A/N Thanks for all the reviews! I'm so happy I got so many for the last chapter!
BTW, I have a Meteor Garden fan art on my deviant account if anyone's interested in looking at it. ffnet won't let me type it in, but it's KKTdotdeviantartdotcom
Random reader ( )- I'm sorry if you don't like the pairings, but it will probably stay this way unless I decide on a twist from the actual drama.
R&R please! I'll have more motivation to type more if I get more reviews
A few minutes later…
"An honored guest here! At my house! I can't believe it."
Kira's parents were all dressed up, with her mom in a red oriental styled dress, with the slit up the leg and her dad in a formal suit. They came out of the bedroom as though they were on stage and putting on a play. An embarrassed Kira looks at them staring at the floor as if hoping the floor would open up and swallow her whole. Tala, on the other hand, is looking at Kira's parents and then at Kira as though not sure what to make of the situation. Kira's parents were so thrilled that Tala was in their house that they were totally out of control and started dancing in front of them. Kira couldn't take it anymore and out of nowhere took out a long knife and held it to her own throat. Her parents quickly stop their dancing and stare at her as though she lost her mind, which she was probably close to.
"Stop right there." The shorter, older woman demanded, her eyes widening.
"Our daughter doesn't look to happy…" her dad commented, as Tala rolled his turquoise eyes. 'No shit…" Tala thought.
"Let's make tea." Mrs.Tagoshi suggested.
They both ran over to where Kira and Tala were standing standing.
Mrs. Tagoshi pours a glass of water and offers it to Tala. "Master Tala, please, have a drink." She insisted, as she and her husband wriggled their way in between Kira and Tala, pushing Kira to one side and the tended to the red head.
Her dad offers Tala a bowl of fruit. "Eat some fruit." He hands the fruit to his wife and reaches inside his pockets. "Sir Ivanov, this is my card."
Tala takes it casually and glances at it.
"We're so honored to could spare some of your precious time and visit our humble home!" Mrs. Tagoshi exclaimed with a huge grin on her face.
"Even though this is smaller than my fishpond at home, but it feels very comfortable." Tala commented genuinely.
"The fishes in your fishpond at home are all dead fish!" Kira retorted angrily, insulted by the fact that Tala openly insulted her home.
The older woman used an arm and pushes her daughter back.
"Kira." Mr. Tagoshi warned in a low tone.
"Eh, don't stand there. Sit… standing there would make your legs ache." The man Kira called "father" all these years urged, pushing Tala to sit on their beige couch.
Both of Kira's parents ended up kneeling on the floor in front of Tala as though they are the servants and are serving their master. " Your definitely worthy to be called Dimitri Ivanov's son. You're so different! We see your qualities and the brightness that your eyes are giving off – it's really the nobleness in the nobility. Your like the best within the best!" Kira's dad kept rambling, not noticing Tala's attention span was long spent. Kira started to walk away but her dad grabs hold off her arm to stop her from leaving.) "You know what? Looking at you, I think of England's Prince Charles! How would you like to stay for dinner and eat with us commoners?" Her dad kept rambling, despite the heated glare Kira was shooting the man she called father all these years.
"Why are you inviting him of all people to stay and have dinner with us?" Kira complained, yanking her arm out of her dad's loosened grasp.
"But…we can't... he can't…"Kira protested, looking at her mom for help.
"Right." Her mom said, as Kira let out a sigh of relief. "You shouldn't just stay for dinner, you should just spend the night here!" Her mom smiled sweetly. Kira's eyes widened exponentially.
"What! Mom! Are you crazy? You don't' ever know the guy that well." Kira screeched, not believing what she heard.
"Well, if he stays the night here, we'll all know him better!" Both of Kira's parents announced at once.
When dinner was ready, Tala walked to the kitchen with an angry Kira close behind him.
Why is this place so tine? Can people even live in a place like this?" he asked after observing the Tagoshi's kitchen, which wasn't all that bad, of course, unless you were looking at it from Tala's point of view.
"What exactly are you doing here anyways?" Kira asked, remembering her question from the start.
"I heard that you were sick so I came to see you. People say that only idiots would have colds in the summer, ok?" Tala answered irritably.
"Do you enjoy watching me suffer? Like that last time when you punched me?" Kira accused bitterly.
Suddenly, her mom pops out of nowhere and hits Kira over the head with a skillet causing a big banging sound.
"OW!" Kira complained holding her aching head.
Tala just stares at them with a bewildered look on his face, blinking his turquoise eyes.
"Tala, sir, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault – I didn't teach my daughter better. Please, I've prepared the dinner. Please come this way and sit down." Mrs.Tagoshi ushered Tala into their bright kitchen.
"Mom…you hit me with a skillet…" Kira accused glaring at her mother.
"Well, if I didn't' hit you with a skillet, what would I hit you with?" Her mother asked innocently, widening her identical crimson eyes at her daughter.
"But it's so oily" The black-haired girl complained.
"Think of it as a hair treatment!"
Sitting down at the table, Kira's dad quickly picks up his bowl and chopsticks. His wife quickly nudges him as if to tell him to mind his manners in front of the guest.
Her dad looks apologetically at Tala. "Tala sir, help yourself. We only have these dishes for dinner. And we don't' know if it will suit your taste…" He looked ashamed.
"Eh, what is this?" Tala asked, pointing to a dish of green leaves.
"It's ca… cabbage."
"Your mother probably wouldn't make this kind of food though." Kira's mother added quickly.
"Actually, we never go in our kitchen, our chef cooks all of our meals." Tala answered respectfully.
Kira stared in shock. Tala Ivanov being respectful? She wouldn't have believed it if she wasn't sitting right there.
Out of nowhere, a skillet flies out and hits Kira on her head with a loud bang again.
"OW!" Kira complained, holding her head in the same spot as last time, wondering what she did this time.
Kira's mom smiled sweetly. "Of course, your mother is a chairman's wife. Of course she won't need to cook dishes herself! She must tell the servants to take care of your nutrition, right?"
"No. You misunderstand. My mother isn't the chairman's wife. My mother is also a chairman." Kira's mother looks at Tala with even more awe, if possible. "Because she hardly is in the country, our home's servants are looked after by our butler."
"Does your home have someone who dismisses people?" Kira's dad asked. Tala smiled at him without answering. "In case there is a depression in the market. Work is so hard to find!" Both of Kira's parents start to laugh stupidly again.
"Let's start to eat." Tala proposed, picking up his chopsticks.
"We can eat? Good!" Kira's dad replied excitedly.
Kira's parents started eating very quickly and very sloppily as if they haven't eaten for a long time.
"Eat slowly." Kira's mother whispered angrily to her husband.
"Eat more, eat more." He urged to the redhead with his mouth stuffed.
"Don't be so polite." The older onyx haired woman urged, scooping up some soup and slurping it nosily.
Tala, on the other hand, ate very slowly and neatly with extremely nice manners.
Kira looks at Tala eating and then looks at her parents eating, thinking silently, 'Wow, his manners are so good. Sure enough, it's high class society's young gentleman.'
Tala finishes eating and slowly puts down his chopstick and bowl neatly.
"Thank you both for such a nice dinner. Even though it's smaller than my fishpond at home, the table here is not even half of my bathtub at home…" He addressed to Kira's parents.
"The different dishes of food is also 1/10 of what I have at home but it's really very delicious. Thank you." Kira's eyes widened exponentially for the 100th time that night. She couldn't believe THE Tala was actually thanking someone, let alone her parents.
"Eh, you're not eating anymore?" Mr.Tagoshi asked.
"Uh, no."
"Then… you are full?"
"Yes, yes." Tala nodded, his blood red bangs bouncing up and down.
"Then…"
'Wow! This guy's upbringing is really something! And his manners are just too good.' Kira thought to herself, staring intently at him.
She thinks back to the time when she confronted him in the field in school when Tala was playing soccer.
/ Flashback/
"Get away." Tala demanded, pushing her.
Kira stumbles back from the force of his strength and falls on her butt on the grass. Tala stops walking at looks down at her in surprise.
"You dare to treat a girl like this?" Kira screeched
"Serves you right! Who told you to hang out with that nerd! You guys just wait to die!" Tala yelled back.
/ End of flashback. /
Remembering that scene back in school, Kira glares at Tala again.
'I can't let him fool me. He's the biggest jackass that ever walked the face of the earth.' Kira thought, feeling a lot better after insulting the red head silently.
After dinner…
"You have to go home now? Kira! Hurry up and walk Master Tala outside." Kira's mother shouted sadly.
Slowly, Kira walks along the dark, narrow road that would lead to a busy street with Tala.
"Why did you deliberately come to my house? And pretend to show a face that everyone likes." Kira accused bitterly.
"Pretend? I didn't pretend. I really haven't eaten that type of food before. Moreover, it really was very good." Tala replied confused, his turquoise eyes widening in hurt? Confusion? Mockery? Kira couldn't tell. "Your family really warm. Every since my sister left, I've always been eating dinner alone at home." Tala continued.
'As expected, each family has their own problems. And there are even some things that even money can't buy, like a family's warmth.' Kira mused to herself.
"Are you going to Hawaii?" Tala asked turning around to face Kira.
"I don't have the money, so I obviously won't be going." Kira replied curtly.
Tala rolled his eyes. "That's why I hate poor people the most. They can't even take out a mere $5,000." His attitude went back to the annoying one Kira knew all to well. 'Too bad, I can actually tolerate the Tala just now…' Kira thought in annoyance.
"Hey!" Kira protested, snapping out of her thoughts.
"Forget it. I'll pay for you." Tala shrugged, as if it was nothing, which it probably was for him.
"Why do I want you to pay? Idiot! Anyways, I am going on a cruise around the island for three days. Daichi has made the arrangement with me."
"You are going with the twerp on a cruise?" Tala's bright turquoise eyes widened again, clearly in surprise this time.
"That's right. In fact, I'm really looking forward to it. This way, you go to Hawaii, I go to the cruise, and I won't have to look at your ugly face all week!" Kira said smugly. "Buh-bye!" Kira waved, with an innocent smile on her face as she walked away.
Kira turned around to find Tala still in the same place. "Hurry up and leave!" She urged.
She turned back and continues walking away. Tala looked at her for a while longer before turning and walking away in the opposite direction.
Back at the Ivanov mansion, Enrique and Johnny were sitting around in the living room.
"Enrique, you go tell the other people that we're not going to Hawaii." Tala commanded.
"Huh? What?" Enrique asked, getting off his cell phone.
"We're not going to Hawaii over spring break, that's way too old. Let the other students go." Tala repeated with exasperation.
"Then where are we going? To Antarctica to see penguins or to Iceland to see icebergs?" Johnny asked, equally annoyed, holding a hand over the phone he was just talking on.
It's a secret." Tala replied with a sly grin.
"Do you want us to tell Kai?" Enrique asked, knowing Tala and Kai still haven't made up.
"Tell whoever you want to come, I don't care. Anyways, I'm going to invite MingMing, so Kai's probably going to follow her." Tala answered casually.
"Then where exactly are we going?" Johnny asked again, even more irritated that he was being kept in the dark.
Tala picked up his glass of wine from the coffee table, the sly grin never leaving his face. "I'm bringing you guys to a place that is even more fun than Hawaii."
Johnny and Enrique both raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.
On the day of the cruise:
Kira ran towards to docks excitedly. "Wow! It's the sea! There are seagulls on that side too! This is so awesome!" Kira shouted, reminding Daichi of a four year old kid that was in a toyshop.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" Daichi asked with an equally big smile on his face.
"Of course! Ever since I went to Bakuten U., I had to live a life of war." Kira answered dramatically, holding out her fists like a boxer ready for a challenge "Everyday I have to be ready for a fight. And after a fight, I'm always too tired to even have some fun. But I'm very happy now! Even the wet, sticky ocean breeze feel comfortable!"
"Kira, look! It's the Norwegian Star Cruise Ship! We can go fishing in the night!" Daichi pointed.
"It's so high! How can we fish?" Kira gasped at the enormous ship.
"When we want to go fishing, we just have to tell the captain. And then tell the captain to lower the ship a little. Then that way we can fish. It's just that this is a bit dangerous."
"Are you lying?" Kira asked suspiciously.
"Hahaha, you can't even tell when I'm lying Kira?" Daichi burst out laughing.
"Your jokes are so awkward! But I am still very grateful that you brought me along. This is great!" Kira smiled hugging Daichi.
"I think Bakuten's students must have arrived in Hawaii already."
Kira nodded, already lost in her own thoughts. ' I wonder how Kai is right now. Is he still being ignored by Tala?'
While Kira stood there thinking about Kai, Daichi wandered away from Kira looking around as if searching for someone.
"Strange. Why hasn't Dad and them come yet?" Daichi wondered scratching his head.
Suddenly a person walked over to the edge of the ship and looked down at Daichi and Kira with his arms crossed, smiling triumphantly. Daichi and Kira both stared upwards trying to figure out who it is since the ship is so high, and the sun wasn't helping.
"Why does that person look so familiar?" Kira asked out loud.
"I think its Tala!" Daichi exclaimed, pointed to the twin spikes on the person's head.
"TALA?" Kira yelled, not believing her eyes, yet what other person would have that hairstyle besides him?
Suddenly, Enrique, Johnny, Mariah and Hilary join the now confirmed Tala.
"It's so hot!" Hilary complained fanning herself.
Johnny nudges Enrique's arm once he notices Kira standing below them.
"I agree with Hilary. Why did we even come to this hell hole?" Mariah asked Tala, latching on to his arm.
"Hey!" Enrique waved to Kira.
"Isn't that Kira?" Mariah asked, still latched onto Tala's arm.
"Why is she here?" Hilary asked, glaring down at her.
"Argh!" Mariah huffed, angry that once again, Kira was there to ruin her dream trip with B4. The pink-haired beauty couldn't even see what B4 saw in her; after all, she wasn't even remotely pretty, with waist length black hair that was streaked with pale red. And her eyes were of average size, with crimson orbs that were always glaring at something in Mariah's opinion. Worst off all, she was pretty flat, with barely any chest nor ass. Mariah thought smugly, because she knew that she was beautiful, though she would be stupid not to know, since she was asked by many advertising companies to model for them, though she refused, knowing how tough it would be. The only word Mariah could think that could sum up Kira's appearance was PLAIN. Mariah smirked, not like she was getting on the ship with them, so why worry right?
Mariah snapped out her thoughts as Tala yanked his arm away from her grasp, and noticed Kira was now glaring back at her with an equal amount of scorn.
Tala started walking away from the ship's balcony, going down the stairs to where Kira and Daichi were still standing on the docks.
"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in Hawaii?" she asked, emphasizing on "Hawaii".
"Once you've been to a place a couple hundred times, it gets a little boring. Besides, I thought we would have fun going against the rough ocean currents in this little boat." Tala replied smugly.
"Yeah, the currents here are so rough, especially when you're in a crappy little rowboat." Kira retorted sarcastically.
"You're lying! This ship was undoubtedly rented by my dad for a cruise around the island to go back to the countryside!" Daichi yelled.
"Your dad did rent this ship, but I have already BOUGHT it! It's mine, ok? Oh, I have to just casually tell you that your country people that were going back to the countryside with you already left with another ship I bought them. They were so happy that they totally forgot that you guys would be here. Oh yeah. If you guys aren't afraid of us, you can come on this ship as well." Tala finished with an enormous smirk on his handsome face, his eyes glittering gleefully.
"Who would want to get on your ship?" Kira asked spitefully.
At this moment, MingMing and Kai appeared behind them.
"Kira! You're here too? You just got to come on this cruise with us!" MingMing said, dragging a helpless Kira behind her.
"Um, actually, we're not going." Kira replied, trying to get out of MingMing's grasp.
Daichi nodded his head in agreement. Tala stopped at the plank to board the ship and looked back at them.
"Why? Anyways, didn't you guys originally plan on getting on the ship? Besides, we're going to have a party tonight. You guys are welcome to join us." MingMing urged.
Kira and Daichi look at each other and not sure what to do, not really wanting to refuse MingMing's invitation.
"Come with us." Kai said quietly from his spot in the shadows.
Kira looked up in surprise at Kai's invitation.
"Let's go." MingMing started whining, latching on to Kira's arm once again.
Tala smirked once he's made sure that MingMing dragged Kira onto the ship.
"You can't leave me all by myself!" Daichi cried out.
"Hold on a second. I'll be right back." Kira told MingMing before running off to Daichi's side again.
"Let's go. What are you standing here for?" Kira urged Daichi, pulling him along.
"I thought you don't want me anymore." Daichi pouted.
"Why would I not want you? Let's go!"
Finally, everyone got on the ship as it set sail into the horizon.
R&R please, I'll probably have the next chapter up by tonight at the earliest O and the updates will come more frequently since I'm on summer vacation now.
