CHAPTER: 25
I'M NOT JEALOUS.

"I missed you ya know?" Rahul looked down at her with softness in his eyes. She was puzzled though.

She loved hugging him. It reminded her of good memories yes, but this time was different. Looking up at his tall figure in his arms she was wondering how this was different from the other times.

"Missed me?" she asked voicing her confusion.
"Yup. So much."
"When? Now? But I've been with you all these three days,"
"You're still a bit slow aren't you? How'd they give you a scholarship?"
"Hey!"
"I was just kidding. No I meant when I was away from you in Texas."
"Oh."

"But I wonder." He looked up at the sky. "Why our parents didn't allow us to have contact with each other after I came away to study."
"I don't know about that Rahul. I think it was Ranu's doing. I think he's still sore about the Khandala thing."

"Come on. It was a mistake, it wasn't like the two of us planned it, it would have been nicer had it been planned though," he grinned, but this surprised her.

"Excuse me?" she looked up at him doubtfully.

"No Ari. I was kidding. If I were going to kiss you…as much as I would like…" his grip tightened and he came lower, close enough to be an inch from her face. For a frightening moment there she knew what he was going to do, but the very next second she was reminded only about Tasuki holding her like this in the college hallway when she asked him about her hair cut.

She knew it. He really was a cm away from her lips. But then he smiled looking into her eyes. "I wouldn't tell you about it and kiss you would I? I'd want you to realize it rather than know it," he straightened up. She merely blinked there out of the shock.

Then he burst out laughing. "Oh gosh you fell for that so easy."

"You meanie!" throwing him a punch to his hand she walked off.
"See ya tomorrow!" he called out after her, laughing himself silly, as she stomped off outraged.
"I really hope not!" she called back not turning to look at him.

She stopped at the staircase though. Wondering really why she remembered Tasuki instead of Yue in that situation. Her feet automatically took her up the stairs.

"Rahul!" he muttered as he saw Arwen with him.
"What does she see in that guy anyway? What's he have that I don't to hang around with more anyway?" he got up seeing the two at a distance.

Suddenly he stood bolt up straight, clenching his fists in rage, breathing in deeply.
"The nerve. He's gonna kiss her!"

Then he stopped himself. "Wait a minute. Why am I so bothered? It's not like she's my exclusive property to kiss.hell! He's still going to kiss her! But hell! He's her cousin. Maybe she likes him more than me. I have no right to stop this," getting enraged more at this he stormed off.

Shutting himself in his room he fell back into his bed wondering…wondering about what he realized that morning. But also wondering if she liked what happened between the two of them that morning.

Did she like it though? Will it be better than his?
The door opened and he fell off the bed with a thud seeing Arwen walking in closing the door behind her.

"Hey Tasuki."
THUD!
"Ow!"
"Hey watch it." She walked to him hastily to help him but he shook her hands off.

"I can take care of myself thanks."
"Tasuki." She sounded hurt.
"What're you doing here anyway? Not spending time with prince charming is it?"
"Tasuki." This time there was more surprise in her tone. "Why're you talking like this?"

"I'm not the one making out. Have a nice time kissing cousin boy out in the cold?"
"Tasuki! Stop it! I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh you don't know is it?" in a flash she was pressed up against the wardrobe, he moved lower just like Rahul had not five minutes ago.
Oh God! Not again! She thought frantically as she looked into amber globes just inches away from her own eyes. But then somehow she was looking forward to it unconsciously it seemed. To disappoint her to the max he spoke up too.

"Ring a bell fer ya girlfriend?" as quickly as he had her up against the wardrobe he was away from her. Again she was left to stand totally baffled.

"Or was he trying to warm ya up in the cold?"
"Tasuki." She spoke up with that dawning comprehension. "Are you jealous?"
He turned around quickly and took seemingly dangerous steps towards her cornering her to the wardrobe again. "And of just what should I be jealous? That punk. Not for a chance to be your David Beckham." Before he could turn she caught his collar and pulled him down to her level.

"That's it isn't it? You are Jealous! You think no other guy has the right to kiss me but you! That's it!" though she turned crimson at this she didn't look away either and watched still as he turned just as pink.

"No way! Why on earth would I want to kiss you in my right mind?"
"Then Why're you so Jealous?"

"I'm not jealous."
"You think no one should beat you with me at least in this one thing isn't it?"
"No way!"

"Then tell me Mr. That you didn't enjoy what you did to me this morning."
He wasn't able to give her an answer. He wrenched his collar away from her and walked off to his bags.
"Tell Me Tasuki."

"No I didn't." he replied without looking at her as he bent over to pick up a nightshirt.
Doing this he crossed his fingers over. She didn't reply.
"Why don't you get outta here and spend time with the punk if you like him so much, not like I'm that great company. I may not be that cool enough for you."

"Tasuki. Don't say that. I never said anything like that." She sounded sad.
"You don't have to say Arwen I just know-" he stopped short as he turned around.
Dropping the shirt he had in his hand he walked to her holding his hands out apprehensively.
"Look Arwen. Don't go all girly now. I'm real sorry. I didn't mean it. Please!"

"Then why did you say things like that?"
"I don't know. I guess I got wild that's all."

"But why Tasuki? Why did you get wild?" she took a step closer looking up into his eyes waiting anxiously for an answer, making him take a step back automatically.

"I don't know Arwen. I really don't know why. I wish I did. I guess I was feeling protective. You know if the same were to happen to Miaka-"

"Stop right there."
"What?"
"Don't you compare what happens with us with what happened between the two of you. I'm not her!" she sounded as annoyed as she looked at the mention of any relation between him and Miaka.

"I know you're not her." He said softly.
"Remember that." Receiving an unexpected hug from her he froze.
They stood there in silence. Absolute silence and nothing more to enjoy, but the warmth of the embrace and the feeling of possessiveness they felt for the other then.

Why is she….
Why the hell should he….

"Tasuki," she spoke up at last from the slow seduction of soft strokes on her soft hair with his gentle hand.
"Yes?" he seemed to be in the same state as she, under the soft massage to his own neck.
"He didn't kiss me."

Tasuki didn't reply, but she felt the hug get distinctively warmer and closer.

"Ari…"
"Yes?" she felt that it was better to just lay there hearing the strong heart beats under her ear then.
"I know you're not Miaka. I know that very well."
"You do?"

"Yeah. Never in this lifetime will you be as nice or as cute as her." He laughed out stepping away at once.
"Why you!" she swung him around and twisting his arm around, and to his back she pinned him face down into the bed, anchoring him there with her full weight on his back.

"Ow! Ow! Hey maybe you're not all that light after all! Get off! Get off ya little hoodlum."
"I'm not that nice is it?"
"NO yer not!" she twisted his hand more. "Ow!"

"Look! Get Offa me. I don't want to hurt little girlies. OW!"
"Try me will you!"
"Okay! You asked for it." In a flash she was on her back, hands pinned down into the mattress. He was on top of her.
"I told you not to play me."

"Get off! Um! Get off!" she struggled under him.
"Stop moving and it won't hurt so much."
"Then accept it. I am a nice person." She pulled at her hand.
Holding himself up from falling on her even more. "Arwen listen. I never said you weren't nice."

"But I'm not nice enough for you is it?" this surprised him so much he let go of all efforts to hold himself up.
Arwen was surprised as he stopped himself up a little above her.
"What do you mean not nice enough for me? Why would you want to be nice enough for me."
"Because that's when you'd stay friends with me and…like me enough…"

"Enough for what…" unknowingly the distance between them slowly reduced so that they could stare into their eyes with a closer view.

"Well… you're too heavy now."
"What!"
"Tasuki…you're still on me. And you're not exactly light as a feather."

Laughing at this he let go of her and dropped onto the bed beside her.
"Well, why would you want to be nice enough for me?"
"Take a guess huh?"
"Arwen? I think I saw her go to Tasuki's room."
"Mr. Tasuki's room… thanks Tory."

"Well. I hope we get all the things ready for tomorrows dance in time." Anya walked up the corridor looking up a list.
She stopped short as she opened the door.
Arwen was talking to Tasuki fiddling with his hand on his bed at his shoulder, as he gently fiddled with her bangs.
Maybe what I think will happen too.

She smiled happily as she went back to Arwen and her room.
"No! Now you're being the hoodlum! Put me down! Put me down! Put me down!"
"No way girlfriend." He laughed.

"Admit it!"
"Not a chance!" he laughed even more as he walked down the corridor to her room. The only thing was she was slung over his shoulder bandit style.
"I'm not exactly a goat or lamb ya know."
"Huh?"

"In India! This is how they carry them? Small ones! Slung about both the shoulders!"
"Oh sweetums. You are my sweet ickle lamb." He laughed even more helplessly seeing her go redder at being carried by him like this. Feeling her slip off his shoulder, he tightened his grip behind her knee and on her back. There was no denying it. She was soft and warm even if she was on his shoulder. And at that moment, she smelt sweet too.

"Admit it Tasuki! Your ear might just get it being in the range."
"I don't care if you bite my ears off! Never!"
"Help! Someone help me! Taka! Tory! Julian! Hori! Nuriko!" she called out frantically.
"Not one of em can lay a hand on me if I start running you know. If you want to ride like this that is," he smirked even more.

Seems like her call had been answered. The doors opened and the people she had called for looked out.
"Help me will you! Come on guys!" they were too stunned seeing her slung over Tasuki's shoulder. Nuriko's jaw dropped just like the others at opening the door.

Grinning even more he kicked the door to her room open.
"SO much for your help! Thanks a bunch guys!" she called out annoyed as they still watched absolutely astonished as he went into the room.Inside Anya looked up from her list totally surprised.
"Mr. Tasuki!"
"Hey Anya." He walked in casually.

"Put ME DOWN!"
"AS you wish your highness." He dropped her onto her bed grinned even more.
"See ya Baby! I'm outta here. Oh just so you know. No use coming back to me rooms ter pesters me! I'mmna lock the door!" he laughed as he began walking out.

She got off the bed in a hurry and caught hold of his jacket real tight.
"I'm not letting you go anywhere! Until you admit. I won't!"
"Leggo of my coat Ari-Chan now." He nodded amused looking over his shoulder.
"No."

"Fine! Keep the coat." He neatly pulled his hands out of the sleeves and walked out of the jacket. "Good night sweetums. Have a good sleep." He smirked and left.
"Why that! Oooh! I hate him! Uh!" She stomped her feet getting really annoyed. She crumpled the coat in any sort of way her hands would twist it and then flung it to the floor. Stomping to her bed she pulled up a pillow and punched the pillows really annoyed as Anya sat there laughing.

"Don't laugh! Or I swear you'll get it bad too!" she sat down in a huff breathing hard.
"You're so silly over that boy sometimes. I can only imagine what hell would awaken if the two of you ever got together!" Anya laughed even more.

"Shut up! I would never in my right senses get with that idiot. He's right. No girl could ever put up with him! UH! You're right! It will be hell! Hell for him that is! The hell that I make for him!"

This made Anya laugh herself to tears, seeing the face she pulled on as Arwen said this.
Turning over that night Anya felt something warm and soft in her hand. At first she thought it was Arwen's soft hand, but then waking up properly she realized it was too thin to be a hand. In fact it wasn't after all. It was the coat she had flung to the floor earlier that night. Tasuki's coat.

She sat up in bed, a little surprised more than shocked, and stared Arwen sleeping peacefully now. Only she was clutching the coat so tight and sleeping holding it so close to her that even if Tasuki wanted it then, he'd have to break her hands to wrench it out .

Arwen. I think if this goes any further you might just find your 'him' in Tasuki.
Realize it dear. I hope to see it soon. You're too close to him for it to be anything else.

sorry for the delay ppl... keep the support coming, ja ne