Dream Star

Kasumi sighed, "But, we all know the reason why he broke up with Lila," she trailed off . Kasumi remembers how angry she felt when she heard the truth . While Kasumi understood why Kiryu did it, it was hard for her to accept, after all, he surely hurt Lila by breaking up with her, Kasumi never thought Kiryu would one day traumatize Lila .

"Yes, yes we do, and that"s why we all have mixed feelings towards her dating Karas.h.i.+ma . However, that guy does treat her well . So I don"t have any complaints," Wataru said .

Kasumi frowned at his words, "Treat Lila, well?" But then what about those pictures of him hanging around that one girl, what"s her name? Aizawa something? When she saw those pictures she was livid, she couldn"t believe it . To think that this man would still do things like that when he has Lila . It was ridiculous . Okay, sure those pictures didn"t show him cheating on her friend . They only showed him spending a lot of time with a girl who has the potential to threaten Lila . Kasumi hated to admit it, but even in those pictures . Karas.h.i.+ma seemed very distant to the girl on the photo; the meetups were clearly for something professional related .

"I understand that this is even more difficult for you since you watched over those two more than anyone . But Kasumi, remember what"s important . "

What"s really important? Ah yes, that would have to be Lila"s happiness . But what about Kiryu"s happiness? Lila is the only one who can make Kiryu happy, without her Kiryu is good as lifeless . Though he"s been hanging in there and he"s brightened up now that Lila has returned . Kasumi is still worried about him .

. . .
After hearing that Kiryu was in the bar, Kasumi wanted nothing more than to rush over . But sadly, she still had one last job, "Yes, I"m on my way now . Don"t worry Father; I made sure she was resting before I left," presently she has been on the bus for 10 minutes, there are another 20 minutes left to go before she reaches her destination . Usually, she would not use public transport and use a cab . However, with it being this late in the day . Kasumi doubts that any fans or reporters could be about . Indeed, when she arrived at the bus stop earlier, there was not a soul to be seen . Even when entering the bus, there were only a few people .

She could picture her father nodding approvingly and yet, murmuring something about calling Mother later . He must be anxious about leaving her be . Even though Mother"s strong, Kasumi notices how father always worries in her eyes unnecessarily about Mother . He was mulling for a few seconds before he spoke up again . "Your work?"

"A mini-drama with Eijiro and the others . They simply shot the scenes without me yesterday . "
"I see, your brothers not fooling around and causing trouble is he?" Her sweat fell at her father"s words; it seems like even Father doesn"t trust Brother with being responsible .

"He isn"t . He"s doing well . So when you come back, you should take him out and have a father and son bonding," Kasumi suggested . Brother will most likely get annoyed with her when he finds out, but he really could use a break right now . Kasumi heard from the others how whole she was in France, he had been training and competing in tournaments a lot more again .

"Yeah, that sounds like a plan alright, you als--," Father"s sentence falls short, and Kasumi hears loud voices in the background her father sighs deeply, "Dammn, I tell them to give me 15 minutes and they gave me five only . "

"You appear to be busy father; I don"t mind," even though Aunt Sumire has returned now . Her father still seldom came home .

"I"ll call you again . "

"Yes, goodbye . "

When she got off the bus with her luggage, Kasumi had only been walking for four minutes, when she saw a figure by the bridge . Due to the fog, it was difficult to make out who it was . However, she could not mistake that shadow; she sped up her pace and was soon within a mere few steps away . As she thought, it really is him, "Brother,"

"Give me your luggage . "

Kasumi nodded and pa.s.ses it over; usually, they"d end up debating about it . Since she would generally refuse to have him carry anything for her; however, now isn"t the time for this . He personally came out of his way to get her . Something probably happened . Sometimes it"s hard to believe that they are twins that were born the same time . When you think "twins," you"d usually think the same gender - and that"s how it usually is . Mother was expecting two girls . So when Eijiro was born, it was apparently quite the commotion . Despite the surprise, mother has always shown them both such equal and kind love . Father too . In contrast to Lila, her family situation is wonderful . Both her parents raised her and didn"t have to suffer .

A person like her should be "happy" and yet, as she grew up - the more she noticed how perfect her life seemed to be . The more she found herself trying to reject it . How odd . Any worries she has are a luxury in contrast to Lila and even her brother . They raised her and Eijiro the same way . But the general"s public treatment of them was not the same . Her brother had to suffer a great deal, due to being born with mothers ruby red eyes, for someone to have such bloodshot red eyes, in their time where the hanyou"s existence has been revealed . It wasn"t going to be easy . Mother too, even back before people knew the existence of hanyous used to hide her eyes quite a bit when she was younger .

"I dropped Kiryu off at the bar since it seemed like he needed a drink or two . Think something happened with Lila . "

Kasumi froze then, did Kiryu see Lila and Karas.h.i.+ma together? Even though Kiryu claims he"s okay, it must be difficult for him to see Lila being so lovey-dovey with another guy . Kasumi sighed, "I"ll check up on him after this shoot . "

Eijiro nodded, "I"ll leave that hopeless guy to you, then . "

For a while, n.o.body spoke, and Kasumi understood why . "How awkward," even now things remain awkward between her and her brother . Kasumi knew he held no resentment towards her for leading a peaceful life, while he had to bear the hatred . After all, he"s kind to her . However, there are occasions where the talking just talks, and it"s replaced with silence . During these times Kasumi finds herself looking over at him . He had grown a lot taller, and due to his excessive playing of sports this past year, he had grown more muscular too .

"How strange," Kasumi thought . While her brother has played sports ever since he was a child, it has been a very long time since she last saw him take it seriously . But with his excessive training for these last few months, Kasumi can confident ally say that he"s returned to how he was before . She wonders if there was a particular reason for it .

"What are you looking at?" Eijiro said at last .

"I was thinking Ei-chan, why have you been playing more sports?"

Eijiro deeply sighed, "One, don"t use that nickname . "

"I"ll tell Lila to use it then," she watched as her brother"s expression changed, and Kasumi sighed, "If Kiryu"s chances aren"t good brother, why do you think yours will be any better?" Kasumi knew it wasn"t that easy to move on, especially if you"ve loved that person for a long time and especially if the other party is Teras.h.i.+ma Lila . But Kasumi hoped her brother would try .

"I know, I am trying . Why do you think I"m playing more sports?"

Ah? "You"re distracting yourself?"

"And at the same time, I"m fulfilling my promise to her . She yelled at me before she left, for all the slacking off I"ve been doing since starting high school . I"ve been acting all wishy-washy about everything, and Lila noticed . Funny, I thought she was too focused on Kiryu to notice anything else, but I was wrong . No, we all were," Eijiro trailed off, "Those two revolved their world around each other, but at the same time they were watching over others . "

It took her time to register what her brother meant, before she said, "We made a mistake," Kasumi muttered .

"Yeah," Eijiro nodded, "We did . We all a.s.sumed that the reason their relations.h.i.+p fell apart is because they revolved their lives around each other . But that was wrong, the reason things fell apart is because they cared too much about other people and the burden was too heavy since it involved having to make sacrifices along the way . "

"What you"re saying may be true, but were probably missing something too," she knew there had to be something more to all of this . But, no matter how much she thought about it, nothing came to mind . Her thoughts broke off when she felt Eijiro reach over and pat her hair .

Ah, "Your hands are warm . "

Eijiro sighed, "I probably reek of sweat, sorry," he apologized, "I"ve been training . "

"Right after you finished work with Kiryu?"

"Kiryu that slacker," Eijiro shook his head, "It was more like one-sided work like I said that guy was distracted . "

Her gaze softened, "But you"ve been watching over him carefully while me and the others have been gone, right? Thank you," she knew there was no need to thank him . Kiryu is his friend too and while her brother is cold-hearted . He isn"t the type to abandon his friend in need, "Instead of thanking me, take care of yourself more idiot . "