Rent a Girlfriend: And then there was? (Short Story) Part 1

Characters:

Kazuya Kinoshita

Chizuru Mizuhara

Mami Nanami

Ruka Sarashina

Sumi Sakurasawa

Nagomi Kinoshita

Yoshiaki Kibe

Shun Kuribayashi

Sayuri Ichinose

Three Months After Chizuru's Confession:

"Whoever gave me this...Should...AAAACHHHOOO!" Chizuru sneezed loudly with enough resounding force that it had rocked her that she was sure she would get whiplash from it if she had done it any harder. With a sniffle she immediately laid back down, using a nearby moist towel to blow her nose again. Kazuya knelt next to her and then read the Thermometer.

"101...Looks like you caught a Cold. Which means you are staying in bed today and maybe even tomorrow." Kazuya said and Chizuru frowned at him. He took the Moist Towel from her and then gave her another one. At the same time he set down a Glass of Water on the stand next to her Futon. "Is there anything else you might need?" He asked and she shook her head.

"Not right now...You better get going or you will be late." Chizuru said her voice sounding more harsh then normal as she sniffled again. The Cold was really hitting her hard. She knew Kazuya was tempted to skip class today for he wanted to stay and take care of her. Take care of his Girlfriend.

"I could...Skip." Kazuya suggested and Chizuru shook her head again. Which she found to be a mistake in more ways then one. It made her feel dizzy and congested once more. So she used the moist towel to blow her nose again. Then sneezed but it was more moderate then the big one she just had a moment ago.

"No...Not Mister Hashiba's Class. You got a lecture and a test today that counts for one third of your Grade...Also Remember that...Well you know how he is." Chizuru really wanted to call that teacher a couple of names that she generally would not call anyone. The Man was a chauvinist, a self absorbed moron and from what she could tell. He was so close to being like SHELDON COOPER OFF BIG BANG THEORY that it would be hard to tell who was worse. The Character Sheldon Cooper or Tananaka Hashiba. Usually unless someone wanting to call off would have to have one foot in a grave and another foot on a banana peal. Otherwise he would not except any other reasons. Especially not if Kazuya tried saying that his Girlfriend was sick and he wanted to take care of her. "He won't except any excuses you can come up with...So go on. I will be fine until you get back." He hesitated.

"But I will be gone for at least four hours." Kazuya said with concern and Chizuru tried to smile. But the Cold made her feel too miserable to do that.

"I will be fine until then...Though when you come back...Could you pick me up some Meds?" Chizuru asked him and he nodded.

"Sure. No problem." Kazuya slowly started to stand then once more looked at Chizuru. He started to lean down and she knew what he intended to do. Just like all the other times he left or she did or either went somewhere without the other. He wanted to give her a SEE YOU LATER kiss. She interposed her right hand.

"No...Don't. I do not want you to catch this and don't pout...When I feel better...You can kiss me as much as you want then." Chizuru then did smile. He exhaled with a deep sigh and fully stood up. He paused at the door and looked back at her. "Now go on you...Scoot." She told him and he slowly opened the door. Then turned back towards her.

"I love you." Kazuya said and Chizuru smiled warmly at him.

"I love you more." Chizuru said waiting for him to finish their little escapade that they had come up with. Though she suspected it was from some Movie or TV Show. She couldn't remember what. But they both liked doing it.

"I love you most." Kazuya then left and Chizuru fully laid back to relax. Outside Kazuya once more was tempted to stay. He felt like he was abandoning her and he was a really worried about her. Then it dawned on him. Taking out his Cellphone he made a call as he walked towards Campus. "Hey Mom...Are you busy...I could use a favor." He said to his Mother and then asked for that favor. Though it did not take much convincing.

It had been about twenty minutes from when Kazuya had left, that Chizuru felt a little prickly. She so wanted to get her SEE YOU LATER Kiss from him even if it meant him catching her Cold. It just felt wrong to her not to get that Kiss. So it took about another twenty or more minutes for her to doze off. But as she rested she heard her door open and then close. With a deep sigh that clogged up her sinuses, she opened her eyes and immediately grabbed the Moist Towel to blow her nose. Then she sat up and was about to chastise Kazuya for actually skipping Class. To her surprise and shock. It was not Kazuya. It was his Mother Harumi Kinoshita.

"Kazuya called me and asked me to come...take care of you." Harumi said as she took off her shoes and then headed for Chizuru's kitchenette. Setting a pot down on the stove she turned on the low heat under the pot. "Now...First and foremost...I am betting you are all...Sweaty and Sticky. So...if you are able you need to get up and go take a shower or if you can't? I could wipe you down with a Wet Cloth?" She stated and waited for Chizuru to make her choice.

"Uhm...Miss Kinoshita I told Kazuya I can take care of myself." Chizuru asked and Harumi scowled at her.

"None of that Miss Kinoshita stuff...It is either Mom or Mother Harumi." The Elder woman stated and then partially knelt in front of Chizuru. "I want you to think of me as...Well your Mother...I already consider you my Daughter and...and eventually you and Kazuya are going to...Then you are going to be my Daughter in Law...Right." She said with a small smile and Chizuru was speechless at first.

"I suppose...Still...I am able to...All I was going to do is sleep and rest until Kazuya comes back with...Some Meds." Chizuru said and Harumi chuckled. Pulling a packet of Cold Meds out of her pocket.

"These will help a lot...But first like I said...You need to...Get cleaned up. Then...I have some Chicken Soup warming up on your stove. After that...You take the Meds and get some rest." Harumi looked towards Chizuru's Bathroom. "So are you able to take a shower or do you want me to just wipe you down with a warm wet cloth?" She asked and Chizuru decided to take a shower. While under the spray of warm water, she heard Kazuya's mother out in the Main Room. By the time she came out in fresh Pajamas. Her bed had been changed and remade. "Okay...back to bed...The Soup should be ready...Nice and hot." She first tucked her in and then went to the Kitchen and came back with a Mug of Chicken Soup. Chizuru looked at the held out mug and took it.

"Is this the famous Chicken Soup Kazuya told me about? The Soup that he swears could cure a Plague?" Chizuru asked and Harumi chuckled again.

"Yep...And so bottoms up." Harumi stated and Chizuru sipped the hot soup. She was surprised for even with dulled taste buds. She could actually taste the soup. "Easy now it is extremely hot." Nodding slightly Chizuru continued to sip the soup carefully. "Later when you can stomach some...I will add in some Socialables Crackers. That will really give it some zing." When finished the Elder Woman took the mug and then handed her a small white pill along with a glass of water. "Take that and then lay back down." Chizuru did as she was told and then as she lay there. She realized that it was extremely wonderful to have a mother again. To fuss over her while she was ill.

0000

Returning back home, Kazuya first stopped at his Apartment to drop off his Laptop and his Backpack. Then headed over to Chizuru's. He had to ring the Buzzer this time due to that he had given his Mother indirectly his Key to Chizuru's Apartment. He had asked Kuri to give the key to his Mother when she arrived at the College and then headed to class and the teacher that everyone nicknamed Sheldon the Devil. It was not that Professor Tananaka Hashiba was brilliant. No far from it. The man was in a word. Conceded and if Kazuya suspected that there were Monkeys smarter then that Professor when it came to academics. No one knew how, but somehow Tananaka Hashiba had achieved Tenure three years ago and now used that to rule over everyone that was probably smarter then him. The main consensus was that Hashiba probably bribed the TENURE Committee. "That is the only way that pompous moron could get tenure." Kazuya whispered as he waited and then his Mother opened the door. Shushing him.

"SSSHHH. Chizuru is still asleep." Harumi said and glanced back to make sure that Chizuru was. Basically sneaking in, Kazuya also looked at Chizuru and smiled.

"Thanks for doing this Mom. I hated leaving her to go to class while she was sick. But I could not miss that Class and Test. The test is one third my Grade for that Class and I do not want to be subjected to that idiot another term." Kazuya whispered to his Mother who scowled.

"Kazuya...That idiot as you put it is your Teacher. Show him some respect." Harumi chided him with a continued scowl.

"But Tananaka Hashiba is a moron and an idiot." Chizuru said as she slowly sat up. "He is also a chauvinist prig that...That thinks women should not be in College but home taking care of the house and having babies. I had him last Semester and I still can't stand that idiot." It had not happened to her personally. But some of the other Girls in Class had made complaints that Tananaka had hit on them. Repeatedly. She knew why it had not happened to her. It was because in her normal Persona as Ichonise. No one really found her that attractive. Though she knew Kazuya did and right now that mattered more to her then anything.

"Really?" Harumi asked and then went over to check over Chizuru. "Though right now let's talk about that...Person later. Onto more important matters...How are you feeling now dear?" Chizuru smiled.

"Much better...Uhm Kazuya could you...Sit behind me. We cannot do our usual thing when we see each other...Not yet anyhow. Because I do not want you to catch my cold. But I really...Want you to...I need some...Comforting from you." Chizuru blushed slightly and Kazuya sat down behind her with his legs stretched out so that she sat between them. She immediately leaned back and he slipped his arms around in front of her waist. She sighed contently. "Much better." Harumi chuckled and clapped her hands together. With small tears cresting her eyes.

"That is so...Adorable. I got to take a picture." Harumi stated taking out her Smartphone. Chizuru held up her right hand towards her.

"Please don't. I am an absolute mess. My hair is not done and I do not have any make-up on." Chizuru pleaded and it was too late. Harumi had already taken the picture the second she pulled out her Smartphone.

"Too late...Sorry." Harumi said and then gestured towards the Kitchenette. "Anyone hungry?" She asked and of course both Kazuya and Chizuru were so she made lunch for them. "Can I ask you two something?" She came back with three bowls of her Chicken Soup and gave one to Chizuru and then Kazuya. They both nodded. "I was wondering when you two...Are going to...Uhm..." Not able to fully look at them, she shifted on her feet and could not think of how to ask them this for she knew they had not really been together that long. Chizuru smiled as Kazuya grasped audibly.

"MOTHER! I never thought you would ask something like that! Grans...would...But you...I never thought you would ask that!" Kazuya stated feeling completely awkward and shocked that his Mother would ask them something so personal. His Grandmother on the other hand had asked them so many times he had lost count. But really shocked him was that Chizuru had no problem answering.

"Oh we have been doing that for the past two months...About a week after we became a real couple." Chizuru informed her nonchalantly and Harumi gasped loudly.

"NO! Not that!" Harumi blurted out and was blushing madly. Chizuru chuckled. While Kazuya was still in shock that his mother had asked about their sex life and then Chizuru answered with no real embarrassment or hesitation. "No...I wanted to know if you two have even talked about...Finalizing your relationship with...You know Wedding Vows and Rings?" She asked still somewhat shocked that Chizuru said what she said.

"We have...discussed it once or twice. But decided to...wait to talk about it again." Kazuya clarified and Harumi smiled.

"He decided...I wanted to talk about it some more. But every time I bring that up...He gets this...HA! There it is!" Chizuru declared pointing with her right hand at Kazuya's face and there it was. They both saw it. His eyes had dilated. His face paled immensely and he began to sweat a lot. Basically it looked like he was about to have a stroke. "It is almost like he...Well he never...Will want to...Marry me." She said sadly and Kazuya shook his head violently.

"NO! NO! No that is not it. It is just...I think...I am worried that maybe...If and when I do...Ask...You would say no. Or by then you...Will come to your senses and...Well dump me." Kazuya stammered out and Chizuru scowled at him.

"You got to get over that inferiority complex that Mami gave you. Our relationship is completely different then what you had with her. For one...Ours is real where that one was not." Chizuru said to him and then all three of them laughed. Thinking back to when her relationship with Kazuya was fake. When she was a Rental Girlfriend that pretended to be his Girlfriend. "Well it is real now. It is the same with Ruka...That one was...She is nuts and you were lucky you never...She spent the night at your Apartment that one time and you got lucky that you did not get lucky. Because she would have used that against you for the rest of your life." Kazuya had to agree with that then he noticed his mother glaring at him.

"She had to stay mom...that was back when that Hurricane came through and she had come over just to make me dinner. I told Chizuru all about it and even made sure she knew that nothing happened." Kazuya said talking as fast as he could. His mother still scowled at him then looked over at Chizuru who nodded.

"He swore nothing happened...And I believe him...Though it was like I had said...Ruka would have used it against him if he did...Do something sorted." Chizuru said and Harumi slowly stopped glaring at Kazuya. "But let us move on to...Sumi shall we?" She then smirked at Kazuya and he began to squirm some.

"Nothing happened with her either." Kazuya said just as quickly as he did with his explanation about Ruka staying overnight.

"Who is this Sumi?" Harumi asked and Kazuya groaned while Chizuru gave a soft chuckle.

"Sumi Sakurasawa who happens to be a friend of mine...What you told your Mother about Ruka but not Sumi?" Chizuru asked and Kazuya wondered if he should make a run for it. But he couldn't. Especially since Chizuru was basically laying back against him and the only way he could escape would be to knock her over as he bolted for the door. "See Sumi is...Well she was and still somewhat..Shy. I persuaded Kazuya to go on...Let's say a Practice Date with her. To make a long story short...She was so over the moon about her date with him...She basically fell for him...Hard." Harumi glared back at Kazuya again.

"Is my Son a Giglio?" Harumi asked and then she and Chizuru both laughed.

"No I am not!" Kazuya declared wondering why now he had become the brunt of whatever this was from his Mother and now Chizuru.

"No he isn't...But...I decided after that not to let him get within ten yards of any other Rental Girlfriends. Mostly because when three Rentals fall for him then...You have to think that he is...That he has this certain appeal to...Rentals and is somehow able to...attract them. But Never mind about that right now...It doesn't matter...All that does matter is that he is mine now and I do not want anyone else to...He is just mine now." Chizuru said possessively. After Sumi had told her that she was thinking about asking Kazuya out on a Real Date. Chizuru began to wonder how it was possible that so far two Rental Girlfriends had essentially fallen for him. Three if she could bring herself to admit it. Then it dawned on her. Kazuya was just Kazuya and that was what made him special. About the same time it dawned on her that she also had fallen for him.

"All that still does not explain why...You two have not talked more about...The Future. Do you both believe that you have a future together?" Harumi asked and the young Couple both looked at each other.

"Of course there is a future for us...Mom. I love Chizuru so much and...And if she does not dump me for someone better...Then after we...Graduate...and after Chizuru is a huge success as an Actress then I will...I still have Grandma's Ring all ready for...Then." Kazuya stammered out and Chizuru smiled at him.

"So you have her Ring do you...Where is it?" Chizuru asked with a small mischievous smile and Kazuya swallowed heavily. He knew at one point his Grandmother had Chizuru try it on to make sure it fit her finger. Then the old woman had given it to him with the ultimatum that sometime sooner or later he give it to Chizuru. He smiled back at her.

"It is somewhere safe...And well hidden." Kazuya told her and Chizuru pouted. Then he saw that look in her eyes that made him extremely nervous. She had given him that look three times. The most prominent and devastating one was right before she pretended to kiss him to fool Ruka. The other times were more recent but they still were imposing enough to make him nervous. "Oh man...don't tell me. Does she want me to...? No it can't be...We just or rather I just told my Mom that...After we graduate and after she is a successful actress then I will...But does she want to...Sooner then that?" These questions flashed into his mind as he looked into her eyes and saw something there that made him wonder. He looked over at his Mother and saw that she was smirking. "She knows...Of course my Mom would...She knows."

"Tell me it is not like your...High School Pendant? You hid that once and...and we still cannot find it to this day." Nagumi asked and Kazuya rolled his eyes.

"No Mom...I know exactly where it is." Kazuya stated and his Mother gave him a look that basically said that she did not believe him. "What do you want me to go get it...And prove that I know where I hid it?" He asked her and before his Mother could answer. Chizuru did.

"Yes...I would want that proof." Chizuru said and Kazuya eased out from behind her. Went over to his Apartment and after a few moments came back. He held out his right hand and there it was his Grandmothers Diamond Ring. Chizuru snatched it from his hand.

"Hey...What are you doing Chizuru?" Kazuya asked as Chizuru slipped it onto her left ring finger.

"Mine now. It is mine now. He gave it to me...You saw it didn't you...He gave it to me...Right Mother Harumi?" Chizuru asked with a small childish smile and Harumi nodded.

"That is the way I witnessed it. He held it out to you and you accepted it. So in my opinion that makes the two of you...Engaged." Harumi said with a chuckle of delight. As Kazuya tried to fathom what was going on.

"No...Wait. I never asked...What do you mean I gave it to you? You just snatched it and put it on...I did not ask you...Yet...So how does that make us engaged?" Kazuya stammered out. Then he realized what had just happened. He may not have asked or in truth actually presented Chizuru with the Ring. But she had made the conscious decision that she wanted it. She wanted to be engaged to him. That she wanted to marry him. He slowly smiled broadly and Chizuru chuckled.

"I think he finally gets it...To make sure. Kazuya...I love you and...And I want...I want to marry you. I want to be engaged to be married to you. Sure we can still wait until we Graduate next year and after I become as you said a successful actress. But until then I want to be engaged to you." Chizuru told him and Kazuya felt lightheaded. Then he began to wonder if this was something that had been planned by his Mother and Chizuru. "The question is...Do you want to be...Engaged to me?" She asked him and Kazuya smiled at her.

"Of course I want to be engaged to you. Though I would have like to be the one...That actually proposed." Kazuya told her and Chizuru shrugged.

"If I waited for you to do it...You would have delayed and...I did not want to wait until after we Graduate for you to get the guts to ask me. Especially since you tend to overthink things. Not this time." Chizuru told him. "There is also the fact that...I am making sure that...Ruka or Sumi don't get any funny ideas." She was sincerely worried about Ruka and Sumi. Ruka was devious and she suspected that the Dark Haired younger Girl was clinically insane. While Sumi was just too cute. They both suddenly heard a sniffle and looked over to see Harumi crying. But she was also smiling broadly.

"I can't believe my little boy is engaged. I so wanted you to be with Chizuru. But now...YOU ARE ENGAGED! WE GOT TO CALL MOM AND TELL HER!" Harumi yelled and with shaking fingers tried to pull her Smartphone from her pocket.

"Wait...Mom. If you call her and tell her over the Phone...She is going to be pissed. Grans would want to hear it in person. Otherwise...You know how she is." Kazuya suggested and Harumi slowly nodded. Still holding her Cellphone in her left hand with her Right index finger poised over Nagumi's Contact Info.

"Your right Kazuya...Instead I will call...Your Father Kazuo and have him go pick her up...Bring her here so...You two can tell both the great news." Harumi then smiled broadly with tears still streaming down her cheeks. "You two might want to be prepared to be almost mugged by her...Especially you Chizuru." Her future daughter in law shook her head.

"No wait...She can't...I still have...I still have a fever...Remember. I still have a cold." Chizuru told her and Harumi gasped.

"Oh...I forgot. Don't fret...She will just have to wait to hug you when you are feeling better...Though that might be almost like torture to her." Harumi then placed the call and ordered her husband Kazuo to first go pick up Mother Nagumi and then get his butt to Kazuya's or rather Chizuru's Apartment.

00000

An hour later, instead of just telling Nagumi and Kazuo. Chizuru simply thrust her left hand out towards them showing the Diamond Ring that was now on her left ring finger. It took some intervention by Kazuya, Kazuo and Harumi to stop the old woman from getting to Chizuru. Wanting to hug the stuffing out of her. But Chizuru stood back and kept her distance. Not wanting to pass her Cold onto the much older woman. "This is Wednesday...That means we can have one hell of a congratulations party on Saturday. By then Chizuru...Oh my dear Chizuru...Will feel better and then...I can hug her...a lot." Nagumi said with tears running down her cheeks.

"Sounds good to me Grandma." Chizuru said and when she called Nagumi Grandma. The elder woman broke down sobbing with a huge smile on her face.

"You know...Only you two would...Chizuru has a Cold and you two decide to get engaged during something like that. Has me wondering if...Why is it only when you two have some kind of weird thing going on that you two do something like this?" Kazuo asked and the newly engaged couple both shrugged.

"That is just how it seems to happen for us...Father." Chizuru said with a small smile. Almost chuckling when her future Father in Law chocked up. But she had to agree with what he had said. It did seem for some reason something like her catching a Cold. Ended up having something extraordinary happening. Not once did it seem that she and Kazuya did anything without some other minor event before hand occurring. Another example would be their first kiss. Even though it was just CPR. It was their first kiss. One that she realized had changed her perspective on how she viewed him. In truth thinking back, she realized it was that moment that she began to fall for him. No matter how badly she did not want to or tried to deny it. She had fallen for him at that moment and those feelings only grew more potent over time.

"Okay...Now that we have shared the good news...It is time for all of you to leave. Chizuru still has a cold and she needs to get some rest." Kazuya ordered pointing to the Door. Grudgingly the three elder Kinoshita's left. Then Kazuya turned towards Chizuru. "Get into bed." He ordered her and she pouted at him. "Go on...You still have a Cold and you do need to get some rest if you are going to get better." She laid down and he tucked her in. Then kissed her on the forehead. Right before she closed her eyes she looked up at him.

"I love you." She said softly.

"I love you more." He said back. She smiled.

"I love you the most." With that she finished their thing and with a content smile she dozed off to sleep. Not even hearing when Kazuya sat down in her large recliner and stretched out in it to be there if she needed him while she was getting over her Cold.

The Beginning of the Future