~*Miyuki*~
“Oh Kuori!” I smiled and my tears slowed.
“I mean it.” He said. I leaned up and kissed him. I felt like I really couldn’t do anything else. He kissed back with a lot more passion then I was prepared for. But after a second of surprise, I held him tighter and after a few minutes he pulled back.
“I know it’s Friday, and as much as I want to spend the night, I told my parents I would come home. They haven’t seen much of me in the past week or so.” I looked at him and smiled a little.
“It’s ok. I promise.” He brushed his fingers against my cheek.
“Thank you so much. I know you’re probably kinda tired, so just crash and rest.” I kissed him quickly and stood up.
“If you insist. And thank you so much, for everything you’ve done Miyuki.” He said and I smiled and chuckled.
“Anything for you love.” I got my shoes on and threw on my jacket and waved when I walked out the front door. I got to my house in no time, and took my phone out, and texted Taisuke. I had something I really needed to talk to him about.
Tai, are you busy right now? I sent.
No, why? Is something wrong?
I just need to talk to you. Come over for a while
Alright, I'll be right over, my parents don't care.
Ok. I headed up to my room after I told my parents that Tai was heading over to hang out. In a few minutes, I heard a knock on my door. “Come on in, and lock the door please.”
"So what did you want to talk about?" He asked locking the door behind him.
“I, I don’t want you mad at me if I ask…”
"Why would I get mad?" He questioned a bit confused and walked over to me.
“It’s something really big, and I, well, ok I’ll just say it… are you…Kenji?”
"I..." He looked down at the floor.
“Don’t be scared to tell me, you can trust me. I promise.” I said quietly.
"Yes..." He said but not in his own voice. I jumped and fell off my bed. "Miyuki..." He ran over to me, "Are you okay?"
“S-Sorry, you scared me.”
"I'm sorry..." He apologized.
“Tai, why did you trick me?” I said, feeling the sting in my eyes.
"Because...It's a family secret." He said sitting down on the floor next to me.
“I thought Kenji actually liked me…”
"I do..." He sighed and looked me in the eyes, "If I show you something do you promise not to tell a soul?" He asked with seriousness in his expression.
“Cross my heart.” I said with an equal tone.
He closed his eyes and it looked like he was concentrating and suddenly his hair darkened to black. ‘Just like what Kuori can do…’ I thought. I acted surprised though and yelled. His hands flew up to my mouth and covered it "Please don't scream Miyuki." He begged. I let a few tears slip out of my eyes. His hands slipped down and landed on his lap "If the police force knew I had this everyone would be in danger. You know what it is Miyuki, I can see it in your face, Kuori has it too."
“B-But…” I looked away.
"How can I turn in my cousin if I'm no different from him?" He asked. I tackled him and hugged him tightly, and cried. "Miyuki...I'm not going to do it, I'm just going to quit." He muttered hugging me back.
“Thank you so much. It means so much to me.”
"I'm sorry that I lied to you Miyuki." He said.
“Kuori lied to me too. It’s ok.” I said.
"I know he did, we have to in order to keep the curse a secret." He whispered in my ear. I shivered.
“Yeah…”
"So did you figure out that Kuori was Zero on your own or did he tell you?"
“He, had to tell me.” I muttered under my breath as my cheeks grew hot.
"So how did you figure out that I was Kenji?" He asked.
“Uh…”
"How did you figure out that I was Kenji?" He asked again more slowly this time.
“T-The way you kiss…” I stuttered.
"Oh..." I laughed a little.
“Sorry, but that’s one thing that I don’t think you can change.”
"R-right..." He laughed a little.
“Kuori got amnesia, he’s normal and ok now, but an artifact did that to him. I’m scared that other things like that’ll happen, and they will be irreversible.” I shared my concern.
"That's the risk the we take."
“Why not tell people why the family must “steal,” I mean, it’s to protect everyone.”
"That's the thing though we can't because what would the government do if they found out about this? I'll give you one guess."
“Um…run around in circles and scream? Oh wait, they would get jealous that they can’t turn into sexy people so they would want to steal the curse!” He blinked at me.
“Um, that’s kinda half right…yes they would want the power to change the way they look instantly, don’t you understand how dangerous that would be?” He asked. I was trying to be a little funny, lighten the mood a bit, but obviously that didn’t work.
“I understand Taisuke.” I nodded. He smiled a little.
“I’m sure, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you and Kuori stay safe.” He said. “Even if it means me finding a new job.”
“But, you’ve worked so hard, you’re willing to throw it away for Kuori?” I asked. He nodded and smiled at me. "I promise that I'll protect both of you."
“You’re…so selfless.” I smiled at him. I pulled him into a hug and held him there.
"Well someone has to be right?" He laughed lightly.
“Hey…” I looked up at him and frowned. “Are you saying I’m selfish?”
"No." He said and messed up my hair. "Of course you did think that four guys liked you at once."
“Yeah…that really was a stupid thing to believe.”
"But you had two. And your dating the one you've had a crush on for long time now." He mentioned.
“Yeah yeah let’s not get into the specifics.” I laughed. “I really feel a lot lighter now that I confronted you.”
"Why do you say that?" He looked at me confused.
“Well I was scared to tell you. And I haven’t told Kuori yet…”
"You haven't told Kuori about what?"
“That I think you are Kenji…well now know you are but whatever…”
"How about you make a deal with him then." Taisuke stated standing up from where he was seated on the floor and held out a hand to help me up. I took it and he pulled me up with him.
“A deal?” I questioned.
"Tell him that you know something that he doesn't and if he wants to know it then he has to get rid of that ring that's around your head." He said now it was my turn to be confused.
“The ring around my head? Huh?” I asked.
"It's a spell to lock away memories that you don't want a person to remember." He said.
“But why? I don’t have that, I’ve never had my memories erased.”
"You might be surprised with how much he has locked away in your mind." Taisuke stated and unlocked the door.
“Thank you Tai…See you sometime soon.”
"Yep, Oh and happy late birthday, sorry I didn't get to tell you on your birthday." He smiled and pulled his hair back into a small ponytail.
“Thank you. Knowing you and having you in my life is my present.” I smiled.
"Night Miyuki." He said and started opening the door. I suddenly noticed he hadn’t changed his hair back.
“Tai!” I ran over and pulled him back in, stumbling back and pulling him down with me. He fell pretty much on top of me and was able to get his hands by both sides of my head so he wouldn't completely fall on top of me.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
“Y-Yeah…” I leaned up and kissed his cheek. “You need to change your hair back, your hair isn’t naturally black…”
"Oh, right." He laughed a little and got up off of me while he effortlessly changed his hair back to his natural blonde color. "Sometimes I just forget about that."
“Wow, forgetting your hair is blond and not black…” I smirked standing up too and walking to my door.
"Well from going between Kenji and myself so many times I tend to forget." He explained.
“Right.” I opened the door and smiled. “Thank you again. Have a good night.”
"You're welcome and remember to talk to Kuori about that." He said as he walked out the door. "Night."
“Night.” I closed my door, immediately got changed into pajamas, and crawled into bed. “It can’t be true, Kuori could never do that to me…” I muttered before falling into a deep sleep.
