Chapter 8 – Peepers and Discoveries

Ahh, that feels nice. I sighed in content. I woke up to a peaceful morning. Ukyo-nii was at work, the twins were at some recording, fuuto had a show to do, yusuke was still asleep, ema was playing with Wataru, kaname was at dinner with a patron and Masaomi was also at work. I had most of the house to myself so I indulged in a long hot bath.

Once I finished I wrapped a fluffy light green towel around my body and started to blow dry my hair. Lately things had begun to become routine here at home. The others had become used to my openness and I didn't mind it as much. I still knew what I was gonna do with my life and once I got there this would all be behind me. I hoped.

SLIDE

"Eh?" I heard a voice. I turned around and stared at the male in front of me. The two of us just stared for a few seconds and then I threw a hair brush at his head. The boy quickly dodged and stepped out of the room closing the door behind him, "S-sorry! I didn't mean to…you know!" he stuttered.

I clutched my towel closely with a blush on my face, "don't just barge into a bathroom! Ever heard of knocking!" I growled.

To say he was embarrassed was an understatement. Why does this always happen to me? None of the others have had this occur. Subaru sighed and leaned against the wall. The blush on his face still very much there. He held a hand over his eyes as he heard the door open again,

"Its fine to look now. I'm already dressed"

He lowered his hand and glanced at her face then at the wall, "Sorry. I didn't think anyone was home." He muttered taking small glances at her. Reiko was still very much embarrassed. Her pajamas were one thing and being nude was another. Towels can easily fall off after all. "It's fine. I didn't think anyone was here either" she replied crossing her arms.

He furrowed his brow, "does your bathroom not work? Masaomi-nii can fix that if-"

"It works. This is just a bigger bathroom then mines." She interrupted. So she just wanted a bigger bathroom? That's why she risked being seen by a bunch of men? "Don't make that face. Everyone was out well except you. I always seem to forget you're here since you only come here at night" she said with a shrug. So now I'm invisible? He thought.

"Practice was cancelled" he answered shifting his body, "Practice? What sport you play? I'm guessing basketball by that uniform" she said looking up and down his body. He stiffened since he wasn't used to this much attention from a girl no less. Especially not at his body like that.

Reiko's lips twitched into a tiny grin when she noticed his discomfort. No way. Such a tall guy is shy? He didn't seem like the shy type. Then maybe women shy? Heh, this will be fun.

"You know, I didn't think you were like your pervert brothers." She said casually stepping a bit closer. "P-pervert?" he asked surprised. He didn't have that intention at all. "I had no idea y-you were there honest!" he said lifting his hands in an 'I surrender' gesture. "Are you lying to me? I was using my hair dryer. So you had to have heard the noise." She said matter of factly.

Subaru froze, that was true after all. He completely overlooked the noise. Damn, he wouldn't be in this situation if he payed more attention. "Lots of the others use hair dryers. I thought it was one of the. You don't use this bathroom very often. Anyone could mistake it" although he's the only one who stumbles into these problems.

"well, bye now athletic pervy brother"

"R-reiko! I'm not!" but she had already left. Really why does this only happen to him?

Dinnertime had soon arrived. Ema and I had been staring at Subaru for a while now. He was eating really fast. So this is the power of a hungry guy? No wonder the head mistress at the orphanage called them wolves. Ema and I gave each other astounded looks. Then turned back when we heard the clang of a spoon hitting a plate. He drank his glass of water and then stood up.

"Thanks for the food." He said and started walking away. Is he still embarrassed about before? He paused and turned around again and looked at ema intently, "Right now, I've been dropped from the line-up and I'm not in any games, but I'll get back in the regular line-up for sure, so…When I do I want you to come see me play."

"Subaru…"

What was with that look? And making such a request. That was a lot of intensity in his tone for such a simple request. Almost like…eh? C-Could he… for.. ema!? This family just got a lot stranger.

"So he's your pet?" I asked scratching the squirrels cheek slightly. Ema nodded, "He's my friend. I had him ever since I was little." Ema said petting Juli. I looked at kuro who had to be tied up since he kept trying to eat juli, "Hmm, how strange. I've never met anyone who kept a squirrel as a pet." Seriously, I'd never seen an American with a pet squirrel. The strangest I've seen are celebrities with pet tigers but celebrities are in their own little world.

"really? I guess. I hope juli and kuro get along with time. It'd be troublesome if they were always fighting" ema pondered. You mean like our crazy brothers? I thought in my head. "Kuro you'll be a good boy won't you?" I said standing up to hug my puppy. Kuro jumped onto his legs eager to get free of his leash. I un-leashed him, I twitched what a horrible pun. And held him up and nuzzled his soft head, "You're a good boy aren't you? Ooh, your so cute~" I cooed as he gave me puppy kisses. The pup barked happily.

"Ne, chi why did your sister have to get a dog?" juli groaned crossing his arms. "Rei-chan seems to like dogs and besides if she wants a friends then who am I to stop her?" ema said smiling as she watched reiko play tug of war with the pup.

"Hn, despite her awful taste in pets. She is a good influence! Chi, you need to follow her example and fight those wolves off okay! Recently, ko-chan has started to act differently which just proves how dangerous these wolves are if they managed to get to ko-chan!"

"juli, rei-chan is just being nice. She was uncomfortable and is finally warming up to us. Don't encourage bad behavior"

Juli huffed, fine now that these two are being nice two those wolves its up to me to stop them! That baby isn't much help either since it likes those wolves! Probably cause their of the same species. Juli thought glaring at the barking puppy. This place is just getting more infested with wolves!