Hello again, wow already 10 days passed from when I last post *rubs back of head sheepishly.* Gosh that went really fast... Anyway without further ado I present to you Chapter 2!
Disclaimer: I do not own Kagerou Project
Chapter 2:
Kano was forced out his daze when he heard an extremely large crash of thunder resonate outside his window. This storm seems like it'll never end, he mused to himself as he moved into a sitting position on his bed.
His blinds were closed, so he would not be able to see the rain pounding against his window, but this did little to quell his feelings of anxiety.
For one the deceiver hated storms, because they were loud and unpredictable, which he thought mirrored his personality a little too well. And in addition to that, he felt an aching weight in his chest that contained an emotion he couldn't quite identify.
"It's really bad out," Kano said to himself quietly. "I wouldn't want to be out in that thunder and lightning." The blond propped a pillow in his lap and leaned against the backboard of his bed. "I wonder if Tsubomi's still angry at me right now." He wondered out loud in a voice that sounded more like curiosity than anger or sadness.
Scenes of their fight flashed through his head as he tried to recall exactly what happened roughly two days before.
"...Nah, she just over-reacted to what I said," he concluded in his solitude.
He heard shuffling from the living room and his cat-like eyes swiveled to the digital clock on his counter, it read 10:38.
Mary's still up? He wondered as he rose from his bed. She's probably waiting for Seto to return. Kano's eyes momentarily flashed red as he opened his door, and by the time he crept down the hall to the living room his 'eyes' were activated. Instead of his actual disheveled physique Kano appeared completely calm and collected, despite the raging storm and Kido's extensive disappearance.
What he saw took him aback, for he did not expect to see a very drenched looking Danchou in the living room. Suddenly, he felt the weight that had settled in his chest disappear.
Kano silently watched Seto and Kido from the arch that led from the bedroom hallway into the living room.
Seto was putting his green umbrella off to the side to dry, while a soaked Kido was placing a blanket on Mary, who apparently had passed out on the couch in front of the TV with Momo.
"So what are you going to do?" Seto asked fixing his gaze on Kido as he took off his water logged shoes.
She shrugged nonchalantly. "Probably change and go to bed."
"You know what I mean." Seto sighed and then he added, "You should also take a hot shower and get some food."
The green-haired girl ignored the first part of his statement and responded by saying, "I don't really feel up to eating now-"
"Eh?!" Mary uttered as she shot up into sitting position, causing a startled Kido to take a step back. Rubbing her eyes she mumbled to Seto, "You're home… that means you found Danchou, right?"
"Yep, er... Well it's more like Danchou found me," Seto replied. He was going to ask Mary if she wanted him to carry her back to her bed, but a shadowy figure in the archway caught his attention. "Ah Kano you're still up?"
Suddenly all of their eyes turned to look at the deceiver who had gone unnoticed the past few minutes.
Kano put on a cheeky grin and spread his arms out. "Ah~ Kido!" He exclaimed looking dramatically away from everyone. "You've finally returned-"
All of a sudden the Kido everyone though was near the couch was brushing past Kano without of word of acknowledgement. Out of the corner of his eyes, Kano could see a flash of red when she bumped into his hand and he let out a small, "tsk."
As she disappeared into her bedroom Kano called out, "Aww, were you trying to use your powers to try to sneak past me Tsubomi-chan? I'm hurt."
While everyone had been looking at Kano and he had been looking away, the green-haired girl had felt a wave of despair overcome her senses. Kido could not stand the thought of being in the same room as him and had used her 'eyes' to disappear. Just as she had been about to make it through the archway, Kano had extended his arms, bumping into her and nullifying her invisibility.
Kido who was now also embarrassed gave no response to the sixteen year old boy's teasing, so he turned back to the remaining members of Mekakushi Dan that were in the living room. By this time Momo was awake with a very puzzled expression on her face (seeing as she had woken up to Kano's taunting voice.)
"Kano was that really necessary?" Seto asked as Kido's door slammed shut.
"What?" Kano replied innocently. "I was just welcoming her home."
Seto gave him a look of disappointment before turning to Mary, "Well it's time we get you to bed," he said, as he scooped up the white-haired girl. "...Don't stay up too late," he suggested before walking past Kano.
Momo who was now semi-awake turned to Kano and asked, "What just happened?"
"Nothing much," Kano replied, although he could feel a new weight settling in his chest. "Danchou just came home."
Before she could ask any more questions the cat-eyed male spun on the balls of his feet and headed back to his room. "Night Momo," he called over his shoulder.
Upon entering his room Kano plopped down on his bed and rolled over to grab his phone from his nightstand. On the screen there was a new message from Seto that had arrived around 10:17 without Kano knowing.
To: Kano
From: Seto
Message: I found her
Smiling to himself, Kano curled his hand around his phone and placed his head on his pillow.
"That's good," he mumbled, before going to sleep.
The next morning was rather uneventful. It was a Sunday, and a few of the Mekakushi Dan members were out and about in the city.
Seto and Mary had left the apartment around 10 o'clock to go grocery shopping, while Momo had decided to take Hibiya and Ene to a section of the city they had yet to visit. Kano had finally come out of his room around 11:30 and was currently sitting idly at the kitchen table with Konoha and Shintaro who had arrived right before Momo and Hibiya had left.
The room was fairly quiet minus the sighs of boredom Shintaro made every once in a while (Momo had taken his phone since Ene was in it and she had forgotten hers at home.)
"Kano?" Konoha asked softly.
"Yes?" Kano inquired, raising his head from his arms, which rest on the table.
"I'm hungry."
"...And?"
"I'm hungry..."
Kano stared at Konoha who stared right back at him with empty eyes. Shrugging the blond turned to Shintaro who immediately stated, "I can't cook."
Konoha continued to stare at Kano and added, "Neither can I."
Kano grumbled as he stood up. It took him a minute or two, but soon enough he had a spoon, a bowl, cereal and milk out on the table.
"I can't cook either, so eat this," Kano instructed as he pushed the bowl towards Konoha. The white-eyed male frowned at the food before him, but he did not object. Instead he grabbed the box of cereal and poured the remaining handful into his bowl. In less time than it had taken Kano to get the box, bowl and milk out, Konoha had downed the last of the food.
"I'm hungry," he repeated once more.
"Where's Kido?" Shintaro asked. "Doesn't she usually do the cooking?"
Kano frowned for a second, before replying, "I don't think she has come out of her room yet."
"Is something wrong?" Konoha asked, despite the fact that he had been present at the fight.
"Ah, not that I know of," Kano replied quickly. "I'll go see if she's awake."
With that he made his way out of the kitchen.
"Well that's a lie…" Shintaro stated firmly, once Kano was out of sight.
"Hm…?" Konoha asked as he took a gulp of the milk straight from the carton.
"...It's nothing…"
Knock Knock
Kido groaned as she heard someone pound on her door.
"Yo Danchou, you up yet?" Kano asked in a voice that seemed too casual, since they hadn't resolved their dispute yet.
Oh yeah, Kido remembered. We had a fight three days ago... The grey-eyed girl groaned as she climbed out of bed, her head was killing her.
The young leader was going to reply with a casual, "yes," but when she tried to speak no words came out.
She crossed her room at tortoise pace looking for her water bottle. When Kido reached her small dresser she noted that her water bottle was at least a two days old. She glanced at the bottle only for a second, debating whether she should drink it or not, before twisting off the cap and taking a large sip.
Once she moistened her throat she looked up and was semi-startled by her appearance in the silvery mirror that hung above her dresser.
God I look awful, Kido thought immediately, and it was not exactly an exaggeration. Her green hair was still a bit wet from the night before, her cheeks were flushed, and there were dark bags under her eyes.
Kido made a disapproving grimace at herself through the mirror before clearing her dry throat and replying, "Yeah I'm up, I've been reading."
There was silence from the other side of the door like Kano was debating what to say. (That or he way debating the validity of her statement, though Kido didn't see why he would question it.)
Part of him wanted to walk away and tell the others that she was still asleep, whereas another part of him wanted to barge into the room to see how she was doing and apologies. Instead of going through with either one of those choices Kano placed his hands in his hoodie pockets and replied, "Ok, well #7 and 9 are in the kitchen and Konoha said he's hungry..."
Kido looked at her damp clothes, which were spread out all over the floor. "...I'll be out in a couple minutes. I just have to put a few a few things away."
Immediately, Kido began to wonder what would be the best way to deal with Kano and everyone else when she left her room. She decided to act as if nothing was wrong and to try to sweep everything under the rug.
Kano stared at her bedroom door for a moment like he was hoping he'd gain x-ray vision or something before responding with a quiet. "Ok."
It took her more than a 'few minutes,' but eventually Kido left her bedroom. If one were to look close enough they would see some concealer lightly covering the bags under her eyes, but of course no one said anything about it when she walked into the kitchen.
Kido smiled when she saw the boys lazing around the kitchen and greeted them with a, "Hello."
She received no response and frowned. Walking up to Kano she smacked the back of his head and grumbled, "Oi, don't ignore me."
At that moment Shintaro became the embodiment of a spaz, because at the sudden sight of Kido he fell off of his chair.
Whereas Kano whirled around quickly and yelped in surprise, "Wah-? Ah Kido, I'd didn't hear you come in!"
Kido's eyes narrowed at his statement and she held her breath for a moment, so she could control what her response would be.
"Idiot," Kido mumbled before moving towards the refrigerator. "I was told me you were hungry. What do you want to eat?" She asked Konoha over her shoulder.
As Kido went over a few different thing she could make with Konoha, Kano leaned back in his seat perplexed. Shintaro wasn't paying attention and Konoha was too busy marveling at the different types of pasta he could choose from, but Kano's gaze was fixated on what he thought was flickering red eyes.
"Kido...?" He asked.
The green-haired girl turned towards him, a look of annoyance in her gray eyes. "Yes...?"
Kano quickly dismissed what he saw as his imagination and said, "Ah, never mind."
So chapter two is finally up - a relief because I was a bit unsure what order I should write certain events in. Sorry about grammar mistakes and all that (I've noted it's probably my weakest point when it comes to writing.)
I'll try to get chapter 3 up as soon as possible, so expect it later next week.
Reviews are always appreciated.
-The Jade Empress