Chapter 11

Surprise

~Betony

If Shiho Hahnenfuss, daughter to Leon Hahnenfuss, motherly-sister to the charcoal-haired twins, best friend to Miriallia Haww, was to describe what she was experiencing, instructions from her mind dictated it was utterly tedious, capricious and fleeting. Not something worth pursuing with effort and obviously not the reap-and-sow type. But travelling down to her blood-pumping organ, it was under the category of being delectably blissful, eternally conscious and contentedly ignorant.

For a very long time, she had stowed away the idea of finding someone to love romantically and now as interesting and exciting it would seem doubts still littered and overruled her mind. However her heart was all thumbs up for it. In all the decisions the brunette had made in her life, it only considered her family and its well-being. It was as if a rubber-stopper was specifically placed in her heart to keep it from letting something or someone occupy it and only letting her mind function. But now something changed. Someone has involuntarily pulled that rubber-stopper and let that person flow into her heavily beating heart, gulping him down, making her heart feel as if it would burst from the seams.

For many years people have given their experiences importance. A lot of quotes and wise sayings have been created for the purpose of showing the value and significance of events that occur in our life. Though some are better off forgotten for its negative attributes but because of our strange and cruel world, these are the ones we always remember and those that linger.

But surprisingly maybe this was not their case because until now they can't consider what happened as a memory but a scene still unfolding, still grasping for a conclusion whether it will become a good experience or simply a stroke of bad luck.

She was still contemplating, thinking and wondering. It was said that, "Time makes love pass and Love make time pass." It sounded terrifying to her ears and saddening, making her insides quiver at the same time. She glanced at him, taking in his features. He reddened under her intensely intent-filled gaze.

After a long pause…

"I do. I know how to play the piano."

Shiho answered him.

*A*

Yzak was flushed. It was as if his face was stung by a hoard of bees. Sweat beaded on his upper lip and his torso was very rigid and his finger was still popped inside her mouth. He was fucking tired, dazed and now he was being teased by this not-so-innocent, obviously sick and totally uncharacteristic Shiho.

His nerve endings were shooting electricity all over his body. The sensation he was feeling was like the better version of being electrocuted. He felt the hairs on his body stand. If that couldn't even get worse, Shiho threw the biggest rock at him that made him insane. She licked. She fucking licked his finger. His finger that was inside her unimaginably hot mouth, she was simply driving him to oblivion without her even knowing it.

He was a guy for God's sake! She couldn't just keep on pulling other guy's pricked finger and go licking them and putting it in inside her mouth! Didn't her mother tell her about the germs found on the hands and that the hands are the dirtiest part of the body? And there she goes licking them like it was the most natural thing in the world. He couldn't even jokingly compare it to a lollipop without affecting him. For God's sake, the joke was on him. He was turning into mush, he was losing his edge.

Yzak couldn't find the strength to do anything but stare at her. Her eyes were serenely closed while both of her hands softly clasped his in front of her mouth, keeping his hand still. He didn't know how many seconds had already passed between her and his finger but he knew the longer she nibbled on his finger, he might, just might do something more utterly stupid. More stupid than her licking his damned finger…

Gulping down, the silver haired red faced man gathered his wits and pulled his hand away from her parted lips. At that very moment, Shiho opened her eyes. She saw Yzak's heated face and darkened orbs. His lips thinned and very muscle on his body was rigid. Before she could understand the severity of her actions on Yzak's addled brain, he lunged at her. Like a predator to his prey. She closed her eyes and the last thing she felt, smelled and tasted was Yzak.

*A*

Shiho still felt awkward with him. Bowing his head down, he tried to still his nerves. For a fleeting moment he had forgotten what had happened to them. It felt surreal, at the same time shockingly obvious. They were both avoiding each other's gaze and surprisingly no one had commented about it.

Yup, now I'm really the bad guy. Breathing out a large quantity of air while he had held his breath during the few seconds he reminisced his idiocy. He bravely pointed his gaze at Shiho who was now sitting down and was peering at him. The moment amethyst and aquamarine met, roseate coloured the brunette's cheek. Yzak cleared his throat and tried to stay in his ground. He had to clear this confusion between them because he had already realized something, some thing…

"Ah..." Yzak started but was cut-off when a barrage of notes emerged from the piano. Looking at the obviously shaken woman in front of him, he decided to just keep quiet and listen to her play. He stood beside the piano, leaning on its side, letting the vibrations sift through him. He closed his eyes and the memory vividly returned to him.

*A*

Yup, he did something more utterly stupid, he had kissed her on her lips. The lips that softly kissed his bloodied finger, the urge was so strong. The urge to kiss her… She looked so beautiful to him, so soft, so vulnerable very unlike the usual Shiho who was usually strong willed and tense all the time.

He had unconsciously pressed his body against her, feeling her softness, smelling and tasting her sweetness. His hands had crept up to touch her face, cupping them in his warm hands then into her soft silky hair. The way he was acting was very untoward to Shiho, he knew that but he felt this was right. He just kept on brushing and pressing his lips against hers again and again, feeling its pliant and soft touch and committing everything to memory.

They had kept their eyes close during the kiss. Using only their four senses: touch, taste, smell and hear. Shiho could feel his hard and unyielding body pressed against her. It was all the more warmer than hers. She could already feel her body starting to burn up, like she was having a better version of a fever. The way he was brushing his lips against her was making her heart beat slam against her chest. She couldn't determine why, whether she was scared or excited she couldn't decide but when his lips descends on hers she knew it was because of something good. She felt light-headed and stupid. She couldn't think of anything, couldn't move her body except to clench her eyelids close and couldn't speak as she tried to keep herself from sighing. Never in her entire 21 years had she imagined that her first kiss would come from a boy she thought as utterly handsome and seriously deranged.

Nobody knew how long the kiss ensued. The two only parted when Shiho finally needed to breathe again. She didn't want to die because of a kiss, because of Yzak's kiss. They were both flushed red by then and were intensely staring at each other. Yzak's eyes had taken up an electrifying blue hue and hers a hazy amethyst.

Yzak was the first to react, he just brought his pointing finger against his lips and gestured a 'shhh'. Shiho was stunned beyond compare. She was expecting an apology but the thought of him asking sorry made her insides turn. Maybe they really did felt a mutual thing about that kiss. She didn't want her first kiss to be a mistake.

Yzak didn't want Shiho to feel teased or disgraced by his unexpected actions, even if it was brought on by her uncharacteristic-ness, he was sure as hell he wouldn't react the same way he had done to Shiho to another woman. That he was sure, he had been in situations more agitating, nerve-wracking and shameful than getting his finger licked, but those things were times he wouldn't want to reminisce or relive. Again, she was something he has to figure out still.

*A*

When the last note tinkled and drifted off into the air, Shiho slumped against the keys and created a discordant sound. Her insides were bunching up and her heart was racing like she had just finished running up a hill. She needed to catch her breath.

Yzak was still leaning on her piano, not saying anything. Just quiet and observing her and her blushing face. It was unnerving, why did she become so self-conscious with him?

"Shiho, do you think you can teach me how to play?" Yzak asked, finally breaking the ice that glazed them. Looking up to him and seeing his clear piercing gaze, she just nodded and took a deep breath.

"Sure, but no complaining and funny moves okay?" She frowned while sucking in her lower lip. She patted the small space she had created on the small bench to accommodate him.

Yzak face-palmed, hiding the small tinge of pink on his cheeks "I second that motion." He replied peeking through in between the fingers that covered his face.

He slid next to Shiho and bumped shoulders against her. Happy that what occurred didn't endanger their companionship. "So… What do you want to learn to play?" Shiho asked, trying to shake away the urge of getting closer to him to feel the emanating body heat of his.

Yzak interestingly flipped through the green book of classical music sheets. Continuously flipping a page again and again until he reached the end and decided to look at the table of contents. Spotting a title that appealed to him, he checked out the page and scanned to it. Satisfied, he brought the book up from his lap and into its holder in front of them. He looked at Shiho's expression and she was once again looking shaken. He had chosen, 'The Voice of the Heart'.

"What are you playing here, Yzak?" It sounded accusing even to her ears.

"The piano, what else is there to play?" He innocently replied.

Shiho gave him the once over and tried to focus her mind. "Just be sure, that's the only thing you're playing because if not, I'm going to punish you. I'm quite serious when it comes to music."

"Shiho, you're serious with everything. Just teach me to play this piece and we'll figure out the other things when we cross that bridge."

"I'll pretend that I did not hear that, as well as, you uttering those words."

"Why?" Curiosity piqued inside the silver-head's mind, their thoughts synchronizing at their latest not-so-innocent encounter.

"Just because…" Shiho trailed off and stared at the piece.

"What is it?" This time Yzak seriously asked.

Shiho looked down at her worked hands, her simple skirt and worn indoor slippers then to Yzak's immaculate hands, his dark jeans, and socked feet. "Nevermind… I'm just over thinking things." She shook her head and banished her thoughts away.

I'm scared about untested waters.

*A*

"Rin, I'm getting bored and it's getting hot out! Let's ask Shiho-nee for cold orange juice! Rin!" Ren complained aloud as he tugged on his brother's white shirt.

"Just a second Ren! There's something trailing under it! Look!" Rin exclaimed pulling his brother to crouch at their small pond.

"It looks like a white thread." Ren lamely observed.

"Maybe it's a worm trying to get its way inside our fish!" The other twin said, not wanting to dwell on his brother's sullen mood.

"Let's just ask Yzak-nii." Ren stood up and went on his way to their house. His curiosity getting better of him, Rin ran to the house, wanting to drag Yzak to their pond.

"Rin, Shiho-nee is going to get angry if you trip and fall!" Ren followed suit and ran to catch up with his overly excited brother.

Running up the porch steps, they made a ruckus of footsteps and laughter. Their eyes were filled with mirth and twinkling in mischievousness as they try to out-do one another. Opening the quickly, their boisterous entrance dawned upon the somewhat sombre atmosphere their sister and their brother had while sitting beside each other on the small piano bench.

"Shiho-nee!" Ren was the first to approach the two and grumbled about being hot and orange juices. Shiho attended to him and tried to wipe away the sweat streaming down his face.

"Where's Rin?" Shiho asked and saw he was animatedly talking with Yzak about their fish. Yzak tried to wipe the sweat pouring down the little boy's temples who kept on swatting his hand away.

"Yzak-nii! There's this white thing hanging around under our fish! Is it a worm trying to eat our fish?" Rin asked excitedly, his cheeks flushed because of excitement and the heat of running around.

"Rin, fish eat worms not the other way around." Yzak answered stoically as he rested his chin on top of his hand and leaned it into the piano keys. He gave up trying to care for him, who cares if he gets pneumonia.

"Then if it's not a worm, what is it?" Rin asked, his excitement deflating by the second.

"Most probably it's fish excrement." Yzak casually replied.

"What's excrement?"

"Why do you have so many questions?"

"I don't know. But what is it, Yzak-nii?"

Yzak huffed in defeat and gave in. "Its poo."

"Yzak it's great that you learned to control your foul language." Shiho interjected when she heard the word 'poo'.

The silver haired man turned and looked at Shiho and pointed a flabbergasted look at Shiho.

"What is it?" Shiho asked, her face sporting a wondering look.

"I was not saying anything foul! Rin was asking what the white stuff trailing under fishes were and I simply said poo." Yzak angrily explained not liking that he was being accused of saying expletives to the children.

"Oh. So that was you were talking about." Shiho blushed at her blunder. "Rin, do you want to drink orange juice?" Avoiding Yzak's risen disposition A.K.A temper.

"Okay but can I be the one to squeeze the oranges?" Rin asked hopefully.

"Me too! I want to squeeze them!" Ren volunteered as well.

"Okay at least I'll have a lot of helpers." Shiho stated. "What about you Yzak? Do you want to help us?"

Shiho asked him to just leave the piano open and follow them in the kitchen if he wanted to join. He sat there alone contemplating about his sudden outburst. He needed to loosen up more and lessen his war-freak nature. He groaned out and made a beeline for the kitchen.

*A*

"And here I thought you were going to be spic and span about squeezing oranges." Shiho scolded the twins who boisterously laughed at their orangey and pulpy mess. Yzak was merely watching the three interact, his focus sometimes zooming in on Shiho when there was no interesting action from the two.

"Yzak, can you help these two out of their soiled clothes? I'm going to get new ones. I have to soak those or it'll stain." Shiho babbled on while Yzak was not particularly paying attention to what she was saying.

When Shiho did not get any affirmation from Yzak she huffed and did the chore herself. "Soak this in the tub near the well. I'll be washing them later." She gave the clothes to Yzak not minding whether or not he understood what she said.

Going her way, she left the boys who were happily slurping their orange juice.

"Yzak-nii, Shiho-nee said you have to wash out clothes since you're lazy." Rin teased the man who just stared at him and continued to do nothing.

"Yzak-nii, why are you so quiet? Are you tired?" Ren approached him and tugged at the arm where his chin was leaning on.

Yzak looked at the two boys and closed his eyes. He needed to take a grip. He can't afford to burn his eyes out staring into space.

YZak ducked his head unto the cool surface of the table. Serenity engulfing him while he thought about his unknown factor 'Shiho' and the things, his new alias for the word emotions, he was associating with the brunette.

Rationally he really wouldn't even give a snitch of his time and effort to a woman, especially women whom he didn't know but Shiho exhibited a different approach to him. From day one of his stay, she had shown him a side of a woman who he appreciated and welcomed. The side of being caring and unbiased in terms of loving everyone... She appreciated each and every one of them. But thinking about it, he couldn't help but feel jealous. It was funny how a person could exaggerate the existence of one person from everybody else and define it as love. Unfortunately, this was how he felt about her, about Shiho. She was simply different and he liked that she was such a unique person. And now he knew how it felt to need and possess someone. He was going bonkers and Yzak Joule never uses the word bonkers.

Shiho had burrowed inside his system: ingesting her meals, infesting his mind, creeping around his back and now infiltrating his heart.

After what had happened between them, he didn't know he would live through the next day. She seemed to be acting normal but overly conscious towards him as he was to her. It was a refreshing feeling, to know that you have someone you love and yet he begrudged the feeling as well. It made him feel undecided, whether to pursue her or just let things as they are.

Yzak sighed loudly.

What I hate the most is the subject, caring. Caring for someone and caring for the future.

*A*

"Stay put and don't go running. Wait for your clothes before playing in the sun. It's not cool to get sunburned. Believe me." Yzak warned the twins dramatically but the very second he turned his back, they grabbed their shirts from his grasp and ran around playing tag with Yzak. They were once again making their silver-haired and temperamental nanny angry and tired.

Laughter rang through the air and Yzak had already caught Ren in his arms and was about to reach Rin but a strong gust of wind whipped the shirt along with it. Rin ran after the shirt while Yzak ran after him out the wooden gate of Hahnenfuss Acres. It limply fell into the dry earth of the road.

"Rin, can't you pick it up faster?" Yzak groaned out as he watched the little boy hopping like a rabbit trying to catch his shirt continuously being blown by the wind away from his grasp.

"Got it!" Rin stuck his tongue at Yzak who rolled his eyes at him in return.

"Rin, I'm going to count to three for you to come back here or else I will close this gate."

Of course, the little raven haired boy ran towards the gate clumsily stepping on his slipper, skinning his knees on the process. Yzak mentally slapped himself for being such a jerk for the little boy, now he had the guilt of making Rin cry weighing down on his shoulders… and heart, it would seem… He sighed and approached Rin. Deep in thoughts on how to punish the twins, they did not notice the speeding car coming for impact.

*A*

A loud screech and a chorus of shouts shattered the serene morning. Shiho heard the skidding of car wheels. She hurriedly looked out of the window and searched for the source.

Ren was running towards the white convertible where three pink haired women were crowded. Worry and fear were etched on their faces while tears ran down the cheeks of her brother.

-to be continued-

Thyme Notes: Hello my very lovely readers! The spirit of inspiration has descended upon me while the spirit of procrastination has left! I was so happy reading your reviews that I decided to update earlier rather than next week since I really want to dedicate the chapter to all of you! I'm praying that the bloody finger episode will not be a disappointment and not too hurried for your tastes. *crosses fingers* Again, I end the chapter with a cliff hanger! *evil laughs* I just want to try making my readers wait on the edge of their seats. If inspiration decides to stay, I will be able to update soon but if not it shall be next next week! And now for my replies to my beloved reviewers!

DarkZero1718: Thank you for liking the chapter and I'm utterly relieved about that since there wasn't a lot of Shizak but it's good that you support other pairings as well! I love you for liking the way I write! It means so much to me as a writer knowing that you like my style of writing! It gives me a heads up that you really are able to enjoy reading which is my goal! Thank you very much! I hope the update made you even happier! Do continuously pray for me and my writing so that I may be able to deliver this story till the end! :D Hearing encouraging words really help me along my writer's block and laziness.

SandyX5: Mimou! I'm sorry if I didn't tell you about it since I really wanted it to be a surprise for everyone! You included! I know you love me even if you hate me for it! Mwahahaha! I'm glad you liked the chapter and even paid attention to the twin's weird tendencies! I guess the mysteries have been solved by this chapter! :D This chapter was only utterly and single-mindedly filled with Shizak to the end. As requested Yzak and the twins interaction is included! :3 Is this update soon enough? Love you!

Fireminer: I'm glad you understand how I want to introduce my characters! And there is TROUBLE brewing, how did you know! :D I should give you a ton of chocolates for that or Shizak moments! Already did! :3 I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed reading your review! It made me smile that my sentiments were delivered! Oh and the next chapter update will be dedicated to you, since you were the one that gave me that plan, operation Yzak and the twins. Now enough of that, I might just give the others a hint! Thank you and do read on! I love you!

TheRedSin: If you only know, you can bet on it. AsuCaga is also on their way! Haha I also love them to bits so I can't leave them out of this story! Yes! I know it should really scream ROMANTIC! I hope I was able to coincide with your imagination! Thank you for liking this story! It really means a lot to me! :D I love you!

TCoatJackal: You flatter me too much I just might glomp you to death! Really! I'm not kidding! *getting ready for glomping* You have no idea how much you make me happy by just reviewing to my story and my writing. I really don't know how I do things but I never expect them to be really good. I'm happy to hear compliments on how I write and really me an Angel of romantic couples? I'm honoured! Super! I'm glad you loved the last chapter even if you are not fond of the LacusXKira pairing. When I was younger I was on FlayXKira pairing so I really didn't know I was able to do a good job in writing about them. I am once again hoping you love this new chapter. I know wyverns! Hahaha they are scary monsters. Again, I might be cruel about this cliffie but I promise to make it up to the next update! I really love you for pointing out that more people should read this but having such lovely reviews from you and everyone who is supporting me in this is already a blessing. It was priceless for me too! Receiving and reading a great review in the morning! Remember what I told you, you too leave me hanging in every review you leave! :D

And that's a wrap! Till next chapter you guys! Do read and review! I would really really love to hear from you! :D I love you all!