Oh, there's something I should probably tell you about me before you read further. I don't like to cuss. It's a personal choice, I don't mean to offend or criticize anyone that does, but my choice not to cuss also shows in my writing. I don't say anything beyond the word crap so no one in my stories does either. I know that will make things a little OOC, especially Mitsuru, but my writing is like an extension of my own mouth. Just thought you might want to know. Anyway, hope you still enjoy!
CHAPTER FOUR
"Hey," Mitsuru says after a while. Mahiru has stopped crying by now, only hiccupping every few minutes, her head leaning against his shoulder looking spacey. He tries again, this time with some of his irritation coming back, "Hey, Earth to idiot!"
"Wha?" she snaps out of it, her voice sounding stuffy from crying so much. Mahiru raises her head, sniffling loudly, and looks down at the wet spot on Mitsuru's clothes. Her cheeks turn a shade of red that can be seen even if there wasn't a full moon floating peacefully in the sky. Not like it matters, though. He's still in his tengu form. Whatever happens to these clothes doesn't affect his other clothes in his human form. At least, I don't think so. She shakes her head and looks up at him. Well, he doesn't look too mad. Actually, he doesn't look anywhere near as mad as he usually is.
Her staring starts to irritate him further. "Quit staring at me like I got two heads!"
"Sorry," she mumbles. It must have been my imagination. "So, did you have something to ask?"
"Yeah, where do you want to go? I'm not going to carry you around all night, you friggin' woman."
Mahiru tries to ignore the fact that he is back to calling her "friggin' woman." I had heard him say my name…right? She stifles a yawn. I am pretty tired, considering everything that happened. Maybe I imagined it? She rests her head back on his shoulder and closes her eyes. "Take me home, please. I just want to be back home."
By "home" Mitsuru assumes she means her aunt's house. Jaw set, he starts flying in that direction. He doesn't understand why, but taking Mahiru back to her aunt's bothers him. He doesn't want to take her there. Once he drops her off he'll have to leave. Then where will he go? Back to sleeping on rooftops he guessed. He could go back to the Moonshine. No, there's no way I'm going back to that lot by myself. He could always sleep on her rooftop. No! He scowls at himself. Why the heck would I want to do that for? There's no reason for me to stick around this stupid girl. I already saved her sorry butt and she'll be perfectly fine with that other woman. But…. He growls slightly, but still loud enough for Mahiru to hear. She opens her eyes, wondering what's wrong.
"Umm…Mitsuru?"
What is this…feeling…of not wanting to be away from her? This is so friggin' annoying! I can't stand being near her, that's what's true. I should just drop her right here and now, that would solve all my problems.
"Mitsuru?"
"What?" he finally answers, turning his scowl on Mahiru.
"Umm…," she starts carefully, knowing from experience that he easily blows up on people when he's like this. "W-what are you thinking about? You seem r-really angry about something."
He growls again. "None of your dang business! Now leave me alone. We're almost there anyway."
She bites her lip, not wanting to say any more but knowing she has to. "Uh, Mitsuru?"
"What?!"
She cringes. "We're not almost there. We're not even going in the right direction."
Mitsuru's anger lashes out and Mahiru is afraid that he may just drop her this time like he always threatened he would. "Of course where're almost there! That woman's house is right there!" He lifts one arm to point at a house less than a mile away. She looks to where he is pointing and immediately understands the confusion.
"Oh, gosh, I'm sorry, Mitsuru. Yes, that is my aunt's house, but when I said 'take me home' I meant take me home to the Moonshine."
Mitsuru stops in midair and stares at her blankly, all anger forgotten.
Mahiru giggles. "Don't be so surprised. It's like they say, 'The home is where the heart is,' and my heart is back at the Moonshine. With Nozomu, Misoka, Akira, Oboro, Katsura, and with you." Mitsuru's heart speeds up a little when she says that last part. "So, please, take me back home to my heart."
Mitsuru is stunned for a moment, staring at Mahiru in wonder, and then shakes his head awake, reverting back to his angered state. "Tch, stupid woman. Why didn't you just tell me to take you to the Moonshine in the first place?
Mahiru smiles up at him and it makes Mitsuru almost want to smile back…almost. Geez, now I want to smile? What the heck is wrong with me?
A few minutes later they land on the roof of the Moonshine. Mitsuru puts Mahiru down and then reverts back to his human form. They stand there, staring at each other, in awkward silence.
Mahiru is the first to speak. "Um, Mitsuru, I was wondering…," she messes with her fingers in front of her in nervousness, twisting and untwisting them. "Well, how did you find me tonight? How did you know I was in trouble?"
He snorts. "Because you have a bloody big mouth, that's how. I'm pretty sure people from a mile away could hear you screaming your head off."
"Oh," Mahiru says, looking down at the ground in disappointment. She had hoped he had been looking for her. She looks back up at him, her small smile returning. "Anyway, thank you for saving me."
Mitsuru, unused to being thanked, looks away trying to hide the blush on his cheeks. "Whatever."
Mahiru's smile widens to a grin at his discomfort, but it puts a strain on her cheeks, irritating the bruise from Hokuto's slap, and she lets her smile fade with an, "Ow." Mahiru lifts one hand to touch her wound. It's tender to the touch, feels like it has swollen to the size of a golf ball, and there's a constant throbbing ache.
Out of the corner of her eye she sees Mitsuru stepping closer. She glances up. There's an odd look in Mitsuru's eyes. He's staring at her wound with anger, not at her, but for the one who hurt her. And there is also something else, something Mahiru is not used to seeing on his face. It's a look of concern. Mitsuru stops about a foot in front of her. He raises a hand, as if to caress her cheek, but stops himself, hesitating. Mahiru moves forward, closing the gap, until they are only inches apart. She tilts her head so that Mitsuru's fingers lightly brush her skin. His eyes soften as he cups her cheek gently.
"Mahiru…," he whispers her name for the second time that night, his voice full of an emotion that Mitsuru is only just beginning to realize. He brings his head down, their lips coming closer.
Author's Note
You all are going to hate me for this cliff hanger. But did you really think I would give it to you that easily? Anyway, I might get another chapter posted today, depends on how much work I get done. Either way, after today you probably won't get anymore until Sunday, maybe not until Monday even. This weekend is going to be kind of busy for me. But don't worry, I won't be one of those people that start a fanfic and never finishes. So long as there is at least one person reading my story I will continue writing until it is finished. You are my reason for writing, after all, to entertain you and sweep you away into another world. An escape just for you. ^_^
