A/N: Chapter 2 - An Ultimatum

Misaki turns around. She sees Usui sitting across from her, the muffler still in his hands. For a change, he's not looking at her. His head's lowered and he seems lost in thought. He's running his hands over the mffler, almost absent-mindedly. Very gently, as if it wasn't a muffler but something very precious and delicate in his hands, he puts it back in the package and slips it into his coat pocket. "Did he really say he got something for me? I feel so-" but then Usui suddenly stands up. Crossing the small distance between them, he swoops down and she shrinks back against the seat, for a moment thinking that he's going to kiss her. But he only kneels down in front of her."What is he doing? What is going on in that perverted mind of his?" She couldn't see his face, he's still looking down. "I've never seen him like this. Is he feeling alright?" She thinks in concern. Hesitantly, she asks him while trying to get a peek at his face,"Usui, are you feeling fine? Is the ride-" but Usui interrupts, "Shhh! I'm trying to think, how to say this." Misaki instantly falls silent, rather surprised. "Usui...at a loss of words?"

A few moments later he speaks. "I'm sorry."

The words hang poignantly in the tiny space between them. He continues,"For when I'd told you that the time wasn't right for us to be together. I made you suppress yourself, knowing how hard it is for you to confess your true feelings but still, I cruelly shut you up. Although I would have given away anything to hear you speak those words to me...but please understand that I did that to protect you. I didn't want them to find out how involved you were with me... the depth of my feelings for you and the way you really felt about me. It was for your safety and well being." Misaki listens to all this, stunned. "Why is he saying all this?" Then Usui looks up. There's a strained look on his face, almost bordering on anger. "But you were already deep in it. The very day I told you about my background, that was the day... all because of my selfishness. I could see what it was doing to you; how you thought that I was keeping a part of myself away from you, maintaining a distance. It was driving you away from me but I couldn't bear to be away from you! The fact that you did not know anything about me made you worried and upset. And I can't stand seeing Ayuzawa like that!

Misaki feels the heat creeping into her face. She realises something. "Please don't be like that! You don't have to say all this. I can't bear it too...seeing you like this...so tensed and worried..." But she couldn't say any of this.

Usui's looking deep into her eyes."Misa chan, I'd once said that I don't intend to let you run away. But I was wrong. What we both are facing, might be more harsh and twisted than we anticipated. Even after they know my intentions and how I feel about this whole situation, they don't seem to have any intention to go away. The most troubling fact is that I've no idea of what they plan to do next. If anything happens to you, because of what's happening here...I won't be able to forgive myself. If you remain with me and any harm comes to you at their hands..." He trails off, the conclusion too unpleasant for him to say out loud.

"What's this sensation in my chest?" Misaki thinks to herself. " Why does it feel as if thousands of sharp, pointed things are piercing my chest?" She grits her teeth to prevent herself from crying out. She's determined to hear Usui out.

He slowly raises his hands and puts them on Misaki's knees as he says, "But today, what you just said and did made me realize how serious about all this you are. And..." he sighs and smiles at her. His eyes like luminous emeralds, "It makes me fall even more deeply in love with you than I already am, if that's even possible. But!" His eyes blazing green fire, "I won't be selfish any longer. The way I love you right now, I can't let anything happen to you. The people we're up against are more resourceful, ruthless and unscrupulous than we can imagine. They're dangerous."

He takes her cold hands into his warm ones. "I really don't know how to say this..." His eyes are boring into hers, that magnetism in them is turned on full force. "I love you, Ayuzawa...more than anything I've ever loved, more than anything in this world, more than my life. This love for you...makes me surrender to you.

I leave it to you now...you can stay with me like this and face the uncertain future, or you can leave me right here, right now and be safe. No matter what your choice...I shall always love you like this.

It's up to you now."