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Chapter 23

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Spring blended into summer and Tamaki returned with his new bride and settled into a life of marital bliss. Which...is all good and well for them, but it makes everyone else around them slightly nauseous.

"Kodak moment." Yuuki said in a lightly mocking tone as the newlyweds laughed over some personal joke that no one else understood.

"Be nice." Kyoya pushed his glasses up. "Do you want that said about you?"
"No. But no one will."

"Hmm?" He was reading a newspaper.

"We're different to the spontaneity of spring love." The girl motioned the bubbly couple.

"Uhuh."

"I mean...you don't even like cashews." Pause. She frowned. "Which is weird."

Kyoya laughed. "How is that relevant?"

"Its like the 'boiled peas' thing." She used her fingers as hyphens.

Tamaki, Haruhi, Kyoya and Yuuki were at a cafe, meeting up in the middle of weddings.

"So..." Mrs Suoh leant forward across the table. "How's juggling bouquets, cutlery and colour schemes?"

The Cunxin ran a hand through her hair. "Its..." Sarcastic. "Fantastic!"

Kyoya raised an eyebrow. "You're not in a good mood today."

"Stressed?" Tamaki offered.

"PMS." Yuuki shot back to shut him up. He didn't get it.

"What's..."

"Anyway." Haruhi laughed sweetly, dismissing her husband's confusion. "Wasn't someone handling all your arrangements?"
"I have to choose." Yuuki pinched her nose. Wedding planning was something girls dreamed of all their lives. But they didn't realise that it was like dreaming about a drop in the stock market and waiting for the results of a job application all at once. "I have to choose and he won't help."

"I help." Kyoya pushed his glasses up.

"Yes. By paying."

"You organise everything except your wedding."

"I organised the engagement party."
"Yes. And that went down like a tonne of bricks."

"It did not."

"It did. There were hundreds of people there."

"And that means its instantly a disaster." He said sarcastically. "You're just stressed. You applied for university, Tachi's riding your horse in an event you won last time. You..."

"Okay. That's not helping."

Haruhi pushed a cup of tea at her friend. "You can't him to be involved. Men were raised with the perception that the wedding is the girl's job."

"Inaccurate perception." Yuuki glanced at Kyoya as he glanced at the finance section. "You're coming to register gifts."

"Oh. That's fun!" Tamaki clapped and then became suddenly serious. "But don't let Hikaru and Kaoru help. They scan all the ugly stuff."

His wife laughed and remembered something hideous they had received as a wedding gift.

Kyoya folded the paper and put it down. "Yes. I know. I'll help with that." Pause. "It's not like we haven't furnished the whole house yet or anything."

His fiancé scowled. "But it's such a nice house."

It was a nice house. It had turned out very well. The walls were painted white and trimmed by the mahogany windowpanes and complimented by deep, engraved doors. The half wall that signalled the void above the lounge was painted a soft gold, a colour that carried through to provide a warm tone and accentuate the views from the big windows. There were books everywhere. The study, the lounge, the kitchen, the bedroom. Magazines were a bathroom thing and many had been dropped into a full bath already. The piano was the crowning glory of the private lounge attached to the study. Kyoya had bought paintings when he had gone to Paris for a conference and had helped Yuuki put up the big, thick, campaign coloured curtains. It was light, spacey and homey.

"Well. I wouldn't know. I've never lived in it." Kyoya leant back.

"In time." Yuuki dismissed him with a wave. She hadn't slept the night before; she had been writing wedding invitations.

"Okay. We'll do the gift register today."

"It wasn't negotiable."

"Can I come?" Tamaki looked pleading.

Haruhi petted his arm. "I think we should let them do it."
"Why?"

"Because, you'd pick the things I like and then I won't get them." She smiled, diverting the attention from the task of best man to the task of husband.

"Do you want to go shopping?"
"I don't really like shopping."

"Do you want some new things? I like to buy you new things."

"You don't have to buy me anything."

"Want to go get ice-cream?"
Haruhi laughed sweetly. "Yes."

Yuuki and Kyoya watched their friends chat. Tamaki turned his bright eyes on the pair. "Ice-cream?"
The Ootori seemed a little disgusted. Yuuki really didn't feel like it. But she loved ice-cream and had Get Kyoya to eat it on her 'before I die' list. It would probably be the death of her. "No, thanks. You guys go...frolic."

Tamaki pulled his wife to her feet and spun her under his arm. "Okay." He continued to spin her outside and then got a small talking to as a result of dizziness.

"They're so cute." Yuuki put her chin in her hands.

"Cute?" Kyoya put his coffee cup down and realised Tamaki had left him the bill. "More annoying."

"Haruhi isn't annoying."
"No, but her 'better half' is." He pulled his wallet out.

Yuuki stopped him. "I've got it." She reached into her bag.

Her fiancé got there first. "Do the words 'joint account' ever flash through that mind of yours?"

"Not really. I never use it."

"You should be using it."

"For what?"

"The wedding."

"I can buy my own dress. And flowers. And..."

"Yuuki. Start using the account." Kyoya paid with his money and stood to his feet, offering a hand.

The girl took it. "You, offering free money?"

"Money is never free."
"It is for you."

He smiled. "Most days." Kyoya wrapped his arm around her waist and lead her back into the real world.

-

An hour later, they were both walking around a giant, very expensive, department store with little scanners.

"Ooo...." Yuuki scanned a vase.

"Do you need a vase?"

"It's not just a vase. It's the object that will hold the flowers you bring home spontaneously because you want to show me how much you love me." She scanned a pot. "And this isn't just a pot. It's the place I will cook Christmas, birthday and anniversary dinner."

Kyoya raised an eyebrow.

"Okay...it's where someone else will cook Christmas, birthday and anniversary dinner." She pointed the scanner at him to prove a point. "But I'll be there."

"Can you cook?" He asked sceptically.

"I used to help Suki all the time."

"In what way?"
Pause. "I made the iced water."

"Yes. I thought as much."

"I'll learn."

Kyoya stared at an ornamental lamp. His fiancé added a whole bunch of sheets, bedding, pillow cases and forks to their register while he looked at it. Just because they were close by.

She noticed him still looking at the lamp and scanned it. "I love lamp." End quote.

"Do you even like it?"
"No." She pressed the button on her scanner while pointing it at him. It made a bright beeping noise. "But this is fun."

"Let me guess. It could be the lamp that we read books under and hide in corners because we're too ashamed to let people see it?"

Yuuki turned around and scowled at him. "Yes. And this is the towel that we will use the day I have an argument with that annoying tap in the bathroom. And this is the set of knifes we will use on special occasions. And this is the tea set...that we already have. But everyone wants another, right?"
Kyoya pried the scanner out of her hands. "Okay. Enough."

"There are a whole bazillion...yes...a bazillion....people coming. They need gifts to buy. Let me scan." She tried to take it back.

Her fiancé held it just above her reach. "Only if you scan things we need."

"We don't need anything."

"Things that people usually buy for weddings. Manchester, towels, bathroom decorations..."

"Like blenders." Yuuki got the object back and bleeped a blender. "...and toasters." Bleep. "GHD hair straightener..." Two bleeps. "A dress." Bleep. "A tie." Bleep, bleep. "That coffee machine." Bleep.

Kyoya took the scanner back and put it in his pant pocket. She scowled at him. He just pushed his glasses up and walked off.

"You're crushing my fun."

"You're overloading the house. Just because you can have something, doesn't mean you have too."

"Have you seen the linen closet? It's empty. But then again, you never look in the linen closet...we don't even own a vacuum cleaner."
"Then go attack those items."

"Okay." Yuuki held her hand out. Kyoya didn't give her scanner back. He just walked over to the nearest pile of pillows and scanned the best one. His fiancé looked remarkably unhappy. "Kyoya..."

"What?"

"Please?"

He put a hand on his hip and put his weight through one leg, eyebrow raised.

"Please...?"

Kyoya took her toy back out and offered it. When she went to take it he pulled it back. "Vacuum cleaner."

"Okay." She took it and then scanned the nearest thing. Which just happened to be an ornamental pig. Seeing her fiancé's dissaproving face, she clutched her scanner and hurried off to the opposite end of the store, bleeping the whole way. Kyoya pushed his glasses up, smiled slightly and sighed. She would be an adventure to say the least. At least she'd relaxed a bit. He knew the main reason for her jittery annoyance. They were meeting her brother the next day. He didn't like the idea, and she didn't like that. She wanted him to like her brother, but she wanted to like him too. Kyoya had never been wrong with her and his caution was understood.

The Ootori stood silently behind Yuuki as she tried to decide between a red coffee cup set or a black one. She had no idea that he was so close. When she turned around after scanning a brown set, she got a small fright and then grinned sheepishly. "We need coffee mugs?"

Kyoya laughed monosyllabically as she hugged him, trying to gain his favour. "Alright."

"Alright?" She stared up at him.

"I know why you're being fanatical."

"Mm..."

"I'll be there when he's there."

"Okay."

"If he's like your father..."

"He won't be. I hope he won't be." Yuuki was more afraid that she didn't know her brother enough to know his personality.

Kyoya ran his fingers down her shoulder blade. She had a singlet on and the little scar on the back of her shoulder could be noticed by those who knew it was there. "How was Zero this morning?"

"Fast." She smiled at the subject change. They had done speed control training.

"Have fun?"
Yuuki nodded. "I had fun. I like riding because I can, not because I have too."

"I like working because I can, not because I couldn't."

"That was stupid. You trying to come third."

"Thank you."

"No." She laughed. "Why would someone like you not try to be their best?"
"I could ask the same of you." Kyoya leant back and looked her in the face. "Just be Yuuki." He meant for tomorrow, for the wedding, forever.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah." She cringed. "Yes. I meant yes."

Kyoya laughed and used his spare arm to scan the nearest thing. He didn't even care what it was anymore. If it made her happy, then he was happy doing it. Within reason.

-

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer's lease hath all too short a date:

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;

But thy eternal summer shall not fade

Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;

Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,

When in eternal lines to time thou growest:

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

So long lives this and this gives life to thee.

(Sonnet XVII, William Shakespeare)

-

Yuuki woke up to the sound of a car arriving on the gravel driveway. She sat up and looked at the time. It was six. She had a training session at seven. The girl swung her legs over the bed and walked into the private, upstairs lounge. It afforded a view of the drive. Yuuki almost had a heart attack when she saw Kyoya's car sitting there. She pulled her jodhpurs and boots on in record time and flew down the stairs as he walked through the door.

"Are you unwell?" She held a hand to his forehead.

"No." He was grumpy.

"Is everyone else okay?"
"Yes."

Pause. "Why are you here?"

"Adjusting." He collapsed into a seat in the foyer and leant his head against the wall.

"To what?"
"To mornings."

Yuuki smiled. "Okay. I'll applaud you later. Coffee in the kitchen. The machine should turn itself on and stay warm from seven until nine, but you can go use it. But if you reset it, set it back, it took two hours to get it to do what I want it to."

Kyoya opened one eye and made a small noise of understanding. Then he realized they would have two coffee machines if someone bought one from the register. Even so, he was to asleep to argue. He'd had to wake up to drive and that should impress her enough. She wanted him to wake up earlier; he wanted her to wake up later. The Ootori was trying to get used to a lifestyle he'd need to start to make this work properly. Sacrifice for the other, get more in return. Yuuki kissed him on the forehead and disappeared through the house to the back door and out to the stable, laughing quietly to herself.

Zero greeted her happily. "Hello boy. Guess what? You're not the only guy prepared to wake up early for me?" She rubbed his neck. "Yes. I know. It's impressive. He's not such a dead end idea now, is he? Maybe we can buy you a friend and go riding in the morning together."

"No." Tachi appeared in the stable. "No. That would throw his routine right off."

"Oh..." Yuuki was still talking to her horse. Zero was trying to get his nose into her jacket pocket. "But we'd like a friend, wouldn't we?"

"Not until after FEI." Tachi handed her a crop. "This is still your occupation until you finish university." She didn't take the item. He tapped her lightly with it.

Yuuki scowled playfully at him. "Yeah. But it's a nice idea, isn't it?" Zero pressed his face into her chest and she hugged it tight.

"I saw your fiancé collapsed in a heap in the parlor..."
"Yes. I know. He wanted to 'adjust' to early morning."

"Ew. Why? We don't even like it."

"I know, right?" The girl laughed as her horse pulled his head free from her grip and snorted happily. "You only train afternoons though."
"Yes, because your busy picking out tables or whatever."

"I'm meeting my brother this afternoon."

Tachi put his tongue in his cheek and scoffed. "Huh."

"Hm..."

"Got pepper spray?"
"Oh. My family isn't like that....I hope."

"Yeah. Hope."

Yuuki took the crop and mounted. Kyoya had come over that morning to help her get her mind around something she was nervous about as well as to adjust to mornings. "Hm..." She rode out into the arena.

-

Kyoya was asleep in the armchair when Yuuki returned back to the house. He was asleep in the armchair when she got out of the shower and returned downstairs for the day. He wasn't asleep in the armchair when she called him out of his slumber.

"It's eight."

He growled. "It's too early."

"Most blue collar workers are in the office by now."

"I'm not most blue collar workers."

"No. You're fortunate enough to be someone who can sleep in and still get the same amount of work done and defeat empires in the same day." She grabbed his hand and heaved backwards.

Kyoya didn't move. Yuuki braced her feet against the ground and pulled again. This time he moved ever so slightly and made a deep growl of disapproval. "Oh...come on..." She tugged again.

This time he woke up and stood as she heaved backwards. Yuuki's force was useless as he didn't use it and she stumbled backwards. She was only wearing socks and ended up skidding on the polished wood floors. Kyoya gripped her hand before it left his and managed to counteract her gravitational pull towards the floor and pull her against him.

"Awake now?" She breathed, flipping a strand of hair off her face. The Ootori kissed her deeply. Yuuki replied with the same and decided she liked it when he woke up early. "Yeah...come over in the mornings..."

"Yes." He corrected, his mouth still lingering above hers.

"Yeah. That one." She kissed him good morning again.

Tachi used his amazing timing to walk in at that moment. "Okay. Who wants coffee? If you're not busy drinking each other's saliva for breakfast?"

Yuuki stepped away from her fiancé quickly. "That's disgusting!" Pause. "Oh my gosh. You ruined the moment." She glared at her instructor. "Damn it, Tachi!"
The man laughed and waved the jug of coffee in parental victory. "Just playing 'dad'."

"Yes. Well. Oh my gosh, that image is so wrong." The girl stormed past him.

Tachi shrugged innocently at Kyoya. The Ootori pushed his glasses up and raised an eyebrow at his fiancé's riding coach.

"What?" The older man was still smiling naughtily. "I was engaged once too. I can make those jokes."

Kyoya shook his head and let himself smile at Yuuki's reaction. "You're going to drive her up the wall."

Tachi sighed happily. "I know..."

"You're supposed to be playing father, not devilish uncle." Pause. "We're already got the devil type in our lives."

"Can I just be uncle Tachi then?" He mocked in return.

"You won't bring any profit." Kyoya walked past to the kitchen. "So...No."

Tachi laughed and then rose to the couple attention that he had the coffee pot and they couldn't be furiously disgusted in the kitchen without it. He'd successfully done what he'd set out to do. Lighten the mood for the day and give Yuuki something else to dwell on as opposed to the meeting with her brother.

-

Yuuki met Haruhi at the bridal gown store. She'd already picked a bridesmaids dress for her friend, but finding herself a wedding dress was proving difficult.

Haruhi's dress was a black strapless number that stopped on the knee with a little waistband. It was designed after Tamaki's plain black suit with a white shirt and black tie ensemble. Nothing to dressy. Simple and elegant was the basic theme of everything.

"What about this?" The girl pulled a dress off the rack and held it up.

Yuuki stared at it. "It's off a rack..."

"Yes. So? It's still one of a kind or whatever."

"Umm..."

"Try it on." She shoved the hanger into her friends hands. Nothing else had been successful.

The Cunxin sighed and retreated to the change rooms while Haruhi followed and pulled her bridesmaids dress on to be hemmed. Yuuki pulled the gown on and stared at her reflection in privacy. She was surprised to find it was perfect. Off the rack, but absolutely perfect. She'd been searching for months and had finally found 'the one.'

There was a knock at the door. "Hey. Can I see?" It was Haruhi.

Yuuki unlocked the door and let her friend come in. The dress was pearly white and strapless. The top was cut into a sweetheart neck and detailed with glass beading. The body fabric was folded in a way that hugged the waist but flowed nicely into the stiff but gentle skirt. There was a piece of pale cream chiffon that dropped over part of the skirt and lifted up to the waist in a corner. The cream helped the problem of Yuuki's skin color getting washed out against the stark whites of all the dresses she'd tried on and the beading lifted the dress from simple and plain to elegant and beautiful.

"Are you going to get it?" Haruhi asked.

Yuuki nodded. "Yes."

Her friend lifted the Cunxin's hair up to get a general idea. "Yeah. You better get it."

A shop assistant appeared in the doorway. "Wow. Honey. That looks lovely. Who's the lucky man?"

"Kyoya Ootori." Came the small reply.

The woman's eyes went wide. "You're Yuuki Cunxin?"
The girl nodded.

"Oh my gosh! Those pictures in Vogue were amazing!"

"Oh...thank you."

"And my sister is very into horse riding. She saw you fall at the Olympics. Were you alright?"

"Yes. Thank you. I was fine."

"Anyway." The shop assistant clapped her hands. "Onto the podium. We'll do this now."

"Do what?" Yuuki obeyed anyway.

"Fit the dress." The woman stood behind the girl and ignored Haruhi.

The Suoh sighed and stood beside her friend. "It works really well with this dress."

"It does..." The Cunxin said quietly. Finding the dress was confirmation of the event. Invitations had been sent. A venue had been booked. A giant white tent had been hired. It was happening. It was real. It wasn't some dream and Yuuki stopped pinching herself.

"Well..." The woman stopped tugging at the gown. "This is the first dress that's ever fitted perfectly, even the length works."

Yuuki smiled. It was funny how the things that fit perfectly were perfect. Just like Kyoya and herself. "Yeah..."

"What about this..." The shop assistant pulled a veil with lace detailing on the edges that matched the shape of the neckline and let it fall over the back of the dress and mingle with the subtle train. It created a gentle layered effect over the chiffon and contrasted strikingly against her hair. "Now that's an Ootori outfit." She grinned, obviously in tune with the rich and famous.

Haruhi could see her friend didn't want to change. "This is perfect. She'll take it."

Yuuki nodded silently. "I'll take it." Haruhi smiled at her friend in the mirror as the shop assistant hurried off. The girl breathed and smiled back. Her nerves were no longer about meeting her brother, but about the event she might want him at. "This is really happening."

"This is really happening." Haruhi put her hand on Yuuki's arm. "You look beautiful."

"Really?"
"Yes."

"Will he like it?"

"I think everyone will like it. Kyoya most of all."

The Cunxin exhaled and nodded in confirmation. This was it. It was perfect. It was right. She was ready. Scared, but ready. She couldn't wait. "Oh my gosh. This is really happening."

"I used to tell myself that every day I was engaged to Tamaki."

"And now?"

"Now I still say it." Haruhi smiled sweetly.

Yuuki ran her fingers over the dress. "Yes. Yes. I can believe that." She said softly.

The assistant returned with the store owner. "Oh. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes." The man clapped his hands. "Very Vogue." He winked at his pun.

The Cunxin ducked her head and blushed at the praise.
"Yes." The man stood in front of the girl. "That's just as I wanted it. Unaltered and clean."

"I like it." Yuuki said, she just wanted to buy it.
"Yes. Yes. Me too." The owner said. "Kauri, put it through." He clicked at his assistant. The woman leapt to attention and went to do so. "Do you have shoes, love?"

The girl shook her head.

"Okay. We can fix that." He turned to Haruhi. "You there. You in the bridesmaids dress. Go hither and return with the white ones."

The Suoh looked at the man and then at the display of shoes. "Uh...which ones?" She didn't sound to pleased.

"Whichever you like." He pressed his forefinger to his chin and then reached up and pulled a strand of Yuuki's hair out to rest along the side of her face and spoke softly to himself. "...yes...yes...beautiful...perfect....lovely..." He took the shoes offered and helped the bride-to-be into them. They were simple, closed toe, with a small heel. "Yes...brilliant." He raised his voice. "Kauri, the Cecily shoes too!"

"Okay!" Came the response from the counter.

"Darling." The store owner turned to Yuuki. "You are perfectly breathtaking."

"Oh...thank you." Came the shy reply.

"When's the wedding?"
"September 9."

"Ah...an autumn wedding."

"Yes, sir."

"And your husband-to-be will be exceptionally pleased with you. Especially when you look so captivating." He signed. "An Ootori...what a lucky woman...what a fortunate man."

Yuuki blushed, the man didn't know that he had just helped her with the topic she struggled with most relating to her wedding. Measuring up.

"Oh!" He exclaimed. "And I love the bridesmaids dress beside it!"

Haruhi laughed at her friends face. She was overwhelmed but content. It had worked. It had happened. It was perfect. It was going to be perfect. Eternity was going to be perfect.

-

Hark! The merry chimes are pealing,
Soft and glad the music swells,
Gaily in the night wind stealing,
Sweetly sound the wedding bells.
(Eliza Cook)

-

It was one when Kyoya called. "Where are you?" He'd spent the day at the office.

"I'm at home."

"Shouldn't you be out wedding dress shopping."
"No."

"Why?"
"Why shop for a dress before you've found one."

He went to say something.

She spoke first. "No. You cannot know where it's from. You cannot know what it looks like. You cannot bribe Haruhi to tell you and she's not telling Tamaki. Stop plotting."

Kyoya sighed, humored. "Are you alright for this afternoon?"

"To meet Mako?"
"Yes."

The girl exhaled steadily to calm herself. "Yeah."

"Correction."
"Yes."

"Congratulations."

"Don't be a critic."

Pause. "You sure you're alright?"

"Sorry. Just..."

"Yes. I understand."

"Really?"
"No. Not really. But I can try to."

"Thank you."
"I'll come get you now."

"Okay."
"Relax. You'll be with me."

"I don't want you suing my family." It was hard enough to keep him off her father.

"They're not your family, Yuuki."

"No. My father is not my father. Legally and because he never was. Mako might not be my brother legally, but he could be anyway."

There was a silence. "We'll see."

"Okay."
"Okay."
"Bye."

"Bye, relax."

"I'll try."

"See you in half an hour." Kyoya hung up.

Half an hour later, he arrived. The first thing Yuuki did was hug him. Everything was going so well and she didn't want it tarnished by bad relations. "How are you?"
The Ootori left the door open so they could leave straight away. "Fine. You?"
"Fine."

Fine had many meanings in their personal dictionary, each knew what the other meant by it. "Come on." Kyoya pressed his hand to the small of her back. "Let's go."

"Yes. Let's go."

"Yuuki?"
"Mm?"

"Inhale."

The girl smiled and squeezed his hand. Thanking him quietly.

-

They had agreed to meet Mako in a Tea House in the city gardens. The man looked like his sister, except taller. He had the same sharp features, softened slightly at the edges. He had the same dark hair that was so dark brown a few people would call it black and it waved slightly just like his sisters did. They had the same dark eyes, only his were lighter around the edges.

Mako smiled when he saw his sister. "My, my. You haven't grown at all."

The girl relaxed. "For your convenience."

"Still fun sized?"

"No. Just convenient." She smiled quietly at him. Not sure of what to expect. It had been so long and he had always sided with his father in order to inherit, even though he hated it. There was nothing to inherit now except a stud, so in the end, Mako had withdrawn with his wife and started his own business dealing with international agriculture.

Yuuki gripped Kyoya's hand. "Um...Mako, this is Kyoya Ootori."

"Pleased to meet you." The Cunxin extended his hand.

It was taken firmly by his sister's fiancé. "As am I." All stern politeness.

"So..." The older man indicated a booth he had been saving. "We meet again." He turned to his sister.

"Yes."

"Look...I'm just going to get right out and say it. I messed up. Royally. I kicked you out of home and sent you to a snobby school. I didn't stop father from mistreating you. And I'm sorry. Really. I am."

Yuuki looked at the table. It was awkward talking to him again. She didn't really know what to say. "Dad said the same thing."

"I know. He told me."

"He did?"
"Yes. And I told him to shove it." Mako turned to Kyoya. "Sorry." He turned back to this sister. "He destroyed himself after mom died and we, well, mostly you, copped it." Pause. "I hear you're not taking him to court for damages?"

"No." Kyoya shifted in his seat. "Yuuki wouldn't hear of it. Even though she legally divorced you, she still considered you family for a short while. Enough to prevent anyone being taken in by the Ootori Group." In saying 'taken in' he really meant 'taken down'. The subtle threat was evident in his tone.

"Oh." Mako leaned back. "Do you still consider me your brother?"

"I don't know." Came the small reply. "I messed up too. But...He took me back."

Kyoya then realized why she wanted to take back a small part of her family. It was because he had taken her back, when it wasn't her fault. And just the same, it wasn't Mako's fault, even though he believed it was. Yuuki thought it was her fault, and it wasn't either. Just as was the case when she left him; the blame was defined by no one and just by the circumstance.

"Um..." Yuuki looked at her brother. "Have you spoken to dad? Does he know about the wedding?"
"Yes."

"And?"

"And...he said 'oh look. Another heir is getting married to another bimbo.'" Mako decided to be honest with her. "I'm sorry."

"Oh." The girl looked back at her hands. A part of her still wanted her real father to exist. Just like she wanted her mother to come back. "Well...what did you say?"
"I told my wife that I would be there."

"Under what circumstance?" Kyoya hadn't let his guard down.

"As her brother."

"You are no longer her brother."

"I know...I know...I just..."

Yuuki squeezed Kyoya's hand again. "You're not going to throw wine glasses or hit me or do anything like that?"

Mako looked horrified. "He hit you?"

His sister nodded.

The man turned to the Ootori. "You better bloody take him to court."

Kyoya stared. Yuuki's brother was honest. He was sincere and absolutely furious. He was exactly what she should have been; only he understood properly and didn't want to hang onto something so detrimental. "I think it best that he just be left. He knows the boundaries."

Mako turned to Yuuki. "I'm so sorry for everything..."

The girl smiled at him. "No. I know. I can see that. I...um. I know you're sorry for sending me to Ouran, but I'm not. I'm really not. Out of all the stupid things you did because of dad, I want to thank you for that one."

Her brother leant back and smiled. "You met there, didn't you?"

Kyoya pushed his glasses up. "Your sister was in the same class as myself. The top class."

"She's not stupid."

"I keep telling her that." The Ootori relaxed a little.

Yuuki looked at the men. "Well...I think we all know why I thought otherwise."

Mako's eyes flashed. "He was unfair to you. I swore I would never be like him. I'll never use you like he did. Can you forgive me?"
"I did." The girl looked him in the eye. "A long time ago. I just didn't know if you were sorry."

"I was. I am."

Kyoya breathed. He knew people. He knew business people and he knew liars. Yuuki's brother was neither. He was just a guy who wanted redemption. Just as he had wanted redemption from his life of calculations and perfection. They both wanted the girl back. They both wanted her. They both loved her. But in different ways. "Would you like to be the ring bearer at the wedding?"

Yuuki looked at him. She smiled. Kyoya was telling her that he accepted her brother and nothing could make her happier at that moment.

Mako seemed overwhelmed. "Yes. Of course."

The Ootori squeezed his fiancés hand. She gripped back. "How's Kira?" Mako's wife.

"She's great. Six months pregnant."

Yuuki smiled. "You're happy?"

"I am. I would have liked it to have happened differently, but yes. I'm happy. I am where I would have been. It's a pity that we had to lose something in order to get there though." He referred to their still born child.

"You would have married her anyway?" If she hadn't been pregnant.

"Yes." The man leant forwards. "She's smart and pretty and helps me run the business."

"Do you know if the baby is a boy or a girl?"

"No idea. She likes surprises. Or the build up to. I know she wants a girl." Mako shook his head.

Kyoya smiled. "Well. Bring her to the wedding too. When's she due?"
"October 25th."

"Aw...a fall baby." Yuuki smiled, she enjoyed her brothers company.

"You're having a fall wedding."

"I know." The girl grinned. "A big one."

"I never picked you for a big wedding."

Kyoya laughed at the statement. "You would be very correct in thinking so."

"So...why..."

Yuuki scowled at her fiancé. "Because, I'm marrying an Ootori."

"Oh..." Mako leaned back and smiled. "Oh. I like that."

"Its mutual." Kyoya said. He was still cautious and didn't trust the man for an instant, but Yuuki did. She had learnt not to do so unless it was right and she had a bond with her brother that would let her know that. He would respect that and respect her for deciding it.

-

An hour later, after Mako had gone home, Kyoya and Yuuki sat in the tea house in silence. They just thought and felt together. The girl leant against him, molding herself to his side. The Ootori had an arm around her waist and a knee against hers. They drank tea. Everything had worked out. The day had worked out. The last plans of the wedding had fallen into place. The last guest was decided. The dress was found. The partner understanding and forgiveness given out. Kyoya forgave Yuuki's brother. He let him into his life and into that of his future wife. He had tested the water and found it good for them. He knew she wanted a part of her family, a part of her past, he knew she wanted her help. He had given it and they had both found something and unveiled a mystery of themselves.

Yuuki pulled her iPhone out and handed him a headphone. She plugged herself in and picked a song and put the device on the table in front of Kyoya. The Ootori smiled. For such a personal song, she'd chosen a very impersonal song.

"What?" She looked at him, amused above her.

"Disney?"
"Aladdin had some very profound things to say."

"Uhuh." He pulled her closer. "Like what?"

"A whole new world, a new fantastic point of view, no one to tell us no, or where to go, or say we're only dreaming." Pause. "Come on boy-band. You know the words."

"I'm afraid I don't." Kyoya laughed softly.

"I thought I was dreaming today. I pinched myself, see?" She held up her hand, there was a fading red mark on the underside of her wrist.

"That looks like it hurt."

"It did. Haruhi kept telling me to stop and I kept expecting to wake up."

Kyoya took her hand and kissed her wrist. "Don't do that."

Yuuki closed her fingers over his palm. "I won't. I know I'm awake now."

"Your brother is...interesting."

"Yes. I never really knew him much. Just like you. It was more business than family. My mom was the only family I really had."

"Why did your mother marry your father?"

"I'm sure they loved each other at some point. But not like us. I don't think they went through anything except love. There was no life."

"Maybe that's where your spontaneity comes from."

"I'm not that bad."

"No. You learn from your mistakes. And mine."

"You don't make mistakes."

"I never came after you."

Pause. "No. You didn't. You did later though. You didn't let me go."

"Not once."

There was a short silence and Yuuki let her head drop on his shoulder as she stared across the room with him. "Thank you."

Kyoya stretched her fingers across her waist. "No. Thank you."

"You accepted my brother. So thank you."

"You accepted me."

"Aw...mushy." The girl squeezed his hand.

He returned the gesture. "Alright, you. Suki's expecting us."

"And her bundle of joy." Yuuki's tone was sickly sweet.

"It's not that bad."
"The kid threw up on me." Pause. "Riki will be there tonight."

Kyoya kissed her head. "Oh, good." Last time Riki had been in the same room as Kyoya, she'd decided to give him her first kiss. Of course, she asked. Got refused. Asked again. Got refused. Tried to surprise him. Got caught doing so. Got a lecture about age differences and affairs. Tried to molest him again. Got put in corner. Screamed when Yuuki kissed him. Then cried. And cried. And cried. She cried until she was so tired that her uncle kissed her on the head and said he was Kyoya, she stopped the waterworks and promptly went to sleep happy.

Yuuki hissed at the memory. "Mm. I'll be right there, protecting you." She said. He'd protected her from what he thought were her demons that day; she would protect him from his at dinner.

"Uhuh. With your sparkling charm and biological definitions."

Yuuki smiled cheerily. "Its winning charm."
"Oh. Forgive me." Kyoya said mockingly.

"Whatever. I'll be here."

"Me too."

Always. For the real demons, those perceived and those you worry about. I will be right here. For whatever you need, whenever you need it.

-

I will be here
When you feel like being quiet
When you need to speak your mind
I will listen
And I will be here
When the laughter turns to cryin'
Through the winning, losing and trying
We'll be together
I will be here

Tomorrow morning, if you wake up
And the future is unclear
I will be here
Just as sure as seasons were made for change
Our lifetimes were made for these years
So I will be here

I will be here
And you can cry on my shoulder
When the mirror tells us we're older
I will hold you
And I will be here
To watch you grow in beauty
And tell you all the things you are to me
I will be here

I will be true to the promise I have made
To you and to the One who gave you to me

Tomorrow morning, if you wake up
And the sun does not appear
I will be here
Oh, I will be here.

(I will be here, Steven Curtis Chapman)

-

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Next chapter: Wedding. ^-^

And no, it doesn't end there. I don't like stories that end with weddings; it leaves the plot to open. It makes me uncomfortable. There is no closure. Lol. Does anyone else feel like that? Weddings don't end a story, life ends a story. I have a plot for after the marriage. If that's okay with everyone? It's not something you will expect. Although a HaruxTama baby may or may not happen...hm...*taps nose*

Don't we all wish we knew Riki? She's like Misa Misa, only smaller and more annoying. Yes, Kyoya was mightily disturbed in his own, little private cold world way. Ah...but the things children do... ^^

Tell me what you thought; I really appreciate your input.

Blessings,

-pp