See! Told ya November! I'll probably set the next expected time for January, hopefully during Xmas break in December though. Hope you guys had a happy turkey day!

This chapter focused a little more on Hitoshi than I thought, but I felt it was still good. I've also been cleaning out my hard drive. Getting a little too crowded with my stories....but that's what spring cleaning's for, huh? ^^

Chapter 23

There was an awkward silence in the Granger house. The most uncomfortable person was probably Shui, who was too young to have any idea what was going on. The second most uncomfortable was Ray, who was unfortunately wrapped up into this mess. Ray and Shui exchanged looks. The next people around the table were Tyson and Tysa, who were not nervous enough to lose their appetite as they ate dinner—but slower than usual. The last two people, as Gramps was asleep, were Hitoshi and Saya. Hitoshi was giving an annoyed and accusing glare to the end of the table where Saya sat. The woman seemed oblivious to the tension at the table and calmly ate the meal in front of her. She only stopped to smile at Tysa.

"The soup is delicious, Tysa. Did you make this entire meal yourself?" Tysa, like another half of the table were surprised at the sudden start of a conversation. Hitoshi kept on his untrusting gaze.

"Um...yes. Well, Ray helped a bit with the fish."

"And I put the rice in the cooker!" Shui chimed in. Saya smiled at him too.

"Really? That was nice of you, Shui-chan. And what did you do, Tyson?" Tyson choked on the food he recently put in his mouth.

"Um...I..." Tyson tried to smile back, but Saya's smile was becoming more and more uncomfortably fake. "I'm not allowed in the kitchen. Not since the dishwasher incident..." he muttered.

"Well then, surely..." Saya turned her now blinding, uncomfortable, and obviously fake smile towards Hitoshi, who felt his instincts crave to run—and run fast. "As the oldest brother, Hitoshi-kun must have done his part to help his little sister, the guest, and the youngest brother cook?" Suddenly, a weight of awkwardness fell upon the dinner that only Tysa was immune to. Hitoshi was frozen in his seat, paralyzed the guilt and self-doubt that could only be applied by Saya. Tysa looked around. Tyson had stopped eating. Ray seemed to stare into space. Shui looked anxious enough to cry.

"Shui, your homework!" Tysa suddenly yelled out, making Tyson, Ray, and Shui jump up. "Did you finish it?"

"M-most of it. I have art left..." Shui said, trying to hold back a whimper.

"Perfect. Tyson!" Tyson jumped up and choked on the meal he had resumed eating. "Help Shui with that." Tyson stared dumbly at her. "Now!" Tyson quickly moved out of his seat, picked up his shaking brother and got them both out of the room. "Ray!" Ray jumped up, and looked at Tysa's thankfully genuine smile. "Would you mind helping me with the dishes?" Ray nodded dumbly, picked up the dishes he could, and followed her into the kitchen. Once in the safe air of the kitchen, Ray found his voice box again.

"What was...who was she?" Ray asked. Tysa sighed as she started to fill the sink with water.

"That's Saya Misaki. She's a...family friend." Tysa said.

"If 'family-friend' means Hitoshi's on again off again girlfriend." Tyson walked into the kitchen to meet Tysa's glare.

"Tyson..."

"Right, the rule." Tyson stepped out. Ray noticed that the microwave stopped sparking.

"They've known each other since kindergarten....but they're more like rivals if anything. If Hitoshi accomplished something, Saya would accomplish it too...but better. For example, on sports day...if Hitoshi won a race in 40 seconds, Saya would do it in at most 39."

"That sounds annoying." Ray said.

"I know!" Tyson agreed. "She is annoying! I think she has a grudge against our family."

"I don't know...I always liked her."

Of course you would. Ray and Tyson thought simultaneously.

"Nonetheless, Ray..." Tysa went up to Ray. "I think you should go. The atmosphere's only going to get more and more tense."

"Fine then. Thanks for having me."

"Well, it's not like you could have escaped earlier." Tyson replied. Tysa led Ray out the house before Ray could ask anymore questions.

When assured they were alone, Tysa turned back to Ray.

"I really did have fun today, Ray." Tysa replied.

"Oh...no problem. I hope we can...uh...do it again some time."

"Yeah. Me too." Tysa smiled. Suddenly, Ray saw his moment. This was when he was supposed to give her a good night kiss, and he had only little time. He mustered up his courage, and slowly leaned towards Tysa.

"YOU'RE WHAT?!!!" Hitoshi's cry ran through the entire household and probably the rest of Tokyo. The clunking of some furniture was heard.

"Uh oh...I'll see you later, Ray." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and ran inside the house.

Poor Ray was left sighing and walked home. Despite that last minute, he supposed everything else was fine. He would have to ask her later when he didn't sense a family crisis.

It was another hour before Hitoshi was able to speak again. Saya had already gone home, showing a weird expression between smugness and anxiety. Only the twins were there when Hitoshi came to, as Gramps and Shui were already asleep.

"S-shayou? Mizuki?...Where's the turtles?" he groaned.

"Wow. He's more messed up than I thought." Tyson stated, sharing look with his sister.

"Ok. How'd she ruin you this time?" Tysa asked. "Stole your dream? Crushed your hopes?"

"Vin..bi." Hitoshi muttered, looking dazed.

"What?" Hitoshi stood up with a start.

"Where's Saya?!"

"She left." Tysa replied. "Hitoshi, what did she do?" Hitoshi turned at her with a start and grabbed her shoulders.

"I did something." He said, looking like something out of a horror movie. "I did something I shouldn't have done..."

"Perhaps you should lie down again." Tysa replied, unfazed. Tyson, however, seemed to be ready to pee is pants. "Back in the bed, now..." Hitoshi seemed to be rigid as Tysa pushed him back down and led her terrified brother out.

Nonetheless, to Kai's enjoyment, Hitoshi wasn't in class that day. At least not mentally.

"So, Oda Nobunaga conquered the Aztecs in 1902..." Hitoshi murmured, writing it on the board. The Suzuki Prep students exchanged confused glances, wondering whether or not to take notes. Kai was trying to hold in laughter himself.

However, Kai did not find Tysa's lack of attention towards him as enjoyable. She had blanked out for the fifth time during their supposed 'tutoring' session, which actually needed to involve tutoring due to Hitoshi's lack of attention in the class. Frustrated, Kai leaned forward and suddenly kissed her, startling her out of her trance.

"Mmm...mmph!" she angrily pulled back. "What was that for, Kai?!"

"You keep falling asleep! What is wrong with you?!"

"It's nothing. Now, look, see here it shows Oda Nobunga completing his conquest in the early 1900s....wait." she looked over Kai's notes, then glared at him. "Are you kidding?!"

"It wasn't me! It was your brother!"

"What.....wow, he is messed up..." she muttered, then dozed back in her thinking stage.

"Do I need to kiss you again?" he asked her.

"No, I'm... I'm fine..." But she couldn't stop Kai's decision, as his lips met hers again. After a while of protesting in the form of short movements, Tysa finally relaxed. But, to mess with her a bit, Kai stopped the kiss.

"I'm hungry." He stated. At first, Tysa was on her guard, thinking it was some sexual innuendo, but then heard his stomach growl a bit. "Let's get dinner." He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door.

"Wait, um, Kai..." all of a sudden, she wanted to come clean about her dating Ray, and that it was slowly getting more serious between her and his friend, but Kai suddenly kissed her again, and that thought went right out the door (greediness ftw....).

Tysa sighed blissfully after her meal, feeling completely full. In fact, she was so happy that she couldn't even remember that her family hadn't eaten, and that the only other decent cooker in the house was not in the right state of mind. And I don't mean Gramps. However, as the feeling started to fade, she felt on the verge of remembering that....

Then Kai said the magic words.

"Do you want dessert?"

"Yes." Tysa answered, eyes sparkling. "Wait, are you picking again?"

"I've met all your requirements so far, haven't I?"

"Well, yes..."

"So trust me. I know what you like." Kai called over the waiter and again ordered more food. Tysa felt slightly annoyed that Kai hadn't even let her look at the menu, but she didn't feel so annoyed that she would refuse the food. After a while, a two slices of chocolate cake were placed on the table.

"Oh...you like chocolate, Kai?" Tysa asked.

"Not really." Kai admitted. "They're both for you." Tysa's eyes started to sparkle again. "See. I know better." Tysa hummed happily as she started to work on her first slice. After a while, she noticed Kai staring at her.

"What?....do I have something on my face?" she asked, looking for a napkin.

"No. You're fine." A moment passed by where neither of them did anything. Kai looked like he was going to say something, but then closed his mouth. As he fought for words, Tysa started eating her second slice, slower than before. Finally, Kai spoke.

"I'm leaving for Russia."

Haha! A plot, a subplot, and a cliffhanger! I felt diabolical today... :3. Remember everyone, everyone knows that Oda Nobunaga was a fierce conquistador, right after he stopped global warming.

And if anyone's wondering what Hitoshi made for dinner, he made takoyaki ramen with wasabi, whipped cream, and mayo. Of course, Tyson ate it, but Shui and Gramps are probably going to bed hungry.

Mizuki Sakura