Disclaimer: I do not own KWMS.
Streaks of sunlight poured in through the glass window, illuminating the ostentatious room and waking a raven haired maiden from her slumber. Yawning and stretching, the female rose elegantly to a sitting position as she stared out to admire the beautiful scenery which greeted her eyes.
"Such a lovely weather," Misaki smiled. "A perfect day to sneak out of the castle and take a look around," she giggled.
"I wonder whether Honoka will be free to accompany me," she wondered. "If not, then I am going to drag Us-"
Amber eyes widened when the little incident from previous night replayed in her head, piercing her heart with hundreds of knives.
With the gleam now lost from her face, a mist of sorrow fogged her eyes. Her shoulders sagged and she pulled her knees close to her chest. Slowly resting her head on them, Misaki sniffled and mumbled, "Stupid heart… stupid pain… stupid Usui. I knew it…men are hollow creatures...drawing towards beauty and charm like a moth to flame."
A long stretch of silence ensued with the tranquility occasionally perturbed by the chirping of the birds who sung jovially, oblivious to the desolation that engulfed its sole audience.
"Egocentric." A soft voice fell on her ears, bringing her out of her sullen state.
Misaki's head snapped up in alarm as her eyes searched for the source of the voice.
"Who is it?" she asked out loud when her eyes found no one.
"Self- centered." It continued.
"Who is it?" she repeated impatiently. "Show yourself."
"Selfish."
"Stop it." Misaki cried, squeezing her eyes shut and covering her ears to prevent the voice from further affronting her.
"You have to do better than that to shut me out." The voice spoke softly, a hint of amusement lacing its tone.
Misaki slowly opened her eyes only to come face to face with…herself.
"What?" Misaki gasped. "Wh-who are you?"
"I am you…your mind."
"Wh-"
"How can you be so selfish, Misaki?"
"I am being selfish?" Misaki asked disbelievingly.
"Cursing him for following his heart will do you no good. You want to hold onto the man even if his happiness lies somewhere else. Is this not being selfish?"
Misaki opened her mouth to defend but was beaten to it.
"Can you give him what he desires?"
Misaki choked as realization hit her hard. She could never give him what he wanted…what they all want. Never.
"N-no," she admitted meekly.
Her other self smiled knowingly and continued, "So rise up and accept the reality…accept that you can never rival the pulchritude of Suzuna. Usui will be more satisfied if he ends up with her."
Misaki puffed up her cheeks as angry tears welled up in her eyes.
"Jealousy will get you nowhere."
"I am not jealous!" Misaki denied the charge firmly.
Her other self smirked and replied wisely, "I am you. Lying to me is same as lying to yourself."
Before she could throw a comment, Misaki found herself all alone in the room. Her shoulders sagged in defeat and she sighed.
"I guess you are right," she spoke to no one particular. "I should not hold him back…I should let him go."
"I am sorry." Shinzo squeaked as the hold on his neck tightened.
"This was the fiftieth woman you rejected." The subaltern sneered as he lifted him further up the ground.
The color started to drain from Shinzo's face as white spots became visible before his eyes. He badly needed some air.
"Ke-Kenichi-sama," he choked. "I-I am t-the only one who can id-identify h-her."
Realization drew on him as the afore-mentioned subaltern released his grip, allowing the man to drop on his rear on the ground with a thud.
"My patience is wearing thin," Kenichi screamed. "The Lord does not prefer tardiness."
"How am I at fault if you are incapacitated of finding that particular woman?" Shinzo wheezed unknowingly and widened his eyes when he realized that he had further narrowed his chances of survival.
'Oh no! I really pushed his buttons this time,' his mind screamed.
His doubt was confirmed when he was met with the exasperated eyes of a ruthless subaltern.
'May my soul find peace in the afterlife,' Shinzo mentally shuddered.
"Y-you really didn't have to come with me," Misaki stuttered as she stole another glance of her companion.
"Misa-chan," Usui chirped. "I am perfectly aware of that fact after being told so for the tenth time."
'But still you had to come with me,' Misaki silently complained. 'Honoka just had to run an errand for father today.'
Ever since their small 'conversation' in Misaki's room, she had been keeping her distance from Usui but after getting to know about his 'deepest intention', Misaki even struggled to initiate a decent conversation with him.
Unknown to her, this didn't go unnoticed by the blond male.
Her troubled face, the sorrow etched in her usual bright eyes, her awkwardness, her stealing glances of him when she thought he wasn't looking all gave her away.
'What's bothering you, Misaki?' Usui pondered. 'Is it because of my rash behaviour that day?'
He mentally smacked himself for acting so irrationally. He could see the deep rift that had formed between them…he could see her slipping away from his hands and Usui refused to let her go.
The two, after carefully sneaking out from the palace, continued to amble through the forest that environed the castle. Usui learned that this was a proclivity of Misaki whenever she wanted to enfree herself from the circumscription of royalty…and he wasn't surprised.
The taciturnity was starting to get on his nerves but Usui refused to let it show on his and maintained his impassive masquerade.
'He looks so uncomfortable,' Misaki mused sadly as she eyed his stoic façade. 'I really shouldn't have brought him with me.'
"Ano," she whispered to get his attention. She didn't need to wait long as his emerald eyes immediately focused on her form.
His intent gaze caught her off guard as a pink color adorned her cheeks.
Taking a deep breath, Misaki continued confidently, "I hope you are aware of the fact that you are free to take your own decisions."
Usui remained silent as he waited for Misaki to put her point.
Misaki sighed indignantly after receiving no response. "Even if it's about your…ownership."
She searched his face for any sort of reaction but all she received was a rise of an eyebrow.
A vein popped in her forehead at his lack of response and she clenched her fists in irritation.
"This was your cue to say something, idiot!" Misaki said, gritting her teeth.
How did he get on her nerves even without saying anything was really beyond her.
Usui continued to stare at Misaki who now shut her eyes to calm her rapidly beating heart.
'Why am I so nervous?' she asked herself.
"Are you going to say anything or wh-" Misaki was cut off by the deep voice of the male who stood before her. "What is this about?"
'Do I need to spell it out to him now? Stupid Usui!' she screamed in her mind.
"I will not stop you if you decide to …serve someone else," Misaki replied softly as she looked away from his face.
Usui gently cupped her cheek and slowly turned her face to look into those deep amber orbs which inadvertently perturbed his mind day and night.
"Do you want to get rid of me?" he asked seriously.
Misaki's heart skipped a beat at the seriousness in his eyes but she roughly pushed his hand away from her face to sustain her irked façade.
"Do not twist my words," Misaki said venomously. "I give you permission to resign if this is the reason you are holding back," she said half heartedly but her eyes betrayed her as tears slowly welled up in them.
"No."
'F-fine, you are dismi- wait no?" Misaki squeaked.
"No," Usui repeated firmly as he pinned Misaki to a nearby tree. "Why are trying to get rid of me?"
"Let me go," Misaki mumbled as she tried to sneak out but Usui used his arms to prevent her escape.
"If that is the case, then let me inform you princess, no matter what you do…what you say can make me leave your side…not now…not ever." Usui whispered in her ear, making her shiver involuntarily.
"I will never give you what you desire," Misaki said weakly.
"And what is that I desire, princess?" Usui asked seductively.
Misaki's breath hitched in her throat as he started to lower his face to her level.
She widened her eyes as her mind screamed in alarm. 'Is…is he going to k-kiss me?' Amber eyes widened.
Usui hovered his lips over hers while Misaki could feel his warm breath on her face.
Her knees buckled in anticipation and just when Usui was going to close the distance between them, a voice interrupted them out of the blue.
"She is the one!"
Muahahaha, ain't I an evil soul? :P
Stay tuned to find out what follows.
Review ne, minna.
Ja ne.