I've got three hours to get two different chapters done. Can I do it?! Probably not. But this is getting updated before Somewhere Out There, so feel special or something. I think you'll enjoy this chapter, much like how you've enjoyed many chapters before. ^_^.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kare Kano.
Warnings: The usual. Angst!
Not Permitted
Chapter Nine
Reason for Transfer: Grades.
Arima copied down his grades as compared to his usual grades anywhere else. Wasn't it true? His grades were supposed to be the most important. How stupid could he be? With a heavy heart, he put the room change form into the office.
Then he went back to the room. Everyone looked up at him. Of course everyone just had to be in there, waiting expectantly. What did they expect?
"I just turned in a transfer slip." Arima stared at the opposite wall, above everyone's faces. "I'm moving out of this room."
"What?" He heard Asaba's voice. "No, you can't."
"That's not really your choice." Arima replied coldly before he turned and went into his room. He collapsed onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling.
I guess this is it…
Having fun…partying…Yukino…
It's all going to end. I guess I should have seen this coming all along.
"Jack's always been a dull boy…"
They were all so accepting of me.
They tried to be my friends. They really did.
But how can you be friends with someone like me?
Arima cried into his arms as quietly as he could.
* * *
"I can't believe you." Asaba looked at Yukino with a strangely serious expression for him. "You're just going to let him run off and change rooms! Arima!"
"Yeah, that's a little…" Tsubaki had to side with Asaba. "Think of how cool hanging out with him has been."
"Shut up." Yukino rubbed her temples. "This isn't my problem. It's Arima's."
"That's why we can't be together."
"I'm sick of you trying to pretend that it doesn't matter to you!" Asaba yelled at her. "I hope you'll be happy when he leaves! If you're miserable, it's exactly what you deserve!" Tsubaki's eyes widened but she followed Asaba out of the room. Presumably they went to Tsubaki's room.
"Yukino…maybe…" Shibahime began tentatively.
"You know, Asaba's such a hypocrite." Yukino's face tightened visibly. "He makes it seem like I should take responsibility, but when's the last time any of you've seen him take it? Never!"
"But, don't you see where this is different?" Kazuma asked. He had put a comforting hand on Shibahime's shoulder.
"No, now stop preaching to me." Yukino left the room as well, slamming the door behind her as she went.
No one noticed Maho going into Arima's room.
* * *
Arima stiffened as he heard the door open behind him. He hoped it wasn't Asaba, but a part of him was wishing it was Yukino. What good would that do? She had made it pretty clear how she felt, hadn't she? He was face down on his bed, maybe whoever it was would be fooled into thinking he was asleep.
"You're awake." A cool voice told him. Arima knew that voice.
Why is Maho in here?
"What do you want?" Arima tried to make his voice hard.
"I want to talk to you, if you're willing to listen." Maho sat in the chair that was next to his desk, her legs crossed primly and her hands folded in her lap.
"Fine, what?" Arima turned his head as he sat up. Maho's blue eyes only widened slightly at the sight of his tear-streaked face. Only slightly.
"You're being a fool." Maho told him simply.
"Thank you Maho, I feel three hundred times better now." Arima glared at her. What the hell was this? Was he being a fool because he didn't want to sit there and fight with Yukino for the rest of the school year?
"Calm down, you're being too emotional." Maho looked slightly annoyed with his behavior.
"I'm being too emotional? I bet you could say that to a rock Maho." Arima didn't know if Maho was in there trying to help him out or piss him off further.
"Will you be quiet for a second?" Maho asked sharply. Arima rolled his eyes at her. He was not in the mood for Maho's version of a pep talk. "Don't transfer or you'll regret it."
"Why is that?" Arima was a little curious now.
"Do you think you're the only person who has ever wanted Yukino to be in a relationship?" Maho asked him, her eyes softening slightly, almost as if she was horribly sad.
"Well, I've never seen Maho with a guy before but…"
Is Maho…?
Is that the reason?
And she's probably never said anything to Yukino about it.
She wasn't stupid, like me.
"What are you trying to say?" Arima asked her.
"I'm trying to say that Yukino doesn't realize how deeply people care for her." Maho looked up at the ceiling. "And going away won't help her see that. Stay here, you'll see."
"No." Arima shook his head.
"You'll just run away? Yukino's being the coward right now; she's scared of what's going on around her. Part of Yukino has grown up; she doesn't think everything is as fun as it used to be. Stay here and she'll realize it faster. She's just being stubborn." Maho explained this all in an almost condescending tone.
"What are you talking about?" Arima was confused by her words.
"If you can't see it then I'm not going to explain it to you." Maho stood up. "Now go to the office and tell them that you've changed your mind."
"I haven't changed my mind." Arima could hear Maho's surprise. "I can't take it. I can't."
"Then maybe you don't deserve her." Maho shrugged. "I guess I was wrong."
"Yeah?! Well maybe you were wrong!" Arima yelled. "Why are you here Maho? To tell me I should just pine for her? I'm not going to do that."
"That's not what I said. If you were listening, you would have heard reason." Maho shrugged. "It doesn't matter." Then she left the room. Arima threw a pillow angrily at the wall.
Why does it have to be like this?
* * *
"It's just not fair." Asaba flopped down on Tsubaki's bed.
"I know." Tsubaki told him sympathetically. "But you shouldn't blame yourself. It's really between Arima and Yukino."
"You know…I've never felt bad before…after I've slept with someone." Asaba's hand slid down Tsubaki's side. "Maybe I shouldn't have?"
"Well, maybe." Tsubaki agreed. "It's not like you knew it was going to turn out like this."
"I still feel bad for Yukino and Arima." Asaba rolled over and looked up at Tsubaki's ceiling. "I feel like I messed it up worse for them." He was suddenly staring into Tsubaki's big purple eyes.
"Hey, we don't need any more angsting teenagers. Besides, I think you did what you felt you should do." Tsubaki kissed his nose. "Do you have to do more?"
"Thanks Tsubaki." Asaba smiled at her.
* * *
"Is Tsubaki here?" Tonami asked the others who all turned and looked at him, unsure on how to respond. After all, the news that Tsubaki had slept with him was a little shocking for them. Granted, Tsubaki had slept with a lot of people but this was just a little different.
"Um…no." Aya finally got out before lighting a cigarette. "I think her and Asaba are going about the usual business in Tsubaki's room."
"Hmmm." Tonami's face twisted a little. "I think she hangs out with him too much."
"I don't think Aya was talking about hanging out." Shibahime informed him. "She was talking about Asaba and Tsubaki's usual activity." This did not improve Tonami's mood.
"I think Tsubaki deserves better." Tonami told them all knowledgeably.
"Um, right." Rika shot a confused look at Aya.
"Yeah, well, go tell Tsubaki that." Aya waved a hand at him dismissively. "When she kicks you out a window, don't come to us."
"Why would she do that?" Tonami asked them. "You guys don't know much about it do you?" And with that, he smugly walked out.
"Uh, I don't think he knows anything about it." Shibahime shook her head. "Oh well."
"I wonder if everything will get resolved." Rika sighed a little.
"I'm sure it will." Aya flicked her cigarette.
* * *
Arima folded a pair of pants and put them into a suitcase. It was a slow process, but very precise. He couldn't believe the transfer had gone through so quickly. Two days had gone by since he had turned it in and he got a slip saying he could move into room 114.
It won't really be the same though…
"Are you really going to leave?" Asaba asked him. Asaba was sitting on his own bed, watching Arima quietly with his knees tucked under his chin.
"It's better this way." Arima didn't look up.
"I want you to stay. So do the others." Asaba sounded sad.
"Listen, I just…can't." Arima avoided looking at the sad honey-haired boy. "It's not because of you or the others."
"It's about Yukino, right?" Asaba asked.
"I don't want to talk about this anymore." Arima picked up another shirt. He was surprised when a few moments later, the door shut, announcing Asaba had left.
I'm sorry Asaba.
* * *
"That's it!" Asaba was standing on the coffee table in front of Yukino, pointing a finger at her. "He's going to leave tomorrow morning."
"So?" Yukino felt like crying but was holding it all in. She wanted to drown herself in booze; unfortunately they had none so she had to settle for Yoo-hoo.
"Well, how's this," Asaba put his hands on his hips. "Would you rather have monogamy or no Arima?"
"Arggggggghhhhhhh." Yukino groaned. The sound made Tsubaki and Shibahime launch into Jack Sparrow impersonations. "You guys, can't you stop?"
"No, savvy?" Tsubaki pointed both her index fingers at Yukino as if shooting guns at her.
"Nobody can beat Captain Jack Sparrow!" Shibahime declared happily.
"Monogamy or no Arima?" Asaba repeated the two choices.
"Can't you just leave me alone?" Yukino drank the last of her bottle of Yoo-hoo.
"Pick!" Asaba demanded.
"Argh, pick, savvy?" Tsubaki jumped onto the table as well, next to Asaba. Yukino shook her head.
"Yeah, pick!" Shibahime forgot her impersonation as she too tried to jump on the table but accidentally slipped on a magazine and went flying onto the couch.
"I hate you guys!" Yukino jumped up and ran straight to Arima and Asaba's room. She shut it and leaned against the door, taking a deep breath. Then she looked up to see a stunned Arima.
They didn't say anything at all.
I'm going to have to pick…
"Is there something you wanted?" Arima asked, seeming detached from the situation as he continued to pack.
"I just wanted…" Yukino swallowed. What would her sisters say to do? They would tell her to do what her heart told her to do. They could be sappy like that. "I wanted to tell you that I've had a lot of fun this year."
"Hmmm." Arima didn't really seem to be listening.
"And…" Yukino trailed off. She was going to have to tell him how she felt. "It was never this fun before. You made this year great." Arima continued to pack. Yukino couldn't stand it anymore.
She marched over and slammed his suitcase shut and then sat on it. Arima's eyes widened a little. "Listen to me!"
"I'm listening." Arima protested.
"I'm saying that you're too important and I won't lose you." Yukino declared. Arima's mouth dropped open. "I…I want to try."
"Try what?" Arima pressed her.
"I want to try to have a relationship with you." Yukino felt a lot braver. "I'll try this monogamy thing." She was surprised by Arima suddenly wrapping his arms around her, hugging her to him. Yukino returned the hug readily.
"I…I…." Arima couldn't seem to think of anything to say.
"And I think our first order of business is to show you the wonders of sex with the opposite gender." Yukino grinned at him. "Since Asaba gave you a thorough grounding in the joys of sex with your own gender."
"About that, I-" Arima began.
"Arima?" Yukino leaned in and kissed him. "Please shut up." And with that, the two fell over onto the bed together.
* * *
WOOOOOOOOOO! Okay, how's that for cool cat cool stuff? Omigod, it's been forever since I've said cool cat cool. I feel so nostalgic! Don't worry the story still has some more chapters to go before it ends! So stay tuned!