Thanks to all those that reviewed!
Over at Kira and Kai's room, they are both lying side by side on the mattress that's on the floor.
'The feelings that I have for Tala can't be repeatedly going on like this. Would I really be able to burst into their room? Of course not! But a certain kind of bitter pain is slowly wrapping itself around my heart" She thought then said "Kai are you asleep?"
"Not anymore." Kai turned to give her a glare.
Kira ignored him and said "Why did they only give us one blanket?"
"Does it matter? It is warmer this way."
"Hmm… may I hold onto your hand?" She thought for a moment before shyly asking.
Kai thinks for a few minutes, then takes his hand out from underneath the blankets and places it on top "Hn"
Kira smiled lightly at him and wrapped her hand around his. 'Tonight, there's another cut in my wound. The only thing that can maybe heal this wound is the Kai that is beside me. Because he is accompanying me and it makes me feel less lonely.'
"Kai, thank you."
"For?" Kai closed his eyes once again.
"Uh… thank you for saving me at the hot springs."
"I was near by, in my spring. I heard Matilda shouting out loudly that you have fainted. Her personality is really irrational"
Kira laughed "And also very fierce."
"I've seen many rich girls but I've never saw the kind like her."
"But I feel that she is very cute. I really like her. Even though she is very bold, constantly drives everyone round and round, but I feel that she is the kind of girl that is already mature but still willful – makes one hard to hate her. There are some things about her that are quite similar to Tala."
"Saying that she's similar to Tala is not totally the same. After all, Tala's determination – no one can compare to it."
"Right!" Kira smiled.
"You are finally smiling?"
Kira turned to look at Kai, who's eyes are stilled closed "Why, wasn't I smiling?"
"Were you? You looked like shit for a while."
Kira snorted "I looked like this starting from the day that I got into Bakuten. It's not like today is the only day that it was like this."
"You're still able to bicker with other people now? That's the Kira that I know. Just now you had on such a distracted look."
"Why are you still talking!" Kira got annoyed and throws a pillow at Kai's face.
Kai growled and sat up "Fine. Whatever unhappiness that you have, go ahead and take it out on me. Jut let me sleep in peace after"
"What unhappiness do I have! Moreover, why do I need to take it out on you!" She threw another pillow at him.
Kai smirked and let the pillows hit him "You're still saying that you are not? You threw 2 pillows at me women!"
"Fine, then I'll just throw it a third time." Kira laughed and throws another one.
This time Kai grabbed a pillow and whacked it back at her like a baseball bat. He snickered as the pillow hit Kira on the head.
Kira thought as she laughed happily 'The feeling right now is like that of being on top of the rooftop, the kind like when I'm at my most difficult time, a gentle wind would blow my wounded heart. Even though I don't feel hurt because of Kai anymore, now, even though this feeling cannot be seen as love, but I know that I would definitely always like Kai. He'll always be there, thought he could be a lot nicer in what he says, scratch that he should be nice in everything. But that won't be Kai anymore'
Kai lies down on the mattress and turns away from Kira who keeps hitting him with the pillow.
"Alright, you're happy, now, let me sleep in peace." Kai turned around and closed his eyes.
Back over at Tala and Matilda's room, Matilda is still standing naked in front of him.
"Put your clothes back on." Tala said emotionlessly, with a blank look on his face.
Matilda pouted "Why? How can you say it so calmly? Even though I always seem to be so happy and carefree, but something like this, I'm not joking around with you. Don't you have any feelings at all?"
Tala said in a Kai like voice "None."
"Matilda."
"Or maybe you don't like the feeling of one wearing a robe? Then do you like stockings or sexy underwear?" She desperately pleaded.
"Can you listen to me, ok?" Tala grabbed her on the shoulders.
"I don't wan to hear!"
"Listen to me, ok?"
Matilda yelled and covered her ear "I DON'T WANT TO HEAR!"
"Just listen to me, ok?"
"I can't hear, I can't hear…" She starts making lots of noise to try to drown out Tala's voice.
Tala still talked over her noise "I really want to try to like you. But I feel very regretful. I'm sorry."
Matilda stopped her noise and has a defeated look on her face "Why do you have to say regretful? What is the meaning of this? You've making me really very angry! You clear things up today!" She grabbed a tray behind her.
"I really have no way of being in a relationship with you." Tala looked down at his feet.
Matilda throws the plate of things that she held in her hands toward the corner of the room in her anger.
In Kai and Kira's room, they are both startled by the noise and turns to look at the door.
"What was that noise before?" Kira sat up
"It's from Tala's room." Kai growled in annoyance of being interrupted from his sleep.
Matilda is standing there glowering at Tala, heaving from her exertions.
"All that was in my mind before was Kira. Why is she with Kai right now? What are they doing right now? Does Kira still…" Tala spoke softly
"ENOUGH! SHUT UP!1" Matilda yelled and walked towards him.
Kira and an annoyed Kai look up again as they hear another loud noise coming from the red head's room.
"Um, shouldn't we go over and take a look? Tala might be abusing her." Kira shook Kai.
Kai signed and sat up. "You're saying Tala's bully her. I think it's the other way around." HE smirked before lying back on the futon.
Another noise comes from Tala's room.
"It doesn't matter! I feel that it would be better if we go over and take a look."
Kai sat and yelled. "Hey!" He tried to stop her but she left anyways.
Matilda grabs something from the ground and throws it, crying in the process.
"At this time, you would say this. Until now, you still love Kira. When she was with me at the hot springs, she was smiling and congratulating me! She doesn't love you at all! Don't you care about that!" Matilda yelled with tears falling down her face.
Tala just looked away from her.
Matilda crawls over to Tala, pushing him down and falling on top of him "If that's the case, then why did you still have to be together with me!"
At this moment, Kira arrives outside the room and quickly opens up the door without even knocking.
"Matilda!" She walked in.
Looking into the room, a stunned Kira sees Matilda sitting on top of Tala with her robe almost falling off her shoulders, in a very suggestive position.
They quickly turn their heads toward the door and sees Kira standing there.
Kira quickly turned away "Sorry. I didn't know you guys were busy. Sorry for the disturbance."
Without looking at them, Kira quickly shuts the door and rushes away.
A defeated Tala lies back down on the floor.
"It's up to you to do whatever you want. Hit me until all your anger is released." He replied as Matilda raised a fist.
Instead she lowers her fist and sobs painfully.
Kira quickly rushes back to her room with Kai and closes the door as if the devil is after her.
Kai has just finished with pouring himself a cup of water.
"What did you see?"
"Huh? Nothing! I didn't see a half naked Matilda sitting on top of Tala." She quickly said.
Having said that, Kira quickly crawls underneath the blanket and covers herself including her head with it.
Kai just sits there, as a smirk breaks out on his face and lied back on the futon again. Hoping he can finally sleep in peace.
Back over at Tala's room, the red head is still lying on the floor in the same position. A lonely drop of tear falls onto his face from the crying Matilda.
"You are too much! I love you so much! Why do you have to treat me this way!"
Tala bit his lip and pulled Matilda over and hugs her. "Sorry." Was all he managed to say.
The next morning a restless Kira is sitting outside all by herself.
'Can't sleep. Haven't even closed my eyes once. Matilda's half naked body sitting on top of Tala… The worst part is that my timing on rushing in was not right. I never wanted to see that type of scenario! I never wanted to ruin other people's good things! I… What exactly is wrong with me?'
Tala walks by at this moment and sits down next to Kira, a few feet away. Kira looks up and is surprised to see him.
"You…"
"What's the matter?"
Why did you wake up so early? Didn't sleep well last night?"
"Of course not." She blushed and looked away
"Really?"
'I'm becoming more and more shy in front of Tala for some reason. It wasn't like this in the past. Those days that we constantly bicker and fight with each other are gone. It could be because my consciousness is too strong. The chemistry between Tala and I has now changed. Kai and I can get along naturally now. But Tala and I can't be like how Kai is with me now – holding hands together and still able to sleep. We're falling apart….' She quietly thought.
The silence between them seems to be growing longer and longer.
"I have to return back to the room."
"I'm going home. Tell Kai for me." Tala said
"Oh, I understand."
She got up and walked away while Tala turns his head and looks at Kira's back as she walks away.
Matilda is sitting in the room when there was a knock on the door.
Kira opens the door and looks in.
"Matilda we should be going back soon."
Matilda forced a smile "Oh. But I still want to sit for a bit longer. Why don't I have the driver send you guys back first, ok?"
"Oh, ok. Hmm, also, I met Tala out at the garden area before. He said that he would be leaving first."
"Tala? He must be feeling a bit shy. He's so stupid . He was hanging onto me so fiercely all night. And now he's feeling shy in the morning." Matilda lied, avoiding Kira's eyes.
Kai just glared at her, knowing that she was lying, but said nothing.
"Was that what it is? Then we're leaving first. Thank you."
"Oh, then I'll contact you."
"Bye."
Once Kira closes the door, Matilda starts crying again.
Kai is walking Kira home after they come back from Aston's villa.
"Kai? When you see other people getting intimate, is that something that is very detestable?"
"Hn" Kai stopped walking and smirked. "They are awkward."
"Right. It really feels very uncomfortable. I can't figure it out why some people would like to see porno shows." Kira laughed.
"Kai gave a chuckle. "You are so worked up over it because the one that you saw was Tala."
"Of course it's not like that! Yes I did see it. Anyway, their relationship is going so well, I wouldn't be able to not figure out the circumstances here. I feel that you really do know things before hand. Didn't you say before that if you have met face to face, then don't pretend that you didn't see each other? In the end, I really did see it. I think that I'm going to get sore eyes from looking at that!" Kira quickly denied it.
"You want to cry, then cry." Kai said claming, knowing how Kira really felt.
"Huh? No one wants to cry. What are you talking about? Can you lend me your back for a bit?"
Pulling Kai in front of her, Kira leans against his back and starts crying.
Kai just listen to Kira's soft sobs.
Later on, Kira returns home.
"I'm back."
She looks into the room and finds Mom and Dad packing up their things.
"What are you guys doing? Pa, don't tell me you've borrowed money from the loan sharks again!"
"No, no, no! Kira… We were just afraid that you will worry so we didn't tell you. We couldn't hold out in Bakuten any longer."
"I know."
"It could only be blamed on the economy now. Lots of layoffs, lots of bankruptcies. I… I just can't find any work."
"So, Mama has a friend in the countryside. He's a fisherman and has his own boat. They asked us if we want to go and help out."
"So that means we have to move to the fishing village to live? Can Papa really become a fisherman?"
"Of course!"
"Wh-what kind of joke is that! Ask your Mama. Papa… constantly looks at fishing magazines."
"Right! Reads lots of books."
"My favorite TV program is…"
"Fishing King!"
"It always talks about fishing stuff."
"Right."
"Let me tell you. It's no problem at all. I've decided that for the rest of my life, I'm going to be struggling with the sea!"
"We are going to be dependent on the sea to past the rest of our days!"
"Right! We've decided to steer a ship!"
Suddenly Mom and Dad bursts out into a song and started singing rather loudly.
However, seeing that Kira isn't too happy about the situation, their singing gradually dies down.
"Actually, about a week ago, I've told your Papa about this. At that time, he was a little bit excited. Up until yesterday, yesterday night, that's when we finally made the final decision. So we didn't really want to hide it from you, Kira."
"Ma, I wasn't unhappy about it. It's just that I feel this fisherman job, is it really suitable for Papa?"
"Eh, look at your Papa! So brave, energetic but decisive! How great is that!"
"Energetic, decisive? Why do I feel that it seems so rash?"
"H-how can that be? Actually, my friend is providing us with food and living. That way, if your Papa works very hard, then that money could be used to help you pay for your fee at Bakuten University and the rent here. Then the money that you make from your job, you can use that for the tuition fee, and not use that on our family of three. Wouldn't that be more relaxing for you?"
"Right, right! Actually, we have made Kira suffer a lot following us."
"Pa, Ma… so what you are saying is that you're going to leave me behind all alone?"
"You still need to say that? Having spent so much money studying at Bakuten University, if you quit in the middle, then the money that we have spent on the past would be all lost."
"How can it be like this!"
"No, no, Kira. Wait for the day that Papa has saved up a sum of money or maybe there would be another job opportunity, then we would move back here and live together with you. But during this time, Kira, you have to take very good care of yourself."
"Kira. You have to be brave by yourself!"
"Have to be brave by myself?"
Mom nods her head. Kira looks over at Dad with a sad face.
"Eh, hurry up and come pack! There's still a lot of luggage. There's no time. Hurry, hurry!" Mr. Tagoshi suddenly remembered,
Mom and Dad continued packing while Kira stands in the same spot and not moving.
"Pa, Ma. Can't you guys reconsider it for another day or two? I really don't want to be separated from you guys."
"Kira, we will write letters to you. You can call us too."
"Ma…"
"Being at home all yourself, remember to lock the door and window before you go to sleep at night. When you leave the house, remember to wear extra clothing. You also have to watch out for your nourishment; don't just think about saving money. Don't be eating instant noodles day and night. And Kira…" Mrs. Tagoshi burst in tear and hugged her daughter.
Dad walks over and hugs the hugging Kira and Mom.
At the pastry shop…
"Kira living all by herself? Her mom is moving to the fishing village? You just want these two?" Salima said in surprise as she asked the customer what they want.
Daichi sitting by a near by table answered "Right. Kira has to deal with a lot of shitty things happening. She couldn't come to work today because her mom is moving house."
"Would her Dad be able to adapt to the job of working as a fisherman?"
"How would I know? How annoying! If this continues on like this, it could be that Kira would have to withdraw from school next semester. Then I won't be able to see her in school anymore! Then what am I going to do?"
"Then she must be feeling very sad. If I was to suddenly separate with my Dad and Mom, I would definitely cry my head off." Salima save the cake to the customer and turn her attention back on Daichi.
"Right. If Kira was to cry in front of me…"Daichi walked over and started to talk with a dreamy look on his face." I would definitely hug her. And tell her, 'Kira if you are sad, then I'll lend my shoulder for you to lean on.' Who knew that when I saw her today, she said that after she got into college, she has been taught to be very strong and would be able to handle any type of problem."
"But I'm just afraid that Kira is concealing her sadness in her heart, not showing it, and not really being strong. Because she's afraid of people sympathizing with her."
"Really! Then what are we going to do!"
"Daichi, since Kira's Mom and Dad are not by her side anymore, you have to take very good care of her."
"Yes, yes, yes! I will definitely protect my Princess Kira! In a matter of one night, Kira has actually lost her family. I have to use love to give her much nourishment!"
"Daichi! Don't make this any complicated then it already is." Salima looked at the determined look on Daichi's face and laughed.
"Salima, why are you speaking hesitantly for?" Daichi pouted.
"Oh? Nothing! I feel that you are really a very good guy."
Daichi's got a surprise look on his face as he takes this comment the wrong way. "Salima, I can only say… thank you for your good words. But I have no way of accepting you. It's not because you are not good! It's just that my heart has been given to Kira. Please forgive me."
With that Daichi left the store leaving Salima with a shocked look on her face.
Since Matilda didn't return to the villa, Mrs. Aston went up there to look for her.
"Matilda." She knocked on the door, with no answer she invited herself in.
Seeing her mom there Matilda sat up on the mattress that she was lying on.
"Why didn't you answer when Mommy called you? You've been living here for so many days, not coming home, not going to class. Your Dad is really worried about you. Looking at the way you are now, I'm also very worried." Mrs. Aston sat beside her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Ma, you don't have to worry about me. I'm fine."
"Did you have a fight with Tala? Do you want Mom to call him for you?"
"Please don't make this call. Unless you don't care about my feelings and purposely wants me to lose my dignity." Matilda shook her head.
"Fine, Mom won't call. I heard Madam Ivanov say that you've been constantly going out with a girl named Kira recently. Is she really scheming and very problematic?"
Matilda groaned and turned to face her mom, "Mom please don't talk about nonsense, ok! She's a very important friend to me! Moreover, how can you just so casually believe what other people tell you? Don't you feel that you are very weird? Ma, sorry." She stopped as she realized her sudden outburst.
"Ma won't blame you."
"Ma, there's something that I want you to help me with."
Over at Kira's home, she is getting ready for bed. She closes all the windows just like Mom told her.
'From today on, I have to live all by myself.'
Just then, there was a knock on the door and she goes to open it.
Opening the door she glanced in surprise as she sees Matilda standing there.
"It's so dark outside! It made me bumped into something. It's all your fault that you didn't open the door earlier. Aren't you going to invite me in?" Matilda pouted and rubbed her elbow.
"Oh, please come in."
Matilda smiled and walked in and looks around the room.
"Have a seat. Why did you come looking for me so late?"
"Oh, because I have something to tell you."
"Have something to tell me?" She then thought 'Could it be that she wants to tell me about her sleeping with Tala?"
"It's…"
"Sorry! I don't want to hear!" Kira covered her ears.
Matilda looks taken back at Kira's outburst and Kira looks a little embarrassed by it.
"Um, Matilda, don't you feel that its strange how you've come to my home and there's only me here?" Kira smiled and quickly changed the topic.
"A little bit."
"Because my Dad and Mom have moved out. From today onward, I would have to live by myself. I feel that it is all very new and very exciting."
"Really? Then this way Mom and Dad won't be staring at you every day. You'll have lots of freedom."
"Right. So from now on, all the daily things in life, I would have to take care of it all by myself. So… I don't have any spare strength to think about other things. From now on, if you have anything that you want to find me to discuss about, I'm afraid I won't be able to give you advice anymore."
Matilda sighed and asked quietly. "Kira, do you hate me?"
"No! It's not as you think! That's not what I mean!" She frantically denied.
"Actually if you do hate me, then it's just natural. I lied to you. Maybe because I was jealous of you. So that's why I didn't dare to say it to you. Actually that day, nothing happened between us. Tala told me that he can't be with me. So, nothing happened to us. I was actually very satisfied with my own body. I thought that if I take it all off in front of him, he definitely would… Do you know? I thought he would be the type that I could be able to get the attention of. So, without thinking twice, I stripped everything. Never thought that he didn't even move one muscle – didn't even give me some face at all. It's being a woman's biggest humiliation." Matilda confessed and laughed.
Kira's jaw dropped open as she's lost for words.
"Today I've already asked my Mom to go to Tala's house and cancel the marriage contract."
"Why? I always thought that you guys were getting along very smoothly!"
"Even though Tala and I have become like this now but I really hope that I could still continue to be friends with you. I came today just to tell you this. I feel that because of my marriage with Tala and met you, became good friends with you, I'm really very happy. Sorry, I've always been allergic. Keep on having a running nose." Matilda said as tears began to fall out of her eyes.
'I just said those things to her before too. Sometimes I would feel that Matilda is a bit annoying. She should have felt it. That's why in the end, she came all the way over here this late at night, just to tell me this things.' Kira thought feeling guilty.
Matilda turned away trying to avoid eye contact. "Sorry, I have to leave first."
"Matilda, if you don't mind, I am willing to be your friend forever." Kira called out.
"I will support you forever. I won't be giving you anymore difficulties again." Matilda stood up and hugged Kira.
"Listen to me. If you really see me as your friend, then don't care what my feelings are and lied to yourself." Matilda smiled happily.
"I'm not."
"I'm leaving first. Bye. I forgot to tell you. The reason why Tala rejected me is because he said that he has only you in his heart." Matilda said and left.
Kira stood there, unconsciously a huge smile creped up her face. She hadn't felt this happy for a long time.
At Ivanov's mansion, Boris is once again updating Tatiana on the on-goings between the two couples.
"In the end, saw the four of them went in together." Boris spoke.
At this moment Tala walks into the room and the two both stops their discussion and looks up.
"Master."
Tala doesn't answer and looks over at his Mom.
"So my son has come back. Tell the kitchen to make something for Tala to eat." Tatiana ordered Boris.
"Yes."
Tala walked in, deeper into the room "No need. I'm not hungry at all. I have something to say to you."
"Who taught you to have no manners? From the moment that you walked in, until now, you haven't addressed me once!" Tatiana crossed her arm.
Tala paused for a bit before calling out "Ma."
Tatiana smiles and walks over to her son. She reaches out with both her hands to put on each side of his arms. Tala sort of pulls back a little with a very uncomfortable look, so Tatiana puts her hands down.
"What's wrong? Now that you are grown up, Mom can't even hold you?"
"I want to cancel the marriage contract with Aston Enterprise's Matilda."
"What did you say?"
Tala looked her mom straight in the eye, not feeling scared at all "I've already told Matilda herself. I don't like her! Moreover, I won't get married with her."
"You call over to Aston family immediately and apologize to Matilda. I will pretend that this never happened."
"Not possible. The fact is I feel that I should express out my true feelings. I have no need to apologize to her." Tala planted both feet on the ground.
"Call over to the Aston family for me. I have to personally explain everything to President Aston." Tatiana ignored her son's words and called over Boris.
"Yes." Boris nodded and reached into his jacket fro a cell phone.
Tala runs over, grabbing the phone out of Boris's hands and flings it roughly to the side.
"Tala! What are you doing!" Tatiana walked over.
"Ma! Listen to me! The one I like is Kira Tagoshi! Aside from her, I will not marry any other girl!" He stood in front of her
"Ridiculous! It's not up to you to say what you want or don't want. President Aston's daughter, Matilda, is a daughter-in-law that I have carefully picked and chose! I'm telling you. That poor girl Kira Tagoshi, she will not be able to get into Ivanov family in this lifetime, BUT EVEN IN THE NEXT LIFETIME SHE SHOULDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!" Tatiana's voice raised as she sees the angry look on her son's face.
"MA! Why do you have to take our happiness and use that as a tool to achieve success in your business! You did the same thing to Kateena in the past! You have to break her up with the guy that she loves and made her marry the son of that hotel tycoon. Even though Sis never mentioned it, but I've always known about it! That is also the biggest regret in her heart. I won't be like Sis and let you manipulate me." Tala yelled, remembering how Kateena felt when she was forced to marry.
Tatiana just smiled "Then let me tell you also. I will not let you do something that would make us, Ivanov family, regret it. Your marriage with Matilda is set. If I can't even make a decision let this, then how can I, Tatiana Ivanov, still be able to stand up in the business world!"
"If I let you selfish people force myself to be together with Matilda, then she would regret it for the rest of her life! And I would hurt for the rest of my life. Ma, do you really want to ruin my whole life!" Tala felt the need to punch someone, but he knew better than to punch his mother.
"If you really got married with Kira, that poor girl, then YOU are the one that is ruining your future! If Aston family's wealth and business can form an alliance and work together with our Ivanov family, then after you take over, do you think there is still anyone that can fight with you in the business world! If you have any filial piety in you, you should be thankful for everything that I'm doing for you!" Tatiana shouted in a strict tone.
"Ma! You only think about making money, business! Why can't you think about how to make your son happier? Don't you want me to be much happier! Ma. Do you really want to kill me, and let me be unhappy for the rest of my life? Are you that kind of mother?" Tala yelled, getting louder by the second.
"BE QUIET!" Tatiana slapped her son.
Tala let out a chuckle, and glared at his mother "I won't let you control my life. I won't let you ruin my happiness! If it could be, I'd rather not be your son. I'D RATHER I'M NOT BE AN IVANOV, I RATHER NOT EVEN BE TALA!" He turns and storms away from his Mom.
"YOU STAND RIGHT THERE! TALA!"
Read and Review Please! This really reminds me of Romeo and Juliet…don't you think?
