Upside-down

by:
Darkness VII

My blabber: Yeah, chapter 2 is up. It's basically how they got together and how they change little by little in their ever so building relationship. Mainly full of mush and sap. Hints of Ryota/Ayako in this one. Just a little bit of Ryota/Ayako in this one. Very little bit. Not to worry. Next chapter will be about them.

=Words in italic are either their thoughts or words I would like to emphasize.

CHAPTER 2- How they got together

I forgot to mention that Kim always has a jacket in her car in case of emergencies. This time, it was a denim 3/4 jacket that she had in her car, not exactly for an emergency. None the less she brought it with her. She also always had this bag with her. Something like a body bag, but not exactly. It had her palm top in it, a black velvet case that contained her Mont Blanc ™ pen, her gold Cross™ mechanical pencil with refills. There was also her cellphone and a leather packet that contained five, deathly sharp shikurens.

Well, anyways, when Kim got to Rukawa's place, she did her final touches to her attire and herself. She tied the jacket to her waist and also brought her bag with her. As you all know, Kim's favorite color is dark blue. So you might get the conclusion that her bag is also dark blue. You're right. It was dark blue. And it matched her attire very well. As she neared the door, she started thinking about useless things. What if his mom answers the door? What will she think? Oh well, we'll never know.... And she rang the door bell twice and a nice-looking lady answered the door. Is this his mom? She doesn't exactly look like him... "Ah, you must be Kim. I'm Kaede's aunt. He said he was expecting someone. Well, why don't you come in?" Kim entered a well-kept house and was awed. I guess I was wrong...

"I think you'll find Kaede in the baby's room. He's taking care of my daughter. The room's right over there, down the hall." His aunt said, pointing at the room down the hall. Hmmm, Kaede taking care of a baby? Funny. Kim couldn't help but give a little giggle. She walked down the hall and found an open door leading to a room full of pink. There stood Rukawa standing beside a crib with a baby in pink, crying her eyes out. She started to laugh hard at the sight of Rukawa looking worried, annoyed and pitiful. "What the *laugh* hell do *guffaw* you think you're *laugh* doing?" She slouched against the wall for support.

"Oh, so you're here" he said, annoyed. "Need help?" catching her breath. "Sure" and she entered the room. "There, there, don't cry..." she said, while patting gently on the baby's head. She immediately stopped crying. "How the heck did you do that?" "It's instinctive. Besides, my mom used to do that to me all the time." "Oh" "What's her name?" "Mia" "That's cute." "Don't mind me, but do you have any second name?" "Uh..." "So?" "Uh..." "Come on. It isn't so bad, is it?" "Kaede, what if your parents gave you 'Krystal' for a second name?" Rukawa started to laugh hard, real hard. "Your second name is Krystal?" he said, and laughed even harder. "You are SO mean!" "Gomen, Kim-chan" As if she didn't hear her, Kim gave him a playful swack on the head.

"Couldn't help it, sorry." she apologized. "Daijobu. Sorry for laughing at you." "Nah. It's fine. Hey, I laughed at you too." "I guess we're even" "Yep" "Uh, where are your parents?" "They're at home" "What do you mean? This isn't your house? Why the heck are you here?" "I promised my aunt that I'd baby-sit Mia for a while and I told her that I asked you to come over." "I'm not disturbing her am I?" "Oh, no not at all. This house is like my house. Besides my parents are also coming for dinner her. "Uh-oh" Kim mumbled "Wha-" "Nothing. I said nothing" she said sarcastically.

After about thirty minutes, Rukawa's parents came and it was time for dinner. It was a quiet meal, but Rukawa's dad broke the silence. "So, Kaede, what did you do in school today?" he looked like a nice man, just a little taller than Rukawa. He was wearing a black business suit, white shirt and a black tie. Kind 'a like one of Kim's bodyguards. "Nothing that would be interesting to you, sir" Okay, so he wasn't that nice. Not when he forces his son to call him 'sir'. Sorta like Kim's dad. He was one of those business tyrants and forced his daughter to call him 'sir'. Kim's dad wasn't always like that though. Only after he had divorced Kim's step mom. She used to call him 'daddy' and when she got really annoyed with him, 'father'. But now, he was bitter. All he cared for was his business and occasionally he talks to Kim, when he had time.

"Is she your friend, Kaede? I haven't seen you invite friends to have dinner for a long while, son." Kaede's dad asked. "Yes, sir" Kaede replied. "She's new in the country and it's just to show a little hospitality, sir" "Now, Kaede, we've talked about this. You don't have to use 'sir' all the time" Okay, screw that. He was kind 'a nice. Kind 'a. "Oh, so is she?" Kaede's mom asked. She was your typical business mom. The one who wears business suits and asks really dumb question. My mom is like that so I have no trouble describing her.

"Yes, ma'am." Kim replied respectively. "Oh, she's a sweet little thing, isn't she Kaede?" One thing, annoying about these sort of moms was that they always have to embarrass you in front of your friends. That bitch of a mom I have is so like her. "Whatever..." was what Kaede replied, but inside, he was really thinking Yes, woman. the chick is damn beautiful. How can't you realize sooner? "What's your name, sweetie" "Kim. Kim Katakura" she answered. "Katakura?" his dad mumbled, clearly astonished. "Hai?" Kim asked. "Katakura the business tyrant?" "Hai" she answered. "That's my dad" "Kaede, why don't you clear the table while I have a little chat with Ms. Katakura." "Hai, hai"

They sat at the living room. Kaede's mom and dad, and Kim. Kim sat across them and talked. "So, you're Katakura's daughter?" his dad asked "Yes, sir" "I see Kaede takes interest in you" Kim blushed furiously. "Oh, don't be silly. I think his only interests are sleeping and basketball." "But mothers can see through their son's eyes" his mom said. "Oh, well, you never know" she answered "Well, thanks for dinner, but I really have to go home now." Just then, Kaede appeared. "Leaving?" He asked Kim. "Yep" she answered "Oyasumi, minna-san!" she said and left.

"Oh, don't worry, Kaede. I can see she likes you too" his mom said "Whatever" he replied. "And whatever she makes you feel. If you love her. We won't stop you." his dad said. It's unusual that dad is actually supportive of any of my business. I guess MY Kim made a good first impression.

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The next day, Kim, who was skating her way to school that day, almost bumped into Kaede and both of them went to school together. As they entered, all eyes fell on them. The school's biggest heartthrob with a hot new American girl together going to school. Yes. This story is going very, very fast. "*yawn* Another boring day at school" Kim said. "*yawn* You said it" Kaede said. As you have noticed, I have been referring to Rukawa as 'Kaede' now. Well, I decided that if Kim's gonna call him that, I might as well call him that too.

Just after classes, Kim felt a little dazed. She was feeling a little bit dizzy, but it didn't bother her much. She continued on, walking to the gym. Then, disaster struck. She was too dizzy to even stand up, more to even walk. Her body fell limp and she fainted. Kaede who was right behind her, and with all his fast reflexes, quickly caught the falling Kim. What the heck am I gonna do with this girl? Just then, he spotted Miyagi who was flirting with Ayako. Ayako!

"Miyagi!" he yelled, not too loud though. Miyagi looked for who was calling him and saw Ru... Kaede and ran to him, seeing Kim limp and against Kaede's body. "Rukawa?" "What?" "What 'what'?" "Where's Ayako?" "Why are you looking for MY Aya-chan?" "I need help" "With what?" "HER!" Kaede couldn't help it anymore and he just had to shout. He just couldn't handle people's insolence. Later on, you'll find out that Kim can't handle the same thing. "Aya-chan!" Miyagi yelled "Hai, Ryota" "Help" "What?" "HELP" "With what?" "KIM!" Miyagi and Kaede yelled in unison.

"Oh megami-sama!" Ayako yelled while running to them. "You assholes! Why didn't you bring her to the clinic?" "ARE we supposed to bring her to the clinic?" Miyagi asked. As usual, Ayako raised her paper fan and whacked Miyagi on the head. Yes, you insensitive, bishounen, moron! Ayako thought. So it wasn't a one-sided love after all. "Rukawa, bring her to the clinic right this instant!" Ayako yelled. Kaede followed. He carried Kim into the clinic. And while doing so, he got nasty stares from both girls and boys.

"She has a very high fever, son" the nurse told Kaede. "Are you her boyfriend? If you are, could you kindly take her home?" "I'm not exactly her BOYFRIEND but I'll take her home" He remembered that Peter was always tailing around her so he decided that he should talk to Peter first, then take her home. He walked down the hall and found Peter standing stiffly, waiting for him.

"Hello, sir Rukawa. How is Ms. Katakura?" Peter asked politely. "She's fine, but she has a very high fever and needs to get home." Kaede answered. "Would you kindly take her home, sir?" "But...I don't have a car with me right now." "Oh, don't worry, sir. Ms. Katakura's car is right outside. Besides, I must have everything arranged for her arrival." Peter said and finally leading Kaede to the car. "This is her car. Please take care of master Kim for me" He said and walked into a black Viper and drove off.

Kaede, who was now ten minutes late for practice, went to the gym to talk to Anzai-sensei to talk about Kim's present condition. "Oh, oh, oh. Take her home if you wish." With Anzai-sensei's final words, Kaede walked back to the clinic to pick Kim up. "I'll take her home now. Thank you" he said as he picked Kim up. "You're an awfully sweet young man. If ever you do become her boyfriend, I'm sure you'll get along very well" the nurse said. Kaede blushed beet red.

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It was on the drive to Katakura manor that things started to get a little more, shall we say intense. (what a term...) Anyway, like I was saying, things were getting a little too intense for our young super rookie to handle. Kim started shifting positions over and over again. She was mumbling words he barely understood, English words. Damn! I shouldn't have slept during the English lessons today. She was having nightmares, that he knew. But how could he take it away?

Then, she opened her eyes. Slightly. Very slightly. Her right, arm which was free, reached up to his left cheek, held onto it and started to mumble something. "Rukawa Kaede, ...don't think I...don't know what's happening... Ai...shi..te...ru..." she trailed off and her arm fell back limply and her eyes fell shut. What? What did she say? Shit! Did she just say what I've been dreaming of her to say... "I love you too" he mumbled at her and a smile crept up her face. And to think that she had a very high fever.

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The next day, Kaede woke up early and had his driver take him to Kim's house. When he got there, he knocked gently on her door. He opened it slightly just to see that Kim's dad was taking care of her. He knocked again, this time a little more audible. Kim's dad looked over to see who it was. "Come in" he said, careful not to wake his sleeping daughter. "Excuse me sir, but I'd just like to check on Kim if I may" "Go right ahead, son. In any case, I have to go now. Take all the time you need. And please, if she doesn't wake up on her own. DO NOT wake her up." and he left.

"Kim?" he whispered and she woke up. "Whut?" she said, very annoyed. "Sorry to wake you up, but I just wanted to check up on you." "Oh, so it's you" "Are you coming to school?" "Yes" "In that condition?" "Yeah" "I don't think so" "I have to" "No, you don't" "Oh, don't be a grouch" "Uh, Kim, just to get the question off my mind, yesterday, did you mean what you said?" "Yes" "Oh shit" "'Oh shit' what?" "Nothing" "Okay then" she said as she reached up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck to give him a long lasting kiss.

After that, she let go and fell back asleep. "I told you, you weren't coming to school today, baby" he said then went out he door. He found himself in front of Kim's dad. "Useigo Katakura. And you are?" "Rukawa Kaede" "So you must be Kim's boyfriend?" "Uh..." "No need to be shy now." "Yes" he said quietly "That's the spirit, my boy!" "Now go to school and come by later, okay?" "Yes, sir" These were his final words as he left Katakura manor for school. This time, not bored to go to school because he had a lot to think of, his new girlfriend.

Author's final blabber: So, howdya like it? Pretty good if I do say so myself. *receives a knock on the head* Okay, so it isn't the best story in the world, but I had to escape kickboxing practice just to finish this thing. Oh the dreads of my coach, scolding me over and over and over.... Oh sorry. I must've dozed off. Anyway, please review. Comments will be gratefully appreciated.

PS
If any of you know Ayako's last name, please e-mail me

Thanks!

Darkness VII