I wake up feeling the the light bed sheets over my skin, a hand clasped with mine and strong arms holding me into an embrace from behind. Opening my eyes I look over to the digital clock on the bedside table and I can't help but squint to make sure I'm seeing the right time. After confirming that it is 10:58, I quickly turn to Koujaku and lightly shake him awake.
"Koujaku, you're late for work!" I call to him. He tries to bat my hands away as I continue to nudge and press against him in an attempt to get him up, but he eventually latches onto my wrist.
"I've canceled my appointments for today. Everyone has been told that I've got some personal issues to deal with and that they will all get either a refund or a new appointment date as soon as possible." He tells me, his voice a tired morning groan and his eyes staying firmly shut.
"Eh? How come?" I question, looking down at him quizzically.
"After what you went through yesterday," he begins, opening his eyes and embracing me, forcing me to lie down, "I want to be here with you today." He breathes, pressing his tender lips to my cheek.
"I-I'm fine, really." I insist, a little taken back.
"You said that not too long ago. Noiz told me that you couldn't even pull yourself to open the door until you knew who it was. If you're not feeling yourself, I want to know, I want to help, even if its just a small thing like you woke up in a bad mood... You always worry about me, but you won't let me worry about you." He tells me. He was right. I do worry about him, after all he is in one of the strongest Rib teams and, even though his team is tight in trust and can protect him if he can't himself, there's always someone that wants their team to be the best or to be in charge of the better teams... I suppose I could still be attacked whilst walking down the street on my own, but, being as I'm friends with members of Rib and Ryhme teams alike, they look out for me.
"I'm sorry," I begin, feeling slightly guilty, "but I can put up a fight and I'd like to see someone get ten feet with me without Clear hearing me." I giggle slightly, referring to Clear's fighting side.
"But it did happen. I know that you think that either mine or Noiz's, probably even Mink's, team member will always be able to help you out if you get into a situation with another team, but you have to remember that what happened with Trip and Virus in the alleyway did happen... I just wish you'd let me worry about you a little." Koujaku breathes, pressing his head back down onto his pillow.
"Its not that I don't want you to worry or anything, its just I don't want to be a burden to you. You have a business and a team to manage, I don't want to be the one to get in the way of that." I tell him, truthfully and rather embarrassingly.
"Aoba, you idiot!" His arm wraps around me and forces me to lie down again, pulling me to his chest in an embrace, and to cover the red that has dusted over his cheeks, "I'd give all that up for you. You're not a burden...you're a gift." He finishes. There's a silence between us as I'm stumped for words. Did he really just say that? I can't get over that he said that...
"That was so cheesy!" I burst out in laughter.
"Hey! I'm trying to be romantic, you can't laugh at me! I'm being deadly serious!" He argues, pulling away from me slightly to watch my once contempt face twist into buoyant laughter.
"I-I'm sorry, but, it was romantic," I assure, "until you ruined it by saying 'you're a gift'." I add, mocking his voice. He looks blankly at me whilst I continue to die from laughter.
"You're so harsh toward me Aoba!" He exclaims, his fingers digging into my sides. My stomach begins to ache as is fingers tickle me, causing me to laugh more.
"No, st-op!" I beg, struggle to talk between laughing and deep inhaling. I wriggle and squirm against him, trying to evade his attacks, causing him to straddle his hips to prevent my movements. He begins to laugh along with ms, but after a while it becomes to much and I grab his wrists to stop him.
"I-I can't - breathe!" I exclaim, still giggling and panting. Finally calming down I look up at him, the only noise being our accelerated breathing. He slowly leans down to me, his lips coming close to my ear. I swallow hard at the feel of his hot breathe against me neck and his hands pressing slightly on my chest, causing to feel my heart beat bang rapidly against my rib cage.
"It was nice to see you smile again." He whispers, pressing a kiss to me cheek before getting off the bed.
"Tea?" He offers. I pause slightly, a little taken back by his comment, my breathing evening out.
"Please." I nod, sitting up.
Koujaku had been forced to go to the shop, leaving me alone in the apartment. It was one of those essential things... Milk. You could guarantee that you'd need milk at least once in he day, whether it was for something simple like cereal, or for preparing some complex meal. Rather than getting bored, I've decided that I'll go for a shower, Ren was asleep on the end on the bed, Beni preached on his head like usual, so I didn't want to wake them for company. Besides Koujaku was probably only gonna be five minuets. I walk into the bedroom, a towel wrapped around my waist and another one being used to dry my hair. After fianlly deciding it was dry enough, I wrap the damp towel around my shoulders and open the wardrobe... Where are my clothes? I could've sworn I packed more than that... When was the last time the washing had been done? From all the commotion over the past couple of days, I can't remember. Had I really gone through that many sets?! And had it really been that log since I was at Tae-sans? Crap! The only thing left in here is Koujaku's kimono's. I can't help but groan in annoyance. Its safe to say, this is going to be embarrassing! Allowing the towels to crap to the floor, I slip into a kimono, the soft fabrics brushing against my skin, and I do it up so everything is covered... Well nearly everything. It was obvious Koujaku's build was larger than mine, height and muscle wise, so the fabrics are revealing a considerable amount if my chest. I don't know how he can be comfortable in these things. I throw the used towels into the wash and walk into the lounge, looking into the mirror to see how ridiculous I look. At least jeans and a shirt didn't feel so... Revealing. Then again, it would help if this thing actually fitted me properly! I hear the door open and I turn slightly to look at Koujaku. His eyes lie onto me and he stares at me for a little longer than I'm comfortable with. I can feel a hot blush rise to my cheeks.
"W-what?!" I stammer. He seems to snap out of his trance, moving to shut the door and put the milk carton on the side.
"You.." He breathes, not finishing his sentence.
"What about me?" I demand.
"You look beautiful." He compliments, walking toward me
"D-don't say that! I ran out of clothes and this is-" I sulk, before being cut off by his hands cupping my face and pressing his lips to mine.
"You should wear my kimono's more often." He whispers, an arm wrapping around my waist.
"They don't even fit me." I mutter, rather unimpressed. I hear him chuckle slightly.
"Do you want to go and get some more clothes from Tae-sans?" He asks. I nod solemnly.
"Ren, Beni, c'mon we're going out for a bit." He calls, after a couple of seconds, the Pomeranian allmate comes bounding in, Beni on his back.
"Aoba, why are you wearing Koujaku's clothes?" Ren questions, cocking his head to the side slightly.
"Because I ran out of clean clothes." I murmur, embarrassingly.
I grip onto Koujaku's hand in embarresment. It was busy in the streets. Really busy. Although they probably weren't, I felt as if everyone was staring at me in this oversized kimono.
"Will you stop worrying, you look fine." Koujaku whispers for assurance.
"Master!" Clears voice calls out from the crowd of people. I can feel another wave of awkwardness flood over me.
"Hey Clear." Koujaku greets for the both of us."
"Wow master! You look really pretty!" Clear admires.
"I ran out of clothes." I tell him, not really wanting to dwell on the subject.
"What the hell are you wearing?" Mink questions, walking over to our little, unplanned group.
"Mink-san, doesn't Master look beautiful!" Clear questions in awe.
"He looks stupid." Mink puts simply.
"Hey don't be mean!" Clear argues. I could feel Kouajku's grip on my hand tighten, probably getting irritated with Mink already... Could this get any word?!
"Wearing matching outfits now?" Noiz interrupts, a slight laugh to his tone.
"He ran out of clothes, so we're going to Tae-sans to pick some up." Koujaku answers for me.
"I hate my life." I breathe, burying my face into koujaku's side to cover my embarrassment.