Standard Disclaimers Apply

Kaoru

Everyone knew Kaoru loved his sister…except maybe his sister herself. That was reasonable seeing as he had been interfering with her happiness all this time. Thwarting her plans of meeting their parents, sending Shizuka in between Kazama and Chizuru's relationship…all of that had been his doing. And Chizuru wasn't completely wrong about his hatred for her. After all, while he loved her, he loathed her all the same.

How couldn't he? Their parents had basically sold him off to the Nagumos while she retained the Yukimura name. It was as if Kaoru had been a disgrace to the family, so much that he had to be turned over to another family.

He may have lost his name, but there was something he had that Chizuru didn't. Their parents. The fact that he had something Chizuru yearned for but could not obtain was pleasing to his sick mind. Hiding them from her was his way of revenge on his dear sister.

That didn't mean he fell into the loving arms of their parents though. No, ever since the first day the Nagumo family took him in, he has been avoiding his parents. At first, it was from anger at the knowledge that their parents had separated him from Chizuru. Then it was from anger at the realization of his abandonment. Eventually Kaoru, being the bright child he always was, stumbled upon some documents hidden in his new parents' bedroom and found out about the cause behind the Yukimura's demise. His anger then redirected to the Nagumos. He was confused, frustrated, and alone. He didn't know who to trust - his blood family who had given him up to the wicked family behind the whole mess, or said wicked family that needed him nonetheless.

The desire to be needed ruled out in the end but not without any tradeoffs. As a result of the initial confusion, and of the fact that the Nagumos were the ones behind everything, he never grew to love them. But he preferred their company over the rotten parents who sold him off.

It was kind of ironic. Kaoru had their parents by his side, but he refused to see them. Chizuru had kept her name, but not the wealth along with it. Then what was the point?

Really, what was the point?

There was a side to him that was afraid, afraid that if he let Chizuru meet their parents, they would leave him and he would actually have nothing left. It wasn't so much the fact of not seeing his parents, but the fact that they would no longer be within reach. After all, he had never went out of his way to see them. It merely brought comfort that they were under the same roof, and that they were working for his family now.

At the same time, his love for his sister seeks to protect her from their abominable parents, who were so weak as to lose all their wealth and sell their own child on top of it all. This side that wasn't afraid was worried. What if they hurt her too? What if they sold her in exchange for their own freedom? He wouldn't be able to stomach seeing Chizuru go through the pain that he had once gone through, but this same image would also be a twisted gift to his numb and darkened heart.

Shizuka

Kaoru has been cold to them since the beginning. Never did he try connecting with her family, but her family never really tried either. After all, the quieter he was, the better puppet he made.

Her family was greedy. They were reluctant to marry out their daughters to any family lower than theirs, but they were more than willing to throw them away at the feet of those that were higher, namely the Kazama family and many other families across the world. To her parents, it didn't matter whether there was love involved or not, or even whether their daughters would be able to communicate with their husband. The only downside to them was the family name. Any family higher than theirs would require the Nagumo daughters to change their surname.

So for years all her parents were interested in was a son to adorn the name of Nagumo. Her parents had tried, but her existence along with her three sisters' summarized their attempts. Then when they were about to give up and adopt a random child from an adoption centre, an opportunity arose and they jumped at it.

Being the closest to Kaoru's age, she had tried a lot to get him to open up. He never did. He always spat harsh words her way, and expressed just how unworthy she was. When she cried to her parents, they only told her to tolerate it because Kaoru would be the next head, and he would have infinite power over her by then. It'd be easier for her if she were to get used to it now.

His hatred for their family ran deep, and she had no idea why. In her eyes, no matter how cold her family was, they had saved his. They had offered them jobs, and offered to adopt Kaoru. It wasn't until the beginning of high school did she learn the reason why.

When she understood her own family's horrific acts, she began to understand Kaoru's too. Years of turmoil have led him to the unstable state he was in today. She began to see his demeaning words as a coping mechanism for him. She wanted to sympathize with him, but the more she thought about it the more she realized how lucky he had been. At least he had a loving family who, even now, he can reach easily just by walking up to them. On the other hand, she has never been showered with love from her parents. Sure, they were not the loving type, and even to Kaoru they were rather cold and distant -but at least they needed him.

When she met Chizuru at first, the first thing that came to mind was how perfect she was. Despite the poverty she was living in, she never yielded. She worked her way to the best school around, and even managed to get close to the president. If Kaoru hadn't surrendered to his hate, perhaps he would have turned out to be just as dazzling.

The president…She liked him a lot, and she knew her parents wanted one of their daughters to marry into his family too, but by nature she was too timid to do anything. At the time, she could only grow jealous of Chizuru. That was why when Kaoru, who had only ever muttered condescending words to her, told her to intervene and tear them apart, she didn't mind.

Deep down though, she knew Chizuru wasn't at fault. When Chizuru actually helped her meet up with Kazama, and was even very forgiving about the whole thing, she couldn't take it anymore. It was impossible for Shizuka to have any hate aimed towards this girl. She was just too kind. She didn't know how her parents, or anyone for that matter, could cause misfortune to Chizuru and her family and not feel guilty about it.

So she decided to make up for it. Pushing her feelings for Kazama aside, she focused on reuniting the Yukimura family. Staying by Chizuru's side, watching her persevere and fight for her own happiness, brought a new perspective into view. Chizuru made her think about possibilities she had never envisioned before.

Her parents wanted her to marry out of the family, preferably to one of higher class. To them, she was just a tool to be sacrificed. After Chizuru lost her wealth, Kazama's mother stripped her of her position as Kazama's fiancée. She was discarded just like that. In an abstract way, they were similar, both victims to their circumstances.

Chizuru fought, however. And she won.

So what if, like Chizuru, she could turn the odds around? What if she could fight back and prove her worth?

Kaoru wasn't the only one eligible to be the head of the Nagumo family. In fact, as the legitimate blood daughter of the Nagumo head, she was much more suitable to be the next leader.

It would be difficult, given her meek nature, but she was gradually growing. Standing by Chizuru, fighting alongside her, she was learning to break out of her shell and change for the better.

Who knows? By then, maybe Kaoru would finally view her as an equal.

A/N: Sort of a special POV chapter. Hope you enjoyed it! Thank you for reading, as always! ^^