Standard Disclaimers Apply
He should have known this would happen.
He should have known that his sudden appearance yesterday was too perfect to be a coincident.
And now, as Chikage looks down at the sheet of paper in front of him, he wonders what he will say to his most precious possession.
On the white sheet of paper, a few words stood out: Nagumo Kaoru, tomorrow's date, and transfer.
He was sure Chizuru would be thrilled to have her twin brother transfer into their school, but he wasn't as thrilled. After all, he and Kaoru were childhood rivals at a couple things, the main source of rivalry being Chizuru.
Chikage wasn't happy. He growled at the thought of seeing Chizuru and Kaoru eating lunch together, filling each other in on the years they've been separated.
Just then, Chizuru popped into his private office. "Tea?" she offered swiftly.
He found it a challenge to stay angry with Chizuru in the room. "Hard to say no when you already have it prepared."
"That was the plan," she laughed lightly and placed the tea set on the table. "Mind if I join you?"
He stowed his documents away, namely the one about Kaoru, and smirked. "Any day."
"What were you looking at? Your gaze was pretty intense," she started, pouring tea into their cups.
"Ah, so you were staring." It wasn't a question, but a statement.
She sipped her tea. "You're not going to tell me, are you?"
His smile was hidden by the rim of the tea cup. "And where will the fun be in that?"
She pouted and he chuckled. "Be patient, Chizuru. You will find out soon enough."
They sat in Chikage's private office for a while longer before each got up to complete their tasks. Tomorrow was the first day of school and there was still a lot of work to be done. Amagiri and Shiranui both couldn't come, so the work would have to be divided between the two of them.
"You know, we should really recruit more members," Chizuru suggested. "The work load would be more…reasonable."
"Are you complaining?" came his immediate response.
"N-no! I'm just saying it would make our lives a lot easier, and I mean a lot."
"No."
"No?"
"No," he faced her from across the student council office. "I'm fine with the way everything is now."
Oh, Chizuru thought, he's probably just shy. Aside from the student council members, she rarely sees Chikage talk to anyone else. Maybe they were the few lucky ones to enter his small circle.
"I'm not shy. I just find it easier to work with fewer people."
How does he do that?
"Remember, Chizuru. I know you. Your eyes say it all," Chikage provided smugly.
She stuck her tongue out at him. Right, she had forgotten. He could read her mind.
"We're done!" Chizuru yawned, stretching her arms and legs. "Finally!"
"Good work," Chikage praised, patting her on the head. She looked up at him and smiled.
"You too."
He returned her smile genuinely. "Let's go home."
"Did you pack your bags all right?" Rin pestered for the fiftieth time that day.
"Yes, mom," Chizuru rolled her eyes.
"I'm not your mother! For the last time, I told you to call me your sister. Your sister, okay?"
Chizuru laughed. "Of course! I was just kidding." Rin was the closest she's had to family since her stay at Chikage's mansion started. In the beginning, she was constantly unimpressed with Chizuru's work, but that was just what made her more sisterly. Whenever she hurt herself, Rin would be the first one there for her...omitting Chikage of course.
"Good. You better be," Rin smiled.
Just then, Chikage knocked on the door. It had already been opened, so he merely stepped in. "Sleeping yet?" he asked. He glanced at Rin for a second before returning his gaze on Chizuru. Rin, catching the hint, nudged Chizuru on the arm.
"I'll see you tomorrow. 'Night," she winked.
"Good night," Chizuru replied bemusedly, not catching the hint at all. She turned her attention back on her school supplies. "I should probably get some highlighters."
Chikage didn't miss a beat. "I'll give you some tomorrow. For now," he shut the door silently behind them. "Let's go to bed."
"What?" Chizuru blinked. She was pretty sure "bed" was the way he came from, for him at least. Her bed was right here.
"I want to spend the night together."
His expression was stable, indifferent even. Did he realize what he had just implied?
"U-uh, I d-don't think-" Chizuru stammered.
"Come on," he grabbed her arm and pulled her lightly to the bed.
"Wait!" she pulled back.
He stopped and looked at her from head to toe. Chizuru blushed and suddenly felt very naked in her little night gown. It was nothing too flimsy. A spaghetti strap dress made out of soft silk was all it was…okay, that was a lie. It was pretty flimsy.
He smirked to himself, as if approving her attire. He had better approve of it: he was the one who picked it out.
"I," she swallowed, "I'm not done packing yet." He snuck a glance at her school bag, zipped and ready to go. She flushed a deeper shade of red as he raised an eyebrow at her. "One last check. I promise."
He released her just like that and walked over to her bed. Lying down rather comfortably, he relaxed into the covers. She watched in awe as he spread himself across the sheets like a king. Sure, they were in his mansion, but this was her room! Who gave him the privilege of making her bed his own?
Deciding not to bother, since it was Chikage she was dealing with, Chizuru tried her best to stall time. Lying down next to Chikage on her bed was the last thing she wanted to think about. It was all just too surreal! Of course she had thought kissing him was surreal too, but that was no longer the case.
She tensed up. Does that mean sleeping beside him will become less surreal as well? Is she actually going to get used to sleeping beside him? He's not even fully dressed! That's hardly appropriate.
He was only clad in loose pajama pants. His torso was bare, provokingly inviting her touch. As much as she wanted to avoid staring at his rather nicely chiseled body, she found herself unable to. It was all just so…alluring, dazzling.
Realizing she could no longer put this off, she stepped closer, closer, and closer to the bed. She was now standing right above the man she loves. He had his arm over his eyes, so she assumed he didn't know she was there. But the next second, she was on the bed, his body on top of hers.
He reached over to turn off the lights. The room was instantly covered in darkness. Her eyes took a moment to adjust, but when they did, she had her breath taken away. Chikage was ravishing. The way the moon lit his crimson eyes, causing them to be even more captivating than they already were; the way his lips were parted ever so slightly, as if anticipating the contact of her lips on his; the way his golden tresses were ruffled, but had somehow kept their princely aura. It was enticing.
He leaned down, and she tried her best to ignore the way his biceps flexed at the motion. "Chizuru," he murmured softly against her ear.
"H-hm?" She hated how her voice failed her. She hated how her heart was beating so rapidly against her chest. And she hated how her cheeks were flushed with heat.
He pecked her on the side of her cheek. "Good night," he whispered before rolling over.
She blinked, and her pulse slowed as the warmth from her cheeks finally left her.
"G-good night," she spoke back timidly.
She heard Chikage breathe out a laugh.
Sometime in the middle of the night, he draped his arm around her. She only knew, because she had still been awake. Falling asleep beside a demon such as Chikage proved not an easy task. She was living evidence of this. She was probably the only living evidence too, if she was to disregard his parents.
His arm was relaxed, but not heavy. She liked that. It gave her a sense of reassurance, although from what, she did not know. Not long after, trapped in between the soft sheets and Chikage's warm arm, Chizuru fell into deep slumber.
He had been awake. Not the entire time, but just at the crucial times. For instance, he was awake when Chizuru whispered "Kaoru" in her sleep. He had been furious, but for her sake, he had kept his mouth shut.
He would keep the profanities for tomorrow, when he will be having a very long chat with a certain brunet.
A/N: Thank you for reading! Reviews are greatly appreciated!