Author's notes: Had exams these past two weeks so I didn't have much time to write OTL Also, thanks to those who review my story, it really means a lot to me, especially since I'm still pretty new to writing fanfics :D Also, I just noticed that just uploading it to fanfiction,net from a word document gets rid of my lines that signify the next scene just now Q.Q so now im just looking at it like FUUUUUUU~ :| sorry for the confusion it may have caused.
Kaito couldn't focus in class, now there were two wooden chairs that lay empty in their classroom. Miku had left the school when she talked to him in the garden. According to the teacher, it seems that Miku had caught a fever as well. "Must be the rainy season" their homeroom instructor reasoned, adjusting his thin glasses. "It's been pouring for the past few days, but it should be over soon." The bell signaling the end of class rang and the teacher dismissed them. Kaito didn't want to get up. He put his head down on his desk and closed his eyes. Rin poked the back of Kaito's head. "Kaito, you there?" she asked innocently.
Kaito ignored her. Rin felt a tinge of annoyance at his indifference and began poking him with even more vigor. "Listen to me dammit!" Rin puffed her cheeks and began shaking him by the shoulders. "Don't… ignore… me!" Kaito began to get dizzy from Rin's shaking. "Okay, okay! I'm listening" Kaito said with some resignation. "What's so important anyway?" Kaito said, straightening out his uniform. Rin smiled contently at her success. "Are you still going to the picnic next week?"The small blonde asked. Kaito had completely forgotten about the trip. He saw no point to it now. Luka and Miku definitely won't show up. Kaito turned around to face the short girl. He had to bend down a little to see eye-to-eye. "I don't think so. It will only be me, Miki, Gumi, Gakupo and you right?" He wasn't very excited to have a picnic with such a small group and he had way too much things to think about right now.
Rin rested her head on her hand and said "I'm not sure. Maybe Luka and Miku will come when they're better." Kaito doubted it. Luka probably hated him now; and Miku… His relationship with Miku was complicated at the moment. He couldn't understand Miku at all, but it seems like he won't be able to have a normal conversation with her for a while.
"Oh yeah! I need to ask you for a favor. Could you ask Luka and Miku whether they want to go?" Rin took out a small pocketbook and began scribbling a few words into it energetically. She ripped out a page and handed it to Kaito.
Taking the paper in his hand Kaito asked "What is this?" Rin put her pocketbook away and said casually "It's both of their addresses."
Kaito's eyes widened. "Why would you give me their address? I didn't even agree yet." Rin seemed unaffected. "So you can ask them in person. They aren't answering their phones." Rin grabbed her small bag. "Well, I'm counting on you, Thanks in advance!" Rin said, running out of the room without even giving Kaito time to reply. What she asked him to do was impossible! It was like stopping a forest fire with a water gun. Kaito crumpled the paper and threw it aside.
He headed for the door and stopped in his tracks. He looked back at the crumpled piece of paper. What if a potential stalker got a hold of that paper? Kaito took it with him, smoothing it out with care, just to make sure it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands he told himself. He sighed.
" I feel like I'm the potential stalker…" he hung his head as he left the classroom.
Walking home, Kaito passed the park. The sun was setting, making the place quite peaceful with all of the children finally heading home. It seemed deserted, but the desolation gave the park a serene feeling. The dew from the rain lay fresh on the green grass and released a relaxing scent as Kaito stepped on the crisp grass blades. Taking a seat on a nearby bench he unfolded the piece of paper that Rin had given to him. It was a blessing but it was also an enigma. Carefully folding it back, Kaito stored in his pocket and a familiar face sat next to him. Gakupo put down his grocery bags.
"Hey, I don't see you around here much."
The night before Luka's confession….
Kaito got home late at night, jumping into his bed, he reminisced about all the things that had happened. Finally being able to talk to Luka earnestly on the phone, his feelings for her intensified. He felt that he would readily give up his own happiness for Luka' he had been lost in his reverie he didn't notice his phone had rang twice already. It was Gakupo's number. He rushed to accept the call.
"Kaito." Gakupo called his name, yet it didn't feel like Gakupo. It wasn't his usual cheerful self, there was a grim tone in his voice.
"Gakupo? Is something wrong?" Kaito asked worriedly.
"You shouldn't get closer to Luka… no. You can't get closer to Luka." Gakupo muttered.
His words struck Kaito like a sharp metal arrowhead. "…Why?" He asked.
"Luka's father is the owner of a multi-million company, you kno-" Kaito interrupted, unable to contain his rage. "Yes, I know. But that can't change how I feel! Gakupo. I won't let that get in the way." Kaito said, his voice almost cracking.
"That's not it, Kaito." Gakupo his voice sounded hardened as if he was bracing himself for a shock.
Kaito's heart felt like it would explode "Then-"
"Kaito….." Gakupo paused.
"Luka is engaged."
Those words struck him dead, leaving him unable to sleep that night. He knew he could trust Gakupo's information, but it was still unbelievable. During the small hours of the night, Kaito had built up the resolve to stay away from Luka, but it was Luka that had come to him instead. Even if he knew it was the right thing to do, it still hurt him. He wouldn't be able to get anywhere with Luka if she was engaged and if she did, by any chance (no matter how small) hold some feelings for Kaito, he would only be hurting her with a love that couldn't be.
"I suppose I should explain it in detail now." Gakupo reached into grocery bag and grabbed a soda. He held one at Kaito's direction, gently offering him to take it. "No, I'm fine." Kaito said, not feeling particularly in the mood for a drink.
Gakupo pulled the tab of his soda and took a quick drink. "I was finishing up some papers for Luka's father. I overheard him and an important executive talking about a political marriage to securely merge two companies." Gakupo leaned forward a bit, scrutinizing the park lake. "I was a bit interested so I eavesdropped a bit. I didn't realize that they were talking about Luka until her father said it himself." He turned at Kaito's direction and focused his purple eyes intently on him. " Luka hasn't been told yet." Gakupo patted Kaito's shoulder. "I thought about it for a while and I know that you truly love her, so I want you to know that I'll support you in whatever way I can, that's why go out there and get her before it is too late."
Kaito was taken aback by his last sentence and just stared at Gakupo. "But… she's going to be engaged." Gakupo laughed. "So? You still have time, you just gotta hurry up and make progress!" Kaito looked shyly to the side. "Actually Gakupo, About that..." Gakupo had the look of a deer in headlights after Kaito told him the past few events.
"Seriously?" Gakupo yelled out in disbelief. Kaito nodded. Gakupo took a long drink from his soda. "Wow, even Miku? This is unexpected." Gakupo got up and began pacing back and forth. He stopped and turned his attention to Kaito. "How do you feel? About both of them?" Gakupo looked thoughtfully at the blue haired man.
Kaito sighed and hung his head. "I still love Luka. I'm sure nothing will change that. But Miku, I don't know… I like her, but I haven't seen her as anything other than a friend until now."
Gakupo smiled at his honesty. "Then the answer is simple!" He drained the soda can. "Chase Luka to the ends of the earth, until you're sure that you love no one but her."
"But, she's going to be-" Kaito tried to reason. Gakupo scoffed. "Ever heard the saying mind over matter?" He threw the empty soda can in the air and kicked it into the sky. "If she doesn't mind, then he doesn't matter."
Somehow Kaito felt very doubtful of Gakupo's reasoning, but Gakupo's reassurance comforted him, giving him the means to build up his resolve to finally make things right.
The sun was scorching the next morning. Kaito stared at the paper that Rin gave him. He just wanted to see Luka's house that's all he told himself, but he still held Luka's umbrella and bag in his hands. She left it when they last talked. Hopefully this is enough reason to talk to her, he worried. Passing by alabaster houses he reached a great white wall, he couldn't see over it so he walked alongside it until he reached a grand iron gate.
Kaito looked through the bars of the intricately designed gate. He could see a lavishly decorated house, built like an old English manor. The door of the largest building was noticeably large and also luxuriously decorated with extreme attention to detail to the woodwork. Kaito rang the doorbell.
"Yes? Do you have business here?" He heard a voice, probably from a hidden microphone.
"I'm here to return something that Megurine Luka lost."
Luka tossed and turned in her bed, scrubbing off a small tear from dried cheeks. Her hair was a mess, with all the beautiful pink strands laying disheveled on shoulders. She felt light-headed and her body felt uncomfortably warm. She wasn't able to take the last few days that well, she was still heartbroken from Kaito's rejection and it seems she really did catch a cold from the rain. Someone knocked loudly at the door and she heard Gumi's muffled voice yelling out her name.
"Luka! Open the door." Gumi called out, but Luka gave no reply. She went to grab a tissue from the tissue box, but it was completely empty from the night before. Luka sniffled a little and wiped her eyes with her hand.
A clicking sound came from the door and Gumi entered, holding a spare key. Gumi rushed to the side of Luka's bed, nearly tripping over herself. "Luka, what's wrong?"
Luka said nothing and tried to hide her reddened eyes with the bangs of her long hair. A look of concern inhabited Gumi's face and she seemed desperate to help Luka. "You look terrible… Did you eat already?" Gumi reached into her purse looking for something. Luka tried to shrug off Gumi's support. "I just caught the flu that's all. You don't need to worry about me."Luka's voice felt weak and she struggled as much she could do make it sound as normal as possible to avoid causing Gumi more concern.
Gumi gave Luka a tortured look. "You don't look all right at all! You look tired Luka… Do you sleep enough? Do you eat enough?" Gumi started assaulting Luka with questions worriedly. Gumi took Luka's hand in hers and she was almost shocked at how frail and delicate her hands felt.
"I thought you just had the flu, Luka. What's wrong? Really, you can tell me anything. Don't be embarrassed. " Gumi's green eyes gazed thoughtfully at Luka. Luka turned away averting Gumi's stare. "I'm alright it's just a cold, really." Gumi brushed off Luka's bangs, exposing her face. "You've been crying, Look! Your sleeves are all wet."Gumi grabbed her damp pajama sleeve.
Luka sighed. She couldn't lie to Gumi. "I got rejected by the person I like." Gumi's eyes widened in surprise. This came as a shock to her, for many different reasons. "Who was it?" Her curiosity made her previous cautiousness with Luka's feelings rapidly deteriorate.
Luka told Gumi about the earlier events without meeting her eyes. Her voice seemed to crack when she talked about the day she summed up her courage to finally confess to Kaito.
Gumi had an expression of deep reflection in her face. She seemed lost in her thoughts for a few seconds. "I still don't get it though…" Gumi sat on the edge of Luka's bed. "Why Kaito?" Luka stared at the ceiling. She hesitated before she was able to say anything. Luka felt embarrassed talking about it. "I find being around him… intoxicating." Gumi moved closer to Luka, she just couldn't contain her curiosity. "Can you explain it?" Gumi asked.
Luka backed away an inch, she was surprised by Gumi's eagerness to know. "I can't really describe though, it's just… I like being around him. It feels like it's where I belong. I really never felt like it before…"
"So that's the main reason?" Gumi looked like she was processing something in her head.
Luka thought for a second before she said anything. She hesitated for a few seconds before she said "I used to know a boy like him years ago when my family lived in Kyoto. I can't be sure if it's him though." Gumi's interest seemed to spike dramatically. "It's just like a novel! Did you love him?" Luka looked down and thought. "I think I did… but it was only after he left that I realized. The faint love was there before I knew it."
Gumi's eyes seemed to light up when she heard Luka. "Lovers reunited by fate? How romantic." Luka reached for another tissue from an empty box. "Here" Gumi handed her a tissue box from her purse. Luka hid her face with the tissue. "But… I guess it won't work out." Her words struck a sorrowful tone.
The phone in Luka's room rang. Gumi hastily picked it up before Luka could. Gumi picked up the receiver. "Right now? Okay. We've been expecting him." Gumi turned to Luka and said. "Looks like you have a visitor. Kaito's outside wanting to see you. Are you going to let him in?"
Luka stared blankly at the door, she was running through her mind worriedly. "I don't know…" Gumi laughed. "I'll go get him anyway." The green-haired girl left the room before Luka could protest.
Kaito waited at the gate anxiously. He heard no response, maybe Luka wouldn't even give him another chance. He wouldn't blame her, he was stupid and lied to himself, even if he thought it was the best for everybody.
"Kaito!"
Gumi waved at him as she walked down the gate path towards him. "I came to get you, but what brings you here?" Gumi asked as she opened the gate. "Luka left something behind when we last talked, I need to ask her a question for Rin, and I want to apologize to her." Kaito said briefly as he stepped in.
"Came loaded with excuses to see her huh?"Gumi giggled a little. The young girl gestured him to follow as they both walked up to the mansion. Suddenly Gumi's tone adapted a cold edge "But it seems something stirred her up quite badly. I'm not sure if she'll be willing to see you." Kaito said nothing but silently followed her.
They passed through the entrance and into the main hall. He saw a man with a neatly trimmed beard conversing with a group of men in black business suits. He had a stern face and looked like he was around forty or fifty. He had a white suit making him stand out from the other men. He turned his attention to Kaito when they passed by them. Kaito quickly averted his piercing gaze. "That's Luka's father, the one with the white suit, in case you were wondering." Gumi whispered Kaito thought about Luka's engagement and wondered why Luka's father would ever consent to such a thing.
The two headed up a flight of stairs and reached a dimly lit hallway. The dim lights gave the hall a warm and comforting atmosphere. Gumi stopped at the last door. She knocked on it and used a key to open the lock. Kaito took a step forward, but Gumi blocked his way when he tried to enter. "You're not coming in. Stay here."Gumi shut the door in his face. He could hear muffled noises through the door and he waited impatiently. "At least I got this far" he sighed.
After a few moments Gumi came out with a worried look on her face. "Alright, she says she'll talk to you." Kaito took a step forward again, but Gumi still blocked his way to the door. "But…"Gumi rolled her eyes. "You still can't see her." Gumi left the door open just a crack and started making her way down the hall.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Kaito asked. Gumi rolled her eyes. "Apparently, I can't stay either." As she reached the stairs, Gumi muttered to herself "Just when it was getting good!"
Kaito still held Luka's stuff in his arms. He went closer to peer through the crack. . Luka had all of her lights turned off, leaving nothing to be seen. "Please… Don't look behind the door." He heard Luka's soft voice. Kaito was hurt, her voice sounded so pained and it seemed that she was covering herself with something from her muffled voice, making sure to hide herself from his view. "Sorry." Was all Kaito could say.
He pushed his back to the edge of the door and leaned on the wall. "I came to give you back your things. You left them in the garden." Luka said nothing, waiting for him to say something else. "I'm sorry, I really am. There was really nothing I could do. If you could ever find it in your heart to forgive me, I hope you'll give me another chance to make it up to you." The words that Kaito said passed through to Luka with complete sincerity. Luka uncovered herself from her bedsheets and looked inquisitively at the breach on the door.
"Is that all that brings you here? To apologize for hurting my feelings?"Luka's words quietly stirred Kaito's resolve. "No, that's not all. I wanted to tell you how I feel." Luka's attention was immediately captured. "How do you feel… about me then?" Luka wanted to know the answer. Kaito sat down, resting his back on the wall. "I don't just like you Luka. I love you."There was not even a little hint of hesitation in his words. "I want what's the best for you, even if it means that there won't be a place for me in your life." Kaito heard some movement in Luka's room, but he still resisted the urge to steal a glance. "But… If you still feel the same as you did before… I will meet your love with all I have and I'll devote myself to you alone."
The door moved forward. Luka must have been leaning against the door as well. Kaito traced the edges of the wooden door with his fingers, hoping to catch one of Luka's.
An abrupt phone ring shattered the moment. He heard Luka's soft footsteps as she went to answer her cell phone. "Hello? Miku, is that you?"
Kaito's heart sank. What was she calling Luka for? Luka continued talking with Miku "Yes. I'm all right now. Is this about Kaito? He's actually here right now." Kaito panicked, he wasn't prepared to talk to Miku right now. He fanatically waved his arms to signal that he didn't want his presence to be known. Luka misunderstood his frantic gestures. "I think he wants to talk to you." Kaito gulped. "Why God? Why?" he mouthed to the ceiling.
Luka slid her cell phone through the crack at the door. She still didn't want to be seen, but Kaito could tell by the pressure she put on the door that she was listening intently.
Kaito reached for her phone and placed it against his cheek. Luka's cell phone felt cool to the touch. The person on the other side of the line was the first to break the silence. "Are you doing well Kaito? I'm glad that you were able to make up with Luka." her voice sounded unstable, as if a small disturbance would cause it to shatter or disappear. Kaito felt Luka's weight on the door. "Sorry, Miku. Right now isn't really a good time." He said apologetically. Miku said nothing for a few moments. "… Then that's fine." She took a deep breath. "This is how it was supposed to be right?" Miku tried to sound cheerful, but the melancholy in her tone was heartbreaking. "Miku, I-" Miku didn't let Kaito finish. "I said it's fine isn't it? This is how you wanted it to be right?"Amid her words Miku choked on her tears. Giving one final goodbye, Miku ended the call.
Kaito sighed and leaned on the wooden door for support. Kaito felt a need to run over to Miku and comfort her. Luka sensed it from their short exchange. Kaito got up and gestured Luka to take back her phone from his hand without facing the door. Luka reached for his hand and placed her fingers on her phone. "I need to go." Kaito said.
Luka grabbed Kaito's wrist. Kaito couldn't help but look behind him. The light was too dim to see her completely, but Luka's crystal-like eyes shone through the dark. She looked at him pleadingly. "Do you really have to go?"Luka said remorsefully as she tugged on his bracelet. Looking at her in the dim light, made him recall something… A faint memory. He felt as if he had heard those words before, like a separate lifetime. He shrugged off the thought. Luka's touch intoxicated him, her fingers felt cool to the touch. Drunk in the moment Kaito grabbed her wrist as well, pulling her into the light "Don't worry. I will come back for you." Kaito assured her. Luka took a sharp breath, surprised from his sudden touch.
They both looked at each other's eyes, entranced and stuck in their own thoughts, but their consciousness and dreams seemed to melt into one in that moment.
He released her wrist, and she in turn, released his while letting a finger linger through his skin. He made his way down the hall. "I might go… to the picnic, that is." Luka said after him. Kaito smiled in her direction. "Yeah… I'll be looking forward to it."