Chapter 1
The sun was just rising as Kento reached the top of the hill, setting the mossy greenery in an ethereal fog. The sun was barely up, leaving a poor substitute for its sunny glow in a gloomy shadow of gray but even then it carried its own beauty. The air left goosebumps on his arms despite the warmth of the season, the grass dewy, leaving wet spots on the bottom of his trousers and shoes muddy. His aunt would have his hide for dragging them back dirty into the house, but Kento couldn’t care less. His walks to see the sunrise were the only time he could enjoy some peace and privacy away from his household.
He was grateful Yuuji had not insisted on coming with him this morning, his younger brother eager to follow everything Kento would do despite his reminders that Yuuji was never obligated to do anything he did. He liked bright things, bright mornings and happy people, and Kento would fall inadequate in each category, like this morning would have for Yuuji. He had left him asleep on his side, warm and piled on with an extra blanket when Kento felt the chill.
The foggy morning would soon fade, and with how the more recent weather had been, a pleasantly cool night awaited them for their evening festivities. Kento would probably miss tomorrow morning’s sunrise if they leave early enough, but somehow he doubts it. Yu would not allow him to go anytime before early morning.
It was something special to him, to enjoy watching the rising sun peak out behind clouds, to set the gray fog into the most loveliest of orange and pink. Kento wished he had allowed himself to take his art classes more seriously for moments like this, but he quelled that regret just as quickly. There was no point to it. Another sunrise would come again and perhaps when Yuuji was settled into his own life, Kento could pick up a brush once more for his sunrises. It was as good as anytime to stand up and take the walk back home, it would take its own time but Kento was nothing if not patient of his time.
The trek back to Longburn was quicker than his walk to the hill, surprisingly enough, but he supposed good things end quicker than they start. More pessimistic this morning than usual, Kento hoped to avoid some of the morning chaos his cousins would get up to. Preferably all of them were still asleep so he could get in a quiet breakfast with his uncle, and left to read in peace until Nobara or Yuuji decided they required his attention.
He truly adored his cousins, all of them livelier and different from each other in ways he and Yuuji could not be. Perhaps this was just the way they had grown up or had been taught. His aunt, while gentle and caring for them, had not set certain standards –other than the ones society had for them– like she had for her daughters. Her only requirement of the house being that they treat each other like true siblings, even if they were not. It was something Kento adjusted to quickly, and Yuuji never knew how to be alone and they were left to their own devices under a caring eye.
It did not mean Kento did not have his own expectations or standards. He had very diligently and carefully given Yuuji the education and affection he was so denied from life, and had set certain goals for himself, to become self-reliant and worthy enough to take care of his brother until his grandchildren would be set for life. In spite of his efforts, Kento was unable to curate such work for himself, his standing in society may not have been an earl or an esquire, he was still someone who could not sully the reputation of his family by labor, despite his protests.
Kento only had one option left to him at that point: marriage. A wealthy spouse who would overlook his lack of dowry and a younger sibling he would always support, Kento had limited options in the market. Even if he did find someone who was willing to overlook all the scarcities he provided, Kento did not wish to marry for convenience. A hope he had kept in his heart after his parents' loving marriage, and a hope he kept for himself and Yuuji to have in their life, even if it wasn’t the most logical of thoughts.
His mornings musings were throughly interrupted as he neared the house, the bustling of an awake home reached his ear from the gate and eased something in his chest even if he had wished for some continued quiet. A bright home is a lovelier place to live than a dreary one Ken , his mother’s voice could be heard saying to him. His aunt’s voice reaches a pitch from behind the door, and Kento discreetly wipes his shoes as best as he can, nodding at the servant feeding the chickens.
He’s almost barreled down as he enters from the kitchen door, Nobara and Akari both chasing after his aunt, their voices all blending in together.
“Mama did you hear me?”
“Mr. Yaga you must immediately make haste-”
“-I should be allowed to go as well-”
Kento looked towards where Shoko followed in a slower pace, still in her gown and robe looking rumpled and shot her a questioning glance.
“Why is everyone awake before noon?” He asked her.
“Apparently Netherfield Park has finally found its resident.”
“A permanent one?” Kento was surprised. That place had been empty as long as he had lived here. “Why the–” he gestured towards the hall where the chaos had gone through.
Shoko seemed more amused at him than the answer, “it seems the resident is an unwed man who brings in about £10,000 a year.”
Kento almost cursed. He could understand his aunt’s giddiness, with four unwed daughters and three of them out in society, he too would be eager to make his acquaintances for a match. “Is she planning on pushing you towards them?”
Shoko shrugged, uncaring of what agenda their mother had for them. “I suppose she could. I would never agree easily though and father is just as unlikely to push for it,” the slight undertone of bitterness Kento ignored.
For years they had all wondered why Shoko, as eldest of all the children in the house, constantly rejected each and every proposal that had come through the house, so much that his aunt had even threatened death upon herself should Shoko continue to deny perfectly reasonable options. She had stood firm and kept it up, even if it caused harm to her future and in turn her sisters’ future’s but Kento had never pushed for her to tell him as well. Some things should remain a secret, he supposed.
Kento could not imagine doing something as reckless for Yuuji’s sake, given the opportunity he would seize it and allow his brother the freedom he wished for him but if Shoko was good at one thing, it was avoiding her future.
“I doubt your mother would allow this one to fall through. You might not have a choice,” Kento hoped for the sake of his family. He wanted nothing but happiness for his cousins and nothing said quite like happiness than security of a well and good future. “I presume they will be attending the ball tonight then?”
“Who knows? I know Nobara will be put out once again that she has to stay home.”
“I could stay back with her and Yuuji of course, it's no imposition,” Kento offered.
“And avoid mother’s attempts at pushing you onto unsuspecting bachelors? Never," Shoko smiled with mischief, a certain imprudence she had developed with him and their friend Yu. “It is the most fun I have at these idiotic things, for me and Yu.”
Kento did roll his eyes, just for her to see before his uncle walked through, a book in his hand and an amused smile painted on his lips; his aunt rushed behind him with Nobara and Akari at her heels, all equally with wide and eager smiles. “Mr. Yaga, surely you must know when you refuse to give me proper answers, my nerves get awfully fraught.”
“When are they not? Kento,” his uncle nodded at him, allowing his wife to dither behind him and Kento was no better as he and Shoko abandoned their post to follow behind his younger cousins. Kento may be more subtle about his curiosity for gossip, but curious he still was. He was thankful for Yuuji being a heavy sleeper, he did not want to encourage him to gossip with his own behavior.
“Mr. Yaga, please you must immediately go out, before the ball,” his aunt shrilled after him. They all watched from the doorway of the drawing room, his uncle with not an ounce of care sat down with his book.
“Papa please, he will probably be at the Haibara’s ball tonight and it’s only right for the rest of us,” Akari pouted. She had only been out for a couple of months but had no desire to stick around as her elder sisters had. Kento couldn’t say he admired her tenacity but he knew she understood the pressure their family was under.
His uncle only sighed. “You mustn’t worry, I have already met the man the day before with Mr. Haibara. You will all be fit to meet him tonight,” he returned to his book, only grumbling as his daughters and wife fell on him in excitement. Kento too was amused, how easily happy his family could be at the prospect of marriage.
Warm hands gripped his shirt, before a soft bed of hair pressed against his arm. “What’s happening? Why are we all screaming?” he muttered almost absentmindedly.
Yuuji still had his eyes closed, sleep clinging to the ten year old as his cousins shouted about what to wear for the evening. “It’s for the ball tonight.”
Yuuji made a displeased noise, still upset at staying home. “Can’t I go as well?”
“You’re young Yuuji, it’s not time yet.”
Nobara hurried towards him, stopping any reply Yuuji had. “Come on! We can have our own fun when they leave us! I have plans!”
Shoko immediately pulled on Nobara’s ear, causing the young girl to shout. “If you burn anything else this time, I will cut off all your hair and postpone your coming out for another two years, is that understood?”
“Shoko! Let go!”
Shoko was undeterred, yanking Nobara’s ear even more. Yuuji was quick to move to his side to avoid any flailing limbs as the sister’s fell into an argument as old as time.
“I’m glad we don’t bicker like that,” he commented. Kento ruffled his hair, a teasing smile eased on his face.
“You don’t think I'd yell at you to not burn my things?” Kento would never yell or raise his voice at him, never allow anyone to speak in a louder voice than normal to his brother or he’d kill them.
His younger brother only shrugged, an innocent smile on his face as they watched the sister’s argue. “No. You’d tell me that it was wrong and I shouldn’t do it again but it’s also just material things,” his bright eyes turned towards Kento, “and I’d never do anything like that anyways. You’ve taught me better.”
Kento did not feel his eyes water, he did not feel his heart become heavy or that if he spoke his voice would not crack. He could only pull Yuuji close, his arm tight around his shoulders.
As many young boys were to do, he allowed himself a few seconds of affection before pulling away from Kento, asking for breakfast instead.
Breakfast was another loud affair as the rest of their morning had been and Kento was happy to join in on the excitement of everyone else.
The house was full of excitement and mayhem as they all got ready for the evening, Yuuji pestering him the whole time with questions in their room.
“Why do you have to wear that?”
“Because it’s the appropriate attire.”
“Will there be anyone my age there?”
“Most of the town will be there, but I doubt anyone your age.”
“When can I go with you as well?”
“When you’re of age Yuuji,” he reminded him. Kento had this conversation plenty of times already. Yuuji’s eagerness to step into society was always a sore spot for him, but the longer he could keep his brother away from it, he would.
“It’s just not fair,” his voice had sounded so genuinely upset, Kento had abandoned his cravat and turned towards his brother. Yuuji pouted, already dressed in his clothes for the night, slouched on their shared bed and Kento walked over and kneeled down in front of him.
His eyes were just like their father, wide, hopeful and brown, looked too close to tears right now and Kento felt his heart ache.
“Yuuji, what’s gotten you so upset right now?”
As used to Yuuji’s attachment Kento was, he was never the sort to cry easily, never insisted on things if Kento had told him no –Kento rarely said it anyways and Yuuji knew never to push if he did. His insistence right now was alarmingly concerning. “Yuuji, tell me.”
His little brother only pouted more, eyes staring down where Kento had taken a knee, his own foot knocking against Kento’s thigh. Yuuji knew he would wait as long as necessary for his answers, patience something Yuuji still worked on between them.
“I don’t want you to leave me behind,” he finally mumbled out, his fists clenched tightly on his lap as if saying it outloud would make it true.
“I'm not leaving you behind, why would you think that?” Kento was never more confused by the thought his brother had, eager to find the root and pull it out so it wouldn’t ever take root again.
It seemed it only took a bit of prodding before Yuuji spilled his feelings. “Because you’re always leaving to go here and there, and what if one day you decide you can’t come back? I don’t want you to not come back again!”
Kento wanted so badly to stay back from the ball, to go downstairs and tell his aunt and cousins he’s changed his mind and he would mind the children for the rest of the night and for them to enjoy themselves. Alas Kento had made promises, both to Yu and Shoko that he would show, he had an obligation to go out and find a suitable match for himself and not embarrass his aunt and uncle by changing his mind at the last minute. Yu would forgive him, but a promise is a promise. His normal way of explaining rationally would not work, Yuuji did not desire logic but rather assurances and promises and Kento had always meant his.
“Yuuji, look at me.” He grabbed Yuuji’s hands, clasped them tight between his own making sure that Yuuji had finally met his eyes before saying anything. “I would never in a million years leave you behind. That is so improbable that we would probably see our aunt find peace before that happens.” His attempt at a joke is met with a weak smile and Kento sighs. He sits himself next to Yuuji before pulling him close to his side. His hair smells clean and flowery, most likely Nobara’s doing, and Yuuji melds himself into him. “There is absolutely nothing on this earth that would stop me from coming back to you.”
“What if something stops you?”
“I’ll push right through it.”
Yuuji continued to push, his face rubbing against his shirt. “And if I tell you to go away?”
“I’ll be only fifteen feet away, waiting for you to ask me back,” Kento replied easily, praying there would never come a time where Yuuji would send him away.
“I want to go to the next ball with you,” he demanded, testing the limits of Kento’s boundaries.
“Yuuji-”
“No! I want to go!” he cut Kento off, pulling off and away from him and now Kento was back to the beginning. He held back a sigh, feeling more tired and older than his twenty one years and in that moment missed his parents. The feeling of everything being dependent on him grew even stronger and Kento just wanted a moment to not feel so worn and sad but at the same time he wanted to be allowed to feel them too. He couldn’t, not when he had to comfort his little brother, not when he was expected to show up for people in a bit, Kento had people counting on him. So he smiled and bartered the best way he could with Yuuji.
“How about this, the next one, I will stay at home with you and we will have our own ball with Nobara and it will be even more enjoyable hmm?” He hoped it would soothe the boy’s worry, allow him to have an enjoyable night of his own rather than dwell on what Kento would not be doing. He would be strung up by his aunt for this but Kento did not care.
“Promise?” he looked up at him, brown eyes unwavering in their conviction to get Kento to promise, as if there wasn’t anything Kento wouldn’t promise him.
“I promise. Now please help me button this up. We don’t want me looking like a fool do we? Could you imagine the horror our dear aunt would rain on us?”
“It would be your fault,” Yuuji giggled, thankfully more at ease now that he had Kento’s word.
Kento shook his head, exaggerating his actions, “betrayed by my own brother.”
Yuuji pushed him down, climbing on top and messing up his hair, but Kento didn’t care. He could fix it later. “I didn’t! You’re so dramatic Kento!”
Kento burst out laughing, getting Yuuji off of him before hoisting him over his shoulder, uncaring of how wrinkled his clothes would be now. “I learned from you! Now help me before we both get into trouble.”
He dropped him on the chair by the mirror, allowing Yuuji access to his neck and he eagerly knotted his cravat and chatted away about his plans with Nobara for the evening as Kento finished getting ready, pulling his hair back into his slicked back style, his earlier dejection a faint memory thankfully.
“Now make sure to get to bed on time Yuuji, and make sure Nobara does as well,” he reminded Yuuji by the door as the rest of the family waited in the carriage.
“I will! Bring me back some sweets Kento please!” he called out towards him.
Kento watched the door, Yuuji smiling an image that always warmed and comforted him, until he couldn’t see him anymore.
“You spoil the child Kento,” his aunt remarked, a hint of scolding. Kento tried not to take it to heart, knowing she only spoke from a motherly concern.
It was Shoko who decided to take it personally for him.
“Well perhaps Kento wishes to raise him spoiled, maybe marriage isn’t all he has planned for little Yuuji,” she remarked snidely, huffing around her pink frilly dress. His aunt had forced her into the shade, disregarding her choice of a darker, plainer dress, as she had wanted her daughters to catch the attention of any and every guest. He knew from the way his aunt’s face turned red at the indirect comment he should intervene, his uncle unlikely to anyways.
“It’s alright. I know my aunt only speaks with concern, but I have no one else to spoil except him. He’s also still a child, it’s not a sin for me to treat him as such.”
“Even perhaps then you will,” Yuki jokes, easing some of the tension with her airy tone, her own blue gown ruffled under her feet.
Knowing Kento’s very nature involved being agreeable and coddling anyone he loved, even if he sighed over it a hundred times. He enjoyed allowing people to be their very selves, it brought him a certain happiness but it was rare he felt it for any others. Yuuji being the very pinnacle of it.
The rest of the ride was, thankfully, filled with light chatter. Akira and his aunt, more alike than not, were excited for the gossip of the night and the newcomers, his uncle and Yuki, were more silent and easygoing about it. Kento stuck closer to Shoko, who had simply looked forward to a night of amusement, avoiding and drinking, something Kento could get on board with.
The was bright and busy when they got to Haibara Lodge, the noise getting louder as they entered. Everybody had already begun dancing to the first set, others mingling on the side waiting for the next. Kento could feel some of the anxiety that had been unknowingly resting on him and the thrill of another night of excitement building up again. Kento looked forward to dancing and drinking tonight.
“Kento!”
His dearest friend’s face popped out from behind some people, quick on his feet in erasing the distance between them. He had seen his friend yesterday, but even hours apart felt lonely for Kento, who had only two friends to call his own. Adulthood had robbed him of his childhood friendships, and his own willful nature prevented him from making more. He wished he had some of Yuuji’s traits, especially where he could charm people with an ease and comfortability that Kento severely lacked. It was always a wonder Yu had found his personal brand of charm fun and inviting rather than off-putting. Shoko was his friend almost by default; proximity and relation had them banding together.
Yu was quick to whisk him away from the others, insisting that Kento meet some of his friends who had come all the way from down south. a bit more forceful in certain introductions than Kento preferred, but if anyone understood the need Kento had for securing his future, Yu would be in the same boat. His own father had wished for his only son to find a suitable partner to settle down with –his father was kind enough to not mention his turn into spinsterhood– and only had gently encouraged his son’s affection anywhere.
Shoko had joined them at some point, breathless from her dance and a rosy flush to her cheeks. She quickly accepted the drink from Yu, settling warmly against Kento as he waited for the next dance.
“You seem to be enjoying yourself,” he commented to Shoko, both watching Yu twirl around with Yuki, catching looks and envy from everyone around. “As is Yu.”
“They tend to get those looks don't they?” Shoko sounded wistful, a bit sad as she said.
“They're quite a picture to look at, but I seem to see many more looking over here, and I am most certain those aren’t looks for me.”
Shoko seemed to note the looks when pointed out, only huffing at Kento before stealing his drink. “I suppose, but you aren’t exactly a good judge of attention Kento.”
Kento frowned, but ignored the comment. “Nonsense. If every person isn’t staring at Yu, they’re staring at you. I happen to have it on good authority that they’re mad for you both.”
“You might be more observant than the average man Kento, but that does not save you from your willful obliviousness. They may look at me, and Yu, but they linger on you dear cousin.”
Kento held back a grimace, unconvinced of those words and disagreeing on principle. “You must be confused Shoko, half of the men here are humorless peacocks who would rather have someone clever and sharp like you or bright and charming like Yu or I’m not a judge of character.”
“You’re not, but I digress,” Shoko seemed more amused now, something about picking apart Kento always seemed to put her in a pleasant mood so he let it slide. Yu was quick to their side again as the music changed from one to another and this time it was Kento who was swept back up, Shoko by his side and moving fluidly across each other in a familiar dance.
All three of them gathered near the seats after a while, slightly sweaty and tired but invigorated for a long night. Shoko had just sat down when the chatter seemed to pitter off and the music abruptly stopping during the dance had everyone collectively turned towards the doors. There stood three people, a look of polite smiles and awkward stances as they waited for Mr. Haibara to make their introduction into the soirée. Never having seen them before Meryton, Kento could only assume one of them was the elusive and single Mr. Getou.
“Is that them?” Kento wondered out loud to Yu. Shoko barely glanced up, content to doze off against his shoulder, but Yu had gripped his arm tight, his eyes sparkling in excitement.
“The dark haired man is Mr. Suguru Getou. He’s the one who’s moved into Netherfield Park, and his sister Utahime,” Yu said with a sudden quietness to his voice. The hall had gone from deafening noise to the sound of shoes echoing with whispers across the floor as they watched Mr. Haibara lead them towards the stage.
“Who is the man with the bizarre hair?”
Kento took note of the trio, the tall, dark haired man– Mr. Getou– his dark eyes pleasant and soft as he conversed with Mr. Haibara. He looked pleased, almost happy to be here and it was easy to see why most of the single individuals were drawn to him, he had a handsome face to go with everything. The woman walking next to him seemed more subdued but just as content as her brother, an unusual scar running across her face but her dark hair was carefully pulled up and she was quite pretty, Kento noted. The other man with them was in complete contrast to both, a shock of white hair was left unruly and undone over his face, his blue eyes could be seen from all the way where Kento stood –he could swear that the man looked over in their direction and he could see into them– and his clothes screamed of wealth and luxury. His face may be contorted into a smile, but Kento could tell he looked miserable and inconvenienced to be here. An uninvited guest who was soon about to be unwanted as well if he didn’t hide his feelings from his face soon.
“That’s Mr. Satoru Gojo, head of the largest milling company in the country. He owns half of Derbyshire and brings in about £50,000 a year. ” Kento had forgotten his question, too busy dissecting the man– Mr. Gojo.
“The unstable half?” Kento muttered, but Yu heard anyways if the way he choked on his laughter.
“He’s single,” Yu added, as if that made a difference to Kento.
“I wonder why,” he comments, ignoring Shoko’s nudge, a reminder to mind his tongue but Kento didn’t need reminding. He was with friends, who cared what anyone else heard. “Look at his hair. He may be the richest man alive, but it clearly didn’t buy him any sense of decorum.” Yu hit his arm with intent, forcing him to invade more of Shoko’s space who suddenly looked very interested in the party walking past them.
Yu seemed displeased with him when he said, “you too easily judge others, Ken dear.”
He could only shrug. There wasn’t much of a response if it was true, Kento had always been a good judge of character and so far he only seemed to be fond of Mr Getou and Ms. Getou. “One day Ken, you’re going to regret making quick assumptions about people, and then you’ll be sorry,” Yu warned him, but the seriousness of his statement was dulled when he smirked at him.
“My dear cousin would rather sew his mouth shut than ever admit he was wrong about anything or anyone,” Shoko decided to remind them of her presence. Kento rolled his eyes.
“So you’ve finally decided to take an interest in the guests then? Don’t think I didn’t notice the way you stared at them.”
Kento could never say he was completely without cruelty but in the way Shoko’s whole face turned pink, he knew he had embarrassed his cousin. Luckily, or thankfully he wasn't sure, Shoko rarely took offense to her person and only stomped –lightly– on his foot.
“Do shut up Kento.”
Yu’s laughter broke up the silence of the hall, and as if the musicians were waiting for a sign, began playing as if they never stopped. Kento glanced back at the group, watched as Mr. Getou’s eyes lingered near the trio, wondering who he was taking note of when he felt another stare glaring in their direction.
Glowing blue eyes locked with his, and an expression rested on the horridly – handsome – face as what could only be described as a flirtatiously daring smile. Kento glared back, startled by the audacity, before turning away. An odd man with an even odder behaviour. He’d be glad to stay clear of the new group if he could help it.