Chapter Text
"We shouldn't have agreed to this," Keith Kogane said flatly, his eyes not leaving his bowl but staring through it into the void.
Krolia sighed, "We've discussed this, Keith. We've committed to this arrangement and have a responsibility to follow through with it."
"More like you've committed me to spending the rest of my life with some rich boy I've never even met."
"Well forgive me for wanting you to have a better life than I could ever give you!"
The Koganes owned a trading port. What started off as one dock and a shop on the cliff grew to one of the busiest ports on their side of Japan. All this was due to Krolia's iron clad work ethic and his late father's faith in their dream; a better life for their son, Keith.
Keith nearly shouted to his mother, "Did you ever think I wanted to earn my own way, not just have it handed to me by the Shiroganes?!"
The Shiroganes were a wealthy military supply family. Though not officially run by the government or military, they did work closely with both. Several government officials had married Shiroganes over the years. It was common for young employees of the Shirogane company to eventually sign up for the military or for veterans to seek work with the company after their service.
A week ago, the head of Shirogane family as well as several senior board members had approached the Koganes about what they called, "a business merger."
The head of the Shirogane was getting on in years and was looking hand over the company to his son. Before he could do this, he needed to show his board members a plan for the company moving forward. The Kogane's port was an ideal new outlet for the company.
It was made very clear that this was a merger, not a takeover. The Koganes would have final decision over port affairs but they would discuss plans with the Shirogane board before taking action. The Koganes would not need to change their name or procedures. They would essentially place the Shirogane logo on shop windows and give Shirogane shipments propriety. In times of flooding or other crisis, the Shirogane company would provide financial support and protection.
If the Koganes wished to become more involved with Shirogane affairs, they could approach the board to discuss details.
All of this sounded like a great deal, though the Shiroganes left the most important part of the merger for last.
For the merger to be complete, Keith, heir of the Kogane family, needed to marry Takashi, heir of the Shirogane family.
Keith had been nearly speechless after hearing the last condition, but couldn't actually bring himself to object to it. When his mother asked about his thoughts, he simply said, "Well overall it's a good agreement."
Krolia, feeling the urgency to make a final decision, replied to the Shiroganes, "He'll do it."
At first none of it felt real to Keith. But during the following days of getting fitted for wedding clothes, sampling dishes for the menu, giving names of friends and relatives for invitations, and so many more preparations, the gravity of the situation pressed heavier on Keith's back.
It was now the evening before the wedding. What had started as hesitation and anxiety had grown into sheer terror disguised as boiling hot anger inside Keith.
He was completely against marrying a complete stranger. Weren't marriages like this supposed to have died out eons ago?
Krolia's sharp tone snapped Keith out of his train of thought, "Don't you understand you can pursue anything you want after tomorrow?! You can work as hard as you want without having to start from nothing the way your father and I did!"
"Do you think Dad would have wanted me to marry a total stranger for money?!" Keith shouted back.
Krolia's eyes widened as all speech left her. In the next moment, Keith saw guilt creep up her body the way the tide blankets the shore. Once it rose past her eyes, Krolia turned her head down and clenched her fists on the table.
"Keith..." Krolia breathed out. "...I'm so sorry."
Krolia was originally from overseas. Years ago, she thought she had her whole life planned until a ship wreck brought her to this port. Keith's father was just a fisherman who happened to find her. In the predictable way, he nursed her back to health, fell in love with her, and married her.
Krolia had left a life of guaranteed money and security for love. Now she had agreed to have Keith leave the life he loved for money.
Keith saw the shame rattling Krolia and knew he needed to back off, even if his tongue still wanted to spit fire.
"Mom..." Keith struggled for words. "I went too far-"
"No, no-" Krolia was regaining her composure. "You have a point. We should at least have given you time to think about it. I jumped the gun when I shouldn't have. I'm... truly sorry."
"I know you are Mom," Keith started. "It's just so hard when I'm the one that has to live with this."
"I know, I know, but think of all the good things coming from this. Living in the Shirogane estate, no more praying that the summer profits outweigh damages from the rainy season, protection, resources to help any shop at our port. You're going to help so many people by doing this."
"And all it costs is a loveless marriage," the words ran off Keith's tongue before his brain could stop them.
Krolia sighed because she couldn't deny Keith's statement.
"Well," she went around the dinner table to Keith and started petting his hair. "From what I know about rich people, it's common, if not out right expected, for them to have lovers outside their spouses. If you find someone, the Shiroganes have enough money to keep it discreet."
"That doesn't sound too appealing," Keith lightly groaned.
Krolia smirked, "You never know, maybe they'll have a handsome Cuban pool boy that will sweep you off your feet."
Keith couldn't help but laugh, "Oh wow, Mom, you can't be serious! Wait, why Cuban?"
Krolia shrugged, "Supposedly they're the best lovers in the world, or at least they like to think that they are."
They shared a laugh that lifted Keith's fears, if only for a moment.
~~~
"You are aware of all the plans for tomorrow, correct?" the head of the Shirogane family said, more as an order than a question.
"Yes Father," Takashi militantly responded.
"You know exactly what is expected of you for the set up, the ceremony, and the reception?"
"Yes Father."
"I can't stress enough how important tomorrow is, not just for the family, but for the board, investors, and every employee we have. We are the face of the company. What we do and what we display affects every level in one way or another."
"I understand Father."
"Of course you do. Now remember, your duties as a husband only start at the wedding. You have to manage the company and keep your marriage looking ideal. The reputation of the Shirogane family will depend on it. Whatever your husband requires of you, you must provide it. You must even anticipate what he will need."
"I understand completely Father," Takashi's tone and cool expression were unphased through all of this.
For as long as he could remember, he had been raised to succeed his father. He followed every order and exceeded each expectation like a perfect little soldier boy.
But when it was time to discuss his father's retirement and Takashi's marriage, he was bold enough to demand something for himself.
Takashi wanted to marry a man.
Heirs could be adopted and raised into the Shirogane family. He even argued that this decision would help show the inclusiveness and modern thinking of the Shirogane company.
After much searching, the Kogane port seemed like fair solution for all involved. No one got exactly what they wanted but all vital criteria were met.
Takashi's father finally got up from his office chair, stepped towards him, and placed a hand on his shoulder, "We've put a lot into this wedding and this merger. Enjoy it or at least look like you are. Now go rest up."
"Yes Father," Takashi bowed his head and went to his room.
Once inside with the door securely closed behind him, he let out a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his hair. He went to his window and looked up at the starry sky.
There wasn't very much Takashi could control about his life, but over the years he knew not to take his situation for granted. He learned to make the best of the role he was assigned to play. The young Shirogane figured he could find contentment, if nothing else.
"Tomorrow is the big day," Takashi said to himself. He kept staring at the sky, the vast deep blue inviting his mind to wander. In a rare moment of self indulgence, he fantasized a bit, wondering what his new husband would be like.
"...I hope he likes me," Takashi sighed.
A few small yipes interrupted his daydream.
Takashi chuckled at himself.
"I hope he likes you too little guy," he smiled, petting the other thing he had complete control of in this agreement.