^_^ Hi everyone! Yes, this is late---but good news! I haven't been lazy in my absence! Believe it or not, I've actually finished writing this story. *coy look* Or should I say...book? Yes, book. Not sure how long it will be typed, but I have filled several notebooks, and...well, I've lost count, but I know there is more than fifty parts. Um...maybe leaning more towards a hundred parts? More? *shakes head* I'm not sure of the exact number yet. And to think, I originally planned this to be a one-shot, and continued it on a whim with no more than the thought of 'what if...'
Anywho! The story is written! But now comes the tricky and not so fun part of typing/editing. And finding the time to do so. But as long as I have reviewers, I swear I will continue to post this epic. So review! ^_^
As a side note, I finished my other two Aya/Aki WIPs as well. Somnambulist...not sure if it will be well-received. It's a little racy. ;-D Truth and Dare is actually a side story for Steps, events in that short tale have actually already cropped up (Aya's dream in part 9), and they will be referred to again in a few of the later chapters. Hint hint. ^_^ I'm working on a few one-shots right now, but my main goal is getting this monster typed to completion. :-/ It truly is a labour of love.
Thank you everyone for the wonderful reviews! ^_^ I hope you enjoy reading this story as much I loved writing it!
Now on to the new chapter!!!
Steps
Aya + Aki
By: L 0 K I
Mirror
Absolutely not!
"What?" When arguing with Aya, it was best to remember this one simple rule---never disagree with her outright. And never, never phrase anything like an order.
His sister did not like being told what to do, and she had a streak of contrariness so wide that it could quite easily cross over into spitefulness given the right amount of provocation.
Apparently, 'no', was a very provocative word for her.
"I said! I need to go to the store for some things. I promise Ill be quick," and here she glared at her brother, daring him to disagree with her.
So he disagreed. Subtly.
"Aya, come on now. It's best that we keep moving, and stay out of public places. The Mikages aren't exactly unknown, you know."
Rule number two. Speak gently, using only the most undeniable facts. Make sure you can back up your claims, as she will demand proof.
"Aki. I'm not an idiot. I know all that. But it is very important that I go. Trust me on that."
"Why?" Ah, damn, never ask her to explain herself.
"Why," she breathed, her nostrils flaring. He flinched, edging around the bed cautiously. "I'll tell you why! Because I'm a girl, baka!"
Aki blinked, clearly not getting it. This seemed to infuriate Aya even more. While at the same time, a splash of pink brightened her cheeks and nose.
What caused that, he wondered, with less than innocent curiosity. He wanted to reach out and smooth his fingers over her cheekbones, just to see if he could feel actual heat from such a warm shade of rose.
"You're a girl," he said slowly, still staring dazedly as the pink seemed to spread charmingly to her ears. "Okay..."
"Trust me," she muttered, her bangs falling over her eyes, "I need to go."
Now she looked less angry, and more...bashful.
Cute!!
"Aya," he sighed, "If you forgot anything, I can go get it for you," he offered gently, feeling like he might do anything for this girl, no matter the risk to himself.
"Aki! No!" she sputtered, looking mortified.
Now this was interesting.
"Aya, what is it?"
She stared at him with wide eyes one long moment, then spun around, busying her suddenly anxious hands with making the bed.
"Aya."
Her shoulders twitched, and she glanced through her hair, but didnt look at him directly. "It's nothing, Aki. Just forget it."
That didn't sound like Aya at all. She was too timid. "It's clearly not nothing. Tell me, Aya."
Ah, he broke the first rule, but they weren't exactly arguing anymore...
She looked at him, her eyes narrowing. He knew he was in trouble now. "No."
He went still. "Aya."
"No. Don't 'Aya' me," she mocked his stern expression, quite well actually. "I don't wanna talk about it," she added.
Well, now he couldn't let it go. "Aya! Tell me!"
"No."
What the hell?
She cast him a coy look. "I'll never tell."
Oh, that's it. "Aya," he said sweetly.
She tilted her head, giving him a look of pure innocence. "Yes, Aki?"
"You better tell me."
"Hmm, I 'better' tell you?"
He knew she was just playing this game to try and distract him from his questions. And it was working to some degree. All he could seem to think about was that beguiling curve to her lips.
Completely focused, he edged around the bed.
She mirrored him, taking tiny steps to maintain the distance between them. He came to a stop at the corner, and she paused at the head, right next to the tidy, evenly placed pillows.
He gave her a warm, evil smirk, the kind of smile only a brother could produce, and only when he sees a perfect way to torment his sister. There were only two paths left for her to take. Him. Or along the wall. Either way, he had her.
Unexpectedly, she chose the bed, suddenly leaping up on it and scrambling ungracefully for the other side.
He lunged, catching hold of her waist and pulling them both down to roll across the bed. They ended with him on top, sitting on her thighs, while her head dangled off the edge.
"Aki! Get off me!" she struggled earnestly, tangling the once pristine sheets and kicking one of the pillows to the floor. It didn't help.
He smirked down at her, his bangs falling across his lavender eyes and giving them an almost sinister look. "Not until you tell me."
"Aki," she shrieked, kicking her feet against the bed, "You better let me go. This instant!"
"Oh, I 'better'?" he mocked, struggling to keep control of her flailing hands. It wasn't easy, Aya was a lot stronger than she looked. But then again, so was he.
She whined, actually whined, going completely limp under him. She lifted her head up slowly, her hair half-caught under her, and half-spilled over the edge.
"Aniki," she enunciated clearly in her sweetest voice.
His hands loosened on her wrists, but only just. She didn't struggle. "Aya?" he returned calmly.
"Will you please, please, PLEASE let me go?"
"Are you going to tell me?"
"No," she said grudgingly, losing all sweetness.
"Well, then, no. I think I'll stay right here. It's rather cozy, you see." A bright, bright smile. He watched her eyebrow twitch.
"Aki!"
The way she said his name...it was making him dizzy.
"Hmm," he murmured. It was a siblings job to patronize. So far the scorecard had been vastly uneven. But when he wanted to rile Aya...Well, nobody could do it quite as good as he could. Nobody knew her as well as he did.
She whimpered, and that splash of rose was back as her usually aggressive eyes played a sudden game of 'catch me if you can'. She looked adorable, all flushed and uncertain, but her continuing silence was beginning to worry him.
What was it? What couldn't she tell him?
No, he thought firmly, I refuse to allow her to keep secrets from me. There's nothing she could possibly say, no secret dark enough, that we cant handle together. And if she can't see that, then I will make her see it.
"Aya, come on," he soothed, letting go of her wrists and sitting back. "I'm your brother; you can trust me with anything. You know that, right?"
"Yes, but---"
"No buts. Remember what I told you on the night before our birthday, when I caught you downstairs opening the presents?"
She looked up sheepishly, clearly having no trouble remembering the event he was speaking of. "Aki, I was seven."
"And so was I, but that's not the point. You begged me not to tell, so I didn't tell. Ever."
"You helped me clean up the mess, and tape up the wrapping paper, and put all the presents back in their proper order." Her smile practically glowed as the memory filled her eyes. "And then we opened yours."
"And mom and dad found out."
"And they asked us," she smiled fondly at some distant image of the past.
"But neither of us knew what they were talking about, as we both had been upstairs in bed the entire time."
Her eyes shined up at him. "They knew, you know."
"Of course they did," he said haughtily, "they always knew. But the important thing is that I never told on you, and you never told on me. No matter who asked or how often. Do you remember what I said?"
She nodded once, swallowing hard. "You said you're my mirror."
He smiled gently. "I said, I am your mirror, and you are mine, so when you tell me a secret, I tell you a secret, and that secret becomes 'our' secret."
"I remember," she whispered.
"Good, because it's still true today. And it will still be true tomorrow. There is nothing you cant tell me, Aya. Nothing that will ever make me turn my back on you."
She bit her lip, the shine in her eyes suddenly manifesting as tears. "Aki..."
His eyes widened, and he lunged forward slightly. "Hey, hey, don't do that! It's going to be okay, Aya, I promise." He crawled off her, laying against her side and combing his fingers through her tangled hair.
The tears didn't stop. She turned to him in one motion, burying her face in his chest and clutching his shirt between her fingers and against her mouth.
He slid his arms around her and held her close, whispering soothing words against her temple.
Aya. He closed his eyes down tight and cried too. For the pain, the uncertainty. For what they had lost, and what they had left.
For what could be tomorrow.
And what could never be again.
Mirror
n 1 : a looking-glass or a speculum ; any glass or polished substance that forms images by the reflection of rays of light 2 a : something that gives a true representation, or in which a true image may be seen b : an exemplary model : to copy or duplicate; to mimic or imitate : to have a close resemblance to
vt ; to reflect in or as if in a mirror
Synonyms: Reflect. Echo. Copy. Emulate. Parallel. Represent. Epitomize. Illustrate. Symbolize. Embody. Incarnate.
TBC...