Summary: Ayuzawa Misaki lives in a world of her own. Until a true to life prince charming arrived in her life pulling her out of that fiction world. Enter Usui Takumi, who introduces a new world to Misaki.
Chapter 11: The Inevitable
—
"Y-You got it all wrong, Aoi-cha—"
"Really, I got it all wrong?" he laughed melodically as he played with the food on my plate. "There's no way I heard it wrong. You and Takumi were all lovey dovey on the living room last night. That's pretty careless of you, huh?"
I looked down on my plate and tried to come up with plans to get away from him for the time being while sorting out my plans. "I-I'm off to—"
"Oh no, you don't." I gasped as he suddenly pulled me back to my chair and held me on the elbow tightly. "There is no way I'll give you a very narrow escape."
I shook off his grip and glared at him. "Let go of me, Aoi."
"Or what?" he then leaned in closer and grinned at me. "Oh, okay. I'll let you off but in return, I'll call Uncle Karasu and Auntie Minako and inform her of what you and Takumi are doing while they're gone."
"You wouldn't!"
"Ssh." He laughed once again upon seeing me heed his order. "Good, being obedient is very clever of you."
"Don't tell them anything." I pleaded. "Please… I beg of you."
"You're begging," he pointed out as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "That's pretty pathetic."
I bit my lip and looked down once again. Since when… since when did I learn to bow down before others? Since when did I learn to humiliate myself just to continue a relationship that from the start is already forbidden? Since when did I become this… this selfish? Since when did I learn to be so stupid?
I tightly clenched my fist and shot Aoi a glare. "What the hell do you really want from me?"
With nonchalance, Aoi just shrugged. "I want you to please me. I want to know a valid reason as to why you and Takumi engaged on a meaningless relationship that from the start would end really badly. Didn't you know that this could ruin your whole family? And once Uncle Karasu becomes aware of the situation, he'll send Takumi back to England."
"If you don't tell them about it, he won't be sent to England."
"You're lucky if I won't do that. What if I really want Takumi to be sent to England? There, he won't see you again and what you're trying so hard to do to make the forbidden romance work will all be vain attempt of bliss."
I so wanted to run after hearing those words from him. Everything was my fault. If only I was more careful, none of this would have happened. If only I went early to bed last night, Aoi wouldn't catch us talking about our secret relationship.
But it's too late to feel regret now. There is no way I'll allow Aoi to ruin us. Usui won't go to England. I'm sure he'll oppose it.
"I'll give you enough time to think about your situation and at the same time, I'll wait for your explanation on how things turned out like this." He gently rubbed my back and pulled my jaw so I could face him. "But if you weren't able to give me a good enough reason, even if you two break up before I could tell it to your parents, I won't hesitate to spill out everything. I'll tear you and Takumi apart."
I hurriedly stood up from my seat and grabbed my bag; my appetite disappeared after hearing such news from Aoi.
"And also," Aoi added. "Don't you ever dare tell Takumi about this. You'll only place yourself in so much trouble, Misaki-chan."
I hurriedly went to the front door however; Usui appeared before me causing me to slam my nose on his chest.
I cringed at our sudden proximity and on the spur of the moment, I backed away from him. "Uh… sorry, I'm leaving fir—"
Usui alertly grabbed my elbow and pulled me towards him. "Hey, Ayuzawa, what's the matter? Why is your face so red?"
I hastily shook my head and glanced at the dining hall. I became even paler upon seeing Aoi watching us with Igarashi. Apprehensively, I ripped my elbow off Usui's grip. "I-I'm fine! I just need to go to school early."
"Perhaps, Misaki-san is sick." Aoi suddenly said, her eyes glowing with eagerness to torment me. "Why don't you tell her to stay in the villa so I could take care of her?"
"NO!" I hastily shrieked in a very strained tone. "No, it's fine. I'm fine. You don't have to bother yourself to take care of me. I just have a few things to sort out that's why. Well, I'm leaving, bye."
I ignored Usui's frantic calls as I dashed out of the villa, refusing to ride the car. I'm better off alone. That way, I could assume things well.
-;-
I stop by some ice cream shop and decided to stay there for awhile. Today was the day that I've made some stupid decision of skipping school.
.
.
.
Arg! Why the hell couldn't I think of a better way to escape this kind of situation? I love Usui… there is no way that'll I'll let Aoi separate Usui from me. He's mine and he—even if they are cousins—won't have him.
I run my hand through my hair with the look of desperation before drowning myself with the ice cream I've ordered. But it seems though that I've lose my appetite so I just put it aside and looked out of the window of the shop.
Why?
Why can't they accept us? The only thing I'm jealous about those girls that are surrounding him such as Honoka, Sakura and Shizuko is that… they wouldn't be Usui's stepsister. I could be anything to him but that.
I could be anyone… but his sister.
Because if I could change everything about us, then I hope I could just be a normal countryside girl with a complete family so that Mom wouldn't have met Karasu and Usui and I wouldn't be put into a situation wherein both of us are not happy.
Yes, I am not happy with this. Because in truth, my love for Usui equates the same amount of hatred I've had for being his stepsister.
I don't want to be his sister.
"Darn it." Tell me… is it because of his social status that they can't accept our relationship? Is it because of what other people would say to us—to him especially?
Darn it all!
I ruffled my hair and make it even messier. What am I supposed to do now? Where else am I supposed to go if Aoi succeeds on breaking the two of us apart? What would become of me?
"Now why in the world would you go to such extent as to skipping school?"
My head automatically snapped up upon seeing Usui coming my way. He was all sweaty and tired-looking. His hair was not like its usual messy yet neat look and it appears to be as if he was running for the last four hours that I was gone.
I stood up and alertly rushed to him. "Usui, why are you here? What's wrong? What happened to you?"
He allowed me to pull a chair for him before suddenly pulling me to his chest, hugging me tightly.
"Wha—"
"Stay still." He cut in. "Just stay like this for a while, Ayuzawa. I'm so worried at you. Even Tora and Aoi had skipped school because they were also looking for you."
Upon hearing the sound of Aoi's name, I hurriedly pushed Usui off me and occupied my seat, trying to look as if nothing happened.
Usui's forehead creased when he saw my jerky reaction. "Ayuzawa, what's the matter? You've been acting jumpy and uneasy since this morning? Did something happen?"
'Don't you ever dare tell Takumi about this. You'll only place yourself in so much trouble, Misaki-chan.'
I cleared my head from unnecessary thoughts and flashed him a smile. "I'm fine, really. I just don't feel like attending school today. I want a day-off from studying and stuff."
"Are you sure?"
I looked away and nodded. "Yeah."
I froze when Usui suddenly reached out for my hand and held it tightly. "Misaki, are we okay? You're troubled about our current status, right? Is it about that? "
It took me every ounce of willpower to not clenched my fist, look away or even bit my lip before smiling at him. "Why would you think that our relationship is being a bother to me? I'm fine, okay? So does our relationship. I just don't really feel like going to school today."
"You could've stayed home."
"No, I don't want to stay home." I said while trying to force out a smile. "What I want is another atmosphere. You don't have to worry, okay?"
He smiled at me and finally, he heaved a sigh of relief. "That's good. I thought you were having troubles about our relationship."
I laughed at that. "Why would you think like that? Do I look that horrible to you?"
Usui shook his head before easing up his tense nerves. He placed his hand under his jaw and smiled at me. "No, it's not about how horrible your expression is. It's just that, I don't know what I'd do if you'd suddenly break up with me."
He laughed at what he said and in the instant, looked outside the window too. "You know, Ayuzawa, the greatest part of me being alive is when I have had the chance to meet you. If I hadn't met you, I doubt that I'd be this happy."
Usui laughed once again after his speech. And the way he said it, it was like even if he had met other women before me, our meeting was the most brilliant.
And somehow, it had left me speechless. For what he said was what made me believe that I shouldn't fear Aoi. He might not know what my real problem was but still, he was encouraging me. And for that, I thank him. And for a brief period of time, I was thankful that aside from being someone who feels the same way as I felt, he acted like a real brother.
Our situation seemed bearable for the time being.
He stood up and held out his hand to me. "So, are you ready to go?"
"G-Go where?" I asked, confused. "I don't want to go home yet, Usui, anywhere but home."
Usui laughed at me and sensing that I would act stubbornly again, he pulled my hand that is resting on top of the table and yanked me off the chair I was occupying.
That action made me gasped as I slammed hard against his hard chest.
"We're not going home, idiot." He muttered on my ear. "We're going to a place where we don't have to hide our relationship."
-;-
Usui was an idiot.
Yeah, he brought me to the beach when he knows so well that I couldn't swim and that it was damn freezing. He even got the two of us so wet that we have to take cover under a small shed to dry our wet uniforms.
I was quiet during our stay there; still trying to figure out what should I say to Aoi when in the spur of the moment, Usui pulled me closer to him.
I scowl at that. "Usui it's uncomfortable, can't you see that I'm dripping wet?"
He gently patted my head while smiling to no one in particular. "We should often go here. Swimming in the beach is pretty fun."
Inattentively, I nodded. "Yeah, you should have fun a lot."
"Ayuzawa what's wrong? Is something bothering you?" he placed his palm on my forehead to check my temperature if ever I was having a fever. "Hm, you aren't sick."
I looked away and held his hand instead. "No, I wasn't sick." But I'll get sicker if ever I saw Aoi threaten me again.
I let my grip slid off his hands and distanced myself from him. I was too distracted that I couldn't focus on what's really going on around me.
Two girls went our way then and stop in front of Usui while giggling. The first girl smiled at him and leaned forward him as if she was trying to show Usui her breast.
"Hello." She greeted. "Are you from Seika High? I recognized your green coat awhile ago when you arrived."
I secretly glanced at Usui yet without thinking, I clenched my fist. There is no way I could be jealous by this.
Usui glanced at the two girls before pointing frankly gazing at me. "Yes, I'm from Seika High, why'd you asked?"
I almost arched an eyebrow at that. Uh—why isn't he looking their way? Doesn't he know that it looks rude? That he looks rude?
Once again, regaining her composure, she said; "Well, if you're from Seika High, then can I get your email add? We could go hang around sometimes too."
Usui maintained his eyes on me. "Yes, I would love to hang around with you."
Wha—this guy, I'll kill him definitely.
The girl's eyes rounded in delight. "Really, then that means, this girl isn't your girlfriend?"
He nods in response. "Yup, she isn't my girlfriend."
"So, does that mean that you're single?" she pressed, she seemed really interested on Usui.
I gritted my teeth and tightly clenched my fist. This jerk, how dare he speak like that in front of me? I may not really be his girlfriend but—
"She isn't my girlfriend, yes." Usui replied, finally averting his eyes to the girl in front of him. "But single, no. I don't want a pastime lover, what I want is a little sister who could tempt me nonstop."
Uh—what?
The second girl looked at him in confusion before voicing out my reaction. "Uh—what? A sister who could tempt you?"
Usui just smiled at her and suddenly pulls me up. "Come on, sis, let's go home."
"Hu—Usui, wait a minute—"
I gasped when he suddenly sweep me off my feet and carried me away from the confused girls he had just spoken to a couple of seconds ago.
"Usui!" I growled loudly. "Why the hell did you tell them that I'm your sister?"
He returned an answer with a smile and finally, he put me down on my feet, gazing at the horizon ahead of us. "I told you, didn't I? This is the place where you and I no longer have to keep our secret. I am not ashamed to tell everyone that you are my sister and at the same time, the girl I love the most. It's because I like you, Ayuzawa, that whatever they say don't mean a thing to me. You are what matters to me. Even if I have to leave my home and my Usui surname I'd do it for you. I desire only you, and that's the truth."
Now I didn't expect that. I looked away in embarrassment and tried to act casual. It was really unbelievable that he'd say something embarrassing like that and somehow I feel flustered.
Usui laughed at my reaction and held my hand tightly. "Let's go, Ayuzawa. Let's go home."
-;-
I gulped the bile that was forming on my throat as I tightly clenched my fist. I'll be facing Aoi again and I'm sure he'll try his hardest to bully and blackmail me when Usui's not around. My heart did those nervous little flips as I watched the door in such distance. I was nervous, that's a fact because I wasn't really sure how I'd face Aoi.
Usui was all prepared to get in but since I wasn't ready yet, I pulled him towards me but immediately let go of his hand.
He arched an eyebrow at me. "Hm, what is it, Ayuzawa?"
I looked around us and forced out a smile. "Um, I'll be using the door at the back. You could go ahead of me, I'll see you—"
"Are you avoiding something, Ayuzawa?" he interrupted as if he had just read my thoughts. "You seemed really jumpy today."
"I just don't feel good, that's all." I gently caressed his elbow and finally, I dashed off to the pool area where it would lead me to the backdoor. I sneak inside the kitchen and with such swiftness, run towards my room. I don't want to face Aoi yet, I'm not ready. It was as if my heart would explode out of sheer fright and anxiety if I saw him.
I heaved a sigh of relief when I finally closed the door behind me. Dozing off to my bed, I didn't have the nerve to remove either my shoes or uniform when I slumped down the soft material.
My mind thoughtlessly flies to Dream Land due to the exhaustion of today's escape plan and unplanned date with Usui.
My relationship with Usui… I wonder how long it would last. How long will the two of us hold on to each other? If a place on the horizon were the two of us doesn't have to hide our relationship anymore really exists, how far is it before we reach it? How long will this happiness last when even if we're still at the beginning, someone was already trying to tear the two of us apart?
The knock on the door made my heart almost skip out of my ribcage. It made me so panicky breathing was nearly unfeasible. Immediately, I grabbed my bathroom necessities and a few clothes and decided to hide in the bathroom.
If Aoi is planning to blackmail me again, then I'd rather stay in the bathroom forever than face him.
The knock came on a couple of times and then it was gone. Another lungful of air came out of my mouth when the knocking had disappeared and before I knew it, I was already laying flat on the floor.
It was too depressing, that's for sure. I don't know if I'd be able to survive this kind of escaping and hiding away from Aoi.
-;-
I stared out the window blearily as the sun made its way to the horizon. The sky was a perfect rinse blue and the temperature was all normal for a normal school day. Despite the fact that I'm ready for school, my hair was still in a mess and my eyes look all gooey due to sleep deprivation.
I had a plan for today and that is to avoid Aoi at all cost. If he ever manages to corner me, then I'll just show him a poker face and that I'll act as if I don't really care (although I really, definitely and totally care).
I put on my green coat and head out of the room looking all sleepy. That was the truth, I was sleepless and Aoi's at fault. And if I were to faint at the school, then he should admit that it was his fault.
I know what I'm doing is wrong. If I keep on running away, he'd just shed no more mercy on me and reveal the truth to Uncle Karasu. But heck, I don't have much choice, right? If I really want to escape this problem situation, I must figure out a way to stop Aoi from revealing the truth to everyone.
Because there is no way I'd let him steal Usui from me. He's mine and mine alone.
I fixed the ribbon of my uniform and grabbed my bag from the back of my door and confidently went out of my room. Today is a challenging day, and there is no way I'd lose to anyone—especially to that bastard Aoi.
In the end, he'll be the one begging and I'll be the one laughing.
Nice one, Ayuzawa Misaki, that's the spirit.
-;-
And chapter 11 is done. Sorry for the long wait. I'm currently busy on the upcoming enrollment for my college course. Well, here's chapter 11, hope you like it! Thanks for the reviews from the last chapter. It really made my day. ^_^
MandarinOrange13
