A/N: So my chapter count for this series right now (outline wise) is around 60. Originally it was 40, the ideas just keep coming lol. I hope you guys are ready for the long haul.

Point in Time: Paris Arc, pre-disappearance


Chapter 12: Bewitched


"Senpai-" Nodame whined, clinging to his arm. Clearly she wasn't going to give up and he simply wasn't going to give in.

"No matter how much you beg, my answer will stay the same." Chiaki stated calmly. He paid her clinging little mind as he washed the lettuce for his dinner.

"Why won't you go with Nodame?! It'll be fun!" she exclaimed, and having already done this three times in the last hour, he sighed. Really now she just wouldn't accept his refusal. Why couldn't she just listen, just once?

"A loud bar full of horrible music doesn't sound like fun to me." he retorted, "Besides, you'll have Tanya, Kuroki, and Yun Loong with you, I'm sure you'll manage without me."

He had to wonder how they had managed to talk Kuroki into going, but realizing that it was Nodame and Tanya, decided against asking. He was sure he didn't want to know the answer.

"But-But" she began, pulling hard on his arm, "I'm wearing a super sexy dress. What if some guy tries to pick me up, senpai?" she pouted, and he glanced at her. Not a bit of makeup, her usual crazy hair, and a dress she had worn a thousand times. He rolled his eyes and began to cut the lettuce.

"I'll take my chances." he said, before removing his arm from her grasp. It was too difficult to make dinner with her attached at his hip.

He was no fun at all, Nodame decided. She frowned as he completely tuned her out; she could tell by his stance. But she wouldn't be ignored, one more try couldn't hurt. She pressed herself against his back, gaining his attention. As he turned to tell her to leave him alone she wrapped her arms around his neck. His eyes met hers and she pouted.

"You mean you don't want to dance with Nodame?" she accused, and he found himself unable to look away from her. Her eyes had trapped his and with a start, he found that his heart was beating faster. She pulled herself closer to him, her lips grazing against his own due to their proximity.

"Th-that's not why-" he couldn't focus on his words because every time his lips moved, they brushed hers in a phantom caress. Everything was becoming hazy, just why was he denying her again? Work, he had to work didn't he?

"Then why not?" she asked, planting a soft kiss on his lips. His hands left the counter to wrap around her waist, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss.

By this point Chiaki was having a difficult time recalling that he was supposed to be busy. That his orchestra had new pieces he needed to study. He couldn't remember not liking loud bars. Why didn't he want to go again? Surely the music could be bearable, he could easily ignore it.

Then, as if struck by lightning, he realized that Nodame was seducing him into giving her the answer she desired.

Since when had she been able to do that?

He pushed her away, partially regretting the loss of contact but knowing he needed to clear the haze in his mind. Confusion covered her face as he looked her over as if searching for something. Why did he seem so upset all of a sudden?

"Senpai?" she questioned, concerned at his panicked look as she reached for him.

"No, no,no!" he jumped away as if she was on fire. "I can't go, I have work to do. You're supposed to meet Tanya, right? Go see her. Now." he needed time and space to think over what just happened. What she had just accomplished.

Her terrifying new power that he wasn't quite so sure he could avoid or handle.

Nodame sulked as she realized that her kiss wasn't enough, not realizing that it would have if not for the shock he had been given. She huffed and crossed her arms.

"Fine." she said stiffly, before her lips pouted once more, drawing Chiaki's attention. "Nodame will have fun without senpai." she looked at him with extreme irritation before turning and walking out without saying goodbye. The door slammed, and Chiaki practically fell back onto the counter as he contemplated what just occurred.

How did she do that? Nodame, of all people, had accomplished something no one ever had. It wasn't like she was unattractive, and as their relationship grew he knew he could easily see himself becoming intimate with her in the near future. But Nodame, seducing him? Where did she learn that, and more importantly, how had he fallen for it? Just how far into the weirdo forest had he ventured?

He decided not to continue that train of thought as he sat down to eat his dinner, staring at the salad blankly. He didn't have much of an appetite anymore. He looked up for a moment to glance at the clock and realized Nodame had left her jacket on the couch.

He debated on letting her go without it, not willing to see her when he was so confused. But he knew that it was getting colder at night, and despite everything he couldn't hold back his worry.

He heard her voice mingling with Tanya and Yun Loong's as they walked down the hall, and he stood. "Perfect timing."

He walked to the door with the jacket, and right as he opened the door the three of them were walking down the stairs. He called out to them, gesturing to the jacket as they turned around, only to pause as he noticed his girlfriend's appearance.

'What is she wearing?' was his first thought. He had never seen that dress before, the short black number accentuated every curve she possessed and was mind blowingly short compared to what she normally wore. She had cleavage, and her legs...was she wearing thigh highs?

Even her hair looked different, pulled to the sides with little decorative clips that screamed 'Tanya'. He could bet this entire thing was Tanya, actually. That evil Russian loved pulling off this sort of thing. Nodame was not supposed to look like that, showing off that to anyone.

And as she tilted her head at him, confusion filling her kohl lined eyes, he realized something. She was going to be in a bar where there would be plenty of guys just waiting to get her alone. In that dress, with that face, with three people who definitely wouldn't be paying enough attention to stop them if they wished to get close to her. And he was going to let her go without him?

No way. There was just no way that was happening.

"I'm coming after all." he said suddenly, and Nodame almost squeaked in happiness, launching herself at him. It was only then he realized that he had somehow walked downstairs without noticing. When had he done that?

"That's nice, but you should probably put on some shoes." Yun Loong said, and Chaiki turned red in embarrassment.

"Yes, yes sorry I didn't want to lose you guys. One second." he replied before throwing Nodame her jacket and rushing back upstairs.

He wasn't leaving her to those men, whoever they were. He'd look over the scores later, it would be fine.

He knew as he left with them that he was definitely in trouble.


A/N: What do you think? I love seeing Chiaki's reactions to situations like this, and his petty jealousies(which Nodame also suffers from) during the series.