Carrot Glace crept back into his room through the open window. He flicked on the bedside lamp then examined himself in the dresser mirror. The formation of a hickey had started to show on his neck. Overall, he felt good, glad to have gotten to second base with a hottie from the dance club, a fitting birthday present. He would have gotten even further if not for her very over protective father had not caught them in the bushes. The dark haired sorcerer hunter had barely escaped a bloody, physical beating.
The door abruptly opened causing him to almost jump out of his skin.
"There you are," Gateau Mocha spoke in a tone none too friendly. Marron stepped in behind the blonde muscle man, his face lined with quiet anger.
"Gentlemen!" Carrot greeted. "Wanna see my love bite?"
He pointed to his hickey.
Gateau just glared at Carrot while Marron approached his older sibling.
"You've really done it this time, brother," the long haired mage said, an edge in his soft voice.
"Hey I could've gotten into her pants if not for…."
The long haired bishounen grabbed Carrot by the tank top and shoved him into the wall.
"Marron, what the…."
"Where were you, brother? You were supposed to be at the Tea Garden hours ago!"
"Oh yeah," remembered Carrot. "Tira wanted me there, but I thought she was going to lock me up in the basement or something. I would never have been able to get my groove on with all the honeys at the dance club!"
"You went to a strip joint?" Gateau asked incredulous. "That's how you wanted to spend your eighteenth birthday?"
"Where's the harm in that?" Carrot shot back, causing Marron to tighten his grip.
"You idiot," sighed Marron. "Tira spent all day decorating the place along with the hostess. She used her own savings to rent it out for the entire evening. She slaved over a hot stove, going so far as to prepare your favorite meal."
"She booked a small band and had everyone invited, even Big Momma and Dota," Gateau added.
Marron's eyes burned with anger; he rarely chastised his older brother for his antics, leaving the punishment normally to Tira and Chocolate. But the mage had seen how much the former had been hurt by Carrot's ignorance. As for Chocolate, she was on an undercover solo assignment hundreds of miles away. If Carrot had pulled such a stunt with her around, he'd be strung up by his balls by now. Or worse.
"How the hell was I supposed to know?" he argued.
"Yes, it was a surprise," Marron agreed icily. "But we reminded you several times to be there."
"Where is she?"
"I sincerely doubt she wants to see you now, brother."
Carrot felt like an ass and he could see why his younger brother was so bent out of shape over this. "I'll go apologize," he quietly resolved.
"Good luck," muttered Gateau, an unsure look on his face.
He found the Tea Garden, a quaint cozy place known for its lush botanical outdoor eating area. It was located in the middle of the city square. A banner loomed overhead connected to both sides of an arch. It read "Happy 18th Birthday, Carrot" in bright orange letters. Helium balloons tied down with ribbons and bright colored streamers highlighted the already ritzy place.
A buffet table with now cold food sitting in steel pans and huge salad bowls stood in the center of the garden. He noticed bottles of red wine sitting in buckets nearby, their contents still full, not having the chance to be used in a toast. There was a table with blown out candles upon it and a placemat reading "Birthday Boy." Resting in that very spot was an unopened gift, small handwriting on a tag reading "Dearest Carrot, Love, Tira."
He almost tripped over the ice sculpture that now lay in broken pieces, the result of her disappointment. Carrot pocketed the gift.
"Tira?" he called.
No response came, so he searched the whole area, found nothing, then went inside.
"Carrot_san?" asked the startled middle aged hostess.
"Yes, have you seen Tira?"
"She's down by the waterfront, something about leaving," the hostess replied. "You'd better catch her, she's real sad."
After a ten minute run down winding streets and byways, he found her sitting on a bench by the pier waiting for the next ferry. Slowly and cautiously he approached, knowing she could turn on him and give him the most severe of lashings.
"Tira, I didn't know….I'm so-…."
She ignored him, eyes staring out over the churning water, Big glasses concealed glassy, bloodshot eyes. Carrot took a seat at the end of the bench, unsure of what else to say. Five minutes of silence passed.
"Come on, say something," he pleaded.
"You're a bastard," she muttered.
He nodded in agreement. "And then some."
Tira looked away, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"C'mon don't cry. I'm sorry, Tira. I had no idea you planned a nice dinner…I thought you were going to tie me up, keep me from going out tonight or…"
"Would I do that on your birthday?" she retorted. "Have I ever?"
"No," he admitted.
The ferry started to pull close to the dock. Other people, who had been waiting nearby grabbed the belongings, preparing to board. Tira reached for her small suitcase.
"What's this? Where are you going?"
"What does it look like? I'm leaving, Carrot."
"Where?" he asked, confused.
"As far away from YOU as possible!"
"Why? I said I was sorry, Tira." He felt genuinely concerned. "Don't go!"
"And why not, Carrot? I'm tired of dealing with your foolishness and keeping you in line. You won't have to worry about me stopping your skirt chasing anymore. You'll like that, won't you?"
"No. Forget all that. The team still needs you."
"I can be replaced. Big Mamma can send another hunter."
She started to walk away so he ran after her.
"I'm an ass! I'm an idiot!" he yelled. "What do I have to do to make you stay?"
He got down on his knees and held out his hands.
"Carrot….stop patronizing me," Tira growled.
"Then tell me why you're leaving!"
"I already told you!"
"That's not good enough, I've always been like that…."
Tira slapped him across the face. "I love you, Carrot. Okay? I've always have and every time you chase another girl I can't stand it! I'm tired of dealing with that, tired of hoping you'll eventually come around. I've deluded myself into thinking that…" she cried in a voice full of emotional turmoil.
Carrot was dumfounded. "Tira…I…"
"Goodbye," she said, then ran to the ferry and got on board.
He started to go after her, but ran headfirst into the chest of a much larger man.
"Gotcha, punk! You're the one that was messing with my little girl!" he grabbed Carrot by the neck then promptly chokeslammed him hard into the sidewalk.
The angry father left a twitching pervert as the ferry departed soon thereafter.
"Tira…" moaned an injured and prone Carrot. "I …love you too."