Happy Birthday (Kurosaki Ranmaru x Reader)

READER

I stared dejectedly at my wrapped present for Ranmaru, feeling a little frustrated at myself for not getting something better for my boyfriend. Tomorrow is his birthday and I went out shopping for his present the other day. I looked in every rock-‘n-roll novelty store and finally settled on a spiked wrist cuff… Which I’m sure Ranmaru has dozens of by now. I had gone home yesterday feeling discontent about my gift.

            And now I was worrying about how to give it to him, since this also counts as our anniversary present. It was tomorrow, too, and I’m so anxious. My mind kept wrapping and unwrapping itself around ways on how to give Ranmaru my present.

            The phone suddenly rang and I jumped, the shrill ring tone of the phone cutting me loose from my thoughts. I glanced at it, thinking that if it was Ranmaru I wouldn’t know what to say. I would be so nervous that I’d spill out all of my half-thought up plans to him.

            I picked up the phone anyway and accepted the call.

            “Hello?” I said.

            “Hey, ____-chan!” Reiji’s voice boomed from the other line.

            “Rei-chan! What is it?” I asked, trying to find out if my eardrum was still intact; yeah, that’s how loud he yelled.

            “Ran-Ran told me to call you.” I froze. “He said he wanted to--!”

            “You idiot!”  I heard from the background. “I told you not to tell her that it was me who wanted you to call her!” I was pretty sure that was Ranmaru’s voice. But why did he want Reiji to call me? Could it be about tomorrow?

            “Hey, Reiji?” I called.

            “Yeah?”

            “Can you give Ranmaru the phone, please?” Man, I was so nervous my palms were sweating.

            “Oh, sure!” I heard some shuffling from the other line and heard Reiji tell Ranmaru, “You two lovebirds talk this out” and a “Shut the hell up” from Ranmaru. I couldn’t help myself from smiling at their silliness.

            “____? You there?” Ranmaru’s voice called. My face flushed immediately from hearing his voice.

            “Y-Yeah, I’m here.” God, why did I stutter? Even though we’ve been dating for a year tomorrow, I still couldn’t get used to him saying my name with that tone—sweet and yet rough against my ears.

            “So what did you want to talk about?”

            “It-… It’s about tomorrow.” I felt my face heat up.

            “O-Oh. That. Huh. So it’ll be a year tomorrow, huh?”

            “Yup. Look, I wanted to ask you about the plan for tomorrow night. I was thinking we could just stay at yours or my place, have dinner, and/or watch a movie. Or play Guitar Hero if you want.” I smiled at the last part.

            Ranmaru was quiet at the other end. I wondered if he was thinking of declining the quiet night home to go out and have a night in the town.

            “Sounds like a plan,” he suddenly announced; I jumped again.

            “Really? So whose place?”

            “My place,” he said, no hint of hesitation laced in his voice.

            I grinned and clutched the gift-wrapped box that I was still holding, my mood lifting up at finally knowing how to give Ranmaru my gift tomorrow.”

            “Sure,” I said softly. “See you, Ran-Ran. I love you.”

            “Yeah, I love you, too.” He paused for a while before saying, “Sweet dreams and see you tomorrow.” And then he hung up the phone; I giggled at his hurry, knowing that he was just embarrassed at saying sappy things that we had agreed from the start to avoid telling each other.

            I turned to the box again, feeling happier than I was earlier tonight. And looking forward to tomorrow.

RANMARU

I bustled around my house, trying to clean it up as best I could. ____ was coming over tonight and I didn’t want to mess it up. I was finally going to give her the ring I just knew she was secretly pining for and nothing was worse than screwing it up.

            The smell of cooking lasagna assaulted my nose and I inhaled a lungful of it, proud of the recipe that Gran and Gramps taught me to make. I peered through the window of the oven and saw the food cooking, my mouth watering at the sight.

            Back in the living room, I checked to see if everything was ready—the couch cushions were fluffed, the TV and DVD sets were already up, the popcorn was ready to pop in the microwave, too.

            Turning around in a full circle, I inspected the area once more for any flaws. And then I headed upstairs to change.

READER

I stood in front of Ranmaru’s front door nervously, trying to collect my thoughts before ringing the doorbell.

            Okay, ____, keep calm. No need to feel nervous, just breathe in. Out.

            I glanced down at my clothes—a simple, maroon, knee-length dress with my prized leather jacket (that I had bought to match Ranmaru’s checkered vest), and a pair of black flats. I wasn’t too overdressed, was I?

            Sorting out my thoughts, I poised my finger over the doorbell button and pressed it. The bell rang and I could hear the sound of running feet from the inside. Moments later, the door opened to reveal my boyfriend, clad in a maroon shirt under a leather jacket, skin-tight jeans, and black boots. Well, good thing I wasn’t as overdressed as I thought.

            “Hey, Ranmaru,” I said, raising a hand and letting it fall to my side.

            “H-hey, ____. You look… good… tonight…”

            I blushed. “Thanks. So do you.” I smiled.

            He stepped aside to give me room to walk inside. “Come in and let’s eat. I made lasagna.” My mouth watered at the thought of eating Ranmaru’s delicious food.

            “Well, what are you waiting for?” I asked, almost running up into the kitchen. I peeked my head out from behind the doorway. “Let’s eat!”

            Ranmaru smirked a little before following me into the dining room. I stopped a second to put my small bag on the kitchen counter and Ranmaru went over to the stove—but not before giving me a quick peck on the lips.

            My face turned as red as the tomato sauce on the lasagna.

RANMARU

After dinner, ____ and I battled on Guitar Hero for a while until she gave up after I beat her score five times in a row. Now, we were watching the movie I picked out. It was a cliché love story, but I knew ____ liked these movies and I didn’t mind watching them myself.

            As the leading guy and girl kissed, I couldn’t help but sneak a look at ____ from the corner of my eye. She was focused on the movie and, I gotta admit, she looked hot when she was concentrating. I could feel my resistance snap at seeing the emotions shining in ____’s eyes that she wouldn’t show in her face.

            I leaned down quietly and kissed her full on the lips.

            She was shocked—of course she would be; how would anybody react to a surprise kiss?—but after it wore off, she started kissing back. Her mouth moved against mine in a practiced movement. I could still taste the remnants of the chocolate dessert I had made on her lips and it was beyond my control to keep myself from licking those full, pink lips of hers. I felt her shudder at my touch and she wound her arms around my neck; I wrapped mine around her waist and pulled her closer.

            But when I that our bodies were getting too hot—and the need for air was killing me—I pulled away from  her. Both of us were panting as we tried to regain our breaths.

            Well. That was one hell of a kiss. Our best kiss by far, actually.

            And it felt really good.

            But what made me feel better was when ____ wrapped her arms around my waist and rested her head against my chest, a small box perched atop my knee. Now how did she do that?

            Anyway, I looked at ____ and she looked back at me, a wide grin on her face.

            “Happy birthday, Ranmaru. And happy anniversary.”

            My face flushed and I stared at her a moment longer before laying an arm across ____’s form and picking up the box with my free hand.

            “What’s this?” I asked. I never expected her to give me a gift. Yeah, I know it’s my birthday, but the thought of receiving a present from a girl surprised me.

            “Just open it,” ____ said, jumping from her position against me and sitting up straight in the couch.

            So I carefully took off the gift paper and, once it was off, opened the little gray metal box to reveal a black leather wrist cuff with spikes studded in a few choice places. It was cool, to say the least, considering that I only have one of these and I only ever wore it when I’m in the presence of the guys… But this, I’ll wear everywhere.

            “I-I didn’t have a concrete clue of what to get you so I just kind of settled on the first thing that popped into my mind.” ____’s (e/c) eyes were staring at me questioningly. “Do you like it?”

            I sighed, then smiled, letting ____ know that I couldn’t receive a better present. I reached out a hand and messed up her hair a bit before kissing her forehead. “Thanks, ____. I’ll treasure it.”

            I pulled out a small ring box out of my pocket and presented it to her. ____ took it a bit reluctantly. “Go on. Open it.”

            And she did, eyes widening at the simple silver ring with a metal heart right in the middle. ____’s eyes started to fill with tears and I took the ring from its resting spot, inserting it into her finger. It fit her perfectly. ____ suddenly tackled me onto the couch, crushing me in a bear-hug. I hugged her back, careful not to squeeze her too hard.

            “Happy anniversary, ____. I love you.”

            She sniffled against my chest and said, “I love you, too, Ranmaru. Thank you.”

            It was stupid, but all that passed through my head then was, Thank you rock-‘n-roll.

THE END