Hey! Is anybody still reading this? lol

I just finished "My Facebook Sweetheart" (my Kise Ryouta fanfic) the other day so I decided to work on this one next. Hopefully I get to finish this before I start working again lol so that I can also update my other fanfics and books

This one has a promising plot so I really want to continue this.
*cries*
I hope I can. Fingers crossed.

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CHAPTER SIX

Aoi Natsume, my ex-stepbrother, had brought me to the apartment he was staying after taking me away from my current stepbrother.

Somehow my head only ached more while thinking about that.

Me and my complicated life.

His place was very close to his high school, just a couple of blocks away. It had one bedroom, a clean toilet, a small sala and kitchen.

Well, to be honest, I was completely surprised when I found out that he had been living on his own for months now. Natsume had always been a responsible son, the type who would never go against his father no matter what happened, but I guessed it was different this time. He still couldn't accept the fact that our "little family" had been torn apart because of what his cheating father did.

It had always been the same for me, like nothing's basically new, but for this guy I knew this was something that he couldn't just cope up with just like that.

"I'm sorry," I suddenly said after minutes of silence, "For worrying you."

"Please don't do that again." His deep emerald eyes were looking at me intently, almost as though trying to make me digest every word he was saying. "We were worried sick. Please keep in mind that we care for you."

In times like this it was always Natsume who would give me comforting words, pushing all my worries away. Today, however, it just wasn't working. The burden I was carrying in my heart was too much. Even I didn't know how to make this go away.

I nodded anyway then patted the top of his head lovingly. Of course, I wouldn't want to worry him any more than this. "Thank you, Natsume."

He let me do that to him for a few more seconds before he grabbed my hand and held it firmly. "Nee-san, how long are you planning on treating me like a kid?"

My eyes widened in surprise, but I quickly composed myself. "What do you mean?"

"I want you to think of me as a man."

The force in his voice had me at a loss for words. I couldn't exactly comprehend the meaning behind what he was saying.

I mean, yes, he changed a lot. He looked manlier now compared to when we first met. But wasn't that completely normal? He was growing, after all. So what exactly did he mean by treating him like a man? He was still going to be my younger brother.

Natsume, noticing my reaction, brought my hand closer to his face. He snuggled his cheek against the back of my palm. "I wish I could just make all your problems go away, but..."

His voice trailed off and I noticed the tears in his eyes. His shoulders were shaking too. "Natsume?"

"But right now I'm hurting, too." He pulled me by my hand, hugging me so tightly that I gasped in surprise. "Nee-san, I want to be with you. I want to see you every day like before. I miss you every day. It hurts."

"Natsume, what are you saying—"

He cut me off. "I love you, nee-san. I love you."

I froze inside his embrace. Literally.

The idea about transferring to Touo Academy seemed to be thrown away to the farthest back of my mind because my brain was suddenly being taken over by his outrageous confession. The pain that was lacing his voice was enough for me to tell that he was serious about what he was saying.

"The day you moved out of our house was the day my world shattered. I thought I could be with you forever," he continued. I could still feel him crying on my shoulder. "I know you don't feel the same. I know you only see me as a brother, but I just can't stop myself from wanting to be with you."

"I..." I didn't know what to say.

Different kinds of emotions overpowered me and I remained speechless. I just couldn't believe what I was hearing at the moment.

"I know I should not be adding to your concerns right now, but when I saw you all flustered because of that guy snap me out of my control."

I frowned. "That guy? You mean, Aomine Daiki?"

Why would he think Aomine made me flustered?

He pulled away a little bit to look at me in the eyes then said, "I know why he followed you. It's because he cares, I can see it in the way he looks at you." He stopped, and for a moment I saw his expression darken. "It angers me to think that he's going to be with you every day."

"Natsume," I finally spoke, sighing. "You're just thinking too much. Aomine Daiki does not think about me in that way. He is a devil, he knows nothing but give me trouble."

After saying that, I suddenly remembered the way Aomine held my hand earlier and even begged me to come home with him. I unconsciously tugged the edge of the jacket I was wearing—Aomine Daiki's jacket.

I remembered the look on his face. His worried frown, his concerned voice, his gentle touch. Everything was just not making any sense. Why was he suddenly acting like that?

That devil.

"Nee-san," Natsume suddenly said, pulling me out of my thoughts about a certain guy. "You can stay here for the night, your Mom won't worry since you're with me."

I had no choice but to nod my head, his confession just a little while ago dominating my head once more.

It wasn't just Aomine Daiki acting weird, Natsume too.

"Natsume, about what you said." I stared into his eyes, they were still red from crying and his expression mirrored pain. My heart ached for him. "I... I just..."

He gave me a bitter smile, raising one hand to cup the side of my face, caressing my cheek with his thumb. "It's fine. You already have a lot to think about today, I don't want to add up. I'm sorry. It's not my intention to confuse you or something, I only want you to know how I always feel about you and that I'll always be here."

Natsume had always been my protector even though I was older. He was dependable, and I depended on him a lot before. He would always put me on top of everything and would help me no matter how difficult or dangerous my situation was.

That big ugly scar on his left arm was proof of it.

Upon remembering how he got hurt because of me, I wrapped my arms around him immediately, pulling him in for a hug. I could tell he was surprised because he stiffened up in my embrace. "You're important to me, Natsume. I just... I don't know how to answer you. We've been living as siblings all this time, then suddenly..."

"I know. I know, nee-san." He ran his long fingers through my hair before hugging me back. "I can wait. Until you're ready."

"Thank you."

***

The sound of my phone ringing woke me up with a start. I didn't want to pick up, but upon remembering my current predicament, I had no choice.

It was my mother.

"Miyako? How are you?" Came her voice on the other line, she sounded so worried. Well, I turned my phone off last night so she was probably worried when she couldn't reach me. She had no choice but to call Natsume instead, to help her find me.

"I'm fine." I pulled myself up into a sitting position, glancing at the alarm clock on top of the bedside drawer. It was still six in the morning. I had only about three hours of sleep. "I'm coming home now. Sorry about last night."

Even though my mother's shitty life decisions made my life miserable, I still loved her. I knew I hurt her feelings last night because of everything that I said.

"No, it's okay. It's all my fault." What she said made my eyes widen in surprise, she sounded like she was trying not to cry. "I'm sorry I've been making hasty decisions without telling you. If you don't want to transfer, you don't have to. I can still fix—"

"Mom, it's fine." I hurriedly cut her off. Guilt suddenly consumed me even though what she said was completely true—that she had been making decisions about my life lately without asking me first. "I'm okay now. I'll transfer to Touo."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Touo is closer than Kaijou, right? From Uncle Daichi's house, I mean. So it'll actually make my last year of high school a lot easier."

Of course, that was a lie. Being in Touo Academy and being away from my friends would only make my last year of high school completely wretched. But I had to lie to lessen her guilt somehow.

"Well. I decided your school transfer with that in mind. But, Miyako..." she stopped for a minute, but then continued in a gentle voice, "This is our home now. It's not just your Uncle Daichi's house."

I nearly rolled my eyes at that. I couldn't exactly tell her how we were actually not welcomed there by her new fiance's son and that the house she called home had been nothing but a living hell for me, right?

I mean, how could I? How could I destroy my mother's newfound happiness, right?

At that time I caught sight of Natsume opening the door slightly, as if checking up on me. He must've heard me talking to someone. "I have to go now, Mom. Natsume cooked breakfast."

"Okay. You are one spoiled sister, you're lucky to have Natsume."

One thing she finally got right. "I know, mom."

I could hear her chuckling softly on the other line before I decided to hung up.

Natsume then stepped inside, opening the curtains and allowing the light to bathe his room. He was wearing a grey apron, that's how I knew he was cooking breakfast.

"What time did you wake up?" I asked curiously, noticing the dark circles under his eyes. "It's still early."

"About an hour ago," he replied, sitting beside me on the bed. He looked like he had taken a bath already because the tips of his hair was still wet. " You can sleep more."

I was tempted to do just that since I slept really late last night.

Even though I had Natsume's room all to myself because he slept on the couch outside, I still had a hard time falling asleep. Maybe it was due to the fact that I was thinking about a lot of things all night. I was thinking about how I should face my mother after my little outburst, I was thinking about Aomine Daiki's weird change of attitude, I was thinking about Natsume's confession.

I was thinking about what I should do with my life now that I had decided I couldn't live like this anymore.

"My mom's waiting for me," I finally said, "I should probably go."

"Okay. Then let's have breakfast now, I'll take you home after."

Smiling, I nodded my head. I reached out to pat the top of Natsume's head, only to regret it immediately. I remembered that he didn't like it when I treated him like a kid.

Natsume saw how I looked uncomfortable and before I could retract my hand, he grabbed it then brought it to his lips. "It's okay, nee-san. Old habits die hard?"

I could feel the heat crawling up to my cheeks. I guessed this was the normal reaction when the guy who just confessed to you suddenly acted intimate.

I looked away to avoid his gaze. "Y-Yes."

Natsume and I headed outside to eat breakfast, happily talking about what went on with our lives after our parents divorce. I really didn't have a lot to talk about since nothing interesting happened to me for the past few months so I just listened while he talked.

After about another hour, we were on our way home.

***

"We're here, nee-san."

I took my helmet off, hopping down from his motorcycle. "Thanks, Natsume. I've always been bothering you like this that I'm starting to feel like I'm only a burden to you."

Natsume removed his helmet as well, giving me a clear view of the roguish smile on his handsome face. "What? You only realized that now?"

"Hey," I protested, slapping his arm playfully. "You've become so mean now. I thought you care for me a lot?"

"I do."

His voice and facial expression suddenly turned serious as his eyes darted to look at something behind me. And before I could whip around to check what he was looking at he suddenly leaned in to press his lips against mine for a brief kiss.

I gasped through his lips. It happened so fast that I didn't have the time to protest.

When he pulled away, I saw that his eyesight was still focused on whatever it was that's behind me. It was only then that I finally turned around to look at what it was, immediately freezing on my spot upon seeing Aomine Daiki not far away from us.

He looked like he just came back from his morning run because he was wearing his running shoes and jogging pants. The black sweater he was wearing was also visibly wet so it stuck to his upper body, making his muscles and toned chest stand out.

Damn.

The guy really was an eye candy. He was simply too hot.

But for some reason his blue eyes held danger as he glared at us—at Natsume.

Before I could say anything, however, Natsume got my attention again by pinching my left cheek hard then taking his spare helmet from my hands. He was grinning mischievously as he said, "It's payment for the breakfast."

"What?" At first I didn't get what he meant, but I soon realized he was talking about the kiss because his eyes were glued to my lips. "But—"

"Bye, nee-san." He cut me off, grabbing my hand then kissing the back of my palm. After that, he put his helmet on as if nothing happened. "Call me when you need me, okay?"

He didn't even wait for my response and merely drove off, leaving me entirely flabbergasted.

What the actual fuck?

That was too sudden. Why did he kiss me on the lips? Hold on. Did he do it because he knew Aomine Daiki was watching us?

Holy fu— He wanted Aomine to see us. He did it on purpose.

Oh, damn.

Composing myself, I turned towards the gate. I was just about to open it when I suddenly heard Aomine's deep voice behind me, making me nearly scream in fright. I could clearly remember he was still at least ten feet away from me. He was darn fast.

"Do you normally kiss like that with your ex-stepbrother ?"

The way he uttered the word "ex-stepbrother" was surprisingly menacing. I steeled myself, turning around to face him. "I believe that's none of your concern."

Aomine scoffed, as if in disbelief. His voice was filled with sarcasm when he said, "Come on. I'm also your brother now so I believe I have a say in this."

I threw him a nasty glare. "Fuck off, Daiki."

To my utter surprise, he grabbed my hand, pulling me closer to him. I nearly bumped into his broad chest. Then he whispered into my ear, his voice sending chills down my spine. "Do you know how hard it is to control myself right now? I couldn't sleep at all last night because of you."

I frowned, not really getting the meaning behind his words. "What in the world are you saying? Let me go."

It was like he didn't even hear me because he tightened his grip even more. "You spent the night with him, am I right?"

"Yes. And what of it—"

"Tell me everything you did with him last night. Everything."