Puppy Love
Chapter 4
To truly understand a person, one must learn the rules of the game. And the first rule…
…is to control her world and bribe the ones around her. Like a rat mice in a laboratory.
Saturday used to be her favourite day of the week.
Saturday was no doubt, still the best day of the week. Here she was, hands crossed and set on the table as her head laid between them, her smirk hidden skilfully behind her arm. Her eyes travelled back and forth with the figure moving in front of her.
"Get on with it." It took all the self-control inside of her to swallow the series of laughter that was forcing themselves to burst out of her throat. Kaoru moved the boxes of supplies from the front of the shop to the storeroom, stopping every once in a while to stare at the brunette's hidden smug expression.
Discovery #1 on Specimen 003: Upon a closer approach, Specimen 003 appears to have either developed a sadistic mindset over years of living as a commoner… or simply because the specimen was born with a mind full of torture techniques.
It wasn't everyday sight to see rich people moving supplies in a shop when they could be sitting at home drinking afternoon tea.
Finally done with the moving of boxes, Kaoru leaned against the wall next to the storeroom door wearily, his breath slightly uneven. It almost made Miyuki feel guilty and sorry for him.
…
…
…
…
Yeah right!
Steeling herself, she walked around the counter and towards Kaoru, face brightened with a smile. She held a mop when they were an arm's length away from each other and spoke, her voice merry and obviously enjoying herself.
"Time to mop!" her voice was filled with so much enthusiasm; she was like a bubbly child.
Discovery #2 on Specimen 003: The specimen likes to make something seem easy at first with her upbeat and energetic attitude. And then, when the victim falls for the trap, he has to work like his life depended on it.
Kaoru was not an idiot to fall for that again.
The Hitachiin moved forward. His left hand reached forward and made a grab for the mop, his free hand moving to circle her waist as he spun and pinned her to the wall, the mop pressing horizontally on her throat.
"You're trying to work me out of here aren't you?" he had released the hold on her a while ago and was using both hands to grip onto the mop. His face was dangerously close to hers, his breath hitting her face as he panted softly.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Heartbeat sped like a racing car as she struggled to breathe. In the process of slowing her heartbeat, she had neglected the fact that her blood was racing up to her face. He noticed it almost immediately, smirking a little like a predator who had just found its prey's weakness.
Important Discovery!
Discovery #3 on Specimen 003: The specimen appears to be nervous and blushes upon being in a close distance with someone, preferably a male.
Pinkish blush welled and spread across her face. She was intimidated by the close proximity.
This discovery merely made him move even closer, eyes watching her face attentively. He blew softly into her ear, causing her to shiver involuntarily.
"Well?" he wasn't expecting her to answer after this little gesture, he knew, he expected it. They would stammer and stutter every single time.
She shut her eyes the moment he blew a breath at her face; her heart even skipped a beat. This was even closer than the last time, and no guy had ever been this close before. She could feel him laughing and gloating at her now. The tables were starting to turn.
But Shiro Miyuki was a girl full of pride, perhaps too much even. She wasn't going to stand here and be humiliated by this… creature and be emotionally scarred for life by the embarrassing incident. Her hands curled into determined fists as she fought back the blush.
It didn't work, but she didn't care. Eyes still closed, her lips curled up at the corners and formed a smirk. Miyuki couldn't see, but he had widened his eyes in surprise, his grip loosened slightly. Finding the effect positive boosted her confidence as she forced her eyes open, smirk still in place.
"Whatever gave you that absolutely correct answer?"
Discovery #4 on Specimen 003: The specimen is unpredictable, possibly bipolar… or has a split personality.
Taking the advantage of his slackened grip, Miyuki lifted her hands and pushed the Hitachiin off her, brushing pass him lightly as she deliberately bumped her shoulders against his.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
She stopped when there was a safe distance away from him, her breathing even again when she was a few feet away. She could even feel her confidence that melted away before hardened. She turned fully to face Kaoru and smiled, though it was strained and obviously ironic.
"Get back to work."
The bell on the door chimed softly, echoed by the excited puppies that wagged their tails and barked. Miyuki turned back towards the door, smile still in place, though it didn't last long. Her face fell and she blinked several times at the middle-aged woman standing at the door, hands full with luggage.
"O…kaa-san?"
Her previously dampened mood had just gotten worse… Her mother was back… and she was staring, eyes wide through her, at the abomination behind her. Miyuki turned and glanced over her shoulders at Kaoru, who stared back at the woman with a head tilted to the side in confusion.
Oh no…
Realisation finally sank in, her eyes widened in horror as she swerved her head back to her mother, hands waving in front of her frantically while rushing towards the door. It was too late. She could see her mother practically glowing with interest over the stranger.
"Hello! And who is this Yuki?" her mother's voice was preppy and zealous. She ignored her daughter, eyes staring at the auburn-haired youth as she dropped her luggage and approached him slowly. Kaoru smiled awkwardly, both hands held onto the mop and pressed it to the ground; his eyes flickered over to Miyuki's questioningly.
"Kaoru."
Her eyes glimmered as she reached out a hand; Kaoru peeled one of his hands off the stick of the mop tentatively and shook hers. "Mika." She beamed, sneaking a peek at her daughter slyly, who returned her look with a look of pure disgust.
Her mother had turned on her and made an alliance with the creature…
Turning her head back to the Hitachiin, Mika spared a curious look at him. "What are you doing here with the mop?" Kaoru grinned as he scratched the back of his head.
"I here to help out Yuki-chan." He smiled as his eye travelled further to Miyuki, who was visibly agitated and eyes that were ready to kill. Mika didn't seemed to have notice the hidden purpose of the way he was using Miyuki's nickname,
Or she didn't really care.
"Well, how about you help this old lady in front of you carry my bags to my house, it's not too far, but I'm afraid I can't manage."
Well…She did seemed to be a nice person.
"Sure."
"NO!" She rushed up and made a grab for her mother's arm, pulling her backwards as she whispered harshly into her ears.
"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be away!" Mika cracked a smile and removed her arms from her daughter's grasp slowly.
"I'll tell you later, I have a guest to attend to."
And before she even had time to protest, her mother had already ushered the Hitachiin to the door, luggage on hand and both of them waving her goodbye…
She was a woman with a straightforward and blunt personality. When she laughed, she didn't feel the need to hide it from the world. That was what Kaoru had noticed about Mika.
"Yuki's has an extremely bias approach to life. Once she sees things that way, her opinion would be almost impossible to change."
Kaoru grinned jocosely, switching the load of the luggage over to his left arm as he matched her slowed pace. "I'll make her change her opinions on things."
Mika turned and smiled, patting him on his shoulders gently. It was an affectionate gesture, something that he had never really felt from his own biological mother before. She was always too busy. The woman before her made him feel at ease without even trying, while his own mother had to try so hard to strike up a conversation that was not even similar to the one he was having.
"Just remember one thing Kaoru," her voice was still light, but held a mock seriousness in it as she stared at him directly in his eyes.
"Don't try anything funny, I think she hates you."
Breaking into a clear and delighted laughter, Kaoru smiled and nodded.
"I'll keep it in mind Mika-san."
He was always surprised in many different ways when he arrived at the shop. He had been welcomed by a natural and ungrudging smile the first time he came. The second time he came, he was welcomed by a look of utter abhorrence. The third time he came, he was welcomed by an accusing glare.
And this time, when he stepped into the shop, the stick of the mop stuck threateningly in front of his face welcomed him.
"What did you two talk about?" her voice was dangerously low, eyes narrowed at him with such… such detest and suspicion…
He couldn't resist the urge to tease her.
He lifted a finger, pushed the stick away from his face, and walked towards her nonchalantly, finger tracing the mop. He stopped when there was a considerably comfortable distance for her between them before he spoke again.
"You're mother was talking about how you needed to go out more and find someone…" he paused for dramatic effect, eyeing the brunette and her reactions. The silence only made her more frustrated as she glared at him.
"Get on with it!"
Kaoru chuckled and took a step closer towards her, only to have Miyuki take another step back. He glanced at him playfully, taking another step forward as she repeated the gesture.
"She was afraid that you might not…develop well in terms of mentality."
She raised an eyebrow, confusion evident on her face. "What do you mean by not develop…" Her eyes dimmer, jaws agile as she stared at the ground with disbelief. Her narrowed again as she threw a sharp look at him.
"What else?"
He pretended to think, placing a hand on his chin as he tapped his foot softly. Finally, deciding that that was enough, he snapped his fingers like something had came to his mind.
"She told me to help you."
"Help to?" she was burning with an invisible force of feeling betrayed.
"Develop." He shrugged casually, arms falling into the pockets on his pants. Miyuki scoffed, turning her back on him as she strolled back towards the counter.
"Give it up, you'll never be able to win me over with that attitude of yours."
He ambulated after her, turning so that the counter supported his back and threw his head backwards to look at her. "I've stolen the hearts of countless number of females. What makes you think you can run?"
"My heart is locked away and the key is well hidden. Good luck stealing it." Her voice sounded confident, a complete opposite of the inner tremor she was hiding. He must have known, smiling as he turned and leaned forward on the counter.
"Just don't beg me to return it when I find it."
End.
Review Responses
Thanks wolfspeaker01! I got kinda bored with everyone going to Ouran High too :) Thus, the story was born!! I'm working on more things to spice up the plot and make it more interesting :D
Thanks .ame.! Don't you just love puppies! Haha:D Thanks for the compliment!
Thanks lulumoo! I'm striving for making this story short, sweet and adorable! :D
Thanks mystakenidentity! Yep! I'm trying hard to work on Hikaru's reacctions too! Hopefully it'll turn out well :D
Thanks Jayrin Paige! I'm grinning like a mad person when I wrote the puppy scene in the last chappie :D Unfortunately, my time was limited and that was all I could do within my ability.. I'll work on it!
Thanks Kouyan! Here you are! The next update!! It's kinda...weird but I hope its decent to you! Enjoy :D