Book 2: Baka

**** Book 2, Chapter Ten The Guest ****

I was about to introduce my brother Louis, but they greeted each other like old friends.

"Welcome Kaede, I can’t believe that you are the guest my sister mentioned." They shook hands and smiled.

"We knew each other way back. We were pitched against each other in a quiz bee," Louis explained.

"Well, who won?" I asked.

"I think he let me win." Louis laughed. "It was the closest fight I ever had."

That was quite a compliment, coming from my brother who is a world quiz bee champion. We gathered around the dining room and I just decided to finally ask the question hanging in my mind.

"Dad, is Uncle Lucifer coming over?" I asked, hoping my father would answer in a way that would include the one I wanted to ask about.

"Unfortunately, this is the first time he will ever miss it. Your Uncle Lucifer is in the middle of an important mission." Dad patted my head to comfort me. "But Jiro will be present, of course." Dad smiled, not knowing my feelings for Jiro. "Speaking of... Jiro! Come over here!" My dad shouted and instructed Jiro to enter the house.

There was no need for formality with the Takeshis, especially with Uncle Lucifer and Jiro. They were part of our basic family unit. I froze and stared as Jiro entered the dining room and handed me his gift. The gift was inside a shoe-sized gift box. I knew then what was inside.

I hesitantly accepted the box and we all started to dine on the food prepared by the gourmet chef contracted by my dad for my birthday. The gifts from the other members of the Takeshi family were already inside my room, and so was Uncle Daisuke's gift for me. It has been a part of the tradition to just leave all the gifts in the celebrant's room. Except for Jiro's gift for me. He always handed his gifts personally.

Kaede also brought out a gift from his pocket. it was a small red box that looked fancy. He handed it to me, flashing the smile that made him the school's undisputed heartthrob. As we all ate, my father asked so many questions about Kaede, his family background, and even what he sought to accomplish in the future.

My father had always been protective of me. Maybe because I was the youngest child, or maybe because I never inherited any of my parents’ nen, or simply because my parents loved me so much. I had always accepted my position in the family as someone everyone sought to protect. But at this instant, I wanted to just disappear. I hoped they would all stop from fussing over me in front of Kaede.

Kaede on the other hand seemed to be answering each of my father's questions perfectly politely. At the end of the meal, my father offered him a handshake without breaking his arm.

I smiled as I knew then that he had passed the first stage of initiation.

_____

**** Book 2, Chapter Eleven: His Family ****

I was left alone with my guest.

We decided to take a short stroll by the beach, my favorite place in the world.

"Thank you for coming today." I blushed, not knowing how to socially interact with anyone outside of my family.

"I should be the one to thank you. For inviting me on your special day." Kaede's cerulean eyes never left my face, his smile plastered on his face.

"I wanted to apologize for how my dad treated you earlier. They are just protective of me," I tried to explain.

"Don't." He smiled and tucked back a strand of my hair that had come loose. "Your family is wonderful. It is normal to protect someone so special."

"If you wanted to flirt, you shouldn't do it so close to the house. Unless of course, you wanted your guest's head to roll." Jiro interrupted, as he stood in front of me and Kaede.

Jiro's bright golden eyes terrify me. I had never seen him so angry.

"We… we're not flirting." I stumbled with my words and I found it hard to breathe the same air as he did.

"Even if we are, is it your business?" Kaede did not flinch as his cerulean eyes meet Jiro's gold ones.

"It is my business," Jiro said, with venom in his voice.

"And why is that?" Kaede said, pushing the question.

"Because she is my family."

My heart beat so fast after hearing his cryptic words. His serious expression betrayed any attempt to lighten the mood.

"Did she say so?" Kaede asked, with a challenge in his voice.

"I believe she has no choice in the matter." Jiro's golden eyes looked at me. The expression on his face was unreadable

"Jiro," I interrupted their exchange, not knowing what to say.

Jiro looked at me once again, and without saying anything, left.

Kaede remained silent for a while, then turned to me. His eyes stared straight into mine, asking questions his lips could never voice out.

"He is. He’s family," I simply said.

Kaede caressed my cheek and brought his face close to mine.

I didn't know what to do. My body froze and unable to do anything.

His face stopped an inch from mine as he kissed my forehead. "Remember, I'll never leave your side," he whispered.

Kaede hugged me and I felt my heart calmly beating against his.

I found myself making my birthday wish in that instant. For Kaede to never leave my side. Just as he promised.

__________

**** Book 2, Chapter Twelve:

Baka

****

Jiro Takeshi

It was her birthday.

I tried to ignore the notification alarm on my phone.

But even without it, I could not have forgotten it. I would sooner forget my own.

She had always been that one constant source of light in my life.

So how could I ever forget?

I turned off the stupid alarm.

The notification reads, Hers.

I was with my father in Dragon's Lair, getting ready for a fight.

"You scheduled a fight today? It is her birthday!" Lucifer was nagging me.

He had always known how special this day is. I have always cleared my calendar for this.

But this time, it was different.

Everything had been different since that night.

The night she practically begged me to look at her. As a man looks at a woman.

I had tried to maintain my distance since. But I suffered, I suffered so much.

Lucifer always said I had been spacing out ever since that night.

I looked at Lucifer and said, "I'm not going. Just drop the subject already."

Later, as we ate some snacks at a nearby café, Lucifer sat at the table, placed his hands under his chin, and looked at the ceiling.

"You know, if I was in your situation, I'd forfeit my fight for her," Lucifer said. His face was suddenly serious.

My temper reached a boiling point and exclaimed, "She's just a child! Don't tell me you like her that way!" I shouted at Lucifer.

The rest of the cafe's customers looked at us. I blushed when I realized and shouted, "What are you all looking at!"

Lucifer had a confused expression on his face, "What do you mean, by I like her that way? I was thinking that she is practically family to you. I'll forfeit a fight for a family member."

I blushed when Lucifer explained. "That's just what I mean!", I shouted and left the table.

I went to the parking lot and started my Ferrari engine.

"Hey, where the hell are you going?" Lucifer ran after me and asked.

"Obviously, to her birthday," I said, as I sped off.

Lucifer waved at me and grinned.

I didn't forget her birthday gift. It was in the car's trunk, though by now it was probably all melted, so I threw it away and bought another box from the candy store.

Ever since the day I had first given her one of those, she made me promise to give her some on her birthday.

I wouldn't have said yes to anyone else. They are quite expensive as a gift. The most expensive candies there are. The really special ones, valued more than most diamonds.

But her smile makes it all worth it.

The sales lady smiled at me. "Wrapped in pink gift box sir, like before?", she asked.

I nodded. Not wanting to converse with her.

But then she added, "She must be a really special girl. You've been buying her the rainbow candies for so many years now."

I looked at the sales lady, and she noticed my nails coming out, as sharp as blades, as I gripped the counter.

"Here it is sir, I'm sorry. Please forgive me." Fear was written on her face as I snatched up the gift and handed her my credit card.

I was inside the car, still thinking about the stupid sales lady. What the hell does she mean, it's not like I like that baka especially!