Chapter 10: Warm Lips

Reminder: English is not my first language. Yep definitely not.

Disclaimer: Brothers Conflict is not mine. Just Rina Inagami and other OCs.


"Here Ema-chi, one bowl chocolate strawberry cake. Enjoy~!"

My smile broadened watching her lips opened in awe and eyes sparkling in happiness at the presented heaven in front of her. "Oh my… this looks delicious." She eagerly snatched the spoon, took a bite and closed her eyes in happiness.

"Of course." My smugged replied. "It's our most famous and saleable dessert we have." I added seating at the same time on the empty chair beside her since my shift that day was almost over and I can spent the rest of my time with her. "So, what brings you here? I thought you're busy today since its Sunday and Sunday is a family day~" My cooed question to Ema and putting my hands on my cheeks watching her munched the delectable dessert. Honestly, I didn't expect Ema to visit me today after the dinner last night and because it's Sunday, I thought she will spend her time with them since her brothers looked so eager to have her attention, I tilted my head when I saw how she stopped from eating and put down the spoon back on the plate.

"I just want to see you…" Ema muttered and gazed at me again. "... and want to know how you met my brothers accidentally." She added and made eye contact to me for a split second before turning back to her dessert.

"Ouch, you deeply hurt me Ema-chi. I thought you want to see me…" I pouted and wiped the fake tears, I glanced at her face again and blinked my eyes in surprise.

Did she just roll her eyes to me? Wow… that's new.

"Of course I want to see you and don't pout at me like that, did you forget? You hide this from me, your best friend."

Uh oh. She's so upset.

I sighed in defeat and gave her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry…" I mumbled quietly.

Her face became soft and nodded her head. "I forgive you Rin-chan…" She smiled again making me sigh this time in relief. "I've known you for so long but is there any particular reason why did you hide it from me?"

I chuckled. "Oh c'mon Ema-chi you do know how much I like surprises!"

She shook her head and laughed a little. "Of course..."

My smile weakened as my feature turned serious, my eyes pierced through her own which really startled Ema making her fidget from her position at my scrutinizing stare. "And Ema-chi…"

I saw how her body turned stiff avoiding my eyes finally and missed the amuse smirk appeared on my lips. "You do know how much I'd like to observe too." She flinched, hearing how I've said those words with significance. "Yes Ema-chi, I know your brothers like you more than a sister…" I spoke softly and releasing another sigh for that day.

I didn't dare to speak as she was silent for few minutes, instead I waited, giving my friend some moment to compose herself and think. I was happy that at least I've found a way to confess her problem to me about the affections of her new brothers towards her and without forcing her about it.

"I'm sorry if I didn't tell you about this." She uttered finally after the long silence, eyes sad. "I was hiding it also from you…" Looking at me with regretful look and almost wanted to slap myself for making her feel like this. "I'm so ashamed right now." She added, I gave her a tender smile took her hand and softly squeezed it.

"I forgive you also Ema-chi, don't worry I'm not upset." I said, beaming at her and trying to alleviate her mood. "What about you told me how you've spent your time with your brothers and I will tell mine after? Is that okay?"

She bobbed her head, glad at my suggestion. That's how we started our long talk about the Asahina brothers, she started from the day she moved to the Sunshine Residence until most of her brothers confessed their feelings for her. In return I told everything about accidentally meeting them and why did I hide it from her.

"Rin-chan… just don't keep a secret to me again okay? Promise me."

I paused.

Briefly some memories flash in my sight unfolding a thin line on my lips.

"Rin-chan?"

I blinked my eyes and turned my attention to Ema again, her face concerned.

I guess I was silent for a minute and lost in my thought, damn, get a grip Rina and don't think too much about it just focus on what's happening and forget about him for now.

"Rin-chan? Are you alright?" Remembering what she asked to me a while ago a forceful smile appeared on my lips.

"Oh sorry! Uhm sure! No more secrets…"

I whispered, feeling guilty at lying to her again. I don't want to burden her anymore, right now that she's having a big trouble of how to talk to her brothers about their feelings, I'll find a right time to tell her the truth but for now she needed a lot of things to do first. I gazed at her face seeing how genuine her smile is and made me cringue in my position, increasing the culpable feeling in my gut.

"Great! No more secrets." Ema clapped her hands and widened her smile.

Secret.

I really hate that word.


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After our long talk Ema decided to go home noticing the black clouds forming in the skies. She was brighter after the talk we have a while ago which really made me happy but also sad seeing this will not lasts somehow…

Brushing off the dreadful feeling creeping again in my gut and watched the dark gray sky instead, I bid my goodbye to Shioka and to the rest of my co-workers before walking away at the tea café I'm working. My paced was fast since I forgot to bring my umbrella seeing the dark sky is ready to pour down the heavy rain, my face frowned remembering how I didn't manage to watch the news about weather today because I woke up late and was too busy to do it, grumbling inwardly when tiredness hit me like a rock and ceased from my track. I guess I really needed some sleep…

"Maybe I should take a cab." I muttered to myself. My eyes wandered.

But before I could stopped a cab the rain suddenly fell down, wetting the whole place instantly. I run to the nearest place I could stay for a moment since the heavy rain made the surrounding sightless and impossible for me to go on.

I noticed I was in front of a small bookstore but decided not to go inside considering I'm totally soaked, wiping my face and clothes I sighed in disappointment and silently watched the heavy pouring rain…

I didn't know how long I've been standing there while blankly keeping my gaze ahead still watching the rain. I guess it's true that the rain made you feel melancholic, it looks like the sky is mourning for something special that has loss and keeps dropping all the frustration and grief with each drop of water it pours. It was so much like me somehow…

A scowl appearing on my feature.

Geez, why suddenly being dramatic Rina?

Staring at the sky I decided to not wait for the rain to stop because I'm already drenched besides, I can get home fast if I'll run. Thank goodness the rain was not falling harder now, with a made up decision and ready to do my plan I took a step forward as a start but to my surprised someone suddenly grabbed my left hand and making me jerked, my eyes landed in his violet ones.

I blinked as Natsume's frowning face came into view.

"Natsume-san?" I smiled at him and facing him fully this time. "You scared me."

"If you're planning to go home with this heavy rain I think that's not a good idea Rina."

I chuckled. "I was hoping to go home before it turns dark." My eyes looked upward again.

"You should wait for the rain to stop you might get sick if you do what I'm thinking." His feature turned soft.

I laughed quietly and shook my head. "Nah that's impossible I can assure Natsume-san." My toothy grin widened when his handsome face puckered again but didn't comment at my stubborn statement. "What are you doing here anyway?" I inquired giving him a curious glance and saw the bag he was bringing.

Noticing my gaze he lifted the bag. "I bought some few books for entertainment. I usually read it in my office if I'm not busy…" I raised my brows but didn't ask him and just nodded my head in understanding. We were silent for a minute, I can see he was looking at my drenched look especially at my face where I think some strands of hair sticking on my cheeks, something flashed in his eyes but faded quickly. I shrugged it off and turned my gaze ahead noticing the rain is till pouring hard I frowned for a moment then I smiled again when I turned my gaze at Natsume. "I should go, nice to see you again by the way."

"My car was parked not far from here… I can take you home." He offered immediately while faintly smiling at me.

My smile widened.

"Why you didn't say that earlier Natsume-san because I would love to!" My toothy grin didn't waver and saw how Natsume's eyes glint in fascination and chuckled.

"Wait here then."

"Okay!"

He was out of my view leaving me there and watching his back figure vanishing in my sight. Some moments passed before a car suddenly stopped in front of the store, the window sill slightly opened and saw Natsume at the driver's seat. "Get in." he said opening the car's door from his position. I swiftly did what he say and closed the door sighing at the same time, putting my seat belt on and smiled at him. "Ready?" he asked.

I bobbed my head. "Yup!"

He smirked and drove me home again for the second time.


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The car stopped in front of the Yugihama building while the rain is still pouring hard, I stared at Natsume again and smiled. "Thank you so much Natsume-san."

"It's okay, I can't just leave Ema's best friend there when the rain pouring like this..."

I lifted my eyebrow. "So if I'm not Ema's best friend are you going to leave me there?"

He shook his head before a smirked came into sight. "Even if you are not her best friend I'm still not going to leave you there Rina…" My curiosity spiked at his statement. "Because you are definitely intriguing."

I laughed. "Sheesh Natsume-san! You sounded like you have a crush on me." His flushed face made me laughed harder and patted his shoulder. "Sorry I was just kidding, since I'm your sister's best friend right from this moment you should start being used to my teasing attitude."

His eyes glimmered again and smiled finally. "I guess."

I watched him through the corner of my eye and noticed his drenched clothes. I didn't ask him during our trip because I think I knew what the reason behind it and felt guilty somehow, maybe he parked his car farther than I thought. "Would you like to have a coffee at least before you go home?" I offered this time. His hesitation somehow amused me before he finally agreed.

"Yeah sure." He said.

I gave him a closed eyes smile. "Good. Let's go!"


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Opening my apartment's door I switch the lights on. "Welcome to my humble abode." I said grinning at the same time and raising my arm as if presenting something in front of him which made the orange hair Asahina smiled in return. We both entered the living area, I told him to put his things on the table and wait for me while I'm going to change, I left him in the living area for few minutes before I returned already changed and bringing a clean towel and a shirt.

"Here Natsume-san use this to dry yourself." I said giving the towel to him which he took in accord.

"Thank you." I nodded my head.

"I have some men clothing that I used to wear when I'm in the mood." I saw he lifted his brows and I laughed. "Don't worry I bought it since I like wearing those shirts, it's really comfortable. Unfortunately I don't have any men pants."

"No it's okay I'm going home in few minutes so you don't have to bother yourself."

I shook my head. "Nope, you are my guest." I grinned patting his shoulder again and gave him my shirt. "Bathroom's at the right I'll prepare your coffee." I said leaving him alone again. When I return at the living area and bringing his coffee I saw him sitting on the couch, already changed and a towel on his head as he scanned the channel on the TV. I placed his cup of coffee on the table and smiled at me. "So what are you watching?" I asked as a yawn escaped my lips and sitting beside him, he glanced at me before turning his gaze back at the TV. Damn, my eyes are getting heavy… Maybe those past few weeks of lacking some sleep are getting to me now.

"Looking for something interesting and so far… I can't find anything." His response, suddenly turning the television off and put back the remote on the table. "Can I ask you Rina?"

"Hm?"

My eyelids are faintly closing.

"I noticed that you seem tired today? Are you alright?" I didn't quite catch his question because honestly my drowsiness is overcoming my senses and I wasn't able to answer him. "Rina?"

"S..Sorry." I mumbled leaning my head comfortably on the couch as I closed my eyes. "Thank you Natsume… I owe you one." I managed to add forgetting I've called him with his name without honorific leaning my head closely to the warm source and sighed in satisfaction. Then everything went black but before I could lose myself to the world of dreams I felt something warm pressed on my lips.


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She was already sleeping before she could even answer Natsume, on the other hand the orange hair Asahina sighed heavily and gently tucked some strands of Rina's hair. "You shouldn't be sleeping like that Rina… I'm still a guy. You trust so easily and that's a bad character." He muttered. "Such a careless girl." He added smirking to himself. He wanted to wake her up but for some reason the girl beside him was depriving herself from sleeping, the bags under her eyes are quite visible, sign that she wasn't getting enough rest.

Natsume made a decision to just let her sleep and bring her to her room so that she'll be more comfortable while resting. Gently tucking her form in his arms he lifted her up and headed towards he thinks her room and then with so much tenderness she put her down the bed and placing a sheet on her body.

He stayed beside her, watching her, if someone would see him they will surely think that he was a creep watching a girl to sleep. But he didn't care, this is an opportunity for him to study Rina's feature. It was really possible to be fond with someone immediately, like something special is connecting him to her that he can't ignore, he can't ignore her. Why she's so different? He can't understand, but one thing is for sure he was definitely attracted to the ebony haired girl which he would never thought he will experience again because he was also attracted to her friend, to Ema. How is that possible?

He softly stroke Rina's cheek, what is the difference anyway? He was getting confused, if he do something to clear his mind will he get the answer right? His hand ceased from touching her cheek, then with determination he leaned towards her face and gently place his lips on hers.

Quickly Natsume pulled away and his eyes widened. Composing himself, he immediately left the room, making sure that the door was lock he exited the apartment and walked away to that place. Still feeling the loud thumping of his heart and the soft chapped lips of a certain ebony haired girl on his lips because as clear as the skies that was so dark a moment ago…

He finally got his answer.


Yay! I'm back. Sorry for the late update... I just want to inform my readers that starting this month I won't be able to post as fast I did before because of school work... Mannn... I kinda hate it though. School is so mean to me. T_T

Yup Natsume did something to our Rina. But don't worry it's just a peck nothing serious hehehe.

R and R

-Aza

Edited: 04-26-18