Fifteen

It wasn't the first birthday her father missed- missed, she reminded herself because he did not forget; he just did not have the time. And because he was busy, he sent a stand-in. She was pleasantly surprised when his familiar face walked in with a big bouquet of flowers. He smiled apologetically and took the seat across from her.

'Your father had a last-minute meeting and the traffic was terrible.'

The city's traffic was indeed terrible but this was neither news nor a valid excuse. She wanted to be angry, but Kaidou had always been good to her and the fact that it wasn't her father sitting across the table was an actual blessing so she waved it off nonchalantly instead.

'It's fine.'

'Happy birthday, Rei.' He pulled a small box from his jacket and gave it to her.

Inside was a pair of pearl earrings, picked by her father just for her he said, just like the flowers. She wanted to call him out on that blatant lie but he was just being kind. For as long as she could remember her father's idea of a birthday present was a sizable donation to her bank account. She didn't mind; at least she could buy things she actually liked. She assumes Kaidou went out of his way to buy her the flowers and earrings; he probably thought her father's cash gift was too impersonal.

God bless him for trying to make her father seem like a passable parental figure.

The senator worked from his home office quite often. Since Kaidou started working for him, he was in the senator's house more than he was in his own. Rei once commented (seriously, if he remembers correctly) about him moving his things to the guest bedroom since he was around so much.

Before he crossed short distance to his own home, he made a habit of checking in on her. If work finished before seven, he would catch her at the study doing her school work. If they worked past nine, he'd find her in the kitchen preparing chamomile tea before bed. He would ask about her day and school. She would ask about his day and work; sometimes she would ask about Jin since she was seeing less and less of him. She asked, more than once, how he could possibly endure working for her father. He just smiled and said her father was a good public servant and that he wishes to be like him one day. She made a face and he laughed.

'At least he's good at his job.' She tells him before turning her attention back to her homework.

He doesn't really know how to respond to that so he just nodded. He'd known early on that Rei and her father's relationship was tenuous at best. He supposed it was an occupational hazard.

'He speaks very highly of you. He says you could be his replacement someday.'

He thought about it for a moment before saying, 'I wouldn't want my daughter to feel as you do so maybe I won't have kids if I succeed your father.'

She looks up; her piercing violet eyes suddenly making him feel small. 'You make it sound like you already know you're going to be a terrible father.' Rei sounded so disappointed and he wanted nothing more than to be able to take those words back.

When he didn't say anything, she resumed her schoolwork. 'Tell Jin I said hello.'

Kaidou heaved a sigh. Clearly he said the wrong thing and was now being dismissed.

'Alright. Good night, Rei.'

Kaidou doesn't smoke in his own home. Jin was old enough to know it was a bad habit but he'd rather not expose him to his vice (and secondhand smoke). He lit his much-deserved cigarette as soon as he was out in the patio; inhaling deeply before letting out a long, slow puff. Jun Hino smoked as well as evidenced by the ashtrays in strategic locations (side table by his arm chair, patio, far end of the study by the window, desk in the home office) and the lingering smell of Tabaco throughout the house. He wondered if Rei cared.

'You smoke?' Speak of the devil.

He took one last puff before putting it out. She tilts her head in a way that what can only be described as infuriatingly adorable.

'Second-hand smoke is bad for you.'

'Thank you for caring about my lungs. You should worry about your own.' He recalls something Jin said about Rei being fluent in sarcasm. It was her way of dealing with her more stubborn admirers when ignoring them didn't work. 'It comes so naturally to her. They don't mind because she's pretty.' Kaidou can't argue with that logic.

'I don't smoke much.' He lied. Whether she believed him or not, he can't really tell.

'Maybe you should think about quitting?'

'One of these days, I will.' He promises vaguely.

'Quit or think about quitting?' Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

He suppressed a laugh at being caught. She was too astute for her own good.

'Come on, it's time for you to make your tea.' He ushers her back inside, hoping to distract her from his non-answer.

The next day, he stood in the same spot and lit a cigarette. Again she went down to join him. Like the previous night, he put out his cigarette so she wouldn't have to deal with the smoke. This went on for two more nights before Kaidou caught on and decided to address it.

'I could do this somewhere else you know.' He said, suddenly realizing her intent.

'Why do you care about my health and not your own?' Her tone reminded him of his mother when she reprimanded Jin for getting into fights at school.

It was embarrassing being chastised by someone seven years his junior, but she was right. It was a filthy habit he picked up in college that he can't seem to get rid of no matter how hard he tried.

She looked so serious, with her crossed arms and furrowed brows. He realized he liked having her fuss over him.

'Jin was right.' He said with a wry smile. 'There's no winning with you.'

'It's a win-win if you quit.' It was the soft voice and the smile that did it for him. He would love to see more of that beautiful smile. He then fully understands why his brother was so keen on spending so much time with her. And it was then when he realized he had to draw a line- too young, boss' daughter, brother's best friend.

The next night, he was no longer smoking. Instead, he took out a piece of gum from his pocket and started chewing before releasing a long, labored sigh. His watch read 9:15- she should be in the kitchen preparing her tea.

When he walked in, he found her leaning against the counter with eyes closed and arms crossed. Her long hair was in a neat braid pulled over one shoulder; the dark braid was a stark contrast to the while, silk pajamas she wore.

Her eyes fluttered open at the sound of the kettle, and he stood there for a good five seconds dumbfounded when she spotted him and smiled. When did that happen? Was it the same for Jin, he wondered. Were they both genetically predisposed to being attracted to her?

'Do you want tea?'

'I don't really drink tea.' He answered as he crossed the kitchen to observe her more closely as she went about preparing her nightly drink.

'Do you also think tea is just pompous water?' She asked amusedly as she discarded the water used to warm the teapot before adding the chamomile tea and hot water.

'Did Jin say that?'

Covering the teapot so her tea could steep, she turned to him with a nod, 'He's trying to get me to drink coffee instead.' To illustrate, Rei stood on her tiptoes to grab a bag of coffee beans from one of the cupboards. 'He also gave me a burr grinder and a press.'

'Doesn't look like you use those beans all that much.'

'It tastes better when he makes it.'

He felt an unfamiliar twinge in his chest when she spoke of his brother so fondly. He wonders what else Jin does for her, what else they do together, what he's missed out on. Being closer in age, Jin and Rei naturally gravitated towards each other. It was strange how well they got along considering Rei had always been more reserved and his brother- well, was not. He used to think Rei only hung around his brother because of Aki since her father didn't allow her to have a pet. This was quickly disproven when Rei and Jin remained good friends even after their dog died. He thought it was cute- his brother and the next door neighbor.

It doesn't seem so cute in retrospect.

Kaidou pushes the thought far, far away because she was his boss' daughter and his brother's best friend.

'You didn't smoke.' Her voice broke his thoughts. When he looked at her, she looked almost… proud.

'Day one.' He confirms.

She looks surprised. 'Keep it up.'

He popped his gum and smiled at nothing in particular. It was another stressful day packed with meetings that went on for far too long and people demanding they meet impossible deadlines. When he would normally smoke, he now chewed nicotine gum. It helped, he supposed. It had been thirty days since he last smoked.

'Kaidou?'

He turned around to see Rei dressed in red, silk pajamas, holding out a small box to him.

'What's this?'

'It's been thirty days, hasn't it?' She looked so proud of him. That look alone made the entire week of withdrawals worth it. 'Just something for making it to thirty days.'

It felt good, really good, to have her attention. It was troublesome feeling the way he did because now all he wanted to do was find out what else he could do to keep her looking at him that way. The imaginary line he drew between them was fading and he wasn't sure if he had the will power to draw it again. Too young, boss' daughter, brother's best friend, he repeated in his head with non-existent conviction.

'You're not going to open it?' Her voice broke his reverie and he chastised himself for drifting off.

'Right, sorry.' Inside the box was a silver and black tie clip. It was simple and elegant, the style echoing the giver. Knowing her, she probably paid way too much money for something so seemingly unassuming. 'I like it.'

'Good.' She looked so pleased with herself that, despite the fatigue from the long day, he couldn't help but smile.

He reached out and gave her hand a light squeeze. 'Thank you.' She looked up, startled at first then breaking into a small smile. It was then he realized the line was gone, if it ever existed. Too young, boss' daughter, brother's best friend, the sensible part of him repeated, but he didn't listen and he no longer cared.

Fresh from practice, Jin headed for the shower along with his teammates to freshen up. A freshman from their team barged in, looking out of breath but with an unusual smile on his face.

'What's with you?'

'There's a TA student outside.'

'What?'

He could tell his teammates were excited at the mention of 'TA student'. He'd often hear about them talk about students from TA and how the school only admitted attractive girls. Being an all-boys school, he just chalked it up to his teammates being female-deprived and appreciating anything in a short skirt.

Jin only knew one student from that school and while she was certainly a looker (she had a fans club for christ sake), she had no business at his school.

'Rei Hino is outside our school!' He exclaimed excitedly.

'What?' he asked in disbelief. What was she doing at his school? And because he was quite literally Rei's only friend, he was fairly certain she was there for him.

His teammates' ears perked up at the sound of her name. Just as Hiiro, their team's small forward, headed towards the exit (presumably to ogle Rei along with his schoolmates), Jin shot him and the rest of his teammates a glare. Hiiro promptly sat back down and his teammates quickly looked away.

Her admirers were getting bolder now and it was harder for him to fend them off. And now that she decided to grace his school with her presence, he just knows there would be trouble. Jin lets out a tired breath- it was really troublesome liking Rei.

She first started getting attention when she entered junior high; he remembers (not fondly) how he was made the messenger of many love letters and flowers when his schoolmates found out they were friends. They only liked her because they thought she was pretty, and Rei was pretty, really pretty. But she was more than just a pretty face- she was intelligent and passionate, especially when it came to her interests. Rei was incredibly thoughtful too. His favorite things were from her- a plush toy of Aki (so you won't miss him as much), John Wooden's biography (it's recommended reading for players and coaches), kickboxing gloves (so you won't hurt your knuckles, stupid), lifting gloves (why are your hands so rough?!).

His schoolmates would never know that side of Rei and for that he was thankful. That's a part of her he had all to himself. They liked her for her looks; Jin liked her for that and everything else- even her temper which he was often on the receiving end of. But Rei ignores the boys who like her, doesn't pay them any mind and moves on with her life. Jin doesn't want her to ignore him, couldn't even bear the thought, so he keeps it to himself. They're best friends and, he convinces himself, best friends don't like each other like that.

Without changing or wiping the sweat that was dripping down his face and body, Jin headed for the school gate to deal with Rei.

Rei stood outside the gates of their school in that ridiculously short skirt that in his mind had no place in a catholic school, bag in hand and with that perpetually bored expression on her face.

He could feel all eyes on him as he approached her.

'Rei.' He called out.

'Why did it take you so long to come out?'

'What?' Her tone sounded so accusatory that he had to check his phone for a missed call or text- not that he was expecting any since he knew she refused to carry a cellphone. True enough, nothing from her.

'Classes ended thirty minutes ago.' She answered matter-of-factly.

'How long have you been waiting here?'

'Too long.' She snapped.

'Wait, why are you here?'

Without missing a beat, 'I need your help.'

That was rare. He raised an eyebrow, curious. 'Must be important for you to come all the way here.'

She crossed her arms and was now full on pouting, 'He's making me accompany that unkempt boy to some party tonight.'

'You mean Kumada's son?' When she didn't say anything and only continued to pout, he added, 'I heard he's nice.'

He was met with a full on glare. Cute.

He laughed disbelievingly, 'That's your emergency?'

She nodded.

'Why didn't you just refuse?' He made it sound so simple when he knew for a fact it was not. As stubborn and strong-willed Rei was, she was no match for her own father.

'Why didn't I think about that?' Her tone was dripping with sarcasm. She threw her hands up in frustration, 'He called my principal's office to tell me this. Who does that?'

'Well if you brought a cellp-' He promptly closed his mouth and put his hands up defensively when it looked like she was going to murder him.

'Jin.'

'What do you want me to do?'Jin already knew where this was going but decided to annoy her since he had time to kill and she looked ridiculously cute when she was pissed off.

'I won't have to deal with him as much if you're there.'

'You seriously came all the way here for this?'

'Yes!' She seemed exasperated now. He really liked that look on her face. Jin wonders what she'll do if he suddenly decides to take a picture, for posterity. She'll probably kick him in the shin.

'Kaidou will be there.' His brother doted on Rei but he would be there for work. While Kaidou would be among his peers and colleagues, Rei will be surrounded by strangers. And after she would be paraded around like some pretty trinket and introduced to all the 'important' people, she would likely be ignored the rest of the night and that did not sit well with him at all.

'Why are you being difficult?'

Unlike Kaidou who was used to rubbing elbows with old, powerful men, he was absolutely useless in that regard. It was one of the few things he had in common with Rei.

'I don't like those parties. They're boring.'

He could feel his impending defeat coming as her lower lip slowly jut forward and her amethyst eyes looked up at him pleadingly. Shit. When did she learn how to do that? Was he really that easy? Looking down at Rei, looking equal parts petulant child and kicked puppy, he couldn't refuse.

Then again, he never could refuse her.

'Fine.' They might as well be miserable together. 'But you owe me.'

'Pick me up at 7.'

'Yes ma'am!' He offered a mock salute. Noticing the crowd by the gate had gotten significantly bigger, he gave Rei an admonishing look. 'You really should bring your phone.'

'I don't need it.'

'You could have just called me instead of causing a commotion by coming here.'

'Commotion?' She asked, seeming completely oblivious to the hordes of teenage boys keenly looking at them. 'Whatever.'

He sighed. 'Wait for me. Let's go home together.'

'You're making me wait again?'

'What do you mean again? I didn't tell you to come here.'

'Ten minutes.' She motioned to her watch and impatiently tapped her foot.

'I'll be out in five. You better still be here when I'm done.' When it looked like she was about to say something, he added 'Or else I won't go with you.'

'Fine!'

Jin dutifully stayed by her side the entire night, trying to keep her and himself entertained. He never left her side, not even when her father shot him a glare as he walked over to them with Yuuichiro Kumada in tow. He did not miss the anger that flitted in Jun Hino's eyes when his daughter declined to dance with Yuuichiro. It was brief but he knew Rei caught it too. He schooled his face to the politician's smile people were used to seeing before he left him and Rei alone.

'He's pissed.'

'I don't care.' She said as she scowled at her father's retreating back.

'You know,' he started as he looked her up and down, 'that scowl doesn't really match that dress.'

Said scowl was now directed at him. 'You're stupid.'

'Hey, this stupid guy is your date tonight. You should be more grateful I'm here suffering with you.'

'You should be grateful you're here with me.' She responded haughtily; flipping her hair for dramatic effect.

And he was, especially when she looked so good in her strapless red dress and her lips looked so lusciously full with the gloss she wore and damn it, she looked gorgeous tonight. But he was there as her best friend- as he always was and no, best friends don't like each other like that.

'I'm so blessed Hino-sama deemed this mere mortal worthy to be her companion for the night. I shall treasure this night until my last days.' He said mockingly as he kissed her hand and finished with a flourish.

Rei snatched her hand and rolled her eyes at his stupid antic. He did not miss the way her lips tugged upwards, even if it was just a fraction. At least she was no longer scowling- mission accomplished. If only he could get her to dance.

After failing multiple times to get Rei to dance with him, he gave up led her outside to get some fresh air instead. That was when he saw Kaidou surrounded by people he did not know, by his side was a beautiful woman in a blue dress, standing a little too close, looking a little too fondly at him. Noticing him, Kaidou looked up and smiled from across the room. Jin raised his glass to him and smiled back. He looked like he was having fun.

The way Rei would glance at his brother and how she would try to hide how her eyes followed him, did not go unnoticed by Jin. He knew Kaidou had been spending more time at Rei's house for work; spending more time with her than he was because he was busy with school. Looking at Rei then his brother, he wonders what their relationship was now- was she still the younger sister Kaidou always viewed her as or did he now see her as a beautiful, young woman? And was Kaidou just her best friend's brother, occasional parental stand-in or was he now something more?

He recalled then the instances his brother would bring Rei up in conversation; asking if he knew Rei did not watch television (he knew, duh), or if he knew what her favorite food was (fugu, of course) or that she liked pandas (he'd known since she was nine when they went to the zoo together). What he did not know was that she had a favorite flower (Casablanca lilies) and the teas she drank (genmaicha when she was studying and chamomile before bed).

Then there was the tie clip Rei had given Kaidou. He never did figure out why she gave him that gift. He was too focused on his school work, after school activities and college applications that he consequently spent less and less time with her. Unfortunately for him and fortunately for her, his brother had more than filled his spot.

He felt his chest tighten as her gaze followed his brother across the room again. He wonders if Rei noticed the lady in the blue dress that hasn't left his brother's side that entire night.

Two days after the party, his brother sauntered into the living room dressed like he was going to another event. He paused his game and twisted his body to have a proper look- perfectly pressed suit, silk tie with an equally fancy tie clip, slicked back hair and, he moved his head closer for a sniff, his expensive cologne that he wasn't even allow to look at.

'You look fancy.'

'Do I?' He fixed his tie and his hair before grabbing his car keys.

'Are you going on a date?' He remembers the woman in the blue dress from the party. He hoped she was his date and not a certain dark-haired woman who lived across the street.

'Yes, you met her at the party.'

'And here I thought you were getting along so well with Rei.' He couldn't help but tease, despite the small ache in his heart.

Kaidou raised an eyebrow. 'Hino-san set it up.' He said as he headed out.

'And you just can't let him down, right?'Jin wasn't sure his brother heard him. He wondered how Rei was taking this.

It was over dinner that Kaidou announces he was officially dating the LDP leader's daughter. He even managed to joke about how Jun Hino should start a dating service for his single staffers since his was such a successful match. Their parents laughed, Jin tried to laugh too but was busy thinking about Rei and how she would deal with this news.

Jin finishes his dinner at record speed then crosses the street to Rei's house. While he was at Rei's house a lot, he's never been to her room (due mostly to Phobos and her incessant nagging about propriety). He imagines Rei's room would be neat with minimal décor- maybe a bonsai and a framed picture of her mother and grandfather.

Deimos greets him at the door and Jin is thankful it's him; Rei's nanny was always less than friendly towards him and his brother but Deimos liked him (liked him enough to drive him to his school after he drops Rei off) and likes him enough to let him in despite the time and even tells him where Rei's room is.

He gently knocked three times before calling out, 'It's me. I'm coming in.'

He heard shuffling but no response. Jin opened the door and was pleasantly surprised his guess was correct- her room was neat with sparse décor. There were framed pictures on both bedside tables and she did have a bonsai on her desk. He smiled at the plush toy in her bed, he had a similar one but his was guarding his bedside table.

'I didn't say come in.' Rei crossed her arms and looked at him pointedly.

Undeterred, he walked towards her bed and sat beside her. 'Oh? I thought I heard you say it.'

'What are you doing here?'

'Get dressed. You're coming with me.'

'Where are we going at this hour?' She asked, clearly confused.

'Just get dressed okay? You owe me.' He didn't want to play that card, but her arms remained defiantly crossed and she was already raising her brow at him and pulling that face she always pulled when she refused him.

'You wouldn't ask me to return that favor if you were a true gentleman.'

'I never said I was a gentleman.' He replied with a wink.

It was a quarter to eleven now and he was sure he'd get an earful from Phobos for bringing Rei back home so late. Jin really wasn't at fault here since it was Rei that insisted on checking every piece on display and reading every write up she could find. They were the last people in the gallery before it closed its doors at exactly ten. And because he was tired from almost three hours of walking and standing, he insisted they take a break at a coffee shop nearby. Rei teased him about having no stamina for someone who was supposed to be athletic.

'Lifting weights and playing basketball are fun. Looking at dry paint on a canvass is not.'

'Who was it that forced me to go, huh?' Admittedly, it was a last-minute idea but it was better than nothing.

'Yeah, well, I wanted to try my hand at being sophisticated. Ladies like cultured men.'

Rei's eyes crinkled in amusement and Jin's breath caught at the sight of her looking so genuinely happy. It was the first time he'd seen her face light up so much and he couldn't help the warmth in his chest knowing he did that.

It was seconds later it dawned on him why he took her out in the first place.

'Jin?'

'Yeah?'

'I'm sure ladies will like you even if you're not cultured or have a dog.' He looks down and finds the hint of amusement in her eyes.

Jin smiles through the uneasiness gnawing at him and wonders, not for the first time, if he could replace his brother in her heart. But he doesn't want to burden her with his feelings when he knew she was wrestling with her own. Jin forces himself to smile and be quiet, to not say anything stupid, to not ask her if she could like him the way she liked Kaidou.

'Thank you.' She says softly. 'I had fun.'

She reaches for his hand, giving it a light squeeze when he doesn't say anything.

'Good.' Manages to choke out.

'Is something wrong?' She stops in front of him and studies him closely, looking worried.

He wonders how she would react if he said and asked everything he'd been holding in. Would she storm off and ignore him like she did the boys in his school?

'Jin, are you okay?'

Tonight wasn't about him and his insecurities. Tonight was about her and keeping that small smile on her face. He snaps out of his forlorn reverie and offers her a smile.

'I'm fine. Just a bit cold.'

Rei unfurls the scarf around her neck and stands on her tiptoes to wrap it around him. 'All that muscle and you can't even keep yourself warm.' She reaches for both his hands and uses her hot breath to warm him up. 'You're such a baby.'

'You know you can talk to me about anything, right?'

She stops what she's doing and looks up at him, her expression undiscernible. 'I know.'

'I'll always be here.' He assures her.

She stands on her tiptoes again, only this time to place a soft, lingering kiss on his cheek. 'Thank you.'

He looks at her in shock before taking a deep breath deciding he was going to do something brave and stupid. She could hate him for it and possibly never speak to him again but she was so close and she kissed him first and he really just wants to return the favor.

Cupping her face, he asks, 'Is this okay?'

Jin feels all the tension leave his shoulders when she nods in affirmation. He lowers his head and touches their lips softly at first, giving her time to back away if she wants to. But she doesn't pull away so Jin kisses her for all he's worth. This could very well be their first and last kiss and he wants them both to remember it.

Much later, when he's alone in his room and staring at the ceiling, he wonders how that kiss will change things between them. She let him kiss her. He gave her enough opportunities to stop him but doesn't, she even kisses him back. Jin wonders if he's now allowed to hope; if that one kiss will change everything between them.

They don't speak about it the next day or any other day. Rei doesn't change how she speaks to him, doesn't change how she acts around him and he's relieved. He takes it as a positive and becomes bolder with his advances as the days progress. And Rei doesn't seem to mind; allowing him to touch her a little too long, a little too possessively for someone who was only a friend; still allows him to kiss her. They don't talk about it, about them. He doesn't mind. He's content with the liberties she's allowed him to take.

AN This was longer than planned.

Deimos is a DUDE here because reasons.

EDITED BECAUSE TYPOS.. still might be couple left in there but ya know. *shrugs*

Also, I change tenses and POVs frequently. LOL no one is proof-reading or editing this for me so just... bear with it okay? I hope it's coherent enough.