7 An Arranged Marriage?

"Father!" Kaho had called out to her father.

As the middle aged man turned, he saw his daughter all dressed up. His expression, his eye were wide and his jaw dropped.

"K-Kaho? Is that you?"

"Mm."

"I c-can't believe you're dressed up! You're so beautiful." Makoto smiled and handed his arm out to a rare beauty. Kaho accepted and linked arms with his.

They walked into a Traditional looking restaurant and headed inside. Makoto had reserved a private space.

The room had a small rectangular table and there were at least six zabutons with three on each side of the table.

The weird thing was when Kaho sat down, her father sat on the same side.

"Dad, why are you sitting on my side?"

"Oh it's because I invited a few more guests."

And to think Kahoru would have dinner with just her father. She pouted and looked away from her father. He cold aura was pouring out.

"K-Kaho don't be so mad." Whilst Makoto tried to get back in her old side, the sliding door opened.

The father and daughter both froze on the spot and Makoto looked up to see who it is. His frown immediately turned into a smile.

He quickly stood up walked towards a couple that seemed to be his age. He turned to the man and bro hugged him.

Kaho watched as the elderly men bro hug each other. It was kinda weird but cute.

The lady next to them was looking at Kaho and as soon Kaho noticed her she stood up and bowed.

"Good evening. My name is Yukimura Kahoru."

"I know." The woman smiled and turned to Makoto. "Makoto, you have such a polite and nice child."

"Her? Polite? She's a very cold child now-a-days."

"Same with my son. He's colder than that coldest point of the earth I swear. He is very reserved and quiet."

The elders started laughing. Kaho was confused. Why were they laughing about me and a random guy?

"Speaking of your son, where is he?"

"He should be here very soon." The elderly man spoke.

"Okay that's good then."

Son? Here? Kahoru then had a bad feeling of what was about to happen. She wasn't sure, but what else could it be?

"Kahoru. I'm not sure if you remember them but this man here is Ichinomiya Kenshin and the lady next to him is his wife, Ichinomiya Sayaka."

Why did that last name sound so familiar?

"Nice to meet you." Was all she said.

As they talked for a few minutes, Kaho had tried to remember who the Ichinomiya family was. Soon, the door opened. The waitress bowed her head and closed the door after a figure walked in."

The room grew silent and and there was a very cold aura in the room. Kaho had a cold aura too but hers was not strong as his.

She turned to look at the figure who stood there. He was very tall, and a shadow loomed over him. He wore a black three piece suit with a black tie and in his blazer pocket was a pink handkerchief folded neatly.

His face was defined and his coffee brown hair was styled in a curtain haircut with a short back to it. His bangs had just reached past his eyebrows.

There was denying that he was extremely good looking. But where had she seen that face before?

He then sat down next to Kenshin. Kaho stared at him. As her cold eyes stared him down, the man noticed her stare. Noticing how cold they were, he decided to stare back at her.

When the man started to stare at her, it was too late to turn back. Both of them thought the same thing. The looks in each other's eyes were familiar.

"Haah! Look them stare at each other. It must be love at first sight!" Sayaka slapped Kenshin's back.

"I don't think they're staring because of that. It seems like more of a battle to me." Makoto looked at the two. He seemed out of it.

"Let's talk business, then we will have dinner." Kenshin butted in.

The staring contest was ended by Kenshin. They both stopped looking at each other.

He looked at Kaho and the man. "The reason why we brought you two here today is because we want you two to get married."

An arranged marriage? Was he out of his mind?

"You two were very close when you were little. Kahoru, do you remember Takahiro?"

...

Takahiro?

It finally clicked in Kahoru's head.

Hiro.

That name the man told her four years ago. It was definitely him. Kahoru never forgot him. He helped her get back on her feet in a short amount of time. But now? He seemed... different.

It couldn't be helped. It had been four years.

They were childhood friends too

...

"We will be leaving the room. You have ten minutes to decide." Kenshin spoke. The elders stood up and walked out and waited nearby to let the kids talk about it.

The moment the door shut, There was an awkward silence. Takahiro wouldn't even look at Kaho.

"Um, you are Hiro... right?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember me?"

"Not really."

"Not our childhood. It was four years ago. You comforted me in the park."

"Four years ago..."

Takahiro was deep in thought and his face lit up. The atmosphere was suddenly calm. His eyes widened and looked at Kaho in the eye.

"Pouty?"

"That's me."

"You've changed."

"You did too. But I think we need... to talk about the marriage." Kaho's expression changed and she averted her eyes.

Her father had dragged her into a marriage. She didn't care who it was. As she did not care about herself. As long as her father was happy, Kaho would agree to it.

Takahiro then took the initiative to talk first. "I will accept the marriage. Will you?"

"Sure. Not like I care."

"What do you mean?" Takahiro asked.

"After everything that has happened to me, I gave up on majority of my life. I stopped caring for my own life. Although I do care for others.

Takahiro's face clouded. He stood up and walked over to Kaho.

Poof!

All of a sudden, Kaho's back was on the ground. Takahiro's body was hovering over her, his nose almost brushing hers.

His hands supported him and were placed over Kaho's shoulders.He had long eyelashes and his skin was of porcelain.

Takahiro stared into Kaho's eyes. "You shouldn't say that so carelessly."

Kaho was stunned. She could not look away from him. All she did was stare at him. The only thing that came out of her was a "mm..."

Takahiro backed up and walked back to his seat. Kaho sat up and was dumbfounded at what just happened.

"Pouty. Starting today, you will be my wife." Takahiro's words had no meaning, but both parties agreed. It would turn out to be a loveless marriage.

The two had just finished talking and the door slid open. The elders walked in and returned to their seats.

"How did it go?" Sayaka asked.

"We are both willing to do it." Takahiro replied. His voice was emotionless and cold.

"That's good!" Sayaka grinned. Something felt a little off.

"Looks like we can hand it in." Kenshin spoke.

"Hand what in?" Takahiro asked. Kaho was just as confused as him

Makoto had that same strange grin as Sayaka. Then Sayaka started to rummage through her bag. She then took out a piece of paper.

"This!" Sayaka laid the paper down. As Takahiro read it, his cold face had turned into a weird look. After reading it, he remained silent and pushed the paper to Kahoru.

Kahoru then read it. The title read: "marriage application."

Eh? A marriage application? As Kaho read the form, she realised that it had been already filled and her signature was already on there.

"This application has already been filled. But how did my signature get on there?"

"About that, I got one of the nurses to come in and hide it under your documents." Makoto said.

Then it hit Kaho, That strange document the nurse hid under the papers she gave to Kahoru, she tried to not let Kaho see by telling her to hurry up.

The document had both of their signatures. Kahoru and Takahiro remained in shock. The elders were prepared to have his marriage.

"I'm handing it in Tomorrow." Sayaka smiled to herself. "Feel free to divorce if you're both not happy."

"Father in law." Takahiro spoke.

Makoto's eyes shined. "Yes, Takahiro?"

"Could you please swap seats with me?"

"Of course you can!"

Makoto and Takahiro both stood up and swapped seats. Takahiro then, sat down next to Kahoru.

He's so close! Takahiro's height made Kahoru feel a little nervous. Takahiro was a whopping 190cm tall and Kahoru was a mere 170cm. Although it was quite tall for her height.

As soon as Takahiro sat, the sliding door opened.

The food had finally arrived.