Disclaimers: I don't own them. I've said it once, I am not going to say it again.
Author's Note: Back again with chapter five! Hurray! I know I've been kinda slacking with this fic, but hey! I still keep updating right? Neways, this should be an interesting read. I made it a tad bit longer than usual and yes, will finally reveal her name. After all this waiting…you finally get to know her name!!! Yay! Well, just read, review, and enjoy!
Warnings: In Kai's POV. Remember the last P.S. note? This is the last time I'll be saying this.
Chapter 5:
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Truce or Duel
It was some time before I realized I was still holding this useless piece of paper in my hand. I wasn't paying attention at all to what I was saying, but I knew I said something. Why was I acting so…strange all of a sudden? That girl…who the heck is she? Why do I feel…close to her?
I gave myself a shake. Nonsense. I dropped the crumpled paper into a trash bin. As if I cared. I hardly know the girl. In fact, I don't even know her name. This is stupid. Making a fuss over something like this.
I dropped on my bed and lay there for some time, staring blankly at the ceiling with my arms crossed behind my head when I heard a knock from the door. I didn't bother getting up.
"What is it?" I asked irritably.
The door slowly creaked open and guess who of all people would come strolling in? It was my stupid grandfather all right. I sat up as he glared at me in disapproval.
"Kai! What have you been doing? I gave you a call to see me in my room." He snapped at me, but I could tell he didn't seem all that angry about it as usual for some reason. I gave it a shrug and replied in a monotone.
"No one told me you were calling."
"Really? I see…" He said, eyeing me suspiciously. "Well if that's the case, I will tell you now."
"Tell me what?" I replied, crossing my arms. I knew he was up to something again as usual, if not he wouldn't even be bothered to come tell me anything.
"About the masquerade I will be holding here in a few days." He said, still keeping his suspicious eyes on me. There was a long period of silence afterwards, giving me time to think things over.
So, grandfather was going to hold another one of his 'parties'. Probably afraid once his business partners learned of his dire circumstances, they'd leave him like the few who already did. I smirked at this.
"What do you think, Kai?" He snapped at me, stopping my thoughts.
"Whatever." I shrugged again. It was no big deal. He was holding a lot of these nowadays and of course, he ordered me to attend every one of it so he could show me off to his big pals and their rich brats. This, I guess, was no exception.
"Oh good then." He said at once. Was it my imagination or did he actually seem happy? "Your Rena will be very happy to hear that."
"What…do you mean?" I gaped. What was he talking about? He smirked at me and turned to leave.
"Why don't you ask her yourself?" He stated, shutting the door behind him as he left.
What was that all about?! Shit! I hate him! I stomped across my room to the door and left. I was getting to the bottom of this no matter what! Whoever that girl was, she would pay!
~~~~
I marched myself down to the kitchens. The servant's kitchen. I slammed the doors shut behind me as the people turned to look.
I ignored them and approached some lady with an apron.
"M-Master Kai? Do you need anything?" She muttered as I came close. I noticed every damn person in the room looming over me, hanging onto my answer. Great, just what I need.
"Do you know a girl named…Rena?" I asked softly and firmly. I wanted to get this over with quick. So far, I concluded, this is the worst day of my life. And it wasn't even half through yet.
"Rena?" She replied, looking a bit shocked. So did all the others, I noticed, as I looked around.
I waited for quite a while before anyone said anything. What is it with them??? I just want to know who'll ruin what's left of my life, is that so much to ask???
"Rena…is doing the laundry right now." The lady said softly, pointing over to a wooden door to my left.
I stared at the door for a moment. Well, this is it. All I have to do was be as mean to her as possible and hope that she hated me enough by the end of today to draw back her…invitation to dance with me. I turned to thank the lady when I noticed they were all gone. Weird…
I shrugged it off and pushed the door open.
~~~~
Warm light of the sun greeted me. I was standing on a cliff overlooking the horizon. White sheets were being hung out to dry as bubbles floated from somewhere near the edge. I walked towards the mass of bubbles.
She had her back to me, her long raven hair spilling out behind her. Yeah, a pretty picture all right. From the back at least. I closed my eyes as I leaned on a tree nearby and cleared my throat.
She stopped what she was doing and snapped her head around. I opened my eyes…and almost choked when I saw her face!
My god! It was HER all along! Shit!
So here I was, gaping at her like a goddamned idiot while she stared at me like…something. I quickly recovered my daze and glared my famous glare. She seemed to calm down too.
"What," she began softly, "are you doing here?"
I couldn't find a voice to speak. What was wrong with me all of a sudden? I shook my head a couple of times.
"What are you doing here?" She repeated again. I swear, the way she was staring at me…and that tone of voice…I have to admit, it was…scary.
"So…you're Rena?" I replied.
"Rena? Since when have we been on nickname basis, Mr. Hiwatari?" She countered, raising a brow at me.
"What do you mean by that?!" I snapped back. Okay, now I know this was very…mean of me to do…but how else was I supposed to react to her…I dunno…formality?
"My name is Ciara. Rena is short for Serena, which is my middle name. I think you have the wrong person though." She said, visibly enjoying my chagrin. This girl seemed to have a knack for humiliating me. I smirked evilly as an idea popped into my head. An idea of finally getting her back.
"No, I think I have the right person. Only someone as brazen as you are would ever invite a guy to a dance." My smirk widened into a grin as she stared up at me in shock. If she thinks she can just do anything with me, she's got another thing coming.
I stood there, smugly leaning on my tree as she had her head lowered to the floor, probably too ashamed to even face me. That's just what she deserves. I smiled for the first time this whole day. Maybe it wasn't such a bad day after all.
"I…never asked you to dance. Your grandfather," She said looking up at me with brown eyes glowing with suppressed anger, "ordered me to."
I was so surprised I could hardly reply. It amazed me how much self-restraint she had. Wow. What most bothered me was that I realized that I was…being mean. Actually, I was mean to her from the start. I guess…it was my fault that she happened to retaliate by embarrassing me. It made me fell…well…sorry.
"Well," she said suddenly after a while, snapping me out of my thoughts, "I think it's your turn to be mean to me now."
I blinked at her a couple of times and it registered to me that she was giving me a chance to get back at her for that. Wow again. She was being…fair? I didn't feel sorry for her anymore…I was feeling guilty. I bit back the insults threatening to roll out my tongue and smiled at her.
"No, I think we're about even." I replied, she looked up at me and smiled back. Gee, what was the world coming to? I can't remember the last time I ever smiled like this…
We stared at each other for a few more seconds before she looked away. I stood there, still staring. I guess my meanness was the thing that…well, made us enemies in the first place. I started to talk before my brain registered what I was about to say.
"I'm sorry for being mean." I heard myself say in a clipped tone. I followed it up with a slight offer of my hand. "Maybe I can make it up to you by asking you for a dance in the upcoming masquerade?"
She turned her stunned eyes to me with a slow smile creeping up to her face. She took my hand with her soapy ones and stood up.
"I guess that's pretty fair of you." She said and headed back to the house still smiling and said something back at me before stepping in.
"I accept then."
TBC…****
Author's Ending Notes:
Well! I guess I can say this chapter was all talk and not much action. Boring? Is it? Anyway, I can assure you that the next part will be FAR more interesting! It's the night of the masquerade already? Hang around and see for yourself! Please review me! I really appreciate it if you do!!! ^^ Well, see you people in chapter six, Waltz for the Moon!