Getting To Know Each Other
(A Little Too Well)

Chapter 5

"Kyouya," The said man bowed in respect of his father. "What have you been doing these past three weeks? During 3-4pm you disappear." Ootori Kyouya emotionlessly looked at Ootori Yoshio.

"It is my personal leisure time away from everything. Human beings such as us need our breaks from stress and problems."

"Then who is this girl?" Yoshio threw the pictures of him and 'Matsu' at the boy. The shadow king slightly widened his eyes at the pictures. "I've had you followed for the past week." The father narrowed his eyes at his son. "I repeat, who is this girl?" Kyouya cleared his throat and straightened his posture.

Looking at his father in the eye, he said, "Merely an acquaintance I met during my stay at the café."

"Kyouya…" Yoshio growled. He rubbed his temples and sighed. "Just leave, I've had enough for today."

…

The shadow king lightly tapped his fingers on the table as he waited for his acquaintance to appear. He sighed and was about to leave when one of the workers walked up to him. "Um, sir? Someone told me to give this to you." Kyouya grasped the envelope given to him and waved the person away. Curious, he opened the envelope labeled with his alias in elegant writing.

Gomenasai, Kyo-san. It seems that one of our family friends have invited my family and me to stay at their villa for the weekend, starting tonight. I hope that I have not inconvenienced you and wish you well during your weekend. I will see you soon, Kyo-san!

-Matsu

The university student rubbed his temples. "This is so troublesome. If only I had not placed that challenge upon me…" He sighed and stood up with his coffee in hand. 'Well, it was also profitable that she wasn't here. My father would've been at my neck if she arrived.' He thought. Kyouya got into his BMW and drove off, only to pass by the limo owned by the Kudo family. "Kudo? What are they doing in this neighborhood?" He thought out loud. As he passed by the windows, he thought that he saw Hunny's stuffed rabbit and Matsu. Kyouya shook his head and focused on the road. "It can't be her…right?"

...

"Haninozuka-san, it's an honor to stay in your family villa." Kudo Matsuri said as they flew to Hokkaido via Haninozuka private plane.

"Call me Hunny, and don't worry, Matsu-chan! It seems that my brother likes your sister so I had to make connections between our families." The girl smiled and looked at her siblings chatting with Haninozuka Yasuchika and Morinozuka Satoshi.

"Well, it looks like they're getting along but I have to worry about the age gap; Yuiko's 15 and Yasuchika-kun is 19."

"I'm sure Chika-chan would be able to wait for her if he really likes her." Matsuri chuckled.

"Then I don't have any worries. He seems like a disciplined boy."

"Ne, I noticed that you act like their parents, like you're their mother. Why is that?" Before the teen could answer, the twins jumped on her and started grinning like Cheshire cats.

"What now, Yuiko, Sojirou?"

"Well, Yasuchika-senpai said that he wanted to court me." Hunny and Matsuri widened their eyes and looked at the blushing 19-year-old.

"What? I wanted to tell her myself." Satoshi sighed and put his best friend in a headlock.

"Don't worry, Hunny-nii, Nii-san, I'll punish Chika for his rude behavior."

"Wahh, don't touch my future husband!" All heads turned to the youngest female Kudo. She sheepishly smiled as Yasuchika blushed 10 different shades of red. "What? I like him too, so Matsu-nee and Hunny-san can arrange the engagement between us!" Hunny laughed, making Matsuri laugh too.

"It looks like we don't even need to discuss this, ne, Matsu-chan?" The teen nodded and looked at the young couple holding hands.

Way in the back of her subconscious, a green monster called Jealousy appeared. When she realized she's jealous of her sister, she shook her head. 'No, I am not jealous of them. I should be happy for them…right?'

The whole time they were in Hokkaido, Yuiko and Yasuchika were almost inseparable. Matsuri managed her jealousy well, but whenever the green monster rose from her subconscious, an image of 'Kyo-san' would appear at the same time. 'Yadda, I don't like him like that. He's just a friend.'

Behind her were two amused cousins. "Ne, Takashi, she likes Kyo-chan, ne?" Morinozuka Takashi nodded. "And Kyo-chan likes Matsu-chan." Hunny smiled. "I heard from Hika-chan and Kao-chan that Kyo-chan's been acting weird ever since we left. He gets ticked off easily when Tama-chan and the twins randomly go and visit him." Mori gave a small smile to Hunny.

"It proves us that he likes her." Hunny nodded and looked at the lonely Kudo Matsuri.

"Ne, I heard from Suzu-san that Matsu-chan's happier than before ever since she met Kyo-chan. I just wish that the two would stop their charades and get together…" Hunny smiled when Matsuri turned around. "Ne, Matsu-chan, do you like anyone at the moment?" Matsuri blushed and looked away.

"N-no, Hunny-san, why do you ask?"

"Because you're already at the age of being courted by a suitor but I've heard rumors that you reject each and every one of them, why is that?" Matsuri sighed.

"It's because I wanted to finish school first, and then worry about my love life. At the moment, I think love is a hindrance to my studies so I politely reject my suitors."

"But, don't you feel lonely?" That widened the girl's hazel eyes. "I mean, I know you have Yuiko and Sojirou and Suzu-san, but I've heard that you fully indulge yourself in school and work that you don't have the time to have fun with people other than your family. Doesn't it get lonely?" Matsuri frowned and looked at the clear blue sky.

"Yes, Hunny-san, it does get lonely, but if it helps my family and the business then I'd rather sacrifice my time than letting my family fall into pieces." She felt a pair of thin arms wrap around her small waist.

"Matsu-chan…" She chuckled, patted his shoulder and looked at him directly in the eyes.

"I'm a strong person, Hunny-san. I don't mind having all these on my shoulders. In fact, I enjoy my current situation." She then felt a strong yet gentle hand patting her head. She looked up and saw Mori giving her a worried look.

"We know that, but still you look so lonely…" Hunny said as he nuzzled his face on her neck. She blushed at the close proximity but decided to ignore it. Then again, it was good that he wasn't as short as he was 3 years ago, or else he'd be nuzzling on her chest. The hue on her face deepened and awkwardly patted him on the back.

"Um, Hunny-san, would it be possible if you…let go of me? I know I'm being harsh but the close proximity between us is um…"

Hunny understood what she was saying and lightly blushed. "Of course, I'm sorry, Matsu-chan." He let go of her and smiled. "Can I just say one thing before we go down for dinner?" Matsuri nodded. "Try to live life to the fullest, you'll never know what will happen. And if ever you need someone to talk to when you feel lonely, call us, ok? I'm sure Takashi will like that too." Mori nodded, making Matsu blush.

"Thank you for your concern, but I really am fine." She winced when someone lightly smacked the side of her head.

"Don't lie, it's not good for you, Matsu-nee." She turned around and saw Sojirou with slight red eyes.

"Sojirou, are you ok? Are you hurt?" She worriedly said as she looked at him.

"No, I'm not ok. Are we, we meaning me, Yuiko and obaa-san, the reason why you can't have a life?" Matsuri widened her eyes.

"Sojirou, why do you ask that?"

"Because Yuiko and I have been thinking, maybe you need to get away from all the work here. I remembered two years ago that you rejected every offer, from dinners to sleepovers, just so you would look after me and Yuiko. Newsflash, nee-san, me and Yuiko can take care of ourselves, so why won't you take care of yourself?" Every word her brother spat out made her heart clench.

Hunny looked between the two siblings and frowned. "Sojirou, don't talk to your sister that way, can't you see she sacrificed a lot to keep your family close?"

"BUT THAT'S JUST IT! SHE SACRIFICED EVERYTHING! Her happiness, her time, her, her…" He started shaking and tears were flowing down his cheeks. "Do you know why Yasuchika-senpai asked Yuiko if he court her? It's because I told him. I told him to just get to the point so that nee-san won't have more problems on her shoulders. I don't want nee-san to do everything for us, I want her to finally have fun, I want her to not force her smiles whenever she's in pain or stress. Nee-san…"

Matsuri looked her brother with a shocked look on her face.

"Matsuri, here." She turned and saw Mori giving her his handkerchief. She put her hand on her cheek and felt tears. She mumbled a thank you and wiped her face with the cotton handkerchief. She walked up to her brother and wiped the tears on his face.

"Sojirou, don't get me wrong but I enjoy my life the way it is now. If you and Yuiko are happy, then I'm happy, ok? I'll do anything for the two of you, and I practically mean everything, Sojirou." She smiled and kissed him on his forehead. "Go and clean your face. Don't tell your sister what happened ok? I don't want her screaming at me too." He nodded and walked away. Matsuri turned and smiled at Hunny and Mori. "Well, dinner waits for us! Let's go!"

The two cousins looked at each other and looked at the whistling Matsuri. "We have to do something." Hunny said as he got out his cell phone. "Hello, Hika-chan, Kao-chan, did you guys finish planning the party?"

"Yea, senpai, Suzu-san said she doesn't mind if we're the MCs or the hosts. And we changed the theme to a masquerade."

"Why is that?"

"We have a plan…" Hunny didn't know whether to trust them or not but all the while he thanked them and hung up.

"A hurricane is going to emerge, I just know it."

Sorry for the late update. School's being mean to me. And Harry Potter has invaded my mind for months :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran... :((