Author's Note: This chapter is longer now. Pretty dramatic though :P Have been watching too many dramas lately.
It was nightfall. Mako found herself sitting at the back porch next to Takeru. Both did not utter a single word to each other for what seemed like eternity.
Then Takeru spoke. "Mako…I will be able to stomach your cooking. One day."
"Huh…?" Mako shot him a quizzical look.
"If there is a will, there is a way. If I try hard enough, I can eat your cooking –"
"Takeru! What do you mean?" Mako was getting a little annoyed at Takeru beating around the bush.
"This is so that you would not need to date a guy that can cook," Takeru looked at her, serious.
Mako was plain shocked. "A guy…that can cook? Don't tell me…you were listening to my conversation with Genta earlier today?"
Takeru nodded. Mako was both exasperated and embarrassed, her face flushed red. "Why on earth did you do that, Takeru? It's…an invasion of privacy!"
"This is because I don't want Genta to be with you, Mako!" Takeru said it almost immediately, and he was surprised at his blatancy.
Mako was speechless for a while. She had never seen Takeru like this before. He always pondered before saying something, and not shoot off like what he did, so reserved, so samurai-like… Was the change because…of her?
When she finally gathered her thoughts, she asked, "Does that mean…you like me?"
Clenching his teeth, Takeru replied, "Yes. I have liked you even before Genta came…your gentleness and kindness had touched me…I thought you done that because you fancied me. However, not only was I proven wrong, you chose Genta, someone who had joined our team later than all of us! How could you have developed feelings for him when you have spent more time with me…" Then Takeru clasped his mouth. He finally let all his feelings out after bottling them up, but he didn't expect it to be so…frank.
Completely taken aback, Mako's mind was in a whirl as she thought of something to say. Strange for someone like her, so cool-headed, so composed, to have her mind completely blank twice in a row.
"Takeru, I – I'm sorry. I have really chosen Genta, and you just…don't stand a chance. Please give up, and maybe find another girl…"
"No!" Takeru suddenly placed two strong hands on Mako's fragile shoulders and pulled himself close to her. "You are the only girl that I love, and I will never give you up! Relationships can be nurtured…just give us some time."
"Seriously, Takeru," Mako was getting uncomfortable, "but feelings cannot be forced, so…just –"
At that very moment, Takeru did something no one, even Mako, would have thought he would have done. He yanked Mako close to him, put his hands on her cheeks and forced a kiss on her lips.
Disgusted and shocked, Mako struggled out of Takeru's strong grasp. "Ta…ke…ru…, you…"
Finally, Mako pushed him off herself and delivered a tight slap on his face. "You are such a selfish freak, 'Lord-sama'!"
Now, Takeru was the one that was taken aback.
"Mako…you…" Takeru daren't look up, and muttered to himself while looking to the ground.
A concerned Mako went up to him, placing one slender hand on his arm. "Takeru…are you okay? I'm so sorry I slapped you like that, I was just –"
Takeru brushed her hand off and walked away. "Forget it…go…back in…" Takeru croaked, as if he was choking on tears.
Mako, utterly remorseful at what she did wanted to chase him when she saw two streaks on Takeru's face gleaming underneath the pale moonlight.
She stood there, silent.
"Woah, never seen Nee-san so scary before…" Chiaki sighed as he, Ryuunosuke and Kotoha watched the drama at a distance.
"But Lord-sama is quite pitiful, being rejected by Mako-chan," Kotoha added.
"Don't worry!" Ryuunosuke put his hands on their shoulders, reassuring them. "Lord will be able to handle rejection! The other time when Mako rejected me, I got over it rather quickly, so I'm sure he will be able to handle it better, right?"
Chiaki shrugged his shoulders. Kotoha gave a hopeful nod.