AN: Hi Everyone! Thank you to everyone who reviewed my story! Thank you so much! Well I hope you all enjoy this next chappie!
Disclaimer: I own every single character and idea in this story. So please, no copying. Thank you!
--knock—knock—
"Mm hmm? W-Who's knocking…" mumbled Yori as she rubbed her eyes.
"Yori you up?" asked a voice.
"K-Kiyoshi? W-What are you doing up so early?" yawned Yori.
"Hey remember you asked me to help you on your project? Well, I changed my mind…-scratches head and blushes- I will help you." Smiled Kiyoshi.
"Really? Oh that will be wonderful! Thank you so much Kiyoshi!" bowed Yori.
"But I'm only going to help you pick something to paint. You are painting aren't you?" asked Kiyoshi.
"Yeah." Replied Yori delighted.
"Good. But…you'll have to pay a price." Snickered Kiyoshi.
"P-Price? Y-You mean I have to do something?" asked Yori confused.
" Yeah, you have to smile for me and wear a nice dress today." Smiled Kiyoshi pleased by what he did.
" W-What? I-I couldn't possibly…" started Yori shocked by her task.
"Come on. When I first took you out to the park you smiled for me and you didn't even know me." Winked Kiyoshi. "Besides, it's the only way to get me to help you" Yori blushed but forced a smile and that afternoon wore a short orange flower sundress while she talked with Kiyoshi about the project.
"All right so now try and find something you want to concentrate on. Close your eyes." Said Kiyoshi as he cupped her eyes from behind. "Done thinking yet?"
"Umm I don't think it's working." Said Yori.
"Hmm all right, how do you feel right now? Are there any hidden emotions deep inside of you? Any that you might want to express but just can't seem to?" asked Kiyoshi. "Close your eyes again and try to reach your inner emotions…"
"I-I feel them…I-I feel scared, confused, angry…and most of all sad…I-I can't stand these emotions Kiyoshi…H-how do I get rid of them? They're scaring me…They're dark and won't go away; the keep growing bigger and bigger. I'm scared…Kiyoshi…Kiyoshi?" said Yori.
"I'm right here Yori. Are you okay? W-What just happened?" asked Kiyoshi.
"—takes deep breaths—I-I don't know…I-I suddenly f-felt cold as ice…" said Yori.
"Maybe we shouldn't do that anymore…" said Kiyoshi. "Well, here this is the canvas and try to paint what you felt back there. Call me when you're done. I'll be in the living room snacking on shrimp chips." Smiled Kiyoshi.
"T-Thank you Kiyoshi." Bowed Yori.
"Sure thing." Replied Kiyoshi as he grabbed a bag of shrimp chips and plopped down on the sofa. "W-What happened back there…she was shaking uncontrollably and her skin felt cold for a second as if she had gone pale and was near death. I hope that doesn't happen again…" Yori sat outside on her wooden chair as she dabbed blue, gray, black, dark purple, and dark blue paint onto her pamphlet.
"Hmm…I guess I'll just let my hand guide me. That's what my mom always did." Thought Yori as she began painting. Hour's later Kiyoshi awoke from Yori's calling.
"…H-how did you come up with this? T-This is remarkable…I've never seen anyone paint like this…Yori…h-how did you-
" I just followed what my mom used to do." Smiled Yori. Kiyoshi only stared at her but then back at the painting and smiled.
"This painting is truly remarkable, the colors describe great emotion and fear. You're an artist all right. The judging is tomorrow so you better keep this safe until then." Smiled Kiyoshi as he handed Yori her painting. Kiyoshi was just about to walk back to his room when Yori called his name.
"Kiyoshi! Umm…Umm thank you. Thank you!" bowed Yori. Kiyoshi smiled and walked back inside.
--The day of the APETW convention—
"You kids ready?" asked Aunt Kura. "I can't believe the convention is today! I wish you two the best of luck, let me drop you guys off."
"Thank you Aunt Kura." Bowed Yori.
"Yeah thanks mom!" thanked Kiyoshi.
"Oh Yori stop bowing, you're family. I think of you as a daughter so you have no reason to bow." Smiled Aunt Kura as she hopped into the car. "Get in guys!"
"Hurry up Yori!" shouted Kiyoshi from the car.
"Don't rush her Kiyoshi!" silenced Aunt Kura.
"Oh I'm sorry! I'm coming!" replied Yori as she came into view and hopped into the car.
--At the Convention—
"All right. We have ten minutes until the judging begins. Both of you put your projects up for display." Said Aunt Kura. Yori gasped.
"I-I left it back at the house! Oh no! I better go back and get it-
"Y-You what?" Kiyoshi raised his voice.
"I-I'm sorry! I'll go back and get it right away!" started Yori as she was just about to head for the door when Kiyoshi blocked her with his arm.
"Forget it. I'll go get it, just stay here and if I'm late stall the judges." Said Kiyoshi
"N-No I couldn't possibly-
"Go just get my project ready. I'll go get it for you." Demanded Kiyoshi as he rushed out the door.
"I-I'm sorry Kiyoshi!" shouted Yori as Aunt Kura rushed her to Kiyoshi's project. "But Kiyoshi is running back all by himself! I can't just let him suffer for me!"
"Calm down Yori…everything will be okay. Kiyoshi will make it back in time. Just go wait patiently by his artwork okay?" comforted Aunt Kura.
"-sniff- okay…" replied Yori. "I'm such a klutz…I can't even remember to bring my own project to the convention."
"Hey J! Take a look at that piece of artwork. What do you think?" laughed an unusual voice. Yori couldn't quite figure out what they were saying because they were talking in Japanese.
"Yeah, it's cool all right, but still not as good as ours. Considering we're juniors already studying at APETW." Laughed the other one. But this one had a strange accent to his Japanese.
"They must be from APETW…" suddenly, Yori gasped. She took a closer look as the boy earlier with the accent slowly walked up to her.
"Hey there. I'm J it's nice to meet you. You have a wonderful piece of art displayed here." Smiled the student.
"T-Thank you…Umm…A-Are you by any chance…J-Jess?" asked Yori in English. She was so shocked. If this were truly Jess then…then that would mean she actually did get to see him again! This was her chance to tell him everything that has happened! The student's eyes widened.
"Y-Yori…I-Is that you?" said Jess stunned. He quickly embraced her in a tight hug and held her in his arms for a few seconds. She leaned her head on his shoulder as his arm pushed her body closer to his.
"I-I missed you Yori…" said Jess as tears began pouring out of Yori's eyes.
"Oh Jess! I have so much to tell you! I-I'm living here in Japan now with my aunt Kura and cousin. I missed you so much! All nine years I've been so miserable without you! I really missed you!" cried Yori.
"It's all right Yori. I'm here now so there's no need to cry." Replied Jess as he smelled Yori's luscious hair. Suddenly, a loud speaker turned on as the announcer announced the beginning of the judging. Yori gasped.
"Oh dear! Jess when will I see you again? I need to go the judging is beginning!" said Yori as she stared into his blue eyes.
"I-If you get accepted into APETW and I bet you will, I'll see you around school. But give me your address and I'll visit you sometime too." Said Jess. Yori quickly wrote down her street address, home phone and cell phone. Then she gave Jess one last hug and ran off to Kiyoshi's project display. When she got there, the judges were just about to judge it.
"Are you the artist who painted this piece?" asked one of the judges.
"N-No sir…the real artist went to get something for me that I left behind…Please, just wait a little longer. I'm sure he'll be soon. Please!" begged Yori.
"I'm sorry young lady but if he-
"I'm here! Please! Don't disqualify me or her!" shouted Kiyoshi sweating as he set Yori's project onto the stand then walked over to his. This is my project, its called "Pond of Memories"." Said Kiyoshi. The judges looked at it, smelled it, touched it, and jotted down notes. Only one made a comment.
"This art piece is beautiful! That girl in the back ground…you can't see her face as if she's hidden…yet she's sitting right by the what I assume "the Pond of memories". Marvelous job!" complimented one of the judges.
"Thank you." Replied Kiyoshi.
"So young lady, let's say we look at yours now." Said a Judge.
"Oh! Yes! Of course! I-It's called "Tear's of Led"." Smiled Yori. The judge grunted and felt the texture, smelled it, and jotted down notes. Two judges commented.
"Your art work is so emotional! I love it, it really strikes me in the heart." Exclaimed one Judge.
"Yes, I agree. Your artwork is splendid! The choice of colors couldn't be better. From this art piece you can immediately tell how dark it is and that it is full of deep dark feelings. Wonderfully painted!" exclaimed the second judge. Yori blushed at their comments. Kiyoshi only smiled but didn't dare look at Yori when the judges were complimenting her piece.
--After APETW Convention—
"So they have to keep the art work until the acceptance letters are sent out?" asked Yori.
"…" Kiyoshi didn't say a word. Aunt Kura stared at him but then answered instead.
"Yes dear, that's how it always is." Replied Aunt Kura. The silence was killing her but she knew better than to lighten up the mood when Kiyoshi was in his bad mood. This happened last time too…when Rinu, his old crush left his school and went to study at APETW…Yori couldn't take any more of this heavy feeling in the air and spoke up.
"Umm thank you Aunt Kura for taking us all the way to the convention. Umm Kiyoshi…I'm really sorry that you had to run all the way home just to get my project. I'm really sorry so if you're mad at me because of that, please forgive me!" bowed Yori. Aunt Kura only chuckled and Kiyoshi only glanced at her for a second or two and then blushed,
"I-I'm not mad at you…I'm sorry if I might look like I am but I'm not. So stop worrying okay? I wanted to go and get your project; I didn't want you to be disqualified though it would've been better if you just brought it in the first place…" mumbled Kiyoshi.
"See! You are mad at me! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" shouted Yori.
"Hey calm down! I said it was okay! Stop it before you hurt yourself…" blushed Kiyoshi. Yori chuckled as the three of them drove home together in the car.
--That night—
"What's wrong with me…today I was an apologizing maniac…I feel so useless and clumsy too… Today I was able to see Jess again! Oh he looks so different! Just seeing him made my heart leap with joy. I really did miss him, all that time when I was picked on at my old school… –Sighs- Kiyoshi must hate me now and I can't sleep, again! I hate jet lag! I still have it… I have to see whether he hates me or not. I'm going to go to his room." Thought Yori.
-Tiptoes to Kiyoshi's room-
"'K-Kiyoshi…are you up?" Yori tried to ask.
"Yeah. I see that you've stopped lingering around my door like you always do." Chuckled Kiyoshi. "That's good, it means you're starting to trust me." Yori blushed.
"Uh- Umm…well…I uh…was just wondering if you hate me…" asked Yori with as much courage as she could.
"Hate you? Why would I hate you?" Chuckled Kiyoshi.
" B-because today after the convention you barely talked to Aunt Kura nor to me…so I was worried that you might have been angry with me." Exclaimed Yori.
"…I-I wasn't angry with you…to tell you the truth I was just disappointed that only one judge complimented mine and jealous that two complimented yours. I-I'm sorry…acting jealous was stupid of me," Apologized Kiyoshi. Yori smiled and only patted him on the back.
"I understand. You were angry that because two judges complimented my artwork and only one complimented yours, that it would effect who might get accepted. You think that you're not going to get into APETW anymore, you're losing your hope." Said Yori. Kiyoshi was shocked by what she said. How did she find out? Could she read him? Could she look deep inside of his heart?
"H-How…" started Kiyoshi.
"I guessed." Smiled Yori. Kiyoshi practically fell off his bed when she answered.
"Y-you guessed? Great now I feel like an idiot…" mumbled Kiyoshi. Yori chuckled and they spent the rest of the night talking and laughing together.
AN: So how was the third chappie everyone? I hope you all enjoyed it! Please remember to please review! I'd really appreciate it. Thank you all for reading "Tear's of Led"!