Oh, my goodness....It is already Chapter 14. Yep!
Enjoy!
^_____~
Masami Tsuda really should give me the ownership of this thing, shouldn't she? But, she didn't. Oh well. That will come in time. Mwa hahahahah!
Chapter 14: Vulnerability
Tsuki giggled and clasped her hands together with glee. Kano wore an expression on her face that said, "It's about time!" But she seemed happy, anyway. Yukino ran inside to find some clothes to throw on. Her sisters followed close behind her, and the three goofed off for a bit, offering Yukino underwear and bikini tops to wear over her clothes. Finally, they settled on a fitted turtleneck and a pair of snug jeans. Tsuki and Kano galloped down the hallway and out the front door, Yukino dragging her reluctant feet gloomily after them.
The triplets walked step in step in the cold winter sunshine, each of them holding warm drinks topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Kano and Tsuki looked around and caught many young boys staring at the three of them, but mostly their older sister. They both silently agreed that Yukino was very beautiful indeed, with the wind tugging at her hair warm-tinted hair, the chill reddening her cheeks, and her outfit accentuating her soft figure. But she looked so sad! The entire street would be sure to light up if only she were to put a smile on her face.
Kano shook her head and Tsuki rolled her eyes good-naturedly. Yukino was so oblivious to her own beauty and its plethora of effects on young males all around her. Even when a younger student had so harshly cast his lustful feelings for her out into the open, she didn't seem to believe she was in the least bit attractive anymore. Maybe it was better back when she had been the self-proclaimed ruler of vanity!
Tsuki stopped suddenly and opened her hand, her cup falling to the ground, splashing whipped cream and hot chocolate syrup all over the ground. She leapt behind Yukino and hid her head behind her sister's shoulders.
"Tsuki!" Kano Yelped and dabbed at the cuffs of her jeans with a thick napkin.
"Tsuki whined. "What's HE doing here?!"
"Who?" Yukino asked, looking around.
Tsuki shut her eyes and pointed hastily in front of them. Kano squealed excitedly.
A group of sixteen-year-old boys leaned against the metal benches in front of the movie theatre. In the middle of the throng was a boy of medium height with neatly combed dark hair and glasses.
"Isn't that the boy you like?" Kano asked loudly. "Tomohiko?"
Tsuki blushed and put a finger to her lips.
"Shh," she hissed.
Yukino found herself suddenly interested, and a little amused.
"Who are all those boys he's with?"
"Those are his friends and his brother," Tsuki mumbled.
One of the boys, the one Yukino guessed was Tomohiko's older brother, tapped Tomohiko on the shoulder and waved in their direction. Tomohiko used his hands to form a cone around his mouth.
"Hey, Tsukino!"
Tsuki jumped stiffly from behind Yukino, and the trio marched to the front of the theatre.
"Hi," Tsuki said, suddenly friendly and calm. Tsuki and Tomohiko launched into a conversation about something hilarious that happened at school the other day, something that Yukino had no knowledge of.
After a short barrage of laughter, Tomohiko and his friends exchanged friendly hugs with Tsuki and Kano. Tsuki glowed as she nestled herself in his arms. Yukino gave a small smile and looked down at the floor, suddenly shy. She didn't know anyone here, and certainly didn't have anyone to hug.
*Did I ever glow like that?* Yukino thought dimly. She toyed with her scarf until she felt a pair of eyes boring into the side of her head.
Blushing, Tomohiko's brother looked away and dug his hands deep into his pockets. Yukino's eyes widened slightly. Had he really been looking at HER? The boy glanced upward tentatively before looking quickly down again, the redness in his face spreadibg to across his nose and to his ears. Yukino blinked, looked up toward the sky, shaking her hair in reincarnated confidence.
Maybe she wasn't as pathetic as she thought.
"So, what movie are you seeing?" Tsuki asked.
"Some action flick, I guess. It's supposed to start later on."
"Would you like to see it with us?" Tomohiko asked eagerly.
"Sure," Tsuki's smile brightened. "Can we, Yuki?"
Yukino winced and looked at the floor again. She didn't exactly feel like being around other people right then, except for her sisters, anyway. When she had agreed to leave with her sisters, she figured it would be a girls'-day-out of sorts. She wasn't really in the mood to try and socialize.
She looked up at her sister, who was pleading with her ands clasped together, her eyes persistently beseeching for her to accept.
Yukino smiled.
"All right," she said.
Tsuki grinned widely, and turned to skip toward the entrance of a restaurant with Tomohiko and his friends right on her heels. Yukino sighed after them. This was for her sister's sake.
In a few moments, Yukino found herself standing obscurely behind the gaggle of friends. It seemed they had decided to get something to eat. She tugged at her red hair. She must not have heard them announce this decision. She didn't understand their language anyway.
She decided to look around. The inside of the restaurant had cushy burgundy- colored booths and shiny cherry-wood tables. The dim lighting shone down on the smooth tile, and the walls were painted a warm coral shade. Her ears perked up as a mix of contemporary music wafted from the loudspeakers, and she lowered her shoulders, finally able to relax. In front of her, the boys and her sisters joked around, shoving each other toward the booths and authoritatively reminding one another to take a menu. Yukino slid into a large booth, wedging in between Kano and one of Tomohiko's friends.
"Your sister is so pretty, Kano," Tomohiko's older brother said softly.
Yukino glanced at him. Tomohiko had the same dark hair as his brother, but Tomohiko didn't have his brother's eyes. The boy sitting across the booth had honey-colored eyes, like hers. And right now, a shade of pink was settled over his face. Hers came to match his right away, and she stared at the fuzzy golden reflection of the lamplight on the table. He was addressing Kano when he said that, but he was looking right at her.
It made her nervous, and she began to drum her fingers on her seat.
"What about it, Ryosuke?" one of Tomohiko's brothers teased. His brother nudged him in the shoulder, and then squinted at Yukino.
"You look sorta down though. What's up?"
Yukino didn't say anything and gritted her teeth, trying to smile. It was none of his business, really. Who did he think he was?
Kano opened her mouth, and clamped it shut when Yukino glared at her.
*Don't tell,* she thought.
"It must be that time of the month," Kano substituted quickly.
Yukino shut her eyes tightly and shook her head violently from side to side. Her hair swung in strawberry-colored lines around her face.
"No! That's not it," she said desperately, "I-I just...failed a test at school, she offered.
Tomohiko's brother Ryosuke raised an eyebrow, looking slightly amused.
"Really? You look like that girl whose picture was in the local newspaper a couple weeks ago for good grades."
Kano opened her mouth.
"Oh, that probably WAS you, Yukino!"
"Yeah, it was," Ryosuke piped up, suddenly a lot less shy than before. "I remember Tomohiko showed it to me and was so excited because he knew it must have been Tsukino's sister."
And with that, Tsuki and Tomo looked up at each other, abruptly turned away from each other, Tsuki anxiously tucking a thin black strand of hair behind her ear, and Tomohiko fiddling nervously with his glasses.
Yukino smiled a small smile.
After the group had eaten, they decided to move on, walking aimlessly around the shopping center, making observations on colorful passersby and stopping only when something called to their attention.
Yukino and Ryosuke lagged at the back of the throng of second-year students and Kano, making small talk. Yukino felt as if she were a mother duck, watching her ducklings as they waddled in front of her. This was not endearing to her at all. But soon, since they were the oldest and felt they had no one else to talk to, Yukino and Ryosuke lapsed into a conversation about school, what their teachers, friends, and classes were like.
"My mom actually saw your picture in the paper after Tomo showed it to me," Ryosuke said. "She ended up comparing the two of us."
Yukino's eyebrows rose slightly, her interest peaked.
"Really?"
"Yeah." Ryosuke's features darkened a bit.
"See, I was never really all that great in school."
"Hmm." Yukino tapped her chin and looked up at him.
Maybe she could tutor Ryosuke. He seemed nice enough, but—Yukino thought about her most recent tutoring assignment and frowned. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea. A burst of giggles snapped her out of her thoughts. Tomo and Tsuki were shoving each other playfully, and teasingly poking one another's shoulders.
Yukino and Ryosuke smiled. Ryosuke leaned in sideways, cupping his warm hands around his mouth, his breath tickling her ear.
"Tomo really likes your sister a lot, you know," he whispered.
Yukino tried to ignore her nerves. He was so close. She slowly stepped a few inches to the left.
*At least Tsuki will be excited to hear this news,* she thought, trying to be happy for her sister. It was strangely difficult to feel optimistic at that moment, with her heart meandering as it was, without a destination, without a companion to guide it.
Ryosuke smiled from ear to ear, his eyes sparkling.
"Hey!" he said, standing upright, "Maybe we could play Cupid and get then together. What do you say?"
Yukino sweat dropped. She didn't know he was into that sort of thing! Besides, she already had way too much to deal with in her own love life, and just didn't have the willpower or the strength to deal with anyone else's. She didn't want to say no to him, but she certainly didn't want to say yes. So she laughed to cover up her negativity.
The party of teenagers finally made their way to the theatre, just as the winter sun was setting. After paying for the tickets, Ryosuke paid for everyone's snacks at the concession stand, and they entered the theatre, laughing and munching on popcorn.
Yukino and Ryosuke slipped into two seats, once again settled behind the rest of the group. Even through the darkness of the theatre, she coulod see Tomohiko and Tsuki tickling each other, and Tsuki smacking Tomohiko lightly on his shoulder. Yukino sank into her seat and crossed her arms, suddenly irritated—and maybe a bit jealous. Here she was, just coming off of her first relationship, it seemed, and here was Tsukino, always in the arms and eyes of such a sweet young man. And why weren't they doing anything?! All day they had been giggling and engrossing themselves into hyped conversations and doing such cute things that it aggravated her. It was so obvious that they liked each other; they might as well have been dating already!
She felt Ryosuke's amber eyes on her again.
"Are you alright?" Ryosuke asked carefully.
Yukino looked up at him, his voice calming her down considerably. She sat up in her chair.
"Yeah," she said slowly, embarrassed all of a sudden. She didn't mean to seem so cross in front of him. "I'm fine."
When Yukino stepped out of the theatre, it was already very dark outside. Ryosuke stepped out from close behind her, tossing and empty soft-drink can into the trash.
"So, what did you think of the movie?" he asked.
Yukino nodded. "It was very good, but the love scene was really hard to watch."
Ryosuke laughed.
"Seriously? Why?"
She didn't know why she wanted to tell him. N truth, the love scene had left her feeling somewhat depressed. Yukino's eyelids lowered.
"Because I broke up with my boyfriend."
"Oh, Really?" Ryosuke's voice cracked. He cleared his throat.
"Really?" He repeated, trying not to sound too eager.
"Mm-hmm."
Yukino blew on her pink, frosted hands and stuffed them into her pockets.
Ryosuke saw this, and pulled a pair of gray wool mittens out of his own pockets. He held them out in front of Yukino's face.
"Want mine?" He asked.
Yukino glanced at him sideways and gently took them from him. She smiled a pretty-close-mouthed smile.
"Thanks," she said softly.
Ryosuke looked at her for a moment and turned away, his face red and his back stiff. Yukino slipped the mittens on over her fingers.
"They're warm," she said gratefully.
Ryosuke's eyes turned to hers, then back to the space in front of him.
Yukino giggled as the tops of the mittens, where Ryosuke's longer fingers belonged, drooped over hers.
"Look," she held up her hands, "They're also way too big."
Ryosuke laughed. Yukino looked up at him as they followed their gropu off the sidewalk and into the street. Yukino missed the step and plunged forward, squeezing her eyes shut.
"Oh!" She braced herself for an abrupt contact with the cold, black concrete, but she never felt it. She opened one eye, and then the other.
Ryosuke had his arm around her back, his hand under her right elbow, and his other hand—well, Yukino didn't want to think about where his other hand just happened to land. He didn't move it. Instead, he inched his face closer to hers.
Her pulse quickened. Their faces inched forward; she didn't want to focus on the feeling of his had. She took a shallow breath.
*Closer*
*Closer*
*Just a millimeter more, please?*
*Closer*
*********************************************************************** Okay, okay, so I left on a cliffy. It's a good writing tactic! Use it! LOL, but really... it does keep you on your toes, doesn't it? Please say it does, and don't forget to review!!
Enjoy!
^_____~
Masami Tsuda really should give me the ownership of this thing, shouldn't she? But, she didn't. Oh well. That will come in time. Mwa hahahahah!
Chapter 14: Vulnerability
Tsuki giggled and clasped her hands together with glee. Kano wore an expression on her face that said, "It's about time!" But she seemed happy, anyway. Yukino ran inside to find some clothes to throw on. Her sisters followed close behind her, and the three goofed off for a bit, offering Yukino underwear and bikini tops to wear over her clothes. Finally, they settled on a fitted turtleneck and a pair of snug jeans. Tsuki and Kano galloped down the hallway and out the front door, Yukino dragging her reluctant feet gloomily after them.
The triplets walked step in step in the cold winter sunshine, each of them holding warm drinks topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Kano and Tsuki looked around and caught many young boys staring at the three of them, but mostly their older sister. They both silently agreed that Yukino was very beautiful indeed, with the wind tugging at her hair warm-tinted hair, the chill reddening her cheeks, and her outfit accentuating her soft figure. But she looked so sad! The entire street would be sure to light up if only she were to put a smile on her face.
Kano shook her head and Tsuki rolled her eyes good-naturedly. Yukino was so oblivious to her own beauty and its plethora of effects on young males all around her. Even when a younger student had so harshly cast his lustful feelings for her out into the open, she didn't seem to believe she was in the least bit attractive anymore. Maybe it was better back when she had been the self-proclaimed ruler of vanity!
Tsuki stopped suddenly and opened her hand, her cup falling to the ground, splashing whipped cream and hot chocolate syrup all over the ground. She leapt behind Yukino and hid her head behind her sister's shoulders.
"Tsuki!" Kano Yelped and dabbed at the cuffs of her jeans with a thick napkin.
"Tsuki whined. "What's HE doing here?!"
"Who?" Yukino asked, looking around.
Tsuki shut her eyes and pointed hastily in front of them. Kano squealed excitedly.
A group of sixteen-year-old boys leaned against the metal benches in front of the movie theatre. In the middle of the throng was a boy of medium height with neatly combed dark hair and glasses.
"Isn't that the boy you like?" Kano asked loudly. "Tomohiko?"
Tsuki blushed and put a finger to her lips.
"Shh," she hissed.
Yukino found herself suddenly interested, and a little amused.
"Who are all those boys he's with?"
"Those are his friends and his brother," Tsuki mumbled.
One of the boys, the one Yukino guessed was Tomohiko's older brother, tapped Tomohiko on the shoulder and waved in their direction. Tomohiko used his hands to form a cone around his mouth.
"Hey, Tsukino!"
Tsuki jumped stiffly from behind Yukino, and the trio marched to the front of the theatre.
"Hi," Tsuki said, suddenly friendly and calm. Tsuki and Tomohiko launched into a conversation about something hilarious that happened at school the other day, something that Yukino had no knowledge of.
After a short barrage of laughter, Tomohiko and his friends exchanged friendly hugs with Tsuki and Kano. Tsuki glowed as she nestled herself in his arms. Yukino gave a small smile and looked down at the floor, suddenly shy. She didn't know anyone here, and certainly didn't have anyone to hug.
*Did I ever glow like that?* Yukino thought dimly. She toyed with her scarf until she felt a pair of eyes boring into the side of her head.
Blushing, Tomohiko's brother looked away and dug his hands deep into his pockets. Yukino's eyes widened slightly. Had he really been looking at HER? The boy glanced upward tentatively before looking quickly down again, the redness in his face spreadibg to across his nose and to his ears. Yukino blinked, looked up toward the sky, shaking her hair in reincarnated confidence.
Maybe she wasn't as pathetic as she thought.
"So, what movie are you seeing?" Tsuki asked.
"Some action flick, I guess. It's supposed to start later on."
"Would you like to see it with us?" Tomohiko asked eagerly.
"Sure," Tsuki's smile brightened. "Can we, Yuki?"
Yukino winced and looked at the floor again. She didn't exactly feel like being around other people right then, except for her sisters, anyway. When she had agreed to leave with her sisters, she figured it would be a girls'-day-out of sorts. She wasn't really in the mood to try and socialize.
She looked up at her sister, who was pleading with her ands clasped together, her eyes persistently beseeching for her to accept.
Yukino smiled.
"All right," she said.
Tsuki grinned widely, and turned to skip toward the entrance of a restaurant with Tomohiko and his friends right on her heels. Yukino sighed after them. This was for her sister's sake.
In a few moments, Yukino found herself standing obscurely behind the gaggle of friends. It seemed they had decided to get something to eat. She tugged at her red hair. She must not have heard them announce this decision. She didn't understand their language anyway.
She decided to look around. The inside of the restaurant had cushy burgundy- colored booths and shiny cherry-wood tables. The dim lighting shone down on the smooth tile, and the walls were painted a warm coral shade. Her ears perked up as a mix of contemporary music wafted from the loudspeakers, and she lowered her shoulders, finally able to relax. In front of her, the boys and her sisters joked around, shoving each other toward the booths and authoritatively reminding one another to take a menu. Yukino slid into a large booth, wedging in between Kano and one of Tomohiko's friends.
"Your sister is so pretty, Kano," Tomohiko's older brother said softly.
Yukino glanced at him. Tomohiko had the same dark hair as his brother, but Tomohiko didn't have his brother's eyes. The boy sitting across the booth had honey-colored eyes, like hers. And right now, a shade of pink was settled over his face. Hers came to match his right away, and she stared at the fuzzy golden reflection of the lamplight on the table. He was addressing Kano when he said that, but he was looking right at her.
It made her nervous, and she began to drum her fingers on her seat.
"What about it, Ryosuke?" one of Tomohiko's brothers teased. His brother nudged him in the shoulder, and then squinted at Yukino.
"You look sorta down though. What's up?"
Yukino didn't say anything and gritted her teeth, trying to smile. It was none of his business, really. Who did he think he was?
Kano opened her mouth, and clamped it shut when Yukino glared at her.
*Don't tell,* she thought.
"It must be that time of the month," Kano substituted quickly.
Yukino shut her eyes tightly and shook her head violently from side to side. Her hair swung in strawberry-colored lines around her face.
"No! That's not it," she said desperately, "I-I just...failed a test at school, she offered.
Tomohiko's brother Ryosuke raised an eyebrow, looking slightly amused.
"Really? You look like that girl whose picture was in the local newspaper a couple weeks ago for good grades."
Kano opened her mouth.
"Oh, that probably WAS you, Yukino!"
"Yeah, it was," Ryosuke piped up, suddenly a lot less shy than before. "I remember Tomohiko showed it to me and was so excited because he knew it must have been Tsukino's sister."
And with that, Tsuki and Tomo looked up at each other, abruptly turned away from each other, Tsuki anxiously tucking a thin black strand of hair behind her ear, and Tomohiko fiddling nervously with his glasses.
Yukino smiled a small smile.
After the group had eaten, they decided to move on, walking aimlessly around the shopping center, making observations on colorful passersby and stopping only when something called to their attention.
Yukino and Ryosuke lagged at the back of the throng of second-year students and Kano, making small talk. Yukino felt as if she were a mother duck, watching her ducklings as they waddled in front of her. This was not endearing to her at all. But soon, since they were the oldest and felt they had no one else to talk to, Yukino and Ryosuke lapsed into a conversation about school, what their teachers, friends, and classes were like.
"My mom actually saw your picture in the paper after Tomo showed it to me," Ryosuke said. "She ended up comparing the two of us."
Yukino's eyebrows rose slightly, her interest peaked.
"Really?"
"Yeah." Ryosuke's features darkened a bit.
"See, I was never really all that great in school."
"Hmm." Yukino tapped her chin and looked up at him.
Maybe she could tutor Ryosuke. He seemed nice enough, but—Yukino thought about her most recent tutoring assignment and frowned. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea. A burst of giggles snapped her out of her thoughts. Tomo and Tsuki were shoving each other playfully, and teasingly poking one another's shoulders.
Yukino and Ryosuke smiled. Ryosuke leaned in sideways, cupping his warm hands around his mouth, his breath tickling her ear.
"Tomo really likes your sister a lot, you know," he whispered.
Yukino tried to ignore her nerves. He was so close. She slowly stepped a few inches to the left.
*At least Tsuki will be excited to hear this news,* she thought, trying to be happy for her sister. It was strangely difficult to feel optimistic at that moment, with her heart meandering as it was, without a destination, without a companion to guide it.
Ryosuke smiled from ear to ear, his eyes sparkling.
"Hey!" he said, standing upright, "Maybe we could play Cupid and get then together. What do you say?"
Yukino sweat dropped. She didn't know he was into that sort of thing! Besides, she already had way too much to deal with in her own love life, and just didn't have the willpower or the strength to deal with anyone else's. She didn't want to say no to him, but she certainly didn't want to say yes. So she laughed to cover up her negativity.
The party of teenagers finally made their way to the theatre, just as the winter sun was setting. After paying for the tickets, Ryosuke paid for everyone's snacks at the concession stand, and they entered the theatre, laughing and munching on popcorn.
Yukino and Ryosuke slipped into two seats, once again settled behind the rest of the group. Even through the darkness of the theatre, she coulod see Tomohiko and Tsuki tickling each other, and Tsuki smacking Tomohiko lightly on his shoulder. Yukino sank into her seat and crossed her arms, suddenly irritated—and maybe a bit jealous. Here she was, just coming off of her first relationship, it seemed, and here was Tsukino, always in the arms and eyes of such a sweet young man. And why weren't they doing anything?! All day they had been giggling and engrossing themselves into hyped conversations and doing such cute things that it aggravated her. It was so obvious that they liked each other; they might as well have been dating already!
She felt Ryosuke's amber eyes on her again.
"Are you alright?" Ryosuke asked carefully.
Yukino looked up at him, his voice calming her down considerably. She sat up in her chair.
"Yeah," she said slowly, embarrassed all of a sudden. She didn't mean to seem so cross in front of him. "I'm fine."
When Yukino stepped out of the theatre, it was already very dark outside. Ryosuke stepped out from close behind her, tossing and empty soft-drink can into the trash.
"So, what did you think of the movie?" he asked.
Yukino nodded. "It was very good, but the love scene was really hard to watch."
Ryosuke laughed.
"Seriously? Why?"
She didn't know why she wanted to tell him. N truth, the love scene had left her feeling somewhat depressed. Yukino's eyelids lowered.
"Because I broke up with my boyfriend."
"Oh, Really?" Ryosuke's voice cracked. He cleared his throat.
"Really?" He repeated, trying not to sound too eager.
"Mm-hmm."
Yukino blew on her pink, frosted hands and stuffed them into her pockets.
Ryosuke saw this, and pulled a pair of gray wool mittens out of his own pockets. He held them out in front of Yukino's face.
"Want mine?" He asked.
Yukino glanced at him sideways and gently took them from him. She smiled a pretty-close-mouthed smile.
"Thanks," she said softly.
Ryosuke looked at her for a moment and turned away, his face red and his back stiff. Yukino slipped the mittens on over her fingers.
"They're warm," she said gratefully.
Ryosuke's eyes turned to hers, then back to the space in front of him.
Yukino giggled as the tops of the mittens, where Ryosuke's longer fingers belonged, drooped over hers.
"Look," she held up her hands, "They're also way too big."
Ryosuke laughed. Yukino looked up at him as they followed their gropu off the sidewalk and into the street. Yukino missed the step and plunged forward, squeezing her eyes shut.
"Oh!" She braced herself for an abrupt contact with the cold, black concrete, but she never felt it. She opened one eye, and then the other.
Ryosuke had his arm around her back, his hand under her right elbow, and his other hand—well, Yukino didn't want to think about where his other hand just happened to land. He didn't move it. Instead, he inched his face closer to hers.
Her pulse quickened. Their faces inched forward; she didn't want to focus on the feeling of his had. She took a shallow breath.
*Closer*
*Closer*
*Just a millimeter more, please?*
*Closer*
*********************************************************************** Okay, okay, so I left on a cliffy. It's a good writing tactic! Use it! LOL, but really... it does keep you on your toes, doesn't it? Please say it does, and don't forget to review!!
