Sorry for the long time no update I've been giving you guys, but I hope this makes up for it... I spent a lot of time on it.
"Remember the corsage!" Riko barked from the other end of the phone. She was just across the hallway in her apartment with Teru, Andy, and Master Masuda, but she for some reason was finding it necessary to call him every five minutes or so about every little thing imaginable. She was treating him as though he was going to forget everything and run off somewhere without telling anyone. Of course he was feeling a little flighty, but it was just the butterflies in his stomach… he wasn't going to stand Teru up for anything, and he was going to try his damnedest to make tonight perfect for her… which was the reason he had such butterflies in his stomach. He wasn't sure that he would be able to make things perfect for her. After all he was only human and worse than that he was only himself. He was just hoping and praying that everything would go off without a hitch and that he would be able to see her smile all night long.
"For God's sake Riko, I haven't even showered yet. If you're going to antagonize me on every point of tonight, I would appreciate that it happens in a half-hour or so." He replied crossly. They still had hours until the Prom, but for some reason Riko believed that they had to be ready three hours in advance before they even had to leave.
"I'm sending over Master and Andy to keep you on track." She replied as if she hadn't heard a single word he had just said. "Your door had better be unlocked, because otherwise I've given them orders to break it down." She sounded a bit too gleeful for comfort… Kurosaki honestly thought that she got some kind of sick joy out of making his life miserable.
"What? No!" He stammered out just in time to hear the click that indicated that Riko had ended the call. He glared at the screen of his phone angrily and shouted "Hag!" so loudly that he was sure she could hear it from across the hall. Knowing that she wasn't bluffing about Andy and the Master, he unlocked his door and walked to his bathroom. They would just have to let themselves in, because he wasn't in the mood to give hospitality to uninvited guests.
Closing and locking his bathroom door, he allowed himself the most privacy he would have all night. He was nervous about the whole thing, and was glad to be able to take a shower to clear his head. He started the water and heard a door open and close indicating that the guys had made it across the hallway safely and were now more than likely sitting on his sofa. They were probably going to play video games on his TV while he was in the shower, just because he knew they loved to do so when he wasn't around to tell them they couldn't. Honestly, they were grown men, why couldn't they just buy their own consoles if they honestly loved playing so much? He tried to just ignore everything and act as if it was just a normal day as he removed his shirt and threw a towel over the shower curtain rod. The water was up to temperature by then, so sighing he removed his jeans and his boxers after that.
Stepping into the shower really was an escape to him. With the warm water drumming on his skin, and drops running down his face, he felt the most calm he had since waking up in the morning. It was good to just have a few moments to himself when he felt like everyone was counting on him. He grabbed his shampoo off one of the shower's built in shelves and rubbed and handful into his blonde locks. It foamed as he scrubbed it in, and he was given a few minutes to just focus of getting clean, and nothing else.
However the feeling of calm abruptly ended when he got out of the shower, into a towel and heard Andy calling his name from the living room.
"Will you let me at least put some boxers on before you bother me?" Tasuku shouted while twisting the knob on his bathroom sink to cold in preparation to brush his teeth.
There was a brief pause during which he began to brush his teeth, until the silence was broken again by Andy, "Why does it matter?" He asked in his usual reckless manner. "We've seen you naked before anyway!"
He nearly choked on his toothbrush as he heard a deep laugh that could only belong to Masuda. "I told you to never speak of that again!" He shouted resulting in him spitting out his toothbrush and toothpaste all over his bathroom mirror.
"Yeah, come on Andy!" The master shouted through chuckles, "He doesn't like it when we talk about the company Christmas party… It wasn't his fault he was drunk when Soichiro dared him to run a lap around the building buck naked."
"That was a cold night too!" Andy added in with mock helpfulness before Kurosaki could even open his mouth to respond. "He's lucky he didn't freeze his you know what off!" With that there was another roll of laughter from the two.
To this Kurosaki replied with a variety of cusses that would make even the lewdest sea dog blush crimson. After which he made sure to finish brushing his teeth and clean his mirror off with a towel. He then pulled on his boxers and quickly dried his hair with a fresh towel before emerging from the bathroom just to storm into the living room to chew the two of them out. "What the hell is the big idea?" He asked seething.
To this Andy threw a box to him and said, "Riko made us buy you these because you know… it didn't actually freeze off."
He caught the box, and almost threw it back in anger when he realized what they were. "Condoms? Really guys?" He asked angrily. He was taking the girl to prom, not some kind of college frat party.
"We all know what prom night is like!" Andy said with a big contemplative grin, as if he were remembering his own prom night from many years ago.
Kurosaki wanted badly to reach out and ring his neck right there and then, but the master looked at him in the understanding way he usually did, and it took away the worst of his temper. "I know it's not your plan." Masuda said sympathetically, "But in case the moment arises… We all thought it would be better to be safe than sorry."
He knew that they were just trying to help, and he seriously doubted he would need them, but the Master's speech had made him agree to at least bring them… after all, he was in love with Teru, and who knew what her expectations for prom night were?
"Plus!" Andy added, "We knew you didn't have any, because it's been forever since you got laid!"
"Shut it Andy!" Kurosaki hissed. He was right though… it had been a very long time since he'd even thought about having sex with anyone… after all, Teru had been the only woman on his mind for what felt like forever.
As Kurosaki stalked off to his bedroom to get ready, he heard Masuda talking to Andy in what sounded like a chiding voice… if there was any justice in the world, he was being told off.
Teru stepped out of the shower and felt the butterflies creep into her stomach. Today was Prom. It had seemed like just the other day that Kurosaki had burst into her apartment asking her if she still wanted him to go to Prom with her… and it felt like mere moments ago that she had fallen asleep in his arms, but it had truly been a little over a week. As she dried herself off and dried her hair, she remembered how it had felt when his lips were mere centimeters away from hers, and how much it had hurt to know that it was nothing but a hoax. She wondered if this time, he would actually kiss her. Just the thought made her blush and feel warm all over. She really liked him… rather loved him and nothing made her heart flutter more than the thought that he may kiss her tonight…
However, that wasn't totally true… there was something that made her heart absolutely leap out of her chest… there was something else that people did at Prom that she had heard about from her friends… something that only happened behind closed doors between those whom loved each other or just didn't care… She blushed crimson to even picture it, and knew that it wasn't even a possibility… after all, they were probably just coming back home tonight, and it would be a stretch for him to even kiss her goodnight let alone have sex with her. Besides that she was a virgin, and she knew he must have some kind of experience in that field… Her friends had said it was better that way… to have your first time with someone who had done it before… someone older and someone with tact… She heard that it hurt too your first time, and depending on how you went about it, it could hurt badly or barely at all. She wasn't going to lie. She was afraid of even the thought, but at the same time transfixed.
She was a young woman, so of course she thought about such things, and for such a reason she had gone shopping with Rena, Kako, and the other girls to buy some… things. She didn't have much money of her own, but she had saved for a while and picked up something special for prom… just in case. Of course for some time now she had been a little concerned about her white bras and panties… after all they were so plain and girlish that they hardly befit a young woman of eighteen, so with what little money she had, she had bought herself a gift with the help of her friends. She had told Riko about it too, and she had just smiled and laughed in an older-sister like manner saying that pretty girls did deserve to wear pretty things.
After drying herself off completely, she slipped on the said self-given present. She had bought a brand new bra and pantie set. It was on the expensive side and made of dark blue satin with little black bows and lace… it made her feel pretty just to wear it, and it made her feel as if she was a bit more grown up. Not to mention it had a fair amount of padding to help out her A-cup issue… She couldn't help but look at herself in the mirror once she had put them on. She smiled broadly and felt more feminine than she had ever felt before. On top of this she pulled on an oversized t-shirt that she generally slept in… it used to be her brothers…
Sticking her head out the bathroom door, she called out to Riko, "Are Andy and the Master gone now?" She asked, knowing that Riko had planned to send them to Kurosaki's so that Teru could finish getting ready without the guys being around in case she was indecent for more than a minute or two.
"Yeah, they're gone, the apartment's door is locked, and the blinds are closed… you're all clear!" She responded as she rounded the corner to Teru's bedroom with a garment bag in one hand, while using the other to beckon Teru to follow.
Teru walked out of the bathroom door and followed Riko into her bedroom clad in only her t-shirt, knowing that soon she would be in the dress of her dreams. It all felt like a fairytale to her… she was going to put on a big ball gown, heels, and jewelry… she was going to look beautiful and wear makeup and perfume… Riko was going to do her hair and she was going to put on a mask… It was so surreal, and Teru had never imagined in a million years that she would actually be going to prom at all, let alone be all dolled up to go to prom with the man she was in love with.
As she entered the room, she saw Riko unzip the garment bag and remove the dress of her dreams. She smiled broadly as Riko took it off the hanger and helped her put it on after she had removed her shirt. Sure enough it still fit perfectly, accentuating her figure and making her look like a model at the very least. Riko tied the corset lacing on the back tight enough that it mad the dress highlight her figure further, but not so tight that she couldn't breathe. She felt her tug and the strings and ultimately tie the ribbons into a bow with long tails. It felt wonderful to be in the dress again, and it felt almost like a second skin to Teru. She felt lovely in it, and as she sat down in front of her vanity to let Riko do her hair and makeup, she finally knew what it felt like to be pretty. A smile lit up her face and she thought about someone that she had barely thought of all day… Her brother.
She couldn't help but wonder if he were proud of her right now… looking down on her from heaven, did he think she looked pretty? Was he glad that she was going to prom with Tasuku? She knew that he would be excited to see her go to Prom, and would probably be flipping out and taking pictures every five seconds, but she wondered if he would really be happy about her choices. Of course she knew that he loved her, and that if he were here he would be hugging her and kissing her over and over and over saying that she was the best and most beautiful little sister ever… but all the same she missed him because that was all she could do… imagine… she wished so badly that he could be there at her side right now wiping away all her insecurities and doubts with hugs and smiles.
As she thought about this, she felt Riko's hand touch her shoulder gently as she prepared to style her hair, and she was reminded that even though Soichiro wasn't there with her, he had not left her alone. She smiled a bit broader thinking of Riko's kindness and how Masuda, Andy, and the others would always be there for her. She thought about Kurosaki and how much love she had for him… she also remembered him as Daisy and how much he had taken care of and loved her during that time. She thought of Kiyoshi, Rena, and the others… She felt so honored to have so much love around her… love that defied the bounds of blood relations, age, and title. She knew then that no matter what was ahead for tonight… yes, her brother would be proud. He would be proud that his sister was a person who attracted such wonderful friends… and he would be proud that his sister had come so far even without his guiding hand there at all times. She knew he would've been proud of her for just being proud of herself.
Kurosaki had already gone out to his car to throw in the few things he would need for the night. His wallet, his phone, a change of clothes (for when he was free to get out of the monkey suit he was in), a hoodie, sneakers, Andy's "gift", and a special surprise he himself had picked up for Teru without Riko or anyone else's knowledge… Now all there was for him to do was cross the hallway and get Teru. With her corsage in hand, he knocked on the door, feeling pissed at Riko who had begun to text him constantly since she had finished Teru's hair and makeup, and a bit nervous himself for everything that was to come.
It was an odd feeling to Kurosaki, that he really was feeling exactly like an insecure teenage boy right now… He was a grown man, but just the thought of Prom was reducing him to mush… He couldn't even imagine what Teru would look like when he saw her… he didn't even know what her dress looked like other than the fact that it was light blue… like the tie he had been forced to wear by Riko who had insisted that color coordination was important for some reason or another… in all he was nervous, but was hiding it well from Masuda and Andy who were just behind him waiting for Riko to open the door.
Kurosaki was going to drive himself and Teru to prom, and while they were gone, Riko, Andy and the master were going to have dinner at Riko's apartment, though Masuda was going to cook because Riko's cooking was the equivalent to dirt as far as flavor went… not that anyone would tell her that for fear of her hellish wrath.
While thinking about this, the lock clicked and the door swung open revealing the aforementioned bad-chef-demon in the flesh. She gestured for them to come in, but as soon as they were through the threshold she had them stop. "I didn't have a staircase, so Teru's going to make a grand entrance out of her room." Riko explained, trusting them to stay there as she scurried gleefully into Teru's bedroom.
Kurosaki nearly laughed, "grand entrance", what the hell did she think this was? Some kind of chick flick or something? However when the door opened slowly… grand it was.
Teru looked at Kurosaki as soon as she opened the door… his mouth was opened slightly as if in awe, and it was all she could do but reciprocate. Of course she had seen him in a suit before, but him dressed up in a full tux was a sight to behold. She tried her hardest to contain her excitement and anxiousness a she slowly but surely walked towards him with a single white rose boutonniere in her hand. She had gone with Riko early in the morning to pick it up from the florists and had ordered it the week before. It was a single white rose surrounded by baby's breath taped together with green florist's tape. It was lovely and the stuff the florist had sprayed it with made it look as if it was just picked off a bush with morning dew still on its petals. She liked it a lot, but was embarrassed to go up and pin it on such a handsome man. Was it truly Kurosaki who stood before her? He was so handsome and proper looking, dressed head to toe in elegant black and white with the only peep of color being a tie that perfectly matched the color of the gown she now wore. The only indication that it truly was her delinquent janitor standing before her, was his dyed blond hair. She nearly muttered 'Go bald' as a term of endearment and a break to reality when she got close to him and realized that it truly was him standing in front of her.
He couldn't find any words to describe the way she looked as she walked towards him. She was the loveliest thing he had ever seen in his entire life… and not even the word lovely did her justice. She walked confidently in a long floor length gown with a corset top and enough poof to make it a ball gown, but not so much that it was unmanageable. It had a bit of crinoline underneath to make it poof out, but the effect was much more Cinderella than anything and in fact was a bit toned down for even that. He noticed all the things he wouldn't have had it been another girl… the beading on the dress looking like daisies, the necklace she was wearing being the one he had given her as daisy, and the way her makeup was just enough to highlight the best of her features… nothing too overwhelming. He also noticed some things that made him want to blush… the dress made her figure even more fantastic than usual… though he picked on her about her being flat and such things constantly, he knew she had a shape… and he liked it… it was subtle, and even being a man he knew it had potential to look like it did now… amazing and sexy. He noticed how her chest looked much larger than usual also… she looked like she was at least a B-cup if not a C… and though he guessed that she was wearing a push up bra, he couldn't help but look a little longer than strictly necessary. He wondered if she had done that for her own look or for him… He almost did blush at the thought. He fumbled with the package in his hand… it held the wrist corsage that he had gone out and ordered especially for her… he had to have it custom made, because no florist in town had exactly what he was looking for.
Teru blushed when she realized how intently Kurosaki was staring at her… He was looking at her in a way she had never seen him do so before… in his eyes there was longing… and though she was unfamiliar with the emotion, she would have sworn she saw lust… She also noticed how broadly Andy and the Master were smiling… she heard them calling her beautiful from the moment she walked out, and she had even heard Masuda say that he knew that Soichiro was smiling down on them all right now. She was overwhelmed with a feeling of happiness, though it still had an undertone of anxiousness because though she saw thoughts in his eyes… Kurosaki had yet to say anything to her.
"Beautiful." It was all he could say… He didn't even have time to think of a better word to say before it was out of his mouth, "Teru… you're beautiful." His voice was full of honesty and he knew that it really was true… she was beautiful, and tonight she was all his.
"Thank you." She said with a blush deeper than her previous flush of color. "You look great too Kurosaki…" She said softly. It was all so unreal to her, that this was actually happening.
Kurosaki saw Riko begin to take pictures, so rather than allow her to pose them every which way, he decided to give Teru her corsage. He opened up the small box from the florists and pulled out the corsage that would soon grace her wrist. It was daisies… her favorite flower and the symbol for the beginning of their relationship. With the daisies there were accents of some type of decorative green foliage that he had forgotten the name of and light blue ribbon… he had designed it himself for her, and as he slid it on her wrist, he knew he had made the right choice.
She blushed even harder and attempted and failed to pin on his boutonniere until ultimately he had helped her do it himself… hand over hand…
After indulging Riko and the others with a few more photos, Teru grabbed her bag from the other room and took the arm that Tasuku offered her… They were off to prom together, and there would be no turning back now.
I won't tell you guys whats up next... but I will say I need a song... a slow song... send me your favorite along with a review please!