Chapter 1 of Glitter

by: Amber Hermione and Casseia

Disclaimer: Gravitation, its characters, setting, etc are not mine or Casseia's. The plot belongs to us equally. We do take credit for Kira Seguchi, Makoto Sato, and any other characters that come to life as this story unfolds.

A/N from AH:

We begin another journey together as a plotline is born from the creative minds of two writers, and shared with those who are drawn in by the story. I personally thank those of you who have followed Awakening and come with us to the sequel. For those of you who are just beginning to look at our work I thank you for your time and hope you enjoy what we have offered here.

We would appreciate your feedback negative or positive, but ask that you only comment on the writing, and not what you think of us outside of the context of this story. Suggestions for improvement of content or corrections in grammar are welcome; please make them constructive.

Thank you,

Amber Hermione


Prologue

It was another late night, and another deadline was approaching. A summer storm was filling the night with sound, and a couple was curled on the couch in their apartment. Eiri glanced over at Shuichi who was chewing on a pencil as he contemplated the piece of paper in his hands.

"Hum…" the writer smiled faintly as he looked back down at his laptop screen, "are you having trouble with wording something?"

"Hum?" asked the vocalist of the top band in Japan as he looked up at his lover. "No, I was just thinking…" The couple looked at the door as a nock sounded. Shuichi put down his paper, but Eiri had already gotten to his feet.

The novelist opened the door to a lone figure standing before him. A gray hoodie jacket covered a red halter-top that was accompanied with black jeans; all of which were soaked. The young teenager stepped into the doorway, and her golden eyes were framed by the stringy clumps of her drenched blond hair.

"Oh Kira, What happened to you?" asked Shuichi stepping up to the girl who was eye-level with him while in heals.

"Come on in Little One" Eiri said closing the door behind her as she stepped fully into the room. "Now, which one of them did it this time?"

She crossed to the couch and plopped down between the computer and papers. "I'm not going back."

Eiri and Shu looked at each other before returning to the couch. Shu stacked his papers, while Eiri saved his document. Eiri took his place to the right of the teen draping Shuichi's green blanket, and an arm around her. Shu returned with a cup of hot chocolate, as it was her favorite, and placed it in her hands while sitting at her left.

"Now, what's this all about?" Eiri asked as Shu too put an arm around her.

The girl sipped her drink, and lent back in the arms of her uncles, "He completely humiliated me."


Chapter 1

Clothes were scattered around the room as Mika entered it. She turned as a blue top flew from the open closet door, and a girl with frizzed platinum hair followed two seconds after. She froze at the sight of her mother amid her best outfits. Mika crossed her arms waiting for an explanation.

"Oh, hi Mom… When did you get home?"

"Five minutes ago. I was going to ask what you wanted for dinner."

"Um… nothing; I was planning on having dinner out tonight."

Mika went over to sit on the bed clearing a space, "And where were you planning on having dinner?"

"Just… Jourmon" the girl smiled hoping her mother would be satisfied.

"Jourmon" Mika's eyebrows arched, "and who are you going with?"

"Some friends…"

"Jourmon isn't a 'some friends' restaurant; it's a 'someone special' place." Mika gave a knowing smile at the surprised expression on her daughter's face.

"Was it that obvious?" asked the girl bowing her head in defeat.

"What's obvious is that you are trying to figure out what to wear." Mika looked around at the assorted garments strewn around the room. "So, do you want some help?"

Kira looked up in surprise, "You're not going to ask me a bunch more questions?"

Mika shook her head with a smile, "Of course not; your father will have that covered."

"You're not going to tell him are you?"

"Kira Seguchi we're talking about your father; I won't have to tell him anything."

"So, you're ok with me going?"

"Yes, if you promise me two things; keep your cell phone on so I can contact you, and be home at a reasonable hour."

An hour later Kira was ready except for one final touch; she opened the case which held her colored contacts. Looking down the row of bright disks she made her choice—purple like her Uncle Shu. She placed them in, and observed her appearance in the mirror. Her hair fell around her shoulders in golden ringlets framing her face, and the red tie of the halter-top fastened at her neck.

"Kira, he's here" her mother said from the doorway. Kira watched her mother's reflection as she left the room, "and your father shouldn't be home until nine at the earliest; I'll let you know."

"Sato, is the name?" asked the host as he checked his reservation list. He glanced up at the youth, and then spotted the girl beside him, "You look lovely this evening Kira-san. When should we be expecting your father?"

"I—I don't think he's coming tonight, sir." She was obviously nervous and so the man dropped the issue.

"You're with this gentlemen—Makoto Sato? Well, I should have a table for you; come right this way." He personally walked the couple to their table, and made sure they were being taken care of. "If there is anything you need do not hesitate to ask."

Makoto grinned, "You'd think your dad was the leader of a foreign country or something." His green eyes caught the light in the room when he smiled. "So, what's good? You've apparently been here before."

"Actually we come here on the anniversary of the accident. Mr. K thinks it's funny to count and make sure we're all here." She shook her head with a sigh. "Honestly it wasn't their fault." She thought about the food, "Actually their pizza is pretty good." She laughed, "Man my uncle would kill me; pizza is so cliché…"

"Well he is a romance novelist," Makoto shrugged looking over the menu. "Italian doesn't sound like a bad idea—ravioli or lasagna?"

"Ravioli sounds fine to me."

Tohma Seguchi was sitting at his desk having a meeting with the other members of Nittle Grasper when his phone rang. "Excuse me for a moment" he smiled at his friends. Picking up his phone he greeted, "Tohma Seguchi speaking."

"Yes, Seguchi-samma this is the evening host at Jourmon. I was wondering when we should be expecting you."

"I have not made a reservation for this evening."

"Would it be Mika-san then? Kira-san has already arrived."

"Really," Tohma shifted in his chair, "is she with someone else?"

"Yes, a gentleman."

"Shuichi or Eiri I expect."

"No, sir it is neither Shindou-san nor Uesugi-san; she is with a Sato, Makoto Sato."

Tohma sat quietly for a moment; his smile had faded as he pondered this new information. "Thank you for the information. I may in fact join my daughter this evening." He placed the phone back on the receiver and turned to his fellow musicians, "Ryuichi, Noriko I am afraid I have other business that requires my immediate attention."

Noriko smiled, "What's she gotten herself into this time, Tohma?"

"That is precisely what I intend to find out." He put on his bowler hat and coat leaving the two in his office.

Ryuichi stood up, "Where are you going Ryu?"

"To clean up the mess he's going to make."

While waiting on their food to arrive Kira and Makoto were talking. The talked about everything—school, their home-lives, friends, the music industry, latest releases by a certain novelist, movies, and even a little politics somehow managed to squeeze itself in there.

"… and the next thing I knew my Uncle Ryu had changed completely—it was like he was another person."

"Yeah, my dad has cases like his; he doesn't talk about the patients much because of confidentiality issues." Makoto took a sip of his ice-tea, and choked, "speaking of dads… isn't that yours?"

Kira turned looking over her shoulder toward the entrance. Walking in at that moment was her father. He spoke briefly with the man at the podium who directed him to their table. "I can't believe she did it."

"Who did what, Ki-chan?"

"It's not important Koto. I wasn't expecting him to come here."

"Little One," they both turned to see him standing beside their table. He pulled up a chair and took a seat between them. Kira looked mortified when he sat down, "and who is this? We have not been properly introduced." His smile was pleasant, but his eyes were cold as he looked upon the teenager.

Kira bit her lip, "Father this is Makoto Sato; Makoto this is my father Tohma Seguchi."

Following with the formalities Makoto extended his hand, "a pleasure to meet you Seguchi-samma."

"You as well, Sato-kun. How do you know my daughter?" Tohma was polite, but direct in his questioning. He glanced at Kira only once, and now his teal eyes were locked with the green of his 'opponent'

"We met in school a couple years ago, Seguchi-samma."

"Is that so; would you consider yourself friends with Kira?"

"Yes, good friends."

"You seem mature… How old are you?"

"I'm fifteen." Makoto glanced at Kira. Her head was bowed, and she was shaking her head.

"Ah, there is an age difference." Tohma stated this calmly as if it were a simple fact, but his tone and expression were sharpening to anger, "What were your intentions this evening?"

Makoto nodded as if expecting this question, "I had planned to surprise a friend with dinner at the nicest place I could afford, but was surprised instead."

"How were you surprised?"

"I was surprised because she had already been here with her family, and we decided what to order based on what her family has had in the past." Makoto smiled at Kira, but she wasn't looking at him anymore; she couldn't meet his eyes.

"You were not the only one surprised Sato-kun. I was very surprised to discover that my daughter was here with you. I received this information through a member of this restaurant's staff. Information that my daughter is on a date with a boy I have never met. Upon arrival I have a chat with this boy, and discover that he is older than my daughter; what would this suggest but that my daughter had planned something that she did not want me to know about. What might that something be, Sato-kun?"

Kira looked up at her father; he was still facing away from her; looking directly at her shocked friend, "No, father it was not like that."

"Kira," he turned to her, "I made no assumptions; what was it that you believed I meant? Is there something you are not telling me—something other than that you are in a relationship with an older boy?"

There was something in the way he said 'relationship' that pushed her to her feet. There was the disapproval, but more than that there was the knowledge that she was not the first whose life her father had toyed with. Tears of anger burnt in her eyes as she stepped away from the table, vigorously wiping them away she looked at her father who was still sitting.

"I'm not my Uncle; I won't let you ruin my life the way you destroyed his." She ran before either of those still sitting had a chance to speak; on the table were two violet circles—Tohma had faced angry golden eyes for a second time.

Once she made it outside to the street Kira did not stop running until she could not see the restaurant behind her. She shivered as the first drops of a predicted storm collided with her skin in the evening air, but she had left her jacket at the table. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, but she ignored it. Slowing her pace she looked around as the rain continued to fall around her blurring the buildings around her. Cars drove past on the street to her left as she walked with her head bowed; her tears lost amid the rain as it feel down her face.

He's always like this! Why can't he just let me live my own life? Make my own dicisions, and face their consequences? It's his job to look out for me, but not to control me!

She continued to walk even when a car slowed and pulled over she ignored it. Her back was still turned when a voice called her name, "Kira! Kira wait!" Footsteps were following her now quickly catching up to her. Taking a breath she quickened her strides, but so did her pursuer. Arms wrapped around her as she was pulled to the person's chest so she couldn't pull away.

"Kirameki" whispered the person in her ear. That single word stopped her struggling; it meant glitter or sparkle, but to her it meant a name. That word was the name given to her as a baby by one of her many relatives.

"Uncle Ryu!" she turned and hugged the vocalist. He pulled away slightly removing the jacket he was wearing and put it around her shoulders. She gratefully slipped her arms in, and smiled, "What are you doing here? Don't tell me father sent you."

"He doesn't know I'm here, but come on let's get you out of this rain." Though he was being soaked Ryuichi walked her to the passenger's side of the car and opened the door for her. Walking around to his side he turned to her after getting in, "Kirameki-chan where do you want to go?"

The girl wiped her drenched locks from her face and thought for a moment looking out the window. After a moment she remembered her father's words and she said softly, "I need to see my Uncle Yuki and Uncle Shu." She turned hurt golden eyes to Ryuichi who nodded and pulled away from the curb.