A/N: Sorry if I updated slow, guys, my sprain is bugging me and schoolwork is piling up again.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed! When I started Till I Met You, I never expected to reach twenty seven reviews! Thank you very much!
And another crime: I made Everything You Do instead of updating…sorry. But please still review there…coz' it just popped up and won't make me sleep. It also motivated me and gave me some ideas for this…
Sorry if it's a bit dragging, but I had to build up the story. So, here it is!
Chapter Seven
The Deal
"Isn't last night hilarious?"
Fuuko grimaced as she sauntered to him, her eyebrows furrowed while her hand is holding an envelope.
If this is an ordinary circumstance, he would've been bashing her head right now. But it isn't.
It was all his darn fault.
"Mikagami Tokiya, you pokerfaced jerk!" she raised her hand to slap him but he quickly ducked.
"Oops, cool down, Kirisawa." His smirk widened. "I was just having fun."
"Having fun?!" she shot her head in anger. "Having fun?!"
She grabbed him by the collar, but his beam still won't fade. "You won't do that, Kirisawa Fuuko. That will worsen your standing, babe."
"Stop calling me babe!" she ordered, fuming. "You…!"
"Oh, not that!" he ducked again, his impulse telling him that a plate, a glass one, is coming. He laughed; an evil one. "Kirisawa Fuuko, you need to cooperate with me!"
"Whaaat??!" she scratched her head in frustration. "What is it?"
"Very simple, my dearest." He grinned. "Do as I say."
"What is it, Mikagami Tokiya? WHHHAAAAT?!!"
He smiled triumphantly. He recalled the events last night. The things that made Fuuko beg him; yes beg him, to keep those secret.
He's such a genius freak. He had planned it. He handcuffed her after the movie and no matter how much she kicked and screamed; he just scorned her. Then, he took pictures of her in that wardrobe.
She had first planned to drug her in chloroform, but her outfit aided him for an easier, faster job.
She can't possibly send him to jail, because unfortunately for her, no one was there to witness the event and further hearing would just ruin her name more.
Now, to save her rep, she had to comply.
"Just a piece of cake." He snapped. "You have to pretend to be my girlfriend."
Kirisawa Fuuko's eyeballs dropped.
"Goddamn, what's this for?"
Tokiya snickered as she gloated over a black slit dress.
"I'm surprised that you still find this as difficult as you do before. Monkeys never truly learn."
Needless to say, Mikagami's head was again bashed.
"It's always wrong to tell the truth with you." She said while taking care of the growing lump on his silvery head.
'What's happening to my plan?' Fuuko wondered ragingly. 'He won't succeed this time now. I WILL make him…'
A determined smirk crossed her face. He might have won last time, but now will be her time…
"I'm surprised you did that plug on me."
She grinned like a Cheshire cat. "Well, that spunky dress reminded me of catwoman, so…"
"So you threshed me with your nails?!" he snorted. "I can't believe you!"
"You should now." She hopped about.
"Cut it out; if she sees us, we'll be in great—"
"Trouble." She continued. "Don't you realize she'll set you FREEEE after she sees us together? You being with a wunnerful, wunnerful woman and—"
"A brash one, until now." He sighed. "I thought you have changed."
"Look who did." She spat out. "Still a fridge boy now."
"At least not a stupid, little bratty ape." He countered.
"And a very attractive one."
"Liars go straight to hell."
"Even hell would find me pretty!"
"Seething hot."
"With ardor?"
"With scorching, boiling frenzy."
"Oh yeah?" with another punch, Tokiya went scrawling down the pavement.
"The public is watching, you wild hippopotamus!"
"I DON'T CARE, YOU ICE MAN!"
"You should at least care about manners, chimpanzee."
"The hell with you, Mikagami Tokiya. You better go to Titanic and sink the ship you're your kind, Spielberg!"
"That's an iceberg, you fool!"
"Ice berg, Spielberg, they are all the same!" she blurted angrily.
Tokiya shook his head, straightening his suit. "Pay me a hundred yen, idiot."
"You took me out, that's your job!"
Fuuko POV
I could fully remember the time when we were like this.
That was after the Christmas party. Tokiya wasn't his usual self. He was even bitterer than before.
Because.
Because he again saw Recca and Yanagi dating.
I wonder how many times he has to see that particular scene before he gets used to it.
There I was, staring at this man sitting under that tree full of cherry blossoms. As the night is falling, students began to evacuate the school. Leaving us, Tokiya and I, in the school's lovely garden, laid with the most alluring flowers and the fresh green lawn that was so soft it could be mistaken as a velvet carpet.
He thought no one would see him. Because he was out of the sight of everyone. Yep, no guards, teachers already in their dorms…only the student council were left. And the others are already dismissed. He thought he was already dispersed. Alone at last.
But I was there, watching him at a distance. Peering into those emotional eyes that I never seen before in that condition.
He suddenly heard me as I, out of the blue breathed a little louder. Stupid, stupid Kirisawa! I thought. He saw me!
He stood up and looked away from me. And what was this that I see? He's flushed!
He tried to conceal his feelings and wipe his tears casually. He tried to make it look like nothing happened.
When I looked at his face again, I was disenchanted. No, that sweet, helpless expression was gone. Replaced now by a hard and emotionless façade. The façade I always saw. The façade everyone sees.
And I'm there to help.
"What are you doing here, oh, lost? The zoo's on the next corner." he asked, with a sarcastic voice, the one he always used on me. But this time, with a little embarrassment on his tone.
"I just walked by, thinking it would be nice to stare at some lovely flowers and catch some fresh air." I replied as gently as I can. "And how about you?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"Nothing. Maybe just to make a decent talk?"
"I don't want to talk to you."
"C'mon, Mi-chan, I'm sorry." I said, bewildered.
"Darn, sorry for what, Kirisawa?" he asked, irritated.
Why? I asked myself. He always told me to be sorry for my face, and now I did say sorry, he's angry.
"T-That I…" I hesitated. "That I saw you cry."
He was stunned. "So what?"
He said it as if there's nothing to be ashamed of but I knew better. His voice trembles uncomfortably.
"Why were you crying?" I asked as I sat there beside where he stood.
"You don't need to know." He said, putting away his gaze.
I looked at him. He probably saw the sincerity and concern in my eyes that he can't stare away. He then told me, "Go away. I found this place first. I wanna be alone."
Is this place yours I wanna ask, but I didn't utter those harsh wordsI might just not be able to proceed with my plan.
He didn't leave, probably sticking to his claim that he came first. But he didn't force me to leave either, and neither of us left that place.
Silence. Deafening silence.
Too many questions, none answered.
"Why are you still here?" he asked again.
"I'm listening to you."
"What are you listening to? I'm not talking. And I won't talk to a stupid bum. It's a waste of time and energy, talking to a brainless fuck, primate."
"I'm still here."
He didn't say a thing after that.
"So," he sighed. "Are you one of those paparazzi who wanted to intrigue my life? What, she-monkey?"
He's tellin' me. I thought. He tells me his feelings for the first time.
"You bastard! I care for you."
He snorted. "I didn't know apes have feelings."
"Mi-chan!" In no time, I kicked his face. He's so stubborn. I just can't help it. "You unfeeling piece of ice!"
I'm shocked he didn't argue with me. Not five seconds pass between us without any childish comment before.
Silence again.
"Do you still like Yanagi-chan?"
He shot me a "you-don't-care" look.
I wanted to run at that moment. Dissolve. Anything. Just not be in this situation.
The situation I finally understand what Mi-chan, who he is, to me.
"You have to move one, Mi-chan. The fact that Yanagi-chan is a complete replica of your sister mustn't make you fret whenever you see her around with Recca."
"You don't know one hell bit about me."
"I do!" I stubbornly contradict. "For God's sake, you are one of us!"
"I am not one of you, you worthless, moronic set of monkeys!"
I grabbed his collar. "I don't know what's wrong with you! In one turn, you are kind, in another, you are as cold blooded as a heartless assassin."
"Who told you I ever wanted to be with you?!"
A single tear fell. Shit. Kirisawa Fuuko would never, ever do this. The normal me wouldn't.
"I thought you somehow cared! But you didn't! You still are the emotionless stone e knew before Urabutousatsoujin!"
Before I had a chance to stand up and run, he grabbed me by my collar myself and pulled me to his body.
Then he kissed me.
So hard.
Then he pushed my whole body, his hands traveling to my back and cheek.
I was breathless when he let go of me.
I was in daze. I saw his reaction was the same of mine.
After that, laughter ensued.
I never knew he could laugh like that. Tears escaped his eyes and his stomach crouched in merriment.
Maybe I was even worse than him.
"That should answer your question a while ago." He gasped, straddling me.
"Oh, yea." I agreed. "So, what is gonna happen now?"
He stared at me long. "Uhm…maybe…another round?"
With that another breathtaking kiss proceeded.
Wow. And now we are again in this scene, in a park, full of cherry blossoms, within the gifts of nature, having a picnic.
"The place is good, Mi-chan."
"Don't get me wrong, Kirisawa." He immediately reminded me "I brought you here to give you tips and pointers for later."
"Okay, mister ice." I gave up. Then, I went about the mini paradise. Wonderful indeed. A small lake with different kinds of wild flowers was situated in front of a small, open cottage in the center of a small forest. I felt like Snow White in the clearing.
I stopped by the lake to stoop down and smell the flowers. Nice. I picked a fallen flower and placed it directly on my nostrils. Invigorating.
How good the place is.
"Aren't we trespassing, Mi-chan?" I ask him.
He shook his head. "Do you think I'd be foolish enough like you to enter like that? I own this place."
"This?" I pointed around. "What for?"
"What for?" he asked me as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
"You are now living in New York." I counter. I tried to project as if I doesn't bother me, but it does. After all, I now am starting to…
No! My mind shouts. Not again!
It hurts me for him to leave.
Not now that I have something else to protect.
Yes, there is someone I must guard, someone I can't let be hurt.
He shrugged, looking at me worriedly. "I still want to have a property here. I'm certain that someday, I would return here too. I know that after I get old and tired, I'll surely come back permanently."
"Ah." I simply nodded nervously. I felt my heart beating wildly against my chest. No, stop it. Shut up.
To ease my anxieties, I finally disrobed myself and exposed a lilac bathing suit. I had brought this because Mi-chan told me there'll be somewhere to swim in.
I think I saw his mouth ajar for a moment. My mood lightened. I went splash in the cool water. I shivered for a moment, then I swam like a free dolphin.
I beckon to the watching amused Mi-chan, smiling.
"Ow, c'mon! Join me here! Afraid?!"
He smirked as he stepped closer. Then he removed his clothing too.
"You think you're the only one prepared?" he asked, jumping in the water before I even had a chance to glance at his lean but muscular calves and torso, with his broad chest.
If he just knew how gorgeous and beautiful his body and now drenched silver hair was.
I was more than shocked when he squished a wave of rushing liquid at me. I almost choked.
"Mi-chan!!! You moron!"
I got my revenge. He returned it. I did it again. I returned it again.
My peals of laughter filled the air as we both stopped, breathing heavily in exhaustion.
I suddenly was pulled to a halt as I felt a warm finger brush my cheek. I felt electric bolts on my spine.
Mi-chan's finger, waving my hair off my wet face.
"M-Mi-chan…" I stumble, my chest thumping as it did a while ago.
"Don't worry too much, Fuuko." He told me in such a affectionate voice that I gulped. "There's nothing wrong. I won't do something that you won't like for the second time."
I nodded mutely; sweat dripping on my whole body.
You stop it, NOW.
With a pat from my conscience, I shot back up, clearing the water and reaching for the food basket.
"Come here, Mi-chan! I sure am hungry now, I could eat you alive."
With a slight almost unnoticeable smile, he approached me to the lakeside as I scrounged the poor bin.
"Where will we eat now?" he asked me.
"You decide. I almost ate all of your food." I giggled.
"Yeah. You ate a ton. And you wonder why you get fat."
I jerked him on the arm. "Hey, I was hungry!"
He chuckled softly. Gods, he sure knows how to laugh a little now, what could that mean?
"Would burger be fine?"
I nodded vigorously. "I love chicken burgers!"
A/N: So, How was it? Read and review! Suggestions and comments very much appreciated!
Preview of next chappie: Fuuko will meet the Mi-chan's father! How will he react? Not your usual expectations! And what will happen in a confrontation with Shizuka? Find out next!