The Realities of a High School Celebrity

Chapter Two

"You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them."—Maya Angelou

How could she do this to her?! What was Onee-chan thinking, thrusting her freedom into her already overprotective boyfriend's hands? While she thought Niwa-kun's need to keep her safe was rather sexy, Kyo couldn't stand the fact that her life wasn't her own anymore. It shouldn't matter that she didn't like violence or her refusal to fight anyone since the emotional backlash was painful. Maybe if she didn't have this freakish oversensitivity to the feelings of others then it wouldn't matter if she inflicted injuries to another person or not. However, she kind of liked it despite the cons that came along with it. She could see what her sister couldn't express with words and knew if someone was trying to get on her good side for their own hidden vendetta. And, she wasn't completely helpless either! Who else would be able better see danger than her?

Niwa-kun grasped her wrist and dragged her further down the hall, pass a startled Subaru and Kaname-san, and into a vacant room. She was practically vibrating with rage and he knew without a doubt that without an outlet she'd explode.

"Alright," he closed the door firmly behind him, "let it out, Kyoko."

Her shout of fury echoed throughout the vacant walls and he winced as his eardrums rang in discomfort. She broke through two different octaves in the span of one second and her eyes were like the furious crackling of a forest fire as she raved. Niwa-kun leaned back against the door, watching her pace from the window to the opposite wall in silence.

"I may not be as tough as her, but damn it, I'm not weak either!" Kyo slapped the window sill and grumbled incoherently as she glared outside. The bright atmosphere beaming down on the mansion was completely at odds with her rage and it only succeeded in fanning the flame blazing inside her blood. "How Onee-chan's problems be flipped around to focus back on us? She's so impossible! Nishiomi Isao is free and she's suffering, but she'll make it all about Ami-chan and me. I don't understand her ridiculous logic!"

"You two are her whole world, Kyoko," Niwa-kun said, his arms wrapping around her waist and pulling her back to his chest. She struggled at first, not wanting anyone to touch her at the moment, and her nails dug painfully into his forearms before admitting defeat. Her head fell back and he jerked his chin away at the last minute. "How do you think she'd feel if something happened to you?"

"She shouldn't just worry about us though, Niwa-kun." She closed her eyes and sighed, her anger leaving as she basked in her boyfriend's tranquility. It wasn't fair how he could make her feel so childish in her fury or how easy it was for him to calm her down. Shouldn't she remain livid for longer than three minutes? "Onee-chan needs to be concerned about her health, too. She's going to try to push everyone way like she did last time."

"Last time?"

"After…after she was raped, Onee-chan became a lot quieter. She wouldn't talk to me or Ami-chan unless we initiated the conversation first. I thought she just needed space to come to terms with what happened, but when news of Asaki-san's death came, Onee-chan was never the same. Sure, she'd take care of us and try to everything her power to keep us happy, but I knew she was keeping us at an arm's length." Kyo clutched at his wrist and Niwa-kun kissed her cheek. "She was terrified that we would have an 'accident' as well, but we didn't know the whole story so we were fine. And, that's what going to happen now. She's going to push Fuuto-kun and then us."

"That is where I think you're wrong, Kyoko." He grinned, turning the petite girl around in his arms to cup her cheek. "You've seen Asahina's aura—you know that he's not going to let Himimori-san do that. If anything he'll probably tie her down to his bed."

A small giggle escaped from her lips and his smile widened at the sweet sound. "Now, that you're done throwing a fit," a harsh slap to his chest and a flush of rose flowing across Kyo's cheeks, "shall we go check up on the little ones?"

~o~

Mari understood that her life as well as her sisters would no longer be private since her identity was revealed, but now it would be a miracle if any of them could step outside long enough without one of the Asahinas blowing a gasket. Given that Ami tended to stay inside the giant house to play with her friend, both Kyo and the blonde were placed under a tighter leash. Which, to say the very least, annoyed both teenagers immensely. As it was, Mari knew that she needed to be especially careful now since Isao was on the loose, but did she really need someone to accompany her while she walked through the gardens? Or have lectures about running if she felt cornered every time Ukyo-san and Kaname got a hold of her? She could take the endless teasing from Tsubaki ("It feels like you're really a part of the family now, Future Imoto-chan!"), but Mari could go without the scathing arguments about her life.

Speaking of which, she was currently livid at Fuuto for the most recent "debate" they had about her remaining in school. She needed to attend in order to get a job if for whatever reason her gig as Fuuto's guitarist was to collapse. Her sisters' welfare came above everything else and that included her dreams to share her music with the world. Of course, Fuuto had gotten upset that she refused to see that neither of her sisters would be able to survive without her if she kept throwing herself out to the wolves. This remark led into very dangerous territory that neither teenager nor family member had ever explored before, and the newest discovery showcased her fiery temper that had become absent the last few days.

It was both a relief and a terror that her feisty personality was returning to the Asahina brothers and Mari's sisters. Ema-chan was grinning from ear-to-ear as the yelling match continued (now that she thought about it, the brunette was all quick to solve any dispute) and Kyo was practically beaming right along beside her. At the time, Mari was too focused on telling Fuuto to fuck off and that she could take care of herself without having someone breathing down her neck 24/7. It was bad enough that everyone insisted that she remain in bed until Masaomi-san gave her the okay. She found being locked up in a boring room the worse possible torture man could think of. Ami was her saving grace along with cheerful talks with Wataru, but for the most part she was just dying of boredom.

And now he expected her to just drop her high school education just because her fucking rapist appeared? Sure she was terrified of him and the control he had over their lives, but damn it, she was going to live like he never existed. Not the smartest plan our heroine created, but it was something she needed. While school was the second most torturous thing to exist, it had a sense of normalcy that she'd been lacking the past few weeks. There she was just Himimori Mari that happened to be dating the most popular boy-slash-idol in their school. While the attention was mainly negative and there were many who would rather see her fall into depression, she found it a small comfort. Nothing about the past or her next concert mattered to her peers. It was just them against her for the attention of their beloved Fuuto-sama.

She shook her head. Just why was she fawning over that fucking overprotective bastard? Sure, she thrust Kyo under her Niwa-sempai's wing for protection, but her sister couldn't possibly hurt anyone else without causing a backlash to her own mental health. Was she being a hypocrite? Yes. Did she need to take about her demands that Kyo stay attached to Niwa-sempai's hip? Probably. She'll admit that she was wrong to order her sister around like that when she couldn't handle it herself. As far as she was concerned, all men could get rid of that fucking image of women being fragile and needing their protection. She snorted, if anything the men needed the women in order to balance out their emotional constipation.

"I can't even calm down after climbing this damn tree," she grumbled, completely put out with the world. "Just what the hell is up with me? I either get so damn angry at Fuuto or I practically panic over his stupid health."

"You are in love."

Mari yelped, her grip on the branch above her head loosening just enough for her to lose her balance. She squeezed her eyes shut as bright green rushed up to meet her, but her nose smacked into something warm and soft yet hard at the same time. Swirling oceans widened as they met pale jade. Iori shifted her in his arms until she was able to stand on her two feet, an apologetic smile gracing his thin lips. She always found him to be so calm no matter what the situation, his persona almost like the beautiful flowers he looked after, and those eyes of his were sharp. His observance was astounding and while her sister enjoyed his company, Mari couldn't handle being alone with him. Maybe it was because his eyes never missed anything or it could've been that his quiet calm was the complete opposite of her fiery temper.

"I didn't mean to frighten you," Iori said, looking her up and down for any possible bruises. "I was just passing by and happened hear what you were saying."

"Well," Mari looked away, her face flushed. "Uh, thanks for catching me. I'm not normally this klutzy."

He shook his head, "Not at all. You have been under a lot of stress as of later. Moreover, we have most likely caused you some hardship as well."

At her silence, he gave a small chuckle. "I'm sorry that we've metaphorically robbed you of your freedom, but we only wish to ensure your safety. Is that such a terrible thing to wish for?"

"Why are you talking to me about this so suddenly?"

"Mari-san, you've always relied on yourself when it came to your sisters' care, but now more and more people are stepping in to help." Iori placed his hands in his pockets, his eyes finally leaving her face to stare off into the distance. "And, now your ex-boyfriend has shown up to throw your life completely upside down. While I understand that it must be hard to expose your heart so suddenly like this, I believe that you holding all your emotion is not the right way to handle the situation."

Thin eyebrows furrowed into a scowl and her eyes narrowed at the same words Kyo had said to her weeks ago. "I'm not bottling up my feelings, Iori."

A silver brow rose up and those pale eyes locked onto her face once more. "If you cannot understand the basic feeling of love—concern, panic, and fear of losing your loved one—then maybe it is not my place to sort out your Pandora's Box. Fortunately, you have Kyoko-san to guide you through the ordeal." He nodded his head politely and turn on his heel, clearly finished with their conversation. And Mari couldn't find it in herself to be annoyed by his rational thinking.

She watched him walk into the main lobby of the mansion and continued to stare until the sun was beginning to set. Her mind rushed with countless thoughts at the short talk she had with the flower boy, but she always ended up back where she started. Maybe he was right that she desperately needed help when it came to sorting through her emotions, but if there was anything she was most apprehensive of was her loss of control. Fuuto had torn whatever plans and hopes she had for the future to shreds when he broke down her heart's walls, and now Isao was throwing her through a loop. God, it was just so confusing. She wanted to be able to understand what her heart was trying to tell her, but she was also terrified of being hurt again. Whether by Fuuto or Isao, it didn't matter, either one had the power to shatter her soul in a million pieces.

Mari sighed, "There's no point in worrying myself sick outside."

"No, there is not." She gasped as Fuuto grabbed her wrist and yanked her to his chest. Platinum locks billowed out behind her as she tripped over her own feet and into the pop star's arms. His fingers jerked her chin up and the next thing she knows, he's stealing the breath from her lungs. But just as quickly as the kiss began, it ended with a parting gasp of uncontrollable annoyance that left her lips swollen and gums bleeding from their teeth clacking together. Gasping, he pulled her under his arm with a crushing grip and proceeded to drag her to the front door. "This is why you can't stay by yourself, baka Mari. You cause trouble and nearly injure yourself."

"Acting concern doesn't suit you," she mumbled, a rush of rouge dying her cheeks. "Did Iori tell you that I fell out of the tree? Traitor."

Fuuto growled wordlessly and pulled them to a stop just in front of the glass doors. "I get it if you don't like me hovering, but I—!"

She stiffened at the soft crack in his voice and peered up into his eyes to see a slight glassy gleam to them. Caramel drops swam in a small pool and thick lashes were the only obstacle keeping them at bay. Just what brought this all on?! He wasn't like this before when I left! "Fuuto…?"

"I can't lose you."