Chapter 11: Dragging On

The awkwardness that filled me when I was in his car was unbearable. I wanted to leave. I want to forget everything. Every question I asked him went deaf to his ears. He didn't respond to me.

We had left the area our home was in, and were closer towards one family type homes. There were a lot of smaller homes, with wall gates around them. They reminded me of where Becky lived, though we were fairly far away from it, but still fairly close to walking to school. He really wanted to downsize, and I started to think. Maybe he wanted to be in a home that wasn't so huge, but big enough for him, and I guess for us.

During the car ride I tried to come up with reason to why he would want to move away. Even though he has everything there what else was he searching for? He told me he wanted his freedom, but I couldn't understand. Maybe he physically has to leave to have that feeling of a fresh start.

"Do you have that ring?" He said. He made me jump in my seat, as I wasn't paying attention to him. He glared at me from the corner of his eye. I nodded. "You should put it on." I looked at him confused as I soon noticed he had his on his left hand. I was puzzled, but I did what he asked just so I wouldn't get him angry again.

Unchaining the ring and I had it in the palm hand. The sliver band shined at me. Reluctantly I put it on. The band on my finger gave me the nastiest chills.

Looking up I spotted a man in a business suit standing in front of a house that had a for sale sign in front, and Kai pulled up in front of it. He turned the car off and pulled his keys out of the ignition. "Let's go." He said hustling me under his breath. "You don't need to say much, just look around." He told me before opening his door and leaving the car.

I followed quietly.

Kai walked towards the man shaking his hand, and I climbed out of the car.

"It's great to finally meet you, Mr. Hiwatari, and this must be your wife?" The young looking businessman spoke looking at me.

"Yes, this is my wife Amy." He motioned towards me. "This is Mr. Kin, he's the realtor I was telling you about."

Telling me about? When did you tell me about this?

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Kin." I said bowing my head slightly smiling.

"It's an honor, Mrs. Hiwatari." He said bowing towards me slightly. I held my composer. The thought ran through my mind being called Hiwatari felt strange.

I watched him motion towards the building he was in front of and was going to show us.

It was a two story white house with light blue trim. Surrounding the home was a grey brick that reached to about 4 feet high. The entrance had a new metal gate in front.

"This house is newly made only 5 years old. It's great for newlyweds." He explained.

'Newlyweds…' I thought in my mind as we followed him in.

I watched around the front yard. There was a trail that led to the front door. The grass looked nicely cut and looked like it reached around to the back. We walked towards the pearl white door and we went in.

I was almost swept away. The room was brightly lit, not from the fluorescent lights, but from the natural light that seemed to pass through from the windows in the front and back.

We took our shoes off and put on guest slippers and entered the home. Kai continued to talk to the realtor, and I continued to look around. The floors were a hard wood and seemed to be carried through out the whole house. Entering the house to the left was an open living room, and to my right was stairs heading up.

He showed us the living room. It was a good size, I figured. It wasn't too small, and it wasn't too big. The realtor pulled us along into the dinning and kitchen room. It was an open space in the back of the house. I looked into the kitchen.

"This kitchen is very up to date, and comes with all the appliances." The realtor explained. I touched the granite countertop. It was cold, but made the room feel warm and inviting. To me it was perfect. As I walked into the kitchen, I almost felt like it was my kitchen. My daydreams seem to take me as I thought about cooking dinner for my family one day.

"Do you like the kitchen, Mrs. Hiwatari?" I looked at him confused and finally got what he said.

"Yes, I think its prefect." I said. I wasn't yet accustomed to being called Mrs. Hiwatari. It left me confused, and slightly annoyed the fuck out of me. My eyes turned to Kai as he was looking out towards the sliding doors. The realtor showed us outside. It was a medium size back yard, with nicely cut grass.

He brought us around the house some more, showing us where the laundry room was, what was down in the basement, and then we headed up stairs. He showed us the "master suite" of the house. It was a fairly big room, and had a door that led to the bathroom, and closet that was very big. It reminded me a little bit of my room, but it wasn't as big as it.

Then he showed us two extra rooms, and finally the last bathroom. The other two extra rooms were a bit smaller than the master suite room, but it was manageable, and it wasn't extremely huge like what we were used to growing up in.

"What do you think?" I notice Kai asked me. I thought about it before answering.

"I think it's cozy" I said looking up at him. "It's a very nice house." He nodded his head. I didn't know what he thought. The realtor looked between us two, and I smiled at him. I felt bad for him.

'There's many houses out there to check out." The realtor began to speak.

"Nah, we'll make an offer on this house." Kai said making the realtor freeze up. "My wife is a little too shy, but she actually likes the house a lot she just doesn't show it." I stared at him, my eyes widen. "I actually really like this house too, so I wouldn't want it to be sold to anyone else."

I literally wanted to scream, as he just opts and decided right off the bat. He obviously didn't need to consult with me, just have me around as a wife trophy. To just stand there, be pretty, and agree to everything that came out of his mouth.

He looked at me as if I was supposed to say something. "You really like the house?" I asked him. He nodded in my response and I smiled. "Then let's get it. It'll be our first house together!"

My head pounded, as I played my part with so much hate. The realtor gathered up his paperwork and showed them to us, making us put in an offer, and signing it. To be honest I wasn't sure what I was doing, and it scared me slightly. Kai's attitude was professional. He looked like he knew what he was doing, and it surprised me. It made me wonder if he had been planning this for a while now.

I wanted to punch him so fucking badly. He frustrated me so much.

I saw the realtor grin. I guess he knew he was going to get a good commission for helping us out. Leaving the house I turned around to look at it before going back into the car with Kai.

When I was in the car, I stared at Kai grilling him. He didn't look at me, but continued to do what he was doing. He started his car and reached his hand to change into drive. I lifted my elbow and rested it on the edge of the glass staring at the passing homes, and cars.

I tried to figure it out in my head. Possible reasons to why he would want to go this far. If he wasn't married to me, he might have just gotten up and left without saying a word. He might never come back. That he might never stay in contact with anyone not even his parents.

Kai's aura gave me that feeling. His coldness, and his indifference to the world. I could see him saying 'Fuck It' to everything and walk away from it all.

Maybe his grandfather saw right through him, and figured out a way to keep him here so he wouldn't stray away from the family business.

Marry the sucker off and keep him stuck here. No way of escape!

If I think of it that way I feel bad for him.

I finally realized, playing this game was going to be hard.

"Is this really how we will have to act in front of people?" I found myself asking him still looking out the window.

"It would seem so." I looked back at him.

"Did you even like the house?" I questioned him. He could have chosen the house on the whim just to speed up the process of leaving. I saw his eyes shift towards me, and then back in front of him.

"I do actually," He spoke. He didn't speak to me anymore. Everything just felt strange, and I just couldn't understand it. I wanted to question him how long ago he was planning this. This idea of moving away and living on his own. I was very curious to know, but I couldn't get myself to speak and ask him.

Before I knew it, Kai and pulled up in front of my house. I unbuckled the seat belt and let myself out without a word. Before I closed the door I heard his voice.

"I'll send you a message if I hear anything, alright?" He said his voice was cold. I nodded as I shut the door of the car. Backing away from it, he drove off.

I grumbled under my breath. I wasn't sure how I was going to calm myself down playing this stressful game. I shook my head, and turned around and headed into the house.

I really needed a breather.

The next couple weeks were hell. I followed the Hiwatari's to Kai's graduation. There was so much screaming from the graduates that it was starting to hurt my head.

After the ceremony was over I followed them as they tried to find their eldest son. We found him as he was with Tala, and a group of graduating girls. They were huddling towards Kai and Tala like leaches.

I watched in disgust at them all. Keahi caught Kai's attention and he moved away from his swarm of girls and towards his little brother.

"Congratulations!" Keahi cheered at his older brother. His mom and dad were congratulating him, and being typical parents were asking him to stand and take a picture.

Every girl saw the opportunity to get a picture with him. I even saw a couple glares from Kai's mother as she held herself back from shooing off them all. I even caught her a couple times staring at me and pointing into Kai's direction for me to stand with him and take a picture. I instantly shook my head no, and backed away. The mob of girls seemed to scare us both slightly.

Throughout the ride to the ceremony, Kai continued to tell her not to say anything about me being his wife. Telling his mother that if one word slips that everyone would kill me instantly just out of pure jealousy. His mother didn't understand why he was so bitter about it, but I think she finally realized as the mob of girls seem to cling to his son, and didn't seem like they were ever going to let go.

Tala flopped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me to his side. "Mrs. Hiwatari, take a picture of us!" He said with a grin.

"You're so clingy." I grumbled as I tried to push him away. I saw some girls stare almost glaring at me as to why Tala was being clingly with me.

She snapped a photo and grinned. "Kai, dear, stand with them!"

"I want to be in the picture too!" Keahi jumped up pulling his brother along. Keahi stood in front of me, and turned around to look towards his mother. Kai's eyes met mine and instantly they shifted towards Tala sending him the scariest glare I've ever seen. I looked at Tala who chuckled awkwardly, and I felt his arm loosen from over my shoulders.

I was a bit confused and turned to Keahi who held both of his fingers up with the peace sign. He had a bright smile on his face and was excited.

"Fine, one picture." Kai said.

I heard his mom cheer, as she was ready to take the shot. Kai stood to my left keeping a short distance away compared to Tala who was still holding onto me.

I stared in front of me, hoping with all my might that this picture would be done quickly.

I smiled as Kai's mom took the picture; she pulled her eyes away from the camera grinning.

I let out a sigh of relief. Tala finally let go of me, and got distracted by someone else. I continued to try to fade away, and waited patiently for the day to be over.

The day ended with Kai and Tala heading out with their classmates for a graduation party. I rubbed my shoulders tired.

"Are you alright," I heard Keahi ask me. I looked down at him smiling.

"Just a rough day today." I said messing his hair. He grumbled as he took my hand in his. He smiled up at me and I smiled back.

"We should go play some video games when we get home! That's always fun!"

"Sure."

When we got home all he wanted to do was play. We played and talked till night fell. Keahi rested his head against my arm and fell asleep quietly.

I watched him sleep, and wondered about my attitude with people. My softest side were with kids. Their eyes were always filled with curiosity, and innocence, but with those that were my age I didn't feel so. I felt misplaced, and when I saw something I didn't like I become furious.

I let out a yawn and closed my eyes. I felt Keahi rub his face against my arm, but I let him continue to sleep.

I guess a part of me didn't want to grow up.

I think I must have napped for a good hour, before I felt Keahi not next to me anymore. I rubbed my eyes with my hands and let out a yawn. I looked up to see Kai hovering over his brother's bed. I saw him turn to me, and walk over to me.

"What time is it?"

"2." I saw him hold his hand out towards me. I stared at him for a second before grabbing it. He pulled me to my feet. I let out one last yawn and stretched. "Are you staying the night?" He asked me.

I inspected him. He had his normal clothes on, a pair of jeans, and a dark jacket. "No, should head back home."

I saw him turn around, "I'll walk with you." I looked at him confused.

"You don't need too." I told him. I walked off after him. Kai flicked the lights off and closed the door quietly.

"Mom will kill me if she found out I let you walk home by yourself this late," He said his voice was low, "So don't bother arguing with me. I'll walk you home."

I frowned at him. His voice didn't sound threatening, but I followed what he said.

"How was the party you went to?" I asked trying to break the silence.

"Boring." He said under his breath.

He stopped saying anything after that. He walked me back home, and when I was in front of my door I tried one last time to talk to him. I wanted to get used to it. I thought in my mind it would help make all this go faster.

I looked at him, his hands were stuck into his pockets and his eyes were distracted somewhere else.

"Hmm, Kai?"

"What?"

"I didn't properly tell you, but Congratulations on Graduating." I said my eyes diverting from looking at him.

I didn't hear him say anything, but felt his hand on top of my head messing up my hair. I grumbled as I looked up at him through my bangs. He chuckled, "Thanks." He had a sly smirk on his face.

"Well, good night." I told him before turning around and pulling away from his hand.

"Amy."

I turned my head to look at him. "What?"

"We got the house," he said. His hands went back to being in his pocket.

"We did?" I questioned him.

He nodded his head. "We can move in any time now, so whenever you're ready." He turned half way to head back. "Night."

I saw him walk off and let a sigh pass my lips. I walked back into the house, and ran my hands through my now messy hair.

I guess he was also trying to make the best out of the situation, and decided to be nice to me for once.

I held a bunch of hair in my hand and twirled it within my fingers. I tried to imagine a life living with Kai 24/7. I probably wouldn't see him that much, and would have another house to myself again, but much smaller.

But I started to think of many other things. I would be with him all the time. If I thought about it I wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't know if he had any nasty habits that started to grow on him, as he got older.

He did start ignoring me when he entered high school. He grew up, and I couldn't think of him as the little boy who used to play with me, and was always there for me.

When I look at this Kai, I feel like I don't know him. That everything I knew about him had all been a lie.

Summer this year is surely going to be rough.