Chapter 12: Worth Anything
"Oh bloody hell…" muttered Tyki upon seeing Rei standing outside the door. He then raised his voice a bit as he addressed her. "You…were you listening?"
"Listening?" she said with a smile. "No, was there something I should have heard?"
Tyki paused. The door was rather thick…there was a chance that Rei had not heard. Should he tell her? …It was really none of his business. He was pretty confident that Rei and Kanda would end up falling apart sooner or later anyway.
"Nah," he said with indifference. "Nothing. Need something, dear?"
"Yeah, Cross-san told me to get you two and start the shoot. Kanda there with you?"
"No, he went up on the patio."
"Oh. Well, could you call him then? I want to take a breather."
Tyki blinked, confused. "Sure."
Rei gave a small wave.
"I'll see you later."
Kanda's phone vibrated suddenly; he withdrew it from his pocket and answered it without looking at who was calling. Only one person other than Reever knew his schedule to the minute, and his manager wouldn't have dared bothering him while he was working.
"Hello?" he said into the receiver.
"Yay, you picked up!" said Lenalee's cheerful voice. "How is work coming along?"
"Well enough," he sighed, leaning against the wall as his piercing blue eyes looked at the scenery of the city. "Yours?"
"It's all right. I'm not as busy as you," she laughed. "I really want to work for Cross…"
"Maybe you could ask him. He likes pretty girls…"
"Aw, thanks, Kanda-san."
He'd unknowingly commented her. He decided to refrain from actually saying that he hadn't intended it.
"So…do you want to go to the New Year's Party together?"
"…When's that?"
"…Tomorrow," she said after a moment's pause. She had probably been checking her schedule. "At…oh, it's at the Chanel branch this time. How exciting."
"Oh…yeah…"
"So are we going together?" she said hopefully.
Kanda paused. Rei would definitely be upset because Kanda was pretty sure that Lenalee would expect them to be lovey-dovey all evening. Well, lovey-dovey to Kanda's extent, at any rate.
He really did feel like a two-timer, worrying about one girl when he was hanging out with the other. Of course, there was also the issue that Rei would be coming along as his bodyguard…
"Eh…"
"…Kanda, I really want you to come with me."
"But—"
"You don't have work that day—I already checked."
"But…"
"Are you being hesitant because you're worried about Matsumomo-san?"
Kanda winced. Damn woman's intuition…
"No," he lied through gritted teeth.
"Well, because if you are, then just don't tell her to come. If you're worried about being attacked, I can get my bodyguards to protect us equally well."
"Why do you think I'm worried about that idiot?"
"Just because," Lenalee said sourly.
"You…you know that…"
"You can't break up with me, right?" said Lenalee's voice frostily. "Yeah, I do. And I already made it clear that if you don't want to be in this relationship, I'm not going to force you into it—"
"That's not what I meant," Kanda said quickly.
"Then stop it!"
"Fine," he said snappishly. "We'll go together. And Matsumomo will stay home."
"Good," Lenalee said coolly. "Well, I have to continue with my work now, so I'll see you later."
She hung up without another word.
Kanda let out a breath. Women…well, to avoid Rei's anger, he'd just have to make sure that she never knew that there was a party. And that was really easy—all he'd have to do was say that there was no work that day. Hopefully things would work out for the best.
Tyki was listening as Kanda spoke on the phone. The news that the Japanese model wasn't going to take Rei to the New Year's Party was surprising and equally inviting; it would give Tyki room to manipulate the situation. After all, Tyki had been invited as well.
This could work very well to his advantage.
Rei breathed out quietly as she stood on the deck, her breath coming out in a small puff of misty air. She needed to calm down. Reinforce her standards.
Oh hell, it was more like reinforce her brain. What had she expected?! Kanda had obviously been using her. He had toyed with her feelings, knowing that he could manipulate her to that extent. Of course he could—she was freaking in love with him! But why she was, why the hell she was in love with such a cocky, such an inconsiderate person was beyond her. Even now, all she could feel was a sense of abandonment, of betrayal—anger, an emotion she had greatly relied on to surface, was hardly present. She felt…sad, for lack of a better word. Her love had been too apparent, unbridled and too obvious—even Tyki had noticed it. And Kanda, of course, had also seen it and used it to his advantage.
Rei sighed again, clearing her mind as the frosty winds came blowing a bit harsher. She leaned against the railing, her green eyes scanning the street down far below. What did she want? Did she want Kanda's love in return? His affection? His seemingly nonexistent tenderness, his impossible…smile? The words were so cheesy even in her head…
And of course Lenalee Lee took priority. She was the girlfriend, the number one. But Tyki was right—Rei would never settle for number two, she had more pride than that.
Besides…Rei was technically at fault, arbitrarily decided as it was. Rule number one of a successful bodyguard: never fall in love with your employer. Emotions spur unnecessary actions that could jeopardize the employer, and any harm done to the employer meant that the bodyguard had failed.
She made up her mind to confront Kanda about it. Figure out why was who, and where she stood on his totem pole. Figure out where she stood so she could draw the line between bodyguard and…something else more than that.
"All right," said Cross wearily. "You two just can not work together, can you?"
"Nope," replied Tyki easily. "We hate each other. Collaboration is as far away as the Apocalypse."
"Forget it," he groaned, "we'll just pick this up some other time, and maybe Bookman can stay to monitor your behaviors like a babysitter…seriously, Mikk, you're the older one. You should have enough common sense to not let personal problems get in the way of work."
"I'll try to be better about it next time," Tyki said coldly, "but for today, I think I'll just be immature."
Kanda sighed exasperatedly and simply ran a hand through his bangs, brushing them out of the way.
"Matsumomo!" he called. "Could you get the car?"
"Get someone else to do it," she said. "I want to talk to Tyki for a moment."
Tyki raised his eyebrows in surprise while Kanda scowled.
"What for?" Kanda demanded.
"None of your business," she answered indifferently. Was it just Tyki, or did she seem to be a bit cold with him? Not that Tyki minded—any rift between Rei and Kanda was simply a benefit for him.
"Alone?" said Tyki for clarification.
"It's not a big deal," she said. "Let's just wait until everybody's gone." She looked pointedly at Cross, who gave a grin and left the room. Kanda glared at her before following suit.
"Just a little thank you gift for the Christmas presents," Rei said, reaching into her bag and withdrawing a slim packaged box. "Don't get too hopeful—it's nothing spectacular. Just a frame."
"Thanks," Tyki smiled, accepting it. "I hope you found my gift to your liking?"
"Too expensive," she said with a frown.
"Please. Humor me and don't say you returned it."
"Of course not—I'm not that petty. Thanks very much."
"I thought it'd bring out your eye color," he said, bringing a tan hand up to her cheek and brushing it lightly. "You know…you really have magnificent eyes. Emeralds…the necklace pales in comparison to your eyes."
"Tyki…" she said with a tint of disparagement, moving his hand away.
"Yes, yes," he said with a roll of his eyes. "Stop being such a flirt…but I'm just going to ignore that warning and ask you…are you free this Friday?"
"…I probably have work—I haven't checked."
"You probably won't," he said. "Kanda doesn't have a shoot that day."
"God forbid, he might ask me to help him move into his apartment," she said in disdain. "But I'll see…why? You're not possibly asking me on a date."
The last sentence was stated as…a definite statement. There was no inflection of tone, no hopefulness, no question. Tyki grinned.
"And if I said that I was?"
"Give me a break, Tyki."
"You have to admit that our relationship has gotten better," he said. "You're actually calling me by my name now."
"That's because you wouldn't stop bothering me otherwise."
"It's not really a date, Rei. I need an…escort on Friday night to a social gathering."
"Like a bodyguard?" she said with an arched eyebrow. "I thought you said you could take care of yourself perfectly fine."
"You seriously think I would ask for your protection?" Tyki scowled. "No, I need you to come as a partner."
Rei blinked, surprise showing in her green eyes.
"That's strange," she said slowly. "I'm of no importance…and you have many female acquaintances that you could take…and questions will certainly arise. I decline, Tyki."
"Please?" he said with his most seductive smile.
Rei frowned, unperturbed.
"No."
"I swear I won't bother you about going to another party with me ever again."
"No, for the last time."
"Dress, car, hairstyle, I've gotten everything picked out for you," he lied smoothly. "Don't make all my hard work go to waste. And think of it…as…compensation."
"For what?" she said acerbically.
"…Your first kiss?"
Rei made a sudden movement to kick him but Tyki, realizing his mistake, caught her leg before it had a chance to connect with his body. He was grinning apologetically.
"As compensation on my part for stealing it," he re-explained. "Come on, Rei, I don't want to be dateless…"
"You won't," she said icily. "Let go."
He obliged and dropped her leg.
"Please."
His golden eyes bore into hers, as if they were trying to convey an intensity of meaning and desire. He saw her shiver slightly, her emerald eyes dart to the door that Kanda had just left. She seemed to be doing some thinking.
"Kanda…won't mind," he said breathily, bringing a hand up to a stray curl and fingering it. "You know him. He won't give a damn."
"…Fine…" she said unwillingly after a momentary silence. "I'll have to make sure I don't have work…"
"I'll text you about it," said Tyki, taking her hand and kissing it briefly. He was pleased with the sudden flush that reached her cheeks. "Thanks, sweet."
"…Not a big deal," she said grudgingly. "And you better not make me look…"
"Like a prostitute?" he offered in crude terminology. "Of course not. You'll be dashing." He smiled. "I'll see you later."
Things were going to work beautifully.
"What did Mikk want?" Kanda asked the moment they got in the car. "Or, rather, what did you need with him?"
"Just giving him a thank you gift in return for Christmas," said Rei smoothly, turning on the engine.
"What did you get him?"
"A frame."
"Was it empty?"
"Yes," she said wearily. "It's just a picture frame—why do you care anyway?"
"I don't," said her employer automatically, leaning back in the passenger seat. "Just…wondering. And…why are you calling him by his first name now?"
"I dunno," she said tiredly. "He calls me by mine, so…"
"Bookman does to."
"It doesn't matter; first names and such don't matter in Europe. Everyone just calls everyone by their first name if they're around the same age."
"Mikk is way older than you."
"Could you stop it?"
"Fine."
Rei opened her mouth to speak, wanting to ask about the conversation she had overheard, but Kanda spoke up before she got a chance to.
"You don't need to work on Friday," he said.
"…Why not?"
"…A break for New Year's," he said, looking out the window even though the car had not started moving.
"Really," she said skeptically, not bothering to reverse as she addressed him. "The infamous Kanda Yuu, the one who made his bodyguard fly with him out of the country on Christmas is actually being considerate? Not believable."
"Shut up," he said loftily. "I can be human if I want."
"What's the real reason?" she persisted.
"That's it."
"You're lying," she said.
"I am not."
"Then stop looking away and say it to my face."
"What the hell?" he said angrily, turning to face her. "That's all there is to it! Or do you insist on following me around for the rest of my life?"
Fury flashed in Rei's jade eyes as she studied Kanda's face, catching no sign of guilt, no overbearing conscience.
"On Christmas—" she began very coldly.
The back door suddenly opened; Rei whirled around immediately, whipping her pistol out of her belt and pointing it at the intruder.
"Lenalee," Kanda said in surprise. "What in the world are you doing here? Put the gun down, Matsumomo."
Rei looked at the Chinese model with narrowed eyes and stowed the gun back to its original position. Just when she was about to ask…Rei simply shook her head and began to back out of the parking space as Lenalee explained her abrupt appearance.
"I just thought I would catch you before you left!" she said lightheartedly. "I'm glad I managed to!"
"Where do you want me to drop you off?" Rei questioned in an uninviting tone.
"Um…"
"My house," Kanda said.
"So that's basically my house."
Kanda had had movers bring all his belongings from his old apartment to the vacant apartment next to Rei's. He'd moved out only the day before; Rei had found the sudden quietness and lack of his presence in her own home to be unsettling. She had not mentioned it…for she still got to see him every morning. The day had started off rosily and merrily; what had caused the sudden downturn?
Rei stayed silent for the duration of the trip as Lenalee chatted animatedly with Kanda. Kanda seemed distracted most of the time—Rei thought she could feel his eyes on her face occasionally, though she was quite sure she had been imagining it.
She pulled into the garage easily and stepped out, not bothering to go through the whole official chauffeur motions and open the door for Kanda like a sycophant. She was irritated and was not trying to conceal her annoyance.
"Matsumomo," she heard Kanda call as she inserted the key to her apartment.
"What?" she said brusquely, turning the knob and meeting his eyes for a brief instant.
His blue eyes reflected some sort of disturbance, but exactly why they did, she didn't know.
"What were you saying…about Christmas?"
Rei's gaze lingered on the confused Lenalee standing behind Kanda, and she knew very well that she couldn't ask Kanda what she was dying to know. Was she the second place? Was she the one he went to when number one was unavailable? Was she disposable, usable…forgettable?
"Never mind—forget about it," Rei said. "See you later."
She entered her home without another word and slumped down against the door. Something was gnawing at her heart…a feeling of corruption, of culpability. Had this been in the eighteenth century or something, she would've been the mistress while Lenalee would've been the wife. Second place was where Rei stood. She knew that well without asking Kanda.
But the desire in her heart was growing too strong for her to handle. Rei ground her teeth. She knew that she was unwilling to let him go…even if it made her a disgusting person, even when she was sure that she had no hold over him…
Because she was sure that Kanda had felt something on Christmas. She was positive that she affected Kanda in some form or fashion; she was of some importance.
She had no idea why she'd agreed to go with Tyki to the party…probably because Tyki had remarked that Kanda wouldn't care, and Rei wanted to test that. Wanted to see Kanda's reaction, to see if he would be jealous.
Wanted to know if she was actually worth something.
Friday evening.
Rei slipped into Tyki's car at exactly six-thirty p.m. Prompt and punctual.
"Hello, dear," he greeted, speeding back onto the streets.
"Hey," she said jadedly.
"Something wrong?" he inquired, disturbed with her resigned tone.
"Nothing," she said nonchalantly. "So…where's this socialite gathering of the elite?"
"Ha, it's at Chanel. You okay with that?"
"Everything's the same to me," she answered, looking out the window. "Brand names are brand names."
"…Please cheer up, Rei," he said seriously. "You're making me feel guilty for dragging you into something…"
"Nothing's your fault," she said, turning to face him. "It's not like…I really didn't want to come with you or anything."
"That's good to hear. So please cheer up."
"…Sorry."
"Nothing to apologize about," he said merrily. "Ah, reach into the compartment in front of you—yes, that's it—yeah, take out that manila folder."
Rei opened the folder in her hands; her emerald eyes widened at first glance.
"…Holy…"
"Fantastic, aren't they? First one to get them," he chuckled. "Bookman always says I'm not serious about my work, but I actually really am, especially if I'm anticipating the results. Our group shots…were very good."
"Phenomenal," she said, bringing up a photo to the light. "Goodness, Tyki…"
"What," he said jokingly, "do I stun you with my beauty?"
"Very much so," she said seriously. "You're…gorgeous."
"…Thank you," he said, taken back by her sincerity. "But I suppose you'd say the same for the other two as well."
"I suppose so," she agreed, flipping through the pictures. "But…this one picture…" She held up a picture of the three of them. Tyki was in the middle, and being the tallest, was in a much more conspicuous position than the other two. It was one where he'd decided to open his shirt up a bit in, despite Cross's displeasure; he'd wrapped his tie around his hands and stretched it taut in front of him, his teeth biting the silk in a seductive manner. "…You look stunning."
"You can keep it," he offered. "Cross said that these are the first prints and that he'd like them back before they're leaked, but I don't think you'd do anything like that…so if you really like it, you can keep it."
"…Are you sure?" she breathed, a faint smile crawling up to her lips. "What a beautiful picture. Your expressions…they contrast so perfectly but blend in enough to make it seem natural. Your exerted auras don't clash at all."
"Or do you like it because I look a bit…wild in it?" he smirked. "You like that type of guy?"
"No," she said defiantly. "I like it because…I don't know. You look hot."
"Ha!" he laughed. "Thanks very much. I'm very honored to hear you say that." He debated for a moment to ask a rather risky question, and then decided to go for it. "You're not going to take the one where Kanda's in prominence?"
Rei fumbled through the glossy pictures and held up another one.
"You mean this?"
It was a good picture of Kanda—even Tyki had to admit that. Both Tyki and Lavi's presences had been diminished as they leaned against the wall in less prominence; Kanda was at the forefront of the image, his blue eyes electrifying his audience. His head was tilted to the side, giving him an almost lazy aura, as one of his hands was slipped in his pocket, the other at his neck. His mouth was slightly open, as if he were whispering something, his sapphire eyes barely open but conveying an intensity of indescribable measure. Tyki had been very surprised to see it.
"Yeah, looks like you can really just pick the best of the crop right out, can't you?"
"I've studied Marian's works well enough to know which ones are better than the others," she explained. "It is a very good picture…but…I'd feel weird keeping a picture of my employer in my room."
The words were out of his mouth before Tyki could restrain himself.
"Is he just an employer? Or are you in love with him?"
Rei looked up at him, startled with his candor.
"Tyki…that's absurd."
"Don't say that," he said a tad coolly as he pulled up in front of his apartment. "I know you feel something for him."
"I—"
"He's not good for you," he said determinedly. "He has a girlfriend already."
"…Are you trying to say that you are good for me, Tyki? Because I honestly don't think—"
"I know my faults," he said shortly. "I know that both Bookman and I are seen as playboys, flirts, and heartbreakers. I'm not saying that I'm good for you. In fact, I may be even worse than Kanda."
"…Then what's your point?"
He killed the engine and turned to face her, his golden eyes gleaming.
"I'd hate to see you get hurt by a bastard like him," he said quietly. "That's all."
"…I…"
"Just saying," said Tyki effortlessly in an attempt to lighten up the mood. "That's all. I just wanted to say that if you need someone…well, you have my number and address. I'll be available."
"Tyki—"
"Okay," he said cheerily, stepping out of the car. "Let's get you dressed."
He opened the door gallantly for Rei, who looked slightly upset but accepted his hand as he led her to the salon and preparation room on the first floor of his apartment building. They entered and were immediately greeted by a group of stylists and other workers.
"Mr. Mikk!" the European workers said. "Hurry up, we must get you finished by seven-thirty!"
"Good luck, Rei," he said, flashing a smile to her as she was dragged to another room. "Just relax. You'll be absolutely beautiful by the end of it. Not that you aren't already…"
She waved in silence, her eyes still misted as she looked like she was contemplating something. Tyki gave a sigh as he was led to the salon. Hopefully he hadn't done anything completely reckless…
"…You look…"
"Plastic," was her short answer.
"No. Beautiful. Stunning. Prepossessing."
"And you look…like Tyki Mikk. Gorgeous. Inhumanly handsome. Too good for me."
"Don't say that."
Tyki walked over to her, his liquid golden eyes shimmering. Rei brought her manicured fingers up to his tie and straightened it, her crimson lips parted in a gentle smile.
"Hm…" he mused. "Did you bring the set of emeralds from your home?"
"Yeah…I thought you'd choose green out for my dress…"
"You look sexy."
"Sexual harassment," she murmured as she touched the necklace at her throat. Its cold stones sent shivers down her spine. It seemed that some of Tyki's persona had rubbed off on his gift; Rei could not help but feel apprehensive around him.
"Let's go," he said, pushing her to his car. "Thanks, everyone."
They left amidst farewells and many bows. Tyki's slicked back hair and Giorgio Armani suit seemed to make him even farther away from Rei than he already was. She could not help but feel a sense of distance between the two of them, even though he sometimes said such sentimental things that she thought he was serious; seeing him so outrageously handsome made her feel all the more insecure. He seemed to notice her insecurity, however, for as they drove to the Chanel headquarters, he said,
"Rei, you look on par with any model who will be at the party tonight. Keep confident…like whenever you're fighting. You radiate…security. Be sure to keep that sort of stride when you walk tonight."
"Sure," she said, uneasily shifting in her seat, unsure how to deal with the anxiety crawling up in her chest.
They arrived and Rei wobbled out of the car in her six inch stilettos. Her dress was body-fitting and tight, accentuating her thin waist and figure. Her curly hair was tied high into a ponytail that was clipped to the side of her hair, letting the rest of it fall down her right shoulder. Her eyes flashed with unintended boldness as they were accentuated by the dark eyeliner; she caught a glimpse of herself in the window and felt a bit better. She looked…presentable, at the least.
Her stride grew stronger as she entered the ballroom; Tyki looked pleased with her regained confidence and slinked his arm around her waist. At her scowl, he simply smiled and turned his attention to the crowd.
"Bloody hell," said a voice behind them.
The two of them turned around; Rei grinned as she saw Allen, spruced up and looking uncomfortable in his suit.
"I thought that was you," he muttered, fiddling with his tie. "Goodness, Rei…sometimes I don't think you're even you anymore, when you're looking that…"
"Hot," finished Tyki, pulling her closer to him. "Hello there, Walker."
"G'evening," said Allen in his natural British accent. "Doing well, Rei?"
"Decent as it goes, I s'pose," she murmured. "How were exams?"
"Dreadful. Failed math pretty well. When are you taking them?"
"When the next semester starts, I think."
"Good, because I thought you'd just stop coming to school altogether," he frowned. "Good God, Satsuma's been insufferable. She's here, by the way. Keep your head up."
"Thanks for the notice," she said with a wave as Tyki began to steer her away. "See you around, Allen."
"Oh, yeah, and why're you here with Mikk? Not with Kanda?"
Rei stiffened.
"Kanda's here?" she asked, jade eyes darting up to Tyki's face. "I thought he didn't have anything tonight…he said that he'd left me off to have a break…"
"Ha," laughed Allen sarcastically. "You really think he'd do that? Nah, he's over there with Lenalee…"
Rei was studying Tyki's expression intensely.
"You knew," she said incredulously.
"Yes…I did," he admitted.
Rei took a step back, escaping his hold. She could feel disbelief, not anger, flood her system; again, it was that feeling of betrayal and abandonment that trumped fury.
"So that's why you brought me?" she said. "To…to make me angry with him once I saw him and so you could reinforce that he could possibly hurt me—"
"Yeah," he said without bothering to deny it. "It's true. I heard him talking with Lenalee to not bring you—"
"He…planned it out with Lee not to tell me about this?!"
"Yeah," Tyki said frostily. "Rei. Please calm down."
"I am very calm."
"Listen while I explain. I had my reasons. I don't want you to stay with Kanda, as a bodyguard or as…whatever you are to him. I'm very sure that his girlfriend doesn't really want you around either. Things are only get worse if you stay by him."
"Why…why do you, does everyone feel the need to control my life?! I can make decisions myself, Tyki!"
"Shit…" said a familiar voice to the side.
Rei turned to the newcomer.
"I thought I heard your voice," Kanda groaned, Lenalee at his side. "Dear God…did you really follow me here?"
"Give me a fucking break," she snarled, grateful for the inflow of fury that was now coming to her aid upon seeing her employer. "What the hell am I doing here…somewhere where I obviously don't fit in—"
She turned to leave, but Tyki caught her by the wrist.
"Stay," he said.
"Leave me alone," she snapped. "I'm going home."
"You can't," said Tyki lazily. "I drove you here."
"Just—"
"C'mon, Rei," said Allen, dragging Rei away by the wrist. "Let's go for a walk."
"Hang on—"
"We aren't like you," Allen said coldly. "We aren't models, we aren't celebrities. We started off as normal people. Let us have a moment."
He nodded briefly to Lenalee in farewell and brought Rei to the side.
"Stop it," he said before she could say anything.
"Stop what?" she said snappishly.
"Stop hanging out with them."
"Kanda's my boss. Tyki's a…"
"You're even on first name terms with him!" said Allen disbelievingly. "Rei, we're…"
"We're not them, I know. I'm not a model. I'm not a celebrity. I'm a student who was stupid enough to get entangled with the showbiz life," she said, annoyed. "But why are you lecturing me?! You're the one in love with Lenalee Lee!"
"Keep your voice down!" he hissed, flaring. "Okay, I'm sorry, I'm not allowed to lecture you…but good grief, Rei, I'm worried about you! These guys…they're obviously using you!"
"I know that already."
"So…"
"What am I supposed to do? Quit? Go back to being a normal student? What about money?"
"…You'll work it out," Allen said shortly.
"I'm not quitting."
"Rei…"
"I'm going back to Tyki," Rei sighed. "I'll last out this evening…and hopefully get some answers and some definition about my position among these guys."
Allen nodded hesitatingly.
"And if it's nothing good…"
"Then I'll quit immediately," she said, resigned. "Thanks for caring, Allen."
"…No problem."
They walked back to the group they'd left behind, which had now grown in size to welcome Lavi and his curvy date as well as Cross and his sexy looking escort.
"Problems?" said Lavi lightly when the two students returned.
"Nothing," said Rei in the same tone.
Tyki narrowed his eyes as he looked at Allen's ugly look, but he didn't comment about it and instead reached out to Rei again.
"I have to go greet the host," he said softly. "Please excuse us."
They left the rest of them. Rei did not look in Kanda's direction once.
What the hell did she think he was?!
Part of the fucking wall?! Not to look in his direction once after rejoining the group, pretending like he didn't exist!
And just to go off with Mikk like that.
Kanda was furious, he was pissed, and it was very apparent on his face. Lenalee must've noticed, for she put a consoling and reminding hand on his arm.
"We'll excuse ourselves as well," she smiled, pulling Kanda away. "Have a good night, everyone."
Kanda's blue eyes were still following Rei's receding figure; she was looking stunning, looking beautiful, but so haughty and arrogant that he couldn't stand it. Who said that she could go with Tyki? To come to this party with him, as his date, Kanda was furious. The blood seemed to be literally boiling in his veins.
"Stop looking at her!" said Lenalee as they'd distanced themselves from their colleagues.
"I'm not," he said, still glaring at Rei's green dress.
Lenalee brought a hand up to his face and snapped her fingers together.
"Hello?!" she said. "Stop!"
"Okay!" he said, aggravated.
"Why is she here?" Lenalee questioned, brown eyes clouded with suspicion.
"I didn't tell her about this, if that's what you mean," he said defensively. "She probably just came with Mikk."
Lenalee sighed.
"Fine, let's go and spend some time alone," she said wearily. "Get away from this crowd…"
Kanda decided not to voice that he didn't really want to leave, for once in his life. He wanted to watch Rei, make sure that she and Tyki wouldn't do anything stupid…but he couldn't very well say that aloud.
He let Lenalee take him outside of the ballroom and into a room in an adjacent hallway. They sat down at a coffee table, neither of them saying anything.
"…Do you…like Matsumomo-san?" asked Lenalee, finally breaking the silence.
"Hell no."
"…Please be truthful."
"I am."
Silence once again ensued. The clock ticked away as both of them looked away from each other. Minutes passed and neither of them knew what to say.
Voices grew outside of the room. Kanda tensed as he recognized them. Rei and Tyki.
"Rei…I hope you understand…"
"It's fine," Rei said serenely. "I just wanted to know…what you think of me. A bodyguard. A person. Or a way to get at Kanda? Because if it's the last, I think you're wasting your time."
"I don't think I am."
"What makes you say that?"
"I saw you two kiss on Christmas," Tyki said icily.
Lenalee's eyes widened at the Portuguese model's last words, and she turned to Kanda, shock spread through her entire face. Kanda brought a finger up to her lips, trying to convey the message that he wanted to listen to the rest of their conversation. He would explain later. Lenalee, however, did not seem to understand, for she opened her mouth to demand an explanation. Kanda did the next logical thing in his mind to shut her up—he kissed her, gently and coaxingly, as he listened to the conversation outside.
Rei was speaking. "…He was playing around."
"Kanda is not that type of person."
Lenalee immediately loosened up at the physical intimacy; her arms drew Kanda nearer to her and wrapped themselves around his neck. She responded fervently.
"…You're right. He's not. I don't know what they meant. If I mean anything to him at all. All I know…is that…" Rei cleared her throat, as if prolonging the moment. "I'm in love with an idiot like him. I don't know why."
"…I don't either. What…there is nothing…nothing in him worth seeing. I don't understand…Bookman, maybe, he's chivalrous and at least polite…but I don't understand why you and Lee both see something spectacular in him—"
"I don't know why either," she said faintly.
"Then stop—"
"It's beyond reason at this point, Tyki—"
Tyki banged on the door, probably punching it out of frustration. The sound did not stop Lenalee from her activities; she slipped her tongue in Kanda's mouth and deepened the kiss.
"Fine," Kanda heard Tyki say bitterly. "…You'll be hurt. You know that."
Rei laughed very weakly. "But it's the same with you too, right? After all, you never answered my question."
Tyki exhaled loudly.
"I'm going," he said after a moment. "I…think I need a break from this. I'll call someone to pick you up in…how long are you staying?"
"Tyki—"
"How long are you staying?" he repeated with a deadliness that Kanda had not expected him to use with Rei.
"…Ten minutes at most…"
"There will be a car here to pick you up," Tyki said stiffly.
"Tyki…"
"I'll see you later."
There was the sound of receding footsteps; Tyki had left. The doorknob twisted abruptly; everything registered in Kanda's head, and he knew that Rei was walking in—this was going to be bad—
But nothing could stop what was inevitable.
Rei just wanted everything to stop. Wanted to clear things up with Kanda. And then go back to her normal life.
She opened the door to the side room, wanting some time alone. But what she saw made her stop—dead—and her heart seemed to stop beating.
Kanda was kissing Lenalee intensely; her arms were wrapped around his neck, their bodies pressed so close that they seemed to melt into each other.
All Rei could think was that he had definitely heard.
The door was thin, even slightly open after Tyki had punched it. Kanda had definitely heard everything, heard her confession, heard it all, and he was still sitting there making the fuck out with Lenalee as if Rei was part of the fucking wall—
She didn't want to wait there any longer. She turned around without bothering to see Kanda disentangle him from Lenalee, did not hear his voice calling down the hallway.
Tyki was already gone, already pulled out of the garage. Rei was now alone, and she could not stand to stay there for another damn ten minutes—she needed to get out, needed to get away—
Her feet carried her with as much speed as they could in six inch heels to the exit. The frosty coldness bit at her bare skin—she hadn't bothered to get her jacket—as she surveyed the empty streets. An overwhelming conglomeration of emotions suddenly flooded her chest—anger, betrayal, sadness, fear, confusion—and she didn't know what she wanted to do, what she had to do…she could feel her throat constrict and tears stinging her eyes but she refused to let them fall, refused to let herself realize that Kanda had gotten her down to this point in her emotional stability, to the point where she was actually going to cry when she hadn't done so in years—
Where to go, where to be? Alone, forsaken, abandoned, betrayed? She didn't want to be alone, didn't want to go back to that empty apartment that Kanda and her had lived in only a week earlier, didn't want to be in the kitchen where she'd been kissed—twice—for the first time.
Speed. She needed to get out of there. Away from the party. Away from them all.
She couldn't run in these shoes. Rei kicked them off, breathing harshly. She looked up once, glancing at the night sky. Snow was beginning to fall.
With her heels in hand, she set off to the only place she could think of to go, to the one person that maybe thought of her as something, even though he hadn't said so, even though he had left her moments before. She went to Tyki.
Free Talk:
Thank you all for reviewing! I'm sorry this took so long--I had standardized testing this week and thus had to study very hard. :(
If this chapter seems rushed, I'm sorry--if a lot of people think it's bad, I'll try to re-edit it and upload it again. I just wanted to get something long and new out to you guys because I felt bad for keeping you all waiting.
And yes, a lot of people probably seem OOC. I'm really sorry. It needed to go this way. Hopefully this will be as far as OOC stretches. I'm sorry again.
And I'm sorry that Kanda's such an asshole. In reality, he is, but still...I feel bad. And for totally killing Lenalee's personality as well. I'm sorry.
Sorry for saying sorry so much, haha.
PLEASE REVIEW!!!! And~~~ I was surprised with the evenness of the vote for Tyki vs. Kanda; Kanda only won by a few votes or so! And that might change with this chapter! :) Please tell me what you think the pairing should be!
Please review, even though I'm so incredibly unworthy!!!
Love, -m.n.-
P.S. I'm getting too confused on monitoring who votes for whom. I've created a poll on my profile for who you prefer--please vote!