Disillusioned Flower

Hi guys. This is the updated version. Oh My God. I'm really sorry I'm being a jack-ass but this will be the last revision I'll make. Hopefully. And yeah, the characters in my story tend to be OOC. What do you expect in an angsty story? You have been warned!

Disclaimer : Standard disclaimer applies.

" I assume that she's here- I mean that human friend of yours and Waka?"

I paused my steps as my eyebrows automatically knitted together, showing my disapproval at the insouciant question that came from the person who was wearing a monk attire on the other end of the hallway. His hat, which was usually perched on the top of his head, was now hanging loosely behind his back, giving the full view of his handsome face. His raven eyes lingered on the tray of the tea set that I was holding for a moment before they settled upon me.

" It's Kana. You can't just label her as a human girl. Don't tell me you have forgotten her name?"

Kurutabo let out a light-hearted laugh. Seems I was right then.

"Sorry about that. I have my mind full of other things so it's quite hard for me to remember. "

"That might be true but still." I paused, mulling over on what to say next. "Why don't you try to hang out with her sometime?"

This time, he chuckled, giving a notion that he found the idea somewhat not plausible. I regarded him with a slightly offended look. He scrunched his eyebrows and scratched his head absently, as if trying to find the right words that would appease me somehow.

"I can only do that if she becomes the 3rd's wife." He finally said, accompanied with a pat on my shoulder and without another word, he walked past by me. However, he stopped after being a few distance away and said in a louder voice. "By the way, if I'm not imposing on you, I'll be grateful if you could bring me a cup of tea. I'll be at my room until dawn."

Ignoring his previous comment, I could not help but feel somewhat glad at the thought that I could somehow do something for him. He rarely stays in the house nowadays and I actually missed attending to his whims. " Sure."

Kurutabo waved his hand in a gesture of thanks before we both continued on our separate ways. After minutes of walking through the corridors that could be very well a maze inside the huge house, I stopped in front of the door of Rikuo's room. I took a deep intake of breath before I lifted my hand and knocked on the door.

"Waka, I'm coming inside."

"Geez, you don't have to ask permission if you want to enter. "Rikuo's reprimanding voice sounded on the other side of the door that I chuckled to myself.

" Hai Waka."

"You always say that." Rikuo's scowling face filled my vision as he slid the door of his room open and stood right in front of me. I had to tilt my head a bit to stare into his face since he had grown so much in the past few months. His hair was a bit longer too and his features had become somewhat sharper, looking more and more like his youkai counterpart.

He stepped aside and let me in. My eyes automatically flew to the small table on the corner of the room and smiled when a pair of brown orbs just like Rikuo's met my own. Kana smiled back at me, acknowledging my presence. She also looked more mature now. And beautiful.

I headed towards the table. Kana who was sitting across it, put aside the books that was sprawling above the wooden furniture, making a room for the tea set that I brought. Securing the tray on my arm, I quipped. "We seldom have a stock of this tea so please enjoy."

"Judging from the smell, it seems really nice."

"Thank you." Satisfied and already done with what I came here for, I bowed my head in a respectful manner. "Well then, I'll take my leave now."

"Eh? Aren't you staying here?"

"I still have some other things to do Waka. Besides, I don't really need to study, do I?"

It's not like studying has some use to me or anything. I'll take Math as an example. I don't understand why students have to crack their heads with complicated combinations of numbers and letters to come up with an equally disturbing answer.

Whoever invented those figures only made the life of humans miserable. But on a second note, Ryuuji must have been grateful to it since he's always calculating his every move unlike me who only goes by instinct. Anyway, I only go to school because I have a duty to uphold to.

"You have a point."

That would have been a nice acknowledgement if not for the smirk that graced his lips.

"I'm already aware that your brain can't handle -'

"And you're well aware Waka that I could turn you into a beautiful crystal statue with one breath, right?"

His grin only widened, challenging me further. "I'm glad that it's not going to be an ugly statue."

I raised my eyebrow at him, provoked. If he was thinking that I could not do it, he might as well think again. I made a gesture of sucking in my breath when Rikuo suddenly panicked and ran behind Kana's back.

"Hey, I was just joking. If you're going to blow that at me, you're going to hit Kana too!"

Kana laughed, her eyes dancing with amusement. "I don't really mind that."

It was Rikuo's turn to raise an eyebrow while looking down at Kana with bewilderment that I could not help but laugh too. Not to mention that Kana's laugh was also infectious.

"You're lucky, Waka. But you won't be lucky next time. I'll bid my goodbye now. Enjoy your tea."

Before I could take a turn, Rikuo's voice stopped me.

"We're going to take a break for a few minutes. You can join us if you want."

As much as I wanted to join them, I could not. It was true that I had other things to do but I had my own personal reasons too.

"Thanks for the invitation Waka but I only brought two cups with me. I'll join you two some other time. "

I gave him a wink, which I hoped would momentarily throw him off guard, before sauntering out of the room. I haven't done that before but Kejorou told me it is a good distraction.

I didn't hear any reaction from Rikuo. Hey, did it actually work?

"Thanks for the books Rikuo. I'll return them to you as soon as I'm done reading."

"Don't mention it. They've been untouched for a while so it's nice to have somebody read them for a change."

"Okay." Kana beamed at Rikuo before she turned towards me, her smile widening. "Thanks, Tsurara."

Since Kana had to go home quite late in the afternoon everytime she makes a visit at the Nura household, Rikuo and I had insisted in accompanying her home to ensure her safety. It felt a little awkward at first but I had grown accustomed to it over time.

I returned a smile that could have borderlined to a grin." Anytime."

" Some other time, I'd insist that you two stay for a while here. Take care on your way home. " Kana said her goodbye before she entered her house. For a while, Rikuo's eyes remained fixed on the door where Kana went through before he announced.

"Let's go back."

We started our way back towards the Nura household. It was already dusk and there were less people who were still out on the streets -just to be expected from a rural place like ours. The air was blowing gently, making a soft whistling sound as it brushes against us.

Without a thought, I let my eyes drift towards Rikuo, studying the expression on his face. As always, there was the cheerfulness had been a characteristic of him and yet somehow, once again, I could discern the placid emotion that was faintly etched on it.

"Hmm, what is it Tsurara?"

I jerked inwardly when Rikuo inclined his head towards me, his eyes directly meeting my own. I must have been staring at him for too long if he was able to take notice of it. How embarrassing.

"Ah, I was just wondering what you would like to eat for dinner."

Fortunately, my mind was able to come up with a good excuse.

"Eh? Are you the one in-charge for tonight's meal?"

"You sound like you don't want me to be."

"I didn't say that. You know I love you're cooking eventhough it is always cold and frozen."

"Hey, is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"Then, how about this, I love your cooking more than my Mom's."

"You could have at least made up a more convincing statement Waka."

"But it's true. You're better than my Mom."

Honestly, Rikuo should learn how to be sensible, even for just a little, of the words that were coming out of his mouth. He just didn't know how they were affecting me.

"Kidding aside - so, do you have anything you'd like to have for dinner?"

"Anything will be fine. I love all the food that you make for me."

I knocked my forehead with my fingertips in exasperation. If Rikuo was being deliberate or he was just being plainly ignorant, I could not tell at all. "You're hopeless Waka."

Rikuo didn't say anything to counter it, but instead, he smiled widely to himself.

"By the way, don't tell my Mom about what I've said, okay?"

There were some things that hadn't grown in him afterall.