AUTHOR'S NOTES:  My deepest apologies will have to be expressed in this author's note.  I know that I haven't updated in a month and a half—I'm certainly well aware!  A few months ago, I had already decided that this would be an upbeat chapter with lots of happy happy stuff.  Well, lately I have been in a very not happy happy mood.  Let me just put it this way—I am currently going through some tough times, and I am sure that some of my cynical mood will come through in writing.  Breaking up with my boyfriend has nothing to do with my mood, although having one right now would be nice (for the record, I broke up with him)!

            For those of you who keep up with me, I have gotten volumes seven and eight, and whooey, are they awesome!  Everyone, go out and support MARS!  Also, TokyoPop (which I don't own) is doing a survey as to what their next licensed manga should be.  Anyone who wants to help me can certainly go to their site and vote for Hanazakari no Kimitachi E (For You in Full Blossom).  It's a really great series that you should all vote for, then purchase!

            One more thing, actually about the fic and not about my personal life: I realized that I've been making a typo for awhile now in my own character.  Ms. Suzuka's name was beginning to be suspicously read as Ms. Suzuki.  She is not a motorcycle.  Also, just for reference, this has not yet been proofread, so if you see any blatant errors, please alert me to them!  So, with that, please read my fic!

What Wasn't Meant To Be by Sushifishie

Chapter Ten: Selfish Plans

"I still don't get it," Kira said with a pout.  "You only have your futons and your bookcase—there's just a minifridge and a microwave!  How is it that every meal is just TV dinner style?"

            "You get used to it after awhile!" Rei replied, throwing his hands up in disgust.  "If you're that concerned, Kira, then come and make us dinner, because neither of us can cook worth beans."

            "Rei," Sei grimaced, "be nice to Kira."

            She held a hand out in front of her boyfriend, "No, Sei.  I will come and cook for you sometime, even if it's just to shut this guy up," she pointed to Rei.

            "Hey, that's not nice!" Rei whined with a smile.  "Wow, Kira, even you can be mean sometimes!"

            "Kira," Sei grimaced, "be nice to Rei."

            The three began to chuckle at this.  At this time, they were sitting on the floor of the Kashino twins' apartment.  Rei was leaning against his own bed with one arm sprawled across the top of it and the other dangling at his side.  Sei and Kira were sitting a few feet away leaning in similar positions against Sei's bed.

            Sei slapped the ground, signaling an end to the laughter, and they let out a group sigh.  But, they finally had to get to business.  Picking up his clipboard, Rei tried to look very official.  Clearing his throat, he began, "This meeting was called to finalize detailed plans for "Operation Break-up Takayuki Kashino and Signora Aso."  Our first order of business," he said, holding up a hand to silence Kira's giggles, "is to clear up any unknown information.  Is there anything that you don't understand?" he asked, looking at the others with a restrained smile.

            When each of them shook their heads, he continued, "Okay, with that completed, on to the second order of business.  It's to call Aya Suzuka, dad's girlfriend.  Who should make the phone call?  It shouldn't be me, because we've already established that I'm against her completely."

            Kira raised her hand, "I don't even know her, so it's not me either.  Sei's obviously the only one fit for this job!"

            Putting a fist to his heart, Sei declared, "I won't fail you.  Thank you for this opportunity!" he bowed, causing another flurry of giggles from Kira.

            "Stop that nonsense!" Rei commanded, half-seriously.  He didn't have any idea as to why he was trying so hard to destroy Signora and Takayuki's relationship, all he knew was that it was important to him—very important.  "Just make the phone call now.  The dinner will be tonight, you know?  It's got to be set up very soon to work right."

            Sei grinned and simmered down.  He stood up from his spot against the bed and reached his arm out to help Kira up, too.  She grabbed it and was easily pulled to her feet.  Grinning, she plopped down on the bed, near where the phone was sitting on the nightstand.  Looking expectantly at her boyfriend, she waited for his move.

            While Rei joined them near the phone, Sei picked up the receiver and took a deep breath.  He was not very good at making phone calls.  He didn't understand it!  He could easily talk to people in person (well, that was a lie; as soon as people started talking to him in person, he could easily respond), and even in the few encounters he'd had in chat rooms on the internet had been even easier than talking in person.  But, for some reason, the phone was different.

            Feeling the pressure of the other two's eyes, he began to breathe a little bit faster.  This happened whenever he called people.  Sei would pick up the phone and dial up to the sixth number before hanging up in cowardice.  He gulped and stared at the cord leading to the wall.  Maybe he could pull it out and pretend that the phone service had been cut off or something!

            "Give me that!" Rei finally yelled, grabbing the phone off its hook.  "You're taking too long.  I'll just call her!"

            Sei gave his brother a look of relief and let out a sigh.  Although Kira gave him a weird look, he dismissed it easily.  He was used to it by this point.

            "Can I please speak to Miss Aya Suzuka on the matter of . . ." Rei paused to think for a moment, but couldn't come up with anything "just tell her that Rei Kashino wants to talk to her, okay?"

            As he was connected, he hummed with the music that the phone was playing.  Sei snorted at his brother's lack of skill and Kira tried to contain herself, but she found herself unable.  She ended up rolling on the bed in laughter, especially when Rei started to sing.  He abruptly cut himself off, and Sei could hear laughing on the other end.  He briefly wished that they had speaker phone before listening intently to Rei's half of the conversation.

            "Hey, that's cruel.  Don't be laughing so hard!" Rei pleaded, easily charming Aya into giving him her trust.  There was no way that she had any idea that she was a just a ploy in their clever scheme.

            Rei paused and listened to the other line, but all the others could hear was some high pitched laughter.  Apparently, Aya had found Rei's singing as hilarious as Sei and Kira.  She couldn't seem to stop laughing.  They almost felt bad that they were using her in such a way.

            "Anyway," Rei interrupted with a mock angry tone, "I have a favor to ask."  He waited a second for her answer before continuing, "Dad invited us to go out to dinner tonight, the four of us—you, Dad, Sei, and me—at that one Italian place in the next town with the mural with the famous Italian sights," he listened, "yeah, that's the one!  Anyway, Sei and I need a ride because my motorcycle is at the garage being repaired.  Could you swing by and get us?"

            He smiled as he heard what Aya was saying, "Yeah, I suppose so!" he agreed with a chuckle.  "But I don't do this very often, remember.  It's at six, I believe," he said, looking at Kira for agreement.  She nodded and he added, "Yeah, it's at six."

            Nodding, he said, "Thanks, Aya.  We'll see you at six then.  Bye!" he called as he hung up the phone.  Turning to the others, he pumped a fist in the air and yelled, "Score!"

            The others let out cheers of relief and looked at one another excitedly.

            "The next step," Rei began, "is to get Dad to the restaurant.  Kira, you've already talked to your mom, right?"

            "Of course!" she said brightly.  "I've had this set up for almost a week.  This had better work out, because she's taking some time off of work for this."

            "Wow, unusual Kira vigor," Rei commented to his brother.

            "Sounds like that to me, too," Sei agreed.  "It's interesting.  We should see it more often."

            Kira blushed and asked Rei, "Could you do the next step already?"

            "Yeah," he said, "but I really think that Sei should do this one.  I can't talk to dad very easily, you know?  We're not exactly on good terms."

            "Fine," Sei agreed, "I don't mind calling Dad."

            There was something incredibly easy to Sei about calling his father or Rei.  They were the only two that he could phone comfortably, probably because they were family.  He took Rei's place at the telephone and dialed the familiar number in haste.  He tried to sound perky as his dad answered.

            "Hi, Dad!" he chirruped.  "This is Sei.  Sorry for bothering you at work, but I wanted to invite you out to dinner tonight.  It's at that Italian place that you really like . . . yeah, that's the one!  Rei and I have invited a small group of people." After pausing to listen, he added, "Some of them are the Asos."  There was another stop, and then he finally concluded, "Great.  We'll be there at six thirty.  Don't be late!  I love you, Dad!" he smiled, hanging up the phone.

            "Isn't he just so cute?" Rei asked Kira, tugging at the side of Sei's cheek.

            "Get off," Sei smiled.  "We can't play; we still have to plan more things out."

            "That's too true, my dear brother," he nodded, "too true!  Alas, Kira, we must stop this dilly-dally and feedle-foddle and get down to business."

            She giggled, "You sound like Dr. Seuss!"

            "Don't we all?" he said with a feel of superiority.  "Now we seriously need to start the plan!"

            The group spent about an hour planning the last minute details needed to arrange the meeting at the restaurant.  Right now, their Dad thought that it was a group meeting.  Aya thought that it was just a family get-together.  Signora Aso merely thought that it would be just her and her daughter.

            There were three very confused adults!

* * *

Later that afternoon, about three hours after Kira left their presence, Sei and Rei sat in the same positions as they had when she was still there.  Each leaning on their respective beds, Sei was reading his Japanese history text, and Rei was listening to his CDs and reading the Shounen Jump for the week.

            Sei twiddled his fingers, finding himself unable to concentrate very wholeheartedly.  Although he was reading, nothing was sinking in, and he knew that everything he had "learned" would be forgotten within the next evening.  Setting his book on the floor, he stared at his older brother, who was making it even harder for him to concentrate.  At that moment, Rei was loudly whispering the words to a heavy metal piece with lyrics that Sei was strongly opposed.  After a few minutes of giving him the death glare, Sei gave up.

            Slamming his book shut, he looked impatiently at his watch.  It read as almost a quarter to six.  Jumping to his feet in alarm, he walked over to his brother and yanked the headphones from his ears.

            "Rei!" he said with obvious urgency, "We've got to leave in a couple of minutes."  Glancing out the window, he added, "I just saw Aya's car pull up!"

            "Shit!" Rei swore, springing to his toes.

            In a very hurried process, they ripped off their t-shirts and pulled on white dress shirts.   Off came their jeans, revealing their boxers (Rei was wearing Tweety Bird).  Over their underwear came the suit pants, Rei's black, Sei's gray.  The ties were quickly tied around each of their necks by the skillful hands of Sei Kashino, and finally with their suit coats, they were ready by the time Aya knocked at their door.

            A panting Sei answered it, managing to look charming even as he was exerting a light perspiration at his temples.

            Rei peered over his shoulder to see a very dolled up Aya.  She had on a navy blue velour dress that hugged her figure fittingly.  Nodding with approval, he followed his brother out the door.

            "What had you guys been doing up there?" Aya asked once they had climbed into her car.  "You're all out of breath!"

            Rei shrugged and answered with a simple, "Boys will be boys!"

            She laughed, if not only to be polite, and asked Sei, who was currently feeling guilty for leading Aya into their scheme, "Sei, how is your art coming along?"

            Her reminder made him blush a little.  "I finished a project a little while ago.  It's a clay rose that I sculpted after school.  I just finished painting it last week."

            "Ooh!" she squealed with apparent interest.  "Who are you going to give it to?"

            Sei's face turned even redder than before when Rei announced, "It's for Kira, his girlfriend!"

            "Oh, is that the girl you met that one day at your father's house?"

            He nodded, still red-faced.

            "How about your racing, Rei?  How's that coming along?" she asked, seeming to be interested in what he had to say.  Rei had to give her some credit in that account, she was good at making conversation—that woman had people skills!

            He told her, "It's okay.  I haven't had any major races lately, just fake ones against Akitaka and Kyoko and some of the guys.  Of course, I almost always win," he added with a triumphant smile.

            After receiving a slug from Sei, he corrected, "Honestly, I haven't quite caught up to Akitaka yet, but he's got some competition in me.  He thinks that I could win the four-hour endurance race this year!"

            "Wow!" she exclaimed, sounding very impressed.  Glancing at him in the mirror, she said, "You'll have to get me some front row tickets.  I want to see if your bite can support your bark!"

            "Of course!" he said, grinning charmingly.

            He had realized something in those past few minutes.  It was very hard to dislike Aya Suzuka.  She was young (only early-thirties), witty, charming, and had better social skills possibly than even Rei Kashino himself!  She was the goddess of people skills.  At that point, Rei lost his resolution to despise her, even if she was his father's girlfriend.  She really wouldn't be too bad to have around!

            He grinned as she continued making easy conversation, "How about school?  Are your grades up to par?"

            Sei nodded, "I scored in the top fifty in our last exam for mid-terms!"

            "Good job!" she congratulated, briefly taking her hands from the steering wheel to give him a round of applause.  "Rei," she began with a raised eyebrow, "Do I even want to know how you did on that test?"

            He grinned back at her, "Of course!  Anyone would be happy to be a perfectly rounded number!"  After getting the expected look of confusion, he explained, "I was number three-hundred!"

            Aya masked her laughter with fake coughing while Sei didn't even bother to hide his own.  Even Rei began to laugh at himself, as they pulled into the parking lot of the promised Italian restaurant.

            It was a very quaint place with little seating and hard to get reservations.  Luckily, they had gotten some when another group cancelled; otherwise they wouldn't have been walking through the forest green doors into the foyer.

            Covered in red bricks, the foyer looked like that of a quaint Italian restaurant.  It had green leather cushions that were the same shade as the doors.  There was a small podium for the maître'd, who was awaiting their arrival, it seemed.

            The moment they walked in the room, he snapped out of his daydream and straightened his tuxedo.  Fixing his bowtie as they walked up to him, he asked, "How may I be of service to you?"

            "We have a reservation under Kashino," Aya said with a smile.

            "It will be a small wait," the maître'd told them with an insincere apologetic grin.  "We are currently full."

            "Excuse me," Aya said with an even more insincere grin than the penguin was wearing, "but we are meeting friends, and I am demanding a table.  If you do not give me what I ask for promptly, I will take my business elsewhere.  To let you know, I do have a party of four who are very hungry."

            She nudged Rei and Sei each in the rib, and following her example, they looked angrily at the maître'd.

            With bad acting, he peered into the room and exclaimed, "How fortunate!  You're table has just opened up!  Please follow me."

            They all suppressed a giggle and followed the penguin to the table where Signora, Kira, and Takayuki were already sitting.  As expected, Aya wore a look of surprise.

            Looking at Sei, she whispered, "What are they doing here?"

            "That's Kira, remember?" Sei said, pointing at her, though he knew that pointing is inordinately impolite.

            "Oh," Aya nodded, as if that were explanation enough, "let's be seated then!"

            The seating was in a comfortable arrangement for everyone.  At the round table, seated clockwise, came Aya, Rei, Sei, Kira, Signora, and then Takayuki.  At that point, Signora and Takayuki were having a rather involved conversation while Kira fiddled with her silverware.

            She gave Sei a relieved grin as he sat down beside her.  "I'm so glad that you guys made it!  I was getting worried that I would have to put up with this all night!" she complained, nodding toward the happy couple.

            Signora and Takayuki continued talking, seemingly oblivious to what was going on around them.

            "Hey, Kira," Rei greeted from the other side of his brother.  For shock effect, he leaned over and loudly whispered to his brother, "Aren't you going to kiss her hello or something?"

            Aya let out a little giggle and began to tap her spoon on her water goblet, like they do at weddings.  To hers and Rei's amusement, they both became a deep shade of scarlet.  For even more amusement, Sei leaned over and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

            By that point, even he was laughing as Kira covered her face in her hands.  Aya imitated her, and Rei brought his face close to see what he was doing.  Just when he was right next to her, Aya pulled her hands back and said, "Peek-a-boo!"

            Kira relaxed and started laughing so hard that tears were running from her eyes. It wasn't particularly funny; she was just so relieved that attention had been drawn away from her for awhile.  She squealed happily internally.  Sei had just kissed her!

            She felt an unexpected warm hand rub her back and ask, "Are you okay?"

            Turning, she saw Sei looking happy, but a little concerned.  She wiped her eyes and nodded.  "It was really funny!"

            He smiled a soul-melting smile and she was happy that she was sitting down—if she hadn't been, there would have been a great chance that she would be a puddle at this point.  Instead of melting, she grinned back a genuine smile.  It was great to have a boyfriend.  Kira was so happy that she had met Sei!

            Across the table, Aya was beginning to look just a little bit annoyed.  Sure, it was fun to joke around with the kids, but her boyfriend was completely ignoring her!  Just when she was about to say something rather unpleasant, the waitress appeared before them.

            Great, Aya thought, that's just what I need—another pretty girl for Takayuki to stare at all evening!

            The interruption proved to be useful in its own way, because Takayuki and Signora finally pulled themselves away from each other and latched onto their menus with searching eyes.

            When the order got around to the last person, Sei, Aya decided to order one more thing for him.  "Also, bring this young man a sundae for two as his dessert!" she said, giving a sly wink in his direction.

            Kira flamed, and Mrs. Aso raised her eyebrows at this unknown woman.  The waiter walked away, and Takayuki finally noticed the other diners that had sat down at his table.

            "Oh!  Hello," he said standing up at his seat.  Reaching across the table, he shook Sei's, Rei's and Aya's hands in turn before sitting back down.  "I didn't even notice that you had arrived!"

            Aya rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, "Obviously!"

            Rei gave her a look, and she took a deep breath.  Working up her optimism, she put on her usual perky smile.  Rei was right, now was not the time to bring up this problem.  There were other people around!

            "So, Kira!" she said happily.  "I've heard from Sei that you're an artist, too?  Any particularly impressive projects lately?"

            "Sure!" she said with an embarrassed smile, but she was clearly pleased.  "This weekend, there's an art exhibition.  Actually, it's tomorrow and Sunday.  One of my paintings is being admired there!"

            "Wow!" Aya exclaimed, impressed at this girl's work.  "What's it of?"

            Rei snorted as she turned even redder and replied in a whisper, "—Kashino," leaving the first name barely audible.

            "Painting your boyfriend, eh?" she said in a teasing tone.  "Bet you guys had fun all alone in that art room, huh?"

            Kira's eyes widened in horror, and Aya assured her that she was merely kidding.  There was a break in the speech as Aya looked over at Signora.  Turning back to Kira, she asked, "So how did you start painting?"

            "My dad was an artist," she said, recalling the conversation that she had spoken with Sei but mere weeks before.  "We used to paint and stuff and he's basically my inspiration," she said, giving her the briefest tale that she could tell.

            "I see," Aya said, taking the hidden implications.   So, Kira's father was dead.  That meant that Signora was currently unattached?

            Noticing Aya's menacing glare, Signora decided to make conversation with her.  Maybe that would explain who she was and just what her connection was to the Kashinos.

            "I don't believe we've met before," she said, standing and taking her hand.  "My name is Signora Aso.  It's a pleasure to meet you!"

            Aya put on a perfectly charming smile that could be mistaken for sincere and replied, "I'm Aya Suzuka, and the pleasure is all mine!"

            "Hello, Aya," she smiled pleasurably.  "What line of work are you currently in?"

            "I work for the amusement park 'Wataki Garden.'  My job is to research rides, but usually I act as a general manager and take surveys of guest opinions and things like that.  It's really fun!"

            "Sounds exciting!" Signora agreed.

            To put a lull in the conversation, the waiter came at that moment with the food.  Everyone was brought a steamy Italian dish and a side salad.  Of course, Kira and Sei had their special ice cream, much to Aya's amusement.

            "Dig in!" Mr. Kashino announced almost as a form of grace.

            And dig in everyone did!  While Kira picked daintily at her salad, just two seats down from her Rei attacked his lasagna.  Aya gobbled up her fettuccini and got the sauce all over her face while Takayuki slurped up his spaghetti in long strands.

            As everyone moved on to their second dish, speech became more comfortable.  Unexpectedly, it was Kira who broke the ice.

            "Hey, Sei," she began between mouthfuls, "did you see the painting in the lobby?  It's a kind of interesting work."

            "No," he said, wiping is mouth with his napkin.  Standing up, he offered his hand to Kira and asked, "Shall we go look?"

            She took his hand and stood up.  Turning to Rei, she said, "Why don't you follow?" hoping that he would get her mental pattern.

            Thankfully he did and pushed his chair in behind him, following Kira's lead into the red brick room.  Turning back to the adults, he explained, "I'd better keep these crazy kids under control.

            As soon as they were in the lobby, Kira yanked the twins, one in each hand, to sit down on the leather bench, one on either side.

            "This hasn't been working," she declared with the utmost importance.  "They've been distracting us with their teasing.  We've got to come up with something new, and quickly!  Else wise, we'll have to give our plan up for tonight."

            "You're right," Sei agreed with a nod.  "But what should we do?"

            "I think that Aya could take a little bit of embarrassment, don't you?" Rei asked with a sly grin.

            "Just don't do anything stupid!" Sei warned as they headed back to the table.

            At their seats, they found that the adults had completed their meals and gotten the check.  Continuing to talk politely, they stared at the children when they came back.

            "Hurry up and eat," Takayuki ordered.  "I don't want to wait forever."  Turning to the others he added a quick, "No offense."

            "None taken," they assured.

            Sei looked at his place and realized that the ice cream had actually been brought.  It was in front of him, looking very classic.  It had three vanilla scoops covered in chocolate, whipped cream, and with a strawberry on top.  In a boat with two spoons, his face grew red at the thought of sharing it with Kira.

            Noticing that his brother was feeling flustered, Rei quickly came to the rescue.  "Do you know what to do?  Here," he said, reaching over and pulling the boat towards him, "it's like this."  He held out a small spoonful to Aya.  "Say, ah!"

            Aya complied and got a spoonful of the ice cream.  "Watch one more time," he commanded after this first successful attempt.  Doing the same thing, he held it out to her.  Then, he let the spoon tip.  Out fell the ice cream onto Aya's lap.

            "Oh, no!" Rei exclaimed with believable innocence.  "I'm so sorry, Aya!"

            Aya let out a deep sigh.  "It's okay.  I'm going to go see if I can get this stain out."  It was a big stain, too.  The chocolate left a slight train down the waist and landed in a clump in her lap.  She'd already removed that section, but in its place was a big brown splotch.

            "Let me go with you," Signora insisted.  "I know a trick or two about this sort of thing."

            She ushered the fragile Aya to the ladies room where they tried to get the stain out.  Back at the table, the teenagers were gathered in a small huddle on their side of the table.

            Letting out a sigh at his failed attempt to mess up the relationships, he looked at the others.  With an unhappy facade, he announced, "This is going to be harder than we thought!"

AUTHOR'S NOTES:  Kyaa!  I really finished this!  Aren't you all so happy?  My personal favorite part of this section was the Tweety Bird boxers.  That just seemed so Rei to me!  What did you all think?  Um, I don't know exactly how spilling ice cream on Aya would help break up Takayuki and Signora, but I'm sure that Rei had his own plan in his head! ^^;;  I hope that this super sized chapter will help with the lack of updates (actually, it's only about five hundred words longer than usual)!  Let's see if I can make it to eighty reviews! XD  I rushed this to finish at the end, but I hope that no one could tell.  I'll try to update this with more diligence as long as you guys continue to support me!