QoH: I hate ice storms! It's been making my power go in and out (mostly out) 4 days on end now, not mention that the library has been closed 4 just as long! -_-' Geez.... Well, I'm glad I could get this written, at least. Phew ^_^
Chapter 6: And That Is Why
Kiley groaned as something insisted on poking him in the side. Burying his head under his pillow, he swatted away whatever it was. He really didn't feel like getting up at that moment, to say the least. Unfortunately, it didn't feel like quitting, either.
"Yo, rise and shine," a cheery, muffled voice reached his ears through the barrier of fluff before it was pried off his head, "Time to get up, ya know. Sorry to be the one to tell you, but you can't lay around in bed all day. Oh, by the way, in case you're wondering, I picked your lock."
Monumentally annoyed, Kiley cracked open one bloodshot eye to glare at his brother and muttered, "What do you want?"
Ryou (A/N: Is that how you spell his name? I keep runnin across diff ways of writin it) staggered back, his hand against his heart in mock-hurt, "Well, that's a nice greeting. Who spit in your cereal this morning, kid?"
"Look, I really don't have the energy to argue with you right now. Among other things, I have a headache the size of Mount Fuji. So, if it's all the same to you, would you leave me alone right now?" Not waiting for an answer, he rolled away from him so that he faced the window instead, "Thanks."
"What's got you so down?" one of Ryou's eyebrows disappeared under his hair as he peered at the inert form of his younger brother. When he received no response, he crossed his arms and walked around to the other side of the bed, "I'm not leaving until you tell me what's up. I don't have anywhere to go at the moment, so I can stand here as long as necessary."
Great. Just great. Ryou when he's bored... wonderful. Like I need that right now. "Then, I guess you'll be standing there for a long time, because I'm not telling you beans."
"Well, it's a good thing I didn't ask for 'beans,' then, huh?" he countered in typical sibling fashion, "So, spill."
Kiley flopped onto his stomach and put his arms over his head, his face planted firmly in the blanket, avoiding his gaze, "No."
Ryou sat down at Kiley's desk, an amused glint in his eye, "I bet I can guess, though."
"Whatever."
He leaned forward on his knees, clasping his hands together, "What's her name?" Silence met his query, "Oh, come on, now. You can be polite and tell me who she is, at least. I should meet the girl who's stolen my little brother's heart."
This drew a response, of a sort. Without moving, he said, "You're wasting your time."
"Why would I be wasting my time?"
"She's already in love, you dolt."
"Ah," Ryou grinned triumphantly, "so I was right."
"So," Kiley retorted, raising his head to scowl at him, "there's no way you're going to charm her into being just another tally on your conquest chart."
"Ouch. That's cold, bro," he smirked, clearly unaffected, "Why do you care what I do in my romantic adventures, anyway? As though it's any of your business in the first place."
Kiley sat up, still glowering at him, "When you mess with someone I care about, it's very much my business."
"Say what you want." Ryou shrugged, "At any rate, it's not like I don't already know, to begin with. I just wanted to see if you would tell me on your own. The fact that you didn't makes me suspect it's worse than I thought."
"Stop being so obscure, would you?" Kiley grumbled, rubbing his scratchy eyes, "I just woke up, if you'll remember."
"Would her name, perhaps, be" he paused for dramatic effect, "Momo Adachi?"
"How did you know?" he asked, flabbergasted, and not a little wary at his brother's tone.
"You seem have developed a habit of talking in your sleep. You said the name several times, alongwith those of 'Sae' and 'Toji.' Yet more so with 'Momo.' You never said their last names, but I know enough about the high school crowd to know who you spoke of immediately," he leaned his elbow on the desk, counting off on his fingers, "Let's see... Sae Kashiwagi. Considered among the most popular and, according to the majority of the male half, 'cutest' girls in school. Then, we have Kazuya Tojigamori. Something of a loner, rather bright, but a bit clueless at times. And, of course, last but not least, Momo Adachi. Ostracized by her peers for having tan skin, and generally looking like a beach bunny. Thus, the beautiful pariah is lonely, in search of a true friend."
Kiley was instantly on his feet, his fists, and teeth, clenched, "You stay away from her."
"I've never seen you act this way." Ryou commented, mildly surprised, "This girl has hit you hard."
"What do you care?" he grimaced, "The only time you're interested in my love life is when I have one, so you can steal her."
He grinned rakishly, but Kiley saw the icy cynicism behind it, "It's not my fault they can't resist me."
"Yeah, yeah," he rolled his eyes, irritated, "You're catnip, and they just flock to you. I've heard this all before."
"Only because it's the simple truth," he smirked, "You want lessons?"
"No, thank you!" Kiley growled, advancing a couple steps toward him, "I don't want to be anything remotely like you. I'm compared to you enough as it is. I don't need any of it to be true."
"You should watch your mouth, dear brother." Ryou raised a cold eyebrow, standing slowly, "You wouldn't want any of that to get back to our parents, I'd wager."
"Read my lips, 'dear brother,'" he spat out, enunciating each bitter word separately, "I. Do. Not. Care."
"Oh, really?"
"I passed the breaking point today, Ryou. I'm not going to take your taunting anymore." Kiley marched furiously to his door and held it open, "I think it's time you left."
Ryou sauntered into the hall, taking his time about it, "We'll see about this. Indeed, we will..."
"Do your worst. I don't give a flying fig now." On that note, Kiley slammed it in his face.
****
"Son, we'd like to have a word with you," Kiley's mother's voice announced a few hours later. Still stewing over the fight, Kiley reluctantly opened the door. His entire family filed into his room, including a very smug elder brother.
"Due to you recent outburst," his father said, "we've decided it's best that you finish up your schooling at the Tokyo Military Academy. We've put in a call, and they've accepted you. You leave in a week."
QoH: o_O Kiley at a military school? *shudders* (I'm back, after over a WEEK of the library bein closed! WAI! lol)
