A/N: I apologize for taking so long. Every time I meant to work on An International Affair, I ended up working on my latest story, Finding Family, which is a Weiss Kreuz fanfiction if you want to check it out. I would like to thank sparkletofhope for leaving my first and only review. Anyway, on with the story!
Story Notes: This is English. This is Japanese. This is thought. Note that Japanese is bolded, and thought is not.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own D.N.Angel.
Everyone in the theatre took their seats as the lights dimmed. After a few announcements, the show began. Catherina enjoyed the play; yet, she kept most of her reactions tucked away. While everyone else was laughing and cheering, she simply smiled and clapped politely. At intermission, Risa leaned over and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Do you not like the play," she asked. Catherina looked at her, surprised.
"I do like the play, very much. Why do you ask?"
"Well, you and Krad weren't laughing much," Risa pointed out. Krad turned around and looked at the twins.
"It's a family thing. Grandmother was the only one who took us to the theatre, and we had to sit still and be quiet. I laughed once, and she refused to take either of us to a performance for two months. We got so bored at night sometimes. After that, we remembered not to laugh at shows anymore. Old habits die hard, I guess," Krad explained. Catherina nodded agreement.
"Everything was very proper at our grandmother's house when we were younger. Krad grew up first and got away, but I stayed there with my mother until Grandmother passed away," she added.
"What about your father," Risa asked. Riku put her hand on her sister's arm, but Catherina shook her head.
"He died in a horseback riding accident. He was sent flying, and he broke his neck when he landed. I was eleven."
"I'm sorry," Riku murmured.
"It's no problem. Sometimes it helps to talk about it, you know? Mother's still around, and Father was always gone for work anyway. I'm mostly over it now." She half smiled and changed the subject. "So, how do you like the United States. It's certainly different than England."
"Yeah. I'm glad I was always good at English. Daisuke's been having some difficulty. He never did like English," Riku admitted. "He's so cute sometimes."
"Are you together," Catherina asked.
"No, we're not," Riku stammered. Krad leaned over and whispered in his cousin's ear.
"Yes, they are, Cat. Riku's just shy about it, and Daisuke's even worse. But they're happy together." The blonde grinned. Then it was Riku's turn to change the subject.
"How do you plan to avoid Dark on show night?"
"What do you mean," Catherina asked, puzzled.
"Didn't Krad tell you that we're putting on a mainstage performance?"
"Cousin dearest, why didn't you tell me about this," Catherina asked, her voice dangerously sweet. Krad visibly flinched.
"I forgot?"
"That's not good enough. What if I haven't given him my name yet," she demanded. Krad sighed.
"I'm sorry, Cat. It slipped my mind. Besides, if I had told you, would you have given Dark your name any sooner?" He looked at her, eyebrows raised. She simply glared at him in reply. "There will be others who aren't a part of the play."
"I'm still upset."
"I know. I'm sorry." He turned back to the stage and got settled for the second act. All around them, people were returning to their seats. Again the lights dimmed and the second act began soon after. At the end of the play, everybody stood up to applaud the cast and crew. Even Catherina and Krad stood up and clapped politely. The twins, Catherina, and Krad made their way out of the theatre, finally reaching a clearing. Soon, Daisuke and Satoshi broke free of the crowd and joined them.
"How did you like the play, Daisuke," Riku asked. Catherina hid a smile behind her hand.
"It was good. It sounded like it would be boring. I mean, who names a play 'A Flea in Her Ear', anyway," Daisuke replied.
"Guys, we probably shouldn't talk about it now. Someone involved in the performance might overhear," Krad explained.
"We could talk in Japanese," Catherina suggested.
"Then you wouldn't be able to understand," Satoshi pointed out.
"Says who," Catherina retorted. Satoshi blinked.
"If you insist." Krad sighed. "You shouldn't show off so much. It's uncouth for a girl of your standing. You are supposed to use you knowledge for the good of everybody, no for your own benefit. Grandmother would be upset if she know how you are using your Japanese lessons," Krad scolded.
"It is for the benefit of everyone. Now we can talk about the play, and nobody can overhear us. Everyone wins this way. Honestly, stop being such a bore, Krad Adrien Hikari. You're as bad as Grandmother," Catherina protested.
"You need the influence of a well-mannered adult, Catherina Serenity Hikari. Why don't you live up to your middle name occasionally. You do understand how important you are in the Hikari family, don't you? If you can't understand that, then our family is finished. You have a responsibility that you can't ever forget. I love you, Cat, but you have to do your part."
"You say that you would follow me, but I don't believe you. You're just jealous, aren't you? I get all of the attention. I always got more attention from Grandmother, the teachers, even your own parents. If you want the title so badly, take it. I'll get to have fun again. Do you realize how long it took for me to persuade Mother to let me come here this week? It took two months of begging. And what's the point of knowing Japanese if I don't talk in Japanese with people from Japan?! Plus, Daisuke isn't as comfortable with English as you are. If you want to help, then leave me alone!" With that, Catherina turned on her heel and stormed away, leaving Krad speechless. Riku went to follow her, but Krad grabbed her shoulder.
"I'm the one who messed up. I'll talk to her. It's just, she's dealing with a lot of family issues at the moment, and I just brought up all of them. It's a surprise that Aunt Melinda let her come at all. She probably wanted to forget about the Hikari family for a while. We used to be so close when we were younger, but things seem to have changed. I just hope that she still trusts in me after this." He sighed, and continued towards the dorms.
"Krad, are you going to be alright if she doesn't," Satoshi asked. "You seem upset at the idea that she hates you."
"I am upset, Satoshi. I've been her best friend all of her life. But this summer, Grandmother passed away. Now, Cat is the head of the entire Hikari family. She needs to realize that she needs to use her knowledge appropriately. She learned Japanese so that she could deal with the branch of the Hikari family living in Japan: my parents and me, two uncles and their families, and a crazy aunt who refuses to get married. I understand that it's easier for Daisuke to speak in Japanese. In fact, it's probably easier for almost all of you to speak in Japanese. Yet, she only suggested using Japanese so that we could talk without being overheard. Don't you think that's a bit irresponsible?"
"That may be, but she's only seventeen, going on eighteen. She's not even an adult, legally. Here, she doesn't have to be the head of the Hikari family. She can just be Cat. If she wants to speak Japanese, she can. If she wants to speak gibberish, no one would understand her, but she still can. There's nothing wrong with that now. She's smart enough to know when to be serious. You'll just have to trust her. No one learns without making mistakes."
"Thanks, Satoshi. I'll have to apologize in the morning, and I know just what to do." Krad smiled, and set off to get the car he had rented. "Make sure to check in tonight," he called back over his shoulder.
"Of course. I'll call Dark and interrupt his beauty sleep. Sound like a plan?" Krad simply waved over his shoulder.
A/N: This chapter is considerably shorter, but it was a good stopping point. I hope you enjoyed it. Please leave a review and let me know!
