A/N: Hi, people! Me again..! massive reader heart attack Okay...
I started this a couple of months ago, and no matter what I did, I couldn't come up with a (decent) update quickly. So yeah, sorry.
Disclaimer: Not mine. laughs to death at delusional people who might have thought she owned RK. ::crick crick:: undies to write the chap
Previously...
"What's wrong?" Misao followed him.
He took off his shirt and observed as a dark mark appeared quickly on his torso, just right over where his heart was.
"Oh my god..."
Aoshi lifted his head and stared right into Misao's eyes.
It was happening again, but the other way round. Now, Aoshi's blue eyes darkened for a split second.
"It had started to itch strangely when we were at the park. Now I also have a kanji on me."
"'Chikara'..."
"That means 'Strength'..."
"What's going on here?"
· ..:ABSENCE IN THE HEART – Chapter 7:..·
"Geez...Next thing we know we're gonna morph into kitties..."
"What's there to do about it, anyway?"
Misao shrugged. "Well, I guess I'll go home, it's getting late." She said as she stood up from the couch she had been sitting on.
"Stay here tonight. The best thing to do now is to stay together."
"We can't hide forever..."
Aoshi looked stubbornly at her as he added, "at least stay until daylight, when we can be 100 sure we are not being tracked."
She sighed. "Alright, I'll stay. I guess anything's better than being alone right now."
"Thanks for the comment." Aoshi faked a hurt expression, trying to lighten up the mood a bit.
She walked up to him, ruffled his messy hair and continued her way towards the bathroom, not before muttering, "Baka."
Once Misao was out of the bathroom, she proceeded in checking out Aoshi's apartment, now that he had decided to sit down and watch some tv programs.
The place was far from big, but it was cozy, and there was enough room for two people. The living room had a tv and a computer over two different corners, together with a sofa and a coffee table. The walls had some paintings hanging from them, and there was also a sliding glass door that connected the area with a balcony, which had a rather nice view. Then there was the kitchen, pretty simple but stylish. There was a dining table and some chairs over one corner, together with some stools standing next to a little 'bar area', and that was all about it.
His bedroom (she assumed it was his because there was only one in the whole place) consisted of a huge bed with some colorful cushions. Then there was a small desk with a couple of photographs, and a great wardrobe (which was Misao's golden dream).
In the middle of her 'tour', Misao's stomach growled, signalling that the little laundry room would have to wait till she got something to eat. How long had it been since she ate anything, anyway?
"What are we going to have for dinner, Aoshi?"
Aoshi checked the time. 9.30pm. No wonder he was also hungry. He turned off the tv and went to the kitchen to join Misao.
"So?" She urged.
"I don't know, what would you like? I can fix something-"
"Ah, no, let me do the cooking. Say, how about pizza?"
"Pizza sounds good, but I forgot to buy some already prepared ones when I went to the supermarket."
"Are you kidding? I'll prepare it..! Do you have flour?"
As Misao made the pizza dough, Aoshi prepared the sauce to go on it, and then cut the cheese they'd be using as topping.
When he was finished, he waited for her, doing nothing but looking at her do the rest. Her concentrated gaze gave away no troubled mind, although he knew she was just distracting herself.
She was trying to get over what had happened, he just knew it. There was nothing he could do but be there for her. And that was what he was going to do.
"Hey, could you get me some salt?"
She flashed him a smile when he handed her what she had asked for. "Thanks."
And then there was that strange kanji... In fact, two strange kanji, because his was no exception.
"All ready..! Now it's just up to the oven. Hey, do you mind untying the apron?"
Misao turned her back to him so that he could untie the now-dirty cloth and take it off her.
"Thanks," she said once he was done.
"No problem."
Then he started laying the table, placing all the necessary cutlery, together with a pair of napkins and glasses.
"What will you be drinking?" He asked as he walked towards the fridge.
"Whatever you like, don't worry. You choose."
So, Aoshi took out two cans of beer and placed them on the table. Moments later, the pizza was ready.
Dinner was shared in companionable silence.
-..-..-..-..-..-
"You can wear these to sleep." Aoshi said as he handed Misao a t-shirt and boxer briefs.
She thanked him and headed for the bathroom while saying, "I'll have the couch."
"Yeah, like I'm gonna let you do that."
"Aoshi, you'll be sleeping in your bed, don't let me be a bother."
"You don't bother. You'll have the bed and I'll have the couch."
sigh "Alright. But I guess we could always share, don't you think so? You've got a gigantic bed, it should not be a problem."
Aoshi chuckled and went to his room to change.
-..-..-..-..-..-
"Hey, Aoshi..." Misao whispered, her back facing him. They had gone to bed an hour or so before and Misao didn't seem to be able to sleep a wink.
"Hm?"
"You not sleepy? I noticed you were awake."
"You were, too." He turned around to face her back. "Can't sleep?"
"Not really."
He placed a hand over her right shoulder. "Come, I'll prepare a coffee or something for us."
Soon enough, both of them sat on the couch in the living room, mug full of coffee in hand.
"Life just can't be easy, right?" Misao voiced out loud without even realising it.
Aoshi placed his right arm around her and squeezed lightly her shoulder.
"It'll be okay in the end. I promise."
"I hope so." She said as she put her now empty mug of coffee on the coffee table in front of them.
Aoshi gulped down the remaining contents of his mug and put it down as well. He still had his arm around Misao.
"Thank you. For everything."
He turned his head towards her. The sadness he saw in her eyes made him want to change that.
Without him noticing, he leaned down and stopped just before touching his lips to hers. She looked at him with surprised eyes, but didn't push him away.
It was then that Aoshi closed his eyes and kissed her lips, somehow absently remembering how those soft lips felt against his and how he used to love that feeling, something that had not happened when he pecked her lips the other day at the park.
One of his hands went around her and the other one cupped her cheek. Misao's arms were lightly resting on his shoulders.
Minutes later, Misao broke the kiss and looked at him in the eyes. Then she placed her arms around his neck and he hugged her.
-..-..-..-..-
Next thing she knew, Misao woke up on Aoshi's bed, face-down. He was lying on his back, arms around Misao, she only now realising she was half over him and had an arm securely around his waist.
He looked so good like that, she couldn't help but finger his messed up bangs, trying to get them off his closed eyes. While doing that, she accidentally tickled him in the nose with his own hair and he woke up, cracking open one of his blue eyes.
"Sorry." Misao apologized.
"Don't worry about it. Slept well?"
"Yeah. You could have waken me up instead of carrying me here, you know."
"It was no problem."
Suddenly feeling self-conscious, Misao tensed up a bit. "Uhm..."
"I'm sorry." He said, letting go of her and sitting up on the bed. "I'll go fix some breakfast."
"I'll help you."
-..-..-..-..-
While he prepared something to eat, Misao sat on one of the stools in the kitchen, having already prepared coffee for both of them.
He heard her giggle softly and turned to see what was the matter.
"You look funny with your hair like that." She explained, pointing at his ruffled black bangs that gave him a sexy boyish look.
"Look who's talking." He chuckled when Misao fingered her braid, or what was left of it anyway, and blushed. "Don't worry, I like it that way." He added.
She smirked and stuck out her tongue. "You're such a tease."
Just then he finished with what he was doing, set the breakfast down on the table and approached Misao, placing his arms around her hips and kissing her lips.
She placed her arms around his neck as he deepened the kiss, finding it to be extremely addictive.
They never saw a pair of amber eyes watching their every move from outside the kitchen window.
A/N: I wish you all liked the update. Sorry if it's short and had, like, zero action... uu
Happy (terribly belated) New Year..!
I'm going on my summer vacations tomorrow. I'm counting on writing a few pages, if not a complete chapter (or two if my stars align), while I'm abroad and then be able to upload it before starting classes once more (that'd be around April), but I don't promise anything... (I'm a terrible author, aren't I?)
Anyway, I hope you stay tuned..! (Please?)
Review if you got a minute!
::Chuicks!::