A/N: I did some changes according to your advice. Thank you reviewers. Oishi24, thank you for your constant support. To the rest of all the reviews and Favs and Follows I am really happy that you read it. Thank you. I am trying to write with less mistakes and please bear with me. :)
I do not own Skip Beat! or any of its characters.
Chapter 4:
Kyoko, who didn't sleep at all last night got up from bed and got ready for the day. She has decided to talk with Shotaro's mother about yesterday's events. She couldn't fail, when everything is at stake. She went downstairs and sneaked out, trying not to wake anyone up.
She ran towards the ryokan as fast as she was able to. She knew that her Oba-sama was already awake and preparing for the day. She reached the secret shortcut that leads to the ryokan. As expected, the employees were getting ready for the day. She found her Oba-sama in the kitchen and asked if she could talk in private with her.
As soon as they were alone, she said in an urgent voice, "I need your help. Can you buy our restaurant and house in today's auction?"
Mrs. Fuwa was shocked at her sudden proposal and asked her to explain. Kyoko told her everything that happened excluding the fact that Sho and she broke up.
Mrs. Fuwa listened to her calmly and called her husband to tell him about this situation.
It was highly unusual for Shotaro to wake up this early. He couldn't sleep all night as well. Kyoko's words irritated him beyond anything. What was worse was that Mimori was scared to stay any longer. He wanted nothing more than to show her where she belongs and it was beneath him. Was she really thinking that she could dump him? The prince? If there would be any dumping then it would be he who will dump her. He gave her more than she deserved by dating her. Huh! She would come begging for him to take her back in no time. While he went to his mother's room to ask her for an early breakfast, he overheard her conversation with his father on the phone. He was shocked but when he saw Kyoko sitting there, he immediately recovered and opened the door.
"Is this true?", he asked his mother.
"Ara! Shotaro, how in the world did you wake up so early in the morning?", his mother was shocked to see her son.
Sho avoided the question and looked at Kyoko, who had a murderous look in her eyes. He smirked and asked his mother,
"What did father say? Are we buying Darumaya?"
"Your father has said that it's for you to decide. He is going to hand over the business soon, so he wants to delegate responsibility. We love Kyoko- chan and he already expects you to accept so he gladly wanted you to handle it", she said while smiling warmly at Kyoko.
Kyoko couldn't believe her luck! This was worse than she thought! Looking at Shotaro, she knew she was in big trouble. She could read his mind by looking at his face! There is no way in hell, she was going to beg! No way! Not to him!
"There is nothing to decide Mother. Buying the land is a waste. Besides, why should I have any obligation for the girl who dumped me!" Shotaro said while smirking at Kyoko!
"What?! You BROKE up?! Why?", his mother practically shouted! She looked at Kyoko and the look on her face told her everything she needed to know. She face palmed herself. "What did you do Shotaro?!"
"Nothing she couldn't forget about and move on mother"
Kyoko, who was trying her best not to kill the boy, stood up. With her head held high, she said, "I won't forgive and I will never forget what you said and did SHOTARO! I'll find another way to save my home. Goodbye!"
She bowed to her oba-sama and left. When she was out of the ryokan she was suddenly grabbed by Shotaro.
"Let go off me you two timing jerk!", Kyoko screamed! Her grudges flew everywhere. "Men like you are scum! I hate everyone who is like you. Who doesn't know how to respect women and cannot look past their own profit"
"What happened to 'I'll do anything for Sho-chan'?!", he said, trying to hold her in place.
"If you don't let me go I'll kill you!" Kyoko screamed.
"Listen here Kyoko and listen well, you are MINE! I never allowed you to leave me! I'll make sure you beg me to take you back" he said in a dark voice and let her go.
Kyoko stepped on his foot deliberately. "I will never beg for anything from you! BAAKAA Shotaro!"
Shotaro gaped at her. Never in his life had he thought that Kyoko would do something like that.
"THAT FREAKING HURT, YOU MORON!" Shotaro grabbed his foot and started bouncing.
Kyoko ran back home as soon as she was released. She couldn't stand him anymore. She wanted to cry. She was a failure after all. She couldn't save her home. She didn't even deserve kindness.
She reached her house and saw her sister waiting for her.
"They said no", was all she could say.
Kanae smiled. "It's okay Kyo-chan, I know you tried your best. It was a long shot anyway. Come let's have breakfast"
They sat down together in their low table, probably for the last time. Kanae's thoughts were all over the place. Kyoko failed. But a part of Kanae was happy that the Fuwa brat didn't buy their property. She needed a plan B and fast.
Kyoko was thinking the same thing. She was desperate! They cannot leave Kyoto! Their whole life was here! Suddenly an idea struck her mind.
"Where are they holding the auction?", both Kyoko and Kanae asked at the same time. Their parents looked at them and their mother answered.
"It's going to be held at the old Yashiro estate after lunch. It's really far from the main town, so if you want to go then you should be leaving right about fifteen minutes from now." she smiled looking at their faces. Sudden determination filled Kyoko to the core. Both of them shot up from their seats and ran upstairs. Within 10 min they were in dresses, ready for battle and ready to go. They hugged their mother and went for the door. But their father's calm voice stopped then in their tracks.
"Take the car. It will be faster. Drive safe Kanae, take care of your sister and Ganbatte!", he said, giving them one of his rare smiles.
Both of Tatsuya's daughters threw themselves on their father and hugged him.
"Arigato Tou-san"
With that…. They were off to the auction.
If there was one thing Kuon Hizuri hated most, was irresponsible people who didn't think about their actions before doing them. This morning he woke up later than usual and was pissed off beyond imagination. The principal model for the fashion show was nowhere to be found. The people in charge couldn't even locate the stupid woman! He got ready to go to the auction with his cousin instead. They were supposed to drive there. He wanted to see the estate with his own eyes again! It's been so many years since that black day. Now they get it always gets what he wants and there is no exception and there never will be any.
Yukihito was already ready. Today was a big day of his life and he intended to make the best out of it. It's been 18 years since he lost his home, today he will get it back. He already acquired the Yashiro Corporation. He will make sure to return it to its former glory. He heard a knock on his door and invited whoever was outside to come in. He wasn't surprised to see Kuon, ready to go.
"Well, don't you look handsome today! All you need to do is fix that frown of yours and you can walk the ramp yourself!", Yukihito said while eyeing his cousin who looked like he could kill someone today.
"Let's go!", Kuon barked. "We don't want to be late!"
"We'll we cannot fly there can we? Calm down!"
"Calm down? You do realize that the fashion show is important for mom right?"
"I know! But we are home for heaven's sakes! And this attitude of yours is not going to help it. Its not like they can produce a model out of thin air, also you have people taking care of things. If this doesn't go the way you want you do what you always do, replace them with more competent people. Not that it's okay to fire people left and right", Yuki mumbled the last bit.
"Look, I don't miss my sister that much that you have to become HER! She gives me enough nonsense about this already.I know she secretly rehired the directors I fired and you helped her", Kuon said.
"Fine, if your mood is not going to improve, then I'll try my best not to make it worse your highness" Yukihito said while leaving his suit with a pissed looking Kuon. The same dude changes into a prince in front of cameras living upto the reputation of being the child of the gorgeous Juliena Hizuri.
"Wait up!", was all he could say.
"So what do we know about this auction?" Kanae asked Kyoko while driving.
"Were we supposed to know something?"
"Baakaa! It's never bad to do your homework on things. You never know what will help!"
"Yes…. Wait, I'll see what I can find out"
After 15mins of web surfing Kyoko came up with a total summary of the articles she found on the news sites.
"Yashiro Daiki and Yashiro Chiyo were the heirs of the whole estate and the company. Chiyo was married to Hizuri Kajuki and was later known as Hizuri Chiyo. The Hizuri and Yashiro companies merged after the marriage. Yashiro Daiki had two sons, Yashiro Yuzuki and Yashiro Youta. Hizuri Chiyo had only one son, Hizuri Kuu. After Daiki's death Yuzuki took over the empire. The Hizuris chose to live at the estate as well because Chiyo didn't want to leave her brother alone.
Soon after her husband and brother's death, she died as well. Yuzuki, and Kuu were the heirs given control. Soon afterwards Kuu left to study in the US and came back with his wife Hizuri Juliena and daughter Hizuri Jude. But they decided to stay in the US and Kuu decided to run his own company making Yuzuki the sole heir of both households. Soon afterwards Yashiro Yukihito was born to Yuzuki. When Yukihito turned 10 the Hizuri's returned with their 12 year old daughter and 4 year old son, Hizuri Kuon.
However, Due to some unknown reason on his 10th Birthday Yukihito lost both of his parents. Rumor has it that both of them committed suicide. By default Youta took over and abandoned Yukihito and threw them out of the estate, making both the Hizuris and Yashiro Yukihito penniless. They were never seen afterwards. 16 years later the Hizuris were merging with Takarada Industries in Tokyo. It was quite a shock that the Hizuris returned to the Japanese market
Yashiro Yukihito took over the post of CEO at the age of 24 and at the age of 20 Hizuri Kuon joined as another CEO alongside Takarada Kouki. The company has made itself the 3rd most profitable in Japan and 15th in the world. This year when the Yashiro Empire fell because of poor and incapable performance by Yashiro Youta and his sons, Yashiro Yukihito bought the company and now his eyes are on the estate he grew up on, as its rightful heir."
"So that means the main candidate for this auction is the Yashiro heir himself. Hmm but I don't know how much we should trust the tabloids." Kanae said.
"But Nee-chan, don't you feel something strange about this whole thing? I mean if the main attraction is the estate, then why are they putting other properties on the list?" Kyoko said while thinking.
"Did you find what other properties are going to be sold?"
"Yes, but our property is not on the list. They did call us about today's auction, right?"
"So, there is a possibility that they made the decision over the course of a day. But that is highly unlikely."
"Do you think that the bank made a mistake or something?"
"Banks don't make these kinds of mistakes. There is something else wrong with the whole picture!"
"I guess we will find out," Kyoko said, being awestruck.
"I don't think I see anything wrong with THIS picture!" Kanae said with her mouth hanging open!
On her front they were seeing the most beautiful establishment they have ever seen.
They were here.
Yashiro estate.