Hiyee, minna-san! Reia-chan here!! Gomen ne if it was very VERY late! I asked my friend how the suppose-to-be-next chapt is and she told me to put up a chapter before it because she said I might surprise you with some events or stuffies. Oh, and this is not the chapt 'It's Gonna be Love'. Anyway, this is the TWENTY-THIRD chapter already. Please enjoy it!!! :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Yami no Matsuei so don't sue me. But Kageyami Saino, Yumeki Sakura, Akizuki Kyla, Cerberus, Strength, etc. (Previous and Upcoming characters not related to YnM) belongs to me.
*Minna: Thank you for reviewing. Hope you like this one! Also, this is a lot longer than before.^^
~~~~~
Between Two Hearts
Chapter 23: Hugs, Kisses and Daggers
~~~~~
It was already morning. Hisoka was still sleeping on his bed while Strength was sitting beside him, staring at a red scarf on her hand.
"Give it back to me, Strength!!!"
"Na ah! Finders Keepers!"
Strength smiled. She kept it back on her dress and went out of the room. Still in her reverie, when she opened the door, she accidentally bumped unto someone.
"G-Gomen!" both of them said.
"Oh, just you…" Cerberus said plainly then went towards the kitchen table and sat.
Strength also went towards the kitchen but to cook. Cerberus, with his hand propping his head and with narrow eyes, was staring at her. He suddenly stood, making Strength turn to him.
He went towards the dish racks, beside Strength, and said, "I'll arrange the table now."
"No, it's al…" she placed her hand on top of his, making the two pull back their hands and blush. The dish dropped, waking the two Shinigamis.
"What's that?…" Tsuzuki and Hisoka, peeping out of their doors, sleepily said.
Strength picked up the shards and apologized, "Gomen! It's just the dish!"
Cerberus knelt and helped her pick it up. Strength was both smiling and flushing.
"Strength will never give it back to you…"
~~~ Flashback ~~~
"Strength, I'm warning you! Give it back to me!!!" a boy, about sixteen years old, yelled.
A girl, about eleven years old, gave out a mischievous smile, "Na ah! Finders Keepers! Also, Strength likes it so she'll be keeping it!" She went away, jumping high at every tree.
"Strength! Come back!!!" he followed her.
Due to his incredible speed, he caught her. He tightly grasped her hand, not to let her get away.
"Give it to me or else…!" he demanded.
A soft voice suddenly cried, "Cerberus! Cerberus!!! Doko ka?!"
He let off her hand and said, "I'll get that back when we meet again. Asuka is already calling me! I'll just tell her that I lost it but will look for it!"
He jumped back off the tree, landed on the ground and dashed away.
~~~~~
They both stood up and threw it in the trashcan.
"There!" Cerberus, who was last to throw it away, dusted off his hands.
Strength was still staring at him, wondering.
"But… he said he'll take it back when we meet again…" she thought. "Did he already forget about it?…"
She sighed, "Guess he did…"
She suddenly turned to raise her hand and noticed that there was a cut on it.
"Wah!?!"
Cerberus quickly turned to her while she desperately took out the red scarf from her dress and tried to wrap it around.
"Hope it's alright for Strength to use it…"
He suddenly went to her and tied the red scarf for her. Strength stared at him, blushing, and noticed him smiling, making her blush even more.
While tying, he told her, "So, it's still with you."
She then mischievously smiled, "Aren't you going to take it back?"
He made the last knot then went back to sit on the chair.
He told her, "No, not anymore…" His smile suddenly faded.
Strength noticed it and sat beside him, "How come???"
He turned to his side and bowed his head, "Because Asuka… Asuka's…" Trying not to let his emotions ran over him, he then said, "She doesn't exist anymore… She's already gone…"
"Gomen," she apologized.
He turned to her and directly said, "No, it was my fault… If only… If only…"
~~~~~
A girl, about eleven years old, was bursting into tears on the young boy's chest.
"Cerberus, why did mama and papa send me away?" she sniveled. "Did I do something wrong? Did I?"
Cerberus was caressing her silky black hair and said, "No. You did nothing wrong…"
"Then why?! Why?!" she hit his chest hard with her fist.
Cerberus held her wrist, stopping her, and said, "I'm sorry… Even if I tell you… you still won't understand it…"
"… But don't worry. I'll be here for you. I don't want you to be all alone," he tightly hugged her.
"No! I want to know! I'll try to understand it!!! Please tell me!" she begged, crying even more and tightly grasping his shirt.
He sighed and said, "Alright. But promise me you'll not cry."
She wiped off her tears and listened to him, "Alright…"
He begun, "You're the evil twin…"
"Ehh???"
"… You would just bring misfortune to your family and kingdom. That's why they sent you away. But…"
"E-evil… t-t-twin…?" she stammered.
She suddenly released a powerful force, making Cerberus flew away from her.
She burst into tears once more, "If that's so, then I should let myself disappear then!!!"
"Asuka! Don't!" he cried.
She closed her eyes and a blinding light suddenly surrounded her.
"NO!!!" Cerberus went to her and hugged her. "I won't let you!!!"
~~~~~
"… It's no use to get it back. She'll never see me wear it anymore. That's why I'm just letting you have it."
Strength put her other hands on top of the one with the tied scar, which was on her lap.
"Strength's really sorry…" a tear suddenly dropped on her cheek.
Cerberus wiped it off and smiled, "It's not your fault… If only I didn't told her…"
Strength held his hands, "No… Even if you didn't told her, she'll receive the same fate but without knowing the truth. You would just even make things heavy for her. So, what you did was just enough…"
"Arigato…" he put his arms around her and hugged her. "Arigato…"
Strength smiled and closed her eyes, accepting the brace.
----- Hisoka's room -----
The flax haired boy got his phone up.
[Ohayo, Hisoka-kun,] said on the other line.
"How are you?" he asked smilingly.
[Daijoubu! How about you? How's everyone?]
"Well, we're still alright here. Nothing much has changed…" he lied on the bed.
[So desu ka… *sighs* It's already been three weeks. Would you want us to come over there and pay you guys a visit? We're free tomorrow.]
"No, it's alright. Don't exhaust yourself too much. I might get worried. Having a talk on the phone would already be fine with me…"
[I see… Alright!]
"Ah… Saino?"
[Hai?]
"Saino… I…"
[Nani?]
"I know who killed your…" the phone was hanged up.
----------
"Hisoka-kun???" the young ebony stared at the phone. "Shumi!!!"
"Any problem, Saino?" the long silver haired lady asked, putting down the tray with juices on the table.
She sighed, "My battery has gone out… May I borrow your cellphone for a while?"
"Gomen ne. But mine also had gone out and I'm still charging it," Kyla told her. "I have a… ehem…"
"… date?"
"With oniichan?!"
The older Shinigami nodded approvingly.
"That's great!!!" Saino cheered. "Well, have fun!"
"What about you?" Kyla asked.
"Nah! Daijoubu! I'll just keep myself busy here!" she smiled. Then, she took the juice from the tray and took a sip.
"Iie. I mean, Aoi? Hisoka?" she said worriedly. "Haven't he asked anything yet?"
She shook but still kept the smile hanging on her face, "He hasn't asked anything yet. And being like this is already enough."
"Are you sure about it? You've been alone all through your life."
"Daijoubu! For many years of suffering, you think I couldn't stand it?"
Kyla's smile dropped.
She sweatdropped and waved her arms back and forth, "Alright!!! Change the topic! Change the topic!!!"
Kyla's watch suddenly alarmed. The long silver haired Shinigami turned to it and said.
"I better get going. Take care of yourself while I'm gone," she said while putting on her coat.
"Hai!!!" she said cheerily.
Kyla had already gone out when Saino heard a voice, the same voice from before.
"What a pity… Hisoka didn't ask you yet 'cause he's still have these feelings for Kyla…"
"Yamette!!!" her head started to ache and she held it. "Kyla already has Asato!!!"
"Remember your cards?… Remember what they said about Hisoka's future?…"
~~~~~
"… To sum it all up, a sacrifice and a fight would happen. It would be between your close past person and you. You would also realize in the future that you really…"
"… do love her…"
~~~~~
Saino cowered and begged, "Yamette… Yamette…"
"Ha! I could tell that Cerberus was far greater than that boy. But why didn't you take it?"
Tears already running on her cheeks, she softly responded, "It's because… because…"
"You love him? You love that boy?…"
Saino nodded a little.
"How pathetic! Cerberus was the one who is always there for you!!! Since you were born… no!… before you were born, he has already been with you! He was the one who took care of you and me! He was the one who saves you and me! We both never felt the real weight of sadness because of him!!!…"
Saino suddenly felt something strange and asked, "You and me? What do you mean? How come it seems like you knew him better than I do? And it seems to me that you love him."
Complete silence filled the whole room.
The voice finally spoke, "Ignore what I just said. He's none of my business anyway… I'm here to claim you. You have to meet someone…"
"… Whether you like it or not."
"Nani??" she slowly closed her eyes, holding her chest.
"But I'm sure you'll be glad about it…"
~~~~~
Kyla, who was standing at the fountain park, was waiting for the purple-eyed brunette.
A voice suddenly called, "Kyla!!!"
She turned to the voice and saw a man, running towards her.
He finally arrived and said, "Gomen, have I waited you to long?"
"Not really, you got here earlier than expected," she smiled.
"Nani?" he turned to his watch.
She giggled, "I wonder why during meetings you're late? While during dates…"
"… You're either on time or earlier," she winked.
Tsuzuki blushed and turned away, "Ah… uhm…"
"Com'on now. I know a coffee shop with delicious pastries."
"Hontou ni!?" turned inu Tsuzuki.
"Hai, hai! And it's on you," she giggled. "It's not nice for a gentleman to let a lady treat him, isn't it?"
"Sou na…" he softly whimpered.
----- At the coffee shop -----
They sat at the seats near the glass window. Kyla laid down her bag on the table.
The lady went to them and asked their order, "What can I do for you, sir, madam?"
Tsuzuki turned to Kyla and said, "Ladies first."
She said, "Well, a strawberry cake, chocolate cookies, pudding...."
Tsuzuki surprisingly stared at her, who was not yet finished telling the lady her orders, and sweatdropped, "She sure also has a sweet tooth… Hope I brought enough money…"
When Kyla was already done, he then said to the lady, "Cheesecake and coffee would be fine with me."
Kyla asked, jokingly, "Are you on a diet?"
He shook and gave an insisted smile, "Not really…"
"Arigato gozaimasu, sir, madam!" the lady bowed.
Kyla responded a little nod back at the lady, who then left. Tsuzuki then held her hand, which was above the table. She blushed and smiled.
He told her, "Kyla, I…" His face suddenly turned red.
"Nani?"
"K-Kyla… Kyla…" he can't finish his sentence.
"Nani, Asato?" she smiled.
"I… I… I… l-like… y-you," he finally said it. "I love you…"
"I like you too, Asato."
"When you're away, I was always worried, thinking of you. If you're all right, eating properly…" he paused. "If only I'm your partner, I won't be too worried…"
"… I want to protect you. I don't want anyone or anything to harm you."
She gave the sweetest smile and caressed his cheek, "Gomen if I always made you worried. Demo daijoubu. We could call anytime like Saino and Aoi."
Tsuzuki held her hand and kissed it, "But please, take care of yourself… Even just for me…"
"Daijoubu. It's not like I'm going to disappear one day. We're already dead and when harmed, we could regenerate again."
"But I don't want you to feel pain. Tell me that you'll take care of yourself, ok?"
She nodded and *osculated him, making him blush again. (osculated means 'to kiss on the lips')
Tsuzuki suddenly said, "I'll just go to the male's restroom for a while."
Kyla nodded as the brunette stood up and went there. She suddenly noticed the young boy with flax hair, entering the coffee shop.
She called him, "Aoi!"
The young boy turned to her. She beckoned him to come over and the boy did so. He sat opposite of her and crossed his fingers on the table.
Hisoka said, "Seems like you're with someone."
She nodded, "I'm with Asato but he just went to the men's room for a while."
"I see…" the boy's face suddenly looked depressed.
"If only I knew that we would meet here, I could have brought Saino with me…"
"Iie. Daijoubu…" he smiled.
"It seems not like you…" Kyla told him.
"Naze?"
She giggled, "I still remember back then… All you gave me was just a cold or empty stare…" She then asked, "Is it because of Saino?"
"U-urusai…" he said, turning away furiously.
She giggled once more and held his hand, making him turn to her again.
"Don't hide it. I know you. Also, I don't think there's anything wrong about Saino. She likes you anyway…"
Hisoka blushed and looked down.
At the other side of the street, a young girl with ebony hair, who was on her school uniform, was walking and holding on her backpack.
"Oh… where's that street?…" Saino turned around to look for it but found Kyla and Hisoka.
She noticed that they were holding hands and Hisoka was blushing.
Her eyes widely opened, "Nan da? Why's Hisoka-kun with onee-chan?"
The voice spoke, "I told you. He still has those feelings for her."
She closed her eyes angrily, "Yamette! I won't believe you! I trust him!!!"
"*sigh* Then, believe what you believe. But I'm sure you'll take back what you said…"
Another voice said, "Saino, whatever happens… please… don't believe what she says! Seal your trust in Hisoka!"
"Sakura…" Saino thought.
"Onegai… Don't go to where she orders you so. Don't let your fate stay as it is!!!"
The other voice snorted, "Fine. I'll take you there by force!"
Back at the coffee shop, Hisoka noticed Saino, who was staring back at him. He smiled but was responded back by a cold stare and turn. He stared at Saino, who was walking away.
He eyed her, "Something's not right. Her aura's turning randomly and furiously."
He quickly stood up and told Kyla, "I'm going to follow Saino."
She nodded then smiled, "Good luck!"
He blushed furiously, "I didn't mean THAT. Anyway, Ja!"
He ran away from the coffee shop and searched for Saino but she was nowhere to be found anymore.
*****
Reia: Oh my… Who was that voice who possessed Saino?… Anyone knows?… ;p
Warning: When reading the future chapters, prepare a roll or two of tissue papers beside or on your computer. If you are TOO conservative, use a handkerchief. This is IN CASE of emergency. Reia: I hope you understood what I meant… ^^;;;
Next chapter hints: Chapter 24: (It's Gonna be Love)
Kamui: In the next chapt, for about a month or two without any contact with Saino, Hisoka felt depressed…
Reia: I'll be expecting your reviews!!! ^^