Chapter 115 - Love Life & Gossip

"Taken for granted…"

Kazehaya Gin nearly spat his drink. "HA? Y-y-you…"

Maybe he heard it wrong. He didn't.

"I feel like I'm being taken for granted," Aki repeated forlornly.

"Who's the girl?"Kazehaya Gin's gossipy heart couldn't help but ask.

"Asou Chiaki – you know her," the older Suzuki answered, surprising the other.

"Your secretary?"

Aki nodded. "We've known each other since pre-school."

"Oh, childhood sweethearts?" Kazehaya Gin's stance relaxed, as he leaned over the table to put his elbow there and prop his chin. "So what's wrong then?"

"The daft woman doesn't believe me whenever I try to propose," Aki stated sulkily. "I've been proposing since high school. She kept thinking I was joking."

"WHAT?"

"Yeah. She's so stubborn, acting very professional since she started working for me. She rarely goes out with me now, it's sad."

"Totally sad bro," Gin shook his head in sympathy before he paused. "But what kind of proposal did you do?"

Aki shrugged. "I just asked her out – let's date – that kind of asking."

WHAT?

Kazehaya Gin scowled at Suzuki Aki. "Big bro, she's not daft – you're just unromantic," he told him matter-of-factly.

"What should I do then?"

"Flowers, music – ambiance – all the love shebang," Kazehaya advised, and he snapped his fingers as an idea came to him. "I'll teach you!"

"Ha?"Aki was dumbfounded. "You will teach me?"

"Why not?"Kazehaya shrugged. "I'm Ryuu's dating sensei. Look at him now – so good at flirting!"

When Aki frowned, Gin explained. "Only to your sister okay? He doesn't flirt with anyone else."

"O-okay…"

Aki relaxed and chuckled to himself. He was really so intense when it came to Ara.

"Wait here Big Bro. I'll get some books for you. I'll go check up on my Rosey too," Kazehaya Gin said as he stood up and bounced out of the room, leaving Aki confused.

"Book?" He couldn't believe it. "Don't tell me Ryuu's romantic skills are from there?"

Aki couldn't help but snort. The thought was so funny he couldn't help himself.

Huh? But who's Rosey? Kazehaya's girlfriend?

He was thinking this when he stood up and went outside on the engawa. Aki's eyes appreciated the place. The sight was totally relaxing – a total disconnect from the hustles and bustles of life outside.

The corner of his eye caught sight of the pretty girl who had served them refreshments earlier. She was now crouched at one corner of the garden pulling weeds with her bare hands and a serious expression on her elfin face.

"The Koutaishidenka and Miss Ara are on the way," a gentle voice spoke on his side, and Aki turned to see the Head Housekeeper who was introduced to him earlier standing there.

He acknowledged her with a smile. She, on the other hand, walked towards him and stood by him as she followed his gaze with hers and saw the girl in the garden. 

"Hardworking, isn't she?" Yayoi asked Aki casually.

"Yeah," Aki agreed.

"She's Emi, my apprentice," Yayoi said as she turned a serious look towards him. "She is also Young Master Ryuu's former fiancée."

"What?"Aki was shocked as he turned to see the girl again. Indeed, he always thought she's too pretty to be a simple servant. "Then why?"

Why did Ryuu have to be with Ara then if he's already engaged?

As if reading his thoughts, Yayoi apologized. "I'm so sorry Master Aki. I made a mistake. She's not really the Koutaishidenka's fiancée per se, but rather his woman," she said, and she explained to him about the Makura of the clan.

"That's totally insane!" Aki thought that his shock meter had already reached so high, but he was wrong. "Isn't that inhumane? Poor girl, she was brought up like livestock only to be discarded in the end."

"Please do not put this against the Koutaishidenka. Young Master Ryuu had no choice in this matter before either. It was the tradition of the clan that's to blame. But it's changing now. It was why she was set free. Young Master Ryuu only has Miss Ara in his eyes."

Aki was somewhat appeased with her words, but he couldn't help but wonder. "Why did you tell me about this?"

"Because Master Aki is Miss Ara's brother," Yayoi answered honestly. "I was hoping that in case Miss Ara misunderstands and gets upset, Master Aki will be able to help Young Master Ryuu in explaining the situation. Miss Emi, that girl had too much suffering in this life. It would be tragic for her to be misunderstood by Miss Ara as well."

Oh, so that's it. It was to protect that girl.

Aki didn't mind, however. As it stood, that girl, was now totally alone in this world with no one who cared about her after being stripped off of her title. To continue staying here, working as a servant so diligently after everything that happened was worthy of someone's concern.

"Don't worry. I will tell Ara not to misunderstand, but…" his voice trailed off.

Even if he said something to assure Ara, the problem was that he had no idea of the other girl's feelings. Even if the situation was like this, if Emi liked the prince, then there would be a huge problem. A rival was a rival after all. The only difference was that the other party was a pretty, nice, hardworking rival than the normal bitchy rival.

As if reading his thoughts again, Yayoi placed a hand on her mouth as she chuckled, her eyes dancing with mirth. "Don't worry Master Aki. Miss Emi doesn't like the Koutaishidenka in any romantic way. She was raised together with him, but she only treats him like an older brother."

Oh?

"That's good then," Aki said with relief.

"Besides," Yayoi continued as she gave Aki a meaningful look. "That girl prefers the smiling-like-an-idiot type of guys."

OH.

The image of Kazehaya popped in his mind when Yayoi said those words, and he finally understood.

Emi was in love with Gin.

Then, he remembered that Gin was a bit upset when Aki looked at Emi when she served drinks and an idea hit him again. He seemed jealous.  Oh my.

"Well… I think the smiling-like-an-idiot type of guy I know likes the sweet hardworking girl named Emi as well," he commented, and he and Yayoi exchanged knowing looks.

"Very observant of you, Master Aki," Yayoi commended. "If you have trouble with your love life, give Yayoi a holler and we'll set you up," she offered with a wink before giving him a small bow and left.

Alone, Aki chuckled as he stretched. He was wondering where Kazehaya went when he saw a black car pull up in the courtyard. Normally cars would stop at the front, but since this was the private residence area, it meant this must be Ryuu's car – and he was right.

But the sight that greeted him was surprising.

Homura Ryuu stepped down from the car with a mischievous boyish grin on his handsome face. Aki watched as he walked to the other side fast to open the other door. Soon, Ara's head popped out as she got out of the car. He had no idea what was going on, but it seemed his sister was pissed but it was making Koutaishidenka so amused.

When the two started walking towards the house, Aki had to agree that his sister and Ryuu looked good together. Both were tall and good-looking. Also…

They looked happy and content with each other even if Ara was sulking a bit at the moment. For two people who had no choice but to be together, they looked totally satisfied. Well, if their relationship was not good, they wouldn't look like this. Right?

"Oh here they are," Kazehaya Gin happily said from behind, and Aki turned to him only to stop, appalled.

"What?"Gin asked as he shifted the books in his hands.

"What's that thing?" Aki pointed at the huge copper-colored tarantula on Gin's head.

"Oh, this? It's my Rosey, my sweet Chilean Rose," Kazehaya announced.

Aki was not scared of spiders, but he knew someone who was. He nervously turned towards Ara and Ryuu who were fast approaching. "Gin, I think you better keep Rosey away for now," he said.

"Why?"

"Because my sister has –"

Aki was still speaking, when the two already arrived where they were. He watched horrified as Gin bounced towards Ara with a smile and a huge spider on his head.

Ara, on the other hand, caught sight of the arachnid and froze.

"– severe arachnophobia..." Aki finished just as Ara's eyes rolled up and she fell on unconscious on the floor with a THUD.