CHAPTER 10

I'm in big trouble, Yuri thought Hallie Daena Athanas seldom had concerning her brother, but it did happen occasionally. Eventually, she had come to recognize such moments when Yuri had a certain look in his eyes. 'Like now'. When the two reached her, she pretended not to notice how Yuri's gaze was boring through her and instead addressed his fianceé, saying with a mock sigh.

" It's nauseating for you two be so lovey-dovey this early in the morning. " - Hallie, said. Kathy gave her a solemn nod.

" I'm sorry, Hallie. " - Kathy, said. Startled at the apology.

" I... " - Hallie, paused. Her voice ringing with sincerity.

" I didn't mean to make you feel bad because Andreus hasn't given you a good morning kiss. " - Kathy, said.

" What?! " - Hallie's jaw dropped when she said. Kathy nodded understandingly.

" Aria and MJ told me all about you and Andreus, " - Kathy, said. She reached out to ruffle Hallie's head, like a master comforting a disappointed pet.

" But don't worry, I will go to him now and let him know he's made you sad. I'm sure he'll be happy to make it up to you. " - Kathy, added.

Did Kathy just?.. By the time she realized Kathy hadn't been joking, it was already too late. The other girl had already hurried inside the dinning room, and Hallie turned to Yuri, wailing.

" Do something, Yuri! " - Hallie, said.

" What I can do? " - Yuri, asked her sister. His voice was all innocence, but his broad shoulders were rocking with telltale mirth.

" You should know by now how she is. " - Yuri, added.

" But... " - Hallie, said. Realizing she was just wasting time arguing with Yuri, she turned around, intending to catch up with Kathy, but her brother's voice halted her.

" Not so fast. " - Yuri, said.

'Uh-Oh', Hallie thought. She belatedly remembered what she had interrupted.

" I really have to get to.. " - Hallie, said.

" Turn around, Hallie Daena. " - Yuri said. His voice became softer.

Her shoulders slumped. When Yuri used that tone with her, she knew it was pointless to try escaping. When Yuri Daniel Athanas wanted something done, he wouldn't stop until things happened the way he wanted. When his sister faced him.

" Don't do it again. " - Yuri, said tersely.

" But it's not right. " - Hallie said. She didn't bother pretending not to understand his warning. A mixture of frustration and dismay underlined her voice.

" I think she's perfect for you. " - Hallie, added.

Yuri's cold gaze made her voice trail off. She wasn't and would never be afraid of her brother, but she would never go against Yuri either.

" Whatver happens between Kathy and me, it has nothing to do with you. " - Yuri said calmly.

Hallie bit her lip hard. Did he really think those words were enough to get rid of her guilt? Yuri had sacrificed everything for her. Everything, and that included his freedom to choose the woman he married.

Even without Hallie saying a thing, his sister's anguish was palpable and Yuri exhaled his breath.

" Can't you see, Hallie? She's perfect for me because ... " - Yuri paused, he just thinking about the past made him feel sick with self disgust.

" You of all people ... " - Yuri muttered savagely under his breath.

" Should know why I can't give all of myself to Kathy. But it doesn't mean I don't care for her. " - Yuri said fiercely.

Yuri tipped her chin up.

" You understand, don't you? " - Yuri added.

Hallie managed a painful nod. She understood that because of her, Yuri no longer trusted himself to love. She understood that because of her, Yuri was not willing to give himself and Kathy a chance. She understood all of this, and it made her want to cry so badly at how all this knowledge left her helpless.

Knowing that the most she could do for her brother now was not to break down, she cleared her throat.

" We should go before everyone kill us for starving them. " - Hallie said brightly.

Inside the dining room, Yuri took his seat next to Kathy while Hallie slid into her place next to MJ.

" Are you alright? " - Andreus asked from across the table.

" Yup. " - Hallie, answered. She managed to sound cheerful but studiously avoided his narrowed gaze.

Breakfast was eaten in silence, and every minute was tortuous. She was sure no one had heard her conversation with Yuri, but even so everyone seemed to be equally tense. Or at least everyone except Kathy, who Hallie saw was clearing her plate in a swift but serene manner.

It was fascinating, Hallie thought distractedly. Watching a very feminine girl demolish her food so relentlessly and beautifully at the same time.

" Yuri? " - Kathy said.

Hallie heard Kathy addressed her brother. Yuri turned towards his fianceé.

" Yes, sweetheart? " - Yuri asked.

" Did you make your sister cry? " - Kathy, asked him.

An awkward silence fell over the table. Yuri slowly laid his fork down. At least she lasted ten minutes, he thought absently. He shook his head at Kathy in response.

" I didn't. " - Yuri, answered.

And just for the hell of it, he nodded his head at a surprised looking Andreus.

" He did. " - Andreus, sputtered.

Yuri almost smiled at the evil glare Kathy threw at the treasurer's and slash former vice president of club direction. Considered to be the most dangerous member if the Alcolyte Triad, Andreus was almost as tall as Helios and with a similarly powerful build. The wildest rumors about him abounded, and almost everything involved someone else death. To go against Andreus Fin Economou was to sign one's own death warrant, but this fact seemed to have escaped Kathy completely.

" I told you, didn't I? " - Kathy was telling Andreus reprovingly.

" You should have kissed her good morning. " - Kathy, added.

Hallie covered her face with a moan. Andreus looked like he wanted to gag Kathy.

" Are you insane!? " - Andreus said.

" I'm not sure, " - Kathy snapped right back.

" but what's that have to do with you and Hallie. " - Kathy, added.

Andreus jaw dropped, and he opened and closed his mouth several times after. It was obvious Kathy's indirect admission about her mental state had thrown him off. Yuri glanced at the others, all of whom look like they were being tortured. Taking pity of them, he bent close to Kathy and whispered.

" I think they want to laugh, sweetheart. " - Yuri, said.

" Do they need my permission? " - Kathy blinked her eyes twice.

Yuri dared not to look at his friends this time in fear of succumbing to laughter himself.

" Err, no sweetheart. They are, however, worried you'd be offended if they do. " - Yuri answered.

" Ah, " - Kathy said.

She gave the rest of the Alcolyte Triad a queenly nod.

" You may laugh. " - Kath, said.

She didn't have to say it twice. Kellion and Helios doubled over with laughter, MJ coughed, and Aria threw her head back. Kathy glanced at Hallie and Andreus, avoiding looking at each other.

" You do not want to laugh? - Kathy said.

Her utterly serious note proved too much for the two. Hallie's laughter spilled out, and even Andreus cracked a grin. Kathy turned to Yuri.

" Its good, to make everyone happy. " - Kathy said quietly.

Her voice was as serene as ever, but her violet eyes were shinning with pleasure. Yuri had to allow himself a smile as well. Bending his head close to her.

" You do know why they're laughing, don't you? - Yuri murmured to her.

Kathy just nodded.

" They think it's funny I'm not sure if I'm crazy. But the thing is... " - Kathy voice took on an apologetic note.

" I'm honestly not certain. " - Kathy, added.

Seeing that she was completely serious he said slowly to Kathy.

" That's okay. I think everyone, at one point in their lives, go a little crazy. " - Yuri, said. He reached Kathy's hand under the table.

" But it doesn't mean something's wrong with you. " - Yuri's voice became gentle.

" It only means you're different. Special. " - Yuri, added

Her eyes softened. It was his only warning before she once again caught him off guard, leaning close to place a chaste kiss on his lips, and it was over before he could decide if he should kiss her back or not.

" Kathy... " - Yuri, said.

One of these days, Yuri thought in a mixture of frustration and amusement, he had to tell her she shouldn't kiss him so easily. But out loud, he only asked mildly.

" What do you want to do after breakfast? Would you like to sign up for any of the short-term classes? " - Yuri, asked.

A pensive look crossed her face before she slowly shook her head.

" How about going around? " - Yuri, added.

" No. " - Kathy, answered.

Her brows furrowed like they usually did when she was thinking hard, and Yuri was tempted to kiss the frown away from her forehead. Finally, Kathy's gaze met his.

" What do you normally do when you don't have school or work? " - Kathy, asked.

Yuri was startled to have a question thrown back at him.

" If I have a free time, I usually take my bike out for a ride. " - Yuri, said.

Intense concentration suddenly blazed from Kathy's eyes.

" And you enjoy doing this? " - Kathy, asked.

It would have been a stupid question if he hadn't known how most of Kathy's childhood years had been spent doing everything that was impossible for her to enjoy. So Yuri said simply.

" Yes. " - Yuri, answered.

Kathy gazed at his eyes searchingly before nodding, as if she had seen something in his gaze to convince her he was speaking the truth.

" If that is so, then I want to try it. " - Kathy, said.

This time, he was more bemused than surprised.

" Why? " - Yuri, asked.

" Because, I want to know more about the man I love. " - Kathy, said simply.

Thirty minutes later, and the bikers cheerfully waved goodbye to Kathy.

" Take care of that man you love! " - Helios/Kellion/Andreus shout.

Yuri's angelic face looked like it had been cast in stone and after stepping out of their headquarters, he slammed the front door shut as hard as he could. Damn their big mouths! He thought, irritably. Officers of the club were supposed to be role model, damnit! But instead they proved to be world champions in gossip, with the way Kellion, Helios and Andreus had blabbed to everyone willing to listen about Yuri's oh-so-romantic conversations with Kathy.

As they started to walk, again hand in hand at Kathy's insistence, he said lightly.

" You really should stop referring to me that way. " - Yuri, said.

" What way? " - Kathy, asked. Her tone was quizzical.

He cleared his throat.

" About me being... " - Yuri, paused.

" The man I love? " - Kathy, said. As they reached his bike.

" Yes, that. " - Yuri, said.

Yuri had two helmets ready on the seat and as he helped Kathy put on the smaller one, he saw her blinking at him through the slit.

" But, Yuri... " - Kathy, paused

He tried distracting her saying gruffly.

" Hold on to me, I drive fast. " - Yuri, said.

She obeyed readily, wrapping her arms around his body as he took his place in front of her. He revved his beast to life, let it roar, and then raced down the road. He toured her around the university, pointing out other places that hadn't been included in her official tour. He felt her nod against his back at his explanations, but just as he started to circle back, Kathy tightened her arms around him.

" Can we go really fast? " - Kathy, asked.

He slowed his beast to a stop so he could look at her over his shoulder.

" Are you sure? " - Yuri, asked.

She nodded vehemently.

" You have to hold on really tight to me. " - Yuri, said.

" I know. " - Kathy, said.

Her voice was patient.

" I love you, Yuri. It's not in me to let you go. " - Kathy, said.

Ah, Yuri thought. His heart clenched. He knew he should say the words back, but he couldn't. He didn't want to keep lying to her. So he decided on a compromise between his conscience and what she wanted, taking one of her hands and bringing it up to his lips.

" Thank You. " - Yuri, said simply.

Since the speed limit was too low inside the campus, Yuri rode out to the highway and there he let his beast run free. Behind him, Kathy let out an exhilarated laugh as they speed fast all the cars, and she shrieked in excited pleasure when he deliberately made his beast lean sharply to the side with every curve they passed.

" I can almost kiss the road! " - Kathy gasped, said.

" Please, don't. " - Yuri, said while he laughed.

Her arms tightened around him.

" I know. I don't want you to be jealous of the road. " - Kathy, said.

He laughed harder. Yuri was still smiling at the memory of her words when they made it back to the club's headquarters.

" Did you have fun? " - Yuri, asked Kathy handed him her helmet.

" Yes. " - Kathy, answered.

" Good. " - Yuri, said.

He secured the helmets on his beast seat. Looking up, he was about to ask her if she was hungry yet when Kathy said.

" But I still don't understand, Yuri. " - Kathy, said.

His smile vanished.

" You are the man I love, so why must I not say it? " - Kathy, asked.

Of course, she had to remember their earlier conversation, Yuri thought. He also had to remember that while Kathy might be different, she was nevertheless still smarter than most women. Taking hold of her hand, he said finally.

" I know I'm... the man you love. " - Yuri, paused.

He mentally winced at the words, which were too arrogant even for his own ears.

" But some things are better left unsaid. " - Yuri, said.

Kathy's frown deepened.

" Do you mean, you want me to lie? " - Kathy, asked.

" Not at all. " - Yuri, said.

An idea occured to Yuri, and he said slowly.

" What I mean is, it's better to keep things a secret. " - Yuri, added.

Guilt pricked his conscience, but he forced himself to ignore it as he said.

" It's good for lovers to share secrets. It means they have something special between them. " - Yuri, said.

" Ah, Now I understand. " - Kathy, said.

The confusion cleared from her gaze. She cocked her head to the side.

" So when I felt your manly part because you want me... " - Kathy, paused.

He choked. Was that how Kristina Rewis had called it?

" but I don't want you back, is that a secret we should keep or may I tell the others about it? " - Kathy, added.

Definitely not. His gaze narrowed at Kathy.

" But it's only a matter of time. " - Yuri, said.

She wrinkled her nose, as if the idea was too preposterous to mention. He wanted to strangle and kiss her, but Yuri managed to keep his voice mild as he said.

" You will want me back, Kathy. " - Yuri, said.

Why that was important to him, Yuri didn't want to think about. All he knew was that it did matter, and that it would happen.

" If you say so, Yuri. " - Kathy, said.

The skeptical tone of her voice made Yuri gnash his teeth.

" Yes, Kathy. I say so, and it will happen. In fact, I'm willing to bet the day would come that you'd want me so much you'd be pleading for me to touch you. " - Yuri, said.