Chapter 8- Moving forward

If, at the end of the 3 month extension, I don't Debut to a good enough standard, then I'll leave FrEe SpIrIt behind me.

A moment of stunned silence followed this statement, during which Sakura never broke eye contact with Seiichiro. Then-

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat!? Are you serious, Saki-chan!?"

"Like hell you are!"

"Sakura, think about what you're saying!"

"Are you sure you know what you're doing, little sister!?"

Seiichiro and Sakura seemed oblivious to the chaos erupting around them as even Shining began questioning Sakura. Sakura tuned them all out. It was imperative that she try and reach her eldest brother. She had to make sure he knew she wasn't saying that lightly- that she knew what she was getting herself into and that she meant every word. For his part, Seiichiro ignored the cacophony of indignation as he probed his sister with his eyes. Finally, Seiichio nodded and spoke.

"Very well." he said. "You win. I'll grant you an extension of a year, Sakura. One year."

Everyone quietened down at that as Sakura blinked in surprise.

"U-um..." Sakura finally stuttered into the silence. "I-I think I may have misheard you, Seiichiro..."

"No, you heard me correctly, little sister." Seiichiro finally smiled and the pride in his eyes was evident. "I'll grant you a year's extension. If, by both your musical debut and your 17th birthday, you haven't debuted to a satisfactory standard, I will pull the plug and this dream rug from under you. Am. I. Understood..?"

Seiichiro's expression was deadly serious again. This was no bluff. Sakura bit her lip for a moment, then nodded, her face filled with resolve and determination in equal measure. Seiichro nodded as well, a small smile gracing his face again, and this time it was almost... affectionate.

"Congratulations on a successful negotiation, Sakura!" Junya grinned widely at his little sister.

"I knew you could do it, Saki-chan!" Reiji yelled, grabbing Sakura and swinging her around.

"Oi, Bukki! Watch it! There are others who want to congratulate her, you know?" Ren's voice showed he was teasing and Reiji put Sakura down as he laughed.

"Sorry, Ren-Ren!" Reiji quipped. "I'm just so happy, I got a little over-excited..."

"Well, try to curb your enthusiasm for now, will ya?" Ren asked, amused as he hugged his sister, Junya and Susumu following suite.

Seiichiro turned to Sakura.

"Since you were so well prepared, I take it you have the contract ready?"

Sakura nodded as Susumu pulled out another folder, handing it to Seiichiro, who quickly read it and passed it to Junya, who read it and nodded.

"Everything seems in order." Seiichiro said as Junya placed the contract back down in front of his elder brother. "Except for one thing. Neither you nor Ren have reached the age of majority* so you are unable to sign, and each party needs two witnesses..."

Sakura grinned cheekily at her eldest brother.

"I've... thought of that."

She looked at Shining, who nodded and pressed a button on his phone.

"Send them in."

A moment later there was a knock on the door and two young men entered.

"You sent for us."

"Sorry for interruptin'."

"Myu?" Reiji stared in surprise. "Ran-Ran? What're you two doing here?"

"We hardly need your permission to go anywhere, Kotobuki." Camus sniffed indignantly.

Ranmaru sighed.

"Your guess is as good as ours, Reiji." he said gruffly. "What's going on here? A job meeting?"

"A contractual agreement." Shining supplied. "And you're both needed as witnesses."

Reiji's eyes widened as understanding set in.

"Of course!" he said snapping his fingers. "You're both over 20**! You're of legal age!"

"Correct, Mr. Kotobuki." Shining nodded with a smile.

Camus frowned.

"I fail to see the significance my and Kurosaki's age has with anything. " he said stiffly, turning to Seiichiro and Junya." And who are they?"

Seiichiro turned to the snobby count.

"My name is Seiichiro Jinguji. This here is my brother, Junya." he said stiffly, gesturing to Junya as he spoke. "We're Sakura and Ren's elder brothers."

"And as for the significance of your age." Junya continue . "We are in need of two more signatures for witnesses for a contract, since Sakura and Ren are both too young to sign."

Camus huffed at the introduction and explanation as Ranmaru sighed.

"Well, this better be worth my time..."

"You just need to sign, then you can go, Baron." Ren told him placatingly.

"What a pain in the ass..."

"Ran-Ran, how could you say that!?" Reiji seemed shocked at the uncooperative-ness of his band mates, although he shouldn't really have been all that surprised. "Don't you want Saki-chan to stay?"

"This is a family dispute, Reiji." Ranmau huffed. "You shouldn't get yourself (and us) involved."

"He didn't get you involved, Ran-Ran." Sakura said cheekily. "I did."

"Well then the same goes for ya, Sakura." Ranmaru sighed. "And don't you start calling me that too! One Reiji is enough!"

Sakura laughed as Reiji sputtered. Seiichiro frowned.

"Ran-Ran..." he muttered. "Where have I heard that before...?"

Junya turned to the platinum blonde in the room.

"A baron?" he said thoughtfully. "You definitely carry yourself as nobility."

The blonde turned his icy blue eyes on the second eldest of the Jinguji's.

"A count, actually." he said coolly.

Before Junya could answer, Seiichiro checked his watch.

"Could we please just sign the contract." he said. "I have another meeting I need to get to which I cannot miss."

"Of course, Mr. Jinguji." Shining said, a little loudly. "Camus, you'll sign as witness for the Jinguji's, Ranmaru, you for Sakura, alright?"

Ranmaru grunted aquiescence as Camus shrugged.

"If I must."

Seiichiro signed the contract, followed by Susumu as Sakura's guardian and proxy. Susumu then handed the pen to Camus, who swiftly (and elegantly) signed his name, then looked at Junya who shook his head as Susumu took the contract to Shining to sign. Reiji signed his name as witness under Susumu and Ranmaru signed as the last witness. Susumu then took the contract to Seiichiro who did a double take as he saw Ranmaru's signature.

"Kurosaki...?" he glanced at Ranmaru, who simply glowered back. "You Shintaro's*** kid?"

Ranmaru merely grunted the affirmative. Seiichiro said nothing as he watched the younger man for a moment. He then took the completed contract from Susumu.

"Thanks, Fujisaki." he said. "I'll have a copy sent to you by the end of the day."

Susumu nodded.

"Not a problem, Mr. Jinguji." he answered.

Seiichiro nodded, then stood up, Junya following suite.

"Well then, if that's all, my brother and I really should get going." he said. "We're going to be late."

"Bye, Sei, Jun." Ren said using their nicknames for the fist time since the meeting began. "See you guys around, I guess."

"Sure." Junya smiled as he clapped a hand on his younger brother's shoulder as Seiichiro nodded at him and gave a small smile. "You really should come home, once in a while, Ren. Everyone misses you. It'll be nice to see you too, as your brothers. Sakura too."

Ren nodded as Sakura grinned.

"Bye, Sei-nii, Ju-Ju!" she quipped, surprising all her brothers and Susumu by not only referring to the elder two by nicknames she hadn't used since she was young, but by giving each of them a hug. "See you. And take care."

Junya smiled as he hugged his sister and then his brother as Seiichiro hugged Sakura.

"Remember, Sakura." Seiichiro reminded her softly. "You only have a year. Make the most of it."

Sakura nodded and Seiichiro nodded back, gripping Ren's shoulder as the elder two Jinguji excused themselves.

A/N: *- Age of majority refers to the age at which a person legally becomes an adult, which varies depending on the country (or state).

**- This age is 20 in Japan, although it's going to drop to 18 in the near future (according to info I googled). Since (as stated in my first chapter) Ranmaru is 22 and Camus is 20, they are both above the age of majority.

***- I don't know if Ranmaru's father is named, so I gave him one. If he is, please tell me so I can correct it.

Thanks!