-tumbles in yawning- Hey, kids. x_x I've been so tired lately. -sigh- There's a problem with my Internet connection, and I'm really pressured by school stuff... Believe it or not, I do have a life. XD Anyway, I'm trying to update faster... But ideas are going in and out of my head, and none of them are any good. I finally settled upon this little brainwave... -coughcough- Heheh, it's rather twisted, but that's just the way I am. x) I'm corrupted by name, and corrupted by nature. ;D So... Brace yourselves. Here comes the next chapter.
Oh yeah... Chiara reminds you of 'Chia'?! X____X Damn, I hate those pets. XD -sniffs- u_u Look out for me on Neopets, friends! o_o User: eministic. :3 ...And Kai is REALLY, REALLY, REALLY out-of-character in this chapter. But hey, have you ever seen a Kai/OC fiction in which he wasn't OOC? =D After all, if he was perfectly IC [in-character], there'd be no story. ;D
And thanks you guys for reviewing so much! -hugs and clings and throws confetti and pelts her reviewers with pretty little blue potatoes- =D=D=D=D=D
Chapter 5A Confession Or Two
The young teenager dubbed Chiara was currently sitting within the back garden of the manor - a garden as large as a park.
It was a wonderful place to be, especially if one required some quiet thinking. The back doors of the manor opened to a cobblestone pave way, which lead towards the grasses and flowers. If one were to follow the path, and reach a certain oak tree, they would be greeted with the resident goldfinch that had taken to the oak. If one were lucky, the bird would obligingly show the way towards calm pond, being quite friendly with the usual people to roam the garden. It was a small river, really. Just as big as a pool, the pond's water was a light shade of hazy green, often blinding to look at as the sun's rays sprinkle upon the peaceful water. Finely carved stone benches were situated beside the pond's edge, where one could sit and enjoy the silent pond... But if one listened carefully, it wasn't silent at all. Bird trilled steadily all around one's body, and every now and then, a fish would venture close to the surface. Merely to take a breath, it would flip back towards the pond's bottom with a hollow splash.
All around the water's edges, weeping willows stretch their wreaths of leaves towards the glassy pond as the wind plays through their branches. They resembled old, venerable tree-spirits, withered and creaky ones. The trunks were already bent with age, and they looked frail; as if a great puff of wind could blow them over. Gently, the leaves would dance with the wind, and if one strained their ears, they could hear nature's music; the breeze playfully flicking each leaf so it made a soft sound - barley audible. Shhh. Shhh.
It was now three days after Ceramina had asked Chiara if she felt for Kai. Chiara still had not given her friend a firm answer. Within those three days, however, a lot had happened and she had almost no time to spare. First, the picnic went quite smoothly. The park was grand, and Chiara spent most of the time roaming around the grounds, admiring the view and drinking in the beautiful summer day. Half the day she spent with Kai as he - quite surprisingly - pointed out the odd statue here and there, and explained the history behind them. He taught her the names of each of the trees, and she learned them quickly. Once, he had somehow managed to get a squirrel, and Chiara stroked the animal excitedly.
For most of the other half of the day, she stayed with Ray. He was just as nice, showing her animal tracks and pointing out the differences between a fox print and a raccoon print. Every now and then, he'd pick up a feather and tell her how to find out if it was a flight feather. The fibers upon one side of a flight feather were infinitely shorter, he had said. All this, she kept within her mind. You never know when you'd need them. They met up with Kai towards the end of the day, and the two boys flanked Chiara as they settled back upon a grassy hill, all three faces turned towards the sky as one by one, the stars came out.
The very next day, Ceramina fell sick, and Kai excused Chiara from duties. She promptly rushed to her friend's side. Throughout the whole day, she kept the elder girl company. Chiara went the whole day without a meal, far too preoccupied with her friend's health. As midnight slowly crawled by, Ceramina was able to get out of bed, and she assured her young friend that she was all right. Barely awake, Chiara had stumbled to her bed and fell asleep instantly.
She woke up refreshed and for the third day, she stayed at Kai's side. The first part of the day passed without too much excitement, and Ray dropped in again when she went off for lunch. The rest of the day was spent in jokes and playful arguments. And today was the daybreak of the fourth day.
Chiara had finally escaped the hectic manor. She was kneeling by the edge of the pond, a hand trailing within the cool waters. Curious pond fish swam up and nosed her fingers. She laughed quietly, gently prodding the animals' gaping jaws. As she amused herself with the fish, her mind roamed towards the question. The question. Subconsciously, she found herself wondering what life would be like if she and Kai 'took it to the next level'. Not that they would of course... Hell would freeze over before Kai showed her affection. She chuckled, envisioning the devil with a scarf around his neck as he gazed around his frozen and formerly burning palace. The sound of merriment ceased abruptly as she sat up. The sudden movement of her hand jerking out of the water scared the fishes, and they flicked towards the pond's bottom. With a strange clarity within her chocolate-tinted eyes, she bellowed, "What if he did?" She burst into laughter, rocking back and forth with mirth. Almost immediately, she clapped a hand over her mouth, glancing nervously. Hopefully, no one had heard, and if they did, hopefully, they'd just ignore her. The last thing she needed right now was someone interrogating her as to why she wasn't inside. Fortunately, only one person heard. Unfortunately, that one person had decided to investigate.
A sudden wind had picked up, blowing the grayish bangs away from the pale face, revealing the piercing eyes of mauve. Perhaps it was sunlight, but today the eyes seemed more on the garnet side. Fast strides were taken, and no more then a minute later, he was examining Chiara from behind a thick tree. A skeptical brow was raised as she muttered to herself, "Great. There goes my idea of being alone."
Her eyes flicked around apprehensively as she drew her knees to her chest. She wrapped her arms around herself, and her chin was placed upon her folded limbs. A deep sigh escaped larynx and she chuckled for no apparent reason as another wind squall whipped her hair back in a flying curtain of ebony hue. Like the wings of a raven, the thick black tresses flapped with the wind, and then give way to fall down upon her back, curling slightly at the ends.
Kai gazed towards her blankly. He had never noticed how pretty - no, how beautiful she was. And she was indeed beautiful. Black locks framed her smooth face, curling to tickle her cheeks and temples. The ebon gown she wore accented the curves of her body. He kicked himself mentally. He was going really, really, really soft. He should stop thinking about her. I should just forget her. But that was easier said then done. Instinctively, his hand flew to touch the blazing tattoo upon his left arm - as if for comfort. He prodded his arm gently but his stare was sent towards the girl. Before he could change his mind (and before he could question his sanity), he made his way towards her, cooking up some excuse to go to her. He reached her in three quick steps and touched her shoulder.
She gave a sharp intake of breath, before sensibly turning around to face the intruder of her thoughts. Dark chocolate eyes met deep mauve ones, and she quickly stood up, trying to think up a quick excuse for not being inside, not knowing that the adolescent before her was thinking along the same lines.
"...I was going to - going to..." Going to what? "To - to pick some flowers for Ceramina," she stammered, looking anywhere but at him. Without giving Kai any time to digest her lame statement, she went on expanding to her tale. "She was sick, you know, so I - I thought a few flowers would do her some good - it'd brighten up the room a touch..." Her faltering explanations faded away as he stared at her dully. No disbelieving expression creased his visage, and he didn't say anything.
"It's cold. Come in," said Kai simply. Lacking any further ado, he turned and began a slow walk towards the manor, hands retreating within the pockets of his pants. His head was bent slightly against the wind, which whistled down towards them, whisking his bangs into his vision.
Chiara shivered suddenly, as if her own body was confirming Kai's comment. She nodded, even if he couldn't see it, and obediently followed. It was amazing how she could rant and rave about being a 'stupid servant', and yet she usually went along with whatever Kai ordered. To her fellow servants, it looked as if she was 'sucking up to the Governor's brat', but to herself, she was merely letting her less 'harsh' side to show. After all, maybe - just maybe - someday, they'll set her free. Her pace quickened unconsciously, and soon she had walked past Kai, whose eyebrows rose questioningly.
"Where're you off to?" he snapped, not meaning to sound so tense. Chiara flinched noticeably and hastened to take her place a few steps behind Kai. She murmured an apology-of-sorts, and twitched, the old rebellious feelings tugging at her heart again. She managed to control herself, and not to burst out yelling at Kai, who lead her steadily towards the manor.
As they entered through a door, he turned halfway and - with a light smirk - said, "Where're the flowers you were going to pick for Ceramina?" His smirk widened as Chiara's mouth opened and closed, lost for words. Oops. She had completely forgotten about the flowers. A low, pleased chuckle rose out of his throat and he patted her cheek in a patronizing way. Satisfied that he had squashed her excuse, and half knowing that he had contradicted his own reason to see her, he promptly turned away and loped casually towards his own room.
Looking rather guilty, the girl unhappily went her own way, except she wasn't headed towards her room. She walked steadily - steadily but quickly. Rapid steps were taken to reach her destination - Ceramina's comfortable area. Without knocking, she entered the carpeted room, her eyes fixed upon the flaxen-haired girl in bed, who waved cheerfully at her, and the boy sitting by her side... Ray! Chiara was surprised, and she blinked slowly.
"Chi, how nice to see you!" the ensconced girl exclaimed, lifting herself into a sitting position. When Chiara made no reply, only raising a brow towards Ray, she added, "Master Ray wandered by to see how I was doing, isn't he nice?"
Rising to his feet, Ray tossed the spiky black bangs away from his face - it seemed that all guys had this habit to Chiara - and saluted the raven-haired girl with his right hand, his index and middle finger raising to touch his temple gently. He sat down again after Chiara nodded back, and offered her a smile before he spoke.
"Good morning, pretty one. You're up early." The casual way he said this brought forth a bold answer from Chiara, who wouldn't have said this if she had been talking with Kai.
"So are you," she shot back, smoothing out an imaginary wrinkle in her black gown. In front of the opposite gender, one always felt self-conscious, and she was certainly feeling uneasy right now.
Ceramina laughed gently as Ray snorted. She yawned, beckoning towards her younger friend with a hand. "Everyone in this manor is an early riser. Come, Chiara, sit by me." She smiled softly as the one other girl in the room shuffled over. Chiara sank into the fluffy feather-stuffed mattress beside Ray, and took her friend's hand in hers.
"Oh, Cera," she sighed. "I hope you're feeling better. You were quite sick the other night."
Ceramina's two crystalline blue eyes twinkled with amusement as another little laugh trickled from her lips. "Do you really think me that frail?" she demanded jovially, laughing again as her friend managed an awkward grin. She pulled her blankets higher, and directed her smile to Ray. "Go on, Mister Ray, tell her how strong I am."
Ray flashed the nervous Chiara a pearly grin, and his fist came up to thwack her shoulder playfully. In her nervous state, she mistook his friendly punch as an attack, and she temporarily forgot herself as she slapped his hand away, and returned with a punch of her own, which connected with the side of Ray's head. He didn't fall, nor did he cry out, although he grabbed his injured face and winced as Ceramina let out a surprised yelp.
"Ouch, what the hell was that for?" he snapped, eyes of dark brown narrowing slightly as his pupils dilated.
Chiara flinched and apologized in a hurried manner. "I'm sorry, really I am. I... I'm stupid, I'm sorry!" When Ray didn't reply, she hesitatingly reached out a hand and touched the bruise upon his head. Stroking it apprehensively, she repeated, "I'm sorry..."
Ceramina chuckled nervously as Ray's mood shifted swiftly. He flung an arm out, and let himself fall upon the ground while announcing in a dramatic tone, "You've slain me. You horrid, cruel, heartless dog!"
For a second, she was shocked. Recovering swiftly, she nudged him with a foot, a mock-hurt look sliding across her visage. "Dog? Wretch, desist your act." She nudged him again, more sharply.
"Pray thee, cease thy digging of thy heel into my side, heavenly one." He stuck his tongue out good-naturally as Chiara obeyed, discontinuing her kicks. She was mildly surprised at this sudden turn of Shakespeare language, and she frowned thoughtfully, glancing at Ceramina, who was giggling at their antics. At this moment, the door opened again, and Kai stepped into the room. He arched a slender brow skeptically at Ray, still lying down, then to Chiara, who was patting his head sympathetically, and last to Ceramina, who was trying to stop her giggling.
Both girls squeaked with surprise at his sudden entrance. Chiara jumped up and made a hasty curtsey; so hasty, in fact, that she tripped over Ray's sprawled form, flailed forward, and careened into Kai, who teetered for a second before landing on his bottom. Ray scrambled forward to help the two up, but he only succeeded in stumblingly gracefully over his own entangled limbs, and crashing sideways into Kai with a yelp. And Kai let out a string of curses as he toppled over, squishing Chiara beneath him. And as for Ceramina? She fell back, laughing hysterically; they looked so funny, each trying to get up, but their movements only added to the confusion.
Finally, they ceased their thrashes as Kai roared, "STOP!" And stop they did; silence reined over the room, except for their exhausted panting, interrupted now and then by Ceramina's stifled giggles.
A muffled squeal drifted out from between the two boys, and they both simultaneously rolled away, revealing an extremely ruffled Chiara. She sat up dizzily, trying to tame her now tangled hair. Breathing heavily, she shot daggers at the two sheepish male teenagers, who had both gotten up and were each offering her a hand. She grabbed Kai's wrist, felt his fingers close over her own, and he pulled her up as easily as if she weighed nothing. She combed through her hair with a hand, fussily returning the curtain of black into its original state.
And still, no one said anything until Kai demanded, "What the hell is going on here?" Eyes of mauve, currently an angry shade of almost black, glared towards each miscreant as muscular arms crossed over his chest. A muscle in his cheek twitched slightly, causing one blue-painted stripe to contort. He glowered toward Ray, who shuffled his feet uncomfortably. Next, he turned his dead stare onto Ceramina, who squeaked out an apology. Finally, he let his gaze settle to Chiara. She looked flushed, irritated, and scared. His anger slowly seeped away. How could he be mean when she was so upset? A deep sigh escaped his throat, and his shoulders drooped slightly.
"Come, Chiara," he said simply. "I have something to tell you." Adrenaline pounded through him as he led her out of the room. Ah, for the past few hours, he had been planning this. He had to tell her - he had to tell her how he felt. It was a big risk - an extremely big risk. He was willing to risk his reputation, his Grandfather's reaction, and Chiara's sentence of, "I can't return your feelings". Well, at least, he expected her to say that... Expect the unexpected. They wouldn't make up a quote like that for nothing, eh?
A few minutes later and they were inside Kai's room. He slammed the door shut and leaned against the closed exit, eyeing Chiara.
She stood alone, in the center of the room, fingers twisting together nervously. Was she in big trouble? Her nerves were forgotten for a few seconds as she blinked towards Kai. He looked... What was the word? He looked... Scared. What was Kai scared off? She hesitatingly ventured a question.
"Kai?" she asked softly. He glanced up, and grunted. "Is - Is something wrong?"
The male shook his bangs away from his face, and strode purposefully towards Chiara. Gripping her arm with a bit more force then he needed to, he snapped, "Why are you so beautiful?"
His words were so insanely unexpected, and so outrageously not Kai-like, that Chiara was struck dumb for a second. Why was she beautiful? He thought she was beautiful? ... Was this a confession? A pink tinge crept upon her cheeks, and she swallowed. He was so close; too close.
"Um..." she answered, unsure of herself.
Without waiting for any further words from her, he yanked her closer still. She was basically pressed up against him now, and he wrapped his arms around her. Tightening his hold, he closed his eyes.
Chiara was frightened now. He was being so unlike himself. She struggled, and pulled away, rubbing her arms as she gazed apprehensively towards him.
He inclined his head, allowing his bangs to shift position, completely obscuring his eyes, and whatever emotions they held. In a half hopeless sort of voice, he muttered, "Yeah. It's a confession."
Stunned, Chiara's mind whirled with questions. "... All this time?"
Slowly, he nodded. "All this time." A shaky breath was let loose as he sank into a sitting position, knees drawn up to his chest.
You love him. Tell him, urged the distant voice in her mind.
No! I don't!
Yes you do, now TELL HIM!
NO!
YES!
"I love you!" she burst out. Clapping a hand to her mouth, she whimpered, looking scared.
Heheheh. I KNEW you loved him. Nyah, nyah.
... Shut up, you dork.
Kai looked up sharply. "What?" he choked out. "What?" Did he dare believe it? Were his ears playing tricks on him? "Say that again."
She shook her head wildly, eyes flicking around. In the next moment, she squealed and was bowled over as Kai tackled her. Rolling together, they landed with Kai on top. Taking care not to squash her, he shook her arm.
"Tell me!" he persisted.
Their position was so unreal that Chiara began giggling. She chuckled and chuckled and chuckled and chuckled. The pink tinge had now turned a nice shade of red. Her merriment ceased as she sobered up. Eyes gazed helplessly into Kai's, and she deflated.
"It's not the sort of thing you say twice," she began lamely. "But... I - I - love you." The last three words were said so hastily and she mumbled so, but Kai could hear every word. Slowly, he leaned forward. The space between their lips was closing up. Finally, when their faces were a mere centimeter apart, and when Chiara could feel his breath tickle her chin, he whispered, "Ditto."
e nd c hapter
-laughs insanely, choking on a bite of strawberry- MUH HAHAHAHAHAHA THEY KISSED AHAHAHAHAHA! XDDDDD! -finally flops over and just DIES from hilarity- Goodness GRACIOUS, I can't believe I actually stuck that in there. =3 So... How did you like it? I actually liked this chapter for once, so I'm hoping that no one disagrees with me. o_o Well... I liked most of it, anyway. I thought the ending, once again, sucked, but I was getting really impatient by then. Besides, being deprived of the Internet is my death. Ox; And I'm shriveling up because o' this. .___o REVIEW YOUR HEADS OFF, FRIENDS! o_o But spare me not. =D Tell the truth. Review. PLEASE. D -wanders off singing- CHIARA AND KAI, SITTING IN A TREE, K-I-S-S-I-N-G! -innocent look- 333333 -coughcough- Oh yeah, and the twisted and corrupted part doesn't really come until a few chapters later. o_o Sorry 'bout that, I forgot to mention it. ^^;