A Sweet Secret Love
by kawaii-witch181
"Your very own fortune is not something to find, but to unfold."
Standard Disclaimer: All Rights Reserved:
Prince of Tennis © Konomi Takeshi ; xxxHolic © Ohkawa Ageha & Clamp
A/N: Yo! I'm back~
Oh, before anything else... I officially forgot to thank RosAangel Naito and kiki1607. Thank you for correcting my mistakes! (I didn't even notice them XD) And a special thank you for AmaririsuHiganbana for always reviewing almost every chapter~
And of course, all of you reviewers deserve a big fluffy hug from me! ALL OF YOU! *hearts* Your reviews are awesome as always~ They refill my energy up~ Want some cotton candy? ^_^
Oh, and would you look at that? We're on the twelfth chapter already! I'm surprised I managed to survive a multi-chaptered story. XD
Putting that aside, here's your awaited chapter! Don't forget to leave a review later, ne?
Chapter Eleven: Fortune~telling
"Ryoma-san! Wake up!" A girl with long and glossy dark blue hair stirred her cousin up.
"Mmmm…." Her cousin simply mumbled. He's taking an afternoon nap again, lying on his favorite spot under the shade of a golden brown tree near the koi pond. Clear transparent hands are stroking his hair, but went unnoticed by his cousin. She only passed up the movement as a normal breeze blowing around.
"Oh, c'mon! Don't you 'Mmmm' me! I know you're not asleep yet!" Nanako pulled his cheeks.
"MMrine!"
She chuckled. "What is it~?"
"I said fine! Just stop pulling my cheeks. It hurts." The boy finally sat up, rubbing his abused left cheek.
A grin of triumph.
"So…will you come with me?" Nanako put on her best puppy dog eyes.
On an ordinary lazy day, the tennis prince would have said no. And, today is not an exception. Earlier, his girl cousin went tackling him to ask a favor: Come with me to a fortune-telling shop. That's her request. And yes, a simple request as that can make Ryoma say no. If only it wasn't for an auburn haired girl's curiosity, he wouldn't really think twice of not going. Oh, the wonders of convincing! How platonic.
He already said no at first. But, seeing that the request picked the girl's curiosity, his mind began functioning in a different manner.
"What's fortune-telling?" She had mumbled.
"Ryoma-kun! Let's go visit that shop!" She then added, looking like a bright sun that just came out of a rainy day's gloomy cloud.
He managed to suppress a sigh and quickly covered that up by pretending to take a nap at the garden's near veranda. Good thing, his cousin is persistent today.
He glanced up at the spirit girl. There it is again, her ever so glistening chocolate orbs, reminding him of his promise to take her anywhere she wants.
He finally let out his suppressed sigh.
"Fine, just better make it quick. You're disturbing my scheduled nap here."
"This is your obligation. I'm your cousin."
Nanako stuck her tongue out, and proceeded to prepare at her room.
Ryuzaki Sakuno let out a hearty laugh.
"You sure are lazy, Ryoma-kun."
"You sure are sanguine today, Ryuzaki."
She pouted. "I just want a walk."
"Yeah, and I agreed. Didn't I?"
Ryoma began his usual detour to his room. She followed him, but settled on the living room to pet Karupin.
"Mrow. Mrow!" The Himalayan cat purred.
"Karupin?" Nanako's voice rang out.
"Oh, you're being silly again." She laughed, picking the fluffy cat up and settling him near the stairs.
/ Like pet, like owner. They sure are being weird these past weeks /
When all's finally ready, the two cousins stood outside the gate; with Nanako folding a floral-patterned handkerchief into half, and then to another half. The amber-eyed prince heard her mutter some incantation-like words:
The things I seek
The person I seek
The place I seek
The things I seek
The person I seek
The place I seek
Soar high; Show thy way to the person I seek.
Unexpectedly, the handkerchief transformed into an origami-like butterfly. Sakuno watched in awe as it began heading to a specific direction.
"All we have to do is follow it," Nanako said, going after the piece of cloth.
Sakuno: Ne, Ryoma-kun….how can that handkerchief move on its own?
"Nanako, how did you make that handkerchief move?"
"It's a little trick my foreteller friend told me. She said if I want to find her place, all I have to do is do something like that."
"Is your friend a witch or something?"
"Course not! She's a foreteller! A foreteller!"
…..What's a foreteller?
"Someone who can tell the future,"
Like a Kami?
"No, their predictions aren't always right."
So…you mean…they're just guesses?
"You can call it that,"
"You know, Ryoma…I've been meaning to ask you this. Why do you keep on mumbling something these past weeks? Are you, perhaps, talking to someone?"
"It's only tennis stuffs,"
"Are you sure?"
"You won't understand even if I tell you,"
Black orbs just stared at her cousin's back.
/ He really needs to open up more /
~oOo~
A little while later, their feet finally reached the busy central street. Naturally, many people are crowding it; buying and working here and there. With the auburn-haired girl not being used to a busy place like this, her mind is easily distracted. An arcade center, once again, caught her attention. Well, to be specific, it is the claw crane machine in front of the arcade. Her ghostly hands grasped the glass box as she stared on a particular stuffed toy.
"That one looks like you, Ryoma-kun," she giggled, finally taking her eyes away.
"Eh? R-Ryoma-kun?" She frantically looked around, not a single Echizen meeting her gaze.
"T-This isn't f-funny R-Ryoma-kun….Don't….D-Don't leave me behind…" She trailed off, tears glistening at the corner of her eyes as she slumped down at the very front of the machine.
"I…I-I…don't want to be lonely a-anymore…."
Those clear and transparent tears finally glistened down her pale cheeks.
The butterfly finally stopped and instantly fell down to Nanako's waiting hands, unfolding to its original form. Before the older Echizen can even press the doorbell button, the wooden gate already opened.
"Ryu….zaki?"
When the tennis prince looked behind, not even a body part of the spirit girl greeted his gaze.
"Ryoma! Won't you come in?" His cousin called from the inside of the gate.
"…I need to find…her first," he replied, looking at the distant walkway, urgency clouding his voice.
"Don't worry, young lad; that spirit friend of yours is already on her way here." A beautiful woman, with an elegant looking shawl on her shoulders, said to him. Ryoma assumed she was in her 60's.
He scowled. "How can you know?"
The woman smiled at him.
"I've spent my lifetime foretelling the future, lad."
She turned her back to him.
"Now, come in. I'm sure my granddaughter is already on her way here."
~oOo~
"You know….if you don't stop crying, you'll set the entire city flooded."
At the sound of a strange voice, the auburn haired girl looked up.
"Y-Y-You can see me, n-nee-chan?" She asked between sobs, finally wiping her overflowing tears. In front of her, stood a girl about the same age as Nanako, with long silvery-blue hair that curls at the ends.
"Why, of course! Now, why don't you stand up, and we'll find the person you're looking for? Hmm?"
"H-How can you tell I'm looking for s-someone?"
"Lost children, like you, always cry when left alone in a crowd."
The spirit girl pouted.
"I'm not a child,"
"It's just a metaphor," The girl laughed. "Saa, what's the name of the spirit girl in front of me? Tell me, ne?"
"Sakuno. I'm Ryuzaki Sakuno."
"Nice meeting you then, Saku-chan! I'm Harumi!"
"Mama! Look at her. Is she talking to somebody?"
"Shhhh. Don't mind her, son. She, unfortunately, just met a tragedy that resulted to her behavior like this." The mother explained with a dramatic voice.
The corner of her mouth twitched.
"Tragedy?" Harumi mumbled.
"Gomemenasai, Harumi-san."
A gulp of air was inhaled, calming the owner's nerves.
"Huh? What are you apologizing for?"
"Because of me…."
"Oh? Don't worry about those people. I'm used to that already. I'm a foreteller, after all." She chuckled.
The auburn girl tilted her head. "Fore...teller?"
"Can you keep a secret?" Harumi winked. "I….can tell the future!"
"…Ah! Like a fortune teller!"
Harumi laughed.
"Right! Though the meaning is similar…but I prefer to be called foreteller. It sounded cooler, don't you think? –laughs- Come. Let's talk while we move on, ne? Tell me, what's the name of the one you're looking for?"
"He's Ryoma-kun,"
"Any last name?"
"Echizen"
"Hooo? An Echizen? You're in real luck, spirit girl. Come, let's head to my residence. I'm sure the Echizen cousins are already there."
Chocolate brown orbs shined in amazement.
"How…How…did you know?"
Harumi winked once again.
"I can read the stars…"
"S-Sugoiii! Ne…Ne…Tell me more, Harumi-san!"
^_^ "Sure, but in exchange, tell me about yourself, too."
"Ah, h-hai!"
The road stretched once again as the two began their journey; one comfortably talking without a care of her surroundings and the other who happily floats as she chatted. A looming shadow stood unmoving beside the claw crane machine. Its unrecognizable eyes mysteriously gaze at the parting spirit girl and her companion. Without a second hesitation, it began following them quietly, like a feather dropping across a pavement.
It…actually…feels good…to be able to talk to someone like this…other than Ryoma-kun…
"Tadaima, baa-chan!"
"Harumi-chan!"
"Nanako-chan!"
The two long time friends exchanged hugs.
"Awwiie~ I missed you!"
"Same here!"
"Ryuzaki! Where did you go?"
Sakuno smiled sheepishly.
"Gomen ne, Ryoma-kun. I got left behind,"
The tennis prince sighed. "I told you to stay close to me, didn't I?"
"I'm sorry!"
"How's it been for you, Nanako? Still single?" Harumi flashed a teasing smile.
The older Echizen chuckled. "I..guess…"
"Would you like some tea?" Harumi's grandmother offered.
"Ah! No need, grandmother. I'll do it."
"Well, then, I'll leave you for awhile. Looks like you have something to discuss. Oh, and nice meeting you, spirit girl,"
The sliding door closed.
"…Spirit girl?"
Nanako glanced at Ryoma, who managed to move at the far corner of the room, mumbling something.
/ Can't you sense her? /
"Won't you start getting your future told?" Ryoma asked.
"Ah! That's right. Harumi-chan~ Tell me a divination~"
Harumi sweatdropped.
/ She basically forgot about the spirit girl topic /
"Ah, sure. But, I won't be using my divination style. Stars aren't visible yet."
"She literally means nighttime," Nanako explained to Ryoma.
"I'm not even asking."
Sakuno chuckled. The tennis prince is being blunt as always.
"I'll be right back,"
Harumi's voice rang out before the door slid closed. When she returned, she carried a large shallow bowl of sand in her hands.
"Sand?" Nanako asked in amusement.
"What's that for?" Sakuno whispered.
"This is grandmother's. She foretells the future with this."
"What do you use then?" Ryoma asked this time.
"A semi-circular silver bowl; I reflect the stars' shine with it."
"Tell me why you chose the star-styled-divination again?"
Harumi warmly laughed.
"I always adored the stars, remember?" She proceeded to lay the sand tray to the wooden floor, wiping the remaining dust present on it.
"Now then, who goes first?"
"No, thank you. I didn't come here to get my future told." Ryoma immediately declined.
"I kinda forced him to come," Nanako leaned in to Harumi, whispering. "But, I want you to perform a divination for him as well. I think he really needs it."
"Well then, let's get it over with."
Actually, there is a needle above the shallow bowl and on opposite sides of it are two small, flat metallic handles where you can lay your hand.
"Kindly place your hand on the handle, please." Harumi instructed whilst Nanako did as she was told.
"Nanako." The young foreteller started, her eyes in a deep slumber state. "You still can't forget him, correct? …Even though you already lost that ability, you longed to see him once again."
Amber cat-like orbs stared in fascination. Nanako neither nodded nor responded, and yet the foreteller already knew the answer. Is this the real truth about real fortune-tellers? With their divination devices, they can already know your questions, and perhaps, the answer itself? Unbelievable.
On the other side, chocolate brown orbs glittered with awe and amusement. There's not even a single verbal exchange between the two. How come that it's like they are having a conversation? And it seems they can understand each other, too. Can logic even be able to explain that?
Nanako seemed shocked; that statement really brought the past back to her. Of all the things that can be said, why…why that statement? Is that what her heart is searching for? The answer why she lost that ability…the only ability which connected…to him.
-Flashback-
"Mou, Ryoga! You're so mean! You stole my orange bunnies again!" A little Nanako whined.
"Orange bunnies?" A three-year-old Ryoga laughed loudly, clutching his stomach while keeping his balance on the low tree branch. "There is no such thing as orange bunnies! Maybe you meant apple bunnies? Hahahahaha!"
Poor Nanako blushed in combined embarrassment and anger.
"It's not funny!" She pouted, crossing her arms.
"I was just joking. Nako-chi, are you angry?"
"I am!"
"What?!"
Cute giggles surfaced in the air.
"Ha! Got you! :P Come on! You owe me apple bunnies!"
Little Nanako ran to the open door.
"Race you!" Little Ryoga laughed, running past her.
"Mou!"
~oOo~
"Ne, okaa-san. Aunt Rinko will visit today, right? And, Ryoga too!" The little girl flashed her super big smile.
"Nanako, Ryoga's in the hospital." Her mother said in the most calming voice.
"Hospital? But…you said only those who are sick go there. Is Ryoga sick, okaa-san?"
Her mother stroked her hair in a comforting manner. She can't possibly tell her daughter that her playmate is fighting to live, can she?
"Yes, she's sick, Nanako."
"Then, let's visit him, Mother. I'll transfer my immune-ing power to him. I'm sure those bacteria will get scared and leave him." Little Nanako took a fighting pose.
"Haha, yes they will, dear. Now, why don't you get dressed first? I'll prepare fruits to bring."
"Hai!"
-Hospital-
"Ryoga! Are you feeling well?" Little Nanako stuck her head on the doorway. She felt confused. Why is the atmosphere so gloomy all of a sudden? And why are there sad expressions painted on their faces? Did Ryoga do another naughty act?
"What's the problem, Auntie?" She asked her relatively-second-mother. The beeping of the machine caused uneasiness to her stomach. It seems like it's telling her that Ryoga…can't wake up anymore.
"Nanako. Ryoga can't play with you anymore."
"W-Why? D-Did I do something w-wrong?"
Tears clouded her eyes.
Rinko shook her head, trying to stop the tears threatening to fall.
"H-He can't wake up anymore. I'm sorry."
"C-Can't wake up? W-Why? He doesn't want to see my f-face a-anymore?"
"Nanako, let's leave for awhile. Your Aunt and Uncle need some time alone." Her mother nudged her, taking a seat on the waiting chairs across the room.
"Okaa-san! I…..I can't s-see Ryoga a-anymore?" She questioned, sobbing on her mother's lap.
"W-Why, Mother?!"
"He already went to heaven, sweetie."
"Heaven?" She'd heard of that place. They say it's high up above the clouds, away from the living world. But, in order to get there, you have to die and leave those people you love, never to return.
"H-He left me?!"
"Hush, sweetie. I'm sure he's still watching over you." Her mother hugged her, allowing her to cry her heart out.
~oOo~
"Ohayou, Nako-chi!"
Her closed sense of sight squirmed from the greeting. Is she being so lonely, that Ryoga's voice invaded her mind and hearing? Maybe if she succumbed to sleep once more, those would just go away? She can't deal with that right now. It still hurt.
"Wake up! You promise to play today!" The voice whined.
She felt her body shake, trying to signal her awake. Finally giving up on returning to sleepland, her black orbs fluttered open. In front of her stood the very object of her attention, him, who recently left the living world without a single notice.
"RYOGA?!" She screamed, jerking the farthest away possible, bringing her pillow in the process.
"You…heaven…left…"
The Echizen Boy chuckled, "I just came back, miss me?" He opened his arms welcomingly.
Tears glistened under the glowing early sun's ray.
"Yeah…Yes, I do!" She ran to him, attempting a hug. But, apparently, she just ran past him. So much for reunions.
"…W-What?" She trembled.
"I came to get you." Ryoga said in a spine-chilling voice.
Her eyes went saucer-wide, feeling the temperature suddenly went down. He….He came to…get… her? So that means, she'll die, too? Her footing took a step back. It…can't be. This is just a nightmare, right? Yes, a nightmare, and nothing else. The real world is waiting for her above those closed eye of hers, right, right?
Suddenly, his merry laughter warmed up the atmosphere, entirely changing it.
"Hahahaha! I'm kidding! Hahahaha! Man, your expression is priceless! You should have seen yourself, Nako-chi! I'm sure The Scream will be put to shame!"
"You…! You're only kidding?! How could you do that?! I…..I was..so scared.." She broke down, burying her face on the pillow.
His eyes softened. "Gomen, Nako-chi…I just…felt like teasing you. I'm sorry."
She looked up, taking a peek at his face. He looked like those children caught stealing a cookie waiting for punishment. Awww~ How adorable~
"What are you…doing here, anyway?" She asked, clutching her pillow tightly.
He rubbed the nape of his neck, feeling extremely shy at the moment. She raised an eyebrow at this.
"I want to watch over Chibisuke,"
Now, that left her jaw hanging open.
"Don't leave your jaw like that. An icky insect will go inside."
She blushed at their closeness. He suddenly leaned in! What did you expect this little girl to do? Well, on the promising note, she long admitted she has a crush in this adopted cousin of hers. But, only a little! Geez! Don't be so pushy! /
"Then why are you here in my room?"
"Ouch. That broke my heart, Nako-chi. Of course, you're my bestest person, silly! …And I kinda had a feeling that you'll…immediately feel my presence."
When he looked up, Nanako isn't there anymore. The heck! And to think that he even considered that as a confession-like scene! Ugh!
She, however, poked her head back nonchalantly.
"What are you still doing there? I thought you'll be checking on Ryoma? He's far from here, you know."
His jaw dropped.
"I'll have my breakfast first."
Man, Nanako can really be dense at times, can she? He glided his transparent hands on his hair. He didn't even know why his child-thinking heart even fell in like with that girly girl. It's not yet a total puppy love, mind you. But, it's painfully-slowly going there. :P
"Oh, Nanako, I'm glad you can still see me." He whispered.
"Welcome back, Ryoga." She whispered before eating her already prepared breakfast.
~oOo~
Years (about 3-4) have passed and Ryoga still lingered in the living world, always staying by Nanako's side. But, alas, all things come to an end; and their situation is not an exception. When Ryoma grew up to a toddler, Ryoga decided to go to him, leaving Nanako behind. Nanako, being her, didn't mind. She knows her childhood relative-crush care for his younger brother so much. What can she do? It's not like she can just stop him, right? But...after that, she didn't see him anymore. He didn't even drop by for a visit. T_T
Another year swiftly passed. Another year without his presence. Somehow, she's getting used to it, now feeling melancholic occasionally. Just as she was building a shell all over herself again, Aunt Rinko called, requesting her to live with them. A chance to see Ryoga, can she let that pass? Of course not. Definitely not.
Now standing in front of Auntie's residence, she felt her young heartbeat quicken. She can see her playmate again! Isn't that nice? …Well, maybe not. Upon setting foot on the house, she was greeted with a dreaded reality: she lost that ability, whatever you call that. She can't feel nor see his presence anymore. Can she be sure that he's here? Of course, she's sure. Where can he be when his younger brother is here residing? She just….It just felt forlorn, okay? How unfair. She lost him again. She didn't even have the chance to say 'I'm sure we'll play and see each other again' or 'Have a safe trip above'. Sadly, no matter how reprehensible it can be, she has no choice but to accept that fact…right?
-End of Flashback-
"Of the many years passed, he already attained peace, Nanako-chan. As funny as it may seem, I think all he's saying is for you to find a boyfriend. If you grew old having none, he wants you to know that he'll definitely come back for you." Harumi snorted a laugh.
"Mou, until now, he's still teasing me."
Harumi replied with a grin.
Nanako sighed a contented one; removing her hand from the handle.
Ryoma looked ridiculously flabbergasted. "That's it?"
"Only the result you seek will be given. Nothing more, nothing less." The young foreteller stated.
"It's all about equality. The effort you use must be equal to what you get in return." Harumi's grandmother said, emerging on the doorway. "Forgive my interruption, but I need my sand tray, Harumi."
The object asked was handed right away.
"And…if ever this is gone again without me knowing, you'll be grounded on stargazing for a week." Grandmother's voice sounded so threatening.
Harumi's vexed expression painted her young face. Nanako even had the urge to laugh.
"Shimata! Anything but that!"
"No cursing!" Her grandmother's voice boomed from a far away room.
The auburn haired spirit girl chuckled, and Ryoma as well.
"You're still obsessed with stargazing?"
"I'm a foreteller, duh."
Nanako rolled her eyes. "Whatever,"
"Now, Ryoma. It's your turn. You want your fortune told, right? Oh yes, I know you do!"
"No, I don't."
"Yes, you do!"
"No, I don't. And besides, what will she use? The sand tray's gone."
Harumi flashed her triumphant grin. "Stars are already out,"
"Ooooh! Can I get mine, too?" Sakuno asked.
"Sorry, spirit girl. I'm not in that level yet. I can only do with physical bodies."
"Oh…." Her face looked crestfallen.
"But! If ever you found your body, feel free to pass by here~. I'll give you a free reading as a present."
She immediately brightened. "Hai!"
"Who's spirit girl?"
Nanako looked so overly confused.
"Open your eyes, Nanako-chan. You just sealed up that ability of yours."
"Don't feel so anxious, cousin. There's nothing to lose if you try."
"Don't you want to meet her? Your cousin's not-so-noticeable friend."
Meeting another being like Ryoga? It is not a bad thing, right? Wait….so Ryoma's weird actions is because of this being? How come he didn't tell her? Curiosity finally overcame her anxiety. Now, she really wants to meet her. If only…If only she can have that ability again.
Something clicked inside her.
Her organs of sight felt a sudden pain, which made her close them so desperately. To her relief, it managed to subside, slowly fading, until the pain is finally gone. She opened her eyes, feeling a familiar sensation restoring back.
"Hi there, Nanako-san!"
A somewhat new transparent face filled her vision.
She gasped.
"You're a ghost?!"
"Mou! How many times do I have to tell you people! I'm not dead yet! I'm a spirit! Don't you get it?!"
If only she can pull her hair, she would do that. But since, her hands will just pass through, a good option is waving your hands in the air exasperatedly. But since she's shy little Ryuzaki Sakuno, she turned to yelling and complaining instead.
The older Echizen sweatdropped.
"…Err…I'm sorry."
"Oh, that's fine. Just make it right the next time."
She sounded so threatening. –shudders-
"It's really feels good! You can finally see me!"
"Finally?"
"I've been in your house so many weeks ago."
Nanako turned to her cousin.
"And you didn't tell me we have a spirit inside our house?"
"It's obvious you wouldn't believe me."
"I have my history! I can…alright…Maybe, I really won't believe you."
"I told you,"
"But, you could have forced me!"
"What's important now is you can see spirit girl here. She told me Ryoma's helping find her body."
"Oh? Really? I want to help!"
"T-Thank you. There are so many requesting to help me but I don't know where to start looking. I can't remember any relatives of mine. I…I'm really sorry to trouble you all."
"That's not a problem! People granted with spirit-seeing abilities have this urge to help beings like you. It's the least we could do." Nanako flashed her a smile.
"Aren't we going home yet?"
"Can't you see we're talking so deeply here?! And you just asked if we can go home now?! Geez. I can't believe you're so insensitive!"
"I'm me,"
Laughters filled the air.
"Seriously, cousin. I think you better learn a new attitude."
"I'm me,"
"I don't care!"
The tennis prince smirked while his cousin replied with her rolling of eyes. Laughter once again filled the atmosphere.
"You know what? If I never knew you are cousins, you two can really pass up as siblings."
"If I'm his sister, I'll definitely teach him not to be insensitive."
"Then, I won't be me."
"Whatever,"
"Ne, Ryoma-kun. Nanako is really fun. She can definitely be your stepsister."
He smirked, thinking the scenario where Nanako threw away those porn magazines of his baka oyaji.
"Yeah, maybe."
"Oh, and Sakuno-chan. I can call you that, right? I know this is already late…but…uh…Welcome to the Echizen Household."
"Thank you!"
~oOo~
"Sorry, we didn't get the chance to see you with your star divination, Harumi-chan."
-shrugs it off- "That's fine. Don't worry. Maybe the next time you visit, if ever the stars come out."
"Yeah, definitely."
"We should get going."
"You're such a kill joy."
"Whatever,"
"Bring them next time too, okay? Let's talk some stuffs. And, Spirit Girl, good luck!"
All three of them bowed before walking away. Before disappearing in the distance, Nanako waved in which Harumi returned eagerly. Finally out of sight, she let out a sigh.
"Now….YOU! What are you doing trespassing in my residence AGAIN?!" Her hands took hold of the tall mop that was located near their gateway. She poked the human sitting atop their gate fence.
"Oopsie?" It let out a nervous laugh.
Harumi just kept poking him with the mop.
"Don't 'oopsie' me, mister. Get down here and apologize."
"Alright. Alright. I'm sorry okay? I was just following a spirit aura here. I sense it went inside, so I decided to go to."
He let out a pout.
"You could have just ringed the doorbell,"
The guy flashed her an awkward smile.
"Uh….Forgot about that? Ehehehe…"
She scoffed.
"You ALWAYS say that whenever you come here. Seriously, be civilized already!"
He ignored her statement.
"Won't you invite me in?"
"Tch. Fine. You can come in for a tea,"
"Yay! Thanks, Harumi-chi!"
Seconds passed, the young foreteller already went inside. Noticing that her newly arrived guest didn't follow her, she went to him once again.
"I thought you want to come in?"
"Ehehehe….Umm…A little help here, please? I can't get down."
She could have died there laughing her heart out.
~Chapter: End!
A/N: Wait …so…to clear things up…I'm not really sure if Nanako is Ryoma's cousin in the father side. I mean, her surname is Meino, right? Is that the maiden name of Ryoma's mother? I'm really confused, right now. Ha-ha. But, anyway, let's just assume that in this AU-ish fic, Nanako is his cousin on the Echizen side. && I know, Nanako calls Ryoma: 'Ryoma-san' but since they are cousins and literally live in the same house, I altered it to Ryoma alone. I mean, they are cousins; they should be close, one way or another.
And…yes, I see Ryoga and Nanako as a potential couple. Since Ryoga is not a real Echizen, I totally believe he'll fell in love with her if ever they see each other. Love at first sight, maybe? *winks* & besides, in Japan, people can marry their cousins, I think? That's as far as I'm informed. *grins*
I apologize! This chapter really took awhile. When I woke up, all the ideas I thought the previous night keep on vanishing and leaving my head! And when I started to type on my keyboard the next day, writer's block kept on interfering! How frustrating!
Anyway, enough with my complaints. Let's have a guessing game. Guess who that newly introduced character at the end. What's his name? Hmm? I'll give a clue: he's from Hyoutei~
I'm not even sure how that character ended up from Hyoutei. XD I'm not really a fan of the team from there, since Atobe is so narcissistic. Haha. Oh! And I just noticed! I totally forgot about Nanjiroh! Haha. He was neglected from the previous chapters. How amnesia-tic of me.
Well, forgive me for now. My author's note is sooooo long. XD It's just that I missed you guys sooo much! And look! Who would have thought that the new chapter ended up like this? It's soo long compared from the others. Ha-ha. Bye-bye for now! Leave your juicy reviews, ne? ^_^