Ch21: Here's to You, Life

"Cedric holds no interest to me anymore." Kessi informed Hikaru.
He sighed. "I figured that. But I still don't like him."
"Why?"
"I just don't."
Kessi sighed and rolled her eyes. Men.
"That's not a good reason, Hikaru."
"Well... It's good enough for me."
Kessi laid her head on Hikaru's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm not gonna go back to Cedric. If Cedric and I ever get past what happened, we'd most likely end up as just friends."
"Most likely?"
"Otherwise, we won't talk."

~Kessi POV~

I unlocked the door and walked in, Cedric following behind me.
I tossed my keys onto the kitchen table.
"This place hasn't changed since I was last here." Cedric observed.
"Yeah. Not much changes around here." I walked to my room and tuned on my iPod, letting the music surround me. I breathed deeply.
"Still in love with music, I see." He said from my doorway.
"Yeah. It helps calm me down and brings me back to the world that I try to escape."
"The realm called reality."
I nodded and pulled my hair up into a pony-tail

He smiled slightly. "People still monsters?"
"Yeah," I sighed. "That will never change." I sat on my bed.
"I've noticed what you mean by that." He sat next to me.
"Have you now?" I raised an eyebrow.
He nodded. "I have."
"Strange, huh?"
"Very."

Cause I've seen love die/ Way too many times/ When it deserved to be alive/ And I've seen you cry/ Way too many times/ When you deserved to be alive/ So you give up every chance you get/ just to feel new again/ I think we have an emergency/ I think we have an emergency/ And you do your best to show me love,/ but you don't know what love is.

"Hey! I know what love is!" Cedric cried indignantly.
"Do you really?" I stood facing him.
"Yeah." He stood facing me.
We stared each other down.
"I don't believe you." I issued a challenge.
"I will tickle you," Cedric threatened.
"You wouldn't." I took a step back.
"Try me."

I squeaked and ran out of my room with Cedric in hot pursuit.
I reached the living room before he caught me... Well, more like I slipped and he caught me.
I landed on my back and Cedric used my dazed condition to tickle me.
I giggled and thrashed, try to escape getting tickled.
"St-st-stop! I can't BREATHE!" I laughed.
"Can't hear you!" He sang in time to the music I had playing.
"Okay, fine!" I kicked and got lucky on my first try.
Cedric went down, for I had kicked him in the crotch.

I laid there, giggling, for a minute or two while Cedric was curled up in a ball.
"I always told you not to tickle me," I told him once my giggles subside.
"I didn't know it would cause me bodily harm!" He groaned.
I rolled my eyes and sat up. "Don't be such a wimp!"
"Kessi?" I heard Kassi's voice come from the front door.
"YO!" I raised my hand.
Cedric sat up and 'DiNozzo'ed me.
"OW!" I punched his arm.
"Hey! I will tickle you!"
"Wanna try again? Remember how it worked out the first time."

"Kessi, are you picking fights again?" Kassi walked into the living room, flanked by Hikaru and Kaoru. Hikaru had a slightly pissed and passive expression while Kaoru was giving me a weird look.
"He started it!" I pointed at Cedric. "And, hi boys!" I smiled at them.
"Hi?" Kaoru asked.
"Hey." Hikaru didn't look at me.
I threw a stuffed animal at Hikaru's head.
His head snapped up and he looked at me. "What was that for!?"
"Being an ass!"
"W-" He sighed. "Right..."
"Oh my goose! Someone pinch me."

Cedric pinched my arm.
"OW! I didn't mean literally." I hit him.
"Jeez. Sorry."
I nodded and stood. "Hikaru."
"What?" He looked at me expectantly.
I smiled. "Outside, please."
"Why?"
I glared at him.
"Right." He turned and walked outside.

I followed behind him, closing the door once I got outside.
"Hikaru, I'm sorry."
"Why should you be sorry?" He looked completely confused.
"I didn't tell you anything that happened even though I should've told you. What really happened was that Akio...came onto me? Cedric saved me. And we just skipped classes and hung out together."
"I'm sorry. I jumped to conclusions without all of the facts."
"So, we good?"
He hugged me. "Better than good, I hope."

"When you wish upon a star..." Kessi sang quietly.
"Makes no difference who you are..." Kassi sang along.
"Anything your heart desires, will come to you." They finished.
"I highly doubt it though," Kessi mumbled.
Kassi sighed. "Same here, sis. Same here."

~Kessi POV~

"Kaoru." Kessi poked him.
"What is it, Kessi?" Kaoru grumbled.
"What are you doing?"
"Waiting for your sister." He gave me a weird look. "Why do you want to know?"
"Just wondering what you're doing." I stretched. "Is there a problem with curiousity?" I challenged.
"Curiousity killed the cat." He shrugged.
"NOOOOOO! Curiousity thrilled the cat."

Kaoru gave me a weird look.
I smiled and nodded.
"You're crazy, aren't you?"
"Slightly." I flopped down into a chair.
Kaoru gave me a wtf look.
"Kessi! You're being nice, right?" Kassi called to me.

"No! He's got a pencil in his eye right now!"
"Okay!"
"I can see how loved I am," Kaoru grumbled.
"She knows that I was joking. But, if you break her heart, I will hang you until you're almost dead, cut you down, cut off your penis, disembowel you, then have you dragged by a horse. Got it?"
Kaoru's eyes were wide as he nodded.
"Good."
"Kessi. Stop threatening Kaoru!" Kassi walked into the livingroom.
"Who said I was threatening him?" I asked indignatly.

"The quiet." She gave me a challenging look.
I shrugged. "Whatever."
Kassi shook her head. "Come on, Kaoru. Let's go. Later, Kes."
"Bye." I waved.
Kaoru and Kassi left.

"Oi. I feel slightly abandoned." I sighed. "Oh well. What to do? What to do?"
I stared at the ceiling for a while, trying to think.
"Nothing."
I sighed.
I hummed while thinking.
Let's see. What can I do?
Kassi is engaged.
While we were kids we made wedding plans.
I should go get those and see what Kassi says about it.
Maybe get some other things as well...

I got up and pulled on my coat, grabbed my house key, and left.
To the storage area!
I walked the two miles to the storage area and went to our storge shed.
I opened it and looked at all of the boxes containing our mother's things and our childhood memories.
I turnedd on the light and opened the closest box, which just contained a bunch of photos.
Most of them were Kassi and me.
Some had mom.
I felt sad as I shuffled through the pictures.

I found a picture of Akio and me.
I sighed as I looked at the younger me smiling.
At that time, I didn't know what was to come in my relationship with Akio.
I continued to shuffle through the picture. Eventually I put the photos back down into their box and looked through some more boxes.

Photos.
Drawings.
Old clothes.
More photos.
Jewelry.
Random knick-knacks.
Even more photos.

"Where are they?" I reached the back of the shed and looked at the unchecked boxes.
I sighed as I checked the time.
I've been here for two hours! Damn!
I opened the next box and smiled. "Here we are."
I found papers with drawings and note on them.
Under all of those papers, I found two dresses.
"Mom's original wedding dress and Grandma's wedding dress." I smiled slightly and patted the dresses then I put the papers back in there./

I made my way to the front with the box, occasionally tripping slightly.
I closed the door behind me and locked it.
Now to get back home.
I started on my way back carrying my box, careful not to drop it.

When I made it to my apartment, I found Hikaru outside, about to knock on my door.
"Hey there, sexy. Can I help you with somethan'?" I asked jokingly.
He jumped and gave me a weird look. "HUH!?"
I rolled my eyes. "Hi, Hikaru. Can I help you?"
"I just came to see if you wanted some company." He eyed the box. "What's with that?"
"Some old stuff." I shrugged. "But, I would appreciate the company." I smiled.
He smiled. "Alright then."

"Can you help me with something real quick?"
"What?"
"Get out my key and unlock the door."
"Where's your key?"
"Front, right jeans pocket."
He gave me a deer in the headlights look.
"Oh! Just get the damned key!" Baby!
Hikaru cautiously reached into my pocket and pulled out my key.
"Not so difficult, huh?" I mocked.

He unlocked the door and held it open for me. I gladly walked inside and put the box down on the table. Hikaru walked up behind me, tossed the key onto the table, and wrapped his arms around my waist. "So, what's with the box?"
"I got it for Kas. She's gonna get married to your brother sometime and this was my grandma's and mom's wedding things. Also the plans we made when we were younger."
"I thought your mom didn't marry," He said, confused.
"She didn't. But she was going to. Our dad left her a month before though."
"Oh."
I nodded.

Wonder what would happen if I wished upon a star now...