Disclaimer: I do not own Slam Dunk!! *boo hoo!* And, I certainly do not own Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata! ~_~ Life is just so unfair isn't it?? *pouts*
Another big thanks to the reviewers! ^_^
Fiery-chan: Like you said… we talked too much on MSN ne… so I really wonder if I should be dropping you a line here… hehehe… :P (kidding :P) Anyways… I've fulfilled my promise to you in this chapter ne! So… Have fun, and hope you're not gonna kill me when you see me in MSN, k? :P hehehe…
Lambie: *waves* :D Hello~ thanx for reviewing ne lambie-san :D Ano…sowwie for not dropping reviews on your fics ne… I'm just too lazy to post reviews :x but… being the lazy neko that I am… ^_^; anyways… hope you'll enjoy this chappy :)
sLL: Yeaps! Ying was wearing blue contacts :D or should I say… Moon-san wanted to wear them? ;P hehehe… As for being mean to Mitsui… er… well… guess we just couldn't help it? But… tell you what, I'm being extra nice to Mitsui in this chappy ;) so… have fun reading :D
NB: … Thoughts
"…" Character's speech
(Numbers) Explanations in akane の teahouse
"Italics" French dialogues
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Chapter 6 – Natsu no Taiyou, Aki no Boufuu
"Yay! The last day of school. Just a couple more hours and it's the start of the summer vacation!" Beamed Ying as she skipped over to Hisae's seat during their afternoon recess.
Kogure and Hisae looked up at their cheery friend and smiled.
'Ano…what are you two doing with those books?" Ying asked oddly as one of her eyes narrowed in disgust.
Kogure stifled a small laugh. "This is our holiday homework, if you haven't already noticed."
"I know that!" Ying gruffed. "But what are you guys doing with it now?"
"Ying, we were going through some of the harder questions together now so we won't be stuck later." Hisae explained.
"Oh… But today's the last day of school; so do you guys have to be particularly studious today?" Ying grumbled.
"It's better to be prepared than not." Hisae replied.
Ying rolled her eyes. "Seriously Hisae, I think you've been spending too much time with Kogure-kun. His nerdiness is contagious."
Kogure let out a laugh while Hisae blushed. "Ying, what are you talking about?" She protested in a low voice.
Ying burst out laughing. "I'm kidding k?"
Hisae remained beet-red whilst Ying continued to laugh. However, Ying's laugh was cut short when she saw the watch Kogure was wearing.
"Ne Kogure-kun, when did you get that watch? It's really nice." Ying pointed a finger at the watch.
Kogure blushed as he scratched his head haphazardly. "Ano, Hisae-chan gave it to me on my birthday. I'm wearing it for the first time today."
"She did, did she?" Ying said tauntingly and glanced sideways at Hisae. The pinked cheeks of Hisae darkened at her stares.
"So, you want to tell me how you managed to buy that watch for Kogure-kun here without me knowing?" Ying narrowed her eyes dangerously, but playfully at red Hisae.
"Don't tease me please, Ying…" Hisae groaned.
"Hey, I'm not teasing you; I merely want to know the fact that's all." Ying grinned and rubbed her hands together maniacally.
"Ying…" Hisae said helplessly.
Kogure cleared his throat as he tried to say something to help Hisae out of the mess. "Ano Ying-san, Hisae-chan didn't…"
"Nope, I want to hear it from her Kogure-kun." Ying held up a hand to stop the basketball team's vice-captain from saying more. She turned her gaze back to Hisae, "I'm waiting ne, Hisae."
Hisae held up her hands in submission.
"I bought that watch when I walked pass the jeweler not long ago. The watch was intended for onii-chan, but since it was Kogure-kun's birthday the other day, and I thought the watch suited him well, so I gave it to him as a birthday present." She paused and glared Ying who was grinning slyly. "Satisfied with my explanation, your honor?"
"Yeaps! I am satisfied. Demo, are you satisfied by your own explanation on your actions?" Ying winked at her and waltzed back to her seat as the bell ringed.
"What did she mean by that?" Hisae mumbled beneath her breath.
"I'm sure Ying-san said that for a good reason." Kogure said as he heard her mumbling.
Hisae looked up and met his gaze. Kogure's brown eyes were as gentle as ever and his smile seemed to warm his eyes further. She felt her heart melt under his warm eyes.
"Think about it when you have time, the answer might come to you when it's least expected. Or maybe, you already know the answer?" Kogure spoke softly as he looked into her purple pools.
Hisae nodded. "I think there's a deeper meaning to Ying's question, also in what you'd just said."
Kogure just smiled and did not reply.
Can I think that you and I share the same feelings for each other, Kogure-kun? Hisae asked herself quietly.
"Kiritsu (1)!" The class prefect shouted as the teacher entered the classroom, waking Hisae from her thoughts.
"Good luck at the IH ne Akagi-kun, Kogure-kun." Ying said to her classmates before going home.
"Ganbatte ne." Hisae added.
"Arigatou. We will do our best and win the championship." Akagi said confidently.
"Ano, will you guys be coming to watch the games?" Kogure asked the girls. However, his hopeful sight was set on Hisae's reply.
"Sorry to disappoint you guys ne. We are doing arubaito (2) for the first half of the break so we can earn enough okane (3) for our trip to Hokkaido later." Ying chirped.
"Sou…" Kogure mumbled as his eyes darkened with disappointment. She's not coming after all… He sighed inwardly.
"Mou Kogure-kun, although we are not there to cheer you and your team on during the matches, we still hope that you do your best and win ne." Hisae said in attempt to relieve his disappointment.
Kogure touched the TAG Heuer watch on his left wrist and smiled at Hisae. "Doumo arigatou Hisae-chan. We will do our best."
Although you won't be there personally, I still have part of you with me ne, Hisae-chan? He smiled gently as he glanced at the watch.
Hisae blushed at the sight of his hand on the watch she gave him; it was like an indirect intimate contact.
My heart will be with you during the games, Kogure-kun. Ganbatte ne.
"K then, ja matte ne. See you guys after the break." Ying said happily.
"Ja." Kogure and Akagi said simultaneously.
Hisae bowed slightly at the basketballers and smiled. "Ja ne." She nodded at Kogure again with an encouraging smile before turning.
The two girls walked out together as the two boys watch. Akagi put a hand on Kogure's shoulders, "Let's practice."
Kogure smiled at his best friend and nodded. "Hai captain!"
Kogure shot another longing glance in the direction the girls disappeared into before walking away.
o o o o o
"This is your car?" Hisae asked Ying in astonishment as she looked at the black Mazda MX-5 Roadster convertible coupe.
"Yeaps!" Ying yelped gleefully. "It was there waiting for me when I got home yesterday!"
"Onii-chan had one before, but now he drives a Mercedes CLK 320, I think. Then again, he might have changed his car again." Hisae said with a clueless shrug.
"Wow! Your family must be really rich if your brother can change cars just like that and you live in Setsuge-ka En!" Ying sweat-dropped.
Hisae smiled diffidently at Ying's words. What could she say in reply anyways? That, what her father, brother and she earn through contracts were more than one hundred times the salary of a normal working class? She sighed inwardly.
"Ne, I've always heard you say your onii-chan this and your onii-chan that. But I've never seen him before, if you didn't mention him, I'd think that you don't have any living relative ne." Ying said out of the blue.
Hisae halted upon Ying's words. What could she tell her friend about her family that would not risk exposing her identity? She sighed silently again.
"Hisae! We'd better get going or else we'd be late for work, and it's our first day also!" Ying said hurriedly as she jumped into the driver seat of the MX-5.
Hisae broke out of her reverie and seated herself in the small coupe's passenger seat. As soon as she closed the door, Ying roared out of Setsuge-ka En's driveway. Hisae's face paled at Ying's crazy driving techniques. She held onto the hand grip so tightly that her knuckles whitened and her purple eyes glazed with fear.
When they reached the local Esso fuel station, Ying braked heavily smoking the tires and pulled into the parking lot of the fuel station.
"Phew! We made it in time." Ying said excitingly as she removed the key from the ignition.
Ying turned to Hisae when she noticed her friend's quietness. What she saw was an extremely pale Hisae holding onto the hand grip extremely tightly, as if hanging onto her life.
"Ano…Hisae, are you ok?" Ying asked anxiously.
Hisae turned her head slowly to face Ying and mumbled shakily, "You…are…are you…su…sure…th…th…that you…p…passed your d…driving…t…test?"
"Yea, of course I passed it, how else would I get my driving license?" Ying frowned wearily.
"But you were driving like a crazed maniac!" Exploded Hisae after taking a few deep breaths.
"No I wasn't." Ying pouted. "I was only a little faster than usual."
"Ying, that's not called faster than usual, that's called reckless driving." Hisae said exasperatingly.
Ying gulped at Hisae's rare flare of anger. "Ano…can we discuss my driving later, cause we're getting late for work." She said sheepishly.
Hisae threw her hands in the air hopelessly and rolled her eyes. "Let's go." She mumbled as she got out of the car.
"Irashaimasen!" Ying shouted cheerfully as a mini-bus pulled up next to the pump. She quickly ran around to the driver and asked, "How may I be of service okyaku-san (4)?"
"Regular, full tank please." The middle aged driver said.
"Hai!" Ying bowed and went to the other side of the mini-bus to start the pump.
Hisae walked over carrying a microfibre towel and began to wipe the windshields of the mini-bus.
"What the hell are you two doing here!?" A familiar voice exclaimed with astonishment.
Hisae and Ying both looked up and saw an indigo head sticking out one of the mini-bus's windows. It was Mitsui. The two girls looked into the mini-bus and found all the members of Shohoku's basketball club, except for a red head.
"What does it look like, you dimwit!" Ying snapped at the point guard, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
"Teme! Kono yarou!" Mitsui hissed as he clenched his fists. "You are the most kowaii girl I've seen!"
"Doumo arigatou for your compliments!" Ying bowed and smirked sardonically at him.
"Hn!" Mitsui snorted and returned to his seat. Ying on the other hand pumped her arms victoriously. Yes! Yet another score for me! Bwahahahahahaha…
The door of the mini-bus opened and the team's vice-captain stepped out. He walked next to Hisae and said hi.
"So this is the part time job you two mentioned." He said with a smile. "But I never thought that it'd be anything like this."
Hisae smiled weakly at him. "It's Ying's idea."
"Hey, what's wrong with my idea?" Ying yelped sulkily then held up an index finger, shaking it at Kogure. "Don't you know that you can learn a lot of things by working in a fuel station?"
Kogure simply smiled and did not say anything. Sometimes, staying quiet is the best reply. Hisae also remained quite and smiled.
Ying scowled lightly at the bespectacled boy and Hisae because they didn't answer her questions. Suddenly, Ying realized something. The Shohoku basketball team was unusually quiet. She peered into the mini-bus and found something amiss; the boisterous red head was absent.
"Where's that aka ozaru?" Ying asked curiously.
"Anzai sensei is giving him a personal training session for a week while the rest of us are stuck at training camp with Shizuoka. That lucky primate!" Miyagi who was seated by the window closest to Ying grunted.
Ying shrugged and went to unlatch the pump from the mini-bus's fuel tank, since it was none of her business anyways.
"All of you are going to that training camp now?" Hisae asked Kogure softly.
Kogure nodded. "Yes. We'll be gone for a week then come back for three days, and then leave for Hiroshima on the thirty first."
"Sou…good luck with the training camp." Hisae smiled brightly at him.
"Sankyu." Kogure smiled back.
"Ooi Kogure, we need to get going!" Akagi shouted from the mini-bus.
Kogure turned and nodded at their captain. He turned back to Hisae and said, "Sore Ja."
"Ja ne." Hisae replied sweetly.
Kogure boarded the mini-bus and they drove off. Hisae and Ying both bowed and shout at the same time, "Doumo kaerizaki (5)."
o o o o o
Days passed and the two girls finally got used to their greasy and grubby part time job at the fuel station. Before they knew it, they were already a month into their summer vacation and the IH competitions were over. They heard about their school's defeat in the third round and were sad for their friends. However, they were happy about one thing though; that is, they have earned enough money for their trip to Hokkaido. Therefore, instead of their previous plan of working half of their summer vacation away, they would now leave for Hokkaido on the following Monday, which was only two days away.
The thought of the trip shifted Ying into super hyper mood. Nothing could get her to blow a temper on that last week of work.
"Irashaimasen." Hisae took off her cap and bowed at the approaching car. Her brown hair now shoulder-length, swayed fluidly to her movements. Ying ran over and did the same.
"Premium, full tank please." The customer said as he wound down the window.
"Hai." Hisae replied.
However, before she could leave the driver side of the car and walk to the pump, a familiar voice called her name, her real name.
"Nicole?"
Hisae froze upon hearing her real name being called out. She turned to face the driver rigidly.
"Shinichi-nii!" She gasped and her eyes widened at the sight of the tan driver.
Maki stepped out of his silver BMW 535i sedan and gawked at Hisae. "What are you doing here Nicole?" He asked in French to avoid eavesdroppers, his tone tainted with surprise.
"Ano, chotto." Hisae said and turned to Ying who was wiping the BMW's rear windscreen. "Ying, can you take care of Shinichi-nii's car please? I need to have a word with him."
Ying nodded and raised an eyebrow when she recognized the prefecture's best basketball player. She knows Maki Shinichi? But how?
"Hisashiburide (6) Shinichi-nii." Hisae smiled pleasantly.
"Hai." Maki smiled at the younger girl. "Demo…what are you doing here in Japan?"
"I've been here for almost four months already. Onii-chan helped me ran away." She replied weakly.
"NANI!?" Maki exclaimed disbelievingly. Everyone turned to look in their direction to see what the noise was about.
Hisae and Maki sweat-dropped at the sudden attention, and Maki smiled apologetically at the on-lookers.
"What do you mean when you said you ran away?" Maki asked sternly.
"Like I told you, Shinichi-nii. I've ran away, but…only for one year." She answered sheepishly. She had always felt rather intimidated when she was in front of Kainan Dai basketball team's captain, her itoko (7).
"Ni…"
"Please, call me Hisae?" Hisae stopped him before he could continue in a pleading voice.
"Fine. Hisae," Maki looked at her disapprovingly. "Care to explain how and why you're here?"
"Okaa-san forced me to go to Vienna." Hisae said stiffly and her face paled at the thought.
"Huh? Vienna?" He blinked in puzzlement.
"You know how mother is Shinichi-nii. She's always thought of me and nii-chan as her route to regain sofubo's (8) recognition." Hisae's purple eyes reddened at the mention of this.
Maki sighed and put his arms around Hisae to give her a comforting hug.
"I'm so tired of her treating us like that. I just want to live a normal teenager's life for once." Hisae mumbled heartbreakingly.
"Sorry about my harshness just now." Maki said apologetically. "I understand why you ran away now. But, you could've come to me for assistance, you know?"
Hisae backed away from his embrace and smiled. "Thank you for understanding. I didn't want to bother you. Besides, nii-chan had arranged everything for me before I left."
The MVP player nodded. "Where are you staying now? And what school are you going to?"
"Setsuge-ka En and I'm going to Shohoku High. I think you understand why nii-chan didn't enroll me into Kainan Dai."
"Yea, he didn't want me to know that you're here, and that goes for the rest of our family." Maki rolled his eyes.
"You're not gonna tell on me are you, Shinichi-nii?"
"Of course not." He said and patted her shoulders with a smile. "But, if you ever do get into trouble, call me k?"
"I will." She smiled thankfully.
Maki stood back and took a good look at her. The last time he saw her was two years ago in Paris, where she was performing. Gosh! She looks so different now. Not only her appearance, but also the feeling she gives people have also changed. She's more vibrant and confident than before.
"I can just imagine obasan's face if she sees you this these clothes." Maki teased at the navy drill pants, cotton shirt, baseball cap and heavy safety shoes she was wearing.
Hisae frowned and giggled. "I guess so. She'd always disapprove of clothes that are overly casual, not to mention plebeian clothes."
"Yeah! Hmm, I need to get to practice now. I'll check up on you later, k?"
"OK." Hisae nodded. "Soshite, arigatou Shinichi-nii."
Maki patted her shoulder encouragingly and walked back to his car. He paid Ying for the amount owed and drove off in the direction of Kainan Dai.
Ying stomped over to Hisae and demanded, "How in the world did you know Maki Shinichi?!"
"You know Shinichi-nii?"
"Shinichi-nii?" Ying squeaked.
"He is my cousin."
"Nani!? The best basketball player in Kanagawa is your cousin?!" Ying exclaimed incredulously.
"Hai." Hisae smiled at Ying's exaggerated tone.
"Why didn't you tell me before?" Ying groaned. "You could've done me a favor and introduced me to him!"
"You like Shinichi-nii?" Hisae gasped. "But, what about Mitsui-kun?"
"What about that dimwit?" Ying scowled.
"I thought you like Mitsui-kun."
"What!? Don't make me laugh Hisae! Me like Mitsui Hisashi?! Oh per-lease! Maybe I'll consider that possibility in another millennium or so." Ying rolled her eyes.
"Well, thank kami-sama for that then!" Mitsui's voice came from behind the girls.
Hisae and Ying looked at each other. Talk of the devil! They turned to find Mitsui and Kogure. Mitsui was smirking deviously at Ying while Kogure smiled gently at the girls, especially Hisae.
"What are you doing here Kogure-kun?" Hisae asked the brown eyed boy.
"Akagi and I went to visit the team during practice. I thought I'll drop by to say hi to you…and Ying-san before I went home." Kogure said softly. "Oh and Mitsui tagged along."
"Sou…" Hisae mumbled. When she looked up and saw Kogure's warm eyes, she couldn't help but smiled. The two stood there drowning in each other's eyes until the sound of splashing water broke the magic between them.
"A girl of my class will never consider a lowlife like you Mitsui!" Ying sneered as she dumped a bucket of window cleaning solution onto the indigo head's head.
Hisae and Kogure gaped at the very soaked Mitsui and the snickering Ying. Mitsui was caught off guard when Ying dump the liquid on him, so he stood still for a moment looking like a gold fish stranded on dry land before he reacted.
Mitsui stomped over to Ying and grabbed her by the collar of her shirt, lifting her feet slightly off the ground. His wet face was marred by anger.
"You've gone too far this time Zhi." Mitsui hissed through clenched teeth.
Ying gulped as she saw the raging white flames burning in Mitsui's blue eyes. However, Ying being Ying, she was too proud to admit defeat or apologize.
"What are you gonna do about it then? Strangle me?" Ying taunted with a smirk. You're threading on thin ice Ying… Be careful… Her mind screamed.
"No." A dangerous grin crept up Mitsui's face; his lips curled upward devilishly and leaned closed to her. "I have something else in mind."
"Oh yea? Like what?" Ying screeched as she felt a chill running up her spine when the point guard bent forward. She shivered at the feeling.
Mitsui felt her slight shiver and his lips curled further.
"Feeling cold?" His breath grazed her soft face. "I think I know how lift that chill."
Ying couldn't help but blush when she felt his breath on her face.
"No! I…" Ying's retort was cut short when Mitsui pressed his lips onto hers in a punishing manner.
Ying's midnight-like eyes widened at the contact of their lips, shocked. Everything around her stood still as her mind ceased to function. Hisae and Kogure watched the scene in front of them in awe and sweat-dropped. Hisae turned away from the kissing pair and blushed. Kogure coughed a couple of times to wake the pair from their 'little' situation.
The gears in Ying's mind began to click again when Kogure coughed. She kicked Mitsui in the groin, forcing him to release his hold on her, and then grabbed his arms and threw him over her shoulders. Ying breathed heavily as her face flushed in embarrassment and anger.
"You concussed pig! I hate you! I hope you'll rot in hell!" Ying screamed and ran off as tears of humiliation threatened to break free.
"Ying!" Hisae shouted after her friend, but Ying just kept running without turning back.
Hisae was about to run after Ying when Kogure pulled her back by the arm. "I'll go with you." He said softly.
Hisae smiled gratefully and nodded. Kogure turned to look at the rather disheveled Mitsui to make sure he was ok before going off with Hisae.
Mitsui got up from the floor and rubbed his aching behind with his hand.
Wow! I can't believe I just did that. But then again… He grinned stupidly when the kiss replayed in his mind. His smile widened and he whistled a happy tune as he walked home.
o o o o o
"Ying…doko de…" Hisae mumbled worriedly.
She and Kogure had been looking for Ying for the past hour and still there was no sign of the ever-cheerful girl.
Kogure stopped and put both of his hands on Hisae's shoulders. "Don't worry. She'll be ok."
"But we've been looking for so long…" She said as her purple eyes reddened.
Kogure sighed and pulled her into an embrace.
"Isn't she your best friend? Don't you know her well enough to have confidence and believe in her strength?" He said softly.
Hisae nodded her head in his arms as she felt calm descend upon her once more. She leaned deeper into his embrace, feeling his warmth. "Thank you Kogure-kun, for coming with me."
Kogure smiled and planted his chin on her head. "Douidashimashita."
However…the tranquil atmosphere around them was broken when a loud cough sounded behind them.
"AHEM!"
Kogure and Hisae pulled apart instantly as if shocked by electricity, and blushed.
"Well…looks like I've bumped into you guys at a very wrong time ne." Ying said teasingly.
Hearing her friend's voice, Hisae looked up and breezed over to Ying. "Where have you been? I was so worried."
"I'm sorry for running out like that." Ying looked at Hisae shamefully. "I've worried you, haven't I?"
"Iie. It's all right. Just don't do that again ne?"
Ying smiled at Hisae with gratitude. "Thank you."
The two girls hugged briefly, pulled apart, and smiled.
"Daijoubu, Ying-san?" Kogure asked when he saw the two smiled.
Ying shook her head. "I'm fine."
I'm fine all right, but that dickhead is going to pay for what he did to me just now! Her mind screamed and she gritted her teeth secretly.
"Ying, I think we should be getting back ne. Tenshu's (9) gonna kill us if we don't get back soon." Hisae said as she noted the time.
Ying glanced at her watch and laughed feebly. "Our shift is over anyways…"
"Still… We need to get back and give tenshu an explanation ne."
"Ok, ok. Let's go then…" Ying sighed.
Hisae nodded and the three headed back to the fuel station. Kogure who was walking next to Hisae snaked an arm around her waist without warning and caused her to jump slightly. She looked up at him and he smiled back at her ever so gently. She blushed and lowered her head without words.
Ying saw this happened and grinned. Glad that you've finally made your move, Kogure. And it's about time too. Hahahahaha…
o o o o o
Summer came and went. The Hokkaido trip was a pleasant one for Hisae and Ying. They roamed the open meadows and visited various farms. They also indulged themselves with the local delicacies. During the two weeks at Hokkaido, Hisae's fair complexion tanned a little while Ying's tan skin became darker. The two girls enjoyed themselves thoroughly during this short period.
When they returned to Kanagawa, Kogure picked them up at the train station. After sending them home, Kogure had dinner with Hisae later that evening. From then onward, the bond between Kogure and Hisae strengthened bit by bit, day by day. They'd spend most of their time studying or taking strolls in the park. Although their relationship was not one of those fiery, heated, passionate ones, the gentleness and subtle progression of their relationship still touched the hearts of those around them. Even Maki smiled positively when he saw them together.
"Ne Hisae-chan, which university are you planning to apply for?" Kogure asked during one of their study breaks. He was now preparing for the upcoming university intake exams in winter.
Hisae's expression darkened. "Gomen ne Kim-kun, I…I'm not applying for any of the universities."
"Naze?" Stunned at first, Kogure asked gently when he regained his poise.
"I…I…" Hisae didn't know where to begin.
Kogure covered her hands in his. "Don't force yourself to explain. Tell me when you think the time is right?"
"Thank you Kim-kun. Thank you…" A crystal tear dropped from her purple eyes and Kogure wipe it away gently with a finger. He pulled her into an embrace trying to give her more support sensing her anxiety at that moment. "I promise I will tell you everything one day…when the time is right." She mumbled.
Kogure nodded gently and sighed silently. Why are you bottling everything inside? I'm pained when I see you like this.
"Hisae, I will always stand by your side. No matter what." Kogure promised firmly.
Startled by the seriousness of his tone, Hisae looked up at him speechlessly. "Kim-kun…"
"Shh…" He put a finger to her lips. "You don't have to say anything. This is a promise I made to you and I intend to keep it forever."
Hisae saw only sincerity and love within his warm brown eyes. Tears welled her purple gems as she realized the sincerity behind his promise. "What have I ever done to deserve a guy like you?" She mumbled shakily as a smile curved her lips.
"Who knows? Maybe kami-sama sent me to you to be your guardian angel. But most importantly…to love you."
"Kim-kun…"
Kogure just smiled warmly at her. He reached out a hand and removed her glasses gently. Bending down ever so slightly, their lips met as their eyes closed…
o o o o o
"Hisae!" Ying chirped and braked her skates in front of Kogure and Hisae. "Morning, love birds."
Kogure and Hisae smiled at each other at Ying's description.
"Wow! What happened between you two? How come you're not blushing?" Ying pouted because her teasing did not take effect.
Kogure and Hisae both laughed at Ying's action.
"Ohayou Ying." Hisae smiled. "And how have you been? Also, why weren't I able to contact you for the last two weeks?"
"Aa…ano…you see…hehehe…I erm…I was err…taking some steps in taking revenge on a certain someone." Ying said innocently as her eyes darted from side to side.
"Let me guess, that certain someone is Mitsui-kun?" Hisae raised an eyebrow at the red-faced Ying.
"So, what have you done to Mitsui, Ying-san?" Kogure asked curiously.
Ying blushed as she recalled what happened. "Well… I kindda went and beat the crap out of him, and I was enjoying it when he didn't retaliate. But then next thing I know…he erm…er…he…kissthelivingdaylightsouttame."
"He what!?" Kogure and Hisae exclaimed at the same time.
"You two heard what I said!" Ying yelped, blushing furiously.
"I'll repeat it for her if you two really want to hear it again." Said Mitsui from behind them, grinning from ear to ear. He walked closer to Ying and swung an arm around her shoulders. Ying wiggled in attempts to get away from him in vain.
"Omedetou gosaimasu (10), on taming Ying." Hisae said playfully and giggled.
Mitsui raised an eyebrow then burst out laughing. "Why thank you! Hahahahaha…"
"Hey! You're supposed to be my friend ne!" Ying pouted.
"Guys, we'd better hurry up ne, classes are starting soon." Kogure said after glancing as his watch.
The four headed toward Shohoku chatting casually. It was the first day of the second semester, also the first day of autumn.
Ying took out a piece of folded paper and handed it to Hisae. "Wanna go to this concert?"
Hisae unfold the paper and gaped what was printed on it. "World Renowned Violinist: Alexis De Laquerre with the Japanese Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra for one show only in Tokyo."
"Earth to Hisae. Hello! Anybody home!?" Ying waved a hand in front of Hisae's eyes.
Mitsui took a glance at the flyer and snickered as he pointed a finger to the picture on it. "Hey Kogure, be careful or else you'll lose Shitsuki's heart to that pretty boy there."
Kogure rolled his eyes at the indigo head and walked next to Hisae. "Something wrong?" He asked sensing her disturbance.
Hisae looked up at him and smiled weakly. "Iie."
"He's gorgeous isn't he?" Ying said in a dreamy voice.
"Huh? Who?" Hisae asked her confusingly.
"Alexis De Laquerre of course!" Ying exclaimed.
"Oh…" Hisae just smiled and didn't comment on her friend's outburst.
"Hn. Pretty boy there is no match for yours truly!" Mitsui boasted.
Ying and Kogure burst out laughing at Mitsui's shameless audacity. Hisae just smiled, but her heart cringed at the news.
What is nii-chan doing in Japan? Doest this mean mother has found me? Her mind whirl-winded.
They found the school gates crowded by a large mop of students as they arrived.
"Eeto…what's going on?" Ying said in a flabbergasted tone as the group of four watched stupefied.
The sound of a mobile phone ringing woke them from their stupor. Hisae reached into her bag and produced a Nokia 8855 mobile phone.
"You have a mobile and you didn't tell me!" Ying exclaimed sulkily. "And it's the latest model too!"
Hisae smiled at Ying's childish behavior and answered the phone. "Moshi, moshi…"
"Nicole! Get out of there! Don't go to school!" Eien shouted in the other end.
"Nii-chan, what's wrong?" Hisae asked worriedly.
"Mother's here…"
Hisae dropped the phone and her face paled as the crowd of student dispersed to allow someone through. Ying bent over and caught the dropping phone just before it kissed the sweet hardness of the ground.
"Okaa-san…" She uttered as her lips twitched and her face became paler by the minute.
Shitsuki Nagisa or Mrs. Nagisa De Laquerre stepped out of the car and walked out of the crowd as her assistant told her about Hisae's arrival. She shot an angry glare at her pale-faced daughter and she stepped forward.
"Nicole De Laquerre! How dare you run away from home!?" The middle aged woman demanded sternly.
"I…" Hisae struggled to say something.
"Nicole!" Another voice, a male voice rang out behind the group. A tall, brown haired, purple-eyed male in his early twenties ran toward them hastily. Another male about the same age, Yamada Akahito followed.
Hisae turned to the familiar voice and cried, "Nii-chan!" She ran to her brother's side.
"Am I seeing things or is that Alexis De Laquerre?" Ying gawked.
"You're not seeing things. That's the pretty boy on that flyer." Mitsui replied in a funny voice as if he had just swallowed an egg whole.
Knowing the complication of the situation, Hisae stepped forward. Her gaze met that of a frowning Kogure's.
"Gomen ne minna-san, I've been hiding my identity from all of you." She looked at her friends apologetically as sadness and guilt consumed her. She drew deep breath and spoke. "My full name is Nicole Hisae De Laquerre."
"You're that piano prodigy who aced all available piano exams when you were only five years old, and is one of the highest ranked professional pianist in the world now, aren't you?!" Ayako gasped after hearing Hisae's, Nicole's statement.
Nicole smiled weakly at her kohai. "Yes…"
The skies above them darkened as the storm clouds rolled in. The first storm of the season was about to begin…
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akane の teahouse…
Well… Let's get over with the thing about the Jap terms first…
(1) Kiritsu ~ Please stand or rise.
(2) Arubaito ~ part time job
(3) Okane ~ money
(4) okyaku-san ~ sir, when addressing a customer
(5) Doumo kaerizaki ~ please come back again
(6) Hisashiburide ~ long time no see or it has been long
(7) Itoko ~ cousin
(8) Sofubo ~ grandparents
(9) Tenshu ~ shop owner
(10) Omendetou gosaimasu ~ congratulations
Okies, so how was it? Happy that the big secret is out now?? :P hehehe… Anyways… Hope you enjoyed this chappy :D
Remember…please drop me a review~ :D Thankies~ :D
See you in the next ne! ^_~
The lazy neko (although moon-san suggested I should change to evil neko, lol~) signing out~ =^.^=
P/S: For those of you who are wondering about the title… it's "Summer's Sun, Autumn's Storm". Ja~ :)