UsuixMisaki (Maid-sama)

The Coffee Break

UsuixMisaki

“Can I eat that?”

Usui blinked, surprised. She didn’t usually eat any of the food he cooked, for whatever reason. The café was closed now, and everyone else had headed home. Misaki had just done the usual rounds around the restaurant, and finding no one, headed back to the kitchen. She had collapsed into a chair right away, sighing quietly.

He was working on a sundae. It had more mandarin oranges in it than usual. He wanted to get rid of the older leftovers before they started to rot. “I’ll make another one.”

“Geez, just give me that one,” she mumbled, and grabbed the sundae before he could protest. She plopped a spoonful into her mouth leaving a smudge on he cheek. Usui stared.

“You’re going to get a stomach ache,” he said. “Those are made of leftovers.”

She shrugged and continued to eat. “I'm used to eating leftovers.”

He said nothing, and stared at her quietly. She had gotten skinnier, and there were black smudges underneath her eyes. The maid uniform draped over her usually sturdy form loosely. Usui sighed. Didn’t she take up more shifts last week?

Usui took a napkin from the cupboard and softly grabbed her chin, wiping the excess cream from her face. Misaki blushed lightly, but stayed still. He frowned. Either she was finally falling for him, or she was more tired than she let on.

He opened his mouth to ask about why she was working so hard (even though she was always working hard), but closed it quickly. He had to fill her up first. He headed to the fridge to get out some eggs and veggies.

“What are you doing?”

Usui’s face was blank. He dumped the ingredients on the table. He considered telling her he was cooking for her, but quickly changed his mind. She probably wouldn’t eat if he forced her. She was like that. “I’m hungry.”

Misaki blinked, and stared at him, looking him over. He swallowed.

“You’re mad,” she said. “Why?”

He used to think that he could read Misaki’s thoughts like an open book, and she was completely oblivious to his. That used to hold true, but nowadays, she was becoming more observant. Usui turned his head, and didn’t meet her eyes, and concentrated on chopping the veggies. At this point in their “friendship” he was tired of holding back. Maybe she finally noticed that.

“You’re not taking care of yourself,” he replied.

“I am.” He opened his mouth to retort, but she cut him off. “Enough.”

He gritted his teeth. Why was she always so stubborn? Why was she so unselfish, never taking care of herself? But then, he thought, if she wasn’t so damn perfect for him he wouldn’t love her.

The smell of the omelet filled the room, and Misaki’s eyes glazed over. She inhaled deeply. Usui refrained from grinning when he heard her stomach growl and saw a light blush tint her cheeks. Friggin’ adorable.

Neither of them spoke until the omelet was done, and a large portion was placed in front of her. Misaki mumbled a thank you and scooped large spoonfuls into her mouth. He frowned again.

He wanted to ask her why she was overworking, but he was scared that she would blow him off and he wouldn’t get an answer out of—

“My mom lost her job,” she said. Half of the plate was finished and he scooped more into her plate, trying to hide his surprise. “That’s what you wanted to know right?”

She met his eyes with a level gaze, and he gulped, breaking the eye contact. It was taking all his control not to do something utterly inappropriate right now. Not like he didn’t mind inappropriate…but she’d probably think he was attacking her when she was weak or something.

He took a deep breath. “If you don’t take care of yourself, how do you expect to take care of your family?”

She blinked, and didn’t meet his eyes, staring at her empty plate with a pensive stare. “I don’t need to take care of myself.”

Usui gripped the countertop and glared at her, opening his mouth before she raised a hand to quiet him.

“Because you take care of me.”

His grip on the marble loosened, and his face was covered in shock. She was blushing deeply but she was looking straight into his eyes.

Then she sneezed. Usui coughed and turned around to get another napkin for her. Before he turned back to her, he had controlled an uncharacteristic blush. “Here.”

“Thanks,” she replied, taking the napkin gratefully. Her nose was tinted pink.

He sighed and observed her. She never ceased to surprise him. Every single time he thought he got her down, understood her behavior, her personality, she would throw something like that at him. It never ceased to make him fall for her over and over again. But…Usui never loss a fight.

“Ayuzawa,” he said after she finished cleaning herself up. “You know I never lied to you before.”

She sniffed and turned to him, confused. “About what?”

He smirked. “About how I love you.”

Misaki didn’t know it, but she had him in the palm of her hand, whether she would admit it or not.

NejixHinata

I Think I like You..

NejixHinata

Neji frowned as he began his trip back to the Hyuuga house, agitated, annoyed, and in utter mental pain. It wasn't that he minded being a jounin, no, not that at all. It was the fact that he hated children, and that he was getting assigned to three snot-nosed brats the next morning. He wanted to stand up to the Hokage and say straight to her face,

"How can I help them? They aren't even from the Hyuuga clan!"

But being the respectful, stoic, young man that he was, Neji won't do that.

No, there were other ways to complain, his ways to complain like torturing Hinata. But it wasn't like he could actually  DO that because if he DID try to do THAT, the irritating, green, cursed mark on his forehead would start stinging and making a little "Eee" noise that annoyed him down to hell, and then this would make his killing intent for the Head Family worse, which would make the mark hurt more, and so on and so on. A never ending cycle of pain for poor Neji.

But still, Hinata.

She hadn't been on his mind lately, with all of the A-Rank missions and all, but she had wormed her way into his thoughts that evening, and now he was stuck thinking about her. What was so great about her? She was weak; he was strong. She was shy and meek, while he was cool and collected (Well, he lost his cool once in the Chuunin exams, but we dont need to talk about that). So why wasn't he the superior one? Why wasn't he the one that was referred to as sama? Why wasn't he the heir to the Hyuuga clan?

Neji realized that, while walking, his fists had curled so that his fingernails were digging deeply into his flesh, and any moment now he expected to see blood dripping down onto his knuckles. Slowly, he unlatched his claws from his palms and drew in a deep breath. His anger ceased, but his thoughts still lingered about Hinata.

Neji's mind wandered back to when he had been a Genin, and when he had trained with Hiashi. And what Hiashi, the leader of Hyuuga clan, had said,

"If Hinata were here, I would ask you to watch over her."

"What? Hinata-Sama?"  Neji responded, obviously surprised.

"It would help you with your training." Hiashi stood up and placed his cup of tea on the tray, and then stalked away without another word.

Nejis frown deepened. What had Hiashi meant when he had said that?

Sighing, he shifted the leather pack on his back that held some paperwork he had to fill out that night (For the kids, again!). Oh joy! . In no hurry to get home, Neji took slow, paced steps, and his wits were still off wondering about Hinata.

She had always had this crush on a blonde whom he considered dumb, hyper boy named Naruto, who was sadly now the only Genin of the original rookies of the Chuunin exams. Neji, TenTen, and Lee weren't rookies, but it had been their first time taking the exam.

Sadly, however, Naruto had defeated him in the main matches with a basic technique. That's what constant babbling had gotten Neji, and he had gotten a lecture about drop-outs in return. Then again, his losing had earned him the truth about the fate of his father. So, it had been a win-lose situation.

Neji paused; he had arrived at his destination, the two gates that read Hyuuga towering above him. He took a few steps forward, and pushed the doors open with ease. In front of him was a large training platform that led to the main house, and onward from there the smaller wings and gardens.

The brown-haired Hyuuga removed his shoes before getting onto the walkway that encircled the platform, only to hear a faint weeping. He ignored it at first, assuming it was Hanabi or a younger child that was tired of training and needed a break. But the closer he got to his room, the louder the crying became, and Neji was able to tell that he or she was older than twelve, at least.

Although uninterested, he didnt want to put up with whimpering and listening to a sob-story about Hiashi's hard training and no time to catch my breath at all tales on the way to his room. So in the end, out of sheer boredom and irritation; Neji activated his bloodline.

"Byakugan!"

Neji easily spotted the source, but it was hard to believe.
It was Hinata.
And she was right in his pathway to his room. Oh, what a glorious, peaceful night this had turned out to be. But still, it bothered him that Hinata was crying. The Byakugan couldn't tell what she was crying over; it could only outline her shape. And sure, Hinata was shy and considered feeble, but she was fifteen and rarely cried.

Neji deactivated the Byakugan, exhaled, and continued towards his room. Ten steps until Hinata. Eight steps. Six steps...four steps.. two more steps.
Nejis eyes widened at the site before him.
Hinatas small shoulders were shaking uncontrollably, and she had a blue ribbon tied tightly around her throat, which was an obvious clue that she was attempting suicide. Her hands, also trembling, were clasped around the ends, ready to pull and strangle the girl to her death.

"Hinata-Sama, please do not do that in front of me. I was told to protect you."

"Hinata let go of the ribbon," and she quickly turned to look at Neji.

"Neji-nii-san!" she paused and stared at him for a moment.

"I-Im sorry. I-I t-thought you weren't going to be h-home." Hinata's body racked with sobs, and her voice was smaller than usual.

Neji was on full alert. What had caused this? Had she been abused? Physically? Emotionally? His mind raced, and his heart was pounding rapidly. If something happened to her, he and the other members of the Branch Family would be severely punished.

"What happened?" He demanded, not bothering to use honorifics.

Hinata had stopped crying for a moment, but her eyes welled up with tears again, and they spilled over her already red face.

Neji nodded with patience, but it was thinning quickly. His hatred for the Head Family had begun to burn again at the thought of punishment, and he didnt want to lose control again.

"I-Its Naruto-kun." She managed to sputter,

"I-I saw him. He was with S-Sasuke, and they were, w-were" Hinata was sobbing now, and her face was buried in her hands.

Neji grabbed her left arm roughly, his normal personality taking over.

"I can't hear you if your face is in your arms." He said, but his deep tone made it sound more like an order.

"Now, what were they doing?" Hinata bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears.

"K-k-kiss..." Neji nodded impatiently.

"K-k-kiss", Hinata was stuttering horribly,

"K-k-kissing!" A loud sob made her cough and Neji let go of her arm, only to let Hinata cover her face again.

"I thought I could improve myself. Make myself better. So that Naruto-kun would n-notice me more". Hinata sniffed,

"B-but I wasnt good enough!"

Neji brow furrowed. Isn't Sasuke a missing nin? Unless he shuddered inside his mind. It wasn't the first time he had seen two boys. In fact, he had seen the Kazekage (Gaara) and Rock Lee only a few nights before.

Neji took a seat next to Hinata, trying to sort out what had happened so far. Why did this effect Hinata so much? She had known that Naruto had liked Sakura so much, and this didnt seem much different.

"Why are you so upset? He liked Sakura, didnt he?" Neji couldnt understand. There was a new feeling in his chest. It couldn't be! But was it, sympathy?

"Y-yeah. But this is different", Hinata squeaked,

"If Naruto-kun loves a b-boy, that makes me", She swallowed,

"L-lower than that, I'm not worth anything"

Nejis eyes broadened noticeably. He had thought that Hinata had gained much more self confidence, but this seemed to have downgraded it to nothing. He remained silent. What word had she used? If Naruto loves a boy, he had forgotten about that.

Neji could barely remember the meaning of the word. The last time he had loved was when his father was still alive. His mouth tightened at this memory, but he shook it off.

Hinata-Sama Neji looked at the floor. His hand was considerably close to Hinata's; perhaps he should place his hand on hers to make her feel better? But what if she took it the wrong way? And..Then..Well, he didn't want to think about that.

Ignoring temptation, Neji withdrew his hand from the ground and ran it through his hair, gazing at Hinata with new interest. His eyes stopped on her eyes, in which lavender met lavender. Neji looked away quickly, embarrassed by the surprise eye contact.

Hinata was still crying, but softer now, and her trembling had almost stopped completely. But not for long. Her brain told her over and over,
"You aren't good enough. No one likes you. Don't you realize that? You don't deserve to live, you pathetic excuse for a Hyuuga clan member!" Hinata rolled her tongue around in her mouth, catching an occasional glance of Neji. He hates her; she knew that. And how did she know everyone else didn't? Her eyes became wet again, and she slowly picked up the ribbon.

"N-no one likes me.." She murmured so that she thought only she could hear.

Hinata placed it behind her neck, one end in each hand. Twisting it around her neck and ready to pull, Hinata took one long look at Neji. She thought it would be the last person she saw. No one likes Hinata swallowed, and when she assumed Neji wasn't paying attention,  tugged as hard as she could, and would hold it there

Two hands, both larger than hers, made her drop the ribbon, and pulled her closer to their body. Realizing it was Neji, she tried to draw back, but his grip was strong. He pulled her against him so that there mouths were brushing against each others cheeks, and what Hinata heard made her cheeks flush visibly pink was,

"I like you."

JellalxErza

"I didn't know what to do with myself, those days," Erza spoke, her tone quiet yet loud in the silence of the forest. The rustling of the leaves were soft in the background. "But when I found Fairy Tail, my freedom, I managed to put one foot in front of the other until I was able to walk with my head held high." She shifted from her position of leaning against a large tree, next to him, to make herself more comfortable.

Again, silence. The cool breeze of the late autumn night was enough to chill the mage, but she kept her complaints to herself as she watched the emotional range of Jellal's face change. Going from remembering nothing to everything had to hurt. When Erza began to tell her tale, their tale, he hadn't the faintest idea what to think. Halfway through her story, he began to ask more questions, fill in areas of his mind. When she finished, when her story moved past his, away from the Tower of Heaven, he could imagine hazy scenarios involving himself that he wasn't sure he wanted to remember.

A hand on her shoulder stilled her, and she held her breath in case he was to speak.

"Requip to something where I can feel you, Erza," Jellal said with a frown. "This armor gives me no opportunity to be close with you."

"Armor is supposed to protect, not draw those in closer for comfort," she responded. Still, she requipped to her casual outfit; without the armor working as a barrier, she was even colder now. Jellal, noticing this, removed his coat to place around her shoulders for warmth.

"Is that better?"

"Thank you," she replied, taken back by the kind gesture.

"Is it all… better?" Jellal asked slowly. "Now, I mean."

"In what way?"

"Are you… happier?"

"Of course. What kind of question is that?"

"I, uh, well… I mean, being here with me. Is it alright?"

Erza turned, noticing his awkwardness. She found it endearing, different. Smiling, she nodded and said, "It's more than alright. I've… always held you in a special place of my heart, so being here, with no hostility or devastation, is very nice."

"That's good," he nodded, taking her hand in his. "Because what I'm going to do might have you either destroying me or running for the hills."

"What—"

In an instant, he had pulled her to him, slamming his lips against hers. Erza's lips were soft, impossibly soft, but willing. She was confused, but for once this confusion was in a good way, mixed with many emotions. She wanted the moment to last.

"The others could come looking for us," Erza breathed, pulling away.

"They won't," Jellal replied.

"How do you know?"

"Stay with me for a while." Without giving her a chance to reply he asked for a favor, "Can i borrow your lap?"

Feeling a little bit nervous, Erza touched her lap to make the soft clapping sound, directing his head to the position. Jellal found himself with his back to the Earth staring up at the beauty which was Titania. The moonlight across her milky skin, her scarlet hair—that hair which he had fallen in love with first in order to give her the name she now carried with her—made her a breathtaking sight.



"How has no other taken you away?" he asked, reaching his fingers to her scarlet hair.



"What?" she tilted her head to the side cutely.

He smiled. "Bluntly, how are you still single? "


"Oh that." She doesn't know what to answer, for she herself, doesn't usually open her consciousness to something called "love". He pinched her nose to catch her attention,but she failed to notice this because of her gloomy aura.

"No one has expressed interest. I don't take kindly to those fools."


"You say that while I gawk at you and am charmed by you. Are you sure I'm not the same?"


From her melancholic face, her blood rushes to her cheeks. She blushed even more when Jellal, to her surprise, leaned down towards her face. She pinched his nose in return.

"Now we're even."

Her eyes were sparkling like the stars, more beautiful than the stars and her hair danced with the wind. He had seen nothing more beautiful. True freedom.


"If I snatch a kiss, will you snatch it back?" Jellal said, leaning in closer.

"There's a difference between a kiss and a pinch, idiot!"

He responded with a smile, not saying a word.