Rent a Girlfriend: What Is not What it Seems (Short Story) Part 1

Characters:

Kazuya Kinoshita

Chizuru Mizuhara

Mami Nanami

Ruka Sarashina

Sumi Sakurasawa

Nagomi Kinoshita

Yoshiaki Kibe

Shun Kuribayashi

Sayuri Ichinose

Discovery:

The first thing Chizuru Mizuhara did after she woke up was to reset all of her Clocks within her Apartment. From the Oven Timer to the Plug In Alarm Clock that she had on one of her Nightstands. Last night the Power had cut off due to the Horrendous Storm that had hit. At first when the Storm struck, she had been tempted to seek companionship from Kazuya who lived right next door. But after a few moments of indecision she decided that it would probably give him the wrong idea. "Maybe that would not have been a bad thing." She whispered as she looked out her back Patio Large Window at the damage the Storm had caused to the back yard of the Apartment Complex. Tree Branches and Debris could easily be seen scattered all over the Yard. The Emergency Broadcast had stated that what had hit was only the edge of the much larger Tsunami that had hit a good fifty miles to the North. "I could go and check to make sure that he is alright. That would be acceptable since he is my neighbor after all and he is my Client." She said with a small smile. Putting on her Jacket she stepped out of her Apartment and went to his Door. Touching the Door Buzzer and after a moment the door opened to reveal Ruka Sarashina standing there.

"Oh it is you Chizuru." Ruka said with a small smile and Chizuru stared at her in shock. Feeling betrayed and jealous at the same time.

"What are...What are you doing here?" Chizuru asked and Ruka gave a soft chuckle.

"What do you think I am doing here? Kazuya is my Boyfriend after all and last night was scary." Ruka said and Chizuru willed herself not to show any sign of what she felt. The other chuckled again and gestured with her right hand towards the Bathroom. "If you are looking for Kazuya...He is in the Bathroom taking a Shower." Suddenly the Bathroom door opened a few inches and Kazuya looked out.

"Who is at the door Ruka?" Kazuya asked, peeking slightly around the bathroom door and then saw Chizuru standing there. She glared at him and turned to leave. "WAIT! Chizuru it is not what it looks like!" He quickly said bolting from the bathroom wearing only a Bath Towel and Chizuru did not stop as she walked back to her own Apartment. He followed her. "Chizuru...Listen I did not do anything inappropriate...I swear. Please let me explain." She spun towards him angrilly.

"What is there to explain? It is not like I am...I am just a Rental Girlfriend remember. Why should it matter if you and Ruka...Why Ruka spent the night in your Apartment and if you two did anything sorted. It is none of my business what you two did." Chizuru said bitterly and Kazuya holding the towel with his right hand grabbed her right elbow with his left hand. She jerked away and then glared at him.

"We did not do anything. Listen...Me and Ruka worked the late shift at Work and...and then the Storm started and the Trains all got shut down. So she had no where else to go...So she came back here. Nothing happened. She slept on my Futon and I slept in the Bathroom." Kazuya babbled the explanation as quickly as he could and Chizuru looked over at him.

"Really?" Chizuru asked her voice wavering slightly and he nodded vigorously.

"Yeah Chizuru..Really. Nothing happened. Though I was a bit annoyed especially when he locked the Bathroom door." Ruka said from his Door and Chizuru exhaled with relief. Then looked once more back at Kazuya and blushed.

"You might want to go back and put some clothes on...Kazuya." Chizuru said giggling slightly and he looked down at himself. He blushed and with an almost inaudible squeak bolted back to his own Apartment. Passing Ruka who stepped further out on the Deck. While Kazuya grabbed some clothes and headed once more into the Bathroom.

"What I find interesting is why would it matter to you if me and Kazuya did do something?" Ruka commented after shutting Kazuya's front door. Stepping closer to Chizuru. "You know what I think what I once accused you of back during the New Year. That you have fallen for Kazuya and do not want anyone or rather me to take him away from you." She stated and Chizuru once more fell back on her acting skills.

"No you are wrong. I do not have any feelings like that towards him. He is nothing more then a Client and that is all." Chizuru said and Ruka shook her head.

"Bullshit! Why don't you tell the truth for once? You are in love with him and you know what. I know he is in love with you." Ruka she looked back to make sure that Kazuya did not return yet. She did not want him to hear this.

"You are wrong. I do not...I am not in love with...Him" Chizuru said already knowing that he was in love with her. It was too obvious that he felt that way. Ruka chuckled.

"Good. Keep denying it and eventually convince yourself. Then at some point he will give up on you and then he will be mine. I hope you can live with that once he does...Because once he is mine. You will never see him again. I will make him move out of here and make sure that he has no contact with you at College." Ruka stated firmly and as Kazuya's door opened. She stepped back and stood right in front of Kazuya almost blocking him from talking to Chizuru. Chizuru went inside her own Apartment and closed the door. Sliding down onto the floor with her back against it, then drew her knees upwards and wrapped her arms around her knees. She let out a deep sigh of relief and then thought about what Ruka had said.

"I cannot let that happen." Chizuru whispered. "I...I cannot let Ruka take him away from me. She is right. I have fallen in love with him." The very thought of that happening made her chest hurt. She closed her eyes and remembered when he had at first said that he wanted to be with her. For her to be his Girlfriend. She also remembered the disappointment she felt when he recanted almost right after he had said that to her. She agonized over what Ruka had said almost all weekend.

Monday Madness:

Barely paying attention to her two closest Friends, Shinbo and Kawanaka. Chizuru fondly gazed over at Kazuya who was with Kibe and Kuri a good forty or so meters away. Still she thought about what Ruka had said and even though she denied that she had fallen in love with him. She knew for a fact that she had. "Chizuru! Hey Chizuru...Are you listening?" Shinbo asked finally bringing her out of her daze.

"Yes. What were you saying? I was not paying attention." Chizuru asked and both of her friends smiled broadly.

"We both noticed." Kawanaka said with a small chuckle and looked over at who Chizuru was staring at. "Sooo...It would seem you have...Let's say an interest in someone over there." Shinbo also giggled with glee as Chizuru blushed.

"I do not!" Chizuru stated. Again her friends chuckled.

"Yeah right. Though if it is the one I think you are staring at...I hate to say it. But I heard that he has a Girlfriend. According to Shun Kuribayashi...A really gorgeous one." Shinbo said and Chizuru bit her bottom lip. Not about to tell her friends that the Girlfriend that Kazuya was her and that in reality she was just his Rental Girlfriend at the moment.

"I heard that too. So Chizuru...You might want to give up on that one. Though I do think it is kind of nice to see that you have an interest in a Boy. I was beginning to worry that perhaps you were not into boys. Rather Girls instead...Not that there is anything wrong with that." Kawanaka said the last part quickly with her hands out towards Chizuru who scowled at her.

"I am straight and I do like boys...There just isn't any that...I like." Chizuru looked back at Kazuya as he and his Friends began to leave. She sighed and coyly smiled.

"Oh wow she does like him." Kawanaka commented with a giggle and Chizuru scowled once more back at her about to deny it. But did not have the gumption to. Instead she checked her Cellphone and saw what time it was.

"I got to go." Chizuru said and before the two could continue to tease her or ask her where she was going. She left. In about two hours she had Rehearsal and could not be late. So she headed for her Apartment and as she was about to climb the stairs, she got a TEXT. Reading it she grimaced. Keigo Ishida a fellow Actor on the Play had sent her another request to take her out on a date. "Get a clue Ishida...I am not interested." She whispered as she sent a Decline Reply to him. That did not stop him, for he sent another almost immediately. As she walked up the steps and neared Kazuya's door an idea came to her. "Stop asking me out. I have a Boyfriend. So I am not interested in going out with you." She said as she typed and of course the overly insistent idiot did not believe her asking to meet this so called Boyfriend. "Fine...Once you do. I expect you to stop harassing me." She sent and stopped outside Kazuya's door to ask him a huge favor.

That evening as the Rehearsal ended, Chizuru waited with three of her fellow Cast Members which included Keigo Ishida. All the others had already left, including the Director and Producer. "So where is this so called Boyfriend?" He asked with a smirk and Chizuru was about to answer. But at that moment Kazuya came in through the front of the Rehearsal Room. She stepped over to him and clasped his right hand in her left.

"Yes this is my Boyfriend. His name is Kazuya...Kazuya Kinoshita." Chizuru said and the two others there stepped closer as Keigo glared at Kazuya.

"Yeah right!" Keigo said sarcastically but one of the other two lightly hit his right forearm.

"Leave her alone Keigo." Momo Yaoyorozu said sternly and then smiled at Kazuya and Chizuru. "So this is your Boyfriend. Got to say Chizuru...He is really cute and anyone can tell that he is way head over heals for you. Oh where is my manners...I am Momo...Momo Yaoyorozu and this is Kyoka Jirno." Chizuru's fellow Cast Member said indicating the other Girl that was there.

"Nice to meet both of you." Kazuya said evenly and Chizuru smiled over at him warmly. Still she could tell that Keigo did not believe that Kazuya was her Boyfriend.

"You know what. I bet he is one of your Rental Girlfriend Clients." Keigo said with a smirk, not willing to let it go. He had already struck out with Momo due to that she was Married and Kyoka had a Boyfriend that he knows already. That left Chizuru being the only Girl he believed to be acceptable from all the Girls that were in the Play. The other fifteen other Cast Members were not as attractive as the three there. So he deemed them not worth his time and effort.

"He was one of my Clients long ago...But we have been together for over a year now. Completely against the rules. Unless we are a real couple that is." Chizuru said drawing Kazuya closer and he began to wonder what was going on. Yes Chizuru had told him about there being a Rule that she was not really supposed to still let him Rent her after Six Months. Then there was the conviction he noticed she had just said to this other Guy. To him it sounded real and that Chizuru was not acting. So all in all he was completely confused. She had also told him when she asked him to pretend to be her Boyfriend why she needed him to do this. It was to get Kiego to stop pestering her.

"What do you want from her Keigo? Proof of some sort?" Kyoka asked angrily. She like Chizuru and Momo did not like how Keigo constantly hit on any Girl that seemed to fit his criteria. He was relentless and did not like to take NO for an answer. Chizuru could tell that was what it would take. So looking again over at Kazuya, she decided that she would give Keigo the proof and also finally admit how she really felt about Kazuya. Who paled when he saw that same look in Chizuru's eyes that he had seen once before. Back when Ruka had challenged Chizuru to kiss him to prove that they were really a couple. At the time she pretended to kiss him by blocking Ruka's view with her Cellphone and actually just kissed her finger.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Kazuya thought in panic as he saw that same look in her eyes. He paled even more as she leaned towards him and he was actually expecting her to pull the same trick she did back then. Then to his utter surprise, she kissed him for real. He felt lightheaded as her soft inviting lips pressed against his. His heart began to pound madly in his chest and it took all of his willpower not to do the same thing he did back then. Chizuru parted and turned her head towards the three. She smiled broadly.

"See...He is my Boyfriend and I...I...I am in love with him." Chizuru said as the two other Girls giggled. Then laughed at Keigo as he stormed off in a huff. From that point on Kazuya was so dazed he had no idea what happened until Chizuru almost dragged him away.

The Train:

Dragging Kazuya along, Chizuru was worried about him. He almost seemed to be completely out of it. The closest thing he seemed to resemble to her was that he was a Zombie. Sitting on one of the seats on the Train. She squeezed his right hand and reached up to lightly tap his face with her left hand. "Kazuya...Are you alive?" She asked him tapping his face several times. After about half an hour since she kissed him, he finally blinked and then came out of his daze. He sighed deeply and something seemed to dawn on him. As if he understood what had happened.

"Oh I get it now. You really surprised me back there when you...when you kissed me. It was all an act to get that...Jackass to stop hitting on you. Right?" Kazuya said somewhat sadly and Chizuru exhaled softly.

"I can't do that. I need to admit it...Otherwise...There would be the risk I will lose him to Ruka." Chizuru thought and then shook her head. "No Kazuya...What I did and what I said was...Real." She said softly and she turned to look directly at him, tightening her grip on his hand afraid that he might disappear and leave her. He once more stared at her in disbelief and as if he was about to go into his daze again. She leaned closer and peered directly into his eyes. Easily seeing what she already knew. That he was in love with her. He had fallen hopelessly in love with her. She smiled warmly at what she saw there. "Kazuya...I...I have fallen in love with you. I love you and I want you to be my Boyfriend. My Real Boyfriend." She leaned even closer and kissed him again. Not caring if anyone protested about the obvious PDA. The kiss once more put Kazuya into a dazed stupor. That and what she had just said to him. It took until they reached their Apartment Building for him to be able to make coherent sentences.

Taking him into her Apartment, she had him sit at her Table while she made Tea. An herbal calming blend that Chizuru had drank several times when she was feeling a little overwhelmed. Though as she glanced over at Kazuya who seemed to still be in a stupor. "Maybe Booze would be more appropriate to get him to...Well be normal." She whispered with a small chuckle. Not that she had any in her Cupboards. Coming over to him she at first was going to hand him the Teacup, but after noticing his hands shaking. She thought better of it. So she set the cup down in front of him. Then sat down across from him. At first she was going to sit right next to him. Then decided to sit across from him. He had not said anything relevant yet and she was getting a little anxious herself. "Kazuya." She said bringing him to stop staring at his Teacup and at her.

"Yes." Kazuya said and suddenly realized that he was in her Apartment. He had never been in her Apartment and he was inwardly panicking. Though he bet she could easily see that he was sweating a lot.

"Do you remember what I said to you? Along with what I did?" Chizuru asked slightly embarrassed. He nodded vigorously.

"Yes. You...You said you have fallen in love with me. You kissed me twice." Kazuya said in amazement still wondering if this was real or was he in some type of Coma. She glared at him crossly.

"Well!" Chizuru growled in frustration. "Are you going to say something?" She asked him in annoyance and he realized what she was asking.

"Other then that...Chizuru I have been in love with you for so long and for you to...to say it. I am having a hard time convincing myself that this is real. That the Woman I am in love with actually...Loves me and wants to be a couple. A real one...It is a lot to process and I...I.." Kazuya was stopped when Chizuru reached over and placed a confining right hand index finger onto his lips. She smirked.

"You are babbling. I find it extremely cute...Though. But it is counterproductive. Now as I said...You are my Boyfriend now. You are mine and mine alone. I know this will probably upset Ruka...and I am sorry about that. But I am done being an idiot and I am done letting you continue being an idiot." Chizuru told him and thought about all the situations that made her finally make the choice to be with him. From what her Grandmother had told her a few days ago. About how happy the most important person in her life was. Over the fact that she had Kazuya in her life and that her Grandmother did not have to worry that she would be lonely if something happened to the elder woman. That really hit it home for her. That Kazuya was exactly what she needed in her life and with the threat made by Ruka. She just decided when Keigo was being an asshole was the last straw. Moving around the table, she sat knelt in front of Kazuya and he shook his head.

"I think you could do so much better then me. After all I am...Well I am me." Kazuya said and Chizuru chuckled.

"Yeah you are you and that is why I fell in love with you." Chizuru told him, clasped both of his hands in hers and then leaned towards him. Kissing him once more. All doubts she had from the moment she had kissed him for real the first time vanished. Parting only to catch their breaths, he smiled at her.

"I love you Chizuru." Kazuya whispered to her and they continued to make out for another hour or so. Almost to the point where Chizuru was tempted to allow him to spend the night in her Apartment. Then before she could ask, he mentioned that it was getting late and that they both had Classes tomorrow. So with a good night kiss, he left and she spent a good hour regretting not asking him to remain instead.

The Next Day:

Awakening in his Bed, Kazuya was sure yesterday or rather last night was a dream or a hallucination. Something induced by perhaps what he had for dinner. He had heard that certain foods can give you dreams that are really outrageous. But he never had one from eating Ramon before. "No that was not real. It couldn't be. Maybe all of what happened was not real." He sat up and after a few moments rerolled his Futon. With that done he was about to go to his Kitchenette to make Coffee. When someone rang his Buzzer. Checking the time via the Oven Clock Timer, he slowly walked to the door and opened it to reveal Chizuru.

"Good Morning Kazuya...I thought...I thought I would join you for Breakfast." Chizuru said and he stared at her in confusion. She saw his expression and smirked. "What? What is wrong with your Girlfriend wanting to come over and have breakfast with her Boyfriend? Is there?" She asked him and he slowly shook his head.

"Do you mean...Yesterday was real?" Kazuya asked back and Chizuru laughed.

"Of course it was real...You adorable idiot." Chizuru replied and he let her in. She stopped briefly enough to peck him on the lips with a small good morning kiss. Which pulled him out of his shock and confusion. "So what do you have in mind for Breakfast? Do you want me to make something?" She asked him and he shook his head.

"No. I will do it. So how about Poached Eggs on Toast? Go have a seat and I will...What sounds good? Coffee or Tea?" Kazuya asked her and she smiled as she went over to his Table.

"Coffee sounds good." Chizuru said and he went to the Kitchen to start Breakfast. Turning on his Coffee Maker in route to the Refrigerator. She watched him and found herself really liking this.

"It feels so...So natural. As if...We are a couple now and this feels normal. Something that I...Grandma was right. He is someone I need in my life." Chizuru thought as she watched him and after a few moments brought her a cup of Coffee. Along with Sugar and Milk. "Thank you." She said and smiled warmly at him. "Of course he knows how I take my Coffee and Tea." Finding that also really nice. No one but her Grandmother knew that. Other then someone she had spent the last year with and also knew just about everything about him as he knew about her. There was not many secrets that they did not know about each other. "In truth...We have been a real couple for quite awhile and I never realized it." She sipped her Coffee and made the decision that they would be doing this quite often. Like every day from now on. That was when she realized that before this, she had a very lonely existence. With only her Grandmother and her two Friends Shinbo and Kawanaka to reduce that loneliness. So now she had Kazuya to take push that loneliness completely away.

Changing into her Ichinose and walking next to Kazuya towards the College Campus. Chizuru fought the urge to hold his hand. She was not ready to announce to anyone about her being Chizuru Mizuhara or that for the time being she was a Rental Girlfriend. Soon she knew she would have to. Well to her Grandmother, His Grandmother and his Parents, her Friends and his. But until they absolutely had to. She still rather wait. Though both of them was concerned about Mami. As she put it Mami was a vindictive evil Bitch that enjoyed making Kazuya suffer. That was the only explanation Chizuru could fathom on why Mami did the things she did. At some point she already decided if Mami tried to hurt Kazuya again. Then the Bitch would be the one to suffer. Probably from a broken nose after Chizuru decked her. She barely noticed when Kazuya quickened his pace and was now several meters ahead of her. She was about to protest, then realized that they had neared the Campus and he was putting some distance between them so that no one would think that they were together. "Hey Kazuya...Remember you are taking me out tonight." She said reminding him and before he put too much distance between them. He turned his head back towards her and smiled.

"I know. How does Dinner and a Movie sound?" Kazuya asked her and Chizuru smiled.

"Sounds perfect. Though I also want to go to where we had our first date. So that this time I can really enjoy it." Chizuru said back to him and then they completely ignored each other. Especially when Kibe and Kuri joined Kazuya. That was her cue to become fully Chizuru Ichinose. Though she could not stop from looking at Kazuya fondly. Wishing that they could stop this whole facade and to all appearances be a real couple. As Shinbo and Kawanaka joined her, she thought about that this Saturday they were going to inform her Grandmother, his Grandmother and his Parents the truth. Though tomorrow Kazuya was going to also tell Ruka the bad news. She had already told him that she would be there as well and if it comes down to it. She would let Ruka have a free shot with no retaliation or consequences. She at least owed that to Ruka for essentially taking Kazuya away from the other Girl.

To be continued