Hello, hello…I'm back with the second chapter! Whoo hoo! Thank you so much for the readers who gave the wonderful, flattering compliments! You guys are awesome! *Special shout-out to abyssinian_assassin…I love you're great review! Very helpful and it just brightened my day!*
Don't own characters…yadda yadda yadda…
Seizing the Moment
by ~*Mystikal Essence*~
Chapter Two: Boy Meets Girl?
Ken gaped for a couple of seconds in a mixture of surprise, relief, and alarm. Yohji. Damn him and his chivalrous ways. Ken's ever-present tough-guy attitude is once again taking over sensibility. I am not a damn damsel in distress and I don't need any rescuing, he thought, insulted and angry and self-conscious all at the same time.
Crack. In a matter of seconds, the strong grip around Ken loosened, and there was a heavy thud on the floor. He stood frozen on the spot, his back turned to Yohji, thankful for the darkness masking the raging crimson that had crept in his cheeks.
"Are you alright, Miss?" drawled Yohji in his low, mellifluous voice. Stepping towards Ken, he gallantly offered his beaded, black purse.
"Uh, thanks," faltered Ken, his voice unconsciously high-pitched.
Yohji was still standing there, while Ken looked down awkwardly on the floor, letting his dark, raven hair hang and cover his face. Yohji didn't make a move as Ken assumed he would. He acted like the perfect gentleman and gave him comfortable space. I hope he doesn't know it's me, Ken thought. Slowly looking up at Yohji, Ken couldn't help but notice his lack of clothing. He had nothing on but scarlet silk pajama bottoms, and his hair was all disheveled and tousled about his face.
"I'm not gonna hurt ya, Miss. If you wanna go on your way, go ahead. Though, I would prefer that you stay here with me," Yohji politely stated. "This is my apartment right here and you can stay for the rest of the night, if you want."
Ken smirked to himself. So Yohji got all the ladies by being a nice guy. How…enlightening. He thought that the casanova had something else, something more special, up his sleeve, but it was really just being in the right place, at the right time, and acting polite. Nothin' to it.
Well…it would be more convenient and easier than sneaking in, Ken reasoned. And he doesn't even know it's me. "Alright…" he agreed hesitantly. He dropped the little girl voice and opted for a more natural, rich voice. It came a lot easier than the other one, plus it was less…annoying.
Ken took Yohji's outstretched hand and walked into the familiar room. Ken instinctively plopped down on his recliner as he was accustomed to. Yohji just gave him a strange look. After excusing himself for a couple of minutes, Yohji came back with a robe on and neatly pulled back hair. He had turned on a couple of lamps, too, which brought the dreary apartment to life.
"Would you care for a cup of coffee?" asked Yohji hospitably.
"Yes, please," replied Ken, marveling at Yohji's unrivaled decorum. He's never like this around us. That two-faced jerk, only acting civil around beautiful women…Ken shook his head, half-amused, the rest annoyed. Wait…did I just call myself beautiful?
~*~*~
Yohji disappeared into the kitchen, lost in deep thought. Let's look at the facts here: A beautiful woman is sitting in my living room right now, and I act as if I'm a damn butler, Yohji wondered incredulously. There was something about that woman…something that's hindering him from making a move. What is it? Sure, she was gorgeous, what with the waist-long raven hair, warm brown eyes and a perfect body. But something…there's something idiosyncratic about her. What the heck was it?
~*~*~
Ken squirmed in a very unladylike fashion, as he tried to get comfortable. The pants were too damn tight and he was forced to wear a thong! He cursed Manx and Birman for making him wear this ridiculous outfit and this ridiculous makeup and ridiculous hair. He scratched the infuriating hair out of his face in irritation and was even more irked when he caught sight of the fake nails he had on. They were long, wine-colored nails, with meticulous designs on the tips. He groaned silently. Birman's idea. He sighed frustratedly…he looked like some kind of drag queen! Oh, God…
Yohji came out with a tray in his hands containing two mugs of coffee and various pastries and cookies. Leave it to Yohji to whip out treats at 3 in the morning, Ken thought amusedly. Not that Ken was complaining. He sighed in contentment as he took a sip—well, more like a swig—of Yohji's divine hazelnut coffee. Mmm…perfection, Ken smiled.
Yohji saw Ken's smile and gave a small grin. "You like it?" he inquired amiably, taking a sip of his own.
"Mmm…yes, thank you very much," Ken replied enthusiastically before taking a bite out of a chocolate éclair. Yummy.
"Oh, how impolite of me. I didn't even introduce myself yet. Kuduo Yohji," he said leaning forward across the coffee table and holding out his hand.
"Nice to meet you. I'm…um…Toshihiko…An-Anika. Ani in—in s-short," Ken stuttered, his mind blanking out for a couple of seconds. Isn't Toshihiko Anika a name of a supermodel or something? Oh, no…
"Pleasure," Yohji murmured, taking "Ani's" hand and placing a gentle kiss upon it.
Ken chuckled nervously. He felt hot and flustered all of a sudden and had the sudden urge to run. He took a deep breath instead and concentrated on his éclair.
"Oh…I haven't had a chance to properly thank you, Mr. Kuduo," Ken quipped out of the blue. "I want to let you know that I am very thankful for your bravery and saving me from that creep," he blabbed on, trying to revert the conversation somewhere else besides him. He bowed his head in gratitude, hiding his pink cheeks. "Arigatou." But, girl or not, Ken knew that he owed Yohji, big-time. He really was thankful.
"That's quite alright, Miss Ani. Just doing what's right," he chuckled good-naturedly. Then his tone turned serious. "Next time, though, I suggest that you carry some sort of protection—pepper spray or mase or something. Alright?" he added with a hint of protectiveness lingering in his voice.
"Yes, of course," Ken said, blushing faintly. Was Yotan actually worried about him? Nah…he's worried about Ani…"Well, thank you so much again, but I have to go," he lied.
"You can stay here until the morning. You can sleep in my room, I'll stay out here," Yohji offered. "If you want to, of course," he added courteously.
"Oh, no…I couldn't imply. You've already done so much," Ken prompted.
"No, it's perfectly fine with me. And I promise not to do anything inappropriate," Yohji smiled. "I don't seduce women until after the first date, anyway," he added with a devilish grin.
"Oh…hehe," Ken chuckled weakly, incapable of saying anything back. He blushed furiously, but nodded his head.
"Here, let me get those for you," Yohji said, taking the platter of sweets to his room. "You seem to be really enjoying these."
"Um…yeah, they're really yum—tasty," Ken blundered. Sophisticated women do not say yummy…delicious, delectable, scrumptious…not yummy!
"Yup. They're 'yumtastic,' as my friend Kenken would say," chuckled Yohji. I guess Ken got lucky tonight and went home with some chick, Yohji thought to himself.
"Kenken?" Ken squeaked. Why had Yohji brought up his name? And he did not say "yumtastic"!…that much…
"My roomate," Yohji explained. "Well, make yourself comfortable, Miss Ani. There's a bathroom right there and just call me if you need anything."
"Thank you, Yohji-san," Ken said.
"Your very welcome. Good night," he uttered with a small, bashful smile that could any girl (or boy) melt. Very un-Yohji-esque. He didn't make girls melt. He made them burn, lust after, and yearn for him. What happened to that Yohji, and why the hell did he start acting like a timid schoolboy with a crush?
~*~*~*
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