Disclaimer: Same as always.. I own nothing! I'm so broke.. ~sniffles~
Single Chapter 3
The next day dawned bright and clear. Tsukushi yawned and stretched as she looked around. It took her a moment before she remembered where she was. A blush crept across her face as last night's events sped through her mind. Throwing the covers off she scooted to the edge of the bed to slide her feet into her slippers. Padding softly across the floor to the door she opened it slower and listened for any sign of movement. There wasn't any. No servants about and from what she could tell Rui hadn't gotten up yet. 'Figures, he usually sleeps late anyways.' She thought to herself as she made her way to the kitchen. She looked through the cabinets and picked out various ingredients for breakfast. She'd surprise Rui with breakfast maybe that would help lessen the tension last night had caused between them. She figured if she went about as nothing happened then maybe the whole incident could be forgotten. 'Not possible.' She told herself as she mixed the eggs in the bowl as the coffee perculated in the coffee pot.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee must have woke Rui up for Tsukushi was startled as his arm appeared from out of know where beside her head to reach for a cup. Spinning around she bumped right into him causing him to drop the cup. The cup luckily landed on top of the dish cloth Tsukushi had just folded and placed on the cabinet. She stumbled a bit still shocked by his abrupt appearance and Rui's arms automatically shot out catching her and pulling him to her. "You alright?" He asked softly his chin resting on the top of her head. Reflexively she gripped his upper arms for support and replied with a rather shaky, "Yes."
The two where unaware that only a few feet away a man was happily capturing their every movement on film. 'Oh nice shot!' He thought smugly to himself as he watch the young man hold the slender girl in his arms. He didn't know why he was being paid to follow this seemingly happy couple but he didn't care. Money was going into his pocket and for all he knew one of them might be having an affair. It would serve them right to be caught.
He felt a momentary slight twinge of guilt thinking that maybe the couple were more suited for each other. Pushing the guilt away he watch as the young man released the girl and took a cup from the counter. To anyone it would look like a normal morning routine. The young man walked over to the coffee maker after grabbing a second cup then placed the two cups on the kitchen table after filling them up.
Back inside Tsukushi's nerves where on edge. Once again she had come in close contact with Rui on accident and just the same as last it had left her feeling warm all over. 'Could I possibly be physically attracted to Rui or is it just embarrassment?' Last night's events flashed through her mind again and she remembered the urge to lick the drop of water off his chest. 'Get it together girl!' She chastised herself and she dished breakfast out of the pan and on to a plate. The eggs and meat she had found in the refrigerator smelled heavenly as she carried it to the table and she remembered that all she had to eat the night before were a couple of bites of ice cream.
The timer on the rice cooker went off and after placing the plate on the table she dished out two bowls of rice before placing one before Rui and sitting down with hers. Breakfast was spent in silence each one chancing glances at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking. Outside the camera continued to capture each moment.
After they had finished breakfast Rui helped her clean up the dishes humming softly to himself. This time it was a classical piece Tsukushi remembered him playing on the violin. Drying her hands she leaned against the counter and studied Rui for a moment before breaking the silence. "Domyoji called last night." She watched as Rui continued to dry the plate replying with a simple, "Oh?" Smiling slightly Tsukushi felt a the urge to snap him with the wash cloth. 'Damn him and his non-intrusive self.' Sighing she hung the towel on a peg on the wall before claiming her cup from the table. She took a sip of the warm liquid and swallowed it before continuing on. "He went to my apartment last night and saw that I wasn't there." For a moment it looked as if Rui's shoulders stiffened but it was only a fraction of a second. "Really?" Scowling at him from behind Tsukushi watched as he placed the plate in the cabinet above his head. She made sure to drop the scowl before he turned around. His face was impassive as always but atleast his gaze wasn't cold. "He wanted to know where I was. I told him I went with my parents and brother to the fishing village." She neglected to mention the other question he asked. She could still hear him blaring over the phone asking who's bed she was sleeping in.
Tsukushi's wince did not escape Rui's gaze but he remained quiet waiting for her to continue. "I have to call my mom and find out when they are coming back. He told me to call him when I return so he could reschedule our date." The word reschedule held a note of anger to it but once again Rui remained quiet. "I lied to him Rui about where I was.. I promised him I'd never lie to him." Sighing she flopped down in the chair a dejected sigh escaping her lips. Rui took the seat across from her and rested his chin on his knuckles. "Well you have three options." Raising a brow Tsukushi leaned forward giving him her full attention. "One.. you go to Tsukasa and tell him the truth. Two you go home and call him telling him you just returned. Or.. three.. stay here until your parents get back." Slumping back in the chair she groaned. "Sure there isn't an option four in there somewhere?" Shaking his head Rui gave her a small smile. "So what's it going to be Makino?"
Closing her eyes she went through the various choices and the various outcomes that could come of them. If she went to Domyoji and told him the truth he would be livid. If she went home and called him to say she came back he'd be suspicious of her early return, it usually took a whole day to get back to the village or more depending on the weather. If she stayed at Rui's she wouldn't have to worry about running into him due to his business always keeping him busy. Plus it would be lonely at the apartment alone and it seemed Rui needed the company just as much as she did. Still she knew that if they were caught it would be worse then just telling him the truth from the start. 'I'll try my best to not let it come to that. Rui is my friend. I should be able to spend time with him whenever I feel like it.' She felt her old spark of rebellion flare up inside and she smiled much to Rui's surprise.
"I'm staying here then. Let me call my mom and see when they will be back." Nodding Rui watched as she pushed away from the table and walked towards her room. Smiling to himself he took a sip of his coffee. In the guest room Tsukushi felt a wave of disbelief as she closed her phone after ending her call with her mother. 'A week? That would leave just one more week with Domyoji if she stuck to her plan.' She was beginning to second guess her decision. 'Maybe I should just go back to the apartment and wait til tomorrow to call him. That would be enough time for me to have gotten back by bus.' Groaning she closed her eyes and fell back on the bed. The word reschedule echoed in her mind and she opened her eyes scowling at the ceiling remembering how he had ended the call the night before.
Holding fast to her resolve she shook her head. 'I waited a year for him he can wait another week.' Plus she needed to get her emotions in check. It would be hard being around Rui all day and half of the night. She had basically became a hermit for a week. She knew she had to be careful if she went out. Looking down at her pajamas she frowned and silently cursed herself for her rash behavior. 'Coming out in my pajamas.. what was I thinking?' Sighing she placed her hand on her face and groaned softly. 'You weren't thinking idiot.. you were reacting.' The words of the song floated back to her and she felt herself smile. It was almost like the Americans knew what was going on in her life.
End Chapter 3
Sorry it took so long, had to travel through four states to my new home and everything is still a little crazy. I'll be working on Ch 4 as soon as possible. Thanks for the reviews and please keep them coming.