Chapter 14

"Ri-chan, your ketai rang just now! I didn't pick it up because I thought it might be too rude to, you know..." Mika informed Moriko, who had just returned to the classroom from a trip to the washroom.

"Ah, thanks for telling me, Mika-chan!" Moriko sat back down, flipping her ketai open. She frowned suddenly. It was him. He had called just now. She both wanted and did not want to return his call. She still did not feel it was time to have them confront each other. She put her ketai aside.

Ryo was frustrated. Was Moriko still upset? Was she still being petty over the incident? Did Yuki not explain? He flung his ketai aside carelessly, and Uchi caught it in time before it crashed into the full-length mirror wall.

"..Ryo-chan?! Are you mad? The whole wall can come down because of this one fling, and you're going to have to compensate, you know!" Uchi scolded, placing the ketai onto the table.

"It doesn't matter." Ryo waved the issue off just like that. Uchi saw his friend starting to pace about the room in a slow manner, and stared worriedly after him. Ryo had his grumpy days, but it had never been so bad that he would not mention a thing at all. Ryo was unusually quiet these days, always keeping to himself. Whenever Kusano or Shige came late, Ryo never scolded them anymore, and later on even Shige confessed he felt uneasy when he did not receive Ryo's sharp remarks, as though something was missing.

"It's Moriko-chan, isn't it?" Uchi asked quietly. Ryo stopped in his tracks, clenching his fists. He was about to turn round and slam his fist into the wall, but Uchi caught up and stopped Ryo's fist with his palm instead. "You're only going to hurt your knuckles by smashing into the wall. If you have to, you can hit me." Uchi knew Ryo would never do that.

Ryo retreated, walking away from Uchi. "...I don't know what to do with her." he finally said. Uchi silently heaved a sigh of relief. It was a sign that Ryo was not going to explode badly after all.

"She's angry over the Yuki incident?"

"The problem is, I don't know!" Ryo answered, exasperated. He lay on the ground, staring at the ceiling, like he had done the past few days.

Uchi sat down beside him. He didn't say anything, but Ryo was already feeling glad Uchi was by his side. Just as always, when nobody seemed to be there to catch him when he fell. Nobody to see him turn vulnerable. But Uchi was there.

--

Moriko returned home from school, exhausted. "Tadaima."

As soon as she turned from closing the door, someone pushed a large strawberry into her mouth. "Riko-chan okairi!" Ryu greeted in a genki manner, grinning from ear to ear. He held a whole plate of strawberries.

"... What are you smiling for?" Moriko asked, raising an eyebrow, chewing on the strawberry. "Oishii~ Ah, but you stole all the large, red strawberries!! That's unfair!"

"Remember this Saturday okay?" Ryu reminded.

"Yes I know I remember!! You're getting to be naggy. You weren't so naggy last time." Moriko complained, lightly throwing her bag onto the sofa. "Minna will be so happy..." She continued in a dazed manner while laying on the sofa, staring at the ceiling as Ryo had done. Yet she was frowning, not a trace of happiness written on her face.

"Riko-chan, he still loves you."

"Hm?" Moriko asked, having missed what Ryu had just said.

"Ie, nothing! You should go take a shower now!" Ryu returned to his genki state, pulling Moriko off the sofa and pushing her towards her room.

--

"Ahh~ No more strawberries again?!" Moriko groaned, having received a phone call from Kusano to ask her to get new supplies again. "WHY!"

"Ryu also has an addiction to strawberries thanks to us, you know!" Kusano answered. "And since you're almost coming home, you can do the shopping."

"ONII-CHAN!" Moriko protested. But she did do the shopping in the end. That day, she had to stay back in school to meet up with her group for another project, and thus had to return home only in the evening.

A familiar figure stumbled on the streets. He had been there before. They had been in this situation before. But only this time they had worse tension between them than before. They had thought they were already in bad condition... Nevertheless, Moriko ran towards him. Uchi was nowhere to be seen, and Ryo was not going to make a fool out of himself in front of the paparazzi. She could not just leave him there unattended to...

"...Nishikido-kun, you're drunk again." Moriko said quietly as she went up to him.

"Who is NISHIKIDO-KUN? No one else calls me Nishikido-kun... No one..."

Moriko sighed. "You're uttering rubbish again." She put his arm across her shoulder, trying but failing to ignore the warmth radiating from Ryo's body. She made her way back to his hotel. "Ryo-chan, please stop drinking soon... I'm...worried for you."

She gently put Ryo down onto the bed, where he was still semi-conscious. She massaged her shoulders. Looking at Ryo's figure, she noticed a worried look on his face, and he seemed to be having fitful memories. She bent down beside him, resting her head on the bed. "Ryo-chan..." she softly said, stroking his fringe. "Ano ne, I'm sorry for not returning your calls. I don't think I can face you when you are awake enough. You must've thought I was childish and rash huh? The first time I helped you home when you were drunk was a totally different feeling from this. I wish, sometimes, that we had gone back to the way things were before, because then I wouldn't have to look back and know we had a horrible past together. It wouldn't hurt this deep then. Did you know? You are the first person to have ever slapped me. I'm sorry to have angered you, but I couldn't stop myself. If we're better off and happier when we are apart... I don't mind even if we can't be together then."

Moriko stared at Ryo in his delirious state, always mumbling something inaudible for Moriko. The dark circles around his eyes were now more obvious than before, from his uneasy sleep. Moriko got up to leave, but Ryo gripped onto Moriko's arm, still in his drunken state. Moriko pushed the hand away, leaving the hotel room. Uchi was just outside. She stopped in her steps.

"...You’re leaving like that?" Uchi asked.

"...hai." Moriko answered. "Uchi-kun, let's keep silent about this."

"About what?"

"About tonight."

"... Moriko-chan, do you think this is alright?"

"I have no answer."

--

"Uwaa~~ A Saturday!" Kusano exclaimed at the Jimusho, stretching his arms.

"Didn't you sleep enough last night?! You even had to sleep on the car ride!" Tegoshi laughed at Kusano, but was stretching himself.

"Then you?! You must've stayed up all night to watch that soccer match!" Kusano rebutted.

"Hey speaking of that, did you watch that match?! It was fantastic!" Tegoshi stopped his stretching, eager eyes looking at Kusano.

"...no." Kusano simply replied, walking away, leaving Tegoshi pouting. "I was watching the basketball match." He yawned again. "And I have to go to the bridal boutique later, to-"

"Please get ready, boys!"

"Hai~"

After rehearsals and another meeting, Kusano stretched again, before his ketai rang. "Are?" He pulled his ketai out from his pocket. "Moshi moshi, Kusano desu~ Ahh I know, I know, I still have some work to do. Yep. I remember the time. Don't worry I'll be there half an hour before! Yea. See you there in two hours' time! Yes I know I know, Ri-chan was right about you being so naggy! I know where the bridal boutique is. Ri-chan will look nice in a gown ne! It's her first time in a gown. Ah, oka-san said she'd settle the wedding invites. Ja!"

He ended the phone call, grinning from ear to ear.

"Who's getting married??" Tegoshi asked excitedly, particularly energetic today.

"My sibling!" Kusano announced proudly.

"Uwa, omedetou~” Everyone congratulated Kusano, but Ryo froze. ...sibling? Ri-chan will look nice in a gown ne! It's not her is it? In two hours time... It had to be a photo shoot, since it was the boutique. Ryo was about to rush up to Kusano to clarify, but at that exact moment, Uchi had checked his watch and grabbed Ryo's arm, pulling him out of the dance room and into the lift.

"Ahh Ryo-chan, we're going to be late for the photo shoot. I think we rested too much!" Uchi said worriedly.

"It's not going to be long is it?" Ryo asked.

"What is going to be long?" Uchi questioned.

"The photo shoot." Ryo answered sharply.

"Oh. We've done the interview yesterday so I think we'd probably finish in about 2 hours' time at most? What is it, Ryo-chan?"

Two hours. He HAD to make it. Who else was possible other than Moriko and Ryu? She was 16, a legal age in Japan to get married. Ryu... had wanted to propose to her when they were but children. He REMEMBERED that promise. If he got the chance it was highly possible he could marry her at this age. Moriko had never spoken of a prospective brother-in-law, because if there were a possible one, she would've talked to him about it. Moriko always threw out random topics.

Ryu. Was it him?

Were they getting married?

Was it because Ryo had angered Moriko too much?

Ryo wished the photo shoot never existed.

Chapter 13

She ran on and on, her ear stinging from the sudden ripping out of the ear stud. She had said that on impulse, and only after she blurted everything out did she feel that she had done something wrong. She had seen Ryo's eyes turn moist. She had hurt him too. But the fact that Yuki was in Ryo's clothes, clinging on to Ryo's body, had made jealousy overtake her. What's more... He had pushed her down. She was so easily jealous; she was convinced Yuki meant more to him than she did. She had only wanted to pull Yuki up so that she could help her home but Ryo had not trusted Moriko, had thought that she had wanted to hurt her own imouto!

The more Moriko thought of this, the more confused she grew. She was in the wrong. But was he even at fault? Yet, the thought of Yuki in Ryo's clothes filled Moriko with such jealousy and anger that she did not try to think even further.

"Tadaima." Moriko returned home, and Kusano stood up abruptly, running towards her in anxiety, examining the reddish ear piercing and asking, "Daijoubu ka?! What happened? Your eyes are all red. Who ripped that ear stud out? It's bleeding... Moriko, give your nii-chan an answer, I'm worried about you if you continue acting like this!"

Moriko looked up. "Nii-chan... I'm tired." She fell into his arms.

--

Two large eyes stared back at Moriko as she awoke, and in shock, Moriko jumped up, her lips brushing past Ryu's cheek. Ryu was bending over her, his face close to Moriko's. Ryu laughed, pulling Moriko up. "Ohaiyo, Riko-chan!!" Ryu greeted. Moriko looked down at her crumpled uniform, her first button undone, and she hurriedly fixed it back, embarrassed.

"Ne, Ryu-chan, why are you here this morning?" Moriko asked.

"Ah, me and nii-chan are staying over for a week! Well you know... They've businesses to see to." Ryu answered.

Moriko grinned. "Sou ne!! Okaa-san and Otou-san will be very happy..."

"You're going to be late for school, Riko-chan."

"Huh?" Moriko glanced at the clock. "ARE?!!!!!!!!!!"

This time, it was not Kusano, but Moriko instead, who flew through the house, grabbing a sandwich along the way. She went up on the bus, staring out the window. Nobody else in the house knew it. Nobody knew what happened to her. But Kusano knew it was not possible that when Moriko came home as though the world was going to end, she had appeared normal in the morning. But the fact that Moriko was late for school gave Kusano no chance to pry into the problem. At the same time, he hoped that while their childhood friends were here, she would find comfort in being around them. Especially Ryu.

--

The same old things happened in school. The same routines. In Moriko's class, everyone was rushing about, asking each other, "Have you done your math homework?!" They had a strict math teacher, but at the same time, they had studied for an English test the night before, which landed them in this situation. Moriko had done neither the previous night.

"Ri-chan!"

She was staring out of the window, oblivious to her surroundings.

"Kusano-san!"

Moriko jerked her head suddenly to see the math teacher glaring at her.

"Please get back to your seat."

She turned, slowly making her way towards her desk.

Thud.

--

Ryo could not sleep the whole night. He had been in Uchi's room, staring at the ceiling the whole night, leaving Yuki alone to rest in his own room.

"Don't leave me, otou-san..."

Yuki had not told anyone why she was drunk -- she was not in a state to explain things. What's more, she was underage.

And Moriko.. She had been so quick to jump to conclusions. It angered him that she should behave that way, and at the same time, it hurt him to have slapped her. Whenever he closed his eyes, he could vision the hatred that clouded Moriko's gaze after his palm had impacted on her cheek. He later found an ear stud on the floor, a thin streak of blood clinging onto it. It pained him more to know the harshness of his hit.

They were all having a fifteen-minute break in between dance rehearsals, and Ryo reached for his ketai.

...no answer.

--

"Am I not good enough?"

"I'm not into willful girls like you."

"Then why did you pick..."

"It was YOU who thought we were really together."

She collapsed.

Her eyes flew open in shock, and the first thing she saw was Kusano's trademark -- his four moles in a straight line. It was Ryu in the morning, Kusano in the afternoon... but it would never be Ryo at night. "Onii-chan." Moriko greeted, her voice hoarse. In that moment, Moriko wished she were a little girl again, when Kusano always took care of her, pampering her with his attention...

"Onii-chan!" Little Moriko tugged at Kusano's singlet while hiding behind her brother. Kusano turned his gaze back at the short little figure of his imouto, giving her a pat on the head.

"Daijoubu yo, Ri-chan." He turned around, bending down a little to Moriko's height. "Nii-chan promised. Nii-chan promised to protect you!" He brushed his fingers across the four moles near Moriko's ear. "I promised. I'll be near you. Zutto. Just think of me, and I am there for you."

Moriko looked into Kusano's eyes, slowly brushing her tiny fingers across her nii-chan's four moles, then quickly put her arms around Kusano's waist. "Nii-chan wa suki desu!"

Kusano put Moriko in front of him. They slid down the long slide, Kusano tightly hugging her from behind.

"Daijoubu yo."

Moriko sniffed at the memory. It had only been being afraid of traveling down the tall and long slide, but Kusano had not laughed at this. He had taken her seriously, and accompanied her. She sat herself up, then leaned forward, slowly brushing her fingers across Kusano's four moles again. Kusano said nothing, but simply watched Moriko continue her actions, before he finally took her wrist, gaining her attention.

"Obara-sensei called to inform that you fell in school. You were nearly sent to the hospital, but I told her it was common for that to happen to you, and that you would be fine when you woke up, so you came home instead."

"..."

"...tell me."

Moriko's gaze fell onto the bedspread, especially the portion where Kusano had sewn (very terribly) a white teddy bear patchwork over a hole in the bedspread. Moriko had pleaded with oka-san not to throw away this particular bedspread, for it was her favourite, and oka-san agreed to it with the condition that she could work out how to repair it. While Moriko had been out with oka-san to the supermarket, he had taken out the patchwork he had been working on.

"Hiro nii-chan.. Nii-chan..." Moriko kept repeating, not knowing what to say. Kusano tightened his grip a little, to comfort Moriko. Moriko flung her arms round Kusano, taking in the scent of strawberries on him. It was a different feeling from Ryo. She felt Kusano's hands on her back, and then Moriko closed her eyes, letting her tears flow down, "I'm sorry." She grasped the back of his singlet. "...If I knew it would be like this, I would've listened to you."

"...you fought?" Kusano asked, recalling the wound on his imouto's ear.

"No. We quarreled, that's all. I found Yuki in his room. In his clothes..."

"Yuki?? She was very unhappy yesterday, and I gave chase after she broke out of the house, but I lost sight of her... I thought she'd run to a friend's house."

At that, Yuki quietly crept into the room. "Ri nee-chan, please listen..."

Moriko wanted to storm out the room, but Kusano held her back. "Listen to Yuki-chan first!"

"One-chan, it's not what you think. I have to tell you something. I know.. Hiro nii-chan is here, and I would get a scolding later, but I don't care... I drank yesterday."

"You...drank?! Yuki-chan, what were you thinking?!" Kusano asked.

"Nii-chan, let me finish my words first!" Yuki said in an exasperated tone. "I was upset yesterday, because of otou-san. I quarreled with him yesterday, because he wouldn't listen to me. Hiro nii-chan was there too!"

"Then what was with the 'Don't leave me'?"

"I said that? I think I recalled old memories in my drunken state. Otou-san once brought me alone to the fun fair when I was young, because I hadn't been allowed on the one month trip to Kyoto, remember? During that time, I had angered him suddenly, and he stormed off. But when I tried to catch up with him, the last thing I saw of him was him being hit by a van. Even though he was alright after that, it left a big impact on me. I love otou-san, but I haven't been on very good terms with him all along. That's why I drank."

"...how were you allowed to drink when everyone obviously knows you're underage?" Kusano asked.

Moriko's forehead creased. "Please don't tell me it was Katsura-kun."

Yuki nodded. Katsura-kun had his means and ways through his bad company to get his hands on these things. At the same time... He was also the student who tried to take advantage of Moriko.

"He didn't do anything to you, did he?!"

"No... From what I heard from Nishikido-kun and Uchi-kun, they both found me staggering on the streets, held by Katsura, and when Katsura saw them approaching, he ran away already."

"...you were in Ryo's clothes." Moriko pointed out.

"Ri nee-chan please don't get the wrong idea! Nishikido-kun called an attendant in to change for me. The clothes that were closest were his. I know you had your clothes in there, but he couldn't get it out in time before I broke anything in my delirious state. We did nothing. He slept in Uchi-kun's room."

Moriko stared at Yuki for a very long time. But they had quarreled so badly, there was no way for them to get back. Even if they could... Moriko wasn't sure if she really wanted for then to get back. They had not lasted long before a major quarrel had broken out, then how long could they actually last? And when Ryo had seen her flaw, Moriko did not want him to see her at all. She felt ashamed. She felt she was not good enough.

"It was YOU who thought we were really together."

The dream only intensified her feelings for this. It was a horrible feeling, to want to see him and not want to see him at the same time. She could only wait and see what could be done.

Chapter 12

"You cheated..."

Moriko awoke, realising that she had fallen off the bed, Poker cards all around the room. She felt something ticklish on her back, and she attempted to get up, only to lie back down again from the weight. She looked back, realising it was Ryo's head resting on her back. There was a smirk written across Ryo's face, and Moriko knew he was awake. "Get up, Mr. Big Nose, you're costing me a serious bone break!" she complained, trying to shove Ryo off.

Ryo lifted himself off finally, sitting cross-legged opposite Moriko. He watched her get up herself, massaging her back. "You cheated!"

"You fell asleep when you said that, how'd you know if I did cheat?" Ryo challenged.

"You know it yourself."

"Did not cheat."

"You DID."

"Did not."

"DID SO!"

Moriko lunged at Ryo, trying to pin him down, but her palm slipped off his shoulder quite suddenly, leaving her to pin down only one of his shoulders, herself toppling over him. "Itai~" she groaned, referring to her back.

"Daijoubu?" Ryo asked.

"It's your fault!"

"Is not."

"It IS!"

"Well do you want me to make up for it?" Ryo asked playfully, but Moriko had not given him an answer, yet he had automatically, pulled her chin closer to him, engaging the two in a passionate kiss again. Moriko did not say anything after that, only giving her proud self away by blushing.

"Ne, Ri-chan." Ryo said, serious now. He tucked Moriko's black hair behind her ear, looking at her intently. "I'm sorry for last night."

Moriko smiled gently at him, a sign of forgiveness already. Yet perhaps Ryo might have to be the one who forgave her in the future.

Over breakfast in a secluded corner of a nearby restaurant, the pair were chatting about very random things.

"I like girls in miniskirts." Ryo commented.

"You didn't have to say that."

"I'm just hinting you." Ryo teased.

"I don't like miniskirts. Yuki-chan is the one who does." Moriko pointed out, slicing the knife through the sausage on the plate. Ryo had the playful side of him. It drove away the image of Ryo during the couple's first meeting.

"I like the number 9." Moriko suddenly said. "Because I was born on 9th of September, 1989, at 9:09am."

--

That had thus been their third day since she had moved into the hotel room. She had to move back home someday; she could not stay with Ryo forever. But the question was, when? Even though Ryo had said that Kusano had approved of them, yet, he and Moriko had not yet spoken a word to each other since Moriko had left home.

On the fifth day, Moriko decided to pull Ryo out the door. "Oh come on, I don't want us snuggling up against each other the whole time in the hotel room. Get some fresh air, Ryo-chan!"

Ryo had followed Moriko out, while she had been staring in the display windows of bridal shops. "Ah kirei, kirei." Moriko commented to herself, placing her hands on the glass window, staring at the gowns.

"You brought me out just to look at wedding gowns?" Ryo asked. He came up behind Moriko, overlappingher hands with his larger ones. A blush crept up on Moriko as she felt a little shiver going down her spine. "Or do you want to get married actually?"

"No." Moriko immediately answered. "I'm just looking at more options, you know. I'm trying to predict the outcome of-" But she had not finished her sentence, and someone had calledout her name in the mall.

"Oi, Riko-chan!"

Moriko turned round, then grinned at the approaching figure. He was a boy just slightly taller than Ryo, with large, curious eyes, and a warm, inviting smile that cheered everyone up almost instantly. Fujihara Ryu. A year older than Moriko, yet beyond his somewhat punkish outlook, he had a very thoughtful character inside. Tey had been childhood friends, and Ryu's brother was now known as Moriko's one-chan's boyfriend.

Moriko had thought to open her arms and hug Ryu, but then again thought of the Uchi incident, and immediately decided not to do it. Ryu and Moriko's palms slapped against each other's instead. Moriko grinned back at Ryu, watching his genki actions.

"Riko-chan~" Ryu repeated.

"You don't have to call my name so often!" Moriko laughed. "Uwa~ I haven't seen you for a long time, Ryu oni-chan!"

"Are? Hey you promised not to add that 'oni-chan' behind! You make me sound so old!" Ryu complained. "So? Looking at bridal gowns? Trying to predict already?"

Moriko nodded.

"Ahh~ Looking at bridal gowns, you'd look nice in one ne~" Ryu commented, nodding his head.

"Ahh gomen, Ryo-chan!! I forgot introductions... Ryo-chan, this is Fujihara Ryu, my childhood friend, and Ryu-chan, this is Nishikido Ryo, my..." Moriko said happily, then stopped suddenly, unable to curb another blush.

"I can see." Ryu laughed. "Your special someone!"

"Let's get something to eat, shall we?" Moriko asked, trying to shake off the embarrassment.

They headed over to a nearby fast food restaurant, and Ryo watched the two friends, amused at the way they agreed energetically with each other over what they had said, and joining in their conversation as well. He left for the washroom some time later, and Ryu asked, "So, how old is he?"

"21."

"ARE?! 21?? Hmm that's okay I suppose. He looks kind of... scary though. You know, like he has a sharp tongue and is easily overcome by emotions."

"Hmm I guess in a way yea, you're true. Especially about the sharp tongue."

Ryu sighed. "I still remember our childhood promise you know."

*flashback*

Ri-chan sat quietly on the sofa, watching Kusano and the rest of her siblings play with the Fujihara kids in the next room. She was left alone there, her hands on her knees, wishing she could join them, but she was too shy in front of boys, except for Kusano, to go join in the fun.

The younger of the two boys, Ryu, approached Ri-chan suddenly, a little lily held in his hand. He climbed up beside Ri-chan on the sofa, presenting her with the lily.

"I want you to be my wife when we grow up."

*end flashback*

"..I wanted you to be my wife when we grew up." Ryu recalled. "Ahh but it seems like someone has won you already." He laughed.

Moriko touched the faintly highlighted fringe of Ryu's, replying, "Ryu-chan. Suki desu yo!"

Ryu smiled, nodding. He would perhaps forever remain a brother to Moriko, just like Kusano. Ryo was some distance away, but he had overheard the conversation. He had wanted Moriko to be his wife?

But he never asked Moriko about it any further.

Moriko did not have a peaceful sleep that night. She had dreamt of arguing with Ryo over Ryu, and that he had overheard them, and was scolding her for being close to Ryu. Ryo had been about to leave, his back against Moriko, and Moriko helplessly trying to chase him back. When she woke up, she was afraid, and saw Ryo's figure next to her, his back facing her. She felt her tears escape the sides of her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away, slipping her arms around Ryo's waist, trying to fall asleep again.

--

Yet, on the ninth day, something happened. It was just like any other day, when Moriko had gone home during late evening from a project gathering. She had just been experimenting a new dish, chestnut cake, Ryo's favourite, and was eager to get back to share it with him. "Tadaima-" She widened her eyes.

"Uso. You cheated." Moriko said, her voice trembling in a whisper.

"Ri-chan, it's not-"

"It's not? You call that NOT?" She pointed to Yuki on the bed in Ryo's oversized clothes.

"Don't leave me..." Yuki said in a drunken manner, holding on to the hem of Ryo's shirt, oblivious to her surroundings.

"I can explain-"

"You don't have to. I can see for myself." Moriko said, tears already threatening to spill. Her calmness was scaring Ryo. Moriko walked over to where Yuki was, and pulled her arm up somehwat roughly. Ryo pushed Moriko away.

"Don't! You're going to hurt her like this!" he frantically said.

"She's more important than me now, isn't she?!"

"It's not like that-"

"Sou ka, you only wanted my body. You couldn't get mine, so you want my imouto's!"

A resounding smack landed on Moriko's cheek so hard, her ear stud falling out. She stared aside for a moment, overcome by the shock. Had he just slapped her? The pain did not derive from the reddish skin, nor the faint blood line from her ear piercing, but from her heart. There was no turning back for her impulsive tongue. Ryo glared at her, his eyes already welling up with tears.

"Don't leave me..." Yuki whispered again, reaching out for Ryo's arm.

Moriko took a last look at Ryo, then stormed out the door.

"Don't leave me..." Yuki cried. "...otou-san."

Chapter 11

Even before concert meeting started, Ryo was already yawning. Uchi noticed that, and while waiting for the meeting, asked, "Why so tired?"

"Too much going on yesterday night." Ryo yawned again.

"Uwa! Don't tell me you two have gone that far!" Uchi exclaimed. He received a smack on the head for this. "Itai!"

"No we haven't! Don't let your imagination run wild, Uchi Hiroki!" Ryo scolded.

Uchi laughed. "I was just teasing you. Yappari, she means a lot to you ne."

"As long as you don't steal her from me."

"Eh?"

"She keeps praising you for being adorable!"

"Are? Ryo-chan is jealous~" Uchi teased.

"Shut up!"

--

When Moriko got back to the hotel room, yappari, she was home earlier than Ryo. She set her things down, heading for a shower. As the cool water ran over her figure, she pondered on what she had said last night. She was not sure if her impulsive nature could pull the couple through obstacles, and it very possible could lead to arguments worse than what they've had before. And even worse were her rash actions... But she had been too worried last night to express herself clearly.

Moments after her shower, Moriko's ketai rang, and she picked up the call.

"Ri-chan? Is this Ri-chan? Where are you now? We are so worried about you. Hiro-chan said he didn't know where you were too! And you two are supposed to be the closest..." It was oka-san.

"Oka-san I am fine! Well..." Moriko racked her brains to find a decent enough lie, and then continued, "I'm staying over at a friend's house. Umm, you see, we have a project to do, and I thought since she lived so far, it was better if I stayed over at her house to do it. Gomen oka-san, to let you worry."

"..if you've really become this diligent, then that's good." Oka-san replied. Moriko felt a pang of guilty hit her hard when oka-san said that.

"Kaa-chan, how is nii-chan?" Moriko asked.

"Ahh Hiro-chan ne..." Oka-san answered slowly in a worried tone.

"It's so quiet in the background. Is nii-chan angry?"

"Your nii-chan has been in his room, silent, ever since last night. He's at the Jimusho now though. I don't know what's come over him, and I don't know what's between the two of you, but I hope you two are old enough to settle any petty little business between yourselves." Oka-san answered. "Well I hope you finish that 'project' of yours soon and come home. We all miss your loud arguments with Hiro-chan."

"Hai, oka-san. Gomen to let you worry." Moriko said silently, then put down the phone. No wonder she had felt weird the whole day -- she hadn't shouted or ranted at Kusano!

--

"Uwaa~ After the NEWS meeting we can go home already! Then we can go on that shopping outing with Moriko-chan..." Uchi was in his chair, looking at the ceiling, first pursing his lips then saying aloud his plans for the outing. "...and then we can go eat at that ramen store...Then the aquarium..."

But Ryo wasn't listening. Uchi had just reminded him that there was a NEWS meeting later. It meant seeing Kusano.

But Kusano had not even attacked Ryo. He did not even shoot one glance at him. They were rehearsing positions for another dance. And...

"... ah and I suggest Kusano should stand here.. Nishikido-kun should be on his right..." the dance choreographer said.

"Ano!" Koyama broke in. "Shouldn't it be that Ryo is beside Uchi? They're always together."

"Uchi-kun is on the other side, the opposite end of Nishikido-kun, so it'll be alright."

While Ryo stood beside Kusano, Kusano suddenly asked, "..how is Ri-chan? Did she sleep well last night?" Ryo turned to face Kusano in surprise. "...From now on, yoroshiku na! Ri-chan is sensitive and rash, so please understand."

"...not angry anymore?"

"But I warn you, don't try anything funny with my imouto." Kusano said in a low and serious voice. Then he brightened up suddenly and said, "Are?? Where is the music?? Are we going to perform without the music?" He and his thousand-expressions face started getting in action, and he started jumping about, waiting for the music to come.

"I'll provide the music!" Uchi exclaimed excitedly, then started singing 'I.ZA.NA.I.ZU.KI.'. Yamapi laughed, grabbing a pole nearby to act as a guitar, playing it with absolute exaggeration. Kusano joined in the fun, trying to dance hip hop along to the song, until the music really started, and they each ran back to their positions.

--

"Moriko-chan! Moriko-chan!" Uchi excitedly called, knocking on the door. Moriko opened it immediately, a pen stuck in her hand. "Haven't finished your homework?" Uchi asked, disappointed.

"I just finished the last bit." Moriko flashed him a wide grin, and Uchi poked Moriko's cheeks gently, laughing.

"Yosha! We can go off now?" Uchi asked, flashing his big eyes at her.

"Sure, after I get changed." Moriko answered.

Moments later, she emerged in a pink T-shirt and navy blue jeans. "Ikou!"

On board the bus, the three were laughing, while Uchi held his stomache. The rest of the bus was very silent except for the trio.

"...ah but Kusano looks good in those lifeguard clothes ne!!" Uchi commented, sitll laughing. (A/N: internal joke between me and Sky!)

"Ha! He can never be a lifeguard, for goodness sake, not even at the baby pool!" Moriko replied, laughing, until suddenly she realised they were talking about her nii-chan.

Ryo saw the worried look on Moriko's face, and said, "Kusano's alright now. He's approved."

"Are? Hontou?" Moriko asked. Ryo nodded.

"Mm."

After their meal at the ramen store, Uchi excitedly said, "Ja, I am going to announce the travel plans of the day!" He clapped his hands together once. "We shall visit the mall now of course... There's a new store there, that sells a lot of bedtime stuff! Mitai na! And then we shold go to the aquarium too!"

Ryo groaned suddenly. "The AQUARIUM?! How many times have you been there?"

"Oh but this one's a new aquarium! It only opened last month! Aww come on Ryo-chan, look on the bright side! Imagine walking hand in hand under the sea~" Uchi looked over to Moriko, who was laughing at Ryo's annoyed expression.

"Okay for this once. But not for what you said just now!" Ryo gave in, but Moriko was still laughing.

"Are! Are!!!" Moriko squealed, pointing at the row of pyjamas. "KAWAII~"

Uchi was equally hyper that day. He ran over to Moriko's side, going, "OHH!! Kawaii~"

"Ne, ne, Ryo-chan, I can't believe there's actually a store here that specialises in pyjamas and all those cute nighttime stuff..." Moriko was tugging on Ryo's sleeve, like a little child who had just gone on a first-time holiday.

Ryo looked at them in amusement. They were the genki people. The ones who enjoyed basking in the cuteness of the store. Under Uchi's recommendation, Moriko went to try out a set of sky blue pyjamas. Uchi was looking at the male section of pyjamas. "Uwa, Ryo-chan you should get one." Uchi said, browsing through the row of brightly-coloured ones.

"For what?"

"It'll match you with Moriko-chan!"

Match? Ryo suddenly considered this. The cute and somewhat childish Moriko, how had they come to be together? She seemed to be someone who would be Uchi's girl instead of his, and all of a sudden, a pang of jealousy and feeling of loss hit Ryo, and he missed what Uchi had just said.

"Ryo-chan? Ryo-chan? Did you hear me?"

"Huh? What?"

"Go see if Moriko is done with the fitting?"

As Ryo walked towards the fitting room, Uchi stared after his best friend, suspicious that Ryo was hiding something. Ryo leaned his back against the wall outside the fitting room, until Moriko unlocked the door and found him there.

"Ah, Ryo-chan, is this nice?" Moriko asked, smiling, holding her arms out to show Ryo the set of pyjamas.

Ryo bit back a laugh. "You look little in it!"

Moriko pouted, walking back into the fitting room to change back. That was cute, he thought. Both her expression and her in pyjamas. Ryo enjoyed teasing her for the sake of watching her curious, excited face turn into a pout.

Moriko ended up getting that set of pyjamas. Next stop, aquarium.

"Mite mite! That blue fish! Hey it reminds me of that fish in that movie..." Uchi commented, sticking his face close to the glass of the aquarium. "Kirei, kirei..." Ever since the trio had stepped into the aquarium, Uchi had started praising the fish non-stop, and Moriko and Ryo were looking at him in amazement. The silent fish had such a startling effect on Uchi, who was usually very genki already. "Mite!!!" He pointed again.

"Clownfish!" Moriko's hand shot up as well, pointing to a fish above them. "Uwa~~"

"Kirei desho?" Uchi asked.

Moriko did not know when, but Ryo's hand had found his way to linking with Moriko's. Moriko secretly smiled. They had never held hands like this before. It was ironic. They had kissed, but not held hands in public. They walked down the aquarium, Uchi leading the way, looking at the fishes with his curious, big eyes. Moriko's hand suddenly broke free as she ran forward towards Uchi, peeping from behind, her hands on his shoulder. They were talking animatedly about the fishes, and Ryo slowly made his way towards them, though he suddenly felt lonely.

"Ne, Ryo-chan, the fishes are so beautiful..." Moriko said.

"Mm."

And that was all Ryo would say.

--

"Ahh~~ Tsukare!" Moriko shouted, falling down onto the bed. Ryo was still very silent. "What is it?" Moriko asked, concerned. She sat herself up on the bed, her legs tucked under her chin, her hands on her knees. Ryo made no reply. "Ryo-chan? Why so silent?"

"Because you and Uchi wouldn't let me in."

"Huh? You're...jealous?"

"Well, it appears you enjoy your time with him better than with me." Ryo commented, standing some distance away from Moriko, folding his arms.

"Come on, don't be so petty. It's just... fun to be genki with him."

"Well then why don't you be with him instead?!" Ryo finally burst out.

"...Ryo-chan." Moriko said in a soft voice, barely audible. "You doubt my love for you."

"Well you doubted my existence." He retorted, then later regretted. He still could not hold his sharp tongue against even his loved ones. He watched Moriko hug her knees closer, her eyes downcast. He knew he had angered and hurt her at the same time. But jealousy had taken over him at that moment.

"Ryo-chan." Moriko repeated his name, her voice already trembling. "Don't you need a shower?" She was attempting to make him go away, so she could let out her feelings.

Ryo did not move. He did not want to conform to her hint, and yet he didn't know what he could do. Moriko tilted her face even further down, then continued, "If you're not going to shower, then I am going to. Now." She got up, walking to the shower slowly, but Ryo suddenly caught her hand. Moriko pushed his hand away, her back to him once again.

"Ri-chan, I didn't mean to-"

"Yea right, you didn't mean to. I know." Moriko said, her tears already silently rolling down, but she didn't want Ryo to see them. "I'm hurt." she finally said. "Why can't you hold back a bit?"

Both Ryo's arms reached out, embracing Moriko from behind, and he rested his head next to hers. A hand rose to brush her tears gently away, and Moriko did not struggle from his clutches, even though she was silently angry at him.

"Why won't you let your feelings out and cry out now?" Ryo asked, worried that Moriko was suffering immensely, silently inside. "I'm here for you."

"...I don't want you to see me crying." Moriko answered, already starting to show signs that she was going to cry anytime soon.

Ryo turned Moriko round. Looking into her eyes, he said, "I can already feel you crying." Moriko looked down at her feet, but Ryo quickly lifted her chin. "Ri-chan, gomen!" He kissed her again, tasting the tears that had run over her delicate lips. After this, Moriko broke down entirely, crying in Ryo's embrace, her hands gripping the front of Ryo's shirt.

"...I don't want to come back to this room only to have bad memories everytime." Moriko said between sobs.

And at that the phone rang.

Chapter 10

"!"

"!"

"!"

"Come again?" Kusano asked, staring at Yuki without a single movement of his eyelid.

Yuki paled. "I said nothing, nii-chan." she quickly answered.

Kusano got up from his seat, storming through the house, while Yuki gave chase instantly, trying to call Kusano back. Kusano was too quick, and Koyama and Uchi stood there, stunned, while he burst the door open. He knew Yuki was not lying this time. He saw Ryo, pressing his lips against his imouto's forehead, and her imouto's hand on his shoulder. As soon as the door was open, the couple tore away immediately.

"N-nii-chan, knock before you enter!" Moriko stuttered over her words in sudden fright.

Kusano strode over Moriko, pushing Ryo away, even though he was older than he himself. "What's between the two of you?! I'm warning you, NO TOUCHING MY SISTER."

"Onii-chan!" Moriko grabbed the hem of Kusano's singlet, but Kusano brushed her hand off. "I don't see what's wrong!" Moriko argued.

Kusano abruptly turned to face her. "Ri-chan! You're too young! Do you know who you're with?!"

"Ryo-chan is not a bad person!"

"I'm firm on my 'no'! I've always been watching you grow, being with you, letting you have your way, but I don't want you to be bullied! You're always too quick to jump to conclusions and opinions!"

"Nii-chan, Ryo is not like that!"

"I said NO!"

Moriko burst out of the room, still in her pyjamas, slamming the main door behind her. Ryo gave chase.

Koyama looked at Kusano, who was still furious. He walked over. "Kusano, I think you should go gentler on your imouto..."

"What gentler?! She'll never learn that way! The days you were with her, changed her completely!"

"Moriko hasn't changed. She's still the same person. It's because you're overly protective towards her, she has closed herself in. Moriko loves you, Kusano! If she hated you, or didn't respect you, would she have run off in anger like that?" Koyama watched as Kusano stopped his rebuttal, and thought for a moment.

"But I don't want her to get hurt..."

"You don't trust Ryo-chan?"

"...it's Moriko I don't trust."

Kusano didn't explain further, but Koyama did not probe any further as well. Kusano needed his time to think. Koyama left the house with Uchi, to find Ryo stopping Moriko from running. "Ri-chan, wait!" Ryo shouted.

"Nii-chan doesn't trust me!"

"Don't run away from home because of anger in the moment?" Ryo persuaded, holding Moriko's arms.

"I'm not going back." Moriko said firmly, because of her stubborn character. "Do you hear?! I'm not going back!"

Koyama ran over to Moriko. "Ri-chan, calm down. You know Kusano is worried about you, that's why he flared his temper. Moriko knew it, but still, she was too angry over the matter that she decided not to turn back. Koyama sighed. "Ryo-chan, I think Moriko has to spend the time with you. Until she cools down. I guess Kusano needs his own time, too."

Koyama drove them back to the hotel, but the atmosphere in the warm, cheerful-feeling family car grew tense and the silence was deafening, as though any sound next would ignite a whole series of noises. Even Uchi's attempt to cheer Moriko after some time of silence did nothing to improve the situation.

--

"Change." Ryo simply ordered back at the hotel, when the two were alone. He gently threw his clothes to Moriko, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, but she didn't even bother to catch them. She stared at the white shirt that was too big for her, and the large black pants in her lap. She silently got up, closing the door of the bathroom behind her. Ryo stared at the door, suddenly not used to the silent Moriko. Kusano meant a lot to her.

Yet when Moriko was done, the door opened with a loud bang, and a pouting figure stood there. "You're supposed to be only a little taller than me, so why are your clothes so LARGE?!" she demanded, folding her arms, then pointed to the large neckline of the shirt. Ryo laughed at her. Her annoyance was a sign that she was a little better already.

--

Yuki crept cautiously into Kusano and Moriko's room, and Kusano was there, sitting on his bed with his arms folded. It was a rare sight that Kusano was this quiet, and his face was marked with seriousness. He did not even turn to look at Yuki when she had entered, but continued being in his own thoughts. Yuki walked over to Moriko's closet, intending to help bring some clothes and her schoolbag to her, since she knew her sister was hot-tempered as well, and would not come back for uite a few days. She was hoping Kusano did not notice anything.

But his voice startled her movements as she nearly dropped Moriko's clothes. "Bring more clothes for her. I think she won't come back so soon." Kusano said. His voice was surprisingly soft.

"Hai." Yuki answered, and continued packing, while Kusano regained his silence.

As she was heading out the door, Kusano caught up with her, instructing her to pass his words to Moriko. "Tell her that she shouldn't skip any meals. And oh, to tie her apron properly when she cooks, and make sure she doesn't skip school, or if she has any problems she can always look for her onii-chan-"

"Onii-chan, I know. I will tell her." Yuki assured, then went off.

--

There came a knock on Ryo's hotel room door, and Ryo answered the knock. He stood in surprise at Yuki's appearance. "Yuki-chan?" Moriko asked.

"Nee-chan, gomen!" Yuki said.

"... it's okay. Hiro nii-chan has to know some time anyway." Moriko said.

"Ano, nee-chan, here are your clothes and your schoolbag. You'll find an extra box of ichigo inside. Onii-chan left it there for you. He also reminds you to look for him when you need help. And... to tie your apron firmly round if you are cooking." Yuki said, handing her the bag of belongings. "Nii-chan knows your temper. He knows you won't come back that soon. He cares, Moriko nee-chan!"

"...oni-chan." Moriko whispered to herself.

"Gomene! If it wasn't for me!" Yuki said, looking at her feet.

"...Yuki-chan do you want to come in?"

"It's okay, I'm going home now." Yuki refused the offer, and Moriko saw her turn away, her hands brushing over her moist cheeks. Yuki was a good sister after all.

As the door closed, Moriko said in sudden joy, "And now I can change into my own clothes! And get rid of your oversized-"

"Yadda yo." Ryo said, his voice low. "I like you in my clothes." He pulled Moriko closer to him, looking down at her. Moriko returned the gaze uneasily, blushing uncontrollably. She covered Ryo's eyes as the oversized shirt slipped off a shoulder.

"It's too big." Moriko protested, pulling up the neckline.

Ryo laughed. "I didn't know Miss Forest was so conservative!" He received another slap on the arm. "Hey! Why do you love doing this?!"

Moriko stuck her tongue out at him, walking away. She put the box of ichigo into the mini fridge, while placing her other stuff in the corner of the room. She plopped down onto the bed, crossing her legs, turning the television on. Ryo sat beside her, watching TV with her for a moment, but quite suddenly, Moriko turned the TV off. "Ryo-chan..." she said quietly, turning to the figure beside her. Ryo only hurriedly put her into his arms, and the white shirt slipped down one side again.

"...your shirt is really huge." Moriko completed her sentence. "I mean," she corrected, "I'm worried."

"About Kusano?"

"More than that." Moriko admitted.

"Then tell me about it."

She blushed as Ryo's large, warm hand touched her bare left shoulder, and she tightened her arms around Ryo's body. "I don't dare to think of what might happen next." Moriko began. "Nii-chan was right. I am impulsive."

Yet, Ryo did not understand what Moriko meant. "...impulsive? Or are you saying you saw me wrongly?"

But Moriko never got to speaking her point. She simply ended the conversation with, "When that time comes, I'll apologise beforehand."

Ryo wanted no more secrets or second guesses, and started gently pushing Moriko away, but Moriko held on. "Yadda yo. Don't move away. I want to stay like this."

"?"

"...It's because you smell of strawberries."

He smiled.

Very slowly, Moriko fell aslee, her hands falling from her grip on Ryo's shirt. Ryo looked at the figure in his arms, slowly laying her down beside him. He pull the large shirt back over Moriko's exposed shoulder, whispering, "Oyasumi, Ri-chan."

--

"Oi, sleepyhead, wake up, it's time for school."

"A few more minutes, Nori nii-chan~" Moriko whined, pushing the hand away, and turning her back to her sleep-disturber.

"I am not your nii-chan! Now hurry up! Honestly, Ri-chan, you can be such a pig."

Moriko clenched her fists. "Nii-chan, you-" She abruptly got up, slamming the figure down, only to open her eyes to realise it were a topless Ryo she were pinning down. She watched his chest heave with his breathing, his hands having caught her arms in alarm. Yet, when she looked at Ryo's eyes, she realised his gaze was somewhere else. She followed it, and realised... they were beyond that huge opening of the neckline of her shirt! She freed a hand, attempting to slap Ryo, but he caught her wrist instead, bringing her down with him. Their lips were pressed together, and Moriko tried to mumble something, though her voice was muffled.

Ryo pushed her away momentarily, growling, "Shut up for a moment, woman." He pulled her back down again, while Moriko glared at him. She put a finger on his lips to stop the action.

"And for that I'm not letting you have your way." Moriko walked away on purpose. "And next time you kiss me, please don't put me on top, you sukebe!"

"How many times have you called me that already?" Ryo asked, laughing.

"You are one." She closed the bathroom door behind her.

As Moriko put on her shoes after breakfast, she saw Ryo put on his shoes as well, geared for going out. "Are? Going to the Jimusho?" she asked.

"Yup. K8." he explained simply. "Ah, sou desu, I think you'll probably be home earlier than me, so here's that spare little key..." He handed the key to Moriko.

"Hai."

"Yo, Ryo." Uchi greeted at the door, also heading for the Jimusho. "Ahhh~ I thought of going to shop a little with Ryo ne! Moriko-chan, want to come along??" Uchi asked excitedly, his adorable eyes shining at her with expectations.

"Ahh hai, I would like that too!" Moriko answered. "Ja, I'm off now, ne. See you two this evening?"

Uchi gave her a thumbs up.