BISHLOV'S WORDS OF GRATITUDE AND OTHERS:
icy_natsu85: Here's chapter 3. Sorry for the long wait. I got busy with my other fics plus all of my juices are starting to run dry. Thanks for reviewing and I hope you'll like this chapter too.
JadOo: I love Kaoru's behavior too ^_^0. I am such a sucker for idiotic men who are unaware that they are already in love. As far as I know the English name for Kata Kugutsu is Puppet Converter. That's why I named Kondo's other madougu Puppet Animator. You know, sort of like Paper Animator. If you still think I gave the wrong name please tell me so I can bring out my dictionary and find a more apt one. Actually I already did that but I accidentally threw out my copy ^_^0.
just a visitor: Thank for, uh, visiting. Thanks for your compliments. My head's already getting bigger. Kaoru and Ganko is my favorite FoR pair (next to Tokiya and Fuuko that is).
Rika: Sorry if I didn't update quick enough for you. But, hey! I'm ba-ack!!!
Jac'Kee: I hope that you'll find this chapter better than the last one although I'm not promising anything since I'm only gonna make this in less than four hours. Plus I hate to sound ignorant but…what's a masamune ^_^0?
Lafine: Thanks for reviewing. As I said earlier, I'm sorry if I didn't update sooner. You know what they say…better late than never.
kitsuneboy: I'm writing, I'm writing. Geez. You guys pressure me too much. I don't mind though. It means that you like my fic and for that I am eternally grateful. KAORU AND GANKO FOREVER!!!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own FoR or any of its characters. This plot is a product of my imagination. Any similarities to other fan fictions are unintentional.
BABY YOU'RE MINEBy bishounen lovah
Chapter 3
Kaoru yawned widely as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He had deprived himself of a decent sleep for far too long now. For seven days straight, he had been watching over Ganko night and day. The girl obviously was obsessed with training and refused to sleep even for just an hour.
He frowned at that. She was no insomniac but was just very frightened of having nightmares again. He knew that she could not go on like this…going to school at daytime and training with Kondo at nighttime. Soon, her body would give up on her because of exhaustion and stress.
It also didn't help that she had no appetite at all. Yanagi-neechan and Kagerou-sama had cooked every tempting dish they knew (and then some) but still Ganko just ate a dozen bites at most. Sometimes, he would buy lots of food from the cafeteria during lunch and would dump them on her lap. Then he would sit across her and glare at her. That tactic usually worked. She would eat a sandwich just to appease him (or keep his mouth shut).
Unfortunately, Kaoru didn't know how long he could keep that up. He felt like he was developing a migraine every time he would scowl at her the entire lunch period.
The point was he could not bear to see her falling apart like this. Many times had he wanted to beat some sense in her but then he would realize that what he really wanted was to pull her in his embrace and comfort her.
Just like before.
But things have changed between them now. They had grown apart since they last saw each other five years ago. That probably was his fault. Ganko was no longer open to him because he had closed up on her by not keeping in touch when she moved away.
She had grown independent just as he had planned. But he now found out that it wasn't what he wanted. She was too independent to the point of being stubborn. She refused to ask for help or share her fears. These were what worried the gang. Even Fuuko had not been this stubborn ever.
Kaoru watched with slitted eyes as Ganko attacked a dummy with her fists and legs. He felt sorry for the thing because its padded body was being disintegrated into bits. He had watched her do so every night as a conclusion to her training. On one corner of the building was a pile of wooden limbs, torsos and heads…remnants of her previous trainings.
She leapt high in the air and gave a turnabout kick, sending the dummy's head clear across the floor. She stared at it for a while, panting from exertion. When her breathing more or less returned to normal, she moved to fetch the head. Kaoru quickly and quietly abandoned his hiding place for a much better vantage point.
His new position gave him a better view of Ganko. He watched her move slowly and gracefully. Watched how her hips swayed from side to side, hypnotizing him with her movements. The moonlight pouring from the window at the opposite side of the building formed a natural spotlight on her. The image that she projected was breathtakingly beautiful, almost ethereal, even though her hair and clothes were a mess from training.
Speaking of clothes, just as his heartbeat was returning to a normal pace, Ganko chose that moment to remove her blue t-shirt. Kaoru's hand automatically closed on his nose to prevent it from bleeding.
She was wearing something else underneath that shirt but that didn't stop his nosebleed. She looked so sexy in that black halter-top, which left her shoulder, back, and a rather wide expanse of her belly bare. Her black jogging pants rid low on her hips. It probably wasn't designed that way but her weight loss caused it to cling loosely to her hips instead of her waist.
Kaoru breath was stuck in his throat. He never quite imagined that Ganko would turn out to be a major babe. He shook his head vigorously as soon as hentai thoughts started popping in his head. He couldn't be attracted to her. She was his imouto-chan practically in every way.
Except in blood.
The wind coming from the window behind him jerked him from his thoughts. It blew his hair towards his face making him realize that he was standing upwind from them. He quickly hid behind a cement post just as his scent reached Kondo's nose.
The fox, which was presently in his 'live' form, held his head high before standing up from his resting position. Kaoru sneaked a peek and saw that Kondo was looking straight at him.
"What is it, Kondo? Is something wrong?" Ganko asked the kitsune.
Kaoru was no longer peeking behind the post. He tried not to move or breathe too much but could still feel that Kondo was gazing towards him. A large sweatdrop appeared on his head as he anticipated Kondo giving away his position.
A couple of minutes of silence passed before he heard Ganko moving again. Risking another peek, he saw that Kondo was no longer standing but was in a sitting position, his left pointy ear twitching. He (meaning Kondo) was still looking at the post where the Anki wielder was hiding. Kaoru realized that Kondo now knew that he was spying on his mistress but did not give him away. He sighed in relief and slight worry. Kondo was up to something and it wouldn't surprise him if the fox would blackmail him later on.
"Come on," Ganko said to Kondo as she finished clearing up her mess. She had put on a clean white shirt, much to Kaoru's dismay. "Let's go home. I haven't done my math homework yet."
Kaoru followed behind them. From a distance, he watched Ganko enter their (hers and Fuuko's) apartment holding the door wide for Kondo. He stayed there, on the other side of the street, as he waited for her bedroom light to turn on. And even after it did, he stayed leaning against a tree, staring up as he watched her shadow move around the room.
Stifling another yawn, he conceded that he needed to rest although he didn't want to leave his position. She was safe enough for a few hours with Kondo watching over her. Fuuko was sleeping in the room just beside Ganko's. If anything happens, Fuuko would be able to come to her aid quickly. And with one last look at the lit bedroom, he turned away to go home.
He walked slowly towards the apartment he shared with Tokiya-niichan a few blocs away. He was almost asleep on his feet. His bug eyes occasionally drooped down together with his head. He was jolted awake when he reached their apartment building.
Sitting on the steps was Kondo, his red eyes and fur stood out against the dark night. Kaoru was pretty sure that the fox went in with Ganko and that he wasn't followed. Kondo must have snuck out of their apartment and purposely came to see him.
The Anki wielder knew why the fox was here. It definitely had something to do with what happened earlier. He had already known that Kondo might confront him but couldn't he at least wait until later. Much, much later. He badly needed to sleep.
"Go away," Kaoru said as he walked past Kondo. He started to dig in his pants for his keys and was about to unlock the door when he noticed the kitsune change to his original stuffed form (B/N: The 'live' Kondo couldn't talk, remember?).
"Yare yare. Is that how you greet your guests? It's not very polite." Kondo replied in his annoying, smug voice.
"Dropping in unannounced at 4:30 in the morning is not what you can call a polite visit."
"And I suppose stalking a girl is polite?"
Kaoru glared at the grinning stuffed fox. He should have seen it coming. "All right. Let's get this over with. Say whatever it is you wanted to say."
"Aren't you going to invite me in? The air is chilly out here."
"Baka," Kaoru muttered as he opened the door. He automatically went to his room, knowing that Kondo would follow behind him. He took off his jacket and threw it to the nearest chair then flung himself face down on his bed.
"Oi! You're not going to fall asleep on me now, are you?" Kondo scrambled on top of the bed and sat near Kaoru's face.
"Hmph!" Kaoru turned his face and buried it against his pillow. He ignored the fox's pokes on his ribs but got irritated when he pulled on his hair.
"Itai!" He sat up and glowered at Kondo, a nerve visibly thumped on his forehead. "What did you do that for?"
"You were ignoring me."
"So?"
"So, we need to talk. Or are you denying you were spying on us. Iya. You can't deny it. I smelled you…unfortunately."
"What do you mean 'unfortunately'," Kaoru demanded. Was the kitsune implying that he stunk? He was about to pounce on him when he changed his mind. "Why would I deny something that you obviously know as the truth? I've been watching you train for seven nights straight. So you see why I should be sleeping now instead of wasting what precious time's left before school starts talking to you?"
With that said, Kaoru lied down again and promptly fell asleep. A couple of hours later he reluctantly woke up and snuggled his face deeper against the fluffy and furry pillow.
Furry?
Forcing his eyes to open, Kaoru lifted his head to see what was wrong with his pillow. His eyes shot into saucer-size when he realized that he was hugging Kondo and that his face was buried on the fox's stomach.
"AARRGGGHH!!!" Kaoru threw the grinning stuffed fox away from him. Kondo flew across the room and slammed against the wall.
"Why the heck did you do that for?" Kondo demanded, his head covered with band-aids and his fist rose in anger.
"Why?! WHY?!! You're asking me why I did that?!!! Why are you still here? And on my bed for that matter?"
"Geez, loosen up, gaki. You were not the only one who wa tired, you know." Kondo jumped back on the bed. "Besides, we haven't finished talking yet."
"What else is there to talk about?"
"Oh, like how come you've been spying on Ganko."
"Isn't the answer obvious? If you really want to know, I think you make a lousy guard dog." Kaoru smirked as he headed towards the bathroom.
"Nani!" Kondo fumed but instantly calmed down and smirked back. "Are you sure that's your only reason?"
"What else could there be?"
"Oh I don't know…maybe because you are helplessly in love with my mistress."
"Nani?!" It was Kaoru's turn to yell the word.
"Ganko. My Ganko. Daijoubu. I'll save you." Kondo playacted as he wrapped his arms around himself, imitating the boy's action and words while he was sleeping.
Kaoru's face turned deep red as he recalled those words from his dream. He must have said them out loud.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," he replied nonchalantly. He'd rather die than admit the truth to the annoying fox.
"Aw, come on. I already caught you red-handed. No use denying it. You almost squeezed me to death in the process."
"I'll squeeze you to death right now if you won't knock it off." Kaoru threatened before slamming the bathroom door behind him.
He tried not to think about it as he showered but excerpts from the dream kept popping in his head.
The dream started with Ganko standing alone in a green meadow, crying. Kaoru's heart had hurt at the sight and sounds that she projected. He watched her look at him when he called out her name. He opened his arms to her and without hesitation she ran towards him.
He could still feel the imaginary warmth that spread through his body when she wrapped her arms around his waist as he enveloped her with his own. After her sobs had subsided, he lifted her chin up and gazed at those bright sapphire eyes.
"My Ganko," he whispered. "Daijoubu. I won't let anyone or anything hurt you. I will save you, I promise."
And then he did the unthinkable. He kissed her. On the lips. He kissed his little sister on the lips. And quite passionately at that.
That was when he woke up and found out that he was actually kissing Kondo's hairy tummy.
What does that dream mean, he thought as he swiped the fogged mirror above the sink with his hand. At first he had thought that he dreamt it because of his desire to comfort and protect her like he used to. But then the kiss threw him off.
Was Kondo right? Am I in love with Ganko? He asked his reflection but received no answer. Although he had to admit that he had become possessive of the blond, blue-eyed girl. He had it pegged to his desire to protect her. From Tsukiho and all the others who wanted to hurt her.
But why does he have this strong desire to protect her? It was because he didn't want to lose her.
But who was it that he doesn't want to lose…Ganko, his sister or Ganko, his first love? He went right back to his second question. Kaoru ruffled his damp hair in confusion.
"Oi, Kaoru! Better hurry up or you'll be late for school," came a muffled shout from Tokiya-niichan downstairs.
Kaoru sighed and shoved the dream at the back of his mind only to be dug up by Kondo again who was still waiting for him in his room. "You're still here?"
"Of course. You didn't think I'd give up on you that easy, did you? Just admit it…you're totally besotted with her, aren't you?"
"Besotted," Kaoru snorted. "I didn't know such deep word existed in your vocabulary."
"You know nothing about how extensive my vocabulary has become. And don't change the subject. You love her."
"I don't."
"Yes, you do."
"No, I don't."
"Yes, you do."
"No, I don't."
The exchange continued on even when they entered the kitchen, causing Tokiya to lift his head from the morning paper to observe what's going on.
"No, I don't," Kaoru automatically said as he poured cornflakes in his bowl.
"No, you don't."
"Yes, I do."
"Aha!!! You finally admit it! Kaoru loves Ganko! Kaoru loves Ganko! Kaoru loves Ganko!" Kondo sang out as he did the jiggy dance around the kitchen.
Drat! I can't believe I fell for that one, Kaoru winced inwardly. "No fair. You cheated."
But Kondo just kept on dancing. Kaoru tried to ignore the annoying fox but he was really getting on his nerve. He decided to just eat his breakfast as fast as he could so he could hightail out of the house. The movements of his spoon going to his mouth then back to the bowl were a blur. A minute later he drank his glass of milk with one gulp, grabbed his backpack and dashed past Kondo, restraining the urge to kick him like a football.
"I think you overdid it," Tokiya said as he sipped his coffee.
"Nah. I just pushed him a little bit. He can be so dense," Kondo replied with an evil grin.
"What about Ganko?" Tokiya turned the page of the newspaper.
"Ah! Don't remind me. She can be a problem since she's not only dense but extremely naïve too. But don't worry. I'll have those two together in no time."
To be continued…
BISHLOV: I know, I know. It's too short (compared to the previous chapters) and it probably sucked too. This is what I get for posting six unfinished fics (I promised to make a sequel to my finished CCS fic). The pressure on updating each is getting to me. I mean just look at me — @_@. Btw, I hope you don't mind that Kondo is a bit OOC. The temptation to make him a cupid is overwhelming. Oh well, I hope you'll give this chapter at least a satisfactory mark. Tell me what you think…please send in your reviews!