Me: Now that Just 4 U is on HIATUS for now, I have more time for A New Road.
I hope you enjoy this chapter!
"The children at the Piyo Piyo Kindergarden loved your cakes, but they specifically liked the A Group's cake. Therefore, I award the A Group 10/10 points! The other groups get 1 point for trying."
"Yay!" I exclaim.
"That was very fun to make." Kuroichi-kun says, giving Sachio-kun a high-five.
"Not bad." Okumura says, though I know he is very proud inside.
"Moving on. Now, I'm sure most of you have seen the posters of the St. Marie's Halloween Bake Sale. So today, we will be making small Halloween treats to sell in the bake sale. The group who sell the most sweets will win 10 points!"
"So, what do you guys want to make?" I ask my group.
"Hmm... Something easy to eat that children and adults will enjoy!" Sachio-kun exclaims.
"How about sugar cookies?" Kuroichi-kun asks.
"If that's what you want to make, I'm in for it." Okumura says.
"They have to be Halloween themed, so what shapes should they be?" I press further.
"Oh! I know! We should make werewolves!" Sachio-kun says excitedly. I freeze. My eyes are wide open, and a look of fear on my face. I can tell a flashback is going to come. But I can't afford to black out in the middle of class. Aoi! They aren't here! It's only a word! My head screams at me. I finally manage to come back to reality.
"Ummmm, don't you think the kids will be afraid of them? Let's do something else, like, Jack-o-Lanterns!" I stammer quickly.
"Kashino..." Okumura says, clearly noticing the change of my personality. I glare at him.
"That sounds great, Aoi-chan." I blush at the use of my first name. Kuroichi-kun is such a gentleman.
"Ok! So, let's get started! Me and Okumura will work on the cookies, while you two make the decorations!" I shout excitedly.
"Kashino, you're being too loud." Okumura teases in a 'I'm joking' voice. We split up into our partners and get into it.
"Kashino, I saw that look on your face. What was that all about?" Okumura questions. I remain silent and keep stirring the batter. "I guess not." He sighs. I'll glad he knows when I don't want to talk.
"They turned out perfectly!" I say happily. "We could definitely sell these!" I say, sampling one. I hand one to Okumura. "Try one!" I say, with a mouthful of pumpkin-spice flavoured cookie.
"Don't talk with your mouth full." Okumura says, smirking. I shove it into his mouth. "Mrrph!" He says. He takes it out of his mouth. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!"
"Sorry." I mumble, staring at the ground. I feel somewhat guilty, although I had only meant to tell him to try it.
"It's okay." He says, ruffling my hair. "It tasted good." I don't know if I'm hallucinating, but I can see the slightest smile on his face. I turn away, trying to hide my flushed red face. Why does Okumura make me feel and fuzzy and warm inside? I guess there are some things in the world I just don't understand yet.
Buzz! Buzz!
"What is it now? I swear, if it's one of those scam advertisments AGAIN, I will-" I curse, trying to do my homework.
"Relax, I'm sure it's nothing!" Kuyumi assures me. I pick up my phone, only to find it saying 'A new text from Okumura Kuuga.' What would he want from me at this hour? (A/N: It's around 9:00.)
Okumura Kuuga: Meet me at the cooking classroom.
Kashino Sakura Aoi: k.
It's around nine ten when I get there, and getting dangerously close to the curfew. Amid the light fog, I see a faint outline, which seems to be the shape of Okumura.
"What did you want?" I immediately question.
"To practice." He replies coolly.
"With who? Kuroichi-kun and Sachio-kun aren't-"
"With you." He says. My face already feels warm. I'm glad he can't see it behind the fog." I also want to ask you something."
"Fine." I agree. I'm curious about what he has to say. "But," I warn. "we better be back by curfew."
"Deal."
We are inside the heated practice kitchen, and warming up from the chilly winds. Suddenly, the lights flicker. We go to the pantry to get the ingredients. Right when we both come in the tight space. The lights go out. Then, even worse for me, I hear a howl. Then I see it. Pale yellow eyes, glinting in the dark, bloodthirsty and hungry for meat. I can feel a flashback coming over me.
"Daddy! Daddy! Look! There's a big dog!" A younger me says, dressed as a ladybug, on Halloween night. I go over to pet the fluffy looking vicious animal. Just as my hand brushes its soft pelt, it happens. The wolf leaps onto me scratching my eye. I am frozen in fear. Then I come back to consciousness only to scream 'Daddy! Daddy!' and my father to find me bleeding on the ground.
I am sent to a hospital, my scratched eye blind and scarred. I am scarred for life, and forever afraid of wolves.
I feel myself screaming, with my eyes shut. Then, something grabs hold of my arm. I can only imagine the wolf getting ready to tear my flesh apart. After that, something totally unexpected happens.
Okumura hugs me.
I cautiously open my eyes, finding that the power has turned back on, and I in Okumura's arms. Once he finds out that I have turned back to normal, he quickly lets me go and turns away, embarrassed of his actions.
"Sorry." He mumbles. "I only did that to calm you down."
"It's okay." I say. I turn a beet red. "I sorta liked it." I add awkwardly. He turns a deep red.
"I-I can call you Aoi, right? Well, when we're alone, I mean." Okumura says, turning away. I don't say anything. "I guess not. That's alri-"
"I-it's okay!" I yelp. "Kuuga." I add playfully, emphasizing the U's in his name. He smiles a slight smile.
"And what's with you and wolves?" He asks. I sigh.
"I guess I'm gonna have to tell you."
As I slowly reveal why I'm afraid of wolves, and my flashbacks about them, I also show the ugly scar I bear on my eye.
"Oh. I can see why now." He says. "I am claustrophobic." He also admits sheepishly.
"We should get out of here." I say.
"Yeah, we probably should."
Me: Did you like that chapter, filled with fluffy Kuoi moments?
Ichigo: My daughter's already finding love at school. *sniffles*
Me: Yeah... Please review~!