(a/n) Yep, it's been really a while, dear readers. School still gets a lot of my time (Out of 7 nights, I only sleep a complete sleep twice!)
Anyways, I've blabbered enough.
Here you go...
After feeling that he has been choking himself, Ogami gasped for breath quickly. His left arm rose without his knowing and started reaching for her. He cleared his mind first.
Sakura-san is the top priority at the moment.
Acting in a split second his hand pushed her head into his chest, his other hand smoothing her shiny long hair in a calming motion. "Everything's gonna be alright, Sakura-san." he whispered.
They stayed in that position for a while; with Ogami's head practically blank all the time.
For what seemed an eternity, the sobs Sakura-san had been muffling through his school uniform gradually decreased. For once, Ogami could focus again on the young lady in his arms. His thoughts earlier swarm their way back again.
Why is Sakura-san crying again?
Why is he here doing this very 'humanly' things?
Why does he feel utterly empty inside?
The horde of questions was suddenly held at bay when dark tearful eyes met with his. His mouth moved a bit, not knowing if to smile and gently coax her or to frown and tell her some sympathetic words.
Either way, Sakura-san beat him to it.
"I'm so sorry to have vent things out on you." Her lips quivered, revealing that she isn't done yet crying. "I mean- ah-" she shook her head "I'm not making so much sense, huh?"
Heavens -hell, Ogami amended, knew how much restrained himself to place her head again in its previous position. Though he still doesn't know why, he just resorted into ruffling her hair. "Honestly, Sakura-san," he is telling the truth "I don't know what to say. I'm afraid that if I speak my mind, I may hurt you unintentionally. And that-" he stopped himself from rambling. Where is he heading? He shrugged inwardly. Whatever.
She attempted to smile at his discomfort but failed miserably. "You're here Rei-kun." She halted herself from pretending to be okay. "It's all that matters."
Those few words have an impact greater than the hits he received from the battle with The One Being Sought. He is rendered speechless. Somehow, he had the feeling of being needed.
And he wouldn't exchange it for anything.
She got herself out of his grasp and tried to fix up her crumpled uniform. His ears can catch a few sniffs. Really, she's just trying to appear that she already got over it.
"Sakura-san," he began, unsure of what to say once again, "I don't know if this might help but," he exhaled. He never wondered he'll say these words in this gruesome lifetime of his. "I'll be here for you, always." He mentally slapped himself. He sounded like a brainless idiot in those romantic movies that always leave goose bumps all over his body. "I mean," he tried to explain, "I'm always available-" he winced. That sounded worse, as if he's flirting. "Sorry-"
His hand that went unnoticed shaking due to his struggle for better words was slapped gently by her. He looked up to her, sensing she's going to say something.
"Rei-kun," she held his gaze, "I understand. I know you'll always be ready to listen if I want someone to talk to."
He sighed in relief. At least a part of her is okay.
Well, he isn't. That's for sure.
When did Ogami learn how to stutter?
Or to know the lines involved in flirting?
Heck, he might be starting to pick up some habits from the bastard Toki.
He stepped on inside the nearly-collapsing mansion with a clouded mind.
And when he said cloudy, that includes tripping over the elevated part of the house after he removed his shoes.
Ignoring the tea that Toki 'accidentally' spilled on his uniform when he passed by the kitchen.
And entering Rui's room when she's about to get changed.
He just excused himself politely at the blushing Rui and mumbled some words of apology then went straight out of the room.
Luckily, that is the only time he 'misplaced' himself in others' room.
He threw his bag carelessly to the floor and soon his body followed. He didn't even have the mind to unroll his futon to settle properly.
He rubbed his face with an arm. What the hell's happening to him?
For the first time in his life, he didn't know what to do with himself. His train of thoughts is in scramble. Every single thing in his head collides with one another, clashing with each other, turning into the headache he had been anticipating that afternoon.
He rolled to his side, finding himself uninvited by his much wanted sleep. His gaze averted to the hole in his wall. The hole that Sakura-san inflicted by herself on the wall.
He smiled on that. It is known that more than half of the school's male population has their eyes glued on her. That affection is owed to their thinking that Sakura-san is some frail girl, a typical naive and pure princess waiting for her knight in the shining armor. What they did not realize is that she is very well capable of herself, a master of several arts of self-defense, a yakuza daughter and...And...
A Rare kind beyond compare.
Ogami, until now, could not believe all the things that happened since he had met her. Her innocence that always gets her into trouble. Her too trusting nature that scared him more than once when she happily believes other peoples lies. Her compassion to stop him from killing though sometimes she forgets that her life is at stake.
His determination to save her from every danger. His resolve to keep her out of the mess with The One Being Sought. His ineffectiveness and stupidity when she was kidnapped.
His unexpected gentleness when it comes to her.
He raised his left hand to his face, the hand that is forever marred by countless bloodshed.
How ironic.
That hand is the one who stroked Sakura-san to comfort her.
He had lived before with Eden's orders as sense of direction, following them like a loyal dog to its master. Never did he think twice, an order is an order, to kill is to kill, to watch over the Rare kind is to...
He doesn't know. As rare as the President comes out of his disgusting cat costume, Ogami is confused.
Really confused.
Do his actions fall under the order to watch over her? Does this 'human' side of him break any rules he had established with himself through the years? Does the barrier he set around his true self already crumbling with each inch of worry he feels for her?
Is he slowly changing that he cannot recognize himself anymore?
His dark thoughts continued to escalate down.
A familiar tune rang around his room. He ignored it for some time, still staring at the hole in the wall. But a flash of Sakura-san's image on his mind convinced him to do otherwise.
Hastily, he dug up his cell phone from his pants pocket. Instincts told him it is someone he needed to speak with the most.
He just flipped it open, not glancing over the caller ID.
"Ogami." came his acknowledgement of the caller.
A moment of silence followed, then a meek voice. "Rei-kun?"
There is only one person in the world who calls him that. He found it refreshing to hear her voice.
"Sakura-san?" He didn't miss the weird tone Sakura-san used to call his name. "Are you still crying?"
Another silence.
A weak laugh came through. "You are the only one who had the uncanny ability to read through my pretensions, Rei-kun."
Her voice is raspy. She must have cried for hours already.
"It sure is helpful sometimes." He wanted to add that she also have that ability over him, but decided against it. "You have the tendency to show off your emotional strength to the point of faking it, Sakura-san."
He heard her sigh. "Can you spare me a minute?"
That made him sat up. Is she still not over that bastard, jerk, imbecile, moron...
"I'm sorry, Rei-kun. My nerves are just all over the place. I didn't mean to disturb your rest-"
He cut her off, knowing she'll drop the call and is embarrassed by his silence. "No no, Sakura-san." He raked his hair with his free hand. "I'm available." Crap. Did he say that sickening line again?
"Are you sure, Rei-kun?" she asked, "I'm warning you. There is a large possibility that you'll hear a soap opera script." She attempted to make the mood lighter that nonetheless ended unsuccessful.
He checked his wristwatch for the time. Hell, he did not notice it is nine in the evening. Dinner's usually at seven.
Obviously, no one bothered to disturb him from his 'self reflection'.
"I don't mind, Sakura-san." he replied sincerely.
"Thanks." gratitude is evident on her voice. "Can I have another favor?"
That made his brow rise. "Sure." he answered warily.
She became quiet for a few seconds.
"Can you meet me at the park?"
He stood up quickly, his whole body on auto-pilot. He strode to his door and opened it quickly.
Yuuki is surprised to see him when he is just about to knock.
"Kagemaru," he said in that childish voice of his, "It's time for dinner."
True, he is thinking about dinner previously and how his housemates forgot to invite him but he just slipped past Code: 03.
He walked briskly through the corridor, paying no heed to the people in the kitchen whose attention he caught.
"Rei, where are you going?" Rui queried.
He heard nothing.
The tension inside him rose. It isn't like the adrenaline rush he has whenever he is fighting someone he has to kill.
It is like a very heavy weight that pulls at his heart to skip a beat, a poison that makes his breathing difficult, a spell that nauseates him bit by bit.
This is bad, he thought, he is beginning to be 'human'.
He accelerated. He is a man of priorities.
And that is Sakura-san at the moment.
Yeah, I know, it's kinda short and some sort of a cliffhanger.
Seriously, I'm having a hard time formulating the plot.
But it always helps me when you R-E-V-I-E-W!
So why don't you click the button below and send me one?