I'm sorry this took so long . . .
I guess I'm going to say this now, but I'm gonna be rapping this up pretty soon. Maybe 2, 3 more chapters . . .
Natsume pursed her glossy plum lips (her new obsession), listening as Karin laughed and giggled about her glorious trip to Rome. Not only had she bought a whole new wardrobe, but she had a bunch of men fawning over her pale skin and raven-fine hair. Not that Natsume cared, since she had just about the same thing here in Japan just about every day. I mean some guys fell over themselves just to ask her out on a date. But she was engaged, as it was (like she would ever tell anyone that) and couldn't accept anyone, which just made some of those guys even more determined to get her to accept (Weird, yes, but oddly sweet). Which just made her pissy because the guy in her Calculus class was hotter than the sun on an August afternoon.
But, since she was a good girl, and she didn't think being on Kyoya's bad side would help her at all, she decided against her devil's decision to find the snappy red vintage (in a 1950's America way) dress and her favorite red Versace platform pumps in the back of her closet. Because she was a good girl. And good girls don't do bad things.
"Whatever," she mumbled to herself, plucking a stray hair off her super skinny, pencil-straight light wash destructed denim pants. Karin barely paused in her raving of Rome, which caused Natsume to roll her eyes and zone out once again. Karin was always calling her, always trying to convince Natsume that she was having such a grand time and wouldn't it be like, totally awesome if Natsume came out to join her, just for like a week or so?
No, no it wouldn't, Natsume thought bitterly, puckering her purple lips as she scanned the stainless racks of the boutique she was in, focusing on the pain of the waxy ropes of her shopping bags digging into her arms rather than her older sister's voice on the other side of the phone. If it hadn't been for the fact that Natsume had convinced Reiji to let Karin have a life, the girl would have been in Tokyo U. trying to figure out if she would go into computer engineering or doing something completely out of the ordinary. Now, Karin was traveling all over the world, checking out the world's latest fashion and writing down her many adventures into a book, which would no doubt sell for millions in the U.S, Canada, Japan, China and Russia, which was totally no fair.
That could have been me, Natsume that sourly, her tawny eyes scanning the racks with a self-trained eye. I could have been traveling around the world, getting one hell of tan, wearing designers from Italy, Spain, Rome and New York. I could have been snapping pictures and laughing with my culturally different friends as we cruised the Caribbean. I could have been some over night sensation that had the Travel Channel fawning over me to get a series with them and doing freaky shit for the ratings. I could have been Karin on the other side of the phone, ranting about how the sea was such a pretty blue and wearing a black polka-dotted bikini while guys stared at my perky boobs.
Unconsciously, she scuffed the white marble floor with the three-inch heel of her gray suede and black patent leather sling backs. Instantly, the manager was at Natsume's side, smiling and asking if she needed any help with the clothes heaped in her arms. Natsume waved the manager off, shaking her head as she said "uh-huh" and "that's cool" at the right times as Karin laughed and giggled. Would she ever get a chance to travel world and find the cutest fashions in different parts of the world?
"Most likely not," she muttered darkly to herself, dropping the clothes in front of the register, digging into her Balcenciaga Motorcycle bag, she continued her unselfish listening to Karin's very selfish ranting. Would Reiji even permit her leaving the country other than to go shopping in New York with Yoko? Would he even give her the money to go around the world? Hell, would he even be nice enough to say he would think about it?
"Well, I gotta go, Nana-kun," Karin giggled, her voice so sugary sweet, Natsume's teeth were rotting out of her head. "But I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay? And you'll consider it?"
"Huh? Oh. Oh, yeah. I'll ask dad," Natsume mumbled, handing her Visa to the cash register, who was obviously struck dumb at the amount of clothing she had piled in front of her. Natsume rested her forearm on the smooth white surface of the counter.
"I miss you so much, Nana-kun!" Karin exclaimed before Natsume could hit the "End Call" button on her phone. "I mean I haven't seen you in like, forever and a day! I really want you to come out and see me! This summer! Just the two of us, okay?"
"Just the two of us?" Natsume bit her lip, slipping on a pair of black tortoise shell Ralph Lauren sunglasses. "What about the twins, or Kaede? Don't you want to see anybody else?"
"Truth?" Karin said softly and Natsume could picture her on the beach in Rome, staring at her manicured purple toenails (apparently, purple was a big thing this season).
"I accept nothing else," Natsume shifted her bags until she was able to hold all twenty.
Karin laughed softly. "To be honest, that seems like too much chaos for me."
Natsume threw her bags into the back of the 2008 model Yatatsuba Convertible (in True Blue) and plopped down in the passenger seat, signaling for the driver to drive. "Really?"
"Yeah," Karin said, and Natsume heard shuffling, assuming Karin was nodding. "That's why I only come home for a few months at a time. I can't stand how everyone is so damn . . . noisy. And Daddy can be such a hardass."
"Whoa," Natsume widened her eyes before realizing that Karin wasn't there to see her. "I didn't know you had it in you. Not ever have I heard you curse, Karin."
"Yeah, well, when you practically live in a private plane, you can't help but pick up a few choice words. I also learned to rap in Spanish, which is way of cool."
Natsume burst into laughter, throwing her head back and letting her tongue show. "Awesome! I wish I could learn to rap in Spanish!"
Karin laughed along. "Oh gosh, I'll have to teach you! If you can convince daddy to let you come out to visit me this summer, then of course I can teach you!"
"Suh-weet!" Natsume pumped her fists, plopping her feet up on the tan leather dash of the convertible. "No prob! I can get Reiji to agree. Maybe I can convince him that I'm going out looking for the latest technology ideas. Maybe he'll let me go out then."
Karin giggled. "Well, I gotta go, for real this time. I'll talk to you tomorrow?"
"'Course," Natsume chirped, loving the feeling of the sun tanning the fair skin on her shoulders into a crispy butterscotch. Was this was Karin loved best? Being able to feel free and totally in control, despite how many times things had gone from bad to worse on her trips? How many times had she called in the middle of the night to wish Natsume goodnight? How many times had she woken up early enough to catch Natsume leaving for school to tell her something that would brighten her day (even if Natsume thought she was being a bitch)?
Suddenly, the worst taste filled Natsume's mouth as she stared at her cobalt blue flip phone. To her, Karin used to be a major bitch, wishing to spread her "good word" about her ah-mazing adventures. She used to think her older sister was just pretending to be all perky and bubbly. Really, Karin was just being her usual, peppy self.
Her eyes glazed over as she thought of her younger self. When she was maybe five or six and Kaede and Karin used to fawn over her. They would take her to the park, tug her around in her little red wagon. They used to dress in matching outfits like they were triplets and take pictures. And when Natsume started school, Karin and Kaede were right there, urging her along. Hell, even Yoko encouraged that Kaede and Karin fawn over Natsume, since she was busy fawning over Reiji and trying to get another child in the family.
She flipped over her phone as they stopped at a red light, dialing an all to familiar number. She pressed the speaker to her ear and gave directions to a complete different place, which she would soon be calling home.
"Hello?"
Natsume propped her feet up on the dash, running a hand through her softly curled hair. "Kyoya, you doing anything right now?"
"No." he said it slowly, almost cautiously as if preparing himself for something
She rolled her tawny eyes. "Then get your shoes on. I'll be there in twenty minutes."
"What?"
"Don't be surprised," she giggled, running her French-manicured fingers through her hair. "You should know me by now."
"Fine," he sighed, "you're right."
"Of course I am. I always am," she smirked, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "You should know that too."
--X--
"How did you manage to get that?" Kyoya asked as Natsume pulled out a bottle of white wine.
"How do you think?" Natsume asked blandly, looking up at him as she popped the cork top.
Kyoya shook his head as he sat down cross-legged on the blue cashmere blanket Natsume had spread out. "Never mind." He tugged at a lavender plant and the aroma wafted around them. He glanced at Natsume who was smiling softly, pouring herself a glass of wine. "Why are we out here?"
"Why do you think we're out here?" she responded, her smile turning into a smirk as she looked to him.
He frowned, picking up his glass and swirling the white wine slowly. "Well, maybe you were just missing me?" He chuckled as an embarrassed blush crept up from her neck to her face, coloring her fair skin a cherry red. "Or it could just be that you're lonely."
She rolled her eyes, turned her face towards the darkening sky, sipping her wine. "Whatever. Just enjoy the wine. It's a gift from the Kawasaki. Been aging for the past eleven years. Best shit under the rising sun."
Kyoya took a dainty sip and Natsume shook her head as he nodded his head in agreement. "You're are so effing fragile, dude."
He frowned as she poured herself another glass. "And what is that supposed to mean?"
"I mean," she said slowly, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "You need to let loose and forget yourself."
"And how do you propose I go about doing that?"
She smirked, refilling his glass. "Just drink."
I could add more, but I don't think I can . . .
I kind of like it^^
I'm outtie ~CocoaAngel95 :]