Chapter 1

Meiko

I sigh, rubbing my head. Why does sake have to be so nice…? I look at my alarm clock, to see that it is only 9:00 AM. Urgh. Another day of having a hangover. Did this happen last week? Or am I making that up? I ruffle my hair, and wipe the sleep out of my eyes before gently getting out of bed and heading to the kitchen, knowing that I need coffee.

I walk into the kitchen, surprised to see that Kaito is already up. He's sitting down, facing the table, most probably eating ice cream. I sneak up to him quietly, before throwing my arms around his shoulders and nuzzling the side of his face affectionately.

" Good morning." I greet him, noticing that he's eaten half his supply of ice cream already. " I didn't realize you could have midnight feasts at 9 o' clock in the morning."

He laughs, but he sounds nervous and shaky. " Yeah…" he agrees half heartedly, resting his spoon on the side of the ice cream tub.

" What's wrong Kaito?" I ask, padding over to the kettle. Who needs a coffee machine?

" Actually, there's something I wanted to tell you….." he looks down at the floor, trailing off.

I nearly drop the spoon that I'm using to put my coffee in the mug. Is he going to….? My heart jumps in my chest, as a pink blush spreads across my face. We have been dating for a year and a half…This could be it!

" Yes…?" I ask, trying hard not to squeal with excitement.

" Meiko…I…It's over."

This time, I do drop the spoon. The kettle hisses, asking for the boiled water to be poured. I frown. I turn around and stare at him. His eyes are darting around the room, avoiding my gaze.

" What do you mean?" I ask, even though it's obvious. He's ended the relationship. After one and a half years. What a-

" I mean that it's finished." he says, standing up to his full height, but keeping his distance. " I don't want to be in a relationship with anymore."

My shock turns to anger. Dark red anger. " Why Kaito? Why end it now!" I ask, my voice getting higher and louder. I ignore the tears in my eyes. I will not let him see that this hurts me.

" Well….Meiko, I don't like your drinking habits. I don't like your quick temper. And….I've got someone else."

My mouth opens slightly. " You've got what! Is it Haku? Or is it Luka? They're both clever and have large assets." my voice has gotten louder yet, my fists clenched into tight balls of fury.

" No…..I don't want us to be like this Meiko. I mean….we can still be friends?"

" Friends! Friends! I don't want to be your bloody friend you big idiot!" I screech. " You just don't' get it, do you? You've ended it. Not me."

" I…..-" He places his hands on the table, as if for support. I glare at him, stepping closer.

" Who is it!"

" Miku!" he admits, my eyes locked on his.

I leave the room, furious. I head to his room, noticing a few moans of people waking up. I can't believe it. Miku. Of all people, he's chosen Miku. I could've accepted Luka, or Haku, or even Neru. But…Miku!

" Don't go in my room!" he yells, catching up to me.

" I'm only taking what's mine." I tell him firmly, opening his door. I scan the blue themed room, finding the CD I gave him last valentine's day. And the red and blue scarf I had bought him. I grab both the items before entering my own room and slamming the door.

I curl up on my bed with the red and blue scarf. It still smells like him. The reality is sinking in. He chose Miku over me. Miku is his girlfriend. Not me. I have to win him back. Somehow, I will. I will become his perfect girl. And that means, not being angry. He said he didn't like my temper. But, being angry doesn't mean you can't cry.

" Kaito…." I sigh, nuzzling his scarf as large tears spill down my face. " Oh, Kaito….."

I've spent the whole day in my room, I realize, as I step out of my bedroom, ready to make dinner. To day's family film night. Oh great. I would usually snuggle up with Kaito, but I assume Miku will be taking that place now. I walk past the living room. Rin notices me and smiles. Rin and Len probably didn't hear the shouting this morning. They're both deep sleepers.

I step into the kitchen to see Miku sat down with a fashion magazine. The same chair that Kaito was sitting on this morning…..

" Hey Miku…." I say weakly. I can not get mad at her. I will not get mad at her. I will become Kaito's perfect girl.

" Oh…Hey Meiko…" she says, looking up and giving me a slanted smile. A nervous smile. She doesn't know how to act around me either. She's probably been warned by Kaito ; Do not provoke!

" I'm just making dinner…..what are we watching tonight…?" I ask, staring into the fridge, looking for ingredients.

" It's Rin turn to pick tonight…..You know that she likes to watch horror…."

I laugh quietly. " She won't like it if Len get's nightmares and keep her up all night."

Miku laughs quietly, before looking down at her magazine. She mumbles as she reads.

" Blue's in season…Red's in season…..Floral dresses are in season….Black tights look good with heels…." she mutters using her finger to point at each word. Does Kaito like childlike qualities? And I should start growing my hair. Yes, I'll grow my hair. Maybe, eventually, I'll be able to get my hair into pigtails, seeing as Kaito likes them so much. Even though I don't like long hair or acting immature, I remind myself that this is all for Kaito. It will all be worth it.

After we've all had dinner, we enter the living room and look at Rin.

" What are we watching?" Len asks her, yawning. He's only yawning so that if she does pick a horror film, he can say he's tired and go to bed. Even though it is only 7 o'clock.

" 10 roses, one gun." she answers, holding up the DVD and a bag of popcorn.

" A romantic drama…..?" Len says uncertainly, as if he can't trust her. " I thought you were going to pick out something like, The echoes, or, Mind Games. But you've picked out a romantic drama?" he says in disbelief.

" Well if you'd rather, I could always pick Chainsaw….." she teases, inserting the disk into the DVD player.

" No thank you!" Len answers quickly. I remember the time when we did watch Chainsaw. If I remember correctly, it was only Rin and I who weren't looking behind our shoulders every 5 seconds and could sleep peacefully.

Miku and Kaito cuddle up on one chair as the film starts while Len and Rin take their usual places. I sit on a lone chair near the TV, feeling lonely. Miku would usually sit here, but she never looked lonely in this chair. She would surround herself with a few plushies or something.

Rin glances at me strangely as the film starts, mouthing , ' What's happened?' I ignore her, watching the film. I'm still wondering why Rin chose this film. It doesn't seem like her kind of thing. Two people fall in love…blah blah….something happens…blah…blah…he has to kill her…..blah…..but instead he kills himself…..and then she lives sadly realising that she is pregnant with his child. It's pretty boring. But inside I know that I think it's sweet…Plus everybody seems to be enjoying it. Even though, Kaito looks a little bored. Even with Miku sitting next to him.

Once the film finishes, Rin grabs my hand and takes me to my bedroom, shutting the door gently. I sit on my bed and stare at her.

" What?" I ask, as Rin seats herself on a chair, opposite me.

" What's the matter with you and Kaito?" she asks bluntly. I frown a little.

" He broke up with me this morning.." I mutter quietly, looking away for a moment.

" And you still like him…" she says softly with some kind of passion in her eyes.

" Yeah, I guess I do." I admit.

" I think people who love each other should be together no matter what!" she says passionately, her voice full of truth. I'm finding it hard to understand why she cares so much.

" Rin…?"

" I'm in love with Len!" she blurts before covering her mouth with her hands, as if she's said something forbidden. She stares at me. I stare back, feeling a little shocked. Everybody loves their brother. I love Meito. And I'm sure that Miku loves Mikuo. Luka loves Luki. But when I try to imagine Meito as more than my brother…his eyes turn blue, and a scarf forms round around his neck and…basically, he turns into Kaito…..

I stand up before crouching down and looking up at Rin.

" And this is serious….?" I ask, noticing a few tears slip down her cheeks.

" I think about it everyday, and whenever I look at him, I-I go all fluttery, but I feel sick at the same time and…" she says, wiping her eyes and looking down a the floor.

Rin must be a good actress, because if she's been worrying about this, nobody's been able to noticed.

" Are you going to tell him….?" I ask gently. " You don't have to answer that, if you don't want to."

" I-I don't know….What if he says no…..and then it'd be all weird….and I don't want to ruin things between us….but I really love him…my head hurts." she mumbles, touching her head gently.

" That's because you've been crying." I reply. " Why don't you go think things over, and I'll get you a drink of hot cocoa, hmm?"

She nods, standing up and wiping her eyes one last time.

" Thank you Meiko."

I nod, following her out of the room. Oh dear.