Chapter Twenty-Nine:
K Bunny
"Kiss of Dawn!"
Another perfect hit.
I had been at this for at least a good five hours. No one had come to bother me, not once, and that really made my day seem a little brighter. My body was tired but every one of my moves was flawless, exact.
The air outside was a little chilly with a wind that had decided to blow through, even if it was around late afternoon or so. Most people were still at the match of Jackal Kuwahara versus Shuichiro Oishi. I had my match tomorrow, so I planned on making sure everything was spot-on. But my mind had been elsewhere the entire day. No matter how hard I tried to concentrate on the ball, the harder it seemed to actually lose myself to said concentration.
I kept seeing onyx eyes in my mind, ebony hair. Pale skin that shined in the light and a body that was sculpted from polished marble, but at the same time too thin... Sweet, loving lips and long, dark lashes… Someone tall, dark, mysterious… Someone that had loved me so unconditionally he wanted me to wed him later in life…
"I can't go on like this. I'm an emotional wreck," I whispered to myself, running a hand through my red hair, eyes watering more and more as the minutes went by.
The memories just would not stop...
"Don't get smart with me mister! Or I'll-"
"You'll?" He raised a delicate and beautiful eyebrow. Everything about him was so perfect, at least in my eyes. Some might not like his extremely thin form, or his broad shoulders, his pale skin, his glasses, or his dark eyes. I was not one of them.
"I'll do this!" I jumped on him, trying to tickle him.
"Ha, nice try." He flipped me over, his body completely over mine. He got that evil little grin of his on and then started mercilessly tickling me.
"Ryo! R-Ryo!" I begged. "S-Stop! I'm going to c-cry!"
"Aw, poor thing." He tickled harder, smirking even wider.
"Ryo!" I pouted while laughing. "Come on!"
He stopped as I started pouting, staring at me before his lips lightly take mine. Sweet, sensual… I blushed at the complete randomness of it, but that was why he was called The Lover. He was my completely unexpected random moment.
He would always find the silliest ways to make me happy. He was just so random, so different. I loved him for that, and for many other reasons.
Ryo dropped by out of nowhere, literally scaring me. He leaned down, pinning me to a locker just by his lips, then walked off without a word needed.
"Wow, that is sexy." Paige laughed. "He doesn't even say anything! For some reason, that's a big turn-on."
He was just so romantic constantly. It got tiring, yes, but he knew when to be the friend and when to be the boyfriend. It was like he was inside my head, constantly twisting his own personality to suit my constant mood changes.
"You were awe-inspiring!" Paige hugged Vance as she leapt on him. "Though I'm still put off that you had to play a woman."
"Tell me about it!" Serenity was holding off Ty as he tried his hardest to kiss her with his bright red lipstick on, which actually looked good on him with the long blonde wig.
"Lucky me, I don't have a cross-dresser." I gave a quick kiss to Ryo. "You were really great."
"Thanks," he chuckled and gave me another kiss. "Just to let you know, I'm wearing chap stick."
I sweat-dropped, "Damn you."
The guys were just so different. They acted different, they knew they were different- they were loved because they were different. How many men can actually be comfortable enough in their sexuality to get onstage- wearing makeup no less- and dress like girls? Very strong, brave men that were dedicated to their profession. It was inspiring.
"Kimmy Castille, would you sign here?" Matt asked, handing me a clipboard.
I blinked, startled. "Uh... okay?" I signed my name.
"Bring 'em in!" Matt called, moving out of the way as the flowers were set on my desk. But that wasn't the only vase. Nine vases in all are set across my desk, each holding a note with a little white card tied on it with a pretty red ribbon. Each card had a number scrawled on the front in familiar writing. "That's all of 'em, Queen Kimmy."
My attention was on the many vases, jaw dropped. He didn't...
"Well, since they made such a big display, then go ahead and read them." The teacher smiled, allowing me to do what I was about to do anyways. "But all of you that brought the vases wait here. You'll need to bring these to her room so it doesn't clutter my classroom up."
"Yes ma'am."
I snatched the first card, reading it aloud. "'Kimmy,'" was all I said. I grabbed card two. "'I'm so sorry.'" Grabbing card three, I opened it, "'To prove it'," I read, then reached for card four, "'here's a daisy'." Card five, "'for every day'." Card six, "'we've been together.'" Card seven, "'I never meant to upset you.'" Card eight, "'Please forgive me?'" Card nine, "'Love, Ryo Takahashi.'"
He had done everything in his power to keep me happy. And the worst part of all is… he was good at it. No matter what he did that was bad, I always forgave him. He deserved my forgiveness. But everything was building up over time. It had been since the very beginning, but we had never realized it. Everything had been planned out by fate. It was not what one would call a fairy-tale romance. Yet, was it the imperfections that made us so perfect for one another?
"I know," I smiled at him. "I know you meant it because you wouldn't have tried so hard to prove it."
"And, do you accept my apology?" He fell to one knee, taking my hand in his and kissing it.
Even if I wanted to, which I did not, I could not say no to that. No girl would dare.
"Of course I do," I nodded. He stood, kissing me sweetly, brushing the hair from my face as he did. "But Ryo, you do feel the tension building right? It's still there..."
"Whatever happens, we can make it through..."
But apparently 'whatever' was not something we were ready for, even in the end. We could not make it through anything, obviously. We had fooled ourselves time and time again to believe it, all because we knew one thing for certain: we loved each other entirely.
By now, I had tears on my cheeks. My bangs shadowed my eyes as I gripped at the ground in vain, hoping it would swallow me whole if I pushed hard enough. I could feel my nails digging into my palms and little streamlets of liquid dripping from my digits. Yet, it did not hurt. How could it, when so much more hurt far worse than a physical wound?
"Ryo, we're just too different..." I stared at the ring, lips quivering. Why was this hurting so bad? Was I in love him?
"Kimmy, what do you mean by that?" I could hear the anger still in his tone, though it was laced with a kind of anxious fear.
My bangs shadowed my face. The box with the gorgeous ring in it dropped to the ground, my fists clenched.
I had to do it. I could feel we both needed it, though neither of us wanted it.
Why was it so hard to form the words though?
"I'm," tears were freely falling at this point, "I'm... I'm breaking up with you, Ryo."
It was my fault; I had broken up with him, but in my mind it was for the best. We had done nothing but fought ever since the beginning of the tournament. It proved to me how different we were. I did not understand the single-most important thing in his life, and he did not understand mine.
We were just too different...
But when you are in love, does that really matter?
"I hate life!" I slammed my hands on the ground, gritting my teeth with my snarl.
A gentle hand placed itself on my back, rubbing small circles to try and alleviate the emotional roller coaster. I growled, knowing who it was. This was just like before… it was always the same person.
"Go away Syusuke. I need to be alone for a while."
"Even if I were Fuji, I wouldn't leave." The voice was liquid gold, sweet and smooth as always. It startled me that he was there. It was not what I expected.
"Keigo?"
"Why is someone as beautiful as you crying, Kimmy-hime?" He moved to where he was crouched in front of me, lifting my chin to stare into my eyes, "You don't need to be crying. It's not like you."
"I'm weaker than I seem," I choked, forcing a smirk, though that hurt more than anything.
"Isn't everyone?" He sat, proving he would not be leaving no matter what I said. That was Atobe for you. His fingers lightly wiped the tears away and his hands pried my own from digging my nails into my palms more, "You don't need to make yourself bleed either. Not before an important match. Not in general."
"Keigo, I appreciate the concern, but please just leave." I did not want him to leave, but I said it anyways. Why? Why did I push people away like this?
"Nope," he waved a finger with one of his signature winks. "That's not something Ore-sama would do. And something out of character for Ore-sama is out of the question!"
I could not help but give a small, throaty laugh. It hurt, but it was genuine, "What are you doing here?"
"I should ask you the same thing. I was just out for a jog." It was then I noticed the shorts and polo he had on. Yet again, it was name brand, even up to the sweatband on his head. "Practicing?" I nodded in affirmation. "Well, it turned into something more. I'm not going to leave you here like this, no matter what threat you make. So don't even try."
I grumbled under my breath, cursing him many times over. But I was grateful for his company. "Thank you, Keigo," I smiled softly at the handsome boy.
"Are you going to tell me what has you crying now?" He let one of his perfect brows cock, swiping the hair from my face as he did to better view what I was sure was swollen and red.
I bit my lip, "Didn't you witness the... break-up?"
"No, but I've heard of it already. Seems the male population is near celebration, along with the girls too. And I've seen the collection growing outside your room. Chocolates, flowers, every type of romantic gift ever," he chuckled dryly. "I was actually thinking of putting a couple things up for a gag. Maybe a punching bag?"
I giggled despite myself, "That would make my day."
"Then I'll make a point of finding anyway of doing that," he beamed. "So, you miss him?"
"More than I expected," I took a deep, steadying breath. "I didn't imagine it to be this hard."
"You were in love. You still are in love."
"That's the thing that bothers me, Keigo. I don't think I was completely in love. I know I love him, that's obvious, but in love might be too far," I ran a hand eagerly through my hair, trying to stave off my rampant thoughts. "That's the part that bothers me. He was my best friend before anything. Then this progressed. I want him still, but I can't hurt us that much."
"Don't lie to me, Kimmy Castille. You are in love with him."
I started crying again and he wrapped his arms around me as a real friend, someone I should really spend more time with. I felt so weak though, helpless, "Maybe I am Keigo. But I'm tired of us hurting each other. I want his friendship at least."
"You'll have it, don't worry. How could someone have met you, and then completely forget about you? It's impossible." He kissed my hair and I pulled away from him, searching his face for an answer, "No matter what happens, you will face each other." Atobe grinned his signature beaming one, brushing the hair from his face, "Besides, you don't need to cry so much before a big match. Not only is it bad to be exhausted, but the red in your eyes brings the green out and makes you even prettier than Ore-sama! It's just not right!"
I hugged him even tighter now, laughing, "Thank you so much, Keigo."
"Anytime, Kimmy-hime. But I did want to ask you something. Though if it isn't the right time, then please tell me."
"Ask away, Keigo-sama."
"First, I prefer Keigo-kun when it comes from you," he mumbled pleasantly. "Second, I was wondering if you had a date for the Sport's Banquet whenever it comes around."
I cringed; I had not ever talked to him about it, "No, I don't."
"Would you mind if I asked you to be my date?" Atobe whispered, waiting for my reply.
I contemplated on what I should say to the boy. I vaguely remembered promising Syusuke I would go to the next banquet with him all those many years ago, but for some reason it would not seem right to do so. If there was one person Ryo never approved of, it was Syusuke Fuji. It would feel too much like revenge if I went with him.
"I wouldn't mind."
"Please, Kimmy Elissa Castille, would you be my date to the upcoming Sport's Banquet?"
"Yes I will, as friends."
He cheered, gently helping me to my feet, "On one condition though."
Oh God, here we go. "And what's that?"
"You let me buy everything."
I bit my lip, replying, "You won't take no for an answer, will you?"
"Nope!" he added playfully.
"Then I suppose I have no choice."
"Ore-sama wins!" Atobe kissed my head for the umpteenth time. "We can go shopping the weekend before the banquet, alright Kimmy-hime?"
"Yes, that sounds fine to me," I murmured. "I think I'm going to head back to my room. I need as much sleep as I can get so I'm not sore tomorrow."
"Allow me to walk you?" he linked his arm with mine and we turned.
As I moved, I see a large, stuffed bunny rabbit sitting on the bench. It was white, with a large red 'K' on the front of it.
"Keigo, did you buy me a bunny?"
"No, that was there when I got here," he huffed. "I thought you'd brought it with you to the courts."
I walked over to the bunny and noticed the single chocolate kiss sitting on the nose. I examine the candy in silent awe, then the two-foot rabbit.
"Secret admirer?"
"The one that sticks out the most of everyone else," I sighed with a minuscule smile. "Hershey's kisses, a joint video game, a huge bunny, and other random things.
"Well I promise on my beauty it wasn't I," he brushed his hair from his face. I knew it was not him just from that statement. Atobe would have gladly owned up to it.
"I believe you with that one, Keigo-kun. Now, let's get back to my room," I linked my arm with his again, the bunny in my arms and the kiss melting in my mouth.
