Part Two: His Secret

Chapter Eight: Wots… uh the deal

The weekend had come around again and while this week had been a marked improvement in terms of schoolwork, Tai Kamiya had found himself with bigger things to worry about. The whole Kari situation having been increasingly playing on his mind these past seven days. To the point that numerous times he'd been so lost in thought over her that he'd missed several minutes of the outside world. Needless to say, the occasions when it had occurred in class or on the soccer field had got him into trouble. Not only had it become a real inconvenience, but worse yet, he was starting to worry about himself and his feelings. Only so much could be put down to being a caring and concerned brother. Especially when you had sat in the lunchroom the previous day and compared each of the girls looks to those of your sister; none had bested her.

Tai sat back on his bed and watched as the sister in question rifled through his wardrobe. Today was Saturday, the day on which Teiko had arranged their date. However, as the week had progressed he had come to view it more like his potential salvation. If anything could dispel the feelings he may or may not be having, it would be a date with a pretty, fun-loving girl like her. Unfortunately, Kari had taken a vested interest in the outcome and had marched him back into his bedroom after he had emerged wearing something she deemed 'unsuitable'. She had then proceeded to delve into his wardrobe. With the only small mercy being that she had not demanded he strip… at least not yet.

"Try these on," Kari said as he held out a pair of black jeans.

Tai looked between his sister and the article of clothing. "Are you going to step outside while I do?" he asked, already guessing the answer.

"Nope. It'll take far too long if I have to keep going in and out while you try things on."

He looked her in the eyes and met with an uncompromising stare. When had she become so accretive? Groaning, he stood up and snatched the jeans from her. Not bothering to ask her to turn around while he pulled off the blue pair he currently wore and changed into the black ones. Like a lioness circling her pray, Kari stalked around him, eyes roving up and down. He watched her pause to consider for a moment before she let out a, "hmmm," sound and then went back to his closet.

"We really need to update your wardrobe, Brother," she declared, as she pulled out various articles of upper body attire to glance at in the light, before putting them back.

"What's wrong with it" he retorted.

"It's mostly sporty clothing and blue jeans. I'm lucky it's only a fair you're going to. Otherwise, I'd probably have to drag you out for an emergency shopping trip."

He gave her a grumpy pout when she next turned around, "there's nothing wrong with sporty stuff!"

Kari pulled out a casual short-sleeved red and black checked shirt with a grey hood. "There's plenty wrong with it if you're going somewhere other than the gym or to play soccer," she replied, stepping forward and holding the shirt up against his body. "Next time we have money, I'm taking you clothes shopping."

"You're beginning to sound like mom."

Kari gave him one of what was quickly becoming a trademark devilish smile. "Mom would never take you into if you're a good boy."

Tai froze at the thought of his sister leading him around her favourite store and picking out a new wardrobe for him. She wouldn't... his chocolate eyes met those bright reddish-brown orbs and he saw the gleam in them... she would. "Good thing you've pre-warned me then so I know not to go into town with you again."

"I know you too well, Tai Kamiya. The promise of a good meal will have you begging me to take you shopping," Kari replied before shooting him another evil look. "Now lose the t-shirt."

Tai complied without protest. Why was he letting her boss him around like this? Internally he sighed. Kari was enjoying herself and for some reason, he could not take that away from her. In fact, he could not help but feel that he would do whatever she asked if it would make her happy. Even allowing her to drag him round while she dressed him like she would a doll. Though he had no intention of telling her that and losing out on one of her home-cooked dinners. He frowned internally. Why did he feel this way?

"Arms up," Kari commanded as she stepped behind him, shirt in hand.

Tai again did so without question and felt the shirt being slipped over each arm in turn. "I can do this myself, you know," he uttered, feeling the need to at least say something.

"You already did and looked a mess," his sister retorted as she stepped around him and began pressing the studs of the shirt closed. "Besides, this way is much more fun."

"For you maybe."

She finished with the shirt and took a step back. Tai watched her cock her head in contemplation. "Now what?" he asked, wondering what else she could possibly do.

"I'm pondering whether or not I should rip those jeans," she replied offhandedly.

Tai looked at her with a mixture of intrigue and horror, "what!"

"So they look like these," Kari said, indicated the black jeans that she was wearing. "I couldn't afford to buy a pair like this, so I bought a cheap plain pair and did it myself. It's not hard."

"It's not exactly my style, Kari."

"True, but it is Teiko's. And I'll bet that she'll appreciate you making the effort. You want this to go well, don't you?"

He thought for a moment. Teiko's style certainly seemed to be along similar lines to that of his sister's new one. It appeared that from only a brief encounter, Kari had a firmer grasp on his friend than he did. That and she was right. He did want this to go well… needed it to go well. He shook his head. Why did he get the feeling that at some unknown point further down the line he was going to regret this? "You're the boss, Sis."

Kari flashed him a wicked smile and he could see the evil glint in her eyes. "Take them off and I'll be back with my stuff."

She left the room, leaving Tai alone to take off the jeans. He turned them over in his hands. It was not as if they were his favourite pair. In fact, he barely wore them. Resuming his position on the bed, he waited for Kari to return. After a few minutes, she came back with a thick sheet of cardboard and a Stanley knife. With a hint reluctance, he held the jeans out to her. His sister took them from his outstretched hand and he watched as she got to work. After about fifteen minutes, Kari stood up from the floor and removed the sheet of cardboard from the second leg.

"What do you think?" she asked, holding them up for him to appraise.

Had Tai not just watched his sister work on them, he would have said the jeans had been bought like that. Two diagonal slashes had been cut into the right leg. While the left had one on the lower half, the knee cut open and frayed, plus a large patch where she'd scratched the surface of the denim but not cut all the way through on the upper section.

"That you might want to consider some sort of career doing this sort of thing."

She smiled at him, "nah, this is defiantly just a hobby. Although I'll admit I'm kind of jealous because they've turned out better than my own." Kari held them out beside her own so that he could see the difference. "Do you like them?"

"I think they might actually grow on me," he replied truthfully. While he had never pictured himself wearing something like that, he did not find them objectionable.

He held out a hand as he stood up and took the jeans from Kari. Having to take care to avoid the newly made holes, Tai slipped them on. A glance in the mirror revealed that he actually looked quite good. It seemed hobby or not, that his sister knew what she was doing.

"Let me have a look at you," Kari then said and he turned to face her. "Much better, don't you think?"

"It's not as bad as I thought it would be," he laughed. "You're not going to try and dye my hair next?"

"Don't tempt me," she replied with another wicked grin. "Now wear your black boots, not those smelly trainers."

He watched as Kari's eyes scanned his bedroom. What was she searching for now? He was about to ask when she walked passed him towards his desk. From a hook on the wall, he saw her retrieve his crest of courage pendant. Moving back to stand in front of him, she reached up and slipped it around his neck.

"Something personal to finish the look," she commented as she stepped back, looked him up and down then nodded her head.

Tai thumbed the wooden pendent and found himself tracing the orange star with his finger. Something inside told him that he was going to need his courage very soon. While it may simply have been a piece of carved and smoothed wood, the pendant still symbolised his strongest trait. Giving him something physical to clutch when he needed it most.

As if reading his mind, Kari then said, "while they may not be real, they still represent a part of who we are. Something that we cannot rid ourselves of, no matter how hard we try. And trust me, I tried."

Tai gave her a quizzical look, "you tried to rid yourself of your light?"

"Two weeks ago I was at my lowest point. I sat on the river bank and could not find a speck of light inside me. I wanted so badly just to throw my pendant in, to be rid of what I thought was a cruel joke, but I couldn't bring myself to do it." She let out a chuckle, "or maybe I just put too much importance on a piece of carved wood."

Tai looked at his sister and the crest of light pendant that she now wore openly once more. "Your light never left you," he said reassuringly.

"It came pretty close. Now you had better leave or you're going to be late."

He glanced at the clock and saw that she was right. Being late would not leave a good first impression. As he headed for his bedroom door, Kari called out to him, "forgetting something?"

Tai turned his head to see a short black jacket hanging on one of her outstretched fingers. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed it over to him. He caught it mid-air and smiled as she joined him in leaving his bedroom. She followed him to the front door, perhaps to make sure he didn't put on his 'smelly' trainers. Forcing his feet into the black boots he laced them tight and then stood up straight.

"Perfect," Kari commented and then gave him a hug. "Have fun and say hello for me."

"I will," he replied and then left the apartment.

When the door closed behind him, Tai let out a breath that he had not been aware of holding. In the back of his head, he knew that a part of him wished that Kari was coming with him. He quickly buried it as deep as possible. but an impression of it still lingered by the time he was descending the stairs. At this rate, he could only hope that Teiko had put as much effort into preparing for their date as his sister had with him. For he had a sinking feeling that it would take something special to drive Kari from his mind.

##

Tai walked slowly through the mingling crowds, glancing aimlessly at some of the fair stalls he passed. Dressed in a short vinyl skirt that literally looked like an old record, a white and black halter top and knee-length black boots, Teiko clung to his right arm. Her fingers interlocked with his own. As predicted, she had commented on his outfit and how it was a marked improvement over his usual sporty look. However, she had smelled Kari's hand in it a mile off and found it quite amusing. Suggesting that he should let his sister dress him all the time. He'd laughed at this and told her what had happened in his bedroom earlier that evening. Afterwards, she'd decided that both Kari and herself were going to take him shopping. His fate seemed to be sealed now. For there would be no chance of him escaping both girls.

Unfortunately, that had been the high point of the evening so far; for him at any rate. Sure they had laughed and joked as they wandered around the fair. She'd beat him in a shooting gallery then lost at a test your strength game. He had then won her a stuffed animal at a soccer game. And while they had been having a good time, Tai could not help but feel like they were two close friends having fun together. Indeed, having her hanging off his arm felt strange and a little uncomfortable, truth be told.

There was a whole section of world food stalls at the fair and so they stopped at an interesting German one, where he bought a giant hotdog called a Bratwurst for them to share. Finding an empty bench that overlooked the river, they sat down with their two-foot monstrosity and had a rather amusing time trying to eat it from opposite ends. When they reached the centre, both parties took hold of their end with their teeth and a playful tussle ensued as they fought over who got the last bite. Using the dirty tactic of kicking him in the shin, Teiko emerged the victor.

Tai pouted at the unfair way that he had been bested, "cheat."

Teiko removed the spoils from her mouth and replied, "just because you didn't think to do that."

The look of disappointment must have shown on his face, for she placed the last bite of hotdog back between her teeth and beckoned with a seductive finger for him to come and take it. Tai leaned forward and reached out for the scrap with his teeth. His lips brushed against her soft ones as she relinquished her hold. He felt an arm wrap itself around his waist as he chewed, then swallowed. It then snaked its way up to the back of his neck. Slowly, Teiko pulled him towards her. Their lips touched and he could taste the saltiness of the Bratwurst. They felt warm and he could detect a trace of the hunger that filled her amber eyes. She wanted him, that much was evident. Only after a few moments, his brain told him that, while this felt good, it did not compare to the kiss Kari had given him. Involuntarily he pulled away, breaking the connection they shared. He couldn't do this...

"What's wrong?" Teiko asked, looking slightly surprised by his reaction.

"Nothing... I..."

"Don't give me that, Kamiya. I know you too well."

Tai looked at her blankly, "give you what?"

The girl's facial expression clearly read, "really?" However, before he could reply, she said, "you were about to lie to me, pretend that nothing is wrong."

Tai sighed, she really did know him too well. "I'm sorry, Teiko. But this doesn't feel right."

The girl looked him straight in the eyes, the setting sun making her spikey turquoise hair glisten. "So who's the lucky lady?"

He blinked in confusion, "what lucky lady?"

She laughed, "I've dated a couple of boys and a couple of girls over the past few years who had the exact same look in their eyes as you do right now. You know what they all had in common?" When he failed to respond, she continued, "they all wished they had just been kissing someone else. So who is she?"

Tai turned to face the river, unable to look into those bright amber eyes any longer. "Sorry but you're wrong."

Teiko let out an amused snort, "don't play dumb with me, Kamiya. Is it Takenouchi?"

"No," he replied without even thinking. The smile he received told him that he'd just taken the bait. So instead he tried a different approach, "I don't want to talk about it."

He stared at the slow-moving current of the river. How had this happened, he wondered? How could he have fallen in love with Kari? While part of his brain desperately wanted to deny it, cling to the delusion that it was untrue, he knew it would be pointless. Like drops of water from a leaky tap filling a glass, the realisation had been slowly rising since his knee jerk reaction to the revelation that she was in love with him. This date with Teiko had simply finished filling the glass. With the kiss, serving only to send water running down the sides.

"Hey, Kamiya? You ok?"

A hand waved in front of Tai's face and he snapped out of his musings. He turned his head to find Teiko staring at him with a concerned look on her face.

"Sorry," he replied hastily.

"You were thinking about her, weren't you."

He let out a sigh and nodded. "I'm sorry, Teiko."

The girl gave him one of her more tender smiles, "don't worry about it. So, who is she?"

"I already told you, I don't want to talk about it."

"You should, talking helps," the girl said, taking one of his hands in hers. "Do you remember back in middle school, the conversation we had when I told you I thought I liked girl's as well as boy's?"

Tai found himself compelled to look into those bright amber eyes. He could recall the conversation in perfect detail. "I was the first person you ever told."

"Yes," Teiko replied, giving his hand a squeeze. "You were the first person I told because I needed to talk to someone and I trusted you, Tai. I trusted that you would be understanding and not hostile about it." She looked deep into his chocolate eyes, "the question now is, do you trust me?"

He let out a slow breath. Teiko had trusted him with something personal that she felt she could not tell anyone else, was he willing to do the same? Would it help to say it out loud? To talk about it with the only person who might not find him repulsive. Excluding Kari herself, of course. She was a whole different problem that he could not even begin to contemplate yet.

"Talk to me, Tai."

He lowered his head. Here goes nothing. "It's Kari… I'm in love with my own sister."

Silence. In the background, his brain registered the sounds of people walking, talking, laughing and all the other goings-on at the fair. But he did not hear them. All he heard was the deathly quiet that hung in the air between himself and Teiko. After a moment, he did not know how long, he felt one of her slender fingers reach out and lift his chin. Her eyes were bright and showed no signs of repulsion. And a thin smile played on her lips.

"I suppose that makes sense," Teiko said softly.

Confusion spread across Tai's face. Why was she not telling him that he was sick, twisted? "Why?" was all he managed to utter.

A warm chuckle escaped from the girl's lips. "You used to talk about her all the time. Don't you remember? All those stories about things you did together. All those times you shielded her from your mom when you guys got in trouble?"

Tai thought for a moment. He did remember. He used to talk about Kari all the time and not just with Teiko. Virtually every girl he had dated he had talked to about his sister. Telling them how great she was or about things they'd done when they were younger.

When he failed to respond, Teiko continued, "then you text me out of the blue to call in your favour for her. Brought her along to Shockers and spent a fortune to get her exactly what she wanted. And all because you saw her look at some posters and you'd screwed up on her birthday."

"You don't think I'm sick?" was the only response Tai could utter.

"Of course not. You know I'm a firm believer that you can't help who you fall in love with." His confusion at her reaction must have shown for she let out an amused chuckle. "Besides, I've read more than my fair share of Shojo manga about brother-sister love stories."

He couldn't help but laugh. It should have come as no surprise that Teiko was ok with incest. The girl was about as liberal as you could get and he knew first hand just how much Shojo manga she had read. Having typically seen her with a magazine whenever he found her.

"So, do you think she feels the same way?"

The question hit Tai like a bolt of lightning, but somehow he managed to keep his voice neutral, "no." He did not like the fact that he had just lied to Teiko, especially giving how understanding she'd just been. However, he had promised Kari he would not tell anyone about how she felt. That was her secret, not his.

"Are you sure?" Teiko asked, sounding slightly disappointed.

"Definitely," he answered firmly.

The girl gave his hand a light squeeze, "that's a shame. You two would have made a really cute couple."

Teiko reached over and pulled Tai into a hug. In the warmth of her embrace, he began to ask himself the million-dollar question, what should he do now?