Chapter 18: The Charm of a Host

This is no fair. Bokuto gets to do all the spiking and I'm just sitting here trying to block him. But mostly trying not to get broken fingers. Last night was a fluke. I just didn't want him to break Kata's nose with the ball.

Now, Bokuto is breaking through my block everytime. At least every time I'm actually there to block in time.

"She did it, I swear," Bokuto said, sounding like a child trying to convince adults that the boogeyman's in the closet.

"Looking at how close she's coming, I believe it." Akaashi said in a calming tone.

"Great, so can I hit now?"

Bokuto shrugged, "Plenty of court for the both of us. Besides, we have to setters." He nodded towards Aimi who was off to the side. "Come on," he invited her.

To be honest, I wanted to hit Akaashi's sets. Do some quick attacks. But I suppose I should practice with my own setter.

"Come on," I said with a smile, inviting her onto the court.

Her sets were a little shaky. Probably nervous in front of Bokuto, or nervous about what the captain would say if she knew she was here with me. Yet, then again, Aimi's sets have never been very confident. Not like Akaashi's. Bokuto and Akaashi were so fluid, moving so quickly. Quick attacks that I wish Aimi and I could put off.

I went back to try another one, just when Bokuto decided to go for one of my snap shot, dropping the ball at the front line, right where I was.

"Got it," I called out automatically. I dropped into a side lung, digging up the powerful hit. It shoved my body back a bit and the ball went flying high up into the air right above Aimi's head.

"Nice, Baby Bird," Bokuto called out.

Quickly I regained my balance, "send it here," I called out. As if there was anyone else to send it to.

The flow was going for me, I was eager to go in for my approach, but knew I had to wait. Aimi won't adjust the ball to me. Not like Akaashi. I have to adjust to her and her sets. I've surpassed her. And now I have to lag behind to stay in play.

Finally the ball left her hands, I was still eager to get it. Moving quickly for the ball and jumping as high as I could, but still, I jumped too soon. I was about to get my fingers on the ball, tipping over Bokuto's block.

Though I did get the ball over the net, Bokuto still laughed, "Come on Baby Bird, you call that a hit."

"Shut up," I grunted, stumbling on my landing, "I went in too fast."

"Aimi should have adjusted it to a quick attack then," Akaashi said as if it were just that simple, it was the perfect set up for one."

"What?" Aimi asked in her quiet, shy voice. She looked almost hurt. And I realized, this is the first time Bokuto has called my Baby Bird around her in a week. It was so natural for him to say on the court he didn't even think about it. It was so natural for me to hear on the court that I didn't even think about it.

"We don't do quick attacks," I told Akaashi.

"Well why not?" Bokuto asked. Again, as if it were just that simple.

"I don't know how," Aimi admitted, face down to the court.

Bokuto let out a chuckle, slapping Akaashi on the back saying. "Akaashi here can teach you, no problem."

"Well thank you for volunteering my services." Akaashi groaned.

But I was excited enough for him, I will be able to do quick attacks on my own team!

Those girls won't know what hit them.

If we can get this down first.

It wasn't smooth at first. Aimi just learned how to set high enough for me, now she has to figure out how to get it that high without making a huge rainbow, broadcasting to the world that I'm going to hit.

Akaashi broke down what the setters job is during a quick attack. Using Bokuto to demonstrate. Her eyes couldn't even keep up with him. Probably because she insists on keeping them so low to the ground though.

"You gotta look up," I said. Then looked down myself, who am I to be giving advice

I'm just happy she's here. Sure. She came here for Bokuto but I am benefiting from this. Scratch that. We are benefiting from this.

"What?" She said to me.

"She's right," Bokuto said, "You look down way too much to be a setter. You got to keep your head up, so you can keep the ball up."

She nods, of course everything is better coming from him. She won't be exiled by the team for taking his advice.

"Akaashi, let me hit one," I called out.

He nodded stiffly, setting me up for a quick. I hit it pretty much the moment it left his hands, aiming for the corner before still it was out.

"Dang it," I grunted.

"Can't get them all," Bokuto laughed.

I laughed back saying, "I got to if I'm gonna beat you."

Sure I have no real ambition to beat Bokuto at anything, but it was fun to see him wound up.

He pulled up the sleeve of his t-shirt and flexed a muscle, "Oh yeah, you think you can out do me?"

I laughed, going back to my place saying, "Easy Bokuto, put the guns away." I looked to Aimi and asked, "Ready?"

She nodded, not a lot of confidence behind it, but she wasn't looking down so I'll take it.

Akaashi tossed a ball to me, I passed it up to her and started my approach. The ball left her hand as I made my jump. But, the ball was behind me. I arched my back still managing to get my fingers on it, but it didn't do much. Just made the ball clump me in the head.

"Alright, let's go again," I called out, trying to act like nothing happened but Bokuto was laughing out loud. End Aimi smiled a bit.

"Akaashi!" I called out, feeling like Bokuto. He tossed another one up, and another one. And another one. Some of the balls got over the net, but none of them had a solid connection.

Akaashi held a ball on his hip saying, "Well nothing works out well at first. The good thing is that Z here is scrappy enough to almost always get a limb on the ball."

"Who are you calling scrappy?" I snarled, "It's not my fault, I practically spent the last two years on a team by myself. And it's not much different now." I didn't mean to say the last part. My eyes trailed to Aimi. Her head was down again, this time she spoke though, still low, "I know. It's not fair to you... Hina told everyone not to talk to you. But... I want to win, and I think we can do that with you."

I was frozen for a while. This is the first time a teammate has put a little faith in me. A small smile grew on my face, "And I can't win without a team." I went back to my starting spot saying, "Again!"

"How about a water break," I heard my cousin shout, carrying a small cooler.

"One more," I shouted quickly, "Akaashi, come on."

Aimi's eyes glanced over to KJ, but was back on the ball the moment Akaashi threw it up. I passed it to her, and started my approach. I felt good about this one. Watching the ball as it left her hand. I swung on it. And even I wasn't able to keep up with it. The ball was hitting the court before I realized it even hit my hand.

"Ah," I breathed out, "We did it! We did it, we did it, we did!" I was jumping up and down now. Bokuto was too. Excitement pouring out of us. Enough to make Aimi and Akaashi laugh a bit.

"Woa," KJ said as he stepped on the court, "Now I want to see that in a game."

KJ started passing out waters and when got to Aimi, his smile deepened a little and his eyes trailed from her eyes, to her hand, he let his hand brush against her's slightly as the cool bottle of water left his hand.

He flinched his hand away, gently, letting out a nervous chuckle. She chuckled nervously as well, before saying, "So you're really gonna to be at our game?"

"Oh yeah," KJ smiled, "Everyone, all the way to nationals right, Zara."

I was taking a drink of water when he put his hand up for a high five. Quickly I swallowed, high fiving him saying, "You know it."

"Now that Z has you, I'm sure she'll make it." He smiled to me first, confident, with it, but managed to turn it shy as he glanced back to Aimi.

I'm beginning to understand the plan my cousin's have come up with. They sent in Kaoru, shining, smiling, charming Kaoru, to intersect. And it's working, Aimi hasn't looked at Bokuto since he stepped on the court. My cousin was good looking, his reddish brown hair, looking more red now, curled perfectly on to of his head. He wasn't as tall as Bokuto, but still stood, 7 inches taller than her, and stood close enough that she had to look up to look into his honey-like eyes. He was lean like his father, tight in the waist with muscles cutting through, small, but defined. His tan skin was like no one around round. Well, besides his sisters. It never took much for him to get girls to swarm. All it took sometimes was for him to slip that side smile on, showing just the right amount of teeth, and any guy around him became an irrelevant fool.

Emphasis on the fool.

After sucking down his whole bottle of water with both hands, Bokuto cut into the moment Aimi and KJ were sharing. He reached for the cooler on KJ's shoulder asking, "Can I get another one?"

Aimi seemed almost embarrassed by him. KJ, slightly annoyed but not like anyone else would be able to catch it. The slight flick of irritation in his eyes before smiling, "Yeah man, no problem," and tossing a new bottle of water to Bokuto.

Bokuto began to gulp it down, walking back towards Akaashi.

KJ laughed a little, turning to me but pointed to Bokuto, "Is he always so...?"

"Always," I nodded. I see what he's doing here, first showing how great he is, then pointing out the flaws of Bokuto.

Aimi started to look down again. Looking embarrassed, or in thought, but KJ just laughed saying, "Hey, why don't you guys do that thing again? I wanna see it."

Her eyes lifted to the golden eyes of KJ, she seemed so small but she nodded, "Okay," and a slight smile fell on her lips. A smile that Bokuto has never pulled out of her. Yet, in a matter of minutes, my cousin Kaoru has. Like he said, he's a host. He can make anyone fall in love.

He backed away, keeping his eyes on Aimi for a few backward steps before turning to sit on the bench beside the court. She pretended not to watch him, as she readied herself. Her eyes still slid to the side, until the ball was up. Then, she was locked in, focused. She wanted to do good. Wanted him to see her doing good. And if this is the effect that Kaoru has on my teammates, then he should come to my practices.

We landed a little less than half our attempts, but Bokuto figured we were doing good enough to try and block me. Which, I'm pretty sure he just jumped in because he was bored. KJ wasn't insulting him at the moment, but I still don't think they would have much conversation. We technically didn't need Akaashi anymore, but he stayed by, giving us tips and tossing up the ball. At least until Hana came down. She sat beside her brother, dropping her head to his shoulder. She watched for a bit. Probably waiting for me to end on a good note before saying, "Mom said come in for lunch."

She stood up and eyed her brother. His eyes lifted the Aimi, but still he rose and started down the path towards the house with Hana. His eyes glanced back to Aimi once more, as if he hadn't wanted to leave. Knowing the twins, this was all staged, and Kaoru is just one hell of an actor. Another skill to add to my already talented cousin.

"Come on you guys," I said, stepping towards the same path, "We could use some food."

Aimi and the boys followed me away from the court and back into the house. We ended up back in the room connected to the balcony. Just us teens dining this time. Aunt Bri was working on my school skirt and uncle Kaoru was talking business with his twin and his mom. Lunch was served and we sat around talking. Aimi still seemed pretty quiet. She sat beside me now, and her eyes glanced to Kaoru more than they did to Bokuto. Actually, the only time she looked at Bokuto was when he was shouting like an idiot or choking like one. I don't think he realizes how easy he's making this for KJ.

What is Bokuto compared to KJ? Sure he was kind, and strong, good looking, encouraging, and easy to talk to. Well at least for me. But KJ, could be all that too. He could be all that and more, and he wasn't afraid to show it.

He's been eyeing the piano since we've gotten back in the room. KJ plus music, was a loaded gun. He was just waiting for his moment.

"Zara love, come here for a sec," Aunty Bri called from the hall.

Quickly I got up to join her. She leaned against the wall, both of us out of sight of the room. "So, she smiled smugly, "How's it going?"

"How's what going?" I asked, it seems natural for me to deny anything involving feelings. Though, she told me it was the same for her.

She just looked to me straight faced saying, "I made you three new skirts identical to your school skirts. Also snuck some pockets in there between some pleats. No one should ever be able to tell the difference. Now, since you insist on waiting time." She stepped around me, peering back into the room, "Kaoru, son, please come here for a moment."

"Yeah Mom," he said. I looked back into the room as well. For the short moment I was gone, Kaoru managed to move to sit beside Aimi. He moved quick, he was good.

He got up, moving to the doorway saying, "What's up Mom?"

She didn't bother to turn to the hall this time. She just spoke quietly asking, "How's it going?"

KJ leaned against the doorway, smiling, "Pretty well if I say so myself."

She glanced around him towards the piano, "You ready to sell it?"

"Of course Mother," He smiled.

She placed a hand on his shoulder, "Remember everything Tamkai taught you."

He smiled even more, nodding, "Of course Mother."

She smiled now saying, "That's my son." She winked to him as she turned saying, "Now entertain your guest."

"Yes Mother," he said as I said, "Yes aunty."

He turned to the room and I followed him into it. He eyed his piano once more, but moved past it. He needed a reason to touch it. But I don't really need a reason to touch it. So I did, hitting a few keys. Nothing beautiful, just touching the keys.

KJ was on his way to sit beside Aimi again, but stopped in his tracks once he heard the few notes.

"Please don't cause my piano suck pain," He said, his back was to me but I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Oh," I said, raising both hands above the keys, "Like this?"

I dropped my fingers onto the keys, making it clank loudly.

KJ quickly turned around, grabbing my wrist and lifting my hand away from the piano. "Please don't," he said again letting his hand drop from my wrist to the keys. Even with his hands falling to a random spot on the keys, he made it seem intentional. Playing as though this was exactly where he needed to be. Like his mind thought of a song to play in the second and a half it took for his fingers to land on the black and white keys. Playing the tone we all know. Uncle Tamaki and Aunt Bri have always played this song. Ever since they were younger. It was actually popular when they were younger, now it's just that song from that old movie. But all of her children can play it and Tamaki's son can as well. A Thousand Years. Song seems to be a thousand years old now, but the song still calmed a room with the first three notes. Or at least the way Kaoru plays it does. The notes were light, floating through the air, singing in my ears. It's so easy for the piano to sound so clinky. It makes me prefer Hana and her violin on most days. But when KJ takes the keys, it's like a whole new instrument.

A smile settled onto KJ's face, intimate satisfaction. His left hand came to the keys as well. I stepped back slowly as he lowered himself to the bench, not missing a beat in his movement. So calm. Peaceful and sweet. A side of Kaoru that not everyone can see. I'm sure he wouldn't be showing this side of himself to Bokuto, still trying to uphold the tough cousin roll. But Aimi, she's so calm, peaceful and sweet, Kaoru knew just how to meet her where she was.

My hand fell gently on his shoulder as he played. I heard a soft single chuckle leave his lips. His twin rose from her seat, making her way to the piano. She leaned against it, watching her brother play, ease of her face as she smiled softly. Ros got up too, moving to sit beside him on the long piano bench.

She hummed along side him, and together they sang just the one line, "One step close...er"

KJ continued to play, lifting his head to smile at his twin, before letting his eyes slide to Aimi. My eyes fell on her too, her eyes were locked on him and filled with wonder. Her lips were slightly parted, but tilted upward in a smile of amazement. She leaned forward in her seat, as if longing to be closer to the sound, closer to him, but she was holding herself back. I could see it in the way she gripped the bottom of her seat, as if anching herself down so she doesn't float away with the tone.

KJ's smile widened a bit, he looked to his older sister with a nod. Her fingers began to move across the keys as well, taking on part of the song, and KJ handled the melody, for just a moment longer, as if he were trying to peel himself from the keys. It seemed to pain him to leave the piano, but he wasn't stepping away from the music. Not at all. KJ has learned to manage music with every ounce of his body. He fed off of music, and Aunty kept feeding his passion, until he became a monster.

He finally left the piano, leaving every key to Ros. She played lovely as well, but it didn't float like the way KJ played it. It didn't draw you in, But KJ was still here, being the magnet that moved the music.

He smiled charmingly as he offered a hand to his twin. She smiled, taking it and letting KJ lead her into a waltz. Even with Rosalind playing beautifully, and Hana's skirt twirling at every turn, Kaoru still held the attention of the room. The way he moved with the music, as though it flowed through his veins, as if he breathed it.

He spun his twin once more, letting her twirl from his arms. She let herself twirl into the lap of Akaashi though. Taking an extra step or two and seemingly stumbling until she plopped onto his knee with her arms looped around his neck. She giggled a little, and Akaashi turned a faint shade of pink. His dark eyes shot up to KJ, who nodded and began to step backwards. He placed his hand out beside him, as he moved backwards towards me. I knew what he was doing.

Every cousin. Or at least every Black cousin, has that cousin make dance routines with. KJ happened to be that cousin for me. Or maybe I was that cousin for him. His sisters had had enough with him by the time I came around, so I became his new dance partner.

I stepped forward, rhythmically as he taught me, and placed my hand in his, allowing him to spin me till I stood in front of him. Though we did not engage in a typical waltz. We moved together in a choreographed routine, like in ballroom scenes on Bridgerton.

"Show off," Hana chuckled, as she pulled Akaashi to the floor. She was pretty much leading him in the dance, teaching him as they moved and KJ only smiled to his twin, before nodding to me. He turned me, letting go, leaving me to stand beside Bokuto. And leaving himself facing Aimi, still seated.

He bowed low, with a smile that was nervous yet confident. He offered a hand but she pushed back saying, "I... I can't -"

"I'll teach you," he smiled, taking her hand in his. Her eyes were drawn to his. It was like she couldn't turn away as he pulled her to stand. She moved as though she were hypnotized, she was light, and she flowed. Kaoru controlled her, like he controls every tone he meets. He had her, and he knew it. His smile was no longer confident, but prideful. It was filled with accomplishment, as if he had just won a game. His target was captured. Aimi was falling. And now, I find myself wondering, if KJ could fall too? I sure wouldn't be able to tell if he did.

"Hey, I thought Aimi liked me?" Bokuto pouted.

"You don't stand a chance," I admitted, "He plays, he sings, he dances, and he's rich. If you really wanted Aimi, you should have said something sooner."

He pouted more, dropping his chin to my shoulder as he stood behind me. "Well on the bright side, I still like you." I said quietly. Then picked my timing carefully to plant a kiss on his cheek. I wanted to make sure Aimi didn't see, but she didn't see anything but Kaoru. She was in her own little world, where it was just him and her.

I took Bokuto's hand pulling him to the center of the room where my cousins and teammates danced.

Bokuto froze saying, "I never-"

"I got you," I said, cutting him off.

I took his one hand placing it on my waist, and held the other in my hand. I pushed and pulled him through the steps until he began to move by himself. His head remained down towards our feet, which I am grateful for. I'd rather not have him stepping on my feet. But even with his head down and his black and white hair flopping in his face, I could still see the huge grin on his face, that grew as he improved. He finally looked up, wide eyed in excitement. "I'm doing it!"

"Yes," I nodded as I laughed.

It wasn't long before the music came to a stop. Hana and I just stopped dancing but KJ, lifted Aimi's hand to his lips, kissing it softly before taking her hand in both of his saying, "Thank you."

Aimi was beet red! All she could manage was a nod as she backed away from him, letting her hand slip out of his. Man, Kaoru is good.

"Are you guys always like this," Akaashi asked, he was looking towards me but Hana bounced up first asking, "Like what?"

"Fun," Bokuto laughed.

"Oh yeah," We all said. And honestly, we are. We always have had fun together. Yeah I have fun with my cousins and siblings back home, but strangely enough I feel more at home here, with them. Maybe because here, I'm not the only one who's not Black enough, and here, that's okay.

KJ practically ran back to the piano saying, "Watch this!" He didn't even bother sitting on the bench, he stood and energetically played the opening notes to a Mary J. Blige song that Aunt Bri plays and sings all the time.

Right on que me and my cousins all sang out, "Real Love!" We all began dancing and snapping as Kaoru played, "I'm searching for a real love. Someone to set my heart free, real love!"

Kaour cut the music there and we all laughed. He leaned against the piano looking to Aimi, saing "Normal day in the Hitachiin household. Come back anytime."

"I will," Bokuto said excitedly.

KJ's eyes snapped to his saying, "Wasn't talking to you."

And Aimi smiled yet again.

Kaoru Hitachiin Jr., he truly holds the power of a host.