AN: Thank you to everyone for your lovely reviews. They were a great inspiration for adding another chapter to this story and I felt what a better day to share it than on a day filled with presents.
I hope you enjoy my present to you all.
Love,
Haruko
xxxxxxx
Darker Than Black
Here I Am: Ch 2
Wearing a white tank top and grey sweat shorts, Misaki grabbed a tea bag and pulled a cup of hot water from her microwave. It was great to sit down and relax after a long and hard day with a nice hot cup of tea.
Thanks to BK-201's actions at the party, her mind kept wondering off about him. She had no clue what his motives were. Perhaps he was supposed to keep her busy while another one of his teammates stole valuables or killed someone. However, she was beginning to think he had other plans.
Although, that was the least of her worries since she had three incidents due to her lost thoughts.
The first was because of her dwelling on a certain pair of blue eyes, which caused her to run a red light, resulting in an accident. Even though she was able to swerve out of the way of a red Toyota, it ended up smashing into a parked green Honda. Thank goodness no one was hurt.
Her second incident happened when she believed she had seen BK-201 standing on the sidewalk close to an alley by a crime scene. Watching him enter it, she quickly chased after him with Saitou trailing, only to find a black cat rummaging around the garbage. Although she thought for sure that it had been BK-201, she also concluded it might have been a hallucinating.
The third dilemma was at a restaurant where she had snuck into the men's restroom and opened the stall she believed she had seen the Black Reaper walk into. She noticed in one of the stalls someone wearing black pants and shoes.
Taking in a deep breath, Misaki pulled out her gun, stood before the stall door, and kicked it in while aiming her gun. Unfortunately, it happened to be the manager doing his business while reading the newspaper. The manager ended up falling off the seat scared and getting feces all over his pants. It didn't help matters that Saitou had entered shortly after.
The brunette officer had spent a couple of hours explaining to the manager and her boss that she was following a suspect.
Realizing what BK-201's motives were, she sighed in frustration. He was scrambling her brain with nonsense and preventing her from arresting him.
On the other hand, maybe he did like her and felt that the party was a time he could make his move.
"You idiot, Misaki!" she yelled at herself. "He's a contractor. There's no way he would think that irrationally."
She would not fall for his charm again. Next time, she would cuff and take him in for questioning.
After setting the tea bag in the water, she sat on the couch when her phone rang on her coffee table. She placed the tea down and picked up her phone to see Kanami was calling.
"Hello?" she answered.
"So where did you go last night with the hot guy?" asked Kanami.
"What?"
"You two left together. Neither one of you came back to the party."
"Nothing happened."
"What do you mean? Didn't he kiss you?"
"Well, yes, but that's all."
Misaki shifted the phone to her left ear and then picked up her tea.
"What do you mean, that's all?"
"He kissed me and left," replied Misaki, taking a sip of her tea.
"Now I'm the one who doesn't believe you."
"It's the truth."
"Was he cute?"
"I don't know."
Misaki took another sip.
"You never saw his face?"
"No."
"Did you even try to sneak a peek?"
Misaki set the tea down, and said, "Kanami, can we drop it?"
"NO! I don't understand how you can leave with a hot masked man, kiss him, and never see his face."
Me too, she thought to herself. Misaki lay across the length of the couch.
"If it was me, I would have ripped that mask off as soon as he started kissing me."
"Easier said than done," Misaki laughed.
"You enjoyed him, didn't you?"
"I'm not going to talk about it!"
"I'm in the neighborhood, I'll be over shortly."
"Of course you're in the neighborhood, Kanami. You live a few blocks down."
"You're hiding something."
"There's nothing to talk about!"
"I'm coming over to get the truth out of you in person, or I'm taking you shopping tomorrow."
"Yes I did, all right! Now drop it."
"Knew it! Misaki, we need to find out who this man is that has got you love sick."
"I already know, she said to herself again. "I'm not love sick."
"Yes you are. What happened after you two kissed?"
"A couple came up to the roof. We left and went separate ways."
"Did you give him your number?"
"No."
"Did he give you his?"
"No!"
"No name, no number, no face." Kanami let out a breath of frustration. "You're lying."
"No I'm not."
"There is no way. No way. You two were really into each other yesterday. He had to have taken you back to his place or something."
"Well, he didn't."
"Fine, don't tell me the truth."
"It was only a bet I lost, Kanami. Nothing more. I'm not attracted to him."
"How would you know since you never saw his face?"
"His attitude."
"Whatever, Misaki. Considering you couldn't unmask him while you two kissed, I'd say you liked him."
"Think what you want."
"By the way, what is with you and masked men?" Kanami chuckled, causing Misaki to frown. "Anyway, I'm going to do my best to find out who he is and Ootsuka said she'd help."
"You do that," whispered Misaki. "And let me know who he is."
"What was that?"
"Leave it alo…" began Misaki, but stopped from a loud thump coming from her balcony and sat normally. "Kanami, I have to go."
"What's up? Is he back?"
"I'm not going to see him again, Kanami. I'll talk to you later."
"Wait, no. I want…" Misaki hung up the phone.
Getting up from the couch, she went over to the kitchen, stood by the counter near her fridge, bent down to open her toe-kick cabinet drawer, and pulled out her spare gun.
Walking over to her balcony door, she opened the curtains while pointing her gun, but didn't see anything unusual. She slowly opened the door and cautiously stepped out into the cool night air. Shivering slightly, she looked around the somewhat darkened neighborhood. Seeing nothing but a few cars driving by and a black cat at her neighbor's balcony, she went back inside.
"Must have been the cat," she said to herself.
After closing the door, she returned her gun to the drawer, and stepped before the refrigerator to get something to drink. However, when she opened the door, she found herself in a trance, thinking about the kiss she had supposedly shared with BK-201.
She had been thinking about it all day. Why couldn't she let it go? Was it possible she liked him? That was absurd; she didn't even know who he was. No matter how charming she thought he was, she couldn't let herself or anyone else know she could fall for him: especially Kanami.
Coming back to reality, Misaki pulled out a carton of milk and drank directly from it, finishing off the contents before closing the door and throwing the empty carton in her recyclables.
As she approached the steps down from her kitchen, the lights went out, causing her to misjudge it and tumble forward. Before she hit the ground, she was caught with her head pressed firmly up against a man's chest.
The room was partially illuminated by the streetlights, so while looking up, she could see the stitching of crossbones and a skull.
"Careful, Chief Kirihara," the man from the party spoke.
Withdrawing her fear, she tried pushing away from him, but he held onto her wrist to prevent her from going for her gun. Turning her wrist and pulling downward, she was able to break free from his hold and run back to the drawer, but as she made it, he flung a wire around her body. He pulled slightly to have her turn around and gaze at him sternly. Expecting him to be dressed in his Reaper attire, she was astounded he was in his black vest outfit and mask from the party.
Misaki would have preferred his Shinigami outfit and quiver in fear, rather than be infatuated by how handsome he looked.
"I've already called for back-up," she informed. "They'll be here shortly."
"I didn't come to hurt you."
"What do you want from me?"
"The same thing you want from me."
"I don't want anything from you except to see you behind bars, BK-201."
"It's Hei," he said, huskily.
"Huh?"
"My name. It's Hei."
"All right then, Hei. Put your hands up so I can arrest you."
He pulled her towards him and, as he embraced her in his arms, he released the wire.
"We were interrupted."
"Huh?"
"We never got to finish our evening together."
"And what makes you think I want to finish anything with you?"
"Because of the way you kissed me."
"What are you on? Let go of me," she demanded, as she tried to push away. Realizing his hold was too strong, she tried to knee him between the legs. However, she couldn't get enough strength into it. "Let go of me!" she repeated, while trying to stomp on his foot, but her bare foot didn't faze him.
"I thought you wanted to capture me?"
"No… I mean… yes. Not like this."
"Why not?"
"You're a contractor and acting irrationally."
"So I have been told multiple times."
"Huh?"
"You do not know what you have done to me. I've spent all day thinking of nothing but you."
"You've been following me, haven't you?" Misaki asked, believing she had not been hallucinating.
"I could never get you alone."
"I thought you said just one kiss?"
"It's not enough."
"That does it, you're on crack!" she yelled, trying to push him away again, but it was as if he had the strength of ten men.
He leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. Misaki moaned in protest from it and answered back with a bite to his bottom lip.
Hei pulled slightly away and then touched with his index finger where she had left a small mark.
"I'm sorry," he began. "I was wrong. I thought that maybe you felt something between us at the party. Perhaps I had too much wine."
He released her from his hold and began heading towards the balcony.
She watched as he exited the balcony and disappeared into the darkness.
"What the hell am I doing?" she questioned to herself. "That was BK-201 and I just let him leave without trying to interrogate or arrest him?" That was her one lost opportunity to unmask him.
"WAIT!" she yelled, as she ran out to the balcony, hoping he was still outside.
She peeked over the railing to see if she could see any sign of him, but it was the same as Alice's party. He was nowhere to be seen.
Remembering the warmth and comfort of how he kissed her, she touched her finger to her lip and became saddened by his disappearance. How stupid of her. She wanted him back in her arms and here he was handing himself to her, but she let him go.
She looked one last time, hoping to see if he may still be out there, but came up with the same results.
Sighing, she turned around to find him leaning against her doorframe smiling.
"Missed me?" he commented.
Startled by his appearance, she tried to keep her cool by standing firmly. She didn't need him to know she actually wanted his company.
"Are you surrendering to me?" Misaki asked.
"Are you to me?" he countered.
"Hardly."
"You did at the party."
"And exactly what went down at the party where you had to keep me occupied. You were on an assignment, weren't you?"
"I still am."
"What does your organization want from me?"
"Nothing important."
"If you want to stay here with me, then I demand you tell me. In addition, you can give me the details about the organization you work for."
"It was a mission I was unable to complete after we kissed."
"You couldn't go through with it?" she questioned, as he moved inches towards her. "Did they send you to kill me?"
"It depended on what you knew."
"And what do they think I know?"
"Something I'm sure you will find out if you do not already know."
"Why not just kill me then?"
Hei stepped before her, raised his hand to brush her cheek, moved it behind her neck and leaned in to kiss her once more.
"You already know the answer, Misaki."
Although her mind said to kick him in the groin and rip off his mask, her body demanded more as the kiss they shared plagued her mind once more. She placed her hands on his neck and drew him in closer, as he wrapped his other around her waist to press her firmly against him.
"Is this… really… happening?" she said between kisses. "Is it a dream?"
"It's real."
"I don't believe it," she said, trying to pull away, but couldn't as he yanked her back to kiss her neck. "This is a trick. You're still trying to gather information from me."
"Perhaps."
She pushed him at arms length, and said, "I knew it. You're still on assignment. I won't give anything away until you tell me about your organization first."
"How have you bewitched me?"
"Excuse me?"
"Did you drug me with something?"
Her right eye slanted. "Are you feeling all right, Hei? Did you get hit in the head?"
"Whatever you gave me, I've never felt more alive thanks to it," he said, and pulled her back into him to kiss her again.
"I didn't… give… you… anything," she replied, completely given into his kiss.
A minute later, Misaki heard someone knocking at her front door. She couldn't pull away from him to answer it and hoped the person would leave.
However, the rude person knocked three more times.
"Misaki, open up! How dare you lie to me and then hang up on me!" Kanami yelled. "MISAKI!"
She just couldn't let it be and stay home, could she? Misaki thought.
"Looks like we'll have to continue another night," he said, as he slowly pulled away from her.
"Wait!" she uttered, holding onto his hand, as he walked behind her.
"MISAKI! You better be in there with that guy from the party," continued Kanami.
"Take me with you," said Misaki.
He turned around and rested his hand on her cheek. "Not tonight."
He leaned in and gave her one final kiss before pulling towards the railing.
"Can I have another try?"
"At what?" he asked.
"Removing your mask."
He smirked, and answered, "One more."
Leaping over the railing, he threw out his wire to latch around a tree branch and flew off. However, the tree branch cracked to have him fall to the ground, and hit the edge of a tan, flowerbed stonewall with his right foot. Misaki peeked over the railing, looked down to see him slowly stand and begin limping away.
She quickly ran to her front door and opened it, revealing a displeased Kanami.
"It's about time," protested Kanami while crossing her arms. "Your extra key is missing. What were you doing in there, pleasuring yourse…" Ignoring her, Misaki ran by Kanami. "Hey, wait. Where are…? Misaki!"
Misaki ran down the apartment stairs as fast as she could, hoping that she could catch up with him on the street since he had hurt himself. She thanked Kami she only lived on the third floor, as she ran out the front door, turned left, and headed down the street, looking for anyone dressed in a black suit.
She traveled down a few blocks before she gave up. Breathing out, she said, "Hei, please come back."
Kanami, who was out of breath, ran up behind her.
"What are you… doing…? Misaki?"
"Jogging."
"Funny. Did you… see someone?"
"Yeah, I thought it was someone from a case I'm working on."
"BK… 201?"
"Now why would you think that?"
"Your… obsessed… look."
"I don't have such a look. And if you're so out of breath, maybe you should quit smoking."
"Whatever! Come on… let's head back… and talk about the other… masked guy. Walking… if you don't mind."
Misaki moaned in protest and followed Kanami back to her place. Five minutes later, they entered Misaki's apartment with Kanami flopping onto the couch.
"Phew! Much better," she uttered relieved. "All right! Ootsuka is going to make a post asking if any of her friends were with someone cosplaying as GACKT."
"Wait, how did you know he was…?"
"I'm a huge fan."
"You were spying on our conversation?"
"Of course not." Kanami grinned. "I really am just a huge Dear."
Misaki looked at her friend skeptical, realizing Kanami had been close enough to hear hers and BK-201's conversation. She must have really been into BK-201 at the time and blocked out all her surroundings.
Xxxx
"So tell me exactly how you injured your foot again," demanded Huang, glaring at Hei while sweating from anger. "I didn't give you any assignments yesterday evening."
"Playing soccer with some friends," he informed, lying down on the bench.
A cane lied on the ground beside him with Mao lying next to it. Band-aids were on his nose, back left paw, lower back and behind. Yin stood in a puddle with her left hand holding the rail to the slide's stairs.
Mao had told Hei it was from the bee stings. Apparently, one was a queen bee which resulted in multiple stings and since he didn't want to scratch them, he had asked Yin, who had some at the smoke shop, to apply them.
"You don't have any friends," said Huang, pulling his cap off and wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"My neighbors needed another player and asked me to help out with their team."
"You should have told them no."
"I didn't have any assignments and I was bored," Hei yawned.
"The Syndicate's not going to be happy."
"Not much I can do right now."
"You have three days to get better. If not, you'll have to carry out the assignments in pain."
"I'll be better by then."
"You better," he said. "And you," Huang shifted his attention towards Mao, putting his cap back on, "take off the band-aids. It draws too much attention to you." He reached down and ripped the one off of Mao's back, pulling out some of his hair and causing him to scream.
"What's the big deal?" Mao yelled, as Huang left the park. "Damn, that took away one of my cat lives." Mao looked over at Hei. "So what really happened?"
"Jumped out of my apartment wrong, is all."
"He would have believed that instead of some made up soccer game."
"I like to play soccer."
"Since when?"
"Since I was a kid."
"Which was many years ago and why you should have gone with jumping out of your apartment wrong."
"She's at your apartment," said Yin.
"What was that?" Mao and Hei asked, simultaneously while glancing at her.
"The lady in blue."
"Officer Kirihara?" questioned Hei. Yin nodded.
"What is she doing at my apartment?"
"I would presume looking for Li, Hei."
"But she's never come to my apartment since my first case."
"She knows," said Yin.
"Knows? Knows what?"
"You injured your foot leaving her apartment."
"What was that?" Mao asked, as his eyes lit up.
"She wants to confirm her suspicions," Yin continued.
Hei was beginning to think Yin was a fortuneteller. Actually, Peeping Tom was more like it.
"You never bore me," said Mao, looking at Hei. "Hei, I suggest you keep your distance from her until your foot heals. And I'm not going to ask why you were at her apartment, because I'm sure I already know."
"I injected myself with the serum instead of Misaki."
"On a first name bases with her now, huh?"
Hei glared at him
"Anyway, it should have only lasted a few hours, Hei. It should have been out of your system."
"You forget I'm a contractor. Can you explain any other reason why I'm acting this way?"
"I can't explain why you act the way you do half of the time anyways. Perhaps someone at the party spiked the punch or maybe you're just attracted to her."
"That's irrational."
"Yes, but you are still a man and men need to be pleasu…"
"Yin," began Hei, interrupting Mao, knowing where his conversation was heading. He didn't need to hear that from a cat. "Let me know when she leaves the area."
Yin nodded.
Perhaps Mao was right. Ever since the kiss, he had these urges of wanting nothing more than to hold and kiss her pumping through his veins. The only way he felt he could release them was spending some alone time with her.
All Hei knew was that he would not take Mao's advice and stay away from her. Once Yin told him she was alone again, preferably at home, he would have to visit her.
Xxx
After a tiring day at work, Misaki headed over to Li's apartment. Within a half an hour, she stood before room 201, knocking on the door with no reply.
BK-201's injury had been bothering her all day. It was the perfect opportunity to find out once and for all if her suspicions were correct. Ever since she saw BK-201's back at the shrine, and Li's at the clothing store, she still couldn't help think that they were the same person. The two, however, couldn't be anymore different. Hei was like the new GACKT: outspoken, confident and seductive, where Li was like the early Gackt during interviews: shy and quiet.
She giggled slightly, realizing she was comparing the same man with different personalities.
They're not the same, she tried to tell herself.
However, she only needed to confirm it, and that was why she was here. If Li's foot was not injured, then they are not the same and she could ease her mind from these crazy thoughts.
"Are you looking for Li-san?" said Misuzu, who was looking up at her from the ground floor.
Shaking away her thoughts, Misaki moved away from the door to glance over the railing at her, and said, "Um, yes. Have you seen him?"
"He sometimes goes to a ramen restaurant just down the street for dinner around this time. You may try him there and be able to catch him before he leaves for work."
Misaki quickly descended the stairs.
"Which way?"
"Just a few blocks down that way." She pointed to her left. "It's called The Home Run House."
"Thank you." She bowed.
"You're welcome," Misuzu returned.
Misaki decided to walk since it was only a few blocks away. When she got about a third of the way there, she had caught a glimpse of a man wearing a white button up shirt in a children's play park with an elephant slide. Turning her attention towards it, she saw Li lying on a round wood bench under a tree with his hands behind his head and a black cat lying next to him.
"Li-kun!"
Startling him, he sat up while the cat looked as though it had been surprised too, and rose to its feet with its fur on edge. It seemed the cat had a few fleas since it was scratching itself, which made her believe that was why it had jumped. The most curious thing she noticed about the cat was a band-aid on its nose.
"Kirihara-san?" questioned Li, glancing at her. "What are…? What brings you to this neighborhood?"
"I was looking for you."
"For me? Why?"
"I…I was hoping you could help me with something."
"Sure. What is it?"
"A case."
"A case?"
"Yes, I'm looking for someone."
"Who?"
"Just wondered if you've seen a man with black hair about 152 centimeters tall living around here?"
"Wow. That describes most of Asia. That even describes me. Do you have more to go on?"
"He has dark blue eyes. Not too many Asians have them."
"That's true. I do get told I have unique eyes."
"So have you seen him?"
"Except me, no one else in this neighborhood. Why are you looking for him? Is he a criminal or something?"
"Perhaps."
"So, am I a suspect in this case?"
"Would you walk with me?"
"Walk with you?" Li questioned, blinking his eyes.
"Yes, I became hungry when your landlady mentioned a ramen restaurant."
"Umm… sure, except, I was on my way to school.
"You have classes on a Sunday?"
"Ah… I meant work."
"Too bad."
"Yeah," he replied, as Misaki looked down to notice the cane.
"Li, you have a cane? Did you injure yourself?"
"Umm… ah… no," he said, bending down to pick it up. He put his hand on the handle and pulled it out to reveal it was an umbrella. "You can't be too sure when it is going to rain."
Misaki eyed him suspiciously, not believing that big umbrella fit in that tiny cane, and looked at his right foot.
"Would you walk with me to the restaurant anyway? I believe the nearest train station is that way, so you'll be headed in the same direction, am I right?"
"Umm… no… the other way."
"Really?"
"Rain check for Friday at this time perhaps."
"Li-kun."
"Yes, Kirihara-san?"
"Stand up."
"Eh?"
"I'm serious, Li-kun."
Noticing where her demanding eyes were focused, Hei quickly stood.
"AHH, HAI!" he shouted, mostly from the pain shooting through his foot. Damn! Why didn't Yin inform me she was headed this way? He couldn't blame the doll; he had only asked her to tell him when Misaki left the area.
Since her eyes were focused on his foot, she didn't see the pain in his facial expression. It was best just to try and hide the fact he had injured his foot, or she may suspect him more.
"Walk for me."
"But you've seen me walk before."
"Yes, but you always do it so casually with a cool but shy appearance."
"I'm not injured, Kirihara-san."
"Then walk in a circle for me."
Hei took a deep breath as he slowly walked in a circle around Mao, holding back the pain he felt in his foot.
"Satisfied?" he asked, coming to a stop.
"Not yet. Run and jump in place."
"Eh?"
"Do it!"
Hei took and even deeper breath and began to run and jump in place. Mao stood up and walked away from him, not wanting to get stepped on.
"Faster."
Hei sped up while clenching his teeth slightly, trying not to holler in pain.
"See! I'm running and jumping in place! I'm running and jumping in place!" he yelled, helping with releasing some of his agony.
Mao glared at him, believing he had seen this scene in an old movie.
"Now tap dance."
"Tap dance? I don't know…" he began, but Misaki just glared at him. He began tapping his foot on the ground with no rhythm, making it look more as if he had to pee.
"That's not how you tap dance," Misaki said, giggling.
"I told you I don't know how to."
"It's more like this." Misaki began tap dancing with a more harsh and fluent rhythm. "Now you."
Hei smiled, but behind it was a cringing pain while he began copying Misaki's motion.
"I'm tap dancing in place! I'm tap dancing in place! I'm tap dancing in place!"
"That's enough!" yelled Misaki, displeased, but also realized that Li wasn't her masked man. Hei did so. "I'm sorry for suspecting you."
"It's all right. You're just doing your job," he replied, dropping the umbrella cane on purpose behind him.
He turned around to pick it up, but used the moment to scream silently in pain. Mao stared at him with a huge smile. Hei returned it with a devilish and hungry glare, causing Mao's fur to stand up.
"Let me make it up to you sometime," said Misaki.
He straightened up to look back at her, and said, "That sounds great. In fact, what time is it?"
"About five forty-five."
"I have a little time, how about we go eat," Hei commented, putting his left hand on her waist.
He turned her around, stood behind her so that she could not see his facial expression, and bit down on his lips to dispel the pain that was emanating from his foot while guiding her out the park. After dealing with worse pain due to his occupation, he could handle an injured ankle until they reached her car that he prayed was parked outside the park.
Without making it obvious, Hei used his cane to support his right side while staying behind her. Walking out of the park, he looked for Misaki's Porsche but did not see it.
DAMN! he yelled in his head. This is going to hurt like hell.
Even though he knew it wasn't right, he stayed behind her so that she couldn't see him use the cane and make painful expressions. It was a good thing the restaurant was closer than his apartment.
Misaki looked back at him, making him walk normally.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
"Fine," he said, almost in a high pitch voice.
She held up so that she could stand beside him, and said, "That's better."
Hei took a deep breath and continued with their walk.
Why did I suggest getting something to eat? he thought.
Reaching the restaurant five minutes later, Hei opened the door for Misaki and entered behind her to see the place was packed with people dressed in colorful outfits. He felt like he was back at the masquerade party. There were no empty tables, surprising Hei since he seemed to be the only customer besides the pink-haired girl.
Rika came out from the back with a tray full of ramen.
"Hello, Li-san," she said, greeting him as she went to place the meals on a table. "It will be about an hour wait."
"You're very busy," commented Hei.
"That's because there's an anime convention down the street."
"Oh, that would explain it."
"We can order it to go then," Misaki commented.
"TO GO?" Hei squealed, displeased having to walk some more.
"Your apartment is close by, we can eat there."
Not close enough, Hei thought. I just want to sit and eat now.
"Is there something wrong?"
"We can take it to the park and eat."
"Do you not like my idea?"
"Ah… no… Of course I do." Except my FOOT is about to fall off!
"For Li-san's usual order, it will still be about an hour to prepare," smiled Rika.
"AN HOUR!" he cried, as his stomach growled, causing the restaurant to shake. Everyone in the restaurant stared at him flabbergasted.
"I can't wait that long either," commented Misaki, her stomach half-heartedly mimicking his.
"I can have him make you about five bowls to go in 15 minutes," said Rika.
"I guess it'll have to do as an appetizer," said Hei.
Misaki nodded, showing that she agreed.
Hei leaned against the wall, trying to keep his weight on his good foot. However, two minutes into their wait, Misaki happened to glance down and notice his stance. To ease her mind, along with his, he switched positions on his feet to make it look as though he was uncomfortable. Accepting his adjustments, she returned her gaze forward.
Now that he was indeed uncomfortable, he wanted to swap them out again, but thought it best to stay like this.
However, he wished he had, as the pink-haired girl burst into the restaurant towards Rika and stepped on his foot. Hei forced himself from cringing in agony, but on the inside, he was screaming to where his own eardrums could hear it. He was happy Misaki's attention was focused on Kiko and not him.
"Rika, you have to come to the convention with me!" shouted Kiko.
"Can't! We're busy," said Rika.
Kiko looked around, astounded at the crowd, and said, "Wow! You wouldn't be able to notice if Li-san was here!"
"Actually…"
"Rika, table four is ready!" shouted her father.
"Hai! Got to go."
Rika headed to the back as Kiko pouted and ran out the restaurant, stepping on Li's foot again.
F##K! yelled Hei in his head.
Ten minutes later, they received their food and exited the restaurant with Hei carrying all the bags of food. Misaki ended up holding his cane for him. His foot was numb and was probably four times the size it should be no thanks to the pink-haired girl. He was more than likely not going to be better for his next assignment.
As they walked back to his apartment, the pain was becoming unbearable and Hei didn't think he could make it.
To his luck, Mao had exited the park behind the restaurant and was walking slightly in front of him.
Picking up the pace, and increasing the throbbing in his foot, Hei came up to Misaki's right and purposely stepped on Mao. Mao meowed in pain, as Hei stumbled forward, trying not to drop any of the bags. After regaining his balance, he stopped and hollered in agony while playing it off that he had just sprained his ankle.
"Are you all right, Li-kun?" she asked, while Hei balanced himself on one foot.
"I think I sprained my foot," he said, noticing Mao giving him an evil look. "I'll be fine." At least he could show a little pain in his step now.
"Would you like me to get my car?"
"Ah, that won't be necessary," he said. "Though, if you could hand me my umbrella back and carry the food that would be nice."
Misaki nodded in agreement, grabbed the groceries from his left hand and then handed him the cane.
"Thanks," he said.
"Are you all right now?"
"Yes," he replied, wishing she had taken the bags from his other hand.
A little later, they walked up to his apartment complex to see his landlady sweeping.
"Ah, Li-san, you're hurt," she said.
"Ah, hai," he replied. "I tripped on a cat."
Misuzu stopped sweeping, narrowed her eyes, and asked, "Would it have happened to be a black cat with a red collar?"
"Why, yes it was," remarked Misaki surprised.
"That damn cat, always causing trouble around here." She held her broom like a baseball bat and began to swing it, as if she were bunting. "I've sprained my ankle plenty of times stepping on him." Misaki looked at her quizzically. Perhaps that was why the poor cat was wearing a band-aid. "He must like you, Li. He always seems to be around you." She glared at him. "You sure he's not your cat?"
"No… No… He's not. I think he likes me because I smell like the ramen place he gets fed at."
"I believe that," she said. "Make sure you put that ankle on ice."
"I will. Thank you."
They ascended the stairs and stepped before his door. Hei reached into his front pocket and pulled out his key to unlock it. They entered with Hei heading straight for his futon and laying down.
"You can place the food on the table in the corner, Kirihara-san."
"Please call me Misaki," she said, as she went to set the food down.
Hei nodded in agreement. She smiled and went over to his freezer to pull out his ice tray. Seeing a hand towel lying on his countertop, she dumped some ice cubes on it and wrapped it up. Walking back over to him, she kneeled by his foot to lift his pant leg up and pressed the ice pack against his swollen ankle.
"You really did a number to your ankle, you need to stay off it for a few days," she said, noticing how swollen it was.
I couldn't agree more.
"May I use your bathroom," Misaki asked.
"Sure, it's that door there," he said, pointing at it.
Shortly after Misaki closed the door, Hei noticed Mao at his window. He stood and hopped over to open the window.
"Nice move, clumsy," complained Mao. "Thanks a lot. You're heavier than you look. I think you may have flattened my tail and broke my butt."
"Thanks for taking one for the team."
"You're not welcome," he growled, grabbing at his tail with his paws and blowing on it as a human would if it were hot.
"I'll buy you some cat nip."
"Gee, thanks. I think," uttered Mao with narrowed eyes. "Anyways, it appears that the officer is very suspicious of you from the interrogation she had given you. I'll call and have the Syndicate wipe her memory."
"There's no need to."
"No need to? Hei, are you feeling all right?"
"I'm fine, Mao. I have a plan."
"What kind of plan? If it requires stepping on me again, I'm out!"
"I'm still on assignment, Mao. This will make it easier to get what I want."
"You mean, what the Syndicate wants."
"Of course."
"What do they want with her?"
"I'm not at liberty to say."
"Well, if you get arrested, I'm going to make sure the Syndicate knows I had no part in this."
"Disappear, Mao."
"Excuse me?"
"She's in the bathroom, so you need to leave."
"Fine," said Mao, and then leapt from the window.
Seconds later, she exited the bathroom to see Hei standing before his window.
"What are you doing? You should be resting that foot."
"I was going to pull the table over to the futon."
"I can do that," she said, grabbing his arm and helping him to his futon. She walked back over to the table and pulled it towards his futon.
Hei couldn't believe he was in his apartment alone with Misaki. Perhaps Mao was right about what he had said earlier, because he wanted to do a lot more than eat. He had a burning desire to finish what he had started at the party, but in his Li persona, he couldn't succeed in that. Li was too timid and bashful to do anything, and Misaki wasn't one to start anything with him either.
There was only one way Hei thought he could release those urges and began thinking over several ways to get her in his bed. Was there a way he could do it as Li?
Though Hei could tell that Misaki liked Li, at this stage of a relationship, or rather friendship as she had called it at the party, it was not possible. However, he could still try to work for it.
She knows who you are; just go for it, his subconscious spoke to him. A sudden change in my behavior wouldn't take her off guard; it would most likely make her suspect me more.
"Are you all right?" Misaki asked.
"Umm. Yeah! Why do you ask?"
"Because you're not eating and you're staring at me spaced out."
"I got distracted."
"Distracted?"
Taking a chance, he looked down at his food shyly, and said, "B—by you."
"By me?" she asked, puzzled. "Do you find my eating habits unusual?"
"N—no."
"Do I have food on my face?" she inquired, as she wiped both sides of her face.
"N—no. It—It's just you're…" Hei hesitated, not sure he should go down this path. Misaki looked at him wide eyed, waiting for his answer. "You're… I mean… I…"
"Yes, Li-kun?"
"I just realized I never thanked you properly for everything you have done for me," he said, chickening out.
"Helping you?"
"Yes. At that party, the clothing store, and today. I know you're busy. I appreciate everything you have done for me."
"You're welcome," she said, smiling. It diminished as she thought of something. "Wait, you were at the party?"
"Ah… yes."
"I didn't see you there."
Hei's eyes perked and asked, "How could you forget? We shared a bathroom stall for a half an hour."
"Oh… You meant that one."
"Which one did you think I meant?"
"I was at a friend's masquerade party last night."
"A masquerade party?" He blinked his eyes, pretending to be baffled and amazed. "That sounds like fun. There wasn't any trouble there, I hope?"
"Umm… Not really."
"I catered one awhile back," he said, giving his trademark Li smile. "They made us wear masks too. Some men dressed in black with masks came in with guns and robbed the place."
"Really? Thank Kami you didn't get hurt."
"Yeah. The worst part was wearing a mask. I'm not use to it. Terribly uncomfortable."
Misaki giggled.
"What's so funny?" he asked, baffled.
"I'm sorry, Li-kun. I just imagined you as someone who was at the party."
"And that is funny how?"
"You remind me of him. That's all. Though, he wouldn't take his mask off for me, I'm sure you would have in a heartbeat."
"I kept taking it off every time I went back into the kitchen and made excuses to go to the restroom a lot."
"Exact opposite of him," Misaki chuckled.
"You met someone at this party?" he inquired, staring directly into her eyes.
Hei envisioned tearing off his masquerade mask, crawling over his table and pinning Misaki on the floor to kiss her.
"Well… um… I was hit on."
"And I remind you of him. How?"
"Your eyes."
"That's who you're looking for, aren't you? Why you interrogated me at the park?"
"Um… yes."
"Did he hurt you?" he asked, concerned.
"No."
"Did he steal something from you?"
"No."
"Do you… like him?" he questioned, hesitantly.
"Not really."
"Then why are you looking for him?"
"Because… because… I … I really don't know."
"That must mean you like him."
"You think so?"
"Or…"
"Or? Or what?"
"You like me," he said, gazing deep within her eyes and hoping he could get her to say she liked him.
Misaki shied away from his gaze.
"As… as friends, right?" She blushed.
"Umm… sure… right… as friends," he hesitated to say.
They were quiet for a lengthy time while they sat and ate. As Hei thought, she wasn't the type to start up a relationship. He wasn't sure of how much more of a clue he could have given that he liked her. However, what was he to do as Li?
He wished he had stayed with her as Hizumi. Perhaps things could have gone further, and he would be rid of these desires. He electrocuted himself in his mind for not realizing that before he took off.
However, thoughts about her career, her friends, and possibly getting killed ran through his head. This was not a relationship he should even proceed with. In fact, he was sure the Syndicate would find out and it was possible they were watching right now. They would wipe any traces of them getting together. It was why he didn't allow anyone to get close to him. He'd be afraid of losing her.
Of all the women he had encountered, why was he attracted to her? Had it been the red Chinese dress?
If this turned out to be more than a one-time fling, would he be able to keep her off the Syndicate's radar. They always seemed to know everything that he and his team did, even when it came to romances; including Huang's.
You can't help whom you fall in love with.
Hei remembered what Huang had said the day he tried to run away.
It wasn't that Hei wanted to run away with Misaki, but he would like to have one night with her. For now, it couldn't be Li. However, as Hei, his best option would be to have both their memories wiped of the kiss they shared so as not to feel the need to proceed.
After ten minutes, Hei offered, "As friends, would you like to come over tomorrow for lunch so I can cook you a delicious meal?"
"I would love that," she said, smiling.
With that smile, I may have to give myself two nights, he thought.
It appeared she won their bet after all.
xxx
A few hours had passed before Misaki had left Li's apartment. She couldn't believe she had stayed and talked to him for that amount of time. However, at the same time, she wished she could have stayed longer.
She couldn't deny it, she was attracted to him and wished she had said yes about liking him, but the words wouldn't come out. If she had told Li about how she had felt and kissed him, she might have thought of Hei from the way he had come on to her last night and at the party.
She still wasn't certain if Li was Hei, and until she could dismiss him as the Black Reaper, she didn't want to do anything that would jeopardize their friendship.
Walking into her apartment complex, she ascended to the third floor, unlocked her door and entered her apartment while turning on the lights. However, they would not come on. Flicking them on and off a few times, she sighed and began wondering if she had paid her electric bill.
Her blinds were closed to prevent any illumination from the streetlights. It was pitch dark.
Suddenly it hit her, like a wrestler jumping onto his opponent, and as she was about to call out his messier code, he spoke.
"Haven't paid your electric bill?" said BK-201.
How did he… Didn't he hurt his foot? Assuming he was even Li, how would he have gotten here before me?
"Looks like I'm behind in my payments."
"I can help you with that."
"Oh, really?"
Misaki saw an electric spark over by her sofa and then a candle on her table light up to slightly illuminated the area. He was casually sitting on her sofa dressed in his Black Reaper clothes without his trench coat and he wore the masquerade mask instead of his white haunting one.
To be continued…
Xxxx
AN: Yes, this chapter got a little long, so I broke it up. One more chapter to go (though it is nowhere near as long as these first two, not yet anyway. I'm still working on it, so we'll see).
This chapter is also inspired from Zorro the Gay Blade. Zorro hurt his foot too.
Hope you all enjoyed!
Have a great day! :)