Chapter 15

He was panting, fog forming in every exhale of air.

"It is much better that I leave until I can but somehow I couldn't now…I can't do it…but I know I should, I'm very confused."

His eyes grew wider, his breath somehow hitched in his throat and body numbed in the cold breeze. He let his back hit the wall separating him from her and to the companion she has except from him.

"We won't get tired helping you and I won't get tired of caring for you…you're not just nothing to us, you are the very special person in our life. You changed everything to us in a good way, we owe you a lot."

The words sounded too sweet yet too bitter in his tongue. He remained immobile, closed eyes and allowing only his ears to wander around.

His heart throbbed, complaining and torturing his mere mind. What could he do? He should have accepted it before, together never blended between both of them, a very huge wall blocking all his view of her.

A forced smile left his lips, shaking his head in disbelief. "Hopeless indeed…" his one foot made a leap as he grew a distance from the wall. He heaved a lot of air before sustaining walking toward the scene he didn't want to see. Nevertheless, there he was, beckoning his presence.

"How long will you two going to stay in this cold night?"

Both taken aback, faces decorated in hue. "R-Ryoutarou-kun." Kahoko muttered, gazing at the lad.

The other lad kept silent, face impassive only that the tone in his face, say the least, he was flustered.

"We're looking for you all day, Kahoko. What are you thinking leaving us that way?" He walked past the other lad, giving him a sharp look before it melted to the girl.

"R-Ryoutarou-kun, I'm so-sorry. I've became selfish, I didn't think about what you will feel."

"It's alright…" He ruffled her hair. "As long as you will return with us."

Cold hand wrapped in her wrist, she looked back as that cold hand tugged her within his expanse. "It's getting colder. We can finish this conversation in the mansion." His eyes were hard and jagged at the greenhead.

Ryoutarou had to muffle his chortle, his eyes fighting for dominance. "That's a good idea."

~NeKo Meow~

"Kahoko!"

"Kaho-chan!"

"Strange girl!"

They both intoned, running their way to the redhead.

Reluctant, Len detached his hand on hers.

"Kaho-chan, why did you do that? You made us all worried," Mio said, hugging her friends. The others went closer also, as the two males had been pushed aside.

A small grunt left Len's lips, frown knitted in his expression. Ryoutarou sniggered, looking amusedly at his so-called brother. His face changed to serious when Len gave a daggered look.

"Seriously," Ryoutarou began, eyes fixed at the girl.

"Hn?"

"I like her…" he turned to look at his companion to read his expression. As what he expected, the cerulean head made a surprised look, however it didn't take long as it returned to his usual one.

"Where is this conversation going to?"

Ryoutarou ruffled his green locks. "I may be a fighter, but there is always a time that I have to give up."

"What do you mean?"

"Very impressive, ice cube. You are, indeed, excelling in academics but when it comes to this matter you are the dumbest," muttered Ryoutarou. "It's hard to force someone to reciprocate your feelings, especially if she already likes someone and that someone likes her back."

"It doesn't make sense, will you mind make your words rather logical."

"You're the one who is illogical here. Look, I don't want to say this straight to your face, find it on yourself. You care for her without knowing what you really feel. Who is she for you?"

Len remained stunned, who is she for you? rounded back and forth in his psyche. "Who is she for me?" he mechanically muttered, not knowing he said it loud enough to be heard but Ryoutarou.

"Idiot, you're hopeless. If you don't realize it soon, I'll get her away from you." Ryoutarou passed ahead of him.

"Strange Girl, don't leave us again. I won't call you strange again…" Kazuki paused. "Gaah! I just called you strange again, it won't happen!"

Kahoko lightly chuckled. "Kazuki-san, it's ok."

"Kaho-chan, you're so nice." The older greenhead went closer to the girl, spreading his arms wide just to give her a bear hug.

One form blocked his attack. "Oi, niisan, that's too much." Ryoutarou muttered.

"Ei, what's wrong with it?"

"Kaho-chan, why did you leave, aren't we your family?" Keiichi butted, walking toward her.

Kahoko knelt down, smile never leaving her façade. "Keiichi! Of course you are," muttered Kahoko while hugging the kid.

Three pairs of golden eyes glanced, with all of its flare, towards the kid. Keiichi looked at them, sticking his tongue out.

"I know." The kid broke the hug. "You can come with us. Stay in England Kaho-chan—"

"NO!" three voices muttered behind.

"It's far country Keiichi…" began Azuma.

"And colder…what if she gets cold." Kazuki sustained.

"Yeah…besides…" Ryoutarou lightly glanced at the cerulean head lad. "Never mind…I know someone won't let you do that brat. Right Len?"

"I don't know with you, I'm going." He avoided their eyes as he walked ahead in the house.

"Why don't we go inside to drink some tea?" Mr. Shouzaburou suggested. All nod in agreement as they walked towards the house.

~NeKo Meow~

Morning danced above the Hasegawa mansion, Sun smiling in every window of their rooms. Kahoko stretched her arms upward; a smile already peeked in her lips. She had slept well the whole night, her feeling light and as though feathers cradling her upward.

She glided her foot on the soft creamy carpet and it didn't take long as the other one met the soft fabric. She strode down her private bathroom, preparing herself for a new day.

Once she was finished, she toddled back and opened her door. She paused, smile grew rather bigger. "Good Morning! Len-san."

The said lad stared at her, for a moment not breaking his statue form. He nodded at last; walking passed her as though nothing had happened.

"What's wrong with him?" Kahoko shook her head in disbelief. Last night, he was an utterly different person, leaving in Kahoko's mind he actually changed. But what she was seeing this time. The lad simply ignored her like their usual routine—she would greet him and he would walk away.

Kahoko ran closer. "Len-san?"

As usual he kept his ears shut.

"Stupid, arrogant, rude…cold hearted…" Kahoko sing-sang. "Annoying, menacing—"

"What?" he muttered.

"Good, I thought you've become deaf."

"What do you want?" he brought his hand to his temples.

"Nothing, I just want to assure…your promise…You'll not get tired of me."

Len gazed back. "I won't."

"Promise?"

"Yes, so will you mind leave me alone?"

Kahoko pouted. "Fine." She sped up her walk, leaving the lad behind. Her two hands clenched tightly. "What will I expect from him…" she grunted.

Len remained staring, his feature looked impassive but his mind was on chaos. He couldn't think properly, his heart hitch, breath caught in his throat and butterflies fluttered within him. He shook his head, grunting. "This is ridiculous." Who she is for you? He paused. "She is…"

~NeKo Meow~

"Wake up sleepy head!"

"Whoa, wait what are you doing here in my room?" Ryoutarou flinched backward.

"Oh! Come on, as if I'm somebody to you. Come on, it's already breakfast. Mr. Shouzaburou is waiting in the dining."

"Manami, you should not go to anyone's room especially, guy's room."

"As if I'm going to rape you…" she chuckled as his face hued a little. "Just kidding, so what happened last night?"

His faced melted. "Nothing significant." He looked away.

"Really? I know there is." She sat beside his bed. "You know it already, aren't you?"

He gave a nod in respond, glancing at the nearest window he could see. "However, he is the densest. I thought Kahoko would take long to realize her feeling but the frosty do."

Manami laughed hard. "Oh! Come on, he's just so full of himself. So what now?"

"What do you mean what now?"

"Are you alright?" Manami asked concern.

"I'm lying if I said yes, no, I'm not alright…yet I should be." His stare remained in the window.

Chirping birds responded back, a moment of silence echoed between them before Manami sustained her talk. "You should be."

She stood from her sitting position, turning around to smile at him. "Enough with your emo mode. Look, it's a wonderful day."

"Emo mode, ei!" he stretched his arms and stood as well.

"Will you prepare already, Mr. Shouzaburou is waiting."

"How can I if you're still here?"

"Why are you become shy all of the sudden?" Manami laughed again. "Ok…ok, I'm going. See you downstairs." She paused yet again. "Perhaps you are a kind of a guy who should stay single."

Ryoutarou gazed at her back. "Or…"

Manami turned around.

"Or maybe I already met her yet I haven't realized it yet."

Her blood rushed on her cheeks, "W-what?"

His smile grew into smirk. "Just joking. Got yah!" he guffawed.

"MEEAAAN!" she stomped away.

Moments later, the Hasegawa family together with Manami and Kahoko sat in their respective chairs. Mr. Shouzaburou in the first chair and in his left side was his daughter-law, Kanon.

"Finally you are all here."

The maids brought their breakfast. After a while they ate their breakfast silently.

"Kahoko, I'm so worried about you." Kanon muttered after they finished their meal.

"I-I'm sorry."

Kanon sighed and smiled. "Please, don't do that again. If you're thinking you are not part of this family, you are wrong. You are one of us now, dear."

"Thank you…Oba-chan."

"Kanon is right. I took you in my custody wholeheartedly. I wouldn't have taken you here if we don't accept you as family."

Kahoko smiled back, tears shed in the corner of her eyes. She bowed her head.

"You have yet to meet my husband…their father." Kanon butted. "He's meaning to see you. He wasn't able to join us home since he has some business in England but he'll return tonight."

"It'll be a pleasure to meet him as well."

"You should not." Len mumbles at her side.

Kahoko frowned, not yet forgiving the lad for his arrogance earlier. She ignored him and sustained her talk. "I guaranteed he is like you Mr. Shouzaburou."

"Not that much." Ryoutarou answered instead, sitting in front of her.

"Ei, what's wrong with you two!"

"He is scary in some odd ways."

"Kazuki-san!" Kahoko pouted.

"Don't mind them dear, it's their way of expressing their care for their da—"

"It's NOT!" the three said in chorus.

What person is Mr. Hasegawa? Kahoko wondered in her mind, looking how the three opposed in every word she said.

~NeKo Meow~

Full moon hanged in the air, stars sparkled in a river kind of way. Breeze starting to blow its coldness in the earth.

Kahoko was sitting in the chair at the second floor terrace. Back leaning on the bench and eyes closed in a deep slumber. Coldness was out of her awareness, giving her gentle caresses.

Footsteps echoed behind her tranquil form, it faltered just behind her.

"Hino, grandfather said give this to you…" he muttered, holding the thick blanket in his arm. Once the lady didn't move, he roamed in front of her.

His stare grazed on her face. From her pink lips up to her closed eyes, just that moment he realized that she was sleeping. He sighed, draping the blanket over her. Careful not to wake her up, his hand was lightly straightening the blanket to correct it.

His gaze met her calm face once more. As though magnet pulling him closer to her, force that seemed irresistible and out of control.

His hand rested at the corner of the chair beside her head, the other hand on the table. He remained staring.

Who she is for you? It started to throb in his mind in unison with the crying beat in his chest. "She is…" he mumbled unconsciously leaning closer.

His heavy lidded eyes met a closer view of her. The tip of their noses touching one another, warm breath fondled as how mere inch he was from her.

"Niichan! Papa wants to see you!"

He paused, 'almost' filled the gap between their lips. Len grunted, breaking from her enthralling feature.

A little form turned in front of the wide door. "I said papa was looking for you!" his voice demanding.

Len glanced at his little brother. Eyes engraved a 'you are a bother' look towards the kid.

"I heard you."

"You should at least answer." Keiichi pouted and turned around.