Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN K-ON OR ITS CHARACTERS
SURPRISE
Satoshi doesn't waste his words nor does he talk much but he did chose his words carefully upon addressing the driver and the owner of the car he was currently sitting in with a suspicious tone. "Why are you doing this?" He asked eyeing Mio from the backseat when Riku glanced at her. The drummer looked troubled by the question as he answered the young Tainaka with one of his own, finding it rather hard to answer such a simple question. I don't remember you being so rude. "Doing what exactly?" Riku quizzed, stealing a peek from the rear view mirror to see the young boy's reaction. Satoshi felt his eyes on him and fought the urge to stick his tongue out at him for making him feel like a stubborn child. "The courtesy of meeting my parents and driving Mio and me to school" He answered innocently. Mio just sat there and let the boy express how uncomfortable he was with Riku around, despite how much she wanted him to understand the circumstances of the situation, she couldn't blame him for questioning. Riku sighed, stopping at a red light he turned to fully look straight into the boy's eyes, lighter in comparison to his gold. 'You never seem to surprise me' He thought.
"Satoshi if you don't like me then say it, it's ok I can take it" Riku said in a sincere tone with a soft smile.
"I don't like you" Satoshi grunted. Mio flinched at his answer. 'Well that didn't take long.
"Do you mind telling me why?"
"It's not important"
Oh really
"If it's not important then there's no risk in telling right?"
"Green light" Mio interrupted in a whisper, breaking the boy's intense stare. She sensed some sort of conflict within Satoshi. The young Tainaka foolishly thought he could out smart Riku but he felt like he was talking to Ritsu through it all. Riku almost sounds just like her, Satoshi frowned. No way would his sister be that clever to ever talk to him like that even if she was stubborn. Satoshi watched Mio with a close eye wondering what the girl was thinking. I wonder why she's so nice to him we barely know him! If only Ritsu was here she'd beat the snot right out of him for trying to play Prince Charming! Satoshi smiled at the thought, imagining his sister all high and mighty going up against a guy like Riku. That would definitely be entertaining.
The rest if the drive was quiet and Satoshi felt like hours had passed until he saw his school's parking lot. He grimaced when his friends noticed the good looking car. Other students stood in awe as Riku pulled up. Riku grinned noticing the curious looks from the students, he turned to Satoshi after he parked. "Well here we are"
"Keep your cockiness to yourself" he snapped, grabbing his backpack. Mio turned to him with a shocked expression. "Satoshi you're being rude" she reasoned, catching the boys glare towards Riku. "Let me remind you who you care for Mio because obviously you've forgotten" Satoshi shot back, his words piercing Mio like bullets. The change in attitude even caught Ricchan attention. With a broken expression Mio ignored him and turned back around.
She felt like slapping him and telling him the truth right there and then but Riku's worried look held her back. Riku felt like lashing out on the young boy too but took the words that escaped the boy's mouth in silent anger. "You're only nice to him because he looks exactly like her and acts like her! He's only using your sadness and our pain for his own benefit!" Satoshi blurted out, venom laced with every word. The boy surprisingly let out a shaky breath and slumped in his seat. He felt regret sinking in the pit of his stomach. Riku clenched the steering wheel hard turning, he was ready to tell the boy off before Mio beat him to it.
"Get out" she barked.
Satoshi looked up in distaste but didn't fight or reason with Mio. Opening the car door Satoshi let himself out, slamming the door behind him. He looked back and mouthed something in Mio's direction before he walked into the swarming crowd of students.
"Mio are you-"
"I'm fine let's just go" She said, emotionally exhausted. Riku nodded and drove out of the parking lot, still unsure of t Mio's or Satoshi's feelings.
Satoshi please don't be one sided about this. Mio thought when she read the boys lips a moment ago. "I thought you loved her." Mio wished things were simple and easy to explain but they weren't and she was having a hard time maintaining her self-confidence. After all her dead best friend had resurrected. Breathing slowly she spoke, "He's just scared" She said, staring at her lap. "What about?" Riku questioned, not following the girls train of thought. He made a right turn, jerking Mio to speak up.
"You"
"Oh really I hadn't guessed when he told me he didn't like me and almost smashed my door" Riku agreed sarcastically. Mio glared at him and pinched his cheek in disapproval.
"I mean he's afraid that you replacing Ritsu..."
"Well it's half the truth and you sound ridiculous saying that" Mio knew he wouldn't take this seriously. "I mean it! He thinks we're using you as an outlet"
"He's just jealous he can't have you like I do" he teased, this time earning himself a punch to the head. Mio pouted and looked away. Riku's antics weren't helping the situation "Ow! You do know I can't drive if I have a concussion." Mio ignored his pestering and continued on her topic. "Take this seriously then! After all it's about your brother!" She reasoned, Riku huffed childishly.
"Satoshi is angry and confused and would rather have never met me then still think there's a possible chance of us being friends. It's called dominance in my opinion" Riku shrugged while Mio suppressed her anger just a little. "Dominance?"
"It's a guy thing"
Oh
"How so?"
"Well you're clueless than I thought miss know-it-all"
"Excuse me?!"
"Mio please, don't tell me you haven't noticed yet?"
"Explain"
"Geez Mio! Satoshi likes you more than a 15 year old should! Catch my drift he wants to get in your pants like I do"
"YOU want to get in pants?!" Mio asked with a blushing face similar to Riku's after the unexpected and uncalled for phrase. Likewise Riku sheepishly picked at his nape and answered nervously. "I was using that as an explanation alright so don't get all hot and bothered" He snickered. Mio's burning cheeks failed to cool down in time as Riku caught sight of them.
"I was kidding Mio please don't-
Smack!
The car's horn blared loudly and the poor sap behind the wheel could only see stars instead of cars. Mio ignored the girlish wail that came out of Riku's mouth and smiled at the angel sniveling on the dashboard. Ricchan had managed to stay hidden from the couples eye's until the hilarious scene was too much to handle. "Tough love is what you call it right?" The angel innocently asked holding a tiny finger up to its chin. "More like abusive love" Riku wheezed, hastily moving through the light and angry drivers. "Are you going to keep cracking jokes or are you going to listen like a good boyfriend" She quizzed, her blush returning. Riku heard the word clear as day but didn't act on it like he usually would so he just answered his beloved with a tiny grin playing across his lips. "I will, if you sit there like a good girlfriend and not hit me" Ricchan looked at the two and smiled at the blushes gracing their young faces. Young love is so….complicated. Mio nodded and Riku drove on without another injury (for now that is.)
Their small talk about Satoshi hadn't ended yet despite their little love quarrel. Riku wondered what was truly bothering his little brother? Maybe the young boy was still upset about his sister's death. Maybe he was at mad at their parents? Or the culprit? What was it?
Satoshi hold on for a little longer please….
Ritsu knew her brother well when it came to showing emotion; it was a familiar weakness they shared that Satoshi was an expert in and they clashed a lot for it. It was a trait neither of them knew could affect more than just themselves. Family and friends were affected by Ritsu's passing and that proved to break barriers, barriers they never thought they had. Satoshi had told his parents he was fine but he lied and it was biting a piece out of him.
Riku frowned at the thought of finally having notice how potentially serious the situation really was considering many siblings of deceased brothers or sister turned to harming themselves over the sadness. Ricchan poked Riku on the cheek getting his attention. "Don't think of such things, negativity affects the soul"
"Your brother loves you just as much as he despises you right now" Mio whispered to him as she grabbed the boy's arm. "If you want we can talk to him together and hopefully he doesn't freak out like he did earlier" She said before shyly looking away. She didn't plan on having to dig this deep into her emotions but this was the perfect chance to lose the weight of uncertainty. "He's not the only feeling scared" She murmured. Riku felt the pressure of Mio's words and never once thought something was bothering her since the day they reunited. Ricchan smiled at the revelation these two were beginning to shine through.
Mio took a deep breathe, "That boy at the funeral was you I know but back then when I saw him I couldn't fight the feeling I was seeing someone who I could fall for…. I mean…. I thought if I fell in love again it could help fill the gap of emptiness I felt but at the same time the risk of forgetting you would be unbearable...after all I never told you I loved you..." Mio said quietly, she let her worries escape with those words and now they hung above Riku's heart. She wiped a few lingering tears, hoping not to upset Riku.
"Tainaka Ritsu I love you with all my heart. Please stay by my side forever"
Riku drove to a nearby gas station, stopped the car and immediately hugged Mio overwhelmed by the passion of each word. "Did you know how dumb I felt for not telling you sooner how much I loved you" he whispered, resting his head on the girls shoulder. Mio hugged him, holding on to him tightly.
"I never meant to worry any of you this much" Riku said as he let a tear roll down his cheek.
They hadn't truly spoken like this since Ritsu's return and they knew better than to keep their feelings hidden from one another when it was the perfect time to express them.
"Don't worry about what the future holds. I'll be there to help you both through it" Ricchan interrupted as Mio smiled at the angel.
"Everyone needs time to think and relax" the angel advised. "Give yourselves time to sort out the life you have so in the meantime spend time with your friends and family" The angel said, buzzing with positive energy.
"Speaking of friends, we still have classes today!" Mio mentioned, as she shoved Riku away when he tried giving her a kiss. The boy pouted at the rejection but understood the circumstances of their dire situation.
"Do we really need to go...?" Riku asked looking at the clock and at Mio who was preoccupied with her cellphone. She had received multiple texts from Mugi and Yui in the past hour asking where she was and if she was planning on coming late to class. Riku on the other hand would be doing the same if he knew where he put his own phone after having no recollection of ever taking it out or using it.
"Riku you don't mind going fast right?" Mio asked.
Riku grinned. "The faster the better"
Sakuragaoka Girl's High School
"MUGI-CHAN!" Yui screeched as she ran up the stairs and busted the music room door down. The blonde she was looking for was sitting on the table quietly sipping and enjoying a cup of tea, she looked up with a calm smile.
"Yui-chan please sit"
"Not now Mugi-chan look outside its Mio and Ritsu!" Yui screamed running towards the window as she squished her face intensely on the glass trying to look closer. Mugi-chan took one last sip of her drink before proceeding towards the window. The scene was rather cute almost straight out of a manga, Mugi watched the two love birds. She noticed the crowds forming near the windows as the girls watched with a look of awe and for some a look of jealousy.
"They look happy" Mugi mused.
Yui giggled "Mio-chan looks troubled"
Both girls laughed as the couple squabbled playfully but the scene was soon interrupted by their teacher none other than Sawako. She confronted Riku, scolding him but Riku was having none of it. Yui and Mugi watched as the two yelled at one another.
"Sawa-chan is such a kill joy" Yui exclaimed.
Seconds later the two stopped and Mio was bowing in apology. Riku looked slightly defeated and bowed also. Sawako turned to head back inside once more with a satisfied grin on her face with Mio following closely behind but Riku reached out far enough to spin Mio back around for a goodbye kiss.
The girls squealed and Yui and Mugi cheered as if Riku won the lottery. Mio blushed when Riku winked at her and Sawako before running away from Sawako's assault.
"See you later Sawa-chan!" Riku teased blowing the older woman a kiss.
"Leave already you little bastard!" Sawako roared.
After that day Mio refused to kiss Riku on school grounds and anywhere near the campus.
Thank you to those who have waited and continue to have faith in this fic an for those new readers who followed and favorite! I honestly don't know if should continue this piece or any of stories for that matter... so tell what you think in the reviews please and thank you once again
~BEYOND YOU OUT~