Here's chapter eleven! WARNING: This chapter contains clichés, corny romance, and one angry editor…
"Shigure, just how many of these hokey Christmas specials have you video taped?"
Akito and Shigure were snuggling under a large afghan blanket on the living room couch, watching the original "Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
"One can never have enough Christmas movies. Besides," Shigure grinned as he took a sip of hot cocoa. "This is one of my favorites."
Akito rolled her eyes, burrowing deeper into the purple and blue folds of the blanket.
"I used to hate winter," she said, staring out the window at the fresh icicles hanging from Shigure's window like sleeping bats. "When I was little. It was always so cold. You had to wear so many layers just to be remotely warm, and that hideous New Year's Banquet, ugh, it's like a nightmare."
Shigure raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah." Akito sighed. "I'll admit it, I hate the banquet. I'd rather just…do this. Wear pajamas all day. Watch these cheesy Christmas specials. Make snowmen in the backyard. Eat breakfast for dinner. This is truly the life."
Shigure's arm inconspicuously snaked around Akito's shoulder. His lips found hers; reminding Akito that winter could be warm in its own little way.
The moment was shattered by a sharp knocking at the door.
Akito pulled away from Shigure as though she had undergone an electric shock.
"Um, I'll get it," she murmured, getting up from the couch.
"Whoa, you're cute when you're shy." Shigure chuckled.
Akito shot him a look and answered the door in a fit of giggles.
"Hello?" She called brightly, trying to pull herself together as she swung Shigure's front door open.
Akito gasped as she came face to face with who might have been the most angry-looking person she had ever seen.
Mitchan stood, knees shaking, at the door. She was practically foaming at the mouth, eyes red and angry. In fact, she looked almost rabid with anger.
"What do you want- I mean, err, how can I help you?"
Mitchan's silently panicked as she took in this stranger at Shigure's door. She definitely wasn't familiar. Who was she? Was she a robber? Or a murderer? Was Shigure okay? Gosh, this woman was probably clinically insane! She was probably a creeper!
"What have you done with Shigure?" Mitchan whispered in terror.
The strange woman tilted her head to the side. "What are you talking about?"
"Babe? Who's at the door?" Shigure's voice called from the living room.
Mitchan did the math.
"Oh no." She shook her head. "Oh-ho no. This is not happening. SHIGURE!" Mitchan forced her way through the door, past a dumbstruck Akito, and stomped into the living room, tracking snow all over the carpet.
"Shi-gu-re!"
Shigure paled. "Uh, Mitchan! How nice to see you! Err…"
Mitchan was seething, and so was Akito.
"Gure? Who is this woman?" The zodiac leader sounded heartbroken and confused. "Is she…Is she your wife? Your girlfriend? How do you know her?" Her voice cracked. "Don't you love me? I-I thought I was the only one."
"No, no!" Shigure instantaneously protested. "Baby doll, this is my editor."
Akito didn't look convinced. In fact, she looked like she wanted to strangle Mitchan.
"Sheesh, if looks could kill," Shigure thought.
"Actually, it's true. I'm his editor. There is nothing between us." Mitchan shot Shigure an annoyed glare. "Trust me. If anything, he will be the death of me."
Akito relaxed, but was still watching Mitchan like a hawk. Shigure sensed the tension, and slowly started to slink off the couch and towards the kitchen.
"Oh no, you don't!" Mitchan hissed, "Come back here and explain yourself."
Shigure sighed and paced towards the two fuming women. Plopping down on the couch, Shigure was finally cornered.
"I was stupid for thinking I could get away with this," he muttered. "Well, best get this over with. You see, when Kisa fell into a coma, I lied to you, Mitchan. I wasn't really with my family, I was here with Akito. My family thinks I'm writing up a storm, that I have a huge deadline coming up. I know, it's terrible. But please, understand that if I hadn't done this, I would never have had these last days with her." He pointed at Akito. "I knew we couldn't go on like this, someone would find out, so I wanted us to have a week together. It was my plan to reveal the whole romance to the family. I didn't know how they'd react. Worst case scenario, we'd be forced to break it off. I couldn't be sure. But I wanted to give this beautiful, smart, sexy girl one amazing week, because as far as I know, it is our last together."
Mitchan looked rather pleased with herself, suspicions confirmed. Akito, however, stared at her lover with wide, child-like eyes, mouth forming a shocked o-shape. She shook her head and ran out of the room, up the stairs, and slammed the door.
Shigure hopped to his feet, distressed. He ran a hand through his hair, then meeting Mitchan's critical gaze.
"Don't look at me that way. I didn't mean to upset her."
Shigure's editor said nothing.
"Come on, Mitchan. I'm sorry I lied to you. Please forgive me."
"Give me one good reason to."
"Uh. Have I ever told you you're my favorite editor?"
Mitchan raised an eyebrow.
"Please understand, Mitchan. I love her. I had to lie."
At that very moment, the pounding of footsteps came crashing down the stairs. Akito ran into the room, a thin layer of eyeliner smudged from the tears, suitcase in hand. She slipped on a winter coat and grabbed her car keys, walking out the door without a word.
Mitchan glared at the author.
"Shigure, you've got to set this right. Go."
He didn't need to be told twice. Shigure raced into the cold, barefoot and clad in a bathrobe and some flannel pants.
"Akito! AKITO! Don't go! DON'T GO!"
Akito was loading a suitcase into the trunk of her Toyota. She pretended not to hear Shigure's pleas, her face as still and emotionless as a stone statue. Shigure caught up to her and placed his hand on her tense shoulder. Akito violently pulled away, holding back a sob with all her might.
"Akito, please don't-"
"DON'T TALK TO ME!" She screamed. "DON'T TOUCH ME! DON'T EVER CONTACT ME AGAIN! WERE YOU REALLY PREPARED TO THROW EVERYHTING AWAY? DON'T YOU KNOW THAT WOULD KILL ME? I LOVE YOU SO GODAMNED MUCH AND YOU WERE PREPARED TO THROW IT ALL AWAY?"
She has hysterical, raging like a wildfire. Shigure felt his heart snap in half.
"Akito," he shook his head slowly. "No, I would do anything to stay with you. Can't you see that? I want to spend my life with you. I will fight with everything I have to stay with you."
He wiped some of the smudged eyeliner from Akito's cheeks.
"Promise you'll fight with me?" He asked cautiously.
Akito knew that Shigure didn't deserve her trust. But on the other hand, he deserved her heart.
"Promise." She whispered.
They fell into each other's arms. His firm lips on hers.
Mitchan watched from the door.
"So freaking romantic." She sighed, rolling her eyes.
Thank you for reading! (HAPPY HALLOWEEN!)