Audrina had gotten better enough, to take care of herself. The one thing however, that Kieran would catch her doing is taking headache pills more than once a day. The after effect was causing her slight pain to her temple to which she'd hope would go away.
Momoji and Audrina stayed together throughout that night. And a final decision was made, similar to Rin, Momoji would be living with her. He was more than elated to have a place to call home, and even after a couple of days, he has warmed up to Kieran, who hadn't been able to leave her side. Concern still clear in every action he took for her well-being.
Rin was out of the hospital that week. She had dropped her off at Kazuma's after explaining the trip she'd have to take in way too soon. And while Rin was denying partaking on the trip, Momoji was overjoyed when she had offered him to fly half way across the country.
While Momoji was in his now labeled room, packing, Kieran had slid over to her a cup of tea as he watched her take out another pain relief pill.
"Are they any better"
She nodded slowly, "Better."
He looked over he he's done the distance of the hallway. "Are you sure your trip is still a good idea."
"I think it's a bit too late for that", she scoffed. Her flight was early the next morning. And Audrina prepared. She was ready for the interview. The conflict was actually going forth with it. Considering the possibility of she got the job. She looked through her eyelashes at the tanned man in-front of her. He stirred some sugar and honey in his own cup and she blinked back the wave of sadness that consumed her. "Way too late", she repeated through a heavy sigh.
"Audri?", she slowly turned from the light voice that echoed in the hallway. A yellow-headed boy popped his head from the corner of his room. "Will I need cold or hot clothing."
"Half and half", she answered already knowing the weather conditions. "And don't bring any sort of large cosmetics, I'll buy your some when we get there."
"Okay!", he smiled and went back to finishing.
Kieran continued stirring his now sweetened tea, as he heard the way she interacted with Momoji. After witnessing how she acts with all of the Zodiac children. "Do you want kids?"
Audrina chocked as the tea, for sure went down the wrong pipe. She lowered her cup on the counter and stared up to him. Frozen by the question alone, kinda of hesitant to answer.
"Of your own I mean."
"Why?", she got defensive. They both stared at each other for a couple of seconds before she caved. Lowering her head to look into her cup, in a voice barely audible enough she answered, "No."
She didn't look up as the silence fell again. Didn't see Kieran nodding his head slowly. But she took the silence as something else, still stirring the spoon in her cup, the clinking sound being the only sound between them. "Do you?"
"I want a dog."
And like he cut the tension with a sharp knife, Audrina's visibly relaxed. That including the smile that spread on her face. "You're impossible."
"You don't like dogs", he sounded offended.
She sighed aloud. But she wasn't going to let him go for the near heart attack he cause her, "I want a bunny."
Kieran pulled his lips in. It's little movements like that each other have developed. She laughed at that and when it died down her, thought swarmed her again. He took notice at the change of attitude.
Audrina has yet to tell him what the trip was about. And she decided it wasn't necessary until she got a confirmation of the position. Until it became true. Something that big should be held of before her own spirit gets crushed.
He respected it. Kieran wanted to ask. Every time she grew a distant look he knew there was something more that was eating at her. It was actually getting her to open up about we the part he found trouble in doing.
"You know vacations are suppose to be fun.", he spoke sarcastically.
She hummed still having trouble separating her own reason for the trip compared to his interpretation of it. "Yea......", she softly smiled, "Thank you for offering to take us to the airport by the way."
"Of course.", he returned the smile.
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It was early the next morning. Momoji asleep in the car when they pulled up to the drop off of the airport.
Audrina was silent the whole ride, staring off as the cars past by, each holding their own story. She wondered if any of them were facing so much conflict as she was in the moment.
Obviously it's different, there was no curse upon their families. They were probably able to hug their partner, feel their comfort. Let the issues within them out through a simple gesture. Of course she wouldn't expect them to be grateful to do something so simple. But, it amazes her how normal it was for them. She wondered about Momoji's curse breaking.
It was so strange that all this was happening now. And it scared her all the least. Does that mean she'd eventually be free. Would it be to late for her. Already have grown up holding onto this curse. Developed so much familiarity and numbness to it; what would she feel without it. Momoji explained how empty the felt. Alone. Of course she wasn't planning to leave him curse or not. Because he still has a chance to grow from it. He he had college and opportunity to set out his own path.
She was already past that milestone. Did she have any left?
"We're here", Kieran spoke breaking her from her inner thoughts. Slowly she lifted her head from leaning on the window and looked out at the huddle of people filling in. Them have their own destinations
She didn't feel good as she unbuckled her seat belt. But nonetheless, she leaned back to Momoji's seat and tapped his leg. He mumbled something rubbing his eyes when she whispered the same thing. Considerate of his still waking brain.
As he was growing back into consciousness, he looked to Kieran. He still had his sleepwear on, planning to go home after spending a few days at her place.
"Thank you again", she spoke sincerely.
He simply nodded, and then leaned across the short distance to give her a goodbye kiss. "Don't miss me to much.", he mumbled.
She softly giggled at that before she opened the door, "Bye."
"Have a safe flight.", was the last thing she heard from him before they got their luggage from his trunk, Momoji aswell, and then set off on their flight.
1 Week Later
"Audri are you alright?", Momoji moved to stand in front of her. They were standing outside the airport waiting for Kieran to pick them up. But of course as soon as she got off the plane. It happened again.
Hiro's curse broke and thankfully it didn't hit her as hard. Major headache she'd accept over barely being able to stand as she fell victim to prior. Thankfully she knew Hiro's mom was well taking care of him, than she ever could. So the worry wasn't as much of her concern.
"Yea", she conjured a small smile through the pain. Even so, her voice was still soft. "I'm okay."
"Are you?"
Both of them snapped their head towards the direction of the voice. Momoji waved a bright tone as he spoke.
"Kieran!"
He placed a hand on top of Momoji's head giving his nod of a greeting. Following so, Audrina watched silently as her greeting from being from him wasn't according to plan. He kneeled infront of her, removing her own hand from her forehead to feel. She gave him a guilty smile, knowing that she was burning up.
"Don't look at me like that. How was your flight?", he rested his arms on her lap.
"Long", she scoffed. Placing both hand on his wrist, she directed him to stand as she did. Momoji and Kieran most of the car ride back. Audrina thinking about her trip.
Momoji gave Kieran the insight of what they did. Audrina took him to several exciting museums and small shops. But the whole purpose of her trip, Audrina took part in the working interview . And something within her was afraid that she wasn't going to get it. That her once in a lifetime opportunity to leave would be taken away.
Then she thought about what would happen if she got it. The working interview was one out of three she participated in. And to think she got that far set a spark of hope within her.
I'll send you an email in the upcoming week for a final decision.
That was said to her two days prior. And it felt like a ticking bomb. The anticipation was making it harder to sleep at night. Because her whole life could change with a simple yes or no.
"Audri said she wished you were there.", Momoji spoke. That was what got Audrina back into the conversation. Her eyes widened as she turned to Kieran who already wore a smile.
"Just thought you'd enjoy one of the museums we visited.", she spoke softly.
"Well", he said thrumming his finger on the steering wheel, "Let's just say hypothetically, if you were to go again. My scheduling is flexible."
But if she were leaving again, the chances of her coming back were zero to none. Nonetheless, she nodded hiding the dread behind a smile. And like that she was back to relying on that very mask to get her through the car ride. Mindlessly answering questions when she was asked. Thankful for Momoji's quick liking to Kieran, because he was talking majority of the ride. Until they reached her place.
Audrina and Kieran were in her room unpacking when he stumbled upon something in her suitcase. A black bag he curiously asked her about.
"What's this", she heard the crinkling of the bag before anything. Audrina turned from placing some clothing back in the drawer and involuntarily smiled when she saw it. Walking up she stood a couple inches from him and gently took the bag from his grasp.
She reached in and spoke while gripping the box, "I got you something." Pulling it out, Kieran slowly took it from her and open the hinged lid.
She peeked over, heart beating faster at the awaiting reaction. Kieran looked down seeing a silver chain, and positioned beside it were two charms. One angel wing and a simple shark fin.
As he observed it Audrina spoke softly explaining, "So, I hope I remember correctly, but when we are at the aquarium you hinted your favorite animal is a shark."
She didn't feel as if she needed to explain the angel wing. Skipping over it she pointed to the chain itself, "And if you don't feel like wearing either. I purposefully got them as charms."
Bitting her lips from nerves, she leaned back standing upright and looked to him. Kieran was still looking down at her gift, until a sincere smile slowly formed on his face. When he glanced up Audrina felt as if a wash of nerves engulfed her. Something foreign to her is no matter how many times she's been around him, he'll have just as much of an effect on her, the she does to him.
And she could tell that despite every limit they set upon their relationship. It was starting to take a turn that made it complicated to abide by the rules. Because it used to be a easy task on her end. Accustomed to a standard for most of her life, until now.
"Thank you", he broke the tense silence. "And yea, a shark is my favorite animal."
She nodded, still hitting the inner corner of her lip. Something to distract her. "Why?"
He looked back down at the necklace set. He took his finger to pinch at the angel wing. She noticed and her eyes softened.
"Kinda a core memory when I was younger. Went swimming with them once. And I remember prior to the experience being terrified; always an assumption that they were vicious man-eaters.", he paused and sighed out releasing his grip from the wing, "But it was the complete opposite. I know they were used to people, it's more about how relaxing it felt. They minded there own business and I minded mine. Admired from a respectful distance."
She hummed back, still inches away from him. "Sounds fun."
And like she pressed a button, his eyes brightened, "Would you want to do something like that?"
"With sharks?", her tone in itself caused him to chuckle.
"Doesn't have to be sharks. Would manatees be more up your ally?"
And the thought alone. The shared experience had her nodding. Kieran smiled in approval before she turned around to grab another, black bag, "This one is for Kayla."
When she turned around Kieran had settled his box on the bed, and when she had reached close enough distance, he took it and released a nervous breath.
"Look I know you said no hugging. But-."
"Kieran", Audrina voice faltered back into a saddened state. She knew it was going to come up. Especially in the moment they had just shared. Something so small could have a huge impact to their true desires. She shook her head and continued to hand him the gift and turn to complete what she was doing.
"Shit, I'm sorry. I shouldn't hav-."
Cutting him off again. She didn't bothering turning to face him again, because she didn't know if she had the strength to mask the frown on her face. She under estimated how much Kieran was going to affect her. And it was clear in this moment. She was more sad about denying it than anything. "It's ok."
And they left it at that. Trying their best to combat from the tensed air. And of course saving each Momoji came in and called for Audrina.
"Rin wants you to come get her.", he waved her phone she left out on the kitchen counter.
Kieran took that as his note to leave. With a short kiss goodbye, he left, Audrina now feeling off without his presence. She felt that all week in America and thought it was the fact she was on the other side of the world. But apparently it wasn't that.
In fact, it was pure denial. She merely hoped it wasn't that case. In reality, she knew that her feelings were more intense she had originally believed.
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A/n:
Finals are over :)
And PSA: if your planning on majoring in Biochemistry...... don't