I can't help it, I love these two XD
K guys, shizz is about to get real in the next couple of chapters SO HOLD ON TO YOUR LAPTOPS YO.
/Zen out
Retasu held back as Zakuro explained to the other Mews what had happened. Now that they were inside the cafe, she'd let the tom cat down and he sat on one of the counters licking himself all over like she'd messed up his fur or something. The Mews were all worried about Pudding, but excited to finally have a lead on where Ichigo might be – even if it was just a cat.
"How are you holding up?"
Retasu spun to find Ryuo standing behind her. His arms were crossed and his serious blue eyes were trained on her face. She fought the blush creeping up her neck and into her cheeks.
"I-I'm ok I guess, I mean, Pudding's the one who was in the fight," she said, looking down.
"You were there as well," he said, stepping closer. He paused and she held her breath. "Why do you always do that?"
"Do what?" Retasu asked, glancing over at the tom cat again. Anything to keep from having to look at him, from having to meet those blue eyes. Those eyes could see straight through her.
She felt a jolt of shock as his fingertips came up under her chin and turned her face back towards his, so that she was forced to look at him.
"Look away from me," he said. "What is it you are afraid of seeing? Or is it you're afraid of what others will see?"
Retasu found it hard to speak at all while standing so close to him. Her heart was stuttering in her chest and her palms were sweaty. She smoothed them on her skirt.
"I-I don't know," she said at last. "I wasn't aware I was doing it." A lie, but it seemed like the safest answer.
"You shouldn't be ashamed to look friends in the eye, or to let them see your strengths," he said, his thumb brushing against her cheek. Was he even aware what he was doing to her? Her heart was going so fast she was sure she was either going to have a heart attack or faint.
"My strengths?" she asked, fighting to keep her voice steady.
"Your loyalty," he replied as his eyes wandered over her face. "Your kindness and even your stubbornness."
"I'm not stubborn!" she protested.
Ryuo smiled at her. "Right." He paused for a minute, his smile fading slowly. "Do you trust me Retasu?"
"You're my boss," she replied, suddenly aware that her mouth had gone dry. "Of course I trust you."
For a moment his blue eyes clouded over and she swore a muscle in his cheek twitched. Had what she said bothered him?
"Is that what I am to you? Just your boss?" he asked, sliding his hand down her throat until his fingers brushed the back of her neck. Retasu nearly fainted right then and there.
"She's sitting up!" Mint called from across the room where she, Zakuro and Keichiiro were bent over Pudding.
Ryuo dropped his hand and looked over at them. Retasu was finding it hard to breathe as he walked away from her and across the room to see Pudding for himself. Retasu leaned against the counter, surprised to find her legs were weak and she was shaking a bit. A minute more and she wasn't sure if she would have been able to hold it together.
What had he meant by asking if that was what he was to her? Wasn't he supposed to be her boss? What else was she supposed to say?
Retasu raised her hand to her throat where he'd touched her and looked over at them across the room. He glanced up at that moment and their eyes locked.
Was she seeing things... or...? She looked away, blushing. Why would Ryuo, who was strong and smart and rich, want her? What could he see in her? She was the one that everyone over looked, the one that was always there but wasn't anything special. She was just Retasu, the book worm. Retasu, the one who had been happy to find out she had been a Mew Mew because she hadn't had any real friends.
Ichigo was the one who was unafraid. Mint was pretty, even if she could be snobby sometimes. Pudding was sweet and funny and talented. Zakuro was gorgeous.
What was Retasu?
...loyalty... kindness...
She peeked up again and this time when she met Ryuo's eyes, she didn't look away.
Could it be that she was the one he wanted?
