Frozen Kisses
Two: Denial
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Ryou's in denial,
Ichi's in denial,
Denial, denial; everyone's in denial!
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Ichigo's face turned bright red. Ichigo's face was just inches from Ryou's as they laid there in complete silence.
"Ryou?" Keiichirou called from outside his door. Keiichirou soon pushed open the door and Ichigo quickly stood up to the ground. Ichigo stood in front of Keiichirou with her hands behind her back with a smile. Ryou still lay flat across the floor.
"Oh, Ichigo-san, you're still here?" Keiichirou smiled, "— Are you okay Ryou?"
Ryou just placed his hands against the floor and pushed himself up to his feet and brushed the dust from the back of his pants.
"I'm fine." Ryou stated as if nothing had happened.
"I'll go now." Ichigo said and made her way past Keiichirou and out of the room. Ichigo quickly slammed her back against the wall and slid her body down to the floor with her knees scrunched up and her head between them. What— just happened? Ichigo thought, He shouldn't have been near the door! Nya! – Who am I kidding? I feel so ridiculous… Ichigo took in a deep breath and gathered herself together.
"You're still out here Ichigo-san?" Keiichirou asked as he exited Ryou's room; Ryou stood not too far behind him.
"I just uh— there was a bug! Yeah, on the wall, and I— killed it with my back! That's all!" Ichigo smiled nervously. I squished it with my back? Ichigo beat herself mentally.
"Okay…" Keiichirou smiled a little, almost worried for Ichigo.
Ichigo stood up from the ground as Keiichirou and Ryou walked past her. Ichigo glanced up at Ryou as he walked by, and he paid no specific attention to her as he passed. This just infuriated Ichigo even more. He acts like nothing even happened. Baka. Ichigo folded her arms and made her way out of the café…
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Ichigo's going home,
Ichigo's going home,
Home sweet home, Ichi!!
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Ichigo held her head down to the ground the whole walk home. She still felt a little bothered by what happened with Ryou. She wasn't sure if she should just forget about it, or bring it up in their next conversation…
"I can't talk to Shirogane about that! He'd deny it… after all, I do feel kind of baka for walking in on him like that… what was he doing on the floor like that anyway?" Ichigo calmed herself down by… well, communicating with herself. She hugged herself to stay warm from the cold. It was cold earlier that day, but at least the sun was out; the sun was currently just hanging from the sky, waiting to drop and be covered by the fluffy, white pillows of fog. It was so cold, Ichigo could see herself breathing. When she'd let out a deep, hot breath, it looked as if there were a bonfire in the air…
As Ichigo walked, she felt something wet on her head. Ichigo stopped in her steps and stared up at the sky. Another wet droplet hit her— but it landed on her cheek instead. Ichigo blinked as another one fell on her. It was beginning to snow. It was the beginning of December and it was already snowing. It just hit her how cold it really was. Ichigo quickly zipped up her coat and continued walking; she didn't feel like getting hypothermia today…
Five minutes later, Ichigo had gotten even closer to home, but the snow didn't let up. It seemed to get heavier by the second. She could already see that the snow began to cover the ground; there were little patches of white everywhere. She felt as if she wore a snow hat because of how much was falling…
Every step she took, she could feel her ankles and feet going numb. She'd wiggle her toes every now and then just to see if she could feel it. She chattered her teeth together as she walked, and she began to realize that the sun was almost completely set in the distance, and it was about to get even colder. Ichigo picked up her walking pace to try and make it home sooner.
Ring, ring!
Ring, ring...
Ichigo stopped dead in her tracks as she heard her phone ringing. She reached into her pocket, and grabbed her phone. Masha was hanging down from her antennae with frost hanging from him.
"Gomen, Masha…" ("Sorry, Masha…") Ichigo felt sympathy towards Masha.
"Masha cold, Masha cold!" he shivered.
Ichigo then looked at her phone, which read: Masaya (heart). Ichigo blushed a little upon seeing his name. Ichigo held the phone up to her ear and was about to press the "send" button when she started to think… Oh no… I can't tell Aoyama-kun what happened with Ryou… he'd hate me. But, I wasn't cheating on him; it was an accident… ooh, but what if he doesn't understand? He's just got to… then again; I don't HAVE to say anything… Ichigo gulped as she reached her finger in to press the button.
Beep.
The phone stopped ringing. A sweat drop ran down the back of Ichigo's head. Now what if he thinks I'm ignoring him? Nya? Oh— I hate me… Ichigo sighed. Then, soon enough—
Ring, ring!
Ring, Ri—
"Moshi, moshi?" ("Hello?") Ichigo answered the phone before it could even finish ringing.
"Where were you Momomiya-san? I called you a second ago and you didn't answer… are you okay?" he asked in the sweetest voice ever. Ichigo almost felt bad.
"No, I'm fine!" Ichigo waved her other hand in front of her face as if she were saying "hello" to someone— accept this one was in denial; "I'm very great actually! I just um— I was just in the bathroom, and I didn't hear it ring. Gomen-nasai." ("… I'm sorry.") Ichigo lied straight through her teeth.
"You're at home?" he asked.
"Um— hai!" ("Um— yes!") Ichigo answered quickly.
"Then, how come I see you out here beside the sidewalk?" he asked. Ichigo felt little she was just two inches tall as she looked over to her left. Masaya was standing there looking at her from across the street with a smile on his face. He waved as she looked over. Someone… shoot me. Ichigo squinted her eyes shut as she closed her phone and placed it in her pocket, in hopes that this was just some nightmare in which Masaya caught her in a stupid lie…
Masaya darted across the street when he found that no cars were coming. He stepped onto the sidewalk and went up to Ichigo— her eyes were still closed. Masaya gently laid his hand on her shoulder; this shocked Ichigo into opening her eyes, and coming back into reality.
"Konnichiwa, Momomiya-san." ("Hello, Ichigo/ Ms. Momomiya.") He smiled amicably.
"Oh, hello Aoyama-kun…" Ichigo felt unworthy to be in his presence. She averted her eyes from his and looked away.
"Why did you tell me you were at home Ichigo?" he asked. Even though she lied, he didn't seem too angry… he was so calm and he looked so forgiving. Ichigo looked up at him and blinked.
"I… uh…" Ichigo couldn't think of anything to say.
"It's okay Momomiya-san. You don't have to tell me." He smiled at her and made her feel comfortable; "I'll walk you home. It's very cold tonight— I wouldn't want you to catch a cold." He smiled warmly at her as she watched him take off his dark brown coat.
"Aoyama-kun, what are you doing?" Ichigo asked as he placed the coat around her and over her coat, "You'll be cold…"
"Don't worry Momomiya-san. The cold doesn't really bother me." He said and held her close to him as they walked down the street. Ichigo blushed as he held her close to him. His coat was really warm…
I can't believe I'd lie to Aoyama-kun like that… he's so kind and so sweet… he doesn't deserve me… Ichigo looked up at him with moist, sparkling eyes. Masaya looked down at her and felt that there was something wrong.
"Is there something wrong Momomiya-san?" he looked at her with a blank expression.
"Hai." ("Yes.") She put on a fake smile and looked back ahead of her…
They finally made it home and Masaya walked Ichigo up to her door. Ichigo took off his jacket and handed it back to him.
"Arigatou," he smiled, "Stay warm, okay?"
"Mmhmm…" Ichigo nodded her head with a smile.
"Bai bai!" ("Bye, bye!") He waved as he walked away. Ichigo watched him as he made his way into the distance. Ichigo turned the doorknob and went inside.
"How was work Ichigo?" Her mother asked.
"It was okay." Ichigo said and made her way up into her room. Ichigo went into her room and lay down on her bed with her head firm against the comfort of her pillow.
Aoyama-kun… I won't— lie to you again. Ichigo thought and put on a small smile, which soon began to droop, yet I don't want to hurt you… Ichigo turned over onto her side and went to sleep while she was still in her café dress…
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Rock-a-by Ichi on the fluffy bed,
Make sure not to fall off and bump your head,
Sleep Ichi, sleep!
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"I'm here, I'm here!" Ichigo said as she opened the doors to the café. She had basically just gotten up from bed and she was still wearing her café dress from yesterday. I wonder if that needs to be dry-cleaned…
"Shirogane, what's the emergency?" Ichigo asked while breathing heavily from having to rush to the café. Ryou walked up to her and handed her a mop.
"What's this for, nya?" Ichigo looked up at Ryou in bewilderment.
"To clean floors." He said and started to walk away.
"This is your big emergency?" a throbbing vein pulsated on Ichigo's forehead.
"Get to work— oh, and by the way… you might want to fix your hair; it's a bit messy." Ryou smirked.
"Err…. Shirogane!!" Ichigo yelled so the whole park could hear…
Ichigo had been at the café for two hours of her Saturday already. She wasn't very happy, especially since she was the only one working; everyone was supposed to be off on Saturday. Ichigo sat down on a chair and sat her elbow against the table; she rested her chin inside her palm. She sighed deeply.
"You're still working Ichigo." Ryou seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"I'm not supposed to be working in the first place, baka…" Ichigo snapped. Ryou walked over to her with his hands in his pockets— that was his 'trademark' stance.
"Watch it Strawberry." He stood clear in front of her.
"Or what, nya?" Ichigo asked. Ryou bent down and got within inches of her face; his nose touched hers. Some soft, soothing music would go with this moment…
"I might have to cut your paycheck…" he smirked. He still stood there with his nose touching hers; for some reason Ichigo didn't have a smart comment at the moment, she seemed too distracted. Her cheeks lit up like a lantern, and she couldn't figure out why he hadn't moved…
"Sh— Shirogane-san…" his name rolled off of her gentle lips…
Haha! Another cliffy. I warned you. :-) Please review!!