Undertaken

27

====UNDERTAKER====

I very slowly pull away from the kiss, not wanting to, but I feel something moist against my cheek. I look at Mikki and see a tear currently rolling down her cheek from one of her bright green eyes. I get a little worried and wipe it away with my thumb, letting my hand linger on her cheek.

"Mikki? What's wrong?" I ask softly. Suddenly, she falls into my chest, sobbing and gripping my cloak in her now-clenched fists. I feel her tears soak through the fabric of my robe and lightly touch my skin. I wrap my arms around her and pull her sideways into my lap and hold her. Mikki nestles closer to me and I press a soft, reassuring kiss to the top of her head.

After a little bit, she pulls away with an embarrassed-sounding laugh and wipes at her eyes.

"Sorry. God, I'm such a crybaby now for some reason. I hate this. I mean, I can be strong. I am. Like... mentally, but also physically, strong, but for some reason, I can be brought to tears in an instant at some things," she says with a sigh. The area around her eyes are now red because of her rubbing, and I pull her hands away to make her stop, then lean in and kiss each of her eyelids.

"Hey, it's fine, Mikki. Nothing you need to be embarrassed about. I know you and  even though you don't have specific triggers to put you in tears, it's still something. I would like to know why you're crying, though. I don't like seeing you cry," I say, rubbing her cheek softly with my thumb as I look into her eyes. She sighs.

"It's nothing, really. I guess... Well, it's just so hard to believe that I actually have this. That I actually have you. I mean, it's one thing because I only thought you were a fictional character, but now also because I am honestly in a relationship. I actually have a love life." Mikki looks down at her hands. "You see, ever since fifth grade, now about eight years, I have had a major crush on this one guy I go--or went, I suppose--to school with. Hey, don't look like that. I couldn't have known I would actually find you in real life. Besides, I only knew about you for a few years. Don't worry, I don't have feelings for him anymore. You've taken all of them. Anyway, my whole grade ended up finding out, and even he did. His name is Max. He has blonde hair that covers his forehead and his jaw, kind of like Sebastian's hair, but only shorter. And blonde. And he has these amazing blue eyes as well. I really liked the whole country things, and one of the things I really liked about him was the fact that he was indeed a country boy. Worked on his family owned farm and everything. However, he never felt the same way for me. But when he would hear about me possibly liking, or even talking about some guy I spoke with, Max would interrogate me about the guy. I guess he really only liked that I liked him. I mean, it's really something to have someone like you, even if you don't like them back. No matter how he treated me or anything, though, I always found myself falling for him all over again every time I saw him. It was so painful. There were points I would sit at home and listen to love songs or even break up songs and stuff. The most common one was Little Too Not Over You by David Archuleta. Yeah, you don't know him. Anyway, people would always ask me if I still liked Max, and my response often came out as 'unfortunately, yes. I do.' I felt like I couldn't control whether I liked him or not. The heart wants what the heart wants, right? But.... Wow, I've gone on too long. I really drift away from my original subject a lot when I speak. But anyway, because of my never ending crush on Max, I never thought I would actually have someone I wanted to be with and could actually be with. Someone who wanted to be with me as well. Someone I love, and who loves me back. And for that, Adrien, I could never thank you enough. For giving me something I have always dreamt of having, but always thinking it was impossible." When she was finished, Mikki wrapped her arms around me and embraced me in a tight hug.

I returned it with a smile. "As happy as I am for you to be saying such things about me, I truly am sorry about the pain that boy has caused you for eight years in a row. I'm really glad to see you're happy, though. And you honestly don't need to thank me. I honestly never thought I would be so head over heels in love with someone. Especially as much as I am with you," I say, nuzzling my nose into her neck, causing her to bubble with laughter and try to swat me away, her eyes shining happily. However, I go back in and press my lips to her neck, knowing she was expecting me to kiss it. Instead, I blow, creating a loud noise that vibrates her neck and my lips. Mikki bursts into laughter and tries desperately to push me away, swatting and kicking her legs until we both fall side-by-side onto the coffin-bed, our laughter slowly dying.

Before long, she falls asleep, held close in my arms. It really isn't long after until I do the same.

~~~

I awaken to the sound of water and I check my pocket watch (a nifty little thing I found a while back while working on a corpse) to see the time is 8:32 in the morning. Mikki's classes start at 9:05. I sigh turn over in the otherwise empty bed, wishing I could just wake up with her still in my arms. Oh well. There will be plenty of other times for that, I'm sure. I stretch a little as well before hearing a distant knock that is coming from the front parlor door.

I groan and force myself up, then tie on my sash, put on and buckle up my boots, and place my hat atop my head (honestly, I don't remember taking any of these things off, though I'm sure my hat more just fell off), then go out to the front room. When I open the door, I'm greeted by a few men carrying a casket.

"His name is George L. Parker. He was the murderer of Marie S. Johnson, the girl you received a few days ago. They were in a murderous fight, which eventually ended in both dying, though his death only coming a few days after hers. He is due this Friday at 3:15 in the afternoon," one man tells me as the other few carry in the casket and set it down.

After they leave, I go over to examine the body. On top of the casket is the card telling the name of the person and the date and time they're to be done for the funeral. I chuckle and set it aside before opening up the casket, revealing a rather gruesome looking body. "This will be fun, hehehe," I say. I hear footsteps behind me and turn to see Mikki looking into the casket, then stepping back with a grimace.

"Echh. Yeah. You will," she says, shaking her head and looking away. She's wearing her dress and everything else, and I know she wants me to fix her hair, so I kiss her nose and lead her to the bathroom to set to work, putting it up in the same fashion I had yesterday.

Mikki smiles and turns to me when I finish. "Ah, hold on. Not quite yet," I say. I leave momentarily, then return with one of my scarves, wrapping it over her shoulders like I had before, and also carefully putting a lovely black rose in her hair. She smiles.

"Thank you," Mikki says, then wraps her arms around my neck to give me a kiss. I smile and don't hesitate to return the sweet gesture.

((A/N: Heyo! Sorry if some of you are upset about me not updating for about two days.. However, I must warn you, once I get caught up with myself where I originally was, updates most likely won't be as quick as they are now, since I only have until chapter 41 pre-written. However, I will do my best! I am honestly putting all of my other stories on hold until I get caught up with this. Fans of those stories aren't too happy with me... Anyway! I do hope you enjoy this chapter, and I will see you all next time! Don't forget to vote if you feel I deserve one, and definitely leave a comment! They mean the world to me, just like all of you guys do who read this story! I love you all!))