Chapter 3: The Decision

Whip was currently at home making some coffee. She hadn't seen Kula for about 2 weeks now, and she was debating on whether or not to go visit her. She also hadn't seen K' off properly last night, but she figured he would swing by sooner or later today for his bike. Maxima was still sleeping, QUITE LOUDLY, in his room. Whip sat down on a chair in the living room once she finished pouring herself a cup of the freshly made coffee. She was about to take a sip when suddenly there was a knock at the door. She sighed and put her cup of coffee down then began walking to the door. The knock gradually became a pounding at the door. This irritated the heck out of her. HEAVEN FORBID whoever was knocking WAIT a couple seconds to answer the door.

Whip opened the door aggressively and yelled, "WHAT!!!" then looked up to see a very aggravated K' and behind him she saw what looked like the top of someone's head. She instantly recognized it as Kula's head, and from the looks of it, she was hiding behind K'. There were a million questions running through her head at that moment. What is Kula doing hiding behind K'? What is she doing with K' period? What made K' decide it was okay to be that close to him? Why is K' so aggravated? WHY IS KULA WEARING HIS CLOTHES???? All these questions and more were filling Whip's head and she didn't realize she was zoned out until K' cleared his throat.

"So are you going to invite us in, or just stare at us with your mouth gaping open..?"

Whip blushed a bit from embarrassment then began walking back to the kitchen, "Come on in." She then turned back around to face the two of them. "Would you like something to drink Kula? You look a bit tired."

Kula smiled and said happily, "Hai! I would like some strawberry milk!"

Whip smiled back, "Alright." She went to the fridge and took out a strawberry milk box ((Like a juice box, but it has milk in it)) then walked over to her

She handed Kula the milk and Kula smiled again, "Thank you very much onee-chan!"

Whip sat down next to Kula in the dining room then gave her a pat on her head, "You're welcome." K' then got up and went to the fridge since he wasn't offered anything, he was getting it himself. He poured a cup of the coffee Whip made then went back to the table.

When everyone was settled, Whip spoke. "So…What brings you both here together??" She asked, putting emphasis on the words both and together. Kula blushed at her statement then looked over at K', who was merely sipping his coffee.

He swallowed the bit of coffee in his mouth then looked at Whip. "We have a problem…" He left it at that then took another sip of his coffee.

Whip blinked a few times waiting for him to continue but he never did so she asked. "What kind of problem? Will it explain why Kula is with you and wearing YOU'RE clothes?" Whip saw Kula blush even more then she put her head down in embarrassment and tugged on K's sleeve. Whip saw that bit of motion and was trying not to laugh.

K' cleared his throat again, this time from the uncomfortable question. "Yes. To put it briefly, someone attempted to burn Kula alive in her home." Whip was shocked and angry to hear this and she opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by K'. "To answer your next question, no. I do NOT know who it was, if I did I wouldn't have came, and of course Kula's clothes were burned along with the house, so she is currently borrowing my clothes. Lend her some of yours for now. I'll take her shopping when she is done changing."

Whip nodded her head, still shocked and speechless, then went to her room and grabbed a shirt and a pair of pants that she thought would fit Kula. She came back in and handed the outfit to Kula and smiled, "Go change in the bathroom okay? I need to talk to K'." Kula looked at K' first and when he nodded she left to the bathroom.

While Kula was in the bathroom Whip looked at K' seriously and began to speak. "What do you plan to do about this? Did you ask Kula about it?"

K' finished drinking his coffee then looked back at Whip. "I haven't asked her yet, she was passed out when I saved her, and when she woke up she was scared. I sent her to sleep after that, and uh…" K' suddenly stopped remembering the incident from this morning. Whip became suspicious and was about to ask but K' continued. "I just haven't had time to ask. I figured I would ask her while you were here. She seems more comfortable talking to you than she does with me."

Whip nodded and sipped some of her coffee; it was a bit cold from sitting out so long. "That was smart of you. Even if she COULD tell you, your indifference would have made it hard for her to take you seriously."

K' wanted to retort in his defense, but he didn't need Whip thinking that he felt Kula was anything more than family, if that. K' got up to pour himself another cup of coffee. "I guess…"

Whip was reviewing the situation again in her head. Kula lost her hose last night, so now where was she going to go? Whip looked over at K', "I assume Kula will be staying here until further notice?"

K' walked back over to the table then sat down with Whip and said nonchalantly, "You assume wrong. She's staying at my place now." Whip's eyes widened significantly, and her mouth began to gape open again. "If you keep your mouth open like that a bug will fly in there." K' drank his coffee, waiting for the explosion that was going to come from Whip. And there it was.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN SHE'S STAYING AT YOUR PLACE?? DO YOU HONESTLY THINK I'M GOING TO ALLOW THAT?? DID YOU ASK KULA WHAT SHE WANTED?? MAYBE SHE WANTS TO COME HOME WITH US! WHY ARE YOU SUDDENLY CARING FOR HER K'??" Whip felt very frustrated with K'. He NEVER ONCE took the time to even SPEAK to Kula, and now he's suddenly her guardian? What is he thinking? K' wasn't the type to joke about such things, but it was still too weird! What was K' up to?

K' just sat there, drinking his coffee, "One. It's not your decision to make. Two. I did ask Kula, she said she WANTED to stay with me. Three…" his voice became very quiet, "I have always…cared for her…" those words were almost spoken in a whisper. He looked up at Whip, showing her he was serious.

Whip was shocked "K'…Sorry I just--" K' interrupted her.

"Look. Whether you like it or not, Kula is going to stay with me. She is old enough to make her own decisions and you're not her mother. Also, it's actually safer for her to stay with me. When you think about, who would actually suspect us living together? Wouldn't it be more dangerous if she came back to live with you? Everyone knows that we all used to live together so it wouldn't be too surprising if she started living here again. The person who tried to kill her will most likely try again, and if she stays with me, at least we know she will be harder to find." K' looked at Whip seriously again, "If anything does happen, I will protect her Whip…So don't worry so much okay?"

Whip saw how serious K' was about taking care of Kula so she sighed, defeated, and smiled a bit. "Alright…I guess she can stay, but remember…If you try anything…" Whip took out her whip quickly and wrapped it around K's neck in one swift motion, "I won't hesitate to hurt you…"

K' smiled and put his hands up in surrender, "Okay, okay! I won't do anything I promise!" even if I wanted to, I doubt she would let me…Again with the perverted thoughts…Damn it…

Whip noticed that K' seemed to be in his own world at the moment and chose this time to check on Kula. She began to walk to the restroom, "Kula! You okay?" Whip said loudly when she turned the corner to get to the bathroom door, Whip ran straight into Kula. Normally they would have fallen but Maxima had been right behind Kula and they merely collided with each other. Whip rubbed her head, along with Kula, then looked at both of them. "What were you two doing..?"

Kula smiled hesitantly and began to sweat, "N..Nothing nee-chan! I was just coming back from changing and Maxima came out at the same time! Neh, Maxima?!"

"HAI HAI! It's exactly as she says!!" shouted Maxima. He began to sweat as well, hoping that Whip wouldn't figure out that they were eavesdropping on them.

Whip left it alone, though it was plainly obvious what they were doing. "Okay then. Kula come with me to my room I forgot to get shoes. Maxima, go sit down with K'. We'll be back in a minute." Whip took Kula's hand and walked to her room as Maxima went to the dining room, looking for K'. Whip stopped when they got to her closet, then bent down and picked up a pair of what looked like a pair of converse (the Chuck Taylor high tops) then handed them to Kula. "Here. You used to like these right? I don't wear them anymore so they're yours to keep."

Kula smiled brightly. "Thank you very much nee-chan!" Kula gave Whip a hug then sat down on Whip's bed to try on the shoes. She put them on and looked up at Whip. "How do they look?"

Whip smiled and nodded. "You wear them well, my dear. Let's go show them your cute outfit." Whip grabbed Kula's hand again and led her to the dining room where Maxima was trying to have a conversation with K', who was…Being himself. Whip cleared her throat, and both of them turned to look at Whip. "Alright, I say we ALL go shopping for some new clothes since we aren't busy anyway. What do you say?" Both K' and Maxima blinked.

K' then spoke. "No." The word was said with such finality that it was hard to argue, though Whip tried.

"Why not? What's wrong with us going with you? I need some new outfits myself and Maxima has been wearing the same clothes for two years. Besides, it's been a while since we all went out. You wouldn't mind, would you Kula?" Whip looked at Kula with eyes that were begging to go out.

"Of course not!!" Kula gave Whip a big hug in hopes to make Whip feel better.

Whip smiled evilly at K' who was glaring back at her. "All of her clothes were burnt right? So who is going to take her panty shopping? Unless you plan on—"

"ALRIGHT. SHUT UP AND LET'S GO." Whip knew she hit the right button.

"Okay! Let's go!" Kula tugged on Whip's sleeve. "What is it?" Whip looked down at Kula who whispered in her ear. Whip smiled. "Gotcha. Will do." Kula smiled back with a tint of pink on her cheeks.

K' opened the door and turned back. "We going, or what?"

"Yeah, let's go!" Whip pulled Kula's arm and walked out the door with Kula, who was looking back at K'. Whip smiled and gave Kula a pat on her head. "You are so transparent sometimes." Whip laughed.

Kula gave a pout. "Am not…" Kula gave one last glance at K'. K' looked back and she turned her head quickly. He saw me! Great… Kula was blushing a bit from embarrassment. K' raised an eyebrow. Maxima smiled largely.

Whip laughed even more. "Hurry up you two! Or I'm leaving without you!"

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Author's Note: Hey sorry for the long wait!! I was trying to make this chapter longer so that it would have more than just Whip's point of view but I got tired of not updating. Also my internet just got reconnected. I hope I still have a few fans!! Review please!! Kula still needs a job… lol. Poor Maxima only had a few lines in this one. He'll show up more next chapter. REVIEW!! :D