Hey, guys! Here we meet again! Thanks for the kind supports for this story, I hope you'll like this chapter!
I'm dedicating this chapter to the anonymous readers that I haven't been able to directly say thanks to : ScarletGaze, Saturn, John Smith lol, Nameless, Dreamer, teertha, shadowrider, AznLee, Kitty, and Isabella kwms.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORTS!
I have a change of plan for this story, and I put the details in the author's note below, please find it and without further blabbering, please enjoy reading this chapter!
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Disclamer: Although I would be more than happy if KWMS would be mine, but unfortunately it still isn't, so I'll say it again, I have nothing to do with KWMS or Maid-sama, I'm just a fan.
Flashback from previous chapter…
She was greeted by the warm smile of a very attractive man with beautiful jade green eyes and golden hair, the man that she had been waiting for in the past seven years and the man that occupied her mind even in her wildest dreams.
"Takumi…." She called the name that was only allowed being spoken in her mind for the past seven years. Hearing her own voice speaking his name in her ears suddenly brought awakening senses that stirred from within. It wasn't the feeling that she had whenever she woke up after having a dream that felt so real, a dream about him. No… It wasn't a dream. He was right there in front of her.
End of Flashback….
"Yes… It's me… Misaki…" Takumi replied softly while giving her his signature grin that was enough to make any girl's heart melt in an instant. He definitely didn't lose his charm over the years, but in fact it only added more charming features to the way he looked. His figure was slightly taller and very well built, his hair was a bit shorter and tidier, making him looked more business like, his eye color darkened, his facial line was firmer, and his jawline hardened, adding more charisma and maturity to his whole appearance. There was no words that could describe how incredibly appealing he was, more than anyone Misaki had ever see, not even his old self would compare.
Misaki fell silent for a few moments. Not only his appearance made her stunned, but also the way he talked to her. She felt something tingling in her ears as she heard him saying her name. His voice sound a bit different from the way she used to remember, it had matured a lot, but didn't lose its playful tone that used to make her think that he was teasing her all the time. She had no doubt that the extremely attractive man who was standing right in front of her eyes was the same man who used to be in her memory for so long, but somehow it almost felt unreal. Her heart started to pound harder and quicker when she felt nervousness ran through her veins as he observed her closely with his magnetizing emerald eyes.
Misaki didn't realize it when he stretched out his hands toward her. She gave a short gasp and abruptly looked at him questioningly when she felt Takumi's warm touch on her cold skin as he tried to straighten the muffler around her neck. He slightly smiled at her, noticing the awkward aura between them before he released his hold on the muffler. Misaki didn't say anything more. It was a really weird situation between them.
"It looks good on you…" Takumi said while smiling warmly at her as he backed away a little bit as if trying to give her some space, but didn't move his gaze away from her eyes. Takumi could sense her awkwardness and discomfort toward him that would explain that jumpy reaction from her side, so he decided to look at the situation thoroughly before acting further.
"Ah… this… You still keep it… " Misaki said while running her fingers through the muffler she made for him as a Christmas gift eight years ago, the day when they confessed their true feelings to each other and also the day when their relationship as a couple begun. She was startled by how similar the situation was back then to the way they were right at the moment. It was also in the middle of winter and it was freezing cold. They were also standing face to face with each other, trying hard to utter something that was kept deep within their hearts, but the way she was feeling at the moment was somehow different.
She in fact didn't know how to behave in front of him at the moment, as she was confused beyond anything she had ever come to pass. It was as seems she was in the middle of the past and present, and it was sort of coming together at once, which made her unable to keep her calm. She somehow had a weird feeling as she looked at how different he was from her memory.
It wasn't because she didn't like what she saw, it was not the case at all, because any girl would have fallen head over heels at the first sight of him. It was more because she still couldn't believe that it was real and he was finally back to see her again, but at the same time some shred of doubt and fear was taking over her because it was just too good to be true, and she was afraid that it wouldn't turn out the way she had imagined it to be. She wondered if his feelings had changed, why it took him so long to be back, was he really come back to be with her, or was it the opposite. Those kind of bad feelings wouldn't disappeared from her mind no matter how hard she ignored them.
"Of course… As it is from you…" Takumi replied calmly, completely in contrast to Misaki's nervous state on the outside, but inside of him, he was nervous all the same. He couldn't wait to know how had she been all these years without him around. He wanted to know what had that seven years gap did to them, would he still be the special person in her heart, would she give him the chance to make up for his absence all the while, but the biggest question in his mind was whether their feelings were still attached to each other or was it just him alone.
"Is that so? I thought you have forgotten all about me." Misaki said, surprising herself as she realized how sarcastic she sounded. In the last few years, she had been very content loving and confiding in this one special person, the man who had came back to see her at last, just like how she always hoped. But right at the moment, the doubt and fear she experienced just now was preventing her from reacting the way she had imagined she would be if only the same situation would happen four years ago.
Takumi's eyes widened when he heard the words she just said, but he was more streaked by the look of her eyes. Yeah, he couldn't have missed it. It was hurtful to see such skepticism in her eyes but yet he was fully aware that he was the one who caused it. That's when he realized that the chance of them being back together was running thin, but whatever happened, whatever she decided to do, he would accept it all, because he knew that he deserved it after what he had done to her. "I will never be able to forget you, Misaki… I just want to be clear about that… But you have every right to be mad at me… I'm really sorry… for everything…"
"You said that you will never be able to forget me, but you think that I can, right? That's why you sent me the letter. You are kind enough to release me from our promise…" Misaki said while looking away. She couldn't let him see how hurt she was when she said those words to him.
"Misaki… That's not what I meant…" Takumi looked at her and somehow felt a stinging pain in his chest. He felt like nothing he could say would make everything better, but he needed to clear off everything before she jumped into wrong conclusion. "I just wanted to give you the choice that you deserved. You are too valuable for me, I can't put you in that uncertain situation. You—"
Misaki cut him off before he could say anything more. She clenched her fist and her heart was racing wildly as those words of disappointment blurted out from her mouth. "What do you think I would do? You know that I hate it the most that I don't have the power to protect you from your family, and even if I'm dying to see you I can't selfishly leave my family to run after you… I can only wait and believe that someday… you will come back to me because you promised! We promised! I believe that as long as we have faith in each other, we can go through everything. But you took away the only thing that I can hold onto when you decided to write the letter. You showed me that you doubted my ability to stick with the promise just because of uncertainty! I told you before…I will never give up on you! And I meant every word! After what I've said, why… can't you understand?"
It was a moment of contradictions inside of her. Her heart pulsed erratically as though it didn't want to remain in its encasement. The blood pounding in her ears was deafening, drowning the words that was uttered in pain. She couldn't gasp a full breath though her chest heaved as she sucked in too much air. At the last words, her voice trembled as she was losing control of her emotions and her eyes gave that burning sensation as the tears quickly converged by the corner of her eyes, ready to pour out if only she would let it loose.
The words echoed in Takumi's mind like an unending transcription as realization streaked him hard. Silence immediately took over the air between them, as he couldn't bring himself to respond shortly to her outpouring emotion. He honestly didn't see it coming, at least not for that reason.
He had decided that he wouldn't tie her up with the promise they made, because she didn't deserve that kind of treatment. He wanted her to know that because he loved her too much, he would set her free even though it broke his heart to do it, because whatever happened, he would never be able to let her go, that was the reason why he decided to write the letter, to give her the freedom that she deserved. But he didn't realize that the result would be the opposite. She had once again surprised him with her own way of assessing things, something that only his lovely demon president could have done to him.
Stillness continued to dominate the whole surroundings for the moment, as there wasn't any voice coming from any of them. The quiet atmosphere of the neighborhood also made it somehow felt like they were in their own world. The street was deserted, as if they were the only foolish people around who would stay on the street in that kind of weather. None of them realize it though, because they were too busy arguing with their own inner thoughts.
Then suddenly Takumi took a few steps closer to her while closing the gaps between them and embraced her petite body tightly, immediately transmitting enormous amount of warmth into her as their body pressed together. "I'm sorry… I'm really sorry, Misaki…" He said regretfully to the woman who was stupefied in his embrace, unable to react to his sudden action out of her extreme surprise. His left hand caressed her hairs softly while his right hand tightened his embrace as if it was still possible.
Misaki felt the tears that she had been holding stubbornly by the corners of her eyes finally fell down on her cheeks the moment she felt his strong arms embraced her in such a way that was so familiar to all of her senses. She abruptly reminded to the feeling she had whenever he embraced her back then, and the gentleness he was emitting every time he enfolded her in his arms and when his fingers caressed her hairs lovingly just like he was doing right at the moment. She closed her eyes as she felt her doubt and fear disappeared along with her hesitation and the burden that was weighing in her heart all of those years altogether lifted by his warmth.
Her hands unconsciously clutched the sides of his jacket while drowning her face onto his shoulder and at the same time tightening their embrace. She could hear their hearts beating equally fast and realized that she wasn't the only person who was so nervous at the moment. They hugged each other tightly and quietly for a few moments without saying anything, savoring the moments that both of them had been waiting for so long. Misaki's body trembled by the overflowing emotions that were running through her veins as the tears streamed down from her eyes like an unending flow.
"I'm responsible for everything that you have been through all these years, all of your pain and disappointment towards my inability to fulfill your hopes… I have selfishly used up seven years of my life for my own objectives without including you in it, and what's worst, I've hurt you so bad… I know that whatever I'd do, I can't change the past and undo every pain you had been feeling for these years, Misaki… But if you will allow me, I will make it up to you… because I'm here now to tell you that… the rest of the time in my life… belongs to you…"
Misaki wasn't sure what did he mean by his last sentence, and while wiping her wet cheeks, she abruptly pulled herself away from his embrace to look at him in the eye while asking him directly. "What do you mean?"
He gave her a very charming smile instead, as if he expected that kind of reaction. Then he slowly bended his knees before her and knelt down right in front of her while taking out a small red-colored jewelry box and by the time his knee touched the ground, he opened the box to reveal a very beautiful and elegant-looking diamond ring. The ring polished by modern round brilliant diamond cuts with perfect facet arrangements and proportions. It was simple but yet able to mesmerize anybody who laid their eyes on it.
But that wasn't the thing that made her unable to react shortly. She was more stunned by the way he presented the ring that he was holding in front of her and how his jade green eyes sparkled in hope as he was down in his bended knee. Misaki gasped as her heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably. She had never been so nervous in her life before, and neither did he.
"Misaki, being separated from you all these years without even spending one single day of not thinking about you had made it even clearer to me… I love you with all my heart and I can't live without you… I want to live the rest of my life with you… I pledge to take care of you and to always put your well being before mine… I will always be there for you, whenever and wherever you need me… I can't promise a life without difficulties, but I can promise that I will always hold your hands and go through it together… So Ayuzawa Misaki… will you marry me?"
She wasn't able to let out a single reply to his question out of the extreme shock she was having over the sudden proposal. Silence once again filled the air between them. A few moments passed without a single word came out from her mouth, and it started to make him worried.
"Idiot…." was the first thing that she said to him, but then gradually a genuine and heartfelt smile hovered in her lovely face as she said. "Why do you always have a very bad timing for everything, you are really an idiot… Saying it out of nowhere, how do think I can answer it properly?"
"So… Is it a no?" Takumi asked innocently, while showing a disappointed expression although he was 99.99% knew what she had in mind. He was her perverted alien after all.
"It's a yes, idiot!" Misaki said loudly, which earned her the famous smirk from the perverted alien of hers.
Then without saying anything more he pulled her into his embrace once again and held her tightly. He had been given a second chance and he promised himself that he would never ever again let go of the woman he was holding in his arms. It was the best feelings he ever had in his life, the overflowing happiness that was evoked from his heart, together with the warmth that came out from within, flowing inside of him like never before.
"I love you, Misaki…" He said as he kissed the crown of her head before he let go of her body while taking her right hand into his.
"I love you too, Takumi…" Misaki said as pink blush emerged on her smooth cheeks by his intense look on her face.
Then Takumi took out the diamond ring from its case and slipped it on Misaki's ring finger. Misaki felt tickling feelings as the ring rested on her finger like it belong there from a long time ago.
This time, they would never let anything came between them, and this time, they would never let go of each other whatever happened.
That was the moment that they would never forget for the rest of their lives. It was the moment when the fire in their hearts lit up once again. It wasn't a fantasy or nostalgia. It was love that were interrupted, love that lasted the second time around, the rekindled romance that was bloomed once again because of their faith to one another that never wore off even though it was tested by time. It is true love.
EXTRA:
Takumi leaned closer while whispering in her ears, making her shivered by the seductive voice he was producing. "So, my fiancé… May I kiss you now?"
"N…No, idiot! We're in the middle of the street, someone might see us!" Misaki took a step back, and directed her gaze to their surroundings. There wasn't anybody around, but she wouldn't take the risk. The perverted alien would go all the way if he had the slightest chance, and she wouldn't let it happen, especially when there was a chance that somebody might see it.
"I don't care… In two weeks' time, we'll be kissing in front of everybody in the whole world anyway…" He said calmly while uttering the fact that would have been so shocking to most woman like it was a casual thing, if the woman he said it to realized the meaning behind it, that is.
"Well, I care! Wait…What? Two weeks? And what's with kissing in front of the whole world? What do you mean, idiot? What are you planning to do?"
Takumi didn't reply, but he took her hands instead and walked towards the apartment building with her tagging along.
"Wait! Where do you think you're taking me? Let me go!" Misaki forcefully let go of his hand, and stopped walking. "Answer me, idiot! I'm not going to let you drag me along without knowing anything!"
"You are still a stubborn woman, I see… I don't have other choice then…" He said, and in just one move, she found herself being carried around in his arms bridal style and was on their way towards the door of the building the moment she realize it. How he was able to pull that off was still unknown but she was more concerned about what was going to happen instead of thinking about it.
"Let me down, pervert! What do you think you are doing?" She shouted as she struggled in his arms, which of course was a futile attempt against his strong grip.
"I'm fulfilling my other promise, and I don't think you want me to do it in public, although I won't mind at all, my fiancé…"
To be continued….
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Author's note:
Hey, guys! Well, I have to tell you something, and I don't know whether you will consider it as a good news or bad news. Because of some circumstances, I can't finish the story in this chapter. So, I decided to split it into two last chapters, which means I'll write one more chapter + epilogue before I claim "The promise" as a completed story. But before that, I have to say my apology in advance because I'll have to delay my other last chapter because something came up and I'll have to leave the town for about two weeks, so I'm sorry! I hope you guys will wait for it.
After my ramblings, let's talk about this chapter. I put so many hints in this chapter for what will happen after this, I hope you'll tell me about what do you think is going to happen, given the information I gave above :p I will dedicate the last chapter to the first reviewer who answered correctly, but of course you'll know who got it right on the next chapter, so please be patient! ^^
I also wanted to ask your opinion about this chapter if you guys don't mind, I'll be so happy to read it :) Sorry for the mistakes you might've found, as I didn't proofread it more than once. I hope you did enjoy reading this chapter and still be waiting for the next.
Last but not least, thank you so much for reading, see you all in the next chapter!
Cheers,
-Fin-
Sept 3, 2011.
