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— Intentions —
10# - Stirring Embers
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"When you start using senses you've neglected, your reward is to see the world with completely fresh eyes."
― B. Sher
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— A. Misaki
Moments later, red berries were washed and drying in the sink, the sound of water drops hitting the bottom gradually idling in the air. The room was filled with the scent of dark melted chocolate. I slowly edged closer to that kettle full of the sinful mixture, curious and attracted to the delicious smell. His back facing me, he candidly went back to stir the chocolate when I sneakily approached.
Damn him.
He glanced at me and raised his eyebrow for a second, before his attention went back to his handiwork. A ghost of a smile lingered on his lips, not showy enough to be an open mock at me. But I knew better, and the glint of mischief in his foxy eyes gave it all away.
The freak was enjoying catching me red-handed. Cunning bastard.
"So, what can I do now?" I meekly asked.
He hummed. "Let me think..." His eyes not leaving the pool of melted chocolate, he answered. "Could you mix the flour with the eggs?"
I blinked. "Flour? Eggs? I thought all we needed was a premade cake mix... " I mumbled and made my way to the other side of the kitchen, seizing a bowl and the package. Fumbling to open the flour pack, I rashly pulled on the lid, making it jerk brutally, scattering the content in a puffy cloud of flour in the air. It pilled everywhere but inside the bowl.
"Ughhh, stupid damn flour! It's so...messy! And dirty!..." I cursed, jolting away from the mess. The package fell down to the floor, spilling it furthermore and aggravating my consternation. I exhaustingly exhaled, emptying my lungs as much as possible to quell the growing burst of irritation.
"Are you okay?" He inquired. I vehemently shook my head "no", both to answer his question and get the flour off my hair and face. Glancing up at me and taking in my pitiful and disheveled appearance, he chuckled before turning off the stove.
An amused sigh went past his lips as he strode towards me with cautious steps, avoiding the puddles of flour all over the floor.
Leisurely reaching up to me, he held up a wooden spoon coated with chocolate in front of my mouth, careful not to spill any of it.
"Do you want some?" I frowned at his offer. "Consolation prize," he clarified with a knowing smirk.
The frown still etched on my face, I clutched the spoon away from his hand before tiredly licking the chocolate off the scoop. Without a doubt, it was sweet and tasty, and each lap thrived to relieve my tensed nerves. Sated, I peered up at him with a little smile as a thanks. His eyes lingered on my mouth, and I couldn't help but notice that the emerald color of his irises faintly turned one shade darker.
He stepped closer.
His eyes were intense. Focused.
"You have some flour..." He lightly stroked the high bridge of my nose with his forefinger. "And some chocolate..." his finger slid down to my cheek, following the curve of my cheekbones before landing on my bottom lip, softly brushing across it. "—... Here."
He showed the chocolate smear he retrieved on his thumb, before he brought it to his lips and slowly licked it away.
Slow and deliciously. I couldn't help the fleeting shiver that ran up my spine.
"Delicious," he approved as if reading my mind, his gaze on me smoldering. Almost burning my skin.
I stared at him, wide eyed, before his serious expression broke into a playful grin. And before I knew it, his free hand came to draw a full stroke on my other cheek and finished with a dot on the tip of my nose.
"And now, you have plenty of flour here and there." He laughed, slowly backing away. "So... dirty, Misaki."
How dare he?! My anger flared anew as I drew back and took a handful of flour in my palm.
"Dirty?! Let's see who's dirty!" I loudly sniped.
I paced to him, and threw the flour right in his face. He managed to barely avoid it, making it land on the side of his cheek, down to his neck and shirt. I quickly made my way back to the destroyed package, grabbing another handful but before I could launch it, his hands came to firmly grip my wrists down. He was totally enjoying the showdown, eyes glinting with playful mirth and his grin so wide I could even see the creases dimples made on its corner.
Arghhh! I was going to wash that conceited grin off his face, I swear!
He only burst out laughing at my fuming expression, his head thrown back and his whole body shaking with each gasp for air.
I pushed him backward, wriggling away like a stray cat fighting for life as he kept laughing. Our feet got tangled in the process. I sloppily strode in, and before we could react, we both fell down on the floor in a thud.
Ughh... This couldn't get worse.
His grip was still wrapped around my wrist as I straddled him, my whole body laying on top of his as he laid flat —save for his head— on the tilled floor.
His lips were so close and I couldn't help but wonder if they would taste as good as the melted chocolate from earlier. I swallowed, my preceding anger gradually turning into confusion and something I didn't understand. Uneasiness merged with anticipation, possibly.
What was he doing to me?
Distracted by my thoughts, I didn't realize how close I had leaned in before his voice pulled me out of my daze. A whisper holding a hint of a warning.
"Misaki..."
His voice was low and calm, yet, it sounded strained. I reluctantly glanced up to his searching eyes. Wearing a thoughtful expression, he held my gaze, surveying me a little longer than usual. Dark pools of emerald seemingly struggling, he appeared indecisive, as if he wondered whether he should or not voice the query in the back of his mind.
He took a sharp inhale, and roughly exhaled. I could feel his chest rise and fall against mine, my heart unexpectedly racing at the foreign feeling I was experiencing.
"Why...?" he murmured, a flash of concern and curiosity emerging from the depth of his eyes. Seeking for his answer in my expression, I could only stare at him, lost in the vagueness of his demand. It felt as if air was stuck still in the atmosphere, and I unconsciously held my breath for his next words.
"Why were you avoiding me these past days?"
Taken aback, I quickly pulled away, but his grip tightened around my wrists, holding me in place. He slowly propped up on his elbows, the motion closing the distance between us. Just like a predator slowly edging closer to its cornered prey.
Too close.
Burning hot.
I don't know.
I know.
Warmth crept up my cheek, my heart painfully pounding against my chest.
"I...uhh..." I didn't dare meet his eyes. "Work... I was pretty busy..." My voice was so weak and coated with apprehension that I didn't even recognize it.
And his voice was only a growl when he replied. "You are a pretty bad liar, Misaki."
He pulled me closer, his lips breaths apart. "Tell me the truth," he slowly drawled, his voice rasping against my skin. "...Or I might kiss you."
Those last words came out no louder than a whisper, almost imperceptible in the air. And yet, it felt like a forceful tornado, shredding my every senses bare. My body was on fire and the worst thing was: I didn't know whether his treat scared me or tempted me most. The prospect of feeling his lips against mine allured me.
And deeply terrified me.
More than anything, I couldn't get the words out of my mouth. Perhaps was I spellbound by the prospect of sampling his fine lips. Or maybe was I simply too confused to move. I would never know.
It felt hard to breathe.
My lack of answer probably edged his patience too far because he suddenly yanked me even closer. I could feel his warm breath on my lips. My heart sank along with the pull as a shaky exhale went past my mouth and fanned against his.
Just a little bit closer and...
I struggled, my voice a tiny and frail whisper. "I...—"
"... —Onee-san? Hinata sent me to see how you were doing with the—..."
The noise of grocery bags dropping on the floor resonated in the spacious room, making me jump back as he let go of his grasp. He slowly sat up, surveying the disturbance with an undecipherable expression.
"—Eh?!" Suzuna gasped, her soft voice suddenly silent as her eyes increasingly widened when she took in the scene happening in front of her.
Basically, her sister straddling a man, and both covered in flour.
"Uh... Suzu... It's not what you think it is..." I hurriedly explained before nudging off the man beneath me. I unnoticeably poked his side, calling for support. He answered with a sly smile. Maybe did I hope that he would make the situation better, that he would even try. But when the words fell out of his mouth, I could only stare at him, wide-eyed, alarmed and aghast all at once.
"Indeed, it's not what it looks like..." He grinned at me, with that apologetic yet making-it-even-more-suspicious expression I wanted to smash in pieces.
My sister's eyebrow went sky high at his tone.
My face went beet red with embarrassment.
And he only chuckled.
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Author's note:
Silly cliché...
Takumi & Misa didn't have a kitchen-play-with-food-and-stumble scene in the manga, so, why not :3