Chapter Forty

-Miku-

"Tonight was amazing," Piko grins, dimples digging holes in his cheeks. Wrapping his hands around my waist, he twirls me around the hallway of our vacation home, my dress spinning around my legs. This sends me into an eruption of giggles. He places me back down on the floor.

"I'm gonna miss you," I sigh, my laughter fading. I blink twice as his shoulders relax.

"What do you mean?" he asks softly, the grin on his face afraid to move a millimeter. My gaze parts from his quickly, only to return back. His smile finally drops. "Oh," he swallows, "I'm gonna miss you too." I nod.

"Don't you think… it's a bit unfair?" I ask. We both try a laugh as he wraps his hands around mine just as he did only a week ago.

"We should probably be heading back. I think it's better to spend our last time together with the others," he sighs with a smile.

"I-I… yeah," I hesitate to agree as we continue to walk downstairs hand-in-hand. In reality, I want to spend every last moment of my life with Piko… but I guess that's pretty selfish, isn't it?

"Hey, you look upset," he points out, stopping in his tracks when we reach the bottom step.

"I'm not," I lie.

"Don't lie," he raises an eyebrow. I hold back a smile. Only, he lets his shine through. "Look, I know that I soon won't be with you," he looks down, "But… it'd make me feel complete if I could always be with you." He takes my furrowed eyebrows as a signal to continue. "In here," he smiles, placing a hand on my forehead under my returning bangs. "And in here," he adds, putting a finger to the spot right under my left collarbone. I smile and look down to myself.

"I've already got a spot in both places for you," I sigh, slowly taking his hands down as I interlock my fingers into them. His eyes seem to light up at this. "You know, I'm sure they're waiting for us," I take in a big breath. It seeps out shakily. "I… I just don't wanna leave you, Piko," I whisper.

"Hey, Miku," he stops me before I begin to walk any further. I turn to face him. "I've been thinking… And… I-I think you're capable of great things. And there're so many opportunities out there for a girl as amazing as you," he says quietly. I hold my breath in silence. "Don't you want to chase them?"

I let his words seep through my skin, staining the fabric of my mind. Slowly… they come together so slowly… Each word ties itself together with another, creating a string… a thought…. an answer. Yes, Piko… You're right, but that doesn't change the fact that I want to be with you! You're one of the best things that's ever happened me… Nothing changes the way I smile when I think of you… the way my heart warms up when I hear your name… the feeling I get when your fingers touch mine… and as sappy as it may sound, leaving you will be like leaving my happiness. In fact, it will be.

"Piko…" I mumble, my top row of eyelashes landing atop the bottom one.

"Miku…" he mimics me, a smile gracing his lips as he brings me in closer. We share a hug like this. "I love how we say each other's names when we don't know what else to say," he whispers into my silky hair as his fingers untie the twin tails and begin to run through it.

"I love the way you make me feel special," I whisper back.

"I love it when I learn something new about you."

"I love the way you look after me."

"I love it when you laugh at my stupid jokes."

"I love it when you smile."

"I love the way you smile."

"Hey guess what?"

"What?"

"I love you," I finish, looking up at him so that our noses are almost touching. He pulls me into a kiss, his hands massaging my shoulders as I raise my heels off the ground. He breaks away for a mere second, my gaze stuck on his.

"I love you more," he murmurs, his soft heterochromatic eyes seeming to twinkle in a way that says it all. He brings me back into the kiss, going no further than to hold our lips together. Colors begin to explode all around my mind as I feel lighter than I've ever felt before.

Piko only begins to move against me when suddenly, the door bursts open to reveal an annoyed-looking Gumi. We scramble out of our position as Gumi recoils, her fingers flinching away from the doorknob.

"We- Er, sorry…" Piko stammers, his cheeks quickly flushing. Here it goes again. I grab my two ponytail holders and tie my twin tails back up with a blush.

"That's awkward," Gumi spits, her face hovering between embarrassed, covetous, and annoyed. "While you two were in here making out, I was all over the house looking for you," she lets out a huff as she rolls her eyes and checks her nails.

"Sorry," Piko apologizes again. Gumi sort of ignores him, and instead, stares at me as her avid green eyes search mine coldly. "What time do you guys depart tomorrow?" Piko breaks the awkward silence.

"First thing in the morning," Gumi sulks, leading us down the steps as she pulls at her bright apple green hair, a sour expression staining her sharp features. Piko and I exchange a rough glance. "You two need to get it together," Gumi sighs.

"We're not any worse than you and Kaito," I grumble under my breath. Gumi stops midstride and spins around on her heel. "Please," I shake my head, holding back a laugh, "Like Luka wouldn't have already told me about you and Kaito!"

"Speaking of that little pig," Gumi clenches her fists, "I feel like I'm not the only one that he's been with! Tell me, is it true?" she asks. I take the moment to stop and think, only for Luka to come dashing around the corner.

"Where were you guys?" Luka scolds.

"I dunno," Gumi shrugs, "I think I'll only tell you if you tell me where Kaito's been," she shoves a finger in Luka's face. Luka's eyes widen as they snap to attention.

"Kaito? I don't know! I don't think he's been anywhere!" Luka stammers.

"Have you seen him recently?" Gumi inquires, a sharp eyebrow raised.

"What? No! Wait! Yes!" Luka answers, a bit too quickly. Her expression instantly refreshes as she pushes Gumi's hand out of her face. "What is this about?"

"What did he say to you? Did he do anything suspicious?" Gumi fires questions at Luka like bullets.

"I believe he asked me about you… and… if you ever talk about him, which I answered 'not really' to," Luka starts, rocking on her heels as she ties her hands behind her back with a skeptical face. "And then he said he was hungry or something, so I offered to cook him some dinner… and then… he left."

"Is that it?" Gumi looks almost a bit heartbroken. How ironic.

"WAIT!" Luka gasps quickly, "No, that's not it! Right when I offered him dinner, he asked me if I was supposed to be preparing for the fashion show! I showed him the cuts on my legs and he flinched and made this disgusted face!"

"Really?" Gumi tilts her head, "That makes literally no sense. He can usually take gross stuff like that!" she protests, "We actually watched like a billion horror movies… with blood!" she points out.

"Exactly!" Luka nods, clearly in the heat of the moment. Piko and I stand as awkward bystanders, not exactly sure of what to do. "It was kind of suspicious, I guess… It was almost like he was acting! Oh, and speaking of that, after I asked him what he wanted for dinner, he didn't even say ice-cream! Like, when doesn't Kaito want ice-cream?"

Gumi takes a second to derive a conclusion. "…When he's trying to look cool for a girl," she narrows her eyes venomously. "Ooh, that little snake!" she growls, "Just wait until I-"

"I send two of you up here to get Miku and Piko and nobody comes back down!" I hear a boyish voice from behind. Gumi and Luka whirl around to see Kaito leaning against the hallway wall with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

"YOU LITTLE… YOU LITTLE DIRTY ASSHOLE!" Gumi greets Kaito. Kaito instantly holds his hands up in surrender, clearly unaware of the crime. "You think I'm stupid? Do you think I know that you haven't been trying to hit on other girls?"

"Woah! Gumi!" Kaito tries to stop her, his blue eyes widening.

"I-I bet you thought I could trust you! I bet you thought I loved you!" Gumi practically screams, her voice growing hoarse. "Well guess what, I NEVER did! I pretended for you! PRETENDED! I pretended because I thought that you loved me! I was so stupid that I actually thought that you cared!" she shrieks.

"Gumi-!"

"Well, you know what? THANK YOU, KAITO. You helped me learn the hard way that I can't always believe others. I can't ever trust people or care about them or love them, because at some point, everybody is gonna take that love and throw it to somebody else! You were with MIKU, LUKA, and I sat right across from you and WATCHED you as you tried to hit on that redhead chick at the restaurant!" Gumi censures Kaito flamboyantly.

"GUMI!" Kaito barks over her voice. A heavy silence follows as Gumi's chest rises and falls with anger with every staggered breath.

"You were a terrible person all along, Kaito, from the very beginning. I can't believe I didn't even realize it," Gumi narrows her eyes as she shakes her head. She twirls on her foot and stomps out of the room, drawing quite a bit of attention to herself as she makes her exit.

"None of that was true!" Kaito calls after her, a pained expression on his face. It's too late- the sound of a slammed door is already resounding through the hallway. I swear I ca feel the house shake.

"Are you really sure about that Kaito?" I decide it's my turn to chime in. "You know, when you took me out to ice-cream that one day, I actually thought pretty highly of you. I thought you were worthy of my respect, Kaito. Well you know what? You can go ahead and watch every last bit of that respect die. I don't know how highly you think of yourself, but you might wanna reconsider it," I throw him a quick faux grin, letting it drop as reality sets in.

"Miku and Gumi are both right," Luka adds in incredulity, "When you came into my room earlier today, I knew something was up. I knew you came in there to for more than just an answer."

"That's not true!" Kaito protests, his face reading true fear.

"What's not true?" I hear two identical voices from behind. Looks like Rin and Len have joined the bunch. Piko quickly throws them a quieting glance.

"Look, Kaito. I don't know what you were trying to get out of me, and right now, I don't really give a damn," Luka dismisses him.

"I wasn't trying to get anything out of you!" he argues, his face growing pale.

"Then why the acting, huh?" Luka throws her hands on her hips. "Why did you pretend like you were grossed out when you saw the bruises on my legs? What about the sudden change in maturity when I asked you what you wanted for dinner?"

"Acting? You know what?" Kaito sighs, pulling his head down, "I only pretend like I'm cool with all the violence and stuff in movies and video games. In reality, I'm totally grossed out! And about the dinner thing, I… To be honest, I only wanted to look presentable since we're not that close!" he admits, his voice cracking.

"Really? You think I'm going to take lies like that from you?" Luka gasps. Kaito's eyes widen as he seems to shrink against the wall.

"Luka, stop…" I sigh, taking a second to look at everyone in the room. "I think he's telling the truth, guys."

"Thank you, Miku," he whispers, a look of hope seeming to scintillate in his blue eyes. "I… I'm so glad you understand…" he chokes out, his words almost ghostly. It's a miracle that we could even hear them.

"But Kaito, look… y-you're still…" I stammer, looking for the right words, "You're still untrustworthy in my eyes, okay?"

"I'm sorry," his voice and his body shake as he refuses to meet my eyes.

I sigh, not sure of what to do. My options begin to tug at each side of me as my eyes remain on his. Piko, by my side, seems to take notice of this, and grabs my hand softly.

"I think it'll be best to leave him alone for right now…" Piko suggests quietly. Everybody exchanges nervous glances, though nobody moves a muscle. Finally, we all make our way down the stairs.

"Wait…" I whisper in Piko's ear, "Let me talk to him, okay?" Piko turns his head to send me a glance, though he doesn't question it. "Thank you," I nod, turning around to make my way back to Kaito, who is now just a heap of misery on the hallway floor.

"Why do you care about me?" he asks quietly, his face buried in his lap. "I've already screwed up everything so much that my friends think I'm a disgusting pervert."

"I don't," I offer, sliding down against the wall to sit next to him. I give him a small smile. "Hey, if it makes you feel any better, the moment we get off the plane tomorrow, we can all go get some ice-cream." He slowly turns his head to look at me, finally taking notice of my upturned lips. He tentatively matches my expression.

"Thank you," he says, lifting his head up against the wall as his gaze drifts to the floor.

"There's no need to thank me," is all I can say.

Yay! I finished this chapter, although I feel like I rushed it. Has it actually been more than a month since I published the last one? I am SO SO SORRY. :(

Oh well, I hope that the length and drama of this one made up for it.
Thanks guys, for reading! Please review!