Kim

Dawn broke and I felt my body stretch with contempt as the early morning sunrise warmed my face. Ears twitching, I yawned and heard my body pop.
"Oh that felt nice~"
My morning routine started by grooming myself and fixating my hair fashionably to hide my ears and choosing a cute burette for the day.
"I wore the satin yesterday, today I'm feeling sassy," among the many burette's I owned and made, I picked out the blue-jeaned hat with red trim. "This should be good for the day." Making sure no tears were visible and getting my uniform, I pulled out a red ribbon to tie around my waist to at least match the trim of my beret. "I wish I could change the color of these banana dresses." Sulking to wear such a color unbecoming of me, getting ready was tranquil until I felt something was a little off. "Did Kasumi ever come home?"
After getting ready and heading down to the kitchen to find clean dinner plates done I felt slightly relieved but felt a thump beneath the floor and jumped a little.
"What was that?!"
If I had a tail it probably would be frazzled and puffed up like a static marshmallow!
"No way," not thinking it would be justified, but I headed to the stairs leading down into the dojo and the moment I opened the door I could hear Kasumi fighting. Slowly peeking and seeing something straight out of a kung fu movie, Grimmjow and Kasumi were going at it without any equipment on and holding shinai's.

"Fix your posture and lower those shoulders, otherwise you'll just fall victim to an attack." Grimmjow barked his orders and I watched with amazement to her reaction.
I haven't seen her train this rough since she finished her private tutoring years back. She was drenched in sweat, her breathing haggard, hair was completely disheveled. She launched at him without so much as a warning and he actually fended her off with merely one hand!

"Better, but it can use more improvement."

"Right," breathing hard and backing up, she took her stance again and he took his.

"Now come at me as if trying to kill," his eyes narrowed and I watched as he planted his feet, Kasumi took a sharp breath in and launched with everything she had and clashed against his shinai. I could see both their muscles flex and the groan off the shinai, this was truly a remarkable match. "Now that's improvement," he complimented.
Watching the two for that moment made me see something I never witnessed before. Respect? Admiration perhaps? Whatever the case I figured the two would be starving before long and headed back up to make an easy breakfast. I had to head to the school early to prepare some of the graduation decorum being used at the ball and I was not going to let an amateur ruin anything.

*phone rings*
Swiftly getting out my phone and seeing the caller ID, I answered professionally. "Kim speaking," it was Mrs. Hitachiin on the line, I wonder what she needed this early?

"Morning darling, can I bother you a moment? Of course I can," she laughed. "I need you to come by the house today and look over your work. The designs were simply stunning for this catwalk, but I need to modify a few to tailor to the models. Will you come by the house and do this for me before I head out to the show?"

"Of course, when shall I be over there?" Pulling out my pocket planner, she seemed really pleased on the phone.

"Let's make it for 9—the show starts around 12 but I want to be sure there is plenty of time for you to work on the dresses. I do believe my boys should be home as well, they have no prior arrangements as far as I am aware of this early in the morning."

"…I'll be there to make the modifications, thank you for using my designs for your show." dismissing the fact Kaoru would be there, I tried playing it off that it was no big deal. I never want their mother to worry over our relationship, especially because I work for her now and it would be extremely awkward.
"I will be over then in a few as I finish up here at home. There's also a few design ideas I wish to ask your opinion on for our ball theme. Your input would be greatly appreciated."

"I would love to darling. Bring whatever it is over and let me have a look see."
Appreciating that and hanging up the phone to plan my morning, I finished getting ready and grabbed my projects and headed down to get the two warriors downstairs to come up and eat. Heading down to the dojo to call them up for breakfast I found both of them passed out on the floor. Seems they finally hit their wall on stamina and knocked out.
"Seriously you guys, how long were you two even down here for?" I sighed. "Though this is an opportune time to get measurements…" Shrugging my shoulders and measuring a knocked out Grimmjow while I had the chance, I left a note for the two and headed out.

~OoOoO~

The mansion, like any other rich oriented family, was over the top with décor. The moment I passed the fountain I happened to get a glimpse of someone in the window off to my right. My breath hitched when I found Kaoru there…but not alone. He was with a rather cute looking girl and laughing with her about something with a sparkle to his eyes. I wished it was Hikaru I was seeing, I really wish it were, because I watched as Kaoru brought the girls face to his and kissed her.
A feeling like no other crept inside my chest and burned. I felt like running back home, but my job was here and there was so much to do. I straightened up, faced what was ahead of me and continued walking while holding back my tears. But the throbbing pain in my chest was fresh and searing. Even my ears felt like they were on fire and it took everything I had not to turn the car around and peel out of the driveway.
Getting out and holding the folder of all the designs, I took a deep breath in and calmed myself before facing Mrs. Hitachiin.

"Ah, Kim darling," hearing my name and facing Mrs. Hitachiin, she wrapped her delicate hands around my shoulders and guided me into the dining hall where the models waited and an entire team fashioning the entire set was getting them ready. Feeling better working rather than facing Kaoru, I smiled as I faced her.
"My dear these will be the two I need tending to in size, seems the dear had a little too much fun drinking and gained some water weight."

"Not an issue," getting straight to it with a hop in my step, the team around me watched as I stitched and threading effortlessly without stopping and bunched the material in a way to hide the new marks.
Once the models for the show were done and cared for I showed Mrs. Hitachiin my ideas for the ball and she loved the ideas and inserted her own delicate features into the mix. She was wanting to see it even if just for a moment and clapped her hands to have hundreds of fabric come flying towards her with several woman ready to be models. I found two models that were similar in size to Kasumi and I—even with our muscle definition—and started tailoring the dresses onto them and adjusting everything. The silk was the hardest to deal with for my dress since I wanted this to really flow like seeing water rippling down the dress. It was such a challenge that I enjoyed every second of it to the brim. Kasumi's was the most challenging since I wanted the dress to ripple and change in color from black to a sparkling red. I found the inspiration from a beach with red water and black sand and just had to incorporate the theme into the dress somehow. Mine was of similar taste but I loved the vibrancy of the ocean at night with the electrifying bioluminescence in the tropics. The glowing in the water when disturbed matched my emotions perfectly and I wanted to wear that.

"Such vibrant ideas my dear, I love the theme of the ball and this will surely be an attractive display of your work."

"That's the idea. And I did get some measurements for a possible matching outfit to Kasumi's dress. I was wondering if you would be willing to take on the venture?"

"Oh," her excitement not withdrawn as she took the notes I made of Grimmjow, she was eager. "Is her partner not going to be Kyoya?" She asked with a confused expression.

"I'm thinking Kasumi will have a different escort to the ball." Knowing enough of her troubles lately and not wanting to create matching outfits for them, the host club members were all going to have different outfits anyhow. Tamaki is in charge of that.

"I see. Then is her escort a rugged sort or sophisticated? This is quite important as I will be needing some visual to create this masterpiece."

"I'd say slightly rugged but strangely mature. Kind of a wild beast needing to be tamed."

"How feisty." She giggled and was amusing her imagination when she gasped lightly in a motherly tone. "Kaoru dear," hearing his name and turning so quick to find him with the girl I saw, my chest clenched and I focused back onto my dresses. "Hello Anne, are you here again for the meeting about the ball?"

"Yes ma'am," her lilting voice even sounded cute. Is this where his attention drew to? She looked like a mouse, short hair and a very small frame compared to mine. Normal ears too…
"Oh, is that Kim?" Seeing me and hearing Kaoru's surprised reaction and watching as he took a side-step away from her, my heart ached. Rather than show me truthfully or honing up to his actions he would rather try and hide it. "Is that the dress your working on for the ball?" She came over merrily without a care in the world to what she's doing and I felt my body tense.

"Yes," keeping a cool face and trying not to stab her with the needle, she gazed upon my work like a little girl in a princess store.

"This is wonderful! Kaoru don't you think this is simply beautiful?" First name basis…they must have been at this for some time then.

"Um, Anne," he approached slowly with awkwardness and caught my eyes. "Kim," I stopped him there and motioned towards the mouse-girl.

"What size are you," asking her directly, her face lit up and she gave me all her measurements. "With this there is a dress back at the school I have that will fit you. Alterations will be needed, so please come by the club room to be fitted."

"Are you really allowing me to wear one of your dresses?!"

"Of course, any girl would want a dress suitable to dance in with someone they like." Jabbing at him and seeing the hurt on his face, it mattered not. "I'll be waiting for you back at school and getting everything sorted."

"Oh my gods thank you!" Leaping on me with glee and absolute joy, I saw Mrs. Hitachiin's face crinkle with confusion and just closed off my feelings right here and now.
After watching her leave and finishing my ideas and dresses for Kasumi and I to wear, it was getting late and I needed to head out.

"Thank you for all your input Mrs. Hitachiin, this was very productive for me."

"I must thank you dear for coming on such short notice. I will have this suit finished in a timely matter and have one of my men send it to you personally."

"That means a lot to me, thank you."
Taking leave and passing Kaoru waiting by the door without Anne, he tried speaking but I quickened my pace to get away.

"Kim, please wait." Following me out and hearing such a desperate plea in his voice made my face contort angrily.

"I don't want to speak with you." My pace quicker, he caught up and took hold of my arm. "Let go of me," I spat.

"Just listen to me," he pleaded.

"No!" Ripping my arm away from him and glaring, he seemed hurt by my actions. "Why do you look like the victim in this? I just saw you with that girl! It would not have made me so angry if you two were just talking, but you even kissed her!" My words were seething. I couldn't even hold back. "If you wanted to break up with me then you should have done it last we talked. But instead I find you cheating on me rather than letting me go! What the hell is the matter with you? Why all the secrecy? I would have been fine with it if you just spoke with me."

"Kim please listen to what I have to say," he pleaded once more. His fervent reach made me angry and I slapped his hand away without mercy.

"No…I don't want to hear your excuses. This is over between us Kaoru. I'm not standing for this…" he looked shocked, but then he simply accepted it without another word and deep down I wanted him to hold me and say it wasn't over between us. But his acceptance was the final line. Turning my back on him and getting in the car, I drove around town rather than head to school and I cried. Damn it all I cried and sobbed so ugly I had to blast the radio on to drown it out.

This was the first time I ever broke up with someone, in fact, this was my first relationship in my life of freedom from what I was really set forth to do with my life. My feelings were boiling over and I pulled over to an empty lot and threw my hat to the ground and crumpled underneath myself and let out my emotions in heaving sobs. These feelings were dreadful. What right did he have to put me through this and act like he was the victim in this? Where did we go wrong in our relationship to invoke cheating? My ears folded back against my head and I could barely see through the torrential sobs that I knew my make-up was all over my face. My heaving cries carried over and echoed all around me and I cared not who would hear or see me at this point. It felt good letting it all out. My chest was feeling lighter with each cry and I could feel myself getting put back together like a puzzle piece that had gone missing. If this pain is something I would have to go through each time I go out with someone, I rather be the sideline girl and watch others be in love and never be this hurt again.
When thinking like this I saw Kasumi's face flash in my mind and thought about her night with Kyoya when she came back crying. Is she going through this? Have we cared for and loved these guys this much just for them to hurt us like this? If I had known better when the signs were there I would have never tried putting them together and I would have stayed clear from the twins. Sure they are still my fancy and kind and funny, but I should have been more focused on my schoolwork and never get myself or Kasumi involved in love. We were so better off…I should have just stayed focused as her friend and caretaker. My life is such a mess and I was given purpose for a reason. Sure it got out of hand down the line but dammit all this was what I was made for!
"I should have never fallen for him…we should have never fallen for any kind of guy if this was going to be the outcome." I stayed in the car for a long while sobbing before even attempting to go home and forget school and gave everything a long thought.