Kazuhiko forced himself not to glare in question at his mother. What the hell was the woman thinking? This girl looked as if she had barely left her teenaged years behind her, to bring her to an omiai, was this in jest? "As you maybe aware," Madam Fumiko was saying, "this is my son and current heir of the Fumiko line; Kazuhiko." He nodded in greeting, not trusting his tongue. "And this is my eldest daughter, Kurea," Mrs Hoashi said. "Kurea has just turned eighteen this past month. She's a prodigy upon the koto, has even earned awards in competitions back in Japan. We have branch family there, you know." "How wonderful!" Madam Fumiko beamed, clapping her hands together as a maid brought in a tray of freshly brewed tea. "You must be so proud!" "Indeed!" Mrs Hoashi replied. "Kazuhiko," Madam Fumiko turned to her son, but ignored his restless state. "Why don't you show Kurea-chan around our humble home, perhaps also Kurea-chan would be interested in seeing the family instruments?" "I would be interested," Kurea replied, her voice pleasant and clear, but not revealing her true feelings. "Then this way," Kazuhiko offered, all the while vowing to have words with his mother upon their return. The Fumiko household was a fairly substantial one, considering that they were also partially a school for traditional Japanese instruments, in a town that was only separated from the city by a postcode. It was so close and with the added fact that it's main road lead directly into it, that most people believed it was part of the city. The town also had an underground station just one stop along from one upon the eastern point on the circumference of the city. His mother, as matriarch and head of the school had one set of rooms with his father and he, as manager of the school, had another set, which included his office and his own music room. Although, his music would never rise to touch that of his mother's, he still enjoyed the feeling of the koto beneath his fingers from time to time. However, these rooms were very much private and so Kazuhiko would not show these rooms to his guest. Instead, Kazuhiko guided her through the corridor to reveal a few more public areas as well as the stunning, landscaped courtyard gardens hidden by these rooms. Even the steely grey of the outside sky could not detract from their allure. Neither spoke superfluous words as Kurea's curious eyes flickered over these sights. The music room was to one end of their home, insulated and soundproofed, for not all that practiced here played well. This room had a few well used standard koto's and a couple of 17 string koto's, as well as the shamisens and biwa's. Kazuhiko admitted to himself that he preferred these well used instruments over the instruments created by artisans that were rarely used. The latter may have had a sweeter tune once played by an experienced hand, but missed the raw fun and warmth that these old instruments observed. "Do you play, Fumiko-san?" Kurea asked, softly. "I have the knowledge of the koto," Kazuhiko admitted, "but not the talent. I leave the playing to those gifted with the love of it, such as yourself." "Mother exaggerates," Kurea replied. "I can play, sure, but I still have much to learn. My brother is more talented to me and is the heir to the Hoashi group." "I'm sure she still has reason to brag," Kazuhiko said, politely, before guiding her to a room located in a more private part of the property. These were where his mother's prized instruments were stored. He noticed Kurea's fingers tentatively reaching out towards the Minamoto crafted koto, one of just fifty handcrafted by the artisan in his lifetime, each a masterpiece in its own right. Wisely, she withdrew her hands before the temptation to touch the instrument became too much. "Sorry," she apologised with a slight bow. "It is just very beautiful." "It is lovely to listen to as well," he told her. "Mother occasionally brings it out when playing private concerts to an invited few." "I would love to hear it," Kurea said, casting down her eyes, which were framed with long lashes, darkened by a touch of mascara. She blushed as she observed the other attraction within the room, he was quite tall, she thought and his chocolate, brown eyes very appealing. Kazuhiko simply smiled amicably and replied; "perhaps someday you will." With his duty complete, he guided her back to the guest receiving room, where their mothers waited for them with hopeful glances. Kurea sat gracefully down beside her mother and his own poured her a fresh cup to tea. Before he could join them and continue to grit his teeth through this farce of an arrangement, small cries began to echo down the corridors. Kazuhiko immediately paused and turned towards the sound. "Kazuhiko," his mother sighed, with slight heaviness. "Lila will see to Kou, he will be fine, come sit." Lila was the name of Kou's current nanny. She was young, but had the necessary childcare qualifications Kazuhiko sought for when hiring. "Mother," he said with more than a little protest to his tone. She glared at him for a moment, but allowed him his way as Kou's cries spilled through the building once more, louder and with more urgency to them. He bowed and gave humble apologies to their guests before turning upon his heel and making his way to Kou's room. But he did not flee quickly enough to not hear parts of the conversation that followed; "Such a pitiful situation that your son finds himself in," Mrs Hoashi exclaimed. "Without a wife and mother for his little one. My Kurea would be perfect, were Fumiko-san willing, right Kurea?" "Yes, Mother."