“Iori, you’re here,” Her father said as he patted her shoulder with a smile interrupting his conversation with the president.
Iori smiled at her father and nodded,
“Sorry for being late…” Iori said
“That’s my fault, sir. I was late getting here,” Jun said as he came beside her his hand landing on the small of her back.
“I heard it from Satoru-san. It seems like the two of you had to deal with one troublesome article. I was surprised that you were able to make it at all,” Her father said referring to the article Tohru had been behind publishing.
Iori hadn’t had the chance to check the media and see what damage it had done to their reputation this time around. But she had a pretty good idea about what she was going to find if she ever tried to look.
There was this weird obsession the media had with families like hers. After the media coverage, the president had made sure
Jun wanted to be anywhere else except where he was now. It’s true that he decided to face everything with Iori, to fight for her, but this wasn’t something he bargained for. He hadn’t expected Lady Akagi to have this kind of presence, this kind of aura that forced respect upon you as if it was a ritual ingrained in you since childhood. Just meeting the older lady’s gaze too considerable mental effort, it was as if she had him under some kind of mental compulsion or mind control. When Iori had said that she wouldn’t let her make him cry, he had seriously thought that she was joking. After all, no one would be expected to cry while meeting their girlfriend’s grandparents, or in this case great aunt… Her ‘I’m serious’ comment shook him a little bit, but it was nothing compared to when he stood before the older woman. A few inches shorter than him, yet, with the presence of someone who could dominate this whole room full of people without lifting a finger. And sh
Iori knew what was going to happen but there was nothing she could have done to stop it. She wasn’t sure she would have stopped him even if she knew how. There was something in her great aunt’s words that shouldn’t have been uttered, she knew better than to say that, especially in this situation. But still, she went ahead and said it anyway.Jun rose to his feet looking down at her aunt his posture barely betraying the rage she knew he was feeling. His eyes never left her aunt as he did so looking at her with cold eyes that could have been mistaken for neutral if it wasn’t for her the gleam of fire shooting from them.Jun was angry on her behalf, and she couldn’t help but feel a little twitch in her heart at the thought. She was… happy, even though she knew that her happiness was completely misplaced.“In all the time since I have known Iori, I heard a lot of things said about her that ranged from unfair to outright out
“I hear your talk with akagi-sama went well?” Haruki said as he made his way toward them with Rina by his side.They both looked like a couple out of a spy movie, both tall and elegantly dressed. Her brother and his fiancée may have a peculiar relationship, a relationship where it was hard to decide whether they were together because it was decided for them or because they were the only compatible people who could put up with each other. But there was one sure thing, they both suited each other to the point of it being even perfect to look at.“Gee, thanks for the support,” Iori mumbled under her breath and Rina laughed,“Oh come on Iori! We all know that no one is willing to confront Akagi-sama other than you. I face cold blooded criminals on a daily basis and I can’t stand to have a talk with that woman for longer than necessary. She sends chills down my spine every time she looks at me with that piercing gaze o
Silence reigned over the room as soon as Akagi-sama stood there in front of them her presence reassuring and welcoming, yet at the same time overwhelming and imposing.It’s been a long time since Iori felt as if her aunt’s presence was imposing to her. Her training and frequent contact with the older woman had assured that Iori doesn’t view her aunt like the others do.Rather than saying that Iori got used to her presence, it was rather that Iori began to look at her aunt like an equal and sometimes a rival. And without the respect that had been ingrained in her back when her mother was still alive, she would have overstepped the bounds with her aunt long ago.That’s because that’s how things were supposed to be in their case. They may be mentor and disciple, but they were also a leader and her successor. And a few clashes between them were inevitable.Iori knew that her aunt liked her, she even considered her like the daught
“I would like to announce approaching retirement from my position as the second clan leader,” Akagi-sama said and a wave of gasps filled the room.Iori felt calmness fill her, she knew this was coming and she couldn’t describe how nervous she had felt when Akagi-sama had told her about her plan when she arrived the previous day.She had agonized over whether she was ready or if she was going to be enough, but, when she felt the moment come, all f her doubts disappeared and she felt herself being surrounded by a calmness that felt ethereal.This is her duty, the role she had been ready for for a long time. There was nothing to be scared about, there was nothing to fear because she was born to be the mountain clan’s leader. More importantly, she was born to be the priestess of the mountains.“I had been the leader of the mountain clan for such a long time that I feel that it’s long overdue for me to leave my place to some
“Where are you taking me?” Iori asked Jun as they walked toward the center of the room.Jun grinned at her and she looked up at him in confusion. A small smile broke on her beautiful rosy lips making Jun want to wipe the make-up off them with one fell swoop of his mouth.He had been trying to hold back since the evening started, but he was reaching his limits. He wanted her more than anything, so at least he could have her all to himself for a few short moments like this before she had to return to her duties.“May I have this dance?” Jun asked her extending his hand to hers.Without hesitation, Iori put her hand on his which made him inwardly smile. Iori never hesitated to take his hand anymore, no matter the reason, Jun was always sure that she would reach out back to him if he extended his hand.It may seem like a small gesture, but to Jun it meant much more than that. Iori’s honest and instinctive reactions to him
Jun guided Iori toward the side of the terrace and they descended down the stairs that led to the Japanese style garden.“No one will bother us here,” He said and Iori smiled up at him.Jun led her toward a bench where he leaned and spread his arms for her to lean on him and she obliged relishing in the comfort of his arms around her.“Are you cold?” He asked as she snuggled into him.“No,” Iori answered her eyes closed as she breathed in the scent of his perfume. A scent that became so familiar to that she would sometimes miss it at night whenever she’s alone.“Back then all I could think about was how if I hadn’t wanted to become a writer none of this would have happened” She finally said and Jun squeezed her tighter and she felt his protest before she heard it.“There’s no way that any of tat is your fault,”“I know now… But back then it was
A few days later Iori walked out of the elevator with her brother walking beside her. Haruki nodded at the slightly surprised secretary and they went straight for the office. Then they went inside without knocking.Inside, the president sat alongside Jun as they talked. Iori and Jun’s eyes met for a brief moment but Iori quickly averted her gaze from his. She wasn’t there to exchange gazes with him, she was there for a reason and she couldn’t afford to let her feelings for Jun be in the way of what she needed to do.“Iori, I know we had an appointment but I didn’t know that you were bringing a guest,” Satoru said with a welcoming smile his poker face ever-present.“Since I came to the conclusion that you can’t be trusted, our meetings can’t go on unwitnessed anymore so I brought my lawyer with me to ensure that everything is legal here,”“Don’t you think that’s