Disclaimer: Nothing is mine. Take On Me is by A-ha.
Author's Notes: I'm so sorry about the delay, although I promise to update more regularly (at least once a week) since I really want to see the end of this story. I'm looking forward to the next one I've been working on. Anyway, this chapter is very sweet, I even kind of choked on it but I like it. Because I'm going to shift to angst gear in about two chapters. So yeah. And thanks so much for all those who reviewed! And someone said they thought Mi-chan saying 'baby' was OOC and I have to say, it may be kind of is, but the thing is, that's my favourite term of endearment. It's simple, I know, but I love being called baby. So it was natural for me to write it in, I think it's sweet. And I think he's the type of guy who'd be sweet when he's alone with his girl. Anyway, enjoy!
THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR READING AND PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!
Chapter Ten: Take On Me
He awoke to the smell of burnt eggs, something that hadn't happened since the first week of Fuuko's stay in his apartment and she attempted to make breakfast, and ever since he had permanently banned her from the kitchens after they almost got thrown out of their dwellings. So she couldn't possibly be trying again? Right? But then his arm tried to reach out for her and while he still smelled her scent on the pillows and felt her warmth radiate from the sheets there was no body to hold on to. Tokiya cursed, the monkey is trying to cook again. Had she not learned the last time?
Tokiya jumped out of bed not bothering to find his shirt and rushed to the kitchen, hoping to salvage what's left of it for Mrs. Kirisawa's sake. What greeted him was Fuuko's vision, her back to him, blurred in a thin fog of smoke, wearing only his blue button down polo and a pair of shorts, trying to scrape off the burnt layers of a toast with a butter knife.
"Would you mind telling me why you're trying to burn down your mother's house?" Tokiya quipped, an amused smirk on his face.
Fuuko twisted her head towards him and pouted cutely. "I was trying to make you breakfast, baka."
He couldn't help but feel giddy at her sentiment and walked over to where she stood over the counter and wrapped both arms around her waist, placing a soft kiss on her exposed shoulder, his too big polo hanging over it. "I would've liked it more if I woke up next to you," he breathed in her ear.
She shuddered at his touch and shaking hands dropped the toast and butter knife. She meant to say something but Tokiya was doing distracting things with his hands.
"It's going to be different this time, Fuuko, I want us to be together, really together," he promised when he paused from his attack on her nape.
And even though he couldn't see her face he knew she was smiling, the muscles on her neck relaxing under his lips, he felt like he was in high school again after getting the girl of his dreams to agree to go to Prom with him.
She turned around to face him and slinked her arms around his neck, bringing their foreheads together. "I want that too."
Tokiya just smiled his cheeks hurting from intensity of it. He felt like a piñata filled with candy and he was afraid he was going to burst, he had no idea he could be this happy.
"It's still so weird to see you smiling," she said with a giggle that made him hug her tighter.
"I can't help it, I'm happy. You make me happy," he said without hesitation, punctuating his words with a lingering kiss on her lips.
She nuzzled his chin. "You can be so sweet when you want to."
"Don't tell anyone," he mock whispered.
"Like anyone would believe me," she said with a roll of her eyes.
He laughed at that, not that it was particularly funny, but just because he felt like laughing because if he didn't he was just going to burst. She was his, all his. He just can't get over it.
But then, a picture in his mind came unbidden, of her innocently sipping coffee across a man who he knew for so long held her heart.
"I mean it though, Fuuko, I want us together…no one else. No Ken," he said with meaning.
She raised an eyebrow at him, her face crumpling curiously. "And how did he get dragged into this conversation?"
Tokiya sighed and released his hold on her waist and settled it lightly on her hips. "I saw you with him yesterday. I just know you're starting something with him again and--" but he couldn't continue when he was interrupted by her mocking snickers.
He scowled at her. "I fail to see the humor in this situation."
Fuuko pursed her lips together in an attempt to stop herself from guffawing, not that it worked. "Look, Mi-chan, Ken and I are not starting anything. We had a business meeting; I needed a favor from him, alright? I've been over him for centuries. And besides the guy is married with a baby on the way, it was nothing like that."
Tokiya just stared at her in absolute stupefaction. "Alright, now I feel stupid."
He expected another outburst from Fuuko but nothing came. She seemed to have lost the earlier light in her eyes, her face downcast, she spoke in a small voice, "Tokiya, if this just happened due to some Neanderthal male ego instinct or the fact that you've always hated Ken, then I want no part of it."
What the--? "Fuck, no!" The woman in front of him started at his explosive statement but there was still doubt in her eyes, doubt that he would make sure to erase. "It may have been a catalyst, something to make me move off my ass and finally do something, but rest assured that I want to be with you, Ken or no Ken."
She sighed and said, "Just be sure, because Tokiya, you can hurt me."
"And I won't. It's true, what happened last night, seeing you with Ken started it all. But it was only because I was jealous. Is it so wrong that I was jealous?" he asked, bringing her face up so he could look into her eyes and show the sincerity in his heart.
There was a small quirk on her lips that made his heart skip a beat. "No, there's nothing wrong with that."
He nodded at her smugly, as if she'd just gotten a math lesson he'd been trying to teach her for hours. "Of course, jealousy's a boyfriend's prerogative."
Now she gave him a full smile, her full lips thinning out as if inviting him for a kiss. "Boyfriend? We haven't even gone out on one date."
He shrugged, wrapping his arms around her again. "I figured four years of sex would be equal to about one year of dating," he said scholarly.
"Ever the Math genius," she chided.
"Of course," he replied, "and lest I forget, I'm taking you out today, for our first official date."
"Are you going to pay?"
"When have you ever shelved out cash when we're out together?" he deadpanned.
"I have such a great boyfriend," she chided sweetly before rewarding him with another kiss that he eagerly reciprocated. Things were just getting good when their ever heightened senses (comes with years of battling for your life) heard the jingle of keys coming from the back door. They quickly broke apart.
"That must be your mother," he said none too happily.
"Yes, so you better sneak upstairs and put some clothes on, I mean, I don't think she likes you that much," she said with a snicker.
Stealing a chaste kiss, he bounded outside the kitchen doors and rushed upstairs. Two minutes later, Mrs. Kirisawa, sweaty and skin steaming from the scent of the morning sun came barging in, up to her chin in grocery bags.
"Someone went shopping," Fuuko said as she resumed scraping off burnt toast
The elder Kirisawa huffed and grunted as she laid down the bags on the kitchen counter and took a very deep breath before answering. "I'm cooking a huge dinner tonight; your brother's coming over, and said he's bringing some friends. I thought once he'd gotten married I'd get rid of that pest for good."
Fuuko chuckled at her mother's odd sense of humor. "Oh come on, Mama, he just misses you that's why he's always over."
Her mother wiped the sweat off her forehead dramatically. "If he truly misses me he'll come early in the morning and char broil all this beef!"
The younger girl snorted and rolled her eyes at her mother's theatrics before saying, "Well, you'll be cooking for two less tonight. Mi-chan and I are going out."
Kagome quirked an eyebrow and Fuuko tried to act nonchalant under her mother's scrutinizing gaze. "A date?"
"No," she answered nervously, "Mi-chan and I always go out, you know, we do live together, Mother. We're friends, and friends go out to hang out and bond and stuff and…"
"You're wearing his shirt," Mrs. Kirisawa interrupted completely ignoring her daughter's babble.
Fuuko looked down at her outfit and suppressed a cuss from coming out. She tried to shrug coolly and ended up looking like she had a slight case of tic. "I'm always borrowing his shirts."
Mrs. Kirisawa acted like she didn't even hear the reply as she continued to unload groceries from the nondescript brown paper bag so Fuuko was completely taken off guard by the words that came out of her mother's mouth. "Honey, I wasn't born yesterday. You're thirty years old; you don't honestly think I still believe you're a virgin?"
Fuuko dropped the butter knife, her face the perfect impression of a tomato. "Mom!"
"Don't worry, I'm not mad, it's not like your Father and I waited until marriage before doing the horizontal mambo," her mother said with a squeaky clean pitch.
Fuuko screeched like a five year old and clamped her hands over her ears. "I seriously did not need to know that!"
Her mother laughed evilly at the sound of her daughter's traumatized yells. It was sadistically funny, but her kid'll get over it. She hoped. "Seriously though, Fuuko, I know what you and Tokiya…do. As much as I want to wring his neck, you're a big girl now and what you do with your life is your own decision. That and at the end of the day, I know that he cares for you and as odd as it may sound, he treats you right, more so than any other 'official' boyfriend I've met. And that's important to a mother."
Fuuko couldn't help the nostalgic smile tugging at her lips. Her mother was a harsh critic when it came to the men that she chose in her life and it felt good to hear her approve of her Mi-chan. "Yeah," was the only thing she could say.
And then her mother dropped the bomb. "Although I would appreciate it if you never have sex under my roof. It's disturbing peaceful flow of chi." And then she pranced happily around the kitchen carrying a rosary of garlic.
After a quick morning shower, Fuuko changed into a pair of her favorite white shorts and a long-sleeved scoop neck blue shirt. She proceeded barefoot to Tokiya's door, knocked lightly before turning the knob peeking in with mock bashfulness.
"Hello, lover," she said seductively but couldn't stop the blush forming on her cheeks. It was ironic, really, how she was suddenly feeling shy around him after everything that happened between them.
But he didn't seem to be sharing her sudden bout of introversion as he sat there with a book in his hand (something by Ian McEwan from what she could see) in loose blue jeans and no shirt, his back propped up on two pillows, causing his jeans to ride low on his hips giving her a peep show of his red boxers. He looked up at her with that indelible smirk on his face and made a come hither signal with his index finger.
Fuuko entered the room and closed the door carefully. She sat on the side of his bed a foot away from him but she didn't stay like that for long. He placed his book on his side table before pulling her in his lap.
"Excited for our date tonight?" he asked before dipping his head and nuzzling her neck.
"Very. Although would you mind telling me what our plans are? I want to be dressed appropriately," she said, angling her head to give him more access to her neck.
"Doesn't really matter, as long as it's something you wouldn't mind getting ripped off when the night's over," he whispered seductively as he took an earlobe hostage between his teeth.
She swatted his arm playfully. "Hentai!"
"Just for you baby," he replied unapologetically, nipping the skin just below her ear.
She pulled away with a groan and made him face her. "Seriously though, what should I wear?"
He sighed dramatically. "I don't know; jeans and a shirt. Sorry to disappoint you but I haven't really had the time to put together a magical evening. All I have is dinner and a movie."
She gave out a mock gasp of surprise. "How did you know? I love dinners! And movies!"
"You wound me."
She gave out a hearty laugh. "I'm kidding, dinner and a movie is fantastic, you know how much I hate overly excessive dates, it's a first date, it's not like you're going to propose."
He snickered. "Yeah, right."
Fuuko tried to ignore the pang in her heart at the callousness of his reply, but she pushed it down. Even with their history, theirs was a fresh relationship and there's no point spinning drama this early on. She wanted to enjoy the feeling of being Tokiya's girlfriend. Man that still sounds so weird, even in her head.
"Anyway, since we're not leaving for a couple of hours, I was planning on dropping by Little Angels and tell them of the plans. Want to come with?" she asked.
"No problem, I've been curious about what's been keeping you busy this past week," he said with a genuine smile.
"Yay!" she said, clapping her hands together like an eight year old, "I can't wait to show you off to everyone."
"I resent that. I am no one's show horse," he pouted.
She kissed his pout away before climbing of his lap as she spoke, "Whatever, Mi-chan. Now get off your hide and make sure to wear pants that accentuate your ass."
"I will not be treated like a piece of meat," he said, crossing his arms childishly.
"You know you look really hot when you're scowling like that," she said with a cock of her head before blowing him a raspberry. She escaped through the door just as he threw his pillow at her.
"Well, seems like they really need some help."
"Yeah, the place looks like a dump yadda, yadda, yadda. We've all gotten over it, now let's go," Fuuko said as she grabbed Tokiya's hand and led him through the rusty gates of Little Angels. Tokiya did nothing but follow her lead, his eyes still taking in the absolute dreariness of the place. It was actually depressing him.
"You know, I'm really proud of you Fuuko, you don't need to do this but you're stepping up for them," he said to her while they waited for someone to answer the door.
Fuuko looked up at him through her lashes and bit her lower lip demurely. "Really?"
"Yes, really, I'm proud of you love," he said sincerely before pulling her close and kissing her temple.
Just that moment the front door opened, revealing a wheezing and sweaty Maina behind it. "Oh hello, Fuuko-san! Sorry I couldn't get to the door faster, we're short staffed so I had to help out with lunch and the kids were extra, er, energetic this morning."
"No worries, I hope we're not coming at a bad time?" Fuuko asked, she knew how hectic it could be at the home and didn't want to impose.
Maina shook her head quickly as she opened the door wider and motioned for them to come in. "Nah, we've just finished cleaning up and the young ones are taking an afternoon nap, so everything's calmed down. Mind telling me who this is?"
"Oh yes, Maina, this is Tokiya," Fuuko put a hand over her mouth as she stifled a giggle, "he's my bo--" her shoulders shook as she struggled to get the word out, "my boyf--" and once again she was attacked by a bout of snickers and snorts.
Maina stared at her with anticipation as she waited for Fuuko to finish the introduction. Tokiya let out an impatient 'tsk' before holding his hand out graciously to the diminutive woman before him and finishing the job himself. "I'm Tokiya, Fuuko's boyfriend, a pleasure to meet you."
As soon as he spoke the words, Fuuko suddenly let out a girlish squeal before giggling some more. Maina looked at her strangely. "Er, well, why don't we talk in the parlor, you're just in time for one of the children's repertoires." The director walked ahead of them giving the two the privacy of conversation.
"What's so funny?" Tokiya asked, not masking the tiny bit of hurt in his voice. It was quite insulting getting laughed at after introducing himself as her boyfriend.
"I'm sorry, Mi-chan, it's just," and she cut herself off with another set of girlish giggles.
Tokiya just rolled his eyes, seriously contemplating whacking her over the head. It's not like she can't take it.
Sensing the irritation of her brand new spanking boyfriend, Fuuko calmed herself down, hopefully long enough to explain. "You know how when we were sixteen and everyone was like into NSync or the Backstreet Boys? And you know how teenage girls lose their shit if they even get a glimpse of Justin Timberlake? And then just imagine if they grew up and suddenly they're dating Justin Timberlake. Well you're kind of like my Justin Timberlake," she said, the blush on her cheeks threatening to take over her face.
Tokiya arched an eyebrow at her. "I remind you of Justin Timberlake?" He wasn't sure if he should be happy about that.
She sighed exasperatedly; frustrated that he just didn't get it. Fuuko moved closer to him and took a deep breath, thinking of a better way to put her thoughts to words. "No! It's like I'm dating someone who used to be so out of my league. I mean everyone wanted you, you had a fan club for crying out loud…in high school! And now I have you and that makes me…giggly," she finished with a tiny giggle as she fiddled with the top button of his polo shirt.
Tokiya put his hands on her lower back and pulled her closer. "Are you saying you had a crush on me in high school?" he said with a smirk.
Fuuko groaned although the smile never left her face. "Way to miss the point!"
He grinned and pecked her nose. "I did not miss the point. I just picked out the parts I liked. Now about this crush you had, tell me when exactly did it start? Was it the mirror house? Or was it before we met? Were you one of the girls who watched me play basketball in gym? I bet you loved it whenever I took off my shirt," he said as he waggled his eyebrows at her.
"You're impossible!" she cried and tried to escape his hold but he hung on to her tightly.
"No, no, we have to explore this little known secret of yours. If you'd like I'd gladly put on my old high school uniform, of course you'd have to wear yours. And we can re-enact you're battle with Fujimaru except I'll be using my hands to undress you and I'll be the only one watching," he said with a serious expression although she could not mistake the naughty glint in his eye.
"Ugh! I hate you!" she said, pushing him off her.
But before she could walk away, he held onto her wrist and with a warm smile said, "One more thing Fuuko, I was never out of your league."
To be continued...
End Notes: I don't care what you say, I love that last part! I just keep picturing them in my head, they're so cute. Sorry, I'm just feeling cute.
Next Chapter: Continuation of the Little Angels trip and the date. Yay!
THANKS FOR READING AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!