Disclaimer: I do not own Kaichou wa Maid-sama... I'm just a fan, more likely, a "writer" of sorts who sometimes daydreams about KWMS...

Chapter 6


It was already dawn when Misaki found herself sitting in her bed, staring in the empty space for a long time. Unfortunately, she couldn't sleep and was too busy to cry, because of the incident last night, yet she can't find the reason why it bothered her that much. For her, it was very unreasonable to be bothered by someone she hates so much that it deprived her of sleep; she should have benefitted from the incident. Maybe she was bothered enough that Usui thought of her and the Inspector having an affair; she only wanted to protect herself, yet the hurt was still there.

She closed her eyes for a minute, trying to forget, yet she couldn't. All she can do is to think of something else and keep a straight face.

-0-

She was finishing her breakfast when suddenly someone knocked on her door. She hastily opened it, yet she didn't expect that person who visited herthat morning. It was Sakura.

"Good morning, Misaki," Sakura smiled, yet Misaki noticed that her eyes tells something else.

"Good morning, Sakura. Please, come inside," Misaki said while gesturing Sakura to come in. The moment they were seated, she asked if she had eaten, and Sakura replied with a nod.

"Is there something wrong?" Misaki asked.

"Misaki... actually, I only wanted someone to talk to," Sakura said.

"You can tell me anything, Sakura. Please do so, just to relieve you of your sorrows."

"Thank you very much, Misaki. I knew I can rely on you," Sakura remarked, and then "This morning, Kuuga handed me a letter and asked me to read it when he's out of my sight..."

"And what did he say?"

Sakura brought forth the letter and handed it to Misaki and said, "Please read it... I don't really mind"

Misaki opened the letter and it said something like this:

Miss Hanazono,

If you evergranted me my request, I thank you for it; it pains me to face you, for I have no right ever to stand in front of you, yet I come to give you this letter so that it can serve its purpose.

First and foremost, I would like to give you my thanks for welcoming me and being one of my friends. If I were to choose, I would like to stay here for a particular reason; I cannot find anywhere in this world with an atmosphere the same as here, but this cannot be so, for I cannot deny that here lies a problem.

Some rumors had reached my parents' ears concerning about you and they wanted me in London this instead. For this, I ask for forgiveness. I never intended to drag you into this, and I'll do anything in my power to clear this, and also, I need to talk to them. Again, I am very sorry for leaving you this way. Thank you, my dear Madame, for reading this letter.

Till we meet again.

Sincerely yours,

Kuuga Sakurai

For a moment, Misaki couldn't speak. She simply couldn't believe what she just read. She looked at Sakura and asked, "He just left?"

"As what you've read, Misaki, yes, he did."

"But why so sudden...?"

"Misaki, it's in the letter you read. I..."

"I'm sorry, Sakura, but what will you do now?"

"Unfortunately, I do not know. I don't even know about the rumor. But..."

"You love him, don't you?" Misaki said. Sakura nodded.

"Here now lies a question: What will you do?" Misaki asked.

"I... want to follow him because I need to tell him something. I don't want to die in regret for not telling him... I... want to take this risk." Sakura said, determined.

"Then what are you waiting for? With this, you'll be happy, right? You can stay with Suzuna in London. This is her address," and Misaki wrote her sister's address and gave it to Sakura, "You'll never miss it."

"Oh, Misaki! I... oh, how can I ever repay you of your kindness? Do you have anything that worries you? Can I help?" Sakura asked cheerfully.

"Nothing in particular, thank you, Sakura. Just go and do what you must." Misaki said.

"But you'll be lonely again, Misaki... you'll be all alone here," Sakura said.

"On the contrary, I'll be away on a trip. The Inspector and Mrs. Norris invited me," Misaki replied.

"I'm glad. They're really kind, aren't they? Oh, by the way, Misaki, the militia will stay in the village these three days. I guess Emile's coming back."

"Yes, I am too"

Misaki and Sakura said their goodbyes and Sakura left. Though she was hopeful of Sakura's situation, she was at least relieved that Emile Garner, her long time friend, will be visiting in the village and hoped for the best. At least, it would lift her of her sorrow.

-0-

It was already late at night and Misaki already finished her shift. She changed her uniform to her usual clothes, yet she found it hard to approach the door of the back entrance. The incident flashed again in her mind, and she told herself to calm down. She first leaned on the wall, with the door at her right, and thanked that Usui hasn't showed himself that morning. She took a big breath and headed outside.

As she closed the door, she heard someone called her name. As she turned towards the direction of the voice, it was none other than Usui himself.

"Ayuzawa..." he spoke.

Misaki gathered all her composure and asked, "What do you want from me this time? What 'presumption' do you have for me?"

"It's not that... I..." Usui was about to continue, yet he stopped, looking forlorn. Then he said, "I have come... to ask for forgiveness."

Misaki was totally shocked and looked as if she didn't believe that Usui had said those words, yet his face was serious enough to believe. Usui managed to pick this up and added, "About what happened last night, I'm truly story. I know what I've done and said is unforgivable. And if you still have doubts, I also brought something as a token of my sincerity."

"No, please, you don't have to..." Misaki said.

"Please, Miss Ayuzawa." Usui interrupted, with a soft yet stern voice.

Misaki felt that Usui won't leave unless she agrees to come with him, which she did. The two walked the alley quietly, desperately thought of a subject to talk about along the way, yet the feeling of awkwardness dominated both of them.

As they reached the other side, Misaki finally saw Usui's gift. It was a strong-looking creature with brown coating and a white smear in its forehead, and was standing proudly with its powerful legs.

"A... horse?"

Usui said, "I'm sorry, I don't know of something you like, I don't want to give something that would wither or destroyed easily, and I thought of you as different from other women, and I wanted to give something memorable..."

"I'm... different from other women?" Misaki asked, looking at Usui.

"Well, not that kind of different, I meant that the way you perceive things is... well..." Usui replied, and looked at Misaki, but suddenly stopped, for they both accidentally looked at each other in the eyes, "...unique. "

Another awkward pause passed and Misaki thought ways of changing the subject. She averted her attention to the horse and started to brush its mane. She said, "So, about this horse..."

"Yes, do... you accept it?" Usui asked eagerly.

"You've seen my house, no?" Misaki asked.

"Yes..."

"Well, I have problems as to where to put the horse back in my place. Unfortunately, we do not have stables anymore," Misaki said, while brushing its mane.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry for such inconvenience. I can't believe I haven't thought of that," Usui said.

As he said this, Usui heard Misaki laughed. He looked at her, who was still brushing its mane, and smiled. Then, Misaki said, "Well, I must be going now," and left.

After a few paces of walking, Misaki noticed that beside her, another pair of feet and the sound of hooves followed her and was now at her pace. Usui, along with the horse, was walking with her without a word. Misaki stopped (as well as him) and asked, "Where are you headed to, Usui? And what are you doing?"

Usui turned towards her and said, "Why, it is very dangerous for a lady to be walking around late at night, that's why, please, allow me the honor to escort you to your home."

"Usui, I have walked thess streets my whole life and some of them are in the night like this, also, I'm not really wandering around, so thank you for your offer and just go home," Misaki said, and then continued to walk, and Usui followed.

"Well, it's still very dangerous for you. Who knows that those men whom you beaten up will come again? It may be a stroke of luck that you overpowered them, that's why I must accompany you," Usui said, in which Misaki thought that he was joking.

"Please, sir, don't insult me of my strength. I may be a woman, but I am capable of protecting myself. Some people laughed at me when I say this to them because of my small structure and thought of me incapable, yet all of them almost did not live to tell the tale, so laugh at me if you dare," Misaki said.

"Indeed I do not dare" Usui said and smiled.

Misaki never heard of him speak so gallantly before; she always thought that the reason why he's being polite to others was only because it was necessary to do so, but then, now...

Usui broke the silence afterwards and asked, "Do you like horses, Miss Ayuzawa?"

"I'm really fond of them," Misaki smiled.

"Well then, allow me to assist you in mounting on your horse," Usui said cheerfully.

"As for now, no thank you, and as to inform you, sir, that this horse does not belong to me," Misaki replied.

"But I gave him to you, have I not?"

"I haven't accepted it, have I?"

For a while, Misaki saw Usui's face so shocked and troubled that she added, "But not the apology part... I... it's... well..."

"I fully understand, Miss Ayuzawa," Usui finally said.

Then again, silence passed between them until they almost reached Misaki's house. Finally, Usui spoke, "Miss Ayuzawa... I have something to tell you."

"Why such formality? What's eating you today, Usui?" Misaki thought loudly. Conscious, she added, "Oh, I'm sorry... pray, continue."

"Miss Ayuzawa... I..."

"Misa?"

Both of them turned towards the direction of the voice. They saw a man who stood at Misaki's gate approaching them. At the streetlight, they saw it was a man from the militia.

"Emile?"

"Misa! It's so nice to see you again after all these..." then he stopped as he saw the gentleman beside Misaki.

Misaki glanced at the two men beside her. She quickly saw the change of their color. Shock, anger and horror were all present on the two of them at the same time. After a while, Usui turned towards Misaki and said, "Well, I must be off. Miss Ayuzawa..." he bowed, and mounted on the horse and left.

The moment he was out of sight, Emile said, "Well, I thought he'll never leave."

"Misaki replied, "Emile, you're back..."

"Is that how you welcome your friend after all these years? Why Misaki, how could you be so cruel?" Emile said teasingly.

"I'm sorry; it's just that I'm curious about your connections with Mr. Usui, that's all." Misaki said.

"You saw that one, didn't you?"

"I'm afraid that I'll not be satisfied if I do not get what I wanted," Misaki said.

Emiled smiled at his friend and said, "You're actually right, Misa, and unfortunately, our connections have not been a good one."

"And why is that?"

"I'll tell you... when we get inside your house."

_END_


YAY! Another chapter... wow, it's been a while... XD

First of all, I would like to thank my readers for your support. It really means so much to me. Secondly, I am sorry for some mistakes in here, for the confusion, the chapter's too long and for the late update... time was not really on my side last week...

Anyway, just I would like to explain this part... when Misaki said that she didn't accept the horse, she meant the horse alone, but Usui thought that she didn't accept his apology, that's why, he was troubled... poor him... nah, just want to share...

So, if there are more confusion and violent reactions, please just state it in your review or PM me if you like... I welcome all kinds of reviews...

I hope I can make another chapter later... I just want to update the next one, which is currently not yet drafted, but already in mind... hehe...

I hope you'll drop by and review this story!

Lovelots!

PS

SNAPE! NO!

XD