Disclaimer: Do not own One Piece. All plot and OCs belong to Volleys-chan and I.
The Dragon Chronicles
Chapter 22 - Appeasement
"Compromise is not about losing. It is about deciding that the other person has just as much right to be happy with the end result as you do."
-Donna Martini
Tetsuya's companionship with Nanami stretched back a great many years now. He had always held a unique fondness for her and valued her company immensely – more so than any other woman who had dared attempt to win his affections. Despite this, he had become aware very early into their relationship of how their personalities tended to... chafe against one another. At this point, he had become a veritable expert at seeing the signs of inevitable conflict. While he would hardly consider himself an innocent party in such clashes, the quarrels their friendship yielded usually began with Nanami's tendency to become over-protective of her charges; her maternal instincts rivaled – perhaps even eclipsed, on occasion – that of a terrifying mother grizzly bear. Yes, it required a diamond-tier degree of hard-headedness to truly make him lose his temper (a feat that bastard from Cipher Pol had yet achieve despite his inhuman capacity for causing Tetsuya irritation), but her unwillingness to even listen to his legitimate concerns, to say nothing of compromising with them, were wreaking havoc on his composure. It was slowly but surely depleting his patience. Very few individuals still drawing breath had ever instigated his more feral nature suppressed underneath his ironclad, vise-like grip on control, but Nanami's admittedly graceful evasions of his objections had led to her experiencing just that many a time. It exasperated him that she wasn't trusting his judgement. Was it so much to ask, after so many years of friendship, to have her take his word for it, just once? Fighting tooth and nail over every subject with this level of intensity did nothing but erect walls of irateness in their relationship.
He loved her. That was an unshakeable cornerstone of their companionship. It hurt him that she would not trust him with a child she loved as her own without hesitation.
"Nanami." He struggled to keep his voice even and his sheer frustration veiled as he glared hard at the angry woman before him. His suggestion should not have angered her as easily as it had. She should have known he didn't make suggestions like these frivolously.
"No." She bared her teeth at him as she glowered. "I will not allow him to be examined. I don't care how competent your physician is! I will not allow him to treat Law like some sort of monster!"
"He would only be examining him only to have a base understanding of Law's condition. He will not see him as a monster, Nanami. Kyukyu-sensei isn't narrow minded like that. He will listen to reason if I explain to him that Hakuen-byō isn't, in truth, contagious. I simply want him to be capable of knowing how to properly treat Law if the need arises." Tetsuya argued back. His throat was tight as he kept himself from yelling back.
"You expect him to get hurt or sick in your care!" She raged as she approached his desk in order to get in his face. Nanami was like a mother bear with her children and wards, he tried to remind himself. Protective and unreasonable at times when it came to their safety and care. "I'm trusting you with someone I consider my son, Tetsuya!"
"And your trust is well placed, woman." Tetsuya rose from his chair to tower over her as he raised his voice. It stung at him that she would even insinuate that her trust wasn't well placed in him. "However, I am only one man, Nanami. Not a god. I cannot prevent him from never catching cold. I cannot prevent him from never having any accidents. These things happen and I do not have the expertise to handle them as a doctor would. Your naïveté in this matter will only serve to put him in harms way in the future. Argue if you wish, but you must see your argument is short-sighted. You have heard all of my vehement disagreements regarding this subject; I am done. I will adhere to your judgement as he is your ward, but for the boy's sake, Nanami, please. Reconsider."
With his temper now teetering on the edge of uncontrollable, there were really only two responses he would accept. She would either kowtow to his reasonable request, or she would vacate his office and give him time to reign in his control over his temperament once more. Anything less and his composure would snap. Something he could not risk here.
Nanami held her head high, causing him only further frustration. Her eyes were ablaze in outrage at his words. It was obvious she would not back down easily. His temper spiked even higher. However, he could not help the small wave of relief that washed over him as she turned on her heel and stormed out of his office, allowing him time to calm down before trying again. He only flinched at the sound of his door slamming, knowing how pissed she was at him. He hated when they fought. He hated being angry at her. He hated her being angry at him, but in this scenario, he knew he was right. Still, he would accede to her wishes, as he knew it was not his place to make this choice. The boy would probably not even consider his decision anyway. He had taken more than a small portion of Nanami's infuriating stubbornness during his time in her care.
Tetsuya collapsed heavily back down at his desk as he ran a hand through his hair. He pulled it out of his hair tie and as he did so, he forced his focus onto soothing his foul temper. It wouldn't do to stay angry and accidentally snap at an innocent party; especially Rei. He continued to run his hands through his hair a few more times before gathering all his long mane of hair back into a controlled ponytail at the nape of his neck. As he did so, he noticed several strands of his hair fall onto his desk. This woman. She was literally causing him to pull his hair out. Upon finishing the final twists of the band in his hair, his door opened and the presence of his friend and cook made himself known.
"Bad time to bring you breakfast, mon ami?" Hinata held out the tray as he gauged how pissed his employer was.
He had been close enough to hear the tail end of the argument and barely moved in time to get out of the woman's way as she stomped past him with a furious look upon her face. It surprised the chef a bit that such emotions could even be elicited within his employer. Hinata, personally, had never heard the man raise his voice in such a manner ever. Which was saying something because he met a lot of men that Tetsuya would bring to his restaurant for business that he knew the man severely disliked or hated even. In fact, though Tetsuya grumbled and grouched at times, he never had ever seen the man this livid with anger.
"Leave it on the coffee table then go." The kenshi said in a tight voice. He was not looking at Hinata as he glared angrily at nothing. He pulled out his hairband again as he began the whole process once more. He was trying to calm himself down through the simple task, Hinata realized.
The chef walked quickly to the coffee table, set down his delivery, but all the while keeping a close eye on his friend. Tetsuya had managed to tie up his hair again, but it seemed he found no peace in the inane action and was now massaging his forehead as he took deep breaths. Hinata wondered how long the two of them had been arguing for to get him this angry.
He didn't need to be a sailor to know to steer clear of this storm. Yet, despite his better judgement, Hinata took a small step forward as he spoke to his friend. "Would talking about it help?"
He regretted disturbing the man when those purple eyes snapped open and glowered at him form. There was something feral about how his eyes looked. This was not the usually in control man he knew; Tetsuya was at the edge of his limit. He looked like he could snap at a breath's notice. So, Hinata knew it was time to drop the issue and leave before the kenshi did something both would regret.
He didn't even need to be told to close the door, not wishing Tetsuya's foul mood on anyone. He hadn't even spoken more than eight words to him and the tall chef felt extremely threatened.
"Quelle pagaille." He murmured to himself as he went back downstairs to the kitchen. He had a few more breakfasts to cook and children to ward away from disturbing his irate employer. Rei didn't need to see her mentor like this and neither did Law, if he was to be staying here. It would give them a poor impression of the man who never got this angry. This woman had a power over Tetsuya that, until now, Hinata never believed actually existed.
Passing through the entrance hall, he heard the sounds of a deadbolt clicking out of place before the front door slowly swung open. He glanced in that direction as he slowed his pace, not sure if Aria had forgotten something when she had gone out to run this morning's errands. She wasn't usually back until eleven and then she proceeded to do whatever her job here was. Personally, he didn't understand what about the place kept her so busy. It didn't take that long to clean a room.
"Bonjour Papa." Hinata was surprised to see his daughter coming through the door, bowing her head a bit as she entered the estate and closed the door behind her.
"Kyo." Hinata blinked as he came to a full stop. "Pourquoi es-tu ici?"
"Il est mon jour de congé." Kyo informed him. "I don't work Mondays or Tuesdays, remember? Business is slow and I'm really only needed when its packed."
She made her way to her father and gave him a big hug, which he happily returned, before he bent down to receive a quick family kiss.
"You've been working nearly every day these past few weeks though." Hinata began to walk again with Kyo by his side. Without a single thought to it, the two held each others hands as they meandered towards the kitchen. "Come to think of it, I am surprised you have a key to the manor."
"Aria gave me one after you began working here. Since, you know, you live here now. She said Tetsuya-san asked her to tell me that this is my home too. Il est très gentil, no?" Kyo smiled as she swung their linked hands together. "I bet you are much happier here than back at your small little apartment."
"I was perfectly content living there until you decided that you needed to move out."
"Ne sois pas en colère, Papa. I am a successful chef, as were you at my age, living my own life, as were you."
"I'm perfectly aware of that. But that doesn't mean it wasn't hard to let you go." Hinata huffed as he lifted their linked hands so he could press a kiss to his daughter's knuckles. "Even so, I know you need to experience new things and if that means you want to see how it is to live with other women away from your father, I can understand and respect that. But don't think it was easy on me. Vous êtes ma petite fille."
"I know." Kyo laughed. "Didn't you come up with a thousand and one reasons why I shouldn't leave, then cried when you couldn't convince me, and after all was said and done, kept trying to find illogical reasons as to why I shouldn't go?"
"I was suffering from empty nest syndrome." Hinata huffed as he pouted. "Every parent experiences it to some level, especially when their youngest is leaving the nest." He narrowed his eyes as he frowned at his daughter. "Don't go telling people I cried either. It is not manly to cry. You're like your mother; you are quite capable of uncovering significant… inadequacies."
"Papa, whoever told you that men don't cry is an imbecile." Kyo laughed at her father's face. "But I will refrain from telling such tales to Rei, oui?"
"Oui." Hinata agreed as he gave his daughter a lazy smile.
As the two of them entered the kitchen, Hinata released his daughter's hand to go behind the kitchen counter and begin working on the breakfast for young Rei and their two guests. He had made some food for Nanami earlier, but he had left the entire tray in Tetsuya's office and he was not daring enough to try and go back for it. Tetsuya would probably eat all of it. Or would he? He had no frame of reference for when Tetsuya was in such a state. Well, It wasn't worth risking his wrath to retrieve... at least for the time being.
He was hardly surprised when Kyo rolled up her sleeves, walked over to the faucet and washed her hands, as he did right when he got behind the counter, as was habit.
"What can I do to help?" Kyo asked as she began to glance over the abundance of ingredients her father had out. There was no way this was all for one girl and Kyo's father to eat.
"Tetsuya has guests. One is staying for the summer; his name is Law by the by. He has significant food restrictions, so I will be taking care of his meals as well as those of his companion, Nanami. Between you, me, and the cutting board, she and Tetsuya got into a heated argument not even ten minutes ago, so I want to keep both the demoiselle and Law away from them until they've cooled their heads a bit. I'd prefer my new place of employment not to be burnt down purely by rage so soon into my tenure."
"Very wise philosophy, Papa, but this is Tetsuya-san we are talking about. I highly doubt he can even get that angry."
"You did not have to deliver his breakfast right after that argument." Hinata told her. "He was beyond livid. More livid than your mother would get when customers returned her cooking."
Kyo looked slightly frightened at the imagery her father was painting. She had been young when they had lost her mother, but she could still remember how fiery and passionate the blonde woman had been. Her mother got pissed when anyone even complained about her cooking. They had no right to, in Kyo's perspective, because her mother's food was delicious. But to the fools that had complained, most of them learned the true meaning of fear.
"Êtes-vous sérieux?" She asked her father wide eyed.
"Complètement sérieux, mon petit chou," Hinata affirmed as he continued to cook for their house guests.
"Damn." Kyo shook her head. She had known Tetsuya for a long while now, so she knew that he was really a big sweetheart. This houseguest of his must be some woman to get under his skin like that. "I will attempt to keep Rei out of his hair until he has calmed down. I've been meaning to show her a few more poses for yoga anyway." She looked at her father as she continued to talk. "Did you realize how utterly robust and limber that girl is? She can keep up with me on even my most advance poses. Like it were nothing. I swear, that girl is an acrobat."
"For all we know, she could have run away from a circus." Hinata shrugged, not surprised by what his daughter told him. He had observed the girl in her everyday actions, from her morning exercises, to how she held herself as she walked, and how restless she got from following the doctors orders. She was not the type of child that had ever sat still for longer than an hour for anything.
"She still hasn't told Tetsuya anything?" Kyo was curious to learn more about Tetsuya's new student, especially since the girl was so sweet and gentle.
"Nothing he has shared with me as of yet. Give her time, mon petit chou, she just needs time to open up. The demoiselle was living on the streets prior to this and street children don't often trust so easily."
"Oui, Papa." Kyo relented upon the subject and the two of them fell into a short silence as they prepared this morning's breakfast. On occasion, Hinata would start humming and his daughter hummed right along with him or the two of them would chat a bit in French about the latest gossip his daughter had heard about the other restaurants around the world.
By the time Rei had come in, Kyo had her breakfast ready and was simply cleaning up her station to join the young girl at the table. Rei was elated to see Kyo, however, her smile strained the moment Law's form darkened the door. Hinata heaved a bit of a sigh as he knew what would happen next. It appeared that yesterday had done little to quell Rei's nervousness around the young lad, not that the tall chef could blame her. Law was purposely picking on her simply because it amused him. Today was going to prove interesting since he had a feeling Kyo was going to be around all day and he might have raised his daughter not to take shit from anyone. Guests and customers included.
Well, damn, that just backfired on him.
"Bonjour, Monsieur Araki." Rei managed to remember to say. He smiled sweetly at her effort.
"Bonjour, demoiselle." Hinata greeted her as he approached the table to set down Law's breakfast as Kyo came to the table with hers and Rei's. He turned to look at Law and gave him a polite smile. "This is my daughter, Araki Kyo. She's visiting with me today since its her day off. She works and owns a restaurant in Water 7."
"We use to own it together," Kyo corrected as she set down both her plates and Rei's, "but you finally got your dream job of working here and I got my dream of being head chef." She didn't sit just yet as she stretched out her arm and offered her hand to Law. "It is nice to meet you- Law, was it?"
"Ja." Law took her hand and gave her a quick hand shake. "Trafalgar Law."
Seeing how smoothly the whole event had gone down, Hinata felt safe enough to leave the three alone for a moment. He quickly excused himself as he gathered up the breakfast he made for Nanami and gave a simple reason as to why both guardians were not to be bothered before reminding Rei of her doctor's appointment later that day. He had only made it down the hallway when he heard the civility of the teenagers' conversation slowly vanish.
"I couldn't help but notice you have heterochromia iridum, ja." Law voice drawls. Though he hadn't known him long, Hinata could already hear the mischief in the young man's voice as his daughter genuinely responded to his statement.
"Oui, I was born with two colored eyes. The doctors say it was caused by genetic mosaicsm or something like that. It's completely benign though. Most people really don't notice it unless they are standing close enough because my eyes are almost the same color." Kyo politely explained.
"Ah, so you were born with a mutant gene. It explains so much about your unique visage, truly." He could almost envision the teen gesturing at his daughter's two toned hair that was currently twisted into a perfect bun on the top of her head.
And there they go. Hinata was not liable for anything his daughter said or did in response to such an insinuation. He walked a little faster so he could have deniability for when she did end up decking the little shit for insulting her.
"Yes, well, I might be a mutant by default, but at least my mutant genes don't horribly disfigure my- oh wait, I'm sorry, that's just how your face looks. Ghoulish. If nothing else, at least I have an excuse of being a mutant to hide behind, imbécile."
He heard Rei giggle jovially at his daughter's words before he finally found himself out of hearing range. He couldn't help smile a bit as he could only imagine the lad's face as his daughter didn't take his shit. She was a lot like her mother that way. He personally could ignore it when he wanted, being how he had often been the object of ridicule for nothing more than being different. When people took their mockery too far, he easily dissuaded them with a show of his strength, but often, he didn't care enough to bother. However, his daughter and his late wife were not the kind of people who rolled over and took it. They gave as good as they got, plus interest. Hinata was content to let his daughter be that way. She stood up for people and scolded others for bullying. It made him proud.
It took Hinata a few minutes, but eventually the tall chef managed to locate the other houseguest. While the estate was large, there were only so many places to hide away at. He found her pacing in the dojo, muttering angrily in another language that wasn't even similar to his mother tongue. He hesitated at the threshold watching as she practically snarled when she shot her gaze towards where he knew Tetsuya's office was located. She seemed to have yet calmed down any, despite having been long enough for him to cook both her and Law something for breakfast.
He finally decided this was a subject he best stay out of and was preparing to set the tray down by the door before gaining her attention long enough to let her know it was there. He didn't get further than setting his burden down before she turned her attention his way, teeth bared like some feral animal with all its hackles raised.
"Where does he get off even suggesting such things to me?!" She raged as she started coming closer. "Who the hell does he think he is? He goes off and makes plans without anyone's consultation and when they end up having issue with his plans, he debates them with logic as a way to force his will onto them. That controlling bastard doesn't even know when he's being underhanded anymore."
"Ma chérie, I am sure you are merely misconstruing the details a bit, though it is well within Tetsuya's nature to be a few steps ahead of his opponent. While I was not there for the whole debate, I did catch the end of it and he did say he'd respect your wishes, whatever you may decide." Hinata carefully chose his words. This was not his battle and this was not his job to set things right between the two. He was the chef, not a couple's consoler.
"Maybe this wasn't a good idea," she was pacing the room again as she ran her fingers through her thick, wild hair. Her eyes closed as she let out a heavy sigh. "This was a mistake. I shouldn't have even suggested such a thing as this. I should take Law and keep doing what I have been doing. He won't need a check-up if I am still the one overseeing to his care."
"Oh?" Those words caught his attention. So they were fighting about a check-up with Kyukyu? That was hardly a worthy subject for such anger. Suddenly, Hinata was thinking that there was more to this whole affair. "Then, if I may be so bold, why did you bring him here in the first place?"
Nanami paused in her pacing to give him a weary look. "I am needed elsewhere. I simply can't go there then head right back to this area immediately afterwards to make sure Law gets to the university in the fall. It would also be easier if he has a contact on this side of the Grand Line, in case of emergencies, since I won't be able to get there quickly." She heaved another sigh as she shook her head. "Maybe I should talk him out of going to this university. Leon and Bepo can get a transfer to one closer to where I am going to be and Law can go there."
"I think I am starting to understand now. Law is your youngest, isn't he?" Hinata asked as he slowly began to feel like everything was becoming clearer to him.
"Bepo is technically my youngest ward. But, I've had many children, some my own and others are ones I found along the way, but none of them have been like Law." She cast her eyes towards the floor as she looked so disheartened and worried. "I have had to be super careful with him. You've seen my little handbook. I had to learn all of that by heart and even then, when he was younger, he was so frail for such a long time... I was afraid we'd lose him entirely."
"So, perhaps not your first to leave the nest, but definitely the hardest one to let go of with how much more he had needed you as a child, no?"
"Definitely." Her temper seemed to wilt as she continued to speak, her shoulders slumping a bit at the thought of how hard raising Law had been. It was obviously very disheartening to her to even think of how close she had been to losing him on occasion. "I worry, you know. He's so reckless and sometimes completely belligerent to his health when he knows better as an aspiring doctor."
"Which is why instead of fully transitioning him to an independent, he is to remain in the watch of someone you trust, oui?" Hinata was filling in the blanks of the situation as he slowly and calmly came to his conclusion. Nanami nodded, her frame more relaxed than when he first came in and he could tell his conversation with her was cooling her temper. He furrowed his brows a bit as he asked his next question."Yet you are worried that Tetsuya will not do his best to take care of him?"
"No. He'd take good care of him." She admitted, albeit a little begrudgingly. It seemed she was slightly bitter or upset about that conversation still, no matter the truth of reality.
"Even so, you still disagree with his views of how to properly care for Law's health, like employing a doctor." He was puzzled by that, unsure of why this of all things would be the subject upon which they would argue so lividly about. He knew it might be opening up the whole can of worms once more, but now he was curious. His father always did say that curiosity would be his downfall if he did not manage it properly.
Her eyes narrowed as she frowned at him. It was obvious to Hinata that it was a sore subject for some reason. "I don't trust doctors I don't know."
Hinata felt like he was flailing a bit at the sight of her scowl, but he refused to let the subject go on such a sour note. "Kyukyu-sensei might not be a doctor you know, but Tetsuya knows and trusts him. He let him examine Rei, if you recall, and he is very protective, as he is fond of his ward. Whether the both of them realize it yet or not."
Nanami huffed releasing him from her gaze as she crossed her arms and glanced away, but her ire seemed to melt- if only an iota. "Your logic, no matter how found, is pissing me off."
Hinata couldn't help the small grin that overtook his lips, too familiar with the feelings she was now internally experiencing. "Logic, as is often the case, causes a stir of emotions. Take, for instance, when Kyo moved out, I practically did the same thing as you. I might have even cried a little." The skeptical look she sent him, with a sole raised brow, let him know she didn't believe him for a moment. He sighed, puffing out his cheeks a bit as he amended his last statement. "Fine. If you must know, I cried a lot. Like a caterwauling baby. I didn't want to let her go. I didn't want to have to accept that she was growing up and leaving my care. And while I still see her, it's sometimes hard to deal with the knowledge that she's independent of me now."
Nanami stared at him with an unreadable for a moment before looking away with a breathy laugh leaving her lips, eyes flicking down as she eased further away from her former ire. She uncrossed her arms to rack a hand full of fingers through her wild mane. "Damn, I hate it when logic flanks emotion. It always feels… cold. Removed." She glanced back at him with some tears glazing up her eyes but none fell regardless of how she looked ready to burst into tears. "I will concede, I have always been more in tune the emotional side of things while Tetsuya has always been caught up in his logic. But damn if I don't love him for it when he's not infuriating me with it."
"Loved ones always have quirks about them that can be grating, especially when they're at odds with your views. My late wife and I had our differences as well. It wasn't always happy times, although Kyo and I choose to remember it that way. It's certainly better than emphasizing all the times Witt and I would argue about silly things such as how we would go about teaching Kyo cooking techniques and whether to encourage or discourage certain habits and such. I think once we got into a heated argument over whether we should be teaching Kyo to slice or dice vegetables, of all things! In the end, Kyo decided for us by setting down her knife and telling us to come fetch her when we were done being irrational and she was only five at the time!" He was pleased that his confession made her laugh a bit and that the tears in her eyes were not replenishing as she blinked them away. "The point is, no relationship is perfect and we all do things that bug each other. And while I am not in that sort of relationship with Tetsuya, I can completely understand your frustrations with the man- try arguing with him when he's overworked, tired, and still throws logical reasons at you as to why he can't get rest until he's finished with his work. That is as irritating as shit. I've given up hope of coming out of those arguments on top."
"Ha! You think that's bad?" She laughed openly as she placed her hands on her hips and raised a brow. "Try pulling him away from his books when he's on a cataloguing binge. He forgets everything else but his pursuit, and that includes eating."
"So help me if he does." Hinata muttered as the tall chef rubbed his temple at the thought of doing just that. It was hard enough to stop him from overworking himself without at least managing one nasty bruise at best- but dragging him away from books? That might actually get the him killed! "I think I might have to sacrifice one of the children to the cause, or at least get the demoiselle to give him her doe eyes and hope for the best. The odds would certainly be more in my favor were that my strategy."
Nanami laughed at his admission, adding in with a twinkle in her eye. "You can always throw Law his way. The boy has a knack with irritating the shit out of people when he wants. He could clear a room in under five minutes with the right crowd."
"I will have to remember that you gave me permission to utilize that gift of his!" Hinata grinned, pleased that her mood had improved from what it had been before. "I have the same problem with Kyo, to be honest. She may not be clearing rooms, but that temper of hers can get the best of her when she lets it. I have never seen full grown men scurry away like frightened rabbits until I started letting my daughter cook in my kitchen. Her mother could instill that same fear; she was quite the frightening woman when she wanted to be. Kyo certainly inherited that skill from her."
Nanami looked entirely amused by his admission, her golden eyes twinkling and dancing with mirth. She had opened her mouth to say something when suddenly it snapped shut and her entire body seemingly became rigid with alert. Her head whipped around to where the kitchen was located on the other side of the estate, as if she was suddenly aware of something. Something that the chef could not sense personally.
Hinata looked at her rather confused. "Is everything alright, Madam?"
The woman was staring off, glazed eyes unseeing, her body inanimate, and her face void of any emotion as she continued to observe through some other sense that he did not possess. A frown was slowly making its way onto her lips the longer she observed, and he quickly realized whatever it was she was sensing (it dampened his spirit a bit because he had just gotten her in a smiling mood) was undoing the progress they had made on her mood. She let out a harsh sound, hissing her ward's name under her breath. The gypsy woman brushed past him without uttering anything further and quickly exited the room. Hinata blinked a few times at the sudden shift of her temperament from finally being in a pleasant mood to reverting back to an irritated mother. It only took a few more seconds for him to connect the dots himself, especially after making such an admittance to his daughter's temperament, and cursed under his own breath before running after her with his own daughter's name spoken irritatedly on his own lips. He had an inkling as to what had transpired to make Nanami retreat like that, and he could only hope he could apologize enough times that he could diffuse the ever-boiling ill feelings between his employer's female houseguest and his daughter.
He was assuming the worst when he had reached the kitchen threshold with Nanami. The way she was acting made it clear she was ready to maim someone. However, when they made it to the doorway, she stopped dead in her tracks and he almost tumbled over her since he had been hot on her heels in an attempt to contain his side of the mess, a.k.a. his daughter.
Hinata quickly scanned the scene, first noting where his daughter was angrily standing with her arms crossed, huffing indignantly as she glared away from the kitchen table, muttering under her breath some choice words in French (ones, he'd talk to her about saying in front of Rei later). She looked slightly irritated still, but seemed more frustrated at her own failure at containing her temper than whatever had been said to her. He then noted Rei quietly eating her breakfast, her eyes fasted on what remained of the scene and was using her eating to cover up her pleased smile, obviously knowing that it wasn't right to be so happy that Law had gotten what he possibly deserved. He knew she had been on edge around the boy since meeting him, so his pain would have been humorous to her, especially when the feeling was certainly mutual.
His eyes then focused on the last culprit, Law, who, which was possibly why Nanami had stopped dead in her tracks, was being tended to unwillingly by Tetsuya. The older man had a firm grip on Law's jaw as the teenager tried to pull away, unhappy at the notion of being mollycoddled when he could handle it himself. The boy was unaware that Tetsuya was only tending to him as a way to make sure that he was in the middle of Kyo and Law, less another fight broke out between the two culprits. The older man had been inspecting the evidence of Kyo's fit on Law's face, which Hinata quickly concluded was her usual knuckle-sandwich to the nose, when the two of them came rushing in. The teenage boy's nose was red, puffy, and still bleeding out a little, to which Tetsuya had been treating- if the handkerchief in his free hand soaked with blood was anything to go by.
"It's not broken, from what I can tell." Tetsuya's calm but stern voice ripped Hinata out of his internal observations and into the subject at hand. He could see that while Tetsuya wasn't in the best of moods, he was nothing like the tall chef had left him earlier. However, he probably wasn't pleased to have come into his own kitchen to break up what could have been a rather vicious fight between the two older teenagers both of whom should have known better. The businessman had quickly and professionally regained control of his temper in a small span of time without lashing out at anyone in his anger, something of which a few of these teens could learn a lot about, in Hinata's opinion – his daughter included. "However, I do not claim to be a doctor. I can only surmise this from past experiences, not from actual formal medical training."
Nanami seemed aware of the jab that Tetsuya was subtly throwing her way, but evidently ignored it as she quickly closed the gap between her and the two men in the room, stopping to stand by Tetsuya's side, and gently took Law's jaw into both her hands, cupping his face gently as Tetsuya relinquished his hold. The moment they traded their holdings with the boy, Law stopped fighting to pull away and allowed Nanami to access the damage herself.
"It's fine." Law mumbled to her after a few moments of her sharp gaze studying his bleeding nose, not looking her in the eyes.
Instead of babying him like Hinata and possibly Tetsuya was expecting her to do, one of her brows rose as a stern frown overtook her lips. "Is this the same 'it's fine' you gave me when you had sprained your wrist? Or maybe the same 'it's fine' that you fed me after you picked a fight and ended up with three fractured ribs? Or the 'it's fine' you give me when you have a migraine? Or possibly the same 'it's fine' that you assured me on before you nearly died of a fever?" Law didn't answer her, but Hinata could see him wince at her tone. The dark teen had a record apparently of playing things down, the tall chef noted.
Nanami clicked her tongue as she finished examining his injury and gently released her grip on him. She cast a side glance at Tetsuya as she spoke to the man. "I can't tell either. Leon was the one that took care of these types of injuries. It's outside my area of experience as well." The teenage boy shot her a look of incredulous, making Hinata believe that what Nanami was spouting was pure nonsense. Even Tetsuya rose a single brow as he stared at her with mild surprise, a look of mild hope entering his expression as he came to one possible conclusion. With an exaggerated sigh, she gave a dramatic shrug of her arms. "I guess we should probably call a doctor to make sure that everything is alright. I want to make sure he's in good hands and is alright physically before I leave him here."
Hinata had to bite his tongue and cheeks to keep a smile from bursting out onto his face. He couldn't smile at this beautiful display of Nanami making amends with Tetsuya by acquiescing to his initial request after they had fought so bitterly about it not even two hours ago. Normally, he would be smiling and completely giddy at such a display, but the fact that his daughter had slugged the lad made it inappropriate for him to smile at this turnabout.
"What?" Law asked, his brows furrowed in his displeasure at her words. "That's complete bullshit! It's not broken and you know it. I'm completely fine, Nanami."
"Law," the usually sweet woman's tone turned authoritative. "Either you comply to the check up by whichever doctor that Tetsuya trusts or perhaps we should further investigate this situation and hear what you said to the nice young woman that would make her deck you in the face."
"What makes you think that I instigated this?" Law argued angrily, not at all pleased by her decision. He instantly regretted his opening argument, seeing as Rei nearly choked on her food from laughing at the absurdity of his comeback and that Kyo was ready to finish what she had already started with decking him in the face. Hinata quickly swooped in and grabbed ahold of his daughter before she pulled anything that Witt might have when she had lost her temper. She gritted her teeth as she glared openly at the other teenager her age, but otherwise adhered to her father's grip.
"Besides the fact that I know you too well?" Nanami crossed her arms and gave him a rather withering stare.
The two of them stared each other down for a moment, both unwilling to yield to the other's wishes until at last Law broke eye contact first. He heaved a sigh as he slumped a bit in his seat, crossing his arms instinctively with his discontentment to losing this battle of the wills, and glowered at the floor. Nanami looked grateful with his submission as she turned her eyes to Tetsuya's. Though he said nothing about the subject, Hinata could tell that his employer's mood was greatly improved by her sudden change of heart by how his dark purple eyes twinkled as he held her gaze. There was even a hint of a smile on his lips that only people as familiar with him like Hinata or Nanami could notice as he gave a solemn nod and slowly pulled himself up from the chair.
"Well then, it seems I will need to contact my physician and see if he can squeeze in another patient on his follow-up visit with Miss Rei today, quite possibly accelerate the time period of which he was coming from afternoon to sometime soon." He cast a mirthful look at Nanami as he tried to hide the playful tone from the younger children. "And perhaps young Law should be the first one Kyukyu-sensei examines, seeing as we are currently left unaware of the severity this infliction may cast upon your ward?"
"Well, I wouldn't want Law to accidentally die of asphyxiation due to internal trauma or choke on his own blood if it starts coagulating improperly in the back of his throat, so perhaps sooner is better, Tetsuya dear." Nanami commented rather calmly, though there was hint of humor to be found in her tone, as she mussed up Law's hair. He swatted irritatedly at her hand, so, instead, the gypsy woman leaned down and half-heartedly pretend to study his injury once more. The teenager rolling his eyes at their facetious undertone towards his unfortunate injury.
"I see, then I shall call Kyukyu-sensei's clinic posthaste to make sure we prevent any such uncertainties as the ones you described." Tetsuya agreed as he sauntered over to the sink as he spoke. He flipped the faucet's handle over as he finished speaking and began to wash his hands free of any of Law's blood that had gotten on him when he had tended to his injuries.
Hinata noticed that neither Nanami nor Tetsuya really seemed to be in a real rush despite their words. Both seemed content with the fact that they were finally agreeing upon how to deal with the issue they had been arguing about so vehemently before and had found peace with the issue. Nanami was saying sorry in her own way and Tetsuya was not only forgiving her but he was giving her his apology in a similar manner as well. There was no smugness about being right and no bitterness about being wrong, just a playful attitude that seemed to have overtaken the two despite the circumstance.
"Are you two really discussing how an injury as simple as this one could end up killing me or are you flirting? Either way, I'd prefer you both to move onto a different subject and leave me out of your peculiar courtship, ja."
And that was when Hinata decided to step in a bit. "Demoiselle, how about you finish your breakfast and take Kyo with you to the dojo to go over some warm ups while I clean up here?"
"Oui, Monsieur Araki." "Oui, Papa." The two spoke nearly simultaneously. Rei was now quickly finishing up the last bites of her meal now that it was obvious the show was over and it was time to escape before things could turn sour for her.
"Bien." Hinata beamed at their agreement before leaning down to his daughter's ear and whispered discreetly in her ear. "Vous et moi allez avoir des mots plus tard, mon petit chou."
"Oui, Papa." Kyo murmured under her breath, letting him know she was aware that she would not be getting away with slugging his employer's guest, even if the ghoul's guardian was not making a big deal of the assault. Rei was finished with her food and was now taking her empty plates to the sink where Tetsuya was drying his hands. He calmly took the dishes from her and set them in the sink as both girls started exiting the room to follow the chef's suggestion.
Now that those two were no longer a concern, Hinata decided to take himself out of the picture as well. He had done his part and sought the asylum of his kitchen. "And how about three head over to the living room to make your call and leave me to my clean up here? I doubt Aria would be pleased about any blood on her clean floors, so I will wiped that up before she returns from her errands and sees it. Est-ce que ce travail pour vous, mon amie?"
"Ce sera merveilleux, merci." Tetsuya acknowledged as he gestured to the door with a sweep of his arm and bowed his waist a bit as he looked towards his lady friend. "After you and your ward, Nanami. If you would like, go make yourself comfortable in my living room while I contact Kyukyu-sensei about his unexpected patient."
Nanami gave him a sly smile as she nodded. "Very well, Law and I will meet you there."
"I will be there only if you two stop, ja." The remaining teenager grumbled as he got up quickly and made his way out of the room, his nose still red and puffy from when Kyo had driven her knuckles hard against that portion of his face, and away from the two of them flirting and making eyes at each other (Law hated it when Nanami flirted with men all congenial and candid-like. It was only fun to watch when she was robbing them senseless as she did so). "If you continue this in the next room, I will reconsider staying here."
Hinata blinked in surprise when Nanami switch dialects to a different one altogether (of which he wasn't even sure what it was she was speaking) as she called after her ward's retreating form. From how stern her tone was, he could only guess that she was reprimanding him privately about something. The chef had half a guess to what it was, seeing as Tetsuya's lips quirked upwards at her words. It figured he knew this language. There had yet to be one that the tall businessman had been floundered in- at least in Hinata's presence.
The tall chef was shocked out of his reverie at the fluid, graceful words of the woman before him as she spoke his mother tongue. "Je vous remercie de vos paroles ealier, Monsieur Hinata. Je me souviendrai toujours eux."
"Le plaisir était pour moi." Hinata rolled his wrist flamboyantly as he bowed at his waist. He didn't bend for long, but the amused laughter of the woman before him was all the reward he needed for his actions. Tetsuya, eyeing him oddly as if trying to read his mind and discover what the two of them were even talking about, was merely a bonus.
As Nanami finally began her exit of the kitchen, Tetsuya took to her side, leaning down with a hushed whisper that Hinata had a feeling he wasn't suppose to hear.
"'I'll always remember your words'? What did you mean by that?" His words were low and whatever her response was to be, the chef could not here, not that it mattered. All that really mattered was that the two of them were getting along again.
Score one for the chef. Now all he had to do, after cleaning up his kitchen, was remind his daughter of her manners. It seemed that Law was going to be staying for the foreseeable future, and Hinata would rather not have Kyukyu-sensei a constant visitor, despite how pleasant the elderly man could be – especially if it was because his daughter couldn't keep that temper of hers in check!
Ugh, that was one thing he wished she hadn't exactly inherited from Witt.
This summer would certainly be an interesting one, judging on how the first day of their cohabitation had already begun. Hinata also had a sneaking suspicion that it wasn't merely going to be his daughter starting – no, sorry, ending – these scenarios with fisticuffs.
Hmmmm, maybe it was a good idea to make sure every member of the younger generation in the household had daily lessons in etiquette, including his daughter.
….He could feel the upcoming headache already.
French Translations:
Quelle pagaille – What a mess.
Pourquoi es-tu ici – Why are you here?
Il est mon jour de congé – It's my day off.
Il est très gentil, no? – He is very nice, no?
Ne sois pas en colère – Do not be angry.
Vous êtes ma petite fille. – You are my little girl
Êtes-vous sérieux? – Are you serious?
Complètement sérieux, mon petit chou – Completely serious, my little darling.
Vous et moi allez avoir des mots plus tard, mon petit chou. –
You and I will have words later, my little darling.
Est-ce que ce travail pour vous, mon amie? – Does this work for you, my friend?
Ce sera merveilleux, merci – It will be wonderful, thank you
Je vous remercie de vos paroles palier – Thank you for your ealier words
Je me souviendrai toujours eux – I will always remember them
Le plaisir était pour moi – The pleasure was all mine
Volleys-chan A/N: Hi everyone, thank you so much for all your patience for this chapter. I will admit that when I first started writing it about a year ago, I was struggling with having Nanami and Tetsuya fighting and how to get them to reconcile. I don't like conflict personally- avoid it whenever possible-, so it is hard for me sometimes to write fights like this.
But that wasn't all. If were just that, I would have gotten it done much sooner. My mother had been sick for some time, but this last year, she had received a double whammy of both an incurable lung disease that would eventually kill her and lung cancer. The problem wasn't either of them alone, but them together. The treatment for either of these diseases is the exact opposite treatment of the other, so by fighting off the cancer, the treatment was speeding up the progression of her lung disease. It was hard to write or find inspiration while she was sick and as much as I wanted to use it as an escape, honestly, I couldn't muster the words to write. I did find some energy to write during the Christmas holiday with BloodyMarryMe (That was fun and we ARE going to finish it soon hopefully). My mother had been doing better, but since then, it was touch and go. She died a few months ago and I just couldn't bear to write for a while.
It's only been recently that I've been in the mood and even then, I managed to injure myself as of recently that prevented me from finish. I managed to get an abscess along with a weak version of staph to boot. Neither of these are fun. My left hand was swollen for a week and I can only NOW use it again to type and even then, my arm gets agitated after a while of typing, seeing as they had to cut an incision to drain the damn thing.
Anyways, hopefully it will take me LESS than a year to write the next chapter, but some things have to be edited first (including Rei's initial meeting of Drake (It'll still be there, but I have to edit some new information into it)) And I have to change a few backstories, but I've been working on that in my head. Again, so sorry about it being so late, but I really have had a hell of a year. My dad and my family are coping, but its been hard. She was a cornerstone in our family and we are trying to adjust without her here.
I didn't mean to gab on and on about my current troubles, I just felt like explaining why it took so long to get this chapter out. Thank you all for your support throughout these few years and please continue to enjoy our tale.
~Ja Ne
Vo-chan