The following day, she had been unable to face Kuranosuke. Even though he dressed as a male and worked so diligently, she couldn't look in his direction. The events from last night made her feel like she had been violated. Raped? Was that a little too extreme? No, he hadn't done anything of force except touch her. At first, she didn't want it, but the passionate kisses and the butterflies in her stomach made her feel so light and happy. It was later that evening she realized she was angry with him. She was putting the kitchen in order and grabbing a snack while she was at it, drinking some water when Kuranosuke touched her shoulder. Tsukimi's hand went flying and she delivered a hard slap to his cheek when she spun around to face him, her eyebrows furrowed and the tears started to sting her eyes.
Kuranosuke blinked before the stinging started and he wore a dark expression, one he hadn't worn for a long time. "What was that for?" he asked, his jaw tight.
"I didn't want any of that!" Tsukimi shouted at him, spinning around and hurrying back downstairs to the first floor where their store would be.
Kuranosuke stood there, holding his cheek in annoyance. All he could think was that she was a liar. Even if she didn't voice her opinion of wanting it or not. Turning, he went to quit for the day, going to the bathroom for a shower and to cool off.
Tsukimi, downstairs, had been hanging and fixing anything that seemed out of place. Although she had cried most of the hour since she had come down here, she seemed much more spirited. Making dolls always made her this way. She spoke with Clara once or twice, the first time being when she stormed down here, bawling her eyes out. By now, it came to mind that she was just overreacting. She had been nervous and a little freaked out from last night's experience. Tsukimi, yawning, pulled herself from the floor to go upstairs when she got an eyeful of Kuranosuke roaming around in just a towel wrapped around his waist. He was on the phone. Something about takeout or materials? Tsukimi didn't know. She hurried by, hearing the brief shuffle of an extra pair of feet then a hold on her wrist. His stare was alarming as she stared back
"Yes, please get them to me by tomorrow. No! No Spandex! …Hmmm, Silk for the Surah. Yes, thank you." Kuranosuke said, ending the call and pressing it to the kitchen counter behind her. "Tsukimi," he said, exasperated.
Tsukimi gave a yank at her wrist experimentally, his hold keeping her captive, meeting his gaze in frustration. "What?"
"I'm sorry I scared you. Can I start over?"
Tsukimi remained quiet, studying his purple orbs and that blond hair, droplets of water in the strands. "Start over?"
Kuranosuke rolled his eyes, stepping closer. He had released the hard hold on her wrist to a gentler, soothing hold, rubbing. "I like you, Tsukimi. I cherish you." It was here he brought her hand to his mouth, kissing the back of it as he stared into her dark-brown eyes.
Tsukimi felt her cheeks flush. It had completely skipped her thoughts that he liked her. She just assumed he was taking advantage of her… She was such an idiot. "You're serious?"
Kuranosuke continued to stare at her. Tsukimi's lips pulled into a tight line. Yes, he was definitely serious. "O…kay," she said quietly, and she saw the light in his eyes.
Kuranosuke pulled her closer and lowered his head to her level. "That's great," he murmured, lingering near her as he stared into her eyes. "Can I kiss you?"
Tsukimi blinked multiple times at this question. What had he asked her? With a couple of more blinks, she only nodded a little more, as if he was asking her something she assumed was about food or something. The last thing she expected was his face to come closer. His hand came to her cheek and caressed, studying her expression before closing the distance. His lips pressed gently to hers, lingering until he felt her lips move along with his. Tsukimi had accepted the kiss without much of a fight. It was nice, light and enjoyable. It didn't need to be rough. When he pulled away, his heart jumped into his throat by the red of her face. How well it went with those brown eyes. He brushed strands of hair out of her eyes and backed away, brushing by her. It left her surprised he pulled away so easily as compared to yesterday when he was so aggressive.
The night was quiet. Kuranosuke had finally put on a pair of shorts, walking around without a top on. Tsukimi stared, ogling him. She didn't realize it fully, but her feelings for him were starting to develop. Seeing just how beautiful as a man he was. She quickly averted her gaze when he looked over at her. Crap, I've been caught, she thought. Kuranosuke came over, looking over her, how startled she was. "What would you like for dinner?" he asked.
Tsukimi hesitated for a moment. "I think I would like some Age Gyoza. Deep fried. And I think I want a Tempura Donburi…" she said, glancing up at him every now and then.
Kuranosuke didn't seem to have any objections. "I think I'll get some Soba." He said, pulling his phone out of his pocket, dialing, and putting it to his ear. He relayed what they wanted and he gave their address for delivery and was off the phone in a minute. He stretched and she heard a couple of things pop, listening to him groan in response. He didn't say anything else, just kind of waited until their food was delivered. When it was, Tsukimi's stomach was growling loudly. Kuranosuke hurried down the stairs to the door, pulling out yen to pay for it and taking the food and turning to head back upstairs. He set the takeout on the counter in the kitchen, taking out the containers of the food. Checking each one, he separated them, putting Tsukimi's in one pile and his in another. Tsukimi slowly made her way into the kitchen, checking her food. She propped herself up on the bar-stool provided with the place, split her chopsticks and started on her Donburi dish. She sighed as she took a bite of the tempura. She pulled some vegetables out and ate them with some of the rice. She tested the Gyoza, sighing as well in delight. Tsukimi was this way when she was starving, enjoying the taste of every bite. Kuranosuke ate quietly, glancing at her pleased face every now and then. It made him happy to see her enjoying herself. Already she had made tons of jellyfish dolls for the ceiling downstairs.
After finishing their meal, Kuranosuke could tell Tsukimi was stuffed and she was becoming drowsy. She wobbled slightly on her stool until she nearly slid off, jolting and glancing around. Her eyes came to rest on him for a second, then she slid from the stool. "I think I'll turn in first…" she murmured, shuffling down the hall to the bedroom. The sound of the door shut and Kuranosuke tossed the containers into the trash, then made his way to the bedroom. He didn't think of knocking, so he just came in. He heard a gasp of alarm and Kuranosuke turned his head to find Tsukimi partially naked except for her undergarments. Her back was turned to him as if to protect herself somehow. He had to slip by her to get to his side of the bed, so the closer he got to her, the stiffer Tsukimi became. Kuranosuke stopped behind her. He brushed her long hair over her shoulder, placed a delicate kiss to her shoulder, and caressed her back slightly. He not only felt the bumps rise across her skin, but they were visible as she reacted to his touch. Slipping by her, he gave a stretch and slipped into the right side of the bed, glimpsing at her as he lay.
Tsukimi didn't budge until his eyes were closed. She slipped on her top and a pair of pajama bottoms, scurried to the other side of the bed and slipped beneath the covers. She turned off her bedside light, darkness invading the room. Kuranosuke stirred beside of her. Nothing happened. She let out a held breath, stirring to find a comfortable position. When she did, she found her slumber.
Tsukimi awoke the next morning, comfortable with the warmth. When she came to, she realized the warmth wasn't from the blanket. Her blanket couldn't move on its own. It was Kuranosuke, cuddled so closely, an arm draped over her stomach as if holding her protectively. She turned her head, jumping out of her skin when she found Kuranosuke's purple orbs staring back at her. The corner of his mouth turned upward in a smirk. Tsukimi remained still, alert, staring. Her lips were pursed in her staring contest process. The next moment was surprising to her. It all seemed to happen in the blink of an eye. Kuranosuke had slipped his hand that rested on her stomach up to her chin, tipping it up and toward him. She trembled, but she wanted it. The feel of his lips on hers. Kuranosuke lowered his mouth to hers, kissing slowly, delicately. This went on for what seemed like forever until his phone chirped, the sounding of an alarm that would continue to go off until he turned it off. He seemed to ignore the sound for another minute or two, then reluctantly pulled away. He stared at her for a moment. Her flushed face, swollen lips from the kissing. He shivered. Turning away, he snatched his phone from the table, shut off the god-forsaken alarm and turned back toward her. Tsukimi was still there, splayed out. She looked stunned, dreamy even. Kuranosuke blinked, came closer. Her eyes moved to meet his. There was something different about them. A haze of some sort of emotion he'd never seen her with before. He did what he felt was right. He kissed her again. She moved with him, tasted him as he tasted her. Tsukimi seemed to enjoy it. Her legs stirred. She turned toward him as if to make it easier. Kuranosuke deepened the kiss, became hungrier, and felt the lust start to overwhelm him. Kuranosuke yanked back, breathless. He suddenly realized what it was in her eyes.
Arousal.
^ All characters belong to Akiko Higashimura.
