A/N: I came back last night from a few-day workshop which was immediately followed by class, and today, I was finally able to read the reviews in Secret Revealed. Thanks to all who enjoyed that story and told me so ;) It made me happy, and excited to update immediately, especially since I'm feeling sluggish (too tired and definitely lacks sleep) to work seriously at the moment (inefficient me, I know! Haha ;), I thought about doing this instead of working (a form of break). I know a lot of you have been waiting for As One. You told me so, right? ;)

So folks, this is the sequel to Takumi and Misaki's Alphabet and my 7th KWMS fanfic posted here. We are all aware that I don't own Misaki and company, so there...And, read at your own risk! This story, just like the previous ones I posted, was written for enjoyment and I am not forcing people to read if they dislike it. Thus, I refuse to accept complaints/protests saying that they are annoyed by the story/style of writing, etc. This is not edited by any editor so most likely there are going to be grammar and typo errors, though I tried to make it as readable/understandable as I could.

-x-

"As One"

- - -Arvendell- - -

Chapter 1

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HER body felt heavy, her movements sluggish as she dragged herself towards the gate of Seika High.

'Ugh. What is wrong with me?'

She knew too well the answer to her own question. The absence of a certain someone beside her, annoying the hell out of her, was what had made the day feel so long. And the nights almost unbearable. She wondered how he was doing, and when she was going to see him. Since the exams for their final year in high school had ended, he hadn't shown up at the school anymore. Usui Takumi hadn't shown his face to her since then.

She, Ayuzawa Misaki, on the other hand, had to still come at the school for one thing or another. In a few days, though, she wouldn't be in this school anymore. At that thought, Misaki stopped and looked back at the school premises, thinking of her memory-filled high school life, how she, as the student council president since her first year, had pushed for the school with bad reputation to become better. It seemed such a long time ago that she was shouting at rambunctious boys at the hallways, at the gate, at the classrooms. Now, she wasn't the president anymore. She had a reliable successor, despite their bad encounters at first. She knew that Seika High was in good hands with Satoru Kanou as the student council president.

With most of her school works over, Misaki had more time to herself. And more time to worry about someone.

'How long are you going to be away, you idiot...'

Defeated and deeply worried about a certain perverted outer-space alien, she headed towards Maid Latte for work.

"AH, Misa-chan, you can go home and rest now," Satsuki, the young-at-heart manager of Maid Latte told her spacing out waitress.

"Okay. Thank you for your hard work."

With a bid of quiet goodbye to her co-workers, Misaki headed out of Maid Latte. Now that work was over, she let her shoulders drooped, as well as the mask of a cheerful face she had to wear before.

"Idiot..."

She checked her phone, hoping to see a message or anything, but there was none.

Dragging her feet, she went home, greeted a quiet hello to her mother and sister, and headed straight to bed.

Hours later, she was still awake, staring at the ceiling, seeing nothing but him.

"Why...ugh...I shouldn't be like this...I'm strong...and he'll come back. He has to come back. He promised me he will...Takumi..."

Concern, worry, fear, sadness, anger, love, those feelings plagued her as she thought of him, of her annoying, overbearing, overprotective, possessive, perverted, handsome, supportive, gentle, loving boyfriend.

"You better be okay, or else!"

Anger dominated her emotions as she thought of him being in trouble. Then the feeling was replaced by a surge of protectiveness. She, like him on her, wanted to protect him from anything that might hurt him. Though what they were facing now was something that they couldn't control.

"Come back already..."

She sat up from her bed and grasped her hair in frustration. He was only gone for a couple of days and she was like this already. What more of the coming years that they would be apart?

Yes, despite their mutual aversion to be separated, they had to. For the sake of their future. For the sake of her family. For the sake of their happiness, Usui had to leave. He had to go to England and follow the demands of the family that had abandoned him since he was born.

"Why does it have to be this hard?"

Frustrated and angry, she laid back and curled into a ball. She thought of the coming days, weeks, months, and even years that he wouldn't be by her side.

"Ugh..."

Clenching her hand on top of her loudly beating heart, she whimpered. She was lying piteously for a while, before an inner fire replaced her sadness.

"We will get through it!"

Unconsciously summoning the demon aura that she often times displayed as the Student Council President of Seika High, her heart burned with determination.

"I won't disappoint you, idiot alien!"

Now wide awake for a different reason, Misaki thought of ways to make his remaining days in Japan as happy as possible. They wouldn't let the sadness mar their parting. They would make it the best days of their lives, before they were reunited again. She would make sure of it.

"But what are we going to do? What should I do? What does he wants?"

'A kiss from Ayuzawa would be enough.'

She snorted at the thought of him asking for a kiss even though he always stole kisses every time he felt like it.

"Perverted alien..." she muttered affectionately. She could just imagine his face, smirking at her with satisfaction. And lust.

Misaki shivered at the last thought. An image of, whenever he was being amorous, was conjured in her mind with clarity. His eyes, the way they smouldered whenever they were close; his lips, the way they curved sensually as he touched them to her skin; his hands, the way they burned her skin as he trailed them slowly, tenderly, lovingly...

"Gah! What the hell!"

First she was all sad and gloomy and worried, then she was angry and frustrated, then she was determined, and now...

"I've become a pervert just like him," she moaned as she covered her heated face with a pillow.

She stayed unmoving in her bed until she got her racing heart to slow down and her face to cool down. As soon as she could think clearly, she thought of him once more, and on how they would spend the days together until he had to leave.

"It should be something that would always remind us of each other...fond memories...something that would chase all the weariness away whenever everything seems so dark and that we couldn't breathe anymore...Ugh...when did I end up like this love-sick fool..."

She had changed a lot. The person that she was before would never even think about getting a man near her, let alone have her heart. But Usui had broken all the walls around her heart, sneaked inside, and occupied a large portion that she had never thought possible. She loved him. With all of her heart. And she knew she was loved the same, if not much more.

Usui had changed, too. Just as she had let him in her heart, he had also let her in his heart. He wasn't the person who used to shoulder all his burdens alone anymore, the person who used to not have a care in the world, the person who merely existed but without a life. He had changed. He was happy. And she was proud, at the same time felt shy, that she had a big contribution to his change.

"Come back already, idiot Takumi..."

When he finally showed his face, she will scold him for making her worry. And she would kiss him to let him know she missed him. She could just imagine how his lips would curve into a teasing and satisfied smile.

"Pervert alien..."

With thoughts of his smile and happy face, Misaki drifted off to a much needed sleep.

-x-

A/N: And there you have the first chapter. This story is going to be rated M along the way, I'm telling you now. I've given you some excerpts from this story before in one of my updates in the Alphabet, and I'm giving it again with a few additions ;)

"We will get through it!"

"If that's how...you act when...we're apart for only a few days...I'm worried how you will after several years."

"P-please..."

"Only over a week is left..."

"Make sure not to leave any regrets."

"Stop me..."

"Why...would I...do that? What if I want it?"

"That's right. Say my name..."

"You're trembling."

"Then make it stop, love..."

"Tomorrow your name and mine will be the same."

I wanted to put more excerpts, but then again, you'd probably know the entire story already if I do haha ;) You know what's going to happen; just the details are missing, right? ;) I'm excited with the rest of the story! And the sequel to this, which is still untitled but drafted already and full of fluff (and lemons haha ;)

So folks, I hope you're looking forward to As One just like I do ;) Until next time! Got to go back to work haha ;)

- - -18 August 2011- - -

11:20 AM