Usagi
He sat on the couch wrapped in a blanket, not staring at the TV but through it. He clutched a cup of hot chocolate that was probably lukewarm at this point. I'd asked him how he felt about me. I thought his response would be instantaneous, but he was thinking about it. He suddenly turned to me. "I think I can tell you now." I sat down across from him, too scared to be to close. I realized my error too late because I could only stare at him.
"How I feel about you is...difficult...I'm not sure how to start." He sighed, sipped the hot chocolate, and cleared his throat. "Your existence is very important to me...when no one noticed me it was you who rescued me. And you've been the one taking care of me all this time. So you're not just some person to me. At the same time...I feel like you're something better than me. To me you were the first light I'd seen in awhile...and so it feels like I can't even touch you because I'm at your feet. But I like you. A lot." I didn't know whether to be angry or feel flattered.
"So what does that mean?" He looked out the window.
"I guess that means you can ask me for a favor because right now I owe you." A favor...
"Will you go on a date with me?"
"That's not exactly a favor but if that's what you want...I'll go." Misaki set his cup down on the table. "Not that I don't want to go because I'd like that." I'd finally earned a small smile. Misaki didn't have much reason to smile these days. It was going to be up to me to change that. I was ready for the challenge, but was he ready to open up his heart to me? That's a gamble I was willing to take but my heart was a little less than thrilled. I looked up to find those huge green eyes locked on my face, his expression unreadable.
He suddenly stood up and walked up to me and placed a hand on my cheek. "I've caused you enough trouble so if there's anything you need me to hear...I'll listen." I couldn't look away from those green eyes, shining with curiosity.
"I'm just wondering if things are going to work out they way I want them to." His hand dropped to his side. My cheek felt cold and lonely. He sat next to me.
"Nothing ever really works out the way you want it to. Sometimes that's bad but in some cases...it's a good thing." He patted my hand.
"So if I said I wanted you to stay here as long as possible?" He sighed. It didn't sound unhappy.
"I'd mostly likely agree." I couldn't help the smile forming.
"And you know what that would mean?" He nodded.
"I wouldn't really have it any other way honestly."
"Let's postpone that date." I slung him over my shoulder and took the stairs two at a time.
"W-wait!" His fists hit my back. It felt sort of like a child's.
"Not a chance. One thing you'll learn about me is I'm not very patient."