Everyone, thank you for reading my story thus far! I hope everyone had a safe and sound Christmas/Kwanzaa/Hanukkah and a Happy New Year!
I apologize for not posting earlier, but as many who chose to PM me know (thank you, by the way), I was literally swamped with schoolwork. There were actually piles of work several feet high on my desk -_- can you believe it? Yeah, I can't either.
BUT! Here's the reward for waiting so patiently and continuing to support me for all this time. I really love all of you guys for sticking with me so far, and I hope you will continue to read/review for me! Read: REVIEW PLEASE! xD
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Moriyama Kimiko and Dameon.
Now, please enjoy after several weeks of nothing: Chapter …12 I think?
Yukimura opened the door, jumping backwards in surprise. "Kimiko? What are you doing here?"
"Ahaha…" Kimiko shrugged in a half-hearted attempt to act cheerful. "Here I am!"
As the usual tears began to gather, Yukimura placed a warm hand on Kimiko's head and drew her into a brotherly hug. "Hey, save me the tears. You know I can't stomach a woman's crying. Especially yours."
He smiled at the sound of his childhood friend attempting to silence her sobs, alternatively hiccupping and sniffling. "Come on in." He pulled her in gently, closing the door shut behind them as they walked away with a dexterous backwards tap of his foot.
"Sit down for a bit. I'll get you some tea."
"Okay" was the puppy-like obedient response.
Yukimura went into the kitchen, moving immediately to the phone and slipping it quietly off its hook. Pushing a few quick buttons, he brought the receiver to his ear and whispered to the person on the other line, "Get over here. Pronto."
"Wha—"
Yukimura did not bother to wait for the other's response, simply hanging it back onto the receiver and proceeding to make Kimiko's favorite teatime snacks.
"Here you go," Yukimura beamed as he set down a few small platefuls of food.
"Seiichi!" Kimiko laughed delightedly with a full-blown grin. "You shouldn't have!"
Green tea. Mochi bits. Ice cream. French bread. And her favorite cream parfait.
"It was quick to whip up." And you know I like to spoil you. He winked at her.
Kimiko laughed. "Thank you—" She was interrupted by the doorbell.
Yukimura's ears perked. "About time." He rushed over hurriedly to the entrance, opening it quickly for the newest arrival. "What took you so long?"
Kimiko strained her ears as the newcomer's voice floated closer and closer.
"Sorry, the train I got on somehow got stuck on the wrong railroad."
"Is that even possible?"
A short silence. Perhaps a shrug? "Don't ask me. Tell the conductors that." As the two boys emerged from the shadows of the hallway into the dining room, Kimiko stared at the boy who had arrived before launching herself into the air.
"Mitsu-kun!"
Tezuka grunted slightly at the new baggage hanging from around his neck, currently positioned on his back with her hands contentedly playing with the slick hair on the top of his head. He groaned. "Kimiko, do you never listen?"
"Make me."
"…" The strict captain had nothing on him. I've never wanted a cockroach so much in my life…
Yukimura chuckled at Tezuka's disgruntled expression. "Bear with it, Tezuka. It's nothing new."
Tezuka nodded, a smile teasing at the corner of his lips before slipping back into the shadows and allowing his usual frown to regain its rightful place. "So, why did you call me?"
Kimiko halted her chimpanzee-imitations on Tezuka's hair for a moment and looked at Yukimura. "Seiichi. What did you do?"
"Hey, there's no reason to use that accusing tone already, is there?"
Kimiko continued to silently glare at the Rikkaidai captain.
"All right, all right," Seiichi forfeited, raising his hands in defeat. "I'm sorry." Not, he added under his breath. "But it seemed like you needed both of us, no?"
Kimiko paused, miffed. "Well then," she said, "why didn't you call Genichirou?"
"Oh? I can right now if you wish." Yukimura reached an arm out.
Kimiko jumped up and shoved his arm away. "NO!" she yelled, spreading her arms out in an attempt to guard Yukimura from his own phone.
Yukimura returned to his original position. "See? Told you." Kimiko pouted, but he continued, "The fact that you came to me in the first place means that you don't want Genichirou to know, otherwise he's the first option isn't he? Therefore, calling Genichirou would be quite stupid."
Tezuka nodded in agreement with the logic. "Kimiko, you're too easy to read."
His cousin bonked him on the head. "And you're a social klutz."
A glaring contest ensued as the two locked hard gazes for pointing out the weak points they were trying to hide…until Yukimura put one hand on each of the contestant's faces and pushed them apart. "That is enough."
"Haiii" Kimiko sat back down in her chair, and Tezuka coughed before straightening his posture and settling back down in his own seat. Yukimura shook his head. How does she transform that rock of a captain into a child again?
"Now." Yukimura plopped down in another comfortable piece of furniture that resembled a wooden beanbag. "What did you need us for?"
Kimiko opened her mouth, but no words came out. Closing it for a while and thinking, she opened, closed, opened, and closed again. Finally, she shook her head in defeat and looked both of them in eye. "Dameon's back."
Yukimura and Tezuka were silent for a few seconds, looking at each other. The former then asked in confusion, "So?"
"What do you mean, 'so?'"
"I don't get how that's going to change anything. That marriage interview didn't go smoothly at all; your parents allowed you to choose, there's no way that you have any relation to that prick anymore. If anything, -"
Tezuka cut Yukimura off. "Kimiko, did your parents change their will?" His voice was demanding, but more urgent than harsh.
Kimiko's eyes widened and she turned to her cousin. "How did you know that?"
"My parents once mentioned that my aunt and uncle, so your parents, would leave behind their wish for you to marry Dameon in case they died before they approved of the man you chose."
"…" Kimiko could only nod in acknowledgment of the truth. "That's correct."
A dreadful silence fell, each person enveloped in a swirl of thoughts, the males' thoughts mixed with some over PG-13 vocabulary.
"That's ridiculous!" Seiichi finally shattered the dark tranquility, slamming two tightly clenched fists on the table and causing Kimiko's teacup to jump about a foot into the air. She rushed to save the ceramic ware before it clattered to shards on the ground, barely catching it and sighing in relief before placing it back on its pretty little plate.
"Seiichi, calm down, please." Kimiko tried to suppress Yukimura's outburst of anger.
"How can I be calm?" the Rikkaidai captain roared in frustration. "That man took you for granted and broke your soul in two!"
Tezuka was silent, but Kimiko could sense a similarly angry aura coming off of him and the iciness of her cousin's eyes.
She said nothing in reply but closed her eyes; bit-by-bit, the banished painful memories began to resurface.
"Ne, Kimi-chan?"
"Hai, mother."
Her mother gestured to the young man sitting at the table in front of them. Kimiko stared in awe at his grace and the strong atmosphere around him. "Who…is that?"
"He's your fiancée, sweetheart."
"WHAT?" Kimiko shrieked, her shrill voice ringing through the banquet room reserved for the occasion. The young man and his apparent guardian jumped, startled. Looking towards the doorway, they smiled and then came over, the younger immediately kneeling to kiss Kimiko's hand. Lifting his head, he winked suggestively at her.
"It is an honor to meet you, milady."
Milady? Kimiko thought, attempting to scold herself for gawking at the man while blushing at his suave speech style.
Kimiko visibly bristled at the memory. Yukimura looked over at her, a constantly changing mixture of anger and sadness on his expression.
After their first meeting, Kimiko and Dameon went on several dates, seemingly getting closer day by day. Kimiko was constantly on the phone with Dameon, and for the time being, she could not wish for anything more.
But Yukimura wasn't convinced. "Kimi-chan. I don't trust that guy."
"Seiichi, I know you're worried about me, but Dameon is perfect. He can't be bad."
I hope it's my imagination, too… Yukimura thought nervously. Unfortunately, his and Kimiko's worst nightmare would soon become reality; the fateful days were not far off…
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