Author's Note: This is getting posted about 12 hours late, but I fell asleep finishing this up last night, and then I went to an event this morning. And yes, there were bagels at this event.

Just because I have a certain Ootori locked up in my closet does not mean I own him. I prefer to think of it as borrowing.

Thanks for all the feedback! I love finding out I have another review, follower, or favoriter! So continue, please, to read, review, and enjoy!

Haruhi and an Ootori

Chapter 12

Rewind to Saturday night . . .

Akito had been standing just inside his bedroom door for a good fifteen minutes, trying and failing to work up the gall to walk across the hall to Kyoya's room, the door of which was closed. Still, if he wanted to get out of his current situation, it was his best shot. So Akito steeled himself and walked those eight steps to his younger brother's room and knocked on the door.

Kyoya opened it after a moment, his hair ruffled and his glasses askew. Akito guessed he had been working late on something, though Akito would never understand why Kyoya felt the need to do so.

"What?" Kyoya snapped at Akito impatiently. Perhaps Kyoya had actually been sleeping, another viable option.

Akito decided that the direct approach would be best given his brother's current temperament.

"I need you to help get me out of the engagement," Akito stated in the same manner he would that day's stock market readings.

Kyoya moved to lean against the door frame and set his glasses straight before saying, "I beg your pardon?"

In frustration, Akito gritted his teeth and repeated his request.

"And why the hell would I do that?" Kyoya demanded. "Why would I help you when doing so would mean helping you land the girl, so to speak? Really, an engagement between you and Miss Park would leave my path perfectly clear."

"You hit me, you owe me," Akito insisted.

Kyoya shrugged his shoulders. "You're forgetting the part where I do not regret hitting you. On the contrary, I've wanted to do that for years."

Akito decided a change in tactics was necessary. "You might like Haruhi, but Haruhi likes me," Aktio reminded him. "And she will be upset with the both of us if she finds out I'm engaged and neither of us told her about it. I need this dinner to go horribly wrong, and so do you."

"And why do I need dinner with the Parks to go over poorly?" Kyoya asked incredulously.

"Because I don't want to marry a girl I've never met! And if you help me," Akito tried to think of something to offer his younger brother. "I will stay away from Haruhi."

Kyoya's eyebrows shot up, the only sign of shock that graced his otherwise smooth features.

"Now why would you do that? I thought the whole reason the two of us couldn't get along was because we were both vying for the affections of the same girl. You would give up on Haruhi so easily?" Kyoya questioned. His tone was partially disbelieving and partially condescending.

Akito had to play the situation very carefully if he wanted everything to work out in his favor. And so he told his brother, "I like Haruhi quite a bit. However, I cannot act on my affections for her or anyone else if I'm engaged to be married. So, if you help me get out of father's arrangement, then I will step aside. Either way I lose Haruhi, at least one way I maintain my freedom."

Kyoya seemed to consider the options laid before him. "Two questions. The first being why do you need my help? The second being what makes me think you'll keep your word?"

It took a moment for Akito to come up with the right answers. "You're the Shadow King, aren't you? I can do a lot on my own, but with your assistance, a failed arranged marriage is guaranteed. Besides, I have a very small window of opportunity. As for the second question, well, you'll just have to trust me, won't you?"

"I'll see what I can do," was Kyoya's simple reply. "I make no promises."

"Then neither do I. So we have a deal?"

"Of sorts," Kyoya agreed. "I'll discuss my plans with you tomorrow morning before the dinner."

Akito merely nodded before turning around and walking back to his room without another word.

Kyoya sat at his desk with his Pineapple laptop in front of him. He'd been scouring his databases for hours, trying to dig up anything useful on Hye-mi Park that he could. Anything would be to his advantage really. And he had found some rather . . . interesting information regarding the girl's preferences when it came to public outings. She was really like the female version of Akito, it seemed. Kyoya believed such information would allow him to work his end of the deal just as he wanted.

He had considered his brother's offer for all of thirty seconds before realizing Akito to be even more idiotic that he originally thought. If Akito truly thought Kyoya would take such a raw deal, then Akito was a fool and deserved such retribution as Kyoya was going to give him. After twenty odd years in the shadows, Kyoya rather liked being the one to call the shots without all the psychological games. Still, one last Shadow King maneuver seemed too good to pass up, particularly if it got him that much closer to Haruhi.

Kyoya was reminded of the time the twins warned Haruhi not to make a deal with him because "one should never make a deal with the devil." Evidently, Akito had never learned that lesson, even after living in the Ootori household for all these years.

Sunday night . . .

Kyoya was dressed in a neat, blue-black suit with a red tie. He made sure to smooth down his hair and tie and straighten his glasses before heading out into the hallway. He was greeted by the sight of Yuuichi in a dark grey suit with a blue tie and Akito in a black suit and purple tie.

Yuuichi smirked. "Glad to know we didn't turn out like clones," was all he said before leading the way down the stairs. Akito followed closely behind him, and, as always, Kyoya trailed behind the two of them.

At the bottom of the staircase the three Ootori brothers were met by their sister, Fuyumi. She was wearing a very elegant black cocktail dress with a string of pearls draped around her neck.

"I take it this dinner is spouse optional?" Kyoya inquired, pointing out the fact that neither Yuuichi nor Fuyumi's spouse was present.

Yoshio cut his son a stern look. "The Parks and I agreed that it would be blood relatives only. Thus, they will be bringing Hye-mi and their son, Jin Gook. Jin Gook is married to an extremely obnoxious girl named Baek-hee. Address the patriarchs as Park-san, understand?" he said as he finished giving them their marching orders.

"Yes, father," they all chorused.

"Excellent. They'll be here any moment. Kyoya, it is imperative that you remain cool and dettached. I will not have this arrangement ruined because the girl ends up falling for you. Talk about your girlfriend, if you have to," Yoshio directed him.

Kyoya very nearly pointed out that he didn't have a girlfriend, but then he thought better of it.

A servant came scurrying forward. "Guests, sir," the doorman informed Yoshio, who nodded in response.

Show time.

Dinner in the Ootori household was always a civilized affair. However, that particular Sunday night, Yoshio knew something was going to upset it. The table was too calm, much like the eerie stillness of the ocean before a hurricane. Yoshio would not be surprised if his middle son had something planned for the evening, but he'd be damned if he let Akito sabotage the dinner. Not only was a marriage at stake, but the relationship between the two companies had always been tenuous. Plus, Yoshio was not okay with eight years of scheming going down the drain; when Haruhi Fujioka walked down the aisle, she would be meeting Kyoya at the end of it.

And thus Yoshio waited patiently, chatting politely with Mr. Park about recent business ventures while Fuyumi kept Mrs. Park entertained with Japan's latest gossip. Yuuichi managed to keep up an amicable conversation with Jin Gook throughout the majority of the meal, too. The main focuses, however, were sitting across the table from each other, not saying a word apart from basic pleasantries.

What to do, what to do . . .

"Akito, perhaps you and Hye-mi-san could go for a stroll before dessert? Park-san has informed me that she loves gardening, so why not take a walk and show her ours?" Yoshio prompted his son.

Before Akito could respond, however, Kyoya interrupted. "Oh, father, I'm sure Akito-niisan would love to, except his allergies have been so terrible lately. If Miss Park is okay with it, it would be my pleasure to escort her around our garden. I dare say I'm better informed when it comes to botany than Akito-niisan anyway," Kyoya said with a gracious smile and a tip of his head in Hye-mi's direction.

The girl seemed to be as flustered as Yoshio by Kyoya's redirection.

Kyoya, Akito, and Yoshio knew that Yoshio could not correct Kyoya without looking like a poor father figure, so Yoshio grudgingly nodded his head. He did not miss the look exchanged between his youngest sons or the affirmative nod Kyoya gave Akito as he led Hye-mi outside.

"Thank you, Kyoya-kun," Hye-mi said in flawless Japanese. "I am nervous about this whole affair. I don't know what I would have done if I had to be left alone with your brother. Oh, I mean no offense," she rushed to add, her eyes worried.

Kyoya held up his hands in a peaceful gesture. "I take no offense at all. My brother can me the most outgoing person in the world when he wants to be; that's why he's been such as asset to the Ootori public relations department. However, he can be as cold as any other Ootori, too."

Hye-mi looked at him suspiciously from under her long eyelashes. "The rest of you family seems to have no trouble being sociable," she pointed out.

"That is because we are expected to be so. Akito is the odd one out in that sense. For the rest of my family, myself included, we put on an excellent show when needed. Our natural state, however, is far more withdrawn. Cold and calculating, you might say. Except Fuyumi, she is like sunlight."

"You really care about your sister, don't you?" Hye-mi asked.

"Yes, I do," Kyoya said.

"And your brother?" she prompted.

"Akito is far friendlier than he appears, I assure you. He is . . . reluctant about the arrangement is all. He likes his freedom."

Hye-mi stopped walking. "Do you think I would be happy if I married him?"

Kyoya studied her. He decided an honest answer would serve his purposes best. "At first, no. I think both of you are too happy as individuals. In time, though, I think the two of you would fit well together."

"And why do you say that? You barely know me," Hye-mi said, playing devil's advocate.

"I know a great deal about you, actually. I spent most of last night looking you up. The scandals are well-hidden, but they are there. If you and my brother were married, you'd either burn down the world or become the most enticing couple in the media," Kyoya informed her. "Most likeyl both."

At his comment, Hye-mi let out a smile that had just a hint of a smirk to it. "So I have no reason to be nervous? If I were to become engaged to Akito-kun, that is?"

"Well, it's Akito-san, so there are many reasons to worry," Kyoya said with a serious expression. "But I think a marriage between the two of you would be both beneficial to your persons and to our families' companies."

"Always the business man, aren't you, Kyoya-kun?"

"I am inheriting the company, aren't I?" Kyoya said with a cocky grin that made Hye-mi laugh.

"Very well," she replied. "I shall discuss the matter with my parents. Better your brother than that insipid diplomat anyways."

"Akito-san will be touched," was all Kyoya said before leading Hye-mi back into the house.

Behind the reflective lenses of his glasses, however, Kyoya's eyes were shining in victory.

The Ootori siblings were sitting side-by-side on the long white chaise lounge while the Park siblings sat on the two wingback chairs across from them. In front of them, at the head of the room, Yoshio and the Park patriarchs prepared to tell them the final resolve.

Akito waited with bated breath, praying that Kyoya had done his part in discouraging a relationship between him and Hye-mi.

Mr. Park spoke first. "I know this has only been one dinner, but we feel it is enough to go by. It is our opinion that a merger between our companies is necessary regardless of a marital union between them."

Aktio allowed himself to breathe again.

"However, a martial union would be an excellent show to the public that we are united."

And then Akito was cursing the old man.

"So," he paused. Akito considered throwing something at him. "We have decided that there shall be a marriage. Hye-mi-chan is happy with the situation, and it is up to you, Akito, to accept," Mr. Park declared, turning towards Akito.

Every fiber of his Akito's being was screaming at him to say no. Kyoya had failed to get him out of the marriage. He not only had to give up Haruhi, the first woman he actually found truly intriguing, but his license to do as he wish without spousal consequences. The idea of being shackled to one woman forever, a woman he had not even chosen—

Akito had taken too long to respond, and he realized that Yoshio was speaking in his stead.

"Of course, we gladly accept the arrangement. Akito knows his duty to his family, and I fail to see how anyone could not be charmed by your wonderful daughter," Yoshio said with all the grace of a sleazy archduke.

Then why don't you marry her? You two-bit, meddlesome, biased old man, Akito thought bitterly. Still, though, he knew what he had to say out loud. It was the same thing every aristocratic son had to say at some point.

"It would be my honor, Miss Park, if you would allow me to accept your hand in marriage," Akito said formally, standing before her and bowing. He tried to hide the fact that his jaw was clenched the entire time.

"Naturally, I accept," she responded in a soft and sweet voice that made Akito want to turn tail and run. He might have, too, if he hadn't caught the expression on Kyoya's face.

It was a look that so clearly said, Game, set, and match. I win, you lose.

And Akito couldn't help but think his little brother had never had any intention of helping him out all along.

I don't care if it kills me, Akito thought. I will get out of this engagement, and I will pay Kyoya back for this.

Author's Note: And the plotting, scheming Kyoya we know and love reveals himself! But what is Akito going to do? And do you remember that list Kyoya wrote about Haruhi? Yeah, that's still going to happen. We've got a ways to go yet! In the meantime, let me know what you think! Message me or send in a review with feedback and commentary.