Author Note1: ~ ~ ~ ~ Is used for a skip in time. Hours/Days.
"-took quite a bit of work to knock the sucker down, and he was this big!"
Heavily tattooed arms threw themselves out full length in exaggeration at the wild woman's story as the people present awed in admiration, yet disbelief – as they should.
"After I got over all the shock I ran for the hills before he decided to eat me or something. Now… just how much of my story was a lie?"
The females demeanour completely changed from a serious storytelling tone into a joking manner as her audience dead-panned. The blue haired male also listening in heaved a light sigh – of course she would do this. It wasn't that uncommon after all.
"What the hell Tsuki?! You really had us going there!"
Tyson flailed his arms comically as he scolded the laughing woman, leaving Max, Hillary and Daichi to stand dumbly with sweat drops cascading down their heads at being deceived. A heavy sigh left Hillary before turning her attention away from the mockery and to the remaining three males. Ray and Kenny were seated on the dojo steps; ignoring all the commotion as they continued to work their magic on repairing the males damaged blades. Kai was pressed up against the wall in the same position as he was earlier; almost like a statue. His thoughts still echoing with the wild woman's words… just what trouble had she gotten herself into now?
"-no joke! The car just came out of nowhere!"
"Then what?! Did it hit you?! Are you okay?!"
Max looked over the females small frame in worry; taking in everything from her tattered converse to her emerald green head for any sign of injury as she laughed heartily whilst waving the blonde off.
"No silly! It didn't hit me! But the guy in the car tried to get me in!"
"So scary!"
Hillary clasped her chest tightly at the frightening statement as Tsuki begun to fake tear up - seeming to remember the trauma she had undergone.
"It was… I mean… to just be off minding my own business and then the jerk just comes out of nowhere like that screaming at me. I was seriously scared. Now… just how much of my story was a lie? - ow!"
Tyson's fist clamped itself over Tsuki's emerald head, driving her skull down as a sneer left his throat.
"Don't play with us like that! We were seriously worried!"
"Damn Tsuki, I don't think I'll ever get used to this..."
"Hey guys! Repairs are done so we can continue training again."
False stories of the female were left forgotten as everyone including the story-teller gathered around Ray and Kenny to see the newly repaired blades. Yet overhearing ears remembered her words before turning to walk away with his own previously possessed blade in hand for private practice – echoing laughs of his friends fading in the background.
The azure blade glided across the tarmac with little to no friction, its movements fluid and precise now that a few days of practice had come and gone.
"Kai!"
The light-hearted voice was familiar to the Russians ears as he called his blade back to his hand with a sigh, turning to face the woman whom held a small basket in her hands and wore a cheek splitting grin on her lips as always. Once she noticed the annoyed stare she was receiving a delicate eyebrow rose as a taunting smirk replaced her grin.
"Resting bitch face much?"
"What do you want Tsuki?"
"Rude bitch face much? I'm just here with lunch."
"I don't want any."
The male turned back to face front as he reloaded his launcher and attached Dranzer ready for another training session. A very annoyed groan reached the males ears as a thud followed; indicating the woman had dropped the basket in a huff.
"Loooook, I know it's a pain but Hillary went out of her way to make this and I went out of my way to bring it here."
"And just how much of that is a lie?"
The females 'huh' went unheard as the chord was pulled, a sharp sound tearing through the air as Dranzer was sent back into practise. The azure blade flew around cans and stones with grace before a smaller orange blade came searing from behind Kai and into Dranzer. Violet eyes shifted to stare into the woman's mocking onyx orbs, a taunt clearly present on her pierced features.
"Alright then emo kid. Show me how much you've improved with your new blade these past few days."
"Battling you would be a waste of time."
"Oh really? Having worn a wig and travelling around Kyoto I became quite popular with my blading skills under an alias. Fame isn't really something I wanted."
"Is that a lie?"
The female shrugged her shoulders, a look of disinterest coating her features. The woman was nonchalant to the Russian – and it pissed him off to no end.
"Who knows? I lie that much even I forget what's truth and lies any more."
"Is that so? Then I have a bargain for you."
"Oh? Do tell."
Her hands clapped together in exaggeration, sarcasm leaking from every clap of her palms.
"If I beat you I get a question; and you have to tell the whole truth."
Tsuki froze to stare into Kai's violet irises burning with conviction. He was serious about this. Her demeanour fell slightly at the way he was staring at her, he… honestly wanted to know about her, and being a pro liar she could sniff one out a mile away. Yet not one to back down from a challenge the female called upon her blade.
"Tear him apart Gensui(1)!"
"Dranzer!"
The idle blades spun into action at their masters command, battling it out to their fullest.
"Kai?"
"Yeah?"
"Your question?"
The male pushed himself onto exhausted elbows to stare down at the woman flopped out ungracefully on the ground, her dark eyes distant from fatigue. The battle had lasted a while, much to Kai's surprise which made him almost believe her previous statement was true… almost. Yet he knew what he wanted to ask, it was the question he had wanted to know for a long time but knowing he'd get a lie from the female he never wasted his breath.
"Just who are you Usotsuki(2)?"
The female blinked once… twice…
"Well you just said it; I'm Usotsuki."
Violet eyes narrowed down at the female as her eyes shifted finally to meet his own dark stare with a half assed smile due to her fatigue.
"Don't give me your emo face, I'm kidding! I made a promise and I'll keep my word. I just didn't fully understand the question. Do elaborate."
Kai sighed lightly; knowing that he should have expected better than to assume she'd lose her sarcastic, taunting nature because of this. He ran the words through his head carefully, knowing that despite her clumsy way of speaking this woman was very intelligent and it would be his only question for truth – anything else could just be a lie. With that he had made up his mind. He was going to take a gamble.
"Do you love me?"
The female seemed taken aback as her jaw fell slack, head falling to fully face him with alert eyes and emerald hair mussing around her skull.
"What?"
"Answer my question."
"You can't just randomly ask a girl that! How ungentlemanly!"
Kai knew what he had asked was undignified, but he had to ask this for the truth to many questions. He had chosen his words carefully and it was too late to take them back now so he has to roll with it.
"Do you love me?"
"I'm not answering that! Yes or no it's an embarrassing thing you don't ask a girl! Pick another question!"
He should have expected that after her first response, once Tsuki was set on something there was no changing her mind. But he knew her. He paid close attention. And if it wasn't for having to pass her home numerous times to get to his own he would have never known.
"-took quite a bit of work to knock the sucker down, and he was this big!"
"-no joke! The car just came out of nowhere!"
"No silly! It didn't hit me! But the guy in the car tried to get me in!"
"Now… Just how much of my story was a lie?"
Usotsuki was being abused at home by her brother. Her parents knew none the wiser as she had always lied to them to cover for him just so he could still get into a good college with no criminal record – so she took on the persona of the bad guy. She needed to talk about what was going on without getting anyone into trouble, so she spoke to the Bladebreakers – but left out important details of whom and where and never showed her bruises. But from personal investigation Kai had seen it. He had seen her marks and how she cries alone in her room after having a cheery dinner with her family, none the wiser to her masquerade. A sigh left Kai's lungs, this woman was a lot of work – yet he was ready for that. This day was going to come eventually.
"Very well."
The male decided to take one last gamble and roll the dice before shifting himself so he was hovering over the female, her features shifting into something mimicking confusion and embarrassment.
"Be my girlfriend."
Onyx orbs blinked rapidly as she processed the words that had just left Kai's… THE Kai's mouth…
"Is… this a joke?"
The Russian remained confident in his actions as he stared down at the wavering female, her eyes finally meeting his own.
"Is that your question?"
"Be my girlfriend Usotsuki."
His tone was firm and demanding, making something stir within the wild woman that seemed to tame her. Perhaps she was a masochist, yet she loved the way he spoke to her. Having had a liking to the oldest Bladebreaker upon their meeting she had never pursued the enigmatic male due to her lifestyle – yet here he was now almost forcing her to be his partner. A smirk graced her features as she took his face in her palms, covering the blue war markings that graced his warm cheeks as she pulled his head closer to her own so his hair brushed her forehead.
"Alright, but be prepared for what you just got yourself into."
A soft 'tch' left his lips, the air brushing against the females features in a warm gentleness as his trademark smirk reached his lips once more.
"I'm pretty sure I can handle it."
"Really? I mean no offence but I am still a young woman… and Tyson does seem pretty tempting from time to time… He's so strong willed and it gets me hot..."
"Liar. Tyson irritates you."
A smirk reached the females lips, mimicking Kai's for a brief moment before she sighed lightly.
"I've never been able to trick you have I?"
"No."
Long fingers lifted to brush emerald locks from the females face, a warm tingle being left in their wake at the gentle touch.
"Now about my question."
Green locks tilted along with the females head in confusion as she stared incredulously at the Russian.
"You already asked me to be your girlfriend."
"No. That wasn't a question."
A loud laugh left Tsuki's lungs once she had realised his statement. That cheeky bastard.
"Well you had asked a question and I said I wouldn't answer such an embarrassing thing. That was the truth."
"Well having said you'll go out with me you must love me; or was that a lie?"
Kai begun to shift his arms to move away, causing shock to run through Tsuki's being as her arms gripped around his neck to pull the male in close enough to press her lips against his own. They were warm, yet heavily chapped from the cold whether. The texture of his rough lips merely increased stimulation within the female though as she had to force herself away to stare into his violet eyes.
"That was my first kiss; there's my truth."
"Heh, and as my girlfriend you'll have to always be truthful to me."
Before the female could argue his lips were pressed upon hers once more in a promise. Usotsuki had lived a lie for the sake of others. For her family, for her friends… but never had she been truthful to herself until now. And Kai was determined to see the more truth of the woman he had come to love.
1. Gensui - Decay
2. Usotsuki – Lie