• CHAPTER 97 - NOT WHAT I HAD EXPECTED FROM A BIRTHDAY

    You ask for one tiny favor and you get the complete opposite...next to having you move into a new house with your fiancée.

    "I got my license!!" I ran into the house, waving my new license in my hand. "I passed!"

    "Ah, s**t, somebody warn the others to stray away from the sidewalks," Kira came into the hallway, itching his head.

    "I hardly passed driver's ed and I was lucky enough to not have to take the driving portion," I rolled my eyes. "This is probably the best luck I've ever had."

    "Until you get into Kai's pants," Kira mumbled and then laughed.

    Something struck Kira's head and when it dropped to the ground, it turned out to be Kai's car keys. I turned around and Kai shut the front door behind him while frowning at Kira. Kira only laughed louder and walked away as though a fly landed on his head. Arriving in the kitchen, there were streamers across the ceiling and the scent of baking cake filled the air; it was my eighteenth birthday.

    "Congratulations, Arisa," Matsuda smiled while frosting the cake.

    I frowned, "I already got my present, so why the big party?"

    Matsuda frowned back at me, "You're eighteen; it's supposed to be a special party."

    "What kind of cake?" I asked childishly, peeking over his shoulder.

    "Just the kind you ordered," Matsuda smiled. "White cake with strawberries between the two layers. The strawberries came from the back yard."

    I smiled, "You're amazing, Matsuda,"

    "Go ahead and have a seat; it's almost done."

    Kai and I had quickly went to go get my license after we ate dinner--miso soup, tofu, and onigiris--while Matsuda and Kira baked the cake. Matsuda forbid Kira from doing the frosting because he would only eat it all. And of course, I had to act like any other typical teenager and complain about my license picture and Kai had to be the typical boyfriend who would say that I look just fine and I'd try to make him agree with me.

    "Arisa, take your seat," Matsuda disrupted my daydream and he was at the table with everybody else, placing the cake in the middle. "You're spacing out again." he chuckled.

    "Sorry," I blushed and took my seat at the table in between Kai and Kira and in front of the cake.

    Kira's hand reached for the cake to steal some of the whipped cream frosting and I slapped his hand and pushed it back. Matsuda brought out a lighter and lit up all eighteen candles; Jesus, I'm getting old. Kai's elbow nudged me and I looked over only to meet up with his frowning face; he wouldn't even want to get started on old age.

    "Hurry up and blow the candles out; Toshihiro is going crazy over the cake," Miku laughed, struggling to keep Toshihiro in her arms.

    A wish...what could I wish for? I obviously can't wish for my family back...I can't really wish for the whole contract ordeal to be over with...what is there to wish for?

    I looked over to my right at Kai and it instantly came to mind. Him and I were going to be moving in with each other tonight...alone. We were going to start our lives together, just the two of us. I could wish for our lives together to be the best we've ever had. I was anxious to move in with him, but I knew I wanted to. My attention focused on the eighteen ignited candles with the dripping wax and I took my deepest breath and blew them all out at once.

    "What did you wish for, Arisa?" Orihime asked with a smile.

    I frowned, "Wouldn't you guys know? You can read my mind."

    "We're not that rude," Takeuchi laughed.

    Matsuda disappeared and reappeared with a large knife in his hand. He made the stupidest mistake he could ever make by handing the enlarged, cuspidate utensil to me. I stared at him and the knife blankly as he turned the knife so the handle was pointed towards me. I hesitantly grabbed the knife, holding it away from me.

    "Are you sure you want me to handle such a dangerous weapon, Matsuda?" I looked at him worriedly. "I'd end up killing everybody."

    "Just give it a shot," Matsuda smiled. "Cut the cake."

    I sighed a long sigh and took my precious time to prepare myself. I had actually never handled such a dangerous weapon; I had never held a knife more than twice in my life. Everybody knew how klutzy and fragile I was so they never allowed me to handle such utensils. I'm lucky enough to make it through dinner with a spoon.

    I lowered the knife carefully with mocking eyes staring at me and the first cut went smoothly. The knife cut through the cake like jell-o and with Kai's assistance, I managed to make it through. I smiled with satisfaction after it was cut and I ran my finger on the knife to clean off the frosting. Not a good idea. I winced at the sting of the blade running over the tip of my finger and I cussed at myself for being so stupid. The frosting wasn't helping the cut calm down any and before anybody else moved, my finger was plunged halfway into Kai's mouth.

    "Hey, hey, mind sharing, little brother?" Kira frowned.

    I giggled, "Well, as they say, the younger sibling gets all the attention,"

    "That hurt," Kira pretended to be heartbroken and he pat his chest where his heart was, "right here."

    After debating and immaturely arguing with Kira while Kai sucked my finger dry, we finally had my cake and Toshihiro finished his slice before all of us. Toshihiro even managed to steal half of Takeuchi's cake, leaving Takeuchi in fake tears. After the cake was halfway finished and my finger was finally bandaged, Matsuda ordered me to remove myself from the chair.

    "There's one more present," Kai smiled lightly while taking my hand in his.

    I frowned, "I already got my license and a house. I don't need anything else."

    Kai ignored me and pulled me towards the front door. Everybody followed after us and Matsuda held onto the handle of the front door and he smiled. I was about to testify about receiving another present until Matsuda opened the door and Kai gently pushed me outside. My testifying against another present was completely turned around after seeing my new present out the front door.

    In the driveway in front of me sat a blood red 2007 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster...convertible. On the hood was a tidy bright red, giant bow. I froze where I was and ceased my breathing as Matsuda held the keys out to me. It was...my car?

    "Happy birthday," Matsuda smiled, still holding the keys.

    Kai assisted me in holding out my hands and Matsuda dropped the keys into my palm. My eyes never tore away from the shiny new car in the driveway that now belonged to me. It was big enough of an event that I was moving in with Kai, but I also got my own car...both in one day. I could hear the excited conversations going on behind me and Kai lightly pushed me down the stairs and towards the godly expensive machinery.

    "We had it custom made so the wheel is on the right side," he smiled. "You don't find these too often."

    "It-it-it's a c-car..." I stuttered.

    "Yes, and you drive cars," Kai informed me sarcastically, as though I were dumb.

    "It's a car..." I whispered. "It's a car!!" I shouted.

    "Calm down, Arisa,"

    "It's a car! You got me a car!" I freaked in a positive yet negative way. "You got me a car!"

    Matsuda rested his hand on my shoulder, "Your suitcases are already in the trunk and the back seat,"

    "A car!!" I shouted.

    Kai cupped my face and pecked my lips. I instantly calmed down and silence myself, allowing whoever to say whatever. I looked down and blushed in embarrassment from my immaturity. My hand clamped to Kai's and I stood next to him.

    "The house isn't quite set up yet so you two will have to stay in a motel tonight," Matsuda continued.

    I froze again, "A motel?!"

    Kai slapped his hand over my mouth to keep me from freaking out again. Oh God, staying in a motel alone with Kai? Alone??

    "Don't fret, Arisa, it's only for one night," Matsuda smiled. "It would be best for you two to have a night alone before you move into the house anyways."

    I gulped loudly and nodded. I peeked over at my car again and was head-over-heels for it. It was so sleek and shiny...and a convertible...still. My heart raced too much to fathom from excitement, nervousness, happiness, and some other unknown emotions. The butterflies were acting up as I continued to think about the fact that I was moving in with Kai.

    "We already booked a room for you," Matsuda smiled. "It's getting late so you should say goodbye and take off."

    "How far away is the house?" I asked.

    "Forty-five minutes away once you hit Sapporo. It's about an hour from this house."

    "Why isn't it done?" Kai asked Matsuda.

    "There's still some rearranging to accomplish," Matsuda smiled. "We don't want you to fuss with arranging everything."

    "Arisa, I don't want you to leave!!" Takeuchi sobbed dramatically.

    I only smiled with pity and held Kai's hand tighter, "Will you two be okay?" Matsuda interrogated.

    Kai looked down at me, knowing he was okay, "Yeah, I'll be okay," I smiled.

    I took my time telling everybody goodbye and giving them all long hugs. I especially held Toshihiro the longest; I wanted so badly to bring him with me. My heart was aching at the fact that I was moving out of his loving house after ten months. Kai and I would visit, of course, but I wouldn't be waking up in that house anymore.

    Matsuda was the last to receive an embrace from me, "Thank you so much, Matsdua," I smiled, "for everything."

    "It's no problem," he pat my back. "Happy birthday."

    I turned around and the bow was taken off of my car and Kai was waiting with a light smile. I looked back at everybody else and shouted a last goodbye. I took in the image of the enamoring house once more and headed towards my new car. Kai opened the driver's door for me and right before I climbed in, I looked back at everybody yet again.

    "I'll come back in a few days!" I called out. "I'll visit every day if i have to!"

    They all called out to Kai and I, wishing us luck and, as always, Takeuchi and Kira exclaimed perverted humor about Kai and I staying in a motel together. I climbed into the car and inhaled the strong new car smell. I allowed my body to sink into the seat after I adjusted all of the mirrors.
    "Ready?" Kai asked me with a smile.

    I nodded and carefully shifted the car to "drive" and I circled around the fountain in the middle of the driveway. I peeked in my rear view mirror and back at the road. I accelerated gradually--somewhat shabby--and exited the driveway onto the road, ready to start my new life with Kai...my love and fiancée.