I know...I haven't updated in a while...but it's not my fault...blame my girlfriend...Just kidding. If you do I'll personally hunt you down. But no...I've been occupied by school and other crap, but hopefully I can get things back in motion...As for the long wait. I hope I've made it up by getting two chapters instead of one. But if I did, I'm sorry. Anyways...enjoy.
Oh...and on another note. If you have not realized it yet, this IS a Alyssa/Zen-Aku fic...so if you don't like it...please, stop reading and don't review saying that you hate how it's not Alyssa/Cole or something like that...I really don't need that...I know none of you regulars do that...but I have gotten that on one of my other fics...and it really doesn't help the morale...
Chapter 10
The next morning, Alyssa was the first to wake. She sat up and stretched out her limbs before looking down at the mass of fur next to her. Zen-Aku was sleeping soundly. This was probably the first time that Alyssa managed to get a good look at Zen-Aku while he's asleep since usually his sleep was light and he woke up if she got to close or he was just got up before her. She bent down and kissed him gently. Zen-Aku turned in his sleep, his hand waving and the air.
"No more, Alyssa…I've eaten enough…" Zen-Aku mumbled in his sleep.
Alyssa had to look away and cover her mouth to prevent herself from laughing. Zen-Aku was supposed to be a ferocious duke org, bent on destroying and polluting the world...and yet here he was, dreaming about Alyssa's cooking. When she looked back, Zen-Aku was laying spread-eagled, his right arm and leg hanging off the end of the bed, his left hand on Alyssa's pillow, almost touching her, and his left leg was yet to be uncovered by the blankets. Alyssa gave a soft giggle before deciding that it was time for him to get up too. She gave him a small nudge with her hand.
Zen-Aku stirred but didn't wake up.
Alyssa huffed and tried again, but to no avail. She decided it was time for drastic measures. "Zen...! If you don't wake up right now, you're not getting breakfast…!"
Zen-Aku immediately sat bolt up right and looked around, seeing Alyssa sitting next to him, grinning widely. "Haha…very funny…" Zen-Aku huffed before flopping down onto the pillow behind him. "Why is it so bright…?" Zen-Aku moaned, putting an arm up to cover his eyes.
"It's called morning, Zen…Ever heard of it…?"
"Nope…"
Alyssa giggled. "Come on, puppy, up…" She gave him a push and managed to push him off the bed, sending him crashing to the ground.
"Fine…fine…!" Zen-Aku grumbled, standing up, looking disheveled. He turned to leave the room. "…slave driver…"
"What was that…?!" Alyssa asked, huffily, hands on her hips, as she got off the bed.
"Nothing…" Zen-Aku called back, before leaving and headed to the bathroom.
Alyssa sighed and shook her head before looking around for her night gown. Unlike Zen-Aku, she did not feel comfortable walking naked though the apartment. When she found it and picked it up, something stirred in the back of her mind. Something was supposed to happen today…but Alyssa couldn't remember what…it wasn't school…because they were on Thanksgiving break…so what was it? Alyssa thought for another minute before shrugging and putting on the night gown and walking out. If it was important she would remember sooner or later.
She walked out to find Zen-Aku bent over and rummaging though the fridge, his tail swishing back and forth, as he tried to find something to eat. "Move over Zen…let me do it…" Alyssa said, pushing Zen-Aku aside and took her turn to look through the fridge. There wasn't much in it, for today she had planned to restock. The same feeling in the back of her head reminded her to buy extra…enough for a party...but why…? Pushing the feeling aside for the time being, Alyssa took out a carton of eggs and butter, along with some bread from the counter.
Zen-Aku licked his muzzle, seeing what Alyssa was making. He, like everyone else, loved her eggs. He watched as Alyssa set a pan on the stove and crack the first set of eggs into it. He decided he wanted a closer look so he moved forward so that he was right behind Alyssa. He wrapped his arms around Alyssa's waist and watched the egg slowly turn white. Soon, however, he started to feel bored just watching and allowed his hands to roam lower on Alyssa's body, before she wacked his hand with a hot spatula.
"No, Zen! This is definitely not the time!"
"I wasn't going to do anything!" Zen-Aku cried innocently, recoiling.
Alyssa rolled her eyes. "I doubt that…those thousands of years in that coffin did nothing to lower your lust did it…?"
Zen-Aku shrugged and sat down at the table, slumping onto it.
Alyssa sighed and placed the finished eggs onto a plate and placed them in front of Zen-Aku. "Come on, puppy, eat up already…"
Zen-Aku glanced up at Alyssa before he took the eggs and wolfed them down. He licked his muzzle when he was done and smiled. "Thanks Alyssa…" He said, standing up and kissing her gently.
"You're welcome, Zen…" Alyssa said, also smiling, as she started eating her own helping. "Now go wash up…you still smell like sweat and dirt from yesterday…"
Zen-Aku gave himself a sniff and smirked. "You sure that's all I smell like…?"
Alyssa blushed but returned to her breakfast.
Zen-Aku chuckled and headed off for the bathroom. After a few moments, Alyssa heard a faucet turning on and the bathtub slowly being filled. Smiling, Alyssa decided that she might as well join him when she finished. She finished her breakfast and washed her plates. By that time, Zen-Aku was surely comfortable in the bathtub. Alyssa smiled as she walked to the bathroom, ready to join him when she heard a knock at the door. Alyssa turned to the door, wondering who would be calling at her apartment now.
"Don't make a sound, Zen…I'll see who it is…" Alyssa said softly though the bathroom door.
"Yeah yeah…"
Alyssa moved to the door and opened it, peering outside to see who it was. She was greeted by two grinning faces.
"Hey Alyssa! Long time no see!"
"Max! Danny! You're back!" Alyssa cried out in surprise, opening the door fully.
Max's face fell. "Of course we're back…we called you about us coming back today last week…"
"Yeah, Alyssa, even Taylor's stopping by here today. Don't you remember…?" Danny's face became one of concern.
It was then that Alyssa remembered what was so special about today. Today was the day that Max and Danny returned from their around the world trip and Taylor came back from the air force. How could she be so stupid to forget. But then again, she did have a lot happen to her…
"Of course I do, come in, come in…" Alyssa realized too late that this wasn't the greatest course of action, since Zen-Aku was still in the bathroom. If he wanted to hide himself in her room, he would still have to walk to her room, out in plain view of the entire apartment. She bit her lip as Max and Danny both stepped in, excited to see their friend again. She couldn't tell them to leave now, that would surely cause questions to arise.
"Something smells good, you just finish breakfast?" Max asked, going to the stove, following the remaining smell of the eggs that Alyssa made for herself and Zen-Aku.
"Uh…yeah, I did…" Alyssa nodded.
Danny, being the more sensible of the duo, noticed Alyssa's unease. "Uh…maybe it'd be better for me and Max to come by at a later time…?"
Max, as oblivious of things as he always was, shrugged and sat down on the couch. "I know we're earlier than we said, but Alyssa's off from teaching right? It's Thanksgiving break, isn't it…?"
"It is…but…" Alyssa started, but she was cut off by Max.
"So there shouldn't be a problem right?" Max said with a grin. He then stood up. "Speaking of problems, I think I need to take care of one right now…where's the bathroom?"
"In the back but-"
"Thanks Alyssa!" Max hurried into the back.
"Max! Wait!" Alyssa didn't know what she was going to say but it was too late anyways, Max had opened the door.
"Hey…were you going to take a bath or something…?" Max asked, poking his head out of the bathroom.
"Huh…?" Alyssa rushed to the bathroom and looked inside. It was completely empty.
"There's water in the bathtub and it's still warm. Were you going to take a bath?" Max asked again.
"And if she is, we are leaving, Max…" Danny said, walking in and dragging Max out.
"Wait! But I still-" Danny spoke over Max.
"I'm really sorry Alyssa…we'll come back a little bit later…" Danny said, dragging Max to and out of the front door and closing it.
Alyssa wave slightly, still trying to figure out what had just happened.
"So the rest of the rangers are in town…"
Alyssa jumped and spun around to see Zen-Aku standing over her. She sighed as her heart slowed down and hugged Zen-Aku. "I'm sorry…I completely forgot…I should have told you earlier about today…"
"It's ok…" Zen-Aku said, returning the hug. "And don't worry…I'll stay hidden…"
"Zen…" Alyssa looked up at Zen-Aku, worried she may be asking too much, for Zen-Aku to stay out of sight for the entire night.
"It's ok…" Zen-Aku said, shaking his head and kissing her.
Alyssa smiled and returned the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. "But how did you get out of the bathroom without being seen?" Alyssa asked as she pulled back.
Zen smiled. "Just because you rangers had given up your powers doesn't mean I lost mine…I'm just as skilled as I was when I fought you…"
"So you can defend you pretty and defenseless girl like me…?"
Zen-Aku gave her a look. "You mean as defenseless as a martial arts master can get?"
"What do you mean?" Alyssa asked, looking up at him with a look of confusion on her face.
"Don't give me that, Alyssa…" Zen-Aku said, growling slightly. "I know that the position of head of your family's martial arts style was offered to you multiple times, and you only recently accepted…"
"Yeah…but that was two months ago…before you found me…" Alyssa said.
"I don't confront people just on a whim…"
"You were following me…!"
Zen-Aku's ears drooped in shame. "I just didn't know how to approach you…"
Alyssa was silent for moment before smiling. "It's ok…" She stood on her toes and kissed him. "I'm glad you did…" Zen-Aki smiled too. "Now come on…let me help you finish you bath…"
When they were done, Alyssa and Zen-Aku both sat on the couch, Alyssa turning on the T.V., though neither of them were really watching. Zen-Aku had his head in her lap as she scratched his ear. It was hard to concentrate on the T.V. with Zen-Aku nuzzling Alyssa's stomach every five minutes. Pretty soon, both of them had fallen asleep, Alyssa managing to turn off the T.V. before she fell asleep. They slept for a while but was awoken by another knock on the door. Alyssa cursed and looked at the door. Was everyone trying to disturb her time with him?! She went to the door and opened it. Even without look, Alyssa knew it was safe and Zen-Aku had hidden himself.
"Taylor?!"
"Hey. I hope I'm not interrupting anything…" the former yellow ranger said, smiling.
"No…not at all…But what are you doing here?"
"Well…I just thought I'd come and see my best friend, that's all."
"You wanted to get me and Cole together, don't you…?"
Taylor laughed. "What makes you say that…?"
"Taylor…no…" Alyssa said, but it appeared that Taylor ignored her comment.
"Come on…let's try and find something for you to wear tonight…" Taylor said with wide smile and pulled Alyssa into her room, which Zen-Aku, thankfully, didn't seem to be in.