★ MINE ★
A LITTLE FLIRT NEVER HURTS

          »Miss Kujou?« A knock followed. It was Hiroki. He knocked every day to persuade her to come out, but Kimiko wasn't in the mood. She just wanted to sit in her room and continue to be mad at her father. Because when she came back last night, three new guards were introduced to her. Her father now had even more eyes on her and at 6 p.m. her room was locked. Yes, now she has literally been speared.

     So you could say that Sara had tried hard, Kimiko was grateful to her for it, but her father didn't believe a word of it. He knew full well that Kimiko had been outside and he would do everything to stop her from coming out.

     »Go away.«

     »But.«

     »No,« She interrupted him. »I don't want to eat anything and I don't want to go into the stupid garden either.« She heard the door squeak and turned to face him. »Did I invite you in?«

     Hiroki put his hand on his heart. »Excuse me, but I won't be standing at your door for another week without knowing if you're still alive.«

     Yes, it had been a whole week since she had been on the beach with Kazuha. She missed him. Really. She had even dreamed about him. But she just didn't know when or how she would manage to sneak away.

     »Well, as you can see, I'm still alive.« Kimiko rolled her eyes. »So you can leave.«

     He closed the door behind him and took a few steps toward her. What did he actually think of? Honestly she could hang him for his disobedience. »Your father has been very busy for a week.«

     »He's always very busy,« she interrupted again. »I'm pretty sure he think he is the Electro Archon.«

     There was an amused snort from Hiroki. »Today would be a good opportunity to sneak away again.« To be honest she wanted to go again. She wanted to be among normal people again, to help them and above all she wanted to see the red-eyed samurai again. At least Kazuha could make her smile. »Also, I thought you'd like to see your friend again.«

     »He's not my friend.«

     »Yeah, i know you fancy him obviously. I mean you were grinning like an idiot when you came back from your last meeting.« He laughed again. »But I thought I shouldn't say that now that I've already walked in here without being asked.«

Kimiko should be mad at him, but she couldn't. On the one hand she had taken all her anger out on her father and on the other hand Hiroki was right. She liked Kazuha and she wanted to see him again. But she didn't admit it.

     »You know, if I wouldn't like you, I would have had you replaced long ago.«

     He grinned. »I know.. so are we going?«

     Kimiko raised her eyebrow. »What about the three new ones?«

»Let's just say I took care of it.« She had continued to ask, but she had to take the chance to see Kazuha. She could question Hiroki later, now she should enjoy every second with the cute samurai. »So I ask again, are we going now?«

»We?«

     »I have a few boxes full of medicines and you won't be able to carry them alone.«

     »You got medicine for the poor?«

     »Like I said, I work for you. And if it's important to you to help these people, I'll do my best to support you,« he explained softly. »And before you ask where I got all this from.. don't ask. If it comes out, it should be my fault alone.«

     Kimiko couldn't suppress her grin. She was so infinitely grateful to him and she would have loved to hug him. But that would probably be wrong and she didn't know how Hiroki would react. »Thank you.«

     He bowed slightly. »You welcome.«

     With the three boxes, one of which Kimiko carried, they made their way to Hajime. It was quite a nice day. A light breeze blew through Kimiko's hair and the sun shone through the fluffy clouds. It still annoyed Kimiko that her father was so successful, but then again it didn't give him that much time to keep an eye on her and the turnaround was very good.

     What also was very good was the smile on Hajimes face. He was very happy about the medication and unlike Kimiko he didn't hesitate a bit. He pulled her into a hug and thanked Hiroki. At least they had been able to help the poorer villages a little bit. »That will really help us!«, he said and had a big smile on his face. »Would yer mind splitting them up?«

     »Of course not!«, replied Kimiko. »That's why we're here.«

     Hajime clapped his hands. »Good!« And then he explained to them which medicines should go in which box and how many. Frankly, Kimiko couldn't remember seeing him that happy. And that made really her day.

     »So that's what you always do here. Divide goods into crates and then distribute them?«, Hiroki asked while dividing the medicines as Hajime had explained.

     Kimiko nodded. »It's the only thing I can do.« She blows her bangs off her forehead and looks up. »Aside from that.. you must go!«

     »W-what?« Confused, he looked in the direction she was looking.

     Kimiko panicked and was happy at the same time. She saw Kazuha. He walked towards them both with a big box in his hand. However, he hadn't discovered her yet. Fortunately. Because if he did, he would realize that she was staring at him and he would recognize Hiroki. After all, he was in his uniform. »If he sees that I'm here with a guard, he'll know what's going on!«

     Hiroki crossed his arms. »Oh, so that's him.« She nodded silently and watched as he put the box down. He didn't look really strong. He even had relatively thin arms, but still he was kinda good looking. »Are you blushing right now?«, He interrupted her thoughts and laughed.

     »No!«

     »I imagined him being taller somehow.. are you sure he's a samurai?«

    She didn't want to laugh, but somehow she couldn't help it. »Hiroki!« She nudged him. »Pleaseeee!«

   »Okay, okay, i go,« he replied amused. »But be back on time!«

    »I promise!« Kimiko pressed her hands against his chest to push him away. »And now go!« He was still laughing, but he left. He glanced back a few times and Kimiko was pretty sure he would stay close and keep watching her and Kazuha. But she was fine with that. As long as he didn't show himself in front of Kazuha.

     »Finally you back.« His soft voice made Kimiko turn around. Kazuha. He faced her and smiled lovely. And somehow all her anger at her father was gone.

     She tilted her head to the side. »Finally?«

    »Well it.. it been a week since I last saw you.« And that was all her fault. Because she was lost in anger. But somehow it felt good just to be angry. And it sounded even better that he had been waiting for her return. »Are you feeling better since last time?«

     He was still worried? Gosh! He was the sweetest guy Kimiko had ever met. »Thanks to my personal protector and listener, yes. I'm feeling better.«

     Kazuha nodded with a lovely smile, he new she meant him. »I'm.. I'm glad you back.« It was obvious he was having trouble saying those words, but that only made him more adorable.

     »Really?«

     »Yeah, I.« He scratched the back of his head, looking almost abashed. »I missed you.. I mean you are the most interesting person i have ever met,« He quickly added the latter as if he didn't want the first to stand alone.

     Kimiko couldn't help but smile. Even though he said it hesitantly, it was nice to hear. »Aren't you actually in the woods or on the beach early in the morning?«

     Now he was the one smirking. »Nice to hear that you already know my daily routine.« God that sounded like she was stalking him. But he also knew when she helped out, so it was probably mutual. »Well to be honest Yua told me that most of the time you help early in the morning so.. so I adjusted my daily routine a bit to maybe bump into you.«

     »That's cute.« And it wasn't until she saw the color in his cheeks that Kimiko realized what she had said. Why was her mouth faster than her brain cells? When she spoke to her father, to Sara, or to her guards, she thought three times before saying anything, but people she liked.. who made her feel comfortable. Well, with these people, Kimiko no longer had a filter. »I mean you are.. no.. what I wanna say is.«

     »Enough small talk, yer two,« Hijami interrupted her and that relieved Kimiko. She was good with words, her nervous stutter had never been there before. »We didn't get nearly enough food from outside this morning,« he continued. »I really don't know how long this is supposed to go on, a country that is completely isolated and hundreds of people who have to fear for their existence.« Yes, Kimiko couldn't imagine it getting any worse. What else was to come? She would never get her beloved eternity anyway. Even if Inazuma was isolated from everything.

     »Can yer two please try to divide the groceries fairly for the poor and then there are the boxes with the things for the shops,« asked Hijami. »But don't mix it with the medication!«

     They both nodded and began to sort the groceries. Kimiko wanted to say something to Kazuha, she had the feeling that he was uncomfortable with her words, but she found it difficult to say anything. He looked intently at the lists and didn't bother to look at her. He was tense and his cheeks were still red. He was nervous. She didn't want to laugh, but she couldn't suppress the smirk.

     But when she divided up the few tomatoes, she couldn't keep her mouth shut. »That's never enough for two weeks,« mumbled Kimiko. A lot more to herself actually, but it made Kazuha lift his head.

     »I'm afraid some stores will have to close soon.«

     »That's sad.«

     He nodded. »Without enough food there are no more customers and without them there are no more customers at all,« said Kazuha. »Because customers from outside are hardly allowed in anymore.. so they won't make any money anymore.«

     »And all because of a crazy woman,« snorted Kimiko. »I mean why did we got this insane.« She couldn't finished. Kazuha lunged forward and abruptly put his hand over her mouth. She flinched in shock, but when he nodded his head to the side, she saw two guards walking around on their daily rounds.

     »You have to be careful what and where you say things like that out loud,« he whispered. He was so close to her that she could feel his warm breath. Kimiko looked him straight in the eye and nodded in a trance. He was pretty and it was difficult not to look at him. When Kazuha noticed how frozen she was, he let go of her and stepped back, cheeks flushed.

     »I.. I'm sorry, my lady.« There was no need to apologize. Honest! Sure, she was startled by his quick action, but that didn't mean she found it inappropriate. After all, she had cuddled up to him a week ago and that had been nice.

     He looked away from her to the guards who were talking to two passers-by. After all, they were busy and hadn't spotted Kimiko. However, she was still worried. She grabbed Kazuha's hand, pulling him closer and then turned with him so that she was standing with her back to the guards instead of him. He was close to her again like before and not only his cheeks were red. Even the tips of his nose and the top of his ears.

      »Oh, you don't need to apologize!« She let go of his warm hand. »Are they.. are they still standing there?« Kazuha looked at her, but it didn't look like he was there. He didn't even respond to her question. She brushed her fingers against his again. »Kazuha?«

     »Excuse me.. w-what were you saying?«

     She smiled slightly. She must be making him really, really nervous. But that was good, so he wouldn't question her panic about the guards. »Are they still standing there?«

     »Who?«

     Kimiko shook her head in amusement. »The guards, Kazuha.«

     »Oh, right! The guards!« He looked past her and slowly began to nod. »Yes, they're gone.«

     »Good.« He was still looking past her, as if afraid to look at her again. Kimiko put her finger on his chin and brought him back into view. He still looked nervous. »And you okay?«

     »Me?«

     »Yes, you.«

     »I-i'm fine!« Kazuha finally managed to look at her. He took two steps back. »But you know it's kinda late and i have.. i have things to do!«

     »Things?«

     »Things! I.. i must go.«

     Kimiko found it amusing. Actually, she was the one who always had to leave quickly. He stole her spell. She stepped in front of where he had just stepped back and allowed herself to tuck the strand of hair that was hanging out of his braid behind his ear. »See you next time then, Kazuha.«

     He only managed to nod and almost tripped over one of the boxes while walking. Actually he had been quite even-tempered and calm the whole time, but today. Today he had been completely different. But it had been sweet.

     »Poor boy,« Hiroki cleared his throat.

     She didn't even bother to look up at him. She preferred to watch Kazuha afterwards. Wherever he tried to escape to. »I knew you were near.«

     »I got the guards to leave.«

     »Thank you.« And then Kazuha was out of sight and she realized what Hiroki had said. »But wait! What do you mean with poor boy?«

     »Really? You flirted with him almost non-stop.«

     »I know.« Actually she didn't know. She just felt comfortable with him and was just herself. Well and maybe she was in a flirte mood around him.

     »You were making him damn nervous.« He started laughing. »He's falling for you.«

     »That will surely stop when he knows who I am.«

     »Well you'll only find out if you tell him the truth.« That was true. But Kimiko just enjoyed being normal. It just wasn't the right time yet.