I looked at him.
I know he could see the tears in my eyes, but I didn't care.
"I like you, Fujimoto-san.."
He stared at me with large shocked eyes.
I couldn't help but let a tear slide down my cheek, oh these tears were so unwanted, and I didn't want Fujimoto to see them.
I know I wasn't supposed to fall in love, especially with Fujimoto..but I really couldn't help it.
The next thing I knew I started to run.
Was it because I was scared of the rejection? Or was it because of the fact I knew I shouldn't fall in love with Fujimoto?
I started to hear someone running behind me, I slowly turned my head around to see Fujimoto coming towards me.
"Kobato! Please wait!"
I couldn't stop. I was scared.
I then felt my hand being grabbed, forcing me to a stop. He turned me towards him.
"Why are you running Kobato?"
I couldn't answer that...I hid me eyes so he couldn't see my tears. My heart was pounding, with fear and the love I had for Fujimoto.
"Kobato..."
He slowly lifted my chin and stared into my eyes that were filled with my tears.
He slowly came closer to my face, feeling his breath upon my face.
His lips crashed onto mine. I stared into his eyes and slowly closed mine.
I was so confused. The emotions I felt for Fujimoto felt like they were flooding out.
He pulled out of the kiss, I looked at him, dazed and confused.
"I like you too Kobato."
He pulled me into his chest into a hug.
I know I'm not supposed to like him, But I can't help it. I was too glad to care.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Precious Time Special A Version
Hikari Takishima, standing next to the huge French windows, silently stared at the rain pouring down the sky. With just her thin yellow sundress on, she felt a bit cold bust didn't want to stop looking outside. She enjoyed seeing the moderate swaying of the tree branched due to the strong wind and hearing the soft thundering sound.
"Up until now, I still don't understand why my wife likes to witness such bad weather," Kei, walking towards her, exclaimed while helping Hikari put on a jacket. The president of Takishima Group hugged her from behind and whispered to her ear, "It's time for you to rest. Let's go now to our room, Hikari. You have to take care of your health."
"I feel that I'm one of them," she made Kei's expression puzzled. "That's the reason. The storm little by little destroys the plants and tress just like what's happening to me," Hikari turned around to embrace her husband tightly as if it would be the last. "Takishima, I'm so tired already."
Saddened by her words, Kei managed to smile sweetly and told her, "And what comes after the storm had passed? Everything will be warm and beautiful again. Just don't give. Live for me."
"You're selfish as ever," she chucked tenderly and kissed Kei passionately as Hikari recalled the days and the days after she found out her terrible sickness.
-ooo000ooo-
Waiting for her doctor to come back, Hikari sat calmly on the chair. It was only mobth before she graduated college in Tokyo University. After high school, the students in S.A., though sad to be separated from each other continued education abroad. Megumi and Jun, together with Ryuu went to Harvard University while Akira and her not-so-obvious boyfriend, Tadashi studied in Oxford university. As for Kei, he chose to attend Tokyo University to be with Hikari despite the fact his grandfather preferred him to go back to London, but didn't insist since he had already approved of their relationship long before.
Subsequently, the doctor walked in with a serious look on her face. She immediately sat and talked to Hikari. "Hanazono-san, I will be frank in explaining your medical results to you."
She breathed deeply and nodded. "I'm listening."
"Hanazono-san, we found out that you're developed a tumor in your brain. That's the reason behind your migraines and nauseas. As for the cure, you can undergo chemo therapy and I'll prescribe you medicines, but I can't guarantee you full recovery. I'm so sorry, Hanazono-san."
Hikari left the hospital crestfallen like the world had ended. She couldn't believe that her efforts to become successful and defeat her one and only rival would all be put to vain. As soon as she arrived home, Hikari hugged her parents and cried nonstop. She showed them her medical results and they were in horror to know her condition. Soon, they all decided, first, to let her finish college while receiving treatment and second, not to let anyone know about it not even her boyfriend, Kei. Weeks passed and she remained lively and cheerful especially in front of Kei. Nobody suspected, but Kei would sometimes worry about her health. Then, it was graduation with Kei, ranking first as usual and Hikari, second. That night they ate in a very fine restaurant to celebrate and for Kei, to ask her hand in marriage. "Excuse me, minna-san. May I call your attention because there is someone here who wants to share us his little surprise to his girlfriend. Please come on stage," the host vigorously announced.
"Wait for me her," Kei stood up and went on the small stage. All eyes were on him. "Good evening, minna-san. I'm Kei Takishima," he introduced himself and continued. "I would like everyone to know the most important woman in my life. We've been together since we were children and I've always liked her since then. But it was only during high school that we started dating because she was so dense to realize her true feelings for me. She doesn't know how long I've waited to finally ask her this…" a waiter escorted Hikari to the stage. Kei knelt down on one knee, brought out a box and opened it to reveal a beautiful diamond ring. "will you marry?"
Hikari wore a troubled expression which he took as a surprised one. She looked around to see a number of people witnessing his proposal. Everyone was cheering for them. It would be such a shame for a Kei Takishima, but she had to do the right thing. "I'm sorry… Can we just be friends?" Kei, not expecting that kind of answer was left speechless while Hikari, with tears continuously flowing down her eyes, Hikari ran away as fast as she could.
The following morning, Kei came to Hikari's house to talk about what happened the previous day. She didn't want him to see her, so her brother helped her and just told kei she wasn't home. "I know Hikari's there. Please tell her I want to speak with her!"
"Takishima, don't be stubborn. My sister is not really here."
"Then, I'll stand here and wait for Hikari," he insisted. "I won't go until she speaks with me." Hours passed and Kei still stood straight at their gated while Hikari could only glance at him through and hoped the he would soon give up. After he endured the hot noon sun, the sky warned for an upcoming rain.
"Hikari, won't you go out and make your boyfriend go home? I'm sure he's at his limit," Atsushi stated. "I know he's strong, but he's still human."
"I can't. Takishima will only feel more pain if I continue to see him," she replied, frowning.
"Get hurt, you say? Or you're just afraid to marry him because you'll leave him soon."
"I don't know," and the rain started to pour. "Oh no! Takishim!" she peeked at him through the window. There, Kei stood still obviously shivering. Flew some more minutes and Hikari grabbed an umbrella and ran to his side. "Takashima, are you that stupid? You're gonna die because of this!"
"Hikari!" he swiftly embraced her. "I'm happy that you came."
"I'm sorry! What I did yesterday brought you shame."
"You don't have to apologize. I just need to hear your reasons, Hikari. Do you think it's too early for us to get married? Then, I will wait."
"Takishima," she paused for a few minutes. "I- I'm dying! The doctors found out a tumor in my brain and I might die any time. Do you get that?" he just stared at her in disbelief. "Now, I am setting you free. I'm letting you go. And I wish you to find your real happiness…"
"But you are my happiness and I'm not letting it go…"
-ooo000ooo-
After their grand and extravagant wedding, the S.A. students together with Yahiro and Sakura knew Hikari's health condition. Once in a while, Akira would visit her and bring some of her home made pastries; Tadashi would let her see pictures of the different places he discovered. Megumi and Jun, who had improved so much in music, would sing and entertain her. Ryuu would bring a few of his pets so Hikari could play with them. Sakura and Yahiro would sometimes drop by and say hello.
In spite of her frail body, Hikari was blessed to deliver a child safely into this world. She resembled some much of her father like a little girl version of Kei. "Sekai," Hikari called her daughter who was having so much fun playing with her dad in the garden. "I brought some cakes and juice here. Stop playing for a while."
"Okaa-san!" Sekai came running towards her mom. "Cakes! Cakes!"
"You've played so much. Look, you're all dirty," Hikari exclaimed. "Takishima, you should have kept an eye on Sekai."
"Sekai is very playful and active just like you when you were younger," he sighed and sat down. "I'm so tired…"
"Really? I'm like okaa-san? Let me see it. I wanna see how okaa-san looked like when I was not yet born," their five year old daughter requested. "Let me see it!"
"Ok, I'll get it," Hikari said.
"Are you sure?" Kei asked, worrying his wife would get exhausted easily.
"I'm fine," she smiled and walked away. Hikari got a photo of the whole S.A. from her cabinet when she went back to their garden, she was surprised to find Kei and Sekai have fallen asleep. They looked so cute. She kissed Sekai's forehead and Kei's cheek; she sat on the chair next to theirs. "I'm glad to have both of you…" a tear escaped form her eyes. Then, she looked at the photo she was holding and said, "Minna, arigato…" as she closed her eyes for an eternal sleep.
"Up until now, I still don't understand why my wife likes to witness such bad weather," Kei, walking towards her, exclaimed while helping Hikari put on a jacket. The president of Takishima Group hugged her from behind and whispered to her ear, "It's time for you to rest. Let's go now to our room, Hikari. You have to take care of your health."
"I feel that I'm one of them," she made Kei's expression puzzled. "That's the reason. The storm little by little destroys the plants and tress just like what's happening to me," Hikari turned around to embrace her husband tightly as if it would be the last. "Takishima, I'm so tired already."
Saddened by her words, Kei managed to smile sweetly and told her, "And what comes after the storm had passed? Everything will be warm and beautiful again. Just don't give. Live for me."
"You're selfish as ever," she chucked tenderly and kissed Kei passionately as Hikari recalled the days and the days after she found out her terrible sickness.
-ooo000ooo-
Waiting for her doctor to come back, Hikari sat calmly on the chair. It was only mobth before she graduated college in Tokyo University. After high school, the students in S.A., though sad to be separated from each other continued education abroad. Megumi and Jun, together with Ryuu went to Harvard University while Akira and her not-so-obvious boyfriend, Tadashi studied in Oxford university. As for Kei, he chose to attend Tokyo University to be with Hikari despite the fact his grandfather preferred him to go back to London, but didn't insist since he had already approved of their relationship long before.
Subsequently, the doctor walked in with a serious look on her face. She immediately sat and talked to Hikari. "Hanazono-san, I will be frank in explaining your medical results to you."
She breathed deeply and nodded. "I'm listening."
"Hanazono-san, we found out that you're developed a tumor in your brain. That's the reason behind your migraines and nauseas. As for the cure, you can undergo chemo therapy and I'll prescribe you medicines, but I can't guarantee you full recovery. I'm so sorry, Hanazono-san."
Hikari left the hospital crestfallen like the world had ended. She couldn't believe that her efforts to become successful and defeat her one and only rival would all be put to vain. As soon as she arrived home, Hikari hugged her parents and cried nonstop. She showed them her medical results and they were in horror to know her condition. Soon, they all decided, first, to let her finish college while receiving treatment and second, not to let anyone know about it not even her boyfriend, Kei. Weeks passed and she remained lively and cheerful especially in front of Kei. Nobody suspected, but Kei would sometimes worry about her health. Then, it was graduation with Kei, ranking first as usual and Hikari, second. That night they ate in a very fine restaurant to celebrate and for Kei, to ask her hand in marriage. "Excuse me, minna-san. May I call your attention because there is someone here who wants to share us his little surprise to his girlfriend. Please come on stage," the host vigorously announced.
"Wait for me her," Kei stood up and went on the small stage. All eyes were on him. "Good evening, minna-san. I'm Kei Takishima," he introduced himself and continued. "I would like everyone to know the most important woman in my life. We've been together since we were children and I've always liked her since then. But it was only during high school that we started dating because she was so dense to realize her true feelings for me. She doesn't know how long I've waited to finally ask her this…" a waiter escorted Hikari to the stage. Kei knelt down on one knee, brought out a box and opened it to reveal a beautiful diamond ring. "will you marry?"
Hikari wore a troubled expression which he took as a surprised one. She looked around to see a number of people witnessing his proposal. Everyone was cheering for them. It would be such a shame for a Kei Takishima, but she had to do the right thing. "I'm sorry… Can we just be friends?" Kei, not expecting that kind of answer was left speechless while Hikari, with tears continuously flowing down her eyes, Hikari ran away as fast as she could.
The following morning, Kei came to Hikari's house to talk about what happened the previous day. She didn't want him to see her, so her brother helped her and just told kei she wasn't home. "I know Hikari's there. Please tell her I want to speak with her!"
"Takishima, don't be stubborn. My sister is not really here."
"Then, I'll stand here and wait for Hikari," he insisted. "I won't go until she speaks with me." Hours passed and Kei still stood straight at their gated while Hikari could only glance at him through and hoped the he would soon give up. After he endured the hot noon sun, the sky warned for an upcoming rain.
"Hikari, won't you go out and make your boyfriend go home? I'm sure he's at his limit," Atsushi stated. "I know he's strong, but he's still human."
"I can't. Takishima will only feel more pain if I continue to see him," she replied, frowning.
"Get hurt, you say? Or you're just afraid to marry him because you'll leave him soon."
"I don't know," and the rain started to pour. "Oh no! Takishim!" she peeked at him through the window. There, Kei stood still obviously shivering. Flew some more minutes and Hikari grabbed an umbrella and ran to his side. "Takashima, are you that stupid? You're gonna die because of this!"
"Hikari!" he swiftly embraced her. "I'm happy that you came."
"I'm sorry! What I did yesterday brought you shame."
"You don't have to apologize. I just need to hear your reasons, Hikari. Do you think it's too early for us to get married? Then, I will wait."
"Takishima," she paused for a few minutes. "I- I'm dying! The doctors found out a tumor in my brain and I might die any time. Do you get that?" he just stared at her in disbelief. "Now, I am setting you free. I'm letting you go. And I wish you to find your real happiness…"
"But you are my happiness and I'm not letting it go…"
-ooo000ooo-
After their grand and extravagant wedding, the S.A. students together with Yahiro and Sakura knew Hikari's health condition. Once in a while, Akira would visit her and bring some of her home made pastries; Tadashi would let her see pictures of the different places he discovered. Megumi and Jun, who had improved so much in music, would sing and entertain her. Ryuu would bring a few of his pets so Hikari could play with them. Sakura and Yahiro would sometimes drop by and say hello.
In spite of her frail body, Hikari was blessed to deliver a child safely into this world. She resembled some much of her father like a little girl version of Kei. "Sekai," Hikari called her daughter who was having so much fun playing with her dad in the garden. "I brought some cakes and juice here. Stop playing for a while."
"Okaa-san!" Sekai came running towards her mom. "Cakes! Cakes!"
"You've played so much. Look, you're all dirty," Hikari exclaimed. "Takishima, you should have kept an eye on Sekai."
"Sekai is very playful and active just like you when you were younger," he sighed and sat down. "I'm so tired…"
"Really? I'm like okaa-san? Let me see it. I wanna see how okaa-san looked like when I was not yet born," their five year old daughter requested. "Let me see it!"
"Ok, I'll get it," Hikari said.
"Are you sure?" Kei asked, worrying his wife would get exhausted easily.
"I'm fine," she smiled and walked away. Hikari got a photo of the whole S.A. from her cabinet when she went back to their garden, she was surprised to find Kei and Sekai have fallen asleep. They looked so cute. She kissed Sekai's forehead and Kei's cheek; she sat on the chair next to theirs. "I'm glad to have both of you…" a tear escaped form her eyes. Then, she looked at the photo she was holding and said, "Minna, arigato…" as she closed her eyes for an eternal sleep.
The Warmest Place on Earth is You
You have a way of coming easily to me
And when you take you take the very best of me
Outside the greenhouse Akira's POV
'Stupid Tadashi! What are you saying! You cold heartless person! I can't go to the marriage interview!' I thought. I took my hand and slapped him across the face.
So I start a fight cuz I need to feel something
And you do what you want cuz I'm not what you wanted
I looked back at him then ran off. I hate you! I could feel my crybaby self work its way back up and the tears over flowed my eyes. How could he say that! He would normally never say something like that. He would always ignore it if I ever said anything about a marriage interview. To day was supposed to be perfect. We were celebrating Kei's birthday and every one was there. Then you go and say something like that. You idiot.
Oh, what a shame.
What a rainy ending given to a perfect day.
Just walk away, no use defending words that you will never say.
And now that I'm sittin' here thinkin' it through, I've never been anywhere cold as you.
It sat on the benches in the school yard. He's the worst most cold person I've ever met.
Maybe I'm just being too selfish. I've always loved him but he never really loved me back. We were just childhood friends and I selfishly fell in love with you and then hurt you when I got upset because you could never return my feelings. Never return my feelings even if you knew them.
You put up walls and paint them all a shade of gray.
And I stood there lovin' you and WISHED them all away.
And you come away with a great little story of a mess of a dreamer with the nerve to adore you.
I pulled my knees on the bench and rested my head on them. Maybe it was because that he couldn't return my feelings that I selfishly slapped him. I turned this day in to a horrible ending and hurt him because he couldn't defend the things he didn't say. I'm so selfish. But he's also so cold.
Oh, what a shame.
What a rainy ending given to a perfect day.
So just walk away, no use defending words that you will never say.
And now that I'm sittin' here thinkin' it through, I've never been anywhere cold as you.
I got up and walked over to the fountain and sat on the edge. Tadashi-kun. So cold you are never realizing. Never realizing there was always something there. Even when he selfishly ate my food and I would hurt him. There was always something there. Something more than just a friendship but he was too cold to notice. He never wanted that. He never wanted to notice.
You never did give a damn thing, honey.
But I cried, cried for you.
And I know you wouldn't have told nobody if I died, died for you.
(Died for you)
He truly is the coldest person I know. Even colder than Yahiro! Tadashi-kun! The tears overflowed my eyes again as I sat there.
Back at the greenhouse a little while earlier Sakura's POV
I watched as Akira slapped Tadashi and ran off crying. I slowly walked up to the dumbfounded boy when Akira was out of sight.
"What did you do to my Akira-Chan?" I asked.
"Huh?" He said turning around.
I punched him in the face and began to yell at him.
"You idiot! What did you do to her! You broke her heart didn't you! You cold, heartless person!" I yelled kicking him and punching him some more.
"But..." He said. His face was sad and confused.
"You told her to go to the marriage interview didn't you?" I asked. He nodded his head.
"Stop lying to her. Stop putting up this act. Tadashi Damn it! GO talk to her now!" I yelled at him. HE walked away and began searching for Akira.
Back at the fountain Akira's POV
Now that I'm thinking about it he truly is cold all the scars and pain he's caused me because he was so clueless pointed it out. He was such a fake. So fake at everything. Even fake in all the things I say about him. Or maybe only fake when I talk about him. What happened today? This is so frustrating.
Oh, what a shame.
What a rainy ending give to a perfect day. Every smile you fake is so condescending.
Counted all the scars you made.
Now that I'm sittin here thinkin' it through, I've never been anywhere cold as you.
Ok now that I've officially made it clear that he is the coldest person on the planet I will only say this once more before completely giving up on him.
"I love Tadashi. I love Karino Tadashi." I said.
I stood up and faced the greenhouse ready to head back when I saw something in front of me.
"Are you serious?" Tadashi asked.
I stood there frozen. I punched him in the face turned around and ran towards to school gate.
"Akira wait." He said as he grabbed my hand. I lost my balance and fell in to him. He fell over as well. I caught myself before I fell on top of him.
"Yes…" I whispered.
"I love you." I said.
"Because I love you I was sad when you told me to go to the marriage interview. "I said tears falling out of my eyes and hitting Tadashi's face.
"I see." He said.
"I'm sorry. It was my entire fault." I said.
"Then, I don't have to make up lies, right?" He asked. I looked down at him surprised.
"Don't go. Don't go to the marriage interview, or party, or whatever. Stay with me." He said sitting up and pulling me into a hug. Those are the words I wanted to hear. Being here with him it was so warm. He wasn't the cold guy I had thought he was. It was just a disguise. This was the warmest and my favorite place on earth. With Tadashi. I pulled back from the hug and stared at Tadashi. I slowly began to lean in and he did too. Our lips met. It was a soft gentle kiss. A first kiss. We parted and stood up.
"Hey Akira. You want to go for a ride?" Tadashi asked as he started his way towards where he parked his bike. I followed and we went out in the night like we did those few years ago when we were young. It was perfect.
The next day
Tadashi and I stood out the greenhouse. We had been standing ou there for a few minutes now.
"It seem kind of hard to go in no doesn't it?" I asked him.
"Really? I don't think so." He said taking my hand.
"Now, let's go in." He said. I looked at him and balled a fist.
"Have some decency!" I yelled and I began to attack him.
"Ouch! Akira! Stop!" He yelled. Everything was back to normal now. Well almost everything. At least it was the way it was supposed to be.
And when you take you take the very best of me
Outside the greenhouse Akira's POV
'Stupid Tadashi! What are you saying! You cold heartless person! I can't go to the marriage interview!' I thought. I took my hand and slapped him across the face.
So I start a fight cuz I need to feel something
And you do what you want cuz I'm not what you wanted
I looked back at him then ran off. I hate you! I could feel my crybaby self work its way back up and the tears over flowed my eyes. How could he say that! He would normally never say something like that. He would always ignore it if I ever said anything about a marriage interview. To day was supposed to be perfect. We were celebrating Kei's birthday and every one was there. Then you go and say something like that. You idiot.
Oh, what a shame.
What a rainy ending given to a perfect day.
Just walk away, no use defending words that you will never say.
And now that I'm sittin' here thinkin' it through, I've never been anywhere cold as you.
It sat on the benches in the school yard. He's the worst most cold person I've ever met.
Maybe I'm just being too selfish. I've always loved him but he never really loved me back. We were just childhood friends and I selfishly fell in love with you and then hurt you when I got upset because you could never return my feelings. Never return my feelings even if you knew them.
You put up walls and paint them all a shade of gray.
And I stood there lovin' you and WISHED them all away.
And you come away with a great little story of a mess of a dreamer with the nerve to adore you.
I pulled my knees on the bench and rested my head on them. Maybe it was because that he couldn't return my feelings that I selfishly slapped him. I turned this day in to a horrible ending and hurt him because he couldn't defend the things he didn't say. I'm so selfish. But he's also so cold.
Oh, what a shame.
What a rainy ending given to a perfect day.
So just walk away, no use defending words that you will never say.
And now that I'm sittin' here thinkin' it through, I've never been anywhere cold as you.
I got up and walked over to the fountain and sat on the edge. Tadashi-kun. So cold you are never realizing. Never realizing there was always something there. Even when he selfishly ate my food and I would hurt him. There was always something there. Something more than just a friendship but he was too cold to notice. He never wanted that. He never wanted to notice.
You never did give a damn thing, honey.
But I cried, cried for you.
And I know you wouldn't have told nobody if I died, died for you.
(Died for you)
He truly is the coldest person I know. Even colder than Yahiro! Tadashi-kun! The tears overflowed my eyes again as I sat there.
Back at the greenhouse a little while earlier Sakura's POV
I watched as Akira slapped Tadashi and ran off crying. I slowly walked up to the dumbfounded boy when Akira was out of sight.
"What did you do to my Akira-Chan?" I asked.
"Huh?" He said turning around.
I punched him in the face and began to yell at him.
"You idiot! What did you do to her! You broke her heart didn't you! You cold, heartless person!" I yelled kicking him and punching him some more.
"But..." He said. His face was sad and confused.
"You told her to go to the marriage interview didn't you?" I asked. He nodded his head.
"Stop lying to her. Stop putting up this act. Tadashi Damn it! GO talk to her now!" I yelled at him. HE walked away and began searching for Akira.
Back at the fountain Akira's POV
Now that I'm thinking about it he truly is cold all the scars and pain he's caused me because he was so clueless pointed it out. He was such a fake. So fake at everything. Even fake in all the things I say about him. Or maybe only fake when I talk about him. What happened today? This is so frustrating.
Oh, what a shame.
What a rainy ending give to a perfect day. Every smile you fake is so condescending.
Counted all the scars you made.
Now that I'm sittin here thinkin' it through, I've never been anywhere cold as you.
Ok now that I've officially made it clear that he is the coldest person on the planet I will only say this once more before completely giving up on him.
"I love Tadashi. I love Karino Tadashi." I said.
I stood up and faced the greenhouse ready to head back when I saw something in front of me.
"Are you serious?" Tadashi asked.
I stood there frozen. I punched him in the face turned around and ran towards to school gate.
"Akira wait." He said as he grabbed my hand. I lost my balance and fell in to him. He fell over as well. I caught myself before I fell on top of him.
"Yes…" I whispered.
"I love you." I said.
"Because I love you I was sad when you told me to go to the marriage interview. "I said tears falling out of my eyes and hitting Tadashi's face.
"I see." He said.
"I'm sorry. It was my entire fault." I said.
"Then, I don't have to make up lies, right?" He asked. I looked down at him surprised.
"Don't go. Don't go to the marriage interview, or party, or whatever. Stay with me." He said sitting up and pulling me into a hug. Those are the words I wanted to hear. Being here with him it was so warm. He wasn't the cold guy I had thought he was. It was just a disguise. This was the warmest and my favorite place on earth. With Tadashi. I pulled back from the hug and stared at Tadashi. I slowly began to lean in and he did too. Our lips met. It was a soft gentle kiss. A first kiss. We parted and stood up.
"Hey Akira. You want to go for a ride?" Tadashi asked as he started his way towards where he parked his bike. I followed and we went out in the night like we did those few years ago when we were young. It was perfect.
The next day
Tadashi and I stood out the greenhouse. We had been standing ou there for a few minutes now.
"It seem kind of hard to go in no doesn't it?" I asked him.
"Really? I don't think so." He said taking my hand.
"Now, let's go in." He said. I looked at him and balled a fist.
"Have some decency!" I yelled and I began to attack him.
"Ouch! Akira! Stop!" He yelled. Everything was back to normal now. Well almost everything. At least it was the way it was supposed to be.
Mission: Kep Takishima From Finding Out
Hikari couldn't believe it.
There was just no way.
Not so close to the tournament!
She shakily said, "Y-you're joking, r-right?"
The doctor, oblivious to her patient's panicky state, seemed absolutely thrilled. "Of course not, Hikari-sama. I'm 100% certain. You are pregnant!" Hikari felt her soul leave her body. "Oh, Kei-sama will be thrilled!" she said, excitedly. After all, everyone had been hoping for this, ever since the two got married.
Hikari's soul came back, and she looked horrified at the mention of her husband. If he found out, there was no way he'd let her compete in the wrestling tournament around the world. She couldn't let that happen, she'd had to agree to all of his conditions to get his permission before this development, there wasn't a Dippin 'n' Dots' chance in hell he'd let her go, if he found out about the baby.
"YOU CAN'T TELL HIM!" she shouted at the poor doctor. "B-but why?" asked the frightened woman. She could actually DIE if Kei-sama found out about his wife's condition, that she knew about it, and didn't tell him.
Hikari calmed down for her doctor's sake. She remembered what Takishima was like when he found about her broken leg. He'd rampaged for several hours, and beaten his father black & blue for helping her keep him in the dark.
Hikari sighed at the memory. Seriously, she loved her husband, but his over-protective nature was exhausting. "You can tell him after I've hit the semi-finals, but not before then, okay?" she practically pleaded, ignoring the doctor's question.
The woman nodded, she couldn't deny Hikari-sama this, at least. She owed her so much, for making the household so lively. Plus, Hikari-sama was constantly sent here by Kei-sama, who was absolutely terrified of anything happening to his wife, which meant that she got a rather lovely salary.
Hikari let out a sigh of relief at her doctor's nod. Now, for the hard part. Her flight was in 8 hours. She just had to hide this from her husband until then. Commence Mission: Keep Takishima From Finding Out!
~Meanwhile~
A blonde man checked his phone- again- for a message from the love of his life.
He was worried. He'd sent Hikari to the Takishimas' personal doctor because she hadn't been feeling well lately. Sometimes, she couldn't keep her food down, and at other times, she went to bed earlier than usual.
He'd never tell his wife this, 'cause he knew she'd get angry at him, but he was hoping this recent sickness would keep her under house-arrest long enough for the tournament to start without her.
Yes, he'd agreed to letting her go compete, but that didn't mean that he wouldn't try his damnedest to keep her out of it.
The door to Kei's office opened, and he looked up to see his wife asking with her eyes if she could come in.
He smiled at that. After a year of marriage, she still asked for his permission over little things. Now, if only that was the case with the big things. Like the Around-the-World Wrestling Tournament. He'd only found out about that when one of the guys in charge had called the house to straighten out the details.
Hikari found him shouting, "- HELL AM I GOING TO LET HER DO SOMETHING SO DANGEROUS! I'M GOING TO HUNT YOU DOWN, BLOODY YOUR FREAKING FACE, CHOP OF YOUR FINGERS ONE BY ONE, MAKE YOUR ELBOWS GO THE OPPOSITE WAY, BREAK YOUR LEGS, TWIST YOUR SPINE, SET YOU ON FIRE, AND THEN KILL YOU! HOW DARE YOU ASK HER TO PARTICIPATE IS THAT THING!"
She'd managed to wrestle the phone away, and told the man to ignore her husband, he's just a little crazy. After she hung up, Kei had yelled at her for hours about not telling him, and that there was no way she was competing.
In the end, they'd made a deal. She could go, if she took Akira and Tadashi, called during breakfast, lunch, and dinner, e-mailed him everyday, text him when she woke up, sent him photos so he had visual proof that she was okay, and promised to spend an entire week with him, no work, no crazy family, just the two of them.
He still was trying to find a way to keep her out of it, though.
Anyways, back to the present. Kei got up from his chair and went to put his arms around his wife. That was one thing he'd never get tired of, the ability to touch her without needing an excuse.
"So, what did the doctor say?" he asked, feeling both worry and anticipation.
"Oh, it turns out that it's just a little virus that only women can get, men are immune to it. She gave me vitamins to help with it, so I'm good," Hikari said, trying to make it not seem big. The doctor had come up with it. The vitamins part was actually true, but they were prenatal vitamins. Of course, the bubbly woman still couldn't lie to save her life, even if someone else came up with it.
Kei could tell that it wasn't the whole truth, after all, he knew Hikari better than anyone. "So, that's all is it?" he asked, holding her at arms length so he could look her in the eye.
Oh, no! He's staring at me with that horrible look of his! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Takishima still retained his "Tell Me Now" Stare, even though he was 20, now.
The black-haired woman pulled away and laughed nervously, while scratching the back of her head, "Of course, why do you ask?"
He smirked down at her, "Because you're nervous, and you only get nervous when you're lying." He leaned close to her, "Now, tell me the truth."
Hikari panicked. "N-N-NOOOOOO!" she screamed, hitting him and running away faster than that time at Yahiro's party.
Kei held his head in pain and looked up after his wife. No? She hasn't said that to me since... His eyes narrowed. She was definitely hiding something, and he was going to find out what it was.
~Kei's Investigation of several hours~
The president of Takishima Group interrogated all of their friends, but none knew anything. However, he had told them that if he found out that they did know something, but lied, he would make their lives very... unpleasant. Friends or not, Hikari came first.
Now, the blonde was on his way to the doctor, figuring she would know what was up.
He came in and saw no one around, "Hello? Doctor, are you there?" He walked into her office and saw a letter addressed to him. Curious, he opened it and read,
Dear Kei-sama,
I am sorry for not notifying you sooner, but a family member of mine has taken ill.
I have rushed over there, and won't be back until exactly one week from now.
Please, I will answer any questions concerning Hikari-sama, when I return.
With all haste,
Dr. Kori Janus(1)
Kei furrowed his brow at the letter. Last time he checked, their doctor didn't have any family members aside from her brother, whom he knew was perfectly healthy. Also, it was odd how she had the exact time for when she returned.
...
Wait, aren't the semi-finals for Hikari's tournament then, too? He narrowed his eyes in thought. She also said that she would answer questions concerning Hikari then. Either one, by itself, would be a coincidence, but together? Not likely.
...
Dr. Janus is in on it! Whatever Hikari's hiding has to do with her appointment, and if she made the doctor keep it a secret, too, then it was something big. It had something to do with the tournament, and that was sending warning bells all through his head.
His love was hiding something that would change his mind about her competing in the Around-the-World Wrestling Tournament. He didn't like where this was going, not at all.
It was time he got some answers, and Hikari was going to give them.
He looked at his watch and nearly had a heart attack. It was only an hour and a half before Hikari's flight! He needed to get moving!
~The Confrontation~
Hikari looked around- again- looking for her husband. He should be here to send her off. This would be their last time together physically, before he found out about the baby and all hell broke loose. He was going to be so angry with her! She wanted at least this to be a happy moment. Well... at least as happy as Takishima could be, saying good bye to his wife for 8 days.
She looked at Tadashi and Akira in despair, "Is he not coming!" The two looked at each other. Kei had come by earlier, asking if Hikari was hiding something. When they saw her, they could tell that she was feeling guilty about something, but decided not to pry.
Now, it seemed that it was needed. "Hikari-chan, are you hiding something from that beast, Kei?" asked Akira, who kept to her habit of calling Kei a "beast."
Hikari started at the question, did they know? "W-what are y-you talking a-about, Akira-chan?" she asked her best friend nervously.
Tadashi stepped in, "Hikari, it's written all over you face that you're feeling guilty about something. Besides, Kei came by before we left to ask if we knew anything that you might be trying to hide from him. Now, tell us what it is." He loved Hikari like a sister, but Kei would kill him if he didn't get answers.
The black-haired woman froze, trying to come up with some excuse. Luckily, she was saved from making a fool of herself. "All passengers for flight B75, Tokyo to Hong Kong, please board now," announced the flight attendant.
Hikari sighed in relief, but that quickly turned into disappointment, when another glance around showed that her husband was still not there. She boarded the plane and headed to first class. She would have ridden in coach, but Takishima forced her to take it, or no tournament for her.
She took her seat and closed her eyes, but hearing a familiar voice had her opening her eyes and staring in horror, never mind the fact 5 seconds ago, she had been sad at not seeing him.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE, TAKISHIMA! THE PLANE'S ABOUT TO TAKE OFF, GET OUT, NOW!" she shouted at her ever-surprising husband.
Normally, a person that close to Hikari's shout would be deaf, but Kei was long-used to his wife's loudness. "Why would I get out, this is my flight too, you know."
The loud woman stared at him in disbelief, "Wait, after all of those conditions you set for me, you were planning on coming anyway?" He shook his head at that.
"No, I bought a ticket an hour ago. I decided to come when I found out that the love of my life was hiding something from me that would affect my decision on you competing in the wrestling tournament," he said, lightly at first, but his voice got angrier and angrier as he spoke.
Hikari winced, wishing that Akira and Tadashi has closer seats. "W-well, you see, I... uh..." she couldn't find anything, even remotely useful, to say.
She was just about to flee, when she felt herself get jerked to her left. Next thing she knew, she was in Takishima's lap, with him giving her a brilliant glare.
The angry blonde kept a firm hold on the frantic brunette, and ordered in a steadily rising voice, "Now, tell me what the doctor sa-" "Hikari, why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?"
They both froze, and then slowly turned to the ecstatic woman in front of them. Akira was holding Hikari's bag in one hand, and the prenatal vitamins in the other.
The pregnant woman could feel the cold and dark aura her husband was emitting. Apparently, so could her best friend, because she dropped everything and ran back to her seat while screaming the whole time.
On the outside, Kei may have seemed furious, but on the inside, he was shocked. Pregnant? ...Hikari is pregnant? Then, suddenly, he felt a mixture of joy and rage. She had tried to hide it from him, and was going to compete in the tournament without telling him until the semi-finals.
"Hikari, you have 25 seconds to explain yourself before I drag you off this plane, send bombers to where the tournament manager is, and put you on lock down," he threatened.
The woman gulped at his tone, "You wouldn't have let me compete if I told you! Besides, the doctor was going to tell you that I was pregnant after I reached the semi-finals! I was fully aware that couldn't go past that without hurting the baby!"
"Even the beginning rounds might harm the baby! You're not going to compete at all! Plus, you should have told me! It's my child too!" he shouted. Didn't she realize how much more dangerous this made everything?
Kei stopped when she started to tear up. No matter how angry he was, her tears would always be one of his greatest weaknesses. "Of course, it's your child too! Also, I know it's dangerous for the baby, but I made a promise to help out with the tournament! If I drop out, then there won't be enough competitors and it'll be cancelled! So many people are looking forward to it, I can't disappoint them!" Hikari cried.
He sighed. He knew her well enough to know that she would always put others before herself, that's just the way Hikari is. That didn't change the fact that he couldn't let her fight in the matches. Now, how to solve this mess?
He knew he couldn't fight her battles for her, but... Wait! He could fight her battles for her!
"Hikari, I'm still angry at you, but I know how much this means to you. I'll fight in your place. That way, you and the baby are safe, and the tournament is still on," Kei tried to reason.
She thought about it while wiping away her tears. "You mean it?" she asked in her childish way.
Kei couldn't help but smile at her. "Yes, I do," his eyes narrowed, "but you still have to spend all your free time with me. Also, you must take care of yourself, or else I'll send you back to Japan with 10 bodyguards, the 3 best doctors in the world, and a top chef. You will constantly rest, so that you don't over do it. No arguing," he added, when she made to protest. "Last, but not least, you have to always tell me how you and the baby are feeling, got it?"
She looked angry, but nodded, conceding defeat... for now. She'd find a loophole later.
Kei smiled at her agreement and hugged her to his chest. "So, what do you think it's going to be?" he heard her ask.
"Twins," he answered, without hesitating for a second.
Hikari looked up at him and smiled crookedly, "Knowing you and your ESP, that's probably going to be true." She then laughed to herself and snuggled into him.
He closed his eyes in contentment, mind conjuring images of black-haired, golden-eyed children. However, his slammed open at her next words.
"So... who's going to tell your family?"
Oh shit.
There was just no way.
Not so close to the tournament!
She shakily said, "Y-you're joking, r-right?"
The doctor, oblivious to her patient's panicky state, seemed absolutely thrilled. "Of course not, Hikari-sama. I'm 100% certain. You are pregnant!" Hikari felt her soul leave her body. "Oh, Kei-sama will be thrilled!" she said, excitedly. After all, everyone had been hoping for this, ever since the two got married.
Hikari's soul came back, and she looked horrified at the mention of her husband. If he found out, there was no way he'd let her compete in the wrestling tournament around the world. She couldn't let that happen, she'd had to agree to all of his conditions to get his permission before this development, there wasn't a Dippin 'n' Dots' chance in hell he'd let her go, if he found out about the baby.
"YOU CAN'T TELL HIM!" she shouted at the poor doctor. "B-but why?" asked the frightened woman. She could actually DIE if Kei-sama found out about his wife's condition, that she knew about it, and didn't tell him.
Hikari calmed down for her doctor's sake. She remembered what Takishima was like when he found about her broken leg. He'd rampaged for several hours, and beaten his father black & blue for helping her keep him in the dark.
Hikari sighed at the memory. Seriously, she loved her husband, but his over-protective nature was exhausting. "You can tell him after I've hit the semi-finals, but not before then, okay?" she practically pleaded, ignoring the doctor's question.
The woman nodded, she couldn't deny Hikari-sama this, at least. She owed her so much, for making the household so lively. Plus, Hikari-sama was constantly sent here by Kei-sama, who was absolutely terrified of anything happening to his wife, which meant that she got a rather lovely salary.
Hikari let out a sigh of relief at her doctor's nod. Now, for the hard part. Her flight was in 8 hours. She just had to hide this from her husband until then. Commence Mission: Keep Takishima From Finding Out!
~Meanwhile~
A blonde man checked his phone- again- for a message from the love of his life.
He was worried. He'd sent Hikari to the Takishimas' personal doctor because she hadn't been feeling well lately. Sometimes, she couldn't keep her food down, and at other times, she went to bed earlier than usual.
He'd never tell his wife this, 'cause he knew she'd get angry at him, but he was hoping this recent sickness would keep her under house-arrest long enough for the tournament to start without her.
Yes, he'd agreed to letting her go compete, but that didn't mean that he wouldn't try his damnedest to keep her out of it.
The door to Kei's office opened, and he looked up to see his wife asking with her eyes if she could come in.
He smiled at that. After a year of marriage, she still asked for his permission over little things. Now, if only that was the case with the big things. Like the Around-the-World Wrestling Tournament. He'd only found out about that when one of the guys in charge had called the house to straighten out the details.
Hikari found him shouting, "- HELL AM I GOING TO LET HER DO SOMETHING SO DANGEROUS! I'M GOING TO HUNT YOU DOWN, BLOODY YOUR FREAKING FACE, CHOP OF YOUR FINGERS ONE BY ONE, MAKE YOUR ELBOWS GO THE OPPOSITE WAY, BREAK YOUR LEGS, TWIST YOUR SPINE, SET YOU ON FIRE, AND THEN KILL YOU! HOW DARE YOU ASK HER TO PARTICIPATE IS THAT THING!"
She'd managed to wrestle the phone away, and told the man to ignore her husband, he's just a little crazy. After she hung up, Kei had yelled at her for hours about not telling him, and that there was no way she was competing.
In the end, they'd made a deal. She could go, if she took Akira and Tadashi, called during breakfast, lunch, and dinner, e-mailed him everyday, text him when she woke up, sent him photos so he had visual proof that she was okay, and promised to spend an entire week with him, no work, no crazy family, just the two of them.
He still was trying to find a way to keep her out of it, though.
Anyways, back to the present. Kei got up from his chair and went to put his arms around his wife. That was one thing he'd never get tired of, the ability to touch her without needing an excuse.
"So, what did the doctor say?" he asked, feeling both worry and anticipation.
"Oh, it turns out that it's just a little virus that only women can get, men are immune to it. She gave me vitamins to help with it, so I'm good," Hikari said, trying to make it not seem big. The doctor had come up with it. The vitamins part was actually true, but they were prenatal vitamins. Of course, the bubbly woman still couldn't lie to save her life, even if someone else came up with it.
Kei could tell that it wasn't the whole truth, after all, he knew Hikari better than anyone. "So, that's all is it?" he asked, holding her at arms length so he could look her in the eye.
Oh, no! He's staring at me with that horrible look of his! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Takishima still retained his "Tell Me Now" Stare, even though he was 20, now.
The black-haired woman pulled away and laughed nervously, while scratching the back of her head, "Of course, why do you ask?"
He smirked down at her, "Because you're nervous, and you only get nervous when you're lying." He leaned close to her, "Now, tell me the truth."
Hikari panicked. "N-N-NOOOOOO!" she screamed, hitting him and running away faster than that time at Yahiro's party.
Kei held his head in pain and looked up after his wife. No? She hasn't said that to me since... His eyes narrowed. She was definitely hiding something, and he was going to find out what it was.
~Kei's Investigation of several hours~
The president of Takishima Group interrogated all of their friends, but none knew anything. However, he had told them that if he found out that they did know something, but lied, he would make their lives very... unpleasant. Friends or not, Hikari came first.
Now, the blonde was on his way to the doctor, figuring she would know what was up.
He came in and saw no one around, "Hello? Doctor, are you there?" He walked into her office and saw a letter addressed to him. Curious, he opened it and read,
Dear Kei-sama,
I am sorry for not notifying you sooner, but a family member of mine has taken ill.
I have rushed over there, and won't be back until exactly one week from now.
Please, I will answer any questions concerning Hikari-sama, when I return.
With all haste,
Dr. Kori Janus(1)
Kei furrowed his brow at the letter. Last time he checked, their doctor didn't have any family members aside from her brother, whom he knew was perfectly healthy. Also, it was odd how she had the exact time for when she returned.
...
Wait, aren't the semi-finals for Hikari's tournament then, too? He narrowed his eyes in thought. She also said that she would answer questions concerning Hikari then. Either one, by itself, would be a coincidence, but together? Not likely.
...
Dr. Janus is in on it! Whatever Hikari's hiding has to do with her appointment, and if she made the doctor keep it a secret, too, then it was something big. It had something to do with the tournament, and that was sending warning bells all through his head.
His love was hiding something that would change his mind about her competing in the Around-the-World Wrestling Tournament. He didn't like where this was going, not at all.
It was time he got some answers, and Hikari was going to give them.
He looked at his watch and nearly had a heart attack. It was only an hour and a half before Hikari's flight! He needed to get moving!
~The Confrontation~
Hikari looked around- again- looking for her husband. He should be here to send her off. This would be their last time together physically, before he found out about the baby and all hell broke loose. He was going to be so angry with her! She wanted at least this to be a happy moment. Well... at least as happy as Takishima could be, saying good bye to his wife for 8 days.
She looked at Tadashi and Akira in despair, "Is he not coming!" The two looked at each other. Kei had come by earlier, asking if Hikari was hiding something. When they saw her, they could tell that she was feeling guilty about something, but decided not to pry.
Now, it seemed that it was needed. "Hikari-chan, are you hiding something from that beast, Kei?" asked Akira, who kept to her habit of calling Kei a "beast."
Hikari started at the question, did they know? "W-what are y-you talking a-about, Akira-chan?" she asked her best friend nervously.
Tadashi stepped in, "Hikari, it's written all over you face that you're feeling guilty about something. Besides, Kei came by before we left to ask if we knew anything that you might be trying to hide from him. Now, tell us what it is." He loved Hikari like a sister, but Kei would kill him if he didn't get answers.
The black-haired woman froze, trying to come up with some excuse. Luckily, she was saved from making a fool of herself. "All passengers for flight B75, Tokyo to Hong Kong, please board now," announced the flight attendant.
Hikari sighed in relief, but that quickly turned into disappointment, when another glance around showed that her husband was still not there. She boarded the plane and headed to first class. She would have ridden in coach, but Takishima forced her to take it, or no tournament for her.
She took her seat and closed her eyes, but hearing a familiar voice had her opening her eyes and staring in horror, never mind the fact 5 seconds ago, she had been sad at not seeing him.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE, TAKISHIMA! THE PLANE'S ABOUT TO TAKE OFF, GET OUT, NOW!" she shouted at her ever-surprising husband.
Normally, a person that close to Hikari's shout would be deaf, but Kei was long-used to his wife's loudness. "Why would I get out, this is my flight too, you know."
The loud woman stared at him in disbelief, "Wait, after all of those conditions you set for me, you were planning on coming anyway?" He shook his head at that.
"No, I bought a ticket an hour ago. I decided to come when I found out that the love of my life was hiding something from me that would affect my decision on you competing in the wrestling tournament," he said, lightly at first, but his voice got angrier and angrier as he spoke.
Hikari winced, wishing that Akira and Tadashi has closer seats. "W-well, you see, I... uh..." she couldn't find anything, even remotely useful, to say.
She was just about to flee, when she felt herself get jerked to her left. Next thing she knew, she was in Takishima's lap, with him giving her a brilliant glare.
The angry blonde kept a firm hold on the frantic brunette, and ordered in a steadily rising voice, "Now, tell me what the doctor sa-" "Hikari, why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?"
They both froze, and then slowly turned to the ecstatic woman in front of them. Akira was holding Hikari's bag in one hand, and the prenatal vitamins in the other.
The pregnant woman could feel the cold and dark aura her husband was emitting. Apparently, so could her best friend, because she dropped everything and ran back to her seat while screaming the whole time.
On the outside, Kei may have seemed furious, but on the inside, he was shocked. Pregnant? ...Hikari is pregnant? Then, suddenly, he felt a mixture of joy and rage. She had tried to hide it from him, and was going to compete in the tournament without telling him until the semi-finals.
"Hikari, you have 25 seconds to explain yourself before I drag you off this plane, send bombers to where the tournament manager is, and put you on lock down," he threatened.
The woman gulped at his tone, "You wouldn't have let me compete if I told you! Besides, the doctor was going to tell you that I was pregnant after I reached the semi-finals! I was fully aware that couldn't go past that without hurting the baby!"
"Even the beginning rounds might harm the baby! You're not going to compete at all! Plus, you should have told me! It's my child too!" he shouted. Didn't she realize how much more dangerous this made everything?
Kei stopped when she started to tear up. No matter how angry he was, her tears would always be one of his greatest weaknesses. "Of course, it's your child too! Also, I know it's dangerous for the baby, but I made a promise to help out with the tournament! If I drop out, then there won't be enough competitors and it'll be cancelled! So many people are looking forward to it, I can't disappoint them!" Hikari cried.
He sighed. He knew her well enough to know that she would always put others before herself, that's just the way Hikari is. That didn't change the fact that he couldn't let her fight in the matches. Now, how to solve this mess?
He knew he couldn't fight her battles for her, but... Wait! He could fight her battles for her!
"Hikari, I'm still angry at you, but I know how much this means to you. I'll fight in your place. That way, you and the baby are safe, and the tournament is still on," Kei tried to reason.
She thought about it while wiping away her tears. "You mean it?" she asked in her childish way.
Kei couldn't help but smile at her. "Yes, I do," his eyes narrowed, "but you still have to spend all your free time with me. Also, you must take care of yourself, or else I'll send you back to Japan with 10 bodyguards, the 3 best doctors in the world, and a top chef. You will constantly rest, so that you don't over do it. No arguing," he added, when she made to protest. "Last, but not least, you have to always tell me how you and the baby are feeling, got it?"
She looked angry, but nodded, conceding defeat... for now. She'd find a loophole later.
Kei smiled at her agreement and hugged her to his chest. "So, what do you think it's going to be?" he heard her ask.
"Twins," he answered, without hesitating for a second.
Hikari looked up at him and smiled crookedly, "Knowing you and your ESP, that's probably going to be true." She then laughed to herself and snuggled into him.
He closed his eyes in contentment, mind conjuring images of black-haired, golden-eyed children. However, his slammed open at her next words.
"So... who's going to tell your family?"
Oh shit.
Thin Ice
Humans are idiots. Absolutely idiots!
They keep doing the same mistakes no matter how many times you tell them not to. They still do it even if they know what will be the outcome.
They still do it.
Even if it hurts them…
Even if it kills them..
They won't listen…
And that makes me a human…
Because I am an idiot…
I never learn...
Why?
"Please go out with me again…"
"If I didn't do it… this would have never happened!" I screamed as I frantically ran towards that white door. It was my life in there. Every seconds count. I have to see her. I have to hold her. This is my entire fault.
I have never changed. I am still that same person Akira despised. I am still that selfish immature kid.
And for the second time around…
I did it again.
I made someone suffer pain.
The only person who tried to reach my cold heart after so long.
I felt my body tremble. Am I too late?
NO! I cannot accept that!
However, I felt something was wrong. I have never experienced this kind of sober in my whole life. This is nothing compared on what I felt when Akira and I parted ways. I have never thought I would feel like this towards her.
No…absolutely no.
I only planned to play with her…
But now…
I really don't understand myself…
If she will be gone…
I might as well…..follow her…
I gasped. I suddenly felt warm tears beginning to race down my cheeks. If I didn't do that… this would never happen to her! I blamed myself as I slammed the door to get in.
"Yahiro…." Jun fiercely uttered. If words could kill, I am probably slashed into half now. " How dare you-" he was not able to finish his question when Ryuu's action stunned us all.
Because I was focused on her, I didn't notice that Ryuu was planning to attack me right that moment. He smacked me directly to my face. It was extremely intense that I was thrown straight to the wall. It was though his fist made a dent in my cheek.
"You Idiot! How dare you show your face here!" Ryuu growled. "You've got the nerve to see her? Checking if she's dead? You have no right to see her after what you have done! Get out before I could kill you!"
"Yahiro…please go out with me again" Megumi wrote in the sketch board I bought her. Her eyes sparkling like stars while her warm smile shines on me like the sun.
Is it spring?
No….
It was winter….
Yet why am I feeling the tepid sun. My heart could feel the light she is sharing me.
I stared at her. "I…I…I'm busy…" I lied. The truth is I am confused. I don't know what to respond.
"How about on Saturday?" Megumi immediately wrote.
I'd love to, "I cant…" I saw her eyes flickered with a tint of sadness. But it was only for a second. Then she started scribbling something on the board.
Megumi beamed then flipped the board to me, "How about on Sunday?"
Why can't she just give up? It would be easier for me to shut whatever she opened in my heart if we stop this right now. This is not even right to begin with. She doesn't deserve me. Why did I even let her get near me?
I was better off alone.
I don't deserve to be happy.
I don't have any right to have this feeling after all the things I have done.
She is a wonderful person.
And…
I don't deserve her.
I walked towards her and grasp her shoulders. "WHY?" I shouted. "Why do you want us to go out so badly?" I asked directly." Aren't you afraid of me? Did it even occur to you that I might just pretending to be nice to you? I told you not to get your hopes up! I am never going to change!" I growled.
I felt her tremble. Her eyes started to swell. Tears roll down on her face. However, she still looked like an angel.
And I am the demon who made her cry.
I could not bear to look at her suffering face. " I'm sorry" I softly murmured as I let go of her.
Then she started to note down a question again. "Do you hate me?" she asked.
Hate…her…
No…
I don't…
I couldn't…
I don't hate her…
I hate myself…
I could not do anything good for her. And no matter how I think about it, I could never make her happy.
I shook my head, "No"
Then suddenly she smiled. She erased the question and replaced it with another one. " I wont stop until you say that you had fun" she warmly grinned.
"Really… then keep trying…" I teased her. Whenever I am around her, I felt the light me appears. As though I don't care what will happen. Even if I know playing with this game will leave one of us hurt.
Her faced flushed because of what I said. " Then I'll meet you on Sunday!" she wrote and hurriedly ran away.
But I didn't made it to Sunday.
I didn't go to the park.
Because…
I am totally confused I didn't know what to do.
If I keep meeting her… she will surely…
Enter my heart…
Completely.
I decided not to see her anymore. What we had is enough. And I really had fun. I am sure I will treasure that in my life forever.
Until I received that call from Hikari.
"YAHIRO! YOU"VE GOT TO SEE HER! RYUU AND JUN WONT LET US TELL YOU BUT… I KNOW YOU HAVE THE RIGHT!"Hikari shouted. I noticed how her voice trembled. She must be crying.
"WHAT HAPPENED?" I anxiously asked.
"MEGUMI-CHAN… MEGUMI-CHAN…."
Megumi? I felt my heart pound like hell. " What happened to her? DARN IT! TELL ME!" I furiously asked.
"She's in the hospital…. She's in a coma…."
I gaped in shock.
Megumi. Comatose. What happened?
I never bothered to put down the phone. After what I've heard. I don't care what they might do to me.
I have to see her.
I have to…
Megumi….
"Megumi…" I softly uttered. Seeing her in that bed. Sleeping. And the idea that no one knows when she will wake up just made my body shivered.
Ryuu hit me once more. It was a lot harder this time. "Look what you have done to her! Don't you know she waited for you… she waited and waited…."
This time, my faced crushed on the floor. "She waited…."I gaped
"She didn't tell us about your date. She woke up so early." Jun interfered. There was anger in his voice." She went there and waited for you under the snow storm! She was there shivering in cold for SEVEN HOURS BUT YOU DIDN'T SHOW UP!" Jun cried.
I shook my head.
She waited for me…even if there was a snow storm.
"I'll be waiting!" she shouted with her own voice.
"Jun calm down…." Kei held him. " Yahiro… do you know how we found out that it was you she was waiting….."
I glanced at Kei. How? But no words came out of my mouth.
" Because while she was in the ambulance she kept saying your name until we got to the hospital"
"Ya…Yahiro….Yahiro….might…s-still…c-come…I have to s-see him….Ya-hiro…I p-prepared….a….new s-song f-for…h-him…."
Kei managed to calm Jun. "Look what you did…. If you don't like her….why do you keep toying with her! She 's been sleeping for a week….and….no one knows…when…" he started sobbing again.
I could still feel Ryuu's hit. My face must be completely swollen. But the pain inside me is erupting. It was nothing compared any kind of suffering I have felt.
I walked toward my sleeping angel. She is still beautiful.
I knelt beside her bed and held her soft hand. "I'm sorry…" I quivered as I burst into tears. "I'm sorry…It took me so long to get here."
Then I felt her hand moved. "Yahiro….." she whispered as she slowly opened her eyes. "You're….crying…."
"Megumi…" I squeezed her tightly "I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm a fool a big idiot how could I-"
Megumi place her two fingers on top of my lips to shut me. " No… Yahiro… I am the one who should apologize. I keep troubling you." She shook her head. " I keep pushing myself to you eventhough…" she quivered. "I know you cannot easily erase Akira-chan to your heart. I just…wish… for once…. I could make you… laugh…."
"Megumi…."
"But don't worry… I've annoyed you for quite a while so….." Megumi smiled even though tears were gleaming in the corner of her eyes. " I'm sorry… for what Ryuu and Jun did.I promise...I am not going to caused you any more pain."
"That's enough!" I shouted. I grasp her hand and pulled her against me. Then I pressed my lips on hers. I heard the entire S.A. gawked but that didn't move me. Her lips were enticing I have to control myself or Ryuu might definitely squash my bones.
"I love you," I honestly declared. "I'm an idiot. I wanted to protect you from me so badly that I've caused you this." Finally I figure out what I truly feel. "I am such a fool that it took me so long to realized how much you mean to me! When I saw you… I felt like dying. Megumi…. I love you…. I love you so much I don't want to lose you…"
Then she shook her head down. She must be stunned on my straight confession. However I don't really mind. I have to let that out or I might regret it forever.
She stared at with her eyes asking if it is true.
I nodded. Yes, I'm in love with you. I uttered back through my eyes.
To my surprise, she hugged me tightly she almost crushed my bones. "Yahiro….I…."
"Yes?" I smiled back. However, I didn't understand why the S. A. suddenly ran backwards.
"Megumi…No!" Jun screamed.
Then that happened.
I was confined in the hospital for two days because of what Megumi did.
She sang. Right behind my ear.
Nevertheless, I'm still glad.
Because now I have an excuse to be with her.
We are in the same room.
"Yahiro…" she whispered.
I looked at her. "Yes…"
She flipped the board ,"Are you happy now?" she asked.
Happy…
I smiled, "Absolutely."
The end.
They keep doing the same mistakes no matter how many times you tell them not to. They still do it even if they know what will be the outcome.
They still do it.
Even if it hurts them…
Even if it kills them..
They won't listen…
And that makes me a human…
Because I am an idiot…
I never learn...
Why?
"Please go out with me again…"
"If I didn't do it… this would have never happened!" I screamed as I frantically ran towards that white door. It was my life in there. Every seconds count. I have to see her. I have to hold her. This is my entire fault.
I have never changed. I am still that same person Akira despised. I am still that selfish immature kid.
And for the second time around…
I did it again.
I made someone suffer pain.
The only person who tried to reach my cold heart after so long.
I felt my body tremble. Am I too late?
NO! I cannot accept that!
However, I felt something was wrong. I have never experienced this kind of sober in my whole life. This is nothing compared on what I felt when Akira and I parted ways. I have never thought I would feel like this towards her.
No…absolutely no.
I only planned to play with her…
But now…
I really don't understand myself…
If she will be gone…
I might as well…..follow her…
I gasped. I suddenly felt warm tears beginning to race down my cheeks. If I didn't do that… this would never happen to her! I blamed myself as I slammed the door to get in.
"Yahiro…." Jun fiercely uttered. If words could kill, I am probably slashed into half now. " How dare you-" he was not able to finish his question when Ryuu's action stunned us all.
Because I was focused on her, I didn't notice that Ryuu was planning to attack me right that moment. He smacked me directly to my face. It was extremely intense that I was thrown straight to the wall. It was though his fist made a dent in my cheek.
"You Idiot! How dare you show your face here!" Ryuu growled. "You've got the nerve to see her? Checking if she's dead? You have no right to see her after what you have done! Get out before I could kill you!"
"Yahiro…please go out with me again" Megumi wrote in the sketch board I bought her. Her eyes sparkling like stars while her warm smile shines on me like the sun.
Is it spring?
No….
It was winter….
Yet why am I feeling the tepid sun. My heart could feel the light she is sharing me.
I stared at her. "I…I…I'm busy…" I lied. The truth is I am confused. I don't know what to respond.
"How about on Saturday?" Megumi immediately wrote.
I'd love to, "I cant…" I saw her eyes flickered with a tint of sadness. But it was only for a second. Then she started scribbling something on the board.
Megumi beamed then flipped the board to me, "How about on Sunday?"
Why can't she just give up? It would be easier for me to shut whatever she opened in my heart if we stop this right now. This is not even right to begin with. She doesn't deserve me. Why did I even let her get near me?
I was better off alone.
I don't deserve to be happy.
I don't have any right to have this feeling after all the things I have done.
She is a wonderful person.
And…
I don't deserve her.
I walked towards her and grasp her shoulders. "WHY?" I shouted. "Why do you want us to go out so badly?" I asked directly." Aren't you afraid of me? Did it even occur to you that I might just pretending to be nice to you? I told you not to get your hopes up! I am never going to change!" I growled.
I felt her tremble. Her eyes started to swell. Tears roll down on her face. However, she still looked like an angel.
And I am the demon who made her cry.
I could not bear to look at her suffering face. " I'm sorry" I softly murmured as I let go of her.
Then she started to note down a question again. "Do you hate me?" she asked.
Hate…her…
No…
I don't…
I couldn't…
I don't hate her…
I hate myself…
I could not do anything good for her. And no matter how I think about it, I could never make her happy.
I shook my head, "No"
Then suddenly she smiled. She erased the question and replaced it with another one. " I wont stop until you say that you had fun" she warmly grinned.
"Really… then keep trying…" I teased her. Whenever I am around her, I felt the light me appears. As though I don't care what will happen. Even if I know playing with this game will leave one of us hurt.
Her faced flushed because of what I said. " Then I'll meet you on Sunday!" she wrote and hurriedly ran away.
But I didn't made it to Sunday.
I didn't go to the park.
Because…
I am totally confused I didn't know what to do.
If I keep meeting her… she will surely…
Enter my heart…
Completely.
I decided not to see her anymore. What we had is enough. And I really had fun. I am sure I will treasure that in my life forever.
Until I received that call from Hikari.
"YAHIRO! YOU"VE GOT TO SEE HER! RYUU AND JUN WONT LET US TELL YOU BUT… I KNOW YOU HAVE THE RIGHT!"Hikari shouted. I noticed how her voice trembled. She must be crying.
"WHAT HAPPENED?" I anxiously asked.
"MEGUMI-CHAN… MEGUMI-CHAN…."
Megumi? I felt my heart pound like hell. " What happened to her? DARN IT! TELL ME!" I furiously asked.
"She's in the hospital…. She's in a coma…."
I gaped in shock.
Megumi. Comatose. What happened?
I never bothered to put down the phone. After what I've heard. I don't care what they might do to me.
I have to see her.
I have to…
Megumi….
"Megumi…" I softly uttered. Seeing her in that bed. Sleeping. And the idea that no one knows when she will wake up just made my body shivered.
Ryuu hit me once more. It was a lot harder this time. "Look what you have done to her! Don't you know she waited for you… she waited and waited…."
This time, my faced crushed on the floor. "She waited…."I gaped
"She didn't tell us about your date. She woke up so early." Jun interfered. There was anger in his voice." She went there and waited for you under the snow storm! She was there shivering in cold for SEVEN HOURS BUT YOU DIDN'T SHOW UP!" Jun cried.
I shook my head.
She waited for me…even if there was a snow storm.
"I'll be waiting!" she shouted with her own voice.
"Jun calm down…." Kei held him. " Yahiro… do you know how we found out that it was you she was waiting….."
I glanced at Kei. How? But no words came out of my mouth.
" Because while she was in the ambulance she kept saying your name until we got to the hospital"
"Ya…Yahiro….Yahiro….might…s-still…c-come…I have to s-see him….Ya-hiro…I p-prepared….a….new s-song f-for…h-him…."
Kei managed to calm Jun. "Look what you did…. If you don't like her….why do you keep toying with her! She 's been sleeping for a week….and….no one knows…when…" he started sobbing again.
I could still feel Ryuu's hit. My face must be completely swollen. But the pain inside me is erupting. It was nothing compared any kind of suffering I have felt.
I walked toward my sleeping angel. She is still beautiful.
I knelt beside her bed and held her soft hand. "I'm sorry…" I quivered as I burst into tears. "I'm sorry…It took me so long to get here."
Then I felt her hand moved. "Yahiro….." she whispered as she slowly opened her eyes. "You're….crying…."
"Megumi…" I squeezed her tightly "I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm a fool a big idiot how could I-"
Megumi place her two fingers on top of my lips to shut me. " No… Yahiro… I am the one who should apologize. I keep troubling you." She shook her head. " I keep pushing myself to you eventhough…" she quivered. "I know you cannot easily erase Akira-chan to your heart. I just…wish… for once…. I could make you… laugh…."
"Megumi…."
"But don't worry… I've annoyed you for quite a while so….." Megumi smiled even though tears were gleaming in the corner of her eyes. " I'm sorry… for what Ryuu and Jun did.I promise...I am not going to caused you any more pain."
"That's enough!" I shouted. I grasp her hand and pulled her against me. Then I pressed my lips on hers. I heard the entire S.A. gawked but that didn't move me. Her lips were enticing I have to control myself or Ryuu might definitely squash my bones.
"I love you," I honestly declared. "I'm an idiot. I wanted to protect you from me so badly that I've caused you this." Finally I figure out what I truly feel. "I am such a fool that it took me so long to realized how much you mean to me! When I saw you… I felt like dying. Megumi…. I love you…. I love you so much I don't want to lose you…"
Then she shook her head down. She must be stunned on my straight confession. However I don't really mind. I have to let that out or I might regret it forever.
She stared at with her eyes asking if it is true.
I nodded. Yes, I'm in love with you. I uttered back through my eyes.
To my surprise, she hugged me tightly she almost crushed my bones. "Yahiro….I…."
"Yes?" I smiled back. However, I didn't understand why the S. A. suddenly ran backwards.
"Megumi…No!" Jun screamed.
Then that happened.
I was confined in the hospital for two days because of what Megumi did.
She sang. Right behind my ear.
Nevertheless, I'm still glad.
Because now I have an excuse to be with her.
We are in the same room.
"Yahiro…" she whispered.
I looked at her. "Yes…"
She flipped the board ,"Are you happy now?" she asked.
Happy…
I smiled, "Absolutely."
The end.
Listen to Your Heart
"You're going to be studying abroad?" Everyone yelled.
"Yes my father said I had to. He also said it would help the company so I had no choice." Takishima said looking down at his book. His bangs were hiding his face.
"Takishima," I said, "You can't leave." He looked up at me.
"Why Hikari? Why can't I leave?" He asked.
"Because you're my rival. I still haven't won fair and square and without you here I wouldn't be able to challenge you." I said. He stood from his chair and grabbed his bag.
"Well I have to go. I only came here to inform you that I was leaving." He turned towards me with a slight smile/smirk on his face. I looked up in his eyes. They looked sad.
I know there's something in the wake of your smile
I get a nothing from the look in your eyes yeah
"Goodbye... Hikari." He said and walked off.
You've built a love
But that love falls apart
Your little piece of heaven
Turns to dark
"Takishima." I said taking a step forward. He was already half way out.
"Takishima wait." I said again. I stepped forward a bit more and tripped over the table.
"Takishima." I said sitting in my place on the floor. He was no where in sight now.
"Takishima!" I screamed. I sat there frozen on the ground.
"Hikari-Chan." Akira said from behind me.
Outside the greenhouse
"Hikari." Takishima said.
Listen to your heart
When he's calling for you
Listen to your heart
There's nothing else you can do
Back in the green house
"Takishima. Takishima. No. No. No!" I yelled still sitting on the ground. "He can't be leaving. He can't be."
"Hikari-Chan." Akira said again. I felt my eyes well up with tears.
"He can't be." I said.
I don't know where you're going
And I don't know why
But listen to your heart
This can't be goodbye. Not Yet." I said standing up.
Before you tell him goodbye
I ran out of the green house. I ran until I was far enough and tired. I walked up to some benches and sat down. Was it ever worth it? To always fight with him? When we were just going to separate after school was finished. Did he think the same? I was so childish.
Some times you wonder if this fight is worth while
The precious moments are all lost in the tide
They're swept away and nothing is what it seems
I layed my head back and closed my eyes. There are so many memories. It's all so distant. It seems so long ago.
The feeling of belonging to your dreams
As if it was all a dream.
The next day in the green house
I sat down in my seat and waited for everyone.
"Ohoyo (good morning) Miss rank one." Akira said.
"Huh?" I asked.
"Rank one. With Kei gone you are now rank one. So what does it feel like to be on top?" She asked.
"I… I don't know." I said looking down.
"Now I get Hikari-Chan all to myself with Kei leaving this afternoon and all." She said smiling.
"What did you say." I said looking back up.
"Kei's leaving this after noon. His flight is at 1:00." She said. I checked the time. It was 12:00.
"Takishima is leaving at 1:00." I said the tears stinging my eyes. Why am I sad? I should be happy I'm rank one now. But I didn't defeat Takishima. I won by default. But that can't be it. I shouldn't get sad because my victory was by default. There is something more. What did you do to me Takishima? You jerk! Because of you I don't want you to leave! UGH!
"Ohoyo Minna (good morning everyone)." Akira said.
"Hey Akira did you hear that Kei's flight was moved to 12:30?" Tadashi asked. I sat upright. Thirty minutes early. I looked at the clock 12:10. I have twenty minutes.
Listen to your heart
When he's calling for you
Listen to your heart
There's nothing else you can do.
"Takishima." I said before standing up. I began to run. I ran out of the school and towards the airport. I had ten minutes to spare when I arrived.
I ran in and began to search. I saw him ahead of me.
"Takishima!" I yelled. He turned around and saw me.
"Hikari?" He asked as he approached me.
"You…You can't leave. You're…You're my rival." I said breathlessly. No! That's not what I wanted to say! I just can't think of what to say. Baka (stupid) Baka me.
"I see." He said.
"All Passengers now boarding flight 112." A voice said over the intercom.
"Congrats Hikari, you are frank one now. You've won." He said.
"Takishima." I said.
I don't know where you're going
And I don't know why
But listen to your heart before
You tell him goodbye
"Goodbye Hikari." He walked off.
"Takishima." I said.
"Takishima." I took a step forward holding out my hand.
"Takishima wait." I said.
"Takishima!" I yelled. He didn't even turn around. He was out of sight now.
And there are voices
That want to be heard
"Takishima. Takishima." I said falling to my knees. There was no one really around so I let the tears that were stinging my eyes fall.
"Takishima I… I…" I said. it was no use I didn't know what I wanted to tell him.
So much to mention
But you can't find the words
"Takishima, Takishima!" I yelled.
"Takishima!" I yelled once again.
The scent of magic
The beauty that's
When love was wilder than the wind
"Hikari." A voice said. It was Takishima's but he wasn't around. I closed my eyes and began to remember something.
"Hikari, why do you call me Takishima when every one else calls me Kei?" He asked.
"Because you are my rival and I only call my rivals by their last names." I said bluntly.
"You can call me Kei even then." He said.
"No. I stick to what I say. Unless you want me to call you Kei? Huh Takishima?" I asked.
"Whatever." He said.
"Takishima." I said in a whisper. That's it! Maybe, maybe he'll hear me.
Listen to your heart
When He's calling for you
Listen to your heart
There's nothing else you can do
I don't know where you're going
And I don't know why
But listen to your heart
Before you tell him goodbye
Listen to your heart
"K…KEI-KUN!" I yelled.
Kei's POV
I listened to Hikari call my name over and over again. Takishima. Takishima. She would say it over and over again. All I was to her was her rival. She didn't even call me by my first name. If only Hikari knew how much I loved her. Maybe then she would get it. I was already half the way to the plane when Hikari stopped calling my name.
"K…KEI-KUN!" I heard her yell. My eyes widened. She just called me by my first name. I turned around thinking of going back. I should just leave. No! I began to run back.
Hikari's POV
I sat there letting the tears run down my cheeks. He wasn't coming back. I just realized something too, something important. I heard footsteps heading my way. Someone was running. The foot steps slowed and then stopped. They were about eight feet away from me. They slowly began to walk forward. I hung my head lower not wanting the person to see me crying.
"Hikari." The voice said. Takishima! I slowly looked up and saw him standing in front of me.
"Takishima." I said. I felt my face get hot.
"No." He said. Kneeling down and grabbing my chin.
"Kei. You called me by my first name earlier." He said.
"Sorry. I was just trying to get your attention and you wouldn't come when I called you by your…" I tried to say when he hugged me.
"It made me happy. You finally called my by my first name." he said.
"K…Kei-Kun." I said. I smiled.
I don't know where your going
and I don't know why
But listen to your heart
Before…
You tell him good bye
"Kei-Kun, there are actually two reasons I don't want you to leave. One because you are my rival and two because…A…A…" I tried to say my face going red. He let go of me and looked at me.
"A…A…Aishiteru!" I said looking down.
"I love you too Hikari." Kei said. He took hold of my chin and pulled my face closer. He slowly leaned in and kissed me. So this is like I said. A kiss is only best shared with the one you love.
"I love you. Kei-kun." I said when we pulled apart.
We stood back up and walked out of the air port hand in hand.
Around the corner before they left.
"Akira tell me exactly why we are spying on them." Tadashi asked.
"Because I want to make sure nothing happens to my angel Hikari-chan." Akira said.
Through the binoculars (even though they aren't that far from Hikari and Kei and can see them perfectly without binoculars.) Akira saw Hikari and Kei kiss.
"Oh. They kissed." Tadashi said. Akira punches him in the head.
"Yeah they did." Jun said.
"Took a while." Ryuu said with a smirk.
Megumi's sign read: I agree with Ryuu-nii-san. Took a while.
"I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!" Akira said. "Now I have to share my beloved Hikari-chan with the Monster Kei!"
"Akira there they go." Tadashi said pointing at the door. Akira put the binoculars and watched.
"They are holding hands." She said before passing out.
"Yes my father said I had to. He also said it would help the company so I had no choice." Takishima said looking down at his book. His bangs were hiding his face.
"Takishima," I said, "You can't leave." He looked up at me.
"Why Hikari? Why can't I leave?" He asked.
"Because you're my rival. I still haven't won fair and square and without you here I wouldn't be able to challenge you." I said. He stood from his chair and grabbed his bag.
"Well I have to go. I only came here to inform you that I was leaving." He turned towards me with a slight smile/smirk on his face. I looked up in his eyes. They looked sad.
I know there's something in the wake of your smile
I get a nothing from the look in your eyes yeah
"Goodbye... Hikari." He said and walked off.
You've built a love
But that love falls apart
Your little piece of heaven
Turns to dark
"Takishima." I said taking a step forward. He was already half way out.
"Takishima wait." I said again. I stepped forward a bit more and tripped over the table.
"Takishima." I said sitting in my place on the floor. He was no where in sight now.
"Takishima!" I screamed. I sat there frozen on the ground.
"Hikari-Chan." Akira said from behind me.
Outside the greenhouse
"Hikari." Takishima said.
Listen to your heart
When he's calling for you
Listen to your heart
There's nothing else you can do
Back in the green house
"Takishima. Takishima. No. No. No!" I yelled still sitting on the ground. "He can't be leaving. He can't be."
"Hikari-Chan." Akira said again. I felt my eyes well up with tears.
"He can't be." I said.
I don't know where you're going
And I don't know why
But listen to your heart
This can't be goodbye. Not Yet." I said standing up.
Before you tell him goodbye
I ran out of the green house. I ran until I was far enough and tired. I walked up to some benches and sat down. Was it ever worth it? To always fight with him? When we were just going to separate after school was finished. Did he think the same? I was so childish.
Some times you wonder if this fight is worth while
The precious moments are all lost in the tide
They're swept away and nothing is what it seems
I layed my head back and closed my eyes. There are so many memories. It's all so distant. It seems so long ago.
The feeling of belonging to your dreams
As if it was all a dream.
The next day in the green house
I sat down in my seat and waited for everyone.
"Ohoyo (good morning) Miss rank one." Akira said.
"Huh?" I asked.
"Rank one. With Kei gone you are now rank one. So what does it feel like to be on top?" She asked.
"I… I don't know." I said looking down.
"Now I get Hikari-Chan all to myself with Kei leaving this afternoon and all." She said smiling.
"What did you say." I said looking back up.
"Kei's leaving this after noon. His flight is at 1:00." She said. I checked the time. It was 12:00.
"Takishima is leaving at 1:00." I said the tears stinging my eyes. Why am I sad? I should be happy I'm rank one now. But I didn't defeat Takishima. I won by default. But that can't be it. I shouldn't get sad because my victory was by default. There is something more. What did you do to me Takishima? You jerk! Because of you I don't want you to leave! UGH!
"Ohoyo Minna (good morning everyone)." Akira said.
"Hey Akira did you hear that Kei's flight was moved to 12:30?" Tadashi asked. I sat upright. Thirty minutes early. I looked at the clock 12:10. I have twenty minutes.
Listen to your heart
When he's calling for you
Listen to your heart
There's nothing else you can do.
"Takishima." I said before standing up. I began to run. I ran out of the school and towards the airport. I had ten minutes to spare when I arrived.
I ran in and began to search. I saw him ahead of me.
"Takishima!" I yelled. He turned around and saw me.
"Hikari?" He asked as he approached me.
"You…You can't leave. You're…You're my rival." I said breathlessly. No! That's not what I wanted to say! I just can't think of what to say. Baka (stupid) Baka me.
"I see." He said.
"All Passengers now boarding flight 112." A voice said over the intercom.
"Congrats Hikari, you are frank one now. You've won." He said.
"Takishima." I said.
I don't know where you're going
And I don't know why
But listen to your heart before
You tell him goodbye
"Goodbye Hikari." He walked off.
"Takishima." I said.
"Takishima." I took a step forward holding out my hand.
"Takishima wait." I said.
"Takishima!" I yelled. He didn't even turn around. He was out of sight now.
And there are voices
That want to be heard
"Takishima. Takishima." I said falling to my knees. There was no one really around so I let the tears that were stinging my eyes fall.
"Takishima I… I…" I said. it was no use I didn't know what I wanted to tell him.
So much to mention
But you can't find the words
"Takishima, Takishima!" I yelled.
"Takishima!" I yelled once again.
The scent of magic
The beauty that's
When love was wilder than the wind
"Hikari." A voice said. It was Takishima's but he wasn't around. I closed my eyes and began to remember something.
"Hikari, why do you call me Takishima when every one else calls me Kei?" He asked.
"Because you are my rival and I only call my rivals by their last names." I said bluntly.
"You can call me Kei even then." He said.
"No. I stick to what I say. Unless you want me to call you Kei? Huh Takishima?" I asked.
"Whatever." He said.
"Takishima." I said in a whisper. That's it! Maybe, maybe he'll hear me.
Listen to your heart
When He's calling for you
Listen to your heart
There's nothing else you can do
I don't know where you're going
And I don't know why
But listen to your heart
Before you tell him goodbye
Listen to your heart
"K…KEI-KUN!" I yelled.
Kei's POV
I listened to Hikari call my name over and over again. Takishima. Takishima. She would say it over and over again. All I was to her was her rival. She didn't even call me by my first name. If only Hikari knew how much I loved her. Maybe then she would get it. I was already half the way to the plane when Hikari stopped calling my name.
"K…KEI-KUN!" I heard her yell. My eyes widened. She just called me by my first name. I turned around thinking of going back. I should just leave. No! I began to run back.
Hikari's POV
I sat there letting the tears run down my cheeks. He wasn't coming back. I just realized something too, something important. I heard footsteps heading my way. Someone was running. The foot steps slowed and then stopped. They were about eight feet away from me. They slowly began to walk forward. I hung my head lower not wanting the person to see me crying.
"Hikari." The voice said. Takishima! I slowly looked up and saw him standing in front of me.
"Takishima." I said. I felt my face get hot.
"No." He said. Kneeling down and grabbing my chin.
"Kei. You called me by my first name earlier." He said.
"Sorry. I was just trying to get your attention and you wouldn't come when I called you by your…" I tried to say when he hugged me.
"It made me happy. You finally called my by my first name." he said.
"K…Kei-Kun." I said. I smiled.
I don't know where your going
and I don't know why
But listen to your heart
Before…
You tell him good bye
"Kei-Kun, there are actually two reasons I don't want you to leave. One because you are my rival and two because…A…A…" I tried to say my face going red. He let go of me and looked at me.
"A…A…Aishiteru!" I said looking down.
"I love you too Hikari." Kei said. He took hold of my chin and pulled my face closer. He slowly leaned in and kissed me. So this is like I said. A kiss is only best shared with the one you love.
"I love you. Kei-kun." I said when we pulled apart.
We stood back up and walked out of the air port hand in hand.
Around the corner before they left.
"Akira tell me exactly why we are spying on them." Tadashi asked.
"Because I want to make sure nothing happens to my angel Hikari-chan." Akira said.
Through the binoculars (even though they aren't that far from Hikari and Kei and can see them perfectly without binoculars.) Akira saw Hikari and Kei kiss.
"Oh. They kissed." Tadashi said. Akira punches him in the head.
"Yeah they did." Jun said.
"Took a while." Ryuu said with a smirk.
Megumi's sign read: I agree with Ryuu-nii-san. Took a while.
"I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!" Akira said. "Now I have to share my beloved Hikari-chan with the Monster Kei!"
"Akira there they go." Tadashi said pointing at the door. Akira put the binoculars and watched.
"They are holding hands." She said before passing out.
Number 1
It was a windy September afternoon in Hakusenkan. Five figures were located on top of a nearby hill. They were Akira, Tadashi, Jun, Megumi, and Ryuu with an enormous score board just beside them. All five were currently focused on a couple with fish nets by the river.
I caught twenty-five! rang Hikari's enthusiastic voice.
...twenty-five... twenty-six... was Kei's response. It seems like I beat you again, Miss-Rank-Two.
Don't call me that!
It was one of those days when S.A.'s number one and two were engaged in a heated competition. Hikari was the one who challenged this time. That morning, she walked in the greenhouse confidently declaring that she was an Amazon expert. The S.A. students found out that their beloved 'Miss Rank Two' went on an Amazon trip that weekend and was greatly captivated by the beauty of nature. With a strong resolve, she paraded in and challenged Kei who had that big goofy smile on his face upon seeing her.
The rest of the S.A. turned to the score board. On it was Hikari and Kei's name and standing, with no surprise the aloof heir to the Takishima Corporation leading. Ninety-nine points to none. They all sighed and then diverted their gaze towards the couple who were now on their one hundredth challenge. From a distance, Hikari was smudged with so much mud, her hair sticking out in all directions, and her clothes already torn. But her smile was still as bright as the morning sun. And Kei? He was presently pretending he wasn't worried that his Hikari-chan was starting to look like a real wild Amazon.
Hikari positioned her arm near her cheek and directed the bow towards the target. "I'll definitely beat you this time, Takishima!"
The arrow directly hit the red circle 100 meters away.
"YATTA!" She punched the air and turned to Kei who was already positioned and ready to take his turn. "Ha! Takishima! Let's see you beat that!"
Instead of firing away, Kei turned around.
"Uh... Takishima... The target's that way..." Hikari pointed towards the opposite direction.
She got no response.
Seeing that the boy look serious about shooting while facing the other way around, Hikari immediately grew worried. She rushed to his side and touched his shoulder. "T-Takishima... are you alright-"
And that's when Kei released the arrow.
Hikari was at loss for words when the arrow directly hit the target after curving around the greenhouse. For the next several moments, she remained gaping at the mystery of how exactly the arrow curved. And Kei... well, he was staring at the hand currently grasping his shoulder.
"H-How? Did the arrow just—? What?" Hikari stuttered as she shifted her gaze from the target and Takishima back and forth.
Kei was as stiff as stone, still staring at Hikari's hand on his shoulder. A blush slowly began to creep on his face.
Hikari noticed Kei's reaction. "Hey... Takishima... Are you alright?" She placed her other hand on Kei's forehead.
Which only worsened the blushing.
"I think we should stop now..." Hikari said worriedly.
Kei cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I'm not sick," he whispered and gently removed Hikari's hand from his forehead and shoulder, much to his inner chagrin. And only upon holding Hikari's hand did he notice something wrong.
"You're hot."
Hikari instantly turned red. "T-T-Takishima?"
Kei pulled Hikari near him and placed his hand on her forehead this time. "You're burning... We should stop." His eyes were narrowed. "I knew I shouldn't have accepted your challenge after knowing that you spent two days in the wet Amazon. You caught a cold."
Hikari looked aghast. "I did n-not- ACHOO!"
Kei frowned. "You were saying?"
Hikari pulled away from Kei. "To stop because of me would mean that I lost."
"So you insisting that we stop when you thought I was sick was because you wanted me to lose?"
"No!" Hikari instantly denied. "Of course not! It was because I was worried—" And then she clamped her hand over her mouth while thinking why in the world she just said she was worried.
"There goes my point," Kei said directly, his eyes softening. When he realized Hikari's determination was still undeterred, he resorted into making her relent the hard way. "The score's a hundred to none, Hikari."
"Which gives me all the more reason to continue!" Hikari exclaimed, the fire of competition dancing in her eyes.
"No." Kei said icily. "Which means that the enormous gap is enough proof that you will forever be number two."
Hikari's eyes widened at her rival's callous words. "...Takishima?"
"You have no right to call yourself my rival if you won't know when to accept an obvious defeat in a challenge," His tightened fists didn't hurt as much as saying those words. "...Miss Rank Two."
Hikari remained rooted to her spot, speechless. For the first time, she felt completely crushed. She couldn't retaliate. It was because Takishima Kei had just stripped off her title as his rival and bluntly said all those hurtful words. Had she really gone this far to anger the prominent iceman of Hakusenkan?
What she did next surprised Takishima.
Hikari grinned at him. "Heh... You really are smart, Takishima. For a moment, I believed that you meant everything you said."
Kei's eyes widened in surprise. Was there an end to her denseness after all?
"You said all those because..."
I care... Kei smiled.
"You want to discourage me, so that you wouldn't have to play anymore... because you really are ill!" Hikari exclaimed. "Geez, Takishima! You didn't have to insult me like that! If you wanted to quit, you could have just said so!
Kei slapped his forehead. Oh Hikari... "I give up." He removed his hand off his face and smiled.
Hikari returned his smile. "Since you're sick... I won't claim victory. You were at a disadvantage from the beginning, and I can't believe I didn't notice. I should have paid attention to the funny looks you were giving me this morning." She sighed. "And you were uncharacteristically happy today," she added bewildered which only made Kei smile even more. "I had a feeling things would go wrong after I leave S.A. for only two days... Anyway, so it's a draw." She sighed. "Honestly at times, I feel like I would really be ranked number two in everything forever."
"No."
Hikari turned to Kei, surprised.
"It pains me to finally say this, but I admit defeat this time."
Hikari's mouth dropped open. "...Takishima? You're starting to say senseless things that it worries me..."
"You have always been number one, Hikari. Even way back when we were six years old."
Hikari was completely clueless to what the heck Kei was talking about.
"In here." He touched his heart.
Hikari fainted from fatigue even before Kei got to say his declaration.
Unbeknownst to Hikari was that even she should have admitted defeat. For all along, Kei had always been number one in her heart too. Sucks for Kei that Hikari just had to be the densest person in the world. Only when Hikari realizes her feeling for him would the resulting relationship be proof of absolute defeat for both parties.
But in all sense... they really were both winners.
Both number one.
I caught twenty-five! rang Hikari's enthusiastic voice.
...twenty-five... twenty-six... was Kei's response. It seems like I beat you again, Miss-Rank-Two.
Don't call me that!
It was one of those days when S.A.'s number one and two were engaged in a heated competition. Hikari was the one who challenged this time. That morning, she walked in the greenhouse confidently declaring that she was an Amazon expert. The S.A. students found out that their beloved 'Miss Rank Two' went on an Amazon trip that weekend and was greatly captivated by the beauty of nature. With a strong resolve, she paraded in and challenged Kei who had that big goofy smile on his face upon seeing her.
The rest of the S.A. turned to the score board. On it was Hikari and Kei's name and standing, with no surprise the aloof heir to the Takishima Corporation leading. Ninety-nine points to none. They all sighed and then diverted their gaze towards the couple who were now on their one hundredth challenge. From a distance, Hikari was smudged with so much mud, her hair sticking out in all directions, and her clothes already torn. But her smile was still as bright as the morning sun. And Kei? He was presently pretending he wasn't worried that his Hikari-chan was starting to look like a real wild Amazon.
Hikari positioned her arm near her cheek and directed the bow towards the target. "I'll definitely beat you this time, Takishima!"
The arrow directly hit the red circle 100 meters away.
"YATTA!" She punched the air and turned to Kei who was already positioned and ready to take his turn. "Ha! Takishima! Let's see you beat that!"
Instead of firing away, Kei turned around.
"Uh... Takishima... The target's that way..." Hikari pointed towards the opposite direction.
She got no response.
Seeing that the boy look serious about shooting while facing the other way around, Hikari immediately grew worried. She rushed to his side and touched his shoulder. "T-Takishima... are you alright-"
And that's when Kei released the arrow.
Hikari was at loss for words when the arrow directly hit the target after curving around the greenhouse. For the next several moments, she remained gaping at the mystery of how exactly the arrow curved. And Kei... well, he was staring at the hand currently grasping his shoulder.
"H-How? Did the arrow just—? What?" Hikari stuttered as she shifted her gaze from the target and Takishima back and forth.
Kei was as stiff as stone, still staring at Hikari's hand on his shoulder. A blush slowly began to creep on his face.
Hikari noticed Kei's reaction. "Hey... Takishima... Are you alright?" She placed her other hand on Kei's forehead.
Which only worsened the blushing.
"I think we should stop now..." Hikari said worriedly.
Kei cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I'm not sick," he whispered and gently removed Hikari's hand from his forehead and shoulder, much to his inner chagrin. And only upon holding Hikari's hand did he notice something wrong.
"You're hot."
Hikari instantly turned red. "T-T-Takishima?"
Kei pulled Hikari near him and placed his hand on her forehead this time. "You're burning... We should stop." His eyes were narrowed. "I knew I shouldn't have accepted your challenge after knowing that you spent two days in the wet Amazon. You caught a cold."
Hikari looked aghast. "I did n-not- ACHOO!"
Kei frowned. "You were saying?"
Hikari pulled away from Kei. "To stop because of me would mean that I lost."
"So you insisting that we stop when you thought I was sick was because you wanted me to lose?"
"No!" Hikari instantly denied. "Of course not! It was because I was worried—" And then she clamped her hand over her mouth while thinking why in the world she just said she was worried.
"There goes my point," Kei said directly, his eyes softening. When he realized Hikari's determination was still undeterred, he resorted into making her relent the hard way. "The score's a hundred to none, Hikari."
"Which gives me all the more reason to continue!" Hikari exclaimed, the fire of competition dancing in her eyes.
"No." Kei said icily. "Which means that the enormous gap is enough proof that you will forever be number two."
Hikari's eyes widened at her rival's callous words. "...Takishima?"
"You have no right to call yourself my rival if you won't know when to accept an obvious defeat in a challenge," His tightened fists didn't hurt as much as saying those words. "...Miss Rank Two."
Hikari remained rooted to her spot, speechless. For the first time, she felt completely crushed. She couldn't retaliate. It was because Takishima Kei had just stripped off her title as his rival and bluntly said all those hurtful words. Had she really gone this far to anger the prominent iceman of Hakusenkan?
What she did next surprised Takishima.
Hikari grinned at him. "Heh... You really are smart, Takishima. For a moment, I believed that you meant everything you said."
Kei's eyes widened in surprise. Was there an end to her denseness after all?
"You said all those because..."
I care... Kei smiled.
"You want to discourage me, so that you wouldn't have to play anymore... because you really are ill!" Hikari exclaimed. "Geez, Takishima! You didn't have to insult me like that! If you wanted to quit, you could have just said so!
Kei slapped his forehead. Oh Hikari... "I give up." He removed his hand off his face and smiled.
Hikari returned his smile. "Since you're sick... I won't claim victory. You were at a disadvantage from the beginning, and I can't believe I didn't notice. I should have paid attention to the funny looks you were giving me this morning." She sighed. "And you were uncharacteristically happy today," she added bewildered which only made Kei smile even more. "I had a feeling things would go wrong after I leave S.A. for only two days... Anyway, so it's a draw." She sighed. "Honestly at times, I feel like I would really be ranked number two in everything forever."
"No."
Hikari turned to Kei, surprised.
"It pains me to finally say this, but I admit defeat this time."
Hikari's mouth dropped open. "...Takishima? You're starting to say senseless things that it worries me..."
"You have always been number one, Hikari. Even way back when we were six years old."
Hikari was completely clueless to what the heck Kei was talking about.
"In here." He touched his heart.
Hikari fainted from fatigue even before Kei got to say his declaration.
Unbeknownst to Hikari was that even she should have admitted defeat. For all along, Kei had always been number one in her heart too. Sucks for Kei that Hikari just had to be the densest person in the world. Only when Hikari realizes her feeling for him would the resulting relationship be proof of absolute defeat for both parties.
But in all sense... they really were both winners.
Both number one.
The Wonderer
Assiduously the fans in the Special A's greenhouse rotated.
"Try harder already, Tadashi!" Akira grabbed her boyfriend by the collar shaking him hardly in the hope for some idea or the other tumbling out of him.
"Say, Akira, didn't you intend to be a little more gentle with Tadashi...?" Ryuu wanted to know
"Oh well, he doesn't deserve that – plus he doesn't want it any different!"
"Err...," was the most intelligent thing Tadashi was capable of saying.
"Don't worry, Akira!" Hikari gave her a broad smile. "I'm confident we'll get tons of ideas, if we just try hard enough!"
Megumi held up the board Yahiro had given to her: "That's Hikari! :)"
Still he could not believe this. Could not logically retrace how a single person had been able to ball up his entire life dispersing so much dust it still had not laid back to the ground.
But she just was a little williwaw; Hikari... Did she even know what a chaos she had created? Was she wondering about the things she did and said...?
While humming the fan-song by Maybebop, Hikari polished their mindmap; finally she held it up triumphantly: "Tada! Good job, everyone – Takishima is going to be thrilled!"
"Well, as thrilled as Kei can be...," said incredibly thrillable Yahiro.
Megumi smiled at him telling via board: "Don't be a party-pooper... !"
"Hn."
"Anyway, we'll all have a ball – and I'll beat Takishima in any or maybe even in every single discipline possible..." There was a fire sparked within Hikari, which was almost frightening.
Was she wondering about what she was doing, while she with her cheerful character easily cheered him up in any situation within seconds, making him totally forget about work? Was she wondering about what she was saying when she told him he was someone special to her? Was she catching all that's been inside his head for so long suddenly coming out of his mouth? Did he himself understand what was going on with him? No, that indeed he did not... but he would. That he had sworn to himself, hunted by the thought of got it made, getting his thoughts in order – or wanderingforever through the rain colored by his thoughts. He would understand, no more running blind; he would not ever lose his sight, never.
Perpetually the assiduous fans in the greenhouse rotated, wasting more and more energy. But none of those present cared about this in that very moment.
"Aw, that'll be great!" Overwhelmed by joy Sakura gave Jun a thoughtless kiss. "Let's go to the Takishimas' place right now and start the preparations!"
"Leave the romantic decorations to me – and the pretty girls will follow me on our way there anyway!" Narcissisticly Jun played with his hair.
"Romantic? Girls?" Sakura blinked.
"You did it again...," Megumi's board informed her.
"Oh... Well, I like this Jun as well, but I guess the other one would be of more help right now..." With a second kiss Sakura turned her prince back into... her other prince.
Had he not been waiting for that all the time...? For somebody to come and take his hand, to guard him through the gray night into a brighter world? For somebody to fill all this emptiness surrounding him, which nobody had been capable of breaking through before?
Yes, he had. By day. By night. All his life.
And then Hikari had come... Many years had passed by now since he had firstly beaten her in wrestling. Fast he had understood how important she was to him. And she... had not seen the forest for the trees. A real brain fart... Yes, indeed it would have almost driven him crazy.
But now... now he should be happy, should spend his time with her instead of wandering through the rain by himself... shouldn't he?
It definitively was quite a ridiculous sight how seven persons were trying to squeeze together in a moderately grown bush – being note quite hidden already alone for the fact that everyone was complaining vociferously about accidental kicks etc. However, there were seven umbrellas above the bush, too...
A policeman, who happened to pass by, looked at those critically for several minutes, before he asked: "That's not some kind of happy drug flea market... is it?"
"Huh?" asked the bush.
"Yes, it's unbelievable how many dealers can't think of a better meeting point than one of the good old and very clichéd bushes...," the policeman shrugged his shoulders.
"Of course we are absolutely no drug dealers!," Sakura bristled at him.
"...clients waiting for the dealer...?," the policeman dug deeper.
Sakura saw red: "Are you insinuating ME lying? A Ushikubo would NEVER EVER lie! How dare you..."
"Err... Sakura, he did not affirm you lied. Everyone knows how important saying the truth is to you." Jun gave her a winning smile.
"Oh, Jun..." Sakura flung her arms around his neck, the other bush squattered breathed a sigh of relief. The policeman simply shrug his shoulders once more, salutated easily and went his way – almost being run over by an enthusiastic Hikari.
"The cat's gone already – let's go play, mice!"
He wanted to catch all that's been inside his head - and then do something about it; wanted to banish this dark place within his soul to the most remote place of his heart. No. He would do it. And the thought of got it made had chased him to the streets he was wandering in mazily search for a clear thought.
Hikari sighed. The preparations themselves sure were a lot of fun. And now she did not get to lend her hand. Takishima could come back every moment, they had said. She had to wait at the entrance and distract him, as soon as he showed up, they had said.
Had Ryuu really not been able to marshal a dog or something? She was a runner – one bark and she would have been there, ready to distract Takishima. Now she stood underneath the projecting roof, listened to the rain and gazed at the X rings it drew into the oil colored puddles.
She wondered what Takishima was doing... Was he thinking about her, too – at least a little...? Was he wondering about the things that had happened a couple of weeks ago? Was he wondering about the things they had done and said?
She set down and leaned against the wall. Takishima, hm? Somebody who was there to bail her out of anything, anytime. Somebody who had not turned down a single one of her countless challenges – and certainly never would do so in the future; because he still took her seriously... and both of them always had a good time during their competitions.
Hikari smiled at the thought of all the fun waiting for them later that very day – and, of course, her long awaited victory.
Kei halted. Without purpose his steps had brought him home and he had not even noticed until now that he had actually arrived there.
But he was not done thinking, he could not return like that. He was about to turn away from the big building when he noticed a detail. A person sitting huddled next to the entrance.
Hikari...
Suddenly it was clear as daylight: Hikari had always been the only one he had honestly been interested in; the only thing in his life that really mattered to him. Everything he would have dropped for her, everything. There obviously was only one thing he wanted to do: Let her abduct him to a turbulent rollercoaster-ride through her colorful world. Every single day. Everything was not really important. And he swore himself never to lose that out of sight again, not even for a second.
In this very moment she saw him, immediately got up, ran towards him – and he ran towards her, grabbed her and centrifuged her before he accroached her.
"Welcome home, Takishima...," Hikari murmured nestling up to him.
He caressed her hair: "What a nice surprise!"
"Oh, wait until you see the real surprise!" Hikari loosened the hug in order to grin at him like a Cheshire cat.
"What, can it get even better...?" Kei blinked.
"Oooh yeah, you'll see." Now it was Hikaris turn blinking.
"Hikari... I have been thinking and I drew the conclusion that we made things more complicated than necessary these days."
"Complicated...?"
"You see... things like 'Takishima, we really have to go shopping, and you have to carry all my stuff just like I saw it on tv!'"
"Err... well, not my best idea," Hikari admitted.
"Or for example 'Takishima, we need to go to the cinema like everyone does' or 'Takishima, we really should stand in the middle of campus kissing and blocking other people's way!'"
"Hey, I never said something like that!"
"But you thought something like that, didn't you?"
"Okay, okay, I get it!"
"For sure...?"
Hikari grumbled something not to be understood in her not existing beard making Kei snicker. Hikari winced: "Ah, you did it again!"
"What...?"
"You... you... you just laughed!"
"Just a little... so what?"
"Oh, I just never thought you'd learn that so suddenly – but these days you're doing it quite frequently!" Hikari beamed with joy.
"Well... must be because of you. Because of us. What I wanted to say... I really think we should stop looking what others are doing and might expect us to do, but just continue to do what we used to do, that was much more... fun. After all we are members of the Special A and therefore something special, so we really don't need to be geared to others!"
"Err..."
"Yes...?"
"Wonderful!"
"Yes...?"
"Yes! That's exactly what I've been thinking. So, let's go inside, the others should be almost ready by now to start today's big tournament. And be aware, I won't go easy on you just because you're my boyfriend now, but beat you in every single competition, Kei Takishima!"
Kei laughed: "Now, that's my Hikari..."
"104,36 °F...," Ryuu declared with a look at the thermometer. "Why for heaven's sake did you walk in the rain all day - without a proper raincoat?
"Hm," made Kei. "I don't care... as long as Hikari is going to nourish me..."
"Ha, and how I'm going to do that! Within no time you'll be the healthiest person on earth!" Hikari exclaimed.
"Well... Takishima definitively won't be able to participate in our tournament...," Akira figuered. "So for now Hikari will be all mine!"
"Too bad, this was supposed to be the day of my great victory...," Hikari complained. "Ha, hold on! I already did beat you, Takishima!"
"Huh?"
"Yehes, both of us have been outside in the cold rain – you caught a bad cold, I didn't. My immune system is better than y... haaachu! Oh..."
"Ha, there you go! You just needed longer to get it – and therefore I'll be healthy again faster, Ni-san!"
Hikari felt so beat by this naming that it took her some time to get ready to conter...
Hikari pulled the blanket above her nose. This tournament certainly was a whole lot of fun... and she missed all the fun! How could she have fallen ill so fast, anyway? What was with all the stuff she had learned in school about incubation periods? "I want to have fun, too...," she muttered.
"I think it's kind of a nice alternation... nice and cozy," Kei's comment came from the couch.
"Hm...," Hikari made. She could feel that her temperature had not reached its maximum, yet... and out of a sudden she felt kind of... affectionate...
"Takishima! I love you!" Out of the blue she hopped over to Kei's couch.
"Hikari? Err... I totally forgot about how... clingy you get, when you have a temperature..."
"Huh? Takishimaaa..."
Kei smirked: "I love you, too, Hikari."
"Try harder already, Tadashi!" Akira grabbed her boyfriend by the collar shaking him hardly in the hope for some idea or the other tumbling out of him.
"Say, Akira, didn't you intend to be a little more gentle with Tadashi...?" Ryuu wanted to know
"Oh well, he doesn't deserve that – plus he doesn't want it any different!"
"Err...," was the most intelligent thing Tadashi was capable of saying.
"Don't worry, Akira!" Hikari gave her a broad smile. "I'm confident we'll get tons of ideas, if we just try hard enough!"
Megumi held up the board Yahiro had given to her: "That's Hikari! :)"
Still he could not believe this. Could not logically retrace how a single person had been able to ball up his entire life dispersing so much dust it still had not laid back to the ground.
But she just was a little williwaw; Hikari... Did she even know what a chaos she had created? Was she wondering about the things she did and said...?
While humming the fan-song by Maybebop, Hikari polished their mindmap; finally she held it up triumphantly: "Tada! Good job, everyone – Takishima is going to be thrilled!"
"Well, as thrilled as Kei can be...," said incredibly thrillable Yahiro.
Megumi smiled at him telling via board: "Don't be a party-pooper... !"
"Hn."
"Anyway, we'll all have a ball – and I'll beat Takishima in any or maybe even in every single discipline possible..." There was a fire sparked within Hikari, which was almost frightening.
Was she wondering about what she was doing, while she with her cheerful character easily cheered him up in any situation within seconds, making him totally forget about work? Was she wondering about what she was saying when she told him he was someone special to her? Was she catching all that's been inside his head for so long suddenly coming out of his mouth? Did he himself understand what was going on with him? No, that indeed he did not... but he would. That he had sworn to himself, hunted by the thought of got it made, getting his thoughts in order – or wanderingforever through the rain colored by his thoughts. He would understand, no more running blind; he would not ever lose his sight, never.
Perpetually the assiduous fans in the greenhouse rotated, wasting more and more energy. But none of those present cared about this in that very moment.
"Aw, that'll be great!" Overwhelmed by joy Sakura gave Jun a thoughtless kiss. "Let's go to the Takishimas' place right now and start the preparations!"
"Leave the romantic decorations to me – and the pretty girls will follow me on our way there anyway!" Narcissisticly Jun played with his hair.
"Romantic? Girls?" Sakura blinked.
"You did it again...," Megumi's board informed her.
"Oh... Well, I like this Jun as well, but I guess the other one would be of more help right now..." With a second kiss Sakura turned her prince back into... her other prince.
Had he not been waiting for that all the time...? For somebody to come and take his hand, to guard him through the gray night into a brighter world? For somebody to fill all this emptiness surrounding him, which nobody had been capable of breaking through before?
Yes, he had. By day. By night. All his life.
And then Hikari had come... Many years had passed by now since he had firstly beaten her in wrestling. Fast he had understood how important she was to him. And she... had not seen the forest for the trees. A real brain fart... Yes, indeed it would have almost driven him crazy.
But now... now he should be happy, should spend his time with her instead of wandering through the rain by himself... shouldn't he?
It definitively was quite a ridiculous sight how seven persons were trying to squeeze together in a moderately grown bush – being note quite hidden already alone for the fact that everyone was complaining vociferously about accidental kicks etc. However, there were seven umbrellas above the bush, too...
A policeman, who happened to pass by, looked at those critically for several minutes, before he asked: "That's not some kind of happy drug flea market... is it?"
"Huh?" asked the bush.
"Yes, it's unbelievable how many dealers can't think of a better meeting point than one of the good old and very clichéd bushes...," the policeman shrugged his shoulders.
"Of course we are absolutely no drug dealers!," Sakura bristled at him.
"...clients waiting for the dealer...?," the policeman dug deeper.
Sakura saw red: "Are you insinuating ME lying? A Ushikubo would NEVER EVER lie! How dare you..."
"Err... Sakura, he did not affirm you lied. Everyone knows how important saying the truth is to you." Jun gave her a winning smile.
"Oh, Jun..." Sakura flung her arms around his neck, the other bush squattered breathed a sigh of relief. The policeman simply shrug his shoulders once more, salutated easily and went his way – almost being run over by an enthusiastic Hikari.
"The cat's gone already – let's go play, mice!"
He wanted to catch all that's been inside his head - and then do something about it; wanted to banish this dark place within his soul to the most remote place of his heart. No. He would do it. And the thought of got it made had chased him to the streets he was wandering in mazily search for a clear thought.
Hikari sighed. The preparations themselves sure were a lot of fun. And now she did not get to lend her hand. Takishima could come back every moment, they had said. She had to wait at the entrance and distract him, as soon as he showed up, they had said.
Had Ryuu really not been able to marshal a dog or something? She was a runner – one bark and she would have been there, ready to distract Takishima. Now she stood underneath the projecting roof, listened to the rain and gazed at the X rings it drew into the oil colored puddles.
She wondered what Takishima was doing... Was he thinking about her, too – at least a little...? Was he wondering about the things that had happened a couple of weeks ago? Was he wondering about the things they had done and said?
She set down and leaned against the wall. Takishima, hm? Somebody who was there to bail her out of anything, anytime. Somebody who had not turned down a single one of her countless challenges – and certainly never would do so in the future; because he still took her seriously... and both of them always had a good time during their competitions.
Hikari smiled at the thought of all the fun waiting for them later that very day – and, of course, her long awaited victory.
Kei halted. Without purpose his steps had brought him home and he had not even noticed until now that he had actually arrived there.
But he was not done thinking, he could not return like that. He was about to turn away from the big building when he noticed a detail. A person sitting huddled next to the entrance.
Hikari...
Suddenly it was clear as daylight: Hikari had always been the only one he had honestly been interested in; the only thing in his life that really mattered to him. Everything he would have dropped for her, everything. There obviously was only one thing he wanted to do: Let her abduct him to a turbulent rollercoaster-ride through her colorful world. Every single day. Everything was not really important. And he swore himself never to lose that out of sight again, not even for a second.
In this very moment she saw him, immediately got up, ran towards him – and he ran towards her, grabbed her and centrifuged her before he accroached her.
"Welcome home, Takishima...," Hikari murmured nestling up to him.
He caressed her hair: "What a nice surprise!"
"Oh, wait until you see the real surprise!" Hikari loosened the hug in order to grin at him like a Cheshire cat.
"What, can it get even better...?" Kei blinked.
"Oooh yeah, you'll see." Now it was Hikaris turn blinking.
"Hikari... I have been thinking and I drew the conclusion that we made things more complicated than necessary these days."
"Complicated...?"
"You see... things like 'Takishima, we really have to go shopping, and you have to carry all my stuff just like I saw it on tv!'"
"Err... well, not my best idea," Hikari admitted.
"Or for example 'Takishima, we need to go to the cinema like everyone does' or 'Takishima, we really should stand in the middle of campus kissing and blocking other people's way!'"
"Hey, I never said something like that!"
"But you thought something like that, didn't you?"
"Okay, okay, I get it!"
"For sure...?"
Hikari grumbled something not to be understood in her not existing beard making Kei snicker. Hikari winced: "Ah, you did it again!"
"What...?"
"You... you... you just laughed!"
"Just a little... so what?"
"Oh, I just never thought you'd learn that so suddenly – but these days you're doing it quite frequently!" Hikari beamed with joy.
"Well... must be because of you. Because of us. What I wanted to say... I really think we should stop looking what others are doing and might expect us to do, but just continue to do what we used to do, that was much more... fun. After all we are members of the Special A and therefore something special, so we really don't need to be geared to others!"
"Err..."
"Yes...?"
"Wonderful!"
"Yes...?"
"Yes! That's exactly what I've been thinking. So, let's go inside, the others should be almost ready by now to start today's big tournament. And be aware, I won't go easy on you just because you're my boyfriend now, but beat you in every single competition, Kei Takishima!"
Kei laughed: "Now, that's my Hikari..."
"104,36 °F...," Ryuu declared with a look at the thermometer. "Why for heaven's sake did you walk in the rain all day - without a proper raincoat?
"Hm," made Kei. "I don't care... as long as Hikari is going to nourish me..."
"Ha, and how I'm going to do that! Within no time you'll be the healthiest person on earth!" Hikari exclaimed.
"Well... Takishima definitively won't be able to participate in our tournament...," Akira figuered. "So for now Hikari will be all mine!"
"Too bad, this was supposed to be the day of my great victory...," Hikari complained. "Ha, hold on! I already did beat you, Takishima!"
"Huh?"
"Yehes, both of us have been outside in the cold rain – you caught a bad cold, I didn't. My immune system is better than y... haaachu! Oh..."
"Ha, there you go! You just needed longer to get it – and therefore I'll be healthy again faster, Ni-san!"
Hikari felt so beat by this naming that it took her some time to get ready to conter...
Hikari pulled the blanket above her nose. This tournament certainly was a whole lot of fun... and she missed all the fun! How could she have fallen ill so fast, anyway? What was with all the stuff she had learned in school about incubation periods? "I want to have fun, too...," she muttered.
"I think it's kind of a nice alternation... nice and cozy," Kei's comment came from the couch.
"Hm...," Hikari made. She could feel that her temperature had not reached its maximum, yet... and out of a sudden she felt kind of... affectionate...
"Takishima! I love you!" Out of the blue she hopped over to Kei's couch.
"Hikari? Err... I totally forgot about how... clingy you get, when you have a temperature..."
"Huh? Takishimaaa..."
Kei smirked: "I love you, too, Hikari."
Wildflower
Love can be poison
Love painted in wealth, more so than normal.
It is a soft blade of the rich. Emotion tempered and prodded by politics. It gives a lovely name to an unlovely thing. Pretty words like engagement, fiancés, alliances, and inheritances gloss the truth of a breeding mare.
It is only years after the fact that Hikari thinks not all of Takashima's grandfather's meddling was done for Kei's benefit.
A girl like Hikari does not understand the pretty cages wealthy wives belong to. Not like Akira and Sakura; not like corporate daughters and docile heiresses.
It is only years later that Hikari thinks love cannot bridge all gaps because Hikari has always knows she is a wildflower—she has none of the ruthlessness of a rose or elegance of a greenhouse beauty. She finally sees the truth of her youth that she's never had to before.
Takashima Kei is terrifying but nevermore so that when his Japanese wife is placed in danger.
She loves him and finds she loves him too much to throw his life in disarray. She knows now that she has always been the only woman he's ever seen and because of that he doesn't know how to let her go.
Only she can do that.
Kei is love and life but those become pretty words when she is the only one whispering them in their bed.
There is a garden in their home, full and bright and she hates it because these are plants that do not talk back, do not laugh, and there is no comradice that belongs to roses.
In the end she is a wildflower, bright and rugged and never meant for a flowerbed.
It is not that she is unwelcomed or caged forcibly but she has come to understand the uncomfortable set of her mother's shoulders; the embarrassed shrug of her brother frame. There is incomprehension and incredulity in every set of eyes and not many can understand.
Takashima Kei is a name that is cunning and cold, efficient and simply the best. He is not someone anyone can touch but there are plenty that twist with the desire. And Takashima Kei burns brightly for only one desire—his silly Japanese girl.
The fact does not change; does not stop rivals from scheming with words of love and menace; does not forgive crumpling empires made so by Takashima Kei's revenge. Doubt becomes a new bar in her cage; she has never had to question motives before. It is all she can do now.
She is a wildflower cursed by love and loneliness and doubt.
She does not belong and has come to know Takashima Kei is bright but he is not the sun.
She can only survive for so long.
Love painted in wealth, more so than normal.
It is a soft blade of the rich. Emotion tempered and prodded by politics. It gives a lovely name to an unlovely thing. Pretty words like engagement, fiancés, alliances, and inheritances gloss the truth of a breeding mare.
It is only years after the fact that Hikari thinks not all of Takashima's grandfather's meddling was done for Kei's benefit.
A girl like Hikari does not understand the pretty cages wealthy wives belong to. Not like Akira and Sakura; not like corporate daughters and docile heiresses.
It is only years later that Hikari thinks love cannot bridge all gaps because Hikari has always knows she is a wildflower—she has none of the ruthlessness of a rose or elegance of a greenhouse beauty. She finally sees the truth of her youth that she's never had to before.
Takashima Kei is terrifying but nevermore so that when his Japanese wife is placed in danger.
She loves him and finds she loves him too much to throw his life in disarray. She knows now that she has always been the only woman he's ever seen and because of that he doesn't know how to let her go.
Only she can do that.
Kei is love and life but those become pretty words when she is the only one whispering them in their bed.
There is a garden in their home, full and bright and she hates it because these are plants that do not talk back, do not laugh, and there is no comradice that belongs to roses.
In the end she is a wildflower, bright and rugged and never meant for a flowerbed.
It is not that she is unwelcomed or caged forcibly but she has come to understand the uncomfortable set of her mother's shoulders; the embarrassed shrug of her brother frame. There is incomprehension and incredulity in every set of eyes and not many can understand.
Takashima Kei is a name that is cunning and cold, efficient and simply the best. He is not someone anyone can touch but there are plenty that twist with the desire. And Takashima Kei burns brightly for only one desire—his silly Japanese girl.
The fact does not change; does not stop rivals from scheming with words of love and menace; does not forgive crumpling empires made so by Takashima Kei's revenge. Doubt becomes a new bar in her cage; she has never had to question motives before. It is all she can do now.
She is a wildflower cursed by love and loneliness and doubt.
She does not belong and has come to know Takashima Kei is bright but he is not the sun.
She can only survive for so long.
Presentiment
He stood there.
Averting his eyes here and there to spot a certain brunette, Saiga Yahiro searched for his pretend-partner for that day.
Two days ago, he had indirectly volunteered to be Megumi's 'boyfriend' just so her mother's anger towards a non-existent person (or so he thought) would , Yamamoto Megumi had made her mother worried over something negative she said.
That girl, she always tried to solve her problems by doing the most stupid ways. Instead of asking a member of the SA to pretend as her boyfriend, she went into a random restaurant asking a random guy to become HER boyfriend.
Really, didn't that girl realize how stupid that idea was? Was her solution to all her problem asking guys to be her boyfriend? Heaving out a silent sigh, Yahiro looked around their meeting place. People from all ages walked passed him in the concert hall where the live performance of Yamamoto Rin was going to be held.
Discreetly, he observed that there were other guys who were waiting for their dates on areas not far from where he stood. There were also some young ladies there who were either waiting patiently or standing irritably on other areas of the wide-spread hall.
To be honest, Yahiro had expected Megumi to be there on the concert hall before he arrived; just like how she was the first one to appear during their first date. He had imagined her, standing in front of the entrance, wearing some light-shaded and conservative dress that matched her shy glances while waiting for him, Saiga Yahiro, to accompany her to listen to her mother's famous singing.
He did not plan on arriving late unlike on their first date; he actually reached their meeting place right on time. However, instead of spotting the long-haired brunette on the left side of the concert hall where they agreed to meet, he was faced with some strangers and some dull looking posters.
Thinking that the girl probably expected that it would turn out like their first date wherein she had to wait for him, Yahiro did not mind waiting for Megumi for a while.
'However, I'll make sure that she'll pay me for making me stand here just to wait for her arrival.' He smirked and looked at his watch; she was five minutes late.
He watched as a young blond who stood a meter away from him brightened in pleasure as a casually dressed girl rushed towards him. The pair begun to head towards the main entrance and soon, they disappeared from Yahiro's sight.
Adjusting his collar, Yahiro's eyes averted towards the direction where Megumi was supposed to come from. Again, he watched the people walked and passed him by with their own worries.
'Maybe she's waiting on the other side of this-"
"CAR ACCIDENT?"
Yahiro turned towards the direction of a middle-aged man who held his cellphone beside his ear with a very nervous expression on his face. Without wasting another moment, the man dashed towards the exit muttering hurriedly that he was on his way to the hospital.
Straightening himself, Yahiro's eyes narrowed; Megumi was still not there. It was very possible that an accident-
No. Yahiro stopped himself from thinking like that; it was no use to worry unnecessarily. It was more probable to think that Megumi was caught in a heavy traffic than in some deadly accident.
If an accident ever fall on that girl, surely he would know that; after all, he had a wide source of information for things like that.
Crossing his arms, he convinced himself that Megumi would come anytime soon.
He just had to wait for some more time for that weird and silly girl, and then, he would really make her pay for wasting his time standing there in the middle of the crowded hall.
At this point of thought, Yahiro noticed that the people in the concert hall has diminished. Moving his sleeve up so he could check the time on his wristwatch, Yahiro did not like to know that it had already been fifteen minutes passed their meeting time. The concert would be starting in ten minutes!
His eyebrows curved in frustration and he huffed out loud. He started trudging towards the entrance of the building when the sound of an ambulance's siren stopped him.
An image of a limo tumbled upside down with broken glasses and fire surrounding it flashed on his mind. And Megumi...
Frustration splashed on Yahiro's face.
Where the heck was that Yamamoto Megumi?
He continued his way outside and took his cellphone from his pocket. After pressing a few keys, he placed the phone right after his right ear and waited for Megumi to pick up his call. However, instead of a series of ringing, the voice of a teller announcing that the number he was trying to dial was out of service was what reached Yahiro's ears.
Really, what's wrong with that girl turning off her phone at a time like this?
Glaring at his cellphone as if it was the poor object's fault for Megumi not being there, Yahiro pressed in Sakura's number. He was sure that the pink-haired girl was with Megumi's twin at that time. Hopefully, Jun would know where his silly sister was.
He had to wait for a couple of rings to finish before his classmate answered the phone.
"Yahiro?"
"Sakura, is Jun-kun with you?" Yahiro tried to keep his voice calm although Sakura could clearly hear the change in his usual carefree tone from the other side of the line.
Thanks to her sharp instincts, the pink haired girl knew that Megumi's unannounced presence in Akira's home was the reason as to why Yahiro was searching for her boyfriend with a worried tone.
Instead of an answer, Yahiro received a giggle from Sakura, and this made his eyebrows furrowed deeper. He realized that Sakura already knew what was going on.
"You know where Megumi is?" Yahiro straigtened himself, his voice toned dangerously calm.
"She's right here in Akira-chan's house."
With that, Yahiro closed his phone and headed to the parking lot. A rather evil and angry aura emanated from him as he tightened his grip on his phone.
Yamamoto Megumi.
How dare she made HIM worried.
Averting his eyes here and there to spot a certain brunette, Saiga Yahiro searched for his pretend-partner for that day.
Two days ago, he had indirectly volunteered to be Megumi's 'boyfriend' just so her mother's anger towards a non-existent person (or so he thought) would , Yamamoto Megumi had made her mother worried over something negative she said.
That girl, she always tried to solve her problems by doing the most stupid ways. Instead of asking a member of the SA to pretend as her boyfriend, she went into a random restaurant asking a random guy to become HER boyfriend.
Really, didn't that girl realize how stupid that idea was? Was her solution to all her problem asking guys to be her boyfriend? Heaving out a silent sigh, Yahiro looked around their meeting place. People from all ages walked passed him in the concert hall where the live performance of Yamamoto Rin was going to be held.
Discreetly, he observed that there were other guys who were waiting for their dates on areas not far from where he stood. There were also some young ladies there who were either waiting patiently or standing irritably on other areas of the wide-spread hall.
To be honest, Yahiro had expected Megumi to be there on the concert hall before he arrived; just like how she was the first one to appear during their first date. He had imagined her, standing in front of the entrance, wearing some light-shaded and conservative dress that matched her shy glances while waiting for him, Saiga Yahiro, to accompany her to listen to her mother's famous singing.
He did not plan on arriving late unlike on their first date; he actually reached their meeting place right on time. However, instead of spotting the long-haired brunette on the left side of the concert hall where they agreed to meet, he was faced with some strangers and some dull looking posters.
Thinking that the girl probably expected that it would turn out like their first date wherein she had to wait for him, Yahiro did not mind waiting for Megumi for a while.
'However, I'll make sure that she'll pay me for making me stand here just to wait for her arrival.' He smirked and looked at his watch; she was five minutes late.
He watched as a young blond who stood a meter away from him brightened in pleasure as a casually dressed girl rushed towards him. The pair begun to head towards the main entrance and soon, they disappeared from Yahiro's sight.
Adjusting his collar, Yahiro's eyes averted towards the direction where Megumi was supposed to come from. Again, he watched the people walked and passed him by with their own worries.
'Maybe she's waiting on the other side of this-"
"CAR ACCIDENT?"
Yahiro turned towards the direction of a middle-aged man who held his cellphone beside his ear with a very nervous expression on his face. Without wasting another moment, the man dashed towards the exit muttering hurriedly that he was on his way to the hospital.
Straightening himself, Yahiro's eyes narrowed; Megumi was still not there. It was very possible that an accident-
No. Yahiro stopped himself from thinking like that; it was no use to worry unnecessarily. It was more probable to think that Megumi was caught in a heavy traffic than in some deadly accident.
If an accident ever fall on that girl, surely he would know that; after all, he had a wide source of information for things like that.
Crossing his arms, he convinced himself that Megumi would come anytime soon.
He just had to wait for some more time for that weird and silly girl, and then, he would really make her pay for wasting his time standing there in the middle of the crowded hall.
At this point of thought, Yahiro noticed that the people in the concert hall has diminished. Moving his sleeve up so he could check the time on his wristwatch, Yahiro did not like to know that it had already been fifteen minutes passed their meeting time. The concert would be starting in ten minutes!
His eyebrows curved in frustration and he huffed out loud. He started trudging towards the entrance of the building when the sound of an ambulance's siren stopped him.
An image of a limo tumbled upside down with broken glasses and fire surrounding it flashed on his mind. And Megumi...
Frustration splashed on Yahiro's face.
Where the heck was that Yamamoto Megumi?
He continued his way outside and took his cellphone from his pocket. After pressing a few keys, he placed the phone right after his right ear and waited for Megumi to pick up his call. However, instead of a series of ringing, the voice of a teller announcing that the number he was trying to dial was out of service was what reached Yahiro's ears.
Really, what's wrong with that girl turning off her phone at a time like this?
Glaring at his cellphone as if it was the poor object's fault for Megumi not being there, Yahiro pressed in Sakura's number. He was sure that the pink-haired girl was with Megumi's twin at that time. Hopefully, Jun would know where his silly sister was.
He had to wait for a couple of rings to finish before his classmate answered the phone.
"Yahiro?"
"Sakura, is Jun-kun with you?" Yahiro tried to keep his voice calm although Sakura could clearly hear the change in his usual carefree tone from the other side of the line.
Thanks to her sharp instincts, the pink haired girl knew that Megumi's unannounced presence in Akira's home was the reason as to why Yahiro was searching for her boyfriend with a worried tone.
Instead of an answer, Yahiro received a giggle from Sakura, and this made his eyebrows furrowed deeper. He realized that Sakura already knew what was going on.
"You know where Megumi is?" Yahiro straigtened himself, his voice toned dangerously calm.
"She's right here in Akira-chan's house."
With that, Yahiro closed his phone and headed to the parking lot. A rather evil and angry aura emanated from him as he tightened his grip on his phone.
Yamamoto Megumi.
How dare she made HIM worried.
Hikari's Job
Hikari Hanazono waited outside the building with an expression that was identical to the one she has when Kei is on to one of her secrets. The girl let go of the long breath she had held in and suck it in once again. 'You can do this!' she thought. 'Just think of what that damn Takishima would say if I didn't get it.'
"Hahaha. Miss No. 2 couldn't get in. Maybe next time." Imagery Kei said in her head.
'Grrrrrr! Stupid Takishima! I'll show him!' With that, the woman matched into the building with a determined expression.
- 2 weeks later-
Six Special A members were seated in their greenhouse, waiting for there last member to arrive.
"I wonder where Hikari is." Akira said, sipping a bit of her tea. Her face showed concern. "She's never been this late before." Her eyes then narrowed to the person who was typing on his laptop. "You wouldn't have happened to do anything to my sweet Hikari, would you Kei?"
The blonde male paid made no response and Akira's temper grew. "Damn it Kei, don't ignore me!" She shouted, slamming her fist onto the table.
Megumi and Jun grabbed onto Ryu with scared expressions. Tadashi jumped up but Kei continued to type. The woman was just about to pull the plug to Kei's computer when-
"Look! Look! I did it! I did it!"
All members of the S*A looked back to find Hikari running to them with a bright smile and a flyer in her hand. Akira's eyes sparkled with she saw Hikari.
"Way to go Hikari! Even if I don't know what you're talking about." The short haired woman replied, hugging her best friend. Then Akira pulled apart from her, though keeping her hands on her shoulders. "Did you finally beat that annoying Kei?"
"Nope!" Hikari answered, her face silently falling but still smiling. "But it's just as good!"
This brought silence to the entire Greenhouse.
'She didn't beat Kei-' Tadashi thought
'But she's still smiling like it was no big deal.' Ryu finished. Both males slowly turned their heads towards Kei's direction. There was a dark aura around though he had a hard expression on his face. But in his eyes you could see the confusion and curiosity on what Hikari was about to say.
'This can't be good.' 5 of the S*A members thought, scared.
"Then what happened Hikari?" Megumi wrote on her broad.
Hikari, still smiling widely, gave everyone a thumb's up with a wink. "I got a part time job!"
The room went silence once more.
(Scene Change)
After 20 minutes since Hikari ran off to class, her friends and boyfriend stayed behind to ditch once more.
Akira had her head in her hands, muttering "A part time job, a part time job, my poor little Hikari has a part time job…"
Megumi and Jun turned towards Kei's direction and shrieked when they saw his form. His fingers were slowly breaking his keyboard and the computer looked like it was about to crack from his glare.
"Hey! Cheer up guys!" Tadashi said, smiling the best he could. "This is what Hikari wanted and-"
He cut off mid-sentence when Akira and Kei turned to glare at him. Instead he sweetdropped and bit into one of Akira's desserts.
"What Tadashi is trying to say is-Huh?" Ryu stopped as something caught his attention. "What's this?" The boy walked towards the piece of paper that was on the floor.
"What is it Ryu?" Jun asked.
"This is a flyer. I think Hikari dropped it."
"What does it say?" Megumi's sign said.
'It says: We are now hiring at Light's Paradise. Chiefs' are needed as well as waitresses. Age of 15 and older is required…and the rest are just the requirements." Ryu finished. "I think this is what Hikari signed up for. And by the look of this, this flyer was put up at least thee weeks ago."
"Light's Paradise?" Tadashi said, "Isn't that one of your restaurants, Kei-AH!"
Everyone flinched as Kei's deadly aura was now one that was filled with happiness. 'That's a yes.' The rest thought.
"He couldn't make it anymore obvious." Akira said; her legs across the table and arms across her chest. "Might as well put 'Hikari's Paradise' instead."
But then Kei stood to his feet and fixed his tie. "Well, Hikari will be out of class soon. She'll probably be looking for that flyer soon so," The male took the flyer from Ryu, "I'll go give this to her."
After that, Kei left before Akira could yell at him.
(Scene Change)
"Aww! Where is it?" Hikari panicked, searching everywhere in her backpack. "WHERE"S THE FLYER!" She dropped her backpack on a chair and started looking underneath the desks. "I can't find it." 'Now what am I going to do? I wanted to show Akira and the others where I work on! Plus I wanted to show that damn Takishima that I could get a job! hehe'
The woman stopped wicking grinning before going back to her search. 'But I can't rub it in his face if it's not here!'
"Looking for something Miss No. 2?" A voice in the back inquired and while realizing the voice, she bumped her head underneath a desk. She looked at him to notice he was by the door.
"Takashima!" The black haired girl growled while rubbing her head. "What are-?"
She ignored his amused expression when she noticed what he was holding. She paled. "Takashima where did you-"
"You dropped it on your way to class." He said innocently.
Hikari forced a smile and walked to where he was. "Thanks for finding it." But when she was about to take it back, Kei placed it behind his back. She narrowed her gaze. "Takashima!" She lunged forward but he dodged out of the way.
"Grrr! Give it back!" When he rose up the flyer, the girl jumped at him. Once more he dodged, making Hikari miss again. She clenched her fists and attacked. "Damn!" Miss. "You." Another miss. "Stupid." Miss. "Takashima!"
Hikari bit her bottom lip as she tried her hardest to reach the flyer that was in his raised hand. As she continued her attempts, Kei was smiling wider than when he found out she was working in one of his restaurants.
He decided to snake his arm around her waist, causing Hikari to jump higher than intended. Her eyes met his smoothing orbs as she slightly relaxed with a tense of nervousness. "What are you-?"
"It will cost you one kiss." The boy responded in a serious tone.
She blushed. "Huh?" Then she was hushed when Kei smacked his lips against hers. The girl froze in her spot as Kei continued to kiss her. Once he pulled away, he released her and placed the flyer into her hand.
She slumped down to the floor, still bright red. "What…what was t-that for?"
Kei simply shrugged.
"YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW!" Hikari yelled with an angry mark on the side of her face.
The boy ignored her outburst and walked to the chair where her backpack rested. He picked it and through it across his shoulder.
"What are you doing?"
Kei walked back to her with a smile plastered on his face. "You might hurt yourself again Miss. No. 2 and we don't want that to happen." He said while patting her head.
"DON"T CALL NO. 2!"
But he continued to smile while Hikari pouted angrily at her boyfriend.
(Scene Change)
"So Hikari, tell us more about your part time job!" Akira said, trying her best to smile. But of course she couldn't; not when she knew that her best friend was working for that 'damn Kei', as she put it.
The long blacked haired woman smiled as she finished taking a sip of her tea. All members of Special A were outside on the field, eating some of Akira's delicious snacks.
"I barely started yesterday but it was so much fun! The manager kind of weird but that's what makes it more fun!"
Megumi wrote down something before showing it to Hikari. "What do you do there?"
Hikari held her head up high and pointed to herself with her thumb. "I'm a waitress!" She stated, obviously proud of her position.
"SO CUTE!" Akira shouted, enlacing her fingers together and placing her cheek on them. "Hikari as a waitress! THAT'S SO CUTE!"
While Akira inquired the details on the uniform, Tadashi quietly muttered to Ryu. "Do you think Hikari knows the restaurant's named after her?"
Ryu muttered back. "I don't even think that she's realized that she's technology working for Kei."
"Should we tell her?"
The boys looked at Hikari and then at Kei, who had an aura of happiness. He's been in a better mood since he found out that Hikari was working for him.
Both males sweetdropped. "I don't think we should spoil his mood." Ryu warned.
"Agreed."
Then they went back to their meal.
(Scene Change)
"So it's settled! Friday night we're going to Light's Paradise!" Akira stated with her hands on her hips. The Special A members, minus Hikari and Kei, were in the greenhouse.
"Shouldn't we tell Kei tha-AW!" Tadashi's question was cut short when his girlfriend pulled him by the collar, a dark aura swirling behind her.
"You will NOT say anything to that annoying Kei! If he finds out and goes, he'll be planning on keeping my sweet Hikari from us! UNDERSTOOD?"
"Yes, ma!" The male responded with a terrified expression.
Still grinning evilly, Akira tossed her boyfriend aside and turned to the trio. "Any questions?"
They shook their heads 'no'.
Friday Night
"Hello. Welcome to Light's Paradise!"
"Evening sir, I'll be your server for the night."
"Are you ready to order madam'?"
"Please come this way."
Hikari smiled as she looked around the restaurant. Her companions were working just as hard as she was and every costumer seemed to be enjoying the Friday night evening. She looked down at her Chinese style dress, red with black flowers all over it.
As she walked over to a group of men that were barely seated, Hikari heard a few of the girl waitresses gossiping in the corner. Half were blushing.
"Did you see? It's actually him!"
"I know! He rarely comes in and when he does, he's not dressed up- like that." With that statement, some of the girls started to daydream.
"He must be waiting for someone important!" One squealed.
'Hum. Maybe it's a celebrity or something.' The black haired woman thought before reaching her table. She smiled kindly at the five men, who looked like they were 21.
"Welcome to Light's Paradise! I'll be your waitress for the night and if you need anything just let me know!"
One of the boys smirked. "Oh, I'll definitely let you know when I want something, sugar."
His friends started chuckling while Hikari grew an angry mark on her forehead. 'SUGAR?' "Well then-" Hikari said, clenching her teeth together. "Are you ready to order?"
The same boy smirked again. "Depends. Are you on the menu?"
His friends started barking on that one while Hikari clenched the notepad.
(Scene Change)
"Oh dear! Oh dear! He doesn't look too happy right! Oh what am I going to do?" The small manager muttered, walking back and forth while taking peaks at the special guess who sat was glaring murderously at the group of boys Hikari was with. He looked like he was about to break loose of all hell at any second.
"What is it boss?" A waitress asked while coming up with two other workers.
"Aww! It's Mr. Takishima!" The manager welled. "He looks very, VERY upset! No! Scratch that! He looks ready to KILL!"
"Maybe I should talk to him," A redhead woman said, 'practicing' on her flirting. "I'm sure I could take off whatever is on his mind."
The manager sighed and straightened up. "No. I'll talk to him. But come over and be his waitress."
The woman frowned but smiled when she was called over.
The two walked over to Kei's table but Kei didn't appear to notice him. The small man cleared his throat and once Kei heard him he turned his deadly glare at his direction.
He flinched but then straightened up. "G-good Eve-Evening Mr. Taki-shima. How-ar-are you this even-ing?"
Kei didn't answer but his dark aura grew. "I'm sorry! What a terr-terrible question to a-ask!"
Once more, the owner didn't respond. "Well…This is your wait-waitress for the night." He said, pointing to the girl in uniform.
The woman smiled and stuck her chest out a bit more. "Hi! I'm Komaki! Is there anything I could do for you this evening?"
Kei smiled evilly at her and said, "Yes. Actually, there's something you could do."
(Scene Change)
Hikari slammed the kitchen door open so hard that when it made contact with the wall, giant crack-marks appeared. She wore a piss off expression as she matched to the chef. 'If those idiots say one more stupid remark, I swear I'll throw them out of the restaurant!'
The chef looked scared of Hikari expression and hide behind a frying pan. 'Did I do something wrong? Is this how my life ends? Oh mother if you could hear me now, I'm sorry that I broke your dishwasher when I was twelve! I was stupid and young! And I'm sorry about-'
As the chef continued to apologize in his mind, the kitchen door was once more slammed but it wasn't as hard as Hikari's. Komaki walked in, rejected and angry and was followed by a small timid manager. All the females expect Hikari ran up to them.
"How did it go? Why was he mad?"
"How handsome is he up close?"
"Did he want you? I bet he wanted you!"
Before more questions could be asked, the manager raised his hand to silence the girls. He cleared his voice. "We still have a chance to please him!"
'Must be the celebrity.' Hikari thought.
"All we have to do his-"
"HIKARI! GO AND SERVE OUR SPECIAL GUEST!" Komaki shouted, huffing as she turned her back towards the new waitress.
Hikari tilted her head to the side. "Huh?"
"THAT'S RIGHT! HE WANTS HER TO BE HIS WAITRESS!" The redhead shouted again. Komaki walked over to Hikari, grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her outside the kitchen doors. She continued to shove the black haired girl until she was in front of Kei's table. "Here you are Mr. Takishima!" Komaki growled.
"Thank you."
Hikari stared in shock at Kei, who was wearing a suit that was both casual and formal and had his hair back like at Yahiro's party. When getting her thoughts together, she took a step back and pointed at Kei's face. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!"
"He owns it."
Hikari jumped as she turned to stare down at the manager. "What?"
"Mr. Takishima owns 'Light's Paradise'."
"NO WAY!"
A few people turned their heads over to look at the four.
Komaki looked like she was about to smack Hikari for her stupidity but Kei's glare is what stopped her from doing so. Instead, the girl crossed her arms over chest and turned the other way. "Ask for his order." She muttered.
Kei smirked as she stared at her. "Yes, ask me Ms. No. 2."
Hikari had an angry mark on her as she pulled out her pencil and pad. She forced a smile. "What would you like to eat for the evening?"
"What are your specials?"
"You should know. You own this."
"Ms. Hikari!" The manager cried as the redhead pulled Hikari's hair back. "Ouch!"
"Please forgive her Mr. Takashima!" The small man said, bowing. "She's new here."
"It's alright. Maybe I show keep her here for a few extra hours everyday." The blonde teenage boy said. "So that she may learn a few things, calling me boss for example." He finished, smiling innocently.
But the Hikari only looked angrier. "YOU CAN'T ORDER ME AROUND IF I QUIT!"
Kei narrowed his eyes at her as he stood up. The manager hid behind Komaki as the redhead smirked. 'Oh, she's going to get it.'
Hikari stood her ground but when Kei lifted her from underneath her knees and back, she had no choice but to land in his arms. The waitresses, who were 'hiding' behind the door gasped while the manager and Komaki stared in disbelief. The girl blushed. "LET GO STUPID BASTARD!"
But the male only tightened his grip and started walking towards the front door. People turned to stare as Hikari tried to get off of Kei.
"Mr. Takishima! Where are you going?" The manager cried.
Kei only turned his head. "I'm going out somewhere with my girlfriend."
With that he walked out the door, leaving the entire restaurant in shock.
(Scene Change)
The girl stared outside the limousine's window, glaring at the outside objects. Kei sat on the other side of the limo, arms crossed while staring at his girlfriend. The ride was silent since Hikari was to busy cursing him in her mind. 'Stupid bastard! Stupid Takishima! Damn him for being in the restaurant!'
She peeked over at him through her shoulder. "Where are we going?"
He smiled slightly, "It's a surprise. We'll be there in about a minute."
Hikari looked back at the window, noticing that they were passing through a gate. They entered a dark tunnel and once they passed through that they stopped. "What the-"
"We're here." Kei said as the driver opened his door. She slipped out once he had exited the door and gasped. The sight was a beautiful dark sky with thousands of bright stars. Underneath it was a calm ocean with a few tiny waves crashing on the shoreline.
The female turned to her boyfriend, raising an eyebrow. "How did we-?"
"It's a private area that the Takashima family owns." Kei replied.
"HOW MANY THINGS DO YOU OWN?"
He saddened at her sentence and started to walk towards the sand.
"Ah-Wait up Takashima!" Hikari panicked as she ran over to the boy. She grabbed him by the arm, making him stop but he still didn't look at her.
"What's wrong?"
He sighed and looked at her. "Is it that bad, if you work for me?" That completely stunned Hikari. "Is that why, you wanted to quit?"
She stared at his face, noticing how saddened he looked at the moment. She sighed and looked down. "Does it matter if you're my boss or not? You've never wanted me to work anyway."
A moment of silence passed and Hikari lifted her head to look at Kei. But Kei had turned away. She was about to let go of his arm when…
"I worry about Hikari."
She looked back at him quickly as he looked back at her. He turned his body so that he may be facing his girlfriend as a sad smile appeared on his face. "I'm worried that if Hikari got a job, she would get hurt. I'm scared that if Hikari did get a job…she wouldn't have time for me."
Hikari waited for him to continue as Kei stared into her eyes. "I thought if you worked, I wouldn't see you as much. At times, I can't see you, or have to re-schedule our dates, because of my job. You already train and study so I thought that if you added a job that would take you away from me."
The blonde smiled as he grabbed her hand and enlaced his fingers with hers. "That's why I was so happy when I found out Hikari would be working for me. I could see Hikari for a few more hours after school. I could make sure you were safe. I would know where you are at all times. I would spend more time with you. I wouldn't… lose you."
Of course, Hikari was blushing madly at everything her boyfriend just said but Kei still had one question to ask. "So, will you still work for me?"
Though still blushing, the girl crossed her arms and answered, "On one condition."
Kei raised an eyebrow, curious. "And that is-"
"That you treat me like one of your workers."
Kei opened his mouth but Hikari cut him off, "I don't want you to treat me extra special while I'm at work. I don't want you to take me out of work when ever you please…like tonight. Wait until my shift is over. I don't want you to pay me more or less than everyone else, unless I'm absent. Then I don't get paid for the night. And if you go to the restaurant and you're already assigned a waiter, please let her be your waitress. I don't want the other waitresses thinking you're too good for them or I'm way better than them. I don't want you to treat me special because as selfish as this sounds," the girl smiled and blushed slightly, "Being your girlfriend already makes me feel special."
The blonde stared in disbelief at her little speech but his heart was beating twice as fast as it should. He smiled and took her face into his hands, kissing her cheek. "Deal."
Hikari grinned as Kei placed his lips over hers.
(Scene Change)
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HIKARI ISN'T HERE?"
"I'm….sorry Ms. But Master Ta-Takishima out Ms. Hikari out for the eve-evening." The manager explained to a very pissed off Akira.
'Damn you Kei!' Akira cursed as her boyfriend and the rest of Special A members started to back up slowly.
"Hahaha. Miss No. 2 couldn't get in. Maybe next time." Imagery Kei said in her head.
'Grrrrrr! Stupid Takishima! I'll show him!' With that, the woman matched into the building with a determined expression.
- 2 weeks later-
Six Special A members were seated in their greenhouse, waiting for there last member to arrive.
"I wonder where Hikari is." Akira said, sipping a bit of her tea. Her face showed concern. "She's never been this late before." Her eyes then narrowed to the person who was typing on his laptop. "You wouldn't have happened to do anything to my sweet Hikari, would you Kei?"
The blonde male paid made no response and Akira's temper grew. "Damn it Kei, don't ignore me!" She shouted, slamming her fist onto the table.
Megumi and Jun grabbed onto Ryu with scared expressions. Tadashi jumped up but Kei continued to type. The woman was just about to pull the plug to Kei's computer when-
"Look! Look! I did it! I did it!"
All members of the S*A looked back to find Hikari running to them with a bright smile and a flyer in her hand. Akira's eyes sparkled with she saw Hikari.
"Way to go Hikari! Even if I don't know what you're talking about." The short haired woman replied, hugging her best friend. Then Akira pulled apart from her, though keeping her hands on her shoulders. "Did you finally beat that annoying Kei?"
"Nope!" Hikari answered, her face silently falling but still smiling. "But it's just as good!"
This brought silence to the entire Greenhouse.
'She didn't beat Kei-' Tadashi thought
'But she's still smiling like it was no big deal.' Ryu finished. Both males slowly turned their heads towards Kei's direction. There was a dark aura around though he had a hard expression on his face. But in his eyes you could see the confusion and curiosity on what Hikari was about to say.
'This can't be good.' 5 of the S*A members thought, scared.
"Then what happened Hikari?" Megumi wrote on her broad.
Hikari, still smiling widely, gave everyone a thumb's up with a wink. "I got a part time job!"
The room went silence once more.
(Scene Change)
After 20 minutes since Hikari ran off to class, her friends and boyfriend stayed behind to ditch once more.
Akira had her head in her hands, muttering "A part time job, a part time job, my poor little Hikari has a part time job…"
Megumi and Jun turned towards Kei's direction and shrieked when they saw his form. His fingers were slowly breaking his keyboard and the computer looked like it was about to crack from his glare.
"Hey! Cheer up guys!" Tadashi said, smiling the best he could. "This is what Hikari wanted and-"
He cut off mid-sentence when Akira and Kei turned to glare at him. Instead he sweetdropped and bit into one of Akira's desserts.
"What Tadashi is trying to say is-Huh?" Ryu stopped as something caught his attention. "What's this?" The boy walked towards the piece of paper that was on the floor.
"What is it Ryu?" Jun asked.
"This is a flyer. I think Hikari dropped it."
"What does it say?" Megumi's sign said.
'It says: We are now hiring at Light's Paradise. Chiefs' are needed as well as waitresses. Age of 15 and older is required…and the rest are just the requirements." Ryu finished. "I think this is what Hikari signed up for. And by the look of this, this flyer was put up at least thee weeks ago."
"Light's Paradise?" Tadashi said, "Isn't that one of your restaurants, Kei-AH!"
Everyone flinched as Kei's deadly aura was now one that was filled with happiness. 'That's a yes.' The rest thought.
"He couldn't make it anymore obvious." Akira said; her legs across the table and arms across her chest. "Might as well put 'Hikari's Paradise' instead."
But then Kei stood to his feet and fixed his tie. "Well, Hikari will be out of class soon. She'll probably be looking for that flyer soon so," The male took the flyer from Ryu, "I'll go give this to her."
After that, Kei left before Akira could yell at him.
(Scene Change)
"Aww! Where is it?" Hikari panicked, searching everywhere in her backpack. "WHERE"S THE FLYER!" She dropped her backpack on a chair and started looking underneath the desks. "I can't find it." 'Now what am I going to do? I wanted to show Akira and the others where I work on! Plus I wanted to show that damn Takishima that I could get a job! hehe'
The woman stopped wicking grinning before going back to her search. 'But I can't rub it in his face if it's not here!'
"Looking for something Miss No. 2?" A voice in the back inquired and while realizing the voice, she bumped her head underneath a desk. She looked at him to notice he was by the door.
"Takashima!" The black haired girl growled while rubbing her head. "What are-?"
She ignored his amused expression when she noticed what he was holding. She paled. "Takashima where did you-"
"You dropped it on your way to class." He said innocently.
Hikari forced a smile and walked to where he was. "Thanks for finding it." But when she was about to take it back, Kei placed it behind his back. She narrowed her gaze. "Takashima!" She lunged forward but he dodged out of the way.
"Grrr! Give it back!" When he rose up the flyer, the girl jumped at him. Once more he dodged, making Hikari miss again. She clenched her fists and attacked. "Damn!" Miss. "You." Another miss. "Stupid." Miss. "Takashima!"
Hikari bit her bottom lip as she tried her hardest to reach the flyer that was in his raised hand. As she continued her attempts, Kei was smiling wider than when he found out she was working in one of his restaurants.
He decided to snake his arm around her waist, causing Hikari to jump higher than intended. Her eyes met his smoothing orbs as she slightly relaxed with a tense of nervousness. "What are you-?"
"It will cost you one kiss." The boy responded in a serious tone.
She blushed. "Huh?" Then she was hushed when Kei smacked his lips against hers. The girl froze in her spot as Kei continued to kiss her. Once he pulled away, he released her and placed the flyer into her hand.
She slumped down to the floor, still bright red. "What…what was t-that for?"
Kei simply shrugged.
"YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW!" Hikari yelled with an angry mark on the side of her face.
The boy ignored her outburst and walked to the chair where her backpack rested. He picked it and through it across his shoulder.
"What are you doing?"
Kei walked back to her with a smile plastered on his face. "You might hurt yourself again Miss. No. 2 and we don't want that to happen." He said while patting her head.
"DON"T CALL NO. 2!"
But he continued to smile while Hikari pouted angrily at her boyfriend.
(Scene Change)
"So Hikari, tell us more about your part time job!" Akira said, trying her best to smile. But of course she couldn't; not when she knew that her best friend was working for that 'damn Kei', as she put it.
The long blacked haired woman smiled as she finished taking a sip of her tea. All members of Special A were outside on the field, eating some of Akira's delicious snacks.
"I barely started yesterday but it was so much fun! The manager kind of weird but that's what makes it more fun!"
Megumi wrote down something before showing it to Hikari. "What do you do there?"
Hikari held her head up high and pointed to herself with her thumb. "I'm a waitress!" She stated, obviously proud of her position.
"SO CUTE!" Akira shouted, enlacing her fingers together and placing her cheek on them. "Hikari as a waitress! THAT'S SO CUTE!"
While Akira inquired the details on the uniform, Tadashi quietly muttered to Ryu. "Do you think Hikari knows the restaurant's named after her?"
Ryu muttered back. "I don't even think that she's realized that she's technology working for Kei."
"Should we tell her?"
The boys looked at Hikari and then at Kei, who had an aura of happiness. He's been in a better mood since he found out that Hikari was working for him.
Both males sweetdropped. "I don't think we should spoil his mood." Ryu warned.
"Agreed."
Then they went back to their meal.
(Scene Change)
"So it's settled! Friday night we're going to Light's Paradise!" Akira stated with her hands on her hips. The Special A members, minus Hikari and Kei, were in the greenhouse.
"Shouldn't we tell Kei tha-AW!" Tadashi's question was cut short when his girlfriend pulled him by the collar, a dark aura swirling behind her.
"You will NOT say anything to that annoying Kei! If he finds out and goes, he'll be planning on keeping my sweet Hikari from us! UNDERSTOOD?"
"Yes, ma!" The male responded with a terrified expression.
Still grinning evilly, Akira tossed her boyfriend aside and turned to the trio. "Any questions?"
They shook their heads 'no'.
Friday Night
"Hello. Welcome to Light's Paradise!"
"Evening sir, I'll be your server for the night."
"Are you ready to order madam'?"
"Please come this way."
Hikari smiled as she looked around the restaurant. Her companions were working just as hard as she was and every costumer seemed to be enjoying the Friday night evening. She looked down at her Chinese style dress, red with black flowers all over it.
As she walked over to a group of men that were barely seated, Hikari heard a few of the girl waitresses gossiping in the corner. Half were blushing.
"Did you see? It's actually him!"
"I know! He rarely comes in and when he does, he's not dressed up- like that." With that statement, some of the girls started to daydream.
"He must be waiting for someone important!" One squealed.
'Hum. Maybe it's a celebrity or something.' The black haired woman thought before reaching her table. She smiled kindly at the five men, who looked like they were 21.
"Welcome to Light's Paradise! I'll be your waitress for the night and if you need anything just let me know!"
One of the boys smirked. "Oh, I'll definitely let you know when I want something, sugar."
His friends started chuckling while Hikari grew an angry mark on her forehead. 'SUGAR?' "Well then-" Hikari said, clenching her teeth together. "Are you ready to order?"
The same boy smirked again. "Depends. Are you on the menu?"
His friends started barking on that one while Hikari clenched the notepad.
(Scene Change)
"Oh dear! Oh dear! He doesn't look too happy right! Oh what am I going to do?" The small manager muttered, walking back and forth while taking peaks at the special guess who sat was glaring murderously at the group of boys Hikari was with. He looked like he was about to break loose of all hell at any second.
"What is it boss?" A waitress asked while coming up with two other workers.
"Aww! It's Mr. Takishima!" The manager welled. "He looks very, VERY upset! No! Scratch that! He looks ready to KILL!"
"Maybe I should talk to him," A redhead woman said, 'practicing' on her flirting. "I'm sure I could take off whatever is on his mind."
The manager sighed and straightened up. "No. I'll talk to him. But come over and be his waitress."
The woman frowned but smiled when she was called over.
The two walked over to Kei's table but Kei didn't appear to notice him. The small man cleared his throat and once Kei heard him he turned his deadly glare at his direction.
He flinched but then straightened up. "G-good Eve-Evening Mr. Taki-shima. How-ar-are you this even-ing?"
Kei didn't answer but his dark aura grew. "I'm sorry! What a terr-terrible question to a-ask!"
Once more, the owner didn't respond. "Well…This is your wait-waitress for the night." He said, pointing to the girl in uniform.
The woman smiled and stuck her chest out a bit more. "Hi! I'm Komaki! Is there anything I could do for you this evening?"
Kei smiled evilly at her and said, "Yes. Actually, there's something you could do."
(Scene Change)
Hikari slammed the kitchen door open so hard that when it made contact with the wall, giant crack-marks appeared. She wore a piss off expression as she matched to the chef. 'If those idiots say one more stupid remark, I swear I'll throw them out of the restaurant!'
The chef looked scared of Hikari expression and hide behind a frying pan. 'Did I do something wrong? Is this how my life ends? Oh mother if you could hear me now, I'm sorry that I broke your dishwasher when I was twelve! I was stupid and young! And I'm sorry about-'
As the chef continued to apologize in his mind, the kitchen door was once more slammed but it wasn't as hard as Hikari's. Komaki walked in, rejected and angry and was followed by a small timid manager. All the females expect Hikari ran up to them.
"How did it go? Why was he mad?"
"How handsome is he up close?"
"Did he want you? I bet he wanted you!"
Before more questions could be asked, the manager raised his hand to silence the girls. He cleared his voice. "We still have a chance to please him!"
'Must be the celebrity.' Hikari thought.
"All we have to do his-"
"HIKARI! GO AND SERVE OUR SPECIAL GUEST!" Komaki shouted, huffing as she turned her back towards the new waitress.
Hikari tilted her head to the side. "Huh?"
"THAT'S RIGHT! HE WANTS HER TO BE HIS WAITRESS!" The redhead shouted again. Komaki walked over to Hikari, grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her outside the kitchen doors. She continued to shove the black haired girl until she was in front of Kei's table. "Here you are Mr. Takishima!" Komaki growled.
"Thank you."
Hikari stared in shock at Kei, who was wearing a suit that was both casual and formal and had his hair back like at Yahiro's party. When getting her thoughts together, she took a step back and pointed at Kei's face. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!"
"He owns it."
Hikari jumped as she turned to stare down at the manager. "What?"
"Mr. Takishima owns 'Light's Paradise'."
"NO WAY!"
A few people turned their heads over to look at the four.
Komaki looked like she was about to smack Hikari for her stupidity but Kei's glare is what stopped her from doing so. Instead, the girl crossed her arms over chest and turned the other way. "Ask for his order." She muttered.
Kei smirked as she stared at her. "Yes, ask me Ms. No. 2."
Hikari had an angry mark on her as she pulled out her pencil and pad. She forced a smile. "What would you like to eat for the evening?"
"What are your specials?"
"You should know. You own this."
"Ms. Hikari!" The manager cried as the redhead pulled Hikari's hair back. "Ouch!"
"Please forgive her Mr. Takashima!" The small man said, bowing. "She's new here."
"It's alright. Maybe I show keep her here for a few extra hours everyday." The blonde teenage boy said. "So that she may learn a few things, calling me boss for example." He finished, smiling innocently.
But the Hikari only looked angrier. "YOU CAN'T ORDER ME AROUND IF I QUIT!"
Kei narrowed his eyes at her as he stood up. The manager hid behind Komaki as the redhead smirked. 'Oh, she's going to get it.'
Hikari stood her ground but when Kei lifted her from underneath her knees and back, she had no choice but to land in his arms. The waitresses, who were 'hiding' behind the door gasped while the manager and Komaki stared in disbelief. The girl blushed. "LET GO STUPID BASTARD!"
But the male only tightened his grip and started walking towards the front door. People turned to stare as Hikari tried to get off of Kei.
"Mr. Takishima! Where are you going?" The manager cried.
Kei only turned his head. "I'm going out somewhere with my girlfriend."
With that he walked out the door, leaving the entire restaurant in shock.
(Scene Change)
The girl stared outside the limousine's window, glaring at the outside objects. Kei sat on the other side of the limo, arms crossed while staring at his girlfriend. The ride was silent since Hikari was to busy cursing him in her mind. 'Stupid bastard! Stupid Takishima! Damn him for being in the restaurant!'
She peeked over at him through her shoulder. "Where are we going?"
He smiled slightly, "It's a surprise. We'll be there in about a minute."
Hikari looked back at the window, noticing that they were passing through a gate. They entered a dark tunnel and once they passed through that they stopped. "What the-"
"We're here." Kei said as the driver opened his door. She slipped out once he had exited the door and gasped. The sight was a beautiful dark sky with thousands of bright stars. Underneath it was a calm ocean with a few tiny waves crashing on the shoreline.
The female turned to her boyfriend, raising an eyebrow. "How did we-?"
"It's a private area that the Takashima family owns." Kei replied.
"HOW MANY THINGS DO YOU OWN?"
He saddened at her sentence and started to walk towards the sand.
"Ah-Wait up Takashima!" Hikari panicked as she ran over to the boy. She grabbed him by the arm, making him stop but he still didn't look at her.
"What's wrong?"
He sighed and looked at her. "Is it that bad, if you work for me?" That completely stunned Hikari. "Is that why, you wanted to quit?"
She stared at his face, noticing how saddened he looked at the moment. She sighed and looked down. "Does it matter if you're my boss or not? You've never wanted me to work anyway."
A moment of silence passed and Hikari lifted her head to look at Kei. But Kei had turned away. She was about to let go of his arm when…
"I worry about Hikari."
She looked back at him quickly as he looked back at her. He turned his body so that he may be facing his girlfriend as a sad smile appeared on his face. "I'm worried that if Hikari got a job, she would get hurt. I'm scared that if Hikari did get a job…she wouldn't have time for me."
Hikari waited for him to continue as Kei stared into her eyes. "I thought if you worked, I wouldn't see you as much. At times, I can't see you, or have to re-schedule our dates, because of my job. You already train and study so I thought that if you added a job that would take you away from me."
The blonde smiled as he grabbed her hand and enlaced his fingers with hers. "That's why I was so happy when I found out Hikari would be working for me. I could see Hikari for a few more hours after school. I could make sure you were safe. I would know where you are at all times. I would spend more time with you. I wouldn't… lose you."
Of course, Hikari was blushing madly at everything her boyfriend just said but Kei still had one question to ask. "So, will you still work for me?"
Though still blushing, the girl crossed her arms and answered, "On one condition."
Kei raised an eyebrow, curious. "And that is-"
"That you treat me like one of your workers."
Kei opened his mouth but Hikari cut him off, "I don't want you to treat me extra special while I'm at work. I don't want you to take me out of work when ever you please…like tonight. Wait until my shift is over. I don't want you to pay me more or less than everyone else, unless I'm absent. Then I don't get paid for the night. And if you go to the restaurant and you're already assigned a waiter, please let her be your waitress. I don't want the other waitresses thinking you're too good for them or I'm way better than them. I don't want you to treat me special because as selfish as this sounds," the girl smiled and blushed slightly, "Being your girlfriend already makes me feel special."
The blonde stared in disbelief at her little speech but his heart was beating twice as fast as it should. He smiled and took her face into his hands, kissing her cheek. "Deal."
Hikari grinned as Kei placed his lips over hers.
(Scene Change)
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HIKARI ISN'T HERE?"
"I'm….sorry Ms. But Master Ta-Takishima out Ms. Hikari out for the eve-evening." The manager explained to a very pissed off Akira.
'Damn you Kei!' Akira cursed as her boyfriend and the rest of Special A members started to back up slowly.
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