He did not regret spending four or possibly five hours in Miami with Kalie and Samantha Merth. He did not regret giving her the stuffed animal, flowers, candles, and birthday song...himself finishing the package.

But he was beginning to hate having mentioned it to the guys when they asked why he was in such a good mood, even three days later. He should've KNOWN to keep that aspect of his life from them...even that single aspect.

Especially since it got back to Cam.

There was nothing worse than her hearing he spent almost a quarter of the day with two girls, even on a friendly basis. Not to mention driving forty-some miles out of the way for no REAL reason other than to pay Kalie a visit on her birthday.

With his track record with women, and his dating time, that was a dangerous combination. Especially since he admitted to the both of them Kalie's attractiveness!

Perhaps if he denied having either gone down to Miami or that Kalie meant absolutely nothing to him - even as a friend - he wouldn't have been thrown in this situation. A situation he disliked more than anything. Arguing and fighting.

"Come on Cam...didn't I tell you a while ago to have FAITH in me?"

"You've told me that from practically the BEGINNING Yamoi Inaki...but it's hard to have faith in your boyfriend when you find he's in a city forty miles out of his way to visit a GIRL! How many times have you done this??"

You KNEW you were in trouble when they said your full name...and in his case the polite way of his heritage. Oh yea...Cameron was DEFINITELY not happy about this.

A hand went into near shoulder-length hair, a habit he had. With as many times as his hands were shoved through the ebony locks, it was amazing he hadn't gone bald yet. He absently scratched his scalp in agitation. "I just visited her this once! It was her BIRTHDAY! Are you going to tell me that I shouldn't do that for a friend?? She was happy I stopped by!"

He'd been trying to make Cam see reason for the past ten minutes, but she was simply too upset and stuck in her ways - mostly dealing her worry over his reputation - to think about the innocence of what he did. Really...he was just visiting a FRIEND.

"How come you've never TALKED about her? Huh?? Do you trust me so little that you wouldn't tell about one of your other friends? Even female?"

The sigh he tried to squash hissed past the back of his throat, making it come out almost like a growl. He knew Cameron was worried about him leaving her and was a little possessive due to that fact...but NOW she was just trying to start something.

Dark brown stared at the ceiling of a living room as he had the urge to pace the carpet. This was ridiculous! Here he was, still in a good mood from seeing Kalie after so long and catching up on a few things, and Cam arrived unannounced and wanted to know why he was seeing another girl in a different city! The NERVE!

His teeth grit as anger boiled on low. He tried to fight the irritation that made his heart pound a little faster. Releasing that and shouting at Cam or, even worse, hitting something would only scare her and then he'd feel like a complete bad guy. Not only did he want to avoid that, but keeping a cool head while she lost hers would help him get out of this stupid mess. Not to mention he didn't want to be seen as a violent person...something he WASN'T.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes to her upset and hurt visage. 'Keep a clear head... Explain your reasons to her again...'

"Look Cameron," He softly muttered, voice serious, "I hit it off badly with K in the start and apologized for being an ass to her. I suggested we write each other because she was a nice person underneath and I gave her my address without asking for hers to show my trust and let her call the shots. I've only written to her since the end of July and visited her this once. I don't intend on making it a habit because she's way south and letters are good enough." He paused and opened his eyes, turning to the girl. "Kalie is just an aspect of my life I kept from everyone because it was my own little thing, you know? I don't need to tell you and the guys EVERYTHING. It's not about trust - there's just some things I don't feel like sharing all the time. I'm sure you have a few things you keep from ME..."

There was a deathly quiet in the empty house. If this had to happen, he was thankful it occurred while his family was minding the business or out doing errands before lunch. They didn't need to hear about his and Cameron's problems anymore than what he ranted every once in a while. He stared at his girlfriend's downcast head, waiting for her to say something. Either that she understood or didn't; he at least wanted her to say ANYTHING.

Finally, he couldn't take the silence that buzzed in his ears. It was annoying and he was going to start fidgeting soon if one of them didn't break it! "Aren't you...going to...say anything?" He quietly asked. He firmly remained rooted where he was; trying to move to her would be like asking for forgiveness or trying to offer comfort when he was NOT at fault here!

When Cameron moved, it was slow...as if labored. Teeth bit her lip as eyes remained locked on the carpeting. Hands slowly rose and clasped together, stopping their assent when they met her lips in an almost thoughtful pose. She remained that way for more tense minutes before finally blinking out of her stupor. "So...then what you're saying is...you don't want to talk to me about her." She tightly whispered. Cameron's eyes slowly rose until they met his, shining with unshed tears. "How many other little aspects of your life do you 'not feel like sharing' with me? Or worse...how many other female friends do you have that you're writing to?"

He couldn't look away, even though the anger boiling under the surface turned up another degree. His fists clenched at his sides and his head dropped, allowing him to hide narrowed eyes behind thick bangs. It was the only safety he had from shielding Cameron at the moment and trying to maintain that little grip on his sanity to keep from losing it in front of her.

He NEVER wanted to have her see that.

Through tightly gritted teeth and eyes boring a hole in the floor, he tried to make his words exact so she couldn't pick them apart and twist them around again. "Cameron," He lowly muttered, trying to keep his voice even, "I am not going into this with you anymore. I've told you time and time again to have faith and trust me where our relationship is concerned... It'll be eight months soon...and how many times have we had this similar talk of trust?" Slowly, his eyes inched up until they rested on her face with painful evenness.

He was trying his damndest to not show anger. He knew she would break down and bawl and as it was, she was fighting tears. He could see them in her eyes and the way she was biting her lip. The last thing he wanted to deal with was her crying AGAIN over something like this! It seemed his side NEVER got defended and he always apologized for making her cry and they were back to square one.

"If you want me to trust you...you are going to have to ask that of YOURSELF." He continued, feeling his fists slowly tighten. "I have been nothing but faithful to you since day one, never dating other girls behind your back. But every time you see me talking with a girl, you get upset and this is the result. I asked YOU out remember? There were qualities I found in you endearing and I wouldn't be with you if I didn't WANT to." There was another deathful silence. Slowly, he turned his back to her, letting the hurtful anger reach his face.

Cameron finally let go of the death grip on her lip and took a shuddery breath. Inaki was right of course...but she always felt whenever he looked at girls - for she knew he flirted occasionally - he would find something better in them than her and leave her aside on the road. She had to admit she didn't trust him probably as much as he trusted her. His faith that she didn't go out and date other guys was definitely more than her faith that he wouldn't go out and date other girls.

Her eyes shamefully lowered in guilt. Seven months built up from his faithfulness...and her arguing with him about it. She felt so low all of a sudden...

"Inaki..." A hand rose in between them, as if to reach to touch him.

He took a deep breath, remaining exactly s he was. "Cam...I think you should head on home for today." He quietly answered, refusing the plea in her voice. He needed to release this before it exploded and he was unable to contain it. He didn't want ANYONE to see that. He tried to make his shoulders relax their tense stance and succeeded a little. He did the same to get the irritation out of his voice and soften it - but he never turned around. "Think about what I said, please. I'll call you tomorrow to see if you want to do anything this weekend."

The promise that they weren't breaking up, and that he would call her helped a bit. It kept her from feeling utterly crushed...also hope that there was still something THERE. A wobbly smile appeared as Cameron deeply inhaled to push past tears and leave without breaking down. If she was going to cry, it should be over herself. "Okay." She whispered. Afraid to break the silence, she tiptoed around him and reached the front door. She slipped on her sandals.

It was on the tip of her tongue to apologize for bringing this around, but one look at his form told her he wouldn't readily accept it. It was best if she DID leave for now. Perhaps she could make it up to him this weekend...

With a small nod of goodbye, she shut the door as silently behind her, leaving him alone to head home.

The silence descended and wrapped around him. Deep, even breathing was the only thing permeating the quiet. Time twisted and warped, making it stretch out as he stood there, fists clenched and eyes boring holes into the wall in front of him.

He REALLY wanted to hit something! The wall was so tempting... But he knew if he did that, he'd have all the females - heck the entire FAMILY - down upon him with their wrath. He abruptly turned and headed for the kitchen...to the patio doors beyond it.

In his letters to Kalie, he mentioned the land around their house was huge. He wasn't lying. The house itself was rather large, as it had to be to support so many people. Then there was the tool shed his mother owned where she kept all gardening tools. The lawn and surrounding concrete was sprinkled with plants, trees, and outside equipment. Also, there was a relatively small dojo to compliment the one he had inside when he wanted to practice outside on nice days.

It was that dojo shoji that he slowly slid open and quietly padded into on wood floors...shutting the door just as silently.

Emotionless eyes stared at the room, absently taking it in. There was a small set of weights in the corner, with a punching bag and speed bag tacked against the wall. Next to that was a set of mats for falling practice and dull weapons to practice with. The sharp ones rested against the other wall in the same holder to keep from being confused together.

Deep brown locked with the still, white canvas bag in the afternoon light. Without a word, he strode to it across the moderately-sized room, fists tightening with each step. His mind had miraculously cleared and remained blank until now. The entire fight rushed back, bringing all her accusing and hurtful words. Of how much she didn't trust him.

With an loud, angry cry, a fist whipped out like a snake and hit the bag with all his strength. The jangling of chains resounded off the room, to be added again and again as his fists struck with deadly precision...mixing in with each shout.

She hurt him every time when she accused him like that! Why didn't Cameron SEE that? Sure he could be a jerk and he had a small reputation for being a player...but he WAS faithful damn it! When he put his mind to something, or someone, he STUCK with it! Why was she being so disrespectful?!

His energy finally depleted, along with most of the anger...replaced with a hollow feeling and slightly bloody knuckles. He slumped to the floor, panting from exertion and heat. He leaned till his torso rested over his legs, as if bowing. His forehead rested against the wood in sudden exhaustion. Both hands lay nearly flat against the surface, stinging from broken skin and bruises.

It was times like these when he often wondered why he remained faithful to Cameron. It seemed all they did anymore was fight or disagree over something. In the beginning, of course it wasn't that way. She was so cute and shy when she was still getting to know him. That was one of the few things that attracted him...her shyness and a small need to get her to have a little more self-esteem in herself. Of course there were other things...

When did it go awry? Perhaps three or four months into the relationship? He had to admit, the thing that tipped it WAS his fault and he lost track of how many times he apologized to Cameron for it. Her paranoia of him leaving probably wouldn't have come so soon if she hadn't seen him reacting to a girl flirting with him at the mall. Of course, being charmer and being friendly, he flirted back...as Cameron wasn't paying attention to him for favor of some clothes in the store they were in.

He didn't think anything of it. At least until she suddenly appeared with a hurt, angry look in her teary eyes and all but ran from the store. He managed to catch up with her halfway to the main exits to the outside...only to have her start a huge fight and break into tears right in front of the local populous over his 'being a total player'.

He made it up to her obviously. And it seemed he was STILL making it up to her.

Ever since that day...she was paranoid of him being around other girls and he could tell. Their fights were increasing in number and emotion, going from teeny tiny, five minute arguments to what just occurred. This was also one of the few times he told her to leave him after a fight. He rarely lost his temper, but he couldn't help it. Regardless of her gender, Kalie WAS a friend and he wasn't going to let her be badmouthed in his presence. Defending her when she couldn't seemed like the honorable thing to do.

After a while, he regained his breath and slowly sat up on the floor. He was tired. Tired from hitting the bag so many times - as his hands showed; tired of going into it with Cameron like they did and sending a knife through his chest with each fight; and tired of trying to find reasons for them to still be together.

His body gingerly slid across the floor to the wall to lean against it. His knuckles rose to be inspected and found they weren't as bad as pain insinuated. There was blood dotting the skin and it was all red from abuse, but he would heal. Both hands dropped to his lap as he almost sadly stared at the ceiling. Teeth bit his lip. Still trying to find ways to be with Cameron... Should he REALLY be thinking like this?

His head savagely shook. No! Of COURSE he shouldn't! He was with Cameron for a reason! She was the one who brought these fights on not HIM, and he should be patient. He probably wasn't the easiest person to deal with, not with HIS track record...

He heaved a sigh. Trying to justify it by making him the bad guy wasn't going to get him anywhere. All he would do was beat himself up over this. Like he normally did.

A lot of their fights dealt with Cam's lack of self-esteem and belief in herself when it dealt their relationship. If she could just see herself in a better light, maybe she wouldn't think so lowly of BOTH of them...

His eyes closed, head tilting to the side. Thinking like this always made him drained. Cameron's problem wasn't going to be solved and every attempt he made had little success. Sure he helped her, even a minute bit, but Cameron wasn't going to see anything unless she helped herself. He could only do so much for her.

His body carefully slid down the wall and rested on the floor again. He stared at the ceiling with a blank mind until his eyes closed and he rested.

~*~*~

The gentle sliding of the shoji, along with quiet footsteps a minute later, helped jog awareness. Brown fluttered open and was soon met with a familiar face, one he didn't bother to toss a sarcastic comment to. He didn't meet brown eyes for some time as they stared at the bag in front of him.

"Ototo-chan...what're you doing in here?" Jayden gently asked, crouching by his head.

He followed her movements, craning his head back a little to keep her eyes. He remained silent, though the dead look on his face gave him away.

Jayden sighed. She was no idiot and knew what that meant. Out of all the people in the Yamoi household, she was privy to her little brother's dating problems...as often came from sharing a room together. Slowly, Jayden shifted to a cross-legged position and without thought, he scooted back and his head went into her lap. Arms propped up on her knees as one hand stroked his hair for comfort, the other clasped with his over his chest.

After a while, feeling sibling love override the rivalry, a tender smile peeked through a solemn face. "Do you want to tell me what happened this time?" She quietly asked.

His eyes left Jayden's and stared to the bag. He blinked, breaking a little bit of the spell woven around them by her care. "She accused me of...dating K." He muttered, trying not to feel bitter.

Jayden blinked and was silent for a small spell. Teeth nibbled on her lip. "You mean that girl you write to?" She gained a nod and quietly sighed. "Inaki...you know Cameron is a little -" She paused, unsure. The last thing she wanted to do was offend Inaki for his dating choices. Even if he picked on her about it from time to time. "- well...a little emotional. She's not like us, who have been taught strength and how to handle our emotions in public and to others. I know that we don't always act on our elder generations' teachings, but -" She paused again. What words of comfort could she give that she hadn't already to her ototo?

"Just be patient with her?" He mumbled, eyes closing in bliss. Jayden's hand was still playing with his hair and the feelings invoked from that were overriding the emotions from earlier. His nee-chan always DID know how to calm him down and make him feel loved in times like this.

Jayden gave an encouraging smile. "I think you've been very patient of her ototo...just give her some space until this blows over. If she was at fault, let her use that time to think about what she did and hopefully it'll help."

'I doubt it though...'

The thought went through both their minds. Advice like that was heartening to hear, but to the other party involved, it would always be turned down.

There were no more words spoken as Jayden continued to lightly finger-comb his hair and watch his face. No words were needed. It was times like these when one could see how close the two siblings were. Sure they picked on each other and threw out comments just to get under each other's skin...but in the long run, this was where it counted.

She gave him comfort when he was unsure about the female race and he would give advice about guys when she thought she didn't understand Chad. She knew combing his hair helped him relax more than anything, and his silence usually spoke volumes about something going on in his head. He would always find ways to cheer her up when she was irritated or upset over something in her life. And they both admitted that they loved each other.

After a while, brown lazily opened and met Jayden's eyes. A tiny smile appeared at the pleasant look on her face and he felt some of the bad emotions slide away further. "So what brought you out here nee-chan?"

Jayden gave him a half smile. "Dinner was going to be on the table soon and you were nowhere to be found. Okaasan and obaasan sent me to find you."

His eyes widened before taking in the shadows in the room for the first time. The open gaps in the walls gave out shadows that nearly touched the other side of the dojo. The light had greatly dimmed, but his nap didn't let him see the changes until they were brought up.

"Kuso..." He muttered, almost in shock. "I slept away half of the afternoon! Didn't anyone come back for lunch and wonder where I was?? I was supposed to make it today!"

Jayden gave him another gentle smile to calm his worries and patted his cheek. "Daijoubu. Otousan and I came back for lunch, but otousan didn't figure anything of it. Only when we came back for supper to find you still out of the house did anyone start wondering."

He pouted. "Nice to know I'm so loved around here..." He muttered, looking put out. He got a small giggle and had to fight to keep the smile off his face. Inhaling a breath, feeling loads better, he sat up and turned to his sister. "Arigatou gozaimasu nee-chan."

She leaned forward to accept his hug and gave a pat on the back. "Doo itashimashite ototo-chan." She quietly answered. When Inaki hopped up, she accepted his help to stand and playfully pushed him toward the exiting shoji.

What were big sisters for?

**I am a BEGINNER Japanese learner...so if these are not 100% correct...please let me know if you care to do so. I only have a web page to learn from, a dictionary, and a few months experience to work with.**

Translations: Dojo-School Shoji-Sliding paper/wood walls Kuso-Damn (it) Daijoubu-It's ok/alright Arigatou gozaimasu-Thank you very much

Doo itashimashite-You're welcome/It's nothing Otousan-Dad