Ai: So… I want Pocky.
Misaki: Pocky? Isn't that the thing Usui's always eating?
Usui: Yes. Would you like to play the Pocky game with me?
Ai: Aw gross.
Misaki: Isn't it that game you forced me to play a while back?
Ai: Yup. Anyways, here's a suggestion to my readers. You don't have to do this, but it may increase the effect of this chapter more.
Usui: Would you like to tell us what this "suggestion" is before we rot away?
Ai(covering Usui's mouth): I was getting to it! Geez. So impatient. Anyways, it would help if you guys listened to some sad piano or violin music while reading this chapter. Doesn't have to be a specific sad song. Just type "sad piano song" into YouTube, and click any one of the songs. However, I take no responsibility if you guys become depressed as a result of this. (^.^)
Usui: That's pretty dark isn't it, Ai? I don't think I want to be owned by such a weird person.
Ai: I never did own you…
Chapter 8
Misaki flung the condo door open and almost collapsed right there, exhausted from the day's events. After Honoka had calmed down, the reunion went by smoothly. However, her friend's encouragements about Usui were stuck in her mind. She had promised everyone that she would call the guy, but then she realized she didn't have his number. Assuming Usui had gotten a new phone since high school.
With the thought of him in mind, Misaki once again walked to her bedroom and took out the necklace and the letter. She didn't read the writing like usual, she just sat there and stared at the paper. All of a sudden, three words jumped out. 'Believe in me'.
'Wait a minute. He knew that this was going to happen all along, didn't he?' she realized. 'The letter, telling Aoi our history… he knew that I would probably lose faith in him. That's why he kept on saying 'believe in me'!'
Misaki decided that no matter what, she needed to get in contact with Usui. The only problem now was how she couldn't do this with out alerting Cashlin. She reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. Perhaps Aoi knew what to do, considering how he knew everything about everything.
She was just about to call said person when something caught her eyes. It was a little piece of paper that was lying on the floor. She picked it up out of curiosity. Written in a messy scribble were a phone number and a note that said 'Go call him idiot.' Misaki smiled and shook her head. That Aoi was really something. One day, she would definitely punch him in the face. On a second thought, maybe not. Either way, she owed him.
She punched the number into her phone and pressed the call button. It rang two times before Usui answered.
"Hello?"
Relief washed over Misaki when she heard his voice. However, the confidence she had before the call vanished immediately. She bit her lips nervously.
"U-Usui, i-it's me. Misaki. There was a silence on the other end.
"Misaki?"
"Yes it's me! Why are you so surprised?! It's not like I'm the one who got your number! So shut up idiot!"
"Misaki, calm down. I haven't said anything yet."
"But you were thinking it!"
"Aw, Misa-chan knows me too well. This makes me so happy."
"Creep."
"Did you need something?"
'It's now or never.' she thought.
"Uh, I-I wanted to meet you. I have some important things to discuss with you. C-can you meet me at Seika tomorrow?"
There was a long pause on the line and for a second, Misaki thought that Usui was going to refuse.
"Yea. Sure. Are you in trouble?"
"No. I just wanted to talk."
"Okay. I'll meet you by the front gates at ten?"
"See you then."
Misaki hung up and let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. This was her chance to correct everything. Putting the phone away, she slipped into a nightgown and fell back onto her bed. Tomorrow was going to be a big day.
XXXX
Usui stood in front of the school gates repeatedly glancing at his watch. It wasn't like Misaki to be tardy, but perhaps she was caught up in traffic. As if on cue, he suddenly saw said person running in his direction.
When Misaki finally got to the gates, she leaned against the metal bars for support as she caught her breath. Green eyes scanned the woman from head to toe, taking in the casual jeans and t-shirt she wore. Even when dressed so plainly, she was still so beautiful.
"Sorry I'm late. Traffic was terrible."
"I see. Well if you had taken any longer, I would have gone to your house. I was just fantasizing about what colored underwear I'd find you in."
"So early in the morning and your perverted-ness is already tuned to the max huh?"
"Only for you."
Misaki shot Usui a glare but decided to keep quiet. She spent some time smoothing out her pants before looking back up.
"Why don't we go in? I thought that maybe we could talk somewhere inside the school."
Usui's eyebrow shot up and he followed the woman along a familiar path that led to the roof. When the two of them finally settled down, Misaki looked up at the sky and began talking.
"You know, I wanted to say that I misjudged you. I thought you'd left and forgot about us. About me. I waited everyday for the last five years, hoping that maybe you'll send me a letter or something. Something that told me I was still in your mind. That "something" never came. I was beginning to lose hope in you. When I saw you with Cashlin, I let myself be convinced that you had stopped loving me. For that, I'm truly sorry. I want… I want to start over again. I… I want to pretend that you never left. Is that okay?"
Usui lunged forward and crushed her in a tight embrace. No words could possibly describe how happy he felt. He had really begun to believe that there was no more hope.
"Misaki… Thank you. Thank you for not giving up. There was not one day when I didn't think about you. You were always in my mind no matter what I did. I was so worried that you may have overworked yourself. It killed me to not be able to contact you, but there was no way I could. But this is all in the past. I'm here now, and I'll never let you go. I promise. Once I go back to England, I'll set everything straight. The next time you see me, I will have broken all ties with the Walker family."
Misaki pulled out of the embrace. She was slightly surprised that Usui called her by her first name, but she was to occupied thinking about another thing he had said to be rejoicing. Did Usui just say that he was going to leave? Was he going to be gone for another five years?
"What do you mean by "the next time you see me"? Are you leaving soon?"
"Yes. Our vacation ends on Monday."
"B-but that's only two days from now!"
"I know, but for this last time. Please wait for me a little bit longer."
"No. Not this time. You've protected me so much in the past. I can't just sit here and wait. This is our relationship, which means that we need to fight for it together. I won't just make you do all the work. Bring me along. I'll talk to Gerald, your Grandfather and whoever else I need to convince."
"Ayu-"
"I'm coming. That is final."
Usui sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He argued with himself about whether he should agree or not. But then again, once Misaki set her mind on something, she will do everything possible to achieve it.
"You're so stubborn. But I guess there's nothing I can do about it. Please try to be safe. My grandfather is a sly and tricky man. I don't want you hurt."
"Oh please. Like he'll be a challenge. I'm ready for this. We're in this together, Usui."
"Fine. Be ready Monday morning. We leave at nine."
'Usui, you don't need to face the world alone anymore. I'll always be by your side. No matter what.'
~!~
Ai: So first off, I want to ask, did anyone else read the latest Maid-sama chapter?! Because the whole thing with Igarashi was like so unexpected! Well not really, but still. I'm also happy that she was finally able to see him. It was such a touching moment. But anyways, back onto the topic of my chapter. I can't believe I wrote this whole chapter while listening to the saddest music in the world.
Misaki: You were listening to sad music while writing this? Why? Did something happen?
Ai: I don't know. Just feeling a little down lately.
Misaki: You're always in a bad mood when you update chapters.
Ai: Well it's only when I'm in a bad mood that I can actually settle down and write.
Usui: And that's why you are an unsuccessful writer.
Ai: Well your unsuccessful at life.
Usui: I wonder how long it'll take for you to realize that my "unsuccessful life" was created by you. Please leave a review. (-.-)
