Woah, chapter 7! Yay my fever's all gone! Haha. Sorry if the story seems to be dragging, since I like details and describing scenes alot. Gets me into trouble with the teachers for writing too much though. XD Thanks for taking time out to view this, and I hope you enjoy reading the story as much as I did writing it!
Ren: You're right Usui, m4g3rul3z is a SADIST.
Usui: Didn't I warn you? But of all the women in the world, you choose the densest one of them all.
Ren: Well, yours doesn't acknowledge you either! Plus, isn't her chest "like a flat board"?
Usui: You sir, have an unmistakable death wish that I would like to grant.
m4g3rul3z: You gotta be kidding. I don't own Kaichou wa Maid Sama or Skip Beat! sheesh! What does an author have to do around here to get a simple disclaimer?
CHAPTER 7!
Ren had given up. It seemed to him even if he nudged her for another thousand times, she probably wouldn't stir at all. Kyoko had mustered just enough strength in the trailer just now to change into slacks and her blouse, but collapsed into a deep sleep the moment she stepped into the car. He sighed and turned off the engine, then got out of his automobile from the driver's seat. Then again, he thought in contemplative silence, I want her to get as much rest as she can. He casually stepped over to the side of the car she was still fast asleep in, opened the door and unbuckled her seatbelt in one swift movement. Pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket, Ren slowly dabbed it against her forehead, soaking the linen with her perspiration. Being wary of the roof of the car, he gently hoisted Kyoko from the seat and into his arms, but still managed to close the door and lock his car without jostling her too much.
To explain how Ren felt at this moment would be like trying to fathom how the earth began. For starters, he was positively thrilled that the woman of his dreams had agreed to spend the night at his place. However, he was more troubled than ecstatic. He didn't know how to take care of himself, much less take care of somebody else. On top of that, seeing Kyoko get teased just now was enough to make his blood boil. All the emotions in his head were driving him bonkers, and before he knew it, he was standing in front of his apartment door, adjusting the sleeping beauty ever so slightly before fishing out his keys to grant them access to the room.
Lowering Kyoko cautiously onto the guestroom's bed, Ren decided to get some ice to cool Kyoko down a little more. He returned to the bedside in a matter of minutes with a basin of water and ice, and a cloth draped over his shoulder. He couldn't help but be entranced the same reactions she had given to the cold can hours before, her eyebrows furrowing ever so slightly. Ren couldn't stand to see her mar her beauty with the creases she was making on her forehead, and moved his fingertips to touch her face, moving his thumb slowly to caress the area right above her eyebrow. This wasn't very effective, and Ren pouted a little, like a small kid set with a problem he was determined to solve but didn't think that it'd take more than one try.
"I bet you vaguely remember
The first time you met Corn
You were mesmerized by the golden hair
But you knew he was forlorn."
Ren wondered what had possessed him, causing him to sing ever so softly while caressing her face, but strangely enough he didn't want to stop. He felt as if he could put all his frustrations and hidden emotions into this and lull Kyoko to sleep as well. She wouldn't remember a thing anyway, she being in an unconscious state and having a fever to boot.
"I loved the way that you assumed
He was a fairy from a distant land
And your eyes were filled with hope and trust
That one day he'd be strong and stand."
Ren assured himself that she wouldn't be able to comprehend what he was saying, but felt the need to say it anyway. It felt like the butterflies in him were forcing their way out of the pit of his stomach, up his throat and into the room, echoing as the melodious waves bounced off the sparsely furnished room, fluttering their wings and creating a colourful symphony. Ren never let neither his hand leave her forehead, nor his eyes her face that was now wrinkle-free. He smiled a little foolishly, and then bit his lip, trying to think of some way to express his thoughts.
"But don't you see, don't you see?
You're the one who gave him wings to fly
You're the one who never questioned why
You're the only one he talked to
The only one he trusted was you
You're the only one who knew his hurt
The only one who dusted off the dirt
Now he's just a jewel in your precious memory
But you don't remember that he
Is me."
Bringing both fists to his forehead, he stopped short of pounding the floor and slowly put back on the mask that was Tsuruga Ren, before standing up and heading to kitchen to make something for Kyoko when she woke up. He tried to remind himself that she needed to eat something, but avoided confronting the real struggle in his subconscious mind. She won't remember. It's okay, she won't remember.
But what if I don't want her to forget?
...
Kyoko awoke to the smell of something burning. She blinked a little. There were three things that she knew, the first being that this was not her bed, the second that she had no idea how and when she had gotten here, and the third was her life could be at stake due to something vaguely poisonous brewing in the kitchen. This made Kyoko force herself to think over the loud throbbing in her head. She glanced around the room, noticing how much this looked like the guest room in Ren's apartment. It was so darn similar; it might as well be Ren's apartment. But the main issue on her mind was what to do with the deathly concoction her sensitive nose had picked up on. It was coming closer, and closer, and closer...
"Stay away from me!" She yelped and hid behind the blanket as the door swung open, "I know karate! AND I HAVE PROTECTIVE DEMONS!"
Ren was startled by her sudden shout. He managed to keep most of the porridge from spilling out from the porcelain bowl, and set it down on the mahogany bedside table. It didn't smell as bad as Kyoko thought it did, and it was edible, if just barely. The fever had messed with most of her senses, but neither Kyoko nor Ren knew about this. Thus, Ren was now trying his best to placate Kyoko, while explaining to her how she had ended up in his guest room's bed. Fortunately, Ren had unearthly persuasive skills, and Kyoko had calmed down in a matter of minutes.
"You cooked that for me?" She leaned against the propped pillows and glanced at the bowl next to her.
"Yeah."
Ren took the cue to fill a spoonful of the semi liquefied substance and dragged the bottom of the spoon across the side of the bowl, then lifting it to his lips to give it a gentle blow. This might have taken a matter of seconds, but for Kyoko, the sight of Japan's number one actor cooling down porridge for her was a little too much for her overheated brain. She was a lowly kohai! Unworthy and undeserving! If Ren had looked up at her at that moment, he would have noticed the complete hysteria she was in. Too bad he was just absolutely absorbed with his current task of making sure the porridge wasn't too hot for her to consume, leaving Kyoko to freak out as usual.
When he was absolutely sure the spoonful of porridge was safe for consumption (temperature-wise, no one's sure about taste-wise), his dark eyes twinkled mischievously as they met her golden ones. Gone was the hysterical Kyoko, and in her place was the calmer, but still slightly confused young woman. Ren smiled genuinely, beckoning her to sit up straight so she wouldn't choke while swallowing her supper. Kyoko complied as he fluffed the pillows with his free hand, and then watched as he slowly sat on the bed beside her, putting his unoccupied hand under the spoon.
"Ah," he mimicked a father trying to coerce his two year old daughter into eating.
Kyoko was utterly bewildered. She raised a questioning eyebrow, wondering what had gotten into her sempai. He just responded with another smile that made Kyoko feel as if she was melting a little. Glancing towards the bedside table, she tried to calm her heart down, feeling it suddenly pound faster than normal.
"Don't...don't do that," she murmured.
"Do what?"
"Smile like that."
"And why not?"
"It makes me feel like I'm more than your kohai."
Ren was sure his heart was going to give up and die on him. She wasn't as dense as he thought she was! Now, if only she'd marry me within the next century! But there was a situation at hand, and Ren swore he should have just committed hara-kiri there and then when he heard what he said in reply to her.
"We're going to be acting as lovers. This is good practice, isn't it?" He mentally slapped himself as hard as mental slaps could get, while putting on the pained, forced, false smile, "now open wide."
Kyoko grudgingly leaned forward and took a mouthful of the warm porridge. It didn't taste as bad as it smelled or looked, and she gave a wan smile without looking at Ren. He noticed this, but was secretly relieved enough that she didn't throw it all up or insult his cooking, even though he knew she would have done a much better job with it. Ren felt slightly embarrassed and started to scoop a second spoonful, and started to cool it down like he had done with the first one.
"Kuon," she stated.
The spoon Ren was holding suddenly froze in position, as did his entire body in the same millisecond. He was absolutely sure he had heard her wrong. Had he put corn in the porridge? Ah. That must be it. I shouldn't have put corn into the porridge. Maybe she doesn't like corn? Maybe she –
"Kuon Hizuri."
...
Haha. Cliff hanger guys, cliff hanger. I'm such a sadist. XD
