Title: Living in a Romance Novel
Chapter 3: The Power of the Pen
Authors Note: Alright, third chapter is up! It looks like this fan fiction is sort of clicking with a lot of people, so I'll make sure to update every three days or so. Scouts honor.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or any of the characters. Evalena White is my own creation however, and belongs solely to me.
Beneath the rule of men entirely great, the pen is mightier than the sword. ~ Robert Bulwer-Lytton
"I see our lovely flower is still asleep," Shigure noted as he strolled into the casually. His fingers cleverly whirled a small black pen in his hands. Tucked under his armpit was the troublesome manuscript that Lena had come for the other night. Shigure had a way with women, he always managed to get them to spend the night.
If only it was in the same bed.
"Yes, but rest is good for you, mom always said," and on Tohru blabbed as Shigure narrowed his eyes and starred down at the slim woman, her knees slightly bent, her arms folded together so her hands rested beneath her head. For now, she looked angelic. That wouldn't be the case when she woke up to be the furious flicker of flame he knew she could imitate.
"Well, I'll just leave this here and go work in the back," Shigure set the manuscript down by her face and gave a wide smile.
"Work with what? You don't have any skill to contribute towards working," Yuki snapped as he walked in. Shigure whined that he did have some skill.
"I know, it's too stuffy in here, I'll call Aya!" he cheered up and reached for the phone.
"Dial that number and I'll stick that phone down your throat," Yuki threatened, "Besides, he'll wake White-San up and bother Tohru," not to mention irritate Yuki.
"Ruin all my fun," Shigure moped as he let the phone hit the receiver, "Still, I'll be out in back for when our blooming guest awakens."
"I'm sure she'll go running to the hills with the way you treated her," Yuki retorted bitterly, "Be grateful that Honda-San can put up with you."
"So cruel," Shigure wept as he slid outside. As the door slid closed, Lena moaned and twisted so her back was straight as a board. Her honey brown eyes flew open, and a hand flew to her lips as she gasped.
"I can't believe I fell asleep her, why didn't you wake me?" Lena turned to stare at the two teenagers in the room; her eyes were still in shock.
"You were so tired, it seemed rude," Tohru replied as she brought a small cup of tea over, "here, drink this."
"It was rude of me to impose in such a…" her hand that had steadied her upright sitting position to the side felt the sandy texture of a vanilla envelope, the bulk was big enough for a manuscript. The bastard was a day late.
"If you'll excuse me, where is Mr. Sohma?" she asked crossly as she stood up and found her bearings.
"In the back," Yuki pointed over to the door, and Lena marched outside.
"Mr. Sohma," she snapped, Shigure only patted the spot next to her. Lena walked around instead to face him, as long as she stood and he sat, she could intimidate him. Now he had to look up at her instead of vice versa.
"A lovely day," he remarked, "ah, I see you found the manuscript."
"A day late, I will not tolerate tardiness; from now on we will conduct business outside of the home, this was highly inappropriate to force me to track you down at your home. Let's get this straight right off the back, I am not your friend Mr. Sohma, I am your editor."
"Your words strike me cold in the heart, Evelena," he dared to use her first name. Lena's face tightened, that flicker of anger crossed in her eyes.
"First off, don't ever say my full name," she hated it, "and second, it's Ms. White or White-San to you, whatever is preferable," she would demand respect.
"Why? First names are fun!" he whined.
Impossible, he was impossible.
"Business, we are business, Mr. Sohma," she snarled. He stood up then, his build towered over her as he inched closer with a look of gusto in his eyes.
He wouldn't dare.
"Let's fix that then," his hand took a firm hold of her delicate chin, and he gave a wolfish grin. Lena tried to move her feet, but they were rooted to the spot.
Then his lips assaulted her. His other hand grasped her wrist tightly, he kept her at least a body's way apart, but his lips were both hot and cold, moving across hers in the most delicious way. It was over before the kiss started though and he pulled away.
"There, now I can call you Lena," he beamed, "I hope you have a nice day," he gave her a pat on the rump when she numbly began to walk away.
A scowl crossed her delicate features when her head stopped spinning and the stars shrunk away from the back of her eyelids. The nerve of that man, to attack her like that! And the nerve of her body, to react and surrender so easily.
All in all, it was one up for Shigure and Lena was still at zero.
The cross mode stayed with her for the entire drive home. Prince cried out when she walked through the front door, he did his best to dominate her full attention as he jumped up by her face and muffled a wolfish whine at her side.
"Stop it, you sound like him," she grumbled while she peeled back to the envelope and took the manuscript out. A small post it note was attached with a number to it.
"After this morning, I believe I'll have the right to take you out to dinner. Let me know when – Shigure."
He had it planned the entire time, how to nuzzle in and soften her up.
"Oh, we'll do dinner and that's when I'll lay everything on the table and make positive you understand the comprehension of 'just business' Mr. Sohma, you can count on that," she slammed the yellow post it to her phone and stumbled to the kitchen for a glass of wine.
After a night like that, she deserved a cup…or two.
"What are you up too?" Hatori Sohma demanded on the other side of the phone, "What if she had reacted and taken a hold of you? You could have transformed…leave things be Shigure."
"Why do I always have to be up to something?" Shigure gave a dashing smile though, "I have her figured out, I know what I'm doing. That's the difference between you and me, Hatori. You're too good to other people, me? I scheme only for myself."
"So you are planning something," the disapproving tone came through the phone lines. On the other side, Hatori gave a long sigh. Shigure was impossible.
"Oh, she'll be fine. New Yorkers are tough, she can handle it," Shigure reassured Hatori, from the corner Yuki frowned as he walked forward.
"Shigure, leave White-San alone, she already has to put up with you enough as it," he remarked cruelly, his purple eyes darkened at the thought. "You've already driven the last editor to run away to another country."
"Ha ha, Mii will be fine," Shigure held the phone up to his ear, Hatori rambled on about something.
No worries, he knew Lena White could handle what was in store for her.