Chapter 11
"Tadaima!" I call out as we enter the house; I pull off my shoes and unwind the scarf off my neck.
"Okaeri Amelia chan, master Kyoya."
"What's for dinner?" I ask catching a whiff of something delicious.
"It's not ready yet, I'll call you when it's done."
"OK sure, but what're we having?" I ask Mai stepping over the threshold with my scarf and the frame in one hand.
"It's a secret." She says before giving me a wink.
"OK Mai… I'll just go up to my room for now, I'll go get showered and changed." I notice that while Mai is with us Kyoya keeps his distance, and he was saying that he felt hurt when I moved away from him. I scowl as I climb the stairs.
"Hey, hey what's with the black mood?" Kyoya holds onto my hand from behind me to stop me.
"Nothing. I have to get changed Kyoya." I loosen his grip on my hand and for the first time he lets me go. But he keeps following me. I keep the frame with it's plastic bag in my drawer and I go into my closet to dig around for some clothes. When I find some clothes I toss them over my shoulder and go into the bathroom before just tossing the clothes onto the bench. I turn around to get my underwear but I find Kyoya right in my face, I fling my hands up in surprise.
"Ahhh, don't do that again! That seriously freaked me out!" I say perturbed as I walk around him.
"Come here." He puts his arm out and pulls me to him.
"What?"
"You're being snappy."
"So?" I ask him. Don't I have a right to express my emotions?
"Something wrong?"
"Yes, there's something wrong. What else would it be?" I ask irritated. Wow I've never actually admitted that to him before… I think he realises that too.
"Come on, talk to me." I flop limply onto him letting my head drop against his shoulder.
"I'm tired Kyoya, I want to take a shower. I feel grimy and I've got homework to do. A lot of it." I say into his shoulder too tired to even raise my head.
"You can talk to me you know." I push myself off his shoulder.
"Yes, I know. Just not know please."
"You're the only one to have me like this. I don't know what I should say to you."
"Well I don't know what to say to you either." I sigh and break away from him. "Please go out Kyoya. I have to shower. I'll talk to you later. Soon – I promise." I amend and push him out of the bathroom locking the door. I peel off my clothes and step into the shower turning on the hot water before mixing it with the cold.
I'm a total wreck. Why am I like this? I soap myself and let the water beat onto my back. What is bothering me? He isn't treating you like his girlfriend in front of people in the house. I shake my head to clear the unpleasant thought. That can't be it can it? I mean we're only together for about a week – less! It's Tuesday, I can't expect anything else… But how can I… in such a short period of time… Maybe this isn't really love, just something new… Called love. Oh shut up. I'm talking to myself. This is not good. First sign of psychosis – talking to oneself. Aurgh! I vigorously scrub off the soap before turning the taps off. I step out of the shower and dry myself with the towel, I pull on my clothes and unlock the door before walking into my room hand drying my wet hair.
"You're still here?" I ask Kyoya who is currently taking up my bed.
"Is that so wrong?" He asks me, looking up. I sigh and shake my head before running the damp towel over my head.
"No." I dump the towel over my chair and sit next to Kyoya who is lying flat out on my bed. He reaches out and takes my left hand, which is the closest to him.
"Want to talk?" He asks me quietly, I take in a deep breath and say,
"It bothers me that you don't treat me like your girlfriend in front of anyone in the family. And you say that you were hurt that I didn't treat you like my boyfriend in front of Mai. What am I supposed to do Kyoya? You want me to treat you as my boyfriend but yet you don't treat me as your girlfriend."
"Amelia I… I'm sorry, but it's hard for me to tell anyone in my family about you – us." Something sharp twists in my gut.
"What's so hard Kyoya?" I ask, not looking at him at all.
"Here, come here, I don't mean it that way Amelia." He tries to hold my hand but I pull it away from him.
"We… We are too different…" I say quietly letting the twisting to get even worse. Apples and oranges huh. "You have all these expectations and commitments and obligations, and me? I'm just here for a while; it's selfish of me to ask this of you, but I need to know." I bite my lip and turn to look at him.
"Can't I love you for now? If I do that it'll be forever."
"I know that. But what about your family?" I sigh and say, "Forget it Kyoya. We'll deal with it when it comes. I should just stop. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for even bringing this subject up." I say regretfully. Regretting that I even brought this topic up.
"Hey, come on, don't blame yourself. I was the one who pressed you to talk about it. I'm sorry too; I'm at fault too." I fall back onto the bed letting out a heavy sigh.
"There's only one thing I know for sure though." I say turning my head to face Kyoya.
"What's that?" He asks me.
"I love you very much." I smile a dopey smile and he returns it.
"I love you very much too Amelia." He strokes the side of my face kissing my forehead; I wrap my arms around his torso and cuddle into him.
"I heard from someone that your birthday was on the 12th of September." There's some amusement in his voice.
"Yes, I'm pretty sure that someone told you that. What do you want to know?" I ask rubbing my face into his shirt.
"What did you do for your birthday this year?" He asks trying to hide his interest. Unsuccessfully.
"Had cake." I say suppressing my laughter.
"Don't play around Amelia." I look up at him.
"What? I really ate cake!" I laugh and Kyoya says,
"Well since you're not playing by the rules,"
"The rules are boring!" I complain loudly. I don't think I should have said that… Ah well too late now.
"OK so you think they are. Well then, I won't play by the rules either." In an instant he starts to tickle me. I'm an awfully ticklish person; I'm so ticklish it's not even funny. I scream and laugh while trying to make him stop.
"STOP!! AHH!! YOU'RE KILLING ME!!" I squirm and try to get off the bed but he holds onto me. He stops for a moment and I try to get off but he keeps a firm hold on me.
"I'll ask again what did you do for your birthday this year?"
"If I answer it properly will you stop tickling me?" I ask.
"I could – if I were playing by the rules that is." He says giving me an evil grin.
"Alright already! I'll play by the rules! Honestly blackmailing me!" I say contemptuously. "I had a party of sorts with my family and a few friends if you have to know. And I got presents because that is normal."
"You did, did you? Well that's good. That means that at least one of us is normal. Care to share it?"
"No. You go make your own normalness." I say haughtily.
"Sure about that?…" He asks me, an eyebrow quirked up.
"Ahh actually on second thoughts I take it back." I say giving him a sweet (fake) smile.
"That's much better. You sure do learn fast."
"Well I have to, especially when you're tickling me to death." I say growling at him.
"Ah, all's fair in love and war Amelia."
"That's just cheating." I say accusing him.
"Oh you're just so precious."
"I'd love to find a weak spot of yours. I mean you've got all this stuff on me and I'm just left with nothing." I say complaining.
"Like I say – "
"All's fair in love and war, yeah, yeah I know." I say dismissing it. "It's just cheating." I say bluntly.
"Naww, Amelia is annoyed."
"Shut up!" I say irritated hitting his chest with my fists.
"What am I? Your punching bag?" He asks me highly amused might I add. Grrr that just makes me even more pissed off.
"Yes." I pout, "Come on get off, I've got homework to do. If you want to be helpful, help me with my work. If not get out." I push away from him and climb off my bed. I drag my bag over to my desk and pull out my books before heavily dumping them onto my desk.
"OK, OK you're busy I know I know. I'll go away, I'll call you for dinner when it's ready." He kisses my cheek and I smile at him.
"Kay'" I say, turning my head briefly to see him close the door after him.
I find myself working intently as the skies change from a deep blue to black, the next time I look up from my work it's dark and the stars are out. I set my pen down and prop my head on my hand as I stare out the window.
How will I get that picture for his birthday? I need it soon… Plus I'll have to go print it… I suppose I'll give myself four days to get a photo… Where did I put the camera I brought along with me? I frown and push my chair back, looking for the camera. I go into the closet and pull out my luggage bag, which hasn't been touched since I got here.
I unzip the main compartment and dig through it for a while before finding the camera in between some miscellaneous items. I hold it up and turn it on to look through the pictures I have on there; all of them were pictures taken at my last birthday and some random pictures of my family. I smile as I go through these pictures, laughing at one that's particularly funny. Someone knocks on the door and I quickly shut my luggage back shoving it back in before running back out; camera still in hand to answer the door.
"Hey, dinner's ready." Its just Kyoya. I open the door wider and say,
"Oh, hey yeah sure. I'll be down soon."
"What's that in your hand?" He asks me pointing to the camera.
"Oh, it's my camera. I just remembered about it so I decided to dig it out."
"Going anywhere?" He asks me.
"No, I just suddenly remembered about it. That's all. OK well I'm just going to get changed – "
"It's OK, you can just wear that down to dinner. No one is home anyway."
"I don't think Mai would take it too kindly if I just show up in my T-shirt and shorts."
"Don't worry about that. Come on, dinner is ready and Mai wants you down – now." He takes hold of my hand and pulls me out of my room, shutting my door quickly before leading me down.
"Hey what's with the hurry?" I ask surprised as he rushes down with me in tow.
"You'll see when we get there. Mai is particularly proud of what she has done. So thank her after all this fanfare is over and done with."
"Wahh??" The dining room is dark except for candles burning on top of a cake placed in the middle of the table. The lights suddenly flick on as Mai and Fuyumi San yell,
"HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY AMELIA CHAN!!"
"What the heck?!?" I stare with disbelief at the two women smiling cramps. "What's with this? My birthday is already over, what's happening?"
"Since you won't be here by your next birthday we decided to have one for you this year. For the birthday that you've just passed." Fuyumi San beams happily. I turn to Kyoya and glare at him.
"You knew this was going to happen and you didn't stop them?"
"Don't give me that look Amelia, I only just found out too." He says rather dryly. I smell a rat.
"Sure about that? Cuz I smell a rat."
"It's up to you to believe me or not you know." He says quite self-assured. Now I know for sure that he was in on this from the very beginning. I give him a glare before being led in front of the cake by Mai.
"Make a wish Amelia chan." A wish… I close my eyes and blow out the candles. I don't want much; just to love and be loved by the one I love.
When I open my eyes Fuyumi San shoves a wrapped box into my hands.
"Happy belated birthday Amelia chan!"
"What? Oh no, I can't accept that!" I protest only to be contradicted by Kyoya,
"But I though you loved receiving presents?" I purse my lips as if sucking a sour lemon before retorting.
"When it's due. It's not my birthday!"
"It is." Insists Fuyumi San firmly before wrapping my hands around the box making me take it.
"Thanks…" I say turning red.
"We'll have the cake later, for now dinner is served." Mai says before taking the cake into the kitchen and reappearing with several dishes. I breath in deeply, so that was what I smelt when I came in.
"Smells delicious Mai. What is it?"
"Stewed pork and eggs in oyster and sweet sauce. The other one is stir-fried vegetables." I take a seat and Mai places the dishes on the table.
"Ohh, yummy…" I peer into the pot where the stew was in and I can't believe my eyes. "I know this recipe! My mum cooks this at home! I love this!"
"I thought you'd like it." Mai says happily.
"Thank you!" I smile joyfully and start to dig into my dinner. For once in a long while I eat and talk as much as I want, just letting myself go. It's nice to eat like this.
"Do you miss home Amelia chan?" Fuyumi San asks me. I pause and think for a moment before answering.
"Yeah, I do I suppose. But it's nice here so it isn't so terrible." I smile thinking of Kyoya.
"Time for cake!" Mai comes back in from the kitchen carrying several plates with pieces of cake on it. I jump up to my feet and ignoring everyone's protests I relieve Mai of several plates and place them on the table.
"Any plate right?" I ask before picking up the nearest plate. I swipe a finger into the cream and lick it. "Mmm yummy, can someone please pass me my fork over there?" I ask pointing to my used fork lying on the other side of the table where I was sitting. Kyoya picks it up and passes it on to me, but before I can take the fork from him he uses it to cut a chunk out of my cake and eat it.
"OI! That's my cake you just ate!" I slap his hand and pout at him.
"It tastes nice, try some." He grins at me and gives me the fork. I shoot daggers at him and snatch my fork away from him. I turn my head and find Fuyumi San staring at me open mouth and Mai looking… Smug? I face burns up and I cut out a block of cake and shove it into my mouth so I wouldn't have to face those two ogling females.
I swallow the cake quickly and declare,
"I'm full, I'll have some cake for tomorrow. I'll just go to bed now…" I gulp down my water and head up to my room.
"Are you sure Amelia?" I don't bother looking back.
"Yes! Just keep a slice for me!" I run up the stairs and barge straight into my room pushing my door close behind me. I pick up my camera and turn it on going through all the photos; I really should get them printed soon… I pull a face; I still have to get that photo of Kyoya and I… Someone knocks on the door and I turn around.
"Come in!" I call going back to the camera.
"Hey, you. Why'd you just go? The cake is really delicious."
"Oh it's just you." I say dismissively to Kyoya giving him just a glance.
"Oh, it's just me huh? It's as if I don't really matter to you." He says sarcastically propping his head on my shoulder. I turn my head and kiss him on his cheek.
"Hmm yes, it's just you." I break out into a smile.
"I see… What're you looking at?"
"Some photos. I need to get them printed." He winds his arms around me, one hand holding a plate with a half-eaten piece of cake on it, the other holding an already used fork. I hold the camera up, the lens facing us.
"Smile." I say before pressing the shutter button, just as the camera goes click he plants a kiss on my cheek.
"OI, you wrecked the photo!" I complain screwing my face up in displeasure as I turn the camera around to take a look at the photo. I flick the setting to 'view' and our photo shows up with Kyoya kissing my cheek. I blush and he says,
"Now that doesn't look too bad," He cuts a piece of cake and eats it over my shoulder. "Want some?" He offers lifting the plate up a little.
"Yeah sure."
"Say 'ahh'."
"Ahh, say what?!" I ask suddenly, he cuts a piece of cake off and tells me,
"Just say 'ahh'."
"Huh..? Ahhhh?" He puts the fork in my mouth and I automatically clap my mouth shut. I take the fork from him and pull it clean out of my mouth, some traces of cream still on the fork.
"Ganks." I say with my mouth full.
"Don't talk with a full mouth. Chew and swallow." I scowl, typical Kyoya. I swallow the last bit of the cake before saying,
"You didn't have to feed me you know. I can do that myself, and I do know what to do when I have food in my mouth."
"I know. It's just more fun this way." He says with a cool air; with something evil just lurking beneath the surface of course.
"Do you know how many times a day you use that tone of voice and no one notices it?" I ask turning off the camera and pulling out of his wrap to face him.
"What tone of voice Amelia?"
"That tone! That cool tone you use on things that you don't deem to be worth your time. It's the same with almost every other thing you say to other people. Why can't they hear it?! It's driving me nuts! I'm watching these poor suckers fall victim to you and they still can't hear it even as they're being done in! It's infuriating! Maddening! Am I going crazy?!"
"No, you're not. It's just you. You're special." He smiles innocently at me before taking another bite out of the cake. "Hmmm, great stuff this is. Sure you don't want any more?" He asks me cheerfully. I give him the evil eye and just as he's about to eat the next one I chomp it off his fork before he can get to it. I stick my tongue out at him and swallow most of the cake before saying,
"Thanks for the cake." He gives me an impish look.
"You're welcome, but I don't quite remember you saying you want more cake.. You just took it…"
"Soo…?" I ask, asking what the problem is in the one word.
"Sooo my dear," he says dragging out the 'dear', I roll my eyes to the ceiling. "You will incur a penalty."
"Whop-de-do." I roll my eyes again. "What is it?" I ask dryly.
"Well…" He wraps his arms around me and pulls me in closer and closer until our faces are only a few inches apart.
"Well?" I'm going win, I'll win! No matter what! I'm winning this round!
"I believe that I get to choose the penalty. You'll know when it comes."
"Hmmm, yes. I've got no time to – " he cuts me of instantly when he kisses me. Damn him! He won! Grrr. I pull back and turn my head away.
"That's the penalty Amelia… And you haven't paid you dues…"
"And what if I don't pay up?" I ask disdainfully
"Hmm… Well it'll just keep growing and growing."
"Is that a threat?" I ask giving him a nasty look..
"No, no just telling you what'll happen – as in the inevitability of things. You're not mad at me are you?"
"Yes." I answer back hotly. He lets out a chuckle near my ear,
"No you aren't, so don't even both lying. When you go pink in the face you aren't mad at me."
"Well since you know me so well, what was the point in that?"
"Just wanted to see if you were truthful to yourself. And remember, you said it yourself; 'since I know you so well…' I know how to make you pay now." I can just see him pulling that evil smile of his. Grrr.
"You do, do you? Hmm?"
"I do." He starts kissing down my jawbone tickling me,
"Stop! Stop! That's too ticklish!!" I squeal and squirm, he moves down to my neck and starts kissing and nibbling my neck. "IEEE!! Ahh!! That's too ticklish!!"
"Do you want everyone to come up here to see what you're screaming on about?" He asks me pausing his assault on my neck.
"No." I pout.
"So will you pay? You know I know what I can do to torture you…"
"Fine. Hrmp." He holds my face in his hands and says,
"That's better, at least someone has the guts to admit it."
"I did not – "
"Shush." He places one finger gently on my lips to stop me talking.
"Will you get it over and done with already?"
"Hmm, I wonder about over and done with…" I can't say anything else because he starts kissing me, gently then deeply. I smile contentedly and return his kisses with my own. I cuddle closer to him and tighten my arms around him. He tastes sweet, like the cake he ate… But he never liked sweet things… I place the palms of my hands against his shoulder and gently push him back to tell him to stop. He follows me and pulls back, still giving me little kisses as though he doesn't want to let me go.
"You taste sweet." I say, rubbing my nose against his.
"It's the cake, you taste sweet too." As if to prove his point he gives me another kiss.
"I thought you never liked sweet things?" I hug him and lean into the hollow in between his shoulder blade and collarbone inhaling his smell.
"Hmm, but since it's your birthday I just thought I might try some. It isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I think Mai added less sugar than was on the recipe sheet." I sigh and say,
"Excuses, excuses… But thankyou. You don't have to force yourself to do something you don't want to just for me."
"If it's for you then I'll do any thing."
"Awww, that's the sweetest thing I've heard."
"But it's the fact."
"Hmm… aurg… what's the time?" I ask groaning as I lift my head off his shoulder.
"It's about nine thirty. Why?"
"Oh God… Gah! I have to finish my work!" I groan and moan as I let go of him and return to my desk pulling out my homework.
"They are the bane of my existence." I declare before dropping down onto my seat. He hugs me from behind before letting go and saying,
"Well, I'll just leave you with your work then." I twist in my seat to look at him.
"You're just leaving? And I'm going to be stuck here until God knows when… Help?" I give him puppy eyes and plead with him in my head.
"But that will cost you…"
"OK, OK! Pretend I've never said anything!" I turn back to my work and throw up my hands in frustration. I swear I can hear him laughing at me as he leaves the room but I'm not going to say anything else that'd make me a bigger fool. He shuts the door quietly behind him and I count to ten before rolling out towards my bedside table and retrieving the camera.
I grin. I've got my picture now! I turn it on to inspect the photo I took. Perfect. Now all I need to do is print it. I bite down on my bottom lip to suppress a feeling of overwhelming happiness.
A/N: I'm so sorry everyone for delaying this! I had a horrible writer's block and I felt that Kyoya is really OOC T.T I'm just trying to beat my writers block and try to make Kyoya more like himself… Anyways I hope you enjoyed this and please leave a review! and about their relationship - i'm just kinda... i don't know what happened when i wrote the fight?... i think this is one of my crummiest chapters to date T.T constructive critisim welcomed flames will b chucked in the bin.