Written: 22.o2.o6

¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤

Paparazzi

Chapter Seven: Ex-Bestfriend

By Flipstahhz

¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤

Youch, he was late. His fingers drummed on the steering wheel of his motorcycle. His foot slammed on the accelerator as the traffic light glared green, waves of air gushing onto his body. He gulped. He, yet again, was going to be late…

The repeated thought made him cringe. He wanted to the date that Saturday night perfectly just to prove to Ms. Hikari Kamiya that he hadn't changed and that he was no darn phony. Darn it. He even hated the word phony. It reminded him of ponies - he preferred horses! Now…what the hell was he thinking?

He grumbled as he dangerously swerved around the curb. Having Kari abruptly back in his life, was strange… He was trapped thinking obscene thoughts. He didn't even know why he was so insecure about how the night would turn out. Back when he was younger, Hikari would always patiently wait for him…considering he was always late.

Some impression he was going to make…

If only he hadn't been so confident. A couple of hours back he was already prepared for the outing with Hikari. But…he then realized that he didn't know the woman's address. It had taken him ages to get her address. Tai and Yamato hadn't picked up his urgent phone calls and he was left with one choice – he was forced to ring up Sweetheart Magazine. Somehow, he had managed to ring his way around in achieving Hikari's details…but it cost him with a topless photo for their magazine. He shuddered. He wondered that proving to only Hikari that he was a gentleman was worth it. Hell, he didn't know. He didn't know what had possessed him to go forward with the idea in the first place!

He blamed it on his competitive nature. The motorbike rounded a few more corners and after spotting the correct house, he carefully parked it into the driveway. TK checked his diamond studded watch which read '6:27pm.' He groaned. He was meant to of picked her up at 6. After one last glance at his motorbike, he quickly ran to the doorway, hurriedly plunging his palm onto the doorbell.

He stood there curiously. A brandish of uneasiness fell over him. His throat was suddenly dry. Was he actually…nervous?

No way.

There was no way, in utter hell, that the Mr. Takeru Takaishi Ishida – Captain of the OSG Phoenix Team would be nervous…over a girl – no, woman!

He hadn't felt this way ever since high school. He felt like a hormone-surged teenager again. Females didn't have this effect on him for such a long time – especially when he was quite scared of his fans chasing him (also taking note of the few stalkers he had experienced). His stomach was twisted and it made him want to retch.

Get a hold of yourself, idiot! All you want to do is prove to her that you're not an ass!

Trying to get away from the quarrel in his mind, he pulled off his helmet, holding it against his side. His blond hair was tousled in almost every direction, but he didn't care. He was just well satisfied and glad that the 'scruffy' look was back in fashion. A smirk slid on his lips as the door gaped open. He headed into the lounge room. The Ishida smile always was a good excuse. Unfortunately, it wasn't good enough

"YOU JERK!"

His hands waved in front of his face to evade the flying fists heading his direction.

"Calm down, Yolei!" she yelled over the bicker against TK and the woman with lilac coloured hair named Yolei. The words did little effect since her face was red in rage, and refrained from attacking Takeru.

"Umm…hey," TK greeted. He chuckled nervously thinking at what a situation he had gotten himself into. He quirked a smile, "Kari, sorry I'm late."

"Like hell you're sorry!" Yolei glowered. "You should never let a girl wait on a date, you idiot! What planet are you from?"

"This isn't a real date, Lei. He's just trying to prove a point."

"And I won't believe that either!" Yolei rolled her eyes at her brunette headed friend. " You call me over to give you a make over! HA! You never tell me to do that unless it's a big formal event or some special occasion. Of course you wanted me to give you a make over today because you're going on a date! A date with Mr. Takaishi too – the legend of basketball, himself!"

" I am not going on a date with him," Hikari pointed at the only male in the house.

TK scratched the back of his head uncomfortably, staring at the squabbling duo. He was relieved that he wasn't in this conversation battle. Hikari and her friend, called Yolei, seemed like nasty people to get into fights with…and he only had a tiny argument with them before. He flinched, imagining what would happen if both of them reached their limits…yes, WWIII had arrived. He dove back into the spat.

" … first date in a long time! You don't even date nor go out anyone, unless it's shopping or some extra earning money shift at work! Of course there has to be something going on…for you to get all ready!"

" Hold up," TK said, eyes darted from Yolei to Hikari. " Am I hearing this right…Kari hasn't been on a date with anyone? Am…am I her first date?"

"NO"

" YES!" Yolei stressed. " A best friend knows everything."

" Yeah, a best friend," TK muttered. She used to be his best friend…but even back then, in his high school years, there were times where he couldn't read Hikari at all. He stared at her, " So why haven't you dated? I thought by now, you would have found someone special."

" I think my profession holds more priority," Kari laughed bitterly. " Boys…guys… arrogant morons…however you like to put it, are simply a waste of time! Cash lasts long than guys…and I'm a shopaholic!"

" How would you know? You just said that this is your first date."

" It is! ARgh, TK! It's my first serious date in a long time! My first date was with -"

" Grant Stevens, yes I know," TK said bluntly. " But…he wasn't even classified as a date – he was just your partner to the school dance."

" Still."

"The both of you, shut the hell up!" Yolei yelled. " Just go on your darn date or outing…whatever! You're going to be late to what TK planned how to spend this spectacular night!"

He felt his body as well as Kari's being pushed out the front door by Yolei. Kari tapped him on the shoulder, his gaze shifted down. " What?"

" Pardon would be better, TK."

" What?"

She gave up and just nudged her head towards his motorbike. " Are we seriously going to ride on that?"

" Yeah, why? Don't you like it?"

" I thought you knew me…you thought of me more than this."

" What is it now?"

" I don't want to be mistaken for some crazed fan that won a date with you, Takeru," she said seriously. " I won't get impressed by a motorbike and have a total blast and time of my life by just riding that thing to our location. You already know how bad I detest them and how try hard it is."

" Riding a motorbike is not try hard! In fact, it's cool."

" What time of logic is that?" Hikari chortled. " If you don't ride a motorbike, it means your uncool and ruin your so-called reputation? TK, you should know you're much more than that. Why not go out with girls who aren't interested in what you have…but girls who like you for being you? Stop being a darn people pleaser, like you always has been!"

" Stop mocking me," TK said quietly. He didn't understand why her words were hurting him so much, yet touching him at the same time.

" I'm not. I'm just telling you the truth," Hikari said seriously. Just like his old best friend, she knew him in and out. He wasn't going to deny that he was a people pleaser…always doing things to make everyone happy…not for his own sake. Even now…he was trying to show off to Hikari that he was still the same.

But was he?

Randomly, an awkward squeal invaded their debate. " Oh my…that is so cute!"

" Yolei," Hikari grumbled.

" I was thinking…since I'm staying at your house, Kari," Yolei said, devising a plan in her mind thoughtfully. " That you guys can use my car since you dislike motorbikes so much."

" I do," TK muttered.

" Think of your date's safety first."

" SHE'S NOT MY DATE."

" HE'S NOT MY DATE!" the spat out in unison.

" Ah…I see that fate's doing it again…there's no other reason why you screamed the same lines at the same time -."

" Yolei!"

" Fine, fine!" Yolei sniggered, dangling her keys, she had been playing around with them the whole time. " Be home before curfew, kids!"

TK snatched the keys from her, dragging Kari along with him as they both hurriedly jumped into Yolei's car.

¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤

He had seen her looking around doubtfully as they neared the location. Flocks of people lined up to get into the stadium. Her fingers gripped around her charcoal coat. At least he knew that she was feeling as awkward as he was.

How were you supposed to react after not talking to your ex-bestfriend for such a long time?

Ex-bestfriend? TK chuckled. It sounded as if he were calling Hikari his ex-girlfriend.

Yet…if they had been going out many years ago, the atmosphere would be so lively…in comparison with the current position – dead still and silent. Hikari Kamiya had to be the most peculiar person he had ever met…

" Where are we?"

Ahh…it was about time she had asked…

He parked Yolei's vehicle in the parking lot, but didn't open the door.

" TK, where are we?" she repeated, voice strengthening as she stared at him.

" We're going to go to Yamato's concert!" TK couldn't help but give it all away. She was bound to click the pieces as soon as they entered the stadium with the Teenage Wolves posters draped everywhere. " C'mon Kari, you didn't expect us to go to a candlelit dinner….hey?"

" Yeah, of course not," she laughed uncertainly, a wave of pink painted onto her cheeks. " It's just….you could of told me!"

" It's my fault now?"

" No," she continued to laugh. " But eh…I don't know if I want to go now….I could have prepared for -"

" Don't back out, Ms. Kamiya. You can't put up that lame excuse that you haven't prepared…you got Yolei to come over to your house, for Christ's sake!"

" You don't understand," she said resentfully.

" I do, in fact, understand!" he blurted out. Damnit. He didn't understand why in the world Hikari was being so difficult. They were already half an hour late for his brother's performance!

" Then please explain."

" To cut things short, Daisuke's been pissed off at me for the couple of days because I used my other ticket on you! Now I'm starting to regret it! Can't we just go in, and just! Kari, don't give me that darn look!"

" Well…sorry! Gee, Mr. Ishida -"

He winced. It had been a while he had been addressed as Mr. Ishida.

" You're just blindly proving my point! You're regretting about taking me out? Ha…that just proves how much of a gentleman you are. It's obvious that I won this bet. Score to me! You're too conceited and only care for your own sorry ass!"

" So…you reckon I just took you out to win a damn bet?" TK spoke angrily. " You think I actually came to this extent to get you tickets for the concert just to prove that you are right about me?"

" Yeah!" she barked. " What else would it be?"

" Well…it's you that's been blaming me about changing. Why don't you look at yourself, for once … and stop putting me to all the fault!" he said. " You know what Kari? The real reason I agreed to the bet was just to snatch a chance to spend time with you, catch up and have fun!"

" And you expect me to believe that?"

" The old Kari would."

The vehicle became silent once again. She looked up from the leather bag she had been choking throughout the whole conversation. Her voice whispered, " The old Kari?"

" You figure that out," TK had had enough. He threw the door open, jumping out of the car. " My brother actually took the time in giving me tickets, and I'm not going to waste it. Truthfully, I don't care if you're coming or not…"

He slammed the door shut, marching out of the of the car park and heading into the stadium. Even though it was nighttime, the summer humid air was causing him to sweat. His fingers fumbled into his jeans pocket and took out the two tickets. He glanced the counter, then glanced back at the door he had just come from.

" Sir…would you like me to take your ticket?"

" Wait," he uttered the single word.

Perhaps it was best friend instincts, he didn't know. But a few seconds later he saw her come into the building, face red and flustered from running.

" TK!" she called.

He waited for her to come back to his side.

" Your keys, you forgot your keys!" she spoke as she abruptly took his left hand and slid the keys into his hand. He stared at her neutrally. After a few years with Yamato, he had mastered to keep his cool when he was extremely irritated.

" Yolei's keys," he corrected.

" Yeah, Yolei's keys," she stared at the ground in embarrassment.

But somehow, his temper lowered down. An eyebrow arched up suspiciously, " You came running all the way here…just to give me Yolei's keys?"

" Fine," she laughed, eyes lively. " You rein supreme."

He studied her, dumbfounded. The more time he spent with her, the more of her old self appeared. " Yes, I rein supreme."

They howled in laughter in unison. It had always been their own special joke that they shared between themselves. Whenever one person lost, they'd say 'you rein supreme' as a sign of giving up…and that they lost. And god, did he love it when Kari lost. He loved being the victor and rubbing it in her face.

But not this time…

They were old mature people, or so he thought. He smiled, Kari would be joining him with the crowds of yelping and high-pitched shrieks of the Teenage Wolves Girl Fanclub. He hoped that no one noticed who he was and that his disguise was enough to hide him. Earlier in Yolei's car, he had somehow managed to disguise himself with brown contacts and a beanie to cover his blond streaks of hair, just for that night.

The two lined up to the counter, letting the person working there tear the tickets and instruct them how to get to their special seats. They slowly took their time, they were in no rush considering the concert still had an hour left.

" It's hot," Kari winged.

" Take of your coat then," TK muttered, looking at the charcoal coat he had seen her in all evening.

" I'm overdressed."

" So what? You'll stand out," TK winked. " Besides…everyone's dressed up."

" You're just wearing jeans and a shirt," Kari pointed out.

" Just take it off, and don't complain," TK rolled his eyes. He didn't know why she was making a big deal out of nothing. If she was over dressed, who would care?

" I would care!" it was bizarre, like she had read his mind. " Guys can get by with wearing anything…while us women…we always have to look good and suitable…because if we don't we'll get backstabbed and looked down upon."

" I thought you didn't care about that," TK shrugged. " Just take it off, and quit making up excuse after excuse!"

Her pinks turned redder. " I don't like it, though. Yolei made me wear it…it's too revealing- TK!"

The beanie headed man couldn't stand it any longer. That was the problem with women, they were too fussy!

He shook the coat off of her and rested it in his arms, laughing at her as she folded her arms crossly. His laughter died away as he saw what she was wearing. Hikari was attired in a cream sleek silk dress that fell over her knees. The front was gathered stylishly and was fashioned into a halter neck, revealing her back.

Hikari hadn't only changed personality wise…he gulped.

" You look gorgeous," he complimented the first thing he had said to his mind. On his other dates, he'd say ' you look fine'…when he truly didn't really care to look at what they were wearing. Even though she may have had been overdressed, she looked beautiful. He was sure many girls would be dripping in envy.

" I feel skanky," she said uncomfortably.

" You don't," TK assured. He opened the door, both their ears being bombarded with loud rock music as they both stepped into the stadium engulfed with crowds of people and flashy lights.

Even after the terrible quarrel they had had earlier, it was worth it to get her to go with him to the concert. Though it had just begun, he knew he was going to have a great time. A smile tugged on his lips.

¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤

(a/n)

Liked this chapter? I hope so. I just put it up without editing, so there will be mistakes throughout it. I can't be bothered fixing it up at the moment because I'm extremely tired.

It was meant to be longer, but I decided to put the other half in the next chapter. Sorry for the long wait, I've been contaminated with homework disease. Please review ;D I shall go study for my psychology test now. (Arg) Take care dears!

Thanks to: A Different Life, Tierra (Thanks for mentioning the typo, dear! It's been a while since I've typed Yolei's name), Calmer of the Storm, Major Misprint (You like hockey?), kingdom219 (you want me to continue screwing with their heads? Sure, of course! Lol), take the blame, Moppy & Kaydreams (I couldn't resist but give TK another nickname. Haha. Captain Jocks, indeed), JyouraKoumi, rainingOnyourParade (I've written a couple of stories. I've deleted majority of them – so one story remains. I'm not quite happy with it…but I've got a lot of other stories up my sleeve…I just want to finish writing in fanfiction before I start on that site), sweet blossom89 (yeah…been really busy lately. Haha. Sorry, it's been quite some time since my previous update), white-cracker & Wishinstahhz (you go the net back? Ahah. Congrats!)

¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤