The Warmth Of Red ||DISCONTINUED||

Chapter Thirty

June 9th – Thursday Afternoon

"Hey, Karasu."

"What is it now, Totsuka?"

"Come read Anna a story. She doesn't like it when I do it."

"Really? What book did you reading her?" He let out a nervous laugh.

"You were reading her a cookbook again, weren't you."

"Yeah..." She let out a sigh looking down at Mikoto who started at her.

"Is it just me or are you using me as a pillow then the real thing?" He rolled his eyes sitting up before standing up going upstairs to his room.

"What's his problem?"

"Don't worry about King. He's just thinking about something."

"Really? Like what?"

"You'll find out sooner or later. Go read Anna a story." Izumo said. Karasu went upstairs opening Anna's door to find she wasn't in there, turning around waking over to Mikoto's door, she knocked and heard a grunt. Opening the door she stepped inside the room to see Anna sitting on the bed with a book on her lap, Mikoto laying on his side facing the wall.

"You ready Anna? What book did you want me to ready this time?" Karasu sat on the bed as Anna handed her the book.

"Beauty and The Beast, huh? Okay, are you ready?" Anna nodded. Opening the book she started reading the first page out loud. Anna listened to Karasu as she read the story to her, even Mikoto turned over laying on his back to watch the brunette as she reads. Karasu was three pages into the book when Anna fell asleep. Putting the book on the nightstand she pulled the covers over Anna and herself.

"Are you having nightmares again, Mikoto?" She looked at said man who was starring up at ceiling.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." She sighed running her fingers through Anna's hair, after a few minutes Karasu fell asleep. Mikoto watched them as they slept, he let out a sigh, a smile appeared on his lips rolling over onto his side facing the two girls laying next to him.

*~*

"Karasu.." Karasu rolled over draping her arm over something snuggling against it.

"Karasu~" She frowned hearing the voice again.

"Get up, Mayumi is here to see you." Groaning she opened her eyes to see she was snuggling against Mikoto who was still asleep. Looking over her shoulder she saw the voice that woke her up belonged to Tatara.

"Mayumi is here and she wants to talk to you."

"Can't it wait?"

"She told me if you don't come down she'll come up here. I doubt King would like that."

"I'll be down in a minute." Tatara walked out the room closing the door behind him. She removed her arm from around Mikoto, sitting up in bed she streatched her arms and legs letting out a little moan before getting out of bed. Walking out the room shut the door walking downstairs.

"Hey, there sleepy head."

"What do you want?"

"Rude. I came to give this to you." Mayumi said handing her an envelope. Opening it up she pulled out an invitation.

"An invitation to a party?"

"Not any party, dummy. It's your uncle Isamu's and your mother's birthday. Isamu had stopped by my apartment ealier today to drop this off. He wants you to come"

"How old are they turning?"

"Isamu is turning fifty-five years old while your mother is turning forty-six."

"So mom had Hotaru, Hikaru and I young."

"When is the party?" Tatara looked over Karasu's shoulder.

"It's this Saturday. We have to dress up too?! Yumi—"

"Don't complain to me. Everyone else is fine with this it's just you who doesn't like to dress up."

"Is your witch of a mother going to be there too?"

"Yeah, I expect her and dad to go off on their own durning the party. Not that anyone minds."

"I must ask..." Both sisters turned looking over at Izumo.

"What is it?"

"You two don't seem to have a good relationships with your father or step/mother."

"No one likes them."

"But why?"

"Our father, while he was married to Ms. Yuki he cheated on her with my mother. Hotaru is the oldest out of all six of us. Both Shibata and Nishi families don't believe in second marriage, especially marrying a woman in her twenties."

"At least you have a reason to dislike them, but what do you have against them Karasu?"

"I don't like that woman. I just wanna punch her in the face."

"Now, now, calm down."

"That's not all, I may have been young but I do remember yelling. Hotaru and Hikaru would come to my room to check on me whenever the yelling started. I just remember shouting.. I don't like them." She ran her fingers through her hair, Tatara wrapped his arms around Karasu pulling her in a hug.

"Wha- Totsuka! Let me go!"

"My poor baby sister!"

"Shut up! Besides, we're not related! Now let go of me!" She struggled to get out of the hug.

"Stay still and I'll get you a new book~" Karasu blushed, her eye twitching.

"Why I outta—"

"That's enough Totsuka. You picked on her enough." Izumo chuckled when Karasu put the poor boy in a headlock.

"Where is the party going to be at?"

"It's going to be at a beach house. In fact, you guys are also invited. We'll be staying there until next Monday. Karasu."

"Yeah?" She looked over at her sister as she pushed away a camera that Tatara had pointed at her.

"We're going out to find you a dress. I'll come by and get you tomorrow. I have to go, see you!" Mayumi rushed out the door.

"Did she just say— Mayumi!" Karasu ran out the door.

"I'm not going to wear a damn dress!" She slammed the door making every member of HOMRA flinch, backing away from the angered brunette as she took a seat at the bar.

"First the bikini now a dress.." She groaned laying her head on the counter.

"What's the matter, Karasu?" Izumo asked patted her head.

"I don't want to go.."

"You don't? Why not?"

"I feeling like I'm an outsider even though I'm going to be around family... It doesn't feel right."

"Don't think so much about it. After all, we're going to be there with you. You aren't going to be alone." Izumo smiled when Karasu looked at him.

"Do I have to wear a dress?" Izumo hummed crossing his arms with a thoughtful expression.

"Depends on the style, I guess. I probably have to send someone with you. Mikoto wouldn't want any other man looking at you." She rolled her eyes getting off the chair heading back upstairs.

Karasu opened the door to Mikoto's room upon stepping inside she quietly closed the door behind her. Mikoto watched as she walked back into the room closing the door behind her. He heard her yelling downstairs about something, he didn't care to listen as he just wanted to go back to sleep. Karasu got under the blanket getting closer to the warmth that emitted from the man next to her. Mikoto placed his arm over her waist pulling her up against him.