Disclaimer: I do not own KWMS and P&P… sadly…

Chapter 18


It was only a few minutes of their arrival, Misaki stood in front of Usui's new guests, but she felt as if hours had already passed. She didn't knew them quite well, but if first impressions were asked, she thought Eloise as a friendly woman, with her gentle smile and pleasant womanly figure, but outrageously energetic, always up for adventure; as for Usui's half brother, Gerard, she perceive him as a "homey" but can be a playful person, a complete opposite of his wife, though his face was kindly, she felt that he has a devious side. Misaki decided to observe them carefully, for she didn't want to repeat her mistake to draw her conclusions immediately like the case of her and Usui.

As the three greeted each other in a light manner, Gerard, curious of the presence of the unknown lady guest of his brother, said, "Takumi, would you mind a little introduction?"

Takumi smiled and introduced Misaki, "This is my guest and new acquaintance, Ms. Misaki Ayuzawa from Elmswood; Ms. Ayuzawa, this is Gerard Walker and his wife, Eloise."

"Ms. Ayuzawa, I welcome you here in Château de Chamomiles. We do actually frequent here, especially in these times, and it's rare for our Takumi to invite a guest here, yet alone a lady," Gerard said, and as he emphasized the word "lady", he smiled sneakily, which led Usui to raise a brow.

Eloise joined her husband in teasing Usui and said, "Yes, that's true. He would be more than happy to go to prison rather than to meet women of his age. But this is something new…" She looked at Misaki and Usui as she stroked her chin, looking as if thinking deeply. Then she asked, "Ms. Ayuzawa, tell us how our Takumi here behaved at the balls you two attended, and I won't believe you if you say that he's being a gentleman."

Misaki controlled her laughed but as she was about to answer, Usui interrupted and said, "If you are going to chat here all night, then I suggest that we'll proceed to the dining hall for dinner."

"Ahh, that's more of our Takumi, always interrupting the best parts," said Gerard, then looking at Misaki, he said, "Say, Ms. Ayuzawa, shall we continue this at dinner?"

Misaki agreed and said, "If you like, Mr. and Mrs. Walker, you may call me by my name."

Gerard said, "No, I beg to disagree, but I'll leave that for Takumi, don't you think, Eloise?" His wife could not help but laughed and said, "Well, is it fine to call you Misa, then?"

-0-

After chatting at dinnertime, the four of them bid each other good night; Gerard and Eloise were a bit tired for their long journey, and Eloise promised that the four of them to go to town tomorrow morning. Misaki told them beforehand that she'll be leaving tomorrow, but was convinced by Eloise to stay just for a day. She was already in her nightgown topped with an overcoat, but she couldn't sleep yet. She was still standing by the window thinking of the case, but was interrupted by a knock on her door. She opened it and found Usui, still not yet dressed for sleep, at her doorstep.

She invited him to stay inside and have some tea, but Usui declined her offers and said, "I deeply apologize for my brother and sister-in-law's inquisitive nature and that you might have some inconveniences…"

"No, rather, I am, if allowed to say, fond of them. They seem to really care about you a lot," Misaki said.

Usui smiled and teased, "Why, are you jealous, Ayuzawa?"

Misaki smirked and said, "And now, I highly not question your nature as well."

Usui laughed and said, "I am pretty sure of that."

Silence overcame them, and Usui broke it and said, "Can't I convince you to stay a few days more?"

Misaki replied, "Even if I wanted to, I can't; my sister is coming home the day after tomorrow, probably hours before me, and Inspector Norris expects me to return immediately. And Ms. Satsuki also had requested my immediate return."

"I see. Can I visit you back in Elmswood?" Usui asked.

"Well, Ms. Satsuki also wrote to me that Sakura is now engaged to Kuuga, I am sure you can come with him, I suppose," Misaki answered.

"But if I was alone, and even without any reasons like that, would you still permit me to visit you?"

Misaki only smiled and said, "We shall see to that."

"I guess it's pretty late, shall we call it a night?" Usui said.

"Good night, then, and have a good sleep," Misaki said, and the two left for their beds.

-0-

After breakfast, the company proceeded to town. Misaki was almost dragged by Eloise from shop to shop; Gerard can't help but to feel pity for Misaki. After some while, Gerard said, "I think that we should do a little celebration, not only for our farewell for Ms. Ayuzawa here, but to celebrate for new friends we've made, don't you think, Takumi?"

Usui was about to reply, but Eloise interrupted him, "Quite agreed with you, dear Gerard. I suggest that you two run along and buy what you needed for tonight; Misa and I will have our way." Then looking at Usui, said, "Don't you worry, Takumi… I'll take care of her, and we'll be back soon!" And a second later, pulled Misaki into a pastry shop.

Usui sighed and said, "Eloise didn't change a bit, I say."

"I wouldn't agree more with you. But still, living on the same roof with her, I am really thankful for that. After all, she saved me in her little way," Gerard replied as he looked at a side and smiled.

The two walked for some while and Gerard spotted a shop for vintage wine. He, followed by Usui, looked for some good red wine, and then he said as he picked one, "I hope that Ms. Ayuzawa doesn't mind drinking this."

"If I were you, I wouldn't buy that. Eloise cannot hold her alcohol that much," Usui said.

"But I'm buy it, and you cannot stop me, Takumi"

"What about your wife?"

"Hoho! This can be some good prank or something!" Gerard said childishly. After Gerard bought the wine, the two wandered on a park nearby.

"I quite agree with what Eloise demands of you, that you should act your age, now that you are head of the Walker family," Usui said plainly.

"Then, as the head of the Walkers, I will have my way and buy this wine!" said Gerard, "after all, the old lady is not here to keep an eye on us."

"Lady Everglott may be nasty sometimes, but she means well especially for our family," Usui said.

"Mean well? She is actually trying to run our lives, Takumi! Have you forgotten that she was the one who suggested casting you from the family? Had Uncle Jiro not adopted you, may the heavens have mercy as to where you'll be, and the Walker family ceases to exist," Gerard said in an agitated manner, "Probably, all of these good fortune may not happen, thanks to you. Ms. Scarlet would have destroyed it once and for all."

"Probably," Usui said.

"Is that all your reply after my speech?" Gerard asked sarcastically.

"But even so, I have my respect for the lady in regards of her hospitality and her duties as the benefactor of a small village," Usui said.

"But remember, Takumi; what is the use of such kindness if done without a heart?" Gerard said.

Usui spoke, "I think she has a heart for her subjects, occasionally."

"But still, she'll be an obstacle, if you are considering a union between you and Ms. Ayuzawa," Gerard stated.

They stopped walking; the surroundings, too, as if it stopped for a moment, for nothing was heard except the wind passing them suddenly. There was silence, until Usui broke it.

"I know"

Gerard looked at Usui's face, which was looking forlorn. Both of them knew the consequences; had Takumi had his way, he wouldn't care for a bit, but that was not the case; even he, too, passed this dilemma when he married Eloise; what their aunt wanted is that they marry someone equal with their status, and Eloise, though coming from a wealthy family, had no blood of an aristocrat, and what more of Misaki, then?

Gerard sighed, looked up the sky and said, "But still, she's the first, and only woman you had full trust, isn't she, Takumi?" Usui only smiled.

"I have a confession for you. Even I wouldn't allow you to be married to a girl who is not worthy of you. Because of what you did to the family, even though you had taken the name of Usui, I always consider you as my full brother, and I couldn't imagine a woman who deserves you, not until now," Gerard said.

Usui looked at his half brother as he said, "You don't say…"

"I look forward for the newest member of the family…"

-0-

While the gentlemen were strolling at the park, the ladies, meanwhile, visited almost every shop they see. Poor Misaki was tired, but, out of respect of Eloise and her great stamina, she was able to bear it. There were shops which sell delicious food, exquisite clothes for parties and possibly for every occasion, jewelries, and pubs and inns, everything; she used this to familiarize every corner of the town, and at last, she found what she had been looking for, but she decided to go there tomorrow. Then she was dragged by Eloise again in a tea shop for some rest and to have their tea.

As they were sipping tea, Eloise suddenly spoke, "You know, dear Misa, to be frank with you, I was a bit shocked that you were a guest of Takumi. He rarely invites women as his guests, except if they were his friends, which are only a few."

Misaki took a sip and said, "To be honest enough, when we first met, he wasn't really the friendly type of a man."

"Yes, I do understand. It is rare for Takumi to give his trust, let alone a lady," Eloise said.

"You lit up my curiosity, Mrs. Walker…"

"Please, call me Ellie."

"… erm, Ellie, that you once mentioned how Mr. Usui does not entirely trust women, but why is that?" asked Misaki.

"Well, I remembered, that was a long time ago. But before anything else, did Takumi mentioned to you about his true relations to my husband?" Eloise asked.

"Yes, he did."

"To have been told of that secret; Takumi does have a lot of trust to you," Eloise said. After she sipped tea, she continued, "After that affair with Gerard's ex fiancée, Ms. Scarlet (goodness knows where she is now), Takumi was introduced to society by the previous head of the Walkers, Gerard's father, and of Takumi's adoptive father, Mr. Jiro Usui. Of course, you may have seen in the balls you attended where Takumi is also present, that the girls were, umm, how to I put it, trying to win his favor and be married to him. Even though he rejected them in a kindly manner, they were too desperate of him; there was once that the Château was almost mobbed by those unruly ladies that Takumi secretly escape his own house and had to live with Gerard for a month."

'I did not even imagine that happening to Usui, must have been awful,' Misaki thought.

"And because of that, Takumi put on a cold façade to keep the girls away from him. Gerard and I feared that he will develop that attitude, now that some people are giving him false impressions, not unless they knew of his real nature," Eloise ended.

'And I was one of those, probably the most terrible being to do that to him,' Misaki thought.

"But then again, without his interference, the Walker family might have suffered humiliation right now," Eloise added. "Even though he had the choice of not telling the truth, he can even use the situation to his advantage for revenge of what the Walkers had done to him. But he didn't, and the brothers were as close as ever."

"He does have a kindly nature, Mr. Usui," Misaki said as she put down her cup.

Eloise looked at her watch and said, "I guess the gentlemen are already waiting for us, Shall we go now, Misa?"

The two left the shop and found the two men waiting for them at the park. Then, by afternoon, they went home.

-0-

After dinner, Gerard asked the butler to prepare some wine glasses, and after they were placed by the table, he brought out the wine he bought from the town.

"Is that… wine?" Eloise asked her husband.

"It's really a good wine, and don't you worry, my dear, it's not that strong," Gerard replied.

'This is going to be bad…' Usui thought.

Gerard rose up his glass and said, "Then let us have a toast for having with us the lovely presence of our new friend, Ms. Ayuzawa."

The party all said "Cheers!" (with Misaki blushed a little for Gerard's speech) and drank the wine. They had card games for a while, then, Misaki noticed that her head was already spinning, and she remembered that she couldn't handle strong alcohol as well. After twenty minute, Misaki felt dizzy and fell asleep at her seat, but was sitting still; Eloise, on the other hand, was worse, for her head was already on the table and passed out.

Gerard was amused. Having attained what he planned, he stooped down, and as his head was near his wife's he said, "she's really so adorable in this state."

Usui replied, "I am amazed that you were not still drunk after all those wine"

"You, too," Gerard said, "I guess it's in our blood, after all, we share the same blood of our mother."

"I guess I could say the same thing. As for Ms. Ayuzawa, though, I didn't know that she too can't handle strong wine," Usui said.

"Probably, or probably not. She may be tired after my wife dragged her almost every corner of the town," Gerard stated, then, he carried his wife in a princess-like manner and said, "But we cannot leave the, here, can we? Then we'll be going for bed now, Takumi, carry Ms. Ayuzawa in her room, if you please." Then he left.

Usui stared at Misaki for a while, then, stooped down and carried her, the same manner as that of Gerard's. While they were walking, he noticed that Misaki, with her arms around Usui's neck, was gripping him more tightly.

They arrived at Misaki's room, and just as Usui was about to put her down, Misaki started to squirm. Worried, Usui asked, "Are you alright, Ayuzawa?"

Instead, Misaki's head came much closer to Usui's neck and took a deep breath. Usui immediately put her down the bed and was nervous to what Misaki had done.

Misaki, however, with her droopy eyes, said, "How shweet… you shtill… hic…. Shmell like camomilesh…"

Usui could only stare at Misaki, then, after he calmed down a bit, he said, "You are drunk, Ayuzawa, get a hold on yourself."

"Oh, I could tell that to you… hic… Ushui. You… hic… should get a hold on yourshelf…"

"And why is that?"

"Can't you shee the picture? You and I… had shome alcohol…. Alone in thish room…"

"And are you suppose to tempt me, Ayuzawa?" Usui smirked as he sat by Misaki at her bed. With his hands on each on Misaki's side near her bed, he stooped down, but he put a considerable distance between the two of them and said, "Is that the best you can do?"

Then, Misaki grabbed him by the collar, an act he didn't expect. Misaki sat up nad was almost closing the distance between them. With her left hand supported her body and her face near Usui's, said, "Don't you... try and challenge me… Ushui…" Afterwards, she passed out; her head was leaning on Usui's shoulder.

Usui chuckled; he didn't predict her action at that time. He carefully placed her on bed, then, as he was about to leave her, Misaki held his hand tightly and said, "Are you… going to leave me?"

Usui didn't say a word and waited for Misaki to say more. Then, his waiting ended.

"Mother and Father… hic… left me, my shister left for London… I never felt sho alone… Ushui…are you… hic… going to leave me too?" Misaki said as tears ran down her cheeks.

Without a word, Usui sat on a couch which was near Misaki's bed, sat down and said, "Don't worry, Ayuzawa, I will never leave you. I'll stay here and watch you sleep."

Misaki began to close her eyes, smiled and whispered, "Thank you…" and slept.

Usui watched her sleep and began to sleep in his seat. But he made sure that his hand was holding hers throughout the night.

-0-

Morning came and Misaki was ready to leave. When she woke up, Usui was gone; perhaps it was only her imagination that she saw him at her side that night. But she didn't let it through her head, for she had business to attend to back at the town. As she said her farewells to Usui and the Walkers, she was assisted by Usui to a carriage and rode off. When the carriage was nowhere to be seen, Gerard whispered to Usui in a playful manner, "Was there a development between you and Ms. Ayuzawa last night?"

Rather be seen embarrassed or startled, Usui smiled and said, "Not what you have thought, no."

"How boring," Gerard said. Then he escorted his wife inside the house and said, "I hope Ms. Ayuzawa will visit us again, but for now, let's have our breakfast. Takumi?"

"You go ahead. I have to go to town right now."

-0-

When the carriage arrived at town, she requested the coachman to stop. She then traveled by foot to the jewelry shop she was looking for, which was, thankfully open. She entered it and saw a middle-aged man. He has a brown hair and olive skin, has a built like an ox. The man was startled that he had a customer too early in the morning and said, "Well, welcome, young lady, what can I do for you? Is there you wanted to buy?"

"No, but I have some business with you, Mr. Charles Brown."

_END_


Finally another chapter! I'm so sorry guys that I have updated it a bit late, there were so many events that happened… my netbook's charger broke and there were a lot of practices and a lot more… and that I'm bad in describing the "drunk scene" of Misaki…

Anyways, to those who reviewed, I really thank you for your support (not gonna say it's crappy, someone's gonna be mad… lol… XD and I'm really sorry for the cliffhangers and if the chapter is kinda long… and if you are wondering why Gerard's character was so not like him in the manga… well… I had intended to make him like that… I actually pictured out a nice Gerard because he's so cute in the manga… and with the sneaky character of his, minus the being sickly, plus his childlike attitude ( a bit, or whatever you call it) of his in front of his valet (I forgot his name) and the way he teases his valet-who-I forgot-the name… so sorry…

And thanks for those who shared their thoughts about the one I sent the sneak peak… (probably gonna send the trilogy…. XD ). And before I forgot, Misaki's father's name was actually revealed in the latest chapter, and they were pretty different with my fic, so I'll just stick to mine…

Anyways, I hope I am gonna update soon (perhaps the end of the week?) and yeah, probably I may not update next week… gonna be out of the country (weee! So excited… my first time! :D)

Lastly, congratulations to my co-graduates this year, especially two of my reviewers who happened to be my classmate and one of my best friends and her sister…

Love ya all guys!

~otaku911