Light in the Dark
Chapter 6
"Masame…" Ren whispered to himself as she locked arms with Ryuu.
"Sorry Ren. Even though I met him because of Hiiraga, Ryuu-kun really is cute. And he's nice. I think I really want to try going out with him! So, I'll see you later!" Masame smiled at him, causing a painful feeling in his chest.
"You lose, buddy boy." Ryuu smirked and taunted as they walked away.
"Masame… Masame!" Ren started to run after the fading figures.
"Masame!!!" He screamed louder.
He tripped and fell to the ground, letting the two newfound lovers get away.
"Ma…sa…me…" His voice cracked as tears started to form in his eyes.
The rain suddenly poured and soaked poor Ren. Lightning and thunder filled the sky as he sat on his heels, absolutely helpless.
"I… wasn't good enough… That's it… Game… over… Masame… Doushite…?" He continued to mumble nonsense to himself until he could no longer take it.
"Masame… Doushite?! Am I not good enough for you?! Is that it?!" He stood up and yelled at his non-existent lover.
He let his head hang low, knowing that she couldn't hear him.
"Masame… Masame!" He gripped both sides of his head and shook it violently.
"MASAME!!!" He screamed as he bolted up from his bed.
"Ren, are you okay?" Masame came into his room and rushed over to him.
"M…Masame?" Ren looked up and saw the brunette there, smiling.
"Whatever it was you saw, it wasn't real, okay?" Masame said as she hugged the now adorably vulnerable Ren and wiped his tear-stained face.
He quieted down from the warm feeling of her hand on his back. He took in and let out a few shaky breaths and he let himself sink into her touch.
"You wanna tell me what happened?" Masame said as she pat his back.
"…You might think it's silly." He hesitated.
"I won't. I promise." She made him look at her and she smiled.
"…Well… I dreamt that you left me for Ryuu. You were saying things like you think you'd like him more and didn't need me…" His breath became shaky again after explaining his dream.
"Ren, you know I'd never do that right?" She stroked his hair.
"But it all seemed so real…" He sighed.
"But you know that it isn't now, right?" She asked him sweetly.
He nodded with his head hanging low, feeling too ashamed to face her.
"Now, go back to sleep, okay?" Masame requested as she got up to go back to her room.
"Don't leave…" Ren pleaded.
"Ren…" She looked at him questioningly.
"Can you at least stay here until I fall asleep?" Ren gave her a puppy dog look.
"Ren, you're acting like a child." She giggled. "But, fine." She agreed.
She took a small music box from Ren's dresser. As she winded it up, Ren lay back down and pulled the sheets up to his chest. Masame put the music box down again and let its simple and soothing melody play.
She sat down next to Ren to assure him she wouldn't leave him like she did in his dream. She stroked his hair with her fingers again, closed her eyes and sang along with the tune of the music box for him.
(This is a youtube link. :D .com/watch?v=rn2vrTx_5Wc)
When she finished her song, she looked down and saw that Ren was fast asleep, with a smile on his face. She smiled as well and sighed. He looked so cute in his sleep. She leaned down towards him, brushed his bangs away from his face (revealing his other eye), and kissed him on the forehead. She then stood up and walked to the door.
Before she shut it, she looked at him and whispered, "Sleep well, Ren."
~The Next Morning: Breakfast~
"Masame… What was with the lullaby choice last night?" Ren asked as he ate.
"Well, not all the lyrics may match, but it's a very nice and soothing song, right?" She smiled.
"That's true…" He smiled with chopsticks in his mouth.
"The title is "You Are My Love", right?" Ren said with a slight brush of red on his face.
"That's right…" Masame blushed as well.
They kept silent for a few seconds, just staring at each other, blushing.
Masame then decided to break the silence. "So… any plans for today?" She asked, since it was a weekend.
"Not really. But you're going shopping and stuff with Michino-san right?" He replied as he stood up to wash the plates.
"Hai! We're going to eat lunch together and hang out." Masame smiled as she stood up to help Ren.
He took the plate from her and said, "I'll take care of this. Why don't you go and get ready for your day?"
"Alright. Arigato gozaimasu!" She hugged him and ran off to her room.
Later on, while Masame and her nee-chan bonded, Ren went to the Eternal Twilight. Let's check on Masame shall we?
"Nee-chan, look! Aren't those shoes so cute?" Masame smiled and pointed to a pair of baby pink slip-ons.
"You want 'em?" Michino smiled.
"Eh?! Demo… Nee-chan, isn't it expensive?" Masame shied away from the offer.
"Nah, it's alright. Besides, I owe you a birthday gift, remember?" She took out her wallet.
"…I really can't change your mind, can I?" She laughed.
Meanwhile, at the Eternal Twilight...
"So you had a nightmare, huh?" Hone asked.
"Yeah… It was realistic though… Damn, now that I think about it, I was completely OOC." He crossed his arms and sighed.
"Well, dreams can really do that to you kid." Wanyuudou said.
"…You don't think it'll come true, do you?" Ren asked with a worried look on his face.
"Naruhodou. You really do love that girl, don't you?" Wanyuudou chuckled.
"I-It's not funny." He pouted and crossed his arms over his chest.
"You gotta tell her Ren." Hone smiled.
"Wh-What?!" Ren's pupil shrank.
"I'm serious!" She giggled.
"No way." He crossed his arms again.
"Why not?" Kikuri decided to join in the fun.
"None of your business kid." He looked away.
"Aw, c'mon Ren! You're no fun." Kikuri pouted and crossed her tiny arms.
"For once, I'm on the brat's side. You should tell her." Wanyuudou smirked.
"When should I?" He asked with a slight blush.
"How about during the dance next week?" Hone-Onna suggested.
"... Alright, I'll do it." He sighed. Not an exasperated one, but more of a relieved one. Relieved that he's finally going to get this burden off his chest.
"Wait a minute… What am I going to wear?!" He suddenly asked.
"As if it's such a problem! C'mon, I'm taking you shopping!" Hone-Onna pulled his arm.
"B-But Masame and Michino-san are shopping right now! We might bump into them!" He suddenly remembered and his face suddenly flushed.
"All the better! Let's go!" She teased, and with that they disappeared.
"Well this looks like it's gonna be fun." Wanyuudou smirked.
~Human world: Shopping center~
"Alright… Do you want a tux, or a dress shirt with slacks?" Hone-Onna twirled her hair which was now in a ponytail.
"I'd rather go with a tux." Ren smirked.
"Alright then, come with me." She smiled and walked towards a fancy looking shop. Ren of course, followed her.
They entered the shop and saw rows and rows of different kinds of outfits for special occasions. Ren was overwhelmed with the variety and quantity of the store's stocks.
"Welcome. What is it that you are looking for today?" The sales clerk smiled at them.
"He's looking for something for a school dance. Preferably a tux. You have any suggestions?" Hone-Onna asked.
"I think I've got just the thing…" The clerk said as she went into the storage room.
Meanwhile, Masame and Michino had just finished their little shopping trip.
"Well we sure did splurge today…" Masame said as she looked at all of their bags.
"Well, you can't really blame anyone, can you? Everything was just so… Awesome!" Michino laughed.
"You're right!" Masame laughed along.
"… Hey, isn't that your boyfriend over there?" Michino smirked and pointed to the frantic Ren who was looking for his "perfect" outfit.
Masame's face went completely red at her sister's comment. "HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!" She quickly defended.
"No need to be so loud, sis." She teased.
"Anyway, what do you think he's doing?" She asked her.
"I dunno." Masame said.
"Huh? Hone-Onna's with him. Hmm… what's going on?" Masame wondered.
"Well, do you wanna go and say hi?" Michino asked.
"Uhm, sure, I guess." She said with an absolutely uncertain tone.
The two approached the panicky shoppers and greeted them.
"Hey guys, what are you doing here?" Masame smiled.
"M-Masame! I was hoping you wouldn't find out…" Ren mumbled the last line.
"Why's that?" She asked.
"Well, this was supposed to be a surprise… I was shopping for what I'd wear to the dance and Hone-Onna here was helping me pick an outfit." He explained.
"But now that you know, why don't you help us?" Hone-Onna suggested.
"Sure! I need to look for an outfit myself…" Masame remembered.
"I'll help you too." Michino said.
"Great! Alright then, who should we work on first? Masame or Ren?" Hone-Onna asked Michino.
"I think we should work on Ren." Michino giggled.
"Alright then. He told me he wanted a tux. You see any good ones?" Hone asked.
"Mm…" Michino went around and picked one suit out. "How about this one?" She said.
"Mmm… That's not really what I was looking for…" Ren said.
"Oh, alright then… How about this one?"
~Some time later~
"That's it! That's exactly what I was looking for!" Ren said happily.
"Well, FINALLY!" Hone-Onna said, exhausted.
"Alright, go ask the clerk for your size, while we work on Masame." Michino smiled.
"Hai. Arigato gozaimasu!" Ren thanked the two girls and approached the sales clerk.
"Okay then sis, what is it that you're looking for?" Michino put her hands on her hips and faced her little friend.
"Well, nothing in particular… I guess, something that goes with what Ren's wearing." She blushed a little and looked down at her feet.
"Alright, this'll be much easier." Hone-Onna laughed a little.
~After some time~
"I love this one." Masame held up a dress and smiled.
"Alright then, let's go get your size, pay, and let's go home. I'm beat!" Michino giggled.
…
"Thank you for shopping with us! Come again!" The sales clerk said as the 4 of them left the shop.
"Alright then, let's bring Michino-san home first, then we can go home too." Ren said.
"Well, I'll be going ahead then. See you guys around." Hone-Onna said.
"Alright then. See ya." Ren said.
"Bye Hone-Onna!" Masame smiled.
"See you again sometime." Michino smiled at her.
And with that, she disappeared.
"I really love how you don't find any of this weird nee-chan." Masame smiled at Michino.
"Well sure, life can really be weird sometimes, so I accept anything that comes my way." She explained and smiled back.
The three of them got into Masame's car and they were off.
~Ren and Masame's house, later that evening~
"So, what would you like for dinner?" Ren asked as he took off his shoes and hung his bag on the rack.
"Anything is fine with me." Masame said as she did the same.
"Just call me when it's ready." She said as she picked up the shopping bags and headed for the stairs.
"Sure." He said as he went to the kitchen to start cooking.
~To be continued~
A/N: Yeah, sorry, I know I haven't written in a while and this one's just a filler. Sorry. :D I'll start working on the next chapter right away. :)
