Ghost writer
By dee1600
Author's note: Sorry for the long wait. I am swamped with work! Here is the latest installment. Hope to keep you reading:
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Overhead Soujiro Academy, the sky was now turning reddish-orange. It was the end of another day for most students at Soujiro Academy, except for the boy now trudging homeward. Carrying the sleeping Misao in his arms, Aoshi wondered how he was going to tell Ms. Kamiya. It was obvious from Misao's disheveled appearance that she had been attacked yet again! Her school uniform and socks were dirty and torn. A shoe that was supposed to be on her left foot was missing. And the greatest evidence of a bruise on the left side of her head. Ms. Takani was gracious enough to inform of Makimachi's last whereabouts:
"Now remember to make sure that Ms. Makimachi gets lots of rest and fluids. I found her unconscious at the oval track this afternoon."
Somehow, the bullies have managed to attack Misao yet again. A sudden wave of shame etched onto the handsome boy's features. How was he going to tell Ms. Kamiya about his failure? He was entrusted with the responsibility of making sure that Misao remain unhurt during her entire stay at school. But he had done nothing all day but mope about his irritation for being disliked by his charge.
And why is that? Aoshi wondered. He had never really been concerned with what other people say about him. But then, he had not been openly disliked by any one before, especially not by a girl. In fact, he was actually afraid of girls. Many of them usually shriek when he passed and gawked at him at the corridors. So he did the best thing he could do given the situation --- he ignored them.
So why did it bother him that Misao detested him? Before he could ruminate further, he felt Misao shift uncomfortably in his arms. Her face was now slammed straight into his chest.
Where am I? The last thing I remember is running into Tomoe again. And being forced to run 50 times around the track oval!
"Hey! Will you quit it? You're quite heavy, you know!"
And that woke Misao up, her eyes now gaping directly at Aoshi's chest!
"PUT ME DOWN!" screamed Misao, her face clearly flustered, her legs swinging to and fro, causing them both to stumble in a heap on the floor.
"All you need to do is ask. And you don't need to shout!" hushed Aoshi, quite concerned by the accusing stares they were both receiving.
"I CAN SHOUT WHENEVER I… mph.. mph….mmmph…" Aoshi covered Misao's mouth with his right hand, before she could mutter anymore. He then sighed. They were now standing in front of her apartment door. The sooner Misao got in, the better.
Misao stood up and fumbled for her key. My key, Where is it!
As the seconds stretched to minutes, Aoshi knew that Misao had somehow forgotten to bring her key. She continued to search inside her bag, spilling the contents on the floor.
Oh great! Just when I thought I could remove myself of her and relax for awhile.
"You left your key, didn't you?"
Not getting a response, Aoshi knelt down and picked up the books that had fallen to the floor when she looked for her key.
"You might as well stay at my place ….for the time being."
"Ack! No way!" Oh my god! He just offered me to stay at his place!
"So you want to stay out here?" Aoshi asked pointedly. He was clearly annoyed with her now. His face was scrunched up, his eyes darkening. Her tummy suddenly rumbled, removing the tense atmosphere. Misao blushed furiously. So embarrassing! Misao hesitantly took the books Aoshi gave to her and shoved them in her bag.
"Fine. Lead the way."
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"Kaoru, it's Misao. Yeah, yeah, I left my key again! I'm sorrryyy! Anyway, pick me up at Aoshi's place. It's at 15 Tokio Drive. Turn left from our apartment and then turn right at the next corner. Okay, thanks."
Putting down the receiver, Misao then went over to seat herself on the black leather couch. She was at Aoshi's. His place was a cramped one floor bungalow where the only other furniture she could find was a low square desk and some pillows on the wooden floor. The place looked like it had been only used for sleeping and studying.
"Here." Aoshi handed her a plate of noodles in pesto sauce, with chicken strips on the side. He then went back to the kitchen and brought his own plate. Aoshi eyed Misao as she slurped happily. There was a sense of relief that she somehow liked his cooking. He didn't want to hear any more complaints. He then ate his own food as they both sat on the couch in companionable silence. When both of them had finished eating, Aoshi left the dishes in the sink. It was time they both had a heart-to-heart chat. Taking his seat on one of the pillows on the floor, Aoshi faced Misao, who was busy doing her homework.
"Look. I know our situation is difficult right now but you're refusing my help makes it even harder for both of us."
Misao turned her head defiantly and tried to ignore him.
"Well, at least let me teach you how to defend yourself."
"I can defend myself perfectly fine!"
"Ms. Takani told me you fainted this afternoon. What were you doing anyway?"
"It's NONE of YOUR business."
"It becomes MY affair too when I am FORCED into it."
"Well, you can FORCE yourself out of it then."
The argument had turned heated. For Aoshi, this was a surprising discovery. No one has really gotten him riled up before. But then he had never met Misao before. In his exasperation, he had grabbed both her arms and pushed her body against the floor.
"What is your problem? I try to help you but you keep pushing me away." said Aoshi, To which, Misao wept loudly. She had been holding back her tears for awhile now. She wanted so much for someone to help her but having Aoshi do it is just highly upsetting. Aoshi seemed to look at her as just a duty to be performed, an obligation he had to make. I don't want to be just a burden to you, don't you understand?
Seeing Misao cry, Aoshi slackened his grip and got up. He then went to the sink to do the dishes. He needed to cool off. And being close to Misao wasn't helping. What is wrong with me?
When he got to studying himself, Misao had stopped crying and was now poring herself into her homework. Aoshi offered to help her but Misao refused. So the remainder of the evening spent uneventfully, each one ignoring the other.
By the time Kaoru arrived at Aoshi's, it was already 3 a.m. and Misao was already fast asleep on the couch. Aoshi then gestured to Kaoru to come outside with him. He needed to talk to her, to apologize …for everything.