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"He means that on his word, his father will buy my father's bakery out, and I'll lose a bakery that's been in my family over 200 years. My father's side of the family, is well known, but not rich." She whispered as she tried to steady her breath. "He's... He's kind of a bully... He always has been..." She said quietly as she composed herself. She looked up. "I absolutely hate him." She said as she stood and straightened the skirt of her gown, then turned to go change behind the settings. The girls in the clubroom were dead silent, having watched the whole thing. Now, they whispered not only of Teagan and the mysterious frenchman, but also of Kyoya, who'd briefly lost his calm. Surely that little factoid would end up all over the school by the next day.
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Kyoya felt out of place in this scenario, trying to comfort a woman who was obviously disturbed by some creep of a man. He understood the feeling, for though he had never had any problems with being less rich than another company in his family's industry, he knew how the business world worked more than most, counting those in their school. His own company, K.O., was rather prosperous as well, even if it were just starting off. His loss of words didn't seem to help, for she got up and walked off, leaving him crouching there dumbly for a moment, then standing himself quickly, he would turn to her, his voice low, "Teagan..."
It seemed he was too late, she had already went to change, and he cursed softly to himself. He wanted to console her, tell her that everything would be alright, that he wouldn't dare touch her father's company or he'd pay dearly-- but Kyoya couldn't form the words. Whatever feeling he had stored away for most of his life had arisen in part, but now he found that he had no idea what to do now that he cared about something. Someone. Yet he still hadn't fully come to that realization of his depth of care for her, he only knew that she was swaying his attitude greatly. While he waited for her, he would sit where she had been, his phone coming out into one of his hand as he spoke lowly into it. He put it away but a few seconds later, only then noticing the attention he was receiving. Mentally he scolded himself but outwardly he relaxed, his eyes focused upon the window as he let his thoughts wander. |
Honey, realizing the tension in the room, did his damndest to get everyone's attentions. With all the girls focusing on him, people stopped gossiping over Kyoya. About fifteen minutes later, Teagan came out with the gown on a hanger. She stopped in front of Kyoya. "I'll have this drycleaned... And I'll have sweets brought in each day... But I'll probably be out for a couple of days." She said softly, looking distracted. It was clear she was weighing her options out right now, on just what she could do about this situation.
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Part of Kyoya truly appreciated Honey's efforts, but that didn't stop his mind from circling around Teagan. Teagan who seemed to have spirit enough to lift his, Teagan who lead him out of work to actually enjoy himself more, Teagan who was a darling, talented girl whom he had grown fond of quickly-- Teagan who he wished so badly to comfort but for once could not find the words to do so. For this reason, he stood abruptly as she approached him, his composure back though his mind immediately scattered with her response. His eyebrows drew together slightly, his words hesitant when they came out though his voice was borderline normal. "Pease, keep the gown, it was for you. Also, do not worry about the sweets, they are never an obligation...." he paused briefly there, then seeming to wrap his head around what he wanted to say to her. His voice was low enough that others wouldn't hear unless they were very near, and now confident as he spoke again, "Teagan, I understand if you need a few days to think, but I speak for all of us when I say we enjoy your presence here and we will do our utmost to keep that man away from you and your father's bakery."
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She smile a little. "That's very nice of you... But this is an international affair... And there's not as much that can be done..." She said quietly. "Would you perhaps walk me home?" She asked, drawing her toe along the floor. "I'd like at least one more good time before..." She didn't say what before, it would either include marriage, going back to France, or both. She seemed aware of that. Truth be told, she was distraught for more than just the fact that she was at risk of losing what her family held dear. She was also upset about the fact that there was a good likelihood that she would have to go back to France, just when she'd settled in, made friends, and gotten very close to someone. "Please?" She asked, looking him in the eye. And at that moment, every mind in the room was willing him not to blow this chance, because by now, people were starting to figure out the connection building between Teagan and Kyoya.
Things had gotten silent again, people listening to hear what he'd say. Even the hosts were watching over all of this. |
Kyoya's jaw tensed uncomfortably at her reply, his gaze falling to rest upon the table beside them as he struggled to grasp the concept that she could be forced into marrying this man or lose her father's company. Wheels he hadn't known exist began turning in his mind as he began calculating just how all of this new information was making him feel. Eventually though, he would nod, understanding the ambiguity of her trailing off. She knew what was to come next as well as he did, and though he could wish her well and tells er it would all be alright, he knew that was not so. His personal influence did not extend into the culinary field, and even sol most definitely not outside of Japan aside for in a health care. Still the magnitude her question weighed in on him hit him hard, and he found his voice small and weak in tone as he did reply after a moment. "Of course," he spoke softly, his gaze moving to meet hers.
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For an instance she smiled. "Shall we then?" She asked and offered her hand. Girls started giggling and people started responding again. Life returned the to the club, even though no one really understood the magnitude of the situation at hand for Teagan and Kyoya. She wanted just to be a normal girl more than anything at this point. That wasn't who she was though. But at least for a little while she could pretend she was. She could walk home with a boy. She could act as though she was just an average high school girl, just for a little while.
As if to break the stillness between them, Haruhi, with a gleam in her eye, walked past Kyoya, bumped into him, and used the chance to slip a note in his pocket, urging him to do something. Anything. She wrote that if this meant anything to him, he'd better fight tooth and nail for it. Leave it to Haruhi to give someone a kick in the rear when they needed it. |
It were as if her smile was the encouragement Kyoya needed to act like a normal gentleman though he didn't often interact with women, even as a host. This was Teagan- this felt natural. His arm nearest hers moved to slide his slender fingers through hers, successfully taking the hand she had offered him into his firmly. He sent a grin in her direction before Haruhi bumped into him, taking that as a chance to read the note quickly and swiftly enough that perhaps Teagan wouldn't even notice it before he slipped it away. It took but a second to do. Shaking his head to himself for a moment, appreciative of the motivation and now having a better grasp of himself, he would nod towards Teagan. "Yes, we shall," he spoke casually now, moving to lead hear over to the door, holding it open for her so the two could exit. Behind them Kyoya could see and hear the others from within the room, but that was not where his attention was directed. The girl holding his hand had captured all of it.
If she had followed him out of the classroom, he would lead her down the hall at a pace just a tad slower than casual. He remained quiet for a moment, gaze focused upon the ground for a few seconds before he dared to lift his eyes to look over her face from the side. "What do you believe you'll do?" he eventually asked, knowing the questions would need to be answered if he were going to be able to help. |
She stopped. "I... I really don't know. This time you can't save me like you did the other times..." She said softly. "I... I don't know... I worry that I'll have to go back to France and..." Again the trailing off. She didn't want to say the M-word. "It doesn't seem as though I have much choice. That bakery is kind of a big deal." She said. "And father refuses to sell it to anyone out of France, so it's either we keep it, Demitri's father buys it out, or worse, some other, industrial company." She said with a sigh. Her head went down for a few moments so that he wouldn't have to see one of her more pathetic looks. "But... I'm very glad to have met you." She said, forcing a smile, so he wouldn't worry for her. "I am very, very glad about that, Kyoya-san!" She added, putting a little energy into her words so he'd understand she meant it.
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A she stopped, Kyoya followed suit, standing to face her solemnly. Even just hearing that he could not help was disheartening, his free hand shifting itself into a fist at the idea. The fact that she didn't seem capable of saying 'marry' herself didn't help the situation, sending him to feel as if a stake had been driven straight through his chest. Worse than that, for when her gaze left him to let her cover her facial expression, it were as if the same stake twisted in his gut. His previously passive facial expression drew into that of disgust, worry, and an obvious upset that was not ever shown to even Tamaki. After a moment, his free hand would unclench itself at her later words about him, slowly moving up to instead cup the side of her face in a tender manner.
He was internally confused, this much would be clear from his hesitant movements, but his thoughts were clearer than day. "I can still try to save you, can I not?" he asked in a bitterest way, a slight grin lifting part of his lips though there was a sadness strewn across his face. Her forced smile pained him more than anything, to see her unhappy, so just after speaking he took no hesitance in letting go of her hand altogether to favor wrapping his arms around her in a firm hug. The bottom of his chin positioned just to the side of her forehead, he would press his lips gently to her forehead as his arms held her. "It's been my pleasure meeting you..." he murmured first, then nuzzling the side of his face against hers in an affectionate manner, his head moving so that she couldn't see his distraught expression. Then he spoke again, quieter, though loud enough that she would be able to hear. His voice was broken up as he spoke, "You can't marry him, Teagan." |
It made her so very sad to hear him like that. Because it meant that because of her, he was hurting too. And it also meant that he cared for her a great deal more than she realized. She buried her face into his blazer. "I don't want to... I really, really don't. But my family's bakery is very important. My half-brother loves it as much as I do. My father loves it. It's all our family has ever worked for. And who am I to take that away?" She asked, wistfully. "I don't want to marry a guy that makes me wanna scream every time we interact. I just want to be normal. I want to fall in a normal love, get in a normal relationship, and someday, get married in a very normal way, to a guy I actually care about." She said flatly as she made herself small against him, trying to hide.
"Kyoya, I dunno know how to fix this. I want to stay here with you, and with Haruhi-chan, and with Honey and Mori-sempai, and with the twins... And even Tamaki-sempai. I don't want to leave my friends... And I don't want to leave you. It's not fair..." Her shoulders shook a bit, and it was becoming pretty clear that she was crying yet again. |
Kyoya's eyes closed as she spoke, his jaw clenched together tightly, his arms' grip firm around her, though loose enough to allow her movement if she wanted. Anyone who knew Kyoya would be visibly stricken to see him so openly distraught in this situation, let alone holding a girl in such a tender fashion as she wept. Yet in Kyoya's mind he couldn't imagine not doing so for Teagan. It was ow that he realized they had grown closer than he had previously suspected. He found himself at a loss of words for a moment, and was stricken to see her crying, tugging at his heart strings as his hands moved to gently rub her back in an effort to comfort her. "It'll be okay, Teagan," he spoke softly to her, one of his hands then moving to her chin, tilting her face up gently so that he may see it, his lips moving to gently kiss a few tears from one of her cheeks, the smallest of reassuring grins on his face.
"I will work things out, I promise you. However the situation looks right now, I'll fix it," he assured her in a more confident manner. He had already begun his attempts at this, unbeknownst to her. The short phone call he had made was to one of the business associates from K.O. working out of an office in Paris-- they had moved to make a firm bid on the bakery, already more than its worth on a business standpoint. That associate was instructed to do whatever necessary to secure it financially. "I won't let him take you from me," he then murmured quietly, his lips pressed to the side of her face gently still. |
The way he way he gently littered kisses on her face on her face, and how tender he was with her was such a strange wonderful thing for her. No male had ever been this good to her before now. "Kyoya..." She said softly. "Thank you..." She pulled back enough to look up at him, and give him a smile, because that's all she really had to give at the moment. A smile and her presence. She glanced around, and since the coast was clear, she found one more thing she could give him. She stood up on tippytoes and gave him a sweet kiss upon the lips. It was a small one, and quick at that, but she did it. And then turned brilliant red afterwards.
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As he heard his name, Kyoya loosened his grip to allow her to pull back a bit. The thank you was a surprise, but what warmed hiss expression was seeing her smile again. There was the Teagan he knew. He couldn't help but return the smile, and was about to tell her that it was no problem when she did something odd; she checked the hallway for other people. Naturally he figured she was just embarrassed to have been crying so, but this time his suspicion was entirely wrong. As he felt the proximity between their faces grow, his eyes widened, a flash of warmth coming to his cheeks to grant him a slight blush as she kissed him quickly. It took him a moment or so to register, but after he had, he would smile- not grin, but smile- down at her and gently take her hand within his again. "Shall we?" he asked, looking down the hallway. He figured her parents may worry if he kept her too long, and after all he was asked to walk her home. As he went over the situation in his mind again, his retractions cleared a bit more, and soon his composure was near normal.
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She nodded. "Lets" She said as she let him have her hand. So they walked towards her home. As it was, them walking together gave her something else to think about, instead of the huge problems she was staring down the barrel of. As they neared her family's estate, it was seen that there were a cluster a buildings, and then one that was a bit smaller off to the side. "Those are the main quarters of the estate." She said pointing to the large clusters of the building. "And that..." she gestured to the single building, that looked to be about two floors. "Is my suite."
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As they walked he would occasionally glance in her direction discreetly, a small smile strung upon his lips though he knew this momentary happiness wouldn't last long. Still, that kiss however short it had been played on through his mind, one of his hands eventually rising to brush against his lower lip as his gaze moved forward. With his fingers there, he could still imagine that odd sensation of her lips against his in what had been his first kiss. He supposed if she left it may be the only one he encountered, if at least for the next many years. When they neared the cluster of buildings, he looked up, intrigued. He looked them over thoughtfully, then nodded and turned to her curiously. "You reside alone?" he asked curiously, looking over the building. It was by no means a small place to live in, but being put apart from her family's estate like so was odd.
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She nodded. "I do. My half brother doesn't really like to share to attention. So I live hear and he and our mother, and his father live in the main house." She explained as she lead him to the door. "It's okay. I kind of like the quiet... I don't really know my mother that well, so it's fine, I suppose." She explained as she stopped at the door then turned, having never let go of his hand. "You're more than welcome to come in if you'd like, and I'll serve you tea and a snack."
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Kyoya listened, nodding slightly as she spoke, his hand still firm around hers as he looked up at her suite. He could most definitely understand the attention part of this, being with his elder brothers at home. His family had high expectations, and he for a moment wandered if it were similar around her households, but daren't ask. The mood was already tense enough as it were. "I see..." he commented thoughtfully as they stopped, then grinning over at her. He couldn't imagine wishing to leave her here now, if possible, he'd take the chance to walk her to school and back again if it meant not saying goodbye quite yet. "If you don't mind, I believe I'd like that very much," he replied casually.
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She looked incredibly grateful that he had said yes, and she began to lead him into the house. The first floor was very commercial looking, and was a large scale industrial kitchen. The second floor was the residential level. She lead him up the stairs. "This is my little piece of the world. Make yourself at home." She said with a grin as she walked towards a livingroom. "I'll go make tea and find something to snack on."
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The gracefulness evident on her face gave Kyoya his answer, and he followed her along into the house with a certain curiosity. He regarded each room carefully, nodding to himself at times, but grinning the whole tour. Most of it was quaint, but he found the kitchen to be rather impressive. What he should expect from a family of bakers, he supposed, but it was a surprise nonetheless. "Ah, thank you," he replied shortly, then seating himself in a casual manner upon the couch. Mindlessly, one of his hands went to slip his phone from his pocket, staring at its screen dumbly for a moment before slipping it away once more. Still no news from the offer his company had put in on her father's. Yet-- he was in her house, should he simply tell her now? He was going to try his damndest to see that she didn't have to leave, that was apparent in his actions.
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She made a rather fragrant tea, and then pulled out a candied fruit tart and brought both things out. "Sooo... I think I'm going to France on a night flight tonight... Just to see if I can't smooth this over." She said quietly as she set the tea and food down. "I need to see my father, so I think I'll leave for the airport about 7 pm and stay there for a week, I think." She sighed as she sat down. "I'm sorry for dragging you into this mess." She explained as she poured the tea.
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As she reappeared in the room, the aromatic smell of tea followed her, tickling his nose in a manner pleasant enough to calm him if only a bit. Her words stirred the discomfort once more, but he was able to brush it off for now to keep it form downing his attitude too much. After all, she would be coming back. Right? After asking himself this, he felt very nearly like hitting himself. It took him a moment to reply, his gaze drawn to the tea as he shook his head slowly, "Don't apologize, Teagan. You've done nothing wrong..." he then paused, letting out a soft sigh and running a hand through his hair, ruffling it. "He should be sorry," he then added a moment later, shifting himself a bit from where he sat before seeming to relax again. This was when he looked hesitantly over at her, one of his hands moving then to gently grab one of hers. "Teagan, before you leave, I need to tell you some things..."
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She blinked as he took her hand and suddenly his tone was so serious again. What could he need to say. Was he worried she wouldn't come back? She was, but she hoped not to worry him. She nestled in close to him. "Alright. I'm listening. You can say whatever you need to." She said as she rested her head on his shoulder. She was so loyal. Almost like a little puppy.
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Her reaction to his declaration was surprising to him, to see her looking so eager to listen to what he had to say to her was touching in a way Kyoya couldn't describe. Yet he felt unsure about this, about telling her what his company was up to, what his intentions were. Would she be angry? He was doing this for her, surely she couldn't be. What if she didn't like it though? Never had he felt himself become so flustered, with the exception of when she had kissed him. His head turned slightly so he faced her, his hand firm around hers once more as he looked down at them, entwined together so well. "Teagan, I-...I intend to buy out your father's bakery before he can. The contract will declare it your father's property once more, it's solely yo secure your famiyl's finances. My associate in Paris is presenting the idea to the bakery as we speak, mostlikely." he spoke in an almost hurried fashion, having to force himself to slow down and stop being so hesitant about this. Sill, he cringed inwardly after saying this. Was this what it was like to have a girl to care for? Looking over at her carefully, biting his bottom lip slightly, he would then continue on, "I hope you aren't mad... I just, he wants to marry you, Teagan, I can't..." Kyoya was getting tongue-tied, an occurrence that had never happened to the young man before, and nor did he want it to. It caused a healthy flush of pink to rise to his cheeks as he let his he'd drop to avoid her gaze out of a bit of embarrassment.
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She watched him and heard his words. "I..." She really didn't have the words to say at the moment, so she just continued to listen to his words, carefully taking each one. She watched with no small level of awe as he lost his own words. He was losing his cool. But she didn't look down on him for it. If anything it just told her how determined he was to protect her, and that very thought kind of made her heart race. "Kyoya..." She said, cuddling close to him. "I know you want to save me. And I hope your efforts are not in vain. But I worry. My father is so very nationalist. He believes that a business should stay and serve the country it belongs to. So I worry he won't sell. I'm going to France, and I will beg with him to sell it." She sighed. "I'll do anything to make this work."
She looked down. "I'm... I'm terrified of Demitri." She said quietly. |
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