Written: 3o.o6.o6
Note: NOT edited…so the many mistakes in this chapter were anticipated already. PLUS I'll fix it up….when I have time (sigh. Which I rarely do these days)
(a/n)
Sorry for ANOTHER late update. The author replies are at the end of this chapter. Hope you like it
¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤
Paparazzi
Chapter Ten: His Number One
By Flipstahhz
¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤
The music clamored, circulating around her brother's apartment. It hardly looked like his apartment considering his home was jammed with guests and because there was hardly any space to move around. Takeru, as usual, had picked her up late. So when the pair entered the party scene the music, alcohol and heat swept over them. Instantly, she knew, they'd be stuck together for the whole night. Most of the guests were all strangers to them. From the looks of things, it appeared that Taichi had invited his soccer team and a couple of high school classmates. Aside from that, he had also invited some people from the music industry.
Even though Taichi and Yamato's career came from conflicting directions, they were both equally famous. And when the paparazzi and media found out that they were best friends, it became a big hit. Kari, knowing both of them, managed to dig up a good interview for Sweetheart magazine, earning her a permanent spot in the company. Nonetheless it caused Taichi and Yamato to keep the same group of friends. Which, again just like high school for both TK and her, they were the outcasts.
Both Kari and TK had luckily accomplished gaining themselves a corner in Tai's crowded home. She tied her hair back, adjusted her belt, searched for her mirror and reapplied strawberry lip-gloss.
" You've been fiddling for the past ten minutes we've arrived," TK said, leaning against the wall.
Her eyes studied his distinct features in the dark. At that moment his hands were stuffed in his jacket's pockets, head cocked on an angle with his blond hair blazing in different directions. He had a rusty ragged casual look going on but still could pull off and maintain a cool image. It irked her how, even many years back, he could just be seen in public without brushing his hair or dressing properly. Either way, he'd still look good and make any girl go crazy.
" TK, what do you expect me to do?" she muttered, "I. Am. Bored."
" You didn't even say a hi to Tai," TK said. " I don't know what's been going on between you guys…but he's your brother, Kari. You don't have to be so cold about him."
" He didn't invite me," she pointed out one of her arguments. " I shouldn't be here."
" So what? He's your brother…you don't need a darn invitation with pretty flowers on it. You're innately invited."
She laughed at him. In some way she had realized that TK had turned somewhat pessimistic and sarcastic since talking to him after so many years. Yet, he still could control his suave personality and his attempts to make a situation better than from what it really was. He always seemed to naturally make things better without even trying.
She folded her arms, pouting. " How can I say a hi to him when he's preoccupied with other people. He's too busy to even notice that I'm here."
" Don't be so difficult. When we first came I went to find him and say a hello. You could of done the same thing, but you've stuck in this corner ever since we've arrived. Join the party!"
" Like I can see you doing the same thing," she rolled her eyes, arms still folded.
" I did promise that I'd stick besides you for the whole part-"
" HAPPY 24TH BIRTHDAY TAI!" a woman's voice yelled over the music as she brushed her way through the people in her way, her brown hair dazzling down in ringlets. Heads turned as they watched as Mimi Tachikawa penetrated holding a big squared cardboard box in her arms.
Behind her Yamato and Sora trailed, hand-in-hand.
" Tut tut…the fiancés are here," TK sneered. Kari could tell that her 'date of the night' was still quite hurt from his rock-star brother not telling him about the proposal.
After his sly comment, the party rained with camera flashes.
" So it's not just a private party…" Kari said. " The media's here too."
The music softened as people gathered around the celebrant. TK and herself watched from the distance as both Mimi and Sora gave him a quick hug while Yamato, on the other hand, had punched him on the arm in greeting. " Happy Birthday, man."
" Hey guys," Tai grinned. " Glad you could make it."
" And why would we miss it?" Sora laughed. Ever since Yamato had asked her hand in marriage, she seemed to constantly do nothing but smile and laugh. " Mimi baked you cake. You should check it out."
Tai thanked Mimi, taking the box off of her. He shoveled his way closer to where TK and Kari stood, putting the box on a vacant table and opened it. He cracked up laughing, observing the cake. The cake was a round sponge cake, but that wasn't the reason that it attracted attention. The icing was designed in a specific manner with the usage of black and white icing to create a soccer ball.
" Thanks Meems!" he enveloped her in an embrace as more people gathered around him, namely more of his teammates from soccer.
" HERE, HERE!" bellowed one of the members from Tai's team. Soon enough they were all chanting and singing (more like screaming hyenas) to the universal Happy Birthday tune.
" Oh God," she said, massaging her own temple. From the loud racket, Kari had a hunch that she was going to get a migraine before the night was even over. " Remind me why I'm here."
" Because you're lending your friend a helping hand," he offered. " Also the obvious reason – it's your brother's birthday."
" Right. Like he even cares that I'm here," she said, watching her brother bawl along with his drunken friends. She sighed, " I need a drink."
" I'll get you one then," TK said.
Before she told him that she could get one himself, he had already disappeared in the midst of throngs. " God damn it," Kari groaned. She should have stayed home with Yolei and watched a chick flick or something…no…anything else besides being where she was. Anything but loud obnoxious parties. Either way, she couldn't back out. Yolei would eventually of forced her to go and TK would have probably gave her one of his debonair smiles causing her to go out on their strange 'date' or whatever it was.
In some sense, it did feel good hanging out with TK. But when she remained on TK's side…it always felt she was reliving the past and reliving the time…No, she couldn't think about it. She had sworn to herself that day…that she would never cry over him again. She should of not accepted accompanying him to the party. The first date with him was approvable. She just wanted him to prove to her that he wasn't an arrogant jerk…but now things were getting out of hand. Maybe going too fast. It felt as if they were cramming the missed out years in one week. She shouldn't of risked going out with him again –
Long dark brown tresses had caught her eyes. Kari frowned, recognizing. The person was gazing down at some photo frame she had taken without Taichi's permission. Kari didn't even notice that she had already walked up to her when she angrily spoke, " Put that down, Erica."
" Why are you here?" Kari didn't know what picture it was, but the journalist to Sparkle magazine had no right peering through her brother's belongings. Gray eyes met hers. Kari still stood there, glaring back at her. " Put it down where you found it."
" Why should I?" she laughed coldly in reply. " I'm a V.I.P guest."
" I don't care," Kari grumbled. Even as a journalist and as a guest, she had no right to look through personal items without the owner knowing. And Kari didn't need to ask Tai to know whether Erica had asked his consent or not.
" You're just jealous that Sparkle magazine gained authorization over Sweetheart magazine this time. I could report you to one of the guards here," she said, " You can't tell me what to do when you, yourself, haven't even gotten permission nor your photographer ID clipped onto your top -"
" I don't need any permission."
Erica looked at her suspiciously. " And why is that?"
" Tai's my brother, moron," she snickered, watching her rival's facial expression turn rather dumbfounded.
In timing, she felt someone's arm clamp around her waist and almost lost her balance. She didn't need to look up to know who was holding her. His breathing prickled her neck and she suddenly felt a wave of warmth corrupt her own face.
" What's your problem, Miss?" he questioned, blue eyes piercing downwards to the journalist. " What do you want with my girl friend?"
" TK," Kari whispered warningly.
Erica still appeared startled as she now was staring at both Kari and her rival's date. She wiped the baffled expression from her face, replacing it with a sneer. " No. There's nothing going on."
" That's good to hear," TK said.
" Well…I never fancied seeing you here, Takeru Takaishi," Erica responded. She appeared rather dazed, " I'd better get going now, and leave you too alone since you look rather busy."
" Busy?" Kari arched an eyebrow.
" Oh yes," she winked, knowingly. Kari didn't like it and how she was superficially being fake right in front of her face. " I'd better go to where the party is really at, instead of being here in this humid corner. I'm going to write one of a hell report on Tai's birthday bash. Goodbye for now."
When she was an earshot away, TK let a smirk tug his lips. He let his arm slide away from around her waist and link her arm with his.
" See…I sleighed the dragon for you."
" I could of done it myself," Kari said, shaking her head. " You can let go now."
" Nuh…need to show her and everyone else that you're taken…so no one will hit on either us," he smiled. " Just like old times."
" Just like old times," she repeated. Not talking, they walked through the squished space, arms still linked together as the music blared aloud.
That was when it hit her. It was clear now why Erica had recovered so quickly. She inwardly groaned, stomping on TK's feet.
"Oww! What did I do this time, Kari?" he blurted out.
" You…you," she jabbed him on the stomach. " You pretended to be my boyfriend!"
" So what…we've always done that!"
" But…but!" she jabbed him again, making him unlock their linked arms. " But it's different now. We can't pretend that we're dating because…"
" Because what? Seriously Kari…you're hyperventilating."
" Oh my…what am I going to do! What are we going to do... you didn't even have your disguise on! You're an idiot!"
" Excuse me?" he stared at her as if she had cracked it. " Okay Kari, calm down. Spill it out and just tell me."
After popping off the caps, he handed her one of the two bottles of cruisers he had taken from Tai's mini bar when Erica had been talking to Kari. She took one swig of the beverage, and she felt a tiny bit at ease as the fizzy drink went down her throat.
" Last time she saw you…she assumed you were some Yamato look alike. But…when you pretended to be my boyfriend, this time, you were Takeru Takaishi."
" I still am Takeru Takaishi," he replied, bemused.
" That's not it. She's probably connected it by now! What I'm trying to say…is that now she reckons we're boyfriend and girlfriend. Now she's probably going to write and article…thus our careers are screwed!"
" Kari…don't worry about it…it's just media."
" I've been working in the media industry for quite some time…you should know by now the power of what it can do," she answered matter-of-factly. " Ah…I'm just over reacting."
" Yes, you are," TK immediately replied.
She sarcastically spoke back, " Gee…thanks for you support."
" Anytime."
They both stared at the people dancing to the music, the repulsive smell of vomit and the loud hollering people. They looked each other in unison. TK scratched his head, " Out?"
" Yeah, let's go out," Kari replied. "Hold up, I'll get my jacket first."
She scrimmaged past the crowd again, regaining her thick leather jacket. She put it on and was about to go back to TK when…
" Kari?"
She spun around, frowning at the familiar voice.
" You leaving already? Ha…I thought you wouldn't of come. I'm glad TK managed to drag you here…"
" Hi Tai," she gave a small smile. " Happy 24th. I got the new charm bracelet through mum…just wanted to say thanks too."
" Glad you liked your belated birthday present," Tai said. Kari suddenly felt a surge of guilt…realizing that she hadn't gotten him a present. She had to remind herself to pencil in a free time period to get a gift for him.
" Umm…uh," she uncomfortably gave him a swift hug. The whole situation was awkward. " TK's waiting for me…we'll be coming back soon. We're just going out to get some air…we aren't leaving yet."
" I guess, come back before curfew then," her brother winked. " Just kidding."
Kari sighed. No matter what had happened between their sibling relationship, TK was right. She couldn't avoid him forever. Tai was her brother.
It was more her fault that had sabotaged their brotherly-sisterly relationship. She was the one that had distanced herself from their family. She was the one that had busied herself with work…all to forget about him. And now her past has caught up with the present. They were both back in her life again.
" I'm sorry…Tai."
Before she could help herself, tears were streaming down her cheeks. It had been a while since she had cried…a while since she had let her guard down and openly showed her emotions.
She felt him tuck her under his arms, his warmth toppling onto her. He stroked her back. She was always the one giving support to everyone. She was independent. But she was weak.
" It's alright Kari…I understand."
" I…I'm sorry for getting your shirt wet," she laughed through her tears.
" Don't worry about it, Kari," he said kindly. " I know you're hurt, kiddo. You've been hurt for quite some time. But now that fate's given you a second chance...just go for it."
" A second chance? Tai, what are you talking about?"
" You know very well…I'm not a complete idiot to see that self-defense you've done ever since high school," he grinned encouragingly. " It may take time…but fix things up between you and TK. You'll feel much better…trust me."
¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤
She wasn't completely sure what her brother was talking about. But she was definitely sure that it involved TK and something about mending their old rekindled friendship. She was also particularly relieved that, at least, now Tai and her were on proper talking terms. She smiled, then took another swig from the cruiser bottle she had been holding.
" What are you smiling about? Is it because I'm next to you…or is it because you're already tipsy?" TK sniggered.
" Oh…shut-up TK," she said.
They were both walking down some long winding street for the past minutes, linking arms again. Linking arms was another characteristic their old friendship shared back when they were teenagers. They were always latching onto each other for support. And right now, they were latching onto each other because they were painstakingly freezing from the cold night.
" I'm glad things are now cool with you and Tai," TK revealed. He didn't witness Kari make a fool out of herself, but he did notice her trails of mascara that had cascaded down her cheeks.
" Yeah. Now that we're talking…I have to remind myself to not get on his bad side," she laughed quietly. " I guess that was the only annoying thing about him. There were three things about him back then. It was either the over-protectiveness, the teasing or the bad temper which got to me."
" The over-protectiveness," TK snickered. " Probably the strongest out of the three. Don't you remember the bike incident when you were ten?"
" Haha…I think this is even the same street where it happened. Enlighten my memory on that one, TK," she laughed a bit louder this time.
" Well…you were jealous because I could ride a bike to school, while you couldn't-"
" Aww…I knew how to ride a bike!"
" Wrong term," he scratched his head. Another habit that Kari knew of him to do. " Fine…you could ride a bike…it's just that you weren't given permission. Sure, it was okay with your parents. But it was your brother that wouldn't let you ride one."
" Ah…don't I miss Tai's over-protectiveness days."
" But in the end you were quite happy that Tai didn't allow you to ride the bike to school because you'd get a free lift off from me," he stuck his tongue out, " Free loader."
"Hey! It bet walking," she laughed. " Anyway…don't you remember -"
He read her mind, just like that. " Yes…and then you disturbed me from riding, one time…and it earned us a bike accident."
" Don't blame it on me…it was your fault! It was your fault I got a scratch on my leg"
" Whatever." He rolled his eyes. " If I hadn't offered you free lifts to school everyday…I wouldn't of gained two black eyes."
Now she couldn't help but bawl into laughter, she knew that would come. At the time she was petrified when it happened. Having a big over-protective brother was always bad. When Tai had found out that she had gotten a tiny scratch on her leg from falling off the bike, TK had earned himself more serious injuries from her brother's fists. Then again, right after that, Yamato had punched Tai for hitting TK causing both their older brothers to become involved in an all scaled war. Some of their injuries haven't healed to this day, leaving quite a few scars.
Gradually, they soon found themselves climbing over a fence leading them inside their old school's basketball court. She found it strange being here with TK again. Usually the two of them used to be their during daytime, not on a starless night. Luckily the light posts were still on, but a basketball was missing.
" You were my basketball buddy, you know?" he said, walking on the graveled outdoor court. It had been the court where he had discovered his talent. She had been there to witness it. Even to the day he had left her there, with nothing but an empty court. And now…the court seemed full. He was back.
" That's right…I was," she agreed. She had lost count of the numerous times that she would stay behind after school and train with him, keep him company and be there cheering him on. She was his number one fan. He was her best friend.
" This is where all the pressure began."
She gazed up at him. Kari recalled him loving sport…but did TK really think of it as a burden now?
" What about your other talent?" she suddenly spoke up. " Your talent in writing. The talent when you wrote poems to girls you liked…poems that they would swoon over. You were never a mathematical genius, but I'm not going to deny you did have great skills in writing."
He chuckled at her as if she were a child. " I write occasionally. But let me tell you something, Kari, writing fictional stories gets you no where."
" That's not true," she objected. " You haven't even tried."
" So what if I haven't …when I already know what the outcome would be," he sat down on the graveled court, legs drawn to his chest. He beckoned her over, patting the ground next to him. She sat down besides him.
" You're being stubborn. Hell…you're not going to listen to me if I say…give it try. You've never listened to anyone on your life, and you probably won't ever. All you want is to create and follow your own path…why don't you give writing it a go?"
He shook his head, disagreeing.
She shook her head as well, but hers was disapproving. Once TK had made him mind, he stuck to it. His tightened jaw gave it all away.
" Kari…" he spoke restfully composed, " Thanks for coming out with me tonight."
Even though she knew he was attempting to change the conversation, she let it go. Either way she knew if she forced him to do something, he'd probably ignore it. In a way, they were quite similar…but she never wanted to accept that. She always believed he was perfect. Nothing but perfect.
They were both lying on the basketball court now, staring at the sky silently. He kissed her on the cheek. " I really meant it…thanks."
¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤
And that's chapter 10 for you! Whoa…I had fun writing this chapter, I hope you enjoyed it. Please review and tell me what you think. I'm really sorry for the late update…but as you probably figured out by now…I've been really busy. Take care dears!
Heart flipstahhz
THANK-YOU to: crest-of-music, Calmer of the Storm (hey dear. whoa...so i'm guessing you finished high school now? congrats! yeah, i constantly keep alluding the past...but i guess that i always do that in many of my stories. lol. it's not a big deal about kari's past...perhaps she's being a drama queen? haha. nuh...you'll find out..eventually. lol.) reviewer #9 (yes darling, i'm going to take forever), kathlaida-princess, animefreak85, kingdom219 & Shikyo Yaiba (yes, you shall find out later. lol), take the blame, LullaBy oF DarkNesS, Kisa, Wishinstahhz (great to see you picked up something with Tai and Kari..and when they'll hook up? haha...they've got 14 chapters to do so), rainingOnyourParade, Malcolm Yuy (thanks! you're boosting my optimism with this story!),HikariKanna, A Different Life (glad you liked it, darling) & JyouraKoumi (I'm not sure if I'm going to slide and romance with Mimi in this story, I'm not sure. let's just see as this story progresses...)
¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤°°°°°°·····××××…..××××·····°°°°°°¤