Vain Is My Middle Name

Chapter One

I Always Win, My Dear

"Oh, Kai," my sweet Popuri laughed, sunshine glinting off her fluffy and curly pink hair," I'm so lucky to have you!" She smiled up at me, her blue, childish eyes sparkling.

I grinned and pulled her close, laying my head atop hers," Popuri...I've told you a thousand times, I'm not yours. You are lucky to be with me though," I sighed.

She grew stiff and pulled away,"W-what?" she stuttered angrily, but tearfully,"But, you kissed me! I thought...I thought we were together?"

I laughed in astonishment," Well, you thought wrong. I kiss a lot of girls," I shrugged. Then the tears came,"Popuri...Women love me! I can't get stuck with just one. " I waved my hand in the air meaningfully.

In a flash, a small hand stung my left cheek and she tumbled up on her toes, off the toasty sand. She marched back towards town, but tripped over a dune due to her carelessness. I bursted in gleeful laughter. "Kai!" she exclaimed, exploding into tears.

I sprinted over to her and kneeled at her side," Yes?" I smirked.

She buried her reddened face in her hands," I hate you, Kai. So much. I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU EVER AGAIN!" she screamed out of frustration.

I sighed," You don't mean that." I gently stroked her hair.

She smacked me away and rose back up in fury," Don't you dare touch me," she hissed behind clinched teeth.

"I will if I want to," I rebelled, taking her arm and leading her back to the shore. "OW!" I hollered in pain,"REALLY? I can't believe you did that!" The indention of her teeth still burned red on my bronze arm. I let her go and she stormed a good distance away. "Fine, go. I don't need you," I shrugged off.

Her pink eyes turned red with rage," I don't need you," she seemed to clarify," I'm the only one who would give you a chance! No girl is ever going to like you here." She scowled.

"Pffth," I sputtered," I could get any girl I wanted." I grinned and flexed my tanned and toned body," Actually, I could have them all."

"Please," she spit, hands on hips," You're so full of yourself! I don't even know what kind of person would like you!" she scoffed.

"Well, apparently you're the kind of person." I smiled deviously," You did want to date me, remember?"

She paused and looked sheepishly, and then went back to her former self," I bet you won't get a date for the Fireworks Festival!" she stuck her tongue out.

"Oh, I will. I bet you won't though."

"Fine, then it's a bet," she glided away, past the brown fence and dusty beach, and onto the brick path into town.

"You were too dumb and flat anyway," I mumbled, casually walking into my Snack Shack.

-That Evening At the Inn-

"What happened to you," Gray gasped, walking into our shared space.

I gently held a rag full of ice against my swollen eye. One wrong move and searing pain would jolt through my entire skull.

Cliff, the other (less intelligent) guy I roomed with, giggled," He-haha-Rick...beat him-OOMPFF" I cut him off with a hard blow to the face with my pillow. Who knew the Inn's extremely uncomfortable pillows would come in handy. I glared at Cliff and received another round of laughter from him.

"SHUT UP! IT'S NOT FUNNY!" I said thrusting a book at his head.

"HEY! Man, that hurt," he grumbled rubbing his temple.

Gray walked over to his bed and sat down, while Cliff went to the bathroom to inspect his wound. "So, Rick gave you a black eye?" he questioned, taking off his work boots.

"Yeah..." I frowned, crossing my arms. It was hard to see what was going on with only one eye.

He sighed," What did you do this time?"

I shrugged," Nothing really. Popuri and I had a little disagreement. But, it'll all be over soon, when I win the bet."

He nodded," Claire told me about it." He looked unsure.

"How'd she find out," I scrunched my eyebrows together.

"Popuri told her," he stated dully.

"Kai! You bruised my whole forehead! How am I supposed to take Ann out like this?" He walked out pointing at an already purple spot on his head.

I chuckled and nodded," That's what you get. Plus, she wouldn't go out with you anyway." I told, stretching out on my cot.

He didn't look swayed," That's what you said to Gray." He scoffed.

I through my arms up in disbelief," How was I supposed to know she had a thing for blue eyes!"

Gray looked amused," I didn't know that."

"Yeah, that's the only reason she like ya.." Gray looked shocked.

"No it's not Gray. She talks about you all the time. In fact...it can become quite uncomfortable talking to her nowadays," he grimaced and turned to me," You're just jealous 'cuz she wasn't into you."

"No I'm not...She was so into me though. You should have seen her face when we met," I grinned," And this one time at the beach, she-"

Gray cut in,"Uhm, you should probably go to the Clinic..Get your eye checked."

Cliff glanced questionably at him and, as if realizing something, nodded vigorously," Yeah, they have medicine that will make it heal faster."

Gray looked at my bad eye," Need any help getting there?"

"Nah," I said, settling back down in the sheets.

"You better go soon..." He added.

Then it hit me! "Oooohhh, I get ya," I winked," Thanks for the help, guys!" I jumped out of bed and sprinted down the stairs, but I forgot my damaged sight and hit a few things along the way. Along the way to make Elli mine. Silly Popuri, I always win.

-Author's Note-

First off, I don't hate Kai, I'll make a sweet lil' fanfic for him later, but this was made esp. for someone else. Secondly, I will finish the other stories, I promise :) Review Please!

-Disclaimer-

I don't own harvest moon or the characters!