Kaito.

I'm getting dressed when there's a knock at the door. I finish buttoning up my shirt and head over.

"Gakupo," I say. He nods. Luka peers from behind him. 

"Should we wait for you?" He asks. I run a hand through my wet hair, pushing it out of my eyes.

"No, just give me a minute and I'll tag along," I say. The way we act around each other, you wouldn't think I'm their boss or something. "Have a seat."

I lead them in and they sit on the sofa. Gakupo pulls his phone out and starts flicking his fingers across the screen.

"Would you leave that damned game alone for a bit?" Luka hisses. The man's eyes are glued to the screen.

"Starfruit," he mumbles. "High score."

"Ugh," the pinkette crosses her arms over her chest. I grab a small towel from the bathroom and start to dry my hair. Luka's eyes meet mine. She turns away quickly and I feel like I'm giving off the wrong vibes or something.

"Do you have everything planned for tomorrow, Ms. Megurine?" I try to ask something related to business. She snaps up, suddenly alert. Her sky blue eyes are wide and she blinks a couple of times. It's cute.

"Y-Yes, sir!" She nods. Her bangs frame her face and small, pale neck is fully exposed, as her long locks are clipped back in that particular way. I find myself examining her hair and not really listening to her words. "Sir? Mr. Shion?"

That's when I realize that she said something after 'yes sir,' something that I missed entirely. "S-Sorry," I stammer, for some reason. "I'm just kind of tired."

She nods silently and watches Kamui play on his phone. Quickly, I dry myself up and get my shoes on.

"Alright," I say. "Let’s get going."

Miku. 

Love you, love you, love you. It's all anyone ever seems to say these days.

"Love you," Gumi giggles into her phone and hangs up. She looks at me. "He's coming to pick me up."

"That's nice," I say. Gumi and I had spent easily an hour dancing around my living room. After that, we made sandwiches and tea, and she even insisted that we set a blanket down on the living room floor and pretend to have a picnic.

"You've still got that darling of yours on the brain," she says suddenly, rapping her fist against my forehead, surprising me.

"Ow!" I push her back and she laughs. "So what if I do? Wouldn't you?"

"D'you miss sleeping with him?" She wiggles her eyebrows and my cheeks instantly turn red.

"N-No!" I say. "Well...maybe."

She snickers.

"But that's not all of it, okay?"

"Still, it's the major thing, mm?" She continues to giggle like a little girl. "But yeah, I'd feel the same way. Especially given this," she pats her slightly rounded stomach.

"...you look fat."

"Shut up, it's called being pregnant!" She grabs a handful of my hair and yanks harshly. "What d'you think it'll look like, Miku?"

"Like you and your husband, tossed into a blender and mixed up," I say with no emotion. "Half and half. Crossing over. All that crap."

"You remember your genetics, babe," she waggles a finger at me just as the doorbell rings. I stand up.

"He's here," I mumble. Gumi squeals.

"I missed him!" She laughs and I scowl momentarily. "Well, go let him in!"

I huff at the girl and briskly walk down the hall, to the door, grab the handle and pull it open. A handsome face grins at me. It’s a dorky, sheepish grin and I know it’s well-meaning.

"Morning," he stuffs his hands in the pockets of his black pants. It’s hard to not smile when Gumi’s around, but it’s harder when they’re both with you.

"It’s the afternoon, genius," I pull the door open all the way and he peers in inquisitively before walking in.

"So the blue haired husband really isn’t here, mm?"

I nod and he walks in. I lead him down the hall, but before that, he stops to take his shoes off. His action makes me smile.

"So, how’ve you been doing?" He glances at me, his lips curled into a curious sort of frown. I shrug.

"Getting used to it, I guess," I say. We enter the living room and Gumi’s got a huge smile on her face, just at the sight of him.

The pregnancy must make her feel mushy inside.

Luka.

Gakupo elbows my arm, hard, making me cry out. We’re in an elevator. Kaito glances at me and I shake my head, signalling that everything’s fine when it’s really kind of not. I glare at Gakupo and he sticks his tongue out at me. Kaito sighs; he’s not oblivious, of course, and Kamui and I both stiffen. 

The elevator stops and we exit, stepping across the threshold and into the basement, where the boss’s car’s supposed to be. It’s a temporary ride but that doesn’t mean it’s not new or fancy or anything.

"You know where it’s parked, Mr. Shion?" Gakupo asks and Kaito nods. The basement isn’t dark at all; in fact, it’s actually very well lit, perhaps too well lit. The light hurts my eyes as I take in my surroundings.

We reach the car and Kaito hits a button on the car keys. The doors unlock.

"You should sit in the back," Gakupo whispers. "I’ll sit next to the boss."

"Wha…why?" I push him aside and he grabs my arm. Kaito walks over to the driver’s seat.

"B-Boss, I’ll drive!" Gakupo yells. Kaito pauses.

"Do you want to?" He asks. Gakupo nods.

"Yeah, and…you can sit wherever you want, front or back," he ends weakly but I get what his plan is.

"Gakupo, you jerk!" I yell without thinking twice. Kaito frowns.

"What’s wrong?" He asks. I shake my head and get into the backseat so that he doesn’t see my reddening face. Gakupo gets in and silently starts the car.

The ride’s long but it’s not too bad. It’s not too chilly outside, either, but it’s dark. The sky’s clear and I spend most of my time blankly looking out the window. There’s a lot to see, I guess; the country’s one that I haven’t been to before but I don’t feel like actively taking in my surroundings.

We arrive at a large, fancy, oriental-looking place.

"Lots of seafood," Gakupo says under his breath, opening the door of me. Kaito walks ahead and Gakupo smirks.

"You could get your mind off of you-know-what."

"What, by stuffing my face full of fish?" I cross my arms and try to catch up with Kaito. Kamui follows along and I don’t speak to him again till we get into the restaurant.

"Stop poking my food," I say to him. He keeps prodding my fish and lettuce with his fork. It’s mostly the fish, though; he knows how weak I am for the stuff.

"Gakupo, stop," Kaito says. 

We both glance at the boss. I’m sitting right next to him; earlier, when we had arrived, Gakupo had tried to grab the seat but I beat him to it. It's a silent, guilty pleasure of mine, secretly admiring the smell of the boss’s cologne as we all eat. Gakupo knows this, of course, so it’s only really a secret from Kaito.

"I want some," Gakupo whines. 

I pull my plate towards me and the purple haired man returns to his own plate, which is almost empty. I take a bite of fish and chew a bit too fast, swallowing, trying to calm my racing heartbeat as I take a sip of water, and then clearing my throat and glancing at Kaito, as casually as possible. It’s not like this is the first time he and I have gone out for a 'professional meal' but it’s certainly different. Besides, I tell myself that I’m just concerned about his health and well-being, as my boss.

"Mr. Shion," I begin. He glances at me and I try to relax my expression, telling myself to breathe. "Are…are you alright?"

Gakupo takes this opportunity to poke my fish again. I do my best to ignore it. He just doesn’t want me doing my job; making sure that Mr. Shion is okay is part of my duties, of course.

"I’m fine," Kaito says.

"No, I mean," I pause, "like…you look so tired."

Kaito laughs. It’s a soft laugh, more of a dark chuckle, but it surprises me. He rubs his eyes with one hand.

"I’ve been in a turbulent plane and my dad’s passed away, leaving me with some godforsaken enterprise that I don’t know jack shit about. I’ve barely slept, my phone’s dead, and tomorrow I have to meet with a bunch of rowdy old men and investors who couldn’t care less that their boss died and left his just married kid to lead this damn multi-million dollar corporation."

Kaito takes a breath and I turn away quickly. How am I supposed to respond to all that?

"Well, I care," I say, perhaps a bit too suddenly, and so I add quickly, "and so does Kamui. That’s why we suggested eating out. So that you could…relax before tomorrow. And we’ll buy another phone after dinner."

Gakupo narrows his eyes at me.

"We’ll just go back to the hotel and Gakupo can get a new phone!" I force a grin onto my face. Kamui scowls and Kaito smiles slightly. Maybe he thinks this is all sort of funny. That’d be a good thing. I’d like to make him smile more often. I assume it’s something only his wife really does, make him smile sincerely, dearly, and while his smile at that point in time might not have been that smile that I’d want to be able to elicit, it definitely feels like a step in the right direction. I know I’ll never be to him what Miku is, but that’s fine; I’ll have to live with that. I can still be the friend he’s always sort of had.

Kaito.

I turn to Kamui as we stop in the parking garage. He turns the keys and stops the car.

"I’ll get a phone," he said. "The same model you’ve been using, if you want."

I’m really way too tired to say no.

"Could you?"

Gakupo frowns at me. "Of course I could!" 

"Thanks," I open the door and get out of the car, and then I rap my knuckles against the backseat window. "What about her?"

"Hmm?" Gakupo glances back. The windows are tinted so I can’t see my secretary. 

"She’s asleep," he says, unlocking all the doors. "I’ll wake her up."

"No, it’s fine, I’ll do it."

"Boss, it’s fine, you should head up," Gakupo’s tone is rougher. I look at him questioningly. It’s like he doesn’t want me to do this or something.

"Is something wrong?" I get straight to the point and Gakupo’s eyes widen for a split second.

"N-No, nothing’s wrong," he shakes his head. "Just didn’t want you to be troubled…"

I open the backseat door and stick my head in. Luka is curled against the opposite door, wedged between the upholstery. Her hair is still in a bun but it’s falling apart. Her bright pink bangs fall over her eyes and her small lips are slightly parted.

"Mr. Shion?" Kamui’s voice rings out from behind me.

"I-I’m waking her up," I say quickly, closing the door and walking over to the other side of the car. "She’s all the way on the other end."

I open the door and she nearly falls into my arms. Reflexively, I let out a gentle cry of surprise and hold her upright in my arms.

"Megurine," I mumble, setting her back against the seat. I tap her shoulder. "Luka…"

She stirs slightly, letting out a small groan and shuffling. The action causes a sudden, intense heat to overtake me and my eyes widen.

What…?

I bring a hand to my face, eyes wide.

"Mr. Shion, are you alright?" Gakupo asks. I look away from Luka — I had been staring at her without even realizing — and turn to the man.

"I’m fine," I say. "Fine…"

"Huh?" Luka opens her eyes and glances at Kamui and me. "We’ve arrived?"

"Yeah, and Gakupo’s going to get another phone for me," I say quickly, not meeting her eyes. "He’s dropping us off."

"Oh…" She nods and pushes her hair out of her eyes.

I offer Luka my hand and she looks right at me, hesitating.

"I can get up, sir, it’s fine…"

"O-Okay," I nod and turn away, putting my hands in my pockets. "I’ll be heading upstairs now."

Luka.

I rub my eyes and follow Kaito out of the garage. He’s walking briskly and not even turning back to look at me or Kamui, who’s already started the car.

"Mr. Shion?" I can’t project my words for some reason and he doesn’t even hear me, or maybe he’s ignoring me. Maybe it’s guilt. I feel like I’m the reason he’s acting so oddly. Did he want to help me up? Is that why he’s acting this way?

"Wait, wait wait wait!" I run after him and slam the elevator call button just before the door slid to a close. I walk in and he’s staring at the ceiling. The elevator’s empty. I stand in a corner and catch my breath before looking at the boss. He’s clearly trying to not look my way.

"I’m sorry," I say. He still doesn’t look at me but he replies.

"It’s fine," he says.  "Nothing to be sorry about. I’m just tired."

"Did I…" The words lock up my throat, "…did I make you angry, sir?"

"I told you, it’s nothing," he shakes his head once. The elevator dings and opens on our floor and we both walk out. "I’ll take some medicine and sleep. I have a headache, that’s all."

"Okay," I nod as we walk down the hall. "Well…if you need anything…"

"I’ll tell you," he finishes, "okay?"

"Okay," I stop in front of my door and he stops in front of his. We look at each other, and I find myself wishing that I could look into his eyes for longer. They’re swirling with trouble, the dark blues like a raging ocean.

You’re getting too poetic, Luka, stop this.

"Well, goodnight, sir," I say quickly, pulling my key card out of my pocket. He nods and unlocks his door faster than I can unlock mine.

"Goodnight, Luka," he says before walking in. He closes the door and I stare at the shut door silently. It’s not that odd, I figure, to be calling your secretary by her first name.

I could honestly get used to it. We’re just friends, and a boss and his secretary, right?

Kaito.

I kick my shoes off, throw my coat to the ground, and walk over to the bed, exhaling as I plop down and close my eyes. No matter what, I can’t seem to stop thinking about tomorrow, the damn meeting and all the shit that’s going to go down.

I wish I didn’t have to be here…I’m not ready for this sort of stuff.

Thinking this, I fall asleep. It’s a pretty deep sleep, because when I wake up, I hear constant knocking at my door. I get up, rubbing my eyes, too groggy to think about who to expect.

"Mr. Shion," Gakupo’s at the door, holding a small bag that has an even smaller box inside of it. "I got the phone. Sorry it took so long. There were issues on the road."

I yawn and shake my head, taking the bag from him. "It’s fine," I say. 

Gakupo is about to walk away when he stops for a moment. "Oh, and one more thing. I don’t think I told you, sir," he says. "There’s a spare key in your room."

"Huh?"

"Like, a key card," he makes an unlocking motion with his hand. "A spare. For your room."

"The point of which is?"

"Uh…well, see, that’s what I don’t know," he says. "They just gave an extra for your room. You could keep it on you, I guess. Or mail it off to your wife as a souvenir or something? I don’t know, really, I just…thought I should bring it to your attention," he stops and laughs nervously.

"Okay," I nod. "Goodnight. Remind me to give you a bonus tomorrow morning."

"Uh, wait…what?" He frowns and I close the door. 

I sit back down on my bed and unpack the phone, plug in my SIM, and boot it up. As it turns on, I decide to take a look through the drawers for this spare key card Kamui mentioned. It’s not hard to find; in fact, it’s right there in the bedside drawer, identical to my own key card. I dial Miku’s number on my phone and simultaneously go through my bags, looking for an envelope.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Miku?" I smile as I say her name. I find a pack on envelopes and yank one out.

"Kaito?"

"Yeah, it’s me, honey. I got a new phone."

"Oh, that’s good! How was your day? It’s around three in the afternoon here…"

"I’m fine, mostly."

"Mostly?" She sounds so worried. I want to hug her but I can’t.

"It’s nothing, just jet lag and stuff."

"Are you sure? You have that meeting tomorrow…you don’t want to do it, right?"

I sigh and scribble my home address onto the envelope.

"You’re not answering me, Kaito…please tell me?"

"You already know. I don’t want to. It’s messing me up, I mean…how am I supposed to do this? I’m not a public speaker, or a manager. I never was."

"And you won’t have to fill your father’s shoes forever, you know."

She’s right; I could potentially put Gakupo or even Luka in charge, just not right away. Which is why I’m where I am right now.

"Just hang on for a bit," she says. 

"I guess," I say. "Miku, you sound so sweet."

"Huh?" 

I chuckle. "It’s only been a day."

"I want to video chat with you, Kaito…"

"I like that idea. Say, I’m sending you something."

"Oh? A present?"

"Something like that…not the best present, though. It’s just a spare key card to my suite. I’ll buy something nicer for you in a few days."

"Are you sure you should be sending that to me?"

"Huh? Why not?"

"What if you need to give a spare to someone? For an emergency?"

"I’ll request another from the hotel people, so don’t worry about it."

"Hmm…" Miku pauses. 

"Kamui suggested it," I say. "So I figured, why not?"

"Yeah, it sounds nice!" She says. "Say, Kaito…you should sleep."

"I should," I mumble. "Is this goodnight?"

"I guess…I miss you. I-I know it’s only been a day, but still!"

"I miss you, too. Goodnight."

I hang up and get to my feet, walking over to the window. The sky is clear and the city lights twinkle like the stars. I decide to stand out in the balcony for a few minutes.

"Nights back home were never this pretty," a voice says softly as I lean forwards against the railing. I look around, figuring it must be someone above or below.

"Maybe I just can’t appreciate the sky over there anymore," the voice sighs sadly. I frown and gawk upwards, then downwards. There’s no one. I look to my right and there she is: Luka, in a diaphanous, little white nightdress, talking to the stars.

And for a moment, I am completely, utterly spellbound.

I've been working on this chapter for well over a month, people. (Exams and assignments and work delayed writing.)

AND IT SUCKS

WEAK ENDING BAHHHHHH

Seriously, I could've/should've tried to make the Mik and Kaito conversation at the end better...it makes me freaking cringe...

I might mess around with it a bit but I don't know...apologies.