TEMPTATIONS.
The moment Kyoko rang the bell outside of Ren's apartment, his door swung open revealing him in casual sweatpants, a shirt and a friendly smile stuck to his face. "Ah. You're finally here." He motioned her inside.
Kyoko was still wearing her blue-white school uniform with a backpack slung on her shoulders. She did not return his smile, neither followed him. Instead, she shot him a cold glare from her squinted eyes and spat through clenched teeth, "would you please not use that weird kind of phrasing again?"
"Huh?" Ren blinked innocently. "What do you mean?"
"I said," she sighed to stop the fits of anger rising within her. "If you wanted me to rehearse with you, would it bother you so much to spell it out clearly from the start?"
"Ah." A flirty, seductive smirk slowly crept up to Ren's lips. "Why? Were you expecting something else?"
"Certainly not!" Kyoko shot back. She shuddered at the memory when he had called her to his apartment in that unusually nasty way. Poor Yashiro nearly fainted from shock when Ren very unspecifically asked her for 'time' and 'body'.
Ren chuckled at her reaction, but inside he sighed remorsefully. She didn't even hesitate to say no, he thought gloomily. Seriously? What was I thinking pulling that stunt? He only said that to see how she would react. Part of him already knew she wouldn't flirt back like the other girls, and if she had, that would've only been awkward for him. What he didn't know was how much it would hurt to see her not even considering the idea.
Kyoko followed him inside and they settled on the sofa in the huge living room.
"All I have to do is act out Mizuki, right?" She inquired as she fiddled in her bag and fished out the script of Dark Moon.
"That's right," he nodded.
She opened the script. "So where should we start?" Flipping through the pages, she wondered aloud but Ren slipped the book away from her hands.
Snapping it shut, he placed it on the glass table. "No, we won't be using the script."
"What? Then?" The confusion on her face was obvious.
"We'll use ad lib," he explained. "Like improvise. We'll spend the evening like any other day, except it won't be really us. I will be Katsuki and you will be Mizuki. We'll act them out in the exact way they're supposed to behave."
Kyoko didn't reply while she pondered on his words.
"What's wrong?" Ren snapped his fingers to get her attention. "Have you not fully grasped the character of Mizuki yet?"
"Of course I have!" She snapped in a rather pride-filled tone. "It's much more simpler than Mio. I can totally play Mizuki. What I was worried about is you. How is that supposed to help you?"
For a moment, a deep, faraway look shown in Ren's eyes before he regained his composure and it disappeared. "Trust me," his voice was almost a whisper. "For my Katsuki, this will be enough."
That was all Kyoko needed to hear from him. That aura of hopelessness and dejection had completely left him. Instead, she sensed the fiery flame of passion and excitement burning in his eyes. Trust me, he had said. What he didn't know was she already did. She never stopped believing in him. She knew for sure that he would pull through this. And now she was ready to bet anything that his Katsuki would surpass the original. This was the Ren she looked up to. Her ideal. A proud smile made it's way to her lips.
"We'll start from when you visited Katsuki's room," Ren offered up his hand to her, which she took without hesitation. "Mizuki."
Waiting outside his apartment door, Kyoko rang the bell. Did we really have to take it this far? She smiled.
Ren had made up a scenario for them to act out. Katsuki was absent from school for a few days on a sick leave, so Mizuki decided to visit him at his house. What seemed funny to Kyoko was Ren's stubborn dedication because they could have easily started the scene inside, yet he was insistent on her ringing the bell and entering his apartment again but this time as Mizuki.
When the door wasn't opened, Kyoko rang the bell again. She wondered what was keeping Ren, because the last time he had showed up in an instant.
She was about to ring the bell for a third time when the door clicked open. Outside came Ren, or Katsuki because he was looking terribly sick all of a sudden.
He grabbed the door for support while panting as his eyes swept up to Kyoko.
The moment their eyes met, Ren straightened and shook his head disappointedly. "Again." That was all he said before slamming back the door on her face.
"Wait! Why?" Kyoko wedged her foot between the door and the doorframe before it was shut. Forcefully pushing it open, she poked her head in. "Why do we have to redo it? I didn't even do anything yet!"
"That's exactly why," he explained. "You didn't do anything. Right now, you thought we were alone in the lobby of an apartment building, right?"
"That's because we are! Why?"
"Can you tell me what Katsuki's residence is described in the script?"
"Let me think," Kyoko stroked her chin thoughtfully before answering. "A small house near the bus stop with white walls that would make one think of the word 'orderly', right? "
"Exactly," he nodded. "Being near a bus stop means there were a lot of people around."
"Yeah. So?"
"So if Mizuki were to be seen visiting Katsuki's place alone, what do you think it would happen?"
And then it hit her. Mizuki was supposed to hide. Because if the news of her visit ever reached her cousin, Misao's ears, there would be a bloodbath. Ren had asked her to redo the scene because she was supposed to be hiding. She slapped her forehead at how stupid she had been.
"Let's try again," Ren said when he saw the realization struck her face.
As soon as the door was slammed shut, Kyoko broke out in a grin. She had expected to help Ren with this little exercise but not even considered the idea that she would be learning as well. Excitement bubbled inside her and a thrilled chill went down her back. This was fun!
Taking a long, deep breath, she collected her thoughts related to Mizuki in an orderly manner, while forgetting everything else. For a few moments, she just stood there with her eyes closed. When she opened them, only one thought remained in her mind, I am Mizuki.
Ringing the bell at Katsuki's door, Mizuki waited outside. Glancing behind nervously at the nosey passerbys, Mizuki rang the bell yet again but the door remained locked.
She kept waiting until the voices of a few whispering ladies from behind her reached her ears. She could practically feel their ears drilling holes on the nape of her neck, and shuddered. Glancing back again, she reached for the bell and this time, kept pushing the button in and out, in and out making a loud incessant beat. When the door still didn't open, she ducked between the potted shrubs near the fence in order to hide herself.
At last, the door swung open with a click. Out came Katsuki, huffing and puffing and leaning on the door for support.
When he saw no one standing on the other side, his head cocked left and right to check the sides. He froze up when he spotted her.
His eyes widened with surprise and he literally felt a fierce chill go down his back when, ducking between two potted shrubs, he saw the girl he was in love with.
Mizuki slowly raised herself. For a moment, Kyoko was too stunned to remember that she had to get up because the shock on Ren's face was so realistic that it caught her completely off guard. No one could see his face right now and believe that he was already expecting her to be outside. How could he perform to this point of perfection was still a mystery to her.
Mizuki returned Katsuki's look of surprise with solicitous worry.
An infinitesimal smile suffused on Katsuki's lips and Mizuki blushed.
"Don't startle me like that," he mumbled in a deep, raspy voice that came from a scratchy throat and suggested that he was recovering from a heavy fever. "What are you doing here?"
His voice came as another shock to Kyoko. How the hell did he manage to sound like that? She wondered, but this time she didn't fail to hide her surprise. Clearing her throat she replied, "I came here because I was worried. You didn't come to school for so long, Sir... And not just me, the whole class was worried about you."
"Really?" Katsuki crossed his arms. His infinitesimal smile widened a millimetre.
"Of course."
"I see," he flashed her his full smile. "You don't need to worry anymore. My fever has gone down. I think I'll be back tomorrow. It's about time anyway." Scratching the back of his head, he let his eyes flicker nervously to the curious gazes of the passerbys. "If there isn't anything else, I think you should go now, Hongo."
Kyoko almost gasped aloud. She got that Katsuki would totally try to blow Mizuki off if she ever showed up at his door unannounced, but how were they supposed to rehearse if Ren wasn't even going to let her in. She racked her brain until it finally dawned on her. Katsuki would try to stay away from Mizuki, but Mizuki wouldn't give up without a fight. If she wanted to stay with him, she would make a hundred excuses to stay before leaving.
"Thank you for checking up on me," he stepped back inside. "See you tomorrow."
Don't even think about it! She thought as she poked her head between the door before it was shut. "Aren't you hungry though, Sir? I bought dinner for-" she was cut off by the door which suddenly hit the side of her neck shooting a jolt of pain. "Ouch!"
"Mizuki!" Katsuki grabbed her shoulders before she could hit the ground. "Careful."
"Ow, ow, oww...Ouch!"
Katsuki sighed as he held her. Now he had no choice but to take her in. He sat her down on the sofa. Unbidden, his hands shot up to her neck and he gently caressed her neck. "Your wound, let me treat it or it might get swollen."
"Alright!" Mizuki beamed up as she massaged her neck.
Katsuki disappeared into his bedroom and returned with the first aid kit in his hand. Taking out a small bottle of balm, he handed it to her. "Here. Apply it on your neck."
She graciously accepted it and obeyed him. "You've got a really nice home, Sir." Her eyes explored the room and she remarked. "I was wondering... Can I go look around?"
"No," he tried to sound harsh but failed. "After you're done treating your would, you're leaving. You shouldn't stay here alone."
"But-"
"No buts. If you wanna visit me again, bring the other students along as well. It's against the rules for a teacher to be alone with his female student outside the school."
Mizuki harrumphed. Without applying the medicine to her wound, she put it on the table. Kyoko could see what Ren was trying to do here. He was trying to drive her out again. Game on, then! She almost smirked at the smug, newfound determination to stay.
"What's wrong?" Katsuki crossed his arms.
"Well," Mizuki mirrored him. "If you won't let me cook dinner for you, I won't treat my wound."
"Is that so?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"Well then, it seems I don't have much of a choice." He gently grabbed her shoulders and manuvered her outside. "Looks like your wound isn't that bad after all. Since you don't need my help, you should get going."
"No!" Mizuki hugged the door persistently and refused to step outside. "It was a joke! I was only joking! I do need your help, my neck really really hurts!"
Katsuki couldn't help a small chuckle escape his mouth. "Fine then. You'll put the medicine on your neck and then you'll obediently leave. Are we clear?"
"Crystal," she sighed in defeat. She rubbed the balm on her neck while Katsuki waited, and then got up to leave. Just as she was about to exit, she turned back. With her cheeks blushing hard she mumbled, "I know I shouldn't stay here alone with my teacher but what if... I'm not here as a student?"
Katsuki's heart rate picked up. An amalgamation of mixed emotions like disbelief, excitement and most of all, hope, sparkled in his wide eyes. He gaped at Mizuki wondering if she really mean what he thought she did. Could it be that she actually felt the same way?
"I'm not here as your student." What Mizuki said next crumbled his hopes to ashes in an instant. "I'm here as your relative. After you'll be married to Misao, I'll be your sister-in-law anyway. So it should be legit, right?" Without waiting for an answer, she invited herself back in with a wide grin and sank down on the sofa.
Her words sent a stab of pain through his chest like a needle was pricking his heart. He couldn't help but wonder if the throbbing pain was because of Katsuki's feelings for Mizuki or because he heard those heartbreaking words coming out of Kyoko's mouth. Yet he didn't let his emotions falter his character. "You're the only girl besides Misao who had stepped into the house" Katsuki confessed. "It's just... I don't want her to misunderstand anything," he lied about the last part. In reality, he didn't trust himself when he was around Mizuki.
Suddenly, his fever spiked up again making his head spin. As he grabbed it with his hands, his knees buckled and he almost collapsed.
Mizuki was at his side at once. For a moment, Kyoko almost believed that it was Ren who collapsed and her heart almost jumped out of her chest. Then she remembered Katsuki was supposed to be really sick which was another reason why he didn't want Mizuki to stick around. He was only pretending to be fine in front of her.
"Sir!" She cried out as she wrapped his heavy arm around her small shoulders to keep him from falling.
"I'm okay." He coughed. "Just a little dizzy."
"Tell me honestly," Mizuki demanded as she pressed her fist on his forehead. "Why did you lie about your fever going down? "
Katsuki didn't deign it necessary to reply.
"Fine. Don't tell me! But I'm not leaving. Not until I'm sure you're okay." Mizuki snapped as she helped him to his room.
"Fine, I'm not okay." He sighed in defeat.
"Thats it." Mizuki half-carried and half-dragged her teacher into his bedroom. "I'm making you dinner and you're gonna lie down and rest while you wait."
The moment Kyoko shut his bedroom door behind her leaving him to rest, Ren sat back up. He sighed when Katsuki disappeared from his mind. He had been holding his character from a mere thread. It was true that now he was able to relate to Katsuki more and portray him better, but on the other hand, Kyoko's presence was making it harder to focus on his character's feelings rather than his own. Because every time he looked at her face, or heard her voice, or touched her skin, all he wanted was to close last speck of distance between them until they were pressed against each other.
He had known all along that calling Kyoko at his apartment to act out Mizuki was a risky idea. It was probably the only way for him to learn to play out Katsuki, but it was still a risk. Yet in the end, he was confident he could control himself. Now, however, he wasn't so sure. Everytime their skins made contact, like when she held him and carried him to his room or when she pressed her small fist against his forehead, all he could think about was her soft skin and her warm breath and her hazel eyes...
He felt as lost as a seeker who had spent years searching for his treasure, but still hadn't found it. In his case though, his treasure was right before his eyes yet he couldn't touch it, and it was driving him insane.
I can't believe that I have such a weak grasp of my emotions, he thought disdainfully.
Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by a loud crash followed by a shrill shriek of a woman. In an instant, he was on his feet and running blindly towards the kitchen, from where the noise had come from.
"Ky-Mizuki!" He called out her name.
"Here!" She called back. He found her dangling from the handle of the top shelf of the kitchen cupboard in which the dishes were kept. Below her feet, a chair was lying tilted on the ground.
"Sorry, Sir." Mizuki managed through her shaky breath. "I couldn't reach the cupboard... so I used the chair but it fell..." She panted.
"Let me help you," Ren said in his best Katsuki tone. He picked up the tilted chair and pushed it aside.
"Hurry, I'm losing my grip," Mizuki squealed.
He hesitantly reached out to hold her torso but before he could grab her, she lost her grip and came crashing down with a thud.
It took her a moment to realize that even though she fell, she wasn't hurting. It took her even longer to realize that the enticing musky aroma dancing in her nose was coming from the warm body beneath her that had sheilded her, and it belonged to Ren. She was lying on top of him, and his muscular arms were wrapped around her waist caging her in, preventing her from getting up. She twisted within his grasp until she was facing him.
Ren didn't loosen his grip. Holding her in place, he rolled on the ground until he was the one on top and her back was pressed against the ground.
He burried his face in the nape of her neck and inhaled. As the sweet fragrence of lavender filled his nose, all he could think about was how Kyoko fit in his arms so perfectly like they were made for each other. He had been in countless relationships before. He had touched other woman, kissed them and done a lot more as well but never before his heart had begged so fiercely for someone's touch, to the point that his whole body was on fire. How was it possible to love a person that much? His grip tightened around her waist.
If Kyoko's heart was hammering before, now it was erupting volcanoes. She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. Racing her tired brain, which had never felt this useless before, she tried to come up with a logical excuse as to why Katsuki would hug Mizuki tighter instead of shying away like usual, but there was none.
At last, in a shy, timid voice, she croaked, "Sir..."
Ren's eyes snapped open. He was so lost in the sweet lavender perfume of her body that he totally forgot where he was and what he was doing.
"Sir... Are you okay?" despite her marathoning heart and being crushed against his weight, Kyoko still refused to break character.
Finally, leaning on his elbows he slowly raised himself a little until he was face to face with her.
Kyoko almost sighed with relief when he started to get up but her relief was soon replaced with confusion when he stopped midway with his face dangling only a few inches above hers.
Ren once again found himself dazed as he breathed in the sight of her beautiful face. They were so close, that he could capture every little detail. Like the curve of her brows; the fluttering of her lashes above her hazel eyes; the pink tinge on her blushing cheeks: her small, delicate nose; and mostly her lips. They were of a pale pink colour, that reminded him of a rose bud. The top lip was thinner, but not too thin, the bottom one was larger and more plush. Unlocking his hand from around her waist, he lightly brushed her soft check with his hard knuckles. Slowly, his thumb stretched out and stroked her skin from her cheek to her jawline in slow, smooth circles. At last, his thumb made its way to her lips where it stayed, moving to and fro, brushing those soft pink tissues.
"Do you," his voice was a soft mumble as he stared at her lips ravenously, "have any experience in kissing?"
Her brain went haywire. "N-n-no," she managed to mutter frantically.
He cupped her cheeks, "do you want me to teach you?"
Without waiting for a reply, he leaned in.
To be continued.