Ran and I
By: Hentai Y. Slave
Genre: PG-13, shonen-ai, fluff, humor, AU
Pairing: implied RanXKen so far, will develop later (I hope)
Summary: (Chp 4! X'mas Special) Follow Ran & Ken's everyday trouble at home and in school (okay, mostly Ken is the one in the trouble. Ken: Hey!) where they discover love in the craziest way. (AU, fluff, shonen-ai, RanXKen, Ken's POV)
Notes: Eh hehheh...this was supposed to be for X'mas last year... didn't come around to do it...how embarrassing. Oops? Anyways..i don't know much about this holiday butit just seem sweet to do such a fic. Yup. I'm blabbering again, aren't I?
Disclaimer: grumbles I.DO.NOT.OWN.WEISS.KREUZ.OR.ANY.OF.ITS.CHARACTERS. Happy? But I do own this fic. Mwahahaha.
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Chapter 4: X'mas shopping! Dinner? Orange sweater? Mistletoe.
Yay! It's Christmas!
I sound like a kid right? Well, I'm behaving like one too. I am currently sitting restlessly, also known as fidgeting, on the sofa waiting for Ranny to get ready for our Christmas morning grocery shopping. I tap my feet against the floor restlessly, humming a Christmas song that I remembered hearing from the radio last night during our family's Christmas Eve dinner.
Every year, on Christmas Eve night, our whole family would sit down together to have our Christmas dinner. My mum would cook a huge Christmas feast for the whole family to enjoy. It's a nice, quiet family affair where it's just the four of us sitting around the dining table amidst the soft music and candle lights, chatting, joking etc. After dinner, my parents would fly off to some other country to have some "quality couple time". They had booked a pair of plane tickets overseas for themselves as early as September. It's like their annual honeymoon thing. Sweet isn't it? The best part, of course, was the fact that Ran and I would have the whole house to us for a whole week. No parental supervision for one whole week!
And yes, like any other teenager, I would have whooped with joy and started planning the parties, the late night sleepovers, the stuffing of junk food while watching soccer matches and all the other fun guy stuff that would eventually turn the house upside down.
And of course my parents, being all-so-knowing, would have known that I would turn the house upside down the moment they're gone. So, you may ask, why did they think it was safe to leave me at home?
Well, because Ran-not-like-any-other-teenager, will always be placed in charge every year, and will supervise me on behalf of my parents.
Damn.
"Now Ran, you take care of your brother and makes sure he behaves himself. You know how he is..." our mum had said yesterday night, suitcase in hand and ready to go.
"Hey!" I protested from my sprawled out position on the couch. If I remember correctly I was channel surfing. Damn Sports channel was not playing any soccer matches last night. I pressed the remote buttons with vengeance.
"Yes mother," Ran replied politely as usual.
"Good boy. Here's the money for the week" mum said, handling a small package of money to Ran.
That would be the sum of money my parents would set aside for us each year as our week's expenditure. It covers everything, from allowance to meals to bills. Knowing that I will probably spend it all on parties and junk food, they leave Ran in charge of it. You can practically see the malice glint in his eyes as he takes the money with both hands. I mentally groaned. It was suicidal for me to even try and pry money from that cheapskate. It is not that bad though; on Christmas mornings every year, Ran and I would head off to the supermarket to get our groceries for the week. Since it is just the start of the week, he will be less strict (less possessive would be more accurate description) with the money and let me buy more stuff. Heh heh.
Ah hah! Here comes Ranny... and he is wearing the orange sweater I knitted for him for Christmas! I had a hard time learning and actually knitting it though...I kept on getting pricked by the damn needle. But remembering the look on his face, and the brilliant smile he gave me made it all worth it. Sure, the sleeves were too short and of unequal length, but he seemed to like the sweater anyway. And he got around with that problem too...he folded them until they were somewhere mid arm. Nice.
I jumped up from the sofa just as he finishes his descent of the stairs, giving him a big goofy grin. I love grocery shopping. Since he is not picky with food, I usually get to decide what to buy, as long as I get his approval. Which is of course relatively easy once I start giving him puppy-eye looks. I try not to push my luck though; he gets to keep the remaining amount of money left at the end of the week and will not be happy if I buy too much. Humph.
He graced me with a small smile and gestured to the door. I half jogged, half sprinted to the car. I sat down quickly in the passenger seat of my dad's white Porsche, hands automatically going to the radio to find a nice song to listen too. I find a cheery Christmas song just as Ran gets into the driver seat. My dad only lets Ran drive the vehicle since he cannot trust me to drive at normal speed. I don't really mind though; I prefer driving my bike and feeling the wind in my face as I reach high speeds. It was a thrill I enjoy enormously, hearing the engine roar into life as I take multiple sharp turns. The Porsche's engine was too quiet and smooth for my liking. It was more suited for someone like Ran who enjoys a quiet, safe drive. He's so boring sometimes. I sat back and listened to the radio as Ran drives us to the grocery store.
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Whee!
I started wheeling the trolley around as soon as I got a hold of it, ignoring the stares of disapproving mothers and Ran's quiet protests. I stopped only at the snacks section, quickly filling a third of the cart with bags of chips. Ran gives me a disapproving look at my choice of junk food, but says nothing otherwise. He knows that I am already cutting down on the amount of junk food I usually prefer. Besides, these chips were cheap.
We pushed the trolley to the meat section, where I started telling Ran what kind of meat I felt like eating. It is not that Ran does not know my preference in food; it is just that my taste for a certain food changes every other day, too quickly for his liking. He picks a few that I mentioned, plus some of my all time favorites before pushing the trolley to the next section. I grinned at his consideration and started to follow him, until I realized he was heading for the veggie section.
As much as Ran dotes on me, he still insists that I eat healthily. As much as I dislike vegetables, he will still cook them for me to eat, fussing over me like mum does. I giggled at the mental image of him as a fussy mother. He raises a delicate eyebrow at my sudden laughter, mumbling an "I don't even want to know" before starting to choose the vegetables. I wandered away from him; he takes such a long time choosing them that I can't help but do that every year. I went to ogle at the ice-cream section and the nice little Christmas trees on sale. I found myself at the chocolate section next.
It was then that I felt a tug at my pants. I looked down to see a sweet little girl around the age of eight, wearing a frilly pink dress. Her hair was tied into two ponytails, held by little red ribbons. How cute.
"Onii-san, can you help take the Pocky?" She asked sweetly, pointing to somewhere near the top shelf where she could not reach. I gave her a big smile and patted her head affectionately. I love kids.
The Pocky in mentioned was actually place on the top shelf of that section, far too high for me to reach. I mentally cursed the idiot for putting the Pocky at such a high shelf. Luckily, I spotted a small stool somewhere to my right. I brought it over and stepped on it, fingers barely brushing the packet. The little girl started cheering for me. I tiptoed on the stool and finally got a hold of it. She squealed in delight.
That was when I had a klutz attack. Till now I still can't figure out how I could lose my balance stepping down a stool, but it happened. The Pocky went flying out of my hand as I started falling backwards. I heard a small shriek from the girl as I prepared for the inevitable. I closed my eyes and braced myself to have my behind crushed into the hard...
...warm floor? Wait a minute...
I snapped my eyes open and looked up to see a pair of deep amethyst eyes staring at me. Ran had somehow appeared at my side and caught me, hands clutching my arms and chest pressing against my back. I was practically leaning into him, the intimate closeness allowing his lavender scent to invade my nose, triggering a memory not so long ago...
The towel hung dangerously loose around his hips, exposing his long legs where the towel could not cover. His perfect pale chest heaved up and down due to his heavy breathing. Water continued to drip off his hair, making it glitter. He stood close enough for me to smell the nice lavender scented soap he uses.
As soon as he released me I found myself having to look away. I couldn't face him, not when I know that I was blushing hotly. Ever since that incident, I cannot help but start blushing if I stand close enough to smell him. That incident triggered a lot of questions in my mind, the most disturbing being whether my affections for him were beyond simple friendship and brotherly affections.
Strangely enough, Ran did not pursue the matter of me breaking into his room and...well everything else. He even left the connecting door unlocked from now on. Despite so, I never used the door again. Just looking at it made me recall the mental image that was stuck in my head. And the feelings it evoked. What do I feel for him, really?
I took a few deep breaths and turned around, finally ready to face Ran. He was not looking at me though; he was squatting in front of the little girl and handling her the Pocky with a bright smile. She smiled and thanked him, doing the same for me before running off to her mother. Ran stared after her, eyes filled with affection and...
...sadness? Ah yes, the girl had her hair done in two ponytails, the way Ran's sister, Aya, used to tie hers. My heart bled for this man before me as I watched his eyes become hollow for a moment, obviously recalling his real family's misfortunes. I wanted to run forward and give him a huge hug, but something tells me that it might be better to let him be.
It was then that he felt my gaze on him and turned back to look at me. He gave me a reassuring smile, his internal turmoil having passed as quickly as it came. My heart was caught in my throat as I took in the look that was clearly present to me in his eyes.
What do I feel for him, really?
The affectionate, caring and concerned look that was normally reserved only for his sister in the past, that I saw in the photos I see of him and Aya. And now for me.
What do I feel for him, really?
I was drawn to his smile, legs moving forward on their own accord to stand in front of him. He stands up too, his smile slightly faltering as he takes in the serious expression that must have been on my face. It was then that I caught sight of a Christmas decoration that hung directly over our heads.
A mistletoe.
Ran notices it as well and meets my glance. To others, his eyes might look expressionless and cold, but to me, it was filled with warm, overflowing concern and perhaps everlasting...
...love?
What do I feel for him, really?
Whatever it is that I feel for him, whether it has really evolved into something else closer does not matter anymore. I recalled the hollowness in his eyes when he thought of his dead family. To others, he might be a solid ice-statue, with a deadly glare, but to me, he was as fragile as thin ice.
I can't risk the stability of our friendship just because of a few stray thoughts that I have. If he doesn't feel whatever I might feel now it will only cause unnecessary pain and sorrow for him. I cannot hurt him. He means too much to me.
What do I feel for him, really?
I stepped away from the mistletoe and pushed the trolley to the cashier. I gave him a warm smile, even as I was burrowing my own feelings deep down. For a moment I thought I saw a flicker of disappointment in his eyes before it went back to its usual warmth.
I must have imagined it.
End or TBC?
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Author's notes: I'm quite happy the shopping part came out quite well...even if it got a bit angst...In case you are unaware of the significance of the mistletoe... If I am not mistaken, if a guy and a girl stand below a mistletoe, they get to kiss. Right?
Hmm... I noticed all my fic titles are all three-word liners. Ran and I, By Your Bed, A Snowy Visit...nvm
By the way pleeeeeeease read A Snowy visit! I'm not getting as much reviews for that fic, ne?
Ran: Maybe that's because the fic is lousy.
Author: Ran's a meanie. Time for review replies!
To:
Chitoshiya no Tohma - thanks for reviewing
Bhidaka - heh thanks for the support! I hope this chapter is better.
RoseRed5 - oh well, my summary isn't very good. . Maybe that's why you didn't feel like reading this b4 .
Kirei Aya - well, here's the update! I'm running out of ideas though :p but I might start on the companion fic. No promises though :p
Rie - huh? What are you apologizing for? I am grateful you r still reading this fic:p School went well, thanks 4 your concern :) I love my school very very much XD
farfie fan - heh I think farf rocks too ;)
silly goose - XD thank you so much! I'm glad I made your day! Can I have a kenken plushie too? Pleeease! Hope you did well for your exams and research papers :)
siberianblume - oh thank you so much (bows back) your review was actually the one that reminded me to write this chapter!
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Author: That's it for now. Please review! You can ask any questions you have for me in your reviews too :3