Welcome to the newest chapter of Nakiri's Desire. It's been a while since the last one so I wrote this in a short amount of time but I do believe it's a good one.

Anyhow, have you guys been following the manga? It's becoming pretty interesting now Souma's father has appeared again.

This chapter will focus on one thing only. The feelings of a rescued girl.

Please enjoy the story.

''…'' – Speaking

''…'' – Thoughts and flashback

Chapter 9.5 - Falling in Love

A calm night.

An unblemished sky full of stars.

It was the view from the Nakiri mansion on the Tootsuki grounds where a glass door soundlessly opened and a confused girl stepped outside in the cold air.

Slowly the trembling girl walked through the darkness before she stopped to rest with her arms on the wooden railing.

Though it was cold, the girl's face was glowing in a dull red as she remembered why she came outside.

''Sigh.'' The girl, Nakiri Erina, softly muttered as she stared to the night sky from her balcony. ''How could I have missed that..''

Again, a new wave of red tinged her face when she finally remembered everything.

Inside of Erina's dark room, where she lay on a handwoven goose feathered mattress, she dreamt of the day she was rescued from the mountain top. However, her dream took her to an alternative ending.

Darkness. It was the first thing she could remember. It was cold, and she was scared. There was some small relief when the door to the wooden cabin fell into its lock and her abductors disappeared into the night. But soon, the loneliness and emptiness corrupted her heart as she thought about what the next day would bring.

As her composure slowly began to crack and the tears prickled in her eyes, rolling down her cheeks onto the floor, the moon that illuminated the shadows from the trees outside suddenly moved, grabbing the attention of the scared girl.

And there it was..

The silhouette of the boy she had shunned, the only person that was able to break her cold demeanor, the only person that saw her being pulled into the van, the only person that didn't look up at her. He was the only person that intrigued her.

With one fierce wind sweeping over the mountain, the clouds that darkened the sky were swept away and his face was finally visible to her. He looked dead on his legs, much paler than usual, but the smile he gave her, the smile that swept her off her feet every time she saw it, was much brighter than usual. A smile of relief.

The next few hours disappeared in a blink. Being set free by the boy, having saved him from hypothermia by embracing him in the bath, the repulsive squid tea he made for himself until it was night where they slept together on the small couch. She even wondered why she told him so many personal things.

Waking up in the boy's arms she couldn't find a reason to get up. Even though the arm that went around her shoulder last night now rested on her warm skin she didn't want to move. However, the boy woke up with a shudder, like he forced himself to wake up.

''Get dressed, we need to move'' He said whilst yawning and stretching. ''If we don't move soon they'll be here to take us''

Within a few minutes, bringing their necessities and blankets they left the small cabin. Only this time they walked the path the van had taken instead of the path they cleared around the mountain.

Icy winds, the crunching of fresh snow beneath her feet. The weather and the slow rising of the sun made it difficult for the pair to follow the path of the van.

Everything went well until they reached the small river, where a black van was waiting. One of the two men that abducted her tried to open the small lock with a lot of profanities.

''This fucking lock. Damn this cold'' was yelled together with the noise of the iron chains.

Together they moved behind the treeline, praying their footsteps wouldn't be noticed

They waited for a few minutes, the lock finally opened and the violent roar of the van's engine now driving past them, obviously agitated, and went out of their view.

''We were really lucky there.'' Souma mumbled before standing up. Their bodies now covered by a small sheet of frozen snow, causing the blankets to become heavier due to them being wet.

Erina was so cold, that only the small tremble of her teeth clappering on one another could be heard. She was so cold that she didn't notice how she was walking backward.

She didn't hear Souma's shout until it was too late.

What she assumed was firm ground beneath her feet was a small patch of frozen ground cracking under her weight, being weakened by the weather, and it collapsed.

''Huh..'' she softly uttered as the ground cracked beneath her feet and before she noticed she fell.

It was a short distance between herself and the ground, or as she found out the hard way, a small but very, very cold mountain lake.

Light had not yet reached the lake as it was completely dark underwater. Her clothes and blanket which were supposed to keep out the cold now absorbed everything from around her. Sapping the strength from her limbs, she was immobile before realizing what had happened.

Erina hesitantly tried to move, but she couldn't. Her still body remained petrified as she slowly succumbed to the cold and the lack of air. Slowly sinking towards the bottom she opened her eyes when she stopped moving.

Instead of moving down, she was pulled back up and the glorious feeling of oxygen filled her body anew. Her long locks, now wet and cold, were stretched over her face as she suddenly felt two hands on her cheeks, rubbing them softly, before being joined by a concerned voice.

''Erina, are you still there.'' The voice shouted as the hands stretched her cheeks.

Erina, who still was out of it, didn't hear any noticeable words and quietly stared at Souma.

Souma pulled her in his arms as he slowly but surely moved to edge and lifted her onto the shore. As a man with no shame, he removed all wet items from Erina and left her wearing nothing but her underwear. During the removal, Erina became aware of what was happening and if she was able to move her body she'd hammered on him.

As she was trying to move her fingers whilst looking at Souma with a burning glare, it soon turned into a small frown that quickly disappeared and changed into a full body blush. Souma had removed all of his clothing, not even boxers remained.

When Erina fell off the mountain, he had thrown his blankets and necessities near the tree where they were now before he jumped after Erina.

Feeling no shame at all, he grabbed his blanket and wrapped it around Erina's still form, which was trying to come to terms with what she just saw, before he dried himself off.

With Souma slowly dressing, Erina had regained some of her movement in the sense of pulling the blanket closer to herself and regain some of her dignity.

''Baka baka baka…'' She softly murmured under her cold breath. ''Even if you save me for a second time…showing me something like that..''

Her eyes slowly sought Souma again, watching him with baited breath. The sun slowly reached them and brightened his form. The red hair shone, his golden eyes still bright, and a small scar on his eyebrow uncovered.

''Eyebrow… scar.'' Erina whispered a little loudly, loud enough for Souma to hear.

''Erina-chan..'' Souma said as he walked towards her.

''Erina-chan.'' She replied before a numerous amount of flashes went through her mind.

Straining herself to the maximum, Erina lifted her upper body up and rested her back on the tree, before pointing at him.

''You…youyouyouyou.'' She whispered as her hand trembled and her skin turned red.

''Ara..?'' Souma said questioningly as he reached her and looked in her eyes.

''I see..'' He continued before smiling fondly at her. ''You finally remembered.''

''Fuaah.'' Erina breathed as she woke up.

Clam hands, still shaking from her dream.

''So it is you, Yukihira Souma.'' She whispered defeatedly.

''Uhh I need some fresh air.'' Erina continued unladylike as she moved across her room and soundlessly opened the door to the balcony

Having returned to her own thoughts, her dream now back in her memory she sighed out loud.

''So much time alone with him and still..'' She whispered into the night. Her eyes restlessly moving over the lights that were still shining over the closed academy.

''Erina-chan''

Her cheeks burning red again as she remembered the voice.

She gripped her hair and stamped on the ground before she moved back inside mumbling about her favorite redhead.

Being the heir of the Nakiri clan has its advantages. For example, there's a maid ready for you 24/7

Just like there is tonight.

''Your bath has been prepared, Erina-sama.'' The maid dutifully replied as she greeted her master.

''Very well.'' She replied before dismissing her maid for the evening and closed the door.

Inside the bathroom, she quickly undressed. Removing her underwear she was confused why they were stained before quickly throwing them in the washing bin.

It wasn't the first time she had taken a bath in the middle of the night, many nights she had remembered the horrors of her past. It was the first time she was awake at night thinking about someone else.

Though her dreams were imaginary, she was glad she was surrounded by warm water and able to clear her thoughts about the illustrious transfer student.

''So what have you learned today..'' Erina whispered like her grandfather used to ask every night before bed.

''I like Yukihira Souma'' She said before submerging her face until the water reached her nose and began blowing bubbles.

''I like Souma who is together with Alice.''

Remembering that, a wave a jealousy washed over Erina as she lifted herself out of the bath.

Wiping the condensation of the mirror, she took a good look at herself in the mirror.

Her hands groping around on her body, stretching and pinching. There wasn't any excess fat on her body, but she had grown up to be a woman.

''I wonder if Souma thinks I'm beautiful.'' Erina thought as she covered her breasts and behind.

Even though she didn't answer her thoughts, a small curl formed on her lips. Her body wasn't that different from Alice's.

Satisfied she took her time to dry and dress whilst wondering if she should change her hairstyle to be closer to Alice's hair.

Wrapping her towel around her hair, she walked out of the bathroom wearing her more childish pajamas.

Three hours. Three hours long Erina stared at her white ceiling. Souma has occupied her mind since the minute she slid under her blankets. She had come to terms with the fact that she liked him a lot and for some reason wants to be liked in return.

She knew she had several meetings in a few more hours but she couldn't find a reason to care.

Every so often she would murmur ''Souma'' and her body would feel warmer each and every time. Erina wondered if she was sick, but there was no illness that would feel so pleasant.

A small tinge of red flashed over her face as she grabbed her sheets and threw them off. She came to the realization that she needed more information.

Erina soon remembered that there was only one person that she could get help from. Someone she would regret calling.

''Beep Beep.''

''Beep Beeclick''

'' Hej, Nakiri herregård taler''

''Yes. I would like to speak to aunt Eleonora''

With baited breath and an atomic blush, Erina listened to her aunt.

''Ahaha my dear, I did expect your call anytime soon. Did you finally remember ahaha'' Eleonora laughed through the phone after giving her niece information that was only relevant in the bedroom.

''But aunt, is it alright to go after Souma?'' Erina asked as she fanned herself. It took a lot to keep listening to her aunt' ideas.

''If it was anyone else I would have said no.'' Eleonora answered softly. ''God knows you need a little love.''

''It is alright, my dear. Alice can use a little competition.'' She continued. ''I even have some advice for you, grab a pen and paper.''

Dutifully she wrote everything down, ignoring the small droplets of blood that fell on the paper.

''Did you get everything, Erina?'' Eleonora asked

''Yes, aunt Eleonora.'' She replied as she went over the list of items she had to buy. ''B-but are you sure about these items?''

''Oooh yes..'' Eleonora nearly moaned through the phone. ''Now when you wear that and use your tongue like I told you to, he'll never leave you.''

Those were the last words being said that night in Erina's room as she quickly ended the call.

It took Erina a good 20 minutes before she was able to look at the small list of items again, and with it the blush on her face remained as a small hue on her cheeks.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and a familiar voice reaching her ears.

''Erina-sama, are you decent?'' The voice asked.

''I am, come in Hisako.'' Erina replied and within a second the door opened to reveal her aide.

Though Hisako was curious why Erina was blushing, she faithfully performed her tasks. She opened the curtains and the windows, causing fresh air to spread through the room. She opened Erina's blankets and straightened them out before taking a spare uniform out for her mistress.

She looked at Erina and saw her fumbling with a piece of paper before she turned it into a small ball in her fist.

''Erina-sama..'' Hisako hesitantly said as she approached her mistress. ''Is everything alright?''

''Ahh…yes everything is alright.'' Erina replied when she snapped out of her thoughts. ''I had a restless night. Nothing else.''

For now, it was the end of the conversation as she robotically stood up to have her aide dress her.

''Then tell me, Erina-sama. What is written on that paper?'' Hisako asked as she finished buttoning up Erina's jacket.

Hisako's curiosity was peaked once more when she saw Erina's face light up again and mumbled under her breath.

Carefully Erina reopened the crumbled paper and showed it to Hisako, though unable to look at her.

Questioningly, the aide looked at her mistress before looking at the paper before she too blushed as well.

''E-Erina-sama!'' She nearly shouted. ''Wha-What is this?''

''I-I want you to bring me these items.'' Erina softly said as she explained her conversation with her aunt, though saying nothing about Souma.

During her explanation, her aide never stopped blushing.

''I understand the situation, Erina-sama.'' Hisako replied curtly. ''But are you sure about this?'' She hesitantly continued.

''I-I-I..'' Erina mumbled quietly. Her face was all red and she was embarrassed, she had never been embarrassed before.

As she was about to deny her feelings again, she remembered it. All the things he was to her, all the things he had done for her. Is losing him worth it. Is he worth it to lose her pride?

Yes. He was.

''I will be going now, Hisako.'' Erina voiced as she grabbed her shoes. ''Upon my return, I want every single item on that list here on my desk.''

As she walked through the door, she felt that her hesitation had disappeared. She was ready for him.

Nakiri Erina gets whatever she desires.

It was the early afternoon. Classes had ended for the day as the first years left the school grounds, walking towards either side their dorms or were walking to the parking area, ready to be picked up by their drivers.

For many, watching a certain girl has become a day task. Her long locks of honey-colored hair and ice cold purple eyes declaring everyone subservient. It was a dream for many male students and some female. But the way she looked today was striking enough to stop everyone.

Erina, who walked next to a red Hisako, was used to being ogled at by nearly everyone. However, right now she couldn't help but blush and push away the feeling of wanting to run away back to the Nakiri mansion.

Immaculate as always, there were some visible changes between the ordinary and the extraordinary god's tongue.

No one could deny she had the natural beauty many women were jealous of but enhanced with a small amount of make-up she was just as exceptional in beauty as in cooking talent.

For many of the male students she was in their dreams at night, and during the day they were all wondering the same. Is she stacked?

Thanks to a small wardrobe change, they found out.

Erina had opened the top four buttons and showed a small amount of cleavage, enough to be interesting, not enough to be considered unladylike.

However, the most surprising were her legs. A sexy pair of knee socks going all the way up to her non-visible garter belt.

All with all, Erina looked drop dead sexy and everyone knew it. Except for the one she was looking for.

Determined she kept walking as she kept pushing her fears back in her head.

With everyone stopping around her, it was easy for her to find the goofy transfer student that wasn't paying attention to her, only to the small girl that was walking next to him.

''Found you.'' She thought as she set her sights on him.

Erina had to breathe deeply to do what Eleonora told her to.

Slowly she walked towards the boy, swinging her hips a bit more and leaning back a little to make her breasts appear larger, putting maximum pressure on the buttons and her bra.

She could hear Souma's obnoxious laughs like nothing mattered in the world, before announcing her presence to him.

''Yukihira Souma.'' She yelled as she stopped in front of him, followed by the silence of the other students.

It was Megumi who spotted the Nakiri heir first. ''Waahwaahwaahwaah'' Megumi yelled as she was so close to the girl.

Erina only raised her eyebrow as she took a look at the girl before dismissing her in her usual fashion by flinging her hair.

As Megumi retreated to the background, Erina's attention was once again locked on Souma. She was confident in everything related to cooking, but this was something completely new as nervosity took hold of her.

Souma, as dense as he can be, first looked around wondering why everyone was looking at him, until he finally noticed it wasn't him they were looking at but the person in front of him.

His eyes locked onto the person, which turned out to be a girl and recognized her to be the girl he saved. However, he was surprised to see her blushing at him.

''Oi Nakiri..'' Souma voiced with a smile before he had to swallow back one of his clever jokes.

Erina watched how the transfer students, as dense as he was, had a small blush on his face. She saw his golden eyes focus on her own before they began to move. She could feel how his eyes were roaming over her body and with every second her nervosity grew smaller and her confidence grew.

Wanting to press her luck, Erina continued her advances and got closer to him, unaware of Megumi and Hisako ready to jump in, which goes double for the male students universally declaring Yukihira Souma as their enemy.

''I will make you mine.'' A familiar voice declared as Alice and Ryou walked to the Nakiri mansion.

''Hmm..'' Alice curiously hummed as she looked around and saw a small crowd gathered on the path.

Confused, she walked to the crowd, followed by Ryou who already had an inkling of whose voice it was.

''Yes, yes..'' She yelled as she clapped her hands, causing some people in the crowd to look at her. ''Coming through, coming through.'' And pushed other students aside knowing they won't retaliate.

As she came closer to the center, she saw vibrant red and shiny blonde and almost began running when she remembered the one person that could take Souma away from her.

''W-What did you say?'' Souma asked with a small frown.

''You heard me.'' Erina stated as a matter of fact. ''I will make you mine.''

Booing could be heard from the male students, but they shut up with a firm glare from god's tongue herself.

''Erina-baka'' Someone voice before she made her way through the crowd. ''What do you think you're doing.''

Alice had arrived.

''Souma!'' She shouted. ''Catch.''

Alice launched herself at the disoriented boy who did manage to catch her but don't ask him how.

''Baka baka.'' She whispered as she softly punched on his head. ''You are mine.''

Alice couldn't enjoy the contact with Souma as a surprisingly strong grip pulled her off of him.

Erina put her hands on her hips as she stood over her confused cousin. ''Your mother said it was alright if I pursue Souma.'' and took Souma's hand in her own, causing the crowd to gawk at her. None as much as Alice.

Souma remained quiet in everything, thinking ''Am I being fought over?'' and looked at the two girls. ''I-Is it bad to like this..?''

He closed his eyes as he felt a bit too smug to interrupt the fight and kept on listening.

Alice had forgotten everyone around her as she stood up and fought for her man.

''What do you think you are doing, Erina.'' Alice shouted as she pointed at her cousin. ''He's mine you homewrecker.''

Erina, who had received verbal lashes for most of her childhood, had no difficulty with responding.

''I have the approval of my grandfather, your mother, and most importantly myself.'' She replied smugly.

''Ooh is that so..'' Alice said smugly. ''Souma-kun, come here baby.''

Everyone that didn't yet know of Souma's relationship with Alice now definitely knew as they all hard first-row seats to one of the deepest displays of affection as Alice laid a searing hot kiss on Souma's lips.

Not only Alice's breath was taken away as several girls wanted to be in the same position as she was.

The only person that wasn't amused was Erina as she displayed a large frown on her face, ready to tear her cousin off of her love interest.

''What do you think you are doing.'' She finally yelled as her cousin removed her lips from Souma's, excessively licking her own.

''I know him from the past, far earlier than you. I have more right to have him.'' Alice replied as she pressed Souma's arm between her own breasts.

''That doesn't matter!'' Erina finally yelled as she grabbed Souma's other arm and smothered it between her own cleavage.

As Megumi and Hisako both wished they had the same kind of confidence as the Nakiri cousins, the male students were getting angrier by the second with Souma.

''What does this transfer student have that we don't'' One voice out loud. ''We are rich, we can cook.'' Another second year shouted angrily.

As Ryou tried to diffuse the situation with the male students, the Nakiri's began pulling on Souma even more.

''You can't have him, I love Souma.'' Alice yelled as her face got flushed from the pulling.

Erina replied just as strong. ''I promised myself I'd have him.''

As their fight continued, and their bodies pressed further and further into him, Ryou was no longer able to stop the male student body by himself.

But before the two girls could double team him into an inappropriate position, Megumi and Hisako could no longer control their hormones and jumped the three.

And with that, so did the male student body as they tried to grab Souma from under the four girls.

Never before has there ever been a fight on the Tootsuki grounds as security guards came from everywhere trying to stop the hormone filled crowd from tearing each other a new one.

For a quick moment, Souma was pushed to the ground together with Erina on top of him as the other three girls, who loved to hate each other, forgot them.

Everything else stopped as Erina and Souma found a moment of peace and solitude in the chaos surrounding them.

It was the best moment where Erina could say everything she needed to.

Slowly she slipped one of his calloused hands between her own soft ones and spoke to him.

She told him that she remembered their past, that one single day in the park that meant so much to her, that day that gave her something that was strong enough to push her through the day with her father.

Erina fondly smiled as she remembered that day and got a soft smile in return from Souma with the word ''I'm happy you've remembered.''

Even with small tears prickling in her purple eyes, she told him her heartfelt desire. ''I'm going to do my best to make you look at me the same way I look at you now.''

Not even a chance to reply to her as his surprised eyes were unfocused, Alice had grabbed Souma from behind and pulled him with her, away from the crowd.

With the troublemakers having disappeared, the crowd slowly dissolved as well.

''Erina-sama?'' Hisako asked after having excused herself profusely. ''Are you alright?''

She didn't reply for a moment, her face still stuck in a dumb impish smile as she held her hands. She succeeded in what she wanted to convey to Souma.

''Yes, I'm okay. Let's return home.'' Erina replied as she smiled.

She felt far better. Much better than before.

Just like her, though he was a little surprised, Souma was just as happy.

I hope you guys enjoyed this small chapter. I know you've been looking forward to more but university has been killing all my time to write lately and my laptop broke down, which caused me to stop writing for such a long time.

Anyhow, look forward to the next chapter in due time.

Next chapter: Chapter 10 – Tootsuki autumn election Part 1