Thanks to everyone that reviewed! I hope you like this chapter! Since you all asked for it! 27 pages! R&R please.
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A tired Kira is walking alone down the dark road heading towards home.
"Today was a great day at work, though from all the commotion I'm feeling really tired.' She thought as she's walking.
She then notice the presence of someone standing in the road in front of her, she stops and looks up. To her surprise, she finds Tala smiling happily and standing there looking at her. Kira stares in shock at the smiling Tala before she smiled happily also.
Meanwhile, Johnny is working out at the gym, Kai was practicing the violin at school, and Enrique was walking towards his car with a coke in his hand. At this time, B3 simultaneously receives a message on their cell phones.
Johnny glanced in annoyance putted down the weights and picked up the phone.
On the phone he found an instant message:
That stupid bastard has lost his mind and returned to Taiwan. How am I related to him? -Kateena
After reading the message, a smiling Kai puts the cell phone back on the music rack and continues to play his violin.
Johnny chuckled and phoned Kai "Got Kateena's message?"
"Hn" Kai's voice was heard.
"Well? Let's go to Tala's house. Enrique is already on his way over there. Ok, see you in a bit. Bye."
Back over at the dark road toward Kira's home…
" Didn't you go to New York?" Kira couldn't keep her smile in.
"I did go. But… now I'm back again."
"Didn't you say you were going for two years? Why did you come back after 2 days?" Kira asked him.
"I.I.I…love…I love Taiwan that's why." Tala changed his mind of what to say in the last minute.
Kira smiled amusingly "You love Taiwan? Did you think you were running for office? Idiot. How did you know that I've moved here? Forget I asked. Anyway, you must have your ways. What are you doing?" She asked as Tala was on both of his knees head facing down and a hand on his head.
"I just got to New York yesterday and then I was busy with the flight back here. I was in air for more than 30 hours. I'm feeling like shit right now" He slowly stood up massaging his aching temple.
"You ok?" Kira asked in a more concerned voice then she intended to.
"I have a major headache. Maybe it's because I was on the plane for too long. I feel like I'm about to explode." He rubbed his forehead and then put his other hand on his temple.
'It's no wonder he is feeling so bad. He didn't even have a chance to rest. And was on a plane continuously for so many hours. What an idiot.' Kira thought
"You are really useless. Get up."
"What do you mean I'm useless? More than 30 hours of being on a plane. You try it." Tala shouted.
Kira's mom walks out of the doorway at this moment.
"Who told you to act crazy, wanting to go over and then wanting to come back at the same time!" Kira yelled.
Tala glanced at her in annoyance "What do you mean I'm crazy!"
"Oh my God, Tala Master is that you" Mrs. Tagoshi suddenly rushed out and shouted excitedly. Did you walk Kira home today?"
"Ma, that's not it."
"No, I just took a plane back. So I'm feeling a bit of jetlag…"
"You took a plane! It's such a small distance and you still have to take a plane? Until now, Auntie still hasn't taken a plane yet! Come, come. Come to our house to rest since you are not feeling well." Mrs. Tagoshi yelled excitedly, obviously not knowing that Tala just flown over from New York.
"Ma, there's no need!" Kira protested.
" It's not a problem at all! Our house is only down the road. Come and rest." Her Mom pulled on Tala's arm and pulled him towards their house.
"Mom!"
"Hurry up and come!"
Inside the house, Mr. Tagoshi is sitting by the table and reading a newspaper and eating cookies.
"We just moved here not long ago. The place is kind of small." Mrs. Tagoshi smiled and leaded Tala in the house.
Mr. Tagoshi looked up to see his wife. 'Crap' he thought and stuffed more cookies in his mouth before his wife came scowling.
"You are secretly eating again! Tala Master has come! Hurry up and clean up!" His wife shook a finger at him.
He quickly covered the cookie box with a newspaper and stuffed it under the table.
"Why is this place so… small?" Tala said as he looked around.
"Shut up! You're lucky that there is a place for you to rest! You are still so…" Kira replied getting ticked off at the insult.
"Sorry… Sorry, Tala master. In a little bit, we will prepare a very comfortable place for you to rest." Mrs. Tagoshi whacked Kira on the head to shut her up.
"Right, right, right." MR. Tagoshi spoke with a mouth full of cookies.
The bedding is placed in a corner of the room with two pillows right next to each other.
"What is this suppose to mean?" Kira looked suspiciously at her mom.
"This place is for you guys to rest. Come, come, come " She gave a smile and pushed both Tala and Kira on the bedding.
"For tonight, this place is for the two of you to sleep. Your Mom and I will sleep out on the balcony."
"What is wrong with you two! The balcony is so tiny, how can you sleep there!"
"Oh, it's possible! We've set the bedding already!"
"It's very nice! It's very comfortable!"
"Right. I haven't slept like this for a long time. Just be attentive and accompany Tala." Her mom winked and tried to close the door but Kira put her hands in between and forced it open.
"You want me to accompany him! What's wrong with you guys!"
"Just take good care of him!" Both her Mom and Dad start to push on the door.
The door shut despite Kira's resistance to it.
"Open the door! Dad! Mom! What are you guys doing! Dad ! Mom! You guys come out!"
"Kira Don't worry! Just pretend that we're not here!" Here dad yelled through the door.
"We will definitely not bother you guys!"
"What the hell are you guys doing?" Kira yelled
An annoyed Kira walks back over to where Tala is sitting.
"If you want to sleep, then sleep by yourself!"
She pulls a blanket away and places it next to the bedding that Mom and Dad made before. After spreading it out, she kneels down on it while Tala is sitting there remembering Kai's words to him at the airport.
/ Flashback. /
"I think the one she likes is you."
/ End of flashback. /
Tala smiles sweetly to himself as he thinks back to that phrase. Feeling content, he pulls the blanket over himself and lies down on the bedding with his back facing Kira. She looks at his back and then turns away.
"Eh."
"What?" Kira looked at him.
"How did you feel when I left." Tala shyly asked, though grinning a little.
"What?"
"Were you feeling peaceful? Or feeling a bit lonely?"
Kira didn't know what to say so she just bit her lip and looked at him curiously.
"Forget it. Anyway, I don't care what you think. Hurry up and go to sleep."
He fixes his blanket and lies back down on the bedding. Tala closes his eyes and sleeps with a small happy smile on his face.
Meanwhile, B3 are waiting for Tala at the Ivanov mansion. Johnny and Enrique are playing chess on the table.
"What the hell do you guys think that Tala, this idiot, is doing? Butler Lau said that he went to the airport to pick him up and in the end, all he picked up was the luggage. This guy! The first day that he came back and he didn't get in contact with us. Where exactly do you guys think that he has gone off to?" Enrique complained.
"How the heck should I know? If it were you, then it would have been very easy to guess. If you weren't looking for your guy friends, then you would definitely be off to find some pretty girls." Johnny smirked as he moved his pawn.
"But Tala's an idiot. He doesn't know what he's doing. And to think that the minute we got Kateena's message, we ran over here to gather together. Who knew that this fellow still hasn't even shown up all night!"
"Kai, what do you think?" He glanced over to ask Kai, who's staring blankly out the window with a drink in his hand.
"Maybe, he went to look for the person whom he thinks is the most important."
Johnny gave a smirk "Then who's the most important person? Because I thought it was us?""
Kai looks over at them.
"Do you still need to ask?" Enrique moved his horse.
Johnny laughed and was moving his knight while Kai just stared out the window with a smirk on his face.
The next morning, since Tala didn't have any change of clothing with him, he was forced to wear Kira's dad's clothes.
"Um, why are your Dad's pants so short?" Tala stood uncomfortably since Mr. Tagoshi was a good half a head shorter than him.
Kira looked at him in annoyance. "Short? Then wear your own clothes!"
"Wearing the same outfit for two days in a row is wrong."
"That's why I gave you my Dad's clothes to wear! And you are still so picky!"
"The problem is, dressing like this is so ugly!" Tala tried to lower the pant a little so they at least cover his ankle. Tala signed before letting his pants sag against his hips and used the over large shirt to cover up his boxers.
"Can't you just pretend that they are Capris's or something!"
Tala looks down at the pants, since right now they cover up his shoes, but he's going to have a little problem walking. He smirked and put a hand on the wall and leaned against it and boast. "Actually, I look very hot like this."
"Birdbrain. Arrogant head. I can't stand you! Wear your own clothes! Give me back my Dad's clothes."
"Eh, woman! Why are you so annoying! I'm a guy with size!" Tala walked over with out bending his legs in fear that the pants will fall down.
Just then Kira's parents slowly open the balcony door and peak out.
"It's sense!" Kira corrected. "Argh, you're pants on below you mid hips, how are you going to walk like this? Why do you guys wear your pants so low?"
"I said size on purpose, to see if you notice or not. Besides, sagging my pants just shows that I have a nice ass." Tala smirked arrogantly at her.
Kira screamed in frustration and whacked Tala on the head before walking to the other side of the room.
"They're arguing over something this little?"
"It's hard to distinguish whether it was little or not and not something that should be argued over."
"That… What are you talking about!"
"No. What I meant is that hitting means feeling and arguing means loving. The more that they argue with each other, that just proves how much they love each other!"
"Is that the case?"
"Right!"
"Hey." Mr. Tagoshi smiled and her wife
"Hmm?"
"Then you must love me very much! From the moment that we married, until now, it's been so many years, you yell at me everyday during the three meals! In the evening, you also yell when I have a snack! Can you not love me this much, ok! You are making me so stressed!"
"You should stop thinking so much! I'm yelling at you because you deserved to be yelled at! I won't be able to stop yelling at you for the rest of your life! That has nothing to do with loving or not loving!"
"Nothing to do with?"
"Exactly!" Mrs. Tagoshi scoffed.
"Fine, hurry up! We're going to be late for class!"
"If we're late, then we're late. What's the problem with that?" Tala ended up back in his own clothes, due to the fact that he'll have to walk with his knees straight for the whole day and he'll have to hold up his pants al the time.
"You're Tala Ivanov. The school is opened by your family so of course, you won't have a problem! I'm not the same as you! Mom, Dad! We're going off to class."
Sounds of loud snoring come through the balcony door.
"Still in such a deep sleep. Hurry up and go!" She yelled at the red head while picking up her bag.
Tala and Kira walk the door and leaves.
"Eh, hurry out." Mr. Tagoshi crawls out and Mrs. Tagoshi followed.
Her mom crawls over to the shelf and grabs a pink piece of paper and brings it back to the table where Dad is waiting. They are both very excited and very happy as they look at the pink piece of paper.
"Come! Look! The phoenix's rate of progress report! We are progressing very smoothly!"
"Not only that! But we are skipping up the report too!"
"Wow! Our daughter can join the Olympics!"
"She can do the long jump!"
Mom and Dad are laughing happily.
"That's so great! That guy slept with our daughter last night!"
"He slept in our home! Not slept with our daughter!" Mr. Tagoshi hit him on the head.
"Almost the same, almost the same. Can't imagine that we are like! We're going to marry off our daughter!"
"This is so great!"
"We're going to have a happy event!"
"Then I have to get ready to cry." Kira's mother realized.
"Why do you have to cry?"
"Because when one marries off their daughter, they have to cry. That way the scene would be more touching. My daughter! I don't want it!"
"Ok, wife. Don't cry anymore!"
"I'm going to be someone's mother-in-law!"
"If you are crying like this, then I would not be able to bear it! We only have this one precious daughter! Can't imagine that I'm going to be someone's father-in-law!"
"Can't imagine that we are going to become rich people!"
Dad and Mom are crying and laughing like lunatics at the same time.
Meanwhile, Tala made Kira to go along to a men's clothing store to buy some clothes.
"Mr. Ivanov. Welcome" The saleslady spoke as Tala arrived, recognizing him immediately.
"We have class in the morning. Why are you buying clothes for?" Kira protested as she tried to loosen Tala's grip on her arm.
"Do you have any new shipments yet? I want to wear it immediately and leave." Tala ignored her and pulled her in the store.
"Of course we have. Please come to this side."
They follow the salesgirl over to a rack of clothing.
"If there's any that makes me look hot, tell me." Tala told her.
"What? Why do you need me to help you choose?"
"How's this one? This is the newest style from Paris, France. You can try it and see." The saleslady held up a plain white t-shirt.
"I'm going to try it on." Tala told her before leaving.
He walks away toward the fitting room leaving Kira wondering around the shop.
"These clothes look pretty expensive." She mused.
She pulls off a polo shirt from the rack and looks at the price tag.
"$5,800! This kind of T-shirt costs $5,800? Our family can use that money for 2 months. That's so ridiculous! Spend it on clothes! So wasteful!" Kira shouted out in horror.
Tala then comes out of the dressing room, in the white t-shirt and baggy gray pants.
"It looks very nice! This shirt is really suitable for you!"
Kira turns her gaze over at the salesgirl's voice and looks Tala up and down.
"How does this look?" Tala asked her spreading out his arms.
'Not fair. He actually looks hot wearing that. The white shirt brings out his body nicely. I can't say that, that'll just encourages him.' Kira thought sweetly to her self.
"You look very weird wearing that." She spoke to him.
"Really?" Tala glanced at his feet feeling deeply affected by Kira's words.
He cleared his throat and goes back into the dressing room. A few minutes later, he comes out wearing a red button up shirt, followed with a pair of black pants.
"Then how about this one? This set costs about $12,000." The saleslady told her.
"How's this set?" Tala putted his hand in his pocket and asked.
"Very suitable for you. Makes you looks exactly like an idiot!"
Tala looks down with an unsure expression again and walks back into the dressing room.
Tala then came out wearing a black muscle shirt.
"What about this set?" he asked.
"This set only costs $16,000." The saleslady informed him.
"Its so ugly" Kira commented. 'Damn, why the hell do you have to look so hot.'
"Despicable!" Tala growled.
He turns and stomps into the dressing room in anger.
'Why does he look so good in each of the sets of mad expensive clothing? Why does he seem to care so much about what I think?' Kira asked herself, though unable to answer it.
Tala finally came out wearing a white button up shirt with the top two button's left open, revealing a firm, muscular chest. "What about this one? This shouldn't be too bad."
"Oh… I think that the previous set looks better."' This one doesn't show off your body as much'
"Are you playing around with me!" Tala growled giving her a glare, though it no longer contained the former malice and hate.
Kira doesn't answer and just looks away with a slight smile on her lips.
After buying the clothes, they go off to school.
B3 is standing in the hallway waiting for Tala to show up.
"I told you. He won't be able to hold on for long. Just didn't think that it would be this fast!" Johnny smirked.
"He must have really missed us badly!"
"Give me a break! I was just afraid that when I wasn't here then you guys would be death to bored. So that's why I came back." Tala walked over wearing the black muscle shirt.
Everybody smiles at his mixed up idioms.
"It should be bored to death! Before you go to New York to study your English, shouldn't you come to Taiwan and learn your Chinese first?" Enrique teased.
"Tell us. Where did you run off to last night? We were at your home all night last night. You just came back to the country but didn't return home – where exactly did you run off to?" Johnny poked a finger at Tala.
"What are you doing back here? Kira why are you together with him?" A very confused Daichi showed up.
"You bastard, listen carefully to what I have to say. I slept in Kira's home last night." Tala told the shorter red head smugly rubbing it in his face.
Daichi's mouth drops open and stares at Tala with eyes as wide as saucers.
"You slept at her house!" Johnny yelled smirking.
"Stop saying shit! Last night it was because you were jet lagged…besides, he was changing flights so much that…" Kira started to explain.
Tala made a face and covered her mouth to stop her from explaining and continued back to taut Daichi. "You know, her sleeping face is really ugly." Tala teased, enjoying the horrifying expression on Daichi's face.
B2 are laughing their head off, even Kai shows a hint of amusement in his face as Daichi's jaw dropped open and his face was turning red.
"You idiot, what are you talking about?" Kira broke free of Tala's grip and shouted.
"Kira. He's lying right, he didn't really sleep at your house did he?" Daichi grabbed her arm and pleaded.
Kira looked at Tala and admitted it. "He really did sleep in my home yesterday."
Kai had a grin on his face as she watched Kira's face go red.
"IT CAN'T BE! You must be joking!"
Tala smirked at Daichi and gave a smile to the equally amused Kai.
"Listen to my explanations!" Kira shook Daichi to get her out of his shock.
"It can't be! How can it be like this!" Daichi wailed.
Kai noticed Tala's smiled and looked at him.
"Daichi! Calm down a bit! I told you he had jet lagged! He ran over to my home by himself last night! My mom told him to stay! He's the one that didn't mind being embarrassed! That's how it was!" Kira explained to the guy before he went into cardiac arrest.
Tala then slowly walked over to Kai "How should I say this? Even though I have forced you to quit school before and also hurt you, but you shouldn't have waited until the very last minute to tell me this stuff! That was mean!" Tala told him in a childish manner.
"Did you think that you are the only one that knows how to play tricks, and taunts people?" Kai gave a smirk
Tala poked Kai in the chest. "All right, you win this time, but I am the king of this game"
"Then this problem has been solved?" Enrique walked up and put one arm on Tala's shoulder and one arm on Kai's.
"B4 is the same as before now. Let's go. Time for class." Johnny added from the sidelines.
"Kira, I'm going to class now." Tala told her.
"Idiot, don't go looking for Kira anymore." Enrique added.
Daichi continues to wail loudly.
"Stop crying already! Are you crazy! What are you crying for? Time for class… Hurry up!" Kira scowled.
'I know that there are a lot of feelings that are hidden in the memories forever.' Kira thought to her self as she walked away dragging Daichi with her.
Later that afternoon, Kai goes to the music room and starts playing his violin. As he is playing, he starts thinking about Kira
/ Flashback/
"All my head thinks about is you. I tired not to, I tried to forget you, but all I have always wondered was why can't you get happiness?" Kira cried softly.
"Even I, have someone that I would want to protect." Kai patter Kira on the head.
"Kai…"
With tears rolling down his face, Kai pulls Kira to him and kisses her on her forehead and then slowly turns to kissing her on her lips. Pulling away from the kiss, Kai wraps his arms tightly around Kira as though afraid that she would leave him too.
/ End of flashback. /
'What am I thinking about… …'
Kira returns home and walks through the door.
"I'm back."
She looks up to find the room in total disarray and Mom and Dad are both sitting against the wall.
"Ma, what has happened to the house?" Ma, what exactly happened?"
"Your dad borrowed $1,000,000 from the loan shark."
"One million dollars!" Kira cried out in surprise.
"Moreover, he took all the money to buy lottery and lost it all!" Mrs. Tagoshi cried.
"Dad? Is it true?"
"I thought I was going to win. And anyway, I was thinking that you were going to marry into a rich family soon. So I'll just borrow some money first… that wouldn't be a problem. Didn't think that my luck was this bad! Didn't even win once. Lost everything."
"Dad, you are too much! Why did you do that?" Kira asked in horror.
"Let's get a divorce. I'll take care of Kira." Mrs. Tagoshi told his husband.
"Mom!" Kira shouted.
"I can't take it anymore. I can't take it anymore. Forget about the three of us living in this run down room. I have to pretend to be so lovable to help take care of the little kids so that we can earn some money. And now we have a debt of one million dollars! I can't take it anymore! I can't take it anymore! Do you want to kill us all?" She grabbed her husband's shirt and shook him roughly, going hysterical.
Kira rushes over and tries to pull the hysterical Mom away.
"I… I didn't do it on purpose. I didn't do it on purpose." Her dad wailed.
"Ma, calm down a bit! Don't be moving around like this. Ma!"
"I'm wrong… I'm wrong." Her dad muttered over and over.
Mom starts wailing loudly.
"Ma!"
"I don't want it to be like this either! The loan shark's interest would suffocate us all to death! And then… then the mob would come to our house! Then we would all have to kill ourselves!"
"Kira, it's all Dad's fault. I'm the one that has let you down. Your mom is right… then… then… let us get a divorce."
"Dad!" Kira shouted. 'This is bad.'
"Don't let me, someone who is so useless, bring the whole family down."
Dad starts crying too.
"It's not true. … I didn't mean what I said, sorry!" Mrs. Tagoshi reached out and hugged her husband.
'I will definitely think of a way to get this one million dollars! Even if it's to pay with my pride, I will definitely think of a way!' Kira thought.
That night, Kira found herself walking towards the Ivanov mansion.
"Miss. Tagoshi" A maid walked up with a glass full of juice and offered it to her.
"Thank you."
"It's so late, why did you come over for?" Tala appeared shirtless wearing only a pair of baggy plaid PJ's. bottoms that accentuated his lean upper body even more.
"I don't need it. Thank you." Kira blushed at the site and handed the glass back to the maid. 'Damn, why did he have to look so hot' She thought trying to hide her blush.
The maid turns and walks away with the glass.
"What's wrong?" Tala asked in concern, noticing Kira's state of slight disarray and faint tear trails.
"Sorry I came so late to bother you. There's something that I need to ask you. Can you please lend me one million dollars? My dad borrowed one million dollars from the bank. I can't return that money. Our family doesn't have that kind of money. If it continues on like this, then our whole family would be in big trouble." Kira looked at her feet trying to hide her blushing red face.
"I told you, I can't stand poor people." Tala smirked and stared at her face, knowing that she was blushing and for a fact that she liked what she saw.
"I… Even though I'm poor, I didn't want to come and ask you for money! But I really have no other roads that I can take now. Moreover, I…" Kira sadly told him sniffing a little.
Tala looked at her sad face and felt his heart crumple. "I'll lend you the money." He interrupted her sniffling walking over to her.
"Really?" Kira looked up with a big smile on her face.
Tala smiled back and nodded his head.
"You'll willing to lend me one million dollars?" Kira said in surprise.
Tala walked to get a checkbook and writes out a check to her.
"Thank you. This money… even though I can't return it back to you immediately, but no matter how many years it takes, I will slowly return the money to you." Kira took the check and thanked him.
"There's a way where you don't have to return the money to me." Tala replied knowing that she'll probably never be able to return that much money.
Kira's eyes widened. "A way that I don't need to return the money! I really don't need to return the money!"
"Anyway, your family doesn't have any expensive things that you can deposit."
"It's mortgage." Kira corrected.
Tala shrugged it off "Same thing."
"You said there's a way that I don't have to return the money before. Then what way is that? I'm willing to do it. Hurry up and tell me."
"This Saturday, 1 o'clock, wait for me at the corner of your home. At that time, you'll know."
"Huh?"
"Enough, don't say anymore. Hurry up and go back."
He turns her around and pushes her toward the door.
"But…"
"Enough, hurry up and go back. I'll tell Butler Lau to send you back home."
Kira looked at Tala.
"Hurry up and go." Tala urged.
"Bye." Kira bowed and ran off.
Tala flopped down on the couch and smiled happily to himself.
Kira wondered and blushed again as she remembered Tala's state of dress.
The next day B4 is wondering in the Art Gallery.
"Enrique? Did you change to a new girlfriend recently again?" Johnny teased.
"Oh please! Is it news that I'm changing girlfriends? If I'm not changing, then that would be news!" Enrique stuck out his tongue like a child.
"True. But truthfully, why did you bring us all here to look at this art gallery?"
"Because this girlfriend that I recently meet is studying art. So that's why I wanted to come to see this art gallery and find something that I can talk to her about."
"There's something different about Tala today. He came to this kind of place, not only doesn't he think that it's ridiculous, but it seems to me that he's even very happy, and he hasn't complained once." Johnny pointed at the smiling Tala.
"Tala, it seems to me that you are very happy today. Coming here to look at this art gallery, don't you feel that it's boring?"
"Of course not. I'm someone with size… with sense! Why would I feel that it's boring?"
"Not bad. At least you remember that it's sense." Enrique praised.
"I know a lot of stuff now. My English terminals are of course improving." Tala boasted.
"It's English terminology. You spoke way too soon." Johnny told Enrique and the silent Kai.
"Did I ask for your opinion!" Tala looked annoyed at the fact that he was being made fun of.
Kai holds his thumb upright and then turns it downward.
"Kai! You don't care bout other peoples business so stay out of this." Tala shouted in a joking manner.
Enrique and Johnny couldn't help laughing at the ticked off Tala.
"You're just jealous of me!" Tala stared at the amused Kai.
"Kai is jealous of you? Why would you say that? Are you on crack?" Johnny laughed.
"Hn, why the hell would I be jealous of you. I got everything you have, plus I'm a lot hotter." Kai grinned and gave a laughing look at Tala.
"Yeah right! Anyway, you guys won't understand. Saturday is almost here, so I'm extra happy today." Tala brushed the statement off.
Saturday arrives and Kira is getting ready to leave the house to meet Tala when there was a knock on the door.
Kira wondered who that could be. She opened the door "Mrs. Kitsune?"
"Hello Kira, Is your mom here?"
"My mom? She went out."
Mrs. Kitsune walks in the room followed by a short boy about 7 or 8, with shaggy orange hair that covered his eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"I have something urgent to take care of and I wanted your mom to help me take care of Shippo for a day. What to do now? Kira, then do you have time today?"
"Me?"
"I have something to take care of at home. Can you help me take care of Shippo for a bit? I'll still pay you."
"But I…"
"Oh, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. If you can't, then that's ok. Then we'll leave now. Shippo, then can you stay at home by yourself today? There's food in the refrigerator. Just put it in the microwave for a bit and then you could eat. Do you know?"
"Mrs. Kitsune. I was just going out today. I can bring Shippo with me."
"Really? Thank you, Kira. Shippo, then you have to be good. You have to listen to Kira. I'm sorry if I ruined your plans Kira." The woman apologized.
"Not at all."
While Shippos' Mom leaves Kira gave a smile to the little boy.
Suddenly, Kira's cell phone starts to ring.
"Hello, I'll be right there. What to do? This is the only way then. Let's go." She grabbed Shippo's hand and walked out the door.
Tala waited impatiently for Kira.
"Sorry, I'm late." She apologized.
"Why are you so slow? Each time we go on a date, you are late." Tala complained.
"Date? What date? Weren't you just going to tell me a way that I don't have to return the money?"
"Stupid! The way that you don't have to return the money is to accompany me for one day." Tala smiled shyly.
Kira asked in confusion "What? What are you talking about?"
"Hey, Kira, is this your job? To keep people company?" Shippo suddenly appeared from behind Kira.
"Who's this twerp?" Tala's eyes widen as he see the orange haired boy popped up form behind Kira.
"What twerp? Do you have no manners! I'm called Shippo. You're the twerp!" Shippo bravely yelled and kicked Tala on the shin.
Tala winced and glared at the boy.
Kira realized that Tala had a murderous look on his eyes and quickly pulled Shippo back behind her. "He's my neighbor's child. My mom is working as a childcare worker now to earn money. But she has something to do today and went out. So I have to help out and take care of him for one day."
'Kira! Why did you have to bring him!' Tala angrily thought.
"Kira! I think that this old man has issues!" Shippo pointed at the red head conspicuously.
"Old man! You're calling me old man! Who are you calling? You twerp! Who's an old man?" Tala took a step towards Shippo.
Shippo who wasn't at all scared of Tala said, "What are you shouting for"
"WHO'S SHOUTING!"
"Will you two just calm down?" Kira butted in.
"Quiet! When men is arguing, women should not butt in!" Both Tala and Shippo yelled at her.
They both continue to glare at each other. Kira looks over at them and doesn't know to be angry or funny at the whole situation.
Tala finally turned away and looked at her. "What are we going to do now?"
"Kira. Didn't you just say that you were going to bring me to play? Why don't we go to the zoo, ok?" Shippo suggested.
"Zoo?"
"Eh, eh, eh. You were looking so manly just now and now you are trying to pretend to be cute. You little twerp!" Tala pinched his cheeks, ignoring the protesting kid.
"Tala!" Kira warned him. "You want to go the zoo?" She said gently to Shippo.
"Right!"
"I owe you one million dollars. I will think of a way to slowly return it to you. Let the 3 of us just go out and play today, ok?"
"I don't want to go with this little kid to the zoo." Tala protested.
"I also don't want to go with this old man!"
"WHAT OLD MAN!" Tala shouted.
"Stop arguing, idiot! Are you going or not?"
"I'm not going!" Tala made his decision.
At the zoo…
"Hurry up! I want to see the penguin!" The overactive Shippo ran ahead of her.
"Oh." Kira ran after him.
"I hate animals." Tala changed his mind and decided to come after all.
"Ok, I want to see too. Let's go."
"Eh, don't go, you two! The zoo stinks!" Tala wrinkled his nose.
Kira and Shippo ignore him and headed toward the zoo while an unwilling Tala follows meekly behind.
"Kira. What is this one helping the other big one look for?" Shippo pointed at the two monkeys.
"He's helping the other one to look for louse."
"Louse?"
"What is louse?"
"It's a type of bug on the body of the monkey."
"Then won't the one that is looking for it get it too?"
"Yup."
Tala is standing behind them and has a pouting face on. Kira turns around to look at him and smiles to herself. 'Poor Tala…'
Looking at the zebras...
"Look! That zebra is drinking water! He's so cute! He's even swinging his neck! Look, he's even swinging his tail!" Shippo yelled excitedly.
Tala stands there having a very bored expression on his face.
"Kira, let's go see Arctic wolves!"
"ok." Kira agreed not being able to not grin at how cute the little kid was.
Shippo walked for two steps and suddenly sat down on the ground.
Kira squatted down beside him. "What's wrong?"
"My legs are tired. Let's rest a bit."
"Oh, then let's go over to the side and sit down, ok?"
"No! If we rest, then we won't have time! Because it's almost closing time already."
"Huh? Then what are we going to do?"
Tala groaned and walked over and put Shippo on his shoulders. "Just sit on top of me. I'll take you around."
Kira smiled at the fatherly gesture.
Over at the wolves
"Oh my god! They're so cute" Kira gushed,
Shippo nodded in agreement.
"Wolves are one of the only animals that I can stand. They remind me of me!" Tala looked a majestic white wolf that was leading a pack of 4 wolves to the corner of the exhibit.
Afterwards, when they were leaving, Shippo falls asleep in Tala's arms.
"He can fall asleep like this." Kira smiled with amusement.
"Such a troublesome kid." Tala snorted.
Suddenly, as they are walking Tala reaches out and holds onto Kira's hand.
A couple walks by and makes a comment.
"Wow. Such young parents." The lady commented.
Kira blushed and pulled her hand away. "Eh, you and Shippo are actually very similar to each other."
"I'm way more cuter than him." Tala starts to get defensive.
"Really?"
"Nonsense!" Tala suddenly said.
"What?"
"You don't have to return that one million to me."
Kira stops walking and turns to look back at her.
"What? You don't have to say anything. This kid is heavy. Let's go!" Tala waved with his hand.
He turns to continue walking and Kira calls out to stop him.
"Tala. Why did you help me? I betrayed you in the past. I've always wanted to ask you why do you have to be so nice to me?" Kira looked at her feet,
"Be... because... because you are dumb!" Tala was at a loss for words.
"I'm dumb! Why do I have to be called dumb by a dummy?"
"Can you please use your brains and think about it, ok!"
"Eh, I was very serious when I was asking you that question!"
"I was answering very seriously too! You stupid woman, what are you bringing a stupid kid for!" Tala gets annoyed and puts Shippo on the ground.
"EH! How can you be like this! Putting him on the ground like that, what happens if he hits his head!" She picks him up.
"He won't die!"
"Even if he won't die, he'll become a nut head like you! When I saw you carrying Shippo on your shoulder before, I thought you were a good person! I guess I was wrong" She yelled at him.
"Who told you to bring this kid along!"
"It's a good thing that Shippo came! You're using one million dollars to buy one day with me! Who knows what you want to do! You must have been thinking about some dirty ideas! Let me tell you. Someone like you, even if you take out a hundred million, I won't betray my body!"
Tala pointed at himself, being taken back by her reply. "Am I that kind of person?"
Shippo then wakes up from all the shouting.
"You are!"
Tala bit him lip and stormed away in anger.
"Let me tell you! I will never be able to stand you!" She shouted.
"SAME WITH ME! STUPID WOMAN!" Tala turned around and shouted back.
He turns and continues to stride angrily away.
"Kira? Are you yelling at that old man because of me?" Shippo asked her rubbing the sleep out of his emerald eyes.
"No. It has nothing to do with you. Be good. Come, I'll take you home. Shippo, let me tell you. When you grow up, no matter what, don't be as bad as that guy!"
"When he was carrying me on his shoulder before, he was like my dad. Actually he's not bad." Shippo commented.
That night, Tala returns home to find B3 drinking in his house.
"Hey! You're back!" A very drunk Johnny cried out.
"Come on, come!" Enrique called.
"Come over here!"
"Come and drink beer!"
"Come on!"
"How was your weekend date with Kira?" Enrique asked.
"How did you guys know?"
B2 laughed.
"Who do you want to lie to!"
"You were smiling crazily all day yesterday. Anyone can see, ok?"
"Kira. You are very pretty!" Johnny stood up following Enrique.
"Tala, you are so hot!" Enrique pretended to be Kira and played allow with Johnny much to Tala's annoyance.
They all started laughing crazily at Tala's expense.
"Was it like that? Or was it more than that? Why are you looking like that? Did you guys have an argument? I'm right!" Johnny spoke after getting no reply from Tala.
"Didn't know you are like this! Can't even take care of one Kira!" Enrique shook his head.
"It must be that you were too uncivilized. Or it must be that you were throwing your temper again. Jeez!"
"I think that you better ask for Kai's opinion. Shouldn't you know Kai?" Kai who's been laughing at Tala also turned serious.
"Hey! You two are talking too much. You drunken idiots!" Kai gave a laugh. He wasn't exactly sober either.
"You guys are so bothersome! Leave! Who told you guys to come to my house! Bastards!" Tala started to get angry.
B3 just continue to laugh crazily not caring for Tala's burst of temper at all.
At the pastry shop, Kira is looking through the newspaper for another job.
"Have you really decided to do this?" Salima asked.
"I have no choice. My family's financial situation is so bad. And now I owe Tala one million dollars. If I don't find another job, then how will it work out?"
A customer walks through the door at this moment.
"Welcome! What would you like?" Salima greeted.
"Miss, I would like a strawberry cake."
"Eh, Kira. I feel that you and Tala..." Salima spoke while getting the customer his cake.
"Eh, don't mention Tala again. I have nothing to say about him. I think I should just work diligently to earn money." Kira told her while checking inventory.
"What? Are you looking for a job, Miss? This is my business card." The customer who's has been listening to their conversation spoke up.
"Modeling agency?" She asked looking at the card.
"I think that you look very cute. Are you interested in being a model?"
"Model? I don't think I can."
"It can't be. Good thing that our company is looking for models now. Just someone to take photos. If you get to be on camera and have a case, you would be making anywhere from $8,000 to $10,000 a month."
"Eh, Kira, you should go try and see. I feel that it's not bad." Salima encouraged.
Kira stares at the business card and thinks very hard.
"Miss, sorry. My cake?"
"Oh, sorry bout that."
"How much?"
"$9."
"$9? $9. You are welcome to come to our company and try it out."
The guy takes the cake and leave
"Wow, Kira. You got a chance to make it big! Being a model seems so cool! Are you going to go and try it out?"
"Please! How can this type of work be suitable for me? I don't have a good figure!"
"Not necessarily. I think that these types of models are very skinny! Moreover, you are so in need of money now, if it doesn't work out, you don't have anything to lose. Anyway being a models these days are another way to go." The red head encouraged.
"Just go and try it out. You don't need to look at this anymore. Just go and try it." Salima urged.
'At a time like this, doesn't matter what chances there are, I should go and try it. I'll go and look for a new job tomorrow.' Kira thought hard.
That night after work, Kira and Salima are walking down the streets.
"Did you put the business card away? You have to go and try it out tomorrow."
"Yes. I've already put the business card inside my bag. But you really don't think that it's weird for me to go and try out for a modeling job?"
"Of course not! I feel that this is a great opportunity! Just go and try it."
"The Miss over there! Yes, you." An old looking lady yelled.
"Me?"
"Let me help you predict your luck for this year." The women smiled and nodded her head.
"Fortune telling?"
"Because the look on your face seems very unusual. So that's why I want to take a look for you."
"Really?" Kira starts to walk over.
"Is your family very poor?"
"Right, right. How would she know? Is it because I look very poor?" She turned to Salima.
"Not at all." Salima shook her head.
"Your living condition is very bad right now. Moreover... you have a guy by your side do you know? As long as you are together with him, there would be misfortunes that will happen."
"A guy?" Kira spoke
"If you want to be able to have happiness, then I would advise that you would be better off if you hurry up and break up your relationship with him." The lady continued.
"The guy that she is talking about – could it be Tala?" Kira mumbled.
"If you still want to find a boyfriend, from the looks of you, you would be better off if you find someone that is younger than you." The lady gave a smile.
"Someone younger?"
"And..."
"Thank you, thank you. We are in a hurry. Sorry. Kira I feel that she was very strange. Don't listen to her nonsense." Salima quickly interrupt and pulled Kira away.
"Really? But I felt that she was very accurate."
"You treated it as for real? It's just a coincidence."
The next day, Kira goes and looks for the modeling agency.
'What a strange place this is. It should be here. Kira wondered and looked at the old building.
She knocks on the door of an apartment.
"Who is it?"
The guy opens the door and sees a girl with black hair with red streaks wearing a white blouse and a knee length black skirt.
"Um, sorry for the trouble. A sir gave me this business card. He told me to come over here." She showed the guy the card.
"You are here to try out for modeling?"
Kira nodded her head. "I want to know approximately what kind of person you guys are looking for."
"We want the kind that you are. Come, come in."
Kira slowly walks in and the guy closes the door.
"Come."
Later…
Kira is sitting there smiling while a photographer is taking her picture.
"Very good. Come, another one. Good, come. Smile one. A more relaxed smile. Right. Very good. I'm going to change the film." The photographer told her.
"Here. Drink some water. Relax a little bit. You'll get use to it slowly. Don't be nervous. Are you ready?"
"Ok."
"Let's continue. Relax a bit." The photographer told her politely.
"Ok."
"Come. Relax. Don't be so restrained. Relax a little. Sit forward a bit. Come, again. Unbutton one of the buttons." The photographer looked up from the camera.
"Huh?"
"Unbutton a button. Put on a shy expression." HE said while Kira unbutton the second button of her blouse.
"Unbutton another button." The photographer looked up and shook his head.
"Unbutton another button?"
Kira looks down at her shirt and hesitates.
"Unbutton it. Aren't you a University student? You should be very experienced with something like this."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Aren't you University students very open?" The photographer replied monotonously.
"What does that have to do with taking pictures?"
"Of course it has to do with it. The models that we want are mainly used to take pictures for adult magazines."
"Sorry. I don't think I'm suitable for it." Kira's eyes went open and she quickly buttons up her shirt.
She gets up and starts walking.
The photographer grabs her arm "Why are you making such a big deal out of it. Since you came here already, you should give it a try. You're not bad. With a University student's pure image, we can get you into the entertainment circle! If you take it off, you'll be famous!"
"I don't want to take it off! I don't want to get into the entertainment circle!" Kira clutched the front of her shirt.
"Give me a break! If it wasn't because you wanted money, then why did you come here for?"
"Right. You don't need to show everything. Wearing this shirt is not bad either." Another guy grabbed her arm.
"I don't want to! Get away! Pervert! I don't want to take these kind of photos!" Kira struggled.
"Help her take it off!"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Kira shouted.
"Stop fighting!"
"I DON'T WANT TO! DON'T BE LIKE THIS! NO!"
"Take it off! Take it off once and you'll be use to it!"
"I DON'T WANT TO! LET ME GO! HELP! HELP!"
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
R&R please. The story's finally coming to one of its two climaxes! (In my opinion anyways). Hehehe, cliffie, and you have to wait for two weeks to find out whether Kira's saved, or if she somehow manages to escape by herself. Oh yeah, btw, check out my one shot Because I'm a Girl, it's really good if I do say so myself! It's Rei/Mariah AU and it's just a really sad, sweet love story about them.
