Disclaimer: I don't own the original characters and the original story. This is a pure fanfiction.
Note: When writing this, I am using some original dialogue and some of my own. I also may have deleted or added scenes or made the scenes a little different or switched scenes around. I hope you enjoy my version of Itazaru na Kiss, ISWAK and TKA.
Synopsis: What of there was a reason for Kotoko's stupid behavior? What if there was a secret she was holding on to? What if Naoki wasn't so geniusly stupid all the time? What if he found out her secret? Will their love remain the same? Will it disappear? Or will it ignite even more?
~:::FRIENDS:::~
The morning sun peered through the hotel window and shown at Kotoko's face. It was warm and pleasant though she wished it wasn't up yet. She wanted to sleep a little longer. Raising her arms up to stretch she felt some weight on her body. Quickly opening her eyes she glanced down and saw a dark arm around her waist. Confusion formed itself on her facial features and then realization. Of course. She was sharing a room with Naoki. And not only a room but also a bed. She started at his sleeping form for what seemed like an eternity until he flipped to the other side. Kotoko hadn't realized that she was holding her breath until she let out a long sigh of relief. Quietly, slipping out of bed and tucking her side neatly, she walked over to her suitcase and pulled out a long blue victoria's secret summer dress that her father got her for her 15th birthday just a couple months ago. Walking into the bathroom she glanced at herself in the mirror. Her wig was in place though the hair looked like a chicken was making a nest there. Her eyes were red from keeping her contacts in. Taking them out she washed her face and rinsed her eyes with Clear Eye. Rinsing her contacts she put them back in. After getting dressed and brushing her hair, she went to place her pajamas under her pillow. As she exited the bathroom, she stumbled upon a half asleep Naoki.
"Oh you're up." She said getting out of his way.
"Mm." he grunted and shut the door of the bathroom.
"Good morning to you too." Kotoko mumbled under breath and proceeded with her task.
At breakfast, as always the only person talking was Machiko. Always excited and positive. Kotoko liked her. It reminded her of her mother. Oh how she missed her. She missed the days she listened to her mother play the piano and sometimes sing. She loved to watch her parents dance, but she will never be able to see that again. When her dad danced with her mother, his eyes shone like bright stars lighting the sky. But now his eyes lost that spark. Though they still shown, it wasn't the same. How she wished she could change everything. If only she could turn back time.
"KOTOKO!" a loud scream brought her back to reality, making her jump. Naoki stood by her. The rest of the table was empty and the people in the surrounding tables stared in shock.
"Why are you screaming?" Kotoko asked getting up.
"You have to ask? I tried getting your attention nicely like you asked, but apparently you were flying out in space."
"Sorry. I was remembering my mother." Kotoko answered, yet again leaving Naoki speechless. How little he knew about Kotoko.
"Do you miss her?" Naoki suddenly asked as they caught up with the rest of the family at the beach.
"What?"
"Your mom."
"Oh. Yeah. Every now and then." She sighed. Naoki nodded. This friendship thing wasn't that easy because you need to know what to say. But what was he to say now? Maybe he wasn't friendship smart.
"So I was thinking." Machiko said. "Let's go on the jet ski rides."
"That should be fun." Masaki agreed with his wife.
"Sure." Naoki said.
"Yeah definitely" Yuki said as always trying to be like his older brother.
"Um.." Aihara started.
"You know. I think I'd like to stay dry for today." Kotoko said.
"But it's fun," Machiko pouted.
"Really, thank you but I don't want to."
"Why, afraid you will fall over and drown?" Naoki teased.
"No. I can swim, like I said, I'd like to stay dry today." Kotoko said pointedly.
"Machiko really, lets all just go. I'm sure Kotoko will find a way to entertain herself here."
"Yea, she'll get lost for sure." Naoki mumbled under his breath, and only Kotoko heard.
"Way to be a friend." Kotoko mumbled back as she turned in the direction of the shopping market.
For the next 4 days, Kotoko had to make different excuses for the activities. Why were they all involved with water? Seriously? Wasn't there anything that didn't involve water? Apparently, Naoki caught on that something was wrong, and he acted very suspicious of Kotoko. It wasn't that he cared, he was just annoyed when people lied. And he knew for sure that Kotoko was lying. Not only that, her father was in on the lie. But then again, he can also pull it off as a very concerned friend.
"Why do you really avoid water?" Naoki asked the night before Christmas Eve.
"What?" Kotoko asked looking up from her book. It was late and everyone else was asleep already.
"All those excuses were lame you know."
" Well…." Kotoko tried to think of something. "I just don't like crowded places."
"Oh yeah right. That is so believable. If you didn't like crowded places you wouldn't hang out with that bunch of people you call friends."
"Don't make fun of them. They're not that bad. Some people just have a hard time keeping the information inside, or concentrating for a long period of time." Kotoko defended her friends.
"Right. The next thing you'll say is that stupid people didn't choose to be stupid."
"I never said that, there are situations where people choose to be who they are. I admit that. But not always."
"So seriously what is the deal with you and water?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Why, is it bad? Or embarrassing?"
"No. Just….it's nothing. Just let it go."
"I'm trying to be your friend here."
"If you were trying to be my friend then you would stop when I asked you to."
"You know I really don't get you. You complain that I'm always mean to you and that I should be a friend. And when I try you push me away."
"I'm not, there are just some issues that should be kept to oneself."
"Oh ok I see. So I guess I'm the one in the wrong again."
"Naoki. I'm not trying to bring you down or anything. But apparently this friendship thing is new to you. So how about you get a How to be a friend book and leave me alone. Sometimes people need to keep secrets. And that's one of them." Placing her book on the nightstand she shut off the lights.
It was Christmas Eve. The whole day, they spent shopping in the local market for things to wear at the party that night. The hotel was having a Dinner Dance and they all needed something suitable to wear. Kotoko finally came along and Machiko was glued to her side like Siamese twin. Naoki seemed to be deep in though about their conversation last night and kept quiet in the background. Though he was always quiet, usually he would throw and insult or two in Kotoko's direction.
The shopping went well. The men all bought suits and the girls all got dresses. Of course, Machiko had this idea of surprising them with their outfits. That evening, according to Machiko's plan, the men headed down to the dining room as the girls got dressed. Kotoko wore a read Shrimpton Couture vintage dress with red two inch pumps. Her wig was done into an elegant half updo with waves.
The party room was decorated in Christmas lights and Christmas trees. Music was playing and people were seated at the tables waiting for their food to arrive. Some couples were dancing to the slow music.
"Oh what a nice evening." Machiko exclaimed. "I just love parties."
"Of course you do my dear." Masaki laughed as he kissed his wife.
"And my wonderful plan worked." Everyone looked at her questioningly. "Well I wanted Kotoko and Naoki to get along, and now they are friends. Oh if only they were more."
"Mom!" Naoki exclaimed.
Kotoko smiled at them. Glancing at her father she saw him looking at the dancing couples. There was longing in his expression and Kotoko knew that he missed dancing.
"Dad?" Kotoko called to him. "Would you like to dance?"
Her father looked at her with an expression that seemed to ask, are you sure it will be ok?
"I'm sure one dance will be ok." She smiled as her dad nodded.
The Irie family watched as the father daughter duo headed for the dance floor and danced elegantly to the new peace of classical music. Coincidently it was the tune that her mother and father danced to all the time. Though Kotoko was never able to find the name to it. She wasn't sure whether it was by Mozart or Bach, but she was sure it was one or the other.
"I have to say dad, even after all these years, you're still dancing quite well." Kotoko complimented as they twirled around the dance floor. Most of the couples gave way to their duo and almost everyone in the room was watching them. It was a graceful dance. Definitely not an amateurs. The whole room applauded as the music finished and they bowed to each other.
"Wow that was so beautiful." Machiko gasped.
"It's been a while since I've seen you dance Aihara. You haven't lost your touch. And Kotoko. You dance just like your mother."
"That's because she taught me." Kotoko smiled. She felt Naoki's eyes on her, but she ignored him. She knew what he was thinking. How is it that this supposedly stupid girl that can barely speak her native language, be able to dance like that? Was I wrong about her?