Chapter 007:
Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis/Tennis no Oujisama does not belong to me. Sadly.
Bold is English. Regular is Japanese.
A fine cream fabric fell to my knees and easily flowed along with all of my movements. Intricately detailed lace sleeves hugged my arm from the shoulder to my elbow, the intricate embroidery dotted with small jewels. A black ribbon was tied loosely around my waist, a pretty bow showcasing in the front. My hair was tightly curled and pulled back into a messy bun, my thick, black bangs their usual side-swept style. Silver and black jewelry dangled down from my ears.
I smiled at my reflection in the full-body mirror. I wasn't the type of girl people would think loved dresses and heels and girly things, but oh how did I love them with a strong passion.
"Girl, why are you looking better than me at my own dinner?"
I saw Giselle's face in the mirror, smiling genuinely. She was wearing a plain navy blue dress with cap sleeves and an emerald choker wrapped around her neck. Her bangs were pulled back into a half-up half-down style, with her chestnut brown hair curled in perfect ringlets, nearly covering her navy hoops.
I grinned. "Why is my best friend so gorgeous?"
"Because I'm awesome, that's why." She scoffed. She grabbed a fake white rose clip from on top of the drawer. She walked over to me and placed it within my bun. "Perfect."
"Yeesh, someone looks like they're getting married." Miyuu snorted, carrying a large box with her. "Glad I'm not going to dinner with you."
I paused. "Wait. WHAT?"
Kuni walked in soon after. "Yeah. We weren't invited."
My eyes shot to Giselle who shrugged. "My family doesn't know about Miyuu and Kuni. Only about you and me, girl. You remember Yumiko? Yeah, she was asking how you were doing. And I suggested that you come to dinner."
I shifted uncomfortably. "So, it's just going to be us and your cousin, right?"
"Cousins."
"Wait. What?"
"I have three cousins," She held up three fingers. "Yumiko, Yuuta, and well, you'll see." She winked. "It's a surprise."
My eye twitched. I looked over at Miyuu and Kuni who both had innocent smiles plastered along their lips.
"I love you, kaa-san." Miyuu waved, leaving the box in the room.
"Wait! Miyuu! What is this?!" I yelled after her. (A/N: The girls decided to drop honorifics since it felt weird.)
"Open it!"
I hesitantly sauntered over to the large box, and used my index finger to lightly lift up the flap and peeked in. I blinked slowly then opened the flaps completely. "Why the heck is there a cactus in here?"
"Giselle said that her cousin liked cactuses." Kuni answered.
"Cacti." I corrected.
"Yeah, whatever."
I shrugged. "A strange housewarming gift, but okay."
I felt a cool chain gather around my collarbone and clasp in the back. I looked down and saw the heart-shaped, silver locket that the girls had given me for my birthday nearly four years ago.
I half-smiled at Giselle and mouthed a thank you.
She nodded. "Yumiko should be picking us up soon. Are you ready?"
I breathed in deeply. "As ready as I'll ever be."
"So, how was your first week of Seigaku, Kaydence-san?"
"Just Kayde-chan's fine," I smiled at Yumiko. "It's been alright."
"She's just as adorable as she's always been." Yumiko turned to Giselle. "Hasn't lost any of that beauty."
"I know!" Giselle grinned widely. "She's so freaking cute!"
I blinked.
Totes awk.
Giselle turned back to me from the passenger seat. "All of my relatives react the same way to you. They all love you and think you're the cutest thing in the world. And I mean, all of them."
I blinked again. "Why?"
"BECAUSE YOU ARE PERFECT!" She reached over and pinched my cheek and her and Yumiko giggled.
I sweatdropped. Giselle and her family has no shame…
Earlier today.
Giselle's POV—
Buzzz.
I read the text message that Syusuke had sent me.
My mom is asking if you want to have dinner at a fancy restaurant?
I tapped my fingers against the kitchen table. Kayde came in, whistling up a fine tune. "What's going on?"
"Nah, nothing." I traced the outline of my keyboard. She went over into the pantry and grabbed a mini bag of flaming hot Cheetos. "Uh, I thought you hate spicy food?"
"I don't hate it." She shrugged and proceeded to the fridge where she pulled out two bottles of milk. "I just can't handle it."
I smiled. She was too cute. I stared back at the screen and contemplated on how to reply. And thus, the most brilliant words popped into my head.
You never really told me what you thought of Kayde.
Kayde sat in the seat in front of me and opened her bag and wrinkled her nose. "I'm scared. I don't know if I should do this…"
I laughed. "Just eat the food."
She pulled out a smaller Cheeto and bit into it, a loud, satisfying crunch filling the empty air. And as soon as she swallowed, she ripped off the cap off of the milk and took two large gulps. She slammed the bottle down and fanned her tongue. "I almost died."
I shot her an, 'are-you-kidding-me?' look.
My phone vibrated.
I don't know much about her, but she's definitely a curiosity.
I grinned. I know what that meant. "Hey, Kayde?"
She was nearly panting and a few sweat beads trickled down the side of her face. "Yeah?"
"You wanna go to dinner with me and my family?"
She blinked. "Uh… why?"
I pouted. "C'mon! I haven't seen my family in a while, and it'd be nice to have some support there. Plus, you already know Yumiko and Yoshiko-oba-san. They already love you!"
She shifted in her seat. "Uh… Only because you need someone there for you…"
"Okay, get ready!" I stood up and pushed her out of her seat and ushered her out of the room. "You have to dress nicely!"
I walked back to the table, humming Here Comes the Bride under my breath. I can just picture Kayde in a white dress and who other by her side than my very own cousin. Ohohoho, this is going to be fun.
I picked up my phone and sent a quick text.
She's coming with me.
I paused for a moment before sending another one.
You're fluent in English, aren't you?
I picked up the rest of Kayde's uneaten Cheetos and popped four in my mouth and chewed and swallowed with no problem. Hm. Not bad.
My phone vibrated.
Okay. And, yes. Why?
I walked out of the kitchen and through the hallway, returning the unopened bottle of milk back to the fridge and carrying the other one and the bag of Cheetos along my side.
Assuming that I know you the way I know you, only a few people know that you know English, right?
I turned to the right and opened Kayde's room. She was already in the shower. I walked towards her wardrobe, searching for the dress of the night.
Only my family. And Tezuka.
I grinned.
Perfect. Don't ever tell Kayde, okay? Let her figure it out on her own.
Only a few seconds later, did he reply.
I don't know what you're planning, but as long as I'm entertained, I'm alright with whatever goes on.
I pulled out her only white dress and brought it over to my room to iron it. It was slightly wrinkled because of how she packed it. She only wore it on rare occasions. On special Mass days, like Easter, Christmas, New Years, etc.
(A/N: Kayde's Catholic. If you guys mind that, then please tell me. If not, then okay. But if you have issues with me putting in, like, scenarios of Kayde within the Church and stuff, then please tell me. I know that I probably should write what I want to, I just don't want anyone to be offended out there. I won't take any offense if it's uncomfortable for you. If I don't get any kind of message, then I'll write whatever. Giselle and Kuni are Catholic too. Miyuu's agnostic, but she attends Mass with them sometimes.)
I decided to send Syusuke one last text before I got ready.
Wear a suit.
Present time.
Kayde's POV—
Ermahgerdness.
First thing I noticed when arriving to the venue was that most of the restaurant was outside. Then it was the metal barred roof that supported what seemed like millions of dimly-lit lanterns. A white umbrella peaked over each of the tables, which were shrouded with a soft, off-white cloth with golden trimmings on the end. The chairs were a similar white with gold armrests. The balcony that the tables were placed on was overlooking a beautiful lake where couples were going around in gondolas, a fountain in the center that shot water nearly 50 feet into the air and 20 feet wide, a light at the base that changed the color of the fountain every 30 seconds.
"This place is so beautiful!" I spun around with my arms spread out wide."
Giselle giggled. "I'm glad you enjoy it. This is one of Yumiko's favorite restaurants, right?"
She nodded. "I've had quite a few dates here."
My eyes twinkled. "Really? Were they romantic?"
"Ohoho, why, yes. The most romantic dates were here. Maybe one day, you can bring a guy here for a date." She winked.
I snorted. "Yeah, right. Like I'll ever get a date."
Giselle rolled her eyes. "The only reason you're undateable is because of your personality."
I blinked. "Wow, that really helped my self-esteem."
"I mean, it's because of how sarcastic and cynical you can be. And how depressing you can be. And how much you don't talk about yourself."
I shrugged. "I'm not interesting."
"And whenever people talk to you, you always look like you're not paying attention. All you do is look everywhere except for that person."
"But I am paying attention."
"But they don't know that!"
I waved her off. "We're not here to talk about my horrible socializing skills. We're here to have dinner, aren't we?"
She sweatdropped. "Is food the only thing on your mind?"
"Oh, honey. Food and I have had a wonderful relationship for 14 years."
Yumiko busted out laughing. "You're so cute!" She pinched my cheeks and immediately I thought about how much we did this to Kuni.
I should apologize to her.
...
Nah.
Giselle walked ahead and I trailed behind her. I stared up at where the lanterns were hanging, at different rope lengths. I've always wanted to light a lantern and let it go into the sky.
I saw out of the corner of my eye that Yumiko was already conversing with an older woman at a table, right near the edge of the balcony, merely feet away from the lake itself. All I could do was stare in awe in the beauty of the fountain. If only, if only I had brought my camera.
Giselle stopped in her tracks and I knew we had arrived at the table, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the lake. Not yet.
"Hello, Kaydence-san. I'm Yoshiko."
I drew my attention to the woman who had addressed me. She stood before me in a light lavender dress, with pearls as her accessories. "Ah, you can just call me Kayde-chan, Yoshiko-san." I bowed slightly. "It's nice to meet you."
She smiled. "Likewise."
I blinked for a moment.
Yoshiko had the same closed eyes as Syusuke.
And as soon as that name came into my mind, blood rushed to my cheeks. "U-u-umm. Thank you for inviting me to dinner."
She smiled. Now, that's a difference. Her smile was a lot more genuine than Syusuke's, laugh lines peeking through slightly.
I shook my head fervently to get the thought of Syusuke out of my head. I regained composure and noticed that they were all staring at me. "Ah. Sorry, just needed to… uh… clear my head?" I smiled sheepishly.
And then Giselle, Yumiko, and Yoshiko all had the same reaction.
"She's so cute!"
Someone cleared his throat.
I finally noticed the boy sitting down by Yumiko.
He waved at me. "I'm Yuuta."
I waved back. "Nice to meet you, Yuuta-san."
"Isn't she cute, Yuuta?" Giselle grinned.
Yuuta shrugged.
Giselle huffed. "Your brother probably has better taste than you." She pulled a few stray bangs and tucked them behind my ears. "She's adorable."
Yuuta sweatdropped.
"Where is he, anyways?" Yumiko pulled out her seat and sat down in it. The rest of us followed suit, Yumiko to the left of Yuuta, who was to the left of Yoshiko, who was to the left of Giselle, who was to the left of me, leaving the empty chair to my right. I stared at it. I wonder who the mystery guy was. Probably someone else with a first name that started with a 'Y'.
"He's in the restroom." Yuuta replied.
"Where's oji-san?" Giselle questioned.
"Work." Yoshiko answered, as she squeezed a lemon into her ice water. A waiter came by in a matter of seconds and placed our glasses of water in front of us. "But he sends his greetings."
Giselle nodded as she took a sip of her drink. She looked up and apparently saw something that caught her eye. "Ah, there he is!"
I trailed her line of sight to see the one and only…
Syusuke Fuji.
He waved at me. "Nice to see you again, Kayde-chan."
A/N: Alrighty, guys. Just, whatever. LOL. I'm in New York right now. A long ways from where I live now, but it's my home area. (Home state being Jerseeyyyyy.) So, I'm just gonna post what I have here, but it's really short, LOL. Sorry. Please review, guys.
AND I WROTE ALL OF THIS WHILE DRIVING IN THE CAR AND AT 4AM.
So, yeah. Just thought I'd tell you why everything sucks. LOL.
I just wanted to give you guys something while I was here. It's a bad chapter, so, I'm really sorry guys. D:
Oh, and I'm really not set on this story right now because I'm at a Conference to really put my faith on fire. YEAHWORSHIPYEAH. I just wanted to write because I was just in such a good mood and I love Prince of Tennis and I had nothing to do at night while I'm here, so I just wrote.
(I have no friends. ._.")
