[x]
“I have to calm down? Let me object to that statement right away, Mr Aonuma.”
Tucking a small piece of hair behind her ear, Nene let a vague, cornered smile bestow upon her lips.
“I’d say your outspoken personality is an additional reason as to why things have gotten more ardent.”
His brows furrowed together as did a corner of his lips quirk downwards, the slightest traces of disappointment surfacing from his features. Lips soon parted, and he let out a noiseless sigh. Why couldn’t she just play along for once.
"I won’t deny that, but,” he swiftly shifted his eyes to gaze at her, looking vaguely like his fun had been spoiled, “I doubt that’s any more than a petty reason behind… this.”
“If anything, I think it’s your constant probing that’s the main problem here.”
“Like I said, you’ve been practically breathing down my neck ever since I got back. If that’s not meant to keep me hot under the collar then I don’t know what you’re trying to do.”
“–Oh yeah, Nene.” A faint glimmer of amusement seemed to reflect from his eyes. “Since when did you start calling me ’Mr. Aonuma’? Whatever happened to Kiriha-kun.”
Anonymous said: So how's it going with you and Nene?“… Curious, aren’t you?”
So these snooping people still haven’t given up yet, huh. Well then. He was well aware that he might as well be throwing in more kindle into the bonfire with his next words, but hey. He felt inclined to entertain their questions this time. And he needed a laugh.
“Hm. Things have gotten more… ardent, between her and I. And maybe even a little stormy. I think she needs to calm down though; she’s been breathing down my neck for a while now, fussing over trivial things all the way.”
It was definitely nowhere near the whole truth, yet it wasn’t a total lie either. If one were aware of what really happened, that is.
But out of context—… that was just what he was aiming for.
Nene placed one arm above the other while a deep frown set on her face. She let is pass, for now.The forever mysterious smirk Nene portrayed later rested well upon her features as he questioned her. She only shrugged it off, deciding to answer his previous question instead. “I don’t know, did you want me to be jealous?” Without much effort she turned the question back at him, looking at him mockingly.
He then looked at her, then not, making it seem like he rejected a thought he had just had. Nene remained quiet, waiting for whatever sort of response he would give her.
“If I don’t recall wrong, you once said you were captivated by my charms.” With her own tongue faltering she stopped, glanced at him and then shook her head lightly. Why was even that brought up? She didn’t even know that herself. “You know, just to be more accurate, you have said that before, so again, thanks for that comment.” She looked away, feeling like she made a complete fool of herself while babbling all that. It made no sense.
Collecting herself she sighed and closed her eyes before returning back. “Can I share something?” Her face was expressionless as she wanted to share something she hadn’t told anyone else. “I miss the old days.” Another pause was made before she resumed, straightening her back. “I can’t even shop for groceries without someone recognizing me. You could say I sometimes wish I wasn’t famous, because then, I could hang out with whoever I wanted to, do whatever I felt like…”
It wasn’t necessary for Kiriha to know this, but he was the only one Nene felt confident enough to share such information with. “A-anyway.. that wasn’t relevant at all, I just needed to get it off my chest,” she hurriedly added and her face regained her normal expression.
All the while, his visage still held the slight vexation he felt. Kiriha didn’t even bother masking his displeasure as he kept silent at her remark. Because when it boiled down to it, what was the point of doing so? Poker faces may be within his line of expertise, but he shouldn’t dismiss the fact that Nene still had a finesse for sensing fraudulence when it counted, and no doubt did she have a sharp eye for it.
At least, that was the Nene he remembered her to be. Although things may have changed over time, be it within themselves or their ties, Kiriha still stuck firm to the belief that her more engaging qualities remained the same – if not progressed into something more reputable than they already were.
And he had to wonder. If she knew how high of an opinion he held for her… How would she react? What sort of face would she make if she realized that?
Kiriha could only guess.
”… And I still am. That’s another thing that hasn’t changed about me.“
Curiosity piqued, a lift of his eyebrow was all that was needed to urge the other to continue after her inquiry. He’d rather not dwell too much about the way her expressions seemed to change prior, lest he’d take her next words for granted.
And listen attentively he did. He made no comment throughout her humbled admittance and simply let her speak out her mind. And through it all, somehow… he felt just a little bit relieved, perhaps even glad. That Nene was willing enough to disclose this sort of thing to him, among other things. But then again, it was a given. She had his respect, and he had hers.
At least, he believed so.
Her words finally concluded, Kiriha took it as his turn to speak. Parted lips let out a quiet exhale of breath; a calm sigh.
"So tell me, Nene. With all that said and done… Do you regret it?”
It was a simple question. How she might perceive that question to mean, however, was up to her; whether he referred to her choice to become an idol, or if it was about sharing her thoughts with him. It didn’t matter which or what.
What did matter to him was if she was satisfied – as long as she hasn’t made any choices so far worth regretting, no matter how little or big they are, then that was more than enough for him.
(Source: kruisvuur)
“I don’t know what to think really.” She glanced his way. “You seem confusing all of a sudden,“ she said afterwards and looked away at nothing. And still not fond of the idea to share anymore information, Nene shrugged at him. Why so secretive. He must know that she would just continue nagging him on about it sooner or later.
Just half ignoring to answer her returning question, Kiriha had decided to turn the questions on her now. She tilted her head a little bit downwards, at the same time giggling slightly.
"Would you be jealous if I said ‘yes’?” She placed a teasing stare at him and leaned in as if she wanted to take a closer look at him, while again crossing her arms. Why he would be interested in her private life seemed like something he usually wouldn’t care much about, and Nene thought it was because he wanted to lead the attention away from him for a little while.
“My charms are very popular among the boys as a matter of fact.” Her expression almost showing bragging, but she decided not to and only smiled mysteriously.
She hesitated to continue for a second, taking a step back from Kiriha. “But you know what? None.“ She shook her head lightly and let the words sink in for the other one. “No guys have been able to captivate my heart. I haven’t had time as you would probably understand given my circumstances this previous year.” She gazed at him, awaiting another one of his sneaky comments.
“Oh?” The corner of his lips seemed to tug into a slight frown at that. “How so?” It was a rhetorical question; of course he knew why she told him so. He wasn’t about to admit it, however. Not so soon, at the very least. Because knowing Nene, he had a feeling she might bring up the subject again sooner or later. He just hoped it was more later than sooner – if not, well, diversion tactics were still right up his alley.
His lips tugged themselves back into a faint smirk, however. “Jealous? …I’m sorry, were you hoping I was?” It was almost laughable to him. If it weren’t for the way Nene peered up at him scrutinizingly. His smirk faded, and the discontented frown returned as he looked back at her. “…What?”
He wasn’t about to let himself get thrown off his pace by this girl. There was no way she’d be serious about that inquiry – her expression gave it away. Yet, he couldn’t think of another thing to say without it possibly backfiring later on. And so he kept silent as he listened to her, feeling more than a little miffed.
He’d caught his full attention with her admittance, however. Briefly, his eyes seemed to concentrate on her, contemplating as he tuned in her words. That was… unexpected, to summarize his thoughts in a word. Nene, the rising idol, still single? Another thought crossed his mind that almost made him smirk. He had to wonder how her fans think of that.
…Which brought up another thought.
She was an idol. Of course she’d be single, if her agency was one of those groups that didn’t allow their hired agents to have relationships outside of work. He was familiar with some stories about idols being forbidden from dating by the companies they work for; for the sake of keeping fans deluded into the idols’ appeals. Single idols were easier to market to the public. And that was just one of the heavy stigmas an idol would face… or so he’d heard.
He felt his lips part ever so slightly to speak, but his tongue faltered. Expression allayed into a mask of disdain, Kiriha let his eyes trail away from her.
“I see,” was all he could say to that. “That’s a shame for someone with your charms. Even I can say that.” Though he felt like saying much more. But honestly, what else was there for him to say? It wasn’t even his place to say them.
(Source: kruisvuur)
Nene knew she hadn’t answered him after the correct notes, but given how he had reacted to it all it had thrown her off guard and made her answers only wrong and making it seem like she didn’t have an answer for it.
“Of course I didn’t do this of my own will! You’re right I would never do that, but that person… that stranger was bothering me. He kept bugging me about you and in the end I have had enough!” She sighed and caught her breath again as she had rushed the words out of her mouth. “I was tired of being bugged about how I feel about you. If I loved you and things like that.“
Her breathing relaxed, now finally have gotten it all out. How he would accept it as an answer she wasn’t sure of though. The tension he threw her way suggested for a harsh reply, still not accepting it.
He let go of her wrist and Nene withdrew her hand quickly, rubbing it with her other hand. Right after he instead placed his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look at him.
"It’s not like I can control it! I can’t exactly decide who I fall for!” She snapped back at him, not even blinking while keeping her eyes locked at his light blue ones.
His voice changed from that previous to a much calmer one. When he spoke Nene’s face decreased in tension, soon finding herself almost shocked by his rushed words. “What? What would you have done?“ She asked with a low tone, lowering her gaze so that she didn’t meet his eyes as she asked him.
"If you–… what?”
Wide cerulean eyes stared at her in bafflement. But oh, he heard her alright. It was mainly the fact her admittance had fazed him to the point his composure began to ebb away a little.
Her outburst had thrown a curve at him, and he merely gazed at her with a confounded look as he listened to her sudden disclosure. True, he did want her to tell it to him straight, but seeing her on the edge like this as her words rushed right out of her mouth… Kiriha could only tighten his jaw in an attempt to contain the anger that had started to swell in his chest. This was too much… It was bad enough that this imbecile had harassed Nene personally; but for them to throw himself into the mix without his knowledge? What the hell were they thinking.
It took him quite a bit of his resolve to will himself from cutting off the other girl’s words by voicing out his own thoughts. No, he had to listen first. Think calmly. Put aside his resentment. Analyze the situation. Come up with a solution for all this.
But then she just had to look back up at him and utter those next words. Something stirred in the recesses of his mind as her eyes were firm upon his. A memory. Slowly, his lips tugged themselves back, almost resembling a half-snarl, and his grip on her tightened by the slightest; but then he noticed it. The tension on her stiffened shoulders. And suddenly, he felt the strangest urge… to just pull her towards him. It was… unnerving, to say the least, seeing her like this; and if his words wouldn’t reach her, then maybe–…
And for a split second he almost gave into that urge. Almost. His fingers twitched, yet his reasoning stopped him from acting on impulse right in the nick of time. Stiff hands remaining in position for a moment; electric blue eyes gazing back at her amethyst ones; and slowly, those blue eyes fluttered close as his hands slid off her shoulders.
Pulling away from her, he gazed back at her silently with another one of his blank, unreadable expressions. And then, his knitted eyebrows seemed to soften, and he gave her a small smile.
“….Then let me be the one to decide that.”
“Remember? ‘I’ll definitely make you mine.’ I haven’t forgotten that.”
He held his smirk for a few more moments, before her inquiry made his curved lips diminish back into a flat line. Lips pursed, he contemplated his thoughts, gaze remaining fixed on her. What would have he done? Thinking about it, if something truly serious did happened to her in his absence… It wasn’t like he’d be there to help her out, let alone know she was in trouble in the first place.
“…If,” he murmured in a low whisper, “If I knew about it, I would’ve come to your aid.” His gaze hardened. “But I don’t always know what goes on in everyone’s lives; If I didn’t know about it… like I didn’t know about this…” He exhaled through his nose, easing out his frustrations. “I don’t know if I could forgive myself.” A tightened look became evident on his features. After all, it was his choice to travel all the way to the other side of the globe, wasn’t it?
The loosening of his grip didn’t help in the slightest and the fact that he still wouldn’t let her go and remained a grip around her wrist just annoyed Nene even more, almost the point were her boiled up anger would pop. There wasn’t anything else to say about the matter.“I would never have taken you to be this sensitive about all this Kiriha. What’s the big deal anyway?” Her expression changed from the sad from earlier to a frown. “And if I’m not mistaken I am entitled to do whatever I want.“ She glared daggers at him, taking a step closer to him.
He squeezed her wrist, the next words uttered from his lips making Nene feel annoyed. He had passed over-exaggerating a long time ago, now also bringing in that. “Well who said I had to please you?! I’m sorry to break this to you Kiriha but people change. But for what it’s worth, you really haven’t changed at all. You have instead gone back, back to before you joined Xros Heart.” She sent him multiple glares, almost getting so angry that she wanted to scream it all out.
She didn’t want to say the next words that were paused in her mind that she had kept from everyone, but she did anyway. “Newsflash Kiriha… I can’t believe I was captivated by you.“
Not letting herself look brought down again she instead turned her head away and looked in another direction, her hand that was still held firmly by Kiriha dropping loosely by her side. “At least… let go of me.” She spoke calmly, but very low pitched. “I won’t walk away.“
His gaze seemed to harden as she gave him her retort, and vexation grew more evident on his face. She still didn’t get him, and it was starting to frustrate him more as the moments progressed. Did he really need to spell it out for her…?
"Don’t give me that, I am not getting sensitive,” he snapped back, not even bothering to hold back his tone any longer. “And I’ll tell you what the big deal is; the Nene I know wouldn’t just nod and go along with a stranger’s impulses!” His own exclamation surprised even himself. Quieting for a moment, he pursed his lips swallowed back silently, then slowly exhaled through his nose. “…You say that, Nene, but I get this feeling you didn’t do it out of your own decision. You were forced to do this, weren’t you? That’s the point I’m trying to make here!”
More and more assumptions ran through his mind in those moments, thinking of the possibilities that would’ve made Nene do such a rather uncharacteristic thing for her. Surely she wasn’t the type to break through people’s personal spaces just for her own amusement? …Well, perhaps that may have been true for the old Nene he once knew in the past, but things have changed since then, and he believed Nene had grown to be more mindful and compassionate. So, why–?
His breath hitched briefly at her next words, however, and it took a few seconds for him to let it sink in. Her words were blunt and biting, and he could just feel them pierce at his conscience. Yet… to hear her say that she was captivated by him? And odd feeling seemed to tug at the back of his mind, though it wasn’t anything like the annoyance he felt prior; it was indescribable to him. But as his mind fully processed her words, agitation rose, and his jaw clenched to the point it almost made a grinding noise. That was the last straw.
Kiriha released his grip on her wrist, placed his hands on her shoulders and forced her to look him in the eye.
“No one ever said that you had to!!” He snapped in a voice that almost resembled a low snarl. “I know people change! If you think I’m that dense then you’re sorely mistaken!”
“I believed you changed for the better! I believed in you, can’t you see that!? But…” His voice slowly began to alleviate back into a normal tone. “I never would’ve thought you of all people would become someone who’d let strangers play these stupid demands on you… I told myself, no matter how much you’d change, I’ll still have faith in you and your honorable airs! That’s why…!”
“Do you understand now? This is making me worry about you!” He stressed out almost each word he uttered. “If anything had happened while I was gone… I…”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Nene asked with a slight frown sent his way.Like most guys she’d meet.. Nene couldn’t help but feel as if there was a second meaning behind those words. Not that he would ever find out, but she had probably been just as ‘lonely’ as he had, or at least initiated to have been, for the past year.‘Oh great, he’s gonna hold some sort of speech..’ Nene thought as she saw how Kiriha’s hand went up to his chest. She listened to his words, loosing the frown she had from earlier when he finished. "With the little information you give me I’d say yes,“ she replied and crossed her arms. Still pondering about the first thing he said she noticed how he suddenly lost his smirk. She tried to read his expression, but found it hard as he didn’t show anything.
Nene made a pouty mouth to what he told her, but it was like she got the feeling that not everything had been all that well while he was away. For once Nene respected that, a little faint smile appearing in the corner of her mouth as a response.
"I’m guessing you feel that way about the other things you didn’t want to share with me earlier too then?” She looked at him questioning, the little smile already gone and replaced with nothing else than closed lips.
“You heard it right,” Kiriha lifted an eyebrow at her, slightly amused at her reaction though it didn’t quite show on his expression. He could take a wild guess as to what Nene was thinking as she heard it, but perhaps he’d simply humor her with his own definition in mind. “It means that I’m the faithful type. Does that surprise you?”
Although he still pondered over why Nene would ask him about his professedly dubious romantic affairs, he decided to let it slide for the moment. But somehow, his mind began to wander; it got him thinking as well. Had she…? …He quickly stopped his train of thought there. He shouldn’t be surprised about it either; she was a rising idol, after all, with a pretty face, a sweet voice and a charismatic on-stage personality that her fans all over Hong Kong love. It wouldn’t be surprising at all if she had a few relationships along the way.
For some reason an unexplainable nagging feeling tugged at the back of his mind just thinking about it.
He had remained quiet as Nene spoke, up until she concluded her words with a rhetorical inquiry. A fleeting moment of silence, and Kiriha finally glanced back at her; only to see that blank, yet pensive expression on her face. And his frown couldn’t get any deeper. “You’ve got that right.”
Offhanded gaze still fixed upon her, his thoughts trailed back to those earlier. And it started to nag at him even more. Well, she had her turn of asking him these questions, now it was his.
“You seem pretty interested about my ‘love life’,” he scoffed at that wording sarcastically, but his tone while addressing the girl remained calm. “But what about things on your end, then?” He then gave a half-smirk, but somehow the hinted mirth just didn’t reach his eyes. “I wouldn’t doubt the charms of lady like you for a second, nonetheless.”
(Source: kruisvuur)
Taken by surprise by Kiriha grabbing her arm Nene was whirled around to face him. He certainly didn’t look happy. In fact, Nene had never seen him like this before.
“Kiriha.. l-let go!” She exclaimed and started pulling her arm away, but his grip was too tight for her to pry free. She was actually feeling a bit scared, but heck it if she was gonna let Kiriha see that.
She collected herself after a minute or so. “It hurts,” she spat at him and gave him a solid glare. Clearly he hadn’t understood that it was just a joke, but she was foolish for thinking that he would even think in those lanes.
“It. Was. A. Joke.” Nene still glared at him and didn’t feel like explaining herself to him right now. Just get free and walk away was what she really wanted, but he would just hold her back again. “Those grey faces we both have gotten made me go and kiss you. You should be glad I did this instead of giving you a real kiss. Now let me go.”
Strangely enough Nene didn’t feel like acting in her usual ways right now. She just wanted to leave, and if Kiriha were paying close enough attention he could see that her facial expression were sadder than usual. “Need me to shove it in your mouth with a tablespoon?” She spat, trying to cover up how she really felt.
“Not until you tell me what’s going on,” Kiriha barked back, his grip still firm on her arm just as his hard gaze was. He wasn’t gonna let her walk away from him without an explanation for all that, damn it. And he surely won’t allow her to just do as she pleases just because she feels like it, even if it was Nene.
He was too absorbed with the thoughts and assumptions that ran through his mind, that he hadn’t even noticed how tense he was being. At least not until Nene snapped at him a second time.
Eyes widened by the slightest, he parted his lips to speak, but no words seem to come out; instead, he covered for himself by pursing them together into a thin line. His grip on her arm loosened somewhat, just enough for his hand to slide down to her wrist; a gesture that signaled the girl that he had heeded her words, but still wasn’t too keen on letting her walk out on him again.
Penetrating gaze still fixed on her, Kiriha kept silent as he listened to Nene’s retorts. And listening to her explanation, mixed, unexplainable emotions seemed to stir in the back of his mind; his frown deepened, and he felt his irritation grow even stronger. But this time, it was directed at both Nene and those so-called strangers. Possibly her fans, he quickly assumed.
He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Nene? The calm, dignified girl he’d come to know all those times he fought alongside her, belittling herself to going along with a mere stranger’s whims? This wasn’t the way she would have acted. At least in his opinion, there was no way she’d allow herself to follow a probable fan’s impulses; at least not without benefiting something worthwhile in return. And adding that to her apparent agitation… Somehow, this seemed all too forced to him. It was as if he could sense an underlying reason behind her toughened front. But whatever it may be, this wasn’t right at all.
“Nene.”
The expression she was making… He didn’t want to see it. It didn’t suit her at all. But, he tried to overlook it for the meantime. Disregarding her sharp tone, Kiriha gave her wrist a slight squeeze; this time more controlled. “Tell me. Have you really changed so much that you’d foolishly listen to what a stranger tells you to do?” He didn’t let her answer right away, as he continued, “This… isn’t about the kiss, or fake kiss – or whatever anymore. This is me asking you where your noble airs have disappeared to! …To think that I was captivated by that once…” he voice was barely above a whisper at those words, and he shook his head.
“…I’m disappointed in you, Nene.”
“Oh I know..” Nene said as a response to Kiriha with still the teasing tone.“You know I’m curious and that I always seek new information of all sorts. That question couldn’t have been such a big surprise… in fact it wasn’t, I can see it on your expression.”
Nene rested her right elbow on her left arm placing her fingers under her chin. It was almost as if she were investigating or examining him with her eyes at his question about him fooling around with girls. “No. When I think about it you don’t. You’re too… stiff?” She giggled and rested her posture by crossing her arms.
As he stepped up closer to her she focused on his words, but also stared him right into his eyes curious to see if she could throw him more off guard. She had no idea playing with Kiriha like this were so much fun. Still that got boring quickly enough too so she stiffened her look at him in stead at his comment. “You know me, I know you. So of course I know you have more self-respect than that.” She sighed. “Don’t take me that lightly Kiriha. Remember that I probably knew more about you than you most likely did of yourself back in the Digital World.”
She returned his frown and looked at him with rather annoyed eyes. She also stepped up closer to him, not noticing that they now were only a few centimeters apart from their faces as she shot him small glares.
Gazing at the other with a small dissatisfied scowl, Kiriha chose to keep silent at her remarks. Perhaps that was just another quality of hers that hasn’t changed at all; that curious and probing charm. Though was she really curious enough about his past whereabouts that she’d even try and ask him about his affairs – or rather lack thereof? That didn’t seem like it had a justified reason to him, and he wasn’t buying it.
“Stiff is a wrong way to put it, Nene,” he muttered, raising an eyebrow as her gaze on him intensified. Oh, he could see what she was getting at alright. And seeing her try to throw him off his own game with her stare, Kiriha had to stop himself from smirking at her. “I’d say it’s because I’m more steadfast than most guys you’d meet.”
At her response to his rhetorical question and the bold way she approached him, the tugging feeling on the corners of his lips couldn’t be suppressed anymore, and a faint smirk slowly grew on his features, almost out of amusement. Almost. “So I see. Then…”
Eyes firmly fixed on her and disregarding the close proximity between them, he brought a hand to his chest, gesturing to himself.
“…Tell me; are you just as informed of me now as you were back then?” His smirk grew a little, but ironically showed less mirth. “Can you be so sure that I haven’t changed at all since then?”
And unexpectedly, his smirk faded, and he let his hand drop back to his side. His face bore a vague, unreadable expression as he spoke. “Nene, just… listen to me for once. Don’t get too ahead of yourself.” He was the first to break off eye contact, turning his head to one side to look away, a hand pocketed in his jeans. “Some things are just better off undisclosed.”
(Source: kruisvuur)
Nene knew that her sudden change of behavior would make Kiriha unsure of her motives behind everything. It was just what she wanted. He couldn’t possibly have foreseen this change at least, and by the looks of it he hadn’t. She didn’t plan on going on with it for long though, as she would soon enough fall back to her first ‘digging’ of why he was back. Nene giggled when he turned his head around and looked at her with a full view. He didn’t speak at first, which made Nene even more amused.
“Geez Kiriha.. you are so easy to throw off guard. You should really work on that.” She crossed her arms in sheer amusement. Loving the expression his face made.
“A special someone… like a girl..” she stared at him dumbfound. “Don’t tell me you haven’t had at least a fling while traveling the world?” Nene wasn’t sure if she was supposed to feel disappointed or not. Had he really been alone this past year? That thought actually made Nene somewhat sad. She knew being alone wasn’t fun, but then again Kiriha had never been the type of guy to spend his time in larger groups. Tossing that thought aside she went back to being curious. She expected an answer, raising her eyebrow at him in the process.
He simply grunted at her teasing tone, still frowning. “I wouldn’t say that if I were you… If anything I’d say I’m a lot better off than most people can handle. I’m sure you’d know.”
Blue eyes darted back to glance at the other, showing just the slightest hint of surprise. Although he had already guessed as to what Nene meant by a ‘special someone’ before he even voiced out his question, he still felt skeptical about the credibility of her inquiry. It made him wonder what her reasoning could be for asking him that. But then again, this was the ever-curious and mysterious Nene he was talking about, so perhaps he shouldn’t be surprised by her prodding at all.
Noticing her expression, his frown deepened – even more so as he listened to her words. So all this time she assumed he might’ve been playing around during his stay abroad? The mere thought of that actually made him feel somewhat offended.
“No… not at all,” Kiriha murmured, scowl softening somewhat with discontent, but it was still there. “Is that strange? …Do I really look like the type who’d just waste his time fooling around with girls?”
Earlier skepticism forgotten for the moment, he slowly stepped up to her, the deep frown still etched on his features that masked the faint traces of disappointment he felt on the inside. “Don’t underestimate me, Nene. You of all people should know that I have more self-respect than that. Or am I wrong?”
(Source: kruisvuur)
ms-lumina said: Sneaking up on Kiriha Nene placed her left hand on his shoulder, making a movement that made him turn his face around to face hers. "At least try to stay calm," she said bluntly with an amused frown and put her right index finger to her lips kissing them, and then put that finger on Kiriha's lips. "Like I'd ever kiss you for real..." she added and then turned around, walking away.He hadn’t expected the sudden touch that settled itself on his shoulder. Startled, he veered around, only to meet face to face with the frowning amethyst-eyed girl. A quizzical look surfaced on his features as he looked at her.
“Wait, what are you tal—…” He hadn’t registered her quick movements, having her finger pressed against his lips.
Blue eyes stared wide open with surprise at her index finger, then slowly trailed back to Nene’s face as she withdrew her hand. The stunned expression he wore slowly morphed into another… more flustered look as her last statement reached his ears.
Before he could try to regain his composure, however, he caught sight of Nene turning to leave.
Indignation slowly growing and gnawing at him, he hissed under his breath and quickly stepped up to her, grabbing her by the arm. He can’t just let this go; this was just a low blow to his own pride. How could she do that to him? Why would she do that to him? That wasn’t like her at all!
“Hold it, Nene,” he firmly stated as he gave her arm a tug, motioning for her to face back towards him. “Don’t just walk out on me. That isn’t like you. I thought you were a lady of dignity and esteem. Why? Tell me why you did that just now.”
He might’ve been overreacting. Heck, it wasn’t even a direct kiss — could it even be called a kiss? There wasn’t any real reason to get so frustrated at this. But on the other hand, there was no way he could dignify her actions without a good reason behind it, either. It left him bewildered, agitated, thrown off… and muddled.
“And it looks like you’re just dyingto change the subject.” Nene rolled her eyes at Kiriha’s overused sarcasm. She would normally get really annoyed at that, but now his secrecy intrigued her of wanting to know more which then again made her look past his sarcasm filled uttering. She wouldn’t back down, but neither would he. At the looks of it they could stand like this for the rest of the day. At least Nene was persistent to do so.Maybe she should just let him think he had won this battle for then to bring it up again later? It sure was tempting. “Fine, fine…” she made a brushing movement with her right hand as she glanced to her side. “I’ll stop snooping around.. it really isn’t my business either way,” she said and still looked to her side, looking uninterested all of a sudden.
Folding her hands behind her back she rocked back and forth slowly using her lower body and standing on her toes. She remained silent for a few minutes, creating a somewhat awkward silence between the two. She had to break the ice somehow, and she knew just how to do it. “I think it’s time you tell me more about yourself.” She moved her eyes back at him and wouldn’t take them off of his, creating a serious tension. “Got a special someone in your life?” Narrowing her brows into an amused frown she could hardly stop herself from giggling, even before she had seen his reaction. She just had an idea of how it would look like.
He had to stop himself from scoffing at Nene’s response, and instead brushed it off. It really didn’t take a genius to figure out that he was dodging her questions, he knew that much. And it especially didn’t take much guessing on Nene’s part to interpret his motives with his actions. How she chooses to interpret them though was up to her, but he could take a good guess. It seemed that he was somewhat in the clear though; he could still keep her guessing. She doesn’t have to know… But at this rate, if Nene was going to keep probing him about it, he didn’t think he’d be able to hold for as long as he’d expect to.
Though her next statement caught him off-guard for a moment. What? She was backing down already? That… wasn’t really like her at all. He expected her to stay firm like the stubborn woman he knew she was. But then again, wasn’t this exactly what he wanted? Kiriha scowled a little at himself. That might be so, but still. The way she looked just as indifferent as she was curious prior a few moments ago was rather dubious to him.
And just when he thought she couldn’t get any more puzzling. What did she mean ‘to tell her more about himself’? Didn’t she already know enough about him? He was about to voice out his question when her question stopped him short.
“…Specia– what?” He turned his head and fully faced her, confounded by her words. A moment’s pause, and his lips shaped themselves into a dissatisfied scowl. Why would she ask him that of all things? “Nene, what are you talking about?”
(Source: kruisvuur)
Noticing how he changed at her words she covered her mouth and started giggling. “Caught you off guard there didn’t I?” She asked and she calmed down the laughing while her expression went back to normal. ”But thanks.. it means a lot when you to say that. Really,” she said with a smile in the corner of her mouth.While he spoke about it being someone from his family Nene only had her hands folded behind her back, tilting her head to the side while looking at him. “If it’s family business then I can understand.” She looked bluntly to her right, making sure he didn’t see her frowning. All she wanted to was to dig further into the matter, but it really looked like he didn’t want to share such delicate information.
“I won’t settle with a nutshell.” She gazed at nothing in particular and then back at him with a smirk. “I’ve got all day.. now spill it.” She had that satisfied/ mischievous type of smirk. He probably wanted her to drop it, but she rarely let unknown info that sparked her mind go.
He still didn’t dare look her way, and a small grunt was the only sign that he acknowledged her expression of gratitude. The passive, indifferent look on his face clearly showed he had no intention of saying any more of what was on his mind, yet she still didn’t seem to falter at all. Couldn’t she tell when not to press an issue any further? Didn’t she get the message?
No, he was pretty sure she got his message alright. She just chose to disregard it. And then again, perhaps he couldn’t blame her for her curiosity. After all, it had been a while since he’d suddenly returned to Japan, and surely this time Nene thought it was her chance to speak up, unlike the last time he pulled off his disappearing act during the battle against Quartzmon where they had barely enough time for chit-chat, let alone arriving at the fight scene. That was what he assumed of her, at least.
Ultimately, he closed his eyes and let out a sigh through his nose, then chanced a glance at her. It was clear she wasn’t gonna buy any sort of excuses. But he was just as stubborn as she was, if not more. “Listen, I’d love to talk to you about those matters, since you look like you’re just dying to know about them,” sarcastic tone still intact, he glanced away from her, “But trust me, there isn’t a lot to say about them. It’s not like someone who’s not even related to that issue would care anyway.” Although that wasn’t the real issue that plagued his mind, actually. But he’d rather keep this conversation in this direction rather than that.
(Source: kruisvuur)
“Brilliant huh? If I’m not mistaken you like my music,” Nene said crossing her arms, with a satisfied smirk plastered on her face. “And you do care about me after all!” She continued with her same pose, only throwing in a small, teasing laugh.Nene had always wanted to travel to as many different countries as possible, so when she heard he had been in America she couldn’t help but get curious about how it was there. However, that would have to wait for another time. “I’m curious to know who these people are. Do I know them?” When he turned around though Nene got a feeling there was more behind his reasons for coming back. “So… are you going to tell me?” She walked in front of him and stared at him. “I can tell there’s more behind your words…” she pointed out.
“I will tell you when I got here and if I’ve met the others right after you tell me everything behind your return.” She started tapping her foot against the ground, not budging from her case while her arms formed into yet another crossing.
“Frankly, who wouldn’t love your music,” Kiriha responded without hesitation, still smirking. But as her laugh and remark reached his ears, he seemed to stiffen briefly, and his expression turned unreadable before he simply glanced away from her, vaguely scowling to himself. How she was able to throw him off his own game with one simple statement was beyond him…
Her sudden curiosity was something he expected, however; he had a feeling she was going to prod him about it, whether he liked it or not. After all, who wouldn’t want to know more about the whereabouts of the Blue Flare General who just seemed to have vanished into the world? Unfortunately for Nene, he still wasn’t too keen on sharing much of his thought process.
“They’re just people from my family, don’t bother with that,” he muttered huskily, a bit harder than he intended to. He caught himself, then murmured out, “…Sorry. No, you don’t know them… really. It’s better if you don’t ask.”
He sighed. This girl sure can be one stubborn lady when she wants to. “Fine. I wasn’t having a lot of luck with studying abroad; I couldn’t to get into this school my father had wanted to enroll me in. It’s a lot more complicated than that, but that’s it in a nutshell. Happy?” Although it was the truth, it wasn’t the whole truth. But, giving her his serious, yet sincere expression, he only hoped she would take his explanation without questioning him any further. He really didn’t want her to get involved…
(Source: kruisvuur)
[ Yeah, I have; many times actually! I especially love it during the winter time. For some reason it looks much prettier than any other time of year. But I usually watch the sun rise during summer thanks to summer vacation, haha. ]
