What Men Want - Chapter 1

The Injury

“Get off me, bitch!”

“I don’t think so, scumbag!” Kaori held on for dear life. The bozo whose neck she clutched at, buckled under her like possessed. “Ryo! I could really use a hand here!”

“I’m quite busy, Kaori-kun!” He smashed his fist into someone’s face. “Use a mallet!”

She pulled a face, quickly tightening her grip on the thug. “They don’t work the same way without you.”

Ryo knocked his elbow into a fat stomach and smiled. “Stop, Kaori-kun, you’re making me blush.”

Kaori’s eyes locked with his. His smile hit her like it always did. Her heartbeat accelerated and she couldn’t help but smile back. Bewildered, she noticed his midnight eyes fill with concern and realized a bit too late, her grip had slackened.

“Kaori!” Ryo yelled in warning, trying to reach her through the melee.

She found herself flying through the air; there was a sickening crack when her head hit the hard concrete...

Then everything went black.

X Y Z


“Kaori...please, baby, wake up.”

Was that Ryo? Calling her ‘baby’? Was she dead?

“Please, sweetheart...”

Sweetheart?

“God, Kaori, open your eyes. You can’t do this to me. You can’t leave me alone. I don’t want to be alone anymore.”

Her eyelids slowly fluttered open. The sunlight sifting through the window hurt her eyes, increasing her splitting headache.

Looking around, she found herself in a hospital room, but there was no one in sight. Was it possible she’s dreamed everything? Heck, probably yes. As if Ryo would use such sweet words with her.

The door quietly opened and the object of her musings came sauntering in—and froze, seeing her awake.

“Hey.” She managed a wan smile.

Ryo suppressed a sigh of relief. She was awake. With him again. The past week has been hell. Not knowing if she was ever going to open those beautiful hazel eyes again. He even missed her mallets.

“Hey.” He smiled back, turning toward the window. “Welcome back.” It was barely a whisper.

“What?”

“Hmmm?” He turned, arching an eyebrow.

“I didn’t quite catch the last words.” She tried to sit up, but failed miserably.

“All I said was ‘hey’.” Taking pity on her, he walked to the bed. “Here, let me help.” Gently propping up her upper body, he piled the pillows behind her back. “How do you feel?”

“Wonky.” She looked at him sheepishly.

Ryo’s jaw locked, remembering her slumped form on the concrete, blood seeping from under her head. He’d never been more scared in his life. For a moment he’d thought she was dead and his heart had simply shattered. His world had been once more immersed in darkness. Then her heartbeat had fluttered feebly against his fingertips, and he’d just held her close, whispering nonsense. Whispering he loved her.

“God, you scared me, Kaori.”

Kaori lifted her gaze from her hands, clasped in her lap, and stared hard into his midnight eyes. “I’m sorry, Ryo. I didn’t mean to.”

“Mean to, what?”

“Scare you.”

He blinked. “What are you talking about?”

Her eyes widened. Why was he playing dumb? “You just said I scared you.”

Ryo scratched the back of his head. “No, I didn’t.”

She huffed, turning away. “Whatever.”

Ryo sat beside her on the bed, gently touching the bump at the back of her head. “Kaori...” He frowned a little. “Are you sure you’re OK?”

Her eyes snapped fire. “I’m not a weakling, Ryo. And don’t start telling me this bump turned me into some kind of loon. I clearly heard you say I scared you.”

His fingers gently massaged the back of her head. “I never thought you a loon, Kaori-chan.”

“What then?”

Ryo sighed. “I’m not saying I wasn’t scared. Because I was.” He slowly smiled. “I just never said it out loud...Until now, that is.”

“But...Oh, forget it.” She looked toward the door as she heard steps approaching. “The others are coming.”

Ryo listened, too. “No mistake that’s Umibozu. The windows are rattling.”

She smacked his chest playfully. “Knock it off.”

The door crashed open and Mick came flying through. “Kaori, baby! Come to your darling Mick!”

Umibozu’s tug at his collar stopped him in midair. “This is a no-flying zone, Angel.”

“Sorry.” Mick grinned, walking toward the bed. Even pale as a ghost, you’re still beautiful, Kaori.

Kaori’s eyes widened. No way! His lips haven’t moved and yet she heard him speak. Clearly...No freaking way!

“Hey.” He said, winking.

“Touch her, Mick—”

Kaori’s head snapped around, looking at Ryo. He was hanging off Saeko, his tongue lolling.

—and you’re a dead man.

Kaori shook her head. That was impossible. She was hearing things. Ryo playing possessive Neanderthal...Nah! She must still be out cold.

“Hey, Kaori.” Miki plopped on the bed beside her. “How are you feeling? Kaori? Why are you staring at me that way?”

Kaori’s eyes bored into her friend. Nothing. She couldn’t hear a single thing. Well, that proved her lights were still out. Or maybe she was crazy.

Saeko finally got rid of Ryo by kicking him into an extremely sensitive spot. “You know, maybe we should call the doctor. She turned green.”

“Don’t worry, she’s fine.” Ryo jumped on Saeko again. Don’t you dare stay in this place a moment longer, Kaori. I need you at home. With me.

Kaori shook her head, turning a shade greener. The bump must have been more serious than she thought. Her brain has short-circuited. Ryo needing her at home—with him?! Yeah, right.

She looked at Saeko, now holding a dagger to Ryo’s groin. Nothing there. No vibes from Miki either...And Mick was smiling down at her.

How can you love someone like him, Kaori? Someone who makes you suffer. Why can’t you love me? What does he have that I don’t?

Oh, God! Thankfully, she wasn’t that far gone to hear Umibozu. She turned her head to look at the giant...

Hmmm, have I turned the gas off?

Kaori’s eyes rolled back in her head and she slumped on the bed in a dead faint.

X Y Z


“Doctor,” Kaori whispered, after the smiling middle-aged physician shooed her friends out of the room. “Tell me the truth. Am I dead.”

His bushy eyebrows arched as his eyes twinkled. “No, you’re not dead. You’re a beautiful and extremely healthy young woman who just happened to bump her head a little. You don’t appear to have a concussion, but just for precaution we’re keeping you overnight. If no problems arise, you’ll be able to go home first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Great.” She didn’t feel enthusiastic, though. “Second question: am I crazy?”

“Well,” the doctor mussed. “Psychiatry is not my field of expertise...” Seeing her wide stare, he smiled reassuringly. “No, Kaori-san, you’re not crazy. A bit shaken, but not crazy.”

Kaori’s heart thumped loudly in her chest. He was a doctor, why not tell him of her weird dream...If it was a dream. She wasn’t so sure anymore.

“What if I tell you I could clearly hear the thoughts of all the three men that were in the room with me.”

“I’d say you have one heck of a sense of humor.” She must have hit her head harder than I thought. Delusions...Interesting.

“I’m not delusional, doctor,” Kaori said darkly.

“Pardon?”

“I’m. Not Delusional.”

The doctor smiled. “I never said you were.”

“No, but you thought it.”

He blinked.

“’She must have hit her head harder than I thought. Delusions...Interesting.’ Does that ring any bells?”

Holy cow!

She smiled sweetly. “You can say that again.”


1 comments

  1. You even gave this one the comedic style of the manga. I totally could see Umibozu wondering about the stove...

    ReplyDelete