Title: Appreciating Things of Beauty [Chapter Sixteen
Author: Endless-Kaoru
Pairing: None yet.
Rating: Overall: R. This Chapter: PG-13-ish?

Warnings: none, really. Excessive fluff?
Disclaimer: I don't own Wallflower characters. None. Not even a single one.
Summary: Why must girls be so nosy, anyway? It seemed like all of them were. Was it something that came from the combination of two X chromosomes?

Appreciating Things of Beauty

Chapter Sixteen: Confession II

Noi watched with something akin to amusement as Aya picked a carrot out of her food, eyed it suspiciously, and turned to Yuki almost helplessly, "Yuki-kun, you like carrots, don't you?"

He looked over, then laughed a bit, "What, you got one? Sunako-chan usually picks them out for Kyohei and you."

The brown-haired girl watched thoughtfully as Aya passed the carrot to him, then proceeded to suspiciously inspect her food for more vegetables. In doing so, she discreetly pushed aside the parts she didn't like… mostly vegetables.

"Aya, you're so picky! Eat your own food for once!" Ranmaru scolded as he saw Yuki accept another carrot from the girl, "You'll make Yuki fat if you keep giving him your food!"

Aya pouted, "But it was just two carrots… and Yuki doesn't mind. Right Yuki?"

The boy in question just laughed.

A minor squabble started up over her pickiness and how she'll hurt Sunako's feelings and how could she let all these great foods go to waste?!

"Yuki's not a waste!" she piped up cheerfully.

"That's not what I meant and you know it!" a vein popped out in Ranmaru's forehead.

Aya laughed and hid behind Yuki, "Oh no, I'm s-so scared! He… He's gonna put me in a dress again!" she was trying hard not to laugh, but it just wasn't working.

Yuki, getting in on the act, held onto her and announced heroically – if it weren't for the laughter – "I'll protect you, Aya!"

"My hero, please do!" she pretended to swoon.

"Oi! Why are you guys so noisy?" Kyohei complained. He was mostly ignored.

Ranmaru and Yuki were engaged in a battle of the chopsticks… one that Yuki was quickly losing. The taller boy knocked his opponent's chopsticks from his hand and shouted in victory.

"My hero, are you hurt?" Aya crooned teasingly.

Noi stood abruptly, drawing everyone's attention as she pointed out Aya, "You, admit your feelings, or I'll… I'll… I'll nail you up in that refrigerator box!" she violently indicated the big crate that currently contained the old, broken refrigerator.

There was a generous amount of staring, and Aya had the decency to blush, grinding her teeth, "You're saying weird things again, Noi-chan. Are you sick?"

"I will!" Noi continued to threaten, "This is pathetic! Tell him! Right now!" she indicated Yuki, who just stared at her, wide-eyed.

"N-Noi-chan… calm down, please…" Takenaga tried to sooth her, "You can't rush things like that."

For a moment, it looked like the brown-haired girl would give up, dropping her hands by her sides and standing with her face lowered.

"There, now—"

"Takano, go empty out that crate." She said suddenly.

"What? No way. I just got done putting that stupid fridge in its box… it's not coming out again." Kyohei leaned back in his chair, looking annoyed.

Aya stood, bowed, and announced, "I apologize, my presence seems to be causing problems today. I'll be in my room." She made a sharp turn and marched toward her room.

Yuki was left looking a bit lost and embarrassed.

Noi blinked after the girl, then went after her, "Hey, don't get mad!"

"I'm not mad."

"What was that all about then?"

"Don't ask stupid questions."

Takenaga looked torn between going after the girls and staying out of it.

Ranmaru coughed, looking amused, "It seems we had no problem turning her into a lady." He snickered, glancing slyly at Yuki, "Good job."

Takenaga, having settled on staying put, reached over to pat the boy on the back.

Aya stared at the wall that her bed was butted up against, her arms crossed on her knees and her nose buried in them. Toki napped beside her.

She was not in love with him.

It was impossible. She, who was tainted both in body and mind, could not love or be loved by him, who was anything but tainted.

Maybe she'd enjoyed that kiss, just a little. A lot. But her previous experiences won out; a kiss means nothing.

…Then why did her heart hurt so much?

"Aya-chan? Please let me in, I'm sorry…" Noi was at the door, knocking hesitantly.

"Go away." The room's tenant snapped.

Why was she so upset about this? It didn't make sense.

Because Noi-chan was pressing this so much. That must be it.

It didn't make sense that Noi would press the matter, either. The matter was obvious.

Why must girls be so nosy, anyway? It seemed like all of them were. Was it something that came from the combination of two X chromosomes?

Oh, but Sunako-chan isn't really nosy.

Neither was Aya, not really.

What seemed like hours passed, with Aya just staring at the wall, mind running circles around the idea.

There was another knock at the door, and it creaked open. A voice that made her shiver with surprise and something like excitement called out cautiously, "…Aya?"

"Huh?" she couldn't turn him away, but she didn't want to face him just yet.

"Aya, is something bothering you?" she felt her bed dip as he sat behind her.

"No."

"You're a horrible liar." He prodded.

"I don't want to talk about it."

She heard him take a breath, hold it, and let it out in a rush, "Is it my fault? You've been acting strange… since that 'date.'"

"It's not your fault." She assured.

"Look, I'm not sorry I kissed you, I'm just sorry you hated it so much!" he huffed, and she felt him stand.

"…I didn't… hate it." Her face was red, and she buried it deeper in her arms. This was treading too close to her heart, and she hated it.

He didn't leave, just stood there, silent.

Cautious, Aya turned to peer at him. His back was to her, and it bothered her that she couldn't see his expression.

"Kisses… don't mean anything to me." She told him softly, "I could be kissed by a stranger, and think nothing of it."

His shoulders stiffened.

"I don't know how to handle affection, Yuki. Even just a smile, or a hug. I don't know how to react." Why was she saying this? "I learned to hate things like that, because they scared me."

He turned his head a little, looking confused now, "…Why are you telling me this?"

She flushed, looking away sharply, "I don't know what love is, Yuki. All I know is that it scares me. I know… that I like you. A lot. I know that I'd do anything to see you smile, and I know that I hate seeing you upset. I know that when I saw those guys hitting you, I couldn't think of anything except pounding them into the ground. I know these things, but I don't know what they mean; if they mean that I 'love' you or not." She hunched her shoulders, halfway hoping that her nonsensical rambling would go right over his head and he'd leave her to her thoughts. But a small part of her wanted him to come over and comfort her, to explain this to her.

He did neither, just staring at her, uncertain.

She waited, uncomfortable.

He murmured her name, a questioning tone to it.

"I get it." She said aloud suddenly, "You're in love with Machiko-chan. You'll probably marry her someday. You make a cute couple; I hope you're happy with her."

"…We're not dating anymore."

"Because she's moving away? I'm sorry."

"No. It's because I like someone else."

Aya felt her heart lurch, but she managed to reply, "That's good. I'm sure she's really pretty."

"She is." He agreed, and she felt him move onto her bed again.

Aya nodded to herself.

He sighed and drew up behind her, looping an arm over her shoulders. With her face buried in her arms, she fought back the fluttering in her heart.

Soft lips touched her temple, and warm air ruffle her hair as he spoke, "Aya, look at me."

Her eyes itched, like she was going to cry, and her heart hurt. She couldn't trust her voice. She only shook her head.

Another sigh reached her ears, and a soft, warm body settled against her side. His arm repositioned on her shoulders, and she felt his fingers sift through her hair.

"Stop teasing me." She ordered, but her voice came out soft and breathy; she wasn't sure if he could hear her. Could he hear her heart beating? She certainly could. It was loud, and made her head pound with its nervous fluttering.

"What if I'm not?" he asked quietly. Fingers strayed across her forearms, then down her shins, and he embraced the curled up ball that was Aya.

She didn't respond, even as his breathe came close to her ear, sending chills down her spine as he softly admitted, "Because… I love you."

Her eyes watered, and tears slowly trekked down her face. Why was she so scared?

"Aya?" he sounded unsure, almost worried. Did he think she was rejecting him? The idea seemed impossible to fathom.

She lifted her face, intending on replying, but all thought escaped her as their lips brushed. It was kind of awkward, with their noses bumping into each other, and his mouth brushing against her cheek, inadvertently wiping away a tear. She froze, their lips just barely touching, bright amber eyes staring into bright green ones.

Bright green eyes slipped closed, and soft lips were pressed more firmly against hers. She sighed faintly, allowing him to ravish her mouth as she slowly unwound from her huddle. For a moment, she didn't know what to do with her hands. She finally settled on gripping his shirt, fingers tightening convulsively. Yuki's fingers wound into her hair, smoothed through it, then came to rest against the nape of her neck.

Face flushed, Aya turned her head, breaking the kiss.

He laughed a little bit, saying something. She didn't catch it and asked him to repeat.

"…so beautiful." He breathed, and she blushed.

Looking for something to occupy her mind, she asked quietly, "Why did you come in here?"

"Because you upset Noi-chan, and Takenaga sent me."

"…Sorry."

He laughed, "I'm not."

She looked down at her lap, then up at the ceiling, "Are we… a couple now?"

"Sure. Why not?" he looped his arms loosely around her midsection.

"There are lots of girls at school that won't like this."

"There are lots that'll think I've swapped sides, too. Can't you start wearing the girls' uniform?"

"No, I can't." she smirked a bit, "It's too much fun to dress like a guy."

Yuki almost whined. He was cut short when she continued.

"Maybe you should start wearing the girls' uniform?"

"That's not funny!" he cried loudly, even as she dissolved into a fit of laughter.

Some tiny part of her mind was telling her to be careful; to not get too comfortable.

Yuki shifted beside her, and she suddenly sobered, acutely aware of their new position. He pulled her sideways against his chest, his leg laying over hers, the other supporting her back. He didn't seem to notice, saying something to her.

"Um…" her face flushed, and she shifted, unsure.

He quieted, "…Aya?" his arms tightened, and she twitched a bit. He was really… kinda warm. She turned redder, tucking her head under his chin.

"Hey, um… are you two going to…" The door opened again, and Ranmaru's voice tapered off as he stared at them. It only took him a moment to switch gears, a small smirk on his lips, "Oh, sorry, didn't mean to interrupt. I'll just have Sunako put your dinner in the fridge. Try to keep it down, kids." He turned to leave.

Yuki turned red, "It's not like that! Ranmaru!"

The door closed.

The pair glanced at each other, then got up to chase after him.