The Accursed
Chapter Four

"Morning...?"

Miya's eyes fluttered open. Her room was filled with early morning light. The curtains billowed peacefully on a wind that came in through the open window. She blinked, then smiled, a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth. It was a beautiful morning, and she could lay there for as long as she wanted, because her shift did not start until some time that afternoon.

I never understood that about humans.

She gasped and sat up quickly, making sure that she held the warm blanket up to her shoulders. It was as white as the t-shirt that she'd worn to bed, making them blend together. And despite the fact that she was wearing the shirt, the urge to cover herself up was rather strong.

"Wh-What do you mean?" she questioned, feeling a light blush warm her cheeks. The moment felt so usually personal for her, she could not even meet the cold gaze of his golden eyes.

Klaus was sitting perfectly upright, starign pointedly at the window. He was possessing the body of a silver tabby at that moment. A small bell hung around it's neck on a black ribbon. He had taken that form--or rather, possessed the body of the deceased animal, to help hide himself. It was a special 'gift' that he had been born with, she understood, after he took a great deal of time to explain it to her.

You had such a gentle smile, he explained. And for what? The wind that you cannot even see? I never understood that... Shia smiled that same way sometimes. Such a gentle, human smile...

"Klaus-san..." she said softly, now looking at him. He really did love Shia-san...

Nothing to be done about it, he said finally.

He got up on all fours and stretched the way that all cats do: making sure that every last inch of his body was stretched out, flicked, and ready to move, even if that ony meant turning in a circle and settling back down. And he did, curling up into a loose ball. But now he looked at her with his cat eyes.

You have any chicken or fish?

She smiled. And laughed.

"One or the other is bound to just be laying around the kitchen. Lemme get dressed and I'll make you something."

Kotarou yawned as he poured himself a cup of hot coffee. He did not normally drink the bitter liquid--it was around for when his father actually came home--but he was going to make an exception now. He had not slept well, much less at all, and he needed something to keep him awake through the school hours ahead.

He yawned again, making a meager attempt at covering his mouth this time.

Last night was horrible, he thought with growing dread. He knew that it was going to be difficult to talk to Misha after his own actions the night before, but now, with those words hanging over his head... What was that guy talking about, anyways?

"She's been playing dangerous games with a demon, y' see. I want that to stop. Now

Kotarou closed his eyes and shook his head. The demon's words echoed in his mind as if it was an empty cavern and someone just screamed. Those words had been bothering his all night long. Why had the demon told him that? And if it was a real problem, then why didn't he just take care of it himself? He was obviously strong enough to.

Unless he couldn't. Was it someone or something more powerful than him? Was that possible? And what did it was from Misha? What was she doing with it? Why?

What would she be doing near a demon?

So suddenly, when everything seemed to be going well, and she was on the brink of recovering her memories, she had pulled away. Was that why?

Questions without answers ran around his head. He knew nothing but one thing for certain: Misha had withdrawn herself from her sister and from himself, and as farfetched as the scenerio seemed, that was also the most reasonable answer. It was possible, wasn't it? It made all the sense in the world, because, if it was not true, then he had to believe that she just wanted to be away from him.

"Kotarou-kun? Are you home?" Misha's voice jarred him from his thoughts. He had almost forgotten that they had switched copies of their apartment keys for emergency situations. "I... think I did miss him..."

He left the kitchen and peered down the front hall. There the pink-haired woman was standing, half-in-half-out of the apartment. At first she looked confused, but when she noticed him, her face lip up and she gave him the biggest smile that he had ever seen since she lost her memories. She even giggled and waved to him.

"I didn't think that I missed you, but then nobody answered when I knocked." Still smiling, she opened the door just enough that she could slip in. She was hiding something behind her back. "I thought I'd better check, just in case, and, um... Well, I just wanted to say good morning to you before you left for school!"

"Good morning," he said, hoping that the effort he put into keeping his voice indifferent, uninterested, did not show. He took anothersip of his coffee.

Apparently he succeeded. She giggled again, a high-pitched sound that was thick with uneasiness. She fidgeted in place.

"G-Good morning, Kotarou-kun."

He stared at her for a long while, trying to decide whether to ask her what was wrong or not. She seemed uncomfortable enough to begin with. If he asked if she was hanging around a demon, there was no guarantee that thigns would go very well. Actually, it was guaranteed to go horribly.

It's not like she'd tell me...

"I, um, made you a bento," she stammered, revealing that the wrapped up lunch box was what she had been hiding from him. "I hope that you'll accept it."

Another long, awkward silence passed between them, Misha continued to smile pleasantly, a shy blush colouring her cheeks. She held the bento out to him until he finally took it from her.

"Have a good day at school."

"Oh, yeah..." Kotarou looked away, feeling his own face grow warm. "Thanks. Y' know, for the bento."

She nodded, still smiling. "Well, I've got chores to do." She bowed. "I'll see you when I get home tonight."

"Wait! Misha!" He didn't think. He hardly knew what he was doing, but she was suddenly in his arms, and he was holding her tightly.

"Kotarou-kun...?" she questioned.

"I just want you to know that... I love you, Misha-san."

Her arms slowly slid around his back, returning the embrace. She looked up at him. She was blushing more deeply now.

He leaned down, pressing his lips lightly to hers He could feel her smile widen against his face, and she kissed him back quickly.

"You're going ot be late," she warned.

"Yeah," he agreed, not really caring.

"Shino'll be late, too, won't she?"

That earned a nervous laugh from him. She was right. He still walked Shino to school every day. If he did not leave soon, they both would be late.

Kotarou ran around the apartment, collecting together everything that he was going to need for school.

Miya watched him from the hallway with a mild interst. Her thoughts were scattered and few. He was still calling her "Misha", but at least her did not appear to be angry with her anymore. She was not about to pick apart anything and start up another fight. There was no use in doing that when she was sure that the last one had just ended.

"I'll pick you up from work tonight," Kotarou promised her. He kissed her one last time before he left. "Don't forget to lock up!"

Yeah, that fight was definitely over.

Tomorrow night Cin will give ritual a try, Klaus said. Miya's eyes flickered down the short hall, to where the silver tabby was sitting. He thinks that he can discover what the curse is, and how to reverse it. Of course, if you wish not to, you do not have to do this.

"No, no, I do," Miya reassured him. She sighed heavily and leaned against the wall, arms folded over her stomach. "I owe it to everyone for being so much trouble."

He sighed. It was not a normal sound for a cat, but she seemed to hear it a lot from him.

How human of you, Miya... I'll never understand that.

Miya just grinned at him.

"It's okay if you don't. I don't get it, either."

I'm sorry to say that this chapter is particularly short and uneventful. Starting in chapter five, though, it's going to really pick up. I have a lot planned as far as Miya's and Klaus' adventures and pasts go. I hope that some of you have taken a peek at Pink Rose! It's going to explain, once I get farther into it, what some of the scenes in here are about.

- Makami