Author's Notes: Hello! Just wanted to dedicate these updates to Shygurlie-san, MelanieStar-san, and Yzak Lover Extrodinaire-san. Your reviews gave me a push to update as soon and as much as possible. (",) I hope you like these chapters as well.
"Hm... I don't know..." Rei bit her lower lip.
"What? What's wrong with it?" Yzak frowned. They were talking through a video com link. That's how they usually 'see' each other, since he couldn't always go to Earth. It's been about three months since he last visited her.
He just invited her to visit him in the Plants.
But things weren't going in his favor.
"…Why do I have to go there?"
"Huh? Don't you want to come here at least ONCE?"
"Well… Sure… I guess… But me Pa…"
"You're father?"
Rei nodded.
He hasn't met her father yet. 'I wonder what he's like?'
"He might not approve."
"Why not?"
She shrugged. "I... don't always go out."
"We've already established that." He rolled his eyes.
"Hey! What's wrong with not going out?"
"And what's wrong WITH going out?"
"Well do YOU want to talk to him?"
"What!" He gulped. "Why me?"
"You're the one who wanted me to go there in the first place!"
"Fine! If you don't want to, consider the offer withdrawn."
"It's not like that!" She sighed. "Fine. I'll talk to him, then. But I'm not promising anything."
"Fine."
End of transmission.
Rei slowly stood up and headed for her father's office. 'What should I say…?'
She knew her father wouldn't approve.
Then why is she still asking…?
'I… probably just want to go to the Plants. I've never really been there before.'
It sounded just like some sorry excuse, though. It never really bothered her if she went there or not. But she just felt she had to do something for him. She wants to repay him for all he has done for her. He did take her to that library, and he visits her whenever he could. That must have cost him a fortune. The least she could do is visit HIS home.
Besides…
'Maybe… I… actually… miss that guy.' She reluctantly admitted.
'Teasing him, I mean…' She quickly added and shook her head.
She knocked on the door of her father's office. "Pa? May I come in?"
"Reinaria? Why yes. Come in, come in."
She opened the door the whole way. Robien Rosenberg stood up, raking his hand through his brown hair. With his brown hair and hazel eyes, Rei doesn't really look much like him. She looked more like Miera, who also had black hair but blue eyes.
Even though he is already in his late 30's, he still had a very youthful profile, with angelic eyes and a child-like grin whenever he's amused. However, even with that look, he can still be very serious and strict. He's not overbearing, but when he's serious, nobody can just question him.
He hugged his daughter. "What brings you here?" He smiled at her.
"Err… Well… Pa… Can I ask a little favor?"
"Yes? What is it?"
She shifted and cleared her throat. "Can I… go visit… Yzak… in the Plants…?" She bit her lower lip and closed her right eye, waiting for the verdict.
He was silent for a moment.
"Absolutely not!"
'I knew it…'
She felt like deflating right then and there.
"You shouldn't travel long distances! It's not advised! Specially-"
"I know… I know…" She looked up at her father and forced a smile. "I understand."
She walked away, her gaze on the floor. She HAD expected this. What she didn't expect is that she would feel THIS disappointed about it.
She tried to comfort herself. 'It's alright. Yzak will understand… It's just a suggestion… No need to get depressed about it.'
Suzari was by the doorway. She overheard their conversation. "Robien, honey…"
Robien raised his left hand. "Please, Suzari… You should understand this by now."
"Please? If you want I'll come with her. Even for just a day."
"It's okay, Ma. Don't worry about it." Rei smiled at Suzari and went past her to leave the room. She went to the room with the video com link and contacted Yzak.
In the Plants…
Yzak leaned back on his chair, waiting for Rei.
Why did he ask her, anyway?
'Because she has never been here.'
That's right.
That's ALL.
Then, why is he so nervous?
Maybe he just wanted to show her his home.
The communicator indicated someone calling.
'It's her.'
"Hey, that was fast."
"Y-yeah…" She looked down. "I…I'm sorry… Pa didn't approve."
"Oh."
For awhile, nobody spoke.
"It's alright. Don't worry about it. Maybe next time."
'That's right. Everything is just fine.'
Then why is he feeling so disappointed?
He absent-mindedly tugged at his uniform.
"I'm sorry." Rei said quietly.
"Don't worry about it." He looked away.
"Are you Mr. Yzak Joule?" A male voice asked.
"Pa!"
"Mr. Rosenberg!"
Robien's face occupied the whole screen. "I see. So YOU'RE Yzak."
"Y-yes sir…" He had half the mind to deny it.
"If my daughter is going to visit you there, there will be… a FEW CONDITIONS."
"Does that mean?" Yzak heard Rei ask.
"Yes. I'm letting you go there. But not until I have a MAN TO MAN talk with Mr. Joule here."
"Huh?" Yzak felt his throat go dry. Mr. Rosenberg has this I-dare-you-to-do-anything-stupid-like-lie-to-me-look.
"Robien, honey. You don't have to go THAT far."
"Yeah, Pa. Don't get all protective!" Rei joked.
'Hey… This isn't funny! Somebody help!' Yzak thought. He could feel the dread creeping up from the tips of his fingers to his chest.
After a grueling 'man-to-man-talk'… One hour later…
"Y-Yzak? Are you still alive…?"
S I L E N C E.
Yzak looked like he'd been tortured. Rei could've sworn she saw dark circles under his eyes…
"Rei."
"Huh? Y-yes?"
Yzak sighed. "Why is your father acting like we're dating or something?" His voice was rising with every syllable. "That was totally uncalled for!"
Rei grinned sheepishly. "Ah… Yeah… Well… Sorry about that…"
"Hmph." He crossed his arms over his chest. "They're acting like we're going on a date or something."
"Don't take it personally."
"Yeah right. Sure, it's not personal. Not at all."
She laughed. "Aww… Is little Yzaky feeling bad?"
"Why you…!"
"Me Pa is just like that with all the guys who made the mistake of meeting me. You should have seen some of the things he did to the guys me Ma introduced me to."
"Oh yeah… Why DOES she do that?"
"Heh. I think she wants me to get settled or something. I don't even know why though. It's not like I'm already old and grey. I'm not even twenty yet!"
Yzak frowned. "Speaking of age… That reminds me. I happened to found out that you're only 16."
"Oh really?"
"Really, the morning after I met you."
"And you decided to confront me about this ONLY NOW? After all this time?" She teased.
"Y-yeah, sure. I… forgot about it."
Rei laughed.
"It's not funny!"
"Yes, it is!" She stopped laughing. "That's right. I'm 16. So?"
"What do you mean 'so'? May I remind you of what you said that night? 'We're only the same age' nonsense!"
"Oh that… Heh. So what?"
"What did you say? Don't 'so what' me! You should have been more respectful to your elders! I happen to be 20 years old already, thank you very much!"
"Heh. Just because I'm SUPPOSED to be 16, doesn't mean I'm not 20 here." She pointed to her head. "And just because YOU'RE already 20, doesn't mean you're not 16 here." She was still tapping her head with a smug look on her face.
"Why you…! YOU'RE SUCH A SMARTMOUTH!"
"Heh." She smirked. "See what I mean? Only a kid will get mad THAT easily. HOTHEAD."
Author's Blabber: Well, well, well… Rei's going to the Plants. What do you guys think will happen:) Maa… I used the term 'video com link'. I'm not really sure if that's the correct term, though. (",) Warui, warui. (",)
