It Was All Arranged [R. Sakamaki]

The Worst Date

His room had changed. More pillows placed on her side of the bed, her beloved plushie sitting on the bedside table, her notebooks stacked upon her nightstand. The wardrobe was now full, his room more cluttered and several plants decorated it, making it cosier and warmer. He'd never tell her but he actually liked it.

He'd helped Athena get dressed into her pyjamas, a pair of pink trousers and a long sleeved shirt with little white bunnies on and he'd dried and brushed her hair before she had chosen to retire for the night. He didn't leave her side, sitting beside her with a thick book in his hands. She'd wrapped her arm around his torso, head resting upon his chest as she gently snored. He didn't mind it, he had actually missed her snores surprisingly. Reluctant, he'd wrapped an arm around her, holding her close and his cheek against the top of her head. And then he fell asleep like that, his book falling from his hands as his arm moved to cradle his wife.

"Reiji?" A soft voice sounded as Yui pushed open his bedroom door, she poked her head around it, blonde curls bouncing as she did so, "Are we having dinner tonight- Oh." Her eyes grew wide as she spotted the snoozing Athena before a smile spread across her lips, "Thank goodness," she whispered, bowing her head as Reiji stirred, his glasses lopsided. Yui tip-toed towards them, gently removing his glasses and placing them in the bedside table before looking at Athena fondly, "I am glad," she said to herself, "thank you for saving her, Reiji." She tucked her hair behind her ears as she then tip-toed out of his room.

She nearly screamed as the door clicked quietly behind her.

All five of his brothers stood outside, the triplets were basically leaning over her, Ayato's breath tickled her nose, Laito's hand grasped her shoulder and Kanato's arm brushed her hand. Shuu stood a little bit away from them with Subaru, though they both seemed a little concerned.

"Well?" Kanato asked, "When's dinner?"

"Athena's back," Yui whispered, holding her index finger in front of her lips to shush them, "I'll make us dinner. They're sleeping right now."

"His plan worked," Shuu said with an approving nod, "I'm glad." Then, he looked at Yui darkly, "I want steak." With that, he disappeared, leaving her with the youngest brothers.

-_-_-_-_-

"Does this make you nervous?" He whispered, glancing up to her eyes once more. Athena Tsukinami was a bright red, her heart hammered dangerously against her chest.

"No," she lied, eyebrow twitching as his hand travelled to her soft hair.

"Do you want me to kiss you?"

"A-Absolutely not." She avoided his gaze, her heartbeat betrayed her as she gulped anxiously. One wrong movement...

"Do I scare you?"

Athena was quiet for a long time before she uttered a small, "Yes."

Athena woke up with a jolt, her heart hammered against her chest as she sat up straight, scratching her bushy head of hair. A groan left her lips as her back stretched, the wounds splitting with every movement. She pressed her hands to her lips as she yawned, pondering about the memory she'd relived in her dream. It'd happened after he murdered her best friend. She shook her head, not wishing to think about it any longer. She looked beside her, a screech nearly leaving her throat as her senses finally returned to her.

Reiji was lying on his back, his eyes closed and his lips parted ever so slightly. He looked peaceful in his slumber, his hands resting on his stomach and his breaths were short and sweet. Athena smiled gently, leaning on her side as she stroked his hair away from his face.

"Do you remember," she whispered, her hand caressing his face, thumb and forefinger gripping his chin as she leaned forward, lips a mere centimetre away from his, "when you did this to me? Asking me if I'd wanted you to kiss me..." She clenched her jaw, closing her eyes as she took a deep breath. "In return, I ask you this: what woman doesn't want her husband to kiss her?"