From strangers to friends to…

I'm floating on a cloud. I feel weightless. No weight on my shoulders. My back doesn't feel tense, straight and hard, avoiding breaking, but soft like a noodle, molding to the shape of the soft, spongy body beneath me. My body becomes air and spreads with the wind. There is no expectation of what I must become, no name to uphold or traditions tied to the past. Empty myself and abandon my physical body. There is no vessel to fill with other people's dreams. Only I allow myself to change into nothing so I can be in the whole…

And reality (literally) does its job.

"Arg!"

I grab my nose, release it to look at my hand, and when I see that it's not bleeding, I grab it again.

Falling face first onto the ground is not a good experience and is very painful.

"You finally wake up. I've been calling you for three minutes."

"What are you talking about?" I say with difficulty as my nose is pressed between my fingers.

"You're a heavy sleeper. You've been asleep for twenty minutes and Adrien could come at any moment."

"Asleep? Who's asleep?"

"Well, you!" Tikki-sama exclaims in a shrill voice.

"I wasn't sleeping."

"So: What were you doing in a boy's bed?, and why are you wrapped in a sheet?, and Who did I roll to the edge and drop to wake up?"

When the world stops spinning, my mind clears and the pain fades away, I see the face of a red kami and memories come to me.

"Oh."

"Yes. Oh."

She is not happy and how can she be?

I get up from the floor (almost falling over because of the sheet wrapped around my legs), unravel the sheet and start making the bed. When I'm done, I fix my open kimono. All under the supervision of kami.

"I don't want to wake you up, but it's almost time and you were not well… presented if he were to arrive at this moment.."

"Thank you, Tikki-sama. I shouldn't have loosened the obi." I feel my cheeks burning at the thought of the embarrassing appearance I must have had just moments ago.

"Don't think you shouldn't rest comfortably. It was nothing serious. Adrien looks like a good boy and wouldn't try anything bad. I did it because I know these things matter to you."

"Yes, the Tsurugi heiress cannot be found in that state." I inhale for a moment and tie the obi tightly. I don't let the air out until I have checked the knot. Tikki-sama flies behind me, accommodating it without me asking.

t's not that I have asked her for help at any point since our first meeting. Who am I to ask a kami for favors? Tikki-sama helps without asking or expecting. I always thought of kamis as transcendental beings. Knowledge of worldly actions would be beneath their titles. But she combs my hair, wakes me up at just the right moment, and helps me get dressed.

The kami of Creation and Good Luck is happy to help and her happiness is contagious.

A smile appears on my face and I bow my head to her, showing my respect and telling her how much I appreciate her care.

"Stop doing that." She says with a laugh. I even think her eyes are laughing too. "It doesn't matter. Doing so brings back memories of a former holder. Almost every day she wore a different kimono, although I must say the quality improved over the centuries. Your kimono doesn't compare to those of that time."

"That's why you know how to place an obi." I point out just for the sake of talking. I finished putting on a geta. After relaxing on such a soft bed (Another thing I need to get for my room. I've already had five.), my body feels lighter. He was right. I needed that nap. "Was she a good holder?"

"Yes, like all the holders I had. She fought against tyrant lords, or as you would know them, daimyos. She was a shinobi in the Edo period."

My body freezes at those words and the second wooden sandal slips from my hand, hitting the ground. My voice came out shaky from keeping so many emotions bottled up.

"…Edo period? That Edo period? The era where the best swordsmen in history lived. The golden age of the sword. During the time of Sasaki Kojiro and Miyamoto Musashi. That Edo period?"

"Yeah?" She flies a few inches away from me, slurring the word, worried about my fangirl status. I reach out my hands and stop them from grabbing Tikki-sama and demanding that she tell me everything. "It was a violent period. I didn't like it at all."

"But the swordsmen. How many did you see? Who did you see?"

"Kagami, saliva is falling from your... forget it. As you well know, I can't go around freely and that period was no exception. "Seeing" is not something I could do, but I did hear about those two swordsmen you mentioned. If I recall correctly, it was the twentieth match between Roaar and Longg…" The sound of the door opening makes Tikki-sama stop telling the story of my country and hide under my kimono. I don't move. My mind is somewhere else.

Adrien's voice brings me back.

"You're awake and I'm thinking I should push you out of bed." He says happily, joking.

"Someone beat you to it" I whisper so only Tikki-sama can hear me and I turn to look at him. "Thank you so much for letting me rest…"

"You're welcome." He cuts me off. "I'm glad you listened to me. I brought snacks and more tea. Dad will be late for a few minutes. We have time to watch another episode of the anime."

True. We were watching the Wano saga for the last hour and a half, before sleep claimed me. We didn't get to chat for long, but it was enough to know that Adrien Agreste has… unique tastes.

"And this time, we see Sakura Card Captor…"

"We won't do it."

"Okay." He says disappointed and then returns to his "normal" state. "Then a episode of Sailor Moon."

"We won't do it."

"… Magic Knights."

"No…"

"But why not?"

"They are very different from the original material and do not do it justice."

Adrien places the tray on the table in front of the television and picks up the remote control. He turns on the TV and on the screen, the One Piece playlist is displayed.

"And do you think Toei didn't change the One Piece anime? It's three minutes canon, eight minutes of opening and ending, and the rest of filler. IT'S CRIMINAL. They should all go to jail. Let your hero friends know that they have criminals to catch and we know their location."

I try not to, not to play along and not to lose, but seriously he played it well. I laugh at his antics. He drops his mannerisms and begins to pour the tea.

"At the end of the day I can say I made Kagami Tsurugi smile. It was difficult, but not impossible." Adrien hands me the cup, but I refuse.

"Wait for me to catch my breath."

"Understood. So much time has passed that you have forgotten how to laugh. Don't worry. You'll get back into practice with me."

"Don't you ever shut up?"

He raises the shoulders and hands in a gesture of indifference.

"What can I say? I'll be silent when I don't have visitors."

"Bad luck for me to have to come and listen to you." I point without malice behind. I look at his face and he keeps smiling at me. I don't know if it was with sincerity or to hide the fact that my comment hurt him. I look forward to getting to know him better and seeing the real him, and not having to play the guessing game. "It was a joke. Sorry if you took it the wrong way."

"There is nothing to forgive… Just a little grace that you mentioned that you have bad luck to be here. And I was thinking that bad luck was lurking around this place. Hahaha."

"I hope not and I mean it."

"I was thinking the same thing until this morning…" Three claps and the room is perfect for watching television." Watch One Piece. I'm not complaining, but it's not my style. I prefer the manga."

"Me too."

"Do you read the manga?"

"Every week."

"At this moment, Luffy is in his Gear Five becoming…Why are you covering your ears? Don't tell me you haven't read it yet? It came out two days ago!"

I shake my head without letting go of my hands and say something I never thought I'd tell anyone. Paris is changing me. I already have two people I don't mind telling about it to.

"My mother punished me. I can't read manga for a while."

In response, Adrien turned to look to his left, then to his right and ended up looking at me.

"I don't see your mother here. Wait a moment and I'll get the tablet."

"No, I must be a good daughter…" My pleas fell on deaf ears. The path over the couch and jump towards the spiral staircase. He walked over the sofa and jumped towards the spiral staircase. He heads upstairs, where he has shelves of manga and anime.

This room is more like an arcade than he wants to admit.

Well... mother might not get mad if I read a manga given by Adrien. This would fall under the order "befriend the youngest of the Agreste" and I can enjoy the most anticipated chapter of all. Tikki-sama knows about the legendary swordsmen. And I had my well-deserved rest.

I'm having good luck this day…

…and clearly Plagg-sama didn't let me enjoy it for long.

"Hot!" I didn't check the temperature of the tea and I burned my tongue because of it. Relaxing is a mistake. I got my kimono dirty and, worst of all, I stained the carpet.

I quickly bent down to remove the stain before the liquid was completely absorbed. For speed, I use my sleeves as rags, hoping it will work.

It works, partially. A couple of stains couldn't be removed and left two dark stains on the light carpet. Not giving up, I do something unhygienic and spit. Maybe this will help. I rub hard and nothing. They are still there.

I curse inside myself. Now I have to tell him "Adrien, I stained your expensive carpet with two drops of red tea. Do you forgive me?" What a shame…

Wait. Gyokuro tea is green, not red.

Even in the poor lighting I notice the color of the drops. They are dark red. As I run my finger across them, I feel the texture of the carpet. It's tough. The drops have been dry since before. And there are more going under the sofa.

Curiosity is stronger than the label (Adrien himself said that etiquette doesn't matter between friends. That helped in the decision.) and I crouch down even further. Something is under the furniture. There is enough space to fit my hand in and enough distance to reach it. That's what I do. I get up from my hunched position and move the object closer to the television.

… Oh shit!

"Kagami." The neutral voice hits my back like cold water." Thanks for finding it. I thought I had lost it." His footsteps on the carpet echo loudly in the silent bedroom. "Give it to me and let's continue having a good time. We can even continue watching the One Piece anime."

"Where did you find it?"

"It's a gift from my mother. She likes to buy antiques in those dusty shops. Give it to me and let's have tea."

I see the hand approaching and I move away, protecting the object.

"What's in the box?"

"Kagami, it is not polite to demand questions from the host. That's not yours."

"So we are not friends anymore. Well what's in the box?!" I raise my voice this time. My hands are shaking.

"I didn't mean that... I don't know. I will open it with my mother. Because she gave it to me."

"You're getting nervous."

"How could I not be if I have a person taking my personal things?"

We both don't stop spinning around the table. Me creating distance and him shortening it.

"I won't take it. I'll just see what's inside."

"No!"

I lift the lid of the box with Chinese inscriptions. An identical one to the one I have kept in the safe in my room. I feel a sense of deja vu. Similar, but not the same. Instead of earrings and a blinding light, I find myself with a cat paw ring.

Before I could utter a word, he jumps over the table and with a slap, he throws the box out of my hand. I didn't just stand there like a damsel in distress. I was trained all my life for this.

I grab Adrien's wrist and using his momentum, I make him move forward further. My foot crosses his path, producing an imbalance between increased speed and poor posture. I position myself behind him without letting go and gravity does the rest.

In a second, I have Adrien Agreste beneath me, face down on the carpet, one arm behind his back, my leg draped across his waist.

New feelings emerge.

"I have the nerves in your wrist pressed. You won't be able to move. If you lie to me, I'll break it. Tell me! Where did you find the box?"

"Why are you so interested?" It is noticeable that it is difficult for him to speak with half the face being pressured. I don't mind.

"I ask the questions here. Where did you find the box?"

"…"

"Speaks!" To make the point, I twist his wrist and a grimace of pain graces his features.

"I won't do it."

"Do you think I won't dare to hurt you?"

"I don't doubt your intentions, but…"

Adrien breaks free from my grip and spins around, throwing me to the side. As I fall face up, he jumps on top of me. He holds both of my hands beside my head and our legs are tangled. Sitting on my stomach, he smiles. He knows he win.

"You failed to press the nerves and in a confrontation of strength, you will always lose." He brings his face closer to us until he is an inch away and drawls out his words, expressing little patience towards me. "I'll ask the questions now. Why did you do it? Who are you really?"

"I won't speak."

"Our positions are reversed and you are repeating what I said. Where will this lead us?... Don't make me choose between her safety and..."

I was about to spit in his face and throw away the whole label to send him to hell. It's a good thing I didn't get to do it.

"Kid, forget it. This has gotten out of hand, Sugarcube."

"Don't even say it. I don't remember a time when secret identities lasted less than 24 hours."

He and I turned our gaze to see two kamis looking back at us.

…This is awkward.

"Kagami, your kimono opened again"

This is awkward beyond belief.


Okay. This got really long. I admit it. From 3000 words it became almost 9000. I promise they will finish talking.

Chapter 9 was written before 7 and 8. These two chapters were an introduction to the relationship between the two of them, but their conversation was so entertaining that I prolonged it for no reason. Although I admit that it feels like filler. The jokes went on too long and I feel like this one doesn't have the quality of the previous ones. Write to me if you like these types of chapters or I'll get straight to the point.

I'll upload the next chapter next week and it will be the end of the "date?" And we can go back to Chloe. The main character. Uf, she hasn't appeared in a while. She must come back in a big way. I warn you, chapter 9 is the one that puts Neo Genesis to this story. To those who understood, good for you.

Vicav12 is leaving.