The Forty-third and a half Night
Ch 1: Moonlight
Warning: they're probably OOC, considering the canon there's mentions of abuse.
Disclaimer: its Shin Mashiba's dream-scape, I'm only playing in it.
AN: Major Spoilers if you haven't read all 9 volumes. And I mean MAJOR!
Hiruko's my second favorite character ever so i had to give him a better ending than canon did. *sniff*
Under the cover of darkness They come to the Silver Star Tea house...
...seeking solace...
Sometimes.
DING
"Hello, my name is Tsukiyo. Is Hiruko in?" a teenage girl stood in the doorway, her long brunette curls cascading over pale shoulders, almost concealing the simple white vest she wore, her long straight skirt the darkest of lilacs.
Hifumi could only stare as Mizuki smile brightly, "He's in the back. Come on in, I'll make you some coffee."
Eyes that almost matched her skirt smiled at her, "Actually, I'd prefer a cup of tea if you have some."
"Of course, this is a tea house," Mizuki blushed, "This way."
The squeak as she limped forward made even Naamu look. Not pausing, Tsukiyo's gaze fell on Hiruko as she walked down the aisle, a knee length slit in her skirt revealing the leg brace, how her left foot turned towards her right. She smiled softly as the shock faded from his eyes. Hiruko nodded in return and as she got to the second table he stood, pulling the chair out for her, helping her scoot closer. Not a word was said as he sat back down. Resting his chin on the back of his right hand, they just smiled at each other.
"Well, what kind of dream are you having?" Mizuki asked as she returned with her tea, getting nervous with the silence.
Hifumi half-turned in his chair, leaning towards her as Tsukiyo bowed slightly before sipping her tea. "It's about the brace, isn't it?" he started guessing.
"Hifumi!" Mizuki gasped.
"Let me guess, it's walking off on its own and leaving you behind," he smirked, nodding wisely.
They just kept watching each other.
"Okay..." Hifumi chuckled nervously, "Let me think... you're stuck on an endless flight of stairs," she took another sip, "It's caught on the tracks and a tram's speeding towards you?"
Hiruko smirked while Tsukiyo giggled.
"You're reliving the accident that caused it?"
Mizuki sweat dropped, trying to stop him, "Why don't we let Miss Tsukiyo-"
"No! You really are the brace, aren't you?" Hifumi snapped up, slapping his hands on the table between them.
Tsukiyo only smiled bigger behind her teacup as Hiruko chuckled softly.
Hifumi narrowed his eyes as she demurely glanced at the table. "Don't tell me the shrimp's got himself a girlfriend!" he snapped up straight as they both turned to him, "You-you know he's a baku, right? That he's never gonna die, tha-" Mizuki elbowed him in the stomach.
The young woman just laughed as she turned to her purse. Setting some coins down by her cup, she reached across the table, clutching the fingers dangling under his chin. Still, not one word was said as they looked each other in the eye. Something softening around Hiruko's made her smile sweetly before she pulled back, those fingers now curled tightly together.
Barely managing to move her chair, Tsukiyo stood, bowing slightly, "Thank you for the excellent tea, I'll be sure to come again." With one last glance at the baku's smile, she turned and started toward the door.
The others followed her and as Mizuki opened the door, Hifumi popped up, "So are you really?"
She turned inside the door frame, taking the outside handle as she smiled weakly. "Thank you for taking care of him," her gaze flitted briefly past them before she turned out the door, "I thought I'd lost him in the Great Earthquake."
The door slid closed behind her, the DING snapping them both out of their shock. Hifumi rushed out first, running down the block and around the corner as Mizuki looked up and down the street.
Hifumi all but pouted, "She's disappeared."
"The street's completely deserted," she whispered back.
"How could someone with a bad leg just disappear in seconds?" he asked as they went back in. "Unless..."
Hiruko was just sitting there, calmly polishing his cane as if nothing had happened. Even with the light of the full moon falling serenely across his table, over a half a cup of lukewarm tea and a few coins.