The Most Happy

Act Twenty One

"Right this way!"

Ugh, if he didn't get any painkillers soon he was sure he would pass out from the pain. At least the bleeding had come to a stop. He was pretty confident that his nose wasn't broken, just sore from the sudden slam against the plastic disc.

If anything his headache was worse than anything.

Gash walked in front of him with a stride with each step. Was he excited about the new friend they had just met? Hm, it was likely; he was always excited about meeting new people. He was also quick to call strangers friends. Ignorance was bliss in any event.

But what harm could a small girl like Ren cause? She seemed pretty harmless. Kiyomaro couldn't really imagine any evil planning being forged behind those thick, oversized glasses.

"We're here!"

All ready? Kiyomaro removed his eyes from Gash and looked upward. Before the trio stood a very large upscale home. Vintage styled windows and painted with dull white and baby blues; this was surely the home of someone who had wealthy parents. His jaw just about hit the floor as they approached the large, three story home. This was Ren's home?

"Wow!" Gash was first to speak. "It's HUGE!"

"This is my house." Ren spun around on her heel to face the two boys. "Come on inside, and we'll fix that nose!"

"You're really nice, Ren." Gash replied without hesitation. "You didn't hafta do this for us."

The young girl shook her head from side to side. "No, it was my fault. The least I could do is help with the pain."

Kiyomaro felt a small weight lift from his shoulders. How long had it been since a person had last been this nice to him? Besides Suzume of course. The last few weeks had been troublesome with Ureshii and Sal; it just seemed as if it had been too long since he had received a nice gesture.

"Let's get that medicine quick," He hated to cut the sweet conversation short, but his headache wasn't letting up. "I think my head's gonna explode."

"Oh!" Ren squeaked, "Okay, come on!"

She spun back around to face her large home. She then skipped up the small staircase leading toward the front door. Kiyomaro and Gash followed without a second to lose and waited at the front door. Ren lifted her hand to the door and slammed her small fist against the wooden door. She was knocking? At her own door?

"Don't you have a key?" Gash asked.

"No," Ren peeked over her shoulder for a short moment. "My mom likes the door to be locked at all times!"

Ah a strict mother, sounded somewhat familiar. But still, it was a bit odd that Ren didn't have access to her home at all times. But there was nothing to it, he was just here to clean up then he and Gash were out. As it was, he needed to check in with his own parent.

The doorknob jiggled. Kiyomaro watched with careful eyes as the knob went from a twitching motion to a turning one. A small clicking sound echoed in his ears and caused his heart to jump. The door then began to creak as it opened.

The darkness from the inside of the home forced his eyes to adjust. No sound of any dogs or television added to the eerie sensation that crawled up his spine. The silhouette of a tall female came into view. Wait, this silhouette appeared familiar…no, this was England! No one he knew lived here! Right?

"Ureshii!"

The sunlight poured into the darkness of the front hall and highlighted the figure standing in front of him. There she was the same as when he first saw her on that faithful day. Long, dyed locks and a dead look in her eyes that caused him to shutter. It was Ureshii Shikimori.

Her eyes grew wide upon seeing him; she was just as shocked as he was. Her eyebrows nearly touching the top of her hairline and her mouth dropped open in shock. Her arm, which had been placed on the inner doorway, had slipped down and hit her side. She took a single step backward and remained speechless.

"Ureshii?" Kiyomaro felt the words fall from his mouth without thinking. "What are…"

"You doing here?" They finished one another's sentences at once.

"Ureshii?" Ren cocked her head to one side. "You know Kiyomaro and Gash?"

"You're in England?" He couldn't, he refused to believe his eyes. There was no way he was seeing what he was seeing in this moment. "How-"

"I LIVE here, Takamine!" Ureshii was quick to bark back. "What are YOU doing here?"

"I…" Kiyomaro turned down to Gash, "We…"

"Spit it out all ready."

"UGH!" He threw his arms into the air and growled. "You think you'd be HAPPY to see us!"

She released a short snort through her nose, trying her best to contain her sarcastic laughter. "Happy? To see you? I think you've got it backwards."

"I see you haven't changed any." His shoulders slumped in shame.

"Hey Ureshii!" Gash waved his small, short arm in the air. "We came to England to visit Kiyomaro's Dad!"

"Ah," Ureshii lifted her curled index finger to her bottom lip and hummed. "I see."

Ugh, now she was going to be nice to Gash and not him? It was enough to send him into a heated frenzy! She knew how to push his buttons and she did it without hesitation, it was pure evil. Just when Kiyomaro was getting used to the fact that he'd never see this female again, she decides to pop back into his life, in the most random way of course.

"Where's Ne?" Gash was quick to request.

"That's the least of our problems!" Kiyomaro balled his fist and shouted down at his demon partner.

"Um, excuse me…"

The injured teen male felt the urge to snap at the person last to speak. He directed his eyes to the person who had just spoken. He saw Ren standing just inches from the doorway with a confused gaze set in her eyes. She had one brow cocked and her bottom lip poked out.

"How do you know Ureshii?" She asked, her head tilted to the right.

"The better question is how do you know Ureshii?" Kiyomaro answered the youngsters question with another question.

"Ureshii?" Ren lifted her hand and pointed her small index finger into her flat chest. "She's my older sister."

XoXoX

How entertaining. So Takamine had shown up at her door, just like that? This was more than coincidence, after all Ureshii didn't believe in coincidence. What were the odds? Both teens meeting back up in England in the same city at the same time? This was far more than just a random incident. There was a reason behind it all.

Not to mention that Takamine and his squirt of a partner had also run across her younger sister, Ren. It wasn't everyday that her dork of a sister ran into someone she knew. Seeing Takamine again wasn't something she was expecting but could she use this event to her advantage?

Hm, it appeared that the skin around his nose was bright red and swollen, he also held on to it like a vice. Did something happen? There was only one way to know for sure.

"What happened to your face?" Ureshii asked in a blunt tone.

She watched him flinch beneath the pressure of embarrassment. "I was hit by your sister's flying disc." He said, jerking his weight in Ren's direction.

"Ren was playing with her frisbee!" Gash threw both of his arms into the air and exclaimed.

She resisted the urge to laugh aloud. How amusing, now he was hurt on top of everything else? It was just enough to make her day a good one. Now, what was she to do? A wounded warrior at her door, she couldn't refuse him. Not after he gave her a good mental laugh.

Ureshii shrugged her shoulders a single time and pulled her body out of the doorway. "Come in. We have some ice to calm down the swelling."

She watched as he hesitated for a moment. Was he taken back by her sudden act of kindness? The taller female had to admit to herself, it was a drastic change from her usual personally traits. Another moment in waiting, Ureshii lifted her hand to Takamine and beckoned him inside her large home. Damn, how many times did she have to offer her 'hospitality' to him? Was he stupid?

Either way she wasn't going to wait around forever. She gave a sarcastic roll of her eyes before turning on her heel. If he wasn't going to follow, she wouldn't force him. He was a lost cause anyhow.

She stepped deeper into her darkened house without flaw. She stepped over the tile flooring, her footsteps accompanied by three extra sets of legs. Ah, so he decided to come in? She was sure now she'd have to explain herself further to him. He was a nosy idiot.

Ureshii passed through the hall until she found herself in the living room. The teen girl released a small sigh before reaching the long couch. She flopped down on the soft cushion, allowing her back to hit the back of the soft couch. She was quick to fold her left leg over her right and set her arms folded over her chest. She was going to be interrogated now, she was sure of it.

"I'll get you the ice bag, Kiyomaro." Ren made her way into the living room, showing the direction of the couch to the injured 'warrior'. "You sit. I'll be right back."

"Don't forget that motrin." He was sure to remind the smaller female. "I think I'm gonna need it now."

Ah, so she had given Takamine a headache now? Ureshii grinned to herself, that's just the reaction she expected from him, still laughable in any event.

"All right," Ren said as she helped Takamine to his seat. "I'll come back with some water too."

"Thanks!" Gash sent his gratitude to Ren with a bright smile and chirp.

Ureshii watched and waited as Gash took a seat beside his human partner. After both boys appeared comfortable, Ureshii straightened her back and allowed her eyelids to shut halfway. She lifted her eyebrows to her hairline and waited. The questions, they would come any moment now.

"You live in England?"

Oh how she longed to roll her eyes. "I'm a transfer student." She could recall herself saying these words not too long ago. "But yes, I transferred from England."

"What are the odds?" Gash beamed. "That we'd meet up again!"

"You have a little sister?"

Hm? Ureshii felt her interest peak. Did Takamine just ask her an unexpected question? This was growing to be an interesting afternoon. She unfolded her arms from her chest and legs. She then placed her elbows on her knees and locked gazes with the boy sitting across from her.

"It seems so." Ureshii replied in a low tone.

"You never told me." He narrowed his field of vision at her.

The longhaired female allowed her shoulders to bob up once. "I didn't know I was required to." She then dropped her chin into the palms of her hands. "Not like it matters."

"She's cute."

Ureshii felt a single brow lift up. "I guess."

"So where are your mom and dad?" Gash asked without hesitation. "Is your mom making dinner like Kiyomaro's mom does?"

"Don't know, don't care." Watching both boys' reaction to her pervious statement was always enjoyable but this time, what she was saying was not to impress them.

"What?" Kiyomaro's head dropped to the right. "What do you mean?"

"She's at work." Ureshii felt a hiss press from between her teeth. "Okay? Anything else you want to ask? Anymore of my life you want to pry into?"

The fire that ignited in her stomach was again another unexpected turn that Takamine and his brat had started. So what, her mom was at work? What was the big deal? Did he always have to stick his big nose into her business? He was a terrible pain in her side that never seemed to fade, even half way around the world.

Ren better come back with that ice bag and motrin quick. Ureshii wasn't sure how much more she could withstand.

"Are you feeling okay, Ureshii?" Gash pressed on. "You seem mad."

"You mean she feels an emotion other than angry?" Takamine said just under his breath.

Ureshii felt her eyebrow twitch. There it was that smartass and his remarks. If it wasn't enough for him to show up at her doorstep, now he was insulting her in her own home! He was cheeky and brave, she'd give him that much.

"If you want a second bloody nose, Takamine, keep talking."

"I wish you'd lighten up, just this once." He replied without a moment to lose. "Even when you're in your own environment, you're still so hostile."

"Then shut your mouth." She didn't sugarcoat her emotions.

Takamine bolted from his seat. He balled up both fists and expressed a fierce glare. "You know everything I've done for you and you can't just be nice! On top of that, Gash and I have never been thanked for anything we've done for you!"

Ureshii shook her head from side to side. "I did thank you."

"A whole hearted thanks," He corrected. "I've yet to even see you give me a genuine smile!"

"I don't need to."

"Kiyomaro!" Gash was next to rise from his seat on the black couch. "You're being too harsh!"

"But it's the truth!"

The room fell into an awkward silence. She continued to stare up at Takamine, who by this time was sweating bullets. Gash stood by his side in a strong effort to settle him down. She sat with her chin placed on her open palms, her face as still as ever. She wouldn't let on that he was getting to her, no way. She would never give him that power.

She didn't need to give him anything. He wanted to help her and her demon partner, Ne, she never asked for one favor. Takamine offered his services and she accepted them, there was no need for thank yous. And a 'genuine smile'? Since when was that a proper token of gratitude for a man? Things with men were never that easy.

In any event, if it that was enough to get him off her back, she would fake it. Ureshii pushed her elbows off of her knees and sat up straight and positioned her shoulders back. She lifted her chin and faced her younger schoolmate, her eyes once again locked with his while her jaw clenched. The blue-haired female could feel the ends of her lips begin to twitch in an unnatural fashion. Ugh, this was a facial expression she wasn't used to. She resisted the urge to fold her bottom lip beneath her front teeth and allowed a grimace to form. Her thick black brows furrowed on her forehead and she felt her upper left cheek flinch.

She broke her 'delicate smile' for a moment to speak, "There. Happy?"

"That was just terrible."

Did Takamine just say that? She felt what little smile that remained on her face to fade. Her brows darted downward, over her eyes and her bottom lip pouted. She could feel her top and bottom teeth grinding together in her usual stress reliever manner.

Takamine allowed his lanky body to drop back down. His backside hit the couch with the only sound coming from his lips in the form of a sigh. Ureshii watched as he allowed his eyelids to fall over his dark brown eyes, his entire body relaxed without hesitation. What happened to the tense boy she was staring down just seconds before? Had he come to some sudden realization, 'seen the light' kind of situation that made him see the truth behind everything?

No, no way. He was smart, but way too stupid socially to know anything about someone else's feelings.

His lips parted, he was ready to speak, she assumed. Brown strands of hair hung over his eyes and hid the expression in his eyes. "Ureshii," His voice was smooth and calm, "Are your parents divorced?"

Divorced? What the hell? Now her ex-schoolmate had just lost his mind. Ureshii could feel the burning in her stomach crawl up the back of her throat. She could feel the bile from her empty belly making its way to her mouth. Sweat began to build above her brow as her body temperature rose.

"What the hell are you talking about?" She spat.

"Kiyomaro?"

She turned her attention to the small blond demon, who continued to stand inches from the couch. Gash looked up at his partner with worried-filled eyes and tense posture. This wasn't going well, Ureshii could feel it. Gash was becoming considered with his partner's actions and words? That was not natural.

"Your mom is at work, right?"

Ureshii's blue eyes bounced back in Takamine's direction. Shadows cascaded over his forehead, darkening his hidden expression. He had moved his hands over his legs and interlaced his fingers together in a causal pose. What was his deal? Why was he acting as if he knew something he wasn't supposed to? Acting like he's a big shot! It was further than offensive, it was just crude.

"So what?" The female tried her best to shrug off his last comment. "Big deal."

"Most mothers don't have to work unless she's a single parent."

What the hell did he know? He knew nothing about her family life! How dare he come into her home and make assumptions of that caliber! Ureshii couldn't contain the burning pain of anger any longer. She sprang from her seat and with every ounce of energy she opened her mouth and shouted,

"Get the hell out of my house, Takamine! You have no idea what you're talking about!"

He didn't waste a moment to react, his head jerked upright to face her. Sweat had caused the strands of hair around his face to stick to his skin while the swollen skin around his nose radiated a bright red shade. His eyebrows were pointed downward and his jaw clenched tight, it was obvious now that he had been harboring his own anger.

"It's because I'm right, isn't it?" He shot back. "That's why you have such a chip on your shoulder!"

"Shut your mouth!"

"No," Takamine barked, "Listen to me, for once!"

"I'll never listen to you!" She shook her head from right to left with enough force to cause her hair to swing. "Just stay away from me; I never want to speak to you again!"

Silence.

She could feel her chest rising and falling after the shouting match. Her eyes stayed glued to the younger male duo in front of her. After her last loud statement, Takamine's face softened. His thick black eyebrows lifted from his eyes and reached to top of his forehead. Small beads of sweat built from moments passed continued to trickle down his cheek and drip off his strong chin.

Had she offended him? Good, he deserved it. How dare he try to understand her or her lifestyle? He had known her for three months; in that time he did not gain her respect enough to criticize her life. As far as she was concerned, she never wanted to speak or see him again.

The sound of small breaths caught the trio off guard. Ureshii whirled her neck to the right to see her younger sister, Ren standing in the doorway. In her hands she managed to juggle a bag of ice, two pills and a glass of water. The lock on her chubby cheeks was enough to let elder sister know she had been standing in the doorway for sometime. She had heard the whole thing.

Her eyebrows were flipped upside down while her blue eyes concentrated on the tile floor. Her lips parted slightly and her chest moved upward and downward in a mess of shallow breaths.

"Ren…" Gash's small voice echoed through the hall.

"Our parents aren't divorced."

Ureshii felt the heavy inhales and exhales come to a slow stop. Her body loosened from its stiff form and her shoulders relaxed. She knew what was coming next, Ren would explain to Takamine and Gash their family's past life. Great, this was a story she'd rather not rehash. She felt the weight from her legs give way and her backside hit the soft cushion of her chair. Ureshii then threw her right leg over her left and turned her chin to the west. If she was going to hear this story over again, she didn't want to see his reaction.

"Our father passed away a year ago."

The female book holder felt her heart wince. She allowed her eyelids to slowly fall over her baby blue eyes. His eyes, she could feel his eyes land on her, staring at her. But she couldn't look at him, she refused to.

"I…" Takamine made a small effort to speak.

"He was very sick." Ren's voice entered the air. "And he passed away."

"I'm sorry." Gash squeaked while the sound of his shifting clothes let Ureshii know he had taken his seat back.

"I…" Takamine spoke up once again, "We didn't know."

Ureshii felt her dying anger spark once again, "Of course you didn't."

Instead of fighting back, her rival book holder remained silent. Taking advantage of the fact that they were not locked in a stare, Ureshii rolled her eyes and grunted. What an idiot, she had never disliked anyone as much as she distasted him.

"Ureshii?"

She felt her right brow lift in interest after hearing Gash's high-pitched voice call to her. She couldn't turn around to face him or Takamine, not during this moment, with this conversation continuing. And yet, her affection for someone as small and innocent as Gash required some respect. Ureshii turned her chin to her shoulder and moved her eyes to stare at the tiny blond demon.

"Is that why you ran away?"

A second jab to her heart. That was a question she wasn't expecting to come her way. So he had listened and remembered their conversation from that day three months ago…

"You were a runaway?"

Was it only three months ago when that conversation happened? The memories that flashed back in her mind, it was as if they took place years ago. So Takamine had only taken up nine weeks of her life? Why did it seem as if she had known this boy her entire life? A lifetime spent with Takamine? It was a thought she refused to keep in her mind for too long. It was three months she could never get back.

"Yes." Ren spoke again. "After he passed, I don't think Ureshii could take it."

Damn, why did they have to talk about this in front of her? As if she wasn't there?

"How long was she gone?" Takamine asked.

"For about ten hours." Ren confessed. "When she returned, she had Ne with her."

"So then," The older male continued, "She was transferred to Mochinoki City?"

No, there was no way they were going to continue any further. Not with her present. Enough was enough and she had far enough. They weren't going to disrespect her in her own home by speaking ill of her. She wasn't going to stand for it.

"Yes," Ren answered. "Our mom-"

Ureshii bolted from her seat in her chair and whirled around to face Takamine and her sister. With both of her fists clenched and a tight glare equipped she barked back, "Enough! He doesn't need to know anymore!"

Ren gulped in fear before mewing, "But Ureshii…"

"No!" Her voice vibrated through her lips. "Show them out, Ren! Get them out of my house!"

She wasn't going to give him the gratitude of seeing her for one second longer. Ureshii pressed through the large living room into the elongated hall. The sounds of her echoing footsteps were just the sound she wanted to hear. No more chatting, no more reminiscing, just silence. She never wanted to hear Takamine's voice again.

Act End.