a/n blah. getting off the computer soon. Merry Christmas People!!!

No Choice at All
Chapter Four—Conversations

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Kozakura walked inside her house, smiling a little to herself. Her mother was nowhere in sight, and her father was sitting lazily in an armchair, reading the day's newspaper.

"Hallo Dad..." Kozakura said tiredly, making her way towards the stairs.

"You sound tired. Why don't you go off to bed?" her father replied; the rustle of a page turning followed his inquiry.

"Alright. Good-night Dad..." she trudged up the stairs, dragging her bag behind her. Idly she made her way down the hall and then into her room; she stood in the doorway, looking around, but finding herself immobilized.

Her giant bed looked so welcoming. And her blue and aqua sponged walls seemed to sing a wordless lullaby to her, drawing her into the state of half-sleep.

Finally finding she could move, Kozakura closed her door and pulled on her blue flannel pajamas and a black camisole—typical pajamas for the young singer.

Kozakura opened her bedroom door to go to the bathroom so that she could brush her teeth, and found her younger sister, Amaya, standing in her doorway, blocking her path.

"Need something?" Kozakura asked, eyebrows raised, as she shoved past her 13-year-old sister and made her way to the bathroom.

"No...Just want to tell you something..." Amaya said, shrugging.

"And what would that be?" Kozakura asked while applying toothpaste on her electric toothbrush. Turning the faucet on, she briefly let her toothbrush sit there, watering, and then stuck it in her mouth, the buzz of the engine loud and annoying.

"Takeshi called. He was looking for you..." Amaya said, managing to sound nonchalant even as she had to shout over the toothbrush.

Kozakura spit into the sink. "Takeshi called?! He was looking for me?!" she squealed. Even though she was a famous singer, she was still a teenage girl, which usually meant she was into guys.

Takeshi was a boy who went to the all-male private school across the road from Kozakura's all-girl private school. He was the most popular guy, and for good reason; He was smart, cute, charming, a ladies man, and VERY nice. To Kozakura, These things all made up for the fact that he wasn't much of an athlete, which was a disappointment to most girls.

"Yup. I told him you were out seeing your boyfriend though--" Amaya said, beginning to walk slowly away.

Kozakura nodded, putting her toothbrush away; she then realized what her sister had said and, shrieking incoherently, chased after her.

Amaya ran to her room, and attempted closing her door, but Kozakura squeezed through the narrow crack.

"WHAT did you tell him?" Kozakura spat venomously.

"That you were out seeing your boyfriend. It's true isn't it?" Amaya said fearfully, eyes wide as she backed towards her bed.

Kozakura sighed in frustration. "WHY does everyone think that Ryou is my boyfriend?! WHY?! We are just friends and will NEVER be anything more!! Jeez…you'd think it was a crime to have guy friends the way everyone acts. Next thing you know it'll--"

"You two sure seem to like each other though..." Amaya cut her older sister off.

"No!! I like Takeshi! Not Ryou! Ryou will never be anything more than my obnoxious jerk of a friend!!"

"If he's such an obnoxious jerk, why is he your friend?" Amaya mumbled, picking at the ends up her hair.

There was a pause, then Kozakura replied, "Because. He can be nice too. And sweet, and caring. THAT'S why he's my friend..."

Amaya sighed and pat Kozakura on the shoulder. "I'm surprised you have such normal people as friends..." she said

Kozakura shoved her sister's hand off of her. She laughed. "I try my best to stay normal and….non-famous."

"I know..." Amaya said with a smile. She walked to her bedroom window, placing her fingertips on the pink sponged wall. "Look! There's Ryou!" she exclaimed, pointing at the glass, looking back and forth between her sister and the small figure outside.

Kozakura looked at her sister strangely, then joined her at the window, opening it, and stuck her head out.

"Ryou!" He looked up. "Wait a minute!" Kozakura shouted. She sprinted out of her sister's room and to her own, picking up Ryou's jacket from her bed. Dashing down the stairs and towards the front hall, she threw the door open.

"Come here!" she shouted.

Ryou turned and came to the Wakamiya Residence's front door

"Yes?" he asked, somewhat impatiently.

"Here's your jacket. You're going to need it..." Kozakura said kindly, smiling at her older friend; behind her, she could hear footsteps. Kozakura quickly handed Ryou his jacket, then turned her head to see who was behind her. Amaya stood there by her older sister timidly.

"Hello Amaya..." Ryou said with a wave.

"Hi..." Amaya said shyly.

"Well I best be getting back to the cafe. I'll see you around I guess..." He turned his back to the house and walked off into the darkness.

"Wait! Ryou!" Amaya called; Ryou turned again. Amaya's eyes darted about as she quickly thought of something. "You'll need a light!"

Ryou didn't move. Kozakura watched her sister dash off suspiciously. Amaya came back an instant later with a lantern, turned on.

She bolted outside and to Ryou. "Here..." she said, placing the handle in his open hand. "Be careful..."

Ryou nodded, giving her an odd look, and began walking off again, and Amaya ran back inside.

"Yes! Be careful!!" Kozakura shouted, then closed the front door.

"Come with me..." she then said, grabbing Amaya's wrist and dragging her to the pink bedroom.

"What? WHAT?!" Amaya shouted after Kozakura closed and locked Amaya's bedroom door

"What was all that about?" Kozakura questioned with no emotion.

"I didn't want anything to happen to your friend is all..." Amaya said, twiddling her fingers

"You're lying. I can tell. You always play with your fingers when you lie..."

"No! It's the truth! Honestly!" Amaya's face turned pink

"You like Ryou don't you? Oh ,my gosh! You like Ryou!" Kozakura exclaimed, shocked.

"No! It's not true! I was just concerned for your friend!" Amaya said, panicky.

Kozakura laughed evilly, dancing around in a taunting way as she said, "I never thought I'd see the day. That's why you were so excited he was passing by. THAT'S why you followed me down. The only thing I can't figure out is why you'd call him my boyfriend if you liked him..." she stopped the frolicking and pondered.

"Aha! See! That proves I don't like him!!"

"No. That doesn't prove anything..." Kozakura said, for an idea had just popped in her head. "You said it so I'd think you DIDN'T like him!!"

"Oh please don't tell anyone Kozakura! I beg you!" Amaya said, dropping down to her knees in a pleading way. Tears were gleaming in her eyes.

Kozakura suddenly felt bad. "I won't--promise. Now go to sleep..." she exited the room and went to her own. There she sat in her bed, reading for hours, until finally, she fell asleep, the book still in her hands.

a/n I edited this one most because it was the most messed up...yeah...MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! LATERZ!!