Formidable Enmity [ Ootori Kyouya ] R18

Payback

'Father, I must warn you to not send any bodyguards after me or Astrea.' Kyouya finally spoke to the Ootori CEO the next day.

'And why should I listen to you?' Yoshio side eyed the request and continued his work.

'You know nothing, Kyouya.'

The words rang in the Ootori son's mind like poison. It infected him as much as his own disease, struggling with OCD alone with no one by his side. It was until she came into his life and changed everything.

But Kyouya knew it was now or never. He will be busy studying for finals, and finally getting his highschool diploma.

'I resent you, father. For dictating my life, and for letting me in the dark compared to my other two brothers. I'm no longer the perfect son you wanted me to be, but I will be the successor to the company in my own way.' Kyouya confessed.

Yoshio stopped doing his work, putting down his pen. He could sense that his youngest son is finally growing up, after having a rival in his life. Yet he knew he wouldn't approve of them being together due to company relations.

'If you could save our company from getting bought by a conglomerate, I would consider you being the successor is a yes.' His father spoke back and adjusted his glasses.

'My other question would be.... Do you love the daughter?' Yoshio raised an eye, studying his youngest son's actions.

'No.' He lied.

Kyouya was ready to leave the room. He doesn't want to disclose of a possible fact that he might have caught feelings, due to it potentially harming Astrea. It was painful to deny, but a huge part of him did not want those two to collide.

Suddenly he remembered one of his conversations with Tamaki. It was a year ago when Kyouya's best friend got together with Haruhi.

'If you look closely, love is everywhere.'

'You're just saying that because Haruhi made you cookies.'

'Oops, haha. But seriously Kyouya, I know you will find someone. Maybe not today or tomorrow. But one day.'

'I just want to see my best friend happy.' He remembers the way Tamaki was hoping for him to find his happiness when he thought it was impossible.

It was close when he found out his father wanted him to marry Haruhi. She was the only girl whom he would deem worth it. But losing a friendship with Tamaki just because of girl?

Kyouya wouldn't want that.

It was easier to bury his feelings away and have a bit of rendezvous here and there.

The image of Astrea looking at a huge rennaissance painting at the museum was burned into his mind. The silky black hair and white dress. He wanted to see that again in front of him. He kept replaying the image in his mind before going to sleep.

Astrea remains oblivious of his feelings.

Because they're enemies, that's why.

Little did Kyouya knew that Astrea frequents the gallery afterwards. Something about being in there to read, write or draw clears her mind, outside of training. She wore a simple, long white dress with a corset lining. The contrast between the colour of her hair and clothes made her more noticeable to the guards.

'Miss Astreanova, Antares. I am here to accompany you while you stroll through the gallery.'

A voice had startled her at once. The man's bodyguard suit gave it all away to her.

'Tachibana, what are you doing here?'

She replied. It was one of Kyouya's close bodyguards.

'Kyouya sent me to look after you. Just in case his father's bodyguards are here.' Tachibana spoke, while doing a gesture to protect her.

Astrea raised an eyebrow and smiled.

'I knew that. Ever since the date happened. Of course, I played along instead of feeling alarmed.'

'I see. You're a smart young lady yourself.'

'Only one thing remains a question. Why would Kyouya do this? I'm the enemy, remember?' She spoke coldly.

It was Tachibana's turn to smile.

'It's his revenge towards his father. If he sends 10 bodyguards, Kyouya would recruit 20. He thinks you're on his father's watchlist, so he decides to protect you.'

'Hm, seems like I'm caught between a life long family feud of the Ootori group.' Astrea took a seat in front of a war painting, where people were desperately clinging on a last hope to survive.

Desperation.

'Master Kyouya is a worrywart.' Tachibana continued calmly.

'Huh?'

'He would walk laps in his room thinking of you, your safety, his books just spread across the table, him scribbling unknown letters and sentences in his book. Turning the lights on and off 30 times.'

Tachibana's description of Kyouya's mental state got Astreanova thinking of ending the conundrum once and for all.

This is not the time to lose yourself.

'Tell Kyouya to be prepared for the final fight. I will not accept any excuses.' Astrea stood up and looked into the bodyguard's eyes.

'Tomorrow, after school at the dojo. Kyouya must come. Send a note to his father as well. Family feuds are a pain in the arse, and I know how men refuse to settle it for as long they live.'

'Understood, miss Astreanova.'

If you're going to lose yourself, do it in front of your father and I will step in as the enemy.