Fools Rush In

I know this is like a year late.
I know this is probably completely out of everyone's minds.
But I figured I should finish this beauty off. I mean, with the surge of good writing--;;;applause for RnBwRvrGrl and Digital Tempest;; I had to continue. After all, I figured I should keep the Brodi/Kaori spirit alive. Sure, it's unrealistic as hell. But it's so kawaii! Besides, if it's performed well...
Well, I hope it's performed well.
So, without further ado....
Chapter 2.


~*~*~*~
You make me high
I wish that you knew
I wish I could tell you
Together we'd fly
Open your eyes
Start reading my mind!
~*~*~*~

Marisol usually considered herself fine, to say the least. Her flamboyance was renowned, and positively adored by her fans.
So why on Earth did she feel so wretched now?
Sure, it might have been common to feel a little guilt...but this was far more.
It made her feel out of control, worried about what was to come. She wanted to phone Seeiah, Brodi, someone, even JP!
That made her pause.
JP was the one she wanted to call. But you can't, chica. You're with Brodi now. Even if he's not with you.
Oh, damn straight he wasn't with her!
He might as well have been in a different planet when they were on a date. He barely kissed her. And even then, there was no...oomph.
JP gave her oomph. Lots of it.
But everything went so wrong....
She pulled herself off the couch, picking up a hairbrush and running it through her blonde tresses.
There had to be a way, she figured. She knew JP was still after her. Well, she didn't know. But she could feel it!
She just prayed her feelings were right.
Her arm stopped mid-pull.
Her feelings were right.
She still cared for JP.
Her feelings were right.
She didn't give a rat's ass about Brodi.
Her feelings were right.
But Kaori sure did.
That was enough for her. Maybe she couldn't be happy with Brodi Ford, but Kaori sure could. She dialed the Buddhist's number.
"Hello, this is Brodi Ford, who's calling?" His voice was smooth and low, as always. Marisol had thought she found shelter there. But it wasn't right.
"Brod, it's me." Her voice felt shaky just then.
"Marisol? How've you been?" The question was warm, but there wasn't any love in it. It made her sick to think that she'd been carrying this on for so long.
"Fine, I guess."
"Looking forward to the Snowdream showoff?" She nodded vaguely before realizing he couldn't see it.
"Yeah, sort of. Hey Brod?"
"Yes Marisol?" The words were getting stuck in her throat.
"When'll you be in Japan?" She was preparing herself now.
"A few days, same as everyone. Why do you ask?"
"Just because. I was thinking we could do something."
Because We need to talk.

~*~*~*~

Mac Fraser was enjoying the brief vacation.
And he was enjoying his shower.
"SUGAR PIE HONEY BUNCH!" The steam made for good acoustics--in his mind's eye, anyway.
"YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOUUUU!" He got out after a few lathers.
"I can't help myself! I love you and nobody else...." He couldn't *wait* to see Kaori in person again. He missed her. But it was weird, the feeling he got.
He felt like he was in the wrong somehow.
Nah, maybe it was just his imagination. Running away with him...
Aww man, he needed to spend less time at home. His mom played *way* too much Motown.
He shrugged it off. It didn't matter. His family life was fine enough.
In short doses.
And that's what this was, a short dose. Just what he needed until the season got back in order.
And until he saw Kaori again.
He needed to touch her. See her smile. Kiss her smile...
He felt a sharp pang.
What was it? It wasn't jealousy, or longing, or even guilt.
It was more like...
Discontent. Something felt out of place in this perfect scenario.
But he couldn't figure out what it was.
Not yet.
When he saw her again...
Then he'd figure it out.

~*~*~*~

Orange Julius, Skechers, and air travel.
These were the three things Kaori had been exposed to from SSX that she loved the most.
Well, it wasn't that she loved air travel, per se...
It was that she loved being welcomed when she got off.
The days before the show-off had passed quickly--mostly due to her iron will.
She had to stop what she was doing to herself.
The only question was how.
She couldn't just...dump...him. Mac's friendship meant too much to her.
But she couldn't lead him on like this.
There was no easy way to do this. Period.
A phone call would be cruel, an email would be, (as she once heard Elise say) 'pricky', a letter...
Well, a letter was better than the other alternatives.
But it still wouldn't do!
No, she had to tell him face to face! Or else she couldn't try and...
"Kaori-chan!" The voice jolted her out of her thoughts.
But when she looked to see who had called her name, she realized the jolting was definitely a good thing.
"Brodi-kun!" She beamed and ran up to him, luggage in hand before giving him a huge hug.
"Hello to you too," He said gently, and that seemed to be a reminder to stop hugging him.
She blushed. She had trouble forgetting sometimes.
"Konnichiwa!" She exclaimed, walking beside him. "How are you?" He smiled at her, still walking.
"Oh, alright I suppose. Merely playing my part that the universe's set out for me." She smiled.
She didn't think he knew how that big that part was. To her, anyway.
"So, what's new?" He asked her in return. She shook her head, smiling lightly.
"Nothing much!" His tone turned gentler.
"Really?" Her heart raced, and she felt like her cheeks were tomatoes.
"Really!" She squeaked out, and he chuckled.
"Alright."
The peace was enough for them as they headed to the temporary headquarters.
For now.