Well here is an update for you. Sorry it took a long time, but I just had to finish my other story first. Thanks to Hellblazer, ShiningShadow187, Anime-Obsessive, Musei Kage, and Ayuka-chan for letting me use your characters in this story. Hopefully you'll like the way I put them in this story. If you don't, then let me know. Enough with me and on to the story.
I'm not rich so...
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Chapter 8: Deception...or is it?
"What are the plans for the winter break, hoshi?" Ryo asked his daughter while they were both working in his office. He was doing paper work for the business while Kumiko was looking over reports from various gang activities. She was slightly troubled at what she was reading.
"Not sure yet. Pretty sure that we're all going to the Winter Formal Saturday night. Don't know what we're gonna do for Christmas though. Why you ask?" Kumiko responded not looking up. She did when he didn't reply back to her and looked at him with a questioning glance.
"There are several meetings scheduled over the holidays and I was wondering if you'd help me out if nothing was planned," Ryo replied, finishing up his papers and placing them in a file folder.
"What kind of meetings?" Kumiko questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"There's a business meeting in Russia and then the Alliance meeting in China," Ryo answered opening another file and worked on it.
"Another Alliance meeting? What is it this time?" Kumiko asked slightly exasperated.
"Not exactly sure but I'm sure you wanted to discuss the issue about the Radicals right?" Ryo responded.
"I suppose you're right but I haven't decided to go yet. Let me check with the others and I'll let you know soon," Kumiko replied going back to the reports.
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"So what's the plan for Christmas?" Salima asked the large group at lunch on Wednesday at school. Winter break was the following week and that Saturday was the annual Winter Formal.
"How about we do that Secret Santa thing again like the year before?" Mariah suggested with a smile. No one objected and seemed okay with the idea.
"We can have it at my place on Christmas Eve," Kumiko said while writing down the plan in her planner. She had yet to tell them about the meetings but since she had plans for Christmas now, she wouldn't have to go. They went on as usual until someone approached their table. Kumiko saw that it was the junior class president Fumiyo and wondered what she wanted. She walked up to her with Kai following and everyone else just looked on thinking it wasn't too important.
"Konnichiwa Haraguchi-san and Hiwatari-san," Fumiyo greeted toward the two with a slight nod. Both seniors returned it greeting the young underclassman.
"Is there something you need?" Kumiko asked the young girl with a questioning glance.
"Ano... I was wondering if you were going to attend the Winter Formal this year," Fumiyo responded a bit.
"Hai, I believe I am. What of it?" Kumiko answered wondering why the girl in front of her was nervous.
"Well, the dance committee and myself were wondering if you could do a small performance. We've heard a rumor that you were quite the singer," Fumiyo said with a slightly sheepish smile.
"Oh really. Is that so?" Kumiko questioned with a raised eyebrow. She turned toward her comrades and found them acting innocently as if they didn't hear a thing. She turned back and was about to decline when she saw somewhat pleading eyes from Fumiyo. With a sigh, she gave in. "I shall sing one song and that is all, understood?"
"Arigato Haraguchi-san! Please inform me of the song you shall sing," Fumiyo urged the older girl while getting a pen and notepad out. Kumiko thought about it for a moment before glancing slyly at Kai. He caught the look and wasn't sure if he was going to like what she had in store for him.
"Alright Fumiyo-san. Hiwatari-san and I will sing a duet and I will give you the music for it later," Kumiko replied with a smirk. She saw Kai's eyes widen with surprise and slightly laughed at his horrified expression.
"Honto ne? That's great! I'll meet you after school to get the music then. Arigato gozaimasu," Fumiyo said with a bright and excited smile. She left in a hurry toward her friends who were in the committee and told them the news. Kumiko just smiled in amusement and turned to Kai who had an annoyed expression on his face.
"You know you love me," Kumiko said with a sweet smile.
"So you believe," Kai remarked with an amused smirk.
"That hurts Kai, it really does," Kumiko joked while walking back to the group with the said boy following her.
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"You wanted to see me Kadin?" Jake questioned as he walked into Kadin's office. The Radical leader was sitting at his desk looking at something with a smirk.
"Hai sit down. I have a plan," Kadin offered not looking at his second. Jake complied and just sat across from Kadin until he spoke. Kadin finally put down what he was looking at and looked up to Jake. "I plan to rip the Haraguchi bitch and her lover boy apart."
"Who would that be?" Jake wondered, not knowing that the girl was with someone. It was fact on the streets that Kumiko Haraguchi never found anyone to attach herself to because no one really caught her eye. Even Kadin tried to get her before he became the Radical leader. Word would have traveled fast if anyone knew this fact. Obviously not many did.
"The Hiwatari boy," Kadin sneered with a slight scowl.
"Kai Hiwatari?" Jake questioned more to himself than to Kadin. He was a bit surprised that Kadin seemed to hate Hiwatari even though he hadn't done anything directly to him. He concluded that Kadin still harbored some desire for the Dark Shadow girl and maybe use the Hiwatari boy to their advantage if they succeeded. "What do you plan to do?" Jake asked his leader with a questioning glance.
"Sabotage the relationship," Kadin simply said with an evil glint in his eyes. He passed what he was looking at earlier to his second when he gave him a questioning glance again. Jake picked up what appeared to be photos and looked at them. His eyes widened a bit when he saw who was in the photo. The leader of Black Chaos was with a girl whose back was to most of the shots but it appeared to be the Haraguchi girl. The same hair and everything, even the exposed tattoo.
"Do you think this is her?" Jake asked, wondering if it was set up this way or it was actually her.
"I know its her. Someone told me that she left on a little business trip the very date on those photos. Plus the one who took those photos guaranteed that she sounded and acted like the Haraguchi bitch. He even said the tattoo looked exactly the same," Kadin explained with a smug smile.
"So you gonna send these to Hiwatari?" Jake asked making sure the plan was right.
"Hai. Copies have already been sent," Kadin responded with an evil glint. "We'll just let him do the rest."
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"Kai-sama, you have a delivery," a maid said knocking on her young master's door. A few seconds later the door was opened to reveal a slightly frustrated Kai, still in his school uniform.
"Arigato," Kai replied taking the package from the maid. She bowed and took her leave while Kai closed the door and looked at the package curiously. It was a large yellow envelope that was bulging at one end and didn't have a return address on it. He took extreme caution as he opened it. Seeing that he was still alive, he slid out the contents onto his desk. A smaller envelope came out but nothing else. Kai picked up the smaller envelope and opened it. His curiosity peaked as he saw photographs inside. He took them out and looked through them. His curiosity turned into anger as he looked though the photos. Each picture showed Kumiko having a grand time with some other guy on the very weekend she said she would be gone for business purposes. He shoved the pictures back in the small envelope and grabbed his keys and stormed out of the house toward his car. He was so angry that he didn't notice an odd figure standing on the curb with an evil smirk on his face.
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"Otou-san I still haven't decided," Kumiko said to her father in his office. Even though the group had made plans, she was still debating on whether to help her father out with the trips or not.
"I'll need an answer soon hoshi. Either you go or out," Ryo replied with a slightly serious tone. Kumiko was about to reply back when there was a knock on the door. "It's open," Ryo said loudly.
"Gomen nasai for interrupting but Kai Hiwatari-sama is here to see Kumiko-san and says it's urgent," a butler informed to the pair.
"Ano... arigato," Kumiko said with a confused look on her face. "I'll be back otou-san," she said and left the office, closing the doors. She dismissed the butler after he told her Kai was waiting in the living area. When she entered the living room, he was pacing back and forth with an angered scowl on his face and wondered why he was so angry. "Kai-kun? What is it?" He turned toward her quickly at her surprised that she saw it was directed toward her.
"Where did you go that weekend when you were gone?" Kai questioned calmly, ignoring hers.
"I told you. It was a business trip for otou-san. Doushite?" Kumiko answered with narrowed questioning eyes.
"How do I know that you really went on a business trip for your father?" Kai questioned back coming up to her.
"Are you questioning me?" Kumiko asked right back at him, wanting to know where this was going.
"I don't think I need to, not anymore. Our relationship is over," Kai spat at her with blazing, hateful eyes.
"Nani? Doushite?" Kumiko asked with wide confused eyes.
"I can't trust you anymore. And these prove it," Kai responded throwing down the envelope full of photos which came sliding out from it's confinements. Kumiko nearly crumbled with his last words but snapped out of it when he threw the envelope down. She turned her gaze toward the floor where the pictures were and just stared. "Sayonara," Kai said taking his leave. Kumiko was frozen on the spot until the door slammed, knocking her back to reality. She bent down and picked up the pictures. She shifted through them and her eyes widened a bit then narrowed in anger and disbelief. She stormed back to her father's office and approached him.
"I've made my decision. I've decided to go to the meetings. Have the files sent to my room. I'll be in the music room," Kumiko said steely. It was obvious to him that she was angry about something. He just nodded in agreement and she left the office, closing the doors with a slam. Ryo stopped what he was doing and picked up his phone. He dialed a number and waited for the person to pick up.
"You need to get here and fast. Something's up with Miko-chan," Ryo informed to the other person. He hung up the phone and sank back into his seat. He suddenly heard a piano playing and the recognized the music immediately. He just hoped that Tala would find out what's wrong.
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A few minutes later after receiving the phone call from Ryo, Tala rushed over to the mansion to see what could be the matter with his best friend. He parked his car out front and rushed through the front door. He was about to ask the butler, who opened the door, where Kumiko was but was given the answer when he heard a piano playing a familiar melody. He quickly made his way toward the music room as the playing got louder the closer he got. He opened the door and closed it after him. He approached the figure cautiously.
'Moonlight Sonata. She only plays this piece when she's angry about something. Wonder what it is this time,' Tala thought to himself as he made his way toward the pianist. He stood next to the black grand piano, facing the girl behind the keys. She played the piece as if she were the actual composer Beethoven himself.
"I suppose otou-san called you here to see what was the matter with me, am I right?" Kumiko questioned in a calm voice.
"Yeah he did. I think it's because I'm the only one who's ever lived sanely after leaving this room with this song playing from it," Tala joked slightly. He didn't see a single reaction come from the girl. He narrowed his eyes with worry and sat on the bench next to her as she kept on playing. "Seriously, what's wrong?"
"Hiwatari and I are over," Kumiko simply stated in an emotionless voice.
"Nani?! Doushite?" Tala asked surprised at the sudden break up. She didn't respond but gestured with her head and envelope that was sitting on top of the piano near the music sheets. He picked it up and looked through the photos inside. 'Did Kai think that...' He began to draw his own conclusion on what happened. He wrapped his arms around her that caused her to stop playing. It was then in his arms that she let the tears of heartbreak fall.
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"Do you really have to go Miko-chan? What happened to playing Secret Santa?" Mariam asked with a small pout. It was Friday night and she and Salima were in Kumiko's room helping her pack.
"Hai, I have to go and don't worry. You guys will still be here so you can still have the party here," Kumiko replied as she folded some clothes into her suitcase.
"You're still going to the dance tomorrow night right?" Salima asked with a hopeful expression on her face.
"Hai I am. I did agree to sing for dance, but right after I sing I'll have to leave," Kumiko informed to the two.
"Christmas won't be the same without you," Mariam said in a melancholic tone.
"Don't worry. I know I can't be here but to make up for it I bought everyone a present," Kumiko said trying to lighten the mood. It worked because Mariam and Salima perked up wondering what she had gotten them. "They're all under the tree in the den but you can't open them until after you exchanged gifts, okay?" Mariam and Salima nodded and smiled happily although on the inside they knew her real reason on leaving. Everyone heard about the break up the next day when Kumiko didn't show up, although Mariam, Salima, Kane, and Ozuma assured everyone that they saw her at breakfast. Mariah was the first to blow at the accusation and Rei had to drag her away before something bad happened.
"So when are you coming back?" Salima asked wondering why Kumiko didn't hand out that piece of information. Everyone knew she was leaving but only a select few knew where and when. Meaning only Tala, Mariam, Salima, Ozuma, Kane, and her father knew where and when she was leaving. Kumiko didn't want everyone to know and only she knew when she would be returning. Kumiko was about to respond to the question when a knock came to her door.
"It's open," Kumiko said to the person on the other side of her door. It opened to reveal her butler who bowed in greeting.
"Gomen nasai for the intrusion Kumiko-san but you have a visitor," the butler informed. Kumiko looked toward her comrades who were as confused as she was and didn't know who it could be.
"Tell them I'll be right there," Kumiko said. Her butler bowed and took his leave, closing the door as well.
"Who do you think it is?" Mariam asked curiously.
"Won't know until I find out," Kumiko stated, making her way toward her door. She turned toward the other two before leaving. "You two stay here. I won't take long." With that she left and headed toward the living room area. She was surprised at who her visitor was. "Kari-chan?" The little girl perked up at hearing her name and turned toward the older girl. Her face brightened immediately and ran to greet the older girl.
"It's good to see you Miko-chan!" Kari greeted with a big bright smile. She hugged Kumiko, wrapping her arms around her waist.
"It's good to see you too Kari-chan but how did you get here and why?" Kumiko wondered why the little girl was alone and hot with someone. Kari let go and they both sat down on the couch. Kumiko waited for Kari to answer her questions.
"Well I wanted to see you and ask you why onii-chan has been acting differently," Kari explained simply and innocently. Kumiko quirked an eyebrow at hearing Kai was acting differently toward his family.
"How has he been acting?" Kumiko asked.
"Most of the time he spends his time in his room doing nothing with a sad look on his face. I asked him why he wasn't his normal self but all he says is that he's tired or doesn't want to talk about it. Okaa-san and otou-san tried to talk to him but he wouldn't say what's wrong. That's why I came to you because we thought you might know," Kari explained as best she could. Kumiko knew perfectly well what was wrong with him and was shocked that he hadn't told anyone in his family that they had split up.
"Kari-chan, Kai and I aren't together right now. We're taking time apart from each other," Kumiko explained simply with a sad expression.
"Honto ne? Doushite? I thought you loved onii-chan," Kari questioned with sad eyes.
"I did and still do. We just needed some time apart to think about things," Kumiko explained again. "That's why I'm going away for a few weeks so I can think by myself."
"Nani?! So you're not gonna be here for Christmas?" Kari asked with a sad but shocked expression. Kumiko shook her head and tried to reassure the little girl by giving her a smile. "If I had known, then I could have given you your present but I don't have it with me."
"It's okay Kari-chan. I'll open it when I get back. In fact, that'll be the first thing I do when I get back no matter how tired I am," Kumiko assured with a soft smile.
"Pinky promise?" Kari asked, raising her right pinky to the older girl. Kumiko smiled a bit more brightly and clasped her right pinky to Kari's.
"Pinky promise."
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"Finally winter break!" Tyson exclaimed loudly. The large group agreed with him whole-heartedly, just not as enthusiastically. They were currently at the Winter Formal, all dressed up in formal attire of dresses and tuxes and wanting to spend the last few moments with their departing friend. The only one not with them was Kai who they assumed wouldn't attend because of recent incidents.
"Tell me about it! No school for three weeks!" Naomi happily said.
"The only downside is that Miko-chan won't be here with us," Mariah said with a small sad smile. Everyone's expressions seemed to go down hill at that statement.
"You guys shouldn't hold back because of me. Besides, Kimi-chan is in town and I invited her to come here. She should liven things up," Kumiko reasoned to the depressed group. They were surprised that the said girl was coming and got a bit excited as well.
"Haraguchi-san!" a voice called out to the said girl. Kumiko turned around to whoever called to her and saw that it was Fumiyo rushing toward her. She smiled excitedly when she arrived to the group. "Haraguchi-san, are you ready to perform your song with Hiwatari-san?"
"Ano... there might be a slight problem with that. You see Hiwatari-san isn't here as far as I know and won't exactly be here to perform with me," Kumiko explained with a slight sheepish expression.
"So you won't be singing tonight," Fumiyo replied with a disappointing look.
"I didn't say that. I don't think that having Hiwatari-san not here will be a problem. I can sing the whole song myself," Kumiko said trying to make the younger girl happy. She hated when people were sad or disappointed because of her and tried to make up for it as best she could.
"Honto ne? That's great! Then be ready to perform in about ten minutes. You can make your way toward the stage now," Fumiyo informed cheerily. Kumiko nodded and proceeded to follow the underclassman to the stage. Everyone else waited and had slight melancholic faces at hearing that she was supposed to sing with Kai. The sadness was short lived however when another figure approached the group.
"Why the long faces everyone?"
Everyone turned toward the new voice and was greeted by a girl who looked almost identical to the girl who just left. The only difference shown was that the girl had bright red eyes that shined with happiness and question toward the large group.
"Kimiko Kiriyama. So nice of you to join us," Hotaru greeted with a big smile.
"Oh cut the bullshit! You know you missed me!" Kimiko exclaimed to the group. Everyone broke out into laughter and quickly gave her a hug. When everyone was done, Kimiko looked around and found someone was missing. "Where's Miko-chan?"
"To cut a long story short, Miko-chan has to sing a song by herself because her ex-boyfriend thought she cheated on him," Mariah explained, still obviously angry with Kai of accusing Kumiko of such a thing.
"Nani?! Never mind. I'll get the whole story later. Right now we need to help Miko-chan. Tala go sing with her," Kimiko commanded with a flick of her wrist.
"Nani?! Why me?" Tala asked incredulously.
"Because you can sing and she shouldn't be up there by herself," Kimiko reasoned with an exasperated expression. "Now go." With that she shoved him off toward the stage and he reluctantly went.
Kumiko waited back stage with a microphone. She looked up when a voice called out her name. "Haraguchi-san, are you ready?" Fumiyo asked coming up to the older girl. Kumio gave her a soft smile and nodded. "Alright then. The stage is yours." Kumiko calmly walked out onto the stage and began her introduction. She didn't notice that someone else entered the back stage and grabbed a microphone as well.
"Konbanwa minna-san. You all probably heard all the rumors going around that I was to sing with Hiwatari-san this evening. Unfortunately there has been difficulties so I will sing the song myself," Kumiko concluded. She nodded toward the DJ and played the music. Before she could get out the first word, someone else beat her to it. She turned around in surprise when she recognized the voice.
(a/n: I usually don't do author notes but I had the feeling that you readers might need it. 'blah blah' -guy; 'blah blah' -girl 'blah blah' -together)
Just an ordinary day
Started out the same old way
But when I looked into your eyes
Right then I knew I found the one
The whole time Kumiko stared at the red head next to her. She gave him a questioning glance and he just gave her a boyish grin.
When I saw you smile at me
I felt the quivering through my knees
All along I knew someday
I'd give my heart to someone just like you
Kumiko returned a smile and understanding and gratitude flashed through her eyes. Tala's turquoise eyes softened in understanding as well. Unknown to the both of them, a pair of crimson red eyes were staring at the pair from a corner of the room.
Baby
Everyday it's always been the same thing
Til you came along
Now it's amazing
What a pleasant change
A thousand words I still can't explain
I'd never thought I'd be in love
In love like this
I'd never thought I'd be a fool
Just for one kiss
I'd never thought that I'd be here
With someone like you
Never thought that I would be in love
The way that I do
The song expressed how Kumiko felt the whole time she was with Kai. She had always believed that that kind of love was foolish especially in her lifestyle and didn't go out with anyone. However, when she saw everyone else together, she had this longing to have what they had. She had her chance with Kai but fate didn't seemed to not let her have it.
Baby
Everyday it's always been the same thing
Til you came along
Now it's amazing
What a pleasant change
A thousand words I still can't explain
I'd never thought I'd be in love
In love like this
I'd never thought I'd be a fool
Just for one kiss
I'd never thought that I'd be here
With someone like you
Never thought that I would be in love
The way that I do
He could tell that she was hurt. Her eyes told it all. He had the most incredible urge to go up onto the stage and embrace her, hoping that it would all go away. However, he couldn't because he was the cause of all the pain.
Here I am still around and wonder
How did I make it without you?
Like a fairytale that has just come true
I'm so in love with you
I'd never thought I'd be in love
In love like this
I'd never thought I'd be a fool
Just for one kiss
I'd never thought that I'd be here
With someone like you
Never thought that I would be in love
The way that I do
The way that I do...
The whole audience roared with cheers and applause and some even with tears in their eyes. Kumiko was on the verge of tears herself but held them in and gave a smile as she and Tala bowed and left the stage. They put their microphones down and soon Kumiko was in Tala's arms, tears streaming down her face. They stood that way for a good few minutes undisturbed until Kumiko broke away.
"I'll be leaving now. Tell the others for me?" Kumiko asked, a slight plea in her eyes. Tala nodded and hugged her again, mumbling a few words of encouragement. She gave him a soft smile and left through the back door. Tala sighed and made his way toward the others to tell them the news. They greeted him with praise of a job well done and asked him where their leader went.
"She wanted me to tell you all that she was leaving and she would see us after the holidays," Tala informed. Everyone besides the ones that knew when she would leave was surprised that she left so suddenly.
"That's not fair! She said she would meet up with me before she'd leave. Said there was someone she wanted to introduce me to," Kimiko said with a small pout. Everyone just shook their heads at her. They didn't notice the figure coming up to them.
"It could have been me," the person claimed from behind them. Everyone turned to see Kai standing there with an expressionless face but his eyes spoke for him.
"Guess we have some explaining to do then," Tala said and motioned for everyone to get ready to leave. No one complained and got ready to go, most likely to the Haraguchi mansion where neither father nor daughter would be.
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Kumiko stepped off the private jet and went inside the terminal to retrieve her luggage. She glanced around and saw some familiar faces. She smirked and sneaked up behind the two unsuspecting people. "Well if it isn't Shogo Kawada and Liika Low of Black Chaos," she greeted tauntingly. The two said people turned around the grinned at who they saw.
"Kumiko Haraguchi of the Dark Shadows," Shogo greeted tauntingly as well.
"You two need to stop trying to intimidate each other. You know it won't work."
The trio turned their heads to see who had spoken to them and grinned when they saw who it was. Kumiko was the one who greeted the newcomer. "And I see that Kanna Chan of the Red Dragons has graciously offered us a ride."
"Where are the Blue Pyros and the Night Raiders?" Shogo questioned while looking around for the said groups.
"The dumb fucks aren't gonna arrive until later. I'll explain while we get to the manor. Come on," Kanna briefly explained to the small group.
"Well, this will be an interesting meeting, especially when those two groups arrive and I'm not in a good mood," Kumiko remarked with anger and annoyance flashing in her eyes. The other three held no pity for the missing groups.
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Well that's it for this chapter. Hopefully I'll get the next one out soon. Give me some feedback and maybe I'll get the next chapter out sooner. Thanks for reading and leave a review.
Until then, Kurai hoshi