Draining.

If there was one word that would best fit last night, that's gonna be it. Draining.

Because for one, it drained the fight out of me. God, seeing Shizuru breakdown shook me to the innermost of my entire being. She looked so vulnerable and I felt almost as broken as when I was in the middle of the bloody carnival.

After staying for a few long moments by the road last night, keeping her tight in my arms, we finally decided to start walking again. I walked her all the way back to her dorm without us saying a word to each other. I would have held her all throughout the walk, but I know it wouldn't be a good idea. Not yet, anyway.

She needs her time. And space. God, I sound like a fucking cliche girlfriend. (But cliche be damned, cause I kinda like the sound of the g-word.) But she really does need it. If the look she gave me last night before she gently closed the door between us isn't a sign for that, well I don't know what is.

On the other hand though, I really hope eight hours, sixteen minutes, and fifteen seconds is enough time for her.

Because, well, I'm on my way to her dorm again right now, at past 10 in the morning. You know, one would think I'd be on my nerves and freaking the fuck out right now because I gotta make this right. But really, I just feel calm and collected and still totally ready to make things right.

I just hope I don't jinx it.

I park my bike outside Shizuru's dorm building, shutting down the engine and pulling out my helmet. I quickly pat down my white v-neck top under my leather jacket, making sure I look presentable. Duh. I gotta atleast impress the lady of all things prim and proper. I unconsciously smell the bouquet of flowers in my left hand, making sure the fragrance is still there.

Ridiculous, I know.

Tapping my fingers on my jean pockets to an imaginary tune, I finally reach her floor and make my way further to her relatively large dorm room. I quickly inhale and breathe out a small amount of air before knocking sloppily at her door.

I wait a few moments. No one's answering.

She can't be asleep, I know she despises waking up late in the morning no matter what. Could it be she's avoiding me again? Damn it, Shizuru.

I hastily knock at her door again, more loud and refined this time.

I quickly think back again to what could be other reasons of Shizuru not answering her door. And then suddenly, I remember her mentioning something about her parents visiting.

Of fucking course Natsuki, you suddenly think of that right now. When you're at her door while she's probably out eating with her pare-

The door all of a sudden, opens. Oh crap. On the other side of the doorway stands tall a refined handsome man in a smart casual attire. I'm not kidding, he looks like one of those men in the cover of large corporate magazines complete with the five o'clock stubble.

Oh shit, shit, shit.

It's Shizuru's father. I'm sure of it by the way I catch a glimpse of his darker shade of red eyes. Or the darker shade of his brown messily combed hair.

Damn. I quickly gulp down a large glop of air. "G-goodmorning sir!" I hastily straighten out my posture and subtly hide the flowers I'm holding onto my lower back.

He continues to hold the door open and still looks at me with the most bored and icy stare I have ever seen directed at me.

Oh fuck this, I totally jinxed it.

"U-uh.." I sharply tug at the collar of my shirt, fidgeting. "I-I was just.., uhm.." I quickly raid my head to think of excuses to get the fuck outta here and just come back next time.

"Dear, who's in the door?" Fuck. Too late. An accented voice floats through the doorway and then a woman, looking like a supermodel and a lot like Shizuru steps in behind the man.

Gods, help me. I just wanted to fix things with Shizuru, possibly get a little smooch too, maybe. But damn this just got a lot harder.

"Well, hello there." The woman speaks casually and walks forward, motioning for the man to take a step aside.

And now I find myself face to face with Shizuru's mom. Great. "Hi." I reply, my voice squeaking a little higher at the end. Oh lord.

The woman laughs at my obvious discomfort. "So, who is this charming young girl that's visiting my elusive daughter at this time of the morning?"

Oh crap Kuga. Quick! Tell her you're just the mailman.

"U-uhm, well..." I continue to fidget. "I was just-"

"Mother! Did you take my-" Jesus christ hallelujah, Shizuru suddenly appears. "What are you two do- Natsuki?" She looks at me from over her parents shoulders. The shock evident in her pretty red eyes.

"...Hey." I mutter back at her meekly. This is getting a lot more freaking difficult, I swear to god.

Shizuru was about to open her mouth again but I saw her mom subtly look back and forth between the two of us, her father now standing beside his daughter looking at me more sharply this time.

I suppress a small shudder.

"So!" Mrs. Fujino suddenly exclaims, clasping her hands together. A habit I saw often on Shizuru. "Care to tell me who's your visitor, dear?" She asks her daughter.

It's not until I look at Shizuru that I notice she's wearing the smallest cotton shorts that I have ever seen, barely covering her creamy thighs and my gaze drifts down to her toned legs and up again, gazing at her upper body that's covered in a thin loose white dress shirt, her black bra seen through the thin material.

Hot damn. Is it hot today or what? I shouldn't have worn my leather jacket.

I continue my gaze upwards, knowing full well that a faint blush has formed in my face. Once I reach Shizuru's gorgeous face, I realize she's talking to her mom. Probably explaining who I am, based on the professional mask she's plastered on her face.

I continue to look at her, but I feel something else making me queasy. My gaze unconsciously drifts on the side and I see Mr. Fujino looking at me like he wants to slap me upside down the head. Oh my god, I better keep my eyes to myself. That's right.

"Mother!" Shizuru suddenly exclaims, and I quickly look to see her looking unamused at her mom with a hint of blush. I try to hide my amusement. "Can you please give us a minute, at least? Just wait for me in the car, I'll be there soon."

What. She's dismissing her parents, the Fujinos, to talk to me?! Damnit Natsuki, do some damage control!

"Uh," I quickly clear my throat. "I was just about to leave so, it's alright Shiz-"

"Nonsense dear!" Mrs. Fujino cuts me off with a cheeky smile. "Me and my husband were about to go anyway, so, take your time ladies." She grabs Mr. Fujino by the arm, the man giving him an incredulous look in return, and drags both of them to the doorway. Once they reach out, Shizuru's mom suddenly pushes me inside the dorm. Wtf. I quickly turn around to see Mr. Fujino glaring at me over his wife's shoulder, as Mrs. Fujino closes the door with a, "We'll wait for you at the restaurant dear!"

...okay.

I stare dumbfounded at the door.

What. Just, what?

"Ehem~" The short silence was shattered by Shizuru clearing her throat.

Oh god, I almost forgot why I was here in the fucking first place.

I quickly turn myself around to face my object of affections.

*Silence.*

Shizuru raises a brow at me. Crap, what do I do again?

I turn my gaze elsewhere, a sudden flood of shyness washing through me. I raise a hand to sheepishly rub my nape when I suddenly remember the flowers clutched at my hand.

Right!

"Yeah, uh, for you." I quickly raise the bouquet at her.

She shows a look of surprise. "Uhm, thank you." She softly says as she takes the flowers from my hand.

Fuck, say something Kuga! "I'm sorry." I gaze at her. "I completely forgot about your parents visiting, so... I hope they're not mad or anything. I hope YOU'RE not mad."

"I'm not." She removes her gaze from the flowers she's holding and looks at me. "And don't worry, my parents doesn't mind it too."

"Well, I'm not sure about you're dad. I think he plans to murder me some time today." I give her a pointed, disturbed look.

She laughs airily at my words. "Natsuki is so dramatic."

I find myself grinning at her. "No, seriously!" I continue, "Have you seen the way he looked at me while I looked at you leg-" Fuck. I quickly shut my mouth. Goddamnit Kuga. I try my hardest to shrug off the blush that I'm pretty sure is covering my whole face.

You and your fucking mouth.

I quickly steal a glimpse at the brunette only to see her raising a brow at me and a faint smirk formed in her face. Fuckity, fuck.

She clears her throat again. "I should probably get dressed. My parents did say they would wait for me." She starts to walk to her room. "I'll be back shortly." And she closes her door.

...

Woo, I quickly exhale a sigh of relief.

This a freakin' lot harder than I expected.

I start to move and place myself to sit on the room's sofa. I sigh again, and bring my hands to cup my jaw, my elbows digging my jean-clad thighs as I lean my upper body forward, quickly running over words I should say in my head for when Shizuru comes back from her room.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't hear the room door opening and closing and the next thing I knew, Shizuru is standing in front of me looking all gorgeous and perfect, even though she's only going out to have lunch with the parentals dressed in a simple loose blouse, skin tight jeans and ugg shoes.

Heck, I bet she'd still look crazy beautiful dressed in a garbage bag.

"So," She says. "What does Natsuki need?"

"You." I stand up from her sofa. Now or never. Let's do this, Kuga.

"And I am here. Now what does Natsuki really want?" She asks me again with a smile that I know ain't real.

"No, Shizuru, really. I'm here because I want to talk. About last night, among other things."

I see she's about to say something back, probably some lame excuse to avoid this topic and get away from me. But I don't let her. I can't let her do this again. No. Not this time. So before a word comes out of her mouth, I speak first.

"Look, I know your parents are waiting for you at some fancy restaurant out there right now, and your dad's probably gonna skin me alive for making you late, but please, hear me out. This conversation won't take long, I promise. Just stay put, keep quiet and listen." I hold up a finger for emphasis and walk across the sofa to look at her more properly. I continue,

"Shizuru, I know I haven't been the best person lately. Actually, I haven't been the best person AT all-No, ssh! Let me talk." I quickly shush her. "I haven't been a good person ever since, you know, ever since I got angry at the world and everybody else in it... But you know what? I didn't care. I still don't. I don't give a rat's ass if the world thinks I'm not a good person. I deserve it. But Shizuru, what I do care about..." I take a deep breath. "Is you." I look her straight in the eyes, wishing more than anything, that she believes everything I'm about to say.

"I care about what you say and think of me Shizuru. What you feel about me, I care about it all. I always have. And I'm sorry, because it took me too long to figure that out..

I know I don't deserve you, I mean, god knows you deserve some one as gorgeous, and proper and all elegant and perfect as you are. And I'm not one of those things, heck I can't even drink tea without spilling it all over my shirt." I roll my eyes at myself, inspite of the tight feeling in my throat. "It's just," I continue, my voice cracking slightly. "Despite all of that, despite of what kind of person I am, I still want to be a better person. I want to be the best person for you, Shizuru. You make me want to be better..." I look down at my hands, at myself. I feel stinging in my eyes, but I don't wanna cry. I just wanna make things right.

"I want you Shizuru," I look up again, and face her. "I love you. I do. Please don't tell me otherwise, please don't push me away. Believe me now, when I say I'm in love with you." I take the few steps to get to her. She's crying. I didn't mean to make her cry. I just want her. I really love her.

I'm such an idiot for hurting her, all this time. But even more of an idiot for taking too long to realize how I really feel. What's really important. Who's really important. I know I'm not the best candidate, or partner or whatever for someone like Shizuru, but damn it if I don't take my chance and do this right.

She looks like she wants to say something but her cries are stopping her. Her hands covering her mouth.

"Sshh." I tell her, resting my forehead against hers. "You don't have to say anything right now, okay? I just want you to believe me. And let me prove myself to you."

I collect her in my arms and once again, she sobs at my shoulder for the second time.

I didn't know how long we were standing there, but I'm pretty sure she's quite late for her lunch. After her crying stopped, we both decided that she needed to get herself more presentable again so she can head out and see her parents. So she went back again to her room.

I hear the door open, and quickly stand up to see her. She's still dressed the same but her previous crying isn't evident in her face this time.

"You ready?" I ask.

"Yeah." She answers softly with a nod.

"Okay, let's go." I grab her hand and lead her out the dorm to my bike down the parking lot, never once letting go, even when she closed her door on our way out. I know she was surprised by the gesture but oh well, her hand's really soft. I thought with a smile, as I let her go and hand her an extra helmet so I could drive her to her parents.

Once we reach the place, she hops off my bike and removes her helmet, her brown hair falling down in elegant waves.

"Thank you for bringing me here." She says with a small but gentle smile as she hands back the helmet.

I nod.

She looks back over her shoulder at the front of the indeed fancy restaurant, before looking back at me, her red eyes looking really pretty. "I have to meet them now, father's probably going off about my tardiness" She says with a smile.

"Yeah, of course. Wouldn't want to piss Mr. Fujino off." I offer with a scared smile, that gets a laugh out of her. "I'll see you, then"

She nods and starts to turn around.

"Wait!" I exclaim as I grab her wrist, her head turning towards me. "I... You understand everything I said earlier right?"

She fully turns to me. "Natsuki, I..." She closes her mouth and opens it again but nothing comes out.

"Hey," I tug at her wrist "It's okay, I told you, you don't have to say anything right away." I tell her softly with a small smile.

She nods.

"Good." I pull her closer by the wrist. "I was just making sure, that you do know that this means I'm gonna woo you starting today."

She looked taken aback, her red eyes widening a bit and mouth opening to say something but I pull her closer to me and kiss her, gently on her forehead. "Take care, okay?" I pull off with my best smile, "Text me when you get home." I let go of her wrist.

She nods, her red eyes looking so, so, red than ever. "See you, Shizuru." I tell her lastly, before I put on my helmet and revved off my bike and drove off the the road, a grin on my face.

AN: Well? Yay or nay?

I'm planning to turn this into a multi-chapter, if you guys still want it. And if my schedule let's me. Lol. College is pretty much enslaving me, but guess what? One more final exam, then it's semestral break! *woop woop* Bring out the beer!