.
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The last group was up for the night, and four dancers were the center of the attention for the moment, wrapping up the evening on a good note and letting themselves really feel the music. All for one who was honestly just going through the motions while masking that she was still feeling off somehow. But at least the upbeat song was natural to act energized too.
삐삐삐 논란이 돼 my fashion (oh)
별로 신경 안 써 그저 action (yeah)
자꾸 click me click me
홀린 듯이 zoom
Close up close up close up
Marley let her body roll, and everyone whooped, excited for the execution as the bare skin of her stomach rocked with the beat.
Hip 해 hip hip
머리 어깨 무릎 hip
Hip hip, hip hip hip hip 해 hip hip
머리 어깨 무릎 hip
Hip hip hip hip 해 hip (hip, hip, hip)
The other dancers milked the ending and went into some freestyles while people cheered, but Marley just walked off the floor, and people gave her their 'good jobs' as she smiled and thanked them before she took a large drink from the water bottle, finishing it off before stuffing it into her duffle.
"Alright! Remember everyone. I'm gonna be away next week, but I'll be posting challenges on my insta stories, so stay connected and give the challenges a try. Oh, and the studio will still be open, just keep an eye of the schedule for drop-ins and workshops." The choreographer called out, and everyone said called out, 'Hai!'.
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"Any plans for the summer?" A fellow dancer asked. Marley couldn't remember her name, but she was always friendly and had the coolest nail designs.
"Some friends from America are visiting." Marley smiled as she took out hair from her ponytail and fluffed it out.
"That must be nice! I'm sure you guys have a lot to catch up on."
"Yeah... How about you? What are your plans?" Marley asked as she slipped off her indoor sneakers and put them away.
"Honestly? Hiding in my house with the AC and working on my village on Animal Crossing." The girl looked to Marley for some sort of reaction, but she seemed confused, slightly tilting her head and her large eyes blinking owlishly.
"Animal Crossing?" The girl repeated, maybe she wasn't clear enough, but Marley simply shrugged her shoulders and began walking towards the doors with her.
"Seriously?!" The college girl then went on a huge rant explanation about the simulation video game, and Marley had to explain she was still really new to video games. Marley had been given a Nintendo switch from her grandfather when she was in the hospital and only played the few games that he had given her.
"Sohma-Chan. Momiji-Kun is here with some bad-boy looking snack." A girl with double Dutch braids grabbed Marley's arm and gestured to the large glass window that showed the sidewalk.
"hmmm?" Marley looked over at the large window off the studio, and Momiji was jumping up and down next to Miguel, who was wearing dark jeans, a simple white t-shirt showing off his tattoos, his dark chocolate hair flowing freely.
Marley couldn't deny that he looked good with the longer hair, he could pass for Jason Mamoa's younger brother or something.
"THAT'S your friend from America?" The girl started to wiggle her eyebrows, and Marley only laughed before wishing them a good summer.
"GIRL! I WANT DETAILS!" Marley heard before rolling her eyes and stepping outside.
"We caught the last bit! You looked so cool, Marley-Chan!" Momiji cheered as he jumped up and down as he grabbed one of Marley's hands.
"You've really jumped into the hip-hop and street dance, huh? Do you even do the ballet stuff anymore?" Miguel asked as he began walking beside the two, grabbing Marley's bag and carrying it for her.
Marley nodded and explained she still did classes but had just wanted to try something new, and street dance had become something she really liked.
"Have you guys eaten yet?"
"There's a really good ramen place around the corner." Marley was pointing down the road to the ramen place that she and Kyo had visited a few months back. It had been a while, and she really liked that spot, she always smiled when she caught sight of it, remembering Kyo laughing at Marley's less than on point ramen eating skills.
"Can't you just make something?" Miguel still hadn't really tried the local cuisine, complaining that he wouldn't like any of it.
"Sure. I've got some cauliflower and potatoes that I need to cook up anyway." Marley could make some aloo gobi and some roti. In all honesty, she didn't really feel like cooking, but she would do it.
Miguel was only going to be here for a short bit, and she wanted him to enjoy his trip. But she was planning on getting him to try something new, it would be good for him.
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.-.-.-..-.-.-..-.-..-.-.-..-.-.-..-.-.-.-.-..-.-..-.-.-.
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.
"And he's so tall even though he's our age! I wanna get big like him! Miguel-San is so cool! He's got such cool tattoos, he's even got a huge one on his back!" Momiji had been talking about Marley's guests almost all lunch.
The Sohma cousins, along with Tohru, were having lunch all together on the rooftop.
"I'm surprised he can have that many tattoos and be in school." Yuki mentioned. Kyo scoffed from a corner of the rooftop, he had kept his distance.
"Marley-Chan said that he kept them covered up at school." Momiji explained. He had spent lots of time at the household as Miguel, and his sister were visiting. They apparently were staying at some sort of AIR BnB apartment in the inner part of the city, but they spend their afternoons till late evenings.
Some evenings Miguel's older sister, Gabriella, had to work. She was in show business just like Marley's mother and had been dancers at the same club. And during the day, she was even teaching workshops on how to dance at a studio in the city.
"Miguel's sister is super cool! And really funny too! She and Marley-Chan were dancing to really fun music in the kitchen last night." Momiji was clearly having a good time with the new and exciting guests, remembering the two women dancing to the foreign music that Momiji couldn't understand, but it was enjoyable to dance to.
"aww I'm so sad they went to lunch without me." Momiji pouted. When Momiji asked about where Marley was, Kyo and huffed, and Tohru explained that Marley had gone for lunch off school grounds to meet up with Miguel at a café down the road.
"Shouldn't she be getting back soon? The Lunch hour is almost over." Tohru asked, worried that her friend would get in trouble.
Kyo suddenly stood up from his spot. He stared off the edge of the roof before walking away, opening the door and walking down the stairs back into the school.
"I wonder how long till he pops." Haru asked, and it made Tohru and Momiji tilt their heads. Haru only shook his head and told them not to worry about it.
"Oh, she's back!" Momiji spotted Marley being walked back to the school gates by Miguel, they hugged, and Marley walked back on to school grounds only to run into a bespectacled student council president. Most likely giving her a hard time for leaving school grounds or something.
"Oh, dear... I should see if I can go help." Yuki sighed as he exited the rooftop, let the group go, and got the strict President Takei off of Marley's case.
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.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
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Isuzu flipped through channels on the hospital TV. The late afternoon sunlight filling the room, and Marley was talking with some of the nurses. One nurse was catching her up, she had recently gotten married and was showing off her ring while Marley marvelled.
Isuzu was grateful cause if Marley wasn't here, the nurse would be chatting her ear off. Marley was the buffer, while Isuzu could just hang back and be left alone.
It would only be another day, or so and then Isuzu would finally be free to leave the hospital. There was so much she had to do, and she couldn't do it while she was cooped up in this hospital room.
She needed to talk to Shigure, that was her first lead. He had to know something. Anything.
"So, what clothes do you want me to bring when we come and pick you up?" Isuzu hadn't noticed that the nurses were now gone, but Marley passed her a pudding cup, mentioning she had swiped it when a cart went by.
"just pick whatever... how are things on the estate" Isuzu asked as Marley slipped into the bed, and the Zodiac member threw the thin blanket over both of their legs. The AC was on full blast, so it was a little chilly in the room.
"Umm, nothing too different. A few families have gone on trips... Oh, Miguel and Gabrielle have basically been staying over, so be careful when you come by. Don't know how I would explain a horse in the house to them." Marley giggled.
"What does he want?" Isuzu asked, and Marley had to tilt her head.
"Like... has he tried anything?" the black-haired girl really didn't know how to ask.
"What?! No, no, no, nothing like that." The girl didn't even blush, waving off the accusation like it was nothing, because they're truly was nothing.
"Have you guys even talked about it?"
"Well... I don't know... I tried to talk about it and tried to apologize, but he just kind of... blew me off."
"You're not the one who needs to apologize." Marley was far too forgiving, but Isuzu learned that maybe she would have to start looking after the kind-hearted girl.
Marley was not too sure about that... but it was a complicated situation and could have been avoided had she only been honest. Had Miguel really forgiven her?
It had been so long since they'd really spoken. The two had a big falling out and Miguel and avoided Marley, and before the two could makeup, Marley had her first heart attack, and the rest was history.
"... I know that you told Haru... about Miguel and me." Isuzu froze and looked to Marley, panicked that she would be mad, but all she was a sad purple eye looking down at her lap.
Marley told herself that at the time, she was doing because she did care for Miguel. She did love him. And he had needed her.
.
"You wanna make me feel better, fine. Give. Me. You. That's what you do, right? So hungry for love that you let people use you?" Haru's words felt like daggers of ice into her heart. Marley's eyes widened as he spat those words, her eyes started to burn. Terrible mistakes coming back to haunt her.
The words hurt, but... was it the truth?
.
"I- I only told him what you told me..." Isuzu watched as Marley just stared down at her lap. The black-haired teenager had never meant anything bad by telling her boyfriend at the time about Marley's story. The story had actually made Isuzu frustrated, and Haru was the only person she felt she could share those frustrations with.
"It's okay. I'm not mad... I just..." Marley took in a deep breath and looked up at the hospital ceiling.
Do you think that I'm a terrible person?
"Never mind... it doesn't matter." Marley found herself not wanting to know what Isuzu thought, because... what if it only cemented what Haru had said. Plus, the Zodiac member already seemed to have enough on her plate, with Marley adding to it.
Isuzu huffed and downed the rest of the pudding cup, and Marley just laughed. The two watched some random TV before the nurses came around, and visiting hours were over. The dancer wished her friend a goodnight, mentioning she would be by with Hiro and Hatori to pick her up in a few days.
The white-blonde was still feeling peckish and was craving something salty.
Marley popped into a convenience store on the way home that also happened to be the one her friend Uo worked at, but that wasn't the familiar face she when she entered, standing by the icebox.
"Ah Kureno? Hello!" The man seemed shocked to be called out but smiled politely once he realized it was Marley.
"Marley-San, good evening." The ever so polite man slightly bowed his head as he greeted Marley, and she smiled before bowing back.
"Looking for something?" Marley asked as she watched as he looked around the store.
"Ah... No, not really. I... guess I just wanted another glimpse of something but. It's alright." A small smile graced his lips, but it was the usual polite smile that was there, and it didn't reach his eyes that seemed so melancholy.
"I just came to grab some ice cream, you want one?" Marley asked as she looked through the freezer and looked through all the choices with Kureno.
"um I don't really know what I like..." Marley grabbed a few of her favourites and a bag of chips and walked to the counter.
"My friend works here, but I guess she's off tonight." Marley mentioned as she looked around one more time to make sure she hadn't missed Uo somehow but exited with the Zodiac member.
It was a pretty quiet walk, and it wasn't a comfortable kind. The Rooster of the Zodiac had always been quiet, but this felt different.
"Were you just out for a walk then?" Marley asked, used to Kureno staying pretty close to the main house.
"Hmm."
"It's a beautiful evening for it. I've even gotten used to the cicadas. Man, at first, they drove me nuts. Though my friends who are visiting, they saw one for the first time yesterday. The look on their faces, you would have thought I showed them a beast." Marley giggled as she remembered both Miguel's and his older sister a picture of what a cicada looked like.
"I heard you had people from America over." Kureno nodded. It was actually the talk of the estate as they weren't used to guests, especially not American guests.
"Ya, they surprised me. It's been really nice catching up with them. They even brought a few of my favourite things that I can't find here." Marley smiled as she thought of the stuff they brought and how excited Gabrielle had been to see her, wrapping her up in such a tight hug before showing off some cute clothes from Marley's favourite boutique.
"There are things you can't get here in Japan?"
"Well, ya. Or if I can find it, it's costly. They even brought me a box of my favourite cereal! It was really sweet." Marley had put the boxes of fruit loops, and corn pops away and wanted to save them for something special.
"I asked Akito if... well, I heard that Akito wasn't feeling well due to the heat. Do you mind dropping this off for me? And the other one is for you." Marley passed him the plastic bag after she put her own goodies into her purse.
"For me?"
"Well, you looked really curious about it. And you can't leave a store empty-handed." Marley joked, and Kureno took the bag form her.
Marley watched as he still seemed to be looking around, and she looked around too, wondering what he was searching for.
"Did you... forget something?"
"Huh?"
"You just seem... um... Like you're looking for something." Kureno didn't answer her, he just looked at the ground.
Marley really didn't know much about the older man. She could count them on the one hand.
Kureno was polite.
Kureno was Akito's assistant.
He was also Akito's... well, Marley wasn't actually sure what the two were.
And Kureno was the rooster of the Zodiac, though Marley had yet to see his Zodiac form.
But the one thing Marley always noticed was that there always seemed to be loneliness surrounding him.
"Whatever you're looking for... I know you'll find it." Marley gave his hand a squeeze and gave him a warm, comforting smile, hoping her words were true.
His jaw slightly dropped, and then he chuckled lightly, telling Marley not to worry about him before he walked off.
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The next few days felt like a whirlwind, final exams were finished, and all the students of 2-D waited to be freed for Summer Vacation.
"You don't have to become an 'adult'… but do become someone who is responsible for their own deeds and words. Well, I guess that's even more difficult. But anyway..." Mayu Sensei looked over the class and let out a sigh,
The entire class was practically twitching in anticipation, waiting for the words they long to hear.
"... the last lecture you'll hear for a while is now over. Have a great summer vacation!" She ordered, and the class cheered before the teacher walked away, she also reminded everyone to do their summer homework, but the teenagers were already celebrating.
"It's like rain after a long drought!"
"Summer vacation is here!"
"I'm gonna have fuuun! And eat! And Sleep! And work! Studying can screw itself!" Uo cheered.
"It's great to have a break." Tohru agreed, a smile on her face as she was definitely ready to at least relax a little.
"I can't wait to go out and enjoy the sunshine." Marley stretched a bit as she stood up, her hands reaching towards the ceiling.
"I'm so psyched I could go punch a car! Yeah!" The ex-gangster was clearly pumped.
"That would be-" Tohru trembled at the idea.
"Probably not a great idea..." Marley commented as she tried not to laugh over Uo's 'enthusiasm'.
.
"Arisa... maybe you should take it down a notch..." Hana told her as she was already decked out in summer stuff, including a water ring, a sun hat, a beach ball and a popsicle in hand.
"I know your excited that summer vacation has just begun, but..."
I'm most curious about the popsicle... how did she keep it from melting in class?
"You're right. In fact, looking at you has snapped me out of it already."
"H-Hanajima-san... I see you're ready for the summer..." Yuki twitched a bit, baffled by all of Hana's summer accessories.
"I'm just getting started..." Hanajima mentioned as she took out another popsicle and handed it to Marley, who happily accepted, decided not to question where it came from.
Mango flavoured, so tasty!
"Ah! Hanajima-San! The dates for the remedial classes are posted in the hallway! You should probably write them down!" A student pointed out as he gestured to the hall.
"There's no need... after all, I didn't fail a single final exam this term." Hana revealed without batting an eye.
"Good job Hanajima!" Marley smiled, happy that her friend wouldn't be stuck in the classroom over summer break, returning to finishing the popsicle before it melted.
A few people watched as she snacked on the summer treat, but she was blissfully unaware of the hungry eyes.
"Ni one'd wanna take remedial classes in this classroom with no AC." Uo crossed her arms and nodded. Marley couldn't imagine sitting in the classroom with no AC, it was already so hot today that Marley had to put her long hair into space buns to keep it off the back of her neck.
Plus, it looked adorable.
"Yes. It was onerous last year." Hana brought a hand to her face and shook her head.
"I-if that's how it is, then couldn't you pass your exams every time?" The boy asked, and his friend followed up; both were in shock over Hana's comment.
"Yeah, if you always try as hard as you did this time..."
"I've contemplated that myself, but I have absolutely no motivation. And so, we are free as the birds in the sky. Now, what shall we do this afternoon?" Hana asked her friends, and Marley finished off the last bit of the popsicle and threw the stick in the garbage, barely making it in the can.
"Sorry, I already scheduled work shifts." Uo turned down Hana.
"You did?" Tohru asked.
"The café in the afternoon and the convenience store tonight. It's the best time to make some cash." Uo explained and Marley was impressed with her work ethic
"I planned to find a second job this summer, too, but I didn't have time to search." Tohru sighed, feeling like she had let herself down.
"Don't be crazy! You're already doing chores in that huge house and taking care of those three huge men!"
"Huge?" Marley looked over at Yuki and Kyo and wasn't sure if she would ever call them 'huge'.
"And you want to take on another job?! You'll die of overwork, I say! Absolutely not!" Uo declared, shaking her head and crossing her arms.
Tohru denied the statement, and Marley thought about her request to pick up a part-time job. Her Dadaji had put it down, but that didn't stop her from at least making a small flyer for 'babysitting services' and putting it up on the message board. She used to babysit back in Vegas for a little extra spending money. But in the end, she found it really hard to take people's money, so she never made that much. But at least it was something.
"Ah! By the way, Uo, you mentioned you met someone like Tohru at your job? Which was it?" Hana asked.
"The convenience store and I keep telling you, he's not like Tohru. His clumsiness just reminded me of Tohru." Uo explained.
"Oh, my. Is he that scatterbrained?" Hana sighed, and Tohru blinked.
"Clumsiness? Scatterbrained?" Tohru mimicked the words as her eyes went wide.
"There, there. It's okay." Marley patted her shoulder and tried to tell her that it was cute.
"You're an air cadet to Marley. I feel like I need to keep you on a leash you wander off so much." Uo teased, and Marley went wide-eyed and pointed to herself.
"Huh?"
"Anyway, I haven't seen him again since. It might be nice to see him again, though..." Uo decided to switch gears as she smirked over at her brown-skinned friend.
"But YOU! You got lover boy in town! The summer of love." Uo grabbed Marley and shook her, hiding her pain by teasing Marley.
"No, no. It's not like that!" Marley denied not wanting anyone to get the wrong idea. Miguel and Marley were strictly friends, they even had a massive talk about it the other night.
Well... Marley tried to talk, but Miguel had dodged what Marley had really wanted to talk about, but the slightly troubled teen didn't want to push too hard.
"I-!"
.
Marley's phone went off, and she checked it. A text from Momiji asked if they could all do something and meet out front with silly face emoji. She sent a thumbs up and giggled at the animated bunny gif the young boy sent back, not feeling an intense stare from orange eyes from across the room.
But it didn't go unnoticed by Uo or Hana.
"I should get going, but let's get together over the break for lunch or maybe some shopping?" Marley offered, and the girls nodded, and the white blonde smiled and went to pack up her things.
"Hmmm you know...someone has been really moody, ever more than usual." Uo elbowed Tohru softly.
"Huh, who?"
Uo gestured to across the classroom and directed Tohru's attention to Kyo, who watched Marley as she packed her bag and spoke with Yuki.
Tohru wasn't sure what to say. Kyo had been... distant these last few days and seemed like he was frustrated. He barely ate with them and would go straight up to his room or the roof for the past week. Marley had most likely been very busy with Miguel the last week, talking about his and his sister and disappearing most lunch hours to meet up with them.
Tohru knew that Marley and Kyo were close. They always seemed to be sharing lunch, and it wasn't much of a mystery that Kyo spends a lot of his free time at her house in the Sohma Estate.
"I'm sure Kyo's just eager to start summer vacation." Tohru insisted, and Uo and Hana both let out a sigh and shook their heads.
"Well. Maybe we'll get better details when we meet up over the break, what do you think Hanajima?" Uo crossed her arms, and the wave-length reader smiled and said she looked forward to the gossip.
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.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
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"The start of the summer break is so exciting, don't you think?" Tohru and Marley stepped down the main staircase together, the Sohma boys slightly behind them.
"I can barely wait! It's gonna be so much fun!" Marley agreed, the conversation with Uo and Hana behind her and summer vacation to look forward to.
"You two are acting like kids." Kyo shook his head, a frown present on his face.
"You're the most childish one here, stupid cat." Yuki sighed, disagreeing with anything Kyo had to say.
"What? What about me is childish?!" Kyo hissed.
"Oh, Honda-San. Should we get dinner ingredients on the way home?" Yuki ignored the fuming Kyo, which only angered him on more.
"Don't ignore me! Don't pick a fight and run off damn rat!" Kyo leaped down from the stairs and bared his teeth at Yuki, who only gave him a slight glare.
"You getting into every fight possible is what's so childish about you. Stupid cat."
"What are you guys gonna have for dinner?" Marley asked Tohru as the cat and mouse bickered back and forth.
"Ginger pork." A new voice cut through, and they all turned to see a funny sight.
Hatsuharu was standing in the courtyard, directly under the spray of the sprinkler without a care in the world.
"I want to eat ginger pork." Haru spoke as he continued to let the sprinkler spray him.
"Haru... your um... really getting wet..." Marley wondered if he had extra clothes or was planning on just walking around with wet clothes.
"What are you doing?" Kyo asked, raising a brow at his cousin's strange behaviour.
"Nice and cool." Haru said so softly in his usual monotone voice.
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"Oh yeah? It's nice and cool? Well, you spacing out getting soaked by sprinkler looks freaking weird." Kyo sighed as he stepped up and placed a hand on Haru's shoulder. It all seemed calm till a small jet stream of water was shot into Kyo's face.
"Gotcha! Getting soaked is the best on a hot day." Momiji cheered as he held up the small water gun proudly, the very one he had just used on Kyo. Marley giggled at the shocked look on Kyo's face but was in for a surprise herself.
"EYAAAAH" Marley jumped up as cold water hit her in the middle of her back.
"Just trying to cool you off." Miguel smirked as he held up a small bright pink water gun in the shape of a dolphin.
"Miguel! Oh god, that scared me, and it's ice-cold!!" Marley laughed as she tried to pat her back and feel how wet it was.
"Momiji asked me to pick them up. He knew I was coming to pick you up." He mentioned as he pointed the child's toy at Marley again, and she was about to run away but a voice a cut her off.
"You. ANNOYING RABBIT!" Kyo yelled, clearly angry over the uncalled-for water fight.
"Carrot top always like that?" Miguel asked, and Marley just laughed nervously as she scratched her cheek.
"Not always, no." Marley defended as she gave up trying to dry her back, it would naturally dry in the sun anyway. Kyo certainly had his moments, but Marley knew that underneath the brash looking attitude, he was kind and wonderful.
Plus... Momiji did strike first
"Marley-Chan! Tohru!" Momiji cried as he was still held in Kyo's hold.
"Kyo-" Marley's call was cut off by a massive dump of water that took out Kyo and made him let go of Momiji. Miguel and picked up the sprinkler and aimed it towards the two.
"I had to help the little guy; you shouldn't bully those smaller." Miguel used his little Japanese as he glared at Kyo. It was true that Momiji had spent a lot of time at Marley's house and, therefore and a lot of time with Miguel, so maybe the foreigner felt a little protective of his new friend.
"It's okay, Miguel-San! Kyo is just a bully sometimes!" Momiji explained in English, and Kyo understood every word. All that studying and Marley movies were starting to pay off.
"I'm gonna get you." Kyo threatened, and Momiji stuck out his tongue before running off but stopped when he heard Marley giggling at their antics.
"Ah, wasn't he was the dude hanging out at your place." Miguel said as he pointed at Kyo, he couldn't really forget such loud hair colour.
"Ah yes. Kyo, this is my friend from Vegas-" Marley was about to introduce, but Miguel interrupted, saying his name with such speed that even Marley had trouble keeping up.
"Miguel Angel Hernadez Flores."
Kyo's jaw slightly dropped over all the names being thrown at him, he wasn't sure what the American teen had just said to him, but it didn't sound like English or Japanese.
"And Miguel, this is my friend Sohma Kyo! He's Yuki, Haru and Momiji's cousin." Marley introduced the boys, and the two glared at each other, but Marley was blissfully unaware, honestly just happy that two important people in her life were finally meeting.
Hopefully, they become friends!
"Kyo, huh."
See, Miguel knew precisely who Kyo was, and he wasn't sure how to feel now that he was finally meeting. The two long lost friends had been catching up. Marley told him all about the Sohma, and they're personalities along with stories and how excited she was for him to get to know them over the summer break. But there was one name that Miguel heard more than anyone else, and it wasn't hard to ignore the smile in Marley's face when 'Kyo's' name popped up.
Miguel really wanted to know if there was anything between the two but on the other hand. He really didn't want to find out.
Before he could prod anymore, a light voice broke him from his thoughts.
"Its. Its um good to see you again Flores-San, how have you enjoyed your trip." Tohru asked as she stepped up to him, looking up as he easily towered over her.
"Just call me Miguel. Man... This heat is killing me." Miguel's hair was up in a messy bun, trying to keep himself cool.
"Ah Miguel-San, um... ano... um, would water help?" Tohru asked, struggling with Miguel's name as she concentrated on her English.
"Sure... hit me." Miguel brought out still half full bright pink water gun, and Marley jumped away before she could get hit again. Tohru began to panic, practically squeaking and was confused as to what he meant by 'hit me'.
Miguel smirked, finding her flustered state cute and placed the water gun in her hands and stood back with his arms out, gesturing for the brunette to 'cool him down'.
"Do it, Tohru! Get revenge for me!" Marley cheered as she hid by Yuki, who was smiling at her antics.
"Go for it." Miguel had a smile on his face, his dimples on full display. The girl gulped, and her face went hot as she became flustered, jostled the water gun in her hand before she closed her eyes, held out the gun, pulled the trigger, and felt a cold blast of water hit her face.
Tohru had mistakenly faced the pink water pistol towards her rather than away and shot herself.
"Man... that... was... amazing. Nice aim Chica." Miguel laughed, and Tohru watched, not minding as the water dripped down her face as the man's full laugh filled the space. While she hadn't understood a lot of what he said, it certainly sounded nice.
Marley came over and shooed the still laughing Miguel away, taking the water gun from Tohru and emptying it out in the grass before putting it away in her backpack.
"Sorry about him, Tohru. He is a really nice guy, but a bit of a trouble maker." Marley apologized as she handed her a small handkerchief.
"Ah no... That was pretty silly wasn't it? And it was very refreshing." Tohru giggled as she wiped away some of the water.
"We'll get him back later." Marley said in a hushed voice, and Tohru nodded her head, enjoying the fun, and the summer had only just begun. Miguel responded by lightly kicking Marley in the butt, and she let out a squeal causing Miguel again to laugh.
The newcomer felt eyes on him and looked back to see Kyo hung open with his jaw, looking at him with slight disgust. Being one for stirring the pot just a little, Miguel walked up to Marley threw an arm over her shoulder, if only to see what a certain orange headed boy would do.
He watched the boy clench his fist, and Miguel wanted to smirk as if he won some sort of battle, but he looked down at Marley, who hadn't even returned the half-hug or leaned into his hold as she spoke with Haru and Momiji.
It was as if Miguel wasn't even there.
"Momiji, weren't you saying you wanted to go do something?" Marley reminded the short high schooler who jumped 5 feet in the air, excited to get started on Summer vacation.
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. -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
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"Hey! Let's all celebrate our first day of break! There's something I really want to do. This way!" Momiji tugged Tohru along as they entered a large building.
"Oh Miguel! This is your first time in a Japanese department store! They're amazing!" Marley was tugging on his arm, pointing and various things, but Miguel hardly seemed interested.
Miguel had been in Japan for a little under a week now but hadn't really seen much, Marley hadn't had a lot of time to show him around yet, and it didn't help that Miguel didn't seem all that willing to go explore and complained about jet lag.
But Marley was determined for him to enjoy the trip and wanted him to love the place she now called home. Or at least be interested in it.
But his mood had seemed to plummet, and Marley had no clue why.
"It's just like a mall you'd find back home..." He sighed as he let his hair out of the bun, letting his hair fall down to his shoulders.
"Ya, but it's so big! And the entire bottom floor has all these food stalls." Marley talked up the building, but Miguel wasn't really biting.
"I don't really see the big deal..."
Kyo watched as Marley's pointed out things and excitedly spoke with Miguel, pulling on his t-shirt sleeve now and then. It pissed him off, and he didn't understand why she had to be so clingy with him in public. He began to stare at the floor instead, not even really paying attention to the others around him.
"Everything okay?" A voice broke through his thoughts, and he turned to see bright amethyst eyes looking at him with worry.
"huh?"
"You stopped walking..." She pointed out, looked over her shoulder and noticed that he was indeed far behind the group.
"Don't worry about me." Kyo quickly, not realizing at how harsh it came off.
"But I-"
"Go."
"...okay." Marley caught up to Miguel, who had been standing ahead, watching the interaction and waiting. As soon as Marley caught up, the tall man wrapped his arm around and led her forward as her head was turned to the ground.
Kyo wished the ground would swallow him up. He didn't mean to be such an ass.
"Careful." Hatsuharu told him as he combed out his white hair, making sure it was sitting the way he liked it.
"What do you mean?" Kyo asked, turning away and shoving his hands into his pockets.
"just saying. You push her away; you might be pushing her into someone else." he warned before putting away the comb.
"I have no idea what bullshit your spouting over there." Kyo scoffed.
"You guys don't dawdle!" Momiji called from up ahead.
"Somebody in my class told me this place was fun! So, I thought we should all go together!" Momiji announced, still not letting anyone know where he was leading them.
"I can't wait!" Tohru gushed, and soon they turned the corner, and Momiji jumped up and down as he pointed towards the final destination.
"Ah here it is!"
Pictures of ogres and ghosts decorated the storefront, and spooky sounds filled the air. Momiji had brought everyone to a haunted house.
"It looks really fun!" Momiji was bouncing up and down, pure joy surrounding him.
"Oh, a haunted house!" Marley gazed at the display, her heart racing with excitement.
"I'm confused? A haunted house in summer?" Miguel raised a brow, but Marley jumped up and realized she could answer this.
"Oh! Actually, here in Japan, haunted houses are very popular in the summertime. It's to do with doing a 'test of courage' and its thought that being scared gives you a chill and is a way to keep cool in the hot summer.." The girl explained as she put her hands on her hips. Miguel didn't really seem all that impressed, but Marley certainly seemed proud of herself. She had asked the same question last year and had to look it up on the internet.
"Isn't it exciting?! Let's go!" Momiji cheered as he was ready to storm forward.
"Wait a second, brat!" Kyo called out, stopping Momiji by the shoulder.
"Let's get everyone s opinion before we go waltzing in there... for example Marley-San and Honda-San..." Yuki gestured to the two girls, but Marley was smiling brightly at the haunted house while Tohru was shaking, clearly afraid of going into the haunted attraction.
"She's speechless."
"Ah, Tohru, do you not like haunted houses?" Marley asked as she looked over at her friend.
"She's terrified. Even I can tell. Let's go do something else." Miguel shrugged, not all excited about a haunted house in the summertime, but it seemed wrong.
"okay. Hey, there was a charming café we passed by." Marley had no problem doing something else, especially if Tohru wasn't comfortable.
"I'll do it! I will overcome my fears!" Tohru declared with a determined look on her face, even though she was still clearly scared.
"Are you sure? You don't have to Tohru." Marley tried to maybe talk her out of it, but it seemed her mind was made up.
"I will go in! This is me, going in! Fight! I respectfully ask permission to enter!" Tohru told the ticket counter, and Momiji was cheering, excited that everyone was going to go in.
"Here, take my hand. We'll do this together." Marley offered up her hand to Tohru before they even entered. Tohru was shaking and thanked Marley a thousand times as they held hands and walked into the dark attraction.
Only thirty seconds in and Marley's hand was suffering under Tohru's grip. Momiji and Haru were upfront, not scared of the haunted house at all. Tohru and Marley were in the middle with the rest of the boys bringing up the rear. Miguel was inspecting a puppet that looked like it came from the movie the ring.
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"It'll be fine Tohru, I'm right here. And it's all props, crafts, paper mache." Marley spoke too soon because the next haunt came in the form of one of Marley's greatest fear.
A snake.
A giant puppet white snake seemed to 'slither' out of the shadows and popped into Marley's face. The white-blonde froze and started at it was like her soul left her body, her eyes glazed over, and she began to fall to the floor.
"Marley!" Everyone seemed to call out, but no one could reach her before she crumpled to the tile floor.
"Marley-" Both Yuki and Kyo moved forward at the same time and freezing when they bumped into each other.
"What the hell? Don't touch me!" Kyo hissed.
"As if I would touch an idiot on purpose. Your stupidity would rub off on me. Your vulgarity too." Yuki spat
"I ain't stupid or vulgar! You're the real horror show here! Why don't you just leave." Kyo yelled
"Probably not the best time, you two." Haru told them, and two rivals stopped and looked over at Marley, who was covering her face, and Miguel was glaring at the boys who had just been arguing.
"You were standing right there?! Why'd you let her fall!" Miguel was scolding the Sohma boys as he rushed over and looked over Marley, who was already coming too, but Miguel told her to be careful.
Marley was muttering. It wasn't Japanese or English, so the boys assumed it was her first language, clearly shaken up by the spook.
"it's just a fake one, Marley-Chan. It's okay." Momiji tried to comfort, but Marley was out of it. Miguel sighed and picked up the girl bridal style.
"Momiji, you're in charge of Tohru." Miguel told him as he adjusted a bit and was careful with carrying his friend, still annoyed with the boys who had been standing right there.
Little did Miguel know that had the Sohma boys reached out and caught Marley, they would have 'poofed' into their Zodiac forms, and that would have been a whole other problem.
"Aye Aye! Hold my hand, Tohru! We'll talk together!" Momiji took Tohru's hand, promising he'd look after her.
"You two need to learn how to treat girls! For shame!" The young boy scolded his cousins as he marched off with Tohru, who was still shaking over the house's haunts.
The two actually went quiet, looking to another and then away.
"Am I too heavy?" Marley asked as she looked up at her friend. He looked so different, it wasn't just his longer hair or his slightly bigger build. It was something more. They had been apart for a little under 2 years, but it didn't feel like it.
"Nah. Reminds of that night at E-man's place, you took part in shots and then I had to carry you home." He brought, slightly smirking as he remembered Marley's dopey face that night as they hung out with his group of friends.
"Oh god, don't remind me." Marley covered her face, more shameful than before, while Miguel chuckled, continuing to walk through the house with Marley in his arms.
"Are you alright, Marley-Chan?" Tohru opened her eyes, her concern for her friend more potent than her fear.
"Yes, I'm sorry, Tohru. I hope I didn't frighten you." the girl sighed, embarrassed over the turn of events. She was okay with scary stuff to a certain point, but snakes would always be too much for her.
"No! I just hope you're alright." Tohru shook her head, yes, she was still frightened, but Marley was more of a concern right now.
"We'll go back and head out the way we came, I want to get her some fresh air." Miguel told Momiji, knowing that he knew enough English to understand.
"Miguel, I'm fine."
"You fainted. I'm taking you out." Miguel said, leaving no room to argue.
"I'll come too." Momiji insisted, and Marley shook her head.
"No! I don't want you to miss this. Enjoy the haunted house with everyone." Marley patted his head, not wanting to ruin his fun because of her own irrational fears. She felt terrible enough.
Momiji pouted but said that he would enjoy it on her behalf since Marley herself couldn't finish. Marley said that they would meet the others in the hall as Miguel carried her off. The two received a few looks as Miguel came out carrying Marley, but he continued on and walked over a bench to put her down.
"I'll go grab you some water."
"Wait I'm fine-" but he was already gone.
Marley wondered if he even had any yen on him. She didn't have too much time to think about til she was met with blazing orange eyes staring into hers.
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"Yo."
"Kyo? Did you finish the haunted house already?" Marley asked as she looked around for everyone else but he was alone.
"Haru ripped off the head of a prop, and now they're in the office." He shrugged
"What?!"
"It'll be fine. Probably just a slap on the wrist or something, I doubt Haru even cares." Kyo didn't seem concerned for them at all as he sat down on the mall bench next to her.
"So you really hate snakes... Don't you?" Kyo asked, remembering how just the snake on the TV last week was enough to make Marley leave a room.
"It's not that. I don't hate snakes They're actually kind of beautiful in their way I just... when I see one I-"
"Pass out?" Kyo finished for her, and the girl let out a sigh and covered her face again, ashamed.
"Why?" The boy asked, genuinely wondering how something like snakes seems to have such an effect on someone who appeared to be quite fearless when it came to most things. The haunted house hadn't seemed to phase her until it came to the large fake snake.
Marley looked at him, and he just waited, looking at her with eyes that reminded her of marigolds. Vibrant and warm and made her feel right at home.
"Um... Well. When I was a kid. Back when I lived in India. I was playing in the fields behind the house." Marley fidgeted with her fingers, playing with one of her rings as she thought back to how this fear of hers began.
A young Marley ran through fields, her bare feet enjoying the fresh dirt. Her long-braided hair flew behind her as she ran in out of the tall golden wheat fields.
A sharp yelp of an animal brought the girl out her of fantasies, and she stopped moving, looking around to see if she could tell where the sound had come from. Her large curious eyes searched, and she peeked around corners.
Moving the wheatgrass with her little hand, she came across a sight that would haunt her.
A bottom part of a brown and white goat lay, tangled in something patterned with golds, browns and blacks. The thick rope was wrapped around the goat's body and legs. Marley's eyes travelled up to where the goats' upper body would be was the stretched-out jaws of the snake. Engulfing the small goat.
Young Marley let out a shrill scream and ran all the way back to her great grandmother's house, crying into her lap about what she had seen. That image stayed with her for many nightmares, and soon instead of the goat's body, Marley would envision her own. Strangled by the snakes' strong body and eaten alive by its jaws.
"..."
"I know... it's stupid." Marley buried her face in her hands, not wanting to see Kyo's judgmental eyes.
"Are you kidding me?! That's terrifying! Your tryna give me nightmares!" Kyo groaned, really not expecting that kind of story and not blaming Marley for her reaction.
"Sorry! I really didn't mean to! I told Mama once, and she laughed and called me silly..." Marley admitted, she really thought that if her Mama didn't find her story all that scary, then surely Kyo wouldn't. But maybe it just took a lot scare, Chandra Bakshi, she was the toughest, strongest woman Marley had ever known.
"Where'd he go?" Kyo now acknowledging that Marley's foreign friend was nowhere to be seen.
"I think he went to go buy me a drink." Marley looked around, but the tall man was nowhere to be seen.
"What do you think of Miguel? Isn't he fun?" Marley thought back to the small water fight antics that had taken place after school. It sure seemed like fun to her.
"HAH?"
"I just thought that you two might get along." Marley smiled, confident that the boys would become quick friends.
"Why?" Kyo glared at the clean mall tile floor, and Marley tilted her head slightly.
"Do you not like him?" Marley asked, genuinely confused over the animosity she was sensing from Kyo.
"I-... It's not that... why does it matter anyway? I don't need to be friends with your boyfriend." Kyo practically spat as he stood up.
"What?" Marley's jaw dropped, not understanding where Kyo would get that from.
"I mean, you're always... hugging him and whatever. You're not very subtle." Kyo turned his back and started to walk away, and the white-blonde eagerly called out for him.
"Miguel is NOT my boyfriend." Marley practically jumped up from her seat on the bench, grabbing Kyo by his arm before he got too far out of her reach.
"Trust me, if I could hug you, I would do it every time I see you." Marley insisted, and Kyo thought his heart was going to jump out of his chest at the bold statement, his jaw dropped, and his face went red. All he could see was Marley's sparkling amethyst eyes framed by her thick eyelashes, her full lips slightly pouted. Kyo finally had to turn his head and stared at the tile floor cause his heart couldn't take much more.
But he didn't leave her hold.
"Don't... You can't say things like that..." Kyo brought his free hand to his face. Honestly not trusting the words that could jump out.
The hell is happening to me?
"Why not? I mean, I wouldn't do it if you... Didn't want me too." Marley realized that maybe... Kyo might not want her to touch him in the first place. A sharp sting hit her, and she let her fingers slide away from Kyo's wrist, her nails brushing against his beads.
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"I did-" Kyo was interrupted by Momiji, who was quick to grab Marley's hands and looked up at with worry.
"Marley-Chan! Are you okay, right!?"
"I'm fine, Momiji. Is everything okay with the Haru and the mall staff?" Marley asked as she fixed a piece of Momiji's hair. The boy told her that everything was fine and taken care of.
"Let's all go to Shigure's for dinner!" Momiji jumped up and down, excited to eat with his friends.
"Ginger pork." Hatsuharu gave his input again.
"Sorry Momiji, I can't tag along." Marley apologized, and he stared up at her with his big brown eyes.
"Aww, but Marley-Chan!" Momiji whined as he pulled on Marley's skirt. Marley would if she could, but she was going to the hospital with Hatori and Hiro to pick up Isuzu. Even Momiji's large chocolate puppy eyes would stop her from being at her friends' side.
"Ya, brat. She said she can't. Don't be a baby." Kyo scolded, irritated that there always seem to be someone interrupting. Miguel finaly came back, a small water bottle in hand and gave it to Marley.
"Ginger Pork." Haru said in English this time, and this made Miguel perk up.
"Aww but don't you want Marley-Chan to come too, Kyo-Kun?" Momiji asked, and Kyo felt like he had been put on the spot. Again.
"What?! The hell do I-"
"Hey, is it alright if I come? Marley tells me that Tohru's cooking can't be beaten." Miguel asked. He really liked the sound of ginger pork, and he liked hanging out with Haru and Momiji.
Momiji looked ready to try and talk Marley into tagging along too, but her phone went off, and she excused herself to answer it.
+ Incoming Call from Hiro +
"Hello?"
"Where are you?! You said you were coming to get Rin. I've got the flowers..." Hiro sounded annoyed on the other end, and Marley hoped they hadn't been waiting for too long.
"AH Thank you so much! Okay. I'm sorry, I'm on the way." Marley apologized to the group for the rushed goodbye and ran off. Heading towards the hospital, excited that her friend finally got to come home.
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.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
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The sun had gone down, the day had come to an end. But Marley was still full of energy.
"aww come on, Zuzu! Let me seee!" Marley insisted, her curiosity bursting at what her friend was hiding form her.
"No. It's not done..." Isuzu kept her sketchbook far from Marley, who just pouted. Hiro had spent dinner with her and Isuzu but had left after dessert.
Marley had set up the guest room for Isuzu as she knew that there was no way that Isuzu was going to Kagura's tonight. She had tried to talk her friend into it, mentioning that they were excited to have her back home, but Isuzu would not budge.
A small part of Marley couldn't deny that she was happy that Isuzu wanted to be here. She really felt like the sister Marley never had.
Hatori had to go and lets Kagura and her mother know, and she hoped it hadn't been too awkward or that their feelings weren't hurt.
They were watching a movie that had been playing on TV, some sort of sci-fi move but to be honest, Marley wasn't really paying attention. Her mind was still on the trip to the mall and the odd conversation she had with Kyo, leaving her feeling somewhat self-conscious.
"Hey? Do you think I'm too affectionate?" Marley asked as she thought back to something that Kyo had said.
"You're just that type of person." Isuzu didn't even look away from the screen. Marley wasn't sure how to take that. Was it a bad thing?
"Well Kyo thought that I was too … touchy with Miguel and... I dunno." This made Isuzu turn away to watch Marley instead of the movie.
"Was he mad about it?" She asked. Isuzu had questions about Marley's relationship with Kyo. A large part of her wished that she could steer Marley away from the Cat of the Zodiac, knowing that it couldn't end well, but she wasn't sure how to go about it.
"I don't think he was mad?" Marley thought back. Kyo had seemed... annoyed. Or hurt somehow.
"Hmmm..." Isuzu's eyes watched Marley's every movement, she was looking thoughtfully into her cup of chai, her hands playing with her hair.
"Why should Kyo care about how touchy you are with Miguel." She challenged.
"He thought that Miguel was my boyfriend." Marley mentioned, remembering how he had almost accused her of having a boyfriend and all she wanted to do was yell that it wasn't true.
"Did that bother you?" Isuzu pushed.
Yes
It had bothered Marley... but not because that she would be ashamed to have Miguel as a boyfriend. But... then why did it matter?
The sci-fi movie played on in the background, forgotten by both girls who had moved onto more pressing matters at hand. Isuzu wanted to know. Did she have to worry about Kyo and Marley?
"I-…" Marley stopped to try and think, but Isuzu jumped on her with another question.
"Do you ….. have feelings for Kyo?" Isuzu finally asked the question that she had been wondering. She needed to know so she could protect Marley. Because no good could come from this.
"I mean I.- he- Kyo.-.." Even saying his name, Marley found herself smiling and then, she really began to think about the saffron haired boy.
His awkward smile when he was embarrassed. The fire in his eyes when he spoke about his martial arts study. His... ugly cargo pants that he somehow made look good. The way he stood by her side even when she cried over something that many would consider silly.
How worried he had been after the incident with Haru in the classroom. Marley always looked forward to Kyo showing up, and whenever they watched movies together, he had so many questions, and Marley had fun watching him enjoy them. The way his eyes would widen over special effects or shout at characters for making certain choices. How gentle he was.
Her hands went to the black string holding her locket. It was the one that Kyo had put the pendant on. She remembered when he put it on her in the hallway of Shigure's home.
.
Kyo lifted the necklace over Marley's head, the locket fell to the center Marley's chest, and she held it in place, delicately tracing the silver pendant. Kyo fingers gently tied the thin black string, his fingers lightly brushed against the nape of her neck, careful not to touch the bandages.
"There, should do for now," Kyo said as he finished the knot. Marley turned back around and smiled at Kyo, and he couldn't help but notice the small blush on her cheeks in the low light of the hallway or the way her large eyes seemed to slightly sparkle like gemstones and Kyo felt his breath get caught in his throat, his own face going slightly red.
"It's perfect. Thank you." Marley tucked a stray hair behind her ear, and Kyo just rubbed the back of his neck, thinking of what more he could say to those bright amethyst eyes without looking like an idiot.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Marley reached for the marigold that was still neatly behind her ear and pulled it out, comparing the warm orange petals to Kyo's saffron locks.
"Pretty close actually, though I think I have to admit... your hair is much prettier." Marley marvelled as she tucked the stem carefully behind Kyo's right ear and smiled. She was about to bring her hand back, but Kyo caught her hand in his, gently holding it in place next to his cheek. The girl raised an eyebrow at the boy's unusual behaviour but didn't want to ruin the moment and found herself gently laying her palm on his face. Feeling like time had stopped, and the simplest movement could ruin it.
Saffron eyes looked into hers with so much gentleness and care that she was brought back to the night before, where he had called out her name with such care, and she hoped he would say it more. The way he had started to embrace her, carefully cradling the back of her head.
"You really are something else..." He mused as he tilted his head to the side and smiled at her, a genuine smile that didn't grace Kyo's face enough, and it was truly a shame because that smile made her heart race in the best of ways.
.
"Oh..." Marley let out the smallest sound as she held a hand over her heart, her face flushing over the memory. Isuzu watched as Marley's face softly blushed and the gentle smile that graced her lips.
"Look. Whatever your feeling. Don't." Isuzu ordered, and Marley came right out of her contemplating and stared at Isuzu, a flash of hurt in her eyes. Isuzu could almost hear the shatter of her heart, but this was the best way. It was the only way.
"I know you don't want to hear it, but he's a Zodiac Member. It'll be nothing but trouble. I don't know what's going on, but you need to stop. You two can't be together." Isuzu wished she had better words; she struggled with her own heart, and that state it was in. And she didn't want Marley to get hurt. Not by Kyo. Not by Akito. Not by anyone.
But Isuzu's words cut deep. Marley wasn't a Zodiac member. She was the outsider who didn't belong. Marley doubted Kyo even saw her that way. The foreigner knew that Kyo thought that she was weird and childish. He probably saw her as annoying, and apparently, he also thought she was too affectionate. A sharp feeling settled in her chest.
"Don't worry... I doubt he sees me like that anyway." Marley tried to joke, waving off Isuzu's worry.
"And besides... I pretty sure Kagura shove my body into oncoming traffic." Marley smiled, and the Zodiac Member rolled her eyes. That was something else that hurt. Kyo had someone like Kagura who loved him. Who could understand him in ways Marley could never, and she was small and cute.
And Kagura would be able to hold him.
"I'm going to bed... okay... goodnight." Marley choked out, pulling together a smile as she left the room. Isuzu knew that Marley was upset but didn't feel like she had the right to comfort her. Especially since she was the one who had given the girl the wake-up call. Whatever it took. Isuzu would do it.
Marley didn't even bother washing her face or change into PJs. She just dropped on her bed.
"You two can't be together."
Those words seem to echo off the wall, and Marley's mind was racing. Or maybe it was her heart. Whatever it was, she could hear a pounding as she curled into herself.
Oh... oh, no...
Dammit
Her heart, which had just been elated moments ago and gone through a 180 shifted, and Marley felt like she lost something before even getting a chance.
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To be Continued
Notes:
Song: KPOP song: Hip - MAMAMOO (watched the choreo minny park x lia kim)
BOLD - speaking in English
Sorry, can't think of any other note ATM
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Guys... its been 1 years since I started writing this Fruits Basket Fan Fiction... 1 year and more than 300,000 words later... and ... are we even half way? No, I don't think so XD.
Thank you so much for the reviews! I am so grateful and it really just makes my heart soar when I get a notification. Ya'll make me so happy.
I changed a lot in this chapter and looking forward to what is to come. Summer vacation is finally here and ... WOW... wow.
Wow... so I really didn't expect Marley to make any of those realizations til later but it just seemed to flow well with having Isuzu there and being worried and what not.
Soooooooo, how is this going to proceed hmmmmmm.
ANd Kyo... man... you so dense... like so is Marley sometimes when it comes to herself but... Kyo... come on.
Miguel might have actually helped these two along and have no clue... how is he gonna feel about it?
Isuzu... I know you have good intentions at heart but, wow. That sharp of tongue of her can really do some damage.
Thank you again! Hope you liked it and please let me know your thoughts, it really does help to motivate me.
and ALSO... I really would like to get art with Marley commissioned but if you guys have any ideas or certain scenes you want brought to life then please DM me.
