front of a wooden gazebo. She was panting from her run as she entered the small gazebo. She looked around and realized that it looked relatively clean for something that seemed to be hidden by trees, which made it impossible to find, unless someone ran blindly like her.

She sat on one of its wooden benches and immediately took off her heels. She rubbed her sore toes, making slight sounds of pain after every touch. When the pain lessened, the event that occurred earlier rushed into her head so quickly that she felt slightly dizzy.

She had wanted to refuse there and then the engagement with Shintani. After all, it wasn't what she wanted. But this was the consequence of the life she has chosen. She also couldn't bare to see the hurt in Shintani's expression if she had refused.

Even so, she was still able to hold herself together.

What made her...want to break. What she couldn't bare the most, was the moment her Grandfather showed her enemy to her. She could still remember those clear emerald eyes, which turned to surprise as soon as their eyes met. And in a few seconds, his surprised expression changed.

It had made her heart stop.

He had glared at her.

She couldn't believe that her fears happened too soon. He was already treating her like an enemy. She couldn't tear her eyes off those angry emerald ones, she hadn't realize that his Grandfather was already beside her until he spoke.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Misaki-san." he had said.

Misaki looked up and her perfected "lady smile" instantly appeared on her face. She looked at her Grandfather, silently asking who the man was. Her Grandfather smiled too.

"This is the current Head of the Walker family."

Misaki froze for a second. They didn't seem to be enemies...but, that's how politics are suppose to be...right? Especially since the cameras were flashing furiously around them.

The head of the Walker family chuckled as her Grandfather introduced him to her.

"Well, I should say I'm the former head. I'm stepping down and giving my sons the reign. Seeing as he has finally trained his two heirs."

"Is that so, then I hope you have a good retirement, my friend." Misaki's Grandfather said.

Misaki could feel the tension in the air, but the others around them seem to be oblivious.

Usui's Grandfather then, turned to her again, "Let me introduce you to the potential heir of my company." he said, though beside her, Grandfather had frozen slightly.

Gerard and Usui stood beside their Grandfather as he motioned them forward. Misaki felt butterflies in her stomach as Usui stood in front of her. His expression neutral. "This is Gerard. The first born of my son."

Gerard smiled and shook her hand, "It's nice to meet you."

Misaki nodded in acknowledgement.

"And this is my second grandson. Takumi. I've heard that you two go to the same school. What a coincidence."

"Yes, truly." Misaki's Grandfather said with a forced smile.

"Congratulations on your engagement." Gerard said.

Misaki smiled back, "Thank you."

"Your fiancé, how long have you known him?" Gerard asked.

Misaki glanced at her Grandfather, and saw that he was trying to control his irritation. Misaki then looked at Gerard then his Grandfather, then she reluctantly glanced at Usui. She smiled a small smile and turned to Gerard again, "We've known each other for a long time. He's my childhood friend."

Gerard raised an eyebrow at that, but just answered with an "Oh, I see."

Misaki turned her face and dared to look at Usui one more time, but he had already disappeared. She did her best not to let them notice that she was searching for him. Throughout the conversation, she was only half paying attention. When the Walker family moved on to interact with other guests, she craned her neck, trying to find Usui, but it seemed impossible to find him with this much people in the room. She bit her lower lip.

Misaki had slipped out of the room when she was sure her Grandfather was no longer keeping an eye on her.

She still couldn't get it off her mind. The way he glared at her. She had never seen him look at her like that. She brought her hands to the side of her face.

Why couldn't she have been contented with her former life? Why did she have to ask for more?

She clutched her head tighter and screamed. She screamed in frustration. It was like she was going to go crazy. Her life was a mess. She complicated things further. All because of her selfish wishes.

She stopped when she heard the rustling of the leaves. She stood up, alert. She was about to take down whatever it was when her eyes widen. Usui emerged in front of her. He was breathing hard, his hair was disheveled and his tie hung loosely around his neck, he was also no longer wearing his tux jacket.

He had panic when he heard her scream and ran faster to where it led her. And so here she was, in front him. Her face had that familiar look, the look she had whenever she was about to discipline their school mates.

He let a sigh of relief escape his lips and fell on his knees on the floor. He was so relieved that nothing bad happened to her.

"U-Usui," he heard her say worriedly.

He looked up at her as he sat on the floor, one knee up and an arm resting on it, his other hand was beside him, holding him up. When Usui looked up, she flinched for a moment, dreading that he will be glaring at her again. But what she saw wasn't a glare, but a worried expression.

Could it be that he was worried when he heard her scream?

She stood still, watching him as he tried to breath normally again.

"What happened?" he asked, seeing as there was nothing that would've triggered her to scream so loudly.

Misaki took a step back, shaking her head, "It was nothing. What are you doing here?"

When she took a step back, Usui immediately stood up on his feet. "You're lying Ayuzawa. You wouldn't shout just for nothing."

Misaki glared at him, "Don't act as if you know everything about me."

"Right." Usui said, his voice low, "I don't know anything about you at all."

Misaki flinched, she knew exactly what he was talking about. She looked away, "How about you? Is this what you've been trying to hide from me? Every time I asked you about who you really are, you're always dodging the question. Treating me like a joke."

"I was trying to protect you."

Misaki looked at him in surprise, but a slight flash of anger appeared too. "Protect me? I can take care of myself!"

"Take care of yourself?" he said, walking closer to her, he reached out his hand, when she didn't move, he held a few locks of her hair, twisting it between his fingers, "Can you call this taking care of yourself? You're a mess."

Misaki stood frozen as he touched her hair. She couldn't seem to breathe. He's also right, she's a mess. Even though she hadn't seen herself in a mirror, she could feel how her hair stuck to her neck because of her sweat from the run. She knew how much the wind disheveled her hair, she knew that her dress was full of wrinkles already...

"I will be able to take care of myself. I don't need you to worry about me. You have your own business to worry about." Misaki said, finally finding the voice to speak. She pulled her head back, letting her hair slide off his fingers. She was about to walk around him, to get out, when he grabeed her arm.

"Let me go." she said, it took her everything to make her voice sound hard.

"Ayuzawa."

Misaki twisted her arm away from his touch and she looked at him bitterly. "I'm not longer that. You shouldn't be here."

Usui's eyebrows furrowed, "Are you really going to be an Ashford now?"

"It's where I belong."

"You don't belong there. What happened to your family? Your little sister and your mother? Did you just leave them?"

Misaki turned around and looked at him, "You have no right to say that!" she half-shouted, "Mother let me go. They'll be fine! Grandfather promised me that! Stop it!" she clenched her hands to her side, "Stop it." she said more softly.

"Then are you so eager to be my enemy?"

Misaki froze when he said that. Enemy. They were enemies now, because she wanted to be an Ashford...they've become enemies.

"Ayuz— " he stopped himself, no longer sure of what to call her.

"Yes. We're enemies now," she murmured.

Usui clenched his hands, his back turned to her as she started walking away from him. It was official that they were going to play into this political game. Fine. But he wants to make sure of one thing.

"Do you love him?"

Misaki stopped walking. She bit her lower lip and clenched her eyes shut. No. She wasn't ready to answer this question yet. She didn't want to lie, but she can't tell him the truth too. If she did, it will just complicate things further.

"Why do you have to know?" she asked, stalling.

"Who is he to you?" he asked, not bothering to answer her question since he knew what she was trying to do.

Misaki stayed silent. Usui was tempted to turn around. Just to see if she was still there, but he didn't have to. He could feel it. He knew she was just standing there, frozen on her spot.

"He's important to me." Misaki answered, "He's my childhood friend. I answered that a while ago already." she said, referring to Gerard's interrogation when he was still present.

"Do you love him?" he repeated his earlier question.

Misaki opened her eyes, a few tears escaping the corners. She brought her hand over to her mouth to prevent him from hearing her sobs. She took a deep breath and answered with a steady voice. "No."

Usui turned around, his eyes widen. He was about to walk up to her when she started to giggle.

"Is that what you wanted to hear?" she asked, her voice steady, a slight playfulness in them. "Sorry, but that's not the answer. Of course I love him. Why else would I agree to this engagement?" she asked.

When Usui remained silent, Misaki continued walking.

"Why aren't you looking at me?"

"Why should I?" she asked, not stopping in her tracks.

"Look at me, so that I'll know you're telling the truth."

"You've heard it." she said, picking up her pace. A little more and she wouldn't be able to hold back anymore, tears were continuously falling. She couldn't stop them. If she looked up him now, he'll know that she's lying.

"Misaki."

Misaki's eyes widen as he called her given name, for the first time.

"Misaki." he repeated.

"Stop it." Misaki said, her voice slightly shaking.

"Then look at me."

Misaki didn't realize that she had stopped walking again until his voice sounded so close to her. Just a few steps behind her. Misaki bit her bottom lip hard, preventing her from making any sounds. She took deep breaths, preventing her shoulder from shaking.

"Do you love him?" he asked again.

"I—!"

"Excuse me."

Misaki gasped when her feet suddenly left the floor. She was suddenly being carried bridal style by someone. She was about to struggle free when she inhaled the familiar scent.

"I'm taking the princess back." Ryuu said, looking back at Usui without a trace of emotion on his face, he nodded slightly in acknowledgement to Usui. Then he looked down at Misaki who had buried her head on his chest. "Idiot." he murmured to her, pacing towards the mansion.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" she asked, still trying to keep up the steady front.

"I saw him follow you out. It's not safe to be with him anymore Misaki. Maybe it was, when you were still Ayuzawa, but now, you're— "

"I know." Misaki said, cutting him off. She didn't want to hear the word anymore.

Ryuu looked at her for a moment and sighed. "Cancel the engagement with Hinata." he said.

"What?" Misaki's eyes widen as she looked up at him.

Ryuu stopped walking and placed her down, letting her lean on one of the trees. He stood in front of her, measuring her eyes steadily. "You don't love Hinata." he said. It wasn't a question nor an accusation. The way he said it, it was a statement.

"I..." Misaki said, unable to look at him in the eye.

"I know you care about him, but if you agree with this..." Ryuu shook his head, "You know that the truth will come out eventually. Hinata isn't stupid. Maybe slow, but he'll realize your true feelings one way or another. It'll hurt him more if he realizes that you were just forcing yourself to be happy to be engaged with him."

He leaned forward towards her and placed one hand on the tree beside her face. He sighed again when he saw Misaki's conflicted expression.

"This isn't something you have to think over. Just end it. Hinata will understand."

Misaki bit her lower lip as she raised her eyes to look at him, "It— That's not it. I know you're right. It's true I don't love Shintani the way he loves me...but...Grandfather..."

"Political issues." Ryuu guessed.

Misaki nodded slightly.

"It's that guy, isn't it?"

Misaki looked at him with surprise. How did he know?

"Hinata told me that you two were school mates and that he thought you were close. Things clicked into place once I heard that. And the incident a while ago just prove everything."

"How long were you there..."

"It doesn't matter." Ryuu said, standing straight again. "Judging from what I've gathered tonight, you and that younger Walker are in love with each other."

"No," Misaki said, shaking her head, "That's not it. I'm the only one..."

Ryuu looked at her with slight shock. She hasn't realize it yet? He was positive that the younger Walker is in love with Misaki. Just by judging how he looked at her. How he called her name... He shook his head. That's not the important thing right now.

"Hinata..."

"Grandfather will know." Misaki said, eyes tearing up again, "He will know that I'm in love with Usui if I break the engagement off with Shintani. And, Usui's already in a tight spot as it is." She remembered her Grandfather referring to Usui as an illegitimate child. Surely, if her Grandfather found out about her true feelings, Usui might get in trouble.

"Then, pretend to be in love with someone else."

Misaki looked at him with an expression that said he might be crazy.

"I don't want what I'm witnessing at the moment. The longer you pretend to be happy with Hinata, the deeper the scar it will leave on him by the time he finds out."

"I— " Misaki shook her head, "Then, who?"

Ryuu gave her a small smile. Her eyes widen.

"No! I'm not going to do this! Shintani will hate you."

"I'll tell him the truth. That it's just a pretend. But it's in your hands to tell him how you really feel."

"Why do I have to use you?"

"I'm good at pretending." he shrugged slightly, "You can't pretend with Hinata, because he'll be using his real feelings."

Misaki shook her head, "This is insane. This will come out as a scandal."

Ryuu placed his other hand on the other side of Misaki's face, on the tree. Misaki pressed her head on the tree when his face became unbearably close. "I'm not as important as Hinata. It won't matter much."

"Grandfather..."

"We're teenagers. We're reckless. We're not suppose to have commitments at such an early age."

"Ryuu..."

"You're just new to this world, and yet, you seem to worry so much about the media already. Your reputation. Your appearance. Your appeal to the world." he shook his head, he pushed himself off her, "Scratch that idea of mine. It is rather crazy."

Misaki sighed a breath of relief seeing Ryuu's playful expression emerging.

"Don't...don't say something like that." Misaki said, anger flaring.

Ryuu chuckled, but then turned serious abruptly. "But I was serious. Cancel the engagement." he brushed the back of his hand across her cheek, wiping away a few tears that had slightly dried on her cheeks.

"I'll think about it." Misaki said softly.

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Someone behind one of the trees shifted.

The person stopped when the person heard two voices talking softly in the slightly dark area. The person picked up that they seem to be talking about the girl being new to the world.

About cancelling an engagement.

The person froze.

A conclusion came into the person's mind.

"They're in love with each other." the person murmured.

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A/N: Review please!

How do you guys like it? Is this chapter lacking? Confusing? I'll be waiting for your comments! ^^