Love Decoy

Chapter 7: Bashful much?

"GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE NOW!!" Rima screamed at the top of her lungs.

— — — — — — — — x

At first, both of them stared at each other, very horrified and embarrassed indeed.

Then Rima had screamed and Shiki panicked on what to do.

Try as he may, he had a hard time stopping his eyes on strolling all over her nakedness.

He had to admit.. He surely couldn't find words to describe what he felt right now. Guilt, stupidity, conscience, embarrassment and most of all..PLEASURE.

"I said,get out!!" She screamed again and threw a shampoo bottle at him.

Rima's cheeks were burnt red as blood, but she had to admit.. she couldn't help but be delighted at the sight in front of her.

He dodged it and slammed the door behind him.

He sighed in relief when he was outside the bathroom. Shiki would never know what Rima was gonna throw at him next if he'd stay another second in the bathroom.

He immediately wore his clothes and his cheeks burned while remembering her body and her, seeing his.

ON the other hand, Rima was panicking inside the bathroom. What will she do now? Deja Vu was with her again. Exactly like the time she wore lingerie.

"Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Whatdoido. Whatdoido??" She cried frantically between sobs. Her body was warm and shaking.

Knock. Knock.

"Rima." Shiki said quietly.

"Go away you imbecile! I quit! You hear that pervert!" She yelled.

Shiki sighed and shook his head. "Rima.. I feel the same way about embarrassment. I mean.. it's not a big deal, when two people live together.. it's bound to happen right?" He said soothingly.

There was silence on the other end.. and then:

"Go away." Her voice shook with fury.

Then deciding quickly, she dressed herself and opened the huge window to jump on a near by branch with her lithe vampire skills.

She wanted to be comforted. She thought as she ran away..

- - - - x

"Rima, you shouldn't have done that to him. He must be worried." Ruka explained yet again,exasperated at her coldness.

Rima scoffed."What he did was beyond awkward. I can't look at him in the eye Ruka-san! It's―"

"Tell me what exactly you felt when you saw him naked." Ruka asked pointedly.

The rebellious lady pursed her lips.. then slowly,there were pink tints on her cheeks.

"Err.. I felt angry of course. And embarrassed." She answered.

The blond vampire grimaced. "Not good enough. I meant, what exactly did you feel? Like maybe overwhelmed by lust?"

Rima's brows collided into a furious scowl. "FOR EVEN A SECOND, PLEASURE DIDN'T EVEN COME INTO MY MIND IF THAT'S WHAT YOU MEAN AND WANT ME TO SAY RUKA." She lied.

Ruka shrugged and sipped her tea calmly.

"I don't know why your making such a fuss about it though Rima, I mean.. your married remember? Technically couples..err,never mind." Ruka looked away.

Rima almost choked her soda when she remembered that Ruka did not know the marriage was fake. She almost slipped. Darn it.

"Well, it's a new experience for me.. I still can't help but be awkward about it."

Ruka shook her head.

"well,okay. Just keep cool,it's part of commitments. You can stay with me as long as you like.. but I have to go to class in thirty minutes,and Kain is waiting for me. you can't enter of course since you're rescheduled to study next week still.."

Rima huffed. "Yeah.. but thanks Ruka, I can't stay.. I'll wander on my own and go where fate wants me to be. See ya next week and thanks for listening to my rant." Both ladies stood up and hugged each other briefly.

"No problem. See me anytime Rima." Ruka left her on the table.

Rima was walking on Cross Academy's grounds. When she heard footsteps behind her.

"Who's there?" She asked abruptly.

The bushes rustled and Takuma came out.

"BOO!" He joked.

"Lame-o." Rima pretended to yawn but still managed to grin at him.

By now, both of them are walking together in a flower garden.

"How's it going? How come you're here Rima? Shouldn't you be with Senri?"

"Hmph. Will you please stop talking about the imbecile?"

Takuma stared at her blankly. "Did something happen?"

Briefly, Rima explained the occurrence.

"ha ha ha ha ha!!" Takuma toppled on the ground. "Did he really? Jesus! I can't believe it. This is hilarious!"

Rima couldn't hide the blush again and she felt furious about her cheeks going wild. She felt so human.. so lady-like. And she didn't like that one bit.

"Stop laughing Takuma or I'm going to punch you." She threatened angrily.

He stopped and held her hand. "Things are changing." He said simply.

Rima looked at him . "What do you mean?" She didn't notice their hands.

"Well.. since your staying in Senri's house, sooner or later change would happen. Of course it's inevitable in everyday life but maybe.. after six months.. you'll finally realize something." He mused.

"What change are you talking about?" She demanded in an impatient manner.

"Don't change okay?" He whispered towards her and hugged her awkwardly,tightly.

Rima stood frozen on her tracks when she felt his body wrap around hers.

"Uh.. sure. I'll be the same. Thanks for the.. err, time. I have to go bye!" Rima pushed him away, blushing harder now.. and ran to the main gates of the school.

Takuma watched her leave.

"Maybe after six months you'll fall in love with him and I would never know what to do if that would happen. I'm counting on you Rima. Stay the same.." He whispered to himself and walked back to the huge hall.

- - - -x

Rima panted as she walked in a park. Did Takuma Ichijo did that to her? Hug? A hug? Seriously?

She folded her arms while the shiver escaped her lips. Why would he do that? And what change was he talking about? He was weird.

She saw food stands and her stomach growled. There were humans, strolling casually around, having fun,chasing each other. She had no desire for their blood at this time.

As if on cue, her phone rang.

Rima had second thoughts on answering it. Then she closed her eyes and unhooked the receiver.

"Hello?"

"Rima!"

It was Shiki.

She could feel her heart thump.

"Where are you? I've been worried sick. Come home please!"

She bit her lower lip and guilt suddenly ate her. she could feel his heavy breath on the other line,he was clearly running..but where?

"Where are you?" She asked,ignoring his question. She shouldn't have run away. But rebels always run away. Only this time, Shiki was making her feel guilty about it. Without him knowing he did that.

"I'm in the Public Park.. looking for you." He answered.

Rima almost laughed at the timing. Why, she was in the Public Park too!

"I'm here.." she whispered, her throat thick with guilt,still.

"Here where?" He nearly yelled.

"Park." She murmured. And her eyes looked for the familiar chestnut hair around families.

She spotted him, Senri Shiki was craning his neck everywhere hurriedly. he was running again, then stopped to look. He was very aggravated indeed.

"Where are you? Is this a joke? Rima I'm serious!" He scolded.

She hang up the phone and walked towards him. She heard a curse,while he was blabbing impatient words. His back was to her.

Then she tapped his shoulder.

He turned and gasped.

Shiki couldn't help the relief growing on him as soon as her eyes locked with his.

She managed to smile a little.

He was about to hug her, over-powered with the emotions,when he realized what he was about to do and stopped his hands mid way to her waist.

"Sorry." He said.

She grinned. "That's okay. I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have thrown a bottle at you and walked out. It was so.. child-like. Now, I feel stupid."

He smiled and patted her shoulder. "I understand. And let's forget about that okay? We're quits when it came to nudity. so.. no more tantrums and running away?"

"Promise." She nodded and took out a pockey. She gave him one.

And they clinked it together like wine. "Cheers to compromise!"

- - - - x

Rima and Shiki went home with a tighter bond. Not as lovers maybe, but at least they had more trust on each other now that they had learned to compromise and respect each other. Rima forgot her promise about trying to be nice to him. She wasn't going to back-fire that plan yet.

She'll do her best.

"Kaname-senpai will have a formal party tomorrow morning remember?" He reminded her when they were in bed, as usual, the boundary of pillows were present and not a finger of Shiki was on her side. "For two reasons, One, because they'll welcome back someone who studied in Cross Academy before and Two, they'll congratulate us for our wedding."

She sighed. "Formal? You mean.. dresses and high-heels and make-up and hair sprays and costumes.." Rima groaned and shuddered in horror.

"Yes, to prepare you for it.. I hired a mistress to teach you about formality. She'll aid you in everything from now on, because you simply can't be my wife for six months if you don't know how to be civil. You'll be meeting lots of people from my business companies. Can you handle that Rima? Isn't being a woman part of modeling? And isn't modeling a part of your dream that's why you married me so that I can pay your tuition in a Modeling school in France?"

She stared at him in awe. "Okay Okay I got the point. Don't rub it in please.."

He grinned. "You'll start rehearsing tomorrow. To prepare you for it. Tell me.. what's the name of this school?"

"le fait de modeler université " She said in heavy accent.

He grinned. "Goodnight Rima." He'll pass her application soon.

"Night."

A/N: How was it? In here you got a hint about Takuma's feelings for Rima and yes it's going to be a Love Triangle soon. And.. the fun is about to start yet because this someone who's going back will be so involved in the story. Next chap would be about Rima's struggle of being a woman. STAY TUNED AND REVIEW!! :)