Thank you all who reviewed, and subscribed! It meant so much! I love you all. Anyway, here's chapter 2:
A dumbfounded silence filled the hall.
My jaw dropped, as I stared at Usui with unconcealed horror. The innkeeper's wife dropped the tray of snacks she was bringing in to serve, and it fell to the floor with an ear splitting crash. Suzuna gawked at me with a mixture of curiousness and shock. The innkeeper himself simply raised an eyebrow but did not react to his grandchild's strange request, much to his credit. Amidst all our reactions, Usui still kneeled on the floor calmly, awaiting my answer.
"Wh-why is that necessary?" I asked him shakily after finally regaining the ability to speak. I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks, and hoped it did not look as if I was pleased his proposal. My insides felt numb. Marriage was a concept that I had always thought impossible for me, and my new status as one of the favoured only took me even further away from marriage even being a thought for my future. It figures that the only way I would be proposed to, is for a matter of convenience. The world is truly a twisted place.
"Because Misaki," began Usui. "The idiotic drunk you managed to get yourself trapped behind was unfortunately right. All the passenger ship bound for other countries have long set sail, and since the winter is fast approaching they will not start again until the spring. You definitely cannot afford to wait that long, especially now seeing as you practically laid yourself down for the crown to get."
Suzuna looked at me in confusion at this, and then apprehension dawned on her face. She knows. I couldn't bear to see her expression especially since I lied so openly to her, so I turned away and concentrated fully on Usui who was still continuing to talk.
"We don't exactly obey the rules of the crown, and my ship sets sail tomorrow, or we will probably overstay our welcome and trust me when I say the results of that will not be pretty. Also women are rarely accepted as crew members on ships, as you have to be extremely skilled to earn your place. Maybe you might have no problem disguising yourself as a man, but your sister is way too fragile to pass as one. On top of that, young boys are definitely the most mistreated members on the ship, and you wouldn't risk her in that position would you now?"
I shook my head. Until now Suzuna had always had priority over me, and I wasn't planning on changing that. But was the only solution to this conundrum to marry him?
"Marriage is safest way," Usui persisted, as if he had read my mind. "If I simply bring you on board as a female guest, it would be like throwing you to the wolves. Men would flock you left, right and center determined to bring a female into their rough work lives. I can only protect either you or Suzuna, but if I try to shield you both, on top of the scandalous rumours which would fly about, my men would cease to trust me. I cannot afford for that to happen. However, if you were to marry me, the men wouldn't dare lay a finger on you, or your sister knowing that I already have a claim on you. Not saying they won't try," Usui warned gravelly.
I shuddered. Men who lusted after women to the point of extremes disgusted me.
"On top of that, nobody would question you being away from your country, as it would be only natural to follow your husband onboard. It seems to be the only logical way for me to help you."
Though it killed me to admit it, he had a point. However one thing was bugging me, and I wasn't about to let that thought slide.
"What's in this for you?" I question bravely, hoping he wouldn't lie to me. I wasn't a fool. Seeing as we had barely met two hours ago, him being attracted to me to the point of proposing was too much. Though it was probably none of my business what his motivations were, I felt obliged to ask.
"I can answer that," the innkeeper broke in, speaking for the first time in minutes. I glanced at him surprised at his sudden proposal.
"Usui's father, my son, left him a small fortune before sadly passing away. The money could only be received after his marriage. What do you plan on doing with the money Son?" He asked Usui.
Usui shrugged. "I was planning on giving it to you. I can't risk giving you the money I have, because it might be traced, and then cause you to get into trouble with the law. So I was planning on giving that for your living expenses instead."
This answer astonished me. Usui must be extremely noble, seeing as he willingly gave up his bachelor status to protect me, and then used what little compensation he might have received from doing so, to fund his grandparents. I wonder. Maybe the familiar pang I feel when I look at him was because I had actually met Usui before, and his kindness was because of a former obligation?
I pushed aside my speculations, and began to focus on the matter at hand. On top of being unbelievably dashing, Usui also was selfless and kind. Even though he seemed to enjoy being a sarcastic, cocky prick on occasion, it all got summed up as part of his charm. Usui was a man that fit the romantic novels the academy I attended thought fitting for young girls. So why did dread fill my stomach at his proposal?
"It's because you're frightened that you will fall in love with him," a tiny snide voice whispered through my head. "But he will never love you back."
"Misaki?" I heard Usui's voice call, pulling me out of chain of my thoughts.
"Hmm?" I replied subconsciously. Looking up, I realized everybody was staring at me expectantly.
"Sorry, what did you say?" I queried sheepishly.
"I wanted to know what your answer was," Usui repeated patiently.
I froze. He couldn't honestly ask me to make a life changing decision so soon could he? I couldn't think of any other option other than to accept his proposal, but the thought of marriage scared me.
"I think I might need some time," I said warily. I was tired of having to make all these big decisions. I wish that, just for once, somebody would tell me what the right thing to do is so I don't have to always live in fear of making a mistake.
As if it was rigged, violent pounding started suddenly on the door.
"Hide, now!" Usui hissed at me. Grabbing Suzuna, I dashed into the coat room, and tucked myself behind a mammoth of a coat, pushing Suzuna behind me. I then proceeded to slow my breathing in effort to listen in to the conversation that was going on in the hall.
"Can I help you gentlemen?" The innkeeper said nonchalantly after opening the door.
"Where is the girl?" The intruder hissed. My insides turned to jelly from fear. It was the captain I had revealed my talent to earlier in my fury, and then who Usui had punched. I imagine he was not too happy with us right now.
"I have no idea what you are talking about, boy. Can I interest you in a warm cup of coffee? Or perhaps some wine? You look as if you are on the verge of freezing to death."
"DON'T MESS WITH ME!" the captain shrieked, infuriated by the lack of concern on the innkeepers face.
"I wasn't messing with you," the innkeeper responded calmly. "However, if you insist, I know of a joke I was told of the other day which involves a troll, a young lady and a hare. It was rather hilarious if I may add."
In spite of my current situation, I grinned. The innkeeper definitely knew how to annoy people.
"This is the last place in the entire harbour I have searched you old geezer! I repeat, WHERE IS THE GIRL! HAND HER OVER!"
Behind the man, cheers erupted from the crowd he had gathered. He probably enticed them all on the thought of the money he could make off of me. A chill went down my spine at the thought.
Suddenly, a hand clamped over my mouth and dragged me out of my hiding spot. My blood ran cold, as I struggled and kicked until I looked up at my captors face. There stood Usui, with a finger pressed over his lips. I nodded in relief. It was time to escape.
Usui led us to the window of the coat room, and then he gracefully jumped out of it and soared into the beautiful night sky. I stood behind in the coat room, admiring the way his smooth muscles contracted as he jumped, like a leopard. This thought only solidified my belief that he would have women hanging over him all the time. Could I really compete with the likes of them? Surely they would notice how unsuited I was to him, and how temperamental his affection to me was.
Usui landed on the ground nearly a story below, then held his arms out for me. He must be joking. He doesn't really expect me to jump into his arms does he?
I pushed Suzuna in front of me, who until then had been standing uncomfortably a few paces away. She was probably terrified of me by now, little old me and my execution order. I pretended not to notice her discomfort and told her to jump before me, as I knew Suzuna was petrified by heights. Usui easily caught her when she fell and set her upright. However, Suzuna was small compared to me, and I was fearful that I would only end up knocking him over.
Taking a deep breath, I jumped out the window. I felt myself soar towards the sky leaving the outraged cries of my pursuers behind, then fell to the earth as gravity claimed me.
"Are you nice and cozy on my back, Misaki?" Usui asked me smugly.
If possible, my face flushed even more. The humiliation of the situation was worse enough without Usui insisting on rubbing it in. While jumping, I had attempted to fall to the ground on my own, without landing in Usui's arms; however I could not pull of a proper landing. The sound my ankle made when I landed was enough to give me nightmares. Usui laughingly ordered me to get on his back after I couldn't even manage to get up, as I was "too slow for even turtles" in my current state.
I grimaced. What I had done was rather idiotic though. I was debating on marrying the boy, and yet I was too vain to even jump into his arms.
"Usui," I said softly in his ear.
"Mhmm?" He questioned, though still focused on the road ahead.
"I'll marry you."
Usui didn't respond to that, but somehow I could tell he was smiling.
The full moon hung like a silver orb in the sky above us as we trenched through fields and forests in silence. My eyes slowly began to close, and then before I knew it I had fallen asleep.
Bright light shone directly on my face. In my barely conscious state, I could feel my face twitch in response, and I turned over and snuggled back in the blankets that surrounded me.
I jerked up, my eyes opened wide in fear.
Blankets? When did I get into bed? Last thing I remember was riding Usui's back because of my accursed ankle.
"Rise and shine sleeping beauty," A chiming female voice called sarcastically. Usui's words washed over me as I looked for the source. "Women are rarely accepted as crew members on ships as you have to be extremely skilled to earn your place," he had said. Was this girl one of them?
What greeted my eyes when I found the source was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. The girls who were considered the fairest back in my home town looked like Neanderthals in comparison, even though she was wearing trousers and a simple blouse in comparison to their elegant frocks. She had vivacious caramel hair which fell in gentle waves down her back, and vibrant blue eyes. She was also extremely tall, with soft curves and long legs. This girl was everything girls aimed to be, and everything I wasn't. She was also looking at me presently as if I had murdered her grandmother. Not good.
"I'm sorry, was I sleeping long?" I inquired apologetically. The beautiful girl sniffed and looked away irritated.
"You sleep for far too long. What do you think we are a bed and breakfast? Just because you are the captain's fiancé, doesn't mean that you can treat the rest of us like dirt. You need to learn your place here. Honestly, just because I'm the only other women on this ship other than the cook, doesn't mean that I should get stuck on babysitting duty," she snapped.
Her venomous response startled me. I wasn't used to being considered a liability. I had always been the one taking care of others, making sure others were comfortable even if it meant I suffered. Why was she so annoyed?
"I'm really very sorry," I apologized again, softly this time. "Please, tell me what I can do to help you. Normally I barely sleep at all, but I guess my sleepless nights were catching up on me. And at least tell me your name."
I may have imagined it, but I thought I saw a brief flicker of surprise cross the girl's face, before going back to its normal cold front.
"My name's Alianna Lee," She responded hesitantly after a moment. "But most people call me Ali. And there's nothing an outsider like you can do to help our ship. It was fine enough without you. Anyway, I was instructed to give you these clothes when you woke up. Here," she said, throwing the clothes upon the bed. "Get dressed and come out. It's not every day the captain gives up his bed for somebody."
Usui gave his bed to me? That was surprising. The strange affection I had held towards him since before this whole marriage fiasco started made its presence known again.
"Wait!" I cried. Ali stopped and jerked around, looking at me impatiently. "Where is Suzuna?"
"Your sister took one of the free guest rooms and is still sleeping," She replied curtly, then stalked out of the room, slamming the door shut.
What was her problem? She made her despise for me as clear as mud. Could it be- it couldn't be.
Could it be because she and Usui have history?
I shuddered at the thought of the mess I have gotten myself into, and then proceeded to look through my clothes. It wasn't masculine in any way, like the clothes Ali was wearing. I was left with a simple light green dress which would go a bit past my knees. Though I would've preferred trousers, this would have to do.
After changing, I stepped out of Usui's room and into the warm sunlight of the deck. Immediately, people turned and stared blatantly at me. I could feel myself blushing as I tried to navigate through the deck. There were men everywhere, and I was the center of attention of all their gazes. Ali hadn't given me any other instruction except to go to the deck, so I stood like an idiot amidst their gazes, awaiting a rescuer.
All of a sudden, somebody hugged me by my waist from behind. Ignoring my reflexes which screamed to punch my attacker, I twisted around to see Usui grinning at me. Although his grin was not full of love and affection. His grin emanated an angry vibe, as if he was just putting a show for his men while he secretly waited in fury of something I did. Chills ran up and down my back. Everything I did seemed to be wrong today.
Usui pulled me gently out of the prying eyes of his men and into one of the navigation rooms, and then slammed the door shut with a resounding crash. I winced at the sound, but what scared me more was the downright infuriated expression which he wore.
"What were you thinking?" He snapped. "I told Ali to tell you that you were supposed to wait in my room until I came and got you. Why couldn't you wait?"
I flinched. So Ali had lied to me. I had dealt with girls like her at the academy I attended, the idolized girls who would lie sweetly to your face in order to get you to do something troublesome. Though I detested them the most, I had learnt that the best way to deal with them if you fall for their lies is to play along so they leave you alone.
"I'm sorry," I apologized profusely to him, for what felt like the millionth time today. "I was worried about Suzuna and wanted to check up on her, especially since she found out rather crudely that I was one of the favoured. I wanted to make sure she wouldn't do anything brash. But I lost my way and ended up stranded on deck without anywhere to go."
Usui sighed, his angry expression leaving his face. "Thank god," I thought. Usui was rather terrifying when he was angry.
"You make me worry about you too much," Usui said with grudging affection, his fingers playing with my hair. The gesture felt extremely intimate. What frightened me the most was that I liked the thought of us being intimate.
I closed my eyes, and allowed Usui to keep running his hands through my hair, enjoying the relaxing feeling of it. His hands slowly trickled down my neck and he began massaging my shoulders. I hadn't realized how much my muscles ached until he was smoothing through them with his hands, rubbing out the knots with his thumbs.
I couldn't help it. I groaned. I could feel Usui's smirk radiating from behind me as he continued to rub my shoulders.
"You like this Misaki?" He whispered perversely. Before I could retort, he whipped me around so I was facing him, bent down and kissed me.
The kiss was unlike anything I had ever imagined. It wasn't as if I hadn't been kissed before. Hinata, a boy who had played with during my childhood me gave me a light kiss before his parents dragged him away to some far off city in the middle of nowhere. This kiss was different though. It was steamy, full of passion and lust, and everything in between. I entwined my arms around his neck subconsciously, which pulled him closer. He smiled on my mouth and continued to kiss me thirstily.
Somebody coughed behind me. I hastily let go of Usui, and he reluctantly got off me and faced the interrupter of our kiss.
"Captain, you are needed in the navigation room. That is, if you're not busy of course," the man said tumbling over his words, his face bright red.
"Go," I said to Usui. He grimaced.
"Fine, but I'm coming back tonight. Takeru, can you take her to my rooms please?"
The man known as Takeru nodded, and Usui left the room.
"Well are you getting up or what?" Takeru said to me, breaking the silence which had filled the room. I nodded meekly, and then followed him out of it.
"Takeru?" I asked as we marched through the inner halls, avoiding the deck.
"What?" He responded still facing forward.
"Did Ali ever court Usui?"
He spun around and gave me a hard look. "Well, though this isn't really my place to say, I think you have the right to know this much. Ali had taken a major fancy to Usui after he rescued her. Usui however showed no interest what so ever, which surprised Miss ice queen alright. A relationship never progressed there, though Ali has tried countless times to seduce him. According to the rumours, she even showed up nearly naked upon Usui's bed in hopes of him showing interest. But none progressed. Usui remained as ignorant as a rock. That's why you baffle us so my dear."
"Huh," I said. So Usui never showed any interest in her. No wonder she was bitter towards me.
I trailed the rest of the way up to the cabin behind Takeru in silence.