Disclaimer: No I do not own these characters. Hell I wish I did though! I'd be be bloody rich! Muwahahaha
Rs: Ah here comes Sasame, I haven't seen my muse in a while!
Sasame walks stiffly, his hair in disarray with his lips bruised. His clothes hang to him in tattered shreds.
Rs: (smirks) Did you have fun?
Sasame:...You got to be kidding! They both decided to have sleepovers inviting every Sasame fanfirl they knew. All the girls expected romantic swept-off their feet kisses and those that wanted more...Well let's just say I will never fantasize about being with more than one woman. I can't physically keep up! (collapses)
Rs: Well I better let the poor bishie rest now. Enjoy the chapter! (Drags Sasame out of view)
Chapter Four: Soaked and No Power
'Stay calm, remain your composure.' My mind chanted.
I finally managed to force a small smile. "Well it looks like just the two of us."
"Hai." She answered quietly, but was it just me or was her heartbeat speeding up a bit? "You know…you don't have to smile if you don't want to…" She pointed out softly.
There's no point in lying to her so…"Why not?" I cocked my head slightly.
A reddish tinge sparkled on her cheeks, was it from her illness or something else? Still she maintained her composure. "What's the point?" she inquired icily
"Smiling makes you feel better somehow, why don't you try it?" I raised my eyebrow coyly, forgetting how annoying it is when people do that. Ok I guess this makes me a hypocrite.
"I'll pass…May I take your coat?" She responded before releasing a small cough
It was that moment I finally surveyed her. She appeared to have lost some weight as bruises clung below the bright teal eyes adorning her ivory face. Still she shone as radiantly as ever, her teal curls glowing against her cotton lavender nightgown under a silk blue robe decorated with sakura petals and matching shoes. No matter the circumstances Mawata always had a regal air about her.
"Iie it's alright…I'd hate to trouble the sick. It was pretty convenient for you to become ill was it not…Mawata-san?" My eyes narrowed slightly.
"What makes you say that?" She replied unsteadily.
"Isn't missing the party what you wanted? You didn't have a date and would have been overshadowed by your older sisters…isn't that right?" I implied lightly.
" I don't know what you are referring to…" She replied crisply.
I shrugged. "What I don't understand is why a beauty like you with so many admirers didn't just ask one of them? Were they all sooo bad? Hmm –Ah-ah-choo!" Unfortunately a loud sneeze broke my questioning; my head began to feel…light.
"Sasame-san!" Mawata cried in concern.
Geez that snapped her?
I let out another sneeze as she gently fingered my hair and shirt and cast a shy glance at my pants.
"You're soaked!" she admonished.
"Well it was snowing pretty heavily and my clothes aren't exactly waterproof." I pointed out.
"I see…we ought to get you something imm-" Mawata was cut off as all the power flickered off.
Moments later a loud grating sound rang in my oh-so sensitive ears as steel doors fell on the entrance upstairs they also obscured every window and entrance leading to upstairs or outside that could double as an exit with fat, thick steel walls.
"Well," Her voice chimed in the darkness as the sound produced her image before me. "This…complicates things a bit."
"You think? So…what just happened exactly?"
Mawata released a fatigued sigh. "We now have two separate alarm systems. The first is a normal one that can only be deactivated by shutting off all the power in the house, but that automatically sets off our backup system as you can see." She paused before adding under her breath, "I told Okaa-chan this was more trouble than it was worth."
"But if there's no power, how does it work?" I mused.
"How should I know?" I could feel her scowl at me in the dark. "I don't know everything Sasame-san."
"Alright we need to cooperate here. First things first, we need some light. I don't like the dark." I shuddered; this darkness only brought back painful memories.
"It suits me just fine, demo I suppose some light is necessary." She scoffed.
'Of course it suits the darkness surrounding her heart, but I thought that was gone…What pain could she still be clinging onto?'
I followed her footsteps effortlessly as she groped her way through the main hall. Her footsteps echoed in the lonely veil over all I could see. I heard a drawer slide, some rustling and a click before a beam of light became visible.
"Better now?" She asked, her tone sounding slightly irate.
"A little." I relented.
She shook her head disdainfully as she dug back into the drawer and snatched a box of matches, before heading back to the living room and beginning to light some oil lamps and candles.
"Now…for the…fire." I was quickly reminded of how ill she was as footsteps became unsteady and her breathing grew shallow and labored. I swept her up in my arms bridal style, while inwardly delightingin the sensation of her heart racing at my touch.
"N-nani, what are you doing?" She stammered as I gently placed her on the couch.
"You are not well and need some rest. Allow me to start the fire for you." I whispered, lightly caressing her hair before taking the matches.
The woodbin next to the fireplace was conveniently full to the brim. I loaded an armful of wood into the fireplace and proceeded to start a fire. It took a few minutes, but I had one blazing brightly. I heaved a small cough, feeling slightly feverish.
"Your clothes!" Mawata quickly sprang off the couch towards me.
She shyly took my hand, slowly leading me to the laundry room where she checked for something I could change into. All she found were Mayune's clothes, Natsue and Kaoru's bathrobes and two fleece blankets. I squeezed her hand slightly, which made her realize she was still holding mine. Embarrassed, she snatched hers away.
"Gomen nasai. I didn't mean to-" She quickly turned towards the stack of clothes, rummaging through them.
I frowned staring at my own hand; why did she have to take her's away? It was so delicate and…warm. I sighed longing for those silky fingers to entwine with mine once more.
Mawata finally faced me with her eyes diverted as she offered Kaoru's bathrobe. "Here this will have to do until the power comes back on."
My mind felt slightly hazy with fever as I asked, "Will you help me undress onegai?"
The only light present was the small beam from her flashlight, but I saw her turn bright crimson, as she was caught off-guard.
" Ano… Daijoubu da ka Sasame-san?" She bit her lip nervously.
" Hai, demo I need you help one-gai." I rolled my tongue on that last word, stepping closer to her.
"A-alright…" The usually composed girl stammered.
She slowly slipped off my coat and pulled off the soaked cranberry fishhook knitted sweater underneath, before sliding my undershirt over my head. I shivered as her fingers brushed lightly across my skin. Mawata paused, gazing longingly at my chest, lingering on my abs in almost a trance, making me appreciate all the hard work I had gone through as a Leafe Knight. She caught me watching her and jerked her head away as she stooped down to remove my shoes and socks, her hands trembling. When she had finished, her eyes darted away in even more embarrassment if possible.
"A-ano…do you think you could uh… you know…" Her cheeks blazed in the darkness.
I noticed her discomfort and smiled, " Of course…"
My head now felt a tad clearer; as I unbuttoned my jeans, Mawata quickly spun around and shakily began hanging my clothes to dry. I tossed her my jeans and chuckled when she released a small squeak as they landed on her head, before slipping off my boxers.
Throughout this I overheard Mawata murmur over and over like a mantra. "Do not peek. Do not peek. Do not peek…"
I couldn't help, but smirk. 'Hmm I guess she's not as innocent as one would believe.'
Taking my time, I slid on her father's robe, tying the rope loosely around my waist. This was going to be fun!
"Ano…are you finished?" she stuttered as she turned around again.
"Just one more thing…" I responded playfully as I handed her my boxers.
She froze with them in her hands, her eyes widening at the violet material strewn with gold musical notes. The girl's heart started racing so fast, I was afraid she'd have heart failure.
"What's wrong Mawata-san?" I whispered sweetly in her ear, "Have you never seen boxers before?" I feigned astonishment.
She jumped away at such an intimate closeness, " Of course not I-I-I-"
"You what?" Kami-sama, what's wrong with me, I'm acting like an idiot.
'I guess that's what they mean by being a fool for love.'
"Forget it! I'm making some ramen for us to eat!" She snapped.
"How there's no power?" I countered matter-of-factly
'Satan claim me no before I blow it forever!'
"I'll find a way!" she proclaimed in a manner most unlike herself and wait…she had the flashlight!
"Matte Mawata-san! Gomen ne!" I called after her pleading, before snatching up the blankets and racing after her.
Rs: So what'd y'all think?
Mawata: That was horrible! You made me look like a pervert!
Rs: Well...you are.
Mawata: I most certainly am not!
Rs: Whatever, you know the truth. Boys aren't the only gender with a dirty thought or too.
Mawata: WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? (runs away sobbing)
Rs: (stares at watch) 3, 2, 1-
Sasame: ( obviously in good vigor again brandishes a sword whilst appearing from nowhere) What did you do to Mawata?
Rs: Oh please..put that away, she was just complaining about me making her sound perverted.
Sasame: Well..You did kinda...
Rs: Any complaints?
Sasame: (blushes) Well...no, but you should tone it down.
Rs: Gosh if that was so bad, just wait until you see her in the last chapter...Remember?
Sasame: (wipes away blood trickling down his nose) That's true.
Rs: Anyways review time!
Sasame: You gotta be kidding!
Rs: You're very well-rested and impecabbly (sp?) polished, besides, Tragic's a big fan of yours (hands him review card)
Sasame: You don't say...I'll be right back. (vanishes)
Rs: Come on, let your dreaminess ensue...(pushes a button and Tragic Alchemy comes coughing from a cloud of smoke)
Tragic Alchemy: Uh what exactly am I doing here?
Rs: It's review card time! Since you didn't come with an idea...Well I've allowed Sasame to plan that. (winks)
As if on cue Sasame comes out, godlike as ever, dressed in a white tuxedo. With a snap of his fingers a table covered with a deep red tablecloth set for two appears. With another snap, a pair of glowing candles come into view. A third snap and a slow song starts up.
Tragic Alchemy: Wow..what is this?
Sasame (places his hands on her waist) A date. I thought we could dance while dinner is prepared for us Tragic-san.
Tragic Alchemy:( nervously wraps her arms around his neck) Is this another dream?
Sasame: Would a dream taste this good? ( He removes one hand from her waist allowing his thumb rests righton her earlobe, the other fingers curlingpossesively around her neck towards her hair. SlowlySasame brings his lips down so that his warm breath tickles her lips,before capturing her lips with his.)
Rs: (sweatdrops) Ok I guess I better go, I'd hate to see the real fireworks! Until next time!