Misconceptions

Chapter Ten:
Voices

Carissa stripped herself of her coat as she sat herself in front of Ayame who was busy highlighting some notes. "You two-timing bitch," she teased playfully.

"Excuse me?" Ayame froze in confusion.

"You know what I'm talking about. I can't believe you bagged the both of them. Well, apparently the secret's already out."

"What? Carissa what on earth are you talking about?"

Carissa eyed Ayame curiously. "You really don't know what I'm talking about, do you?" She pulled out her Motorola SideKick2 and showed her a picture of her and Ginta getting a little close.

Ayame's eyes widened. "Where did you get this?"

She shrugged. "I got an anonymous e-mail. They say they're revealing your little affair to you-know-who. Personally I'm more into Kouga's type, but kudos to you for bagging two rich guys."

"No, no! Car, it's all wrong. I'm not even close to having a relationship with Ginta. He was helping me study for an exam—wait, if you don't know who sent it, then that means anyone else could have mysteriously gotten it too, right?"

Carissa shrugged as she tucked her phone away. "Sure, I guess." She picked up her books and threw them in her large carry-all bag. "I have to find him."

"Find who?"

Ayame didn't have time to explain herself. She ran out as faster than Carissa after a drunken night at a stranger's house. She could suddenly feel eyes burning holes in her from behind as they watched and whispered. She only ran faster.

.o0o.

Kouga growled as he tucked his phone away.

"What's got you panties up in a bunch?" Bankotsu joked from behind.

"You mean you haven't gotten it yet?"

He shrugged. "Got what?"

Kouga shook his head. "Never mind. Have you seen Ayame?"

"Last time I saw the Virgin Mary, she was running around like she stole something. What's happened now?"

"What about Ginta?"

Bankotsu shrugged again. "Damned if I knew. Why would I care where the little runt went off to?"

Kouga let out a small huff before pushing Bankotsu playfully. "I'll be back."

"No, I think it's best if I come with. It looks like your face is ready for murder."

"Fine," he agreed in no mood to argue—at least not with him. When he caught up with Ayame or Ginta, he'd be sure to ring their necks for making a fool of him. He stomped out the university hallway as Bankotsu stalked behind him.

A loud thud was heard as Ayame dropped to the ground. He barely felt her small body run into his masculine form that was so consumed by rage. She helped herself seeing as after a minute on the ground no one else would help. "There you are. You're like a rainbow—no one can really track you." She suddenly recognized his angry gaze. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Just in time for the afternoon show, Ginta showed up. "What going on?"

"Get him." Kouga ordered without taking his forceful gaze off Ayame.

Bankotsu did as he was told and sprinted after Ginta as he ran away from them.

"Wh-what are you doing to him? Kouga leave him alone."

"Did you honestly think I wouldn't have found out? Secrets don't stay secrets for long in Tokyo, Ayame."

"It's about the picture, isn't it?" She asked as she backed up.

Kouga only followed her every foot step. "You think you can make a fool of me, huh? Is that it?"

"What no—I can . . . I can totally explain." She tired out her innocent face that usually got Grandfather to back off but Kouga was another story. "I—" She was silenced by Kouga's finger on her lips.

"Now, you're going to listen. You're lucky to even be able to go to this school—to be alive. Because of me, you weren't expelled. And because of me no more girls harass you. And now, because you betrayed me you can fuck all of it to hell. You're dead to me."

Ayame gaped at him. Their faces were only inches away and his fury began to sink into her. "If it weren't for you I wouldn't have been harassed in the first place! Those girls are only after you and what your money can do for them. They're like crows who feed upon each other just to get food. If anything you should be thanking me for getting them off your back."

"You should be thanking me for not kicking your ass right now!"

She scoffed in surprise. "Fine you and your mother get your wish." She turned to Bankotsu dragging Ginta behind. She pushed him away and grabbed Ginta's hand. "Come on, Ginta. We're leaving."

.o0o.

Yumi helped Ayame take her clothes down off the drying line. "Are you sure theses are yours, Yumi?"

She nodded and folded up a cotton dress. "Do you . . . miss your mom?"

Ayame stared at her for a minute and then smiled. "I didn't know her."

Yumi shrugged. "Did you miss here?"

Ayame shook her head honestly. "No, I didn't miss her. I don't really think you can miss something you never had."

"Is it okay for . . . me . . . to miss my mom?"

"Of course it is. Why would you think it wouldn't be?"

Yumi shrugged again and tossed the cotton dress in the straw basket. "Well, from what I hear she was kind of mean and I never really remembered her. I have pictures. But I don't remember how she smelled like or the sound of her laugh."

Ayame nodded. "Yumi, people do things to the people they love. We can't stop it, but it happens. Your mother loved you on some level. Maybe you can't remember her laugh or her scent, but you'll carry around those pictures. Some memories are better than nothing. It's okay to miss someone, even if they weren't that great of a person."

"You're dead to me!"

The words rang in her head over and over till her head began pounding. She wished some one would knock her out of the memory. No matter how hard she tried to sugar-coat it, the fact killed her inside. Kouga had officially set her free from whatever it was that was holding them together. However, she's didn't know whether to cherish it or regret it.

"Ayame?" Yumi interrupted. "Are you okay?"

"Here," she said, handing her the basket of folded clothes. "Put these away and tell Grandfather I went into the city for a while."

"But Aya—"

"Yumi, just do it, please?"

She shrugged. "Okay, but I was wondering who that man is?" She pointed out the tall male whose expression seemed ghost like from afar as he stood at the small hill. "He's been looking here a while now . . . maybe he's lost?"

"Yumi, just go inside and put the clothes away. I'll be in a minute."

"But you just said you were going into the city. Should I still tell Gramps?"

"Yumi don't say a word, just go in and I'll follow in a minute!"

Yumi could tell that in Ayame's tone she had been unpleased. She nodded and waddled her way inside while trying to balance the weight of the basket.

Ayame slowly made her way to Kouga who seemed like he couldn't even see the sky straight. "Kouga . . . what are you doing here?"

He almost stumbled down the hill as he began to make his way down it. "This place looks so familiar."

"That's because it's the Rainbow Hope Orphanage. How'd you even find your way here?" Her tone was so sharp it could cut him.

He rubbed his eyes with his palms. "I guess I followed your scent."

"You're so drunk. Maybe you should just go home before you make an even bigger ass of yourself."

He finally fell to his knees and looked around like a new born pup as the wind teased his hair from his pony tail. He looked so confused. "Why?" he finally asked.

Ayame shrugged. "Why should you go home?" she questioned.

He shook his head and looked up at the sky which began to grow grey and violent with rain clouds above them. He felt a cold drop suddenly fall on the back of his hand. "Why'd you do it? Do you really like Ginta that much?"

She rolled her eyes and kneeled next to him making sure her sun dress didn't touch the dirt. "It was a lie fed to you by a liar. Ginta and I have nothing but friendship for each other. I tried to explain to you but you and our stubbornness wouldn't listen. That picture was taken by someone who wants to hurt you . . . or me—or maybe even the both of us. I don't know who did it or why they did it . . . but I guess they succeeded in ruining both our lives."

He grabbed her hand and knitted their fingers together. "I don't understand."

"Maybe you're too drunk to understand."

"No I mean . . . I don't understand us. You hate me . . . but you're so nice. And I don't want to like you, but I can't stand being away from you. And I can't stand the feeling that you could be with someone else."

The rain began falling little-by-little. One drop after the other fell over them.

Ayame sighed. "Maybe we do like each other, and we're just trying to kid ourselves. Or maybe we do like each other, but we both know we can't."

"Why is that?"

"Hello, have you met your mother? It's a bit impossible to forget her seeing as she gave you birth and she's willing to sell you out for her own gain. It's such a shame, but it's true and you and I both know it."

He tucked his hand under her chin and pulled her face closer to his. Their lips brushed. "I don't apologize," he finally let out. "Since I was a kid, I've never apologized for anything I've—at least not while meaning it. But I didn't mean to say some of the things I said."

Ayame let out the breath that she wasn't aware she was holding in. "I appreciate that." She suddenly pulled away. "Kouga, you will never know how grateful I am to you for helping find my father, but I think it's best if it doesn't go any farther than we've already gone."

She pulled her hand away as the rain fell harder on them, almost stinging against her pale skin.

"Why?"

Ayame only shook her head and gave a sad, forced smile. "Just face it, we weren't meant to be. Do you realize what we'd be doing? We're from two opposite worlds and it's a bit obvious that fate is more than against us. Maybe it's truly best that we leave it where it is now."

Kouga gently grabbed her shoulders, turning her toward him and pressed his lips against hers. His hand slid up her shoulder and neck to find its way tangled in her auburn waves. She opened her mouth, allowing him entrance as she subconsciously climbed into his lap. She arched her back as his mouth made its way down her neck. He kissed her hungrily as if he'd been denied food for years.

Their harsh breathing mingled in the hard rain as it poured down their heated bodies. Her hands roamed over his muscles. They both knew they should have stopped before it had gotten to this point. But they didn't' want to.

Kouga's hands ran up the small of her back and found the zipper to her dress. He had no will to work a zipper. He yanked at opposite sides of the thin fabric, making a loud rip sound. They slowly lowered their bodies to the ground. Ayame grabbed handfuls of his shirt and thrusted it up his body and over his head. His mouth began teasing the sensitive skin of her collar bone.

They met face to face once again and stopped for a moment's glance. Ayame's thumb traced his loser lip as she took it gently in her mouth. Kouga kissed her back tenderly.

"Ayame?" Called a child's voice from afar as a large flash of light broke the darkness.

Ayame gasped as rolled onto her elbows only spot Yumi at the doorway attempting to look for a trace of her. Her breathing became heavier and she suddenly realized what was happening. She shook her head and stood up. "I can't," she panted. "We—I can't . . . I'm sorry—I'm sorry."

Kouga looked at her confusingly as she ran back to the house trying to hold up what was left of her dress.

.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.

A/N:

I'm officially the worst person in the hole entire world!! I'm so sorry I've made you wait so long for the shortest chapter ever. Hopefully you'll all find some place in your heart to forgive me.

My chapter was literally deleted four times. I've been so busy with finals. But I'm officially back in the game! Summer started for me and I plan on writing tons more! Thanks so much for staying loyal and waiting patiently for my stupid, terrible self to update.