The Greek God & The Ice Queen

Carrie loved the feeling of gliding through the ice. Ever since she was a little girl she had dreamed of becoming a top figure skater. That' s why when her father finally agreed for her to take skating lessons, she took them seriously. And it paid off, coz here she is competing for a spot in the nationals.

This is it Car, just one set left. Don't mess this and you'll be on your way to the Olympics.

Carrie told her self as she was waiting for her name to be called.

This was last performance for the entire competition. Scoring a 6.0 in her short set has earned her the top spot. But she's not being complacent. She knows that her rivals are skilled skaters and are out to win just like herself.

She checked the bleachers searching for the familiar faces that kept her calm. She saw her family occupying a large portion of the bleachers. This is the advantage of having a large family, you automatically get the 10% audience impact if ever there was any.

Carrie smiled when she saw her dad who was uncomfortably holding the banner that says "Carrie Rocks and I am her Dad". Between her mom and her dad, it was her dad that needed much convincing to allow her to skate. He had a lot of conditions. One, it wouldn't interfere with school, two, her trainer had to be a girl, three, she would have to be a solo skater and not have a partner and last but definitely the most important of all, her costumes had to be approved by him.

I could live with that. Carrie said to her self as her dad laid out the rules.

Anything, just as long as I get to skate. Nothing is going to stop her from going to the Olympics.

Her reverie was cut short when she heard her name being called.

The moment her skates touched the ice she was transported to a different place. Every twist, twirl and jump was executed with utter precision. As the tempo of the music began its ascent, Carrie's jumps were becoming more complicated and difficult. As the music reached it's peak, Carrie did her signature triple salchow landing perfectly as the crowd erupted in cheers.

Carrie smiled from ear to ear as hundred of roses and a few stuffed animals were thrown into the ice.

Unbeknownst to her a pair of blue gray eyes were staring intently at her.

Time check : 7:45 a.m.

Carrie knew she was going to be late. Her first class starts at 8 and she was still trying to figure out whether her boots would go well with her outfit.

She was not as fashion conscious as her sister Audrey but she knew she had to look presentable today.

Japan Times, the country's leading newspaper is doing a feature on her and she needed to look good. But being late isn't going to look good either.

Whatever. Carrie thought as she slipped on her boots, picked up her bag, got out of her room and ran downstairs screaming her lungs out.

"DAD! Let's go. I'm going to be late. "

Of all her siblings, Carrie is the only one who never really took the initiative to learn how to drive, so she still has to have her dad bring her to school.

"You're not having breakfast again? Carrie that's 5 days in a row. Do you know that breakfast..."

"... is the most important meal of the day. I know mom, but I'm going to be late." Carrie finished her mother's sentence as she grabbed her dad's wrist.

" Carrie at least let your dad finish his coffee." Ina as she followed her husband and daughter towards the door with Rui's coffee mug in hand.

Carrie stopped took the mug off her mother's hand and gave her a peck on the cheek.

" Bye mom, see you later. Wish me luck."

Ina smiled as she shook her head while she watched her husband and daughter pull out of the driveway.

Carrie checked her watch, 7:50 A.M.

" Dad, could you drive a little faster?" Carrie asked her father silently hoping that he would head her request as she only has 10 minutes left.

" Carrie, we need to drive safely." her father answered.

" I know dad, but I need to be there before the reporter from Japan Times arrives."

" If that was the case you should have woken up early."

" I know dad, but... please... just this once... I won't tell mom... Please just step on it..." Carrie pleaded.

Rui smiled as he stepped on the accelerator. How can he ever say no to his favorite daughter.

Carrie arrived in school with just 2 minutes to spare. She hastily handed her dad his coffee, kissed him on the cheek, flew out of the car and dashed towards her classroom.

Safe. Made it.

Carrie thought as she entered their room.

Just as she sat down, her teacher walked in followed by a foreign looking guy.

" Ok, settle down. Before anything else, I would like to introduce to you your new classmate. He just transferred from one of Greece's well known Business schools. Introduce yourself." Their teacher said before addressing the newcomer.

"Hi, I'm Craig Pietro Stavros. It's nice to meet you." He introduced, his eyes focused on just one person.

"Ok find a seat and just get your self acquainted."

Craig walked towards the empty seat near the back door. As he sat down the guy next to him moved his chair towards him and introduced himself.

"Hi, I'm Terou Kobayashi. I feel that we're going to be good friends." He said grinning.

"I'm Craig." he said without taking his eyes off the sole reason why he decided to transfer to Japan.

*Flashback to 3 months before*

"Pietro, you are coming with us to Japan whether you like it or not. Every time we leave you alone something happens and I just can't go on covering up for you."

"Mom, you're going on a business trip, which means I would either be left alone in the hotel or I would be alone exploring the place. Either way I'd still be alone. So what's the difference if you just leave me here." Craig reasoned with his mother.

"Don't get smart with me young man. Your dad expects you to join him in one of the meetings." his mother replied.

"Uggghh... don't tell me he's still planning to set me up with one of the daughters of his business partners. Not going to happen mom. I'm a free agent." he said smirking.

"Son, when will you stop?" his mother asked.

"Stop what mom?"

"Stop being a jerk. All those girls, when will you stop playing around?"

"Mom, they come to me, and didn't you teach me that it's rude to refuse."

"Anóitos! That did not include women who literally throw themselves at you. Someday, you'll find your match."

"I doubt it mom, I'm a Stavros I always get what I want." he said with confidence.

" Vlákas. You are coming with us and that's final!" his mother said with finality before slamming the door of his room.

As expected, all through the entire trip, Craig explored Tokyo alone. He refused to join his parents at their meetings.

He roamed the streets of Shibuya, joining the throng of people who scramble to cross the famous Shibuya Crossing. He checked out the different stores within the area, ate at a famous ramen house and checked out the stores at Shibuya 109.

It was half past 2 in the afternoon when he decided to walk towards Yoyogi Park. As he was nearing the park, he passed by a structure with a prominent suspension roof. Curious as to what it might be, he later found out it was a gymnasium with a skating competition going on.

He sat at one of the remaining seats in the bleachers just in time as the next skater glided through the ice.

Craig found himself staring intently at the skater. There was something about her. Something he has never seen in the hundred of girls that he has been with.

The way she skated has had him in a somewhat of a trance. Every sway, every turn, every jump, his eyes followed.

Damn it Craig, what's gotten into you? he asked himself.

He waited until her performance was over. He needed to know who she was.

Carrie Ohno.

Her name suited her.

He smiled as he flipped his phone and dialed a number.

"Hey, where are you? Pick me up at Yoyogi National Museum, and find me a private investigator." he instructed the person on the other end of the line.

*Present time*

" Hey Terou, how well do you know her?" he asked his seat mate while pointing at Carrie's direction.

" Who? Karin?" Terou returned the question.

" No, Carrie Ohno." he replied.

"Yeah, Carrie's her nickname. She uses that as her stage name too, but her real name's Karin. Samantha Karin Matsumoto Ohno. Yeah I know it's a handful. Not to mention high maintenance." Terou informed him.

"What do you mean?" Craig asked.

" Karin comes from the famous Matsumoto & Ohno families. Her father is a well renowned biogeneticist. Her grandfathers, yes both of them, are Japanese Entertainment's royalty. Their family owns Storm Enterprises, Inc. The company are into a lot of businesses. And when I say a lot, I mean a lot. From trading to medicine, to food to fashion, name it they're into it. Wait, why do you seem interested? You like her?"

"She's the reason why I'm here." Craig stated matter of factly.

Craig stared at her intently as she was being interviewed. She was a natural. The way she answered the questions being asked and her timing when glancing at the camera was as if she had rehearsed it a thousand times. It was impeccable.

Her smile.

How does he even begin to describe her smile. It was not even a full on smile. It was more of a smirk, but that's what makes it unique. The way her lips gather up to one side. It was as if she was teasing him.

God Craig. You are a Stavros. Why are you acting like a lovesick fool? Girls go crazy over you not the other way around. He thought as he continued to watch her being interviewed.

"Hey Stavros, stop staring she might melt." Terou laughed as he slapped Craig's shoulder.

"Shut up. She might hear you."

"So? Karin is used to guys staring at her, drooling even. Didn't you hear what I told you earlier? Her family is Japan's creme de la creme. You have to be within their league to be rubbing elbows with them. Let me break it down to you, Her father, Rui Konstantin Ohno is a renowned bio-geneticist. He's retained by not only the biggest companies here in Japan but all over the world. I heard even governments of different countries have been sending their people to train under him. Her mother, Raina Juenne Matsumoto is the daughter of Koji Matsumoto, the King of Japanese Cinema. Oh and her other grandfather is Makio Ohno." Terou narrated."

" Makio Ohno? The Makio Ohno?" Impersonating the person's famous hand movement.

"Yes, that Makio Ohno. The golden voice of Japan's music industry. So I was wasn't kidding when I said they are Japanese Entertainment's Royalty. But wait there's more. Her eldest brother Benjamin is the head of their company's Security and Information Technology Department and a computer whiz. Her second bother, Simon, is following their father's footsteps in the field of biogenetics and is getting some attention for himself. Her older sister, Audrey, how do I begin to describe her? Well let's just put it this way, if she was a model, she is going to put Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner to shame. She is Japan's most sought after stylist. Cool right? Then there's Karin, who's following into her cousin's footsteps of becoming an Olympian. Who you might ask? Vladimir Ohno. Uhuh, the swimmer. " Terou said seeing how confused Craig is.

"I'm not done yet Craig. Karin has 3 more younger siblings and each one of them are gaining their own popularity. Alessandra the one the follows Karin is a skillful pianist and singer and has guested in some of their grandfather's concerts. Next is Ali, who at a young age has 3 exhibits under his belt. And lastly there's Seven, who's showing promise in baseball. And that's just her family alone. We haven't even talked about her cousins."

"Well surely they haven't dominated the racing scene yet." Craig said not taking his eyes off Carrie.

Craig loved to race. Well not the 'legal' type of race people are accustomed to, where the drivers race in a race track. Craig loves drag racing. Back in Greece he would usually get into trouble for organizing and competing in drag races. But because he bears the last name Stavros, he gets away with it.

"Says who? I told you they are into everything. Her cousin is an up and coming racer, Ricky Matsumoto? Haven't heard of him? Well maybe you've heard of her uncle, Raian Matsumoto? Ah ...that one you've heard. So you see Craig, unless you are a part of Japan's top tier, I might think twice before pursuing her. She is untouchable."

"That's bull Terou. Craig don't believe him." Nanami, one of their classmates who overheard their conversation said.

" What do you mean bull? We'll it's true isn't it? Her family is up there." Terou reasoned.

"Yes, they are Japan's elite, but it isn't true that they're untouchable. They are as normal as we are. Have you been to their house? We've been there. We had a sleep over when we did our project last semester and let me tell you, they are not the spoiled rich brats as you guys would picture them to be. They don't have a lot of helpers. As I remember it, I think they only have one who helps their mom around the house. Their mom does everything. Karin and her siblings are required to do household chores too. Looking at them up close, they're not really that different from us." Nanami explained.

"But Nanami, I heard they live in a mansion." Terou said.

"It's a farm house Terou and it was average, just enough for their family, but I know they have another house. One inside that infamous Storm Compound." Nanami said.

"See, I told you it's hard to reach her." Terou said

"She's not. It's just that she's focused and has set her eyes on the Olympics." Nanami explained.

"Ok, but I still think it's really hard to keep up with her and her family. You have to really be filthy rich to be within their league." Terry said

Oh Terou, I think I would not have any problem with that. Craig thought smiling as he continued to stare at the girl who might hold the key to changing the elusive Craig Stavros.