Chapter Thirty-Five
A Warm Jacket
3rd POV
She stood at the door, her hand raised and cocked, ready to knock on the door, however, Sicily couldn't find it in herself just yet to hit the wood. Thoughts swarmed inside her head, echoing her earlier worries about how Yusuke might resent, thinking she only used him for a bed to sleep in and shelter to stay in. Thinking that she had only been a burden throughout; yet Sicily forced herself to gulp down the burning sensation in her throat, and she gingerly knocked upon the door.
"Come in," the red heads faint voice said, and after the tiniest moment, she plastered on the largest smile she could muster at the time being, and strolled inside, finding the said teenager sitting on his bed. The second Yusuke caught sight of the white haired girl, a tiny blush tinted his cheeks, but a smile spread onto his lips as well.
"S-Sicily," he managed to muster out, clearing his throat into his fist. "Why are you up, are you okay?" Yusuke asked with concern dancing in ruby orbs, having caught the fake smile spread out on her lips. He felt his stomach drop when he saw that her feigned happiness became even more strained.
Only a couple hours ago she was giving out genuine smiles, pure happiness beaming from her form. Now… she seemed to be going back to old ways.
"I just wanted to say goodbye, and to thank you before I head out," she said softly, her velvety voice no longer seeming so beautiful the second her words reached his ears.
"What do you mean heading out," Yusuke heatedly replied, his eyes filling with fury as he griped onto her shoulders in a gentle but firm grip, staring deeply into her own crisp blue orbs. He clenched his jaw and had to control himself from fisting his hands at the thought of her going back to whatever dreadful person who had harmed her in the first place. It was unthinkable, and he refused to allow it to happen.
"I have to go home Yusuke," she frowned, her eyebrows furrowing while the feigned smile on her lips faltered. "I mean we have school tomorrow… plus I should really be heading back…" she trailed off with a tiny frown, not completely sure why Yusuke wasn't all for her leaving. He had been so kind to her, but she had thought he would happy that she wasn't leeching off of them anymore.
"You could stay the night here! I could go pick up your uniform, and-" the red haired teenager exclaimed, before he was softly cut off by Sicily as she gave him a sincere, sad smile. Though despite her smile, he could see the fear gleaming in her eyes, like the thought of him going over to her house frightened her.
"No, really Yusuke its okay, just… thank you so much, for everything," the white haired girl answered back, the last couple words coming out in a soft whisper. Cocking her head lightly to the side, she saw the defiant look gleaming in his red orbs, and so she reached over and embraced him tightly. Yusuke stiffened for a moment, his eyes wide and his heart pounding against his chest as he felt her warm body envelope him. After a moment or two, he finally hugged her back tightly, breathing in the sweet scent of her silky hair.
He held her for a long time, not wanting to release her just yet, and Sicily complied, the tiniest smile making its way to her pretty pink lips as she smiled into his shoulder.
3rd POV, Time Skip
Breathing out a long sigh, Sicily's fair skinned shoulders slumped heftily, almost as if hundreds of weights rested onto her dainty shoulders. She had left immediately after hugging her red haired friend, feeling this weird pit grow in her stomach when she caught a strange flashed go through Yusuke's ruby red orbs. She wasn't sure what emotion had taken over his features, but whatever it was, she wasn't too sure if she liked it or not. It was something foreign to the white haired beauty, something she had never seen before, and yet, for a reason she could not understand at the moment, Sicily detested it.
Shaking her head lightly, she rid her mind of such thoughts as she sat down on the bench nearby, her crisp blue eyes suddenly finding the ground fascinating. Despite all the things she said earlier about needing to get back to her Aunt Amaya, she couldn't find it in herself just yet to return to the way things were. Sicily still felt this queasy feeling in her stomach every time her dark thoughts recalled of her times in Amaya's "care" and despite the fact that she would never want to burden them again, the white haired girl couldn't help but feel this urge to run back to the Asahina's again.
"Oh, what do I do," Sicily sighed to herself sorrowfully, her hands digging through her snowy tresses. Her lithe fingers clenched around the white strands as her rapid thoughts overtook her.
I have to go back to Amaya's; it was wrong for me to leave in the first place. She was… she was just putting me in my place, and I was just being a burden… Besides its not like I can go back to the Asahina's, I was being a horrible person, I was just using them… I was just being a burden to them like I was being towards Amaya-
"Are you okay there my dear," a sudden voice said, breaking through Sicilys thoughts as the said girl jerked her head up, coming face to face with an unfamiliar man standing directly in front of her form.
He looked to be much older than her, and had long, shiny penny copper hair that was tied back at the nape of his neck, with soulful brown eyes that peered down at her from his tall height. He was also dressed in the appropriately clothes for the chilly night, and from the way his delicate eyebrows furrowed together, as his brown orbs roamed her own clothes, he appeared genuinely worried for her state of being.
Before leaving Sicily had decided to change back into the clothes that she had been wearing the night that Yusuke had found her, and so she out in biting cold weather with her mere basketball shorts and long sleeve shirt.
Forcing a smile, the girl tucked her silky hair behind her ear. "Yes, I'm fine," she replied softly, the tiniest bit of pink sprinkling onto her cheeks when she realized how foolish looking she must seem.
"Are you sure my dear, you're starting to look a bit like death warmed over," the man continued teasingly but kindly, his tone obviously showing that he wasn't insulting Sicily in any way, he was just a bit concerned for her.
"Yes, thank you, but I'm fine. I was just going on my way," Sicily stated politely, lifting up from her warmed spot on her bench. The white haired girl then started moving as if to walk away until she was abruptly stopped by the mysterious man, who gave her a small smile, his eyes clearly telling her he meant no ill intent.
"I'm sorry, I mean no harm at all my dear, but I don't think a girl as sweet as yourself should be out in this cold weather dressed as you are," he continued a little stubbornly, and before Sicily could protest, the man pulled off his thick jacket, and wrapped the heft material around her dainty shoulders, his kind smile still in place on his face. "There, I'm sure that you're much warmer now."
"No, really, it's okay," Sicily ushered hurriedly as she tried to pull off the big, admittedly warm, jacket from around her body; at least that was until the man stopped her, placing a comforting hand onto her shoulder.
"I insist. Besides you look much better with it than I ever did," he grinned, taking his hand away from her shoulder. Sighing deeply, Sicily complied, not able to find the strength at the moment to fight this unnamed man with the jacket. Instead, the girl slipped her arms through the hole, holding herself tightly as she let the warmth envelope her.
Glancing up, she couldn't help but let out a sincere, brilliant smile at the man's uncommon kindness, watching as his own kind, chocolaty eyes smiled back.
After a relaxing pregnant pause filled the air, the girl finally spoke. "… My name is Sicily," she introduced with her normal velvety voice, not noticing how the man's smile got bigger at the mention of her name.
"It's a pleasure Sicily, my name is Hikaru," he answered back, placing his hand over his heart.
And just like that, after the two exchanged goodnights, they each separated back to the places they had been originally heading two. Both of their minds occupied with the other.
To be continued…
A/N: I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE! I had such a hard time with this chapter, I just could not find any inspiration until today to continue it, but don't worry I am back now! Also you should know I lost the paper I was tallying up all the votes on and had to do it all AGAIN! Ugh so here it is! THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING/FAVS/REVIEWS, PLEASE IGNORE ANY GRAMMAR ERRORS! So I've been getting a lot of reviews saying they would rather it be Sicily/All for the ending pairing, if there's a lot of people who would rather have that then I shall do that, however I would really rather her end up with one or two people but if you all love that idea then I shall do it.
To woahxmaddie: Thank you so much, and I really wanted to make sure she didn't turn Mary-Sue, those characters are just the worst for me.
To anshika: I am so sorry for my absence, and I'm sorry to hear about your uncle. I'm glad your friend came to find you, and you shouldn't be worried about crying, it's just something that shows you're human and you have emotions as well. I know you want to be strong for your family, but trust me, putting off grieving is not going to make anything better.
To Tisha: I didn't really want to do a permanent harem just cause I'm just in the middle with permanent harems…
To Nobody2u: Thank you, and I am considering to just have it be Sicily/harem for the rest of the story. I love your picture by the way!
To AnimeBestie: Thank you for the support I just feel bad for keeping you guys for months this time. Hopefully I'll get the next chapter out soon!
To RavenMichaelis: Thank you and awesome name by the way.
To Shiraha: Thank you and sorry, I wasn't trying to make Kaname come across sleezy. I just kind of wanted to make it like Kaname was trying to get Sicily to warm up more him, and for him that would be teasing and flirting with her. I apologize!
To LoverGirl71793: Thank you for understanding, hopefully I'll get another chapter out soon!:3
To sxs1000: Sorry for the late update, hope you enjoy this chapter as well!
To kuroi: Like I said I'm considering it. Also I'm sorry for the late update.
To Guest: Well you got some sweet Yusuke moments hehe:3