Traditions
It had become a tradition.
Their tradition to be precise. He didn't really know when it had started, only that every Thursday evening for the past year he would find himself sitting in her bed with his back pressed up against the wall and a book in hand with her lying on her stomach beside him quietly –sometimes not so much- cursing that week's math homework.
He didn't actually do much while he was there – having already completed the course two years ago- and instead used the more or less silent hours to catch up on some book he rarely got around to read otherwise, or he simply spent his time looking over her shoulder –although she hated it when he did that. Then again that had been part of the deal. 'To be moral support' as she had put it when she had reeled him into whole 'study partner' idea.
Sometimes he wondered if it was one of her less innocent plans to get to know him, only to come to the same conclusion; that he didn't care. He was sure that even without these Thursday meetings she would have managed to draw him to her, much in the same way as a moth seeks the light, whether he had willingly chosen to follow or not. Really, he was doomed from the start.
A low growl and the clatter of a pencil being thrown halfway across the room disturbed him from his reading. Placing a long fine finger where his eyes previously scanned the page he calmly turned his attention to the fuming young woman to his right.
"Problem?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
"I hate algebra!" With enough force to cause the entire bed structure to wobble, Misao jerked around to face him; her entire posture radiating frustration. In his minds eye he imagined her long raven braid rattling with displeasure. He, however, kept that thought to himself.
"May I have a look?" He said instead, jutting his chin at her work.
She all but shoved her haphazardly scribbled notes and paperback at him. This time he fully released his own book and placed it on the other side of him before accepting her 'offering'. After leafing through the messy pages it only took him seconds to solve the offending problem.
"Okay here's what you do," he began to explain, angling the paper for her to see as she scooted closer to him. "The x represents the cost, while this ten here stands for the amount…."But he could already tell from her vacant expression that she hadn't grasped a single word he said.
"That's it, I'm dropping this course!" Misao wailed miserably, burying her face within the soft feel of the pillow. Perhaps she could suffocate herself and miraculously the life draining assignment would be out of her way. Hmm, not a half bad idea.
"You said that last week as well," Aoshi evenly reminded her, one fine brow slightly raised.
"But I really mean it this time!" She protested, head shooting up from the pillow.
Aoshi sighed, putting her homework aside. "Misao you've got less than two months left of this class, to stop now would be foolish."
"Just because we sleep together doesn't mean you get to lecture me!" She lashed out, a slender finger pointed threateningly at his impassive appearance.
"Misao."
"Aoshi."
He shrugged. "Fine, then I guess you won't be needing my assistance anymore." And with that he grabbed his novel and rose from the single bed.
Suddenly realizing what he was implying she practically flew out of bed. "Wait I've still got history to study for, or- or I could write that essay for English." She grasped desperately for an excuse, her fingers playing nervously with the end of her braid.
"Nice try Misao." He gave her a lopsided smirk and reached out for the doorknob.
"B-but!"
He let his hand fall back to his side and turned around. Misao looked relieved. "I'll strike a deal with you; either you complete the course and I'll still meet up with you every Thursday after dinner. Or we end these sessions right now and hopefully we'll get to meet sometime in the corridor between classes; if we're lucky. It's your call." Not that the threat was necessarily true, but she didn't need to know that. The pleased expression was replaced with one of horror. Good, then he'd gotten her attention.
"Mou Aoshi," she pleaded, but managed to gain no sympathy points from the stoic man. Huffing in indignation, she admitted defeat. "Okay, I'll do it."
Aoshi nodded approvingly and walked further into the small room. "Should we get down to business then?"
Dejectedly Misao fell back onto the soft mattress with its deep purple comforter. "I hate it when you do that," she grumbled, looking glumly over at him.
"One day you'll thank me," he said and returned to his original place beside her, picking up the previously discarded study material.
Groaning she rolled over, the sound muffled by the blankets. "I know."
Aoshi let a small triumphant smile grace his normally straight lips. It looked like he once again successfully had managed to uphold the tradition for another week.
Author's notes: Well I'm back. This time with something different as I suppose you've already realized. To those who believe I should burn in hell I apologize, but I've been thinking about doing an AU fic for some time now and after reading quite a few RK drabbles by Veles and Ravyn I simply couldn't hold back any longer. Once again I do realize that I'm not the first to write these kind of fics.
I will probably regret this in the future but this is also my first attempt at doing more than simply a one-shot. Okay so it's a bunch of them strung together, but anyway.
And for those of you who don't wish to skin me alive it would be very much appreciated if you let me know your thoughts on this.
Until then, have a pleasant stay on earth.
/Tranquil Forest