These past few days, I was besieged by problems that almost made this chapter update impossible.
First is that my keyboard went nuts. It couldn't type the letters m, c, v, and b; and it won't allow me to enter into a new paragraph. Furthermore when I try to use the space bar, a bunch of zeros came out! You can just imagine my fury and frustration yesterday! Thank God I was able to borrow an extra keyboard!
Next is my hectic sked. I'm currently juggling a Shaman King fansite and an E+T site lay-out for the E+T Day; these, and my other current sites. And of course, continuing my two other ongoing fanfics.
Finally, the shocker that a friend told me: Furuba season 2 is running in Japan and it asserts KYORU!!! I'm not yet finished crying over the news, and because of that, I lost my enthusiasm to continue my Yukiru site, *sigh*
Nevertheless, I'll continue to ficcate Yukiru. I won't stop hoping…I won't stop wishing. Maybe…just maybe…in the end, it will still be Yuki and Tohru.
"I'm glad that you and Kyo-kun are getting along well," said Tohru as she served her friend a cup of coffee and a plate of sandwich. Kyo was still dressing up for work in his room. "I must admit, I'm pretty worried at first, because I know that both of you have such, um, volatile tempers. But now, I know that I'm wrong." She glanced upstairs. "He's not complaining anymore about you over dinner."
Uo raised a brow. "Oh?"
Tohru's face then turned serious. "Hana-chan called me up last night. Did that old man try to break into your apartment again?"
She looked down. "I would rather not talk about it."
"But it's getting serious!" protested the onigiri. "She said that there were smashed plates and glasses everywhere, and there was even a writing on the wall, a crazy message apparently from him!"
She shuddered when she remembered the words, "You Are Mine" written on the wall with red paint, and the overturned furniture in her room. "I'll find myself a new place as soon as I finish paying my landlady for the damages in the apartment, plus my long overdue monthly rent."
"Maybe I should tell Yuki-kun…"
"No," said Uo. "You and your family have been kind enough to find me a job. I don't want you guys to get involved in this too."
"But he's obsessed and dangerous!"
"I can be dangerous too," said Uo, smiling bravely.
"Good morning, Boss!" greeted Uo as Kyo entered the car, yawning. His tie was still loose and his hair was still disheveled. "Do you plan to go to work looking like a bum?"
"Mind your own business," he said wearily.
She started the car. "You didn't get much sleep last night, Boss?"
He nodded. "Hatori made me go over the company's financial assets and liabilities."
She gave him a quick glance. "Poor you."
"Yeah. Poor me." Kyo stretched and lied down at the backseat. Immediately, he fell asleep.
"Damn!" muttered Uo when she encountered another traffic. Monday was always the most impossible day in a motorist's week. She was about to crank up the radio when she saw the peacefully sleeping Kyo on the car mirror. She quickly decided against it.
She looked back at the unmoving cars ahead of them, then back at her boss. Sighing, she reached towards the backseat and put her jacket on him. Not contented, she let her eyes linger on his face for a few more moments, enjoying how boyishly good-looking he was when the defensive, sullen look was off his face. She felt like she was gazing at an angel right now.
Before she could stop herself, she reached out to smooth his cheek, just as Kyo's eyes flapped open.
She paused, hand still frozen on his skin.
"What are you doing?" he asked, bewildered.
She acted quickly. "T-There's a mosquito on your face." She then gave his cheek a sound slap. "There! That should teach the mosquito!" She pretended to wipe her hand with the towel around her neck.
"W-What mosquito? And why are you so concerned with a mere insect?" he wanted to know.
"I don't want the mosquito to drink your blood," she said, placing her vintage smirk back on her face. "It's poisonous, and other people might be contaminated."
"I'll be off from work at lunchtime," said Kyo as he finished brushing his hair.
"Bye Honey," she said sarcastically. "Where's my kiss?"
He smirked back. "Later. You would have to fall in line, just like my secretary and my fiancée."
"Poor Kagura," said Uo. "Speaking of which, where is your fiancée?"
"Frankly, I don't care," he said, shrugging. "She's one pain in the ass."
"Even bigger than me?"
"Hah! She's the worst!" His forehead creased. "And why are you suddenly looking for a comparison?"
"Simple. I intend to be your worst tormentor," she said, shrugging. "I better take classes under your fiancée. Your suffering entertains me a lot."
"Gee. You're such a nice person." He then turned serious. "Wait, there's something I want to ask you."
She looked at him expectantly.
"Is it true that-"
Suddenly, Uo's cell phone rang. "Excuse me," she said then turned to the other side to answer the call. Sighing, Kyo closed the passenger door.
"Two work days straight that you are punctual?" exclaimed Yuki when he arrived in Hatori's office and found Kyo and Hatori going over the company statements.
"Try to contain your enthusiasm, damn mouse," said Kyo dully, not looking up from his work.
Yuki looked at Hatori. "Remind me to give his driver another raise."
"Will you giver her a unit too?"
The nezumi and the tatsu looked at the neko at the same time, their face echoing each other's shock.
Kyo still wouldn't look up. "I heard that some lunatic broke into her apartment and had left some serious threats to her. She won't be safe there, so I think she should move into one of the newly constructed condo units we have."
Hatori broke the silence afterwards. "You have to realize that our family is running a business, Sohma Kyo, not a charity ward."
"Whoever said anything about charity?" At last, Kyo looked up. "I will pay for her expenses."
"I am utterly shocked," said Hatori hours later. Kyo had left the office minutes ago. "I could have sworn he sounded different awhile ago."
Yuki nodded. "He must have wakened up at the right side of his bed for a change."
"I tried to tell him that we won't give him his allowance if he intends to spend it for anyone but himself, but he said he would work." The doctor scratched the side of his head. "I never thought I would see the day that I would hear Kyo sound so…so…"
"Responsible," caught Yuki, eyes looking thoughtful.
Uo threw the CP against the bark of the tree in disgust. For the past few hours, all she had been receiving were calls from the DOM, and they were all threats.
She hated to admit it, but she was starting to get scared…seriously.
"I think that's no prank caller," said a voice from behind.
She turned around and saw Kyo, looking at the broken cell phone grimly. She looked down, unreplying.
He went into the car, and she started the engine. "Where to, Boss?"
"To the mall."
"Mall?" She looked surprised. "I thought that place doesn't exist for a jungle man like you!"
"Cut the jokes out," he said, rolling his eyes. "God, where else can you find a driver who bosses her boss around?"
"I told you I'm one-of-a-kind," she said as she drove the car out of the parking lot.
"This is a boutique," said Uo as she looked at the signboard of the store. Its brand was one of the most expensive labels in the country.
"Duh," said Kyo dryly as he entered the store. Several women quickly turned to him.
"Y-You're buying clothes?" she echoed as she followed him inside. "Don't tell me you're starting some kind of radical fashion statement in your office?"
"No," he said calmly.
"For Tohru then?"
"For a friend," he said, eyes scanning the mannequins. He then found a dress that he was looking for. He turned to the swooning saleslady. "Take that off."
"H-Huh?"
"Take it off," repeated Kyo. "I want you to try it on her."
And to Uo's shock, his eyes were looking at her.
Kyo was signing some papers and was going over something with the store manager when Uo came out, eyes on the floor, in her arms a dozen more clothes of all kinds –house clothes, party clothes, Sunday dresses, casual clothes.
And Kyo paid for all of them.
She looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing the dress that the mannequin was wearing awhile ago – an off-shoulder white cotton blouse and a pair of black silk pants, paired with black high-heeled smart boots.
She didn't notice that Kyo was beside her already, eyes looking at her with the same strange fascination that he gave her yesterday in the restaurant, but this time, it was more intense. And it was making her feel really uncomfortable.
"You can look like a woman if you want to," he said at last, a small grin on his face.
"Shut-"
"Just don't talk," he quipped. "You're ruining my fantasy that you really are a woman."
She rolled her eyes as they left the boutique, a very happy manager waving at them. "What's with these clothes anyway?"
"You'll be needing new clothes," he said simply, eyes not looking at her. They were aimed on the supermarket. "And lots of food stock too."
"A-Are we going on a camping trip?" she asked.
He laughed. "Nope."
She continued to stare at him, then sighed. It was evident that he wasn't going to tell her anytime soon why he was doing this.
"Where to, Boss?" she asked as she helped Kyo load the groceries in the car trunk.
"Drive where I tell you to," he said simply.
She was stunned when, after fifteen minutes, they were parked before a newly built condominium.
"Are you going to visit someone?" she asked.
He wordlessly got out of the car and knocked on the car trunk. She opened it and then got out of the car to help him carry the shopping bags. However, he planted the bag holding the dresses on her hands. "I'll carry the rest of these. I don't work out for nothing."
Puzzled, she followed him into the condo.
"Master Kyo, this way please," said the receptionist. "Our assistant manager will take you to the room."
He gave her a brief nod, then looked at her. "Follow me."
She did as told. They were greeted cordially by the said personnel, and were led to the suites.
"Wow!" Uo couldn't help but gush when she saw how luxurious the room they were shown was. She then did a double take when she saw boxes in the room, and her stuffed bear sitting on the bed. "Huh?"
The assistant manager gave her a key. "This will be your new home, Miss Arisa. I hope you come to love the place."
The door shut, leaving her and Kyo alone in the room.
She turned to him slowly. "What is the meaning of this?"
He shrugged. "Starting today, you will live here."
"Says who?" she said, eyes crinkling up in anger. How dare he touch her things without her permission!
"You just heard me."
"No!" she said. "I won't live here."
"Why?"
"Where will I get the money to pay for the rent?" she demanded.
"I bought it already," he said simply. "It's yours."
"What?!" she sputtered. She sat down the comfy bed, dazed. "B-But…"
"I overheard your conversation with Tohru," he admitted, leaning by the window. "That man will not stop until he gets you. If you stay here, he'll never find you. You'll be much safer here."
She fell silent.
"If it will make you feel more at ease, you can handle your personal necessities. But I will pay for the electricity, the phone bill, and the food," he continued.
"I-I don't like being indebted to other people," she said slowly.
"You aren't," he said. "This is one of the perks of being a driver for the Sohmas."
She seriously doubted whether the driver of the prime minister of Japan was as lucky as her, but she decided not to comment. Instead, she asked, "Why are you doing this?"
He turned to her. "Like I said, you are my driver. It's a privilege."
She looked down. "I'll still pay for the unit. Even if it takes forever. My salary will go back to you."
"Suit yourself." He stretched lazily then headed for the door. "I'm expecting you tomorrow. Time for my nap"
"R-Right." She began to gather her books. She would be having her classes in half an hour. She blinked when she didn't hear the door open or close. She looked up again and saw Kyo sleeping on the sofa set.
She felt a hand touch her heart, but she shook her head quickly. She had no time for her absurdities. She was going to be late for school.
She looked around her lavish and cozy unit again before she rushed out of the room with her books.
Kyo was awakened by the insistent ringing of his cell phone. Yawning, he answered the call. "Who's this?"
"Kyo-kun!" exclaimed Tohru happily. "Thank god you're safe! We thought you got kidnapped or something!"
"W-What?" he asked, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
"Where are you?" she asked.
He looked around the room he was in for a moment before he realized where he was. He decided to lie. "In the park."
"We looked for you there already!"
"You just didn't look hard enough."
She made a sound that she didn't believe him, but that she decided to ignore it. "Kyo-kun, hurry home quick!"
"Right, right. I'll be home in fifteen minutes."
"Is the park that far away?" she asked again.
He sighed. She was starting to learn how to be inquisitive. He knew Shigure was a bad influence to blame. "No, I'm going to linger here for a few more minutes…"
"We'll pick you up there then."
"No!" he said, fully alert now. "I'm coming home in five minutes!" he said, deep inside wondering how he could get home just in time. Five minutes was barely enough to hail a cab when it's rush hour!
"Where's Uo-chan?" she asked.
"She's in school. The car is with her," he said.
"Alright. We'll wait for you. Kagura-san is starting to get really impatient."
He nearly dropped his phone. "K-Kagura?"
He heard the phone being wrestled away. "Kyo!!!!" screeched the familiar voice of unimaginable sweet terror.
His face turned dark. "Oh my god…"
tsuzuku