Vengeance
Chapter Eight
-Confab-
Talia smiled as she watched Hideaki pace around the room, going on and on about his date with the prima ballerina and how amazing she was. Kai seemed more bored as he was in a chair, leaning back and blowing bubbles from a soaked wand. "You should have seen her Talia…even out of costume she was so pretty. Long auburn locks. I swear she looks like a princess from the olden times. So regal and gorgeous…we have so much in common too…"
The blonde's smile grew as she giggled. "You sound as if you are in love already Hideaki."
The brunette stopped in his pacing and looked to her, more confused and contemplative. "I couldn't possibly be…we've only been out just the once."
"I'm pretty sure I'm in love." Kai sighed, twirling in his chair and blowing out some more bubbles. "It sucks."
Talia blinked, her amber gaze on her right hand man now. "What?" she asked, seeming shocked. "With who?"
"This woman I met a few months ago." The white haired man said, glancing over at her. "We kept running into each other, and she was really pretty, so I asked her out. Been seeing her ever since, almost every night when I'm not working."
Hideaki's eyes narrowed. "Well how come we haven't heard anything about her?"
Kai's stormy gaze slid over to his friend. "Because I didn't think it would go anywhere, so I didn't want to bring it up. But since things are starting to look serious, I figured you guys should know. In case it interferes with work."
Talia squealed, hurrying over to Kai and shaking him. "What's her name! What's she look like? Does she have a job?"
"Yes she has a job. And I'm not telling you her name because then you'll go stalk her." He grumbled, pushing her off him so that she wasn't shaking him anymore. "But she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Long dark hair and these bright eyes that just…entrance you." He shook his head, trying not to get too caught up in his fantasizing of her.
The brunette sighed. "I can't believe you've had a girlfriend and you didn't even tell us."
"Well…quite honestly I wasn't sure how to tell you guys. It's not like I could just walk in and be like, 'Hey, guess what? I'm in a relationship.'" He said.
"Why's it so serious now?" Talia wondered.
"Because I'm playing with the idea of asking her to marry me." Kai admitted. "Though I think I'll wait…I mean it's only been a few months, after all. No need to rush things. I haven't even been over to her place before."
Talia nodded. "Definitely don't need to rush things. Besides, we don't need things getting in the way of our plans." The blonde pointed out, holding up a finger. "Now she won't be taking too much time, will she?"
He shook his head. "No. I'm making sure that work stays my number one priority, at least until after our big plan is completed. I don't want her to feel like she's not important, after all."
"Good." Hideaki huffed.
"Well don't go getting all gaga over your ballerina." Kai pointed at his friend. "Cause' you already sound love-struck."
The brunette scoffed. "I don't get as distracted as you do." he said, grabbing his jacket and heading for the door. "I've some meetings to attend to. I'll see you two later." He waved, before leaving.
When he was gone Kai looked over at Talia. "I have a date in a couple of hours, so if you don't need me for anything then I'll just go get everything set up."
Talia shook her head. "Nope. Everything is done for today."
He smiled as he stood, excited for getting to see Izayoi. "Alright, then I will see you tomorrow." He said. "Don't forget that our next heist is in three days. I've already worked everything out, and we should have everything gone before the Uchiha's men even show up to do the deed." He smirked.
The blonde scoffed. "As if I would forget my own revenge." She gestured for him to leave. "Go ahead and go to your date. I'll call you if I need you."
Kai bowed slightly, before leaving the room.
"Tadah!" Kai smiled, gesturing to the room. He had rented out the ballroom of the hotel he was currently staying in, having the whole place decorated in a romantic setting. There was a small orchestra playing soft music, and set away from that was a table for two, with candles and a nice table setting. He turned to look at the woman next to him, who was dressed in an elegant dress that accentuated all of her curves and still made her look every bit the lady she was. "Happy four month anniversary baby."
Izayoi gasped, walking forward and looking around the room. "This is amazing Kai!"
He came up beside her and wrapped his arm around her waist. "Thanks. I wanted everything to be perfect for you." he said.
"It's so romantic." She sighed, leaning into his hold. "I'm very happy." She smiled, letting him lead her over to the table and pull the chair out for her. Once they were both seated, a waiter came over and poured them some wine before bringing out their salads.
Kai just couldn't wipe the smile off of his face. "I'm glad you're happy." He said, beginning to eat his salad. "So how was your day?"
"Very, very good." she smiled, eating her salad as well. "I was doing a lot of…research today."
He arched a brow. "Research? On what? A new target?"
Izayoi simply laughed. "No…no. Nothing like that…I was just thinking about things. I mean…you and I have gotten…" she trailed off, looking away. "Serious…right?"
"…yes." He said after a pause and nodded. "I believe we have. And I won't lie, I never thought things would ever get this serious between us. But strangely, I'm glad that it did."
"Well…so I was thinking…" she sighed, reaching for her purse and pulling out a small pamphlet. She looked down at it before reaching over and placing it in front of him, to show a brochure for housing developments and layouts. "I was…researching real estate."
Kai blinked, picking it up and looking at it. "Are you thinking of buying a place?" he asked, beginning to flip through it and see her notes. He froze then, the new information dawning on him. "Oh…" he said, his grey gaze locking with her jade one. "You mean…the two of us getting a place…right?"
Izayoi swallowed and leaned over, snatching it back and stuffing it back in her purse. "It was stupid. I know, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."
He reached over and placed his hand on top of hers. "Izayoi, I'm not upset or anything, really. You just caught me off guard." He told her. "Why…why would you even want to take such a big step with a guy like me? I told you that night we first met that I've never been the type to settle down and make a home."
She pulled her hands back and put them in her lap, frowning at the table. "Nothing…I told you it was just stupid. I really shouldn't have asked. You were very clear about not staying in one place."
He frowned, getting up from the table and going around it. Kneeling at her side, he took her hands in his once more, though with a firmer grip. "Izayoi," he said softly, moving to look up into her face. "Please answer my question."
She shook her head. "No…it was me unable to control my girlish impulses and I thought…since we haven't really tried to kill one another in a long while and well I lo-…" she paused. "I just like you a lot and we get along so well…and I hate that you spend so much money staying in a different place all the time."
A small smile came to his face at her confession. "You know…I was kinda interested in the house on page four. It looked really nice." He told her, rubbing the back of her hands with his thumbs.
"That's the one I sticky noted…" she blushed.
"I know." He chuckled, rising and kissing her lightly. "Why don't we look over them after dinner. Before I make love to you."
Izayoi nodded, finally smiling once again. "Okay." She giggled. "That sounds like a really good idea."
Kai kissed her once more, resuming his seat. He wouldn't lie, he was a little nervous about buying a house with her. And it had nothing to do with the fact that she was technically his enemy. He hadn't lived in a house in so long, and he knew that if he moved in with her, it would take them one step closer to marriage, something that became easier for him to imagine doing with her every day that passed. But it was something that he wanted, more than anything he'd wanted in his entire life.
They continued to eat, and when they finished Kai took her out onto the floor and they danced for a while, before retiring to his room. When they had picked out a house they wanted to look at, they made sweet, sweet love, all over the brochures. And for the first time, Izayoi spent the night, neither caring that technically in the morning their truce was over. Because with this turn of events, it was clear they were going to have to redefine their relationship.
"He's the most adorable man I have ever met." Ami gushed, skimming over her menu as she blabbered on to her cousin about her new boyfriend. "His name is Hideaki, and he's just so sweet. He treats me like I'm a delicate flower, a real lady. He even sends me flowers for all of my shows, every single night." She smiled, closing her menu and setting it down on the table, since she knew what she wanted to order.
She blinked, taking in her cousin's odd behavior. He was holding his menu straight up so that you couldn't see his face, and every so often peeked over it, looking off somewhere behind her. "Kanamé…what are you doing?"
The dark haired man sat up straight, a light blush dusting across his cheeks. "Oh…um…nothing…" he mumbled, sinking behind his menu once more.
The auburn haired woman scoffed, reaching across and yanking it down. "You know, you could at least pretend to be listening to me. You're the one who wanted to have lunch in the first place."
Kanamé gasped and turned his body and head, holding his hand beside his face to try and hide it. "Don't talk so loud Ami. You'll draw attention."
Her teal gaze hardened into a glare. "If you don't tell me what's going on right now, I swear to God I'll cause a scene. And I'll make sure to say your name nice and loud." She threatened.
"Ami." Kanamé hissed, matching her glare. "Please. Shut up. Or I won't tell you."
She huffed, placing his menu back up the way he had it before leaning back in her seat and crossing her arms. "Fine. Explain then." She said, and expectant look on her face.
"Well…" he said softly, peeking over the menu once more. 'There's this girl…"
At this she perked up. "Really? Is she here?" she asked, turning in her seat and trying to locate said woman.
"Woman!" he almost shouted. "Pay attention." he huffed. "Anyways, my family says I should just forget it, because she's the prosecution attorney in most of my cases."
"That Terumi girl?" Ami asked, since she read about all of her cousin's cases in the paper. "You like her?"
Kanamé blushed, gesturing across the room to a brunette sitting alone at a table and reading a book. "That's her…" he pointed.
She followed where he was pointing, and smiled when she located the woman. "She's pretty." She said, looking back at him. "I think you should ask her out. I mean, just because she works for the DA doesn't mean she should be off-limits. And besides, you never date. You're always too busy with work and the family. Do something for yourself for once in your life." she advised, taking a sip of her tea.
"You think so?" he smiled, meeting her gaze before setting his jade depths on Vitani once more.
"I do." Ami said, setting her chin in her hand and looking back at the brunette. "Besides, you two would look cute together. And at least this way you know she's not some airheaded bimbo. She'd have to be smart to work for the DA and be the one against you almost every time, right?" she shrugged, returning her attention to him so as not to make the subject of their conversation obvious.
Kanamé nodded, looking back to Vitani. "You're right." he smiled, standing and shaking off his nerves. "I can do this." he told her, before heading over to where Vitani was. He was dressed fairly casual today, wearing grey, slim fit jeans and a black button down shirt, which was un-tucked.
He stopped beside the table she was at and set his hand down, leaning a bit to try and appear confident. He opened his mouth for some clever remark, but to his horror, nothing came out, which only made him pale in complete humiliation. Vitani looked up from her book to his hand and blinked in confusion, following it up his arm and to his face. Her aqua gaze widened in slight alarm, and she leaned back slightly, letting out a startled noise. In her surprise, she lost her grip on her book and it fell forward, knocking over her soda and spilling it all over his hand.
"I'm sorry!" she gasped, moving her book away from the spill and righting her cup.
Kanamé gasped, pulling his hand back and shaking it off since he didn't want the soda to make his skin sticky. "No! No, I'm sorry." He blushed, grabbing a napkin and drying it off further.
Vitani picked up her napkin as well and grabbed his hand, trying to aid him in drying it off. Then she realized that they were holding hands and looked up at him, only to find him looking at her as well. "Sorry…" she repeated, wanting nothing more than to lean towards him. But instead she let go of him and began to dry the table. "I'm so clumsy sometimes." She blushed, remembering when she had run into him that day at the courthouse.
"No…no…" he shook his head, trying to exhale. "It's my…um…fault." He explained, and then sat down a bit dramatically, making her jump slightly. "Look! I think you're pretty and I would like to take you to dinner." He jumbled out, turning red since he hadn't realized he was holding her hands in his.
Her face darkened as she looked around, seeing that there were many watchers to their encounter. One in particular being an auburn haired woman that was smiling at them as if she knew something Vitani did not. And that bothered her. She returned her gaze to him and swallowed, trying to wet her suddenly dry throat. "You want to go on a date…with me?" she asked, unable to hide the hope that entered her voice and eyes. "Really?"
"W-Well…" he breathed out, schooling his features. "I've always thought you were amazing, and I know we oppose each other in our cases, but I think it would be nice to maybe get to know one another."
She smiled. If only he was aware of all the things she knew about him, or of the fact that she'd dreamt of this day since she'd first gone against him in court. "I'd like that a lot." She said softly.
"Fantastic!" Kanamé smiled. "How about Saturday at seven-thirty? I'll pick you up." He said excitedly, standing and waving to her before going back to his cousin and grabbing her wrist. He pulled her off and ran from the restaurant in a mad hurry, Ami yelling and laughing after him.
"Kanamé, you're going to pull my arm out of its socket, you freak!" Ami giggled, catching up to him. He smiled at her, and the two made their way to their cars, laughing the whole time. It was moments like this when Ami especially loved her family, because it was so rare when she got to see them this way, not worried about anything to do with the business their grandfather made successful. And as she thought about what she had seen, she sighed. It had made her think of Hideaki, and now she wanted to hear his voice. So, whenever she and her elder cousin departed, she was going to give the handsome brunette a call. Maybe she could even get him to meet her for dinner, since she didn't have a show tonight.
Those thoughts made her smile widen, her expression mixed with her cousin's being so beautiful, it nearly made people pause. But they couldn't help that they had inherited their grandma's smile. The very same smile that had captured a stoic redhead's heart so many years ago.
