Perfectly Incompatible
Summary: A few of the mothers from his hometown think it's time for him to settle down, but Michael can't stand the girl they chose for him; Mariasha! What happens when he gets into a fight with Mariasha and ends up lost in a snow storm? Who will come to his rescue?
Pairings: Michael/Kai
Disclaimer: I don't own the Anime Beyblade or any character associated. I do own Mariasha "Maria" Evans. She is an original character and all likeness to people living or dead is purely coincidental. This character is not on based one anyone else's character design, again if any likeness, it's purely coincidental. There are also minor Ocs in this story as well, eg; Michael's mother and great aunt.
Warnings: Kai is a girl in this story. The use and introduction of a female Original Character. Any fans of OCs and OC pairings should leave now. Anti-OC pairings and blatant bashing of my own character. I created her; I can do what I want with her. And I plan to.
Gripe for the Day: …Ok, I'm ashamed to admit this, but my first name is Melody, yes, a horrible Sue name. But that's nothing compared to the horror of stumbling across a big, flaming Sue with my name! I'm utterly raging right now, as you can imagine. How dare you, Suethor, tarnish my name like that?! You're lucky I don't know where you live because the real Melody would kick your pathetic little Sue's ass! …Excuse me while I rage some more. Has anyone else stumbled across a Sue with their name?
AN: Hello again, everyone. Here, I have the scene you've been waiting for; the dinner at the Parkers. This chapter is a bit longer than usual, but I guess that's alright, right? ^^
Thanking; DarkBombayAngel, G-Wing Gurl, angelvan105, van, WhiteFrost, Rapunzelle, XxPhoenix-FirexX, marishka91, CleverPhoenix, kaitouahiru, mimic shalle, Elemental Gypsy and Tony for taking the time to review the last chapter! ^^
Comments, suggestions and rants are always welcomed and encouraged. Please don't be afraid to let me know what you think. Now, please enjoy this new extra long chapter.
Chapter 13:
"Are you sure she said not to bring anything?"
Michael couldn't help but chuckle and shifted his glance in Kai's direction before turning his eyes back to the road. That was the umpteenth time in the past ten minutes it took to drive to his home that she asked him that question. She was nervous, no question about that, he could easily tell by her body language alone. She was unconsciously playing with the end of her light blue scarf that hung loosely around her neck.
"Yes, I'm sure," Michael said as he reached across and took Kai's hand in his, stopping her from pulling at her scarf. "Relax, would ya?"
"Sorry," Kai quickly mumbled and made no attempt to remove her hand from his, instead curling her fingers around his, whether consciously or unconsciously, Michael wasn't sure. "But you do realize that I am meeting your mother, number one supporter of Mariasha?"
"Yes, I do realize that," Michael said as he manoeuvred his car into the familiar drive way with one hand, refusing to remove his other hand from Kai's grip just yet. "But she's changed."
Kai tilted her head to the side in question. "How so?"
"Well," Michael said as he placed the car in park and shut off the engine. "She walked in on me ranting and raving about Mariasha to Nana, and didn't say a thing."
To anyone else, that statement wasn't that impressive, but after hearing so much from Michael about his mother always choosing Mariasha's side over his, that was indeed very significant. "Really?" Kai asked.
"Yeah, a miracle if I ever saw one," Michael said with a grin.
A smile threatened to appear on Kai's lips, but it was forced back when a sense of nervousness set in again. Normally, meeting someone's mother wasn't that a big of a deal, but she really wanted to impress Michael's mother for a reason she can't quite put her finger on other than to make Michael happy.
"Do you think she'll like me?"
"She won't have a choice in the matter," Michael said firmly as he reluctantly removed his hand from hers and moved himself out of the car, Kai following through her own door a second later.
"Michael."
Michael sent her yet another grin as he made his way over to her side of the car. "Seriously, though, why wouldn't she?" he said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and lead her to the front door, his hold on her succeeding to cancel out some of her nerves. "Everything will be fine, just be yourself, ok?"
"Ok."
Opening the front door, Michael held it open for Kai to walk in first and he followed close behind. As he closed the door, he called out their arrival and a woman's voice Kai didn't recognized return the call with a reply that she would be there in a second.
And sure enough, stepping out of a room Kai guessed was the kitchen, an average sized woman with dark red hair appeared with a tea-towel in her hand, her green eyes looking at her with a sense of surprise, almost as if she could really believe what she was seeing.
That made Kai feel a bit self-conscious and she hoped that tonight won't have any hostility between her and Michael's mother, the other woman still believing that Mariasha is better suited for Michael.
"Ma, this is my good friend, Kai," Michael said as he placed a hand on the small of Kai's back and pushed her a little bit closer to his mother. "Kai, this is my mother."
"It's nice to finally meet you Mrs. Parker," Kai said, reverting to her personality trait to always be polite to those who are older than her.
"Yes, you too, Kai," Marly said as she seemed to snap out of her shock and smiled warmly at the young woman in front of her. She took a moment to take in her appearance, mildly surprised at how naturally beautiful she appeared; not a hint of make-up to be seen, but still stunning nonetheless.
She was wearing a simple soft woollen jumper that was a dark blue in colour, accompanied by a denim skirt that ended mid thigh, beige boots coming to mid shin on her feet. She also wore a thick winter's jacket to keep the winter cold out, the jacket effortlessly resting to her knees. Her hair, normally out, was pulled back into a loose ponytail, wayward stormy gray tresses framing her delicate face.
"Aren't you pretty?" she ended up saying before grabbing Kai by the crook of her elbow and leading her further inside. "But, please, none of this Mrs. Parker nonsense; call me Marly. Everyone does. Michael, take her coat and hang it up, would you?"
Kai flushed darkly at the compliment, her expression brightening a little when she realized she was granted the ability to call Michael's mother by her name. "Oh, thank you, I will," she said as she shed her coat, handing it to Michael who winked at her with a sense of smugness and was led into the lounge room where a roaring fire was keeping the house warm.
And there, by the fireplace was none other than Nana herself, who immediately noticed her and sent her a warm smile.
"Make yourself at home," Marly said, seemingly already becoming somewhat attached to Kai. She appeared to be a lovely girl and if Nana approved of her, there must be something special about the young woman. She's sure it would be lovely to get to know a bit more about her tonight.
She had ignored her son's feelings long enough; if he liked this young woman as more than a friend, it was her god-given duty to get to know her future daughter-in-law. It would make her son very happy.
"Dinner is about ready, so I hope you're hungry."
"I'm famished," Kai replied, a grin tugging at the corners of hers lips, watching as the woman hastily left the room, but pausing to speak with Michael. She watched as the two family members share a few words; a conversation she knew wasn't a bad one as Michael was still grinning.
"Hello again, dear," she greeted as she waved Kai over.
"Nana," Kai said as she walked over and bent down to give the elderly woman an affection kiss on the cheek. "How are you?"
"I'm doing well," Nana said as she held onto Kai's arm with her wrinkly hand for a moment. "You're looking lovely this evening."
Once again, Kai blushed at the compliment. "Oh, thank you."
"Hey!" A high-pitched feminine voice suddenly called out, the front door suddenly slamming shut. "Where is everyone?!"
Michael automatically recognized the voice and a scowl appeared on his face. "Oh no, what's she's doing here?" he literally hissed with annoyance.
Nana wore an expression similar to that of Michael's, her lips pressed into a thin line of frustration. "Marly and I told her not to come over tonight," she said as she turned her gaze toward the front of the house. "But it seemed that denying her anything is actually an invitation to do the opposite."
Loud footsteps echoed from the front of the house and a moment later a certain purple haired female appear, the ever present scowl of displeasure on her face. "Finally, there you are, you jackass!" She snarled as she stomped over to Michael, her hands curled into fists by her sides. "I've been looking everywhere for you, how dare you just abandon me..."
Mariasha suddenly trailed off when she realized that there was someone else in the room and it was none other than that bitch who verbally assaulted her in the middle of the street over a week ago!
"What is she doing here?" she once again snarled, spitting mad.
Michael immediately took a step away from her and stood by Kai and Nana, folding his arms tightly over his chest. "She's staying for dinner, why do you ask?" he asked her with a sense of defiance.
Suddenly, Marly entered the room after hearing a commotion and looked genuinely surprised to see Mariasha standing in her living room, glaring daggers at the three other occupants who were standing by the fire place.
"Mariasha, what are you doing here?" she asked, a sense of annoyance settling in her chest as she was beginning to become very irritated with Mariasha lately.
The glare of hatred immediately disappeared from Mariasha's face the moment she heard Marly's voice and turned to flutter her green eyes innocently in Marly's direction, appearing like the good and sweet girl she really was.
"Oh, I just thought I'd pop by for dinner," she said with a sickly sweet voice. "I knew you wouldn't mind, you never do, right Mrs. Parker?"
"The table is set for four, dear," Nana said from her seat, her expression only darkening by Mariasha's innocent act.
"That's ok, it's not like I take up too much room or will over stay my welcome," Mariasha immediately retorted as she made her way over to the table and defiantly pulling a seat up and sat down.
"Too late for that," Michael snapped, appearing as though he wanted nothing more than to physically throw her out so he could have a nice dinner with his family and Kai for once. "You overstayed your welcome years ago."
"Excuse me?" Mariasha all but snarled as she took to her feet again. "What did you just say?"
"I'm going to serve dinner now," Marly said, interrupting the impending fight by abruptly turning around and walking back into the kitchen, earning herself a look of shock from Mariasha, aghast that she wasn't immediately scowling Michael for what he said to her.
A smug look appeared on Michael's face as he turned around to face Nana and Kai, helping his elderly great aunt from her seat before taking Kai's hand in his and leading her over to the dining table, rearranging the table setting so Kai was now sitting next to him on one side of the rectangle shaped table, Nana taking the head and Marly sitting next to her.
Then, to Mariasha's surprise, Michael and his family seem to ignore her, instead trying to start a conversation with Kai, Marly actually speaking happily with her as she served dinner.
With a childish huff of resentment and irritation, Mariasha practically threw herself back into her seat and sulkily crossed her arms over her chest. She then glared with utter hatred in Kai's direction, inwardly insulting her, mentally picking at everything she did or say. She couldn't stand that stupid girl; she was the biggest bitch she had ever met!
She thought she was so cool, speaking and joking with Michael and his family. Mariasha really couldn't see what there was to like about her; she had weird hair, freakish eyes, four of the ugliest markings on her face and a terrible fashion sense. She's wasn't even that pretty.
"Mariasha, it's rude to stare," Marly said, in a surprisingly scowling tone to the purple-haired young woman.
"I'm sorry," Mariasha said in a slightly patronizing tone. "I couldn't help but stare at those blue markings on Kai's face," she explained before turning her narrow green eyes in Kai's direction again. "Those are quite a bold statement. What do your parents say about them?"
Kai's gaze immediately narrowed a fraction, her facial expression turning rather tense. "Not much at the moment."
Mariasha immediately realized that she hit a sore spot and couldn't help but let a grin of self-satisfaction appear on her lips. She'll show Marly and Nana here how much of a troublemaker and faker Kai really is. "They don't know? How obnoxiously rebellious."
"Oh, they know about them alright," Kai replied, her whole profile becoming tense this time, as well as the atmosphere in the room.
"And what do they say?" Mariasha asked as she sat straighter in her seat, hoping for some dirt to use on Kai later on, make her pay for tricking Michael and his entire family. "I bet they're disappointed, right?"
A long paused followed and Kai swallowed thickly, causing Michael to cast a look of concern in her direction. "...They're dead," she said simply, yet her voice full of remorse that her parents had to be pulled into this soon to be very ugly argument.
Mariasha wasn't expecting that response and flailed for a moment. "What?"
"My parents were killed in a car accident years ago," Kai explained, immediately earning her sympathetic looks from the other two women in the room and she smile weakly at them. "I'd rather not talk about it."
However, Mariasha wasn't ready to drop this conversation yet. She wanted to see Kai lose her temper, she needed to prove to Marly that her son's new friend was a bitch. "That's why you are wearing face paint?" she pressed on. "Don't tell me it's something to remind you of your parents?"
Kai simply narrowed her eyes further, out rightly glaring in Mariasha's direction. "I don't want to talk about them or the triangles," she said in a low voice.
Mariasha immediately bristled with a sense of indignity at the glare, annoyed that Marly was allowing this to happen. "If you don't want people to talk about those stupid triangles, then stop wearing them!"
"That's enough!" Michael yelled as he slammed his hands on the table and heaved himself to his feet, his expression dark with hatred and anger directed at no one else but Mariasha. "If Kai says she doesn't want to talk about it, then this conversation is over."
"I think we deserve the right to know, Michael," Mariasha snarled as she mimic Michael's stance, pushing herself to her feet as well to return his glare with as much venom as she was receiving. She still couldn't believe that Marly was allowing Michael to treat her like this.
What the hell is wrong with everyone?!
"You don't deserve to know anything," Michael hissed back, his hands balling into fists on the table, his jaw clenching shut tightly as he was absolutely furious with what Mariasha was trying to do.
"I can't take them off," Kai suddenly explained, her voice cutting through the tense silence that was hanging in the air like fog.
Michael blinked his eyes and turned to look at Kai, who was looking up at him with her eyes shimmering with a sense of determination. She also knew that Mariasha was trying to do and she refused to yet the stupid, immature woman win. "Kai?"
"It's alright," Kai said with a level voice before turning her gaze not to Mariasha, but to Nana and Marly. "There markings, I can't take them off readily."
Mariasha furrowed her brow in confusion, slightly annoyed that Kai wasn't simply folding to her wit and instead, out-rightly refusing to even look at her. "What do you mean?"
Kai drew in a quick breath. "They're tattoos."
"What?" Mariasha said as she physically reeled back in surprise before letting her face crease into a scowl again. "Now, who would be stupid enough to tattoo their face?"
"Mariasha!" Nana hissed at her, utterly appalled with her current behaviour. She always knew that Mariasha was a petty person, but she had no idea she would go this far.
"It's true, isn't it?" Mariasha snapped at the elderly woman, momentarily forgetting that Marly was in the room as well. "I mean, who in their right mind would so something so ridiculous like that?"
"Yes, who indeed," Kai ended up muttering under her breath, her hand rising on its own accord to let her fingers gently trace the outline of one of her triangles.
"...Kai," Michael whispered. He knew that it was taking all of Kai's willpower not to leap to her feet and punch Mariasha in the face, even though she would be more than welcome to do that. No, she wouldn't allow herself simply because she knew Mariasha was just trying to get under her skin just so she would get such a reaction.
"Are they a gang symbol, or something?" Mariasha suddenly asked.
"Mariasha!" Nana once again said loudly, her face taking on an alarming shade of red, even Marly next to her wore an expression of blatant disapproval. "That's enough out of you!"
Mariasha whipped around the face the two older woman, an expression of utter annoyance on her face that they weren't backing her up. "I'm just asking because I don't want Michael to associate with a gang member that will only get him into trouble," she explained in a way that her actions should have been obvious before turning her attention back to Kai, absolutely livid that she was taking this whole situation so calmly.
It was so fucking annoying!
"Did you get them before or after your parents' deaths?"
Kai drew in another sharp breath. "After."
"Ah, so you were running around on the streets, then?" Mariasha stated, smirking with a hint of triumph.
Kai was not liking this conversation one little bit and she absolutely hated talking about herself and her past, especially when she did not prepare herself beforehand. She hated talking about her past like this simply because she felt that since it was the past, there was no need to dwell over something she couldn't change, but that didn't stop the bad dreams that would always follow when she encountered something that made her remember times she'd rather forget.
Sleep will not come easy tonight, that's for sure.
"No, I was placed in my grandfather's custody."
"Oh?" Mariasha said as she raised an eyebrow in her direction. "So, what does your grandfather think of those stupid triangles? I bet he's disgusted."
Michael knew that Voltaire, Kai's grandfather, was a very touchy subject for her and he knew that it brought back many unpleasant memories, so he was immediately overcome with a sense to protect Kai, even just a little, in some way. "Shut the hell up, Mariasha!"
"But Michael-!" Mariasha started, her eyes widening in surprise that he would yell at her in such a way. Couldn't he see she was doing this for him and his family?
"But nothing!" Michael growled. "You're really pushing is, you have no right to ask Kai any of those questions. You weren't even invited here tonight."
"You're right," Kai said. "He was disgusted.
"I knew it!" Mariasha said as she smirked, appearing proud of herself. "Being rebellious, were we?"
"You could say that," Kai murmured as she placed her hands on her lap and folded them together tightly, her knuckles turning white from the pressure of her grip. "He gave me these tattoos."
"Kai," Michael said as he sat back down in his seat and turned toward her, concern evident in his gaze when he realized that she was starting to tremble again, her emotions starting to get the better of her. All this stress could not be good for her.
He placed a hand on the back of her chair as his other hand slipped under the table to grasp one of Kai's trembling hands in his, giving her a small sense of comfort. "You don't have to tell her anything."
"But your family deserves to know," Kai said as she motioned to both Nana and Marly with her free hand, her voice thick with barely suppressed emotions as her other hand grasped tightly onto his.
"What do you mean?" Mariasha simpered at her.
Kai shot her a glare that could have frozen lava. "My grandfather was abusive."
Everyone immediately gasped loudly in shock, expressions holding a sense of disbelief, sympathy and utter disgust that her own grandfather would abuse her. And yet, there was also a sense of admiration in both Marly and Nana's expressions; impressed that she has had such a hard life and yet was still this polite and confident young woman. She had a reason to be bitter and hate the entire word, and yet she was instead embracing it and moving on with life.
Now, she's was the type of woman many young girls should inspire to be; completely natural.
"He's in prison now, where he belongs," Kai carried on to say before suddenly squeezing her eyes shut as she drew in a deep, yet shaky breath. "I don't want to talk about this anymore."
"Of course," Nana immediately said as she watch Michael wrap a comforting arm around Kai's shoulders, her scowl deepening when she noticed that Kai was starting to shiver, and it wasn't from the cold. "I am so sorry that someone had to bring up such painful memories for you, dear."
She then shot Mariasha a scathing, withering look, one that promise immediately retaliation if she should say anything else. It's time that something is done about her; she went too far tonight!
"Ah, why don't you and Michael tell me what you've done with the ranch?" Marly suggested to the two teens in front of her, her heart going out to the young woman who was now leaning against Michael for support. "I've heard such lovely things about it."
Nana was right, they are very close. There was definitely something going on between the two of them; Kai was much better suited for her son than Mariasha could ever be.
Speaking of Mariasha...
"Oh, before that," Marly said as she turned to face the outwardly seething green-eyed young woman and she felt her stomach clench with utter detestation she felt for her. "Mariasha, I think you should go home."
Mariasha snapped her head up and looked at her in surprise. "What?"
Marly narrowed eyes in such a way that no one had ever seen before and she pressed her lips into a thin line. "Now!" she said in a stern voice that should leave no room for argument.
"But-!"
"You heard her, Mariasha," Nana immediately snapped, she too having lost all patience with her young neighbour. "You've outstayed your welcome. I suggest you go home and think about what you've done."
Mariasha couldn't believe what was going on; they were actually kicking her out! They were supposed to kick Kai out, not her! She was the golden girl of this fucking town, how dare they treat her like this?!
Wait until she tells Noreen what they did to her.
"Fine," Mariasha hissed as she climbed to her feet, her hands clenched into fists by her sides. "I haven't done anything wrong." She then loudly stomped away, storming out of the house in a diva sized temper tantrum.
Marly waited until she heard the front door swing open and then dramatically slam shut before turning her attention back to Kai and gave her a warm and sympathetic smile. "Now, about the ranch?"
Kai gave her a shaky smile of gratitude, inwardly thankful that Michael's family were so understanding toward her and she subconsciously leaned closer to Michael. Despite the way her body was currently trembling from anger, there was this sense of relief in her being as well; she just told Michael and his family a short rendition of her past and yet they didn't automatically reject her.
She also felt a hint of self-pride that she didn't lose her temper and physically lash out at Mariasha. Normally, if anyone mentioned her family or demand to know about her past, she would have punched the said person in the face and kick the crap out of them.
But she was getting a bit better at controlling her emotions and she now felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
"Well..."