My Heart is Yours

Alice was... bored.

She had finally admitted her love for Kyo, but it definitely wasn't what she expected. Kyo was sweet, she couldn't deny that, but six straight months of sweetness could be sickening. She could tell he was trying to make her happy, and she appreciated every bit of it, but being with Kyo just wasn't the same as wishing she was with him. How long had she pined after him? She even hurt her sister over him. Was it all really worth it?

"Alice, are you okay?" Kyo's question interrupted her thoughts. She looked up from her tea and saw his smile. The smile he only ever gave her. That sweet, sweet smile that always drew her in and used to make her feel like she was floating on air.

But right now, it just made her feel like vomiting.

She nodded quickly, taking a sip of her tea. She'd let it get cold, but she kept drinking until her cup was empty. When she placed it back on its plate with a light clink, she'd hoped he'd forgotten he'd asked anything.

No such luck. Of course. How foolish.

"C'mon, Alice, you know I know you better than that," Kyo said, reaching for her hand on the table. He grasped and squeezed her hand slightly, but Alice just stared at it, or rather his bracelet, the very same bracelet she was wearing on her wrist, before looking back up to his face and smiling the same, fake smile she'd been giving him for weeks.

"I'm fine, really." She pulled her hand away and reached for her purse, with the little rabbit keychain she carried everywhere, before standing up. "I'm finished. Let's go."

Kyo stood at almost the same time which made Alice's heart squeeze; it was almost like he was in tune with her. "Sure, where do you want to go?"

Alice thought for a moment. "Let's go to your place. I sure could use some cake," she lied, smiling up at him again. He smiled back and reached for her hand which she stealthily escaped by rubbing her arm as if she were cold.

Honestly, she was sick and tired of cake, but there was someone there she really needed to talk to.

Frey's smile upon seeing the couple appear could've lit up all of Tokyo. "Hey, guys, how are things? Come here for some dessert?" He smiled down to his current customer and poured her tea before turning back to Kyo and Alice.

"Yeah, I'll just go get them myself," Kyo said, waving the blonde away. "You look busy." He kissed Alice's cheek, which made her blush furiously, before making his way through tables to the kitchen.

"Six months strong, and he still makes you blush. That's too cute, Alice." Frey patted her head as he passed her on his way to another customer. Ever since he'd come back from Norway the previous month, he'd been very good about keeping his distance. Sometimes Alice almost missed those huge bear hugs he'd once given her every time they met.

"You know how I feel about PDA," she muttered, taking a seat at the counter.

Frey let out a quick laugh. "That was ages ago. I tought you were over that silly shy stage, my little Neo-Master." He smiled and waved at some customers that were leaving before taking a seat next to her, leaning against the counter. "What's really bothering you?"

Alice glanced towards the kitchen before turning her gaze to her best friend's face. "Don't say anything, okay?" Frey gave her a look that pretty much said, "You're kidding, right?" which made her relax just a tad. "I think I'm... losing it. I-"

Frey clasped a hand on her shoulder, a feigned look of shock on his face. "Whoa, whoa, don't tell me you guys are-"

"No, no, no!" The flush on Alice's face spread further. "Nowhere near, honest." She sliced a hand through the air horizontally, marking the end of that topic.

"Don't scare me like that." He winked and elbowed her playfully, signalling the joke which made the female shoot daggers his way. He fling his arms up in mock surrender. "No more interruptions."

Alice gave her admittance a second thought and asked a question instead. "Why'd you come back?"

The blonde looked at her thoughtfully before turning to the window facing the front of the store. "I missed you guys. Life back in Norway was pretty slow after things got a bit more settled and more Lotis masters came. And besides, I could always use the Japanese practice, especially on all the pretty ladies here." He turned back her way and grinned, and Alice rolled her eyes but smiled back as Kyo came out of the kitchen, a plate of cake in each hand.

"Strawberry, your favorite." He smiled as he placed it in front of her, and it tinked lightly on the bright countertop.

Alice thanked him quietly, and Frey messed up her hair as he stood up. "See you later." He waved as he headed towards a table that needed more water. She watched him go, so many more words on her tongue she wanted to let loose, then turned to Kyo who was waiting for her to take her first bite. She grimaced internally at the little slice of guilt covered in frosting before lifting her fork slowly and taking the billionth bite of strawberry cake she'd had for months.

The couple chatted quietly about nothing in particular before Alice decided her new curfew would be three hours earlier than usual, turning Kyo down with every offer he had to walk her home.

Before she walked out the door, she turned around to find Frey, debating with herself whether she should grab him and rush him out the door with her. A bead on her bracelet shone red without her noticing, but when the debate inside her was lost, it dimmed back to its original ruby red. She sighed and pulled open the door, making the bell above tinkle softly, and walked out, unaware of Frey's eyes on her back.

He sighed, watching her leave without Kyo, knowing what was on her mind. Kyo might be dense, but the signs she was sending were less than subtle. He had to have noticed something. The blonde shook his head, his side ponytail waving along, tickling his neck ever-so-slightly.

He definitely had to have a talk with Kyo.