Covering her tracks

(2017/05/20th)

"You're beating me so bad." he looked at the board and made a face.

"How long has it been since you last played?"

"Huh. Years." he moved the small dark disc, unbelieving and she smiled.

She didn't even need to think before she played and captured two of his pieces before she reached the last row and got herself another king.

"You just need to get back into it, that's all." It was fun to win against him, it almost never happened in all their life together. "Once you do, I'll be done for." She smiled and absentmindedly brushed the hair behind her ear. She didn't need to, considering its length it didn't get in her eyes, but it was a tic she had picked up ever since she let it grow. She realized she was getting out of the character of her past self. It was disconcerting how easily she had gotten back into their usual routine and how gladly he agreed to follow her lead.

"Hum… You're still ruthless right now." He stared at their game and didn't see what to do next. Every move put him at risk, this game was a done deal. Well, it wasn't like he cared about wining anyway, and he was unable to concentrate, with her there, being so casual with him. "Ok, I give up." he pouted and she laughed.

It was really refreshing to spend this time with him. He welcomed every of her small attentions and familiarity with him like water to a dying man.

"You want to start over?" she asked "Or we can do another game? What else do you have?"

They were facing each other across the checkers board, sitting at the coffee table in his living room.

"How about a movie?" he offered. They had already played with cards and dices, he was running out of ideas. "I have plenty, I never watch them." he got up, and she followed him to the shelf.

"And yet, I bet you've seen every episode in Box R." She teased, leaning into him.

"Can't be helped, my favorite actress is in it." He put his arms around her frame and hugged her peacefully from behind. "Which makes it the best show on TV."

She turned around to brush her hands on his chest and up to hold his face. She brought him to her and dropped a light kiss against his lips. He responded actively, caging her against the shelf and kissing her more. She held his shoulders and let him finish.

"It's not going to be that long before dinner. I think a movie would be better for tonight."

"You're staying the night?" he asked eagerly.

"Is it a problem?" she teased.

"Yes." he kissed her again. "I'm going to overdose." Really, he was. Or was he going to wake up?

She laughed and moved away from his embrace.

"So, movie tonight?" she started, looking through his DVDs "What about a good old..."

"Disney movie?"

"… I was going to say Kung Fu movie, but Disney works too." she smiled.

"Kung Fu?"

"Well, yes, I see you have quite the collection over here..." her eyes stopped on a DVD "Oh, Shi mian mai fu, that one is good!"

"You've seen it?"

"Years ago! Or, I mean no. Not yet." he looked at her weird "Don't ask."

"I didn't picture you as a martial arts lover."

"I like the fights. They're really aesthetic."

"Oh, that's right, you trained with Uesugi san last month."

As she was about to reply, her phone started buzzing from the table. She went to pick it up and looked at the caller ID.

"I've got to take this, it's Kanae."

He watched as she walked a few more steps away from him. She closed her eyes and inhaled before she swiped the screen and put the device on her ear with a distraught look.

"Moko san!" she squealed "How are y… Ah, I'm ok." she made a weird face as she listened to her friend "No I didn't! Are you out of your mind? As if I could…" she bit her lip "I know last night got a little crazy, but you know… Can you see me barging into a man's apartment? Into Tsuruga san's apartment? Really." Ignoring the fact that she had done just that the previous night, she rolled her eyes as if to illustrate the ridicule in the idea.

Kuon watched her in amazement. Was Kotonami san calling to ask about him? What had Kyouko and her friends actually done last night, in the first place?

"Yes…" she was now listening to her friend's reaction "You're right… No! Tsuruga san wouldn't do something like that!" she blurted out and calmed down instantly "Hum… actually..." she hesitated "He called me earlier."

She moved the phone away as a loud "whaaaaat" was heard from the other side of the line and Kuon lifted an eyebrow. What kind of tale was she weaving to her friend?

"He called to confirm the… the… well, the d… da... d… d… the date. We have a date, the day after tomorrow" she continued in a small voice "he said he's very much looking forward to it." she paused and winked at him, as her friend kept talking. "No. I didn't need to ask, Moko san. He addressed that matter himself." her voice got higher "Yes the reason was good enough. Yes, I believe him, it was all a misunderstanding." she said categorically. "I know what I said, Moko san. I meant it and I still do. You don't need to keep asking me, I'm going to say the same thing. Yes, I'm ok! Everything will work itself out eventually. Just trust me, Moko san, I'm telling you, I'm fine." she smiled softly "I'm so happy you were worried about me, Moko san. Ok I'll see you then… and yes, I will tell you everything…. Moko san!" she said disapprovingly "How can you say such embarrassing things! You're so mean." she smiled "But you were worried about me. Thank you. Have a nice weekend too." she hang up and looked back at him "I know I will." she added wickedly as she met his eyes.

"Did you just lie to your best friend?"

"I know." she sighed "Desperate situations call for desperate measures. I can't have her asking me about all that next week" she shook her head. "Too risky. Gotta let it die down."

"You are scary." he declared as she walked back to him. "Have you actually been acting as yourself all week?"

"Look who's asking." She laughed lightheartedly.

"Fair point." He winced.

"Well… Hopefully, I told her just what she needed to hear to calm down. With everything I'll have to tell her next week, she should forget about last night."

"Is she not supposed to know about last night?"

"I'm not supposed to know about last night!" she exclaimed. "Don't ask." she added precipitately as he opened his mouth.

"You've been saying that an awful lot you know..."

"I know." she crossed her arms seriously "I'm sorry. I really can't say anything more than what I've already told you."

"I understand." he tilted his head "And I will obey, but I have my own condition." she gave him an intrigued look. "You, my dear, are going to have to kiss me every time you say that. Or else, I'll ask."

"Works for me" she laughed and kissed him, laying both her hands on his shoulders "like I'd need an excuse to kiss you." she added and kissed him some more as he circled her waist.

"So, you want to watch Shi mian mai fu tonight?" he said when they separated "What are we going to do until dinner then?"his hands trailed on her sides absentmindedly.

"Humm… I like what we're doing right now." she nuzzled her face in the crook of his neck. "Let's just kiss and make out."

She pushed on her toes to reach his face again and kissed him lovingly. He cupped her behind and guided her up against his frame, catching her easily as she jumped up and tightened her legs around his waist. Laughing between kisses, he walked like that with her to the couch where he laid her down.

"It's quite a sad one, isn't it?" he asked as he joined her on the couch "That movie."

"It is. But it's also quite beautiful, don't you think?"

"It does have great visuals." he gave her a peck.

"Hum..."

"What?" he brushed her bangs.

"I hope you won't mind…" she frowned "I might forget we've seen it, and have to watch it again in, like a couple of weeks."

"Let me guess..."

"Don't ask." she dragged his face to hers and readily gave him the mandatory kiss.

A/N-When I say the storie I write tend to become what they wants to be, I should say what they have to be. This chapter is a perfect example: I was planning on writing a chapter about the love me girls giving Kuon a hard time for his blackmail dates with the model, but I realized there were lose ends. I mean, in what world is Kanae not going ask Kyouko about it? And so, this chapter happened.

Anyways, chapter 4 is almost finished, shouldn't be too long...

Thanks for reading and everything else!