A/N: Thank you for the reviews! Happy New Year to my lovely muses, amigas and readers. :) This story is ever promising. Oh my god. I'm very excited. Like insanely excited that there should be 10 of me working on this story as each chapter has become draining for me.
A tribute to Hetalia: Axis Powers
Omake Theatre:
Max (US): Okay guys, it's nice to see you all in the UN meeting. I have a new idea with how to solve global warming! I consider that we should totally stop drilling for oil that heat our homes and fuel our cars, and then move south!
Tyson (Japan): That's a great idea—
Miguel (Switzerland): There you go again, Japan! State your own opinion!
Japan: That's ironic, coming from you, Swiss!
Mathilda (Liechtenstein): B-b-back off my brother!
Johnny (UK): That's a ridiculous idea. You are an idiot, America. Many people will either die or hit poverty! Have you been talking to Canada, again— BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH…
US: What the hell do you know you stupid, stiff-lipped SCOT! I'm the hero! BLAH BLAH BLAH…
UK: YOU UNGRATEFUL FRECKLE FACE! SHOVE A HAMBURGER DOWN YOUR THROAT AND SHUT UP!
Oliver (France): I'll just oppose both of you, since I'm more gentlemanly and mature. *flicks hair*
UK and US: WHAT!
France: Be men and just love each other. ;)
UK: *strangles France* Do you think I've forgotten that…!
Julia (Aragon, Spain): Men are idiots. Castille, we're taking over this meeting. THE UN IS OURS!
Raul (Castille, Spain): Bu-b-b-but…!
Aragon: Russia, aren't you going to say something to those idiots?
Kai (Russia): Scare the weak until there is nothing left of them. *evil laughter* *stares at the three Baltic States*
Bryan (Lithuania): OMG.
Spencer (Estonia): *gulp*
Wyatt (Latvia): *tears*
Tala (Belarus): Don't do that, Kai.
Russia: *pales* It's fun though.
Ray (China): Aiyah. America and Scotland are at it again. How about some snacks, gaiz? :D
UK and US: Don't want any! :(
Mariah (Taiwan): I'll have some if you marry me, Ray!
China: *twitch*
Taiwan: Are you all right!
Belarus: Speaking of being one, let's get married, Russia!
Russia: N-no thanks. *glowers at the three Baltic States*
Cenotaph (Egypt): I'm dead but still paranoid after the Suez Crisis. I hate Italy, France, Germany and UK. Especially Italy, I hope you sink first.
Enrique (Italy): IT WAS ONE BEY-BATTLE! YOU SORE LOSER! ONE!
Eddy (Africa): There's still world hunger where I'm at.
Africa and Egypt: THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL ARE WE ALLOWING YOU MORONS TO MOVE SOUTH! *joins into the rumble*
Garland (Greece) and Mystel (Sicily): *doze off since they are literally Mediterranean and Italy is already and only welcomed*
Brooklyn (Ireland): Let's destroy all Protestants and Jews. AND RULE THE WORLD.
Robert (Germany): Ahaha. A colleague, finally. Let's find the next Roman Empire. *high five*
Greece: *wakes up* *punches Ireland on the face*
Sicily: *kicks Germany in his sleep*
Emily (Hungary): I've been ignored long enough.
Claude (Austria): Oh, this was such a bad idea. Romania, say something!
Ozuma (Romania): Romania will suck your blood.
ALL COUNTRIES: *freeze* O_O
End
Note: Global warming issue is based off the movie "Day After Tomorrow." Not all characters are based on their correct countries except for Ozuma, Robert, Eddy, Majestics, G-Rev, and F-Dynasty. UK recalls a time when France asked for his hand in marriage. Most of the characters are in character. This is strictly humor so please laugh.
Chapter 11: Day 3: Devil's Advocate
Goose bumps dotted Julia's skin as Tala dragged both of them out of the first school building and trekked across the untouched, two-feet of snow in the junior football field and into dense foliage. They stopped at the foot of a building, hidden in a small forest of pine. Narrowing her eyelids into a squint and her hands clearing away snow from her skirt, the brunette shuddered with an angry grunt at the redhead. His shoulders were propped against the edifice, built out of glass, three stories high and glistening under the winter sun. A smug smirk graced his features; unfazed by the winter chill that iced up her blood.
A whine. "Honestly, you can't…"
Standing away from the building, he revealed the doorway. "Chill out." Laugh. "Pun unintended." Tala yanked the glass door open, and pushed Julia's frightened form through the threshold.
The brunette, admonishing quietly him in her starched white and green clothes, bit back her thanks. The inside was warm and balmy; pent up searing air made her sweat like dew on freshly watered roses. The light bouncing and reflecting off the glass and steel walls made her eyes sore. Body basking in the warmth, Julia felt repugnance well up inside of her.
With the door closed and the bitter draft capped, the Russian stared at the bag of potting soil next to the door, not really seeing anything. It had only been a few days since his violent come across with Julia. Despite the argument and bruises, Tala couldn't keep his distance from her. Surprisingly, Tala found that he enjoyed his schoolmate's company and that they could get along quite well during relevant fiascos.
He looked up when he heard soft footsteps on the dirt.
Julia rubbed her arm, "What is this place?"
"It's an old beystadium that was once part of the student facilities."
"I have never been in here—"
"This place was locked down."
"…It's completely isolated but easily accessed," Julia muttered to herself while Tala gawked, offended by her short attention span. "This place is perfect for the club." Tsking, the redhead opted to snatch the wrist of the chatterbox and ran. They ran for two good minutes through patches of long grass and marshes before Julia repulsed out of his grip. She stayed still for seconds, panting and staring at her mud-covered shoes. Red fringes untamed and green eyes glared, Tala took her wrist into his hand and squeezed it.
"I am not out to hurt you."
She was never the type to conceal her contempt. "Well, I am to you."
He wanted to wave his arms like a windmill caught in a tornado and spit out nails. "Stop acting like an idiot! Those girls after the both of us!" the redhead seethed.
She placed a fist against her chest and shook her head, "WHY ARE THEY AFTER ME! I AM NOT YOU!" She found her wrist loosened from his iron grip and hanging loosely at her side.
Cyber Tala mode. "Because. You are Julia Fernandez, the only other girl besides Ming-Ming Love who may end up with Kai Hiwatari."
"ARE THEY BLIND? I'M NOT WITH KAI HIWATARI!"
"Since you lost the draw and your best friend currently dates him, other girls had assumed you've gotten weak. They had gone on to Ming-Ming's side."
Julia interjected with a swinging punch to his shoulder: "And just how do you know all of this?"
He did not flinch.
"Answer me!"
Blink. Tala: "Kai isn't the only famous one around here."
The Academy had somehow categorized its celebrities of all kind by wealth and power. The only reason why Tala, Bryan, Ian and Spencer had ranked high on the ladder was Kai.
"For you to lose to Hilary, who isn't of a prestigious breed or talent, you've taken a blown in the hierarchy. You may see yourself as the Princess but Kai hasn't blinked an eye at your existence for two years. Now he fatefully ends up with Hilary. Of all girls in this school she is the purest form of a commoner."
A whisper came from her: "I don't want to think of it like that."
"You do." The redhead bit back a smug smirk and shoved his hands in his pant pockets contemplatively. With a tumbling sigh, he craned his neck back toward the ceiling and closed his eyes. Julia could see the pale white stretch of his skin and the constricted Adam's apple. "Hilary is not interested and yet, she wastes all this time alone with him."
She couldn't disagree, "She didn't want him."
Eyes glued onto her with great intensity, Tala lowered his chin and raised an arched eyebrow. "You are the Princess."
She laughed. "They only have four days left! I shouldn't worry!"
"Kai can change his mind."
"I…I-Impossible! Even I know he's too stubborn for change!"
A hollow rustling…
An angry Julia whirled around with a coiled fist—someone is in here…
She couldn't tell its exact location because of the surrounding dead foliage. The soil was peaty, damp and sandy; altogether poor conditions to grow anything edible. It was too humid.
"What was it, you say?" Tala asked quietly; Julia did not answer right away but lowered her fist.
"…The wind or something…" She didn't believe it, nor did Tala who then stood directly in front of her. They stayed still for long, several seconds, guarding each other's backs.
"…He won't change his mind."
A snicker overcame Tala's calm façade and formed his fingers around her tiny wrist. Julia found his expression vague, like the rest of him. "Let's go."
He nudged her, and she looked over her shoulder again before letting him pull her forward. Although resentful toward him, she didn't say anything as he kept his hand locked tightly around her wrist as they ran.
Caught on a mid-step Julia froze—
A very popular cyan-haired girl perched at the edge of a marble fountain, situated in the centre of the main floor in a separate science building. Brooklyn had assumed a very stoic position; feet planted firmly on the cobblestones, shoulders bent inward and his head dug into those stupid plans.
"Aw I'm sure she's okay…"
He had sworn to burn the original blue prints of the 900-acre Academy grounds after his little scheme. However, he reconsidered after one of the fanatics reported that Tala had taken Julia hostage and jumped off a three-storey drop. Soon after, the pair had run off into the greenhouse just as planned.
A second time, Brooklyn perused every millimeter of each print, determined, to find empty stadiums, warehouses or dingy dungeons to stockpile corpses of those females who've had failed him. They had put an innocent girl in danger, which happened to determine his future.
Now she was stuck in a greenhouse with the most detestable redhead in the planet.
Fingers pulled at his ginger locks, "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! WHY DID SHE HAVE TO BE WITH HIM? WHAT KIND OF SICK TWIST OF FATE IS THIS?" Aquamarine irises glared heavenward, frightening a flock of on-looking fan girls to run to their next classes.
"Calm down!" the 'Queen' Ming-Ming pulled out a random fan boy's rucksack and chucked it at Brooklyn; he smirked as he deftly avoided it, but the hovering panic made its way back to his face. With wool-clad arms tightly folded against her chest, 'Queen' Ming-Ming pouted. "God, it's like you have a split personality."
She went unheard. "SHE CAN GET HURT OR RAVAGED! HE'S AN IDIOT! HE'LL LEAVE HER TO DIE! I WILL NOT HESITATE TO SEND HIM INTO A COMA! DO YOU HEAR ME!"
"Duh. Why didn't you do that in the beginning?"
Brooklyn withered, "…Julia wasn't involved." Ming-Ming shook her head disapprovingly.
"So?" her voice pierced the tension too chirpily. "Why are you so suddenly intent about her wellbeing? You should focus on my plan of getting Kai to marry me."
Rolling the blueprints into a neat scroll, Brooklyn had managed a listless expression. "You can get Kai and my revenge. Tala is an obstacle and Julia is a liability. I can get kicked out of this school and written off the will!"
Ming-Ming cooed; a few, nearby fan boys swooned at such heavenly sound. "Are the red hair and blue eyes bothering you? Be honest, Brooklyn Mase—"
"—NO! SILENCE!" Steam fumed from his ears.
Julia felt a long vine creep up her ankle; it wormed up her lean calf and thorns embedded themselves past white knee-high stockings and into her flesh, completely halting her. She turned and earned a whip with a branch across her face—
On cue, Tala moved to pull her free but another vine smacked him square on his chest, sending him backward and away from the brunette who screamed in pain.
Tala had forgotten, the beystadium reacts to the power of a nearby bit beast and turns it into thermal energy to revive the plants. The greenhouse was forbidden when the plants had adapted to eating humans; hence the steel bars mixed into the glass to make an indestructible but conspicuous cage. An increase of heart rate makes it easier for the plants to sense human pheromones to track prey.
"THOSE STUPID BITCHES LED US HERE!" she fell to the earth and another vine attached to her other leg, binding her limbs together. She dug her nails into the ground and wrenched her upper body upward in vain attempt to pull herself free.
She saw Tala as the nearby shrub dragged him closer and closer, and his theorized superhuman strength seemed so ineffective than they should have been… "Julia!"
"DON'T TALK TO ME! IT'S YOUR FAULT!" Julia screeched in one breath, twisting awkwardly for the vine had a painful hold on her leg. Placing her fingers just inches from the vine, Julia reached toward the holster beneath her skirt. Bared in the palm of her hand was her purple beyblade, unused, and while she loved it with a passion, it was the only way to get out herself out and to put a stop to the vine that was dragging her along like a child with a sled—
It had been known to slice right through steel.
The moist vine, dotted with short sharp feelers, pierced the skin of her fingers as she grasped it. She made a few blows at it, severing most the binds around her leg and cutting her hand open. She lost the beyblade in the process nto one of marshes. Ignoring the throbbing pulse in her calf, she got onto her feet and ran the opposite direction.
She didn't get far.
Several girls barricaded her path and just then, Julia had realized that the vine was sprouting and growing, now well attached to her thigh and snaking up her side.
"Mierda!" Julia let out a scream and jerked at the vine as it dug another deep thorn into her flesh, this time her thigh. She yanked at it. Girls crowded around her flies, each holding out a length of rope and surgical tubing. They first tied her at the waist with her arms, pulling her as she kicked and fought to unleash her spleen at them. She threw her elbow into one of the girls' chest, hard, after seeing Tala dangling over the giant, welcoming mouth of a Venus flytrap, a few meters away.
He was unconscious.
What the hell was this place! "TALA! WAKE UP!"
Tala was dropped in.
The snapping shut of the plant's mouth had sent her mind into tumult. That did not just happen.
Gawking in disbelief, her back roughly hit the ground. "Yo mataria tu!" If only there had been a hand to find among the twenty; instead her hands were bound by surgical tubes and rope and she swore at them and twisted like a fish to escape.
Julia forced her feet apart and flung her arms through the elastic bonds in vain. "STOP! WHO TOLD YOU—"
The tears were clear, ripping in the reeds.
All eyes were set on the giant Venus flytrap; leaves were slashed off and apart in ribbons and vines were sliced in large chunks to land on the ground. The entire twenty-foot plant collapsed, its remaining vines twisting and writhing. The lovely opening flowers lay motionless on the ground, hidden behind the dense dead plant material and long grasses.
Suddenly the girls screamed as one of the opened flowers roused and was thrown at their direction, passing dangerously over their heads. It landed with a great BOOM at a proximity from the fleeing fans. A staggering Tala emerged from the long grasses and into the clearing, not as injured as Julia had expected. Part of his ensemble had been digested and blue eyes were glassy under the fluorescent lights.
She flinched as Tala's body landed heavily, next to her; struggling with her feet and wincing against the lashing elastic. Left arm covered with the thorny vine, Tala fumbled with the rope. She nudged his head with her nose and he groaned, raising his face to see her. A surprised screech left her mouth as the decapitated blossom, several feet away from them, moved.
"GODDAMN IT, WOMAN. I'M RIGHT HERE!"
"Don't try to stand!"
"I'll live."
The door opened and shut quickly, someone had slipped in, probably hoping not to disturb the silence—Hilary hadn't bothered to check. Their footsteps seemed light and whomever it was made their way down the rows, stopping at intervals. Hilary didn't realize it was male until she had twisted her neck over her left shoulder, saw brown eyes widen, and then their legs: grey.
"Smith…rite," the Russian managed in a breathless voice.
"Do you have them?"
Hilary saw Kai's slate-blue locks rustle softly against his cheeks in protest.
"Kai!" The said boy scolded. Sidestepping, Hilary made room for the newcomer. He slipped his bag off his shoulder and knelt down on one knee to examine Kai's wounded state. Their closeness was unfamiliar to Hilary. He sounded too distraught for a casual observer: "Man, why didn't you come to class? You should've told me, what my mother is going to say to this—"
Skimming slowly upward at a length of flesh, his eyes met Hilary's and felt his face flush. "Oh. Oh! I see now… You're with—" He broke off, genuinely concerned (embarrassed) and fished out a bottle of capsules from his pant pocket.
Jerk. Jerk. Jerk! Tutoring me as an excuse to miss class! Wait until you can stand, I'll break the rest of your ribs!
"What are those?"
The white cap slipped from his fingers like butter and tumbled to the floor, ignored, "Painkillers." Red and blue capsules skittered out from the bottle as the boy took two into his fingers. Curtly, Kai brought his palm forward and let the capsules fall into it. Hilary bit her lip and watched in shock as Kai popped them into his mouth and swallowed.
He takes those in like candy.
Throat dry, Kai didn't speak but nodded mutely in thanks. Smithrite, on the other hand, grew frantic as his other hand rummaged through his caramel-colored satchel and pulled out a bottle of water. "Here, drink up."
Kai nodded and took a long swig, the bottle cool to his touch.
Smithrite doted, "You had me worried." He clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Sorry I couldn't come earlier."
Kai wiped his mouth, "It was only a relapse."
"Thank goodness I had the spare prescription."
A cough. "I'll be fine."
Zip. "So you say. If I hadn't seen you through the window…"
The two of them had seemed to be in good terms, as rumors had stated. He was the venerable and intellectual Smithrite boy. He had the cleanest reputation in the entire campus: an active role in outreach projects (Coordinator), student parliament (Treasurer), yearbook journalism (Senior Editor), and just for being so damn nice. Sugary words were useless to describe him. It was a relief, to Hilary, that Kai had befriended such a person. He sounded less appalling to her father.
"Oh!" The boy spun wildly to her direction, beaming, and extended his hand toward her. "People generally label me as Smithrite. Please call me Wyatt. Kai has showered Miss Hilary affection and I should to."
At this, Kai's countenance turned grim. Dodging his perusal glare, the female brunette felt the corners of her lips lift in pleasure. "Why thank you, Wyatt," Hilary chirped, shaking his hand. "Please, no formalities."
A ringing, warm laugh. "I insist—"
"Ahem." Both faces looked to see that Kai had made ample effort to stand upright. His balance quivered. She gasped, clearly startled as he jumped back, put a hand against a desk to steady himself. He felt his face flush like a wounded toddler.
Whispering, Hilary couldn't find the right words, "Um. Uh…"
Annoyance etched in his face, "Get away." He tried to walk away but Hilary grabbed his arm, hindering movement for both of them.
"Sit down! Obviously you're still in pain!" They both knew Hilary was steeling herself for him; the way her knuckles strained into white from holding his arm.
Kai detached her arm off his and at once, her loud then lilting voice had diminished into defeated, little sighs: "Take care." He stared into her eyes, scrutinizing for any false motive but found none. Hilary was still staring at him, selfless empathy etched into every line of her face. Guilt contorted it into a sympathetic look for him. She didn't even know me, Kai raged.
You don't hate her. Save it up for the person who deserves it.
Willed to avoid her eyes, Kai allowed Wyatt to lift some of his weight. Wyatt helped Kai put his arm over his shoulder and Kai tried his best not to seethe in pain.
"Where is he going, Wyatt?"
"My mother would like to see him in the clinic. You needn't worry."
"See you tonight," Kai muttered, slinging his bag over his shoulder and nodding to Wyatt. They walked around the tables and up the aisle to the hell he would deal with for the next few hours.
Wyatt, his ward, had eased on a cheerful grin for too long that it irked him. "She's a great girl. She cares a lot about you."
When Kai glanced back in the window of his classroom, Hilary sat on a desk and stared at the door from which he had exited, chin resting on her fist in deep thought.
It happens everyday. She isn't special.
"Hah."
"Can you get your hands free?" Tala quelled another flinch as the elastic cracked like a whip, whistling too close to her face. She raised an eyebrow in return.
"What a question," she said, blowing a stray carroty lock to clear her vision, a pretentious grin gracing her lips. Tala returned it, equally sly, and Julia mentally reminded herself to stop grinning at him but it didn't work. A head shake: "Do you have something in mind?"
Oh god, do I. Tala noted, watching her fingers work through the ropes and elastic bands as best as she could. The bondage… Can you stay like that? Eventually, he freed himself and prepared to maim the fan girls with his bare bands while the tacks dragged across his flesh.
"Wait!" she snapped. He cast a withering look. "Stay down."
Remained on the ground, Tala glared at her, hoping that she knew what she was doing because so far, she wasn't putting on a very good show. Julia kept her hand steady and he watched her try to slip her fingers underneath the latex tubing to free herself. Struggling to multitask, she tossed her head angrily and Tala continued to stare at her face. "It's…too… tight."
On cue, Tala glanced at his watch. "Princess, you're an acrobat not an escape artist."
Julia felt the series of latex tighten around her body. Every inch of fabric stuck to her skin, beads of sweat trickled down the line of her jaw and she drew panted breaths. The elastic could cut her circulation off completely as her skin hinted blue. Wet, slimy noodles, she thought of at that moment. A small, tumbling groan escaped her lips—
"STO-OP!" he yelled.
Muscles flexed, she gritted her teeth: "Tala! Shut up! Let me show how this Infanta (1) does it."
Then Tala kept his mouth shut and kneeled low to keep up appearances. Now he wasn't even sure why he yelled at her to begin with…or what he said 'stop' for. His instinct dictated a very cold shower in the locker rooms was to be held soon. As for the brunette, she had rolled onto her stomach, slithering toward with her shoulder blade jutted out the elastic. However, Julia was stuck after a few seconds.
Flushed and even more furious that she could not free herself, the entranced boy could not suppress an amused smirk. She was in pain, but it was pretty funny…
"You're failing, Infanta."
"Idiota! This is hilarious. Do something!" she threw herself awkwardly at him, and sank her teeth into his hand. He let out a noise somewhere between a growl and quiet laughter. He tried to ignore the shiver down his spine, and without pulling his other hand from her mouth, he worked with the coils holding her; he ripped them slowly off and felt her grip loosen. Elastics cracked against them, hurting both him and Julia (small spastic cries in short intervals and Tala more so needed that shower just because). Seriously disheveled, Julia looked up to the redhead, her chest heaving from ragged breathing and let her lips drag softly over the skin of his hand. Electric waves went through his spine—
"YOU!"
She gasped as the wind was knocked out of her; flat on her back she landed, knees still bent out, which, while she was flexible, still was uncomfortable. He examined her carefully, distracted by the quaint little smile toying with her lips. "Stop it." He warned.
Coolly, flat on her back, Julia pulled his remaining tie and surveyed his countenance with a look of indifference. She stared at him intensely and roamed his body as if trying to keep a perfect picture past the wool and cotton. Jade orbs hovered deliberately on the gap of his shirt for a tense moment before they rose to his cold blue ones.
"Football?" A button came lose from his shirt, then another.
Nod. Response.
Giggle. She found it amusing.
He found himself staring down at well-defined legs, refined from years of running, training and stretching. If any 'normal' boy (Enrique) had been there, he would have said to take that girl.
As if the romantically retarded boy could pull off such a bold move.
She threw at him with the strength she possessed and caught him off guard; he was on his back.
Julia burst out in giggles at Tala's outburst: "YOU!"
"ME? This Infanta wins today," Julia retorted, lowering herself on top of him, laughing in his face. His fingers coiled around her wrists, Tala smirked too, now repeating and slamming her to the floor again.
"Sorry, this Idiota ain't a loser." The boy said in a voice low and rough. She sucked the blood from her bottom lip with a loud smuck. Forget he had considered. The wench, he was sure of it, was a reincarnation of a sadistic witch. He took a double take at her disheveled form, so bruised, small, helpless…
He petted the humid tresses that crowned her face in uncultivated disarray.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
A voice sounded from what seemed very far away… "JULIA! WHERE ARE YOU?"
Her strength kicked in again and damn it, Tala was again on his back. Slowly she untangled her legs from his and wrapped them around his sides, thighs tensing against him. Her smile widened after she felt him stiffen unnaturally beneath her. "Are we doing this until someone breaks their back?"
Tala held the white material, she wore, in his fingers like pliable material. Hot breaths fanned against his skin as he pulled her close into him, at which she complied with the proximity, and gritted his teeth.
Don't do it, Tala. Stay in control.
He nudged his nose into her collarbone and she inhaled sharply, "Maybe."
(Silence.)
"Get off her, Valkov."
The silence grew around the boys as they sat gingerly on the bed in the school clinic while the woman who bore a striking resemblance to Wyatt towered over them, hands on her hips. Grinning, Wyatt was first to plug his ears from the eerie banshee shrill anticipated. By his side, Kai's face grew withdrawn as he would've preferred going to hell and back.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!" the Smithrite mistress fumed at Kai, mostly.
'You see…he wasn't.'
You're on my side!
'Regarding your idiocy, we can never agree on the same grounds.'
I am not an idiot—
'Only some parts are missing! AHAHA.'
"Please, mother." Wyatt reasoned but the elder Smithrite ignored her offspring.
"You came home with bruises? What are you doing? ARE YOU LISTENING! HIWATARI!"
I AM YOU! YOU ARE ME!
'-WE ARE AN UNHAPPY ENTITY.' Chibi Kai continued in a singsong voice and flicked the older Kai's head with his tiny fingers. 'We adored Barney, remember.'
"AS THE HEIR, YOU OUGHT TO BE—"
"Multitalented: I can talk and piss you off at the same time," the bluenette supplied with a deadpanned expression while Wyatt coughed back hysterics.
Spitting fire, Mrs. Smithrite barked back: "Mr. Hiwatari, you are exhibiting inexcusable behavior in front of my son!"
"Aa." Kai mumbled, the ghost of a smirk gracing his lips. His knees moved toward the direction of the exit. "So be it."
'I intend to live forever—so far, so good.'
"Get your act together please, young master-"
"—Don't call me that."
A reflex: Mrs. Smithrite bowed slightly in apology. "The Head Master will hear about this."
"Yeah. You do that," Kai shot back, already poised to spring up from his seat. "All I ever get around here is royal treatment right down to my ass! Fuck this hellhole!" With that, he walked out of the room, breathless.
Mrs. Smithrite placed her hand against her forehead and sighed while Wyatt rubbed circles on her other hand with his thumb. "Oh mom. She's a sweet thing. Hilary, that is."
"I must be patient...He doesn't have a mother." She reminded herself over and over and over…
That evening.
"Tonight is the Wilshire Event. All of your clients and some photographers are present so you'd better have manners. They will announce the extension of the company into restaurant chains, which you had bought last month."
He kept a contemplative hand under his chin while the other made duck-snapping motions at Alphonse. Kai clearly had no interest. The old butler deflated in defeat as the corporate teenager stared listlessly at the images of bright lights, skyscrapers and busy traffic swimming by his window. Pale skin and silvery locks brushing against the cold glass, his crimson eyes focused on the concrete sidewalks and the people. Perched on the next street corner, a hot dog stand was bustling with people around his age who lounged in small intimate groups.
He tried to concentrate onto their faces but they were clouded by his condensed breath of air. A hand made a futile attempt clear it before the image from his window swam away.
At Alphonse's shove of Kai to the other door, the vehicle made a full stop.
On cue with the blinding flashes, screams and the passenger door pulled open, the boy stepped out of the limousine, clad in a soft black suit fitted close to the body. He briefly straightened out the narrow notch lapels of his coat while the cameras' lens focused on the lean lines and the severe silhouette of sex appeal he had cast before the prying, salivating she-wolves. He hesitated for a moment but the car drove away.
Shortly after, another car pulled over in the same spot as his and Alphonse carefully led his date out of the vehicle. She bowed politely in thanks, before straightening out the lace and rayon dress that hugged her entire form. Slowly, she walked towards him, earning only silence from the crowd.
His eyes widened in shock. Kai didn't speak, but gestured wordlessly at Hilary's attire. Both teens stood across from Alphonse. She had a terrified look and inquired, "What, does it make me look fat?"
"No, it makes you look—" Kai noticeably bit his tongue to cover up his almost-compliment. Sparing Alphonse a warning glare, he found a piece of dust flittering in the air interesting. God, Tala had rubbed off on him.
"Makes me look…?"
"Nothing," he ended the conversation. Only a microscope could view his blush.
Alphonse glanced askance to Kai then smiled at the brunette, "You look beautiful, Miss Hilary."
The lovely companion bowed in thanks but could not erase the worry lines etched in her skin. Kai had completely blocked off her presence as he took a stoic gait ahead of her.
He had carefully rehearsed his musings before entering the threshold.
Tyson has clearly lost weight in the past couple of months. Actually, he hasn't, because he's nearly doubled in size.
Rei is looking increasingly distinguished, more like a beyblading champion by the day. Right: same hidden dragon pose and no haircut for eighteen years. Honestly.
Max is an example to all the young people out there. Not high on sugar. If there are more freaks like him and Tyson, Kai would most likely move out of town again. This time, his whereabouts would remain disclosed.
Kenny has obviously pursued another hobby. Like watching porn, because his eyes had reduced to a microscopic pair of dots from staring at Dizzi for too long…
Daichi is the finest specimen of human male that Kai has come across for his age. It must be owed to Tyson's complex training. By knocking down soda cans and several whacks on the head from the kendo stick. The mongrel looks like something that got into a fight with a flock of pigeons and lost.
Kai briefly collected his thoughts and theorized their opinion of him.
Kai doesn't look so much like a crazed serial killer anymore. Yes, if you disregard the tendencies to magically have his grandfather's belongings be set on fire just to imagine them to be Voltaire, and the way he strokes his beyblade Dranzer when he thinks no one else is looking — then yes, definitely improving.
Oh god. He was not going to past the sanity test.
"At such a young age, he has extended the company beyond Voltaire's expectations—" He did not remember giving consent to any of the speaker's claims of purchase. "Tonight, we celebrate the extension of the company into the restaurant industries. Please everyone, welcome Mr. Hiwatari and the lovely Miss Tachibana."
Together on the mezzanine and Hilary linked by his arm, the brunette tried a shy wave and a bright beam to the applauding guests in the hall. She was well aware that she was not in the center spotlight (never will be) but someone had to appease the crowd with bliss and to acknowledge Kai's new corporate underlings. The couple descended the stairs and moved around the room, stopping at each table to shake hands and exchange greetings. Hilary, who most of the time opted not to get involved, was smothered with small talk for corporate men took no risks of displeasing their CEO.
Teenage children of businesspersons showered her with compliments about the dress. Older couples had returned her recognition with her congratulatory musings as if she were a commoner engaged to marry the Hiwatari fortune.
"A great spouse that Mr. Hiwatari will be."
"He can provide you well for the rest of your life. You are a lucky young woman."
Once in every few seconds, Hilary would glance at Kai to tell them otherwise but he did not. He plastered on a pleased smile and ushered Hilary to another table.
I'm smiling. This should scare everyone.
'You look as if you are in intense pain.'
Kai's left eye violently twitched at one of the corporate men, halting the man in the middle of his compliment. Because there was nothing more disturbing than a Kai Hiwatari with a goofy grin. That was just inhumane and wrong in the presence of small children.
His petrified companion shot him a wide-eyed worried look and gave his arm a light squeeze. When the man's surprised expression escalated into pure horror, Hilary quickly excused it with a light laugh. "He hasn't been sleeping well since school has been a killer lately… Pardon us."
WHAT THE HELL. I. AM. NOT. IN. PAIN.
'Why are you thinking of marriage, family, and that girl next to you and the things you wished you could have and do like normal people? BOO-YEAH!'
He felt summersaults rolling in his stomach as he excused himself to the next table with Hilary in tow. "Thank you, Mr. Boulanger," she called out.
SHUT UP. I WON'T LET YOUR MINDLESS SHIT GET THE BETTER OF ME.
'What you do on your own time's just fine. My imagination's much worse; I just never want to know.'
The SOLE reason why you exist—
'Are you thinking what I'm thinking that I think that you're thinking I'm thinking because if you think that I think what I think I'm thinking then we've got a problem?'
Kai swore a fuse blew up somewhere in his brain.
Finally, Alphonse and les deux maîtres d'hôtel led the couple to their table where the brunette had met with a completely different crowd.
"KAI!" All five boys exclaimed. It was the first time Kai had been addressed like that in public.
They were clearly not his underlings. She had recognized the black-haired Chinese boy who Mariah had mentioned before, dressed in a denim Mandarin shirt concealed with a black two-button jacket and slacks. A Cheshire-cat grin played on his lips and his golden eyes gleamed, utterly pleased. Wow, he really is handsome...
A fleshy tint warmed Kai's skin and the heavy darkness in his eyes lifted. His jaw had relaxed but allowed no smile to tug at his lips. He let out an amused grunt and continued to their table first. The brunette shrank in her heels and her fingers fumbled in tiers of lace as she hopelessly waited on him.
Kai spun around for one moment, gaze set on her, "Do you mind if she's with me, guys?"
"Of course not."
From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of an oddly familiar face. His lips shifted but the words moved slow and inaudible as pure shock overcame her senses. Brown irises examined her as a boy at his prime leered knowingly at her. Her eyesight must have fooled her because she couldn't imagine the boy she knew had grown up to be so…different.
He shot out of his chair and walked toward her.
Inching further from a very confused Kai, Hilary choked out nervous laughter, "Tyson…is that you?"
"Hey Hils, long time no see!"
Hils?
'Those two know each other!'
An ecstatic Daichi jumped upon the table, earning several confused glares in the room. Such a rarity: Kai's attention was hooked towards Daichi. The tiny boy's index finger trembled at Hilary's stunned expression, "That thing has a name!"
Pause.
"Are you really a vampire!"
Rei surveyed the boy of the evening grow steadily angrier and mused at the romanticized ward the Russian had so strongly wanted to protect. The little brunette fought to uphold her composure, maintained a smiling façade while her hands formed fists in her dress.
Kai stared up at that little bastard and I'll carve out his kneecaps with a rusty blade and damn, Chibi's rubbing off me and Hilary stands there, ogling at Tyson and speaking of which, why am I so upset about?
Kai slammed his hands on the table and prepared to spear the boy with a fork; Rei grabbed Kai's wrist and Daichi took the intervention to flounce out, a few security men scurrying after his heels.
"LET ME AT HIM!"
"Leave him alone, Kai!" Tyson intervened, finally, standing next to a very-confused Hilary. "He doesn't know much. He's an idiot."
He glared back at the two affectionate comrades, mostly at Hilary. "Well, that sounds like a plan," Kai snorted quietly.
Golden eyes jerked uneasily around the room, "Quiet down, guys."
"Daichi's just a kid, you prick."
"Shut the hell up! You pathetic excuse for a—"
"Kai," –and the said boy turned and glowered—Max warned with effort to curb his vicious tongue and at once, Kai noticeably bit his tongue and did not finish his insult. Instead he looked at Hilary, who hadn't spoken once, not even to berate either Kai or Tyson, much like the other friends had.
"C'mon guys. Let's try to have a normal dinner. Get Daichi dealt with later, okay?" the blond negotiated.
He did not want to look at his companion but scoffed at Max instead, at his sudden levelheadedness. "Who drugged you?" Kai fell into a noisy heap onto his chair while Tyson gestured for the brunette to come forward.
"Come here." The blond held a hand towards her while the other motioned for her to sit as the waiters pulled the chair back. "You look charming, Hilary. I'm Max Tate. You have probably met my mother at the school."
Amazed, Hilary marveled at the startling resemblance. He was adorable, guised too young because his bright blue eyes exhumed such childlike happiness that Hilary felt he robbed her of, although unsure of how. She could not refrain from feeling happy and comforted in his presence. Blushing, Hilary realized the blond's presence as magnetic as Tyson's.
"I'm in her Biology 11 course."
"Same class with Kai, I'm betting."
"N-no."
At that moment her hand was in his, she did not recoil.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Then Max kissed it with a smile. "I guess I'll have to ask my mom about you."
She blurted before she could stop: "I'll tell you whatever you want."
A spectator Kai bent the fork between his fingers and the heel of his palm. AGH-!
'WHERE THE FUCK IS DAICHI!'
-(Then.)-
Rei was the first to notice that night, "Whatever it is that's eating you must be suffering horribly."
Swallowed the extra-rare venison whole and downed another tumbler of aged red wine, top-full, Kai had bit his fork fiercely and bent it, "You are not even beneath my contempt."
"C'mon man, she seems to not enjoy it as much."
"Die," Kai frowned, not relaxing in the least. For the next few minutes, he twiddled with the damaged dinner fork and contemplated of stabbing a certain World Champion numerous times with it.
'No. No. No…we need a metal pike for his thick skull.'
He thinks he can waltz in and take Hilary along with him. I do NOT think so.
'Then put a fucking skewer through his organs, drain his dirty blood and roast him like a wild boar!'
Or use the same damn fork to pry her fingers off Tyson's and let known her place be and that was sitting in the table next to Kai Hiwatari and not canoodling with Tyson Granger in her politically correct manner. Not in the slightest bit was it okay.
A sizable crater could be burnt through Tyson's head as Kai stared intensely at Hilary's bemused countenance. For fleeting seconds, their eyes linked and Hilary's bright, megawatt smile had twisted with a mocking curl.
He saw his plate crack from the pressure he had concentrated into the fork. At a reflex, the waiter nearby nonchalantly took the cracked plate and replaced it with another food-stuffed one. Plucking a better dinner utensil off the burgundy cloth napkin, he speared a rib of the roasted lamb and let the juices and blood squeeze out.
I am not jealous.
He didn't have to be jealous. I mean, when you're a prodigy, not most things get to you.
I am not jealous.
To most people, Kai Hiwatari had it all. He was the only heir to Hiwatari group that had recently turned global where not only were beyblades and the sport involved but everything else from electronics, transport vessels, construction projects, finance group to hotel management. He was the one of the world's youngest billionaires!
I am not jealous.
Girls fawned over him! They would sever an arm and a leg to obtain this golden opportunity to be around him and it had seemed like Hilary would rather be in another part of the universe. He wasn't listed as one of the youngest bachelors in magazines for nothing!
I am not jealous.
It was more like people were jealous of him, anyway. He could sneer at them because they were so weak. But ever since the day Hilary challenged his authority, Kai had felt significantly weaker. He was capable of taking down four substantially strong men during football season with his height of 5'10 and yet he sat there, and let her go.
I am not jealous.
He was no longer the world champion in beyblading.
I am not jealous.
He speared at the last piece of brocolli and put the fork in his mouth, slowly dragging the fairly sharp utensil out through his lips.
Hilary gave a heavy sigh, resting her weight on one quite curvaceous hip against Tyson's hand.
Cough.
He did not!
Choke.
"Erm, Kai?" Rei asked, raising a brow and giving him a strange look.
'Oh, God, you are jealous.'
Miss Tachibana glanced at Kai, who was making a strange noise; a cross between attempting to clear quietly his throat and the hiccups. Either way he pushed his empty plate away, shaking his head.
Choke. Cough. Choke. Choke. Choke. Cough.
The cheer and chatter fell away and the room became as silent as a tomb. He imagined her heart to thud against her chest and to stiffen considerably in Tyson's arms.
The crescendo of the crowd had diminished, the violins had ceased its tune and all eyes were set on the young heir; the restaurant's executive chefs, managers and owner rushed to his table for their lives had depended on it. Worried gasps and outcries of grief filled the room while a few guests fainted at the scene and full-blown lights flashed and shutters clicked from the cameras. At full alert, bodyguards encircled the table and Kai held out a stern hand.
Cough. Cough. Come here, damn it.
She hurried around the table and stood behind him and looked at the back of his neck. "All you have to do is relax," Hilary stated obviously and abruptly ran her fingers through his slate-blue locks; he swallowed and shivered under her sudden touch. Warm fingers brushed against his scalp, and she briefly wondered how his hair managed to defy gravity. She brought her head down against his.
After a moment, Kai's expression went from slight confusion to one of blank content; he had closed his eyes.
Their breathing had matched in that moment.
But good things, even for Kai Hiwatari, never last—
"Shall we continue?"
Tick. Tock. Tick.
In unison, the two jerked away from each other, and time went on as nothing had happened between them—Hilary had turned to Tyson and Kai was stacking his plates in a small pile. Tyson waved a hand to continue the proceedings while Kai watched Hilary saunter back into Tyson's attention without hesitation.
"Young Master, would you like to order dessert?"
"No."
"Why don't you do something else instead of sulking around?"
The young boy pushed his chair out and carried himself into the throng of suits and dresses, averting their eyes. He moved swiftly, flitted through dancing couples and toward the pair that had caught his eye. The dramatic embellishment of flowers in sections across her body and the lace tiers of her bodice kept his gaze from wandering to anyone else. The way the rayon and nylon luxe fabrics hugged her body had tied a knot in his stomach. He had to look away. He couldn't accept his defeat just yet.
"I missed you," her old friend's voice was a boyish tenor. "Who would've thought you'd end up in the escalator school with that sourpuss?"
"Indeed," Hilary muttered into the hollow bone of his shoulder, listening to his racing pulse. They were too close and Tyson didn't mind.
"Are the two of you honestly dating?"
"It's forced."
"So you don't like him? It's okay; you aren't the first one."
"I…well…" then she set her ruby eyes at the said boy and swallowed. Dancing couples surrounded the heir either to save him from embarrassment of the cameras and the tabloids of the next day or to emphasize his lone self in the merriment. She felt the pity and guilt rise.
"Well, what?"
"He seems like a gentleman." Ruby orbs flicked to brown then back at Kai.
"The media does what it can to glamorize him," Tyson grunted in scorn at the thought. "They think of your sudden relationship as a storybook-type."
"My knight in shining armor."
For a heart-stopping moment, purple eyes flickered to her and surveyed her with a look of dislike and indifference. The light had seemed to hit his marble skin very effectively in stark contrast of his black suit. In response, her bodice tightened around her skin, and she was slightly breathless. Pink dusted her cheeks as she pressed her painted lips together. Hilary leaned her chin to Tyson's shoulder and shot daggers at Kai with her round, ruby eyes. They simply stared.
She was his date.
What was she doing?
A desperate change of subject was needed.
"Why have you come all this way, Tyson?"
Tyson seemed relaxed. "I was invited to see Kai and his girlfriend, you. He hasn't been well lately." He looked at her. "Do you know?"
Tried to contain her shock, Hilary blinked her full lashes numerous times. "No."
"It's typical of him to be this sketchy. I don't know how long he'll keep this charade up."
He needs me.
"Don't worry, Hils. You're not obligated to care about him. The guys and I can get it done."
As his girlfriend, even if fake, it is my responsibility. Tyson led her into a small corner, where most girls gathered to watch, "I want to at least get along with him. Make our relationship worthwhile."
A scoff. "Good luck with that."
Tyson had gathered her to into a twirl, and she had let him. Hilary spun, and caught a huge gulp of air. She wriggled his arms so childishly that Tyson had finally picked up on her awkwardness.
Ruby eyes searched the crowd. "I think I'll dance this song solo."
-(Then.)-
Hilary had somehow relinquished Tyson's grip by a sensual twirl. Light laughter out of the brunette trickled and she was alone. Kai reached out his arm at the exact time in the midst of her twirl and finished it with her, catching her in a dip.
As he swung her back up, Hilary realized that she was not being suspended in the air. Mauve eyes loomed and the intensity made her blood rush. A small gasp escaped her lips. "Oh!" The corner of his mouth curled up into a half-smile and backed away a few steps as the music melded into a new piece. He extended his hand.
The dancing entourage had their curious eyes set on the couple. The shutters from numerous cameras clicked, Kai fought to ignore at the empty, preying vessels fluttering about and ranted at how Hilary was too self-conscious and dizzy from the bright flashes. She jerked her uneasy eyes to their table and Tyson sat on his proper spot, next to Rei. Both boys heavily conversed in hushed tones.
Blushing, Hilary, through her long lashes, flitted a sensual look at her partner. She hesitantly took his hand. Crimson eyes shot a sharp look and she gasped as he pulled her into a series of slow box steps. Their bodies moved in perfect unison to some sort of waltz. Feet light and fluttered, the awkward Hilary drew her eyes downcast and forced a sizable gap between him and her. Swallowing down giggles, her lips twitched into a smile at the sight of Kai Hiwatari—dancing.
"I didn't know you danced."
"You aren't that great. I've danced better with wet noodles."
His dance partner had made it necessary to crush his feet with her weight numerous times. "Hope you like them covered with your blood." Hilary gnashed her teeth at his soft, chuckling reply for it echoed his massive reservoir of conceit. His arm pressed on the small of her lower back, coercing her neck and chin to straighten.
I am so taking him down.
The brunette's ankles loosened from their accord, her entire leg wrapped around his right hip and drew their bodies closer. Weight rested on her chest and hands as she let gravity pull her towards him, forcing his back to arch toward the ground.
To retaliate, the boy inched his nose closer to hers and nearly tasted her sweat. The brunette immediately recoiled with a flush of pink in her cheeks. A lethal, sexy smirk replaced the grim line of his lips and his hands roamed her body into a low dip.
"Don't YOU dare to drop me."
A smile. "Hm," he had undone the hook of her dress. She could sense the zipper caught in his index finger and the prospect of it sliding down at any moment. Wincing at the thought of public mortification, she complied. Back into a normal position, her heels stomped every other step to crush every little bone in his feet.
From a fairly good distance, the couple appeared to be engaged in an intense game of footsie. Blinding flashes brightened the room for six of ten photographers present in the dinner held two cameras. They had struck gold that night with the young couple's public display in such an erudite event.
Fleetingly, Kai cursed at any omniscient being that he had met with such a detestable woman.
As if that life hadn't given more than enough. The last person he had considered of seeing remained in his mind.
A muffled shriek rumbled in her throat as Kai dodged another stiletto heel. He spun her so rapidly that the perfect bun had unraveled. The boy took the liberty of loosening the bun, letting the cascading chocolate curls splay all over her back.
She was thankful that the dance had forced her to look away from him. At some point, she fantasized their dance to be forced like a puppeteer playing with his life-sized puppet. She was almost completely off.
"They resemble the late Hiwatari couple."
"That dress."
Hilary's eyes were upon Kai again, and the rest of the ravenous females didn't miss a beat. No fewer than eight or nine glares were shot in her direction, which she effectively ignored as she let her body move in closer to his, watching him still.
Through the tiers of fabric, Hilary's heart skipped on a frantic beat and dreaded that Kai would hear. Kai tried to not admire the pinkish glow of her skin and the warmth of her smile.
The crowd burst into applause and Kai saw the faces of his friends either smirking or laughing. Girls couldn't help but cheer at his sudden representation of elegance and aristocracy. His mother would have been proud.
Panted breaths mingled, and their fingers interlocked, he leaned in rather slowly while she sharply drew back. His hand painfully tightened around hers. She held her breath as her brown tendrils bunched around his fingers, lifting her jaw closer to him. He dipped his chin against her jaw.
Oh my god, he's…
He's…
Kissing…ME!
"Take it off."
WHAT?
Kai released the girl in his arms, ignoring her shocked then angered look. He bowed and turned on his heel to head for his private room; resigning for the night.
The brunette stood in the middle of the crowd, unsure of what to do next. Then to the crowd's surprise, she began to walk to his direction. Aware of the world's camera lens, Hilary mirrored Kai's calm façade. She maintained a graceful glide across the shiny, wooden floor and scorned her lithe body silhouetted by the dress.
Their table fell silent as the boys eyed her.
"Good night, Miss Hilary."
A few bows from fellow guests bid her farewell. Delicately, her head bowed in reply. Soon her bouncing brown curls had formed an effective curtain from spectators' eyes. She drew in a shuddering breath as Alphonse followed her out of the threshold.
By the time the double doors of the hall closed shut; she had thought of all replies she would utter to him. She would rage at his outward attempt to embarrass her in front of others, especially his friends. She was not a toy. Not his toy. Not his anything. She needed call it off, what was there to lose? Remorse and heart break were the least of her worries. It was quite obvious that the hentai's interest in her was nothing more than a rare hormonal urge. The poor boy will probably stick to his porn because he was an asshole to women.
Hilary maintained a calm tone. "What does he want?"
"He's upset about your attire, Miss."
Alphonse placed a hand on her cold shoulder, and gestured to the coat room.
Unfazed by the winter chill and arms crossed, he sat in the limousine. The driver, Mr. Shaydes, stood outside, leaning against the passenger door where Hilary would enter.
"Why are you wearing that?" he inquired with an edgy tone, visibly disturbed, "My mother isn't dead. You can't just—"
At this, Kai eased on a scornful glare, facial muscles adjusting how his eyebrows lowered and arched like a woman's. At this, Chibi Kai guffawed in the depths of Kai's psyche. A paler reflection of him in the looking glass stared back for several minutes before Kai had realized that Hilary was late. He kicked the door open, knocking Shaydes off and to the side.
"Where is she?"
The brunette clutched onto her the ends of her wool coat tightly around her sides; Hilary struggled to keep warm. Her bones chattered and skin numbed against the chilly wind and white puffs of breath came out of her mouth, panting. Patient and her feet frozen in her heels, she abandoned the wet wooden bench and pushed her body against the corner of the glass cubicle—a bus stop.
She could see a few people walking by, in pairs, in groups. The far away sounds of sirens blaring, horns tooting and drunken people yelling were recognizable and ordinary. They were signs of her being in the wrong part of the city at the wrong time, but she was away from Kai—that only mattered.
Briefly, her eyes jerked to the glass case next to her cheek, and winced at the poster of Kai's face, magnified. His brilliant but fake purple irises, the unlikely blue hue of his hair and his too flawless skin struck out. He appeared dead serious as he held a carnation. People had advertised of his single status for too long. Well, it wasn't like he was off to marry in a few years either.
She smacked her palm on a portion of his right cheek and shuddered at the frosty glass. Her thumb traced the center dip of his pink upper lip.
"This is your fault." Hushed, angry notes whistled out of her lips. "I didn't choose that dress. Your stylist did, if I knew, I would've refused. I hadn't meant to upset you or your mother."
Stupidly, she blinked at the poster and sneezed.
"Stupid hentai started to grow on me."
Her forehead leaned against his mouth, "I'm probably stupid for admitting that."
"Hn."
Sharply, she turned and clung onto the borrowed coat closely, abrasive to her skin. Then the brunette felt her body stopped. Horror in one corner, and surprised pleasure of warmth in the other, Hilary fought of what she should feel. As a head rested on her shoulder, she glanced at the silvery locks drooping in sheared edges. With a terrified squirm, she felt the person's arms snake around her shoulders.
"W-who are you?" It came out as a squeak. The person was taller, and their grip was soft, warm and sensual. At the same whim, it was hard, ice-cold and unfeeling.
The boy lifted his head and intensely bore into her with bespectacled eyes. His bobbed, hoary hair wafted in the wind, while crimson irises took a cursory glance at their surroundings. Slowly he lowered himself against her; her back pressed against the cold glass case and his breathing, she finally detected, was strenuous.
Familiar… The utter thought that she'd done that to him.
"HHEENNNTTTAAAIII!"
"You're the one to talk!" Kai hissed in a clipped, lowered tone, still in their close position. Furiously, he bit his lip at thought. Immediately, he shut his eyes and their noses touched as the public bus came to a gradual stop before them. Most passengers exited the vehicle without so sparing an acknowledging glance at the couple. A few young girls slowed as they walked by, to admire the picturesque scene.
He's so close…
He's breathing on me!
Am I supposed to kiss him! NO WAY! WHY DO I KEEP ASSUMING THAT? NO. NO. NO.
The bloodless pad of her index finger automatically traced his lower lip. It lingered at the small dip of his mouth, which was accurate with the poster behind her. Then the careful girl glided her finger from corner to corner. Any sort of enjoyment it had caused the receiver was locked away.
He opened his eyes slowly; she'd never met anyone with eyes as dark until she'd met him. They were so red and dark; she could feel herself getting lost in them and knew she was in trouble.
"It's you…" She giggled at his pair of glasses, thick rimmed and round-framed, so unlike to his usual angular fashion. Her finger traced across his lower lip, with pink dusting her cheeks. A knee-jerk reaction: Kai smacked her hand away and managed to frown, but the caused distraction clouded his eyes.
"We're going back to my hotel room."
A sniffle. "What if I don't?"
"I'll rip that dress off your back here and now."
Tomato red splattered on her cheeks like an itchy rash.
Then his body recoiled from hers in rapid succession and stalked off toward the hotel, haughty. She put on a determined face and followed.
What the hell has gotten over the hentai?
(Meanwhile, back at the house.)
Flat on his stomach, Tala lay on the couch of his own study, blood-red locks dripping water onto the brown leather, and eyes screwed shut. The only article of clothing, he wore, was a cotton towel draped around his waist.
Alexander, Tala's Yes-Man, was not the type to prod around regarding personal matters but Tala had worried a number of housekeepers in the house.
"That's your fifth shower, was the encounter that terrible?"
Lifting his head up slightly, Tala muttered to no one, "I was nearly eaten by a mutant plant and raped by a girl. I guess those aren't new."
"Are you hurt?"
He reached his hand up to the spot beneath his nape, briefly massaging it. "My back."
"Should I send someone in? Soon—"
"Don't bother." Tala lightly shook his fist. Alexander had taken notice of a piece of pink paper was in it, crumpled.
Alexander's eyebrows furrowed low and pointed: a common Russian expression in the house. "Then what the hell is wrong with you?"
"Nothing, I like showering."
"Icy. Cold. Showers?" Aliens must have taken over the redhead like those people from the movies and impregnated him with their spawn. Alexander was increasingly perplexed for Tala was not this complicated to fathom.
"I'm Russian. I'm allowed to, plus it's great for the gas bills."
The sound of the door slamming shut had an ominous effect to her nerves. Her insides churned a little, and warm blood flooded back in her veins. Panic began to eat away at her, as she absorbed in the fact that they were in a hotel room together. An indifferent Kai brushed past her, treading off, and looked back once, expectant of Hilary to follow.
We're alone.
An abandoned pair of stilettos sat on the middle of the foyer as the brunette staggered in her stiff joints across the lush carpet and descend small, curved steps. Her eyes met with a huge atrium circular court of corridors leading left and right to different rooms-to god knows where.
Is this what he sees everyday?
She stood at the dead centre: the den, in front of the large floor to ceiling windows upholstered with heavy velvet. Corinthian columns bordered around the den, serving as extra pillars to the entire room. Her eyes adjusted a little more to the dimness and her goose bumps faded. Wooden settees with cashmere pillows, bowls of fruit at each corner and ceramic pots of exotic foliage were not what she had wanted to see. Thoughts of heavy snow, tea-green fleece sheets and Japan flooded her mind.
It's lonely.
Emerging from the farthest left hallway, Kai tossed a blanket and a few towels from the bathroom at her. "Dry," he ordered and let his tall frame lean against a column, waiting. The ridiculous disguise he donned before had been disposed of carefully. The smell of smoke hinted the air, which Hilary dismissed completely.
Exhausted, she let the soaked trench coat slip off her shoulders and fall to the ground. She patted her hair dry with the towel and wrapped the blanket around her bony shoulders under Kai's scrutinizing gaze.
The dress…
"Can you please help me with the zipper? I—" A cough rattled her chest followed by a rough grip on her arm that startled her. She screeched loudly as she was thrown over a strong shoulder.
(Meanwhile.)
Alexander voiced out the servants' dissatisfaction with a monotone. "It's not as great as when the hospital bills come in because of avoidable hypothermia. It's shameful. You're Russian."
Tala fanned his hand in disapproval, appearing flamboyant and causing the butler to cringe. "I'm fine, really." Tala kept his other hand in a tight fist.
"If it's a hygiene problem, I can get a hygienist. I don't smell anything wrong with you though."
Way to make it awkward.
Silence.
"Alex… I'm kind of new to this."
Nerves racked in Alexander's system (on behalf of the housekeepers, he insisted), Tala was about to confide about a very major matter in the household. It could turn the world upside down for Tala was also a respectable bachelor. The butler forced a large boulder down his throat, his voice croaked, "Take your time, Tala."
"That's it; I can't tell what's going on." Tala chose his words carefully; Alexander noted. "Please, leave."
At that, Alexander was more than willing. Perhaps the servants could continue prodding Tala because his personal butler clearly had to wait. To be honest, Alexander wasn't that interested either: confound those hormones.
Alexander had hoped that Tala wasn't gay.
Kai kicked his door open and dashed in where he dumped Hilary unceremoniously on the bed, harder than he had intended. She screamed of the icy sea of black sheets, engulfing and prickling her skin. Her squirming worsened against the bed, as Kai yanked the quilt from under her.
Pale flittered moonlight through the windows as the outer bed layer fell over her body like a shroud. She huffed and glared at Kai, who enjoyed the imaginary silence as he changed; pulling his shirt off over his head. He closed his eyes and listened to the distant hum of the city beneath them.
"Your body temperature is low."
"Kai…obviously…" She backed away until her back hit the surface of his bedpost.
He maintained a passive smile and held an innocent gaze. "This is the first time I've shared a bed."
"WHAT THE HELL! SLEEP ON THE FLOOR OR SOMETHING!"
"I could sleep in the living room." Kai continued to advance towards her, eyes gleaming, and very slowly crawled to her trembling form. "Or we can sleep together."
Then Kai rested on his side, his back toward Hilary. He let his head settle into the pillow and his breathing fell unnoticed.
Moments later, the brunette shot up hastily and pressed the duvet sheets to her beating heart, "Is it fun to tease me like this?"
He did not move. "Ah. Like a new, interesting toy has come to my boring life."
Heavy lids downcast, Kai listened as she descended back into the mattress, creating deliberate, huge twists in the sheets. "Yeah, do whatever you want then. You will fall off once you experience my horrible habit of kicking people." At this, he smirked.
Kai's "It's a big bed" had caused Hilary's insides to churn slightly.
"Goodnight then," she whispered. "Jerk" was added for good measure.
(Brothers have hormonal urges at almost the same times.)
Carefully, a half-clothed, now sitting, Tala smoothed out the pink sheet of writing on the couch's arm. He had another nineteen pink notes in the same name and same phone number written.
He could still smell her on him. Damn woman. The thought of meeting her again gave him goose bumps and making his stomach fluttery—
He wasn't falling for her.
God, no.
That would not be fun.
After barking out in laughter for a few minutes, he swore under his breath and decided to have another shower.
God, I can't sleep.
I can't sleep while facing the wall. It's too stuffy, it scares me.
She let her eyes amble along the stretch of pale skin across from her where firm muscles rose and fell with each breath of air. How that thin, piece of cotton separated the brunette and his flesh irritated her.
This guy is huge; he's taking up most of the bed.
He was quite possibly one of the most perfect specimens of human male anatomy she had ever seen. His lithe, toned back was making it for her to breathe. But she had to, at some point.
I'm not…
Inhaling his scent, she leaned in very close and knew it wasn't cologne or shampoo that she smelled – it was him.
I do not dislike it!
She roused up into a sitting position, as she let out a slow and shuddering breath. Frantic, she raked her fingers through her tangled hair. I'm a pervert!
I'm exhausted, damn it!
To kick or not to kick him in the head…
Leaning back, she heard him take in a deeper breath as he began to stir. His waist, tapered in so ever slightly and the well-muscled shoulders with which she wanted more than to raze her fingernails. The small of his back, which she imagined a perfect place for her wandering hands to rest.
There's something about that spot—
Don't think of raping him! DON'T!
Ruby orbs darted uneasily around the room for something else to be distracted with.
Itchy…
Then she had remembered the unzipped dress…
-(Then.)-
Wet…?
He cracked an eye open slowly.
All over.
He abruptly sat up and felt his skin absorb the dampness of – he picked up the blankets for a better descriptor—Hilary's drool.
'OH. GROSS.'
He cast a withering look at his adorable Chibi-half, which was curled up in a fetal position where he was a few moments ago. Wait, why could he suddenly imagine it in its desired physical form! Quickly, he aimed to concentrate mainly on the sleeping Hilary in the flesh.
And then saw the unexpected sight: Hilary, only in her black brassiere and panties, drooling and dead to the world, on her side with one arm tucked underneath.
'Yup, those are real.'
Regaining composure tactic forty-seven.
With his index and his thumb, he furiously pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. He waited for a few minutes. (2)
At least she's asleep.
'Hell, it'd be hilarious if she wasn't! OMG, a very-frustrated, perverted Kai in bed. She'd exile herself to Pluto!'
Hilary's cheeks were flushed; a light of sheen of sweat graced her forehead from his previous body warmth while she now trembled from the cold. His room had always been cold.
Look at her. She's smiling in her sleep.
'Creepy.'
I've never seen this. Is it good?
'It must be, if it makes me happy—'
Soft, light fingers were now resting on his taut stomach, and while the touch was unexpected, he had no impulses to punch her. A wave of warmth washed over him. Soothing, she let her fingers trail delicately down his skin, lower—
In his mind, he panicked. Happy still?
'She should quit fighting the urge, seriously.'
Cherry lips parted slightly as she hooked her pinky on the hem of his pants. How was it that Kai Hiwatari, the boy of every girl's dreams aged thirteen and above, sat now cornered to the edge of a hotel bed in cold sweat by an unconscious girl? His entire body jerked under her touch as his ears picked up two voices whispering in the hallway.
"—Master Hiwatari might have a stomach ache in the morning so I brought him medicine."
"Miss Hilary is in there as well. We don't want to disturb her."
"I'll be quick in leaving these."
I've found a way to conquer the bed.
Kai examined the pink skin of Hilary's thigh and held her like fine material around his fingers.
'God, that's squishy.'
"All right. Do it quietly. It sounds like they're finally asleep."
These people, honestly.
-(Then.)-
Hinges creaked in weak protest as the door pushed open and quiet footfalls made their way, as if to stop the madness. Donned in a housekeeper's ensemble, the redhead froze on a mid-step…
Kai and Hilary's bodies were bathed in the moonlight, ethereal and elfin; disheveled in the bed sheets. Hilary snuggled her cheek affectionately into the small of his back, while a very tousled Kai slept.
He had always slept on one side; a position that exhumes confidence and success owing to his unrelenting endeavor. Tonight, he had mostly hidden his face in the pillow. Enfolded around his waist was the bare leg of his pretended paramour who smiled angelically in her sleep. In return, Kai had draped an arm against her head; his fingers traced the smooth line of her jaw.
Hilary was a side-sleeper with one knee bent over Kai. The redhead could not resist to judge. Inclined to be fussy, always whining and complaining with nervousness as her second name, Hilary was clearly the wrong choice. Salima found Hilary quite an appalling person paired with Kai Hiwatari.
"Salima." Kai breathed out, with an accusing air. Eyelids opened and crimson orbs rolled to the side, staring intently at her.
Perversion overcame Salima's eerie calm and she stumbled, tumbling the contents of the tray onto the floor. "Forgive me, Master Kai! It won't happen again!" she blurted.
Alphonse trudged in not a second later and stopped dead at the unfolding scene. Maintaining a deadpanned expression, the old man planted his palm against his face and sighed.
Beet red, Salima stepped back from the rousing couple and turned away, footsteps sounding against the floor as she slipped out of the door as quietly as she had come.
"Kai…" Hilary's hand had retreated from his stomach as she opened her eyes and yawned. She was completely oblivious to her antics that had, minutes before, been driving the boy insane.
"Why…why is it so noisy? So cold…"
Still burning under her touch, Kai did not say as a word as she leaned back from him—squinting her eyes in suspicion. Experimentally, she wriggled her bare leg hooked around his thigh. The brunette regarded Kai for a moment, giving him a sweeping look up and down that made the boy shiver. She glanced at her brassiere and the sweat on her skin gave off a lustrous sheen.
"AAAHHHHHH!"
To be continued.
A/N: Re-edited. 25 pages of scattered double entendres. I hope the confusion has cleared up to some degree. Thank you very much for making it to this point. :) Hilary doesn't like Kai, apparently.
(1) I intend for Julia to refer to herself as Infanta, which is the Spanish title for 'Princess' since Tala calls her 'Princess.' I also intended for Julia to feel that the English word refers to the weak damsel in distress, when she is not. Originally the show, via AJ/Announcer, dubs her the Princess of Simultaneous Battles. So the title has stuck to her. I obviously intend to go further with this.
(2) Nosebleed.
3. No, I'm not carelessly getting Brooklyn's last name wrong. Also, he is originally titled as 'Secret Weapon.'
4. Ages: I am following the Japanese version…meaning G-Revolution had to happen when Kai was 14-15 years old. The story happens after G-Rev. Yes, I am aware that Kai is one year older than all of his peers. He is, in fact, seventeen years old. He and the other Russians were held back by one year because of the different schooling systems and lack of English proficiency. I didn't want to get down to the nasty details because it'd ruin the fun in this story. But this had to be revealed eventually.
5. This story occurs after all the seasons with the manga details. More than likely will you see an influx of 30 new characters in the future but please remember that only four are my original characters.