Hey, your comments got me laughing. Especially the hickey one. Anyway, to those who reviewed about their guesses, you might wonder why I haven't sent you guys a PM. It's because you got it wrong. LOL. I can't believe you guys thought it was the ring. Well, honestly, if I were to read, I'd also say the ring but well, that part goes to the later chapters. Let's put some silly twist first. But as for your efforts of guessing, here's something:

Takumi's ring which Misaki coincidentally found is in her room. She isn't wearing it for it is too big for her finger and she doesn't have some lace, ribbon, etc. to wear it as a necklace.

By the way, congratulations to redflower789 for guessing right. Read on, earthlings!

Disclaimer: I would never in a million years own Maid-sama. I'm only borrowing Hiro Fujiwara's characters.

Rollercoaster of Hearts- Chapter Thirteen

Little Takumi ran as he moved toward the awaiting figure by their typical get-together spot. It was a set of swings hanging from the huge tree behind the Walker mansion. There, Takumi would play rendezvous with his childhood friends- Chiyo and Kuuga. Currently, he's running over to the spot to meet up with Chiyo for Kuuga called in sick for the day.

Chiyo, seeing Takumi's approaching figure, stopped swinging and stood up to greet her friend.

"Taku!"

"Chi!" the still spirited Takumi replied before he caught his breath after running for quite a while. He rested his hands on his knees while panting for air. As soon as that, Chiyo came over to his side and patted his back.

"Neh, Taku, you've been running again. I told you I could wait. You should have walked."

Takumi looked up and gave a grin, something the grown-up Takumi would die doing so casually. "It's okay. I can handle this." Takumi straightened himself and faced his companion who bore him a worried look.

"C'mon Chiyo. It was just running. You look like I'm going to die."

Chiyo frowned at the statement before she placed her hands her hips, ready for reprimanding Takumi for something. "Taku! We already agreed that no one is to mention death during our meetings here! You, Kuuga, and I will be together for all eternity. You got that? No one is to leave the other two alone!"

Takumi, ashamed for his mistake, bowed his head and nodded. "Hai."

"Very good! Now, let's go over there, under the tree. I have something to tell you."

So, the two walked under the shade of the tree and sat down together, facing each other. As a brief silence uncovered before them, Takumi's eyes caught something.

"Chi," he called out.

"Yes?"

"Where's your necklace? Did you lose it? Didn't you say you would never leave the house without it?"

Chiyo looked down to her chest and noticed the feeling of emptiness without her lucky necklace with her. But when she remembered how she let go of it, a smile braced her lips. She stared then at Takumi who had a puzzled look while waiting for her reply. "Someone needed it more than I do."

"Someone? Who?"

Chiyo smiled all the more at the memory of her new found friend. "My new friend. She needed the luck that necklace gave."

"By she so that means your friend is a girl. Am I right?"

A nod was what Chiyo replied before she shifted from her position and faced the clear blue afternoon sky looking down upon them. "She was crying, you know."

She looked over to Takumi who grew silent as if telling her to continue and so she did but not before looking back up, facing the clouds which gives her a sense of courage not to cry for remembering her friend's weeping face, makes her to do so. "She was crying when I saw her," she repeated.

"Her eyes were all puffy and red when we met. It was two days ago. I was going home from here when the car passed by the public cemetery. My eyes were roaming around that time, looking out to whatever catches my attention when I saw this one girl. I could not see her proper form for she was hugging her knees tightly together but I could tell she was about my age, twelve."

Chiyo took a deep breath as if trying to stop the sympathetic tears that are about to come before she proceeded with her story.

"I don't know why but I was greatly affected just by seeing her in that state. It's like something is telling me to get out of the car and comfort her. I mean she was alone and pretty sure was crying. She needed someone. So without second thoughts, I ordered Mr. Morii to stop the car. After we came to a halt, my feet just led me there, standing in front of her. And before I knew it, I was already crying."

Takumi stared at Chiyo who was looking up the sky but now filled with tears rolling down her cheeks. He always admired her. She didn't know the girl yet she did what she thought was right. She came and tried to cheer her up.

A sob came from Chiyo's lips so Takumi went closer and patted her shoulder for her to calm down but she continued instead.

"She didn't notice me at first so I knelt down and gave her the most heartwarming smile I could muster. She was so busy grieving that I wasn't noticed for a full five minutes. Just when I was about to call her attention, she looked up. I could tell she had been like that for quite a while judging from her looks. Like I said, her eyes were sore and puffy and her nose was red and runny. All the more, from seeing her, my sympathy grew. I asked her what was wrong in the gentlest way possible." Chiyo stopped and looked over to Takumi who was growing in interest.

"What happened next?"

Chiyo nodded and spoke. "She didn't answer at first but I was not one to give up. Instead of leaving, I sat down by her side saying I'd be willing to wait until she'd feel like telling me and that I will always be there to listen and help. I knew it wasn't the best way for her to open up seeing how we only met but it was all I could think of. There was this feeling inside that kept telling me to stay. I lost track of time that I hadn't realized it was already near sunset. The sky was of orange and blue when she spoke."

"She spoke?" Takumi interrupted as he inched closer, curious about the girl Chiyo met. It wasn't his nature to be this interested with people especially to those he hadn't met yet but there was something about this girl Chiyo was telling about that made him want to know more, like he, too, wanted to be there beside her and make everything alright. It was weird for Takumi but at the same time, new. It was something he ought to do so badly.

"Yes. She spoke. Do you want to know what she said?"

A small move up and down of the head was Takumi's reply urging Chiyo to answer with a smile as she played with the grass beneath them.

"Her words were unlike what I often hear. They were…I don't know. There's just something to them that makes me want to know her more. It was a simple thank you but I could feel like there's a hidden message behind them. I wanted to ask. I mean, I was about to ask. Unfortunately, she stood up and left after hugging me for mere seconds. I was dumbfounded when she smiled before leaving. She was already a few yards away from me when I got my senses back. The only thing I could think of that time was to give her my luck. So I threw her my necklace telling her to keep it safe for me. I was glad when she gingerly accepted it. From then on, we went our separate ways. Mr. Morii arrived behind me and when I looked back to her direction, she was already gone which gave me no choice but to go home."

Takumi frowned at the ending of Chiyo's storytelling. He, too, was now playing with the grass as silence followed. He didn't know what to say.

"You know, Taku, if ever we meet again, I'll be sure to introduce her to you. She'd be a great addition to our secret group."

With a weak smile, Takumi nodded. "Yeah. I'm sure she will."

"Once we find her, promise me you'd treat her just like how you treat me, okay?"

Without hesitation, Takumi assured, "Mark my words on that."

"Pinky swear?"

"Yes. Pinky swear."

That day, more specifically after that moment, all Takumi and Chiyo did was stare up to the heavens with not a word being spoken. Both were in deep thoughts. Both were thinking of the same thing, really. Both were wondering when they would see that girl. Chiyo wanted to know her name. Takumi wanted to know and see her. And once he did, he'd be sure to grant that one promise. He'd find her and fulfill his plan with Chiyo to befriend her and take care of her.

From that day onwards, the lingering thought of the same girl haunted Takumi that until present, he could never forget that story. He could never forget that girl.

"Where did you get that?" Takumi repeated as he sat there, thunderstruck.

Misaki furrowed her brows in confusion and followed Takumi's line of sight. It was the necklace on her chest. It was the necklace Misaki received from her guardian angel on Earth. Though she could not remember the face of that girl clearly, for forever, she was hoping they would meet again. "Oh this. Why what's wrong with this necklace?"

Takumi didn't budge. He sat there silently but kept staring at the necklace as if it was something taken from space.

"Oy, idiot. I was asking what's wrong with my necklace." Misaki snapped and waved her hands in front of Takumi who looked like his spirit wandered off somewhere leaving his body lifeless on the couch.

"Chiyo."

"Hm?" Misaki puzzlingly stared. Her supposed to be smile was exchanged with an unexplained smile. She was thinking there he was again. He is again seeing his dead lover in her state. Misaki pushed her lips into a thin line and regained her composure. She was about to utter a complaint when she was engulfed in Takumi's arms.

"You were the girl. You were the girl Chiyo was looking for," Takumi whispered into Misaki's ears. His breath was tickling her skin causing her to shudder a little. But it wasn't enough. It wasn't enough to convince her. It was still the same in some way. Though he wasn't comparing them, it was like she was only there to remind and refresh those memories he had with Chiyo. And no matter how much she denied, it hurt her in some way. Those were the things Misaki kept repeating in her mind as she allowed herself to fall victim in Takumi's hug. Though it doesn't feel right, she doesn't want to let go from his hug yet. Though she knew she only served some part in Takumi for him to hold on to Chiyo, she still wanted to feel his warmth. But her conclusions all crumpled to the ground upon hearing Takumi's next statement that swept her off the ground and sent her walking across the sea.

"You were the girl I could never forget after all these years."

It was Misaki's turn to sit there frozen. Her eyes went popping out of their sockets and every muscle in her body seemed to stop functioning. Takumi released her from the hug and held her shocked state by the shoulders. She knew she wasn't hearing right. She thought maybe she was still sleeping. This was all but a dream. This wasn't the sick reality she was living.

"Misaki?" Takumi shook Misaki's body urging her to snap out of her shock. "Misaki? Hey, Misaki. Misa-chan. Violent woman. Despicable girl. Loud lady," Takumi blabbered as he made efforts to bring Misaki back to her senses only to fail.

A sigh escaped his lips as he grinned at the evil thoughts in his head. "I'll kiss you if you won't snap out of it."

Misaki wasn't hearing anything. Her thoughts were too occupied with that same sentence of Takumi's. It kept repeating in her head that even when she could see how Takumi in front of her was opening his mouth, saying something, that sentence was the only thing audible to her ears. She was lost in those words that she hadn't realized how Takumi was inching closer. His face was growing closer to hers and their breaths were prickling each other's skin. The warmth of their exhales is getting more evident as they Takumi drew closer. He stopped just about two centimeters away from Misaki's face before puffing causing Misaki to jump up in surprise.

"Kya!" Misaki trembled as she finally realized their once position. She blushed remembering the faint memory of how they were so close that she reminded herself to later punch herself for being too stupid and caught up with her thoughts that she forgot a pervert was with her. "You shameless pervert! What do you think were you doing?!"

Takumi rested his back on the backrest of the couch and tossed his arms over them in a relaxed position. "What? I told you I'd kiss you if you won't answer me. You should be thankful I didn't do it."

Misaki huffed in anger. "And did I permit you to inch that close to my face?"

"I believed in the saying that silence means yes."

Misaki narrowed her eyes and whispered the words she grew accustomed whenever she's talking to this alien in front of her. "You are hopeless."

"Just bear with me. But you know what? I'm kind of happy right now."

Misaki arched an eyebrow to Takumi's direction as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Oh?"

"I'm glad to know it was Misa-chan that was the one girl I desperately wanted to meet ever since I was twelve."

"Please. How did you even know me? I don't recall seeing that silly face of yours anywhere."

"I told you. Chiyo told me the story when she met you by the cemetery." Takumi pointed over to Misaki's chest where the lucky necklace hung. "That necklace. Chiyo was the one who gave it to you."

"Chiyo? You mean Chiyo was that girl who sat with me by my parents' graves?"

"Well if you put it that way, then yes. She was that girl."

Misaki blinked plenty of times while trying to take in the new information she received. She was connecting one from the other. All still seems impossible to believe yet somehow, it urges her to feel saddened knowing the girl she considered as her guardian angel would no longer be able to see her. It shouldn't affect her much considering the fact that they only met once. However, that once was enough to change Misaki's view of people. All those time after her parents' death, people could only say things tactless to her ears. If not behind her back, they'd say it to her directly. And it hurts. It hurt her to the point that for months, she had been crying herself to sleep not only because of her loss but also because of people's insensitivity. She'd be weeping all night 'til her eyes grow tired and pretend it was all nothing in the morning. It was a cycle of making believe and hurting every day for her. But that was until that day, the day where she could take it no more. It was the day where she ran to her parents' tombstones and wept her hearts out for the whole afternoon. It was when she came, Chiyo came. She showed her that people weren't as bad as she thought they were. She just had to look carefully for the right fish in the sea. She just needed patience. There are still some that understood her. Though they didn't talk that much, her presence alone was enough for Misaki to understand her true intentions of coming up to her. It felt great for Misaki but she isn't one to hold her guard down that easily so she balanced trust and doubt that time yet Chiyo never complained. She never pushed herself to Misaki. And that was the moment Misaki knew how special she could get if ever they'd meet again.

"Chiyo…She's your deceased girlfriend, right?" Misaki downheartedly said which came out more of a whisper. It's like just now that she knew it was Chiyo whom she admired, she could easily share the grief Takumi had.

"Fiancé to be exact."

"I'm sorry."

"You knew she died a long time ago yet you're just saying that now?"

"I…I don't know. I just felt like saying it."

Takumi altered his position by standing up to meet Misaki's figure. "It's okay. I know you must have liked her in a way because of what she did and it pains you to know it was her whom passed away. But as everyone constantly told me, it's reality we have to accept."

Misaki smiled bitterly as a single tear streamed down from her eye. "It's ironic how I told you something like that yet here I am, acting so much like you right now."

"Hey! I do not cry like a girl."

"Whatever," Misaki said as tears kept springing out much to her dismay. She always hated crying. It's like she grew tired after years of doing it all over again. Foremost, she hated crying in front of someone. It made her feel weak, vulnerable, and helpless all at the same time. She disliked letting someone know she was that feeble deep inside. But why? All those aversion got swept away in an instant. She felt like she doesn't care about all those at all now that it was Takumi who is seeing her that way.

"Why are you crying?" Takumi suddenly felt lost. This is the one thing he hated the most- seeing someone cry in front of him. But the thing that bothered him more was the fact that it was Misaki that was crying. It seems to him like he made her cry. It was uncomfortable for him. He wanted to stop those tears but he doesn't know how. "Hey, don't cry."

"I'm not crying," Misaki replied in between her soft sobs. "God I feel so weak right now."

"I don't exactly know what to do but does eating make you stop? I can bake you something if it means you'll stop crying."

Misaki faintly chuckled and wiped her tears with the back of her hands. "Okay I'll stop now. But I would like it if you'd make me something sweet. I'm not forcing you though. I just want to see how good you are at cooking."

"I'm the best," Takumi responded as he let out his signature smirk. Somehow, he was glad Misaki tried her very best to stop weeping after seeing him handle the situation badly. If it wasn't her, he would have been irritated when someone laughs at him for being stupid in handling a crying person. But that's what makes Misaki special in her own way. She could make him react in ways he could never imagine himself doing. Now, he's even going to be careful with her. He had to. It was the promise he made and it was the promise he's going to live up to for Chiyo and for himself.

"Arrogant jerk."

"Let me correct that. It's handsome arrogant jerk."

Misaki grimaced and playfully hit Takumi's arm. "Geez, I wonder where you keep that ego hidden."

. . . . .

"Oh my God. You really are an alien," Misaki muttered as she studied the dessert laid out in front of her in the most presentable manner she had ever seen. Just by looking at it, she could already feel full. The sight alone was enough to fill her stomach.

"I'm an alien?"

"Yes. It's because you're good at everything. Your abilities are inhuman."

"Uh-huh. I guess that's a first. I've never been regarded as some extra-terrestrial being before." Takumi got the fork from the corner of the table and took out a single piece from the full cake before placing it near Misaki's mouth. "Here."

"What?" Misaki gradually receded as she stared questioningly at Takumi who was grinning from ear to ear.

"Why I'm feeding you my masterpiece. Now hurry up and open your mouth."

"The hell! I…ugh!"

Takumi laughed wholeheartedly as he never did before upon seeing Misaki's reaction after he shoved the huge chunk of cake into Misaki's mouth.

Grumpily, Misaki chewed and swallowed the food while sputtering incoherent words which Takumi could not decipher.

"Stop laughing, idiot. That was not funny!" Misaki complained as she grew annoyed hearing Takumi have fun after such humiliation for her. Though it was rare seeing him like this, heck she'd give up that rarity if it means saving face. So without much more time to waste, she grabbed the fork which Takumi let go while laughing, got a larger piece of cake and plunged it into Takumi's laughing mouth merciless. The last laugh was hers.

"Ughh!" Takumi choked as he was taken aback by Misaki with her unexpected payback. She was now the one laughing her lungs out as he uneasily reached out for the glass of water by the table before gulping it down in one move.

"Were you trying to kill me?!"

"Now we're talking. Didn't you want that from the start?"

"Well I don't want to die now. I remembered I had a promise to fulfill now that I knew it was you," Takumi replied, his voice gradually becoming lower as he ended his statement making the last words inaudible to Misaki.

"What?"

"I said you have to pay for that."

Misaki fished out something from her pocket before throwing it over to Takumi's head creating a boink from the impact. "There! That's one yen. That's my pay!" Misaki shouted before sticking her tongue out and running out of the kitchen in a mad dash for her life leaving Takumi who was rubbing his head after being hit directly by a coin.

"Misaki! Come back here! That hurts!"

Bah! I loved the playfulness at the end. LOL. I'm praising my own work. That's why I need my readers' opinions too-for me to avoid being too conceited with my own story. Review and tell me what you think, what you can suggest, or what you wanted to happen in the future.

Anyway, I DID NOT REREAD THIS THING SO FORGIVE ANY MISTAKES.

Back to the Interview Corner:

Me: Hi! It's 'ME' again! Long time no see. It's been a while since I wasn't here. Gosh, I missed doing this interview. Because it's my return, I'd be having special guests. Please give a warm welcome for Hinata and Shizuko!

*yay! Cheers and applause!*

Hinata: Hi everyone!

Shizuko: *adjusts specs*

Me: Wow. You guys seemed prepared. Hinata even wore leather shoes. XD And Shizuko, woah! You're wearing a dress!

Hinata: Yep. I need to look decent for it's my first time here.

Shizuko: I was forced into this. -.-

Me: O-kay. So anyway, I just invited you guys here to ask something. A reader ( ) asked on whether you guys would be making an appearance here. So, what would be the answer?

Hinata: I…

Usui: Sanshita would not be in the story because he doesn't know to act in an AU and because I said so. I do not want another man for my Misaki.

Hinata: Usui?!

Me: Hey! What are you doing here?!

Usui: Just passing by.

Me: Get out. -_-

Usui: Jyaa ne.

Hinata: As I was saying I…

Me: Okay how about you, Shizuko, would you be appearing?

Hinata: Hey I…

Shizuko: I would like to confirm that I would indeed be making an appearance at a later chapter.

Me: That's good to hear! We'd be anticipating your debut, Shizuko-san!

Hinata: What about me?

Shizuko: What about you?

Me: Yeah, what about you?

Hinata: You guys are picking on me!

Me: Whatever. -.- We'd be saying goodbye now.

Hinata: Hey! I still…

Me: Bye!