Author's Note: Funny story for you guys, tell me if it happens to you~ whenever I go out to eat and there's eggplant on the menu, I HAVE to eat it. It doesn't matter if it's Eggplant-radish-beet-cucumber-smelly cheese mash stuffed into duck liver- I HAVE to eat it. THERE'S A TINY GAKUPO-ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER FORCING ME TO. As for the taste? I used to hate it, but now I've actually started to love it! XD

Anyway, hope you enjoy~! /NOMS AN EGGPLANT STUFFED WITH CHEESE (my favorite!)

Chapter Two

Two things flashed before Gakupo's eyes.

The first, of course, was his life. But the second, the important one, was the big obvious fact that there was a very attractive lady requesting his assistance. It all depended on how he decided to look at it, right?

Hey! Gakupo thought. I bet this is a sign! A chance!

The woman, annoyed, put the gun up by his temple. "Why's it taking you so long to decide? It's not like I've given you a hard choice here!"

"Not a hard choice at all." Gakupo said silkily to himself.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing- now, why don't you come on in?" he said.

He watched the woman's eyes narrow as she scanned his face with those soft, beautiful eyes. "Don't try to pull anything funny here, 'Gakupo', or I'll-"

But from the second she said his name, Gakupo muted out the rest of the things she was saying. "I like your voice." he interrupted dreamily.

"You're disgusting!" the woman said angrily, letting go of him. He slid down the wall, landing in a heap on the floor. "Just get me some food so I can leave!"

"Okay, okay!" Gakupo said. "But you really could've just asked politely-"

But the woman wasn't listening, already breezing past him towards the kitchen. "Hey, a cake. It's my lucky day!" he heard her say.

He followed her into the kitchen and found that she was already shoveling cake into her mouth. He watched her eat. "Hey, can I have some of-?"

"No." she snapped at him.

"But it's my birthday!"

"Oh, boo-hoo. What're you gonna do, cry about it?"

Gakupo paused for a second. For the first time she realized what she was wearing, a long black dress with gold accents. It stood in stark contrast to her way of eating. "You're not very ladylike, are you?"

The woman whirled. "Of course I'm ladylike!" she yelled through a mouthful of eggplant cake.

"Yeah, you just keep telling yourself that."

She swallowed. "Oh, look who's talking, the king of manliness himself. How many different conditioners do you use on that hair of yours? Thirty?"

"No, it's less than thirty!" Gakupo said indingantly.

"Twenty-nine, big difference." she said, finishing off the last of the cake. "Hey, do you have more food?" She took her umbrella and slid the gun out of the bottom of the pole. "Because if you do, you'd better-"

"Sure!" Gakupo said. "Why don't I make you some eggs or something?"

The woman looked incredulously at him. "Know what? You're weird." she said. "Most people who's houses I break into just cower in the corner and put all their food in a bag or something. Why don't you do that?"

"Eggs it is!" Gakupo chirped happily, taking a carton from the fridge. "Anyway, who are you? Why are you running around committing armed robberies?"

"What's it to you?"

"Oh, nothing. Just curious!"

"My name's Luka, Luka Megurine." she said. "I ran away from home because my dad was part of some criminal gang."

"Like father, like daughter." Gakupo muttered, cracking two eggs and letting them fall in sizzling heaps onto the pan on the stove.

"Hey, I'm nothing like him!" Luka yelled. "He wanted to SELL me to them. Sell me! That's when I ran away."

"Why didn't you just call the police or something?"

"Because this isn't just some group of creepy men we're talking here. This gang is big, all over Japan- and they already paid my dad. In full."

"But... are they chasing you, then?"

"They aren't looking for me." Luka said. "But my dad is, or else they'll kill him. Oh yes, of course he tells the police, 'My poor daughter's gone missing! Please help me find her, she's cold and lost and alone!' and no one suspects why he really wants me home."

There was a silence as Gakupo turned the eggs over. "That's... tough." he said. "So you're hiding from the police and a gang?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Are you sure that robbing people is the right way to stay alive? You could do something else. Live hidden somewhere, start a new life."

"No." Luka said. "I'm a traveller. I live for the feeling of going to new places, visiting-"

"But is that what's best for you?" Gakupo said.

"What do you know about what's best for me?" she snapped at him.

"I ran away from home too." he responded.

"Well, your situation is different from mine." Luka said. "So don't try to go all 'wise' on me. Are you done with those eggs yet? I'm famished."

"Almost, almost..." Gakupo said. "Hey, why don't you hang your coat? I'd take it for you, but I'm here..."

Luka stared at his back with distrust. "I don't understand you."

"What's not to understand?"

"Why are you being so nice?"

"Because I'm a nice person! Now, go hang up your coat. You can't enjoy food if you're all wet, can you?"

Luka, grumbling to herself under her breath, went to the front of the small house to hang her coat up.

And Gakupo, once he'd looked over his shoulder and made sure she wasn't looking his way, reached up into the medicine cabinet and took out a small bottle. He twisted the top off and took two pills, cracking them open over the omelet. The white powder was quickly absorbed.

"Okay, I hung it on that rack in the front." Luka said, turning around just as Gakupo slipped the bottle into his robes. "Hey, what's with that funky robe you're wearing, anyway? What are you, a samurai?"

"I take sword lessons, but no, I'm not a samurai." he said. "It's a fashion statement!"

"Oh, yes. It positively screams of your manliness."

"Don't be mean!" Gakupo scoffed, sliding the omelet onto a plate. He walked over, setting it in front of Luka. "Now, why don't you eat?"

Luka looked down at the plate, then back up at him. "You taste it first."

"What?"

"How do I know you're not about to poison me as revenge for breaking in or something?" she said to him. "Taste the eggs!"

He took a small piece and ate it. "There. Happy?"

"Very." Luka said, eating the rest in what must've been about thirty seconds. Then, she leaned back, satisfied. "Are there any good motels around here, really cheap ones?"

"Motels?" Gakupo said, playing with the corner of his robe. "Um... there's one not far from here. But before you go, don't you want something to drink? After all, you must be thirsty!"

"Yeah... that would be nice..." Luka said. "You're up to something, aren't you?"

"Me?" Gakupo said innocently. "Of course not!" He took a jug of chocolate milk from the fridge, slipping his hand into his pocket and taking a third pill. While he poured, he cracked the pill open under the table and quickly dumped the powder in.

When he set the glass in front of her, she sighed. "Chocolate milk? How old do you think I am, three?"

"Chocolate milk makes your bones strong!" Gakupo joked. "How old are you, anyway?"

Luka downed the glass, then set it back on the table. "I'll be seventeen next January..."

Her head drooped suddenly, and she held her head. "Whoa... I feel dizzy..."

And then, suddenly, her head snapped up. "Wait a minute- you drugged me! I can't believe it, you drugged me-! Who are you working for?"

"Me? No one." Gakupo said. "Why don't you just relax?"

But relaxing wasn't in option. Luka was in full panic mode. "Why?" she said. "You'll regret this, I swear! I'll make you regret this... and... I...!"

And then, her eyes rolled back and her head fell forward, thick pink hair falling over her face.

Gakupo stayed where he was for a little, and then he walked forward and picked her up. Her head lolled over his arm, mouth falling open.

"You might not know what's best for you," he muttered, "but I'm pretty sure that I do."

With that said, he carried her down the hall and into the guest room.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Luka blinked blearily, stretching.

Suddenly, she realized where she was and sat up, drawing in a breath.

And then she remembered. That purple-haired guy, Gakupo- he'd...

Luka scrambled out of the bed she'd found herself in, kicking off the covers, and ran towards the door. She realized that someone had taken her boots off and triangled them neatly by the door. Luka grabbed them and quickly pulled them on.

Then, she seized the doorknob, turned and pulled-

It was locked. Locked! Suddenly, all Luka wanted to do was get to the other side of that door. It was the only thing that mattered. She kicked it, but it didn't budge. Then, she tried slamming into it sideways, but all that did was make her shoulders hurt.

Desperate, she clawed at the wood. "GAKUPO!" she shouted. "GAKUPO, YOU'D BETTER LET ME OUT! HEY!"

Suddenly, she heard footsteps. "Sheesh, you're really making quite the racket!" she heard Gakupo say.

"What the HELL do you think you're doing?" she said. "Are you one of those perverts?"

"What? No, of course not!" he trilled. "I just want to help you."

"Help?" she spat, glaring at the door as if she could see through it. "You call this HELP?"

"Yes, actually, I do."

That dirty...! Luka thought. "If you don't let me out, I'll-"

"Blow my brains out?" Gakupo said. "That might be a little hard, seeing as I have your gun..."

"Aaagh!" Luka yelled in exasperation, her head thudding against the door. The wood felt cool on her forehead, and it calmed her. "Okay, Gakupo. What do you want from me, then?"

"I want you to live a normal life here for six months or so."

"What do you even gain from that? You're not making sense!"

"You think that just travelling around is what'll give you happiness in life" Gakupo said, leaning against the door. "I think- I know that you're wrong. And- and I feel bad, honestly! I want you to be happy!"

"Why do you care, anyway?"

"Because I want to help you! I'm a nice person!"

"You're lying, I can tell." Luka yelled. "Also... nice? You drugged me and locked me in a room!"

"And you, Luka, held a gun to my head." Gakupo said. "So we're even!"

"Well, know what? No! I won't play along with your stupid little game!"

"Come on, you get a place to stay for free- and food, too!"

Luka had to admit- the offer wasn't bad. But she still knew that she lived for freedom. "No. Absolutely not!"

"Well, that's a real shame. I guess I'll have to call the police now- you did assault me, after all..."

"What?" Luka said, her heart stopping. She pressed herself up against the door. "You... you wouldn't!"

"Now where was my phone again? Gosh, it must be in my room..."

"No- no- please!" She jiggled the doorknob. "Gakupo! Wait!"

"Yes?" he said innocently.

"Don't call the police."

"So you'll stay?" he said brightly.

"No. Just give me another choice. I'll give you anything! Money, or... uh..."

"You stay here for a few months. Final offer..."

"No way!"

"'Kay. Bye, Luka."

Luka's head was pounding. What should I do? she thought. I'm totally cornered! I... I don't think I have a choice.

"Gakupo!" she called. He didn't answer. Oh no! He must've already-

"Yes, Luka?"

"Fine!" she shouted. "I'll stay in your stupid house!"

"Yay!" Gakupo said. "Hmmm... would you attack me if I let you out of that room?"

"Yes."

"I guess you're not getting any breakfast, then."

Luka's stomach growled, and she realized that she was starving. "Fine, I won't attack you!"

She heard the metal on metal sound of a key scraping the lock, and then the door was opening and she fell forward-

Gakupo caught her, and she sagged.

"Feed me." she said, her voice thick with the shame of giving up.

He dragged her down the hall, her shiny golden boots scraping along the wooden floor. "Don't you want to walk?" he said.

"Nooo." she moaned.

"Okay, you were careless, and I beat you. So what? Just get over it!" Gakupo said. "You're going to enjoy this, I swear you will."

"I hate you."

"See? That's progress. Somehow."

"Say one more word and I'll punch your face in."

"One more word. Haha, I said it!"

"I'LL MURDER YOU!" Luka shouted, pulling her fist back and launching it towards his-

Gakupo ducked, the fist swishing past his face, and then he lifted her over his shoulder.

"Hey!" she yelled, kicking his chest. "This is humiliating! Let me down! Let me-!"

"You're so noisy!" Gakupo said, shaking his head. "Just like one of those public toilets."

"Did- did you just compare me to a public toilet?" Luka shouted. Her face flared red in anger. "I'LL SHOVE YOUR FACE INTO A PUBLIC TOILET!"

Gakupo, ignoring her, lowered her into a chair. She seethed with rage.

"Guess who made pancakes?" he said.

"You're dead."

"No, I made pancakes. I've never heard of this 'you're dead' person. Is he a friend of yours?"

Luka didn't answer, instead turning away and crossing her arms.

Gakupo put a plate of pancakes in front of her.

"I'm not eating anything you make." she said. "I'm- I'm not hungry!"

"Okay, now you're just being silly!"

"Shut up." Luka eyed the fork on the table, contemplating its use as a weapon.

"Am... am I going to have to force-feed you?"

"DON'T YOU DARE!" she said, eyes flashing as she scooched her chair backwards in disgust.

"Then eat your pancakes. C'mon, they're tasty!"
"Who are you, my mom?"

"As of now, yes." Gakupo said smugly. He turned away-

Luka took a deep breath, leapt up from her chair, and bolted towards the door.

Gakupo smiled as he heard her get to the front door and pull at the doorknob.

"What-" he heard her say. "Did you...? Wait. You locked the door from the INSIDE?"

"Luka-chan, seriously- your pancakes are getting cold!"

Luka, desperate, started banging on the door with her fists. "HELP! SOMEONE! A WEIRDO WITH PURPLE HAIR HAS CAPTURED ME IN-"

Gakupo calmly walked over and patted her lightly on the head. "I don't think that'll get you anywhere." he said, shaking his head sadly.

Luka reached up and wrenched his hand away, teeth bared, then whirled and stalked away. "Fine, I'll eat your STUPID waffles!"

"They're pancakes!"

"WHO CARES?" she yelled, sitting down. She flipped the bottle of syrup next to her upside down and drenched the soft pancakes in translucent, sticky brown syrup. Then, she stabbed them viciously with her fork and ate them.

Gakupo jiggled his spatula, dangling it from his fingers. "So? How are they?"

"No freakin' comment." Luka muttered, glaring at him. The effect of the glare was somewhat lessened by the syrup mustache that now curled around her lip.

"I'll take that as an, 'I loved, thanks'!" Gakupo said happily.

"You shouldn't."

"Oh, don't be so dark." he said, rolling his eyes and as he dumped his batter-flecked spatula into the sink. "You know you liked them."

Luka was quiet, rubbing her knees and staring resentfully at the floor.

What does she like? Gakupo pondered, leaning against the counter as he thought. What'll get her in a better mood? "So, Luka." he said casually. "What do you like?"

"Like?" she responded, cranky. "Why don't I start with things I don't like? There's a certain someone aaall the way up top on that list, climbing steadily through the ranks as he inches towards the position of my most hated person in this universe-"

"No, no!" Gakupo said. "What do you like to... er... eat?"

"Tuna." she fired back.

"What's your favorite col-?"

"Pink."

"What do you like weari-"

"Skirts, dresses, and no pants- ever."

Gakupo stood still, frozen and out of questions. Well, there was still one question left.

"What color are your-?"

Luka opened her mouth to answer, but then she suddenly realized she had no idea what he was about to ask. She closed it again, waiting tensely.

"What color are your panties?"

"WHAT?" Luka shouted. "What kind of question is THAT? You- you pervert!"

"No, wait, that slipped out-!"

Luka strode across the room and raised her hand to slap him, but Gakupo dodged her. Then, moving quickly, he dipped his finger into what remained of the pancake batter and dotted her on the nose with it.

Luka didn't move for a moment, waiting for her temper to catch up with her. And when it did- she was furious. "I'LL ANNIHILATE YOU!" she shouted, grabbing the entire bowl of batter and splashing its contents across Gakupo's robe.

She stood still, fuming silently while Gakupo stood without moving, arms out. He listened to the sound of dripping as the cold, wet batter rolled down his skin.

All of a sudden, he threw back his head and laughed. The two long ropes of hair that dangled over the front of his chest danced as his shoulders shook.

"WHAT'S SO FUNNY?" Luka yelled, eyes practically shooting lasers of anger.

Gakupo just kept laughing, backing up against the wall and slowly sliding down.

Luka's fingers twitched, longing to coil around his neck and strangle him until he turned as purple as his hair. But she knew that she couldn't, she never would, because she loved that bright, bubbling laughter of his too much...

The laughing pierced her, clawing past her walls- and so she broke, collapsing onto the puddle on the floor in mad laughter.

She laughed so loud that she didn't realize that Gakupo had stopped. Upon realizing this, her face turned red and she turned away, guilty.

"I like your laugh." Gakupo said, smiling stupidly.

"You look ridiculous." Luka scoffed, letting her eyes drift somewhere around the blue circle design on his shirt. Anything to avoid meeting those glimmering, purple-blue eyes.

"Do you have any clothes to change into?"

"No." Luka admitted reluctantly, grimacing as she tried to stand back up.

"So it's settled!" Gakupo said, grinning. "We're going shopping today!"

Luka's face paled in dread. Her knees weakened and she sat back down on the slick, dirty floor.

"Oh, I've never gone lady shopping before!" she heard him pipe excitedly as he wrung out his robe's sleeves. "I wonder how ladies choose their panties?"