Chapter 19: Tuners & Riders
As Myzuki and Kota stepped into her room, she shivered. Kota made his way over to the window to close it.
"Is that better," He asked.
She nodded in response. She was wondering what was happening in the other room. When they got to the top of the stairs before entering her room, the second floor had been eerily quiet. You could almost hear a pin drop. It's almost like Ikki and Ringo weren't even there.
"So, you're crazy about him?"
"Who," She asked.
"The one you keep thinking about. It's obvious."
"Please, that arrogant idiot," She replied.
He simply raised an eyebrow to that.
"Is there a reason you're bringing this up Kota?"
"It's just like last time," he said.
"What's that supposed to mean," She got defensive.
"It happened with Kenshin. He clouded your judgement. You couldn't see what was really happening,"
"I know that but this time it's different. Plus I think this has nothing to do with what happened with Kenshin and more about what happened between us," She said pointedly.
Flashback
A few weeks after the whole thing with Kenshin happened; Myzuki was still distraught; you could say that she was almost becoming reckless. Kota seemed to be at her house constantly trying to put some sense into her. Her dad was never there these days and he felt compelled to be there.
Kotta had always believed that he and Myzuki should be together. He felt that riders and their tuners had a special bond and believed to achieve the best tuning was to be together mind, body, and soul. The problem was that Kotta was just a serious guy that really wasn't good at expressing his feelings.
He was getting close before Kenshin entered the picture and dashed his hopes. Unrequited love sure hurt a hell of a lot. He wondered on occasion did she know and feigned ignorance? He was currently sitting on her small sofa in her room. She was going on about a ramen shop she wanted to go visit. He was rather tuned out because all he really could focus on was her lips. The way they moved, the way she would slightly bit her lower lip in contemplation about something.
Did she know the things she did to him? If she did, she was a cruel woman. Since the Kenshin break up she has been latching more on to him than ever. He felt at odds. He was happy for the added attention but he also felt jilted because he wasn't anyone's second choice. Did she even notice him in that way?
"Kotta are you even paying attention,"
"No," he said bluntly.
"You jerk," she threw a pillow at him.
"What do you think of me," he asked.
"What do you mean?"
"It wasn't a rhetorical question," He said blandly.
She was slightly uncomfortable now. She had always felt this tension between her and Kota but always pushed any ideas aside. She thought maybe she was full of herself, he never showed any outward interest. All she had to go by was this tension. Besides, she had Kenshin. The opportune word here was had though. He looked at her with a dark gaze, one that he usually had during their tuning sessions. However, unlike those sessions when she was at total ease, there was this chaos brewing underneath the surface.
"Well –"She realized she had never stopped to ask herself this question.
She stared down to the floor unable to meet his gaze. Sometimes he could just pin someone down to the stop with the way he looked at them.
"You're my tuner. What else would you be?"
"I see,"
"What am I to you," she asked.
She wasn't sure if she wanted to know. She thought maybe if things could stay like this, then it would be okay.
"Everything," he said. His voice was low.
That was cryptic. How was she supposed to respond to that? Unbeknownst to her she was biting her lower lip.
"Did you want something to drink?"
She shakily went over to the corner of her room where she had a mini fridge and grab two bottles of water. She needed to preoccupy herself with something. She wasn't sure of the gravity of his response. It's not as if she was with Kenshin anymore and it's not like she was going to be getting back together with him ever.
Kotta was a good guy. He had been there for her always, especially after the break up. Not once did he say, "I told you so," he was supportive. Even if he did have feelings for her, he didn't push himself on her right after Kenshin, maybe because he was older and much more mature.
She always told herself that the connection they had was just of a typical rider and tuner. However, she had never really talked about the tuner rider relationship with any other riders. It felt too personnel to talk about. She honestly didn't know how she felt about him. She knew that she had definitely had come to rely on him, trust him. At this point in her life, he was the only one she could trust and her closest friend at that.
She wasn't going to lie to herself and think she didn't find him attractive. When she first met him, she thanked her lucky stars that her tuner was a hottie and it was a definite plus that he wasn't just looks. She wasn't sure that she could feel for him what she had felt for Kenshin. Nevertheless, if she could give him a chance, then maybe…
She remembered how it was to kiss Kenshin. The longing for him hurt but then the betrayal came reeling its ugly head and she felt like shit for even thinking about that jerk. She was distracted by her internal monologue that she didn't notice Kotta make his way to her.
"You bite your lip any harder and you're going to draw blood," He smirked. Something that wasn't usual for him.
She was startled and dropped the bottles of water.
"I guess I was just being an idiot," She replied.
He grabbed her by the chin and forced her to look at him. They were standing so close. He pulled her lip from between her teeth and gently ran his thumb over it. He took a deep inhale and closed his eyes. He seemed to be relishing the intimacy of the action.
"Kiss me," she said quietly.
His eyes opened in response. Did he just hear her correctly? Was she toying with him? He didn't move. He just looked at her while her request repeated in his mind.
"Do you know what you're asking me?"
"It wasn't a question," She stated slightly annoyed. She was beginning to think maybe it was all in her head and he didn't find her attractive at all. He wrapped he free arm around her.
"That's not what I meant. I meant are you sure?"
"Yes,"
He kissed her without hesitation. The hand he had on her chin made its way through her dark locks. She took his face in her hands then and deepened the kiss. It wasn't enough. She kissed him harder. He stopped abruptly and looked her, her lips swollen from their kisses. He loved the way she looked like that. She looked at him curious as to why they stopped.
He answered her by grabbing her hand and making their way to her bed. He laid her down. She thought he was going to get on top but he laid down beside her and stroked her hair.
"I need you to understand, this isn't about sex,"
She was about to protest and he hushed her by placing a finger over those lips of hers.
"I want you to know this is about something more to me. I know where you are in here right now," he explained as he placed is finger over her temple softly.
"I don't want to be a rebound. I truly believe that tuners and their riders belong together. It's all about synchronicity," he further explained.
He brushed a hand through her hair. He kissed her forehead and nuzzled his way down her neck. She smelled amazing. He gave her light butterfly kisses over her pulse on her neck. He was finding it hard to restrain himself knowing he was the cause for that rapid beat. He wasn't lying about it not being about sex, at least for now. He wanted her to know he wanted her for just more than that.
He felt her hands undo the buttons of his shirt. When it was opened, she ran her fingers lightly over his exposed skin. His soft kisses started turning into bites and she began to mewl under his ministrations. She started to dig her nails into him and threw her head back when he bit harder.
She desired him that much was apparent but he wanted to be sure, there was something more. He needed to be level headed here. That was proving to be difficult with the way her body was responding. Okay maybe it wasn't a good idea to bring her over to the bed. He pulled away reluctantly for the second time that night.
"What's wrong," She asked.
"I need to be the mature one here,"
She rolled her eyes.
"What are you implying that I'm just an immature brat?"
He rolled his eyes this time.
"Is it that you don't find me attractive?"
"Where you not listening earlier?"
"Sometimes I can't understand your vague dribble,"
"Dribble?"
"You know what I mean,"
"Now who's being vague?"
She was getting frustrated and he was slightly amused by this. However, the spell was broken. He wondered did he do the right thing now giving into the heat of the moment or stopping from furthering his actions. Maybe he was thinking too much.
"You know what never mind. I need to go to bed. I have school in the morning anyways,"
She got off the bed and opened the door to the room. He took the hint. He got up lazily, didn't bother to button up his shirt, and made his way to the door. He leaned down and kissed her forehead gently.
"Goodnight then," he said.
She slammed the door behind him and let out a frustrated groan. She went to bed that night thinking how guys could be so infuriating.
Flashback ended
She was right. This had everything to do with what had happened between them. He regretted not giving in that night ever since. He even went as far as to make pretend it never happened just to save face. He was not as mature as she made him out to be. He loved her and this time he wasn't going to just stand idly by.
He was perplexed when he received a call from Kenshin, letting him know that she was in Tokyo. Something he already knew but what he didn't know was that she was getting herself involved with the sky king. He was slightly upset that she had left the states but knew she needed it. She needed time to grow into herself, not get caught up in a whirlwind of chaos.
He figured she would come to understand what he had been trying to tell her that night. This time she would notice him. He knew. He knew when he kissed her back then that they were supposed to be together. He felt it the way she held onto him, the trust she gave him. She cherished him just as much as he cherished her.
He was always thinking too much. This time he would throw caution to the wind. At the end of this journey, he knew they would be together, just as he knew that there was no one else that could tune her. Kenshin and Ikki were just passing fancies and he could deal with that. Nevertheless, he needed to make things clear and he was going to start tonight.
