Author's Note: Contrary to what the others are thinking, this fanfiction is far from over. I'll admit, it took a long time for me to update but my other fics are keeping me busy, too, aside from my school and real life outside fanfiction. I hope you would understand. PLEASE DON'T ABANDON ME, I NEED MY READERS.
COMMENT ON THE REVIEWS:
Jen – this fic is far from over so, instead of a sequel, maybe you could read the rest of the story.
Silver Eyes Bright and Big Rikku Fan – too many reviews, I'm glad. You both made me happy.
Jo-chan – I'm glad I could inspire you to write a first POV, as I was only inspired by one of the fanfics I read, too.
MysticBluAngel – thank you for trying to read a Y+K when you are a fan of K+B
Bianka-chan – I've always loved to read long reviews and yours just touched my heart. I feel very special because I'm the third person you put in your favorites.
SSCherry Blossom II – this is the next chapter but I think you won't need the tissues anymore. J
SVZ, Jesanae Tekani, Wolfgirl and Onitna – fic far from over
Cuddles – hoy, Jen, nalaman ko na rin kung sino ka. I like Omi too. I'm not going to kill him.
Mutsumi, Rose Angel, cherryblossom gurl13, daughter of the moon, water guardian, bishounen lovah, KagomeWannabe, SakuraRyo – thank you for the reviews, I can't think of a comment, but maybe next time, I will. Lol. Anyway, here's the next chapter.
Disclaimers Applied!!!
Mixed EmotionsChapter 7: TURNING GREEN WITH JEALOUSY
"You cannot possibly do that!" you protested while clutching your stomach from laughing too much that your sides hurt already.
"Of course I can," I said cheerfully and inched my face closer to yours, so close that I could already feel your breath. "Are you daring me?"
"No," you said and broke into another fit of laughter.
It's the first weekend we had after we settled things between us and I think I couldn't ask for more. If possible, I think our friendship deepened after going through that big obstacle.
It was just a lazy evening for both of us and because we can't find anything worthwhile to do, we decided to think of ways to get back at Miruni.
Yes, I'm calling her Miruni again after all that had happened between us. And our ways kept getting more ridiculous with each passing moment that soon we were laughing already.
Of course, we won't act on our plans; it's just our way to pass time. We would not sink to her level just to make her feel sorry for what she had done to us. No, we'll leave her alone and let her failure to break us apart serve as our revenge to her.
Just then, we heard someone knocked on the door, but knowing that there are many people downstairs in the ramen house, we assumed that it's just a customer looking for a bathroom.
"The bathroom's downstairs," you yelled but when the person knocked again, so you turned to me, "go, open the door."
Of course, I really intended to open the door but I did not like the way you ordered me around and that tone of your voice. I am the man here and I won't let you order me around just like that so I snorted. "Why don't you open the door? It's your house, anyway."
I could see your eyes flashed some annoyance and I readied myself to be slapped, but it disappeared when you stuck your tongue at me.
You were about to stand up and open the door (because I told you so, mind you), when I grabbed your hand to stop you. "Alright, I'll do it."
But I barely stood up when Yukimura-jisan appeared on the doorway. "Keiko, Omi is looking for you downstairs."
"Really? This is a surprise!" you said, then quickly stood up and hurriedly walked out of the room and went downstairs – leaving me standing there, shocked. Why are you so excited in seeing the bastard, anyway?
Yukimura-jisan and I followed you downstairs and just when I was about to go out of the house to follow you, your father called me.
"Yuusuke, lad, would you help me with these?" he asked and motioned for the mess in the whole restaurant.
Because we were enjoying ourselves so much upstairs, we never noticed that the ramen house had closed already. The few staffs are already inside the kitchen, washing the dishes and cleaning the place.
"Alright," I said and started wiping the tables with rag as he also did the same. I cannot possibly refuse your father, right? He had been the father I never had and he has always been good to me.
To us.
Though he knew that I'm only a troublemaker, he had never disagreed with our friendship and at times, he had entrusted you to me. Ha! If I have a daughter like Keiko, I won't let her come close to people like me.
It is a nice feeling that no matter how messed up my life is, there's still someone who believes in me. And so, my respect for Yukimura-jisan is very high.
"Looks like my daughter is not a baby anymore. She's having many admirers already," he said cheerfully as he went inside the kitchen to bring the dishes he gathered from the tables.
Nevertheless, I heard him very clearly, "I'm not courting her, jisan," I said rather defensively.
Of course, it's the truth, I'm not courting you. But I failed to realize that you never said it was me you're talking about. And, well, maybe out of instinct, I just suddenly became defensive.
But jisan only chuckled. "I'm not talking about you, lad. But soon, when you're through being a coward, you will be one of her many admirers," he said.
Not talking about me? Then, who might it be? Zekuna? I felt my stomach tighten with jealousy as I remembered the rest of what jisan had said. Many admirers? I have met only one of them and I'm about to burst in jealousy already. How can I be able to live through all of them? Maybe I'll just try to scare all of them away. But then –
"How'd you know I'm being a coward?" I asked, surprised and tried not to flinch because I've admitted that I'm being a coward. I never thought I'm that obvious when I've just realized my feelings for you not a week ago.
Jisan chuckled again. "It's really simple, lad. It's been showing in your eyes for a long time, I think only my daughter can't see it" he said, then left for the kitchen again.
I stood there, incredulous. It's been showing in my eyes for a long time? Well, what's wrong with his eyes, anyway, that it's being obvious? And for a long time? I've just realized this last week! Am I that numb? How in the world did that happened?
***CHANGE OF POV***
I entered the ramen house only to find you there sitting down and looking ridiculously shocked. What the hell had happened to you? I wanted to ask and laugh at the same time.
"Hey, are you okay?" I asked as I tapped your shoulders lightly. You were sitting on one of the stools with your head resting on the wall.
"Yeah," you said softly but it was somewhat out of focus.
"Are you sure?" I asked again.
"Yeah," you repeated then suddenly looked at me with full seriousness. "Can I ask you something?"
I hesitated. The last time you were serious like this was when, well, I don't wanna think about it. "Uh, sure." I mumbled, then took one stool beside the table and sat on it, facing you.
"What's going on between you and Zekuna?"
I had to sigh with relief. I thought it was something big and serious. "Why? What did otousan tell you?" I asked, but I didn't think it was quite obvious that I'm avoiding answering the question.
"Nothing." You said, then blushed. And I was stupidly baffled by that.
You actually blushed and it was weird. You didn't even blushed when I caught you undressing when we were seventeen. Well, yeah, maybe you didn't have the time to blush because I was so angry with you for not locking your room while you change your clothes when you know damn well that I'm in your house, that I slapped you.
"Well?" you said, then looked at me and I had these feeling that you're interrogating me.
"I, uh," I stammered and I can't even look at you in your eyes. "Well, he's courting me."
There. I said it. I said it out loud. I told the one I love that I'm being courted by another man. And it hurts. Because I know it won't, in any way, affect you like it affected me when you told me you already had a girlfriend.
Because I know you won't mind.
And you won't care.
***CHANGE OF POV***
"Well, he's courting me," you said.
There. You said it. You said it out loud. The one I care so deeply about, and secretly wanting, told me she's being courted by another man. And it hurts. Because I know I can't, in any way, do the same to you no matter how much I wanted to.
Because you only see me as a friend.
And nothing more.
But I know that somehow, some way, I had to fight for you. I've come so close to losing you and damn if I will ever let that happen again. For you, I am willing to die for the third time.
Damn! Why have I been too late? I asked myself and I never noticed that I mumbled "Why?" And you heard it clearly.
"Why?" she repeated the question. "You're asking me why he's courting me? Tell me, Yuusuke, don't I have the right to be courted?" you asked me and I could have sworn there's a bit of bitterness in your voice.
"Of course you have every right," I answered softly, knowing that this conversation hurts you, and once again, my insensitivity had caused this once again.
"Then why?" you asked me again and I know I'm defeated. As much as I wanted to avoid this conversation, I know you won't let me get away with this. And I can do nothing but talk.
"He doesn't have the right to court you," I said but inside of me, I heard a little voice saying 'What about you, Urameshi? Do you have the right to court her?'
It was mocking me.
"Huh? Why'd you think so?" you asked, your face showing all your confusion that I got irritated.
"Well, for a start, he's a jerk," I said and glared at you. It seems like you're liking the fact that he's courting you. But you don't have to show me you're so damned cheerful about it.
You looked at me in exasperation. "Omi is not a jerk, Yuu. And, no offense, but you're a jerk and we're friends," you pointed out and I mentally agreed, well, only on the I'm-a-jerk part because I still believe Zekuna is a jerk. And I still can't accept the fact that he's courting you. It's wrong.
"You don't deserve someone like him," I grumbled, wanting to get my point across. I nervously looked at you in the eye and when I saw you frowned, I looked away nervously. "He's…well, you deserve someone better than him, Kei," I said.
Of course, it's just another strategy of me so as for you not to get mad at me. I know I'm the only one who's allowed to call you Kei just like you're the only one who could get away calling me Yuu. I don't know when we started calling each other that, but we both know it's our term of endearment for each other.
I've always called you that whenever I want to ask a favor from you, when I ask for an apology or when I'm just feeling a little sentimental towards you just like you called me Yuu when you wanted to ask a favor from me when you know that I would not like it but I won't be able to say no when you called me Yuu. But now, it seemed that our endearment for each other didn't work for you because your eyes did not soften the way they used to.
"Give me, then, an example of someone whom you think deserves me," you said and the glimmer in your eyes won't give away if you're being serious or if you're only mocking me.
"No one in the campus deserves you," I muttered and stood up to leave, but you grabbed my hand stopping me from leaving. And when I turned around, the expression on your face told me that you heard exactly what I said.
***CHANGE OF POV***
To say that I was baffled with what you said would be like underestimating what I felt. What do you mean by no one in the campus deserves me? That's a little insulting to say, don't you think? "And why do you think so?" I asked, glaring.
I saw you hesitated, then courageously looked straight in my eyes which I know sent daggers towards you. "No one just do. You're smart, Kei. Really smart. And someone like Omi just doesn't suit you. You're talented, too, and really beau –"
"So, you're saying that I deserve someone like Kurama-kun?" I asked, though I'm finding it hard not to laugh. Who wouldn't, with that expression in your face? You look like you're so afraid of making me angry so you're trying your damndest to flatter me.
I know that you had actually realized that your flattery worked when you glared at me. I don't know why I act like that towards you but not to others. When other people complimented or tried to flatter me, I usually blush and shyly thank them. But when it is you who's flattering me, I always mock you in return. Just like what I'm doing now.
Of course, we're not best of friends for nothing so when I mocked you, you knew that your flattery worked and I'm not going to get mad at you. And so you glared at me. "No."
I suddenly became confused. "No? What do you mean 'no'?"
You looked at me in exasperation. "No, even Kurama doesn't deserve you."
"Why?" I was again completely baffled by that. Who then, would deserve me if the most sought-after bachelor in Tokyo does not deserve me?
You scratched your head and looked away. And I saw another blush staining your cheeks. What the hell is wrong now? I wondered. Is there something wrong with your blood vessels that blood kept rushing on your face?
"What? Come on, answer me," I urged, then paused to take a deep breath, "He's smart, smarter than me. He's talented, too, and he's not some wimp –"
"He looks like a girl!" you yelled and stood up suddenly that I was completely at a lost for words that I only stared at you.
***CHANGE OF POV***
I looked at you uneasily when you did not say a word. What the hell had gotten into me for me to say something as stupid as that? But, just the thought of Kurama and you being together completely made me so jealous because I realized that…you're right. You need to be with someone like the kitsune.
Someone as smart as you, as talented as you, and someone who can protect you. Someone who doesn't have a completely wacky and distorted family just like my mother.
But I just cannot accept that fact. That you should be with someone other than me. So I had to think of a reason to convince you that not even the sly kitsune deserves you. And before I could think, I blurted out the words I never thought I could say.
Then, I saw you take a deep breath and I readied myself for whatever blow you're going to give me. "Kurama does not look like a girl," you said calmly, but when I saw you take another breath, you do so shakily that I knew you're just controlling your laughter.
"Yes, he did," I insisted and looked down at you, because you're still sitting on your stool. "He has this long red hair, a lanky figure, and a female voice. And he smells like a woman!" I said and waved my hand in exaggeration.
You looked at me as if I'd grown another head. "He's a bishounen, Yuusuke. Most of the girls fall in love with him because of his looks and slightly feminine charm. Don't you ever forget that," she said, but the twinkle in your eye told me you're only mocking me.
When will you take me seriously? I wanted to scream at your face. I'm turning green with jealousy here and all you can do is remind me how good-looking my friend is?
"And you're one of them?" I asked, bitterness in my voice. (A/N: won't it be cruel if I end the chapter right here?) It would be the worst irony of my life. A man liking his best friend who liked one of his friends. Damn!
I expected you to at least say you're kidding because of your sympathy towards me, if not to comfort me and say you like me better. Instead, you burst into laughter that I'm starting to pity myself for such bad luck.
"Oh, Yuusuke. You are such a darling," you told me and when I looked at you in surprise, I saw your flushed face from laughing too hard and your twinkling eyes from the amusement you gained from me.
To say I'm speechless is not enough. I am truly, completely, utterly tongue-tied. Never in my life or in my wildest dream did I think that you would call me a darling.
I wanted to ask you why, I really do. But I can't. So I only stared at you dumbly. And still you laughed that you had to lean on the wall to keep your completely weakened body from falling off the stool. And slowly, I regained my senses and power of speech. "What's so funny?" I asked, then frowned. "Stop laughing at me."
But that sent you laughing harder for a good five minutes more before you finally stopped. You looked at me, the twinkle still in your eyes, your face still flushed that I had to look away because I'm already thinking of the consequences if I just grabbed you and kissed you.
And the consequences that entered my mind might just cost me my life.
"What?" I asked, when I caught you staring at me with a slight smile on your face that I'm beginning to feel uncomfortable.
"You thought I'm one of the girls who had fallen in love with Kurama-kun," you stated, and your smile widened.
"So?"
"I'm not," you said and I felt all the pressure inside of me disappeared that I grinned stupidly.
It's your turn to ask. "What?"
"You're not in love with Kurama," I repeated, wanting to make sure.
"No, I'm not in love with Kurama-kun."
"Are you in love with anyone right now?" I asked, rather eagerly that you looked at me suspiciously.
"No." you answered simply. (A/N: LIAR!!!)
"Oh," I said, my bad mood already returning. I'm already starting to think that you were mad at me when I dated Kia because you're jealous.
Because you're in love with me.
I guess I hoped too hard.
"Don't worry, Yuusuke," you said brightly, "If ever I felt the need to fall in love, I'll do that with the person who's courting me," you said just when Yukimura-jisan told us it's already late and I should go home already.
You then stood up and almost pushed me out the door and waved at me, not knowing that your words struck into my heart like a knife.
You wanted to fall in love with Zekuna. I never once thought you could be this cruel.
Author's Note: there, chapter seven is up. The next chapter would be up after a few weeks, so be patient!