Cuxie: Too...much...orange soda!(hiccups)The lights! The colors!
Kazune: Is she....?
Karin: Drunk off orange soda.
Kazune: I thought only orange Koolaid did that to her.
Karin: Nope. Apparently all orange-flavored beverages have that affect on her.
Cuxie: I've got a pretty rainbow on my neck!
Kazune:...Glow sticks?
Karin: It was a long night. Big party.
Kazune: Ah.
Cute:(holding up glow-sticks)Should these be frozen? Where's the big freezer?! The one with the icy things!!
Kazune: Let's just start.
Karin: Please.
Kazune sat Indian-style on Karin's bed. The house was empty and silent, reflecting his mood at the moment. He'd quickly abandoned the idea of searching for Karin in town simply because she could be anywhere and he didn't even know what direction to start looking in. So he skipped school and headed home.
Of course his consience was killing him. He'd quickly come to the conclusion that this was his fault. If he'd listened to Karin then they'd both be in school(where they belonged), probably arguing about something pointless. Himeka would be sure to question him when he got home. The thought frustrated him slightly. He just wanted to be left alone.
Karin probably hated him for not believing her. He called her paranoid and foolish for God's sakes! Now that he thought about it, it was surprising she hadn't punched him right then and there. Maybe she was waiting until she got home to do that. Either way, it was probably coming sooner or later...
And just how the heck was he supposed to convince anyone they were dating?! Nishikiori probably thought they were fighting and had told everyone just that. And God only knew what Kuga was think right now. This whole episode would be all over the school in no time!
He sighed deeply and fell back onto the bed, running a hand through his newly acquired long, brown hair.
This sulking-in-your-own-misery thing wasn't working, he quickly decided. Getting up, he headed someplace more personal to think...
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Karin entered cautiously through the front door of the Kujyou home. Skipping school was wrong, she'd be sure to get Hell about it later, but she didn't care. At least it guaranteed her a few hours of solitude at home. But what now?
"Onii-chan!" A soft voice called from behind. Karin jumped slightly and turned around to where she saw Kazusa coming down the stairs, Suzune on her hip. "Daddy!" The little boy jumped out of her arms and ran to Karin who scooped him up immediately. "You're home early."
"Yep. Where you a good boy with Kazusa-chan?" Suzune nodded eagerly.
"He always is," Kazune smiled sweetly, then gave Karin a teasing look. "So unlike his daddy."
"Eh? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Good boys don't cut classes Onii-chan," she said sternly. "I can't remember when you've ever done this. You've been acting so strange lately." Her expression shifted slightly and she looked worried. "I think you're being a bad influence on Karin-chan too."
Karin's eyes widened and she suddenly felt self-concious hearing her own name. "Wh-What do you mean?"
"She's skipping school too you know. She got here about 20 minutes ago."
"She's here now? Doing what?"
Kazusa giggled. "Archery."
Without another word, Karin rushed out of the room, Suzune in tow. She went straight for the training grounds.
Truth be told, she found Kazune shooting arrows at a target nearly 30ft had on his training uniform and had pulled her long hair into a high ponytail. Karin stood cautiously in the doorway watching, not wanting to disturb his concentration. It was unusual for him to skip school, being the exceptional student that he is. And she knew for a fact he did archery to clear his mind.
She watched in silence, frowning slightly. Maybe something bad did happen with the Kazune-Z. Hesitantly taking a step forward, she thought about asking him.
Or maybe it was better to just watch. He didn't have to know she was her. And he'd probably kill her for ditching when she was in his body.
Kazune's eyes narrowed in concentration. An arrow zoomed forward and hit the target dead-on.
"Yay! Mommy's good!" Suzune cheered, squirming in Karin's arms. Kazune turned and looked at them. She sighed. So much for just watching.
Karin let Suzune down and he ran toward Kazune who picked him up as well. "Suzune-kun, what're you doing here?" He asked while looking at Karin and she knew the question was meant for her.
"Me and Daddy watched. I wanna play too!" He reached for the bow Kazune had set down on the ground and was pulled away.
"Maybe when you're a little older." Suzune pouted and Kazune laughed, patting his head. "Why don't you go play with Kazusa-chan for awhile and me and, uh, Daddy will be there later." Suzune nodded and fled the room, calling Kazusa's name.
Karin looked down at her foot. Awaiting the lecture that she knew she deserved.
"Karin..." She braced herself. "I-I'm sorry."
Her eyes popped wide open. "Ehhh?!"
He sighed and sat down on the bench near the track. The Kujyou training grounds had all the equipment of a professional gym plus a few extras. He motioned for her to come join him and she did. "I should've believed you. Those girls are...ugh! I honestly don't believe it, but you were right. I'm sorry."
"You...you're apologizing?" Karin asked in disbelief.
"Is that so hard to believe?"
"No! Well...kinda. But really it was my fault for just springing all that on you. I never told you about it before so I know it must've sounded pretty weird and kinda stupid. So, yeah. Sorry."
"Oh, uh, it's ok."
An awkward silence followed their apologies and Karin wondered if maybe she should leave to let him finish training or something.
"Karin?"
"Yes?" she jumped slightly and realized how stiff she was sitting. Kazune, on the other hand, seemed a lot more relaxed.
"Why didn't you tell me about those girls? Before all this I mean."
"Oh. I didn't think you'd believe me."
He sighed and felt disgusted with himself again. Not only didn't he believe her earlier, but she had trusted him not to believe her! "I'm sorry." He said again. He knew he'd said it enough, but what else could he say?
"It's ok!" she said cheerfully. "I'm just glad that's out of the way. I figured you'd have to deal with them sooner or later. One less thing for me to worry about, right?" She flashed him a smile and he sighed in relief.
"Yeah, I guess you're ri--uh...oh man."
"What?"
He sighed. I guess this is as good a time as any. "Um, listen Karin. Don't freak out or anything, but I forgot to tell you something."
"What is it?" she asked suspiciously.
"Well, when I was talking to those girls well, I had to set them straight so I told them a few things. Nothing really big so don't freak out." he said, beating around the bush. Karin's eyes narrowed. He was nervous. That much was obvious. Which meant this must be pretty important if he was this hesitant to say it.
"What did you say?" she demanded.
"Well I told them we lived together..."
"You WHAT?! Why?! As if they didn't have reason enough to want to kill me!" she yelled.
"They have NO reason to want to kill you!" he countered, and she shook her head furiously.
"Do you think that matters to them?! Oh God, I'm dead!" she said burrying her face in her hands. Kazune grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her violently.
"Karin, calm down! You're overreacting! It's not like they can really do anything to you. I won't let them ok? Just cool it!"
Karin blinked at him a few times and took a deep breath. "O-Okay. I'm ok." She said, in a slightly quivering voice. "I'm fine now."
"You won't freak out again?" Kazune asked while loosening his grip on her shoulders. She nodded quickly and he sighed again, knowing her couldn't really trust her not to if that was how she reacted to the first news. "Good. Because there's more..."
"M-More?" He nodded and Karin took another deep breath. This one shakier than the last. "Give it to me straight."
"...I told them we were dating."
Cuxie: Cut-off! Cliffy attack!
Karin: She's somber now.
Kazune: Thank God.
Cuxie: Next chappy--Karin's reactions and such. Stay tuned! R&R!! Send me nice words(and I wouldn't mind cookies)!! BYEAS!!