Chapter Six: Surprising Revelations
Keiichi pounded the door of the girl's bedroom calling to her between every knock.
"Suzuna!" he replied, "Please open the door. I want to talk to you."
Suzuna placed her hands over her ears as she leaned against the door to drown out the sound. She just felt like shutting out the world.
"Please Suzuna" he pleaded, "Open the door. It's okay. Don't worry about that jerk all right? Please open the door, I'm worried about you."
Still no answer came so he put his forehead on the door and closed his eyes.
"Well all right then. Maybe you'll feel like talking in the morning. I'm gonna go to bed now. If you need to talk, just knock on my door" he added before moving away from the door and heading towards his own room located in the bungalow his parents had rented.
At the same time Suzuna pulled her hands away from her ears and lowered her head sadly.
"I'm sorry Keiichi" she whispered, "I just don't feel like talking right now."
(Next Scene)
The next morning Suzuna seemed in better spirits as she arrived at the table for breakfast but Keiichi could definitely tell that her normal spirit was less then positive. They spent the rest of the day away from the beaches, the Wolf Pack and their companions, just hanging around the temples and fishing. By the end of the day Suzuna's smile returned but her heart still hurt from the night before. That evening she returned to her room once more wanting to be alone. As Keiichi saw her depart he frowned and nodded his head to himself determined to do what he knew he had to. As she moped in her room he departed the bungalow fifteen minutes after his parents had for dinner and began to walk with his fishing pole in hand towards the small fishing boat his father had bought. He climbed into the boat, started up the motor, and turned his boat towards the beaches where Tsukasa's Sakamoto's yacht sat in harbor.
Meanwhile Suzuna heard the door shut and pulled herself from her bed glancing into her closet briefly. As she looked she noticed the green dress for the first time since the night before.
"Oh" she whispered pulling it down from the closet, "I suppose I'd better return this. The sooner the better too" she nodded walking out of the room and into the living room.
A few moments later she walked out of the bungalow with the dress wrapped properly. She closed the door behind her and followed the path towards the dock where she knew Tsukasa's yacht was docked.
When she arrived she climbed the steps of the yacht and walked along the deck, heading in the direction of Shiori's room. At the same time Tsukasa was wondering the other side of the deck when he heard the unfamiliar sounds of Keiichi's fishing boat arriving from down below.
"Tsukasa!" he shouted catching his attention all at once, "Tsukasa Sakamoto!"
"Keep your voice down!" Tsukasa shouted back, "Do you know what time it is?"
"I don't care! I'm calling you out!"
"What?"
"I'm challenging you right here and now!"
"What are you talking about you little wimp? I can beat you at anything!"
"Oh yea prove it!"
"What's your challenge?"
"A fishing competition! Right here! Tonight!"
"That's your challenge?"
"That's right. Unless you're afraid to go up against me?" he jeered his eyes shining behind his glasses.
"Afraid? Me of you? You got to be kidding."
"Then come down here. Accept my challenge and we'll see who the better fisherman is."
"You're on" Tsukasa said through gritted teeth as Keiichi's boat slid up beside the yacht and the teen jumped on board, "But I warn you. You're gonna lose."
"I don't think so" Keiichi shook his head with a frown "Because the reason I am doing this is much better then your own" he replied turning the boat back on and steering the boat towards the fishing area.
(Next Scene)
Suzuna climbed the deck of the boat with a heavy sigh holding onto the package that contained Shiori's dress. As she paused on the deck her eyes focused on her direction.
Now if I remember correctly" she said to herself, "Shiori's room was in that direction" she pointed to the left of her, "Hopefully that's where she is but if not I'll just leave it on her bed" she resigned as she headed for the girl's room.
She walked down a hall past several other doors barely making a sound, till she reached the end where she noticed that Shiori's door was slightly open. She squeezed through the crack of the door till she spotted Shiori on the far end of the room. With a smile she was about to walk over when Shiori cleared her throat and that was when she noticed that she wasn't alone.
"So are you disappointed?" Shiori asked a figure who was sitting on her couch.
"Why would I be disappointed?" Yukito's spoke clear enough as he sat forward.
"That Suzuna's not here tonight. She does make the place more interesting" she added as Suzuna slid against the other wall trying not to be seen but listening in otherwise.
"I don't think she wants to be here" he shook his head as he closed his eyes, "Especially after what happened last night. Besides, why should I be disappointed?"
"Because you like her" Shiori replied with a grin as she twirled a piece of her hair around her finger and Suzuna's eyes became wide, "Don't pretend that you don't."
"What are you talking about?"
"I have seen the way you are with her Yukito" Shiori continued, "You're not like that with any other girl but me" she teased.
"So?" he said back a bit angrily.
"So you must like her. I got to say she makes me kind of jealous. I guess you're not completely my guy after all."
"Shiori" he sighed with frustration in his voice, "Stop it."
"What?" she looked at him innocently.
"Do you have any idea what your words do to people?"
"Yuki?"
"I mean it" he replied standing to his feet and walking over, "You're so flip all the time that I can't tell when you're joking or not" he added pushing her down onto the couch and placing his hands on her shoulders pinning her down.
"But I" she began her eyes wide as Suzuna's breathing intensified.
"Listen to me. Right here and now. How could you suggest that I would ever think about another girl? I'm not thinking about her. I never think about her. Don't you know? Shiori you're the one I want. You and only you" he finished kissing her roughly on the lips as Suzuna backed away from the door still clutching the package and leaving the couple alone.
As she walked slowly back down the hall Suzuna felt like her feet were slipping. She wasn't certain why though. After all she never thought about in him any other way but as her friend right? Had she been kidding herself the whole time or had the dance been the defining moment when she realized her feelings for him? She knew deep down he loved Shiori so why was she feeling like this? Was the affirmation of his feelings toward Shiori too much for her to bear? As she slid down to sit on the deck she thought it over and over until finally not certain at all she laid her head facedown into her skirt, holding back the tears that she had no idea were coming.
(Next Scene)
Keiichi's grin was wider than it ever had been. Just seconds ago he had caught his tenth fish while Tsukasa begrudgingly was having no luck at all.
"Hah! Hah!" Keiichi gloated, "I told you I was gonna beat you at this! I have been fishing since I was four years old."
"Oh shut up," Tsukasa grumbled, "I'm just having a slow night. I can catch more fish then you any day."
"Yea right" Keiichi rolled his eyes, "You haven't caught anything at all."
"We'll see about that" Tsukasa grumbled again as he cast his line back into the water, "By the way, what are we doing this for?"
"Huh?"
"Why did you ask me to go fishing on a night like tonight? What's the point?"
"What? You mean you have no idea?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Of course I don't. You haven't exactly told me."
"I don't believe this" Keiichi rolled his eyes a second time, "You're even more denser then I thought."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tsukasa asked flexing his fists angrily.
"When someone calls you out they want revenge against you."
"What do you want revenge against me for?" he demanded.
"For what you did to Suzuna last night!" Keiichi shouted.
"Oh. What did I do?" he crossed his arms.
"You really don't remember? You totally humiliated her last night. She spent the whole night in her room and she wouldn't come out. And to make things worse she went back there tonight still upset. You really are a jerk you know that."
"Why you" he began but then stopped, "Why does that bother you anyway?" he raised an eyebrow questionly.
"Because she is my friend and I care about her."
"Excuse me."
"I care about her which is something you don't."
"You're in love in with her aren't you?"
"No. I am not in love with her," he denied with a shake of his head.
"Then why are you here defending her honor?"
"Because she would do the same for me. You really don't know anything about her."
"Oh and you think you do?"
"I've known her since Elementary school and I played with her every summer. She is the most kind, caring, and supportive individual I have known my entire life. She always defends others even if she's the one whose gonna get in trouble. It doesn't ever even occur to her that that could happen. That's because she cares about others more then herself. The first time I ever met her she saved me from a bully and she was only seven years old. Like I said you know nothing about her."
"I know one thing about that her you don't."
"Oh yea and what's that?"
"She's madly in love with me," he said smugly.
"She is not" Keiichi replied indignantly.
"Of course she is, why else would she kiss me last night?"
"She didn't kiss you, you kissed her."
"No, she pulled me down. Her lips were right on top of mine. If you ask me, she wanted to kiss me."
"DID NOT! DID NOT! DID NOT! DID NOT! DID NOT!" Keiichi shouted as he pummeled the unsuspecting teen that was standing next to him.
"Ow!" he screamed back holding onto his head, "Would you stop it! You're gonna get it if you don't!"
"LIES! LIES! LIES! LIES!"
(Next Scene)
Suzuna could hear the slipping of their feet as they arrived on deck, Tsukasa chasing Keiichi as he carried the bucket of fish. She stood to her feet surprised as they appeared.
"Get back here you little wimp!" Tsukasa shouted, "I'll teach you to hit me."
"Suzuna help me!" Keiichi screamed running behind her for protection, "Save me."
"What" she began, "What's going on? Stop right there Tsukasa Sakamoto!" she demanded making him stop in his tracks, "Just leave him alone."
"He hit me and now I am going to hit him back," he said moving forward with his fist out.
"He hit you, what are you talking" she said slowly, "Wait a minute. What are the two of you doing together anyway?"
"Huh?" Keiichi blinked stepping from behind her his glasses a bit askew.
"Why are the two of you here right now, together?" she asked.
"We went fishing" Tsukasa replied as Keiichi straightened his glasses.
"Fishing? At this time of night?" she said looking from one boy's face to the other for an explanation.
"It seemed like a good time" Keiichi shrugged.
"Yea" Tsukasa replied suddenly excited at the intrigue in her voice, "Look at all the fish we caught" he grabbed the bucket from the ground where Keiichi had dropped it.
"What I caught" Keiichi emphasized with a scowl, "You didn't catch a damn thing."
"Why you little" Tsukasa began holding his fists out once more.
"You caught all these fish?" Suzuna said excitedly peering into the bucket and looking up into his eyes making him blush slightly, "Really?"
"Uh yea" he grinned sheepishly holding his hand behind his head, "Caught them myself."
"Why you liar" Keiichi protested, "I'm the one who caught those fish. You couldn't even catch flies if you wanted."
"You little mouth" Tsukasa replied through gritted teeth running after him at once chasing him down the deck and grabbing him around the neck, "Get over here."
Suzuna started to smile and soon she couldn't even herself. She was laughing uncontrollably which stopped the boys from wrestling each other any longer.
"Suzuna?" Keiichi looked at her as if she had lost her mind.
"I am so sorry, I can't help it," she said through giggles, "You two look so silly. Instead of fighting, let's go find something to cook the fish. We don't want it to go to waste."
"Yea" Keiichi agreed as Tsukasa smiled.
"Good idea!" he shouted running towards the rooms, "I'll go get everyone else!"
(Next Scene)
Yukito opened his eyes briefly to watch Shiori's reaction after he had kissed her. When he saw how calm she was he immediately pulled away turning his head sadly.
"Yuki" she replied, "What's wrong?"
"I don't get you" he shook his head, "Why don't you do something? Yell. Scream."
"Why would I do that?"
"Because of what I just did. Shiori aren't you the least bit upset that I just grabbed you like that and kissed you?"
"Yukito. Why would that make me upset. You did what any normal person would do."
"But" he began to protest as she pulled him next to her and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Listen. It's natural for men and women to do these sorts of things. Don't fight it. I'm certainly not going to."
"No" he shook his head a second time as he stood from the couch, "I don't want it like this. I can't" he began as Tsukasa burst into the room.
"Come on you two!" he shouted bursting in and running out just as quickly, "Fish dinner on the deck!" he added barely noticing how awkward the two were being towards one another.
They stood in silence until finally Yukito turned his head and walked out of her room while Shiori lowered her own head, trying to not let the tears fall.
Within moments the entire ship was awake and out of the rooms, some grumbling while others curious about the commotion. With Keiichi's help Tsukasa and Suzuna managed to cook up the fish and soon everyone was enjoying the meal, telling jokes, and having a general good time. All the while Suzuna wondered where Shiori and Yukito were. Not too long after she spotted him on the other side of the deck, the wind blowing softly through his hair as he gazed sadly at the ocean water below. Quietly she stood from her chair and walked over with a bowl of the fish and rice and stood next to him.
"Yukito" she said slowly.
"Good evening" he smiled somewhat as he looked back at her the hurt apparent in his eyes.
"Evening."
"What are you eating?" he asked when he noticed the bowl.
"Oh it's just some of the fish that Tsukasa and Keiichi caught. Would you like some? I can get you your own bowl."
"No that's okay" he shook his head taking her chopsticks from her gently, "I'll have some of yours" he added before a piece of it into his mouth, "Its good" he smiled again handing her back the utensils.
"Yea. Some of the best I've ever had" she nodded a little bit awkwardly.
"Mhm."
"So where is Shiori? Didn't she come with you?"
"I think she's still in her room."
"Oh."
"You know, I don't get women."
"Pardon me?"
"I don't understand them. I don't think I ever will. They're so complicated."
"I guess we are. I'm sorry" she lowered her head.
"What are you apologizing for?" he chuckled slightly.
"Well I don't know. I didn't mean to. I mean I was just trying to drop the dress off, I didn't mean," she stammered.
"Wait a minute" he stopped surprised and turned to look at her, "Suzuna did you hear what Shiori and I were talking about earlier?"
"Well I didn't mean to. Like I said I was just trying to return the dress and I saw her in there and I thought she was alone so I."
"You heard everything I said."
"Yes. But it was an accident. Really I am so sorry."
"Please stop apologizing" he sighed turning once more to the water, "I'm the one who should make the apology."
"Huh?"
"I shouldn't have said some of those things. I was angry and I didn't mean them."
"It's okay if you did. I mean I understand. You love Shiori and I know that and I am happy about that too" she rambled a second time, "So it's okay I understand. It's just" she paused feeling her heart pound in her chest.
"It's just what?" he asked turning to her a second time as she turned her face away from his trying to hide her tears.
"I just hope we're still friends."
"What do you mean?" he shook his head confused.
"I've gotten so used to seeing you everyday, on the rooftop behind the music room. I would hate for that to end. But I would not like it even more if you started hating me or find me a burden. We have a different kind of friendship you and I meaning that we gather in that one place but I like that and if you started to hate me, my life at that school would become even more unbearable" she lowered her head on the last word.
"Suzuna" he said slowly making her turn her head and face him once more, "Do you think I would have rescued so many times if I hated you?"
She stared into his eyes as he continued.
"Do you think I would have risked my friendship with Tsukasa or danced with you last night if I hated you?"
"Well, I."
"This is why I don't understand girls. You're complicated. You make things harder. You make it more than it needs to be. You think too much. I don't hate you. I never can. I don't think it's possible for anybody to hate you," he added, "And if you want to know the truth I enjoy those moments behind the music room with you too. I've never had a place like that with anyone, not even Shiori. It's pretty special. Hate you?" he shook his head with a grin as he brushed a piece of her hair off her face with his gentle fingertips, "You silly girl. Not possible."
"Thank you" she nodded with a smile of her own as one tear fell down her cheek and she quickly brushed it away.
"How about some more of that fish?" he replied looking at her bowl.
"Okay" she nodded with a grin as she handed him back the chopsticks.
Silently unbeknownst to them a clicking sound was going on in the background as a camera recorded their every move. With this piece of evidence the summer was over but the start of the new school year was sure to be a harrowing one.
To be continued…
Authors Note: Okay! Book One is done. Not sure when I will be back for Book Two but I will see you then!
Bye for now!
Next Book:
Chapter One: First Day Back at School/Supposed Betrayal