Alright a little longer than usual but I think you all will thank me for it later. School is almost done for the semester so hopefully during the break I can get a two for one chapter special up next time around. For now enjoy!
~*Feelings True*~
Yuri groaned to herself as she did her best to hide how sore her body currently was. She was suddenly glad for the slight chill of the water around her waist. She'd forgotten just how out of shape she really was. While Malacai didn't have any formal training in gymnastics, he had excellent body control. Mira hadn't been lying when she'd said he was a parkour expert. His sharp eyes had been able to pick apart her sloppy routine and help to fine tune it. He wasn't nearly as flexible as Yuri, but the two were able to work relatively well together despite it only being their second meeting. After working for a couple of hours they'd called it quits. Yuri was currently debating on whether she should ask Mira if they could help her out again.
'It seems I'm not the only one who has Mira on the brain.' Yuri though to herself from where she watched Kise during his own shoot.
The two had a beach wear shoot today. The girls would take their turn in the water first before the guys. Which was probably a good thing because the camera man was eating up Kise's brooding look at the moment. Yuri could tell by that look alone that Mira hadn't cleared the air between them. Mira had asked Yuri to keep quiet and give her a few more days of silence before she talked to Kise. Yuri didn't think waiting the weekend out would be good for them, but she wouldn't anger Mira again now that the red head was actually on good terms with her. Not like it was her place to pry anyways. The guys had hinted that this weekend was a special time for them. Especially for Mira and Jason.
"Alright Takeshita-chan you're all done!" The girl waded out of the water and relaxed on the warm beach towel as she waited for the others to finish their shoots so that they could all be released.
"Poor Kise-kun…." Yuri whispered once the guys were done for the day. The shoot was a two part series. The rest would take place at night. "Hey, are you doing okay?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine." Kise said weakly. He took a seat next to Yuri as that lost look claimed his beautiful face once more.
"You're thinking about West-chan aren't you?" Yuri asked softly, placing a hand on Kise's shoulder.
"I just wish she would talk to me." Kise mumbled somberly. Clearly the boy was torn up over the lasting silence between the two. Yuri had never seen Kise so dejected before. Even though she knew it wasn't her place to say anything, she couldn't bear to see Kise suffer. She could at least throw him a bone.
"Chance you idiot! Go get the damn ball!" Yuri's head snapped up upon hearing that voice. It belonged one of the sneaky twins always around Mira.
"Oh shut the hell up! You're just mad cause Jason spiked the damn ball in your face!" Chance's voice called back.
Yuri wasn't the only one who heard the familiar voices. Kise weakly looked up to see the twins glaring at each other as Chance carried a volleyball in his arms. Standing near a net was Jason with a slightly amused look on his face with Malacai covering his face. Laughter came from the red head sitting on the ground currently holding her sides from laughing so hard. It was Mira.
Anger shot through Kise as he watched the Americans all carry on together at the volleyball court they were currently using. Mira was supposed to be at home recovering from an injury. It's why she couldn't speak to Kise all week long right? So why was she at the beach having fun? Why was she smiling and laughing like she didn't have a care in the world? Kise gritted his teeth as he watched the group mess around together. Mira just watched with amused eyes from the sidelines while the guys continued their game.
"Am I that replaceable?" Kise growled to himself before looking away from the scene before him. He couldn't stand to watch it any longer. Not with the way his chest hurt and how his stomach was turning.
"Alright everyone that's it for now! The designer said you can keep the suits you have on now and can go enjoy the beach until tonight!" The director called out. The models dispersed as Yuri stood up to try and clear the air now.
"Kise-kun, West-chan is just—" Kise didn't hear Yuri. The minute he was released from his duties he had decided he'd had enough.
Kise removed the jacket he'd been wearing at the moment and decided to draw as much attention to himself as possible. Naturally girls stared, guys glared, and all attention was on Kise as he strode across to where Mira and her group were. Mira was the first to notice the sparkly boy. She heard the whispers that drew her attention to him. This was the first time Mira had really seen Kise shirtless. He had a finely tuned body that any girl would want to get their hands on. He was thin, thinner than Kagami or Aomine, but there was just enough muscle tone to even it all out and give him that streamlined look. His body was perfectly proportioned to itself so that he looked almost perfect physically wise.
"I hate how that guy always look good." Malacai grunted in distaste. Compared to Kise who was wearing designer board shorts, the guys had opted for basic ones they'd found at the store this morning. Malacai was sporting orange and white ones.
"So that's how the others feel looking at us." Chase muttered while Chance nodded in agreement. They were in dark blue shorts with yellow accents with the other twin sporting the opposite colors and dominating.
"Mira?" Jason, who kept it simple with grey shorts, glanced down at Mira who knew exactly what Jason was hinting at. The look in Kise's eyes.
"West-chan! Guys! Fancy seeing you here!" Yuri quickly caught up to the group. She shot Mira an apologetic look, hoping the red head knew that she didn't plan this. Yuri was still in the sexy floral one piece from earlier.
"Yes. It is fancy seeing you here. Shouldn't you be at home resting Mira?" Kise ignored the others, training his gaze specifically on Mira who didn't back down.
"I was released yesterday. I'm just here enjoying the day with the guys." Mira lifted her ankle to show that it was in a brace that was currently covered in sand.
"Oh West-chan, that's a cute swim suit you're wearing!" Yuri desperately tried to change the topic by bringing up Mira's black and white combo. She was wearing a white halter top with black outlining and she assumed the bottoms matched since Mira was wearing small cotton shorts over them.
"Care to speak your mind Kise?" Mira motioned towards the boy with her chin. Yuri felt like she wanted to fall over. The topic she was so desperately trying to avoid is the one they insisted on going back to.
"The injured are supposed to be resting. Not out running around with various guys." Kise hissed. Mira's composure didn't change. She knew Jason had made mention to Kise about her date with Himuro. That, coupled with her ignoring him, was bound to rile the boy up.
"I told you I'm not. And today is special anyways." Mira glanced back to Jason who kept his gaze on Kise. He was watching for any signs of hostility towards his friend.
"Apparently, the whole week was since you couldn't be bothered to reply to any of my messages." Kise snapped. The other three gritted their teeth, but Jason and Mira remained calm.
"Kise I know you're pissed. I promise to come clean. Just not now." Mira hoped he could hear the truth behind her voice as she resisted the urge to reach out to him. She was afraid the minute she did, and he smarted off, she would slug him hard.
"Why not now?" Kise demanded. "Why can't you just be honest? You don't have problem telling it like it is with everyone else? Why just me?"
"Kise—"
"No Mira." Jason stepped up and put Mira behind him. "You don't owe this hypocrite anything."
"What was that?!" Kise growled. If the boy had been thinking rationally, he'd know he didn't stand a chance against Jason. But all sense of rationality had gone out the window the minute he'd let his anger take over.
"You heard me. You're so hard pressed to get answers from Mira, when you've been stringing her along yourself. It ends. Now." Jason snarled, his hands curling into fists. It was only four inches, but those extra inches made Jason seem that much more intimidating when Kise was face to face with him.
"Alright, both of you knock it off!" Malacai called out, pushing the two apart. "Clearly you both got a beef with each other. So, let's settle this. There's a court not too far from here. One on one. First to ten wins. Loser puts himself at the mercy of the winner the rest of the day. Understood?"
Neither Kise or Jason were about to back down. Both nodded in agreement as the boys stormed off to the court. Yuri looked to Mira, the panic clear on her face. All Mira could do was shake her head. As much as she didn't want to watch this testosterone fueled competition, she knew she had to allow. Mainly to keep Jason from overdoing it against Kise. While the blond was used to her hits, Jason was a different story. The punk didn't know how to hold back very well. Especially when he was pissed off. Mira remembered the last time Kise faced Jason. She didn't want the incident to repeat itself.
Kise grabbed his spare clothes and headed back to the agreed court. Malacai had a whistle ready around his neck and a ball under his arm. Jason looked primed and ready to play. His shirt lay discarded on the ground near where the girls were sitting on the outside of the court. The guy was tall, almost as wide as Kagami, and pure muscle. The black ink on his arms stood out in contrast against his pale skin. Combine that with those pale blue eyes and piercings coating his face…the guy was intimidating.
"Jason, yellow only. Keep the damage to a minimum." Mira called out from where she sat with an apathetic look on her face.
To be honest, she didn't want anything to do with this match. She wished Kise would just trust her and give her this day. Not that she'd made it easy for him by ignoring him. But she had to admit Jason had a point. If what Yuri had told her was true, then Kise was just as guilty as her for not speaking up. But that wasn't the reason she was allowing this match to happen. Mira knew that if she said something to Jason he would stop and walk away no questions asked. Kise was ruining an important day. Which is precisely why Mira was allowing Jason to go a little crazy during this game. For once, she hoped Kise got the shit stomped out of him.
Malacai tossed the ball up and got out of the way quickly. Jason wasted no time in winning the jump and sticking a shoulder into Kise. It wasn't hard enough to knock him down, but it was enough to get his attention. Jason wasn't going to play overly rough like the first time he'd face Kise. But he wasn't going to be nice to the boy either. The punk took the ball up for a hard dunk as the game began. This match was all about teaching a lesson to the ignorant blond before him.
By now Kise had learned to expect some rough play. It was how Mira usually faced off against him. Facing off against someone his own size though that played like Mira however….that was a different story entirely. Jason wasn't as fast as Mira, but he was much stronger. His hits hurt a lot more. But Kise knew Jason was taking it easy on him. He'd faced him full out before. And the fact that he was going easy on Kise and letting things be so close was irritating him. By now his anger was boiling over. At Mira, at Jason, and even at Yuri who looked like she'd known something but was holding out on Kise. What happened next was unexpected for all of them. Kise rebounded the ball and turned hard. He ducked his shoulder into Jason and knocked the boy flat on his ass. To add insult to injury, Kise waited for Jason to turn and look at him before busting a three and holding the pose. A swishing sound could be heard as the basket was sunk.
"Mira. He initiated it." Jason called out, chuckling darkly as he retrieved the ball.
"Fine. Green light his ass. I'm not responsible for what happens after this. I'm going for shaved ice." Mira called out as she got up and walked away. She didn't need to stick around to know what was going to happen.
"Mira! Me too!" Chance called out, rushing after the girl.
"Don't forget to bring back some for us!" Chase hollered at the two. He opted to watch and see how things would play out.
"Just don't damage his face. We still have a shoot after this…" Yuri whined. She knew she was going to hear it later for allowing Kise to pick a fight with someone like Jason. But she didn't wish to risk breaking the two up at the moment. If Mira saw it fit to let them fight it out, then she was going to stay out of it.
"I've been looking forward to this day." Kise smirked as he took up defense.
"You're going to regret it too." Jason hissed before initiating his attack once more.
_._._
Yuri shot Kise a look of annoyance as the two were currently walking back from the beach. After receiving a thorough ass chewing by the shoot director, they'd been allowed to head home for the night. Only the two weren't going home. They were heading to the inn that the Americans were staying at. Once Jason had stopped holding back, Kise hadn't been able to keep up. It was a slug fest. One that Kise couldn't win. The only small grace he'd been granted was that Jason had left his face alone. After his trouncing, Jason had demanded Kise hand over all the cash in his wallet. Mercy of the winner and all. Oh, and they'd been invited (Kise ordered) to join them later on that evening. Which is why the two were currently trudging across the sand and towards the inn.
"You just had to pick a fight didn't you?" Yuri finally broke her silence as they climbed the wooden stairs towards the inn. "You're lucky we were in regular clothes for the shoot tonight."
"You knew they were here and didn't say anything." Kise snapped back. It wasn't often the boy was in a foul mood. So when he did get snappish, Kise didn't hold back.
"I knew West-chan wanted the weekend before speaking to you. Which she was going to do. All I know is that this weekend is special to her." Yuri's voice grew soft as the two came to a stop outside the doors.
"Special?" This piqued his interest as Kise stopped sulking long enough to look at Yuri.
"She almost sounded like she was begging me to not say anything to you. All I know is that she made her request, and then looked to Yamato-san. Almost as if she was recalling something awful, yet wonderful as well." Yuri wasn't quite sure how to put it into words. All she'd known was that she couldn't deny Mira that simple request after seeing her face.
Kise pondered on Yuri's words as the two entered the inn and headed to the specified room. Loud laughter met them halfway down the hallway and only grew once they reached the door. Yuri knocked as loud footsteps made their way towards the door. It was flung wide open as the stench of alcohol hit the two hard.
"Hey! They made it!" Chance chortled, grabbing the two and pulling them inside.
"About damn time! You two need to catch up damnit!" Mira called out from where she was swinging her bottle around.
"This is what they did with all my money today?" Kise felt like he wanted to fall over.
"Come on! It's a party! Let's cut loose and have some fun!" Chance hollered as he downed his drink and tossed it towards the growing pile of cans and bottles.
"That's an order blondie." Jason called out from where he sat with his arm slung around Mira.
Kise gritted his teeth before grabbing a can and chugging it. This got him cheers of appreciation as he reached for another one, taking it much slower this time. Yuri grabbed for a bottle, but wasn't too sure about drinking after all that had happened today. Mira on the other hand didn't want her to miss out. The older girl was soon drug off to another area to take shots with the red head as Kise stood against the wall, staying out of the circle on the ground. Jason followed Mira's example and prepared a couple of shots for the two of them. He motioned for Kise to take it with him. Not wanting to be outdone, Kise took the shot as it burned all the way down his throat. He chased the awful shot with his beer, earning him a laugh from the punk.
"Come on. We need to talk now that you're somewhat caught up." Jason motioned for Kise to follow him outside to the veranda.
"You two better behave or I'll knock the shit out of both of you!" Mira called out from inside.
"I wanna see! I wanna see!" Yuri seconded it. She was already a giggling mess after two shots and half a bottle of beer. The poor girl was a major lightweight.
Outside…
"I thought this was some important weekend for Mira and you. Why do you need to talk to me?" Kise sipped on his beer, staring straight ahead.
"Heh. You're pissed off. That's good. That means Mira means something to you and that I'm making the right choice." Jason grinned as Kise glanced at the boy. "You know, when I first met you I hated your guts."
"You made that blaringly obvious." Even though Kise hurt, it was nothing compared to the first time he and Jason had faced off.
"I thought you had taken my place beside Mira. You were the one who helped to repair the damage we had caused. You were the one who got her to smile again. You were the one who did for her what I couldn't do. What I should've done….like she did for me. That's why I was so angry. But I see now that 'this' and 'that' are entirely different. You're not taking my place. If anything, you're stepping up and filling the hole that Alexander tore out of her. You are someone important to her. Which is why you need to show her." Jason turned towards Kise who had picked up on a key bit of information.
"What did Mira do for you that you couldn't do for her?" Kise had an idea, but he needed Jason to voice it. Jason smirked before lifting his arms up and into the light that was coming from inside. He held them together in order for the full picture to be seen.
Two black and white tattoo sleeves covered half of his arms. On one side it showed a broken man with tattered demon wings. His body was beaten, battered, and it looked like it took all he had to keep himself on his knees. On his face was a worn and tired look, but there was something else there. Hope. Hope filled his eyes as an angel reached out and held his face. Her wings were spread wide as her light shined on to him. Saving him. But as Kise looked closer, he saw what Jason really wanted to show him. Faded scars. A few still stuck up out of the skin from the jagged way they'd healed.
"She saved me." Jason said softly as he began his tale. "It happened four years ago. I'd just transferred to a new school. I'd been in foster care most of my life. My mother was a crack whore who didn't give a shit about me. I was angry all the time and got tired of the fake smiles around me. I bumped into Mira that day. I hadn't even noticed till she turned and slammed me into the lockers. Chewed me out good too. That's what got me interested in her. Alexander did his best to keep us apart, but somehow or another we always ended up in fights. So, imagine my surprise when she jumped in to save me when four guys tried to gang up on me. After that we stopped being as hostile to each other. She even invited me to join her and Alexander. Things were good for a time….Then my mother came back into the picture. Claimed she was clean and wanted to get custody of me back. The week I was back with her she beat the shit out of me and used the money from the state to get high. I snapped. I couldn't take going back to that life. To risk being uprooted and moved to another place only to lose what I'd just gained. I didn't go to school one morning. Lifted some razor blades from a store and headed back home. I slit my wrists and waited to die."
Jason leaned against the building drinking his beer like it was nothing. He was no fool. He knew the look on Kise's face. Shock, horror, confusion as to why he was being told all this. Kise needed to know how his and Mira's relationship worked. Jason needed him to know that Mira wasn't just his best friend, but his savior. To understand why Jason had gone off when he'd believed Kise had replaced him by Mira's side. That there was a reason he would do anything for the girl that he believed was in her best interest. Kise needed to know that Jason didn't see Mira in a romantic light. But more as the one whom he deemed the most important person in the world. And how she'd come to earn that spot.
"I don't know what had possessed Mira to sneak into my house that night, but she found me in the tub. I could barely see her as she struggled to pull me out and get me on the floor. She used my belts as tourniquets on both my arms and used my shirts to wrap my wrists before calling out to Alexander to call the cops. I remember her holding me before everything went black. Next thing I knew I was waking up in the ICU with Mira sleeping beside my bed. Alexander was the one who told me she refused to leave my side. I bawled like a baby that night. I asked her over and over why she'd try and save someone like me. We cried almost all day after that. If it hadn't been for her….I wouldn't be here now." Jason finished softly. "That was the day I died and was reborn. All because of Mira."
It was then Jason looked to Kise. The blond understood then why this day was so important. Jason's past still haunted him to this day. He could see the punk struggled with his demons to keep them at bay. Mira knew this. Despite how much of a mess things were for her now, she was still prioritizing those close to her first. What she could've easily fixed, Mira had pushed it aside to be there for the one who needed her. Telling Kise that even if her world was in chaos, she would do what she could for those to her. That was the person she was. That was the person Jason wouldn't just hand over to anyone to allow them to break her again.
"Mira doesn't need someone who only has half assed feelings for her. I can tell you're not like that. So don't prove me wrong and hurt her. The day I was saved was the day I swore my life was for Mira to use as she saw fit. I have no problems getting my hands dirty on her behalf." With that, Jason left him sitting there.
Kise got the message loud and clear. Mira would go to great lengths for her friends. He'd only witnessed it himself when she'd fought against Alexander for theirs, and her own, freedom. For once he and Jason were in agreement. Mira needed someone who would do for her as she would for them. Kise ran his fingers through his hair as he turned to look back inside. Mira was laughing and having a good time with everyone there. He pushed himself up and finished off his beer before heading back inside. He grabbed Mira by her wrist and pulled her up. He kept his grip firm and dragged the drunkard behind him and towards the back garden. The others all shared a look as a single thought passed through their minds.
'About damn time.'
_._._
"Hey Kise! What the hell? They're gonna drink everything without us!" Mira protested as she tried to plant her feet and stop him. All she ended up accomplishing though was her stumbling about more.
"Yamato-kun told me about tonight. About what you did for him." Kise finally spoke up once they were far enough away from the inn. Mira stopped fighting then. Her eyes went wide in surprise. It wasn't too often Jason opened up to others about his past. Especially to guys whom he barely tolerated. "I'm sorry for ruining this night."
"Well…to be fair you didn't exactly ruin it. You did buy the alcohol for us." Mira tried to joke as Kise turned around to face her.
"Mira, you don't have to be nice. I fucked up. I know. I led you on. I made you believe in something that caused you a lot of pain. And I'm sorry." Kise said softly. "I know to you, words don't mean anything. But I mean it. I'm truly sorry for hurting you like I did."
He gently reached up to cup her face. Mira just stared up at the boy, unable to believe what he was saying. Even if Yuri had cleared the air a long time ago, Mira still found it hard to believe that someone like Kise was here with her. He was apologizing to her. Why? Why was he trying so hard for her? Mira was the furthest thing from girly. The last person who looked as if she belonged at his side. Compared to someone who was more feminine….Mira just couldn't wrap her mind around it. She broke eye contact with Kise and turned to looked up at the moon shining brightly over the water.
"Why? Why do you continuously do these things for me? Why are you trying so hard for me? I can't be like other girls. I can't do for you like those girls could." Mira gritted her teeth, digging her nails into her hand as she clenched them into fists.
She hated herself for the words coming out of her mouth. She was always a big advocate for loving oneself and all that jazz. But when it came to romance, she greatly tore herself down. Because she'd never been the one being pursued before. The only guy to make her feel truly special had turned on her and broken her in so many ways possible. While it was true she was making great strides to getting back all that she'd lost, Mira didn't know if she was ready to trust anyone as intimately again. She didn't know if she wanted to risk placing her heart in someone's hand again.
"Heh." She heard Kise chuckle softly before feeling his arms wrap around her shoulders. "It's because you're you that I like you."
Kise felt Mira stiffen up under him when he'd spoke those words. But it was true. It was because Mira was different that he was attracted to her. The girl was stubborn, strong, able to do things for herself, had a bit of a vulgar tongue, and didn't try to suck up to him. She was her own person who treated everyone equally. Mira didn't see Kise as a famous basketball player or model. She saw him for who he truly was. She was willing to do for others without asking for anything in return. Mira didn't care what others thought about her. She was her own person, with her own charm. The girl constantly kept him on his feet. Things were never boring with her around. Kise always found himself wanting to know more about the girl.
"You understand my love for basketball. You treat me like anyone else. You keep me on my toes all the time. You're always honest and upfront with me. Even if you can be too blunt at times. But that's what I like about you Mira. I like you. No one but you." Kise tightened his grip on her shoulders and rested his head near hers.
"You know I went on a date with Tatsuya right?" Mira finally spoke up after a few minutes of silence.
"Yes. I was standing next to Yamato when he got the txt that night. I don't know who was more surprised." Kise tried to make light of it, but she could hear the hurt in his voice.
"It was fun, but I don't feel the same for him as I did back when we both lived in the states. For some reason…..I can only think of one guy I wanna be with." Mira's voice grew so soft that Kise could barely believe what he'd heard.
"Mira?" Kise could barely contain the hope building in him as he slid around from her back to her front, hunching down a bit to try and look at her face.
"Don't make me say it! I'm still out here with you aren't I?" Mira snapped as she looked up at him. Her face was as dark as her hair with her violet orbs wide with annoyance.
Kise let out a cry of joy as he picked Mira up and spun her around. In their usual fashion Mira yelled at Kise to put her down while the boy ignored her. This led to Mira whacking Kise over the head till he finally complied and put her down gently. Mira crossed her arms over her body in annoyance and faced away from him, but this didn't deter Kise. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close to him. He didn't even attempt to hide the overly wide grin slapped on his face at the moment as he nuzzled his cheek into Mira's head. Even the red head herself was smiling just a tiny bit as the two stood there enjoying their time together.
"Mira, I want to take you out on a date." Kise finally spoke up, breaking the silence between them.
"One condition…" Mira managed to wiggle out of his arms and face him. "Drink with us tonight. If you can make the night without puking then it's a deal."
There it was. That mischievous smirk that Kise had missed during their week apart. Kise nodded in agreement before kneeling down and allowing Mira to climb on his back. Kise felt her relax on his back as her arms wrapped around his shoulders. Oh if the poor fool only knew….
I'll let your imagination run wild with that night. And keep it PG! I probably won't do a drunk party night with them since I did one in the first story, but nonetheless I got what I wanted accomplished. Kise finally confessed! I think I fangirled as hard as some of you and I wrote the damn chapter lol.
I've got a few more filler chapters planned before we head off to the Winter Cup. And believe me that's gonna be when the real fun begins. Can't wait to hear what you all think!
