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~Chapter 8 - First Love~
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"Have you written that down Takumi-sama? It's important for you to remember what shares the Walker group owns."
"Hn," Usui scrawled on his notebook as his personal tutor finally switched off the power point. His private classes where done for the day. His father didn't really try to waste anytime. Already making him familiar with how the Walker group works.
"Alright then, I'll see you next week. I hope you'll look more into the history of the company."
"I will." Usui sighed, seeing his tutor leave the room. He shook his head. He didn't like to be here, at the Walker's "vacation house", since the main mansion is actually in America. His father had fixed up the guest room to make it look like an actual classroom, just for him to hold his private sessions.
"Well well." Someone chuckled, as he knocked on the door.
Usui leaned on the chair he was sitting on as he rolled his eyes, "Gerard." He acknowledged.
"Great to see you working hard, little brother." Gerard grinned, pulling up a chair to sit beside his half-brother. He looked at Usui's hand-written notes and chuckled at the barely legible handwriting. "Working hard indeed. Photographic memory much?" he teased.
"What are you planning?" Usui immediately went right to the point.
"Getting you to write more legibly, you won't know when the tutor is going to check your notes." Gerard tsked as he lifted on of Usui's notebooks.
Usui sighed frustratedly, "I won't be participating if you won't tell me your motive. Why would you go to great lengths as stealing a copy of the invitation's drafts when—"
"I would very much like to remind you of the possible ears present, little brother. Snakes are everywhere. If Cedric didn't take care of that monkey the last time, I bet you're going to have more problems."
"Why are you doing this in the first place?"
Gerard sighed, "Ahh, finally, you want to get to know you're older brother more? This involves a lot of my personal life than yours, really."
"How can—"
"Ceddie." Gerard called.
Usui heard the creaking of a tile floor, he wasn't surprise when Cedric immediately emerged from there and stood beside his brother.
"Is everything cleared?" Gerard asked.
Cedric nodded. Usui could only stay silent when Cedric opened his clenched hand. Several crushed 'bugs' fell to the ground. "I've found several others, but I already disabled them from the main security office. Master will realize the defect soon, but it will give you enough time to talk." Cedric said.
"Thank you, please watch the door outside for me." Gerard grinned up to his personal bodyguard.
As soon as Cedric left, Gerard leaned back on his chair and closed his eyes as if taking a nap. Before Usui could say anything out of impatience, Gerard suddenly leaned forward.
"Will you believe me if I tell you I just want you to be free?" Gerard murmured.
For the first time, Usui could see in his eyes honesty and his earnestness, not his manipulative and calculating eyes. Usui's eyes narrowed, but he can't be too sure. Gerard sat up straight again as he chuckled. "I guess not."
He rolled his head as if to exercise it, "It was already a way back, I'm not sure when anymore. I used to carve that day into my brain so deeply I thought it would've scarred, figuratively speaking of course." he stood up and paced around the room.
"I was just like you I guess. Even though I know how serious the world we belong to was, I didn't take much interest in it. I was reckless. I guess you could say, I was normal. I ran away from bodyguards, snuck out after curfew. I had friends then." Gerard smiled as he remembered his childhood adventures. "I had a life outside of these walls." he murmured, running his hand on the velvet coated pillar. "Tell me if I'm boring you," Gerard chuckled.
Usui stood up and stretched. He lied down on the nearby couch and murmured, "I don't see why it will answer my question."
"I don't want you to turn out like me. Stripped down of everything you hold dear."
Usui turned his head towards Gerard, his face blank.
"Grandfather thought everything was a distraction, he blackmailed all my friends' family. Guess you could say I was chained." He had a ghost of a smile on his lips, "I'm only human. You shouldn't be surprise when I tell you I've fallen in love."
This time Gerard clearly saw that he had Usui's full attention as the lad sat up straight, yet his face was still passive.
"Seeing you and the Ashford princess, it reminded me of my past. In this short life of mine, I've only fallen in love once, and that love is still engraved into my heart. In my rebellious days, I've sworn never to fall in love, because I knew the risks, I knew that father and grandfather will do everything to ruin her." Gerard paused.
He walked to the sliding doors which connected to the vast garden outside, he looked outside without really seeing anything. "But when I met this particular girl, I couldn't stop myself. I fell in love with her. Her parents approved of our relationship, but our family refused her. I couldn't understand why, she had a wonderful lineage, she was born of a respectable family...just because his mother is an artist..."
Gerard paused again. He could only shake his head as he tried to calm his growing anger. He already buried this anger a long time ago, but relieving the memories seem to have revived it too.
"We decided to go away together. It was a last minute decision, so there was no way anybody could know of it except the two of us. In no time at all, we had our cards, our passport, the essentials. And we were running through the night." Gerard realized that he unconsciously clenched his hands. He drew a deep breath to unclench them.
As he spoke again, his voice was slightly shaky, "Running through the night. Just like in the movies." he chuckled shortly, because his shaking voice disrupted his chuckle, "And then, in just a blink of an eye, I lost her. A car ran over her. I was intent on getting us as far away as possible that I didn't see the fast approaching car, but she did. As if she was just joking around, she pushed me. I didn't twice about it, so I hadn't look back. Then I heard the loud breaks of the car and crashing glass."
"Gerard..." Usui immediately stood up and walked behind his brother. From up close, he could visibly see Gerard's shaking form.
"Not a step closer Usui, as much as I might get hurt more, I could punch you." Gerard said through gritted teeth.
"Did the man get away?" Usui asked, seeing as that might be the reason for his obvious anger.
"He did." Gerard said angrily, "And you know what's worse Takumi?" Gerard asked, looking at Usui, "Grandfather had hired him. I thought everything was weird from the start. That murderer wasn't even drunk! He didn't even attempt to run away when he...— He didn't even bother to get out of the car to check on the person he just—"
"Enough." Usui said in a hard voice. He could see how much this was hurting Gerard. "I get it. What are you trying to get through? That I shouldn't be with Ayuzawa? But that wouldn't be the case since you're pushing me towards her."
"As long as she's willing to venture into our world, Father will need her. When she is of no use anymore, she will be disposed of." Gerard said in a monotonous tone which could almost seem scary, "They will think she's a distraction for you. For now, in exchange for their distance, you're willing to be trained as the next heir. That is why they haven't done anything rash to her yet."
Usui clenched his hands at the possible thought of his family trying to threaten Misaki, or even trying to use violence on her.
"What happened to me will never happen to the both of you. I'm telling you this, because I want you to trust me. I want you to know I'm helping you this time. And this is the last time I'm going to tell you what's in my mind." Gerard said, his hard face instantly changed into a playful one.
"Gerard-sama," Cedric suddenly opened the door, "Your father has arrived."
"No need to announce my arrival Cedric." Their father chuckled.
Gerard grinned at Usui, then looked at their father, "Good afternoon Father, have you seen Grandfather off already?" he asked.
Usui watched his brother in awe. The sudden shift of mood was very professional of him.
"Yes," their father smiled, "He has a lot of work to finish in America."
"I see, well, need you speak a few words to Takumi, since you came in here?" Gerard asked, ready to dismiss himself.
"Yes, I do. But, was I not disturbing to two of you? It seemed private."
Gerard and Usui instantly picked up a different tone in their father's voice. Gerard smiled charmingly, "If you had known, then I suggest that you should keep your bugs away. Takumi and I lack brotherly bonding."
"It was my mistake, but I hope you're both not planning something behind my back. You know how they will fail." Father smiled at Gerard.
Usui didn't miss how Gerard tried to control the smile on his face and how he held back on clenching his hands again. "I don't want to shorten my already short life, now, do I?" Gerard responded, then he left the room.
"I'm leaving too." Usui said. He was about to walk out the door when his father spoke.
"I came here to tell you something important Takumi." he said. Usui slowly turned to look at him, he didn't bother hiding the impatience on his face. "The engagement the Ayuzawa Princess had, it was just a fake."
Usui's eyes widen slightly, but he reminded himself not to show any emotions, "That doesn't have anything to do with me."
"I thought maybe you would want to know. And yes, it has everything to do with you." his Father chuckled, Usui immediately left the room then.
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"What's it going to be then, Misaki?" Ryuu leaned at the back of the bench as he sipped his can of soda.
It was just yesterday when he stormed into Seika Academy when she asked him to pick her up. When he heard her shaking voice over the phone, even if she hadn't ask him to, he would've gone to the Academy and take her away. Today, Misaki asked to meet him at the park, to talk about what happened yesterday.
He wasn't sure if he felt disappoint or whatever feeling he's feeling, but it wasn't happiness when Misaki told him that the illegitimate Walker had confessed his feelings to her. This means that Misaki's feelings were returned, shouldn't he be happy? And he knew that it was mutual from the start anyway...
But that wasn't the case. He wasn't happy at all.
For some reason he felt protective of her.
The Walker family is known to play the dirtiest tricks and so is the Ashford. Misaki will be caught in the middle. Even if the illegitimate Walker really feels something pure for her, she wouldn't be safe. Even if she thinks she's capable of taking care of herself, she's just new to this world, she can't fight her own battles. When the time comes for her to really fight her battle, the illegitimate Walker won't be able to do anything even if he wanted to.
That's where he will come in. He can fight her battle with her. He can move more freely than Hinata and the rest. He wasn't as tightly choked as the others were. He didn't have to worry about his public face anytime soon. His father is a politician, but his mother is an artist. So he can choose either path. They aren't pushing him anywhere like the others.
Ryuu turned to the side, he looked at Misaki who was seating on the bench he leaned on. She was wiping the condensation formed in her cold can.
"Misaki?" Ryuu called, wondering why she hadn't answered his question.
Misaki slowly looked up at him, "I don't know," she murmured. "It's hard to choose, but I pointed it out to him that we can't be together..."
"Do you think he got the message? Considering that he left abruptly?"
Misaki shook her head, "He has a mind different from a human. He's probably not giving up." A small smile played on her lips as she said that.
"You're relieved aren't you?" Ryuu asked.
Misaki looked at Ryuu carefully. She shortly debated whether she should be honest. She already had an internal debate earlier whether she should call Ryuu or not, but she needed someone to confide to, and Ryuu already knew a lot. She decided to just be honest with him.
She nodded. "Yes, I am." she sighed. "But I'm scared too."
Ryuu laughed. "You? Scared? That is the first time I have to hear that from you."
Misaki had the urge to punch Ryuu right out, but she held back. "This isn't funny Ryuu. Everything can go wrong in an instant."
"You're right," Ryuu sighed, he sat beside her on the bench, "But you're making this into a huge problem. The answer is simple. You love him and that's it, no point on pushing him further away. The Walker's want you, you're lucky already."
"What do you mean lucky?" Misaki looked at him incredulously.
Ryuu sighed again, "I guess you haven't heard about it, huh." He leaned his back on the chair.
"Heard about what?" Misaki asked curiously.
"Gerard-sama's past lover."
Misaki's eyes widen, she was about to say something when Ryuu shook his finger in front of her.
"Don't judge." He said. "If it weren't for the situation you are in right now, if the Walker and Ashford got along and approved of you two being together, you'd be the safest girl."
"Wh-what are you trying to say?"
"The public news is that Gerard-sama's lover was killed in an accident. Got run over by a car driven by a drunkard. But only a few knows what really happened..." his voice turned low, "It was all schemed by the Walker's. Their side disapproved of the relationship the two had. The reason they were out together was to run away. The Walker's immediately took action."
"No." Misaki gasped as she figured out what happened.
"Well, lucky for you the Walker's need you." Ryuu gave out a bitter chuckle.
"You said only a few people know about it, how come you—"
"It concerns us, all our family. You know that my family, Hinata's and yours came from a long way. Did you notice why our families are so against you being with the Walker's illegitimate heir? Did you notice why my parents and Hinata's want to transfer us to your school?"
"To protect me?" Misaki murmured, "But I can take care of myself! And just as you said, I'm lucky because the Walker's need me."
"Do you know why we bear a grudge on them?" Ryuu asked, as if he hadn't heard her speak.
Misaki bit her lower lip and shook her head.
"I guess you really were too young to remember." Ryuu sighed, a pained look in his eyes, "I thought you had noticed but decided not to think about it. No wonder...I was wondering when you were going to ask."
"Ask about what?"
"The whereabouts of my older sister, Sara."
Misaki's eyes widen as she realized what Ryuu was saying. "I—I'm sorry to hear about it. I...I can't remember her..."
"It's alright." Ryuu smiled gently, "Gerard-sama...our families aren't angry at him because he tried to run away with my sister...you should've seen how much pain he was in when my sister passed away. He went to her funeral, all ragged. Later on, when his bodyguards came, we heard that he had done everything to escape from them, to see my sister one last time..."
"Then you mean, he..."
"Gerard-sama is different. If that still holds true, he will help you too. Misaki," he looked at her in the eye, "Are you ready to face the consequences? Maybe it's not the Walker's who will be the villains, but there's a possibility that the Ashford will be the ones to work behind the scenes this time."
"I know, that's why I'm scared." Misaki said in a small voice. "Something might happen to him..."
Ryuu sighed and gave her a gentle hug, Misaki tried to struggle, but Ryuu's next words calm her down, "Hinata and I will always be by your side. Gerard-sama will do anything to protect his brother, illegitimate or not. It's going to be alright, Misaki."
"Is that a promise?" Misaki murmured.
Ryuu chuckled. "Yes."
"Thank you..."
Ryuu smiled as he pulled away, "Now, don't be so out of character. You were always the tough one when we were kids. Don't tell me that the training in the Ashford family really kicked off? You've become soft." he teased.
Misaki glared at him as a blush formed on her face, "What—What are you saying!"
Ryuu laughed out loud as he immediately stood up, effectively dodging Misaki's punch. "Now," he said, still smiling, "Cheer up and think about your upcoming birthday party. Have you thought about who will be your 18 roses?"
Misaki groaned, "I don't want to think about those. If I could choose on my own, I'd rather be rid of the formalities. Grandmother said she'd take care of it. Of course the last one will be saved for my Father." Misaki smiled.
"Aside from the fact that you rarely see him, you see to have taken a liking to him." Ryuu observed, "I expected that you're going to hate him because of how you thought he abandoned you."
MIsaki frowned as she looked at Ryuu, "It was my poor judgement. He's been trying everything to ensure our happiness. Right now, he's trying to let me be free as much as he can."
"That's great," Ryuu murmured, he looked at the sky and squinted his eyes at the glare of the sun. "Have you chosen your escort then?" He asked, looking at Misaki again.
"An escort?"
"Don't tell me you're not going to choose your escort by your own!" Ryuu looked at her incredulously.
Misaki grinned sheepishly and Ryuu smacked the palm of his hand to his forehead. "I should've known." He shook his head and make a grand bow in front of her.
"Wh—What are you doing? People are watching." Misaki said, obviously embarrassed, especially with the passerby pausing to see why Ryuu had bowed grandly all of a sudden.
Ryuu chuckled, "Harder for you to say no, or do you prefer this?" Ryuu knelt down in one knee, to others it looked like he was proposing to her.
"What are you doing!" Misaki said through gritted teeth.
"Misaki Ayuzawa Ashford, I am greatly honored that you have chosen me among all else, to be your escort at your 18th birthday." Then he reached his hand out towards her.
Misaki smacked his hand away, "I did no such thing." she said formally, her face still red.
"You're hurting my ego." Ryuu childishly pouted, "As a long time friend, as your childhood friend? Or are you fine with your Grandmother choosing a random guy as an escort?"
Misaki shivered at that possibility, "Alright." Seeing Ryuu's childish smile, Misaki couldn't help but laugh.
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"WHAT IS THIS!"
The whole Walker mansion stilled as the Head of the Family shouted in fury. Gerard and Usui knew better and immediately went to their Father's study. As soon as they entered the room, they cringe at the sudden sound of a smashing vase.
"Master," a servant tried to calm him down, but he wouldn't have that. He threw all the papers on his desk to the floor.
"Father," Gerard said calmly, "What an embarrassing behavior."
Their father instantly glared at them, he briskly walked in front of Usui, "You! I had given you permission to attend your former school, and I heard you skipped classes for two weeks! Do you know what can happen in two weeks' time?" He threw the newspaper at Usui's face.
Gerard calmly took the newspaper from his brother's face, who didn't even bother to move an inch with his poker face. "I feel that reading the newspapers will only shorten your life Father, you should stop reading them."
"Read it!" Their father said angrily.
Gerard sighed silently and opened the newspaper, he felt Usui breathing beside him as he tried to also take a look as to what could've triggered their Father's wrath. "The Ashford Princess' 18th birthday, which will be held in a few days' time." Gerard read aloud.
He looked at his father as Usui took the newspaper from him, "Are you angry because we are not invited?" Gerard ask.
Their father took a deep breath as he looked at Gerard with controlled patience, "Finish reading Gerard." Then he looked outside the window, "If your Grandfather hears about this..."
"A public display of affection by the Ashford Princess and the son of the great politician Jiiro Sasaki." Usui read the sub headline.
Gerard's eyes widen as he immediately grabbed the paper from Usui, "No one was sure what it was all about, but the pictures say it all. Ryuu-sama was seen hugging Misaki-sama, and Ryuu-sama had bowed and knelt in front of her as if proposing. How can we not assume anything at all?" Gerard read, he took a deep breath and looked at his Father.
"Are you sure this isn't one of their schemes again? Like the fake engagement? They had hired the media—"
"This is different!" Their father said angrily, "I can't believe this. Sasaki has the nerve to defy us again?"
Usui watched his brother as the newspaper under his hands began to crumple. "Again?" Usui dared to ask.
Their father continued to ramble angrily, "They've already lost their daughter when they didn't heed our warning, now they want to sacrifice their only son to defy us?"
Usui's eyes widen. He looked at Gerard again, who was already visibly shaking in anger. Gerard angrily crumpled the newspaper and threw it at the floor, "I'm leaving."
Their Father glared at Gerard, "Still feeling soft for your loss? You realize that it was your fault she died. We warned you that everything will end badly if you didn't abide by our decision."
Gerard glared back at him, "No wonder Mother left." Then he stormed out of the room.
Their Father watched Gerard leave speechlessly, while Usui clenched his hands.
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"Stop here," Gerard ordered.
Cedric immediately opened the limo's door for Gerard. Gerard mumbled a thanks as he got out of the car. He looked at his peaceful surrounded and breathed a sigh of relief. He briefly closed his eyes as he tried to feel the coolness of the breeze.
"Being at this place, and having the wind so gentle, I can imagine her standing beside me." Gerard murmured.
"You would be talking about a ghost then, Gerard-sama." Cedric said, an obvious attempt to come up with a joke.
Despite the humorless joke, Gerard laughed. "Yes indeed. Being in the cemetery should be creepy." Gerard looked around the greenery where there were gravestones that were separated evenly. "I'm sure it was around here," Gerard murmured.
"Over here, Gerard-sama." Cedric called.
Gerard turned around and saw Cedric a few steps away, he went to where he was. He smiled as he reached the place, he gently touched the gravestone, feeling the engraved words under his fingertips.
In memory of our loving daughter, a sister and a lover,
Sara Sasaki
Born: xxxx
Died: xxxx
"We love you Sara, and so does he."
Gerard's heart clenched at the short message her family had engraved for her. And so does he. He knew who they meant. "They are so considerate." Gerard murmured. For years, after her burial, he had wanted to visit her grave, but not once did he have to chance to. He never stopped yearning for her, until his family practically brainwashed him...making him concentrate on nothing but work...
Usui had revived his yearning for her.
Now that the household seem to be in chaos, this little trip of his will be left unnoticed.
"I'm sorry for not coming here after so long..." Gerard murmured. He felt the breeze blow again. He wasn't superstitious, but something about the gentle breeze make him want to believe that she could actually hear him. "I thought of coming here because I want to warn you, your brother might be in danger..."
"Of whom?"
Gerard immediately looked up in surprise, then he calmed down when he saw Ryuu standing in front of him, Cedric was just beside him. "Why didn't you tell me Ceddie?" Gerard asked, pouting at him.
"You were having a conversation." Cedric answered bluntly.
Ryuu chuckled, "Did she say anything?"
"Not a word. She must be angry at me for not coming to see her sooner." Gerard chuckled as he faced the gravestone again.
"It's been a while." Ryuu murmured.
"We weren't able to talk at the fake engagement party. All eyes were alert."
"It was," Ryuu sighed as he sat at the grassy floor beside his sister's grave. "You're coming after me this time, aren't you?"
Gerard chuckled, "Since they're my family, I guess I have to take the fall with them, so yes. We are going to come after you. Did you know about the paparazzi?"
Ryuu shook his head, "The newspaper took me by surprise. I had my bodyguards secure the area. Unless there was an insider among them..."
"There must be."
"Unsure of your household's movements?" Ryuu looked at him in surprise.
"Since this involves her family member..." Gerard murmured, "I'm being kept in the dark."
"I'll take care of myself. You have to look after your brother."
"You're in love with the Princess too, aren't you?" Gerard observed.
Ryuu grinned, "Hinata pointed that out too, once. But that time, it was just clearly a misunderstanding. Misaki isn't in love with me."
"So you are, in love with her." Gerard pressed.
"You don't like to let things go, don't you." Ryuu laughed as he stretched his arms behind so he could lean back and look at the sky. "Yes. I've been in love with her ever since we were little."
"Ahh, a noble confession." Gerard praised, but he had a teasing edge to his voice.
"What brings you here anyway?" Ryuu asked, brushing a few dust on his sister's gravestone.
"Tomorrow will be her birthday. I'm sure that Father will have code red over my head, as it always had been." Gerard sighed, "And you, what brings you here?"
"I come here from time to time." Ryuu said indifferently, "I miss her." He murmured.
Gerard looked at Ryuu with pain. "I'm sorry about her death,"
Ryuu sighed and stood up, he brushed the back of his pants. He looked at Gerard equally in the eye, "I'll go. Since I'm sure you have a lot of things to tell her."
"Ryuu..."
Ryuu looked at him with an honest smile, "Sara knew that your life was shortened. You told her you were sick, after all. Think of her death as one of her crazy ways of not letting you outlive her." He grinned, "You know how extreme she can get." Ryuu waved his goodbye, a few meters away, he turned around again and shouted at Gerard, "Mother wanted me to tell you that when I see you!"
"Thank you," Gerard murmured.
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"Misa-chan!~" Shintani called out childishly as he opened Misaki's bedroom door. Immediately, he was hit by a huge pillow and dog barking at him.
"I'm not done changing yet!" Misaki called out. "Get out!"
Shintani immediately closed the door with his face all red at what almost occurred. The dog had finally stopped barking as soon as it felt that its master was already safe.
"Why did you come here?" Misaki asked, "A-And, you look nice. It's my first time seeing your hair laid back."
"Really?" Shintani said happily, he fixed his tie, "Ryuu helped me with it. A-anyway, Ryuu asked me to check if you're done. He might come late. Fashionably late."
"What? Does that mean I have to go down the party alone?" Misaki half-whined.
"He asked me to accompany you, that is, if you think I'm enough a replacement for your fiancé..." Shintani said, a bit sad.
Inside the room, Misaki was checking herself one last time at the mirror, she blushed when Shintani mentioned Ryuu as her fiancé. "You actually believe the media? And that news was weeks ago!" Misaki groaned. He gathered her long hair up and twirled in front of the mirror. She wore a red halter dress which fell naturally around her.
"Well, you guys didn't bother denying it." Shintani pouted, "And you guys didn't even bother explaining everything to me! Such great childhood friends you are."
Misaki laughed at his obvious attempt to be angry at him and Ryuu. She shook her head in amazement at her easy-going attitude. The media shook her foundation, yes. But she and Ryuu decided that not saying anything to the media at all might be the right choice. Having the Ashford believe that they were both in love was better than having them scheme something against Usui Takumi.
But Misaki couldn't help but worry about Ryuu. The same thing that happened to his sister might also happen to him. But Ryuu had assured her that he was going to be fine, that he had a back-up behind him. She didn't question him further about it and just believed in him.
"Come on, the guests are waiting." Shintani said.
"Alright, alright." Misaki answered, inserting a chopstick through her gathered hair to hold it in place. She smiled at her reflection. Her do might look a bit messy, but she loved it.
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"Happy birthday, my little swan lake." Misaki's Father hugged her tightly.
"I missed you," Misaki murmured, taking off her mask. "How are things?" she whispered.
"Just a little bit more," her Father answered.
"Ah! My lovely Granddaughter!" Grandfather interrupted the two as he pulled his granddaughter into a hug.
"Thank you for this event Grandfather." Misaki said gratefully.
"It isn't much." Grandfather said happily, "Happy birthday." He smiled, "Ah." He said as he heard the host announcing that the celebrate with have her dance with her 18 roses.
"Do I really have to?" Misaki looked at her father pleadingly.
Her father chuckled, "Yes. If not, all your practice will go to waste."
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"Don't mess this up," Gerard said, slightly tensed as he looked at the phantom of the opera beside him.
"Why are you so tensed?" Usui chuckled easily.
"It's now or never. I'm sure Father would have had a leak about our plans already."
"Alright." Usui said seriously this time, the he looked at the person seated across them in the Limousin, who was dressed identically as him. "Are you sure that the last dance is—
"I already asked her Father." the person said.
"Why are you here anyway?" Usui asked, a bit of venom in his voice.
The person chuckled, "No need to be jealous. You know it's not true. But it sure feels good to be called her fiancé."
Usui half growled. Gerard chuckled beside Usui, "Calm down Takumi. You're already lucky Ryuu came to offer his help."
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"I need to rest for a while," Misaki smiled at the host.
The host laughed gently at the mic, "It seems our Swan Lake needs to refreshen the magic cast on her," she joked, "Alright everybody, take on the dance floor, but never the spot light."
Misaki smiled gratefully. She easily spotted Shintani standing by the door, watching her. She immediately approached him. "Why isn't he here yet?" Misaki asked.
"I'm sure he'll be here anytime soon." Shintani chuckled, "How was the dance so far."
Misaki groaned, "You just have to ask?" Then she smiled at Shintani, "Alright, it wasn't as bad as I thought, but I still hated it that everyone was watching."
Shintani laughed, "You better drink something to get energized. Wait here, I'll go get you a drink."
"Thanks." Misaki smiled as Shintani left.
All of a sudden, the lights turned off, Misaki shuffled into the darkness as a few of the people in the room shouted in worry, everyone was talking, probably panicked. As she tried to walk in the dimness, she suddenly felt someone hold her arm and pull her towards the source.
Misaki smelled the familiar scent and gasped.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed, hoping that there weren't guards nearby, or probably a media personnel with sharp hearing senses.
"I came to take you away." the voice murmured.
"Are you crazy? When the lights turn on again, people will discover you. You'll be arrested immediately."
"I don't care. It's a masked ball, we're required to be under cover."
Misaki pushed herself away from him. It took every ounce of strength she had to do it since she wanted to remain there, resting on his hard chest, listening to his heartbeat. "Please, leave." Misaki said.
"Let's leave this place." he said in a soft voice.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"You're already the heir to the Walker family...I already said that before, why can't you get that through your head?"
"I—"
"You can't abandon your duty for me," Misaki whispered, a teardrops escaping, "This is wrong. I'm sure you've already heard about what happened to your brother..."
"Misaki."
"I'm sorry."
Then suddenly the lights turned on again.
A/N: Review please! You guys have no idea how much your reviews kept me writing as soon as I started. There was a time when I was halfway through, I wanted to stop, but I read your reviews and they kept me going. :)
Thanks for the long reviews of the other reviewers :) They inspired me. Don't worry, I wasn't a bit bored.
I was mostly inspired by Jenaminya & Shizuka-Chi :) Thank you guys.
I think this will be the first time for me to write a chapter this long. Uwaa. 6K+ words!
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