Even now as he sat opposite from his mother and father in the limo they had specifically bought for today’s special occasion, he couldn’t believe the horrible turn of events which had befallen him.

 They had blackmailed him.

 Yes, folks, Kazuma and Sakura Rukawa, his very own parents – treacherous that they were – were indeed blackmailing him.

 Any fan girl would have swooned to death if they could see him now as he sat there in their sleek white limousine, looking like a chivalrous knight straight out of a fairytale. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, trying to loosen the collar of his crisp tuxedo. They had been traveling for what seemed like three hours. Kaede hated traveling too long and by now a scowl had been permanently fixed on his face.

 ‘Were they going to the mountains in a limousine wearing a formal attire?’ he thought in exasperation. He would’ve preferred that anytime, of course, over this hell of a predicament he was in right now.

 His mother giving him a reproachful look for his bored expression was all he needed.

 It was really happening, he thought as impending doom seeped into him. This was far worse than any mess he had encountered and, much to his loathing and horror, there was virtually no way out. His parents’ tight hold on his basketball career served as the unyielding reinforcement to that.

 M-A-R-R-I-A-G-E.

 The letters seem to dance in his mind… making a fool out of him… mocking him.

 Why him?

 He rested his chin on his hand, pouting as he recalled that fateful conversation which got him into this mess…

~*~

Kazuma’s forehead wrinkled in a frown as he stared down at the root beer –stained paper that was his son’s report card… And the frown had nothing to do with the now pungent smell of the drink.

1…2…3…4…5… He counted for the third time like a child in kindergarten.

5 red marks.

It definitely had to be the worst yet, the middle-aged man thought.

He glared pointedly at the 17 year old boy, a spitting image of him, as his head fell completely onto the shiny mahogany table. His imbecile of a son had fallen asleep on him again.

That had to be the last straw. The boy was going to get it…

His father’s growl was the first thing that he’d heard when he lifted his head. Kaede rubbed the back of his neck. Sleeping on his father’s study table wasn’t exactly what he’d planned for the night. A Lakers game would be showing any minute now. Straightening up, he set his lips into a fine line, determined to get this whole thing done and over with.

“What do you have to say for yourself, young man?” came his father’s deep and foreboding voice, waving the pathetic excuse of a report card in his face.

“Hmm..” Kaede’s eyebrows met. “Sorry?” he said devoid of emotion.

Kazuma slammed his fist down on the table, his eyes raging with fury at his son’s impertinence. Behind him, his wife, Sakura, winced. She sent her son a reproachful look. Her husband was in a particularly foul mood tonight. And Kaede acting like this would be like adding fuel to a blazing fire.

“Is that all, young man?!”

Kaede looked up at the ceiling, as if trying to find some answers there. When he couldn’t think of anything more to say, he nodded at his father. “Hai.”

Kazuma felt his knees buckle as he slumped onto his seat. This was hopeless. He had no choice but to resort to more drastic measures. “If you don’t put a stop to this… madness…” he said, gesturing at the crumpled report card. “I’ll be forced to cut your allowance in half…” he threatened. Kazuma narrowed his eyes at his son, waiting for the violent protesting that he sure knew would come. Typical of teenagers nowadays…

But none came. 

He peered at the young boy as he continued to stare off in the far distance, totally indifferent to what he had said. The sleeping spell upon his son seemed to take effect at that particular moment as the boy’s head drooped.

Kazuma raised his hand in surrender. “What will I do with you?!!” he bellowed. He’d had enough. There was no use dealing with the matter anymore. He stood up and looked out the window into their estate’s garden far below.

What could he have possibly done wrong for his son to turn up like this? They had given him everything. All the luxury money could buy. He glanced back at the expressionless young man who always seemed oblivious to the world. It didn’t seem long ago when he was just this little boy who always needed their attention… Well, ok, 10 years wasn’t exactly short period of time but…

“May I be excused now?” Kaede asked anxiously, determined to watch the start of the Lakers game. When his father didn’t reply, he stood up and turned towards the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Kaede stopped on his tracks.

“There are far more important matters to be discussed…” came his father’s voice, dead serious.

Matters far more important to his parents than his studies…?

The Lakers game forgotten, Kaede gulped. Why did he have the feeling he wouldn’t like this one bit?

~*~

Through half-lidded eyes, Kaede watched the scenic view outside as the 20-feet gate to their family friends’ estate opened automatically to let their limo in.

 The matters far more important than his studies turned out to be his impending engagement to the daughter of his father’s business colleague. He was completely taken aback by his parents’ treachery. And he was completely physically, mentally, and emotionally enraged! Like all hell had broken loose inside him… He never would’ve thought he’d agree to such an outrageous idea… until his father unleashed the dogs of war against his one true weakness…

 Kazuma Rukawa had threatened to ban him from playing in the basketball team – from playing basketball his entire life for that matter.

 He almost fell into a coma at that instant, his brain cells refusing to function for the next few minutes. His parents banning him from playing was like taking away the air that he breathes… Cutting his allowance in half was bad enough, but forbidding him to play basketball…

 It was sheer torture… Outright injustice… Pure madness…

 Kaede Rukawa lived to play basketball! Couldn’t they understand that?

 Hey, and when did he get so poetic all of a sudden?

 He sighed once again as the 7-storey mansion came into view. He was here anyway out of his own will… to see his future in-laws and bride-to-be after his parents had forced him out of the hole he’d burrowed in since the day they’d announced the dreaded news.

 Kaede watched his parents as they conversed animatedly about their son’s future wedding. They had consoled him of course, reminding him that his bride-to-be was an old childhood friend. And his mother had made this stupid comment about how romantic it was to see and marry an old fling.

 Fling???

 He grimaced.

 7 year olds didn’t have and were too young to have… flings…

 He knew his mother had meant to tease him, but at that moment he’d been more than glad to… fling her out the window.

 He wasn’t exactly comforted as he recalled playing with the bouncy little girl they were talking about. She had been bossy, domineering, haughty, overbearing, loud, talkative, too cheerful and generous for her own good. While he was weak and sickly then, the girl had the energy of three kids and she’d kept on pushing him around like he was no more than a sack of potatoes… She had been too active, energetic, bubbly and full of life, he thought, as he recalled the ever-present blush on her face which almost made her look prett—hey!

 He narrowed his eyes to where his own thoughts were heading. His overstressed brain cells were betraying him too.

 He was comforted, alright.

 In fact, the mere thought of seeing her again made the bottom of his stomach drop. And that was just the meeting part. He’d just die on the spot if their parents succeeded in marrying them.

 His mother broke his chain of thoughts. Reaching out to touch her son’s hand, Sakura said, “Relax, honey.” She smiled reassuringly. “Tonight’s gonna be perfect…”

 Kaede smirked. Perfect?…He felt like a cow being dragged into a slaughter house…

 He narrowed his eyes at the couple in front of him. ‘I wouldn’t be so happy yet, if I were you,’ he felt like saying out loud to his scheming, conniving parents. He hated to burst their little bubble of happiness but he absolutely refused to succumb to his fate.

 Smirking when he saw the front doors of the mansion open to reveal a middle-aged couple as they waited to welcome their guests, Kaede set his lips into a fine determined line.

 He put on the foulest scowl he could muster, determined to prove to his parents that their decision to marry him off against his own will was the biggest mistake of their lives.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tanaka shook Kazuma’s hand firmly.

 "Its nice to see you once again, old friend! I see you haven’t changed a bit since the last time we saw each other,” Tanaka boomed happily.

 “And you look as fine as ever, Tanaka-san,” Kazuma exclaimed.

 Kaede watched as the two middle-aged men conversed like the best buddies that they were. This Tanaka guy must be the father… And from the corner of his eye, he watched his mother exchange polite greetings with a tall slender woman of her age and whom he heard to be Satomi. So she must be the mother…

 This is just so dandy…

 He looked around the finely furnished mansion. Not very much different from theirs. No surprise there. Like their family, his bride-to-be’s family was one of the richest in the country.

 Now, he wondered, scanning the place, where was the accursed bride-to-be….

 “Where’s Kaede, the little guy?”

 Kaede’s eyebrow twitched. The word ‘little’ and his name didn’t go along in the same line, much less, in the same sentence. He turned his head to face the unfortunate soul who had so carelessly uttered them. His gaze fell on the man behind him. The one called Tanaka-san. Narrowing his eyes and glaring down at the man, he was determined to scare the living daylights out of him. Me de korosu style.

 It was obvious that little Kaede was no longer little. Tanaka gulped as the young man towered a couple of feet over him. ‘And I thought my daughter is tall…’ Tanaka thought nervously as he stared up at his future son-in-law.

 The young man was handsome… but he looked like he could beat up a whole army of thugs anytime when provoked. The hell he could!

 “Why h-hello, Kaede…” came the older man’s shaky voice, stretching out his hand. Kaede eyed his hand suspiciously, refusing to take it… That is, until his mother nudged him painfully in the ribs. “Please excuse him. He just recovered from a fever,” his mother lied with a forced chuckle.

 Kaede glared at her while she, in turn, gave him a reproachful look which spoke of volumes. Behave!

 “Now, now…” Tanaka’s voice boomed again as all introductions were finished. “Let’s all go to the dinning hall, shall we? My wife had personally prepared a special meal for all of us!”

 “Oh, I’m sure it’ll be grand,” Kazuma praised, remembering the superb cooking of his friend’s wife. Before following his host, he sent his son a warning look. Tanaka’s eyes suddenly twinkled. “Well I hope Kaede here doesn’t have a weak stomach,” he joked. His wife, Satomi, nudged him reproachfully. No use scaring off another potential son-in-law…

 All four adults exchanged worried glances then subtly looked over to where Kaede stood stiffly like a lamppost. His eyebrows knotted in a frown. What the hell were they hiding from him? He knew perfectly well what had happened to the previous guy who was in his place right now – the guy who turned out to be none other than the pompous Nobunaga Kiyota, Kainan-Player-Extraordinaire. Much to his delight.

 He knew perfectly well how what’s-her-name poisoned the living daylights out of that creep. Hearing that stint she’d pulled on Kiyota, he had to hand it to the girl… Her plan had been brilliant…Perfectly executed… He’d almost looked forward to congratulating her and asking for the recipe of that poison to use on Sakuragi but then… There had only been one thing wrong with her plan though….

 She’d let Kiyota live.

 He scowled. If it was him, he would’ve ended the jerk’s suffering right then and there.

 Suddenly, Tanaka’s voice interrupted his musings. “Kazuma-kun, I’d like you to meet my daughter - !” he said with a flourish, gesturing into open space before he realized that the person he was referring to wasn’t there yet. “Satomi, where’s Angel?”

 Kaede’s future mother-in-law sighed, “She still must be in her room. You go on ahead into the dinning room. I’ll go get her.” She turned and disappeared up the long winding staircase.

 Tanaka and the Rukawa’s piled into the huge dinning hall. They settled into their seats politely as they waited for the arrival of the young woman and her mother.

Kaede couldn’t seem to get his attention to focus on the bubbly conversation in front of him as he fidgeted in his seat. He began to sweat… And when did it start to get hot?

 Well, dufus, its bound to be hot since your wearing a tux.

 Oh yeah…He tugged at the neckline of the suit, loosening it a little.

 2 minutes had passed. Still no sign of approaching people.

 He started wringing his hands with –

 Anticipation?

 ‘No way!’ his mind protested vehemently. He couldn’t possibly be excited in seeing what’s-her-name again.

 He scowled. He’d teach this Angel a lesson once he’d seen her. He’d teach her never to mess with Kaede Rukawa ever again. And she wouldn’t even want to be in the same room with him once he’s through with her, he thought evilly.

 Suddenly…

 “Tanaka! Tanaka!” came the distressed cries of his future mother-in-law. His future father-in-law abruptly stood up. “What is it?!”

 “Its our daughter - !” she panted.

 “What is it, woman? What happened to my little girl?”

 Kaede’s mother and father stood up, alarmed at the distress in her voice.

 “She’s missing! Her room’s a mess and her clothes are gone!”

 Unlike the three other adults whose jaws had dropped, a pleased smile spread across Kaede’s handsome face.

 Well, what do you know…

 This night was bound to be perfect after all.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel stared into the open night as she sat by the window of a bullet train heading for Tokyo. It’s already 8 pm. Time for that special dinner with her father’s colleague. And by this time, they must’ve already found out she was missing.

She sighed. She didn’t mean to hurt her father and mother. She just needed to do this to show them that forcing her to marry another pompous jerk was never going to make her happy.

Speaking of pompous jerks… She thought of the young man who was coming by to visit them that night – her next supposed victim.

Her violet eyes twinkled. She would’ve loved to stick around and torment him with one of her finely brewed concoctions but she chose to do this instead.

Her parents told her that she and that young man had been the best of friends when they were little. Angel frowned. Funny, she remembered only one bestfriend when she was little. Her thoughts flew back to the sniveling boy who seemed to be afraid of everything. What was his name again? Kadi? Kaechi? Kenji?

She rolled her eyes. Why bother remembering? She was never going to marry him anyway. No matter how her parents forced her.

She snuggled into her seat, yawning. She still had a good 3 hours left to sleep before she could reach her relative’s house where her grandma will be waiting to meet her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The blaring sirens of the police cars were irritating to his ears. Add in the wails of a distressed future mother-in-law and what do you get?

A deaf kitsune.

Kaede shook his head.

Tanaka, noticing the bored expression on the boy’s face, said “Why don’t you take a walk in the garden for awhile, young man, or go to the leisure room down the hall.”

Well, it was better than sitting here, watching the people in this household go crazy… what with their little princess gone and missing. Kaede nodded. Tanaka stood up to accompany his future son-in-law.

They walked along the manor’s main corridor lined with ancient portraits. Tanaka gestured to his left and right like a tour guide, introducing the prominent people in their family portrayed in the golden frames.

Kaede scowled. They all looked old and the same to him, he felt like saying. But, of course, he held his tongue at bay.

Reaching the end of the hall, Tanaka said, “Ah, we’re here at last. Make yourself comfortable, son.” He gestured for him to follow then disappeared behind the heavy double doors of the leisure room. Kaede was about to follow him inside when a life-size portrait at the end of the corridor caught his eye.

Unlike the others which had looked ancient and worn, this one was newer, the golden frame shining underneath the spotlight’s glare. But it wasn’t the frame’s lustrous gleam nor its ornamental design which caught his attention. It was the young woman so vividly portrayed in the picture.

She looked down innocently at him, her violet eyes twinkling with laughter. Her long midnight black hair cascaded down like a waterfall along her small slender shoulders. Her red lips, contrasting perfectly with her creamy white complexion, upturned into the most enchanting smile…

‘Hell…so many adjectives…’he thought in disgust, shaking his head to clear it of such foul thoughts.

But her smile had looked familiar. Like he’d seen her recently…

But when?

More importantly…who is she?

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” his future father-in-law’s voice said proudly, coming up beside him to admire the young woman in the portrait. It was said more like a statement than a question.

‘Beautiful?’ Kaede’s eyebrows wrinkled in thought.

Telling himself to be polite, he nodded.

Besides, he stared at the picture apprehensively,  the older man had a point…

Tanaka looked at the young man, noting that he and his daughter will make a fine-looking couple someday. But he didn’t miss the puzzled look on the boy’s face.

The older man, understanding what that look was for, chuckled before he gestured to his most coveted picture, the one which he had forgotten to introduce to his future son-in-law – of all people.

He smiled fondly at the young man.

“It’s her. Your bride-to-be.”

Kaede snorted. It figures.

To be continued…