THEN AND NOW
By: Miguel Artadi
Disclaimer: I don't own GTO and any of the characters in it. I'd be rich if I did.
[ ] = Kikuchi's thoughts
( ) = Kanzaki's thoughts
[( )] = Collective thoughts
Quick Note: Murphy's Law basically states that if anything can go wrong, it will.
Chapter VII - One Step Backward, Two Steps Forward
Kanzaki rummaged through her closet.
"Dammit I should've anticipated this... need more clothes... should've gone shopping when I had the chance... but nooo..." Urumi muttered to herself, desperately looking for something nice to wear. Apparently, the combination of the date's short notice and a minor work emergency earlier that morning afforded her a lot less time than she was comfortable with to prepare for a date with Kikuchi.
"Of all the times Murphy's Law had to rear its stupid head..." she continued, shuffling and re-shuffling back hangers upon hangers of mostly black and charcoal gray business suits, the occasional pair of denims peeking out now and then. Her efforts getting her nowhere, the wheels in her head turned some more.
(This isn't gonna work. All you've got here are business suits and casual wear. Nothing remotely resembling knock-his-socks-off datewear.) she thought. Exasperation getting the better of her, Urumi slumped back on her bed. Narrowing her eyes and massaging her temples with her fingers, she wracked her brain in growing anxiety.
(Mmmkay, no options left. I was hoping for something along the lines of what I wore the first time I met Onizuka... but I guess we have to go with what we have. Good thing Kikuchi wants to meet in the park, so that's as casual as it gets. Hmm, we'll just have to put the flirting into overdrive if we want to get his blood running.) Standing and walking back to her closet, she reached in and threw some promising articles of clothing back over her shoulder onto the bed. Turning around and inspecting what she had to work with, she put her face in her hand and sighed.
(Oh the humanity of it all. Might as well get a little creative and go one notch over the girl-next-door look. Subdued sexuality it is then.) Biting her lower lip, Kanzaki ran a simulation in her mind.
(Button the blouse down a tad more than usual to show just enough cleavage to stir his imagination a bit; use black... no, dark lavender underwear for that. Dark blue semi-lowrider bootleg jeans, just low enough to catch his attention... tight where it counts; accentuate the hips and showcase the bum. Finish off with a handsome pair of brown leather boots, paired with a non-too showy same-hued belt with a good-looking buckle. Jacket? Nah, let's see if he'll lend me his if he sees me shivering.)
Turning to her mirror, Urumi cocked her head to study her hair and features, trying to picture the best way to doll herself up to match the clothes she had selected. Reaching back to bundle her hair in a makeshift ponytail, she turned and checked her profile.
(Ponytail? No, too ordinary. Pigtails? Yikes, not unless he was a perv like Onizuka. Aaaahh! Wear it down them, just clip it inconspicuously to make sure it doesn't blow all over your face when the wind decides to pick up. VERY light makeup, though don't forget to accentuate the lips... since he obviously liked looking at them last time. The eyes too, so no colored contacts. Simple white gold necklace and stud earrings. Top off with a metal finish watch to match the jewelry.)
"Yeah. That should work. Let's do it."
Later that afternoon, Kikuchi found himself sitting on a very familiar bench in Inokashira Park. Closing his eyes and taking a long, deep breath, he reveled as the park's fresh air scented of flowers and freshly cut grass. Body and mind now totally relaxed, Yoshito stretched himself out and leaned fully on the bench's backrest, trying to recall what happened between him and Urumi in this exact same place ten years ago. Like clockwork, the memories came. Welcoming them, he smiled as the decade-old scene replayed itself in his mind.
"He what?"
"Yup. Guess what Onizuka did then."
"He must've jumped down to save you."
"Yeah. He did."
"I told you, he's different from the other teachers."
[You were one crazy little girl Urumi. Making our teacher jump through hoops like that. Though I do owe you for that delicious toro you blackmailed him to treat us to, there's no way in hell I'm that easy sweetheart. I have to admit, you're as cute and adorable as much as you ever were... well to be honest even more so now, so let's just see who makes who jump through which hoop, shall we?] he thought, smirking at the idea of more mental sparring to come.
Opening his eyes, Kikuchi checked the time: 4:51 PM.
[Soon.]
A shrill, high-pitched giggle suddenly distracting the fond reminiscing, Yoshito opened his eyes and tried to locate the source of the voice. Turning his head till he found the cause, he spots two kids playing tag in the near distance. Brothers it seemed, spending the weekend in the park, playing close to the water. Nearby, a couple who looked to be the boys' parents watched over them as they enjoyed their day together.
[Heh, how picturesque. Family day out in the park. Best things in life are free I tell you...]
Unfortunately, the new scene triggers another lot of memories, this time stemming from even farther back than his days with Kanzaki in Seirin.
[Brothers. Inokashira Park... Inokashira pond. That morning I found out was just like this one, cloudy and a tad nippy...] The involuntary recollections hitting him like a ton of bricks, Kikuchi clenched his teeth, set his glasses aside and covered his face in his hands, grimacing. In his mind's eye, he saw once again the newspaper headline that fateful morning.
'Youth found dead by Inokashira pond.'
"Stop it! Not now..." Kikuchi whispered, burying his face deeper in his hands, fighting to keep control. Word for word, he remembered the other portions of the article.
'ID found on the body identifies the victim as Kikuchi Akio, aged 14, a Kichijoji local. Next of kin has been notified as of this morning. Contacts within the police department disclosed under condition of anonymity that early evidence strongly suggests suicide, though investigators are still looking into the possibility of foul play being involved.'
[Akio 'niisan... I'm so sorry. I should've seen it coming. Some brother I turned out to be...] Yoshito thought, his consciousness lost in the seldom-explored recesses of his memories. The sensation of two hands reaching around from behind him and covering his eyes jolted Kikuchi back to the present.
"Guess who!"
[What? Urumi...] Still reeling from the unanticipated recollections, Yoshito, not really thinking, instinctively reached up and clutched on to the hands covering his eyes, holding them in the way a terrified child held on to a parent's hand for support and reassurance that everything was okay.
[Can't let you see me like this... just a few seconds while I... get myself in order.] he struggled, willing himself to put his game face on.
Kanzaki's eyes widened in surprise. (He's shaking, trembling!!) Displaying an uncharacteristic agility, Urumi hopped over the bench's backrest and landed by his side, her hands now intertwined with his.
"Yoshito! Yoshito!! What's wrong? Talk to me!" she asked him tersely, the gravity of the situation making her forget to address him by his last name.
Kikuchi winced. He desperately wanted to tell her everything. Why Kikuchi Yoshito was the man he was; his unflinching level-headedness and stone-calm demeanor even in their junior high days. Why he never made a big deal out of being a genius, why he had a soft spot for Yoshikawa Noboru, and why he kept an eye out for her... all the why's that had shaped and burdened this man for the majority of his life threatened for the first time in years to break through his walls and overwhelm him. Walls that he made to keep things in, and not to keep people out.
[NO. Show no weakness. You are Kikuchi Yoshito. You cannot, you WILL NOT be weak in front of anybody, especially her.]
"Yoshito!! What's wrong?!?? Tell me!!!" Kanzaki continued, half-screaming as she continued to grip his hands ever so tightly.
[You. Are. Fine. NOW.] That was all he needed. Kikuchi took one last deep breath before finally opening his eyes. He then shot Urumi with a 'made-you-look' grin.
"Gotcha. Nervous there for a moment weren't you?" he finally said, putting his glasses back on.
Urumi was incredulous.
(You... BASTARD!)
"You jerk!!! That wasn't funny! I thought something was really wrong with you, aside from just being an asshole, ASSHOLE!" She immediately countered, snatching her hands back from Kikuchi's grasp.
[Ouch. Of all the times for a goddamn flashback... Murphy's Law piece of shit...]
"Aww come now, can't you take a joke? Off all people I'd expect you to appreciate a good one."
"Bah." She countered staring straight ahead, the spite in her tone evident.
"You look great by the way; it's nice that you didn't wear colored contacts."
"..." Urumi half-turned, her body language threatening to stand and walk away.
[DAMN IT.]
"Okay I get the point, I'm sorry Kanza..." Stopping himself and clearing his throat, he tried placating her again, this time addressing her by her first name, and injecting as much sincerity as he could in it.
"Urumi, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have played with your feelings like that. Please, at least sit with me for a while? It'd be a shame to waste such a beautiful day in the park."
(Damn straight you played with my feelings. God I must've looked like such an idiot. Maybe this date wasn't such a good idea...) Still miffed at her genuine show of concern being all for naught, Urumi crossed her arms and legs, at the same time looked AWAY from Yoshito. In every aspect the classic body posture indicating 'you're not my favorite person right now.'
[Argh. Desperate times, desperate measures.]
"Thank you for your concern. Really. I mean it. I didn't know you'd react so strongly; I won't do that again. Swear to God."
"Yeah whatever. Look I've had a really crappy week and if you're planning on capping it off with your lame idea of a..." Kikuchi leaning over and planting a small kiss on her temple interrupted Urumi. Almost instantly, Kanzaki felt her irritation evaporate and her momentum stagger; her cheeks blushing from the totally unexpected gesture of affection.
(Whoa... that felt nice... @$#&*?!? Oh no, NO NO NO. You're not getting off THAT easy mister). Mentally shutting out the warm and fuzzy feelings the peck gave her, she turned to face him. Kanzaki was about to launch another diatribe when the sight of glistening sweat on Kikuchi's forehead and neck stopped her in her tracks. At once, millions upon millions of brain synapses fired in Urumi's head, analyzing in seconds the ramifications of what she saw before her.
(Wait, the weather isn't particularly warm... overcast skies and quite chilly actually... so why the hell is he sweating like it was a hot summer's day? Maybe... maybe his bluff wasn't really a bluff? And that he just came up with that half-assed joke to throw me off? In that case, what was really wrong with him?)
She looked him straight in the eyes.
"Are you REALLY okay?"
"Don't be silly. Of course I am." He replied, grinning.
"Dork. Don't joke around like that."
"Yes m'am. No more bad jokes, promise." Kikuchi traced an X over his heart and held up his right hand.
Urumi nudged him gently in the ribs and grinned back.
(You're off the hook for the meantime, mystery man... now what the hell was going on in that head of yours back there I wonder? Ah well, plenty of time for that later.)
"So, what're we doing today?"
"I was thinking we'd..."
Drop.
[(Huh?)]
Another drop.
Simultaneously, Yoshito and Urumi craned their necks skyward.
"Great. Now it's raining. Murphy's Law again. Unbelievable." Kikuchi reacted.
"Hurry, let's make a run for it. My old house is pretty near." He immediately added, instinctively grabbing her by the wrist whilst standing up to leave. Kanzaki however, had other things in mind.
"We don't have to hurry. Come now, how long's it been since you've taken a stroll in the rain? We've got what's left of the day and evening together, so might as well enjoy it right? Relax, Yoshito." She replied, smiling.
Kikuchi laughed. The rain was starting to pick up, a mere matter of seconds before it inevitably turned into a full-fledged shower.
[We'll be soaked. Heh, this could be fun.] he thought, realizing how this could turn out to be a good thing after all.
"Silly girl. You're right though, we should just relax and have fun. However, I don't like the idea of either of us catching a cold, so how about we stroll in the general direction of my place? That way, if this doesn't let up anytime soon, I won't have to worry about you freezing your cute little butt off in the street miss Kanzaki Urumi."
(Hee-hee. Then when we get there you could keep me warm with your body heat.) Kanzaki thought, the sensation of the kiss still fresh in her head.
"Haha, though a valid point, I have to say that you the tendency to think too much, mister Kikuchi Yoshito."
[Oh, you have no idea my dear.]
"This coming from the genius extraordinaire? You flatter me to no end. Shall we then?" Yoshito asked her, standing up and offering his hand out for her to take.
"Yessirree!" she replied half-giggling, taking his hand and getting up from the bench. The rain was falling steadily now, easily drenching the both of them in scant minutes.
Yoshito and Urumi held hands and walked their troubles off in the rain, chatting away happily amidst the downpour and seeming to the outside world like another blissful couple taking a stroll in the park. Mind games were forgotten for the time being, an unforeseen benefit resulting from Kikuchi's unexpected 'episode;' thereby also allowing each other's subconscious to take a step of faith and begin opening their heart to the other. They talked about anything and everything a normal couple did in their position... from their past together in Seirin to Onizuka's antics to what they did for the week. As for genius-level topics, from the hidden messages in Leonardo da Vinci's art to the mathematics inherent in Beethoven's work, those could wait for now.
Finally arriving at their destination, Kikuchi noticed that Kanzaki had wrapped her arms around herself, slightly shivering from the chill her drenched clothes gave her. Quietly chiding himself for not bringing a jacket along [a lot of good it would've done anyway], he did his best to ignore the way her wet clothes clung to her figure and how it caused his mind to wander.
[Oh what the hell.]
"You poor thing, c'mere." Yoshito said as he pulled Urumi closer and wrapped his arms around her, sharing the warmth his body radiated. Urumi closed her eyes and allowed herself to enjoy the intimacy, returning Kikuchi's embrace. An uncounted number of moments passing, they finally drew back, looking into each other's eyes. Lost in the moment, Kikuchi spoke up.
"Have I told you that you have beautiful eyes?"
Urumi chuckled.
"No, never in such a straightforward manner anyway."
Yoshito smiled sheepishly and looked down, embarrassment getting the better of him. Kanzaki then reached up and guided his chin with her hand until they were staring eye to eye again, and admonished him.
"Now who's being silly? I like it better this way."
[In that case...] he thought while placing his hand on the small of her back.
Kikuchi leaned in ever so slowly and Urumi, understanding perfectly, looked up towards him and closed her eyes.
For the next few moments, time stood still.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The way Murphy's Law is referred to in this chapter is actually the more popular, contemporary version of it, sometimes called Finagle's Law. The original Murphy's Law goes:"If there are two or more ways to do something, and one of those ways can result in a catastrophe, then someone will do it."
Whittling it down to the basics so as to apply to everything else (Murphy was a rocket-sled engineer), Murphy's Law basically became what it is today: If anything can go wrong, it will.
Thanks to everyone who took the time out to R&R: Seth7, Allence of the Weed, 99, mikethebigW, GreatLight432, Reika, Dargon Sheinto, sq1993, Prizz, Christ Lightfellow, SILENT TROWA, and rabid lola.
Allence of the Weed, Reika, Prizz: Again, thanks for the kind words! I think I'll be at least writing a few more after this one. There's still alot of GTO running around in my head, and I won't be able to get any decent sleep unless I get to write em all down.
99, Chris Lightfellow: Don't worry, I'm the type of fella who hates not being able to finish what he starts. Re the ending... all of us just have to wait and see... =P
mikethebigW, GreatLight432: I've seen the KxK anime conversations countless times just to make sure I stay as faithful as I can to their characters. So much that I've spotted some bloopers the cartoonists overlooked i.e. in the episode where Onizuka takes Kanzaki in that ride of a lifetime, we see Fuyutsuki, Kikuchi, Murai, Fujiyoshi and Kusano giving chase in the Vice Principal's Cresta. First driving scene shows Kikuchi infront sitting beside Azusa, while 2nd one shows Murai getting out from the front after Eikichi rides the bike off the ramp. There's more, but they escape me at the moment. Heh. =) Glad to know you're still enjoying the story.
Seth7, Dargon Sheinto, sq1993: I first thought of putting Onizuka in the chapter, but later decided against it, seeing as how any interference from him may just cause the two to become more defensive and less open to each other. Thanks for the reviews!
SILENT TROWA: Glad you liked it! Doh, I never noticed that there was a 'standard' style used here. I should get out of the GTO section more =P
rabid lola: What?!? You don't watch GTO? Blasphemy!!! =P Seriously now, and trust me on this one, this fic is _nothing_ compared to the original =) Check it out, and thanks for the great review!
Stay tuned everyone, chapter8 coming soon.
ja ne =)
By: Miguel Artadi
Disclaimer: I don't own GTO and any of the characters in it. I'd be rich if I did.
[ ] = Kikuchi's thoughts
( ) = Kanzaki's thoughts
[( )] = Collective thoughts
Quick Note: Murphy's Law basically states that if anything can go wrong, it will.
Chapter VII - One Step Backward, Two Steps Forward
Kanzaki rummaged through her closet.
"Dammit I should've anticipated this... need more clothes... should've gone shopping when I had the chance... but nooo..." Urumi muttered to herself, desperately looking for something nice to wear. Apparently, the combination of the date's short notice and a minor work emergency earlier that morning afforded her a lot less time than she was comfortable with to prepare for a date with Kikuchi.
"Of all the times Murphy's Law had to rear its stupid head..." she continued, shuffling and re-shuffling back hangers upon hangers of mostly black and charcoal gray business suits, the occasional pair of denims peeking out now and then. Her efforts getting her nowhere, the wheels in her head turned some more.
(This isn't gonna work. All you've got here are business suits and casual wear. Nothing remotely resembling knock-his-socks-off datewear.) she thought. Exasperation getting the better of her, Urumi slumped back on her bed. Narrowing her eyes and massaging her temples with her fingers, she wracked her brain in growing anxiety.
(Mmmkay, no options left. I was hoping for something along the lines of what I wore the first time I met Onizuka... but I guess we have to go with what we have. Good thing Kikuchi wants to meet in the park, so that's as casual as it gets. Hmm, we'll just have to put the flirting into overdrive if we want to get his blood running.) Standing and walking back to her closet, she reached in and threw some promising articles of clothing back over her shoulder onto the bed. Turning around and inspecting what she had to work with, she put her face in her hand and sighed.
(Oh the humanity of it all. Might as well get a little creative and go one notch over the girl-next-door look. Subdued sexuality it is then.) Biting her lower lip, Kanzaki ran a simulation in her mind.
(Button the blouse down a tad more than usual to show just enough cleavage to stir his imagination a bit; use black... no, dark lavender underwear for that. Dark blue semi-lowrider bootleg jeans, just low enough to catch his attention... tight where it counts; accentuate the hips and showcase the bum. Finish off with a handsome pair of brown leather boots, paired with a non-too showy same-hued belt with a good-looking buckle. Jacket? Nah, let's see if he'll lend me his if he sees me shivering.)
Turning to her mirror, Urumi cocked her head to study her hair and features, trying to picture the best way to doll herself up to match the clothes she had selected. Reaching back to bundle her hair in a makeshift ponytail, she turned and checked her profile.
(Ponytail? No, too ordinary. Pigtails? Yikes, not unless he was a perv like Onizuka. Aaaahh! Wear it down them, just clip it inconspicuously to make sure it doesn't blow all over your face when the wind decides to pick up. VERY light makeup, though don't forget to accentuate the lips... since he obviously liked looking at them last time. The eyes too, so no colored contacts. Simple white gold necklace and stud earrings. Top off with a metal finish watch to match the jewelry.)
"Yeah. That should work. Let's do it."
Later that afternoon, Kikuchi found himself sitting on a very familiar bench in Inokashira Park. Closing his eyes and taking a long, deep breath, he reveled as the park's fresh air scented of flowers and freshly cut grass. Body and mind now totally relaxed, Yoshito stretched himself out and leaned fully on the bench's backrest, trying to recall what happened between him and Urumi in this exact same place ten years ago. Like clockwork, the memories came. Welcoming them, he smiled as the decade-old scene replayed itself in his mind.
"He what?"
"Yup. Guess what Onizuka did then."
"He must've jumped down to save you."
"Yeah. He did."
"I told you, he's different from the other teachers."
[You were one crazy little girl Urumi. Making our teacher jump through hoops like that. Though I do owe you for that delicious toro you blackmailed him to treat us to, there's no way in hell I'm that easy sweetheart. I have to admit, you're as cute and adorable as much as you ever were... well to be honest even more so now, so let's just see who makes who jump through which hoop, shall we?] he thought, smirking at the idea of more mental sparring to come.
Opening his eyes, Kikuchi checked the time: 4:51 PM.
[Soon.]
A shrill, high-pitched giggle suddenly distracting the fond reminiscing, Yoshito opened his eyes and tried to locate the source of the voice. Turning his head till he found the cause, he spots two kids playing tag in the near distance. Brothers it seemed, spending the weekend in the park, playing close to the water. Nearby, a couple who looked to be the boys' parents watched over them as they enjoyed their day together.
[Heh, how picturesque. Family day out in the park. Best things in life are free I tell you...]
Unfortunately, the new scene triggers another lot of memories, this time stemming from even farther back than his days with Kanzaki in Seirin.
[Brothers. Inokashira Park... Inokashira pond. That morning I found out was just like this one, cloudy and a tad nippy...] The involuntary recollections hitting him like a ton of bricks, Kikuchi clenched his teeth, set his glasses aside and covered his face in his hands, grimacing. In his mind's eye, he saw once again the newspaper headline that fateful morning.
'Youth found dead by Inokashira pond.'
"Stop it! Not now..." Kikuchi whispered, burying his face deeper in his hands, fighting to keep control. Word for word, he remembered the other portions of the article.
'ID found on the body identifies the victim as Kikuchi Akio, aged 14, a Kichijoji local. Next of kin has been notified as of this morning. Contacts within the police department disclosed under condition of anonymity that early evidence strongly suggests suicide, though investigators are still looking into the possibility of foul play being involved.'
[Akio 'niisan... I'm so sorry. I should've seen it coming. Some brother I turned out to be...] Yoshito thought, his consciousness lost in the seldom-explored recesses of his memories. The sensation of two hands reaching around from behind him and covering his eyes jolted Kikuchi back to the present.
"Guess who!"
[What? Urumi...] Still reeling from the unanticipated recollections, Yoshito, not really thinking, instinctively reached up and clutched on to the hands covering his eyes, holding them in the way a terrified child held on to a parent's hand for support and reassurance that everything was okay.
[Can't let you see me like this... just a few seconds while I... get myself in order.] he struggled, willing himself to put his game face on.
Kanzaki's eyes widened in surprise. (He's shaking, trembling!!) Displaying an uncharacteristic agility, Urumi hopped over the bench's backrest and landed by his side, her hands now intertwined with his.
"Yoshito! Yoshito!! What's wrong? Talk to me!" she asked him tersely, the gravity of the situation making her forget to address him by his last name.
Kikuchi winced. He desperately wanted to tell her everything. Why Kikuchi Yoshito was the man he was; his unflinching level-headedness and stone-calm demeanor even in their junior high days. Why he never made a big deal out of being a genius, why he had a soft spot for Yoshikawa Noboru, and why he kept an eye out for her... all the why's that had shaped and burdened this man for the majority of his life threatened for the first time in years to break through his walls and overwhelm him. Walls that he made to keep things in, and not to keep people out.
[NO. Show no weakness. You are Kikuchi Yoshito. You cannot, you WILL NOT be weak in front of anybody, especially her.]
"Yoshito!! What's wrong?!?? Tell me!!!" Kanzaki continued, half-screaming as she continued to grip his hands ever so tightly.
[You. Are. Fine. NOW.] That was all he needed. Kikuchi took one last deep breath before finally opening his eyes. He then shot Urumi with a 'made-you-look' grin.
"Gotcha. Nervous there for a moment weren't you?" he finally said, putting his glasses back on.
Urumi was incredulous.
(You... BASTARD!)
"You jerk!!! That wasn't funny! I thought something was really wrong with you, aside from just being an asshole, ASSHOLE!" She immediately countered, snatching her hands back from Kikuchi's grasp.
[Ouch. Of all the times for a goddamn flashback... Murphy's Law piece of shit...]
"Aww come now, can't you take a joke? Off all people I'd expect you to appreciate a good one."
"Bah." She countered staring straight ahead, the spite in her tone evident.
"You look great by the way; it's nice that you didn't wear colored contacts."
"..." Urumi half-turned, her body language threatening to stand and walk away.
[DAMN IT.]
"Okay I get the point, I'm sorry Kanza..." Stopping himself and clearing his throat, he tried placating her again, this time addressing her by her first name, and injecting as much sincerity as he could in it.
"Urumi, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have played with your feelings like that. Please, at least sit with me for a while? It'd be a shame to waste such a beautiful day in the park."
(Damn straight you played with my feelings. God I must've looked like such an idiot. Maybe this date wasn't such a good idea...) Still miffed at her genuine show of concern being all for naught, Urumi crossed her arms and legs, at the same time looked AWAY from Yoshito. In every aspect the classic body posture indicating 'you're not my favorite person right now.'
[Argh. Desperate times, desperate measures.]
"Thank you for your concern. Really. I mean it. I didn't know you'd react so strongly; I won't do that again. Swear to God."
"Yeah whatever. Look I've had a really crappy week and if you're planning on capping it off with your lame idea of a..." Kikuchi leaning over and planting a small kiss on her temple interrupted Urumi. Almost instantly, Kanzaki felt her irritation evaporate and her momentum stagger; her cheeks blushing from the totally unexpected gesture of affection.
(Whoa... that felt nice... @$#&*?!? Oh no, NO NO NO. You're not getting off THAT easy mister). Mentally shutting out the warm and fuzzy feelings the peck gave her, she turned to face him. Kanzaki was about to launch another diatribe when the sight of glistening sweat on Kikuchi's forehead and neck stopped her in her tracks. At once, millions upon millions of brain synapses fired in Urumi's head, analyzing in seconds the ramifications of what she saw before her.
(Wait, the weather isn't particularly warm... overcast skies and quite chilly actually... so why the hell is he sweating like it was a hot summer's day? Maybe... maybe his bluff wasn't really a bluff? And that he just came up with that half-assed joke to throw me off? In that case, what was really wrong with him?)
She looked him straight in the eyes.
"Are you REALLY okay?"
"Don't be silly. Of course I am." He replied, grinning.
"Dork. Don't joke around like that."
"Yes m'am. No more bad jokes, promise." Kikuchi traced an X over his heart and held up his right hand.
Urumi nudged him gently in the ribs and grinned back.
(You're off the hook for the meantime, mystery man... now what the hell was going on in that head of yours back there I wonder? Ah well, plenty of time for that later.)
"So, what're we doing today?"
"I was thinking we'd..."
Drop.
[(Huh?)]
Another drop.
Simultaneously, Yoshito and Urumi craned their necks skyward.
"Great. Now it's raining. Murphy's Law again. Unbelievable." Kikuchi reacted.
"Hurry, let's make a run for it. My old house is pretty near." He immediately added, instinctively grabbing her by the wrist whilst standing up to leave. Kanzaki however, had other things in mind.
"We don't have to hurry. Come now, how long's it been since you've taken a stroll in the rain? We've got what's left of the day and evening together, so might as well enjoy it right? Relax, Yoshito." She replied, smiling.
Kikuchi laughed. The rain was starting to pick up, a mere matter of seconds before it inevitably turned into a full-fledged shower.
[We'll be soaked. Heh, this could be fun.] he thought, realizing how this could turn out to be a good thing after all.
"Silly girl. You're right though, we should just relax and have fun. However, I don't like the idea of either of us catching a cold, so how about we stroll in the general direction of my place? That way, if this doesn't let up anytime soon, I won't have to worry about you freezing your cute little butt off in the street miss Kanzaki Urumi."
(Hee-hee. Then when we get there you could keep me warm with your body heat.) Kanzaki thought, the sensation of the kiss still fresh in her head.
"Haha, though a valid point, I have to say that you the tendency to think too much, mister Kikuchi Yoshito."
[Oh, you have no idea my dear.]
"This coming from the genius extraordinaire? You flatter me to no end. Shall we then?" Yoshito asked her, standing up and offering his hand out for her to take.
"Yessirree!" she replied half-giggling, taking his hand and getting up from the bench. The rain was falling steadily now, easily drenching the both of them in scant minutes.
Yoshito and Urumi held hands and walked their troubles off in the rain, chatting away happily amidst the downpour and seeming to the outside world like another blissful couple taking a stroll in the park. Mind games were forgotten for the time being, an unforeseen benefit resulting from Kikuchi's unexpected 'episode;' thereby also allowing each other's subconscious to take a step of faith and begin opening their heart to the other. They talked about anything and everything a normal couple did in their position... from their past together in Seirin to Onizuka's antics to what they did for the week. As for genius-level topics, from the hidden messages in Leonardo da Vinci's art to the mathematics inherent in Beethoven's work, those could wait for now.
Finally arriving at their destination, Kikuchi noticed that Kanzaki had wrapped her arms around herself, slightly shivering from the chill her drenched clothes gave her. Quietly chiding himself for not bringing a jacket along [a lot of good it would've done anyway], he did his best to ignore the way her wet clothes clung to her figure and how it caused his mind to wander.
[Oh what the hell.]
"You poor thing, c'mere." Yoshito said as he pulled Urumi closer and wrapped his arms around her, sharing the warmth his body radiated. Urumi closed her eyes and allowed herself to enjoy the intimacy, returning Kikuchi's embrace. An uncounted number of moments passing, they finally drew back, looking into each other's eyes. Lost in the moment, Kikuchi spoke up.
"Have I told you that you have beautiful eyes?"
Urumi chuckled.
"No, never in such a straightforward manner anyway."
Yoshito smiled sheepishly and looked down, embarrassment getting the better of him. Kanzaki then reached up and guided his chin with her hand until they were staring eye to eye again, and admonished him.
"Now who's being silly? I like it better this way."
[In that case...] he thought while placing his hand on the small of her back.
Kikuchi leaned in ever so slowly and Urumi, understanding perfectly, looked up towards him and closed her eyes.
For the next few moments, time stood still.
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The way Murphy's Law is referred to in this chapter is actually the more popular, contemporary version of it, sometimes called Finagle's Law. The original Murphy's Law goes:"If there are two or more ways to do something, and one of those ways can result in a catastrophe, then someone will do it."
Whittling it down to the basics so as to apply to everything else (Murphy was a rocket-sled engineer), Murphy's Law basically became what it is today: If anything can go wrong, it will.
Thanks to everyone who took the time out to R&R: Seth7, Allence of the Weed, 99, mikethebigW, GreatLight432, Reika, Dargon Sheinto, sq1993, Prizz, Christ Lightfellow, SILENT TROWA, and rabid lola.
Allence of the Weed, Reika, Prizz: Again, thanks for the kind words! I think I'll be at least writing a few more after this one. There's still alot of GTO running around in my head, and I won't be able to get any decent sleep unless I get to write em all down.
99, Chris Lightfellow: Don't worry, I'm the type of fella who hates not being able to finish what he starts. Re the ending... all of us just have to wait and see... =P
mikethebigW, GreatLight432: I've seen the KxK anime conversations countless times just to make sure I stay as faithful as I can to their characters. So much that I've spotted some bloopers the cartoonists overlooked i.e. in the episode where Onizuka takes Kanzaki in that ride of a lifetime, we see Fuyutsuki, Kikuchi, Murai, Fujiyoshi and Kusano giving chase in the Vice Principal's Cresta. First driving scene shows Kikuchi infront sitting beside Azusa, while 2nd one shows Murai getting out from the front after Eikichi rides the bike off the ramp. There's more, but they escape me at the moment. Heh. =) Glad to know you're still enjoying the story.
Seth7, Dargon Sheinto, sq1993: I first thought of putting Onizuka in the chapter, but later decided against it, seeing as how any interference from him may just cause the two to become more defensive and less open to each other. Thanks for the reviews!
SILENT TROWA: Glad you liked it! Doh, I never noticed that there was a 'standard' style used here. I should get out of the GTO section more =P
rabid lola: What?!? You don't watch GTO? Blasphemy!!! =P Seriously now, and trust me on this one, this fic is _nothing_ compared to the original =) Check it out, and thanks for the great review!
Stay tuned everyone, chapter8 coming soon.
ja ne =)