Dating for real, for real

"Kyoko-chan! Oh my, you had us all worried." The lady asked the embarrassed girl in her teachers arms.

"Where's the first aid kit?" I placed Kyoko on a chair and asked the cook's wife.

"Oh my, what's wrong? What happened?" With motherly eyes, she quickly scanned the blushing teen from head to toes.

"Its just a sprained ankle, nothing to worry about." I told her as I saw her eye reflect worry and concern for my being. The way the elder lady fretted and worried about me had hit something within me. This was affection I never received from my mother.

"Its not 'just a sprained ankle,' it could be serious." I added. Knowing her, it probably was 'just a sprained ankle,' but I know with her fighting spirt, she probably tried to get up the ditch and worsened the injury in the process.

"I'll get the fist aid kit right away Tsuruga-san." The kind lady disappeared somewhere in the large kitchen, while the teacher applied some ice on her ankle to stop any swelling.

~ Looking at the way he was gently examining my leg, something deep within me moved... again.

Thump. The blood rushed throughout my body as my heart rattled faster than ever before.

Thump. The sound kept repeating in my ears, getting louder with each touch and caress.

Thump. I knew what this bodily reaction meant, and the meaning hidden deep within was a truth I was whole heartily terrified of.

Thump. The longer his hands lingered on me, the more I feared he could hear the changing beat of my heart.

*Looking at her ankle, it was slightly swollen and turning purple. I was no doctor but I could tell that nothing was broken.

"Hand phones mean nothing to you?" I asked her after being satisfied that she wasn't that badly injured.

"Eh?" I looked at him, confused at the tone in his voice. Within the tone, I could sense anger. Was he perhaps mad at me?

"How can you leave without telling anyone? Not only that, but walk off without your phone?"

"The Okami knew I was going for a walk, and about the phone; it's not like I knew I was going to be pushed down a ditch!"

"Pushed?!"

"Uh!" I gasped and covered my mouth like I had just let out a huge secret that was not supposed to be exposed.

"You were pushed? By who?" I knew that Kyoko didn't have many friends, I knew that not many girls even liked her, but I never knew she was hated to the point of wishing pain upon her. "Well, who pushed you?" I asked her again as her mouth was not moving.

"I don't know." I replied with a sign.

"If you are trying to protect them, or are worried that my involvement will only make things worse, I can assure you that-"

"I really don't know who pushed me." I had cut him off from his rant, yet my answer gained a raised eyebrow from him in return. " I was pushed from behind, I didn't get a chance to see their face."

With many worries left unsaid, the pair was brought out of their small world by the elder lady as she returned with the first aid kit. After applying a bandage to the ankle, it was decided that a visit to the hospital wasn't necessary.

"We are the only ones left?"

~ I should have seen this coming. I don't even know why I was this surprised since I hadn't seen a single student after our return.

"Yeah we are." Looking at her face, I couldn't decipher what she was thinking or feeling about this situation. "And since it has gotten this late, we have no choice but to spend the night and leave in the morning."

Drop any expectations you may have had. Even though Ren and Kyoko were the only ones left, excluding the cook and his wife, plus some maids, they spent the night in different rooms, each to their thoughts.

~ Is it okay for me to feel this way? Should I think of him as my boyfriend? Should I do as Kanae had said and follow the beat of my heart? But, what does he feel about me? He did say this begun as 'a past time' for him, but, what is it now? What am I to him?

* What's wrong with me? Ever since I met her, why have I been acting so out of character? Yeah, I get it, she's different from others, she distracts me from my own pain and makes my life more interesting, but is that all? Are these reasons enough for me to push a relationship onto her? Why the hell did I feel the need to announce whatever this was to a bunch of kids?

Just like in the movies, after the two main characters experience drama after drama, they are given some time to reflect on themselves and their own actions. And just like in the movies, one thing was clear to both Ren and Kyoko. Whatever this was, for them in this moment in time, it was a good thing.

"Why aren't you dropping me home?" I asked him as he passed my house.

"We are going on a double date?"

"Eh? Double date? To-today? Why? And what about my ankle?"

"Why not? And besides, today is a Saturday, so it's not like you have something going on. As for your ankle, I don't mind carrying you around." I winked at her.

"Wha- how would you know? In fact, I do have something going on."

"Really, with whom?"

"Moko-san." He raised an eyebrow at the strange name. "Kanae. That's right, I have plans with her today, so please turn around and drop me off at home."

"Really? You have plans with her? Well, that's fantastic then."

Pulling up at the front of his shared apartment, the other pair for the double date were already waiting.

"Ren what took you so long? I was starting to think you forgot about us."

"I could drive off and pretend to forget you guys."

"You wouldn't do it." He challenged.

Challenge accepted as Ren begun to drive off.

"Tsuruga-san! Stop the car!"

He stopped the car one house away.

"I thought you had plans with 'Moko-san.'" He teased as their fuming best friends walked towards the stopped car.

"You ass!" Yashiro smacked the back of Ren's head.

"Moko-san! I MISSED YOU!" Without warning, I had moved from the passenger seat and now I was suffocating my best friend in a hug in the back seats.

The double date was spent with the pairs going to the movies, karaoke and a food joint. Those looking in may have thought it was a girls night out with their bodyguards, as the girls (Kyoko in this case) was glued next to her friend the entire day.

"Mo Kyoko! Would you let go of me already?" She finally snapped as she reapplied her lipstick in the ladies room.

"Moko-san, you can't leave him alone with me!"

"And why not? I thought you said you have accepted this relationship."

"Yeah, I have and I have no clue on how to act around him!" Tears threatened to spill.

"Just because you are dating someone, it does not mean you have to change who you are. Mogami Kyoko, just be yourself."

With the advice and encouragement from her best friend, the good atmosphere between the four people continued all day until they had parted ways. For the first time, Kyoko experienced how it is to be treated kindly and with warmth.

"Wait, so you want this, us dating to be kept a secret?" I asked her to clarify once again.

"Yes, I honestly don't want or need the drama at school. So please tell them that you were joking or something."

"But you do agree to still date me though?"

"..." I had shyly nodded and he had grinned back.

Ren had agreed as he saw no problem with that. He saw no point in putting her in an awkward position at school and completely isolating her from all the girls. So, just like in the movies with forbidden love, we now move on to the hide and seek stage. A stage where the two lovers sneak back and forth, between nook and cranny to avoid word getting out. How would this pair that was not made for a movie fair?

...

A/N: As you all can see, I have not given up on my fanfiction (this nor the others). Since I am struggling to get back on that writer's high, I can not make any promises about earlier/quicker updates.