The Late Blossom

Synopsis: Having gone a step too far this time, a rich young rebel gets sent to Japan by her parents to study and as her mother puts it, “to learn feminine behavior.” Before she goes, her father drops the final bombshell: she would be staying with her bethrothed-in-birth fiancé, to get them both ready for their arranged wedding in 10 months! How will she survive staying with her future in-law family, who are incidentally one of the oldest families in Japan, where tradition and customs are a part of everyday life, as is LEGENDS?

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Prologue

A motorcycle revved up the darkened driveway of the Clayton Mansion. Under the dim light of the automatic sensor, a girl dressed all in black blithely hopped down and waved a hand at the dark figure still on the bike.

“Bye, Mike.” She whispered carelessly before turning away and heading up the sidewalk.

The guy jumped down from the bike, and pulling her hand roughly, made her fall into his open arms. He bent down and crudely kissed her, his teeth scratching her lips slightly. She resisted, trying to pull away, but gave up and relaxed, leaning against his chest in bliss.

Suddenly, a shrill alarm rang throughout the whole mansion. The driveway lights all at once shone down brightly on them.

The girl immediately pushed him away, panicking. “You gotta go.” She told him urgently.

“But….-” he protested.

“GO!”

With a bitter look, he mounted his bike and sped away muttering, “This has happened for the third time since we started dating. What psycho parents does she have anyway?!”

“CHERI! HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO TELL YOU NOT TO DATE GUYS LIKE THOSE—THOSE RUFFIANS!”

A tall woman, with her hair up in a sophisticated bun swished her silk nightgown angrily as she paced up and down the room. She stopped in front of the girl, her daughter, and without warning, pushed her chin up and smelt her breath. Chéri pulled away angrily, but her mother already knew.

“BEER! You’ve been drinking the night away haven’t you? Those cheap wheat grain-liquid trying to pass as alcohol for cheap drinkers!”

Chéri, her patience wearing out, jumped up from the couch and was about to retort bitingly when a big calm hand tapped her shoulder. She turned around and saw her father, a tall broad-shouldered man with a pair of glasses protecting his sharp bright green eyes. He shook his head at her and walked over to where her mother stood.

“Dear, you are in no shape to be talking of this tonight.” He said, gently maneuvering her to the big leather couch. She turned around and grabbed his shirt.

“Have you not seen what she has been doing?! She’ll ruin you, Gerald, she’ll ruin your name, she’ll destroy us!!”

Gerald, ignoring her frantic outburst, set his wife down gently and clapped his hands. Almost instantly, two maids appeared at the doorway.

“Get some ginger tea for the mistress. And also….” He looked at his daughter questioningly.

Chéri shook her head. The maids bowed and retreated back. Gerald sat down beside his wife and comforted her.

Chéri, disgusted, turned away. Money, status, nobility. That’s only what she cares about. So what if her daughter rebels? She could go jump off Niagara Falls and her mother wouldn’t even twitch a plucked eyebrow. In fact, she’d be even more pleased that Cheri had taken some measures to kill herself so that she wouldn’t be a bother to this family. BAH!

The maids appeared almost silently before her, and one handed her a mug of steaming hot lemon tea. She accepted it and took a sip, feeling the welcoming heat trickle down parched throat.

After her mother had taken several sips and looked more calmed down, she had whispered to her father urgently. Nodding his head, he stood up.

“Chéri dear, it is a little late now. Please go to bed and we’ll talk about this in the morning.”

“But, Gerald...-“her mother interrupted.

He held up his hand to silence her and continued, “We’ll be having some important guests here for breakfast tomorrow, and I expect you not to disappoint me. Okay, dear?” his eyes twinkled a little.

Chéri nodded dizzily, the effects of beer getting to her and skipped up the stairs, but not before she caught sight of her mother’s smug face. Feeling slightly disturbed, she forgot about it when she suddenly puked all over the carpet.

“Miss Chéri. Miss Chéri, please, wake up.” A small, timid voice pestered her.

Taking her pillow, Chéri threw it hard at the maid. “SHUT UP AND LET ME GET SOME SLEEP!” she yelled, as her forehead burned.

“Bbbut Miss Chéri, the master s-s-says you g-g-g-got to get up-p-p-p…” the maid stuttered.

Chéri groaned before it struck her. The guests!

“What time is it?”

“N-n-nine a.m., miss.”

“And breakfast’s starts at 8! Damn!” she cursed throwing off the covers.

The maid hurriedly bowed. “The water’s ready, miss.”

Chéri waved her away irritated. “Tell the rest of them to leave me alone. I know how to dress myself. And tell my father I’ll be down soon.”

Just as she said that, a knock was heard and a voice trailed in, “Miss Chéri, the master says to take your time bathing and dressing.”

Chéri smiled a little before going into the bathroom.

30 minutes later, she walked down the hallway in a flowy white dress and reaching the dining room, greeted her parents and the guests accordingly.

After they had gone, Gerald motioned his daughter into the study.

“There’s something I have to tell you about, dear.” He sighed.

“I’m all ears.” She replied taking a seat.

“Well… you know, just now, about the Japanese expatriate…..”

“What about him?”

“….. Okay, dear, I and your mother have decided to send you to school in Japan. And, “he lifted a hand to silence her protests, “You’ll be staying with Mr. Ohgami who has promised to take good care of you.”

“BUT DADDY!! I DON’T WANT TO GO TO JAPAN!” Chéri shouted angrily.

“It is not for you to choose.”

Chéri turned furiously at the smooth voice of her mother who was standing in the doorway with a smirk on her face.

“You did this, didn’t you you old hag!” Chéri snarled.

Her mother’s eyes widened a moment before she regained her smug face.

“Of course we need a… more feminine daughter. The teachers over in Japan will do you well than those here. Also, we need a capable son-in-law to help with your father’s business, don’t we?” she said victoriously.

Chéri looked at her father in horror. He sighed and rubbed her temples.

“You’ll also be going to Japan to meet with your fiancé from birth, Ken Ohgami and to get acquainted with him before the final wedding arrangements are made when you turn 18 in October.” Her father concluded.

I was BETROTHED and not told anything about it?! And NOW they expect ME to-to-to get ACQUAINTED WITH SOMEONE I DON’T KNOW BEFORE they make WEDDING ARRANGEMENTS for me which is 10 MONTHS from NOW?!