ELA C.2

C/N: From the previous chapter of Tohru's side of her story, I wasn't aware that Tohru was able to use magic to fix things. This was the reason why I didn't let Tohru use her magic on Kioshi's poster. Sorry if this confused any of you. Thanks to the feedback, I am now aware of her abilities.

While Kano and Elma were halfway by their destination, Kano asked Elma if she had any plans for tomorrow. She wondered why he would ask such a thing, which lead to her asking for the reason. He said that he would be making desserts the next day, then he asked if she was okay with spending the night today, instead of going back home then returning the next day. Elma's love for sweets got the best of her. She agreed immediately. Their first stop would later be Elma's apartment and then walk to their original destination, Kano's apartment. Along the way, Kano carried Elma's duffle bag out of kindness. If he never mentioned the desserts part of his explanation, then Elma might of had second thoughts.

Upon arriving at the apartment, Kano opens the door and lets the lady in first. She thanks him and enters.

"Nice place you have here." Elma complimented.

"Thank you."

Both of them take their shoes off and leave them by the entrance door.

"This isn't a big apartment but there's a kitchen, bathroom, shower room and bedrooms. Just a decent amount of space." Kano said. "I'll make something for us to eat, does fish sound fine for you?"

"Anything really, I'm sure it'll taste good if you prepared it. You make really good food." Elma complimented again.

"You think so? Thanks." He thought of an idea after being complimented. "Elma, you said that you don't know how cook much, right?"

"What about it?"

"Do you want to watch me how to prepare and cook the fish? I'll give you a paper and a pencil to list down the steps." Kano said.

"I'd love to, but won't I be a bother if I watch you the whole time though?" Elma asked.

"You'll never be a bother Elma, we're friends remember?"

"Hmm. If you say that I'm not a bother...then I'll guess I can watch." Elma said.

"We'll start then, this way please." Kano leads her away.

Kano gave her the promised paper and pencil for her to list down the steps and ingredients. With this small lecture, he indicates what cooking supplies she would need and gives a reason for why each ingredient is important for the recipe. He even shows how to clean and remove the scales off of the raw fish. Cooking the rice and vegetables were easy and less time consuming. Every tip that he's given to Elma, she jots them down to her paper. Towards the end of taking notes, she focuses on something else. Elma instead focuses on his face. The way Kano looks when he's focused caused her heart to flutter, her cheek color transitioned to a shade of pink, her eyes dilate the more she observed him.

Maybe working does pay off after all. Elma thought.

Flashback...↓

It was the first day of work for the dragoness. Elma just finished her job interview for the company called Jigokumeguri System Inc. The boss said that she was suited for the job, but there were a few lies told. Elma had no idea what a computer was. Everything the boss asked, she nods. It was shear luck that she won the job.

Elma and the manager walk through the hallways and opened up a door that led to the office where all the employees were at. The first thing she had to do was introduce herself.

"Attention all!" The manager said. "There's someone here I would like you all to meet!" He turns to Elma. "They're all yours." He whispered.

"Thank you." She said. "My name is Elma Joui, I'll be working with you starting today. It's a pleasure to meet you all."

No way! Kobayashi thought.

Elma? Kano thought.

Kano turned to the opposite side of the room where Kobayashi was located. She locks eyes with him and both nod.

"I'll be back Takiya." Kobayashi stood up from her seat as she stretches her back.

"Sure thing." He responded.

"Alright. Time to see why Elma's here." Kano cracked his finger as he stood up as well.

Kobayashi and Kano walk together in the hallways to try to find the dragon. Luckily, she walked out if the bathroom and runs into the two.

"Elma?" They both said.

"What are you doing here?" Kobayashi asked.

"I could say the same to you, human." Elma responded.

"This is where we work." Kano informed.

"Kano? You're here too?"

"So this is just a coincidence?" Kobayashi asked.

"Seems like it. What brings you here? Weren't suppose to be back in your world?" Kano asked.

"Not exactly. You see, I'm investigating. I'm trying to see if cultural standards from my world are able to integrate to this world."

"I see. You did say that you were in the harmony faction. So I guess it can't be helped. More importantly though, do you know how to work a computer?" Kobayashi asked.

"Uh, pfft! Of course I can! I'm sure I can handle it!" Elma said confidently.

"If you say so. I'll be heading back now. Good luck Elma." Before Kobayashi would leave, she whispers to Kano. "Now's your chance tiger." This left Kano blushing.

"See you two after work! It's a pleasure meeting you again Elma." Kobayashi says as she walks further through the halls.

"Pleasure meeting you too Kobayashi!" Elma smiled.

Elma and Kano are left alone. Kano didn't have any other words to say. However, when it came to new employees, he would always introduce himself.

"Elma, I know that we've already met. But when it comes to new people, I have to greet them. So I'll reintroduce myself." He bows down to her. "My name is Kano Arakawa. I hope we can work well together." Kano said.

Elma chuckles. "Silly Kano!" She's bows down as well. "My name is Elma Joui, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Flashback...↑

By the time Elma snaps out of her thoughts, the fish was about finished. All that had to be done was to let the fish cool down for a bit before eating.

"Now we wait for the fish too cool. We don't want to burn our tongues, do we?" Suddenly, Elma's stomach grumbles. "In the meantime, do you want to eat some rice while we wait?" Kano asked.

"No thank you. I'll wait until you eat."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive." Elma responded.

There was something that bothered Kano every time he observed Elma during work. He always had the thought that Elma would rather be in her own world than this one. So he asked her about it.

"Elma, may I ask you something?"

"What's on your mind?" She asked eagerly.

"Do you...want to go back? To your world I mean." He finally asked.

"My world? What made you ask that?"

"It's just that...I had this thought...that you would rather be in your world than ours. Thinking that this world would be boring and not worth living in."

"I don't think that. I think that this world is much nicer than the one that I used to live in. Besides the food here is amazing!" Elma's eyes sparkled. "But to answer your question, I would love to go back at some point. That doesn't mean that I want to stay there permanently though. I want to see my parents again, but I have to figure out how to go back." Elma said. "Hey! When I have the chance, you should meet my parents!"

"I should?" Kano asked.

"Totally! They're the most understanding people I know! I'm sure they'll like you when you meet them! It'll be fun!"

Kano tried escaping the request, but he gave in. "If you say so." He chuckles.

The food didn't take long for it to cool down. Now the fish is ready to eat. Kano takes out a couple of plates, bowls and chop sticks. Kano opens up the rice cooker and spoons out a serving of white rice in both bowls. Next he grabs his oven mitts to take out the tray of fish left in the oven. There were four fish placed in the tray, just in case if Elma wanted second, or even thirds. Besides, this is Elma we're talking about.

"I cooked up three fish just for you!"

"How thoughtful of you!" Elma clasped her hands as her eyes sparkled.

Kano places both of their meals on the table. Elma looks at her meal. There was the fish on the plate with a side of veggies and a bowl of rice beside the plate.

"This...looks...SO DELICIOUS!" Elma complimented.

"Thanks, but I would prefer you to taste it first before judging." Kano suggested, reminding Elma of the time when they first met again.

Kano said something similar to that line. Elma thought. Never mind that! Let's eat!

Elma breaks apart her chopsticks and starts on the fish first. The second she took her first bite, Elma's eyes lit up. Kano could have sworn that he saw stars in her eyes. Elma immediately tasted the rice and the vegetable.

"How is it?" Kano asked.

"It's AMAZING!" She yelled out.

"Good to hear, now I can eat without worry." Kano then started eating his food with Elma.

For the rest of the day, Elma spent her time with Kano by watching television. Elma suggested him on watching the anime she watched back at her apartment. The same series that Tohru and Kanna would sometimes watch. Even if Kano rarely watches anime, he wanted to get closer to Elma. Hoping that maybe this could win her heart in a way. Little did he knew that it was already working the day he started working with Elma.

Towards the end of the day, they decided to finally sleep. Kano and Elma put on their sleepwear and brush their teeth. Kano told Elma that he would be sleeping on the couch while she sleeps on his bed. Elma refused and commanded him to sleep in bed with her. Kano tried getting out of the situation again, but she kept refusing. He had no choice but to sleep with her.

Upon entering back into his room, Elma told him that if he tried touching her in any inappropriate manner, then she would never forgive him and tell everything to the cops. Kano wasn't the type to do those kinds of things, his mother always told him that most girls can be fragile. He would have to respect their space. Kano promised Elma that he wouldn't do anything suspicious towards her.

So they crawled into bed and covered themselves with the sheets and blankets of the bed. Before sleeping, Elma told Kano one more thing.

"Thank you for inviting me Kano. I had fun today." Elma thanked him.

"You're welcome. More importantly, thank you for coming over, I was getting a bit lonely during the holidays."

Elma chuckled. "Glad I could help."

"Night Elma." Kano said.

"Good night." She responded before then going to sleep. Kano smiles and sleeps as well. Like he said before, he wouldn't touch Elma in any way, that wasn't the case however. In the middle of the night, Elma and Kano faced each other during their sleep and embraced one another, now in each other's arms. This isn't inappropriate, this is the start of a new love.