Chapitre 10 :: Midnight rendezvous

Publiée: 23-09-06 - Mise à jour: 23-09-06

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Kaori’s eyes snapped open. Frowning, she peered at her ceiling through the darkness of her room. What was it that woke her? She didn’t hear anything now. And probably she didn’t hear anything before. So why did she wake up in the middle of the night?  

Sitting up in bed, she listened intently. Was Ryo having one of his nightmares? She didn’t hear anything. It was probably nothing, but now she couldn’t just go back to sleep. She never could just close her eyes once she woke up. She hated that trait of hers. Sighing, she threw the covers off her body, blindly searching for her slippers with her feet. She never bothered switching the lights on. She knew her room like the palm of her hand. And the same went for the entire apartment. She never bumped into a wall or stumbled over something… except when she sometimes stumbled over a drunken Ryo snoring on the floor where he fell. She hated that, too.  

Flip-flopping down the hallway, she still kept one ear perked in hopes of hearing something. Nothing. She didn’t even hear Ryo’s heavy snoring. That would mean that he wasn’t at home at all – That pissed her off! – or that he indeed had a nightmare and has woken up. Oh, well, either way, she needed to worry about herself and get back to bed as soon as possible. A tough day was looming on the horizon. And she was still slightly worried that Ryo might change his mind and pack her away in the middle of nowhere.  

Humming softly, she slipped into the kitchen. Soon, the light of the refrigerator spilled on the white tiles as she pulled a carton of milk out in the open. Rummaging in the cabinet, she found her favorite milk-heating pot, placing it on the stove. As she waited for her usual medicine to heat up, she heard soft footsteps closing in on the kitchen.  

Scratching the back of his head, Ryo slowly padded toward the kitchen. He had to stop waking in the middle of the night. And for reasons he preferred not to think about to boot. He just had to stop… He froze, seeing the dark silhouette in front of the stove, her face, slightly turned toward the door, vaguely illuminated by the bluish light of the burner.  

»Hey,« she whispered, smiling.  

He had to clear his throat, before attempting at being civil. »Hey.«  

A shiver ran up her spine, hearing his sleep-laden voice. He always sounded so damn sexy in the middle of the night, it always made her long to wake up in his arms, in his bed, and hear him wish her good morning.  

She turned back to her milk, berating herself for being silly. He couldn’t see her blush in the darkness. »Can’t sleep, either, huh?«  

»No.«  

Suddenly he sounded irritated. Kaori rolled her eyes. In some aspects he was still a mystery to her. Especially his mood swings. »Nightmare?«  

He sighed. »Not at all… You?«  

»Me neither. I just woke up.«  

»And decided to get some of your medicine to help you go back to sleep.« His voice was laced with a smile.  

She nodded slightly. »Do you want some, too?«  

»If you can spare a drop.« He came to stand beside her.  

»Ha-ha.« She nudged him with her knee, trying not to notice he was dressed only in his boxers. At least he had the decency of putting them on before coming downstairs. She was not up to dealing with him in Full Monty, when just the Half Monty sent her in palpitation. »Grab a cup.«  

As he lifted his arms to open the cupboard, his muscles tensed, bulging.  

Kaori’s mouth went completely dry.  

»You know,« he murmured, completely oblivious to her ogling. »You can still change your mind about going to Umi’s.«  

She growled. »Don’t go there.«  

»Kaori…«  

She hated that patronizing tone. »That’s not the reason I cannot sleep! Something woke me up.«  

Was it her or did he freeze for an instant.  

»Really?«  

She nodded, pouring the warm milk. »I’m not sure though. It might have been a figment of my imagination.« She grabbed her cup, taking it to the table in the middle of the kitchen. »It might have been a scream, but I’m not sure.«  

»A scream.« He sat opposite of her, staring at his cup in the dark.  

»Yes, something…«  

A quick glimpse of ivory skin – on a female body! –, glistening with a film of sweat, flashed briefly in front of her eyes.  

She tasted bile. »Something like that,« she finished in a whimper.  

His head lifted as he looked at her. »Kaori?«  

She blinked hard to keep tears from spilling. Once again that mystery woman. »Hmm?«  

His head cocked to one side. »Is something wrong?«  

»Oh, no, no.« A lone tear trickled down her cheek.  

Why do you have to be so stubborn? »Okay, then.«You don’t need to pretend in front of me.  

»What?«  

He took a sip of milk. »Hmmm?«  

»I didn’t catch that.«  

»All I said was ‘Okay, then.’.« You don’t need to pretend in front of me.  

She smiled sadly. At least she’s taken his thoughts off that other woman. »So what happens tomorrow?«  

»She comes, we put her into the guest bedroom, keep her with us for a couple of weeks and hope for the best.«  

She blinked. »That’s it?«  

He shrugged. »What more do you want?«  

»Shouldn’t you have a plan? Some “worst case scenario” free card?«  

»This is Yakuza we’re talking about, Kaori. You can never predict their moves. We’ll just go with the flow.« He leaned across the table, touching his cup to hers. »It’s what we do best.«  

She smiled. »I thought what we did best was to create mayhem.«  

»Nah, that’s just me. You’re more of a chaos kind of gal. We’re a double act.«  

»I see.« She chuckled. He was always at his funniest in the middle of the night. »What is my role in this non-plan of yours?«  

He was serious in a heartbeat. »None,« he snapped.  

»Pardon?«  

»You won’t do a thing. I’m the one who’s protecting this girl.«  

She gritted her teeth. »And what am I supposed to do? Sit on the sidelines?«  

»Exactly.« He pointed his index finger at her. »You stay out of sight. You don’t get within 50 yards of her in public. For you, she doesn’t exist outside of this apartment. Is that understood?«  

»Ryo…«  

»We do this my way, Kaori. No highway option. You do as I tell you. Is that clear?!«  

»Crystal, you overbearing idiot,« she mumbled.  

»I might be overbearing, but I won’t let you put your life at risk.«  

»Do you have to hear everything?«  

His teeth glinted in the darkness. »Deal with it, baby.«  

Kaori blushed to the roots of her hair. Ryo cleared his throat. Their gazes locked in the darkness. That endearment hung heavy between them.  

»What… « She swallowed. »What if I’m extra careful? Come on, Ryo. What can happen?«  

»I don’t care what can happen! You don’t do anything and that’s final.«  

»But…«  

With a groan, he ran his fingers through his disheveled hair. »Look, Kaori. I can’t protect you both!« If anything should happen, you’re my first priority and she’s as good as dead.  

A grin spread from ear to ear as Kaori jumped to her feet.  

»I promise to be a good girl.« She gave him a light kiss on his cheek. »Good night, Ryo.«  

And she was gone, leaving him in the dark kitchen.  

Ryo slowly lifted his hand, to brush his fingers over the spot where she’s kissed him. He could still feel the warmth and softness of her mouth on his skin. She’s never done something like that before, such a blatant sign of affection. Why did she do it?  

He slowly smiled. He didn’t really care why. 

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