Disclaimer: All SD characters don't belong to me

To my friend Ellen, and Karla, member of the Rukawa Brigade

Thank you for reading/reviewing!

Chapter 4: The Next Day

RINNNNNNNG

POW

CRASH

Rukawa got up, scratching his head and yawning. He looked at the alarm clock that he had just punched on the floor. Picking it up, Rukawa tried to see if it was still working.

No ticking.

Rukawa checked the batteries and looked at the clock again.

Still not working.

"Time to get a new clock."

Rukawa changed into his school uniform and took his backpack. He went down his stairs, yawning again. Just when he was about to sit down at the door to put on his shoes, he smelt something in the air.

"Smell delicious, what…"

Rukawa got up and curiously, went to the kitchen, where the smell came from. He saw breakfast on the table. Scrambled eggs and bacon…

"Ohayo, Kaede."

Rukawa looked up and saw Miharu coming towards the table with a tray of two glasses of milk. She placed them on the table.

"Are you hungry? Sit down and eat." she said cheerfully.

"You made all these yourself?" asked Rukawa.

"I helped a little." said Watari, who came to set the table.

"But you are injured! How could you just move around like that?" started Rukawa.

"Without even asking me?"

The moment Rukawa said those words, he regretted them.

"Shit, how could I just yell at her like that…"

"I'm just injured, not paralyzed." said Miharu, offended. "Besides, I feel uncomfortable about staying here and not doing anything."

Rukawa wanted to say "sorry", but he found it hard to say the word, for he never said "sorry". He then just kept quiet.

"Sit down and have breakfast."

"Can I? After how I yelled at you just now…"

"Hurry up, otherwise you will be late." said Miharu, smiling.

Rukawa looked at his watch and nodded. He sat down and took a fork.

He picked up the bacon and put it into his mouth.

"… not bad."

As he ate, Watari smiled. "That's nice. Usually Young Master Rukawa never eats anything in the morning."

"Really?" asked Miharu.

Watari nodded. "The most he got into his mouth is milk."

"Watari, don't talk about this in front of her..."

Rukawa frowned at Watari, which shut him up.

"Then I will make breakfast for you every morning before I leave, take it as a fee for staying here…" said Miharu. "How about that?"

Rukawa stared at Miharu.

"As you wish." he said and continued to eat.

"Nice, free breakfast every morning…"

Rukawa got into his bike. Looking at Miharu, he said, "Don't go anywhere while I'm gone. Watari, keep an eye on her."

Watari nodded. Miharu smiled at him. "Have a safe trip."

Rukawa stared at her.

"Uh." said Rukawa and rode off.

As he did, Rukawa fell asleep on his bike as usual. And then…

BANG

"Ah!!!"

Rukawa got up from the floor and opened his eyes.

"What the… don't tell me that I…"

But then when he saw the familiar red hair, Rukawa relaxed.

"Oh it's the baka… then never mind."

"Darn you Rukawa! Why can't you keep your eyes open while you are riding!" yelled Sakuragi madly as Rukawa got onto the bike. "You darn kitsune!"

Rukawa looked at Sakuragi with annoyance. He examined him from head to toe with his eyes.

"You don't have any injuries, so what do you want me to do?" asked Rukawa. "Don't waste your time here, hurry up and get to school, do'aho…"

"You call the tensai do'aho! How dare you…"

Rukawa rode off.

"Oi, come back and fight, Rukawa!"

"Really now, I don't know what I have done to provoke this guy… okay, so Akagi Haruko offered to treat my injuries and I rejected her, but so what? What's that got to do with Sakuragi? I just don't like people to fuss over me too much…"

Miharu's leg was completely healed. She danced merrily on a vast field dotted with purple and yellow flowers. Her lovely white dress swayed as she danced.

She then noticed something in front of her and smiled. "Kaede, come and dance with me!"

"Can I?"

"Why not?"

"Because… no one ever asks me to join in their fun… they think I'm too cold…"

"Are you?" asked Miharu, smiling.

"I'm just too…"

"Oi, Rukawa Kaede, wake up!" yelled a voice.

Straightaway, someone slapped Rukawa on the back with a book. Miharu disappeared with the field, much to Rukawa's disappointment and annoyance.

Rukawa opened his eyes and looked up at his teacher. He scowled and stood up.

"I told you. I won't let anyone off who disturbs my sleep." he said in a low tone.

Soon…

"Ah! Get Rukawa off Sensei! Get him off before he kills him!" screamed the students in the Year 1 Class 10.

Rukawa got home and found the house empty. That was not new to Rukawa, for he was already used to come back to an empty house.

Rukawa went up the stairs and thinking he should go and take a look at Miharu, he went to her bedroom.

Hecate was at the door once more, looking at her master.

"Hecate, move."

Hecate refused to move.

"I said, move." said Rukawa in a louder voice.

Hecate stood up and hissed at Rukawa.

Rukawa frowned.

"Even this cat is against me."

Rukawa placed his hand on the doorknob and knocked on the door before opening it. That's when he found….

Miharu with only her underwear on. She was sitting on her bed, with her shirt in her hands.

For a moment, Rukawa and Miharu didn't react. Miharu then screamed and Rukawa slammed the door shut.

"Shit… how, what…." Rukawa looked at Hecate.

"You know what she's doing inside, don't you?" he asked. "That's why you tried to stop me?"

Hecate meowed in response.

"Great. Now she is going to think that I'm a pervert…"

Miharu opened the door a few moments later and she came out, her cheeks pink. "Um, when did you get home?"

"Just." said Rukawa quietly.

"Are you hungry? I'm going to prepare dinner." said Miharu, smiling.

Rukawa raised one of his eyebrows.

"In this condition? Breakfast is easy, but making dinner…"

"You doubt it?" asked Miharu, smiling.

Rukawa shook his head.

"I can do it. Wait and see. I have asked Watari to put everything on the table where I could reach…" said Miharu and she wheeled herself off to the kitchen.

"She didn't ask me for help… fine." thought Rukawa and he went to his bedroom. He changed his uniform into his sleeveless top and shorts and picked up his basketball.

Rukawa walked out of his room and made his way to the door. After putting on his shoes, he went out without a word.

Rukawa was planning to go to the park and practice his basketball for a while before dinner. However, after he got on his bicycle, he looked back at the house, where Miharu was in.

"Is it okay to leave her alone there?"

Rukawa shook his head and started pedaling.

"Oh come on, she will be fine, Watari is around too…"

However, after one km… Rukawa stopped his bike.

"Matte yo, is Watari around? I didn't see him… What if…"

Giving a noise of frustration, Rukawa turned his bike around.

"That woman is such a headache…"

Rukawa got home and found Miharu cutting the carrots on the board. She seemed to have no problem sitting down and cutting vegetables at the same time…

Rukawa walked up to Miharu and placing his hand on the board, Rukawa said, "Let me help."

Miharu smiled at him. "It's all right, I'm finished with this one. You can help me with the stove. I need to heat up the curry…"

Rukawa blinked at her and looked at the stove. He had never operated the stove ever since he first stepped into this house 5 years ago.

He pointed the stove and Miharu nodded. "Yeah, the stove. You… don't know how to operate it?"

"No I don't."

But Rukawa wasn't going to tell Miharu that. He went to the stove and put his hand on the control knob.

He turned it and flames appeared on the hot plate. He then placed the pot of curry on the stove.

"This is too easy." He went back to Miharu and said, "Need anything else?"

"Um… Ah! Kaede, the fire is too strong!" exclaimed Miharu.

Rukawa turned around and saw that the curry was boiling. Some of it had already spilled out of the pot. Quickly he ran to the stove and turned the control knob.

Wrong direction, the flames just went bigger.

Rukawa turned the knob to another direction and succeeded in turning off the stove. Without thinking, Rukawa touched the lid of the pot.

"Kaede!"

Straightaway, the heat burnt Rukawa's hand, but Rukawa didn't scream in pain. He just let go of the lid.

The lid fell to the floor with a loud thud.

He went to the sink.

"Kaede…" started Miharu.

Rukawa didn't respond, he just washed his scalded fingers under the cold water.

"Kaede, are you all right?" asked Miharu in concern.

"Uh." said Rukawa and he didn't say anymore.

Rukawa looked at his fingers. They were red, but he would not tell Miharu that.

Looking at the lid and the spilled curry, Rukawa said, "Let's just order a take-out. Never mind about the mess, I will get someone to clean it."