Cuxie: God, I've been putting this off for a while.
Kazune: Care to explain?
Cuxie:...No.T^T
Karin: Are we ever gonna finish my story?
Cuxie: Yes! All the stories will be finished...eventually.
Kazune: So basically: Never. Mark it on your calendar, Karin.
Cuxie: Don't tell her that!
Karin:(crying) Y-You promised!!
Cuxie: Yeah, yeah. I'm here aren't I? Now, hush up! Before...she comes out.
Kazune: Who?
Cuxie: Me! Er, the other me!
Kazune:(sigh) I should've known you'd lose it one day. Let's get on with the chapter before you're too far gone to type it.
Cuxie: Hmph. I'm gonna assume that's your nice way of asking me to roll the chappy. ROLLING!!
"Oi, Karin! Hurry it up!" Karin heard the familiarly irritated voice from downstairs and frowned. That was the third time he'd yelled to them, or rather, her. Kazusa and Himeka were crowded around the vanity mirror in her room. Kazusa was meticulously applying eyeshadow while Himeka did up Karin's hair.
"I think he's getting impatient," Karin said worriedly.
"KARIN!!!"
Suddenly, Kazusa slammed down the make-up and brush and stormed out of the room. Karin and Himeka exchanged confused glances and waited expectantly. From out in the hall, they heard her shout.
"Onii-chan! I mean this in the most respectful way possible; SHUT-UP!!! We'll be down when we're damn well ready!" Silence, followed by a small 'Hmph!', and Kazusa returned, smiling tentatively. "Now where were we?"
Karin laughed, "Way to go, Kazusa-chan!" The blonde blushed and went to finish her make-up.
Himeka said, "OK. I'm finished," as she readjusted a lock of Karin's hair.
"How's it look?"
"Perfect!" Himeka and Kazusa said in unison.
Karin beamed. "Thanks!" She examined herself in the mirror. "Alright. I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
"Then lets not keep Kazune-chan waiting," Himeka said.
Downstairs:
Kazune sat, arms folded, on the couch in black dress pants and a button-up light-blue and white stripped shirt. His eyes were narrowed and his frown, to some, could be considered a pout. "I can't believe she said that to me."
Michiru chuckled nervously. "Now, now. Just give the girls some time and space. I'm sure they'll be down any minute."
"They better be."
The doorbell rang.
Michiru looked from Kazune to the door and back again. It was obvious, since Kazune wasn't moving, that he didn't give a damn who it was and didn't plan on answering the door, so he took it upon himself to do so. He got up and went to the door. "Hello?"
Jin stood in front of him. "Hey, Nishikiori. Is Kazusa ready?"
Micchi let him inside. "Um, not quite."
"Oh great. You'rehere," Kazune said as Michiru led Jin into the living room. "You're late. I was starting to think you wouldn't come."
"I wouldn't stand Kazusa up," Jin said defensively.
"Not unless you had a death wish." With that said, Kazune returned to glaring at the wall.
Jin turned to Micchi who had given up on playing peacemaker and had been trying to ignore them both. "What the Hell is he so moody about?"
"Well, it's nothing really. He's just nervous is all." Micchi explained lightly.
"I can hear you!" Kazune shouted, making both boys cringe slightly. "And I am NOT nervous!" He glared hard at them, almost like he was willing them to explode under the force of his ice-blue eyes. "It's just a--"
"OK! We're ready!" Karin called as the girls came filing down the stairs with her in the lead, followed by Kazusa and lastly, Himeka. "What do you think?" They stood side-by-side at the foot of the stairs, timidly awaiting the boys comments on their dresses.
Karin looked beautiful in her strapless pink and white dress(*full description in chp.13). Her hair was up in a high ponytail and curled down softly behind her. One lock was left out, framing her face under the matching ruffled headband she wore. Her make-up was light; shimmering eyeshadow and a bit of mascara. Her cheeks were a rosy pink to match her lip gloss. All of which coordinated perfectly with her pink strappy heels.
Next to her, Kazusa stood shyly in her royal blue Chinese dress. It had a red and white floral design and came just above her knees. The fitted dress showed off her waist and figure. Her hair was pulled back with chopsticks and the back hung down freely. She had on a light dusting of blush and eyeshadow with a bit of eyeliner while her lips were a full red. On her feet she wore white wedge-heel sandals that made her look only slightly taller than Karin.
Last, but not least*, Himeka wore a deep violet, almost black spaghetti-strap dress with an emperor waist. The hem was black lace and fell past her knees. Her dark hair was piled into a bun with a small purple flower accessory. Unlike Karin and Kazusa, she had opted to go natural and her face was completely devoid of any cosmetics.
The boys were speechless.
Kazune, in particular, seemed to be in a state of shock. His eyes, wide with shock, or maybe awe, or maybe both, were glued to Karin and his mouth hung open slightly. No words came out. Just a lot of staring and gaping and Karin shifted uncomfortably on her heels.
"W-Well?"
Michiru, needless to say, was the first to recover. "Smashing! You girls look lovely!" His eyes were on Himeka as he said this. "Aren't they, chaps?"
"Yeah," Jin agreed. "you all look great."
Micchi turned to Kazune. "Right, Kazune-kun?" The blond remained quiet and Micchi elbowed him. "Don't they look amazing?"
"Ow. Wha? Oh, y-yeah. Amazing." He said, reluctantly tearing his eyes away from Karin.
"Um, I think we should get going," Himeka said. "Miyon and Yuuki are probably already there." Micchi went to stand next to her and she took his arm.
"Ladies first."
One limo ride later:
"Wow! The decorations look way better than I expected," Karin gasped as she stepped out of the limo after Kazune. Two bubbling fountains glowed on either said of the paved walkway and a flowered archway framed the entrance. Photographers were set up near the arch, taking pictures of the couples as they entered.
"Yeah, I don't remember doing this much work," Kazune agreed.
All six of them entered together, pausing for their couple pictures. They agreed that Karin and Kazune's was the cutest; with both of them blushing and his arm around her waist, they looked adorable. Afterwards, they were stopped by the photographers.
"Would you like a group photo?" the woman asked. "It's not everyday we get such a good-looking group."
While the man next to her positioned his camera, she arranged the group neatly in front of the archway. The girls stood in front of their dates, since the boys were clearly taller. The woman cooed and gushed appreciatively, giving suggestions and tilting their faces this way and that until she was satisfied. "Perfect!"
The camera flashed quickly and then they were dismissed, up the stairs and into the school where a sign-in desk was arranged. Two lower-class girls with clipboards were recording attendance and couples. They approached.
"Names please," one girls asked politely. Kazune recited all their names while she recorded them on her clipboard.
The other girl was more straightforward... "So who's with who?" she asked eagerly. It was obvious she had taken this post for the gossip benefits.
"Um, I'm with Karin." The girls exchanged knowing looks and giggled. "Nishikiori's with Himeka, and Kuga's with Kazusa."
"Ooh! Alright then! Here!" She reached underneath the table and pulled out three colored carnations. She handed them to each of the girls. A pink one for Karin, a yellow one for Kazusa, and a blue one for Himeka.
"Please enjoy the dance," the quieter girl added.
"I didn't think they would actually keep track of who's with who," Karin said thoughtfully, once they were inside and out of earshot. Kazune shrugged.
Kazusa stared wide-eyed at the scene around her. Pop music was blaring through the speakers, people dancing, snack tables and even a DJ set-up. It was pretty much the most social event she'd ever been to. "Wow..."
Heart-shaped lanterns hung from the ceiling, and paper/plastic hearts and cupids decorated the walls. The color scheme of red and white with splashes of pink everywhere. Red strobe lights flashed, blinding them momentarily. "This is so exciting!" Himeka chimed.
Micchi hugged her from behind. "What should we do first?"
"Distance, children! Distance! At arm's length!" a voice barked sharply beside them. All six heads turned and a mix of shocked and hateful looks arose.
Kazune glared hard at the upperclassmen. "What are you doing here?!"
Cuxie: Whoo! Cliffy! Muahaha!
Kazune: Yeah, yeah, you're an evil genius.
Cuxie: Heehee. Aww, thankies!^-^
Karin: Who is it?!
Cuxie:(scoffing)Well if I toldyou, what would be the point of the cliffy?!
Karin: Sor-ry! I was just curious...
Kazune: Aren't we all...
Cuxie: Not me! I know what happens next!;) And for those of you who wanna know...REVIEW!!!!!