Thank you ryomaeijiareot and feistyartemis for reviewing the last chapter! i love all who doand give you hints to story secrets! So please continue to do so!
Chapter Eleven: Jealousy
Nightmares are an unexplained phenomenon in the human mind. Some people reason that we have them because something is physically wrong at that moment, that we're too hot, or that we need water. Some people say it's what happens when people are getting sick, as if the dreams are a warning. The most common reasoning though is that we have nightmares because something either frightened you or has disturbed you, like a state of shock.
To me, the reason for them didn't matter much, all I knew was that they were terrifying, disturbing. The ones I had been having for the last half year were no different, they just held more meaning then others. I don't remember them well, which I am thankful for, my mind must push them away quickly. But I do remember some of it.
The shouting, the arguing. Being horrified and then shocked and then being deathly scared. I remember the running, so much of it, and yet not over a long distance. I remember the pulling pain on my scalp and then the hot searing one on my shoulder. I remember the tears, the pain, the hard choices and a decision being declared with the finality of a loud bang.
Then I wake up, trembling and panting, my bed soaked with sweat. When I have those nightmares I never fall back asleep. Even as the images fade I can't. No I'm too hot and sticky by then. So I stand up and take a shower, and wait for the others to wake.
Such an event had happened early this morning at four. I was barely awake as I stared at the white board, the teacher scribbling down equations. I barely registered they made sense to me now. Hours of work with Kyoya had finally paid off.
Blinking slowly, I managed to glance to my side, both him and Tamaki were writing down notes, like the rest of the class. Frowning I looked down at the notepad where my hand held a pencil to it and found… nothing.
Great, just great. Well perhaps I could write it down before time ran out. Determined I started scribbling and in my efforts I got … two whole lines down before the bell shrieked. Flustered I scrambled around biting back a sharp 'no' as the teacher erased the bored. Too late. Damn it.
Sighing in defeat I hung my head. I should have just stayed home. I was too tired, too distracted and dazed for this. But with finals in only a few days I felt like I couldn't. The last two weeks had been busy, fun too, but busy.
Takashi and Hunny had come by the last few days, almost every day since the first time; they were done with school for the year. Lucky them. Either way I was grateful and eager to start learning how to ride. Kyoya had allowed it, grumbling about how I had deserved it. I really hopped he never got into teaching, I would feel sorry for his students.
I was learning fast, Takashi was a good teacher and he was nice to talk to. Even if he said little, his actions spoke loudly. After this week was over though I wouldn't be riding again till school started up again, and then it would be once a week.
These thoughts clouded my brain, so I jumped when a piece of paper landed in front of me. Blinking I looked down and saw the notes from class today and then I looked to my side. Rin, my lab partner, smiled at me.
"You can barrow them, just give them back to me tomorrow alright?" Her light brown hair was back today, showing the tanned skin of her face.
I nodded tucking it away with my notebook. "Thanks Rin, you're a life saver."
"Hey we all have our zone out days, don't worry about it." We laughed together, and I felt lighter at that. I had needed a good laugh. Too soon though my friend waved and darted off to her last class of the day.
…..
"What'd you mean you don't want to ride today?"
I sighed rubbing the back of my neck, trying to ignore the stares of the other host as I explained to a sad looking Hunny why I was canceling my lesson for the day.
"It's not like I don't want to ride… I just, I'm really tired, I couldn't sleep last night and I'm afraid I'll make a mistake and get either someone or myself hurt." I smiled a bit sheepishly. "Plus I don't think I could pay attention much either…"
I could just feel my resistance breaking under the big brown eyes of the blond. It wasn't fair really, that someone could still act like a child and get away with it. As I opened my mouth to protest again a strong hand landed on Hunny;s shoulder and we both looked up to see Takashi.
"Let it go for the day." That's all he had to say it seemed for within moments the perky blond was nodding his head jabbering on about how it was a good thing we still had four more lessons because he wanted to spend more time with me.
"Well, I can sit with you today, maybe have some cake." I offered and cringed as he shouted in glee. "Okay, I'm going to just put my stuff away then." As he ran off to his normal spot I looked up to Takashi. "Thanks for understanding." I muttered sighing. He shrugged and put a strong hand on my head. It would have startled me, if I wasn't use it. He ruffled my hair a bit and I giggled a bit as my own hair tickled my neck.
"Tomorrow." He told me and I nodded straightening my hair as he followed Hunny.
Shaking my head I turned and walked towards the double doors that led to the next room. Everyone had gotten back to work by now. As I opened the door I felt sharp eyes on me and regretted not looking back for the owner as the door swung shut behind me.
I suppose on a normal day I would have looked but my feet almost dragged as I set my book bag down and pulled out my camo printed sleeveless vest shirt and some new jeans with pre made holes in them.
Fashions these days were so silly. Why in the world would you buy jeans with holes in them?
Either way I stepped into the dressing stall and changed clothes, glad to rid myself of the awful dress. I pulled my hair back, pulling it into a ponytail and the few short strands of hair fell down on the sides of my face, to short to say up.
With that I pulled back the curtain on the dressing stall and was startled to see someone standing on the other side waiting.
"Kyoya, what are you doing back here?"
He raised an eyebrow at me his arms crossed loosely over his chest. It used to be odd seeing him without a clipboard in his hands or having a computer in front of him, but over the last few weeks I'd gotten use to them not being there. When he helped me with chemistry, his hands were free of everything but a pencil and all attention was on the lesson and me.
"I didn't know I wasn't allowed to come back here."
I smiled ruefully at him.
"Well I guess you should have paid better attention to the rules."
"You mean the ones I made?"
"…Yes, those ones." I grumbled, knowing I'd lost the game again. The 'game' being which one of us could stump the other, we were about even in the scoreboard.
He moved forward a few steps, his glasses catching the light above us, making the glare too bright to look him in the eyes. I felt the intense urge to grab them and throw them out the window in annoyance. I held it back though, just barely.
"I wanted inquire on why you're so tired today. You were practically sleeping with your eyes open today in class." Stupid observant… smart, charming, handsome… Stop that!
I shook my head, hoping to knock the thoughts out but with no luck. It was true that in these few weeks that I had fallen, rather hard in fact, for the boy standing in front of me, and as annoying as it was, there was no way to get around that simple fact.
And being that I cared about him, I didn't want to burden him with my problems. "I wish I could tell you, I just couldn't sleep. Mind was racing I guess." I shrugged and winced, my mistake for raising my should a bit too high this time. You'd think I would learn.
He eyed me sharply before humming in thought. "Perhaps all these lessons are getting to you. Maybe you should stop riding for the rest of the week."
"No, it's fine, I really enjoy it. I'm sure I'll be better by tomorrow." In all reality I needed this, I need the distraction of riding to keep my mind off of all the stress of finals and other matters but, from the look on his face, my answer must have come out too fast and urgent. It seemed he'd come to a completely different conclusion though.
"Are you sure it's because of the lessons you want to go, or because of who's teaching you?"
I gave his a blank look feeling a bit stunned by the sudden accusation. Confused I shook my head. "You mean Takashi?" I clarified.
He nodded his head pushing his glasses up with a forefinger before explaining. "It's come to my attention that you two seem to have gotten rather close in such a short period of time. You call him by his given name when most do not."
Ah, so he had been watching me then, and I suppose that he was right, Takashi and I were kind of close given the short time we had known each other. Sure he was quiet, but he listened really well, and even with his size he was rather gentle in his movements, like an older brother or guardian.
But that was beside the point at the moment. The words Kyoya had spoken and the almost jealous look on his face were enough for me to realize he felt threatened. Maybe it was because like me, after so much time together, he'd grown fond of me?
It was almost comical to think about really, the stone cold Shadow King caring for someone, but anything was possible. Still the fact that he thought Takashi and me... I mean I guess it's possible but still very unlikely.
I snorted, holding back a laugh which only darkened his features. I held up a hand taking a breath to calm down. "I'm sorry, I just can't believe you think I like Takashi that way. I mean, yeah he's a nice guy, but not much for conversations, and you know how I like to theorize." I winked hands behind my back.
He seemed to get flustered for a moment, taking a moment to pull off his glasses and rub his eyes with his free hand. "Your actions confuse me then."
I smiled. "It's simply really. I want to ride because I love horses. I call Takashi by his name because I don't really like using nicknames. I only called Hunny, Hunny because he demands it, Takashi didn't care." He looked at me with eyes uncovered by glasses. I tilted my head. "He simply is not my type."
He sighed slipping his glasses back on. "I suppose you don't have a type then?" Ah, banter again; two could play at that game. I started walking forward as I spoke.
"Oh I do trust me. Smart, caring..." I smirked at his bewildered face before stopping in front of him. "In fact it would be unfair of me to be pining after Takashi when I like someone else." I pointed out.
It was interesting, to see that mask of his brake apart as his expression went from bewildered to irritatedly jealous again.
"You do, do you?" His voice was low; only I could hear the tension in it since I was this close.
"Oh yes, he's quiet interesting. I don't think I will ever fully understand him."
"That's foolish, you could get yourself hurt if you don't understand a situation."
"I don't think I have to worry, I mean if my brothers trust him then..." I trailed off seeing the fire in his eyes. Did he really not understand?
Some times smart people were so stupid...
"Do you want a hint as to who it is?" I teased lightly. He didn't answer, apparently trying to find out on his own. You could almost see the gears grinding in his head. I rolled my eyes and lifted my hand up, plucking the glaces off his face so fast he seemed slightly startled. I tilted my head looking him straight in the eyes. "You see he has the most intense gray eyes..."
It wasn't as if I had expected something different – in fact part of me had thought he would laugh – but I still squeaked when he grabbed the wrist of the hand holding his glasses and simultaneously hooked his hand around the back of my neck yanking me forward and pressing his lips to mine.
Startled, wide-eyed, but not surprised I didn't push him away and kissed him back slowly. It had been a long time, and still the wounds from before ached as I did this. I tried to ignore them.
He let go of me after a moment taking a small step back smirking. "You know, it's still dangerous."
My eyebrows pulled together and I went to ask him what he meant when the door opened and Haruhi peaked in. "Oh here's where you went Kyoya." She didn't seem to see a point in commenting on the fact that he had no glasses. Instead she turned her attention to me. "Masami, Hunny wanted me to check on you."
I blinked, looking to her and then back at Kyoya. "Uh, right sorry, Kyoya... here." He held up his glasses and he nodded his head taking them.
"Thank you." It always amazed me how fast the mask came back on.
I hesitated before turning and walking towards the door, I heard him walking behind me and I couldn't help but want to ask him 'what next?'