Resurfacing by Strawberry'd

Chapter Nine: Not this Time


Ren and Pirika walked down the stairs, hand in hand. Pirika smiled and laid her head on his shoulder. Ren felt so peaceful but had this dread sitting in his stomach, like a heavy stone in the bottom of a pool. What would HoroHoro say when he saw them together? Urgently, Ren let go of Pirika and made a hasty excuse, fleeing. He left his love, hurt and wondering.

Pirika wondered at Ren's disappearance. She frowned. Was it something she did? As she walked into the kitchen, she was greeted by HoroHoro, who seemed to always occupy this room, and Tamao, which sort of lived in the kitchen, too. Maybe he was embarrassed to be seen with her… Pirika was confused. Why would he be? Unless… maybe be never felt anything for her at all! Maybe he was just putting on an act, because he felt sorry for her! So… nothing had changed then…

Pirika willed the tears to go away but felt threatened by them, so, muttering a quick excuse, ran out of the kitchen. Of course, Tamao and HoroHoro didn't even notice her presence, never mind that she left.

Halfway to her bedroom, she was struck by that thought. Wouldn't HoroHoro have noticed something? Wasn't he her older brother, who, unfortunately, knew everything about her? So wouldn't he have noticed the difference in her usually cheerful disposition and now?

Mid-step, Pirika halted, her eyes wide. She knew the answer! HoroHoro… Tamao… it all made sense now! The blushing, the stammering; why hadn't she seen it before? Pirika smiled ruefully. Maybe she was so caught up with her own, that she never noticed other people's romances.

Pirika smiled widely. Onii-chan was in love with Tamao! Her mind whirled, and she quickly conceivedtwo dozen ways to make them show their affection towards each other. Then, she shook her head, and knew that she shouldn't meddle with other people's affairs.

Her smile faded. But… what about her own? What about her romance? Why did she have to be so goddamn trusting? Pirika frowned. She always got hurt in the end…


Anna wandered from room to room, bored. There were no good TV shows on, and nothing else to do. Anna walked into the kitchen, thinking that she would get something to eat. HoroHoro was already there, much to her surprise.

Tamao looked up. "Hello, Anna," she greeted.

Anna nodded and rummaged through the fridge. Pulling out an apple, she washed it and bit into it. Watching Tamao blush every time she looked at HoroHoro and HoroHoro blush every time he looked at Tamao was cute though a bit nauseating.

Finishing her apple, she threw it in the trash and walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. She stepped into the door way and went unnoticed by Ren who was pacing muttering things like, "HoroHoro, Pirika, kill me, scared, what'll happen" and etc.

Growing bored, Anna decided to find Yoh and make him take her out for ice cream or something. Yoh… She hadn't thought of him… What… When…

Anna knew she couldn't stay here forever. She knew that she would have to go something or another. Sighing, Anna decided to just enjoy the time she had.


"HoroHoro, want to come with me to the bakery?" Tamao asked, breaking the silence.

"Sure, why are we going?" HoroHoro jumped off his chair and turned to her.

"For cakes" She answered.

"Why are you going to buy a cake? You could make them just as well," he said complimenting her.

She blushed lightly. "Thanks,"

He nodded in response.

"I'm not going to buy one, I'm just going to look at them," Tamao answered.

HoroHoro shrugged and they started to walk.

They arrived at the bakery and HoroHoro stepped into it with a dropped jaw. "Oh! Look at these cakes! And these ones!" It was like watching a kid in a candy store.

Tamao laughed and HoroHoro grinned. "So, Tamao which cake did you want to look at?" HoroHoro asked with mild curiosity.

But Tamao was already talking to one of the workers there. "And I was wondering if I could look at some wedding cakes,"

Wedding cakes! Was she getting married? HoroHoro felt a touch of panic. No… She couldn't get married… Not after HoroHoro had fallen head over heels for her.

I gotta do something, HoroHoro thought.

"Sure, miss, here's a booklet of all the wedding cakes this store offers," the man gave her.

"Thanks" Tamao said and took the book.

HoroHoro pondered how he could stop Tamao from getting married. Unless it was to him of course. His face burned with just that thought.

"Er... Tamao," HoroHoro began. She looked up at him. "Um, I wanted to…"

He paused. "Never mind,"

Tamao shrugged, faintly curious, but let it go.

She flipped a couple of pages in the book and stared in awe at the cakes. No matter what HoroHoro said, she could never make these cakes.

HoroHoro… He brought funny feelings. She liked him, for sure, but… he told her that he loved her. Love… such a strong feeling. HoroHoro was a good friend… one of her best…

He was smart (to an extent), funny and knew how to cheer her up. But most of all, he made her happy. A funny warm feeling always swirled within her when he was near. Could that be love?


Pirika had mixed feelings. She loved Ren, but was kind of scared at the same time. And then there was that little detail of him not loving her.

You don't know that for certain, said a nagging voice in her head. Pirika shook her head. He didn't love her. Why did he run away then?

Well, maybe he was embarrassed. But wasn't that even worse? That he didn't want to be seen with her?

Pirika felt tears prickling but she vowed not to let them show. This was hurting her more than she liked to admit. She wasn't supposed to be some girly girl who cried at everything.

Taking gulping breaths, she calmed down. Pirika then decided to go to the living and maybe watch TV or just sit and think.

Walking over there, she noted the absence of HoroHoro and Tamao. Ren, also. That made her frown. Where was he?


HoroHoro bit his lip. He had to do something… He couldn't just let Tamao go off and marry someone else, could he? But wait… what if she wasn't getting married?

"Tamao," HoroHoro said. "Why are you looking at wedding cakes?"

"Because there's going to be a wedding soon," she smiled mischievously

"Whose?" HoroHoro asked.

"You'll see," Tamao smiled and flipped a page.

"Yours? Mine?" He guessed.

Smiling even wider, she shook her head.

Feeling a little disappointed, but a little bit relieved. That meant she wasn't getting married! But… that also meant he wasn't getting married to her…

"Er… Tamao," HoroHoro spoke, finally deciding to do something.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Um, do you remember what I said yesterday?" He said nervously.

Tamao smiled inwardly. "Yes,"

"And…" HoroHoro paused. "Um, do you have a response?"

She grinned widely. Turning to meet him, Tamao leaned towards him. "Yes I do,"

"And…" He gulped nervously. "What would that be?"

She smiled again and did something that was so unlike Tamao it shocked HoroHoro. She kissed him on the cheek.

After HoroHoro got over his initial shock, he grinned happily and kissed her. On the lips.


Pushing open the door to the living room, Pirika stopped in her tracks. Ren was sitting on the couch, a thoughtful frown on his face.

He looked in her direction when he heard the door being opened and his eyes lit up.

"Pirika!" He got up and enfolded her in a hug. "I haven't seen you all morning."

She pushed out of his embrace, much to his shock. "Pirika?"

"Why are you doing this?" she asked angrily.

"Doing what?" Ren was confused.

"This… this pretending!" Pirika said.

"Pretending? What pretending?" Ren asked, frowning.

She was about to cry now. Ren's eyes filled with concern.

"Stop it! Stop it!" She shrieked. "Stop pretending!" She started to cry.

"Pirika…" Ren drew her into his arms again and stroked her azure hair.

"Just… Stop it…" Pirika murmured.

Holding her tightly in his arms Ren sighed. What was she going on about? Pretending?

Before he could get his thoughts together, she pushed herself out of his arms with such force, Ren was shocked.

"You're pretending that you love me!" Pirika blurted.

He looked confused. "I don't pretend to love you."

"Then why did you run away at breakfast?" She asked.

He laughed. Pirika didn't like being laughed at. She frowned. Ren sobered quickly. "Is that what it's about?"

She nodded. "HoroHoro was at breakfast," Ren confessed. "I didn't want to be pummeled at the wee hours of the morning just yet, that's all."

"Oh," Pirika looked down. "So, you do love me?" she smiled shyly.

"With all my heart," Gently lifting her chin, Ren kissed her softly on the lips.

Pirika broke the kiss and smiled at him. He smiled back, tenderly brushing the hair from her face. They both knew that from this moment on, they would be happy with whatever life threw at them.


HoroHoro and Tamao walked back from the bakery hand in hand.

Smiling, Tamao walked into the kitchen with HoroHoro following her. She shooed him out, telling him that she had work to do.

Shrugging, HoroHoro decided to see what his sister was up to.

He couldn't find her anywhere! Deciding to look in the living room he made his way there.

"Pirika…?" HoroHoro called softly as he opened the door. His eyes widened as he took in everything he saw. It was Pirika, his baby sister, on Ren, his best friend's lap.

His arms were around her and her head was leaning on his chest, her eyes closed but a happy smile on her face. Ren was leaning his head on hers, with an identical smile.

They were in love…

HoroHoro grinned. He could see this from a million miles away. Who better for his baby sister than his best friend?


Yoh gnawed his lip for the third time. He was furiously debating with himself whether to go through with it, or not.

Groaning, he stuffed his face into a pillow and tried to decide. She's leaving soon… I know it… I can't stand her going away…

Pulling his head out of the pillow, he scratched it thoughtfully. He sighed. Well, I suppose there's no other answer.

Yoh got up. "Hey Manta! Wanna come to the jewelry store with me?"


Anna stared out the window. She knew her time here was up.

But for some reason… she didn't want to go.

She shook her head. She was being silly. Taking a deep breath, Anna got up and faced her room.

She only had one bag and her purse. Anna wondered if she should leave now, without anyone noticing, or if she should write a note.

She starred at a picture she never recalled taking. It was her and Yoh. No, she couldn't go without saying goodbye…

She picked up her bag and walked downstairs. She would meet him and tell him goodbye there.


Yoh smiled and whistled while he walked into his house. He took the stairs two at a time and burst into his room. He hid the small object in his hand successfully in his drawers.

He was going to do it… He was going to ask Anna to marry him!

Humming a happy tune, he walked down the stairs with a big grin on his face.

Yoh wondered where Anna was. He ran around the house looking for her.

There she was. In front of the door… with a bag…?

"Anna?" Yoh looked confused. "What"

"Yoh… I… I'm leaving now…" Anna said, looking down.

He gaped. "What?"

"I'm leaving. I'm going home." Anna looked up. "Thanks for having me. Good-bye."

"No, wait, Anna!" Yoh wanted to stall, he wanted for her to stay.

She turned and looked at him.

"I… I want you to stay," he said quietly.

"I'm sorry Yoh, I need to go…"

He nodded. "Just… just answer me this… Why… why did you leave in the first place?"

Anna took a deep breath. "Have you ever fallen in love?" she asked.

Yoh looked taken back. But he answered calmly. "Yes."

Anna shifted uncomfortably and looked at her feet. "Then you know how it feels like,"

He nodded. "I just couldn't stand someone else loving you while I was there."

Yoh's eyes were confused. "Have you ever seen the way Tamao looked at you?" Anna asked.

"Tamao…?" He stuttered. "Is that why you left? Because you couldn't stand seeing her love me?"

"No…" Anna paused. She looked up. "Tamao is my friend; whether or not I show it and I didn't like how she felt getting hurt because you didn't love her."

"So you thought if you removed yourself, she wouldn't get hurt because you weren't there…" he breathed. That's silly… how I not love Anna anymore if she wasn't there? Absence makes the heart grow fonder, after all…

She nodded mutely. "So you see now. Anyways," Anna turned. "I'll be leaving now."

Yoh snapped out of his thoughts. "What? No! You can't leave!"

"I can and I will," Anna looked at him fiercely. "I have a ticket to Yokohama in half an hour and I will not miss it, do you hear?"

Yoh nodded meekly. "Yes,"

"Good," Anna felt slightly guilty about scaring him like that but shook it off. This was no time to become all sappy.

Picking up her bag, Anna walked out of the door. Yoh clenched his fists. Taking a deep breath, he ran to the kitchen.

"Tamao," He said, breathless. "Do you have Anna's address?"

She nodded. Rummaging through a cabinet, she pulled out a piece of paper. "Here,"

Yoh smiled and thanked her rushing out. Tamao smiled. A wedding was soon to come.

Yoh ran up the stairs and burst into his bedroom. There, in his dresser. He pulled the top drawer open and plunged his hand in. Finally! His hand enclosed around a small velvet box.

Yohsmiled grimly and ran outdoors, hailing a taxi.

He wasn't going to lose her... not this time.


End of Chapter Nine