A/N: And the long wait is over! Yey! As you all can see, a concerned citizen reported this story as being plagiarized so I had to start working on some papers to assure everybody that I DIDN'T PLAGIARIZED THE STORY.There weren't really any revisions in this story and I have talked with the author involved and she told me that she's fine with it. :D. That it's no big deal and she said that we can just forget about it since it happened a long time ago. And she believed that I didn't plagiarize this story as well. And you believed me all as well so now, I'm working on updating it as soon as I could.

I require another round of patience some more but I swear—I swear—that this story would be finished within a WEEK. So please, bear with me. This is just the beginning. :D

Thanks for reading my A/N. And also, I don't own anything.

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One:

"No. I mean it. I'm not going to marry anyone."

Gerard Walker cringed at the profanity that came out of his stepbrother's mouth. He stared at Usui Takumi, the child of his mother from her Japanese lover, and didn't deny the fact that he was really good-looking—and his looks himself is enough to get any woman into his bed whenever and however he liked. That's why news about his sexual escapades and innuendos was not able to escape his hearing—well; he was not a Walker for nothing. But Usui Takumi was not just all about looks. Because his ability to revive even a business that was already on the brink of bankruptcy matches the sophisticated and impressive looks he had inherited from both Japanese and English lineage. He's got everything all men in their world could ever want. He had fame, he had the money, he had that social status that was way beyond the median and all kinds of women of varying social and civil status was wrapped around his also endowed fingers. But despite everything that Takumi had, Gerard noticed that he never really had any serious relationship.

He was always seen with different women of different standings but none of them lasts. They come and go and even if some of those women blatantly admits in the public that they want to wed the Usui Takumi, wedding bells never rang and he had never seen his stepbrother—no matter how much he loathed him before—look at a woman as though he was a man in love. In fact, he had already notice that Takumi was never the type to fall in love. He uses women to satisfy whatever that needs to be satisfied in him and leaves them as soon as he was done with them—no strings attached. He was that kind of man. But Gerard would never ever allow his brother to lead such a lonely and complicated life. He knows why he was that resentful and bitter. And he didn't want Takumi to forever be imprisoned in that whirlwind of hatred and bitterness for the rest of his life.

Trying to be casual since he knows how Takumi throws a fit despite his age, he placed the newspaper he was reading on his worktable and met up furious emerald eyes. Ah, those eyes really remind him of his late mother. If only she was still alive and could see how successful Takumi is now. But then again, since his mother is very sickly, he didn't really want her to see Takumi play and change women as though he was changing clothes. Because seeing that kind of hobby would definitely make Patricia sicker.

"It was already decided, Takumi. Grandfather stated in his codicil that lest you want to continue being free from the Walker duties you are bound to uphold, you should marry someone—anyone—before you reach your twenty seventh year." Gerard applauded himself for being able to say those words as calm as the impending storm. "You should be thankful that he didn't state you marry a girl of my choosing because, to quote your language, that would have fucking sucked."

Takumi glared at Gerard, disbelief colored his face as he stared at his dumbass of a brother that was four years older than him. "I've been long free from your damned family ever since I was taken in by Dad's family. You disowned me, remember?" there was blunt sarcasm and anger on his voice as he said that.

And once again, Gerard mentally cringed. Well, he wouldn't really blame him if he was that resentful. Had he been in his shoes, he would have felt the same, too. But the mistake has been done and it was long over as soon as Patricia died after finally giving in to her ailment and as soon as she and the Duke of England, his grandfather—Patricia's father—had forgiven each other. Takumi's existence was acknowledged although the Duke still insisted he could not step on the Walker property.

Gerard sighed. "You will be the official successor once I die."

"Then get well, bastard." He shot back angrily. "Weeds don't die easily, Gerard. And you can't expect me to fucking believe you'd die that easily when news has it that you've been up on various places in this fucking miserable world with different women."

"Hm, never thought you're checking out on your dear brother."

"Don't get your hopes up. I don't care about any of you at all. And you can tell on your dearest Grandfather that I could care less about his friggin' codicil. I am on my own now and you could no longer bind me on your stupid familial crap."

Takumi turned on his heels, about to retreat before he does something stupid when Gerard spoke again. "Don't make this any harder, Takumi. You know that one word from the Walker elders and the Usui family would immediately hand you over back to us."

He had that bitter smirk on his face as he spun to face his brother. "You're right. I almost forgot that no one actually wanted to take responsibility on me, that I don't really have any identity. So, I'm gonna say it again, dear brother, if those elders wanted someone to get married, they should go ahead and freakin' marry whoever bitch they wanted to marry. Leave me the hell alone."

"Then what about Aoi?"

That stilled him and Gerard knew he was in for more trouble after mentioning the name Takumi was so hell bent on protecting. If there was one person he would never allow anybody to touch, that would be their youngest stepbrother Aoi—because like Takumi, Aoi was also his mother's son from a different man. But unlike them, Aoi and Takumi are more in a tight link relationship. He hated the existence of his two healthy brothers. But that was gone many years ago after Patricia died when Aoi was no more than eleven, Takumi fourteen and him eighteen. He acknowledge their existence and came to love them as though they all came from one man and set aside the blinding hate he had back then for them because he had grown out from his childhood. Aoi was never resentful. In fact, like Takumi, he doesn't care about the Walker wealth at all as long as he could do whatever he wanted in life. And because he had never taken a liking in the business industry, Takumi supported their youngest brother when he decided to take up Photography. Now he was an international blogger and his works were broadcasted all over the world, introducing the world to another eligible bachelor, Aoi Walker Hyodou.

His daydreaming halted when Takumi slammed his fists against Gerard's study table. "Leave Aoi out of this, Gerard. You wouldn't really want to get things ugly."

"Your call. So, when's the wedding?"

"Wedding, my ass—"

"Because Takumi, it is either you wed before the year ends or Aoi would be seized from whatever country he was hiding and be forced to stand in front of the altar with a woman of my choosing."

Takumi glared daggers at Gerard, unable to believe that despite their age, he was still able to control their lives. But he couldn't be stubborn when it was Aoi's freedom on the line. He was not supposed to care. Aoi was never his responsibility. But he had the same fate as him and they were more considered as trash in the society than normal human beings just because they were the sons of their mother from different men. Aoi was much younger when he experienced discriminations and for a millisecond, he saw himself in him when he caught his classmates bullying him at school. That was the turning point of it all. Because nobody ever wanted Aoi—not even his own father—he decided to bring him in to his home and they started living together. The hatred in Aoi's eyes eventually disappeared and his home was filled with his childish laughter and juvenile enthusiasm. Takumi tried to make him happy, giving him whatever he wanted, so he would never feel as though he was alone the way he felt when he was as young as him. He had loved him as though they were real brothers in the true essence of the word.

But Gerard just had to come again and destroy the peaceful world he had given to Aoi.

"You're not touching my brother." He hissed through gritted.

Gerard shrugged. "Aoi was my brother, too."

"Yeah, and you were so responsible that you denied our existence until Patricia died." He shot back almost as easily. "And don't ever consider us as your brothers, Gerard, because you were never one to begin with. You and the entire Walker clan. Don't touch him, I'm warning you."

"When am I going to announce the wedding?"

"Do whatever you want, damn you!" that and he strode off his office, purposefully knocking off an antique vase and disappeared in a whirlwind of curses and profanities.

Gerard could pretty much understand why he was that bitter. Ever since Takumi appeared in their lives, they showed him nothing but hostility. The Usui family had taken him in because his grandfather was fearful of the speculations that would ruin the Walkers. But even if Takumi was with the Usuis, his father was never with him and according to the people he asked to look after Takumi's every move, he has always been alone. Surrounded by no one and nothing. He mostly kept to himself and Gerard immediately concluded that it was because of the fact that ever since the painful beginning, Takumi has always been rejected. No one had accepted his existence and maybe, because he didn't want Aoi to have the same experiences, he accepted him and had loved him with everything he had, not rejecting him the way he's been rejected.

Forgiveness and forgetting was never meant to be easy because it had left a deep scar on Takumi's very being, but he wanted to start anew. He wanted them to be family again and he thinks, Takumi would be happier if he had a family of his own that would accept him. He was certain, and he was as clear about it as day and as sure as skies are blue, that a woman is capable of accepting Takumi despite his standing in life. He was sure that she was just around the corner, waiting for his arrival and his grandfather's codicil was the fate that binds that woman and Takumi together. Gerard did not mind if she were of low class, or if she were of higher ranking or even if she had the same position as Takumi. What he cared for most is that she will accept his brother. He did not want Takumi to forever live in the darkness of their familial past. Takumi was able to make Aoi happy, so, why don't he try making Takumi happy this time, since, after all, he had offered him nothing but resentment. Gerard had his own escapades with women. The hatred has always been there and he wanted nothing but to sate himself because he was place in an extremely messy mess. Until, of course, he met his wife and married her exactly two months after their meeting. He was, by far, the happiest man that ever lived when he possessed her and he wanted Takumi to feel that same feeling he feels whenever he embraces the woman he loved.

Gerard doesn't totally believe that the notorious playboy and successful young Entrepreneur and businessman was never capable of giving love. Because as a brother, he was able to offer Aoi the love that, as the eldest brother, he had failed to give upon his own brothers. So, if Gerard was the one to be asked, he was certain Takumi has a weakness in love, too. He knew he would eventually find her—that woman who would make him see sense and would make him feel as every bit as wanted and love and accepted in this world. That's why the codicil must be honored. He did not want to further bind Takumi into the dark and controlling world of the Walker family. He wanted him to be free, too, since that was the only thing he could do for his brother he had neglected for so many years.

Yes, one day of these days, Usui Takumi would surely meet his match in the form of that woman that he would face the altar with.

.

"Aoi, I'm getting married."

As soon as Takumi sputtered the four impossible words, the call he insinuated with Aoi was cut off and next thing he knew, he had seen his familiar dark blue M5 car as Aoi nearly plant his face on the ground since he looked as though he was in extreme haste to get into his penthouse. He watched him through the private CCTV footage that was interconnected to his personal flat screen and had he been capable of wider ranges of emotions, he would have laughed at his little brother who seemed too agitated as he stood like and awkward turtle inside the lift. When the elevator pinged to his floor, Aoi made a mad sprint to his unit as though his life depended on it.

Three raps on the door were all it took him to turn off the screen and acknowledge the advent of his little brother. "Well, I was expecting you'd come, seeing you look so agitated as soon as you got off your car." Was what he said in lieu of his hello.

Confusion colored Aoi's feline-like face before he suspiciously shot his eyes to the screen and glared back at him—only Aoi could meet his eyes like that, unabashed and definitely not fearful. Mostly, people would cringe away at the sight of him. But he learned to toughen himself and made sure that they fear him because of what he could do and not because of his English lineage.

"You got someone pregnant." Came Aoi's accusation. Aoi was considerably beautiful despite his male gender, and that would immediately put him off. Unlike him, Aoi had a sunnier and calm demeanor and his presence attracts attention like bees to honey. He was really a funny guy, very different from his disposition and whereas Takumi had very little acquaintance, Aoi was certain to gather a lot. And whenever they'd come together in a party, people in the room would immediately whipped their heads to their direction and sigh dreamily at the sight of them.

Takumi wouldn't deny but Aoi was a work of art along with himself.

He rolled his eyes at the accusation and softly flicks him on the forehead. "I may be careless on a few times but I was never that careless. I always use protection." He cringe at their topic, he was never really one to blurt out carelessly his sex life even if it was Aoi he was speaking with, and he wondered what was able to distract him enough to shamelessly admit to his little brother that he had a very active sex life.

But that doesn't seem to bother Aoi at all. "Fuck protection, you know that most of the time, it doesn't work because condoms had about… 0.005 cm holes in them. It's a rubber, you idiot. You should have been more… careful. God, I could kill you for this."

He wanted to laugh but he decided to drop the idea knowing that Aoi would mean it if he says he could kill him for this. "Relax, okay? I didn't get someone pregnant. My bachelorhood is far too valuable for me to suddenly want… kids. I don't do that kind of thing."

"You don't do that kind of thing but you're getting married? Takumi-nii, what the hell? Are you playing with me?"

"I'm not. And like I've said previously, relax. It was… a very sudden marriage."

There was an awkward pause that engulfed both of them and he didn't know if Aoi bought his dumb excuse but he had hoped he would take the bait. He released the breath he was holding when Aoi slumped his shoulders and met up his gaze again. "A very sudden marriage, I see. I understand. Have I… you know, met her already?"

Shoot. "Not yet."

"Next week."

"I thought you're in Budapest? What are you doing here in Japan?"

Aoi's feline eyes sharpened. "Next week. I want to meet the woman next week. And I'm serious. I want to make sure you'd be marrying someone that wouldn't… well, hurt you and wouldn't use you because you're, well, well fend off. I'm not gonna let that happen. And no divorce, either, okay?"

He couldn't totally promise him anything because he wasn't sure either where he would find a girl that would marry him without doing what Aoi had stated before. and he had long accepted the fact that no one would accept him what with his standing in life. Men wanted his position and if he had a choice, he would gladly trade. All his life he was considered trash, and he had gotten sick of getting the same treatment ever since his fateful advent to this miserable world. They said everything happens for a reason. But he did not believe that. There was no reason at all why he was born. Because every day, he had to toughen his resolve as people repeatedly criticized him, not knowing the real him at all.

Now, what made matters worse is he was getting before he reaches twenty seven or he would be trapped in the bounds of the Walker family. And if there was one thing he rejected most, it was living in that establishment and breathing in the same air those people breathe as they breathe against his neck. He wanted freedom but despite only wanting that, it seemed too far away. Somehow, by being able to escape the Walker family, he had to be certain freedom was still there. He had to know if it still exists that's why he was so hell bent on escaping his family. He wanted to know if freedom could be attained by a person no matter how long one waits.

But he waited long enough. He could already taste freedom at the tip of his tongue after his break out. But then again, it still tasted bitter. He wanted more. He wants more. He desires something more from the norm. And he would be unable to attain the freedom he desired if he were to marry—and he'd make sure Gerard would be unsuccessful on tying him down permanently to the ground, this time.

He just have to find this woman who would be willing enough to marry him for the time period stated in that stupid codicil and dispatch her as soon as the contract's over, once again, no strings attached like the usual.

For once in his entire life, he wanted to taste freedom again, no matter how bitter and aloof it was from his grip.

He wanted freedom.

No matter how bitter it tasted.

"Takumi-nii, next week, are we clear on that?"

I have a week to find that woman and I'm gonna leave it all to fate. "Next week, then. It's a date."

.

"Gah, I'm friggin' starving already!"

But despite the fact that Ayuzawa Misaki was starving, her mind was nowhere near the state of eating. She needed to work her ass off or there wouldn't be supper for her once she gets back at the apartment where she lives temporarily. It's bad enough that Aoi often answers food expenses and she didn't want her best friend—no matter how sarcastic he could be—to always answer the food expenditure. He had offered her shelter when she needed one and gave her food when she was starving after overworking herself to death and for once, she wanted to do something better for him. Being a photographer isn't really a reliable job income since she didn't have connections that would instantly put her to the hall of fame. But Aoi was pretty generous and offered her help again. The fact was that she denied him because she wanted to do things her own. She didn't want to be dependent on anyone. Her mother died when she was no more than eleven and at such a young age, she was able to know how cruel the world could be. Her father worked hard as a chef at some café but his income was not enough to meet ends, until he finally succumbed to his death four years before. That left her and Suzuna alone and since they don't have any other relatives, she decided to work while studying. She took up Photography and that was where she met Aoi who offered her lodgings and food. She wasn't sure either why Aoi was so… insistent on helping her but since she badly needed a place to stay, she accepted his offer and they started living together along with Suzuna who was currently taking up Law now.

It was a pretty pricey course program but she did not mind. She wanted Suzuna to reach whatever dream she wanted to achieve. And she wants to make sure poverty won't hinder her little sister's dream.

And now, as a lively college student, her sister was now living in an in-school apartment inside the University state she was studying to minimized their expenses. Misaki did not want her sister to work because her course is a bit… extreme, thus, the working job was left in her hands.

The bells chime loudly, signaling the entrance of a new customer and swiftly, Misaki spun around to face the newcomer in time to see Aoi making haste towards her. He had that annoyed expression on his face as he approached her. "Ayuzawa, you dork, isn't it your day-off today? Why are you helping around the café?"

Aoi Hyodou was an international blogger that was famous all over the world. Since he was sort of a hobo, his blogs and pictures that explore the culture of the country he visits were often flashed on social sites and television programs. He was handsome, if one may say, but he looked far more girly than the average women he was often seen hanging out with whenever paparazzis are stalking him. Misaki was certain Aoi was a famous personality not only because he was a traveling worker, but since she values her friendship with him more than his popularity, she opted not to ask about him anymore.

She smiled at him and lean in forward to kiss him on the cheek—they were friends, all right? And such intimate acts no longer bother the two of them since they already treated each other as though they were real family. "Why, hello to you, too, Aoi. What are you doing here?"

Aoi had snorted at Misaki. He was quite aware of the story of her life but, seriously, the girl was a classic martyr. She could borrow money from him and accept his offer to help her get some job but the girl merely rejected the offer because she wanted to do things on her own. At such a young age, she learned to stand on her own two feet and not be dependent on another people. She must have gotten fairly used on not being reliant on someone but really, he wanted her to trust him because he just wanted to be a family to her.

He flicked her on the forehead to show her how annoyed he currently was at her. "You dumb woman, you've been into exhibits the entire month and you only get to have a day-off once and you're still working your sexy ass off? I could kill you for this."

"Yeah, but you wouldn't so stop killing yourself over me, okay?" Misaki patted her best friend's shoulder and grinned at him. "Coffee's on the house, you want some?"

"Black. No sugar. No cream."

"That's why you're so bitter in life."

"And you're a classic martyr." He shot back almost easily. He like Misaki, that was one thing. She was almost a sister to him and despite knowing the fact that he was his mother's son from a different man, she accepted him and kept his secret. She didn't ask for any more information. She only listened to the part that he told her. Aoi even considered dating her, of course, but she was far more of a sister to him than a girlfriend material. And besides that, he respected her because every inch of her is a tough woman—something that would never become him. Ayuzawa was a whirlwind of smiles and laughter and comfort, and for one moment in his life, he thought that her presence could heal the wounds of the past that was inflicted on the dearest family he ever had: his brother, Usui Takumi.

But then again, despite being the closest relative he could turn to in times of dire need, Takumi had never really let him in to his heart. He had given him everything he could ever need and want, supported every whim he had in mind and became his father, his brother, his mother and his friend while they stayed together. Aoi was certain Takumi had loved him as if he was a real brother, and for that, he was thankful. But other than that, he was never able to do anything for his brother. He kept to himself, locking himself in that wall of hatred and ice he established around himself from the rest of the world. He had never let anybody in and now that he's getting married, he wondered if there was something else he was hiding from him. Takumi has trust issues and marriage is higher up on his list and would rather boil live puppies than do something as absurd as commitment.

So, maybe, he was really hiding something from him.

"Here's your coffee, lover boy."

Aoi glared at Misaki but accepted the coffee anyway. "You're coming with me once I leave this place, all right?"

"I'm not going to let you pay for the food expenses again, okay?"

"Once you get married, your husband would always be the one paying for the food. Now stop acting like a classic martyr and suck it up."

"You know, Aoi, you would have been hot if you were a bit nicer."

"Duh, girls want me even if I'm rotten."

"Well, Mr. Girls-want-me-even-if-I'm-rotten, pay for that coffee, okay?" she laughed, and Aoi suddenly felt at home by just hearing her laughter. "And here I thought you're off to Budapest. What are you doing here bothering me?"

"I say I'm going to flirt with you."

"Thanks, but no thanks." Another laugh. "That's really lovely but I'm not into hobos."

"Yeah, you like men with bigger—ow! Why'd you do that?!" he was laughing already despite the shock of getting hit by the metal tray she was holding against the head. One thing about Ayuzawa Misaki is, despite their social differences, she acts as though there wasn't a barrier amidst them that could hinder them from getting close. He rubbed his head that the tray made contact with and looked up at her to snigger. "If you are thinking about perverted things, then I'm gonna tell you that you are far more perverted than I am."

"I am not a pervert, jackass. If you weren't only my best friend, I would have repeatedly hit you already." Misaki flashed a sardonic smile towards Aoi while the latter simply took sips from his coffee and winked at the annoyed woman to further annoy her. Misaki rolled her beautiful amber eyes. "Well, I'll be working here until my shift is over. Aunt Satsuki needed a few laborers."

"Classic martyr." He mumbled and took sips from his coffee again. "I guess I'd just wait for you—" Misaki watched Aoi when he was interrupted by the shrill ringing of his phone. She noticed him curse and answered the call. Varying shades of blue and purple and white flickered on his beautiful face before he suddenly—more like thoughtlessly—shove his phone to her hand and ran off to the exit. "I'll see you at the pad later!" he called out over his shoulder before getting in swiftly to his dark blue M5.

She shrugged, and went on to pocketing his phone before clearing the table Aoi had used recently.

"Misaki-chaaaan, table number five!"

She smiled at the lovely manager of the café and nodded with such enthusiasm. "I'm on it, beautiful."

Life was a challenge to her but that didn't deter her and made her give up. In fact, she loves challenges. She was able to survive even after the deaths of the person she had identified herself with because Suzuna was with her. And now, Aoi is with her and he had served as her extended family since he—aside from Suzuna—was everything now she had.

And she would have done everything to make sure that her only family would be happy.

Andy.