Chapter 1: Whats to lose?

The hot bath proved refreshing for Yukinari as he relaxed into the waters of the tub, he took the moment of peace to recollect his thoughts, still barely believing how his life has changed so much over the year. School's finally over, its summer, and now best of all - He has friends to spend it with.

Sliding deeper into the water, letting the alluring grasp of warmth pull him in; His head almost submerged. He can't help but to close his eyes, fixating his mind on the adventures that await him. "Miharu, what a blessing you have been.." He thought to himself. He chuckled. Putting both hands behind his head, and stretching both his legs wide. His life has been good to him, but how well does he know, that nothing lasts... forever.

*bang* *bang* *bang* The bathroom door was taking a thunderous beating.

"Yukinari!" … A voice cried behind the door.. He was viciously pulled from his unintended nap, almost fully awake he realized that he had fallen asleep in the tub! Leaping out immediately, almost slipping and busting his head wide open, he gained his footing, holding his throbbing head as his consciousness crept back to him slowly. Once his senses were regained he wrapped himself in a towel , and proceeded to open the door.

"One moment..heheh.." He said weakly as the door opened. A wide eyed Kirie stood there, but her facial expression changed to joy and glee as she saw Yukinari, alive and well. "Thank the gods!", she yelled embracing him in a tight hug, "I thought you were kidnapped or something you little dumbass!". Didn't last long though, his towel fell off.

"YOU PERVERT!" exclaimed Kirie. A flying axe kick was launched with deadly accuracy, hitting Yukinari right on the head.

Before he could really even say anything in his own defense, Yukinari was already well acquainted with the cold wooden floors. Once again he found himself being ruefully brought into consciousness. "Hehheh.." he let out a dry, barely heard chuckle. "Hey..Kirie..its nice to see you again too.." He murmured while rubbing his head. Looking up to meet Kirie's eyes. She seemed focused on something else though, her face void of her once rage-filled expression. In that split moment, he realized he was still laying there... naked! Either that blow to the head had caused all of his blood to flow from the top of his body to the middle area of his body, or he had developed some strange kinky reaction to being unmercifully beaten..but lo' and behold, he had a full on erection, and oh boy, did his sailor stand proud. In a hasty, but vain attempt to sheathe his member with his hands, which really didn't help, the embarrassment of the moment granted him a second wind, putting him on his feet, and he braced himself for more punishment.

All Kirie really did was stand there and stare at it, which was actually one of the many variables for it still being erect. Through all the years he had known her, they always found themselves, be it accidental, or on purpose, exposing themselves to one another. They had known each other's bodies well. The thrill of it one could assume, like a predator stalking its hapless prey, the longer the stalk the better the meal seems to get. The idea of a quick peak always proved satisfying. Maybe along the lines a fetish was developed for voyeurism. Kirie looked at Yukinari, Yukinari looked at Kirie. His face crimson red from embarrassment, her face still fixated, a curious expression passed her. their eyes met for a moment, then the contest of staring broke as she reached down for his towel and proceeded to covering him with it, not a word was said between the two while this was happening, Yukinari was quiet mainly out of fear though, anymore hits to the head and there will be no more waking up. The tension between them was so thick you could cut it with a knife, then she turned around and began walking down the corridor- not before she ran a hand over his erected member which protruded and throbbed violently under the towel, a word still hadn't been said.

It left Yukinari with a puzzled stare. Then he came to the realization that.."she touched it.."

Lets face it, both of them are developing teens, their hormones going out of control, it is truly mind boggling that either one of them had never went any further than peeping on one another. The feelings were there, the lust - definitely was there, but could there be something else? Thinking back, Yukinari realized that he found himself staring at a nude Kirie alot more than he could count, and feel comfortable about. Especially when her shower was broken for those few months, why did she always time her showers to be exactly when he would want to take one? Why did she never leave a note on the door? Had she been giving hints for him to make the first move? He also noticed shes been showing herself to him, and majority of these were not even remotely accidental, a lot more since he met Miharu and the others. Does she feel intimidated or something? He always looked at her as a bigger sister, after all she was his first true friend, someone who was there for him in what seemed like a world that only wanted to be against him

"eh!" He shrugged, too much to think about, ridding himself of the thoughts - pushing them to the dark far corners of his mind. He secured himself in his room, looking at hazy 2:19 AM on his alarm clock, he napped for a good while in that tub. He climbed into bed, anchored his drifting mind, and slowly slipped back into peaceful unconsciousness...

Waking up slowly from sleep, he realized it was almost 1 PM! He had slept the entire morning away. The house always seemed so lonely since Miharu started working, and her outer-worldly friends Tomoka and Koyomi went back to Seiren. He sat up on the bed, rubbed the cold out of his eyes, rolled his neck and stretched, "Ehm.." He let out sluggishly, getting off the bed.

"Might as well make the best of today that I can." Thinking to himself while picking out clothes from his closet. "Man, I REALLY need to do laundry." His actions seized briefly when he heard a door being shut.

Not having the time to actually put on clothing before the intruder was already at his very own room door. "Miharu? Kirie?" he yelled in reply to who ever was standing behind his room door.

No response was met. The door opened slowly, revealing a blonde haired Lisa, whose head was momentarily stuck into the room, moments later inviting herself inside, closing the door behind her. She smiled devilishly. she was wearing a low cut red summer dress and 1 inch white heels.

"Hey there, soul mate." She said coyly. Looking at Yukinari, who had hid himself behind his closet door, showing only his head.

"Lisa? What the heck are you doing here? Just because you're rich doesn't mean you can just walk into any one's home!" Frowning. Sometimes he wonders if being allergic and afraid of women was really all that bad. At least he had privacy.

She leaned her head in confusion. "What are you hiding from me dear?" Taking a few steps closer.

"NOOO!" "Don't come any closer!" A obviously embarrassed Yukinari exploded. "Im not decent, let me put some clothing on first please!" Truly regretting that last sentence, it was as if he wrapped himself with venison in a forest full of hungry wolves. Lisa in excitement leaped to the closet, and with some suddenly invoked unnatural strength almost tore the closet door off their hinges!

Yukinari dived through Lisa's legs, thanking the gods for once for his lack of size, and rushed through his door. Lisa turned around and followed after him in pursuit.

Yukinari had fled into the living and hid behind their t.v, he could hear Lisa's footsteps getting closer..and closer. "Please god.." he thought to himself.

"Where are you, soulmate?" She yelled. "Stop delaying the inevitable!" She scoured the living room. Yukinari could feel her presence getting closer, and closer. He knew she was going to find him at any moment now. He sighed silently and cursed himself for being such a wimp. He thought of Fukuyama, how is he always so brave and fearless when it comes to women? Then he realized it.. "Whats to lose?" As if he suddenly underwent years of intense therapy in that one very moment of thought, he spoke to himself again what he should have reinforced himself with along time ago.. "Whats to lose..?"

He stood up. "Hey!" He taunted. "Im right here, Lisa." Usually, Yukinari only showed rare feats of bravery when his friends were endangered, but this time he had on his very own choice of will. Lisa, turned around quite obviously taken back by the unusual show of bravado. Though, Yukinari's chest and head was visible, the rest of his naked body was shielded by the television set.

She walked towards him, "Oh Yukinari!" She wrapped him in a hug, he returned the embrace. "Whats to lose?" echoed through him. He honestly never had a girlfriend, or anything close to a intimate relationship with the opposite sex. His actions are running on pure instinct now.

Taking a deep breath to reinforce himself, " You can do this." He placed each one of his hands on her jaw, guiding her head so they both their faces met at eye level. His eyes ran over her facial features; Her two blue gemstone like eyes, set perfectly in place - Goddess like perfection. Her slender nose, and her plump lips. Everything about her seemed to be perfectly in place, amazing. Yukinari, in that moment, could truly appreciate the beauty of Lisa. Never taking the time to really check her out. She was.. beautiful. "Beautiful.." He said quietly, but she heard him. He devoured her beauty in him as if he was unfed for years, it left him even hungrier. He felt something, a warmth, inside of him. His body felt like he was on a cloud, as if the very existence of the world around the two had faded, leaving only them in a void of nothingness. So-too that very moment, nothing mattered, only her. "Is this what love feels like?" He thought to himself as he stared at the motionless Lisa, not even blinking. "Lisa.." The words came solemnly toned. She focused intently on him. Strangely, his rash did not appear.

This is what shes wanted. This is what shes prayed for everyday since she met him. This is what she felt she was destined for. Nothing could ruin it.

"Lisa.." He looked at her, his eyes filled with emotion. He gently bit his bottom lip, and leaned foward. "Yukinari.." She leaned foward. He leaned forward.

They were just centimeters apart.

Their lips just barely touching.

*BOOOM*

The front door flew open, first came in was a raging, seething Kirie, and a confused Miharu followed behind her. Both of them drenched wet from rain.

Both Yukinari, and Lisa had looked over to witness the violent intrusion. Kirie, now in the living room began observing the scene, the two - Yukinari and Lisa, had not moved an inch. "So.. THIS is what you do huh?" Kirie said, in a deadly tone. She was so angry she had to take deep breathes between sentences. " THIS, is what you do when you ignore phone calls, and dont answer the god damn door bell for your friends while its rainingl?" At that very moment, Yukinari realized he was so involved with Lisa he didn't even hear the bell, or realize it was pouring down raining outside!

Her fists were balled up so hard, that it was at the point where you could hear her bones cracking and popping, her knuckles turned white. The vein on her temple was pulsating as if it would burst at any moment. Oh boy, she was angry. Not only was she a angry woman, but a jealous one at that. Her murderous stare, like any trained warrior would, targeted the weaker one of the couple first, and that meant Yukinari.

She stomped towards the two, though she had her glare on Yukinari.

Yukinari, in his defense, got the hell out of dodge by leaping from the t.v, into the center most part of the living room, but in the midst of the moment he forgot he was still naked. There he stood, full bloom in the middle of his living room, naked. Lisa had abruptly fainted, Yukinari had no idea if it was from seeing him naked, or the whole ordeal before they were interrupted, not that he really cared. Right now, his only worries are that of his face being smashed into puddy.

Miharu, just stood there, puzzled. She glanced around the room, taking in the whole situation.

Kirie, however stopped in her tracks for a moment, her facial expression upon seeing the now nude Yukinari, again, changed from what was confusion, then to anger, and following something that was totally indescribable, however it was far worse than anger or rage. It was something that scared the living hell out of Yukinari. He'd never seen her this angry before, and he wasn't planning on sticking around to see what she was going to do either!

Like two boxers in a ring, Kirie and Yukinari circled around the living room's end-table, almost in arms reach of one another. "It was a accident! I didn't know!" Yukinari pleaded. His words seemed to only throw fuel on the fire that burned within her.

"I dont give a DAMN!" She said in bitter reply. She reached down and picked up the nearest object, which happened to be a clock, but her anger caused it to fly no where near Yukinari. Miharu could only sigh. "Kirie.. calm down." she said calmly. But recieved no reply.

"Wait till I get my hands on you, im going to BREAK you in so many places." Kirie remarked as she slowly circled the table, the words dripped with venom.

"Oh god shes really PISSED." His thoughts raced through his mind. " Shes in arms reach of me, I better think of something fast." He scoured his mind. "What is the chink in her armor? What can I do?"

"Aha!"

Yukinari's facial expression then changed dramatically, the blood seemed to pour from his face, looking ghostly white and shocked, he pointed behind her. "Oh my god! A ghost!" He screamed. Kirie, looked shocked at first, and was slow to react, but she took the bait, and turned around expecting to be horrified by some sort of paranormal apparition, but all she saw was a wall, and the smoke trail Yukinari made while he dashed back to his room.

All of the commotion had awoken Lisa, she begun to mutter and babble out incoherent things, every now and then a 'Yukinari' would be heard.

Miharu looked at Kirie, then to Lisa, then back to Kirie. "Whats she doing here?" She said curiously. "And why was Yukinari naked?" Putting a finger on his chin. "You don't think they -" She couldn't finish the sentence before Kirie stormed out of the house, only to return, again drenched in water. "I don't even want to think about it." she replied, " Infact, I don't ever want to talk to that jerk again." She spoke slowly, as if she was holding something back. The sobs became harder to fight, and eventually she was overcome by a swarm of emotion. She fell to the floor and rolled herself into a ball. Miharu soon attended to her, comforting her.

Locking his room door, placing his back against the door and slid to the floor. Letting out a sigh of relief. "Whats to lose, eh?" He thought. Shaking his head in disbelief.

"Whats to lose.." he said silently. Thunder cackled, and the sound of rain filled his room.

Kirie had grown to like Yukinari, a lot. She saw in him, what everyone else did not. She liked how he has a heart of gold, and would bend over backwards to please or help anyone. Its what attracted her to him in the first place, so many people making fun of his miniature stature. Never giving him the chance or time of day he deserved. Everyone made his life a living hell. But then she came, she befriended him, probably even gave him a reason to live. She stood up for him. She.. fell in love with him. Madly in love. To where she will become aggravated and aggressive just from him standing by another woman. But he never showed interest in her, no matter how much of her body she willingly exposes to him. He doesn't even try to touch her, or make attempts. Now all he does is talk about Miharu; Miharu this, Miharu that. What can Miharu give to him that she can't? Why Lisa? Why were they so close? Why were they holding each other? Why was he naked? The jealousy began to warp Kirie's mind. Her sanity was now in question.

Her insanity however, began to question, murder.

Thunder cackled in the background, clearing the room of all sound in its loud roar, and then.. the room fell quiet, only to be filled with the sobs of Kirie's lament. Miharu held her Kirie closer in a vain attempt to comfort her. She looked up and silently whispered "Yukinari.." a tear came rolling down her eye, it landed on Kirie, but she did not notice. Almost instantly after saying his name, another thunderous roar soon overruled the sounds in the living room, as if the gods themselves were trying to warn them.

This was going to be a very long summer...

End of chapter 1.