Of a Sweeter Kind
by Kameko-Lullaby
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PART SIX

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Just Dance – "If you were waiting for the opportune moment – that was it."

Austin Sanchez ran his slender fingers through his auburn-hair. An oddly amused look was plastered on his handsome face as he gazed at the numbers blinking softly in the afternoon light. He had never been fonder of his alarm clock. Saturday at five in the afternoon, he smiled. Perfectly white and straight teeth glittered in the warm sunshine.

A week was finally up.

Placing his dark shades over his deep pools of hazel, "Ace" closed the door of his apartment behind him, the lock clicking softly into place.


For once in my life, I'm scared to death.


All but, Nigel hovered over the invitation in excitement. Kuki was bouncing up-and-down, shifting her weight from foot-to-foot, squealing happily as she did so. Abby continued to read the letter over-and-over again while; Hoagie babbled on about food would be at the snack table, the delicacies of before or something even better.

Wally, though somewhat excited himself, appeared almost nervous and edgy at the news. Actually, he had been edgy all day. The earlier parts of the day were spent within the tree-house. Kuki occasionally attempted to leave, claiming she needed something at her house or the mall. Each of her getaways was thwarted by Wally who looked like he was about to have a panic-attack each time she moved near the large front doors.

She'd have something close to a hissy-fit with each of his claims that "she didn't need a cruddy thing that she couldn't find right in her cruddy room." She would stomp her sneakered feet, and fling her arms in the air and whine his civilian name to the point that Nigel would point out about using their codenames only in the tree-house. It was around the second time that he butted in that the Japanese girl called him 'stupid big-butt.' Numbuh One's blue-grey eyes had widened before he gave a snort and turned away while, Abby and Hoagie had snickered softly in the background. The comment had left him highly offended.

Numbuh Three's outbursts never really lasted long, only a few minutes at the worst. They usually ended when Numbuh Four, swallowing a large amount of his pride and with a cute red hue to the bridge of his nose, offered himself up as a plaything. The pretty Asian accepted his offering with a sweet smile and grabbed him by the wrist, tugging him towards her room.

The poor Australian hadn't ever seen so much tea.

"I'm not really seeing way everyone is acting so happy!" Nigel exploded. "Is everyone is forgetting, this event is being held by the Delightful Adolescents from Down the Lane?!" his voice echoed off the walls of the inner parts of the tree-house.

"Can we go, Numbuh One? Pweeassee?" Kuki pleaded, pouting cutely and bouncing on the balls of her feet as fat tears flooded her pretty violet orbs. Her arms waved as she skipped up to Numbuh One, her tiny hands catching his left between their finger-tips.

"Of course, we're going to go! It's being held by the Delightful Adolescents after all!" Nigel replied and repeating himself in the same sentence, yanking his hand free from Numbuh Three's grasp. The overly-excitable vixen appeared not to have heard the last part of his statement. She did a spin back to her place between Four and Two, giggling, fingers pressed to her lips in a fruitless attempt to hold them back.

"But we're not going there to have fun! We're there on a mission!"

Despite his second comment, the girl and the rest of his team remained joyous.

Nigel gave the Japanese girl a glare, a gentle one but, a glare none-of-the-less, before returning to his original discussion. "We have been invited to a formal social gathering in the mansion of the Delightfuls. This will have to be treated as mission. Because of that fact, I wish for us to pair up into teams or otherwise known as dates -"

Wally had snatched Kuki's hand, fingers wrapped loosely around her palm as soon as the words fell from the British, red sweater wearing boy. They appeared to be having trouble not turning a shade of delicate pink while, Abby had leaned against Hoagie's arm claiming him as her date. The pilot could find no problem with it and accepted it with a soft and sweet smile.

Nigel scowled darkly at them before he stalked for the phone. A half-hearted, "I hate you all," was mumbled under his breath as he passed between the couples. They took no offense; he didn't mean and never would.

They snickered as he dialed; it was obvious who he would call.


All take your invitation, you take all of me.


"Out of sheer curiosity, dude," Hoagie asked causally while, he and Wallabee attempted to play cards as they waited for the girls to appear. "When did you become Kuki's slave?" it was an obvious reference to his actions a few hours earlier.

A pair of emerald-green eyes glared at him from under their owner's curtain of blond-hair. Sometimes there were moments when he seriously thought about knocking Numbuh Two out or snapping his goggles back at his face so hard that not even the Jaws of Life would be able to pry him free. "I didn't…" he grunted back, hoping that his 'so-called' best friend caught-on that he did not want to talk.

"It kind of looks like it you -"

"Dude, shut it."

"Oh, and those spaz fits -"

"Hoagie, seriously, shut it."

Hoagie grinned as he took another card from the deck between them. Ah, teasing Wally was fun. It was a past-time. "Sorry, man, but does it have anything to do with…ya know," he was subtly hinting to the events of a mere week ago.

Wally glanced towards Nigel who was glaring at the clock. He appeared not to be listening to them at all. "…Maybe."

He took a card from the deck and Hoagie grinned again. "You are so freakin' out and Ace is like, not even on Kuki's radar anymore. It's all you, man."

There was something about that sentence that made the Aussie's stomach twist. It was an oddly pleasant feeling. ". . . I don't think-"

Hoagie waved his hand at him, dismissing the comment. "Dude, please," Oh, yeah. Wally was so going to knock him out. "You totally fail in the flirting department but, you have had this thing for Kuki like for-"

"Who said I like Kuki?!"

Denial – Wallabee was still drowning in it even, when he hinted that he had come to terms that he was in love with Numbuh Three. Hoagie sighed, a knowing smile gracing his lips.

Wally flushed a multitude of shades.

It wasn't like Hoagie knew that he had been obsessively keeping Kuki in the tree-house so, she wouldn't run into Ace while, he was planning to do some major confessing and decide to go on a date with Ace because she hadn't seen him in a week and fall for stupid Ace and ditch him like an over-used Rainbow Monkey and thus making him incapable of opening-up to anyone, female, in the intimate way which he was beginning to do with Kuki ever again . . . right?

(Consciously, this is all completely denied and chained down.)

No - - -

He couldn't possibly have figured it all out.

"Anyway, other then dancing with her, you got plans?" Hoagie tried to start a conversation with Numbuh Four again after his last comment had started a severe case of the 'Cooked-Lobster-Boy.' It had become his and Abby's codename for tough, stubborn, strong yet, undoubtedly shy Wally's blushing habits towards cute, adorable and petite pretty Kuki.

A small grin had claimed the face of the blond boy. "I do."

"You have a plan? Doesn't that involve like . . . thinking?"

The dry look shot his way was priceless, yet entirely scary. "Sorry, couldn't resist."

"So what is this plan?" a suggestive eyebrow wiggle was added to the end of the question.

"Can't tell ya,"

"Dude, if you're going to be kissing Kuki, I need to know when to get my camera out. The Moonbase crew will need some pictures!" Hoagie exclaimed, waving a small disposable camera in his best friend's face while he kept his hand of cards in his free fingers.

The cards fell from Wally's own hand in almost comical routine. "W-what?!" the look on his face was something quite hilarious. The boy didn't wear that expression too often and when he did, it was priceless.

The pilot of Sector V grinned again, teasing and playful.

Oh, right. In his world only he knew.

"Nothing, man," he chuckled as Wally threw him another heated death-glare before bending to collect his hand from the surrounding table and floor.

It was at this point that Abby arrived to the living room. She was humming quietly to herself to a song that only played out its beat in her head. She rolled her brown-eyes at the sight of Nigel pacing before she let her gaze drift to the boys at the card table. One of them was crawling underneath it while, the other was sniggering quite loudly at his expense.

The spy of the Sector shook her head before approaching the duo, a soft grin etched onto her generous lips. "Looking good, Two."

Numbuh Two jumped at the sudden intrusion of her voice before his head shot around to face her. His bright, blue-eyes briefly flickered over her form before he snapped his gaze back to his cards. A new haze of pink had flooded his face. "You're not so bad yourself," he said with a soft grin.

The darker-skinned female was dressed in a flattering dark-navy suit. It was cut especially for a women and clung gorgeously to her every curve modestly yet, surprisingly subtly sexy way. She had pulled her dark-hair from its usual braid and left it in a wavy low ponytail. Her footwear and redcap stayed the same.

Abby knocked her knuckles playfully against his jaw while Wally made a gagging noise as he stood. Numbuh Five shook her head at the sight of him, ignoring his jibe. It's not like he was one to talk. "Is that really all you're giving Kuki to work with?"

The Aussie blinked before letting his gaze drift down to his white sneakers. He really hadn't done much to spruce up for the event but, it wasn't like he really had before. He was in a white dress-shirt that was partially tucked into the waist of his jeans, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. A tie hung rather loosely around his neck while, the same leather wristcuff was wrapped around his wrist.

Kuki had made the black band for him in one of those weeks she had decided to make clothes for her dolls instead of buying them all. It was decently made and had gradually replaced the sweatband of blue that he had been wearing since eighth grade. At moments he would find himself tracing the crookedly stitched orange four and the nearby buckle, wondering why she hadn't made anything for the rest of the team but, only went out of her way for him - -

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

Abby's mouth curled into an almost cheeky smirk, "Nuthin' just you and Kuki are goin' look a little out of place togetha," she hadn't meant the statement as an insult but, she could already see his spine stiffen. It was an automatic defense at an insult or comment on his rather obvious affections for their sweet Japanese comrade. Normally, it only happened in the presence of his competition, competition being the large abundance of suitors Kuki had acquired since fourth grade.

They always knew how to get under his skin – "Why would she like a guy like you for?" "What would she ever see in you?" "She'd never fall for you, Wallabee!" – And raise the self-doubt that he always thought that he hid so well.

And with it came the aggression, his way to hide from his feelings. Wallabee honestly thought he was being subtle and secretive with his affection and his weakness but, Abby, being her, could read him like a book. His heart was on his sleeve, even if it never truly gave up its secrets to the oriental female it belonged to.

She patted his hand, "Calm down, boy. Abby was kiddin' with ya -" he snatched his limb away with a snarl, moving to pick up another card from the floor. Abby rolled her eyes with a sigh. "– it's just that the girl got all dressed up for ya."


Like a hard candy with a surprise center.


Kuki was nervous as she walked down the wooden steps of before entering the hallway. She spent a few hours searching for the perfect gown, something that would standout at the ball. At moments, she almost found herself in tears, her over-dramatic side taking over before the snowy, white waterfall of graceful fabric caught her eye.

The soft satin material fell lightly against each of her soft curves, it nearly melting into her ivory-skin if not for the sliver hue it held. Her blue-black locks, usually straight and hanging to her hips, was curled and fell in messy yet, stylish waves around her. She wore barely any makeup expect for a soft shimmer on her lips and a dab of mascara to define her gorgeous pools of violet even more.

Her pulse quickened and throbbed anxiously in her throat as she came from the darkened hallway, sliver heels clicking on the wood boards. She smiled at the sight of the four them, oblivious to her presence yet, obviously waiting for her. The Japanese girl felt her lips curve fondly at the sight of Nigel pacing, eyes on the clock and of Numbuh Five disciplining the other boys, ever the mother hen.

With a deep breath, she stepped into the florescent lightening of the living room. A gray pair of eyes looked startled when they met her form but, the matching mouth smiled, displaying a bit of white. "Finally, you arrive," Nigel said, his tone was almost teasing.

"Gomen, I got lost in my closet!"

The British boy felt a comment on the tip of his tongue but, swallowed it back after second thoughts. It was better not to judge his Asian friend's sense of logic. Let her have her little world of butterflies and rainbows.

He rolled his eyes before turning his attention to the arguing card-table. "Numbuh Two, I'm assuming you have our transportation ready?"

Hoagie turned to them. "Yeah, but, don't we have to wait -" the question died before it could be fully uttered. "Oh, she's all ready down."

"You look very pretty, girl," Abby piped up after her date had gestured to her.

Kuki giggled as she tossed a few locks of dark-hair over her shoulder, revealing the spaghetti-straps to her dress. "Heh, thank you!" she chirped.

Her large deep blue-eyes flickered up to meet a pair of emerald ones. They were staring at her, eyes darting to her heels before shooting back up to her pretty face. "So, what do think Wally?" she did a dainty twirl, showing off the flowing effect of the dress. It was perfect for dancing; just what she intended to do with the Australian object of her affection.

His mouth was open but, no words were coming out until Abby elbowed him in the side. "Ow! What in the cruddy hell!" he hissed loudly, rubbing at arm.

"I believe he likes the outfit – you've left him speechless." Hoagie said with a grin. Wally snorted, heat flooding his face.

"Now," Numbuh Five said with a laugh, a finger poking Wally in the chin, "Close your mouth 'fore we drown."

He could only scowl.


Spin that record, babe.


The flight was short and after picking up Lizzie (beached whale, Abby coughed under her breath) they arrived at the Delightfuls' mansion in a little under ten minutes. The three couples, or teams as Numbuh One liked to put it, entered the mansion at the front door to be greeted the DAFDTL.

It was meant as a simple hospitable gesture but, Nigel, being him, was still highly suspicious of their motives. Finally, after a few moments of Nigel's paranoid babbling, they made it to the ballroom.

"Nigie! Let's go to the deck!" Lizzie asked, looking actually quite fetching in her shimmering blue dress. Before the British accented boy could protest, he was grabbed by the wrist and heaved through the crowd of teenagers by the fiery-haired girl.

Hoagie, after chuckling at "Nigie" nudged Abby in the arm, pointing to the heavenly looking buffet-table. "You, me, finger-sandwiches?" he asked, a sheepish grin stretching across his formerly chubby face.

The darker-skinned spy watched a light-pink shade dust under his goggles. "Is that a date, Gilligan?" she asked, a small smile forming.

"Would it be anything but, Lincoln?" he replied, eyes sparkling.

She shrugged but, laughed before placing a hand to his shoulder, "Let's go, boy. Abby's starved anyhow!"

The two laughed as they made their way through the crowd. Wally watched them go partially disgusted, partially amused and partially amazed. His eyes fell to the raven-haired girl beside him. Kuki's own orbs were focused on the tightly twined couples in the middle of the floor, glittering as watched them sway to the melody of the slow-song that played softly in the background. He lifted his gaze away from her, missing the short longing filled look she gave him.

It was so much more awkward from the time they came here as children.

"You wanna dance?"

"What?!" the answer was startled more then anything, his accent making more of an 'o' sound instead of the regular 'a.'

Kuki rolled her eyes before situating herself in-front of her date, rocking on her heels. "I asked if you wanted to dance with me," she smiled.

His brows furrowed as his hand rose to rub at the back of his neck. "But it's a slo -"

"I know that but, I want to dance with you," she murmured, cutting him off. Kuki smiled up at him wondering if he caught the hard emphasis. She was going to make it through to the Aussie tonight. His walls weren't invincible; the petite Japanese girl was going to prove that to him.

She grabbed one of his hands, sliding her slender fingers his more masculine ones. She was pale, soft and creamy while, he was a shade-and-a-half pigment darker, rough and calloused - different in every way yet, absolutely rightness together. It was the same way for their personalities. She completed him, made him softer, gentler.

"Please," she spoke again, voice soft as the beat of the song, "Please, Wallabee?" his full name escaped from her lips before she could press it back against her throat.

"Go-sorry!" she squeaked, swallowing down her mother-tongue. It was a known fact he preferred not to use his full name because of the obvious reference to the wallaby. The endless amounts of midget kangaroo jokes he had to suffer through when he was younger – Wally sighed.

"No worries," he replied before she felt herself being tugged along to the floor. Kuki giggled as she found herself in the middle of the ballroom, Wally staring down at her somewhere between annoyed and amused. "One slow song, you hear me?"

"OK, lunkhead," she murmured to him, her petite hands floating up to wrap around his neck. The Japanese girl received a playful hiss in-response only enticing another giggle from her.

(I thought that I would be alone,
You my eye and I was home,
And I realized that this love.
)

"Nee… Wally, you should put your hands on my waist."

"Uh, right,"

She rolled her eyes and let her hands fall to guide him to her hips. "See? Was that so hard?" he huffed something that sounded like "cruddy girls" before he told her put her arms back around his shoulders. "If you insist," she giggled, a slim eyebrow darting for her hairline.

The boy rolled his emerald eyes, a fresh blush beginning on his cheeks.

(I see the world through different eyes,
I look you by my side,
No matter where, you're always there.
)

Kuki had danced with other boys before, a few school-dances here and there but, they never had made her feel like this. This boy had been her friend for years and he never failed to make himself standout against her suitors. Something about the way he touched her, like she was fragile, delicate, almost porcelain, different from the years of their wrestling matches on the couch. Something about the way she could see him wonder why she allowed him to the short contact. It was something about the way he spoke to her, in those moments they weren't fighting - the warmth, and the tenderness he sought to hide.

It said more then an elaborate bouquet of roses ever could.

"Could you twirl me now?"

(You are my light,You are my star,
You are my sunshine and my dark,
You are the everything I dreamed about.
)

He obliged, and she shifted on the floor, skirt flowing gracefully around her knees before she swayed back against him. Something flickered between the duo in that moment.

It a spark of feeling – a need.

An ache.

It was nothing new.

But it was stronger, urging them, pushing.

The Japanese girl curled fingers into the fabric of his shirt, encircling the soft fibers against her skin. She gazed up into pools of warm emerald, her heart lurching in her chest. Her lips parted and her palms slid up until she was cupping his face between her hands.

"I think – I think I want to cross the line," she murmured to herself, looking at him through thick, dark full lashes.

She felt the grip on her waist tighten, fingers falling away to encircle her small waist, arms locking at the small of her back. Is this OK with you? He had yet, to speak but his eyes gave him voice. With fighting he was impulsive, with speaking to others he was impulsive but, when came to her he was tentative and reclusive yet, somehow open.

It's Rainbow Monkey-tastic, she replied mentally and from the way his eyes rolled before she gently ran her thumb along his mouth, he understood.

(You are the guy who stole my heart,
I am the girl you're always fighting for,
We have a love people dream about.
)

Wally was well aware that they weren't moving in the slightest anymore and people were beginning to stare. It was the strangest thing, but he really couldn't bring himself to care. His eyes flickered away from Kuki's face (one of the hardest tasks he had ever achieved) for the briefest of moments to find his gaze locking on the amused faces of Numbuh Five and Numbuh Two. Hoagie gave him a thumbs-up but, before he could respond a sudden weight against his shoulders made his eyes shoot back to the pretty oriental female in his arms.

There was something about the look in her lilac-hued depths that made the breath catch in his throat. "I want to thank you for spending so much time with me," she uttered, her voice was a breathy as his would be husky at the moment. "It means a lot to me, maybe more then Rainbow Monkeys."

(Dream with me…
Make me believe…
That this is a real life fairytale.
)

Absolutely, freakin' perfect – for once something was going his way. The one thing in his world that he had never more wanted it too.

"Kuki – I gotta tell you . . . something," his thoughts weren't piecing together well. The small voice was telling him to tell her why, why she had been the only thing on his mind for the past week, in thought and gesture.

Her touch was making speech difficult.

.

.

.

Ace, the bet, awkwardness, nervous, his aggressiveness - - -
It was all beginning to slip away.

.

.

.

"Hmm-?" the girl murmured, her head titling to the side as it continued to move towards him, a wave of blue-black hair falling off her shoulder. Her lips were parted; her gloss shimmered in the dim lights.

"Some…thing," Wally mumbled again, fingers curling into the locks that brushed his hands. His head was beginning to lower; her breath was hot as she exhaled. It nearly made him shiver. "I . . . made,"

Her hands were playing with the blond-hair at the nape of his neck. "Wally… shut up, please." Kuki murmured pulling away a little, a smile grazing her delicate features for a moment, amused at his babbling.

.

.

.

They were Numbuh Four and Three - - -
They were friends, comrades in arms.

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.

.

And maybe they could be something so much sweeter.

"I can do that," he answered with a brief but, sincere smile of his own passing across mouth as she began to drift up to him again. Gravity, pull, the magnetism, they couldn't help but, come together.

.

.

.

They were satellites, permanently bound to one-another - - -

Only a breadth of a moment was between the point their lips would meet.

- - - the electrifying attraction of elements broken only by an outside force.

.

.

.

A hand touched Kuki's shoulder, breaking the trance. Startled, she turned quickly on her heels, breaking free from the pleasing but, cage of Wallabee's strong arms. The strands of her hair slipped from between her fingers.

The Australian's stomach twisted with knots and a burn began in his throat as the Asian girl took in the auburn-hair and the frightfully handsome smile that seemed nothing but, disgusting to him.

"Ace?"


A/N: Holy freakin' crud monkeys. I wrote ten different versions of this chapter and nothing seemed right for posting. This version I felt was better, but I'm not satisfied with it in any stretch of the imagination.

Ah, a word of apology to blue-eyed-blonde12, I'm sorry I didn't get this up as soon as I hoped I would. Do I suffer the pitchfork or I'm I off the hook?

Geez, I should be shot for not allowing that kiss to happen. I feel so cruel for not letting that happen and also on the account of not updating for a freakin' bloody month. I really must be one of the slowest updaters' on the site. It is just those freakin' plot bunnies, they are driving me nuts. I can't get one down without another one spawning.

Ace, ugh. So cute but, so utterly deliciously devious.

Oh, and Wally next chapter - - - DENIAL. on a freakin' epic scale.

- Lullaby :)


Codename: Kids Next Door (c) Mr. Warburton.

"Real Life Fairytale" (c) Plumb.

"Hanging by a Moment" and "First Time" (c) Lifehouse.

"Thinking of You" (c) Katy Perry.

"Just Dance" (c) Lady GaGa.