A/N. I've left a big (a/n) after the chapter so…
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Disclaimer: don't own and Have you guys read the new chapter? It's pretty good, almost as good as my writing I might say. Just kidding love you Komi Naoshi senpai! hehe
Staring at the cups Chitoge grabbed the rice. It's not like she'd never made rice before but, it hadn't ended so well. Measuring the amount Raku had said Chitoge put the rice into the cooker, it really was any thing special she was just tipping things in and turning it on.
"So now get some water, just enough to reach over the rice in the cooker and then set it off." Raku encouraged, he didn't look over his shoulder yet he still knew what she was doing. How was that even possible? Maybe it's like what people say about mother or just women in general really, they have eyes in the back of their heads. Setting the timer and placing the lid on the appliance Chitoge wondered closer to Raku. Feeling silly she searched for the second set of eyes. If they were there they were very well hidden.
"Chitoge move a bit back please, the oil tends to jump up randomly." Raku said again knowing exactly where she was in his kitchen.
"Ok how do you do that?" she asked, still thinking maybe there was a second set, somewhere.
"Do what?" he replied still focusing on the battered chicken in the pan.
"Know exactly where I am or what I'm doing you've done it twice now. Once with how you knew I'd put the rice in and second just now."
"Ah, well the first is I could hear the rice hitting the cooker and second… I don't really know; just knew I guess." He said shrugging his shoulders.
"What, do you have like eyes in the back of your head?" she asked laughing at her joke.
"You're welcome to check." He said smiling at Chitoges joke about his manliness.
'I already have." She thought glancing at the floor.
Peering over his shoulder Chitoge watched as his danced over the pots and pans in front of him. It was odd watching him work; Chitoge for all the time they spent together had never seen him in a kitchen. Raku didn't take home ec and it was easy to see why, he didn't need too. Speaking her mind, "you don't take home ec so what do you do during that class?"
Moving away from the stove he leant against the opposing shelving, "I was forced into Kendo and martial arts training. My dad said that because I had too; even if I wasn't going to follow in his stead as head of the syndicate." Frowning Raku stared off into space. Poc. Sizzle. Pac. Sizzle. The popping of oil caught the blondes' attention, reaching to shuffle the meat around.
"Ow!" she proclaimed inspecting her arm for burn marks. There weren't any but she could still the sting of the boiling oil.
"I told you to be careful." He said, pushing off the shelving with his hands reaching to take her arm into his embrace. Looking over her arm he quietly said, "you got some small burns but they should be fine, but I think we should be better safe then sorry. Still inspecting her arm he contorted it, trying to get her pam to face him. "What's this?" he asked squinting at her pam, the skin was red and sore and she felt like an idiot.
"I accidently touched the top part of the handle." She admitted sullenly. "Baka, I really shouldn't have tried,"
"It's ok that fry pan heats all the way to the handle you didn't know so you're not an idiot." He said browsing the room for his bright red first aid kit. Spying it on top of the fridge he grabbed for it, unraveling the bag to show wide selection of bandages and taps as well as dressings and other such medical paraphernalia.
Raku looked at the watery-eyed girl in front of him, it was a surreal kind of feeling seeing Chitoge cry. He wasn't so found of it, she was such a strong person and unlike in the shed where he could only hear her distress; seeing was completely different. Picking out and ointment Raku unscrewed the cap; the balm inside was a transparent greeny colour, taking some out he extended his hand to Chitoge silently asking for her hand. Pouting she relinquished her injured hand from the others grasp up against her chest. Raising one of his brows at her he took offered hand and smiled. It must really hurt. Setting the cream on the bench between them Raku slowly applied the gel. Chitoge winced her face crinkled as she sucked on her teeth.
Lifting himself from his ministrations to her hand Raku peeked at her expression. He'd have to be gentler he thought as he snagged another dollop of alluvia and resumed applying it to Chitoges palm. Done smearing the ointment onto the burn Raku wiped his hand on his pants and took out gauze a long bandage along with two small clips made of elastic and cold silver metal.
Wrapping the bandage around Chitoges hand rhythmically he spoke, "How does that feel now?" Raku asked glancing up from his work every few seconds.
"Much better. Thank you." She replied, the room was almost silent except for these scarce words. Pinning the bandage closed Raku let go of her hand and moved back over to the stove, taking the tea towel from his shoulder and folding it over the burning metal of the fry pan.
Shortly there after Chitoge helped Raku move their dinner into her room, she was holding a teapot and two cups. Raku had insisted that she not over use her right hand for fear it would slow down the healing process, so he gave her the easiest things to carry. Looking over at him Chitoge couldn't believe his balance, how do you have that many items just floating on your arms and not drop and of them. Raku was holding two bowls of rice, at plate of grilled vegetables and one loaded with karaage. It smelled wonderful the fried chicken with its garlic batter-y smell mixed with the char or the vegetables and the wholesome steaming scent of rice. All up Chitoge couldn't wait to dig in and devour the whole, just thinking about it she started to drool. Sucking the liquid back into her mouth Chitoge looked over at her fake boyfriend the raven haired man beside her really was something.
"Your really a great cook Raku, I can't wait to stuff it all down my throat." She said with a giant grin. The atmosphere around them was somehow different from normal. Chitoge felt a little closer to Raku now.
"Well I have been getting lessons for many years now, if I still sucked… well lets just leave it at that." He smiled back at her but quickly returned his attention to the front. Looking around Chitoge tried to memorize her surroundings, she really didn't want to get lost again and end up somewhere she knew nothing about or even more so how to get back. 'If anyone had seen me, no I don't want to think about it,' she thought her shoulders slumping as she remembered her own worlds from earlier 'baka' yep I'd definitely think that if I saw someone wandering aimlessly around a house they'd been to many times.
Coming up to the door to her room Chitoge saw it closed. Someone must've closed it after I left. Seeing Raku strain to reach for the door she slid it open, waiting for Raku to walk through. Raku hurriedly said, "Come on, ladies first" Raku reshuffled the dishes slightly, "or gorilla' first it's really up to you to say which you'd prefer."
Frowning at him Chitoge walked through first her nose to the roof as she passed him but a secret laugh held under her breath. "I'm a lady first and foremost, beansprout!" she stated feigning ill temperament towards the male.
"Yet I'm a Plant?" he said dully, playing his usual part in their banter.
"Why yes what else would you be?" she asked in return, he looked at her strangely Chitoge never spoke like that, like I was meant to be her boot licker. That hadn't happened yet and never would. Hooking his foot into the wooden frame of the door Raku side it closed. Placing the food down Raku took his spot across from where Chitoge had been sitting prior to their little wrestling match. Not moving to her past seat Chitoge took the one to the Raku left closer to her bags that sat upon her futon.
Sitting comfortably on the purple cushions they both reach for their chopsticks, filling their plates in silence.
"Itadakimasu."
"Itadakimasu."
With that the couple took their first bites.
"Oishi, this is great." Chitoge said loudly, the surprise in her voice a little insulting to the young man.
"Good to know you like it, but wanna tell me why you seem surprised?" he said, slightly irked at the unintentional stab at his culinary skills. The right side of his face just twitched waiting for her answer.
"Well because I helped." She said quietly pouting sadly as she spoke.
Blinking away the twitch Raku laughed and scratched the back of his head. "Your not that bad you know. It was a first attempt plush in a new place, I screwed up so much the first couple times I literally had burns all up my arms!" he said signaling how far his burns had gone up by karate chopping half of his left bicep.
Wide-eyed Chitoge couldn't help but be drawn to said ligament; Raku wasn't the weedy armed weakling he had been in first year, his muscles pronounced as he pointed out some the other places he'd burned as well as hurt himself over the years. He must have been a very klutzy child, because he had been listing off injuries for what felt like twenty minuets. And like a weirdo Chitoge had sat there eating and only half heartedly listening to his stories of clumsy falls and running into walls while staring at the changes in him she hadn't noticed.
"Eh, Chitoge you ok?" nodding out of her daze she just turned back to finishing her meal. Rather quickly too.
"Ah that was good!" she said stretching her arms over her head and shuffled to the pile of 'supplies'.
After rummaging Chitoge turned around with a stack of disc cases collected in her arms. "Movie or Game?" she asked plainly. Raku had never thought Chitoge was a gamer but going by the stacks upon stacks of games he could see spilling over from her grasp he guessed he was wrong.
Shaking his head Raku stood, "We can't do either in here."
"What, why?" she questioned cocking her head to the side.
"Because there isn't a TV in this room Yui just watched stuff on her laptop when she was staying here." He answered picking up the dishes and walking out the door, "are you coming or not?" he shot after him.
Chasing after him Chitoge caught up as he stood outside the room next to hers. Using his foot Raku pointed to the door, "Just go in I'm going to take 'these' to the kitchen." He said a rattle resonating as he shifted his burden. "The TV is between my closet and computer, the handles are red." He finished striding off in the opposite direction.
Stepping into Raku's bedroom Chitoge felt like she was intruding, the room was large and had a great deal more detail and life in the decorations. Tatami flooring paper walls and dark wood bordering, the walls illustrated a great black dragon flying in a circle, kind of like the ouroboros the symbol of infinity. The great dragons maws open onto the door as if he were about to pounce on the visitor. Raku's futon was lain out in the middle of the room, comforter and pillows all white, so pristine and perfectly placed –the OCD odd ball. Having searched the room Chitoge was stumped, where was this TV unit next to wardrobe? She couldn't see it. Running her hands over the walls she examined them closer, she had made it two sides through when she heard Raku open and close his door.
"Where is this stupid thing beansprout?" she yelled annoyed at the complex hiding place of something so essential.
Raku walked to the left sidewall from the door, went to the two middle panels and opened them to reveal a recess in the wall with a huge plasma screen television mounted to it and a media system set up below it.
Throwing her hands up in disbelief she pointed at the set up, then threw her hands again only to face palm straight after.
"How was I supposed to know where that was? And why do you even have all that hidden away in some weird closet?" she rushed out, weird beansprout she thought hiding all the fun toys.
"Because it ruins the feel of the room. And I told you to look for the red handles!" Raku replied gesturing to the circular red handles in the doors.
"I must be colour blind or something, just drop it beansprout!" she shouted turning away from Raku. "So which one do you want to do?" she asked in a cute stubborn voice.
"Game I guess, we can play soul caliber if you want, I have all the versions here so we don't have to set up another console." He said grabbing the remote and switching the TV on.
"Which ones?" she asked pouting as she peered at him over her shoulder her hair covering up most of her face.
Thinking for a second Raku replied, "All but the newest." And he just waited in apprehension that she would dub him a major geek which he wasn't he was a beginner really, in comparison to some that is. Contrary to his prior beliefs she didn't ridicule him. No instead she jabbed him in the jibs and said, "Get to it beansprout."
"Ow, why cant you ask nicely, not lady-like in the least I tell you." Raising her poking finger Chitoge gave him a threating look. "Ok dear; doing. We'll play three is that all right with you?" he asked fearfully looking back. She had the daintiest smile on her face. 'This women is evil', she gave off the same aura as her gangs goons and he'd reflex-dly gone into fake relationship mode.
"Then chop chop DARLING." She said over exaggerating the word 'darling' with a grin, just to show him that she knew she could scare the crap out of him.
Inserting the correct disc, Raku passed Chitoge a controller. Suddenly the screen burst with a purple light a clashing of swords was heard and their menu was not far off.
"Dib's on Taki!" Chitoge said rushing through the characters to get to hers. She quickly selected and turned a shit-eating grin on him. Taki was a well-developed woman dressed in a deep red body suit with armored shoulder pads and black knee high boots. Her black hair up in a ponytail, with her bangs just making it into her eyes. It was a good character he guessed, I'd actually never played as her character before. Remembering Chitoges expression before he wondered of how thoroughly he was going to get raped by this wispy blonde.
"Then I guess I'll call Mitsurugi." He said unsurely, if he was going into this fight blind to his opponents skills, he's prefer to cover his arse even in the slightest.
Now with their respective fighters chosen it was time. They would fight.
His samurai wouldn't fail him.
A snort came from beside him, looking over Chitoge was staring at Heishiro Mitsurugi, the spinning buff man was dressed in a samurais garb, green loose pants and a navy robe with red lining, the his right side uncovered showing off his overly sculpted chest, belted in the middle with a yellow sash. His dark brooding face stared out them.
"Oh my god, how like you." The blonde said quietly her hand still positioned in front of her face.
Irritated-ly looking from the screen to her he frowned and finally selected the behemoth.
"Match start." The game informed.
Controls in hand the pair looked at each and then back to the screen. The battle was on and all their attention was focused on their animated avatars.
Swinging his sword Raku launched the first attack, swiping low and impacting her legs and moving to but her in the chin with his sword end. Taki stumbled back, righting herself. Then suddenly attacking from above her agility far above his own and got in five separate shots to his midsection before he could move to guard. Jumping back from the imposing kunoichi, Raku avoided her jumping blade attack with his sword blocking her and then kicking her in the side. Blown back Chitoge looked to her score, Raku's individual attacks cost more HP then hers did, but she could still win with her agility and rapid fire attacks. While thinking this Chitoge was busy holding off Raku's strikes against her. The non-stop attempts on her guard were making minuscule effects on her points but she had never liked being inactive, even in a virtual world.
Catching her with an upward slash Raku watch as Taki flew back several feet and fell to the floor. She laid flat out on the cobbled floor; waiting Raku knew not to approach. Chitoge was planning to hit him when he approached her; he just knew it.
Raku smiled, he would wait.
And so they waited, Raku could see the way Chitoge was almost shaking with impatience. It was her biggest flaw; her complete lack of restraint and patience was so fun to watch in this instance.
She was fuming her face red, his smile grew to encompass his face.
"Attack!" she shouted turning to him remote still in hand as she pursed her lips at him while glaring daggers with her eyes. He just stared in front smirking as he saw her with his peripheral vision.
"K.O" looking back to the screen Chitoge let out a strangled cry and hit Raku. Pounding her fist into his shoulder he laughed, "You sneaky bastard, you actually sneak attacked me you arse." She kept hammering him, pelting his shoulder and back as she shifted to attack.
"Round 2" the TV called. And quick as that she backed away and sat back onto her cushion.
Taki leaped forward kicking Mitsurugi in the head, as he fell she hooked her leg around his thick neck. With the power of her forward thrust she brought him down to the ground and as he connected Taki took her blade and shoved it into his gullet. If this had been real he would be beyond the point of saving now. But because this was a game his character got up and continued the fight as if nothing had really happened. His robe was starting to fall apart as he took his stance and they engaged once more, the fight continued.
Chitoge won the second round and as the third started their fingers started to hurt from the fast and intense rapping of buttons.
Kicks and punch were flying, cuts and slashes abounded and as they the bottom of their gauge. Raku badgered at Chitoges defense, Mitsuragi' blade sliding against Taki' two kodachi for a minuet before jumping back. In that minuet Chitoge released a combo that made blue orbs appear and start glowing in the air around Taki, the orbs light intensified on impact with Mitsurugi. Raku watched as his character was sent flying back, his character was unresponsive. He had lost, the words "Taki wins." Emerged from the speakers.
Brokenly Raku turned to his fake girlfriend, that shit-eating grin was back in full force.
Her arms were in the air celebrating her triumph; she was "Wooing" and shouting, "Yata!" her eyes closed as she bounced on her pillow.
"I won, I won." She sang, pointing at him and poking him.
"OK, you won one. Don't get cocky you gorilla women." He said shouting back.
"Then I guess we have a competition on our hands don't we?" she smugly said looking at him with her chin raised in venture. Goading him.
And with that Chitoge and Raku's epic contest started.
After fourteen more rounds and various different role changes the scores were like this.
First round was Chitoge.
Second, Chitoge again.
Third was Raku and he felt so good about beating her, he one the next one and the next and next.
Raku.
Chitoge.
Chitoge.
Raku.
Chitoge.
Chitoge.
Chitoge.
Raku.
And finally on their fifteenth consecutive game Raku broke the tie beating the yawning girl beside him. Releasing his own grin Raku stood from his long seated position, his legs whining as his muscles stretched out in a way they hadn't for hours.
At that thought Raku brought up the TV's menu, the time was displayed in the top right corner. "It's 1:47am." Raku said aloud, his eyes widening in shock.
"Whhaat?" she said yawning (I just yawn in real life) stretching her arms out behind her back, she reclined backwards slowly onto the floor; letting out another smaller yawn as she closed her eyes.
"Chitoge, Chitoge." He said shaking her gently. The blonde just snuggled deeper into her arm, a cute smile curving at her lips as her eyes moved under her lids. How could she fall asleep so fast? Not to mention just seeing her sleep next to him made Raku doubt his one point win.
Rubbing his hand over his eyes Raku bent down on all fours and tried to shake her awake again. Nothing, her eyes stirred slightly but didn't open. Rolling his eyes Raku picked the unconscious girl up, her hair a millimeter away from touching the floor. Raku was astounded at her weight, he thought she would be heavier but even her out for the count self was manageable. Opening the door as he'd closed it earlier Raku carried Chitoge over to her room, using the same tactics again with that door as well.
Placing her on the futon Raku struggled to not over balance. That wouldn't end well. Collecting the scattered pillows Raku dusted them off before he discreetly placed them under her head. Not even a partial opening of the eyes. She was so far in sleep that there was no calling her back now.
Unfolding the quilt from the edge of the mattress Raku covered her, leaving nothing but her blonde head poking out the top. Man she looked so peaceful when she was asleep. It was a complete and utter lie, he thought. Tucking her in he swept a hair out of her face and behind her ear.
"Goodnight." Raku silently said a miniature smile finding its way to his face.
End chapter:
A/N. Hey you guys thank you the reviews I'm gunna do a shout out to all of you who reviewed because I think knowing that people take the time to write them so I should answer. Ok then here we go….
Melody1110:
Thank you for the happy faces and I love that you liked my story. Thank you for being part of this fandom I know we are few in number now but we won't be for long. J
Alexbonita:
I did translate and thank you it felt so good to here from you, I was actually really close to just asking my Spanish friend to read it for me, I got the email while at tafe (which is like UNI). And way to go learning another language I'm doing Japanese myself next year. Don't worry about me quitting the story I know I haven't updated my other stories in a while and for those who have read them sorry for the wait it's just I got caught up and will put a new chapter up sooon (as possible) it shouldn't be that long.
Strikefreedom20a:
I have kept going thank you for your inspirational words they have helped me put out larger chapters.
Anyway I hope you guys liked the battle and the cooking and how Chitoge fell asleep. I won't be bringing them together as a couple to quickly because Raku is still to hurt on the inside to think about 'that'. If you have any suggestions for the story or pairing or just random things feel free to inbox me or just leave a review. I hope you loved it more then I loved writing it!
Read, review, fav and follow.