Kitty: edited 06/21/12 Whoot whoot, almost done! I then I have to back and do the first eight or so chapters. *siiiigh*
Chocolate Covered
Chapter Nineteen
Chocolate Covered Crepes
Mimi fiddled with her French fry silently while Jyou scarfed down his teriyaki burger. Her covert glances told her a story that made her stomach clench uneasily. His eyes were circled lightly and his clothes were rather loose. She knew he'd put in a lot of hours at the hospital he'd been interning at, not to mention medical college was getting harder every day, and now she could see the physical signs for herself. She'd been so focused on her own problems, she hadn't cared to look. Not that she could really blame herself for that, though.
She sighed quietly as she pushed the fry in her mouth, mentally hoping it would stay down.
"Mimi? Are you okay? Is your stomach okay?" Jyou asked when he heard her sigh. She paled and pressed her hand to her lower belly.
"My…my stomach is fine…" she whispered. There's just a baby in there, that's all.
"You look pale. Maybe MacDonald's wasn't a good idea. Want to go the doctor's office?"
"NO!" Mimi shrieked, jumping to her feet. She clapped her hands over her mouth and slumped back down on the bench as eyes from all over the restaurant turned her way. "S-Sorry…" she mumbled, blushing in embarrassment. Keep it together…
Jyou set down his burger and got to his feet to walk around their table. She glanced up at him, surprised, as he scooted onto the bench next to her. "I can tell when something's wrong, Mimi. Why don't you tell me so I can help? You'll just make yourself sicker with all the stress," he coaxed wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her up to his side.
She looked up into his tired and loving eyes and felt her heart melt and break at the same time. I can't tell him the truth…he'll just put his life aside for mine. I'll never get as far as he will so I have to put myself aside for him.
"I'm fine, Jyou-pin. I just…am still upset about my parents and school's starting up and I got a stomach flu and I'm so worried about you! You're working yourself to death and I'm not helping at all!" She half-lied- keeping the most important secret to herself.
"Ah, you're so sweet," he muttered as a blush bloomed over his nose. Quickly, flustered, he kissed her forehead, making her giggle despite her anxieties. "Why don't you go back home and make up with your parents? Rest up and get better. I'll make sure you do well in your last year of high school. I'll cut back on some hours at the hospital, too. You're right about me working too much. I won't have time to graduate from med school if I don't give myself time to study and sleep." She smiled up at him as he neatly fixed each of her problems. "I'll walk you home tonight after we gather your stuff. I'll miss you, though," he admitted in that bashful way of his.
"I'll miss you, too. But I really should go back home. My parents just love me, you know?" Mimi decided cheerfully.
"Yeah," he glanced away, scratching his cheek as his face flamed. "I love you, too."
"I love you, too, Jyou-kin." Her hand pressed against her belly and her eyes closed. And I'll love our baby, too. There's no way I could destroy what we made. Maybe adoption would work…?
.
Takeru and Iori sat at the table silently while Takashi-san paced the kitchen restlessly. Her eyes kept flickering back to the flowers, the two boys' faces, and then back to her feet. Under the table, the boys held hands. Takeru's hand shook in Iori's firm, warm grip.
"Kaasan…would you please sit down? Your blood pressure…" Takeru softly reminded her, his throat rather dry.
"Yes, yes, I know. I'm just…upset," Takashi-san replied waspishly, running her hand through her wavy blonde hair.
"Kaasan, what do you want me to say? I'm sorry I'm gay?" Takeru offered wryly.
"NO!" She stomped over the table and slammed her palms down on the wooden surface. The flowers, still wrapped in cellophane, jumped at her force. "Of course not!"
"Then, what do you want?" Takeru shouted back. Iori squeezed his hand in warning.
"Honesty! All this time, what, three years now? And you never told me you had a boyfriend? I've never met him and you never told me you were gay! How much have you lied to me about? Are you still a virgin, are you still playing basketball, are you even going to school anymore?" Takashi spat out, blue eyes flashing. The heat left Takeru's gaze when her words sank in.
"K-kaasan…I…didn't…"
"Didn't tell me the truth? Were you scared of me? Your mother? Of turning you away? After I've loved you and raised you, a single mother in Tokyo? You thought after all I did for you that I'd just throw that away because you ended up liking another boy? I thought I proved I loved my own son, damn it! And I find out he's lied to me, for at least three years?" Taikashi-san exclaimed, turning away as her shoulders began to shake and her eyes glimmer. Takeru moved to get up, but Iori held him down.
"Sumimasen, ma'am, we both agreed it was best!" Iori interrupted. Two pairs of blue eyes turned on him. "W-we were going to tell you years ago, but…you became sick…and we didn't know how you would handle it in your condition. Takeru-kun was already scared you'd might not accept him, true, but he honestly did not want to worsen your weakness. You were seriously ill!"
She blinked in surprise before letting out a low sigh. "You're right. I see what you mean…I'm angry now, I might have been angry, then, too… Or just shocked, like I am now…" She fell into a chair and rested her face in her hands. "I don't know if I'm really angry or just shocked…I'm so confused. H-How long have you been scared of telling me, Takeru?"
"A long time. I knew I was gay in middle school. A boy, the American exchange student, Wallace? He was bi and we had a thing…" Takeru shrugged uneasily. Takashi-san blinked again.
"Oh…oh my. And I never knew? No wonder you were always together," she realized aloud, chuckling weakly.
"Kaasan?"
"Yes?"
"I am really sorry if I hurt your feelings. You have to understand…finding out I was gay and the confusion and the fear that came with it. Wallace told me stories, well, I managed to get him to accidentally blurt to me stories about the hazing gay kids still got in America. I even read it up on the internet and read stories from men here in Tokyo who were gay and who had to hide it. And then… Tai-san, Hikari-chan's older brother, got beat up really bad by his own soccer team. It was always something frightening and something to hide… I'm sorry…" he murmured, curling his free hand into a fist on his thigh under the table top. "I didn't mean to mistrust you or hurt you, Mom…"
"Oh, honey." She came around the table and wrapped her arms around him. "I love you, honey, never be scared again, okay? You're all I have. Do you really think I'd give you up? For something so silly as thinking other boys look cute? Honey, your boyfriend is cute, how could I blame you?" Takashi-san told him, smiling over at Iori, who blushed crimson red.
Takeru laughed. "Thanks, Kaasan."
"Good, now that that drama's done with," Takashi got back to her feet and patted her thigh briskly, as if wiping away the last hour or so away. "Let's put these beautiful flowers in a vase and make dinner. Do you know anything about cooking, Iori-chan?" Takashi asked as she headed for the kitchen.
Iori barely managed to keep his sigh in his throat. He kicked Takeru's ankle lightly as he rose from the table for snickering at his mother's nickname. "Yes. I cook with my mother often. She's single mother, too. Though, we have my grandfather," Iori explained.
"Do you mind if I call you Iori-chan? Takeru always does," Takashi-san queried as she filled a glass vase with water. She turned to him as he entered the kitchen and raised in eyebrow, smiling a bit.
"I guess it's just fine." At least Saiwa-san never will.
.
Saiwa walked through the park towards her father's dessert stand. Maybe, if it were slow enough, she'd be able to curl up on a bench somewhere and eat a strawberry and chocolate crepe. She could only hope. She glanced around at the children racing over the green lawns and teenagers sitting under trees or playing sports around the park. Her fingers reached up and touched the soft petals of the flower in her hair. The good luck gift from the flower shop lady- Takenouchi, Sora, Iori-san had said.
"I wonder…if I'll get lucky today. Maybe I'll find the man who'll love me the way Iori-san can't." She sighed, her heart squeezing painfully. That seemed very unlikely.
"Tousan, how's business?" Saiwa asked as she slipped into the small dessert stand.
"It's doing okay. Not too busy, though. You want to go run off with that Iori kid again?"
"No, he's in Tokyo right now. I just want to sit down outside and eat a crepe, a little me time," she told him with a smile. "I'll just be a little way away in case you need me."
"I guess it's all right. Don't take too long with that 'alone time' of yours," her father teased ruffling her hair. He moved a bit to the side so she could make her crepe and began refilling the syrup cans.
She smiled and poured the thin dough in a large, shallow puddle on the griddle. She spread the dough as thin as she could with a flat paddle and then, after a few moments of waiting, used a smaller spatula to spread on the yogurt and strawberries. She rolled the dough into a cone-like shape and then filled the top part with a little extra chocolate and topped it with a little more strawberry jelly and strawberries. A fine dusting of powdered sugar and her masterpiece was complete. She waved to her dad and walked out of the small stand. She meandered down the path as children ran past clutching yenn in their hands, already excited for the yummy treats they were about to buy. She turned back to the small yellow and blue stall her father had made years before she was born and smiled as he showed off his crepe-making skills to the wide-eyed, awestruck crowd now breathlessly waiting.
Not too far away was an empty bench, so she sat down with a tired sigh. She stared down at the delicious chocolate and strawberries crepe, but her mouth didn't move towards it. Lips quivered as tears formed slowly on her lashes. Her mouth twitched at the corners. Here it comes again, she thought sardonically. It happens every time I'm in Iori-san's company…every time I'm with him I always end up crying afterwards. It's been three years, why can't I just give up? Why does it have to hurt so much? Why can't I find an angel too? Saiwa sniffled softly and rubbed her eyes with her fist. Of course I can't find an angel for myself! Look at me; plain, shy, quiet, in love with a gay guy for three years and friends with said gay guy for three years. I'm barely thirteen years old with no boobs and I cry all the time. I'm probably going to get acne from eating all these crepes, too!
"And now I'm whining!" she cried out. Giggling softly, she took a bite of chocolate and strawberries. She sniffled as tears fell down her face. "Acne, here I come…"
"Hey! That looks good!" exclaimed a voice in a foreign language from behind her. She spun around to see an angel smiling down at her.
"EH!" She scrambled off the bench, spinning around to face the angel leaning on the back of the bench. She looked around to see if anybody else saw this new, gorgeous angel smiling at her, but nobody was really around to tell. Her suddenly tear-less brown eyes looked back into dazzling baby blues. His hair was as gold as Takeru-san's, but blonder, like the sun kept sucking away its color until it was almost white. His eyes were bluer than Takeru-san's, too, much lighter and brighter in color. She didn't even believe the sky could get so pure blue.
Why is he talking to me?
"Hi! Do you speak English?" The apparition said…maybe it was a question? The more she listened to his voice, the more the words sounded like English…didn't he say English? She frowned a bit.
It sounded like…Do you…something…English…so…do you speak English is probably it...uh…what do I say?
"Ano…no English good," she stuttered. I should have studied English better last semester!
"Ah, damn, I was hoping…but I guess my Japanese is better than your English." He smiled at her then…and she almost fainted. Her whole face was tingling from the blood that was flowing too close to the skin. I must look like a horrible Japanese lobster monster!
"Ano…Hi! Uh…happy aftanoon!" she tried again. She was rewarded with another beautiful smile and a low chuckle that made her heart beat faster.
"It is all right. I speak some Japanese. I here was…uh, I was here before," the angel told her slowly. She smiled joyously and clasped her hands around the crepe.
"Oh, good! I'm so glad I can speak with you. You're just like an angel!" she replied with a slight tilt to her head as she spoke. He walked around the bench and stepped up to her.
"My name Wallace is." She refused to believe a blush had spread over his face at her words.
"Oh…my name is Saiwa!" Saiwa smiled again. "Oh no!" She stared down at her hands where the melting chocolate and strawberry jam had dripped over her fingers.
"That looks really good." She glanced up at him, a blush still staining her face. Her blush heightened as his hands wrapped around her wrists and brought her hands up to his face. "A bite…please?"
She nodded vigorously, her flower bobbing dangerously. He licked a little chocolate from the crepe before taking a small bite. He looked up and grinned, chocolate smeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Delicious."
"Yes!" There was slight pause as she stared at his hands, still wrapped around hers.
"Saiwa-san?"
"W-Wallace-san?" she stuttered, the name tasting foreign and as delicious as chocolate on her tongue. He grinned again, so carefree and handsome.
"I love you."
"EH!" she squeaked. "Oh…oh my…" She felt something short circuit in her brain and her eyes rolled to the back of her head.
Wallace watched in astonishment as the pretty young girl collapsed to the ground, a blush completely covering her face. Her crepe was on the ground next to her, her hands still covered in sticky crepe filling.
"She's so cute," he chuckled. "All I said was that I liked her."
He tossed the crepe into a nearby trash can. Making sure his hands were crepe-filling free, he bent down to lift her up. He sat down on the bench she had been sitting on and settled her on his lap. She's so small…Japanese girls are adorable, he decided with a grin. Hopefully when she wakes up I can get those directions I was hoping for, he thought, smiling ruefully. What a time for my cell to die.
She tucked her head against his shoulder, the flower crushed against his neck. A small, chocolatey smile curved over her face, and the tears that had been falling when he found her were long gone. I'm glad. She shouldn't be crying all by herself.
.
Tai and Koushirou walked side by side through the busy streets of Tokyo. Every now and then their eyes would linger on the merchandise in the windows of the stores, but they didn't stop their aimless wandering.
"Your birthday is getting closer. Any idea what you want?" Tai finally asked as the passed the umpteenth store.
"My birthday is getting closer? Do you mean compared to June, Taichi? My birthday is in December." Amusement warred with incredulity in his voice.
"So?"
"It's still August, Taichi," Koushirou replied in exasperation.
"I wanna make sure I get you something good. I need to know what I'm aiming for every time I work at the library." Koushirou hid his smile beneath the rim of his Todai ball cap as the image of Tai behind a library desk came to mind.
"I don't need anything really special, Tai. I'm happy with what I already have." Koushirou reached out to grasp Tai's hand. His black eyes met Tai's honey brown gaze and he smiled. "I'm happier than I have ever been. I don't want to ask for more."
"It's your job to ask, Izzy! It's your birthday!" Tai laughed. Koushirou frowned slightly as the continued walking.
"It's almost…it's almost like I'm scared, Taichi."
"What?" Tai squawked, eyes wide in astonishment.
Koushirou focused his attention on his brown loafers. "It's as if the happier I become, the more I anxious I am. I continuously think 'if I continue to gain everything I have ever wanted, something horrible will happen.' I know it is rather irrational…" Koushirou trailed off, brows creased.
"No, it's stupid," Tai disagreed firmly.
"Taichi! You don't have to act in that manner. I stated I was being irrational," Koushirou snapped, offended.
He turned his annoyed gaze to Tai, but paused. Tai's brown eyes were serious, in a way that was rarely seen on his carefree boyfriend's normally cheerful face. Whenever Koushirou looked into those somber eyes, he knew whatever was said would be something he'd never forget and never distrust. They stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, facing one another, as Koushirou's heart began to pound.
"Izzy, whatever happens today or tomorrow or years from now, you're going to be the one I love the most in the world." Koushirou's eyes widened as Tai's hands gripped his shoulders. "You've always been the rock, Izzy, the one I relied on. For ten years, you never forgot and never stopped loving me. Because of you, I'm happy and it's only fair that we continue to be happy. We've fought for it, haven't we?" Tai argued.
"Yes… we have," Koushirou softly agreed. His smaller, paler hands touched the hands gripping his shoulders. "I'll continue to love you, Taichi, no matter what happens." A blush bloomed over his fair skin. He was rewarded with that grin he had never forgotten. A smile he'd never forget and never misplace.
He shifted his balance unto his toes and used his arms to pull himself up. As if he had read Koushirou's mind, Tai automatically leaned down as their eyes drifted shut. The world and its ears and eyes and noise disappeared as their lips touched. Tai's hands smoothed down Koushirou's arms until their fingers entwined. They parted, lips curving into small smiles. Tai laid his forehead against Koushirou's as Koushirou let himself fall back onto his heels.
"Love you, Izzy-kun."
"I know. I love you, too, Taichi."
"Come on, you two, you're making my girlfriend blush."
"Eh?" The two turned to see Yamato and Sora standing not too far away. Yamato had books tucked up under one arm and Sora had a backpack slung over her shoulder. Yamato was smirking slightly while Sora was, indeed, blushing.
"Yamato! Don't make me sound like some little kid!" Sora shouted, rounding on him with arms flailing.
"I didn't say that, Sora!" Yamato laughed.
"You shouldn't sneak up on people like that, either!" Tai exclaimed, one hand still holding Koushirou's.
"I guess we were committing just a tad too much PDA," Koushirou conceded. Tai turned on him.
"No way! If he can kiss Sora-chan in public, I can kiss you," Tai retorted.
"It isn't a competition, Taichi!" Koushirou laughed. Tai grinned.
"Everything is, you just got to look at it funny." He winked. Koushirou laughed again.
"Once you guys are done being all cuddly, you wanna join us for a while?" Yamato taunted. Sora rolled her eyes.
"I don't see why not. Can I beat the snot outta you while we walk?" Tai rejoined, snarling at his "rival."
"If you can manage it, dude. But I don't think your monkey brain is sophisticated enough," Yamato said with a shrug.
Sora and Koushirou ignored the resulting loud, familiar bickering as they all walked in the direction of Sora's college campus. Koushirou glanced at the backpack on Sora's shoulder.
"Do you still have some classes to go to today?" Koushirou asked falling in step with Sora.
"Yeah, about three more. I started my previous class at about four fifteen."
"Are all your classes after four this semester?" Sora nodded.
"It kinda blows because I never really get to see Yamato, but we make time. It helps that he's pretty much free after three."
"Yes, I'm sure it does. How's the flower shop going? He's been working there more often these past couple months."
"I've been taking more time off for school, so he's been taking up the slack. My mom does all the heavy decisions, like inventory, and does the big jobs like weddings and funerals, so Yamato doesn't really do much but sit behind the counter. It helps, though, that someone's doing it so my mom can do more big jobs and I can still do school."
"I wonder…if I should get a job. I meant to when I first moved back, but my parents convinced me to let them pay my rent until I graduated my first four years. I should really start looking for a job now…" Koushirou mused.
"Your parents have been paying your rent? Oh…well, duh, I guess I feel stupid for not realizing that." Sora laughed punching her temple lightly just once.
"I never mentioned it, therefore you never really thought about it. It's understandable," Koushirou reassured her.
"Are you going to the party coming up?" Sora asked then.
"The concert party?" One red eyebrow rose.
"Well…yeah…is there another one?"
"No." Koushirou shook his head slightly. "I won't be going, anyhow. I'll be the party pooper sitting in front of my computer screen all night waiting for Taichi to get home," Koushirou joked. Sora frowned.
"I've been to a few of the concert parties. They aren't so bad, Koushirou-san. Are you sure you won't come? It's usually pretty fun."
"How many people in one room are there?"
"A lot, I guess. It's hard to get through the main room to the drinks or bathrooms without pushing past a bunch of people. Why?"
"I don't like crowds, Sora-san. I don't like unnecessary contact with strangers either. It makes me feel antsy. I'm not a…touch-oriented person to begin with," Koushirou explained.
"That's so weird. You're dating Yagami, Tai. How could you not be a touchy-feely person?" Sora exclaimed, shock and desperately fighting back a laugh.
"Kissing is one thing, but touching is another. That was one of our… hurdles…" Koushirou muttered. This time, Sora's eyebrow rose.
.
Daisuke shuffled to the door munching on a bag of chips. His eyes widened when he saw the girl on his door step.
"M-Miyako-chan? I thought you…bed…not eating…what's going on?" he exclaimed as confusion overtook him.
"I was, but I decided to come see you," she whispered with her eyes on the ground. His eyebrows came together as worry began to take place of his bewilderment.
"What happened?"
"Nothing, I just thought I needed to be alone, but it wasn't helping. I realized…I need you…to…to want me…" she whispered. A strand of hair slid over her shoulder.
"Miyako-chan? I couldn't hear you."
"Is anybody else home?" she asked, her voice stronger, louder.
"Uh, no, why? Wh-" He was cut off as she threw her arms around him and pressed her lips against his.
He tasted salt.
"Could you…could you want me tonight, Daisuke-kun? I know…I know you still love her…I love her, too, I understand, but…could you pretend a little harder for me tonight?" she begged against his lips.
"Wh-What do you mean?" Different emotions were racing frantically through him- panic, excitement, worry, and …guilt.
She pressed her mouth against his again and forced him to step back into his apartment. The door closed behind her and the lock snapped in place.
.
"Yeah…"
"You mean… you and Tai-kun got in a fight over touching?"
"N-Not exactly. I just…didn't want to get intimate during the first year of our relationship. I believed we should be older, for one, and… I'm… reserved about my physical appearance when my…clothes are taken off." His face was slowly becoming redder as he spoke.
"Oh…" She giggled behind her hand. "You're shy. Well, you normally are, so, I guess, behind closed doors, you're not one of those who turns into a sex kitten."
"S-S-Sex k-k-kitten? WHAT?" Koushirou stuttered wildly, his face exuding heat. Sora laughed at his outraged face.
"You are so much fun to tease!" Sora managed to get out in between breaths.
"S-Sora-san! R-Really! I was trying to have a serious conversation!" Koushirou exclaimed.
"Really? About what? Did I hear 'kitten'?" Tai asked looking over one shoulder.
"NO! No! Just… keep doing…what you're…doing…" Koushirou trailed off lamely. Sora made little shooing motions with her hands, still snickering helplessly. Tai shrugged and turned back to Yamato.
"So…" Sora leaned close and shielded her mouth with one hand. "What happened?"
"Uh…I don't know. You've already teased me enough about this." Koushirou hissed back barely moving his mouth. Sora clapped her hands together into a prayer position and smiled pleadingly. He sighed. "A few years ago …we became really close…for the first time. B-But…when he looked at me then…and he was…I…I panicked…" His voice got steadily lower as he spoke.
"What do you mean?" she whispered back.
"I…I started trying to get away…and Taichi didn't realize…and I slapped him and rolled off the bed," Koushirou mumbled, the shame clearly evident even months later.
"What? Why? What was he doing?"
"Just…touching me…I'd never…we'd never…experienced quite that level of intimacy. I couldn't handle him touching me…that way."
"Oh…wow," Sora whistled under her breath. "I bet Tai wasn't too happy. He doesn't act like it, but he can be really insecure about himself. So…you guys tried again?"
"Yes, we went slowly, but he was really patient. I think…I believe we really grew closer and stronger as a couple and… as friends these past two years. I learned that what I felt was the real thing. It wasn't just a dream I concocted because I was lonely. I truly meant it when I said 'I love you'. I know he means it, too," Koushirou said, his face shining.
Sora gazed at his tenderly smiling expression. His dark eyes were soft as he watched the older teen- now adult, as scary as that may be-chat with Yamato. It was so obvious how he felt, how strongly the attachment was. No matter what may have happened, that connection between them had always been there. And watching the way Koushirou smiled at Tai, so warm and sure, Sora sincerely believed that connection would always last. She felt herself smile in response.
"I'm glad." She gently laid a hand on his arm.
"Sumimasen?" His black eyes were now confused as he looked at her.
"I'm glad you came back. I would've hurt him so much if you hadn't come and brought us to our senses, myself especially," Sora clarified.
"I'm sure everything would have worked itself out," Koushirou protested. Sora shook her head.
"I'm sure it would've, but you made it a lot…smoother."
"Smoother? Because of me at least four people were hurt-"
"We're all still friends, aren't we? That says something, Koushirou-san." Koushirou opened his mouth and then closed it, unable to reply.
"Sora! We've got to go! Your class is starting soon."
"Oh right! See you later, Koushirou-san."
"Ja ne, Sora-san." She jogged up to Yamato's side and reached for the books he still held. Tai fell back, hands shoved in his pocket, grinning at the argument he knew was about to happen.
"I can carry those, Yamato." She huffed when he lifted them over his head. "I'm not weak."
"It's not a question of strength; it's a question of honor. Stop arguing and let's get going." He smirked as he began to walk away. Sora hurried after him.
"That's playing dirty! Just hand over my books, Yamato!" Sora's voice carried back to the two boys left behind.
"So…wanna go get something to eat? I'm kinda hungry." Tai suggested, looking down at his boyfriend. Koushirou shrugged.
"Sure, why not?"
"What were you two talking about?" Tai asked as they made for a restaurant Tai enjoyed going to after band practice.
"Sora-san brought up the party…" Koushirou hedged a blush returning to his face.
"She convince you to come?"
"No. I'll still be waiting at home," Koushirou replied. "You know how I feel about close contact, Taichi. I am not too impressed with parties involving alcohol and underage drinkers."
"Yeah, yeah. I remember all too well." He leaned over and kissed the top of Koushirou's ear. "I'm glad you're finally used to me, Izzy."
"Me, too…" he murmured as his blush became brighter. I love it when he touches me now…
.
Purple hair streamed through the air, trapped in long thin braid. A young girl with a navy knee-length skirt, sailor-collared shirt, and round glasses jogged down the hallway with a clipboard clasped under her arm. Other students barely managed to dodge the purplette as she ran past them.
"Watch it, Inoue-san!"
"Sumimasen!" She replied in a loud voice, never stopping- or slowing- her pace. Her hazel eyes darted through the crowd searching frantically. Ah hah! "Ichijouji-san!"
A young boy with hair clipped close around his ears and his uniform immaculate turned towards her just as he stepped out of his classroom. Velvety violet eyes met hers and she felt her breath catch in her throat. Her fingers convulsed around the clipboard.
He's so beautiful up close. Keep it cool, Miyako. After six years of primary school with him, it's time to speak up and get him to notice! Don't let your love die in vain a second time! Ugh… don't think about Iori-chan now! she thought frantically.
"Konnichi wa. I am Ichijouji-san." She barely managed not to blush as his voice addressed her.
"Oh, of course you are. Everyone's been talking about you. I couldn't help but notice you twenty times today when every fan girl I know points you out," She joked. He looked away, his mouth tight. She mentally kicked herself. "Oh, I'm sorry, I was just joking. I didn't mean to offend you."
"I need to go to soccer. Is there something important you wanted to say, or are just going to waste my time?" he snapped. Miyako felt her eyebrow twitch.
He's an asshole… I can't believe the Ichijouji, Ken is an asshole. Maybe he's had a bad day.
"My name is Inoue, Miyako. I was wondering if you'd like to join-"
"My god, no. I'm in soccer. I refuse to "grace" another club with my presence." His tone was biting and sharp. Miyako twitched again.
"We don't need you to grace our club. I thought you'd be interested-"
"I'm not and I have a club to get to." He began to stride away. Miyako ground her teeth angrily.
BASTARD!
"Ouch, he really snapped at her," a classmate of Ichijouji's muttered.
"Well, you can't blame him. Almost every club has been trying to sign him on because he's a genius. The clubs want the starlight."
No, we don't! We're Geeks, with a capital G. We just thought a smart guy like him would like to join the Computer Club! Miyako shrieked inside her mind.
"OI! ICHIJOUJI-DOBE!"
A silence fell over the gossiping seventh graders. The beautiful boy turned.
"I never wanted your damn starlight, you bigheaded jerk! The Computer Club is an awesome club that wants other students with interests like ours to join. I don't care if you're an American model, you can't join unless you're compatible with the club members, and you know what, Ichijouji-san? You just failed your first test. An F- for you, jerkwad. Go stew in your starlight with that," Miyako snapped. Her braid snapped over her shoulder as she spun around.
Ken watched her braid sway as she flounced away.
I really wanted to be in the Computer Club… I just screwed that up… Ken ran his hand through his hair. I can't believe I pissed off Inoue-san. Real smooth.
…
She's a lot different from what I expected though…
/End Flashback/
Ken stared up at the ceiling of his bed as her face flashed through his mind. He couldn't get her out. Almost eleven at night and still, her face was haunting him, just at it had all through middle school. He had noticed her a few times in primary school. She was loud, smart, pretty, how could he not notice her when she was everywhere? Teachers talked about her and students talked about her. He had always vaguely wanted to meet the girl with the famous name, no matter the weird stories that surrounded her.
After that confrontation in seventh grade, he had managed to move on, date Hikari-san- who had a lot more redeeming qualities anyway-, but he had always…looked back. Her "hatred" of him just confounded him more. He wanted to grab her shoulders and shake her until her teeth rattled every time she picked a fight. He wanted to grab that infuriatingly hypnotizing braid and yank it every time she snapped it over her shoulder. She made him feel violent. She made him feel…hungry.
She made him feel ashamed of himself.
He turned onto his side and stared at his just as blank wall and sighed.
"I wish you hadn't gone, nii-chan…" he whispered. He smirked slightly. "What am I talking about? I have to be strong, for mom and dad because you're not here, for me because I'm the one they rely on without you, for you…because I promised that day…almost ten years ago." His smirk lost his sardonic twist as his face saddened. "I have Hikari-san now, Osamu-nii-chan, so I have to be strong for her, too. I can't be wanting to…to…kidnap maddening purplettes with short skirts and a loud mouth," Ken muttered softly.
