Chapter 17: My Hitachiin Cousins

"Wake up mi amor."

I woke to my aunt Bri sitting on the end on my bed and my phone on my pillow beside me.

My mind flashed to the last few text exchanged last night between me and Bokuto. My heart pounded, I sat up quickly, tucking my phone under my pillow.

Nervously I breathed out, "Good morning aunt Bri."

She laughed a little, looking curious, "Well good morning. Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, yeah," I said nodding, knowing I'm saying yeah too many times, "Yeah, I'm fine."

She stared at me for a moment, then her eyes trailed down to my hand. I hadn't realized that I was still gripping the phone under the pillow. She threw her hands up saying, "You'll be 18 soon, whatever's going on between you and that phone. I don't have to know."

"It's nothing like that," I spat out, assuming her mind had gone to the worst. Even though, I don't think I can say it was nothing like that. No more images were sent back and forth between me and Bokuto, just words. But words I'd rather not let anyone see. Ugh, what was I thinking?

"Whatever," she said, dropping her hands to help lap, "I will however ask about you and Bokuto. What's going on with that?"

I shrug saying, "Nothing, we're friends."

"But you kissed him?" She asked. I just nodded. "More than once."

My eyes shot up, "How did you know that?"

She laughed a little saying, "You just told me, Love."

I grunted, falling back to my pillow. Aunt Bri went on laughing, "So what's going on there?"

"It's nothing really just... I don't know."

Her face twisted up a little as she asked, "Are you in one of those open relationship things?"

"What?" I asked, "No."

"No judgement," She said throwing her hands up.

"Aunt Bri!"

"Fine," she chuckled, laying beside me, "Tell me about it. But start getting ready while you do it." She gave me a push towards the edge of my bed. I rolled out of bed, walking over to my closet.

"We talked about it a few days before school started. Came to the conclusion that we both did like each other, but wait at least a little while."

"What's the wait," Aunt Bri was now up, smoothing out my bed, as if the servants weren't going to be in here after we left to make it up correctly.

"Bokuto's afraid I guess. He said that other people would like me at the school and he wanted to wait to see if I took interest in any of them before starting anything with me." I pulled a pair of black jean shorts from my closet, and walked over to my dresser thinking about what he told me that night, "He said he can deal with me dating someone else. But what he can't deal with is me choosing him, then choosing someone else." I grabbed a light blue t-shirt saying, "He said it would be like telling him, that he's not enough." I was quiet for a while, thinking about how fragile Bokuto's heart truly is.

But I shook it off saying in a cheerful tone, "And with this being both of our last years. Neither of us can afford to feel that way. We have to get to nationals."

Aunt Bri was quiet for a moment, before saying, "Seems stupid but I see his point. How long is the wait?"

"After Fall tournaments," I answered.

"So like a month," She nodded, the she laughed, playfully, soundly like her children, "Think you can keep your lips to yourself until then?"

I grabbed some under garments and playfully snapping back, "I'm sorry, weren't you and uncle Kaoru casually making out, in his bedroom, when you were like 15? Before you were dating?"

She stood up saying, "Who told you that?"

"Uncle Hikaru."

She slowly started stepping to the door saying, "Love, I don't think I'm the best example to go off of. I was also engaged to him at the age of 16." She gave a soft sigh saying, "Life moves fast in the world of money. But, that's nothing you have to worry about." She started out the door and closed it behind her saying, "See you at breakfast. On the balcony."

Quickly I changed and brushed my teeth. I shoved my phone in my pocket and headed out down the hall, only to be stopped at the room next door. Bokuto grabbed my wrist, tugging me into his room and closing the door.

"Hey?" I sort of hush shouted as he pushed my back to the closed door.

"Hey," he said through a smile, placing his hand on my chin, tilting it upward before pushing his lips to mine. He pushed everything to me, his body casing in mine as our lips moved together. His arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer as if I could be any closer than this.

My body felt hot again. Like the heat from the tub last night. Thoughts of conversations last night slipping through my mind as I felt his tongue slip into my mouth. Kiss growing deeper as my arms tightened around his neck, my fingers trailing upward, moving in his soft hair. It seemed like it was down, like last night. I hadn't even gotten a chance to look at him before this started. And it felt as though there was no stopping this. No one was pulling away, no one was backing down from this, and no one was around to stop it.

Then again, there is always nosy staff around here.

A knock banged on the wooden door. I felt it move against my body pushed to the door and Bokuto and I both froze.

"Bokuto, breakfast is ready."

"Yes, coming," he said nervously.

We listened for the sound of the servant to walk down the hall before we even breathed. We both let out a deep breath, laughing a little. "Sorry," he said, "I just had to do that." He rubbed the back of his neck, but still stayed so close, "Might have gotten a little carried away last night." His eyes shot straight into mine saying, "But so did you."

I reached desperately behind me for the door handle saying, "I don't know what you're talking about."

I found the door knob and opened the door freeing myself to the open hall. Thankfully, everyone was already outside. Bokuto followed saying, "Yeah sure, I'm pretty sure people call that sexting."

"They would call it nothing, because nothing happened." I declared.

"Sure thing Baby Bird, you definitely didn't saying anything about wanting me all to yourself and Wishing for a moment alone together so we can do just that."

I paused for a moment before saying. "Nope, that doesn't sound like me."

He stepped up to me, snatching me by the waist from behind. Pulling my body to his, his lips landed softly on my neck, tickling almost. His breath moved across my skin as he said, "I have evidence."

I shuttered a bit, and wiggled out of his grip. Though he pretty much let me go because let's face it. If he really wanted to keep me in his grasp, he could.

I started down the stairs, on the lookout that no one was around as I said, "Remind me to delete that from your phone."

"You don't have my password," he said confidently, but his confidence melted away when I said, "It's probably hoot or something."

I laughed at his lifeless expression and joined my family on the balcony. The balcony was attached to a lounging room, with big windows that made up the wall to the garden, one story below. Inside the room was a grand piano, and the big windows, each turned, creating an opening to let the late summer breeze in. The family sat outside on the balcony. KJ already taking his shot, "About time!" Then he muttered, "I thought he'd be quicker than that."

"Uncle Kaoru, will you please control your son and his mouth."

Uncle Kaoru looked to his son saying, "You know you don't have to say everything that comes to your head."

I sat down with a smile, then Uncle went on saying, "Save some stuff for later. Hit 'em when they really deserve it."

KJ gave a side smile saying, "Thanks dad."

Uncle Kaoru nodded, then bowed his head saying, "Thank you for the food."

We all repeated him and dug in. "Bokuto," Uncle Kaoru called out, "You have any plans today, or are you free to hang with us for a while before the ride home?"

"I'd love to stay," he said, sounding polite.

"Oh, aunty," I said remembering my school uniform, "Can you make me a model of my school skirt? One that actually fits."

I saw Bokuto try to hide his smile behind a glass of orange juice. He's probably been enjoying that too short skirt, but I am sick of my butt being on public seats with just my underwear separating my delicate parts from the seat.

"Too short?" She questioned through a chuckle. We've been dealing with this issue for a while. That's why she makes most of my clothes since I came here. I mean, we all wear her designs mostly anyways. "I'll throw something together for you."

"Thank you," I nodded. I don't know how much more I can take of Hina calling me an attention whore.

"No one told you to be a giant," KJ teased.

I rolled my eyes saying, "Stop hating because you're barely taller than me."

"But still taller," Hana pointed out. The shortest of all of us. Yet still taller than the average Japanese woman. The Black blood in them definitely gave them some height.

"By an inch," I said, demonstrating with my finger and thumb.

"But taller," the twins said together.

I rolled my eyes and started filling my plate. That's when Bokuto's phone buzzed. He reached into his pocket, then looked to me with a worried face, "Aimi wants to hang out with me today?"

"Who?" Aunt Bri asked.

"The setter on my team," I answered, contemplating what to do. I told her I could get her a date with Bokuto. I did that. I didn't really think about what would happen after that.

Aunty Bri looked just as confused as I did as she questioned, "And she's texting Bokuto?"

"Yeah," I answered, "They sort of went on a date the other day."

"So this girl likes Bokuto?"

I nodded and Aunt Bri turned to her husband, with a face of worry. But it's eased quickly at he smiled confidently. Of course she tells him everything. It's her husband.

She turned back to me and Bokuto saying, "Invite her here. See if Akaashi wants to come by too. I'll send Jay to grab them."

"You sure Aunty?" I asked.

But now she smiled, just as confident as her husband as their eyes slid to their children. No, to their son. "Positive."

Bokuto nodded, texting both Aimi and Akaashi. Both agreed to come and Aunt Bri sent Jay to go get them.

After breakfast, as we were all leaving the balcony Aunt Bri muttered as she walked past me, "You need to work on your planning."

She kept walking as though she said nothing at all. As Hana walked past the piano she hit a few notes on it, ringing, Mary Had a Little Lamb. KJ walked behind his sister hitting a few notes as well. KJ, tickled the keys making them sing the first few notes of Beethoven's most popular song.

"Show off," Ros grinned. He was indeed a show off, but rightfully so. He was great. He fell in love with music the first time he heard uncle Tamaki play. He would go to his house all the time to get lessons from him, then to play with him, now to play for him. And still that wasn't enough, he then spent countless hours with his mom learning the violin with Hana. And still, he couldn't get enough of music. He wanted to feel it, with every ounce of himself. And so he learned how.

He smiled, fingers still lingering on the black and white keys. Then his face shouted to his mom once she called out, "Kaoru, my son come here please."

"Yes, mother," He said following her out of the room.

We all decided to stay here, where the morning breeze filled the room. We discussed our schools, the differences and the similarities. Which, there are very few. Ouran is definitely not a regular school. It wasn't long before KJ came back, sitting on the arm of the chair his twin was sitting in. He whispered something into her ear, to which she nodded. I would ask what that was about, but if he wanted me to know, he would have told me. So I left it alone. He joined in the conversation as if he were in the room the whole time. Discussing sports clubs versus social clubs.

"So you siip tea and flirt for 2 hours and call it an extracurricular activity?" Bokuto asked after Ros explained the host club.

"Yeah, pretty much," Hana said.

KJ smiled charmingly saying, "It takes a little more skill than you may think. Sure, none of us are recognized nationally for playing a sport but..."

He and his two sisters went on to say together, "We can make almost anyone fall in love."

It was then that Aimi and Akaashi were guided to the room. Aimi still looked nervous as she looked around. Akaashi, looking mildly confused as he looked around.

"Hey, hey, hey," Bokuto said excitedly.

I laughed a little, my cousins chuckling as well, "Hey Aimi, Akaashi. Welcome." I stood up and moved towards them.

"So this is your real house?" Aimi, asked.

I was gonna answer but Ros beat me to it saying, "Not quit, this is our home. More of a second home for Zara."

"What she said," I agreed, "Aimi, Akaashi, these are my cousins, Ros, the twins Hana, and Kaoru Hittachin."

The three of them said, "Hey," together, but KJ seemed to trail behind, making his voice stand out more amongst his sisters. Being in sync with each other always came pretty naturally for my cousins, as if they were all triples. But, this time KJ moved out of that syncness. As if done on purpose, to lure attention onto himself. His eyes only glanced past Akaashi, but landed on Aimi. Only for a moment though, long enough to give her and only her a soft smile, before bringing his attention back to his twin.

Ros went on, naturally saying, "Well sit down. Bokuto was just telling us that you can get sandwiches out of vending machines at your school."

"Every school doesn't have gourmet chefs you know," I chuckled as I sat beside Ros. I leaned on her shoulder and she welcomed it, pressing her cheek to my head for a moment.

Akaashi then spoke, jumping right in, "Well it's not like they're very good or anything. It's just convenient when you forget your lunch or burn out from practice."

Hana laughed, "Glad I don't have to work that hard," she sat back in her arm chair, KJ still sitting on the arm of it.

Aimi and Akaashi moved to the couch Bokuto was on. I was sitting there too at first but decided to let them have it.

Aimi kept glancing up to Bokuto, as he just smiled and added, "Hey, some of them are good!"

KJ laughed, slightly, coolly, "Forgive me, but I'll take your word for it."

"Hey, hey, hey now," I said trying to play devil's advocate, "After full on practice, a two mile run and an hour in the weight room, you'll eat anything."

"So you eat vending machine sandwiches cousin?" Hana asked in her small cute tone.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I reached for it saying, "I wouldn't be caught dead."

I pulled my phone out, looking at it, careful that Ros couldn't see my screen. It was a text from Bokuto. I looked up, seeing him shoving his phone back into his pocket.

Quickly I looked at the text, and quickly dropped my phone down on the loveseat. Trying not to smile. Trying not to look uncomfortable. Trying to not think about that kiss this morning. The way he pulled me into his room and just went for it.

'Is it bad that I really want to kiss you right now?' It read.

I tried to act normal. Paying no mind to him, but it seems that I was now on my cousin's radar. Each of them looked to me, then Bokuto, then acted as if nothing was done. But I know what was done. In a moment, they read the room, and now know more than I was willing to tell them.

"So you're both setters,"KJ asked, pushing the topic to them.

"Yeah," Akaashi said. But Aimi just nodded.

"Must be tough," Hana said, "Having to make all those split second decisions."

"Akaashi has it easy," Bokuto said proudly, "All he has to do is send it to me."

Akaashi rolled his eyes, but KJ just grinned, "Yeah, so you can be blocked by a girl again."

Akaashi's eyes widened, then narrowed as he turned towards Bokuto. "Z blocked you?"

This did it. This got Bokuto fired up. "Akaashi you should have seen it, she shut it all the way down! We have to try it again!" He turned to me now saying, "We have to try it again. Like right now!"

"We just ate," I grumbled.

"Perfect time to burn off some energy," KJ interjected, "Why don't you show your friends down to the court, Bokuto. Z will be down in a sec."

Bokuto jumped up, pulling Akaashi and Aimi with him. Aimi still watched him, and lowered her eyes to his hand wrapped around her's. Paying no mind to the fact that he also had his hand wrapped around Akaashi's.

He pulled them from the room and the moment they were gone, Ros rose, pulling me with her. She grabbed my hand pulling me back out to the balcony, the twins joining. We leaned on the balcony railing that overlooked the garden and the volleyball court. Ros still held my hand in her's saying, "So, you a Bokuto kissed?"

"What?" I asked trying to play it off.

"This morning if the maids are correct," Hana added.

KJ leaned deeper over the rail, watching as they appeared on the Volleyball court. "So you do like Bokuto, but ..." Hana joined him in saying, "She does too."

"So, what's the deal with that?" Ros asked.

The jig was up, no use in trying to hide anything now, "I need her." I admitted. "The team hates me, and I can live with that, but in volleyball, if there's one person you need on your side, it's your setter. They control everything. She liked Bokuto, so to get her to like me I told her I could get her a date with him. And..."

"You didn't think this all the way through," Hana sighed.

"Because if you start dating Bokuto, then she's against you, just like everyone else." Ros said.

"But," KJ said, smiling with a bright smile, looking down at them, "If she fell for someone else."

"Then you're in the clear cousin," the twins grinned together.

I watched them, all three of them, grinning, watching, plotting. "What... what are you going to do?"

Ros let go of my hand, patting it, saying, "Why don't you go entertain your guest."

"Don't worry Zara," Hana added.

"We got this," KJ finished off, looking so confident, so sure of himself.