Part XVI

"Had fun today squirt?" Yohji asked that night rumpling Omi's honey-blond hair fondly. Omi growled softly as he jerked his head away from the long, slim fingers attacking his mane.

"Don't call me squirt." He grumbled placing a bunch of strawberries before Alex. Turning to her, he smiled. "Compliments of Aya-kun."

"Arigato." She said as she immediately picked one up and placed it in her mouth. Ken grimaced a little as he watched Alex eating the sour concoction with ease.

They were having a typical dinner that night, a week after the incident. Aya was silently taking his time, chewing his food slowly, making sure that he is actually swallowing a properly MASHED amount of food. Ken was busy playing with his food due to loss of appetite, poking it here and there with his chopsticks therefore earning him a baleful, disapproving look from Aya. Yohji on the other hand was busy teasing Omi till the genki youth felt his patience running out.

"Don't you-- I mean um…" He began scratching his head. "Doesn't the sourness bother you?" He finally asked.

"No." Alex replied her mouth half-full of the sweet-smelling fruit. "I love sour food." She added, pausing to swallow the chewed bits of strawberry in her mouth.

Ken then just nodded his head as his reply but nevertheless, his face showed a look of confusion. Just then Yohji cleared his throat.

"So how was your date?" He asked giving Omi the "look."

"I wouldn't call it a date." Omi replied annoyed. What does he care anyway? Alex nodded her head, her fingers busy sorting out the strawberries.

"Yes." She agreed. "A date is where you stay out all night, dancing and having fun then afterwards-- " She stopped upon noting the look Aya gave her. She pouted.

"Well, you don't come home early when having a date." She said. "You made us come home early." She added looking at Aya.

Aya just shrugged as his reply. After swallowing his food, he spoke mildly.

"You're quite lucky we let Omi off the hook these past few days." He said.

With that, Alex fell silent as realizations crashed on her. He's right, they let Omi off the hook because-- because--

"Don't stay up late." Aya said settling his chopsticks down and standing up. He gave Alex a private, tiny smile before sauntering towards the bathroom.

"Don't tell me he is going to brush his teeth again." Alex said as Yohji stood up as well. "This is actually the fourth time-- well that's if he is really going to brush his teeth." She added thoughtfully.

"He's a neat freak." Ken said. The he grinned at her boyishly, standing up. "Oh and before I forget, the dishes are on you, little one." He supplied giving her a pert smile while placing his hands on her head to rumple her hair.

"Ch!" Alex pouted. "Come back here! This isn't fair!" she called after Ken's leaving figure. Ken's laughter rang loudly.

"Ta-ta!"

"And don't call me little one!" She demanded standing up.

"All right little one!"

"Ugh!" She groaned looking at the dirty dishes before her. She turned to Omi, frowning slightly. "How can you stand those guys?" She asked as she started picking up the plates one by one.

Omi smirked as his hands closed in on a plate.

"I'm used to them." He replied getting the plates and carrying it for her. "Too weird for you?" He teased as he walked towards the kitchen and settled the dishes on the kitchen sink.

Alex laughed as she put on an apron. Omi then proceeded to fill the sink with water.

"Um… yes… you can call them weird." She said thoughtfully, getting the sponge. Then she stopped and faced him. "But I wouldn't-- I wouldn't trade them for anybody else. Even though they are weird."

Omi decided to look away as he busied himself with the plate. He ran the sponge over it, cleaning and scrubbing it then rinsing it clean. He then reached for another plate repeating the same process again and then another plate and then another…

Alex turned to him softly, her heart going out to him. She knows what that silence had meant.

Everything just sucks! They had a lousy date… Ch! You can't even call it a date. Then she was given the task of cleaning these stupid dishes, everybody walking out on them with Ken teasing her and Yohji annoying Omi. Her flight is tomorrow… she's going back… she's going home…

"So what happens now?" She asked softly, her eyes not leaving the plates. Omi stopped then after a moment he spoke.

"How's your lip?" He asked instead looking at her. "Is it healing nicely?"

Alex nodded mutely, a sharp pain constricting her chest. She blinked her eyes trying hard not to cry as Omi deliberately changed the topic. He doesn't even give a damn about it! About them…! He is intentionally steering away from the subject!

"Yosh!" He suddenly exclaimed, interrupting her strained thoughts. "That's the last one!" He added, taking his apron off.

Alex looked only to find the dishes all clean and done. Omi had already stocked them inside the dish rack without her noticing it. She turned to him.

"O-Omi…"

"You owe me one, Alex-chan." He said smiling brightly. Then he stretched his arms, yawning. "Boy, I'm tired. I think I'm going to hit the sack!" He then leaned towards her and pressed his lips lightly against her cheek.

"Oyasumi." He whispered. "I'll see you tomorrow." Then without a word, he turned around and walked away from Alex.

She stood there looking after him… Too stunned to speak.

==========

"Idiot!" Omi hissed as he smacked his forehead with his right palm. He lay there in bed, completely sleepless, contemplating about the stupid behavior he had displayed earlier.

"You are an idiot Tsukiyono Omi!" His mind screamed again. He has been tossing and turning for the past three hours…

He then decided to lay sideways, bringing the pillow over his head as if by doing so would make him forget the look on Alex's face a while ago. Just why didn't he talk to her about it? Just why did he steer himself away from the subject?

"I- I just can't…" He thought, pain slicing inside his heart. "I just can't!"

He then closed his eyes, desperately searching for sleep. Tomorrow… tomorrow would be the big day.

Tomorrow, he will officially be single.

==========

She bit her lip as she quietly tip-toed towards his door. Closing her eyes tightly, she twisted the doorknob slowly as not to make a noise. Aya will have her grounded for eternity if he ever finds this out.

She then went inside only to find a figure lying sideways on the bed, pillow over his face. Taking a deep breath, she walked towards him, heaved the blankets up, and slid in the covers beside him.

Omi's eyes snapped open upon feeling the unusual warmth settling against his skin. He grinned inwardly, not making a single movement.

"Omi." Alex whispered laying her hand on his side. "Omi, are you awake?"

No answer.

"Omi."

Silence.

"Fine." She said sitting up. "I'll mess with your laptop then. You are faking, you're a light sleeper Tsukiyono Omi and I know it." She continued standing up from the bed.

With that, Omi immediately turned only to find her already before his study table. Then to his horror, he saw her flipping his laptop open to do the unimaginable, the most--

"Ow!" Alex hissed as she felt a pillow against her back. She turned only to find Omi sitting up and looking at her. She choked back her laughter upon noting how messy his hair was.

"What was that for?" She asked picking the pillow up and sauntering over his bed.

"Don't mess with my laptop." He said.

Alex momentarily stared at him, the pillow still on her hand. Omi stared back, his eyes not leaving hers. Then to his absolute surprise, Alex whacked him on the head using the pillow.

"You asking for it?" He hissed getting his other pillow.

"Bring it on." She replied.

"Pillow fight!" Omi said as he raised his pillow. Alex laughed silently.

"Not too loud!" She scolded.

"You'll never get away!" Omi laughed as he bounded up from his bed. Alex let out a soft squeal as he began chasing her around the room.

"Y-you're not f-fair…" She said as she helplessly brought the pillow against him, poorly hitting him on the face. "You're faster than me and strong- stronger!"

"All's fair in pillow fights, dear Alex." He said bringing the pillow to the now squealing Alex who was desperately running away from him.

After a series of pillow fighting, pillow, and blanket throwing and leaving Omi's bed rumpled and disarrayed, with Omi slipping twice and Alex stumbling once, the two finally stopped. They fell on the messy bed still consumed with silent laughter.

"Y-you lost… a-again." Omi said.

"N-not fair!" Alex protested laughing. "You lost, you slipped-- tripped twice."

Then she clamped Omi's mouth with her hands upon feeling a loud laugh threatening to escape from his lips. Omi muffled out his protests.

"N-not so loud!" Alex hissed at him laughing. "Aya will hear."

Omi stopped mercifully, suddenly aware of the feel of her fingers against his lips. Without thinking he kissed her palm, his eyes capturing hers.

Alex didn't move, her eyes not leaving his. She then unconsciously licked her lips as she let her hands travel to his face, tracing every contour… eyes becoming heated. A soft gasp escaped her lips as he grasped the searching hand with his own, bringing it on his lips once again, and giving it with wet, hot kisses.

"O-Omi…"

He sat up, taking her with him, facing each other. Omi smiled softly as he gently brushed her hair away from her face. The simple contact brought an undeniable thrill within her as she managed to let out a soft sigh.

Without thinking, Alex leaned towards him and planted her lips against his. She felt one hand on the back of her neck and another one grasping her waist pulling her closer and closer till she found herself already splayed on his lap, her legs straddled against his. She kissed him back, moaning out pleasure as she felt his hands on her hips, his tongue already inside her mouth, flicking with hers in a heated dance, her fingers madly tangled in his hair…

"A-Alex…" Omi gasped hotly as he felt her breaking the kiss only to nip at his left ear. He felt himself hardening upon feeling her tongue dancing around the silver loop adorning it, her hips unmercifully grating against his growing need, pulsating against the thin material of his pajamas.

Alex gave out a heated cry upon feeling something hard pushing against her. Looking at Omi with obvious desire, she brought her hands against his pajama top and hastily shrugged it off him, exposing smooth, white chest. Omi cried out upon feeling the warmth of her skin against his naked chest. Every innocent touch of her hands giving him pleasures beyond reality.

"I love you Alex." He gasped out, his lips settling again on hers. Groaning, he then shifted his body, bringing Alex with him till he lay on top of her with Alex staring up from beneath him. They looked at each other first, their faces both blushing.

"I- I love you too, Omi." She said. "M-make love to me?"

As his reply, Omi briefly leaned down and kissed her lips. Then with shaking fingers, he slowly unbuttoned her dark blue silk pajamas, his eyes not leaving hers in a heated gaze. Not long after, she laid there beneath him, her pajama top partially opened exposing the delicious swell of her breasts. Omi was about to shrug the thing away when suddenly his fingers stopped.

"O-Omi?"

"This is wrong." He said. He sighed rolling away from her. He sat up facing away from her.

"Damn it! Why'd you do that?!" His body screamed. He gritted his teeth with the pain of unsatisfied desire still throbbing for release.

"Shut up! She deserves more than that!" His mind argued.

"O-Omi…" Alex began sitting up, her cheeks flaming with embarrassment. She'd never felt so stupid all her life! " Is something wrong? W-was it m-me or…"

"No, no…" Omi quickly answered facing her. He then picked up his blanket and purposely covered her with it. "It's not you. You are wonderful."

"Then… why… I don't understand." She said clutching the blanket tightly. Omi smiled tenderly.

"You deserve more than that, Alex." He replied.

"I-I just don’t know what-- what to do anymore." She said bursting into tears. Omi faced her, taking her in his arms.

"And the fact that-- that everytime I bring the subject up, you-- you…"

"I know, I know." Omi whispered tears falling from his eyes. "And I'm sorry. I wasn't aware of the pain I'm causing you. It's just that-- I can't accept the fact-- "

"I don't want to go." She whispered.

"I don't want you to go either." He answered back.

Alex lifted her head to stare at his face, his eyes conveying all the things mere words cannot say. A fresh set of tears fell from her eyes as acceptance donned on her.

"I still have a life to fix back there, Omi." She said. Omi nodded his head, wiping the tears away from her eyes, trying his best to smile.

"Yes I understand." He softly said. Alex smiled through her tears.

"But always keep this in mind, no matter how many countries come between us, if its us, then it will always be us. Somehow I will find my way back to you." She said clasping his hand with his.

"I know." He whispered looking deeply into her eyes. Then he smiled. "I cannot promise that I will think of you always, but I promise that I will never, ever forget you, Alex."

"Me too." She sniffed.

"You made me happy." Omi continued. "You filled all the empty spaces in my life and for that I thank you."

"You will take care of yourself, all right?" She said. Omi nodded his head.

"You too?"

She smiled and nodded mutely. Then without a word, she threw her arms around him, her lips landing on his.

"I'd better go." She said after a moment. Her eyes unconsciously traveled down only to see a slight bulge against his pajama. Omi noticing it, turned away and blushed.

"Must be killing him." She thought, standing up and walking towards the door. She was about to open the door when suddenly she turned to him, grinning.

"Oh and you might want to relieve yourself with that problem. You won't get any sleep if you leave it that way, you know." She said winking at him. Omi frowned at her with disbelief then he chuckled, not knowing whether to be embarrassed or not. Picking up a pillow he spoke.

"Idiot!" He said throwing it at her, a smile on his lips. Alex stuck her tongue out at him.

"Good night, Omi." She said.

"Un." He nodded. Good night."

Then he sat there, all alone in the dark, sleep finally worming its way to him.

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