a/n. in this Ruri's grandfather hasn't passed away yet, he's just about to. Ok without anything else to say continue on and read.
Disclaimer: don't own.
That morning weighed on her mind, Chitoge had felt a complete lack of control, and it had just felt right so she'd gone with it. Though the shock of his kiss had been… well shocking. The blonde couldn't help but feel her cheeks warm and her toes curl. Face burning Chitoge tried to hide her face in her collar failing miserably with her collarless shirt.
After their sparring session Shu stayed to just hang. Though unbeknownst to them Shu was there laying his plan, silently teasing the not-quite couple at their obvious disquiet with each other. They were to focused on not relaying their intimate adventures that morning; that they couldn't see that even those actions were outing themselves.
Sitting watching their way through Chitoge's pile of movies, the group of three teens lay on the tatami floors, boring hours to American movies, their current movie was a dragging on for Shu, looking towards his wrist Shu shot up from the ground; where he had been admiring the ceiling. The only other sets of eyes in the room turned towards the strawberry blonde boy, Chitoge pressing the pause button on the remote while staring at the suddenly standing Shu.
Seeing the identical looks from the two Shu laughed leaning over to pick up his phone. "It's almost time for my shift. I have to go." Shu said grimacing at the thought of missing out on the hilarity that was sure to occur. Shrugging Shu raced out of the room and soon the entire estate.
"He's quick." Chitoge stated releasing a puff of air at his speedy departure.
"Well he did almost beat me at that race before sensei left." Raku retorted turning his attention back to the screen. Pressing play Chitoge said, "But your not that fast, I mean you are pretty slow." Her words were greeted with a stiff spine and a rigidly turning jaw, brokenly directioning itself towards her. His face held an expression of irritation and eviscerated ego. Chitoge couldn't help the giggle that escaped her at his hilarious appearance.
Shu had just called his mother to tell her he'd be late, the day had run on and he'd lost track of time he explained. After being ordered to hurry his arse up Shu hopped on his bike; taking off at a speed his pay was worth. Super-sonic in other words.
Pulling up in front of Kohi no Kami Shu checked his watch again 4:45pm, good that gave him a couple minuets to get in the shower and change into his floor clothes. Taking the steps two at a time Shu rushed indoors and up the service stairs; behind the hidden door in the foyer. He was opening tonight so this was going to be quite the accomplishment to get changed and tidy the room before the night rush descended.
"Few." Shu exhaled thankfully, the room had been a mess. No wonder his mother had almost screamed at him over the phone. Apparently a very influential family was coming in and would need a private waiter reserved for themselves alone. And thanks to them having a girl in their party around his age, lets say my mother jumped on the idea of him being that waiter.
Setting up a private room for the rich buggers Shu placed new china and table clothes down. There were a total of three private rooms, each one with different décor and theme, the one committed to tonight's party was a French themed design, the walls an eggshell white with curled designs inlaid into the walls themselves. The carpet, a plush kingfisher blue in colour that was a delight to just lay down on. Not that he ever had. Cough cough. Placing the crystal goblets and delicate teacups as well as their partners on the tables, Shu wondered on what type of people these resulted customers' were. His mother hadn't told him much, just he usual story; table of eight, smallest French tea room, set a fire and be professional when interacting. The norm, do as your told don't be my childish self from school.
Arranging the logs in the large fireplace on the back wall Shu lit them, turning around to see his mother frowning at him, Shu frown himself wondering what could be the matter now. Holding up a small clear box Shu realized. His glasses. Taking the oval shaped frames off his face he walked towards her handing her the spectacles.
After his mother fussed some more over his appearance he escaped. The bell of the front door had just rung. Hop skip and jumping in freedoms direction Shu opened the door, bowing at the waist to his guests. Removing himself from that position he got his first glance at the group, and leading said group was, Ruri. Blinking in surprise he bowed again, recovering from his lapse and sinking fully into his 'host' persona.
"Good evening Madam's, Gentlemen." He said nodding his head in each ones direction, "Would you follow me to your private dinning room. The boy by the door will take your coats." Turning on his heals Shu let his anxiety show.
Back at the Ichijou compound Ryuu was racing back and forth outside of Master Raku's room. According to Claude and Adelt-sama the Te no Yami was planning to strike at Master Raku.
Chitoge rolled her head feeling the cracks as they resounded. "I think I need a drink, do you want one?" Chitoge asked pushing to a sitting position, the movie was almost over and besides she'd already seen it.
Raku's head nodded slightly still heartily focused on the screen depicting the epic battle between the Winter Soldier and Captain America. Smiling faintly Chitoge left the room. It was good that he liked the movie because it was one of her favorites.
Passing the doorframe Chitoge came to a stand still, standing outside the door leaning against the wall was Ryuu. His shoulders tensed beyond anything she had thought possible, Ryuu looked up at Chitoge a strange look crossing his face before he cast a fake glee across his image. Not buying it for second Chitoge crossed her arms over her chest raisin her brow at the blatant front he was putting up.
Dropping the air Ryuu motioned the blonde closer, leaning down near her ear. Speaking quietly Ryuu says, "Raku is in danger, the Te no Yami are mobilizing." Feeling her heckles spike Chitoge turned around, reaching into her back pocket retrieving her phone and dialing quickly. Brub. Brub. Burb. On the third ring her father picked up, his voice drowned out by Chitoges hushed shouts.
"Dad did you know about this? What am I saying of course you do? What do we do, we have to protect Raku. He wont be able to face them yet, I cant let him slip into a mindset like THAT." Chitoges chest tightened, her throat closing at even the thought.
"Yes I've heard that, that degenerative group has been planning to take Raku-san out of the picture." Adelt paused, "I want you to come home for the time being. Things are going to become dangerous and I want you out of harms way."
"I'm not moving anywhere from the spot I'm presently in. No matter what you say." She rebutted, her outraged expression directed towards the opposite wall.
"Chitoge sweetie, this's not an arguing matter!" her father replied his voice rising partially. Feeling stifled the girl started to pace, her figure shadowing the walls in their swift rhythm, the hand not holding her phone to her ear; fisted by her side. Said hand would dart about trying to help her make her point as she argued with her father.
"No I'm not leaving him, I said I wouldn't and that was to be despite nothing! Father if he is in that much danger that you fear for me then I ask you to cast your idea of my feelings and base them on your own!" Chitoge wasn't noticing how her voice rose every word or so. Hearing his breathing alone Chitoge quieted herself. Calming now that he seemed to understand.
"You should go home Chitoge." Swiveling around Chitoge was met with the sight of Raku standing right outside his door. In her worry Chitoge hadn't even moved away from the gaping doorway.
Raku had over heard the entire conversation; it wasn't hard to either. He'd just come over to see what had deterred Chitoge from her quest of getting drinks, when he heard outside the door Ryuu and Chitoge talking. Talking about him no less, his interest piqued Raku shuffled closer, pressing his ear to the door. It wasn't like he was some kind of sticky beak; but it was about him! And that, in anyone's mind made it their business.
Raku could hear a new voice join the conversation, "Yes I've heard that, that degenerative group has been planning to take Raku-san out of the picture. " there was a pause the muffled voice continued, "I want you to come home for the time being. Things are going to become dangerous and I want you out of harms way."
Te no Yami? Planning to kill him in his grief? What cowards. The boys dark hair fell over his eyes, only a grim quirk of lips to express the sidelined rage he had been compressing.
Walking out from behind his door he spoke, "You should go home Chitoge." Her widening eyes and the way he saw her soul drop in those light blue eyes.
"Chitoge, I don't want you involved in this." Raku looked off to the side not able to actually look at her as he spoke. "If there is going to be a threat against me, it'll be against you as well. People in the underground have known about us for a long time and…" he could feel his teeth grinding together, "And, because it's those mongrel bastards! That are to cowardly to even attack face to face, I know they'll target you to get to me." Raku was livid his blood boiled as he thought of how they had killed his father, he had died in an explosion. A great dishonor to a swordsman, he had been killed in a round about gutless way. Te no Yami were not even at the scene it might as well have been an accident. Raku couldn't fathom cowards like that. His jaw protested to the strain it was being submitted to, a dull ache shimmering through his bones and muscle all the way to his clenched fists.
"Master Raku," Ryuu said bowing to his master, the men could see the pain just vibrating off of the teen. "We await your orders." He said not lighting his head.
Raku looked towards his father's right hand man. No Ryuu was now his second in commend, and he was a leader; and a leader obliterates the risks against his company.
"You were on the phone to Adelt-san right?" he questioned Chitoge, she looked at him confused, a small noise erupted from the phone in her slack hand. Raku reached for the phone, taking it easily from her prone hands. Reacting rather slowly Chitoge reached for the device, seizing a hold on his shirt arm as her brought the phone to his ear.
"Yes hello Adelt-san, I would wish to speak with you about these new circumstances, neither of us want Chitoge hurt in all this." Chitoge tightened her fingers on the fabric, her glare half-heartedly focused on Raku. He was talking about her and deciding what was best and she hated it when people did that to her. That it was to protect her didn't matter.
Raku surprised the girl as he removed her hand from his arm only to draw her near him, placing his head in her neck. Trying to hold back everything as he listened to his fellow gang boss's plan.
Chitoge could hear the catches in his throat as he breathed. In and out, like it hurt. Chitoge wrapped her arms around the amethyst haired boy.
Somewhere off to the side of this attempt to comfort his young master Ryuu walked away. Raku was not the only one brimming with a boiling fire, Ryuu would take revenge for the death of Rikiku and for the agony his son was feeling.
Shu was shell shocked, it was Ruri's family? Ruri? Why? Kami could you spend a little more time making life harder on other people; no of course not. Shaking his head lightly Shu returned to his duties, holding a glass pitcher filled with chilled water he walked over to their table.
The number had been a little off, sitting around the table was, Ruri in a red dress, the puffy skirt ending an inch or so above her knees. The sleeves loosely arranged to sit just bellow her shoulders. Her black hair running straight down like a waterfall, the smallest difference of course, her rectangular glasses. They weren't there. Shu slightly dumbstruck lifted the pitcher, seeing her nod he moved into fill her glass.
"You look different Mikowa-san." She said to him, barely above a whisper. Eyes widened he looked to the small girl, she wasn't facing him but her eyes would sometimes dart in his direction, quickly and then away.
Smiling Shu stood inspecting the other guest as he walked around the table filling their glasses. Next to Ruri was her Grandfather, the old man dressed in a western suit, without a jacket but his light warm gray vest shinning with a satin shimmer. Fill. Then next him a man Shu hadn't met, there were two others like that. The last two were on Ruri's right. The lady, a middle-aged brunette her soft curls framing her deceivingly young face.
"Ruri-chan don't you want to introduce yourself to Jacob-san." The women said not really asking but telling her young daughter.
"Tomoe-chan, don't badger the girl." Countered Musashi, the kooky great grandfather said pointing towards the brunette. The man beside her laughed behind his napkin. Which he had brought up to his lips rather quickly when the elderly man started shaking his upright finger slowly back and forth.
Watching the interactions Shu caught onto their relationships, the red headed boy on the other side of the table was 'Jacob'; obviously a foreigner with family connections and a finger up his arse. The women beside Jacob; was his mother also a foreigner but unlike her son she had mid-length caramel hair. The other woman was Ruri's mum, the man beside her definitely Musashi's descendent. Shu smile, they acted so alike it was hard not to see.
While thinking this Shu caught on to something else about the group. This was a set up for Ruri and that pompous matchstick. Shu frowned, his brows knitting together at the thought of Ruri getting sociable with this guy. Transforming his face back to that of a host, he approached them his jug still in his hands. Rolling his eyes subtly he continued to offer the water to them. Once all their glasses where fill Shu left the room, opening the door to the kitchen Shu looked at his mother, she was standing in front of the stove stirring a pot of boiling something. People where rushing about all over the tiled floor, the room was pretty simple stainless steel bench tops and white tiles.
"Shu, hey mate I heard you got a special party?" said Korou, the young man was black haired and well built around six foot three. Good looking and a laugh.
Just like most other waiters here.
Scratching the back of his head Shu looked through his fringe at Korou, shaking his head vigorously he spoke, "Yeah, special is right." He said feeling slightly irritated. "The family is arranging their two kids into an arranged marriage."
Looking inquisitive, Korou put his hands together, clapping with interest; stars in his eyes. God this guy just couldn't act his age. Not like he could talk, he was pretty immature. Shrugging Shu just walked past his workmate.
Back in the room Ruri took a sip of her water. The dark haired teen had never seen her fellow glasses clad friend like she had when that door had opened. He had seemed less the dorky annoyance he was at school, glancing towards her intended 'partner'; well that's at least what her mother wanted him to be.
She really couldn't see herself liking this, brightly haired gaijin. From what she had seen of him he was a mama's boy who couldn't do anything at all.
This morning Ka-san had randomly said that the family was to be going out for lunch.
(Flashback)
"Ruri-chan get up we're going out for dinner." A voice called randomly disturbing her peaceful snoozing. As her eyes first opened she looked around for the disturbance.
"Oka-san, why on earth did you decide that waking me was a good idea, or for that matter, good for you?" feeling on the verge of a demonic fit Ruri buried herself in the peach covers, hiding away from her mothers unbelieving eyes.
"It is three in the afternoon, are you planning on sleeping the day away?" come from outside the darkness.
"No, I was planning on sleeping through the entire holiday period." She replied uncovering her head alone from the sea of cloth. Knowing her mum would be rubbing her temples Ruri sat up, the sheets and comforter slipping to her waist.
Ruri was dressed in a simple faded red shirt that was miles to big for her. Glaring at the rooms other occupant the dark eyed and mooded teen watched as her mother swiftly exited her room. Now with the aggravator gone Ruri could feel herself slipping back into unconsciousness.
Opening her eyes abruptly the young girl was bombarded by an intense light shinning right in her eyes.
Covering said eyes Ruri searched for one of the two perpetrators. Scanning over the dresser and desk Ruri zeroed her gaze on the closet door. Expression filled with exasperation Ruri sluggishly took her first step towards her dresser doors. Suddenly the doors burst open no longer hiding the 'two' people hiding within it. Two? Should have known, Ruri thought as she watched the two childish men try and escape her room. Their exit block as she spread her arms over the wood. The two older men started to cower. Narrowing her eyes she took a step away from the door, stepping towards her father and great grandfather. Their gaze following the soul step treated as if it were the swing of an ax, coming to take the heads. Truth be told that's how it seemed.
Screams could be heard outside in the hall, echoing down them making their way to the opposite side of the house where Tomoe sat doing finishing touches to her makeup.
"Well at least she's up now." She said once again setting the brush in motion, adding a shimmery effect to her lids.
As it turned out the effective wakeup call come about an hour ago, so instead of a dinner this would be a breakfast. And despite her mothers' attempts to curl her hair like hers. It had utterly failed. Truthfully Ruri didn't see the appeal of resembling her mother so closely, she already had her temperament; what else was there to go before becoming the older women.
Looking again in the Moore families' direction she saw Shu enter the room again, the strawberry blonde was without bottle or jug this time, the only thing that graced his arms was a stark white cloth draped over his left forearm.
Thinking her gaze on him Jacob took this 'opportunity' to talk to her. His voice was thickly accented and kept pausing as he spoke of his interests and the dealing of his family's company. It was a bore. He was a bore. Ruri glanced at her mother as Jacobs's words flew over her, barely conscious that he was even talking the girl just nodded when he took a breath.
Glancing down Ruri picked up the menu, a dark blue in colour similar to the carpet, a gold rim running in a curved border pattern. Releasing a sigh she transported her full attention to the menu, sweeping through the dishes and drinks when abruptly another menu was held out to her. Looking towards it she saw Shu smiling slyly at her quietly he spoke, "I thought this menu would better suit you." He said in a gentle but fun manner. Holding her hand open the strawberry blonde waiter placed the folder into her small grasp. Watching him retreat to the back wall, smiling faintly at his actions. He was so subdued here that she wasn't sure how to treat him. She would usually act hostile to the fellow because of his resemblance to her own families less then mature members.
Opening this menu was decorated similar with the gold trim but the cover was a burgundy red that seemed to bring out the red and oranges being cast on the walls by the large fireplace. Standing next to the fireplace was Shu he bowed as he caught her gaze smiling like he always did.
Whirling back to read through the red backed menu. The first word that jumped out at her read 'Breakfast'. It was a breakfast menu. Looking back at their waiter Ruri gave him an inquisitive look, kind of asking 'how?' he just smiled again, this time bigger then the last and looked away.
Shaking her head confusedly smiling, Musashi smirked.
He was not like his granddaughter in law; he didn't want to set Ruri up with a little rich boy without a personality who didn't even know her. No his goal had been for Shu and Ruri, he would look after her and generally cared for his Ruri-pi, it was evident from the elders first meeting with the boy. Musashi had originally thought Ruri was going out with the strawberry headed boy to the onyx haired one. Ruri spoke of an Ichijou before maybe once or twice, always referring to Kosaki-chan and him, never herself.
She had most definitely discussed Shu more, she would complain mostly but Musashi could see a fire in her eyes as she did it. And that for the elderly man was 'love' or at least the beginnings of it.
They ordered shortly after. The silence in the room making for an uncomfortable atmosphere, Shu took the order and left the room swiftly delivering them to the kitchen and then returning with their drinks. Musashi wanted sake while the Moore's preferred an earl gray brew. Ruri went with an ice tea and her mum a brandy, apparently this called for a drink.
A total of ten minuets passed before their food entered the dinning room. Ruri looked over to the three waiters that entered holding their plates aloft. The first was Shu followed by a dark haired boy and was an urban-y hair and of short stature he had a cute face. Moe, she thought glancing again at the shorty, he was about her own height. So yes that made him a short guy.
Delivering their meal to them Shu set down Ruri's three plates, one filled with bacon and eggs another with hot toast with a small butter bowl off to the side and a bowl of honey porridge. Brushing her side as he passed her chair on the way to place Musashi's plate of lasagna and roasted vegetables. Korou and Tsuki laid the others out.
Leaving the room again Tsuki and Korou turned to him. "Isn't that the girl we always see peeking out of your locker?" Tsuki asked looking up at the strawberry headed boy with a keen gleam shining in his eyes.
"Yeah the one that you have like a million pictures of." Korou continued. "Hey what was her name again, Ruki or something, right?" Korou said turning to the shorter man, seeing him screw up his face at the name the raven-haired waiter tried again, "Riki? No, but it definitely starts with a R-something." The two were debating when suddenly they stopped. The door behind Shu's back had just opened and standing in the doorway, was Ruri.
"Ruri!" exclaimed Tsuki pointing at the dress-clad teen. Shu quickly turned around his shock not quite showing fully as he smiled at the girl.
"A Ruri-chan, how long have you been standing there?" he said the anxiety growing.
"No what the real question is why do they know my name and why was I the topic of conversation?"
Shu exhaled, she hadn't heard all of it. Just the end of it, it seemed. Smiling the young man replied, lying out of his arse. "Oh they were just trying to remember the guests names, they're complete baka's and couldn't seem to remember your name." He said smoothly, covering the real conversation with this plausible fake.
END CHAPTER:
A/N. Sorry for the wait I was intending to put this up last night but I didn't think it was done, plus my parents said I needed sleep and sent me to my room. This chapter is dedicated to my friend 'Dowa', an awesome chick who just turned 18. I hope you all loved the new chapter and will review fav and follow not only the story but me as well.
Alexbonita:
I see your English is getting better, I didn't require a translator this time J. Thank you for your continuing support you make it easier to write these chapter and again sorry for making you late.
p.s.
To all the people who favorite and followed me thank you, we are getting into the hardships now, so buckle in and don't look away. My birthday girl friend will keep me writing this story I assure you. Until next time Hikari Kuro. Oh and p.s.s. The change of Raku's mothers name will be fixed shortly it was a mistake but Hika (Hikari) is the name from now on