Matt rested his hand on the door handle, trying to decide whether or not to go in. He turned the handle, and to his surprise it wasn't locked, so he went in.
"Kari?" he called quietly, then heard sobbing from the next room. Not loud, heart-breaking sobbing, just the quiet crying of someone who's feeling very down. He slipped his shoes off and shut the door. Walking to the door to her bedroom, he paused and looked in. Kari was face down on her bed, all scrunched up, crying. Matt's heart was wrung with sadness as he watched the woman he loved cry over his baby brother. Steeling himself, he stepped into the room.
"If that's you TK, I told you to bugger off," came her muffled voice from the duvet.
"No, it's not TK. It's me. Matt." He came forward towards the bed. Kari sat up quickly, wiping her eyes.
"Matt! How... nice." She tried to look welcoming and failed miserably.
"The door was open, and I was just passing," he muttered, sitting down next to her on the bed. She sniffed. "What's the matter?"
"I just told TK, my boyfriend of four years, that I couldn't see him any more," she replied softly, more tears escaping. She looked down, unwilling to meet Matt's sympathetic gaze. Without a word, he put his arms about her, pulling her into a tender hug. She didn't resist, just turned to him for support. He let her cry into his jumper, stroking her hair and dropping kisses on her head.
"There there, it'll be okay," he soothed. "You'll find someone who loves you."
"Thank you Matt. You're always there when I need you," she whispered. Matt put a hand under her chin and lifted her head to meet his eyes. She stared at him for a moment, then allowed herself to be pulled into a soft kiss. His lips were soft and warm, enticing her to react. She found herself responding warmly. TK's kisses had been great then, but lately, they'd been lacking something. Maybe it wasn't TK though. Maybe it was her. Maybe she'd had a change of heart and this was it.
Matt's heart leaped as their lips met. He was surprised at the warmth of her response, but pleased she hadn't rejected him. He moved his hand to her cheek, carressing her skin gently with his thumb. She moved her mouth against his, and brought her body closer too. She hadn't felt so loved since the first time she and TK had been together. He wrapped his other arm protectively around her waist, pulling her closer still. Kari smiled against Matt's lips. He pulled away a little.
"What?" he breathed.
"Nothing," she replied, and moved her head against his, kissing him again. At the same time she moved her arms around his neck, preventing him escaping. The kiss was fast turning passionate and powerful, both members finding their blood rushing and hearts beating faster. Matt slipped one hand up the back of her shirt, gently moving his fingers in circles, creating ripples of shivers across Kari's skin. She sighed and moved closer, playing with the hair on the back of his neck, twisting it between her fingers. Matt's other hand moved from her cheek to her waist, his fingers trying to find a way under her clothes to join his other hand, finally managing to find a way and starting to massage her belly, working slowly upwards until it cupped her breast. She kissed back harder, slipping her tongue into his mouth, and him responding just as eagerly. She ran her hands through his hair, twining it around her fingers, loving the warm soft feel of it. Matt moaned softly into her mouth.
"Well. So this is it. I wondered."
Matt and Kari broke apart like a shot. TK stood in the doorway, his face like a thundercloud. Matt stood up quickly, his hands out in a peaceful gesture.
"TK, it wasn't- I didn't mean for it- I couldn't-" His half starts at excuses were cut off as TK slugged him in the jaw. Matt stumbled back, his face pounding. Kari stood up too.
"TK! YOU HORRIBLE.... BRUTE!" Matt smiled inwardly. ~That's my Kari. She's so nice mannered. Partly why I love her so much.~ He put a hand on Kari's arm to reassure her. TK's eyes flashed and he kicked Matt in the stomach. Matt reeled, winded. While he was dazed, TK landed an upper cut on his mouth. He went down like a sack of bricks. Kari stared at TK, open mouthed, but before she could speak, Matt did.
"I guess I deserved that," he said, gingerly touching his lip. "I'd better go."
"Yeah. You'd better." TK watched Matt pass by and walk out of the front door, before he turned to Kari. She was staring at TK, her eyes angry and hurt. He looked back, angry at her too.
"TK, you had no right to-" TK turned to eye up Kari.
"Didn't I? How long has this been going on Kari? One month? Two? I know you weren't when you agreed to move in with me." Kari scowled.
"Yeah well, you aint no angel either, Takeru. Who did those panties really belong to?" She met his stare, not contradicting his comment about Matt. TK stared back, angry.
"So they were mine. Well, not mine. But they belonged to Della. I got a little drunk a while ago and she followed me home. Now it's my turn. How long have you been shagging Matt?" Kari made no comment. "My own brother, Kari, my own fucking brother!" His voice was rising with his fury. "You were fucking my fucking brother!" Kari suddenly stepped forward and slapped TK sharply across the face.
"For your information, I never even held hands with him like that before today. So you can get off you bloody high horse and stop lording it over me!" she spat. TK stared at her, not really wanting to believe what she was saying. "Perhaps I should have done what you said, Takeru. I'd probably be a lot happier!" She started to gather up her things, throwing them in a bag. When she was done she picked up her handbag and keys and went to go out. TK blocked her way.
"Where do you think you're going?" he demanded.
"None of your damn business," she said shortly, before pushing past him and heading out of the apartment to her car. TK stood at the door to his apartment and watched her get in her car and drive away, feeling very hurt, alone, and angry.
