Okay, I got the perfect story for the image above. When she was 16, she did a play about the life of an upper-class maiden during the Victorian time period, she played the main girl and wore blue contact lenses to be more legit. BAM!

Anyway, media is a visual of Misaki XD

Beau's PoV

Two weeks has passed since Misaki and I began dating, and everything's been going uphill since. Especially now that the people at school are starting to understand that this time, it's a serious relationship, the guys are finally backing off little by little.

Adding a spice of PDA here and there, they'll leave my girl alone soon enough.

"Sorry, I must decline your offer." I was walking towards the front gate after school, where we arranged to meet, when I heard her voice.

I look up and unconsciously smiled when I saw her, even though she was rejecting someone. The boy's expression showed slight confusion, and then walked away, dejected, while glancing back several times.

Misaki then spotted me, a smile made its way on her thin lips. I quickened my pace a little while I wave back.

All of a sudden, noise erupted around the school gate. A flood of people with microphones and cameras piled up, with several news vans parked carelessly around, blocking traffic terribly.

"W-What're all these reporters doing here for?!" Someone exclaimed, "Is there someone famous in our school?"

Uh-oh. Somehow, they've tracked down Misaki's school...?!

Just as I thought, they quickly locate Misaki and surrounded her instantly:

"Is it true that you are the well-known artist, Ota Kisaki's daughter?"
"What kind of environment did you grow up in? Did you know who your father was?"
"Who is your mother?"

Not even five seconds since they've arrived and they're already bombing question after question, pointing their microphones at her, desperately hoping for a response from her.

I wasn't sure whether to go up to her or remain here. She then turned around a bit, I stayed rooted to my spot. One glance from her and I know she doesn't want to get me involved, paparazzi might show up at my house.

"I have picture evidence that you go to Hotel Tres Spades very often, you must live there, don't you?!"

That earned a gasp from the crowd surrounding to watch, and among the other reporters as well. I wasn't sure how she was going to deal with the pressure. But then she suddenly put on her million-dollar smile.

"That's right, I do live there with my parents." She states, making the reporters completely go wild with their cameras and further questions, "Any further questions will need to be scheduled, please."

Before they could react to that, she slipped past them and began walking away, leading the hoard of media people following her, still not giving up. She led them away from the school.

Hahh... that spoils our plan of visiting that new bakery before heading home, then.

***

Misaki's PoV

"...So that's what I did." I finish telling mom and dad about the disruption at school today, I wasn't confident with how I dealt with the media at all. I sent an apology text to Beau earlier, and he said it was alright, and that he was concerned. I heave a small sigh. I didn't think the media would catch on so soon.

I haven't even known that I'm Ota Kisaki's daughter for more than three weeks, okay?!

"You did the right thing." I look up to dad's comment, "Since you need to be announced to the world sooner or later, lying about it now would be pointless and it'll leave a bad first impression. I already got many requests for interviews."

"Schedule one, I suppose." I huffed and sat up straight on my seat, "It'll be irresponsible of me if I keep this dragging along."

In the corner of my eye, I see them exchange a glance. I lower my head again, I have imagined what celebrity life was like before, but I guess many problems follow.

My eyes widen a fraction when I felt dad's comforting hand rest on top of my head. I lift my head a little, he had a mean smile plastered on his face, "That depressed look doesn't suit you. Be a good girl and cheer up, alright? I'll go talk to Eisuke about using the hotel conference room for this."

I laughed at his own attempt to comfort me, and can't deny that I could've done the same. I pat my hand on his, "Thanks, dad."

That took him by slight surprise. I still called him 'Ota', he's not used to actually being called 'father' yet.

"Psh, you're making me sound old." He applied more pressure on his hand and pressed my head down, thinking then I somehow wouldn't be able to spot the redness in his face.

Beau's PoV

"A press conference, you say?" I repeat. I'm lying in bed, Misaki hummed in confirmation on the other end of my phone. Calling each other before bed has become a daily routine for us over the past two weeks.

"Yup, one where questions will be asked by the media, so basically like a large-scale interview." She replied, then let out a small sigh, "I originally intended this to be a couple months later, sorry about the trouble I've caused."

"Not at all." I respond without a thought, "I can only imagine what you're going through."

I heard a snicker come from the other end, I raised an eyebrow even though she can't see it, "What?"

"The situation's already like this, I might as well have fun with it."

That sentence of hers alarmed me for no reason, "What're... you going to do?"

"It's scheduled for a week from now, just watch." She giggled softly, as if scheming something weird in that cuckoo-coo mind of hers, "Anyway, I probably won't be in school until then."

"I see...." The disappointment was so evident in my voice I nearly clapped a hand over my mouth.

"Don't worry, I'll go over some time. Your master won't leave you lonely~"

"Dear lord...." I mumbled but nonetheless chuckled at her twisted attempt to joke. I much prefer her like this than feeding me those empty smiles she does for everyone else.

Her soft laughter rang from the other end at my deadpan, "Well, it's getting late. See you tomorrow, puppy!"

After she hung up, I clutched the phone to my chest in realization.

Crap, she picked up on her father's pet fetish.

~~~

The day of the conference. It was going to be reported live on many channels. I stood behind the black curtains that are at the back of the podium with Misaki while her parents and a lot of other people who live in the penthouse suite took seats in the front row.

"Oh yes, after this conference, there's something I'd like to show you." She states all of a sudden. I nod in response.

"How do I look?" She flattens out her hair and brings strands in front. I brushed it behind her ear instead, then leaned down, pecking her on the lips, "Amazing as always, go out there and kick some ass."

She scoffed, "I will. Make sure to watch me."

"Don't actually kick anybody, though, just making that clear."

After everyone was seated and the murmuring among the crowd died down a little bit, Ota started the conference off. I wondered how he and Misaki kept their eyes open at so many camera flashes.

A little while later, Ota handed the spotlight to Misaki. It was question time.

"Who is your teacher?" "What's your favorite curse word?"
"How old were you when you first took interest in the fine arts?"
"Are you in a relationship?" "What turns you on?"
"What kind of men or women are you into?"

Damn, you people do realize that she's still a teenager?

However, her expression remained a welcoming smile as she answered them one by one in the least embarrassing way possible.

"What's your favorite sound?"

What kind of question is that?

She tapped a finger to her chin, "Any sound my boyfriend makes is lovely."

The crowd uproars like crazy while the cameras flashed even more. I swear my heart nearly leapt out of my throat. Did I hear her right?!

"...Whether it be the sound of a piano, violin, or guitar, the melody is always beautiful. He's a very talented musician." She continued. I let out a long breath in relief.

The whole room stifled their laughter at her innocence, that she's feigning, but they don't need to know that.

The female reporter who asked the question in the first place was beet red in the face, but she wasn't about to give up. She brought the microphone to her mouth again.

Misaki tilted her head, almost killing me on the spot with cuteness, "Is something the matter? Did I answer your question?"

That made the reporter swallow down her question, "N-No, Miss. Thank you for answering."

The guy with the top hat who sat beside Ota burst out laughing. Luckily, the room was still buzzing too loudly to hear his laughter. I turn to find Misaki's mother blushing and covering her face.

Another reporter decided to butt in, "What would you do if your classmate told you they've got a thing for you?"

I see many people lean forward expectantly at her answer to an obvious question like that.

"Ah, I would respond to them the day after." She says, her expression not wavering a single bit, "Since they said they've got a thing for me, it'll only be fair if I get them a thing, too."

This time, even the two guys sitting at the end of our row laughed at her response.

After a bunch more questions that she replied to with an innocent smile and obvious misleading answer, she finally got the media to understand that she would always find a way around questions she didn't want to answer. Things calmed down and ended nicely with normal interview questions.

Misaki's PoV

"I can't believe you pulled something like that." Baba remarked with a snicker, "Though it was pretty funny."

"Creating an image is all about the first impression." I stuck my tongue out at him, "And it was the quickest way to get it over with."

"I've gotta say, it was rather impressive." Eisuke remarks with crossed arms, "The way you got them all wrapped around your finger."

I hummed in triumph. Then, remembered I was going to show Beau something. I grab hold of his wrist, "Right, I told you I was gonna show you something."

I turn my neck around and raise an eyebrow at the guys. Eisuke gave a small nod back in approval, then added, "Dragon seal."

I tugged Beau all the way to the I.V.C. room.

"What is this place?" He asked while continuing to follow me to the back. When I didn't say anything in return, he asked again, "Why did Mr. Ichinomiya say something about a wine? Misakiiiiiii~"

"Quit your whining and questions, I just got out of them. Be patient." I wave my hand at his concerns and then stop at the small bar.

I could tell that he was getting more and more shocked and nervous as I push down the panel at the back of the room full of mirrors.

"Darn, Tres Spades had this secret room--secret elevator?"

I studied his reaction carefully when the elevator doors open to the empty auction hall. Okay, right now, it may seem like a normal auction.

But hey, there's a secret code, secret room, and a secret elevator that led to this, there's no way that this is some random harmless auction intended to sell used stuff.

I'm sure he can figure that out.

After scanning the area again and again, he finally turned to me, "Is this... what I think it is?"

"This is an illegal underground black market auction." I say bluntly.

He leaned onto the railing, letting the info sink in while he stared at the stage, "I... see?"

"What kind of reaction is that?" I complained, "I was sold here, y'know."

"I-wait what?" He finally turned around to look at me. His puzzled emerald eyes even darker in the dim auction hall.

"Eh, that's not important." I waved it off, but he put his hands on my shoulders, "But that's--"

"Human trafficking? Illegal? Who cares?" I hummed, "We agreed to show you this because we trust you."

He froze for a bit, then sighed, "Thanks, I guess. It is better if I learned about this from you. Don't worry, I'll keep this a secret."

"Either way, you will be. You're stuck with me forever, anyway."

I turn away from him before he could react, "let's go, it's dark and gloomy in here."

The next thing I know, I'm up against the wall while he rested his forehead against mine. Once again I feel his light breathing on my lips from our proximity. The dim illumination in the hall only made his features look more striking than usual.

"I guess I am." He murmured. He pressed his lips against my forehead, then on my eyelid, and then on the tip of my nose. I bit my lip at his teasing, he chuckled at my reaction.

When he pecked me on the corner of my mouth, I couldn't take it anymore. I clicked my tongue, then held his head in my hands and brought his lips to mine. He smiled against our kiss as if he just made me give in.

Even with the passion we each put in the kiss, it was still innocent until we parted our lips. Our first French kiss was intoxicating, it made my knees go weak and my head spin. I hook my arms around his neck to support myself from tumbling to the ground. He held me up by my waist with one hand and the back of my head with the other.

"Now I haven't done anything quite like this before." I commented while panting lightly when we separated to take a breather, but no extra space was put between us other than our faces. 

"Neither did I." He replied, he was just as breathless as I was. He smiled and inhaled lightly before looking me in the eyes, "Je t'aime. (I love you.)"

When he said it again, it reminded me of when we first exchanged those words to each other. I hold his gaze as I reply clearly, "Je t'adore. (I love you lots.)" 

He quirked an eyebrow at me, then said again, "Je t'aime plus que tout. (I love you more than anything.)"

Cheesy. I thought while I rolled my eyes, "J'aimerais passer plus de temps avec toi, pouvons-nous marcher un moment ensemble ? (I would like to spend more time with you, shall we go for a little walk together?)"

"Oui, j'aime beaucoup cela. (Yes, I like that very much)" He replied, but then leaned down again, "Mais tout d'abord, je veux faire cela plus. (But first, I want to do this more.)"

"Coquin~ (Naughty~)" I tapped his cheek before giving in to his advances anyway.

Time flew past without either of our knowledge as we drown in each other's emotions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Written on August 21, but will be published on August 26, 2016.

Yes, I made you guys wait 5 more days than necessary XDDDD

Yui's epilogue will be coming on September 2nd :D

Thanks for reading

-Lily

Instagram - seika_akashi