Kaere heard the phone ringing and struggled out from beneath her blankets and the dogs, reaching around on the bedside table until her fingers grasped the hard plastic. "Noriyama speaking," she mumbled.
"Um…hey. So I didn't wake you up, did I?" Tsuna inquired.
"Ah…yeah, but I had to wake up soon anyway. What's up?" She pushed her way out of bed and flopped onto the floor. This again?
"Kaere, did you run into anyone on your way home from Haru's house the other day?"
She yawned and ruffled her dark brown hair, looking at the clock. It's already ten?! Damn. Did I have any appointments today? "I…think I did? I'm still kind of half-asleep, Tsuna. Do you just want to come over?"
"Did you run into Squalo?"
Her heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name. She had been subconsciously trying to push the memory to the back of her mind, but it all flooded back to her now. "I-I might have."
Tsuna paused. The sound of a door closing could be heard. "Kaere…you didn't…um…you didn't kiss him…right? Tell me you didn't," he whispered.
"I-I didn't know what else to do! I thought he was going to kill me!"
"Why would you resort to that though, Kaere?! It's bad enough that-!" He cut himself off.
"What?"
"N-nothing. Just…be careful. Don't do it again, please. It's dangerous!"
"I-I know that." The girl sighed and leaned back against her bed. "It's…not like I meant for it to…go as far as it did."
"Reborn has pictures for some reason."
What the hell?! How did he even…? Ugh! She pushed herself to stand and rummaged in her dresser for a pair of black jeans and a black shirt. Why did he have to catch me? If Squalo hadn't caught me, I wouldn't have to worry about all of this!
"Also you have a few appointments."
"What are they?"
"Uh…some local yakuza children need vaccinations and…Reborn says that two of the Miyamoto girls might have bronchitis." Tsuna still sounded nervous. "I'm sorry, Kaere."
The girl dressed, juggling the phone as she did so. "Tsuna, it's not your fault. Is Reborn-san there?"
"No. He said he had something to do. Something about your lab and new equipment."
"Hm. He didn't say anything about that to me. Alright, I'm heading to the lab. Talk to you later, Tsuna." She ran the whole way there, constantly looking over her shoulder. Once Kaere was settled in at her desk, she took a moment to try to sort through the past few days. It's been two days, right? Since I…kissed Squalo. I don't even know what to think about that. I only did it to try to escape, but…it felt good. She shook her head and opened her emails. I can't. I just can't. I have other things to worry about. Like that unknown number that keeps calling. And my appointments.
She had been sorting through her emails for a while before the message popped up that someone was at the door. Who is that? It's not an appointment. They're not until this afternoon. Kaere walked up the stairs and looked through the small peephole. A man was standing there, grinning. His green hair looked painfully bright in the winter sunlight and he was wearing sunglasses over his eyes. "Uh…who's there?" she called.
"Lussuria! I come bearing gifts~"
He said his name as if I should know him. I guess…he looks harmless enough. Just weird. But I can't think of anyone I know that isn't weird. Except maybe Kyoko. She punched in the security code and opened the door to find that he did indeed come bearing gifts; a stack of three boxes. "Ah…come in."
"Wow! You're so tiny!"
Her face turned pink instantly and she started down the stairs, leading him. "Um…y-yeah…I'm sort of short…"
"It's adorable~"
"N-not really. It's annoying." She found an extra chair for Lussuria and dragged it near hers. "So…um…why the gifts?"
"I'm just delivering them for someone else. It's a secret admirer~" He set the boxes on the examining table and tilted his head, staring at her intently. "You're so cute! He didn't mention how cute you were!"
Her cheeks burned a brighter pink and she shrugged, remembering how Hana had scolded her for being negative in the past. "S-so…"
"What was your name? Kaede?"
"Kaere."
"Oh! I'll call you Kaerin! It's adorable!" He ruffled her hair, grinning in amusement. "You want to see what he got you, right? Open this little one first!" Lussuria shoved the smallest box into her hands.
She tugged at the bright red ribbon and it fell away with little effort. Lifting the lid, her nose met a wonderfully familiar smell. The box was filled with her favorite cookies; cinnamon brown sugar. A smile grew on her face instantly and she lifted one to take a bite. They were obviously from a local bakery, not quite like the ones her mother used to make, but they were nostalgic enough to bring a tear to her eye. "H-how did you know I like these?"
"He just asked around. You like them?"
"I…I love this kind of cookie…"
His grin grew. "I'm so happy you like them, Kaerin! Alright, the next one is this!" The next box was slightly bigger.
Kaere tore away the dark purple wrapping paper and opened the box to find it full of slightly smaller boxes. A few contained jewelry, decorated with amethyst crystals, and the others contained clothing. One had a knee-length black dress, another contained a black scarf with swirling red designs, and the last had a black leather jacket inside. So…weird. Why would you send a girl clothes? "Ah…they're…cute…"
"I helped pick them out~"
"Thanks, Lussuria-san."
"Don't be so formal, Kaerin! Alright, open the last one!"
She found medical books in the last box as well as new surgical tools and a new pair of black leather gloves. Well…that's stuff I can at least use. But I still don't know who would want to send me these things. It's so strange. "Th-thanks, Lussuria."
He seemed absolutely delighted that she liked the gifts, beaming brightly. "Don't thank me; thank him."
"Uh…I-I don't know who…"
"Really? I thought someone would have told you by now. Maybe I shouldn't spoil it for him though~ He said something about visiting you himself." The man tilted his head again. "I think he really likes you, Kaerin. I've never seen him put so much effort into a girl before. Maybe it's love~?
Kaere helped herself to another cookie, frowning. "I…doubt that."
"What?! How can you doubt true love, Kaerin?"
If it's true love, he should have brought these himself. Or left a note with them. She sat back in her chair, starting to wonder about the identity of her admirer. It wouldn't be Squalo. He looked like he wanted to kill me after I kissed him. And I still have bruises on my ribs. A sigh left her and she closed her eyes. "Lussuria, did you get a flu vaccination?"
"Not yet."
"Roll up your sleeve." After giving him the shot and sending him on his way, she waited for her appointments to come. The kids that came first all needed shots as well and then the Miyamoto girls showed up. They were a pair of girls, ten and twelve years of age, and had been born with rather weak respiratory systems. Kaere had contemplated offering to replace them with the artificial material she had created. Her favorite client had insisted on her creating new digestive systems for his children when he learned that it was poison-proof. Kaere herself had tested it; consuming a large amount of every possible poison and surviving with absolutely no side effects.
The girls were given medicine and a note to take home to their parents. Kaere got online and began chatting with Tsuna. When he heard about the gifts, he became very worried and told her to make sure that the laboratory door was locked securely. She did and felt her stomach twist in knots. Why is he so nervous? Lussuria didn't act suspicious or anything. Her phone started to ring and she nearly jumped out of her chair. What does Reborn want now? An emergency appointment? "H-hello? Noriyama speaking."
"Who the fuck is Noriyama?"
The man's voice made goose bumps rise on her skin, her hands beginning to shake. "Ah…Xanxus-san…? I-it's Noriyama Kaere."
His smirk could be felt through his words. "You liked the gifts I sent, trash?"
Why do you keep calling me that?! Does he just call everyone 'trash'? What kind of person does that? She chewed her lower lip, tasting blood. "Um…you…sent those gifts?"
"I did."
"Er…th-thanks."
"What are you doing right now?"
Is he trying to make small talk? Why is this so awkward? It's…painfully awkward. "I-I'm just at work…why?"
There was a long, terrifying silence. "You've been ignoring my calls."
Her pulse quickened. That's been you calling me the past few days?! "Sorry…I-I've just…been busy with work…" She took a shaky breath, trying not to let her nervousness show in her voice. "Xanxus-san…I h-heard you have an appointment…in a couple of weeks…?"
"It's not a fucking appointment."
"Th-then what is it?" She immediately regretted asking. Did I really ask that?!
"I'm coming to see you, trash. Don't make plans that day."