Hi! This is myanime91!
Thank you all so much for your reviews! I wanted to tell you all how much it means to me!
FYI: I'll be in LA for a week starting Thursday, so I won't be able to update until next weekend. But don't fear! I'll make it worthwhile!
Also, in this fic, Keiko has both her parents. I didn't know weather or not it was just her dad or just her mom that was alive in the anime, but this is my fic and I'll have who ever I want alive.
Disclaimer: Don't own it.
Here's chapter 4! Hope you like it!
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"I'm ready."
Keiko took in a deep breath and surveyed her bedroom, taking in her surroundings for the last time. Her small twin-size bed had been stripped of its sheets and was now naked and pushed up against her wall, leaving more room for storage. Her wooden dresser and matching night table and desk were empty, all of her things packed up in numerous boxes by her feet. Her posters and mirrors were off the walls, making the room look way smaller than she thought it had been. In fact, her bedroom now looked so vacant and unfilled, that Keiko felt a tug at her heart and a quiver to her chin just thinking about it.
Keiko had spent mostly all of her nights in this room. She had studied, laughed, dreamed, and stressed in this room, and seeing it in this condition made everything suddenly more real to her.
Keiko was leaving, and she didn't know how long it would be until she was back.
The truth settled hard on her, and Keiko was flooded with the familiar feelings that had been stirring all week. It was a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and sadness. She felt it everywhere she went, throbbing like an injured thumb. Keiko was eager to assert her independence and head off to college, but at the same time all she wanted to do was curl up on the couch with her parents and never leave the house.
The petite brunette sighed and ran her hands through her hair, before blocking all thoughts from her head. She grabbed the last remaining suitcases and boxes that filled her room, and headed down the stairs to her parent's car.
As she loaded up the trunk, a familiar aroma of sweet flowers filled Keiko's nose, clouding her head. Everything around her froze, and Keiko sucked in a deep breath. Her eyes widened and her mind blanked, a single thought making it's way through the stillness: Is he here?
Keiko whirled around, glancing everywhere she could. She squinted her eyes and peered into every corner and bend of the area around her. Not finding what she sought, Keiko wrinkled her brow and looked down. Then she fixed her chocolate-colored gaze on a small garden only a foot away from her. Disappointment welled up in her stomach, as Keiko reasoned that the assortment of roses, tulips, lilies, and daisies were the cause of the sweet smell. For a moment there, she had actually believed that he had been there…
Keiko shook her head at the thought. Of course Kurama wouldn't be there. He probably was off getting prepared for his move onto the campus like she was. Why would he visit her now, when he hadn't even stopped by her house or even called ever since their meeting weeks ago? Keiko knew she was being ridiculous, but it kind of bothered her that she hadn't even seen a glimpse of the redhead, since he had been so helpful and caring to her during the whole incident with Yusuke. That day, he had shown her more respect and compassion than Keiko had never seen, and it had made her interest in the Kitsune jump to new levels. And now, as much has she didn't want to admit it, Keiko missed Kurama very much. She knew she wasn't like one of his psycho obsessive fan-girls, when neurotic was far from what Keiko felt. She missed him like she would miss a very close and special friend, and Keiko merely wanted to know how and where he was. She knew that Kurama would be there with her at college, but something about being in a totally different and new environment with him made her kind of nervous. She didn't know what to expect, and that left her mind swirling with scenarios, both good and bad.
Keiko closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind of all the rushing thoughts. As she did, a vivid picture of Kurama's piercing emerald eyes and soft, caring smile filled her head as light would a darkened room. Keiko blushed, as his features shifted in her head. Now he was staring at her the way he had done back at the restaurant: His gaze intense and powerful, as if he could see into her soul, watching her every move and showing so many emotions, it made Keiko's head dizzy trying to interpret them all. Keiko wondered distantly if he would ever look at her that way again, or even hug her again, and then shook her head as if trying to shoo away those thoughts. He was Yusuke's best friend. She had just recently broken up with Yusuke. It was way too soon to be thinking these thoughts about anyone.
A new chapter was being started in Keiko's life, and things this complicated had no place there. She didn't need drama, and would just deal with everything as it happened. Though Keiko doubted that anything would be happening.
Keiko packed the rest of her stuff in the car and joined her parents in the vehicle, sliding into the back seat. She gazed out her window one last time at the Ramen Shop, her home for the last 18 years of her life. Suddenly, in that moment, Keiko could feel her life beginning to change. And she knew at that moment that this truly was the start of the rest of her life.
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Kurama sighed as he took in the sight before him.
Huge, old, ivy-covered buildings stood before him radiating comprehension and knowledge. A huge quad rested in the middle of all the buildings, with people scattered across the lush grass, chatting and making acquaintances. A large banner welcoming freshman hung across two trees, and several booths advertising clubs and events sat underneath.
The whole effect was calming and exciting at the same time, and Kurama greeted the picture with his trademark grin. He didn't need to lug his suitcases to his dorm; that had been done days before. He would be sharing his dorm with a roommate, as all the rooms were doubles.
The dorms themselves were impressive for such a small school. Kurama guessed that was the reward everyone got for paying so much to get in. Each dorm was like a tiny house with two small bedrooms, a common area with couches and a coffee table, a kitchen area with a mini-fridge and microwave, and a large bathroom complete with a shower, two sinks and a nice-sized tub. Each dorm had two entrances: one from the front that faced the other buildings and quad, and a back door with a porch that overlooked a medium-sized garden.
Kurama had been drawn to the garden from first glance. It was a well-tended garden, with an array of beautiful flowers surrounded by a circle of Sakura Blossom trees. A few well-placed benches completed the view, and the entire area smelled simply divine to Kurama. The Kitsune sat down one of the wooden benches and breathed in the delightful scent while letting his mind wander…
A pair of deep, brown eyes staring back at him along with adorable blushing cheeks and perfectly plump lips just begging to be kissed…
Kurama snapped back into reality with widened eyes and slightly quicker breaths.
She was on his mind once again. Keiko Yukimura.
Ever since their last meeting, she had been popping up in his thoughts a lot of times. Whenever he let his mind roam, she was there looking as real as the flowers around him. Her smiling face was always etched in his brain, and yet Kurama didn't really mind. It had brought him solace during the difficult times he had endured only days ago.
For the past few weeks, Kurama had been in the Makai, helping out the new Demon King take out a league of renegade demons bent on getting into the human world. The rest of the gang had been there, even Yusuke, who he had said very little to the entire time. Even though Keiko had forgiven him, Kurama just couldn't seem to get over the tiny grudge that had developed towards Yusuke for what he had done. Yet despite that, they had worked together successfully and had managed to wipe out the demon clan who had dared to defy the new order.
Kurama wondered if Keiko had though of him at all during the time he was gone. He wished he could have told her he would be leaving, in case she wanted to know his whereabouts, but the mission was strictly confidential and Kurama was told not to give out any information to anyone. He didn't want her to think he wouldn't like to see her, because in fact that was the complete opposite of what he wished. He really did want to see her once more, and find out how she was fairing after all of the drama. He wanted to talk to her again, see her smile, and have her say whatever was on her mind. He truly enjoyed being with Keiko and did not want her to think that he didn't care at all about her, when he would of rather spent the day with her than go on that mission at all!
Most of all, Kurama wanted to know if Keiko missed him. He certainly did, and it deeply hurt him to think that maybe she didn't even notice his absence.
Kurama wondered if they really would see each other here at college. He knew that while the campus was smaller than the usual university, it still had enough students in it for Kurama to possibly not see Keiko for the entire year. That was something he truly did not want to happen. He would do everything he could in order to see the lovely brunette again.
Feeling the weather beginning to change from bright and sunny to cloudy and moist, Kurama stood up from the bench and started walking to his dorm room, where his roommate awaited him. Kurama sincerely hoped he would be a decent person, and not one of those annoying frat boys, whose only mission in life was to sleep with the most girls he could and drink all the beer on campus.
Ah, my kind of life…-----
Kurama ignored the amused voice in his head, and headed towards the back door of his dorm…
Keiko smile slowly faded as the first droplets of rain landed on her head, and she shivered involuntarily as the air around her became cooler.
This was not how she envisioned her first day at college would be like. She wanted sunlight warming up her face, birds chirping, and people coming up to her wanting to make friends. Most of all, though, she wanted to have Kurama smiling down at her as they made their way to the freshman orientation booths.
Unfortunately, none of what she wanted actually came true, and that left Keiko all alone, lugging the rest of her bags to her dorm. She was a tiny bit disappointed that none of her wishes came true, but shrugged it off, telling herself that she had just arrived and that she should be a little more patient. Good things would be happening soon enough.
Keiko distracted herself by admiring the beautiful, though now wet scenery as she made her way to the front entrance of her new living quarters. She looked at it, a small smile grazing her face as she pictured her year in this dorm. Keiko would write all of her hopefully-award-wining essays here. She would prep for campus parties one night and stress about her lack of studying the next morning here. She and her dorm mate would become life-long best friends here. This was where all the little happy moments in her life would happen, and Keiko couldn't wait.
Keiko stepped up to the front door and eagerly turned the handle…
Kurama plastered on his usual charming grin as he opened the back door…
Keiko unlocked the front door and strode in the room, looking up to meet her new dorm-mate…
Kurama shut the door behind him and glanced forward, ready to greet the person who would be spending all year with him…
Chocolate eyes met emerald eyes, and time stopped.
"Keiko?"
"Kurama?"
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OOOOHHH! Another cliffhanger! I'm so evil
You'll just have to check out next week's update to see how Kurama and Keiko will deal with this new situation…
Read and Review! Thanks!
Myanime91