Chapter 17: Misfortunes

Hope you'll gonna like this.


It was early morning when we reach the ski resort, the mountain of snow made me wonder in amazement and fascination, the whole place was covered with white which makes it more beautiful and enchanting in my point of view. Hikaru told me that Fuuto rented VIP hotel rooms for them as he heard about the news of celebrating the holy night in this resort. I have to admit that brat has a big income for his age (which made me jealous… a little tehe). I leaned even more on the glass when Hikaru pointed a huge Christmas tree from here as we got higher and many people surrounding the said thing my face lighten at the scene and can't wait to see it up close.

Natsume and Hikaru's features turned gentle seeing her smile like this.

As we got out of the elevator I saw Ema and Yuusuke waiting for us, her beautiful innocent smile instinctively spotted on her face when she saw our figures.

"Rin-chan!"

She smoothly waved her hand and walked towards us before giving me a firm hug. "Glad you came."

I let her go before I grinned knowingly. "Of course, though you really are sly one Ema-chi." I whispered that part.

"Sorry."

She chuckled lightly before greeting the two behind me and softly tugged me to the others who were waiting for us. I was greeted by them immediately when they saw me entered. It seems like they are still having their breakfast because of the delicious scent covering the whole place. My face heat up hearing my stomach grumbled loudly causing everyone to be quite (..well excuse me for not having the breakfast this morning because I overslept! I was still in my pajama when Hikaru knocked on my door that morning). I shot him a glare when I saw his annoying smirk. Masaomi gently patted my head and invited us to eat breakfast with them since after this we will be going to enjoy the rest of the day in snow which means snowboarding baby ha!


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Just like the plan we went out wearing our proper outfits for this weather except for Masaomi and Hikaru who decided to stay at the hotel, I looked around and noticed so many people. Well, considering it was holy night tonight and Fuuto was having a live concert also. I saw Natsume not far away and doing snowboarding alone, I have to admit he was really cool doing this gliding part without effort.

I fixed my purple bonnet before looking back at Ema and Yuusuke. He was giving us an instructions of how to use snowboard. It was rather cute how he eagerly volunteered to teach us with this. I blow my hand not because I'm cold since my blue purple winter outfit warms me enough in this weather thanks to Ema for buying this for me.

"Just make sure that your heels make a small gap… Lift a bit and bring it down."

Ema and I followed his instruction and did what he said, I never mentioned but both of us are really suck in sports. At least most.

"Strap the belt around your ankle tightly." He continued and kneeled in front of Ema. I followed his action again and strapped the belt around my ankle carefully. "You are doing it wrong Rina." I jerked and stared at him, I looked at how he strapped the belt around Ema's ankle then to mine.

"I think I did it right, I just followed you…"

"No, you strap it wrongly, look…" He pointed. "It's a little loose, this ski slope is rather unsteady so it can get dangerous."

"Oh."

Well, he was right. I thought it'll be comfortable in that way.

"Here let me do it again…" He gently loosens the strap and straps it again around my ankle. When he's done I patted his head before I grinned happily.

"Thank you Yusu-kun."

"Y-You're welcome." His brief reply avoiding my gaze immediately.

Natsume showed up suddenly doing this cool gliding and hitting some snow to Yusuke.

"Natsu-nii!"

"Natsume-san."

"You three not gonna be sliding down yet?" He asked.

"We are still in the middle of preparing."

Yusuke answered while wiping away the snow on his face.

"Natsume-san is good at snowboarding huh." Ema admired. I nodded my head in agreement.

"Is that so? What I did was just gliding down and it's only self-taught."

My eye twitched in annoyance, not to him though, I just found it unfair how some people was born with natural talent.

"I don't think that at all, you are very cool." My friend added.

"Yeah, its quiet unfair, if we only have confidence to do that." I puffed my cheeks.

"I see. Well, thank you. I'm sure you can do it also." He said before looking at our snowboards. "Did you rent that?"

"Ah yes." Ema replied.

"Aren't you both first time snowboarding? Isn't the shorter one better?"

"Really?" I whispered to myself before staring at my snowboard, I like this one because it was color purple which matches my outfit today and besides it's my favorite color.

"There is nothing like that. The rental shop was crowded and I just picked the best out there!"

Yusuke crossed his arms, I looked through my shoulder when I heard a gliding sound coming towards us and saw Kaname stopped in the middle of Ema and I. "Is it alright to just go with what Yuu-chan chose?"

"Do you have the right to say that? We only decided to go there yesterday, that's why I haven't done enough preparation!" He huffed.

"I think this is alright, besides, I trusts Yusu-kun." I grinned before I stared at him and winked at the same time. He blushed furiously before clearing his throat.

"Well, everything is fate. So here we all are, which is a sign of good luck."

"So the good quality of this snow is considered as good luck too?" Natsume asked.

"Yep. We are now currently enjoying such a good luck on this ski slope." He finished before putting his hands on our shoulders. "Well then, imouto-chan, Rina, let's go so I can teach you."

"Hey!" Yusuke interrupted. "I will be the one to teach them!"

"Huh? Yuu-chan, are you hungry? That must be why you're this irritated."

"Am not! I'm still full!"

I almost chuckled at Kaname's question since clearly he was doing this on purpose. "Well then, let's go imouto-chan, Rina."

"Just let him be and go with me." Yusuke interrupted again.

"Ehh…uhmm…"

My friend beside me looks so troubled, I sighed in irritation at this two. I gently grab my friend's hand and gestures her to reject the two.

"It is not Yuu-chan that I want to follow, but both of them."

"I told you to stop with that!"

My vein popped with them and decided to end their little fight. "You can teach me Kaname-san while Yusuke can teach Ema-chi is that okay?" I, this time interrupted their mini banter and both stopped as they stared at me. I heard Ema's long outbreath when suddenly I felt her gently gliding down away with us since I was still holding her hand I firmly held her tightly hoping to stop her from gliding but to no avail she didn't considering it was a slope, unexpectedly I glided down also with her, hands still holding. Kaname and Yusuke tried to reach us but they bumped into each other instead.

"Oh sh-!"

I saw Natsume reacted immediately, since Ema was closer to him I softly pushed my friend towards his direction. I was glad he caught her instantly before she glided down farther with me.

"Good caught Natsume-san!"

I shouted while beaming at his way.

"Rin-chan!"

That's what I last heard before I slides down faster.

No shit Sherlock! I'm gonna die!

I think the whole ski resort heard my shriek. I tried to control my board but I was too scared to do that because maybe I roll down instead of gliding down, I don't want to break any of my body parts after this one day vacation!

"Rina!"

I heard Natsume's calling my name. I tried to looked on my shoulder and saw he was following me behind, not just only him but Yusuke also. I wanted to jump in happiness but it was died down immediately when I noticed I was gliding down faster and faster.

Are you kidding me!

"Ahh!"

Everything turned fast because the next thing I knew someone showed up in my front of me, swiftly grab my waist and pulled me to him, I shrieked again when we both stumbled and fall on our knees. In some weird way I ended up above the stranger but my face still hit the snow.

"Itai…" I groaned before wiping away some snow on my face and move my body away from the stranger.

"Are you alright?" I didn't glance at him but I know he was standing up again on his feet.

"Yeah, I think so…" I sighed in relief before fixing my bonnet that was covering my face. "Thank you any –" I stopped when I looked up at the stranger. I think not just only the snow made everything frozen but also time when I recognized my savior. I felt my lips parting slightly as my eyes turned wide.

"R-Rina?"

His familiar dark brown eyes are wide like mine and chisel brownish hair with black tint at the tip flashed in my sight, I think my throat turned dry seeing his very familiar handsome face.

"Rina!"

I whipped my head when I saw Natsume and Yusuke stopped in front of us before they both kneeled in front of me.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt? Do you want to go back to the hotel?"

Yusuke asked me first. I shook my head and smiled at them. "Nope I'm totally fine…."

"Are you certain?" Natsume asked seriously, I nodded my head in confirmation. "That's a relief." His feature turned gentle before he turned his attention at the stranger (well not really a stranger for my part of course). "Thank you for saving her."

"Ah, it's fine. Besides, I can't just stand there and watch since I was nearby when I saw what happened..."

I gazed at both of them, before I felt Yusuke's gentle hand and helped me on my feet again. He apologized to me but I beamed at him and patted his head again. "Don't worry. Like Kaname-san said, it was fate." I whispered. Before turning my attention to the two talking. "Thank you again."

They both stopped when they heard me. "Ah… no problem Rina. It's good to see you again…"

He almost whispered to himself, eyes turned tender. I nodded my head before I smiled a little. "Yeah… good to see you too."

"How you've been doing?"

"I'm doing fine, my new school is great and I got new friends." My brief answered to him.

"I see… that's good to hear…" He scratched the back of his head. "This is really unexpected, I mean… it's been a while. Since you know we kinda didn't have a good tal –"

"It's okay."

I purposely interrupted him since there are audiences. I don't want to talk about what happened between us right now maybe next time but for now... I was glad he did get my message when he noticed my firm gaze.

"Uhm… I'll see you later then." He said still staring at me, what confuses me is he didn't make a move and remain from his spot. I can see he was in deep thought and struggling inside, I think he wanted to say something. "Maybe..." He started. "Maybe... If you have time I mean we could talk..."

I sigh quietly, such a good timing to ask such thing. "Not now but maybe tomorrow..." I declined obviously hoping to end this conversation.

His eyes held mine for a long moment before he nodded his head in approval and finally bid us goodbye, I sighed inwardly and watched him walked away from us. Natsume's questioning gaze landed on my form.

"A friend?"

"Ah yes." Sort of. "It was actually surprising to see him here…"

"Who is he?" Yusuke's enquiry beside me.

"His name is Kagami Ichino." I answered. "He was my sempai in Itada High."

"I see. So that's why he called you familiarly." Natsume muttered.

"Actually there's more to that…" I crossed my arms before looking back where the said guy gone off. "He's my ex."


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"I'm tired, but I think I can handle it now…" I puffed my cheeks as I laid down on the snow, I can remember how Ema's face looked relieved and happy when she saw us coming back towards their direction, I can see clearly the brimming tears in her eyes as she hugged me tightly, Kaname asked me immediately afterwards, his sincere and worried face made me smile also. After that unexpected ordeal I managed to convince Ema that I'm totally fine and we can still go on and learn snowboarding. Since I already mentioned that Yusuke gonna teach her I was left under the care of the blond monk who was sitting beside me.

"You are a fast learner in my opinion Rina." He said. "I hope what happened a while ago will not going to happen again since you can do it properly now."

"You think so?"

I tilted my head in his direction. "Yes, just a little polishing and you're ready. Besides, a fair maiden like you need extra skills right?" His warming smile and sincere words made me smile back at him.

"Aww... You really know how to sweet talk a girl."

He chuckled. "I was being honest here. It's not the only reason though, I just don't want to repeat what happened a while ago to you or to imouto-chan." He finished calmly.

"I like this side of you Kaname-san..." I mumbled to him before gazing up the sky. "Since you always wore a mask... I mean, you always used this other one to hide your true emotions. I just like this one it's different yet refreshing... Do you get what I mean?" He was quiet beside me and I glanced back at him. "Kaname-san?"

"Now I know why the others found you very interesting Rina."

My face contorted in confusion before his serious facade turned into gentle and a smile crept on his lips. "Anyways, I wanted to ask you, has something happened after you were saved by this guy?"

I tilted my head again. "Uhh… nothing? Why?"

"Well, it's seems my brothers aren't pleased because of that."

"Pch, you're just jumping into conclusion Kaname-san, besides it's not just a mere guy who saved me, he was a former schoolmate and my ex."

I turned my stare at the sky again.

"Hmm… interesting."

Interesting indeed, it seems this one day get away have become more than that considering Ichino was here... So much for having some fun, this just only proves how fate is so cruel to me. No, I think it was being super cruel to me, like what, of all places Ichino chose to celebrate here? So much for making my life exciting and miserable...

I groaned mentally but stopped when we heard Yusuke calling us out.

"Oi! Kana-nii! Rina!"

"Did he just climb up from down there up here?

Kaname's awed tone made me jerk from my position and looked at Yusuke, he stopped right in front of me and still catching his breath.

"Wow. You're amazing Yusu-kun..." I muttered in bewilderment. I did really admire his determination and stamina though...

He was still catching his breath before he put his right hand on my snowboard and gazed at me. "Hey, let's eat."

I cocked my eyebrow at his statement. "Uhm sure? Wait, where's Ema-chi anyway?"

"She's over there with Natsu-nii. I wanted to invite her but she seems having fun in learning the snowboarding..." He pointed their direction at the same time.

My questioning gaze landed onto him again. "I thought you'll gonna teach her?"

"Yeah... But... "

He scratched the nape of his neck while a pink tinge slowly forming in his cheeks, he momentarily looked at my face before avoiding it again. Before I could asked his weird behavior Kaname chuckled beside me before he patted Yusuke's head.

"I'll go to them, just come back after you're done eating."

Was his words before gliding away to us.

"Why does it sound like you're making an excuse to have me alone Yusu-kun?"

I asked still looking where Kaname gone off before glancing at him and saw how his body turned rigid while his face heating up.

"W-What? I'm not! I really am hungry!"

I snickered at his obvious defense. But oh well, Yusuke was really fun to tease.


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We ended up in a restaurant after teasing him for some moment. Yusuke immediately ordered a bowl of Ramen while I chose to have a cup of tea since really I'm still full. His slurping sound made me looked at the red hair and smiled fondly at his satisfied face until he noticed my stares.

"Do you want some? To warm you up?"

"It's alright this tea is enough to warm me. Thanks for offering anyway."

My lips quirked into a smile before I sipped my tea.

"You are able to slide for a bit right? Do you want to try the advance level course?"

"Well...yeah but I think I need more time to practice."

"It's alright! I will help you!" His eager reply. "I can pick the course if you want so that you can follow me."

I raised my brows before I placed my hand on my chin and considering his offer, well aside from his eagerness which really fascinates me I think it would be fine, since he was going to pick up the course.

"Okay then."

My brief words. His lips formed a wide smile, almost big for my taste though and still gawking at me.

"Is something wrong?" I cocked my brow when he said 'nothing' and continued to eat. My sharp eyes didn't miss his warm cheeks. I was still looking at him when I noticed his lost expression but I shrugged off his weirdness and sipped my tea again. We were covered for few seconds in silence until Hikaru showed up and seated at the empty chair between us.

"Hikaru-san." My nochalant greeting as I sipped my tea after.

"Hi Rina."

His ever smile on his face, I glanced at Yusuke when he just only noticed his brother's presence and rolled my eyes when the red hair jerk in pain, I'm guessing Hikaru kicked him to get his attention.

"Are you imagining something in your head again aren't you?"

"..leave me alone." Yusuke huffed before eyeing the wine he was holding. "Anyway, why are drinking alcohol while it's still afternoon?"

Hikaru rested his cheek on his hand before he stared at me knowingly. "I hold no interests in snowboarding after all. Since I have something better..."

My brows furrowed because I do well know what's behind those words. I rolled my eyes again at his smiling face and didn't comment on that.

He always loves to tease people...

"We have to go Hika-nii, let's go Rina."

Yusuke said suddenly almost startling me in my position but nonetheless I nodded my head and bid my goodbye to the long haired Asahina.

"I'll see you later Yuu-chan, Rina..."


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My frown deepened noticing the weather as we both rode at the cable car to go higher the slope, the snow slowly fell from the sky and the longer I observed my instinct told me not to continue anymore, I looked at my companion but he seems too engrossed of whatever he was thinking.

When we reach the peak the snow fell harder with wind accompanying it this time and made the place sightless in our eyes, I bit my lower lip and got nervous when I heard Yusuke's muttering curses in front of me.

"Is it safe to glide down with this weather Yusuke?" I shouted because the wind was getting stronger in my opinion.

"Don't worry, just...just follow me okay? Let's glide down slowly."

My lips formed a thin line but I agreed anyway. At first it was fine since I can still see his back from my view he was slowly sliding down and I followed his track, it went well at first until I panic when his form swiftly vanish in my sight because of the strong wind.

"Yusuke!"

I called. I stopped on my track and looked around first, I clicked my tongue in annoyance not to him but to myself, I knew it from the start that something's wrong with the weather but I held back and didn't tell it to him. I decided to glide down slowly since I don't have a choice of course.

I was doing okay at first until I saw this branches going to hit me and I was too late to avoid it. My face hit something hard as I stumbled down few yards before I stopped and groaned, I felt pain on my right foot and a little on my right cheek, if I'm not mistaken I got a cut there since I can feel something flowing down my chin but I think it's not too deep I hope, I just laid down there and huffed in frustration. Way to go Rina, you can't walk with your condition now...

"Ah sh*t..."

I cursed and just stayed in my position. Hoping that Yusuke will come back with some help this time.


Dudun...

Many thanks to those who followed and favorited my story! You guys made my day tehe!

R&R

-Aza

Edited: 05-04-18