©Fujiwara Hiro

Support the mangaka by buying her works.

CHAPTER 1: Dinner & Storm

'Oh man ...' I sighed as i look up the night sky. Heavy clouds were starting to block the full moon & the stars.

It was just around 7 in the evening but it felt like it was close to midnight already. It was going to rain.

I sighed again. I have always hated the rain. I hate getting wet & feeling cold. I'm scared of flashes of lightning & the rumbling of thunder, like it was going to crush the air out of me.

My shift at the maid cafe ended earlier than usual but something or rather, someone was amiss.

That's strange, I thought, I haven't seen Usui in school today or in the cafe, he wasn't stalking me either. I glanced around to make sure.

I frowned; I wonder where that idiot went.

Things between me & that perverted alien became steady & official after some time, though we prefer to keep it silent. We only shared it to the people that were most concern about us, like Sakura, Shizuko, the whole cafe staff, my family & of course, his family in England.

His relationship to his family also improved significantly these past months.

When Usui told me that he just discussed our relationship with his grandfather & Gerard, I was afraid that they won't like me. But Usui gave me his dazzling smile & told me that his grandfather didn't mind, that it was okay with him. I felt a surge of relief. I could also see it in Usui's radiant mood. He had been thinking about this too. But now, it was nothing to worry about.

As I made my way slowly down the path to my house, my mind wanders about the things that happened in the past. Past that I didn't ever expect to happened to me.

'Yo, prez!' Usui suddenly appeared in front of me.

I was so deep in thought that I literally jump out of my skin.

'Usui!' I exclaimed. 'What the hell are you doing here? Are you planning to kill me with heart attack?' my heart doubled its pace; I clutched my chest as I heaved.

Usui laughed. Somehow, despite the threatening rain, when I heard his carefree laugh, I felt as if the moonlight shines so brightly.

'So, was it me?' he asked after his laughter spasms.

'Huh?' I didn't know what he meant.

'You were in a deep thought, so I wonder if you were thinking about me'

My face felt hot, good thing it was dark.

'Eh? Wha- why would I think about you?' Stupid Usui, he really is an alien!

'Because you missed me... Admit it, prez, you missed me... it's the first time you saw me today, right?' he smirked but he said in his gentle voice, 'Sorry, I wasn't able to come to school today or in the cafe. I had some business with Gerard.'

'Oh, that's fine. I do need some peace & quiet once in a while, don't I?' I smiled at him teasingly.

'Well, I'm sorry, prez but that would be the last, I'll make sure you won't have any peace & quiet for the rest of your life,' he countered, 'Starting tonight...' he added as he snake his hands around my waist & pulled me closer to him.

I blushed furiously, 'Shut up, you stupid pervert!' I squirmed from his grasp.

He laughed but he let go.

'So, shall we?' he asked, holding out his right hand.

I looked at him; he smiled so sweetly I couldn't resist smiling back. I took his hand & we walked home.

After a few steps, a gust of strong winds made me shiver. Then another cold breeze followed, making the trees sway & creak.

Oh! For heaven's sake, I didn't bring my jacket! I thought.

Usui shrugged off his jacket.

'Wear this.' he simply said.

I didn't complain. I was freezing in my thin t-shirt & skinny jeans. At least, I was wearing my thick socks & rubber shoes.

He helped me wear the oversized jacket.

'Geez, it's hard to have a skinny girlfriend' he mocked.

'Hey! I didn't ask you to-' he put his index finger on my lips.

'Just kidding, but you really are skinny, I should feed you more... With my love.' mischief glinted in his emerald eyes.

'The hell with your love.' I knocked him lightly between his eyes with my knuckles.

We continued to walk until we reached a grocery store.

He jerked to stop.

'What is it?' I asked

'Hmmm, I was thinking of cooking dinner for you.'

'Eh? No, no, it's okay, I can feed myself.'

'Barely' & the alien dragged me inside the store.

He bought assorted vegetables, noodles & some other raw ingredients. He made me wait at the exit as he pays for the goods.

I took one bag from the three he was carrying and we set off again.

He was smiling brilliantly when I looked up at him.

'I wonder what poison you are going to put in the food,' I said joking.

He looked at me still beaming, 'I'm still thinking, I don't know yet. Maybe i could use the sleeping pills Gerard had left. They're in my pockets, ya know,' there was it again, the mischievous glint in his eyes.

I stopped at my tracks, wide-eyes & flushed, 'Y-you stupid, perverted outer space alien! I'll kill you right now!' I threaten.

'You're so cute!' he just squealed like an idiot that he was.

'Shut up!' I walked past him, 'I won't let you in my house!' then I dashed ahead.

'Hey prez! No fair!' I heard him yell.

After a few seconds, he caught up with me. Even with 2 heavy bags of goods, he easily keeps up with me.

What an alien! I thought.

We arrived in front of my house, breathing heavily & we were both sweating despite the cold wind.

'That wasn't a nice idea, prez.' he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. 'You know very well that I'm an alien, right?'

'Freaking idiot!' I panted.

We entered our little front yard & he waited as I fumbled with my keys to open the door.

I was the only one living in this house now since my mom & Suzuna moved to another district because of my mom's work.

I was against it at first. What if my mom got sick again? I couldn't afford that to happen especially if she was going to live away from me. But she insisted, the opportunity was very good & she wanted to help me with our expenses. So, I begged Suzuna to live with her & look after our mom.

'You don't have to plead to me like that, onee-chan.' she said. 'Of course I'm going with her, without you asking me. I'll make sure she's fine & don't worry about her, she's strong.'

They still visit me during weekends & sometimes, I'm the one who visits them during my free time (with a perverted alien tagging along, of course).

With my mom's salary, everything went easy. Our debt is slowly vanishing, the old wrenched house transformed into a more stable house. With the money we have now, my salary in maid cafe was not needed anymore. But I choose to stay. The maid cafe was a precious place to me. I had wonderful friends there & very special memories lingered there... it was where Usui found out about me, it was where we start our memory with each other.. I didn't want to get away from those.

I clicked on the lights, removed my shoes, hanged the jacket & went straight to the kitchen. Usui followed, he put the bags on the table & looked around, like he was adjusting to the new look of the kitchen.

'Want some?' I offered him some cold water from the fridge.

'Thanks.'

After he drank, he started to get the ingredients from the bags while I watched him move around the kitchen, mesmerized.

'Why don't you get changed?' he asked, snapping me out from my reverie.

'Oh- uhh...yeah, I-I'll be right back.' I stammered.

Why am I gaping at him like that? I internally kicked myself for letting his leaking pheromones affect me.

I headed upstairs to my room & had a quick bath. I wore my light blue sweatpants, my comfy black spaghetti & my favorite pink socks.

A smell magnetized me to the kitchen.

I stood next to Usui in front of the stove as he slowly mixed what appeared to be a soup. I inhaled the steams, it smelled so nice.

He scooped a tablespoon full from the pan. He blew it & offered it in to me.

'Taste it, prez.'

I eyed him suspiciously. But I tasted the soup. It was ridiculously delicious.

How can a perverted outer-space alien cook such a delicious meal? I thought.

'It's delicious!' I beamed at him.

'Okay! Time for your dinner!'

I sat down while he serves the food. He put the soup in a big bowl.

'Eat.' he ordered so I dug in. We shared the food in the big bowl. That was the most delicious dinner i ever tasted since mom moved.

We also talked about some random trivial things.

After dinner, we ate ice cream in the living room while watching TV, even though I didn't watch TV programs.

When the ice cream disappeared, Usui laid his back on the couch's arm & pull me to his chest. I blushed but didn't protest because I felt so full & my eyes were drooping. The pervert chuckled.

I leaned on him, resting my head on his chest, 'Hmm, so you really did put the sleeping pills huh?' I mumbled.

I felt his chest move as he laugh softly. He patted my head & rubs my back, 'If I put sleeping pills in the soup, I should feel sleepy too, right? But I'm not. Because I'll never do that thing to Misa-chan.' he said seriously. 'Unless you want me to...' he added.

His hand that was resting on my back, slid down to the hem of my spaghetti. I gasped. I got goose bumps when his fingers slowly made its way to my bare back.

'S-stop it! USUI!' I screamed as I tried to break free of his metal hug.

I squirmed as he continues to trail his fingers up my spine. It felt cold & it tickled me.

'Damn it, Usui! L-let go of me! Stop teasing me, please,' I yawned. My voice faltered as my energy drained away. I was really tired & sleepy; I'm in no shape to argue.

He must have felt my body become heavy because he stopped. But instead of loosening his grasp on me, he engulfed me in a bone-crushing bear hug.

'Urghh!' I complained.

'You never fail to amaze me, Ayuzawa.' he said.

'Yeah, that's what all I am to you, your entertainment.' I mumbled sleepily & yawned again.

He gently pushed me to sitting position & he held my doping head.

'Your eyes are nearly closed, prez!' he giggled at the sight of my face. 'Come on, time to sleep, little maid.' he stood up & grab my hand.

'Hey! ' I said, letting him drag me towards the stairs. 'Are you going home now?'

'What, you want me to sleep with you?' he teased.

'Shut up! You better go home, it's late.' I tugged his hand to the opposite direction & wobbled to the front door.

I opened it & strong winds greeted us. Then the sky rumbled. Lightning briefly illuminated the neighborhood, followed by a deafening thunder.

Last of my senses sparked to life, I gasped, my heart pounded as if trying to escape my ribcage.

I slammed the door shut.

'What the-' Usui started to say.

Another flash of lighting came & thunder shook.

I trembled as I put my hands on the either side of my head & tightly close my eyes. The reasons? I didn't want to hear the rumbling or see those scary lightning & to keep my sanity from crumbling down.

The heavy rain started to pound the roof. Another nightmare came, the lights started to flicker. It didn't help my heart to calm down. My chest started to hurt.

My trembling knees brought me to the floor. I sat there like a child & started to sob.

'Hey,' Usui was surprised by my actions. 'Hey, it's okay.' he squatted down beside me rub my back.

'Don't be scared, I'm here,' he promised then pulled me to a gentle hug. I clutched his shirt so tight.

The lights flickered again & this time, it didn't go on again. It scared the hell out of me.

Usui tsk-ed, 'Where are your candles, Misaki?' he asked, I felt him moving to stand. But I held on as another thunder rumbled.

He sighed. 'Come on, prez, I won't leave you but we need lights or we might tripped on something.'

He helped me stand, I felt his hand on my waist & he guided me back to the kitchen, where the windows gave a faint illumination.

'Where are your candles?' he asked me again as he sat me on the dining chair.

'T-there's a flashlight b-beside the fridge, I think.' I managed.

I heard him grope around until he found the flashlight. He spotted the light to my face. The sudden glare of light hurt my eyes. I saw his face plastered with worry & amused expression.

'Your eyes are red & swollen. You're so pale too.' he said disapprovingly.

He sat beside me & turned to face me.

'I-I'm sorry!' I blurted out, tears started to sting my eyes again. "Stupid, stupid! Stop crying, damn it!" I scolded myself.

'It's alright now; you have nothing to apologize for, it's okay.' he assured me, wiping the stupid tears off my cheeks with his thumbs.

I tried very hard not to sob. 'You won't l-leave, right? I-i mean, it's raining hard & it's dark &-'

That's a pretty pathetic excuse, Misaki!

Usui laughed, he must hear the desperation on my voice.

'I'm not going anywhere, okay? I'll stay here as long as you need me.'

'Promise?' i knew he meant what he said but i asked anyway.

He laughed again, holding my cheeks, 'I swear, so stop making that face & get some sleep.' he rubbed the creased of worry on my forehead.

He pulled me to my feet & grabbed the flashlight.

We went slowly upstairs, thanks to my trembling knees.

Usui pulled the blankets on my bed as soon as we entered my room.

'Here you go, prez . Get some sleep now.' he smiled.

I lay down on my bed & he put the blankets up to my chest.

He sat down on my bed, watching me. I kept my eyes open, still looking at him with wide eyes.

'Close your eyes now, misa-chan. I won't do anything funny, I promise.' sincerity made up his voice.

'You should sleep too,' I said. He looked kind of tired in the faint light.

He smirked, 'What, do you want me to sleep with you?'

I thought about for a minute & I idiotically nodded my head.

Eyes wide, he certainly didn't see that coming.

'Misa-chan is so sly ...' he teased again, though he was unsure if I meant it.

'I-I don't want to be alone here, I'm s-scared,' I whispered. I was afraid I might start sobbing again.

'That's definitely not you, prez,' he eyed me suspiciously. 'Maybe that was the effect of my cooking.' he wondered.

I didn't respond. My mind went out of my character with all this lightning & thunder. But I couldn't just ignore the panic that was building inside me.

'Please?' I begged him, with extra puppy eyes.

He looked so surprised, I could swear he blushed. He scratched his blonde hair & sighed.

'Okay, but don't try to do anything funny, prez.' I ignored his teasing.

Usui lay beside me. I scooted closer to him & snuggled against his chest. He wrapped his arms around me. I felt the warmth coming off his body, it instantly calm me down.

'Goodnight, Misa-chan.' Usui kissed my forehead, 'Sleep now, I won't leave you.' he mumbled. I realized how sleepy he was.

'Hmmm...' I breathed in his hypnotic smell. I sighed. 'Goodnight, Usui. Thank you.' I pecked his cheek. That & I drifted to sleep.

Rain continued to pound the roof. Lightning flashed again & again. The rumbling of thunder seemed to shake the world. But none of that woke me from my slumber. I'm here safely with the man I love & I was more than contented.

* FINISHED -9/3/11-

EDITED - 9/5/11-

Hi, natsunosora desu, yoroshiku onegaishimasu!

I've been writing stories ever since I was a kid (but I'm telling you, I'm still a kid C:), but this is the first time I shared it with everyone so please help me improve my writings by reviewing it, arigatou gozaimasu!

(I'm not a perfect person, sorry for some mistakes)

ja mata ne :))

10/25/11

1830

did some edits, thanks to Raina Rasberry for correcting me & for everyone else reading this, I appreciate it very much!

ja!