XXx Aya xXX
"That was rough," Setsuko moans as she collapses into her now designated 'end of club hours collapsing chair.'
"What?" Aiko asks innocently as she walks past Setsuko and pulls the pins from her hair. "The swim captain is actually kind of cute."
"Yeah, when he's not finding every opportunity to show off the fact that he's totally ripped," Setsuko snaps back.
"Oh come on," I chime in as I collapse on a chair across from her. "I thought you liked them like that Setsuko."
"Only when they're modest about it," she sighs.
"Don't tell me my daughter likes boys like that horribly narcissistic swim captain!"
I feel a shiver fun down my spine as a large shadow suddenly looms over me. After taking a second to brace myself I turn around to see Tamaki looking down at me with a look of utter horror on his face.
"Is that what you like in a boy?" he croaks as he picks me up so we're eye level.
I can see Honey over Tamaki's shoulder. He looks tense and avoids looking over in our direction. One glance over at Mori tells me enough though. I should get over this relationship bump now while I have the chance.
"Of course not," I scoff. "With guys like that their personality begins and ends with their muscles. I'd much rather have someone I can actually carry a conversation with."
Tamaki looks relieved and he puts me in one of his spine snapping hugs, which I'm not released from until my back actually gives a worrisome crack. I brace myself against one of the chairs and glare at him. He looks worried but once he knows I'm alright enough to give him dirty looks he just moves right along to packing up to leave.
And now that that's over everyone stars their own closing time rituals, while us girls begin to head back to the dressing room to change out of our hosting dresses. I glance over my shoulder to check up on Honey, and my heart sinks to still see his shoulders drooping.
I lag behind and make my way over to Honey. And once I'm sure everyone is occupied, I slip my arms around his torso and rest my head in the crook of his neck. I can feel him tense up underneath me, and I loosen my grip, splaying my hands out over his chest.
"And I'm a sucker for big brown eyes," I whisper.
Then, mimicking his move from a week ago, I press a kiss to the back of his ear before dropping my arms back to my sides and taking off to the dressing room. Against my better judgment I glance back one more time to see Honey's fingers lingering by the back of his ears, while the tips of them go red.
I grin to myself and waltz into the dressing room feeling giddy. A bit of pride wells up in my chest and I'm too pleased with myself that I crash straight into a wall of girls who are all eyeing me with smug expressions. It brings me back down and I glance up at them with my best composed expression.
"Care to enlighten us?" Shiori asks coyly as she bats her eyelashes.
"How about no?" I reply as I push past her and to the changing cubicles.
"Oh come on," I hear Setsuko whine as I pull the screen over my cubicle. "You're no fun."
"You know," I sigh as I slip back into my uniform. "You don't need to know everything about my love life. I'm not a soap opera star."
"Could have fooled me," Aiko mutters through the curtain. "I feel so deprived…"
"Just save it for the next sleepover," Akina chirps happily. "Then we can make her tell us."
"A fine idea," I joke as I pull on one of my platform boots. "Good luck getting me to come back now."
"Ah, well if you're going to be like that I guess we have no choice," Setsuko drawls. "We'll just have to ask Honey-senpai."
"You wouldn't!" I shout as I freeze in the middle of pulling on my other boot.
"Oh, you we would," Shiori teases.
There's a shuffle of footsteps and they move with speed an purpose in the direction of the club room.
"Shit!" I mutter as I stumble out of my cubicle, only to be knocked off my feet by the sudden shuddering and jerking of the ground.
I land in a heap on the floor, which is carpet thank god, but am a little disoriented. A sudden earsplitting voice rings in my ears before I'm struck with realization. This was all caused by Renge's motor. And her voice is now suddenly broadcasting all around the club room and who knows where else.
After pulling myself to my feet I stumble out of the dressing room to see Aiko, Setsuko, Akina, and Shiori standing in a clump with the other club members, blocking my view of whatever is going on.
"Honey-senpai is able to fly through the air with such grace!" Renge shouts into her headset. "He's like a modern day Ushiwakamaru!"
And that is all the incentive I need to kick my ass into gear and run up to the rest of the little crowd forming around the fight.
I don't know who I was expecting to be his opponent, but I was definitely confused to see it be Chika of all people. I tune out Renge's commentary and watch the fight anxiously. I've never seen these two spar before. It's anxiety inducing for me. All the muscles in my body go ridged as the fight drags on second my second. But the only thing that keeps me somewhat level headed is the Honey sidesteps every move easily and looks completely unconcerned about how the fight is going.
If I didn't know any better, I'd say that he looks like he isn't even really trying.
But then my anxiety is renewed as Chika pulls out a collapsible metal bar. His eyes spark with determination to land a blow on Honey, and I can feel my teeth break through the skin of the inside of my cheek as Honey uses the recoil from the next blow to catapult himself away.
There's the subtle glint as four kunai knives imbed themselves in the floor, taking a few inches of Chika's pants with them.
Honey pulls himself back to his feet and brushes himself off as I make my way over to him.
"Why'd you choose to land like that?" I hiss as he dusts of his hands. "You nearly gave me heart failure."
XXx Honey xXX
"So then, that family rule is an actual thing?" Aya asks as she sits down across from me.
"Yup," I respond. "Chika's always quick to jump to it."
"Then how come I've never seen it before?" she replies as she picks up her coffee mug.
"We always finish before you come down for breakfast," I say as I grab another piece of cake. "They rarely go on for more than a few minutes."
"And here I thought Chika was just naturally sour in the mornings," she mumbles into her cup.
"Let me just say, there's no way I'm ever going to recognize a dimwit like Mitsukuni as the next head of our family."
I see Aya's eyes flicker over to where Chika sits talking to Haru-chan and Tama-chan. Her hands tighten around her cup, and for a second I think she might actually break it. Her friends, who've just changed back to their uniforms, are sending worried glances between themselves.
"There's no doubts that my older brother is strong," Chika continues. "But he lives a decadent lifestyle and has failed to show any self-restraint. He no longer has any right to be called a Haninozuka. I can't let anyone who arbitrarily quit the karate club, only to become hooked on cake and stuffed animals to become the head of the Haninozuka family...even if he is my older brother. I've been meaning to make that clear for a while."
"Please let me hit him," Aya suddenly growls as she pushes herself to her feet.
Shi-chan looks up at Takashi and he nods. He puts a hand on Aya's shoulder to keep her in place while Shi-chan and Kina-chan push her chair back towards her. The chair hits the back of her knees and causes her to fall back into it, still fuming.
"And another thing Mitsukuni," Chika says as he finally turns around to look at me. "I've said it before and I'll say it again. Stay away from me at school got it?"
"But…he came looking for you senpai," Setsu-chan trials off as she watches Chika slam the door behind him.
"Details," Ai-chan mutters.
XXX
After sitting through Tama-chan, Hiku-chan, and Kao-chan's long and dramatic version of my first year in high school, everyone decided it was now their personal mission to get Chika and I to reconcile. Though I'm not exactly sure what they think they can do.
While everyone else seems to enjoy the spying mission I hang back with Aya and Takashi. I can feel Aya's eyes on me, but I can't bring myself to look at her. Is she disappointed in me now that Chika's shown her the reason things are the way they are between us?
Even though I believe everything she's said to me when it comes to the two of us, there's always the small voice in the back of my mind. Am I really someone who can make her happy? What if she decides she wants someone more manly?
"It's totally normal and way boring," Hiku-chan and Kao-chan suddenly speak up. "We're going to go find something more entertaining."
"Hold on! Come back here you two!" Tama-chan commands. "Why are you suddenly being so uncooperative?"
"You do realize who you're talking to, right senpai?" Setsu-chan asks irritably.
"Well we thought there'd be an interesting secret reason they're fighting," they say in unison. "This is just lame."
"So Honey-senpai and Chika's feelings aren't interesting enough?" Tama-chan yells.
"It's ok Tama-chan," I sigh, taking a step towards him. "Really."
"But…Honey-senpai," Tama-chan trials off.
"It's alright," I insist, cutting him off. "Don't worry about me. So what if Chika-chan hates me?"
"Is that really how you feel though?" Shi-chan asks as she looks down at me, pity weighing down her large eyes. "Can you really live like this for the rest of your life?"
"I'd just be happy to see him grow up to be strong and healthy," I respond with a smile. "He is my brother after all."
"Um, he's already a lot taller than you Honey-senpai," Kao-chan cuts in.
"Yeah, he's pretty grown up and plenty healthy," Hiku-chan adds.
"Excuse me," a menacing voice suddenly interrupts. "Could you guys please keep it down?"
Everyone freezes at the now chilly atmosphere brought on by Chika. His glasses flash, and for a moment he reminds me of Kyo-chan. Except a lot less composed.
"What are you doing here?" he asks as soon as he sees me. "I thought I told you to stay away from me in school Mitsukuni!"
He attacks quickly, and I block him easily. Ai-chan and Kina-chan are caught off guard though and stumble back a few steps, along with Hiku-chan, Kao-chan, and Tama-chan. They relax slightly as Chika puts some distance between us again, but out of the corner of my eye I can see Setsu-chan step in front of Kina-chan protectively.
She looks ready to slap Chika herself, and probably would if she could.
"You alien," Chika hisses, bringing my attention back to him. "Would you just leave me alone?"
"But Chika-chan," I mutter as I feel my stomach plummet.
"What's he mean alien?" Hiku-chan and Kao-chan ask.
"Why would you call him that?" Haru-chan asks. "Just because your brother is stronger than you are doesn't give you the right to call him an alien."
"Yeah," Tama-chan pipes up. "Why are you so upset about cake and stuffed animals?"
"Well if it was just about the cake and the stuffed animals I would never have said anything," Chika says bitterly.
I glance at him curiously as a shadow falls over his face and a shiver goes down his spine.
"Don't tell me there's more," Setsu-chan whines as she pinches the bridge of her nose.
"Let's get this straight," Chika continues, ignoring the sounds of protest from Setsu-chan. "I didn't call my brother an alien because he's stronger than me. But have any of you guys seen him devour an entire cake?! Don't tell me you think that's perfectly normal!"
Everyone finches and jumps back at Chika's sudden outburst. This may just be the most emotion I've ever seen come out of him at one time. It's a little impressive, like an outburst of pent up aggression.
"I'm telling you he has three whole cakes every night for desert! Seriously three cakes a night! And he never gains weight!"
"Well some people just have high metabolisms," Ai-chan says. "Though I will admit I've never heard of something like this before…"
"Exactly my point!" Chika says irritably. "And then something crazy occurred last week. I just happened to wake up in the middle of the night, and I noticed the light was on in the dining room."
"You just happened to wake up in the middle of the night?" Setsu-chan snarks as she crosses her arms over her chest.
Chika glares at her before moving on to the overly exaggerated story of him discovering my special cake night. I sigh to myself as he continues to lose more of his calmness again. Just when I thought he had cooled down…
"Come on, be honest," he growls. "You know there is no way a regular human being can eat that much cake! Aren't you terrified?! I bet he gets signals from his home planet through that weird bunny of his! Why can't you see that he's an alien?!"
Everyone goes silent for a minute before Aya finally speaks up.
"Well if you guys don't find this entertaining then I dunno what will satisfy you guys," she says as she reaches up and claps Hiku-chan and Kao-chan on the shoulder.
"You know, when you think about it…" Haru-chan mumbles.
"Everything Chika just said to us," Tama-chan trails off.
"Suddenly makes perfect sense doesn't it?" Hiku-chan and Kao-chan finish.
"I don't know though," Chika mumbles as he turns his back on us. "There was a time when Mitsukuni and I got along really well. While it's true that my brother has always had a fondness for cute things and more of a sweet tooth than I have, I still respected his ability to avoid that stuff even though he loved it. And then this idiot came along and brainwashed him with some ridiculous nonsense. Something about acknowledging who you really are and being yourself, that that is true strength."
Everyone freezes for a second before suddenly turning towards Tama-chan. Setsu-chan looks like she doesn't know who she wants to hit anymore. She might just hit everyone.
"Well this is awkward," Kina-chan finally says softly.
"Not long after that he fell apart and became the alien he is today!" Chika wails as he collapses on his knees.
"Oh I see," Hiku-chan says. "So all of Chika's troubles…"
"Can be traced right back to you. Isn't that true boss?" Kao-chan finishes.
"What are you talking about?!" Tama-chan whimpers. "I didn't mean to! There's gotta be some way we can fix this! Come on you guys…"
I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I don't even need to look up to see who it belongs to. But I can feel Takashi's eyes on me.
"There is a way to solve this you know," he says.
"You've got it figured out?" Tama-chan cries hopefully.
"So Mitsukuni," Takashi carries on, completely ignoring Tama-chan. "You know what to do."
"Listen Chika-chan," I say as I turn back to him. "No one can make me change who I am, and I'm very grateful to Tama-chan and all of the club because they've shown me that. So let's settle this like men in the Haninozuka style."
XXx Aya xXX
The ride home is silent despite the fact that Honey was jumping for joy over his victory not even five minutes ago. He avoids looking at me the whole time, and just sits there stiffly with Usa-chan clutched to his chest. My stomach churns at the thought of what he must really be feeling.
And I feel useless because I don't even know what he really feels when Chika is involved.
"Aya-koi?" he suddenly says. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," I reply as I push myself into a better sitting posture. "What is it?"
"Do you ever wish I was more manly?"
My head snaps up and I glance over at him with wide eyes. He keeps his gaze on the floor, refusing to look at me. My thoughts are muddled by my anger, but after gaping like a fish for a minute my thoughts words fly out of my mouth without my brain processing them.
"You've saved me from alligators and you're asking me this question?" I ask in disbelief.
His eyes flicker towards me, not even trying to conceal surprise. I reach out and grab his face, forcing him to look me in the eye. I can feel his face warm under my palms as I fix him with a determined stare.
"Ever since I came to this country you've been looking out from me. It doesn't matter if it was my first day of school, or the alligators, or my math homework, or the stupid movie, or even my darts problem," I rant. "When we found out about the arranged marriage you thought of me first. If you've really loved me for as long as you said you have, and you didn't let yourself get excited, then that's the most selfless thing I've ever seen. You thought of me and if it was something I wanted. So no, I don't wish you were more manly, because I don't even know how that would be possible."
I'm breathing heavily by the time I'm done, and my hands slip from his face. His eyes turn away from me again, and my anger drains only to be replaced by bitterness.
"Please give me just a little more credit than that," I mumble before my hands return to my sides. "And stop doubting the way I feel about you."
XXx Honey xXX
Aya is out of her seat and making her way to the door before the limo comes to a complete stop. Sighing, I follow her out, and she waits patiently outside, wringing the cuffs of her sweater.
As we make out way up to the estate, her hand falls down to her side. It hovers next to mine before her fingers brush mine. Instinctively my hands flinches away. She freezes, looking up at me, anger and hurt returning to her eyes.
"I'm fine," I insist as I turn to continue up the estate. "Really."
"What?" she snaps bitterly. "Is it because real men can't hold hands with a girl? Or is it because I can't hold your hand without it looking like pity now?"
I flinch at the aggressiveness in her tone and she suddenly seems to realize what she said. Her face pales considerably as her hands fly out up to clamp over her mouth. As she steps away from me I can see her eyes go glassy and her eyebrows knit together.
"Shit," she mutters as her shoulders slump heavily. "That came out really wrong."
"It's fine," I murmur as I step up to her.
"No it's not," she argues weakly. "I'm letting myself be angry and impulsive again! And now I've said something stupid that I can't take back."
I sigh as she rubs her eyes with the heel of her palm and a few stray tears splatter her cheeks.
Biting my lip, I guide her head down to my shoulder and she presses her forehead against my uniform jacket. Her shoulders shake as all the anger that's been pent up in her body comes rushing out in a crushing wave.
"I guess you're right. We shouldn't get angry over things like this," I whisper as I stroke her hair. "There's nothing we can do to change what Chika thinks of me. So it's not worth it to waste all this energy being angry. Ok?"
She nods against my shoulder before finally lifting her head. Her makeup is smudged and trials in black streaks down her cheeks. I can't help the laugh that bubbles up in my throat.
"What?" she croaks as she wipes her face with the sleeves of her sweater.
"You look like a raccoon that was tossed in a washing machine," I confess as I try to rub it away with my thumb. "Here, hold still."
She fusses as I rub the streaks away, but her mood has seemed to lighten the slightest. After a minute I take a small step back to admire my handy work. It's far from perfect, but at least she doesn't look like someone dripped watercolors down her face anymore.
"What?" she asks, suddenly looking a little worried. "What's with that face? What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I insist as I lean back in and press a soft kiss to her forehead. "Your face is fine now."
"You worry me half to death and that's all I get?" she asks as she crosses her arms.
Instead of answering her I just press my lips to hers and let them linger until she feels like it's been enough. Her hands seek mine and this time I lace out fingers again keeping a soft but firm grip on them. When she finally pulls back, her gaze is hazy and her eyes glazed over. I rest my forehead against hers and kiss the tip of her nose.
"If we don't get inside soon then someone will come out looking for us," I sigh, reluctant to follow my own suggestion.
"Alright," she murmurs as her eyes come into focus again.
She leans back into me and curls her fingers around my hand. Her eyes flicker up at me for a minute, and she kisses the edge of my jaw before she turns back to the house and starts walking. I fall into step beside her, but a heavy silence hangs over us. The gravel pops and crunches under our shoes, the only other sound around us.
"I know I can't take back what I said," she finally whispers as we stand in front of the front door. "But I really am sorry."
I glance down at her. She looks up at me with a crestfallen expression. Her remorse is clear in her wide eyes.
"I still have a lot to learn don't I?" she says sadly as her hand tightens its grip on mine. "Because when all is said and done Chika will be my brother in law. So I do need to learn to control myself."
"We both have a lot to learn," I reply. "We're still kids. How can we be expected to know how to deal with family issues like this?"
"I think I could tolerate him," she sighs. "If I clamp my mouth shut and put myself in a straightjacket."
"I'm sure we won't need to resort to that," I reply. "Chika usually keeps his distance unless he wants to spar."
"So I've noticed," she grumbles as she reaches out to open the door. "I still can't believe you always managed to get your fight out of the way before I come down for breakfast every morning."
"You just take forever to get ready," I tease as I elbow her through the door way.
She spins around to retaliate, but she's cut off before she even begins.
"Eh bien, c'est sur sacrément temps!" an irritated voice yells from the sitting room.
Aya freezes for a minute, her eyes going wide before she drops her bag and runs into the next room, dragging me along with her. We pause in the entryway only long enough for me to get a vague understanding of the situation.
There is a weird woman standing in the middle of our sitting room.
Her hair is golden blond and tied off in two low pigtails. Her bangs are everywhere and fall over her large brown eyes, even though it looks like a majority of them are clipped back in a small bump. She's clad in a burgundy zip up hoodie and a pair of faded jeans, and a pair of designer sunglasses are perched in her chaotic locks of hair.
But that's not the most interesting thing about her.
That is the fact that she is walking briskly towards us, her furry boots making muffled noises on the carpet and her purse banging against her hip, and she's pulling Chika along by his ear.
And by the looks of it...he's in pain.
"Aya darling," the lady says in a somewhat thick accent, as if she has trouble saying some words. "Please tell me this little shit isn't your fiancée."
XXx Author's Notes xXX
Oh I'm excited now ...can anyone guess who this weird lady is? she's been hinted to a few times and I'm loving her to pieces as I work more on her character. so anyways, I'll see you guys soon.
Lotsa love, Krystal