Twenty-seven, no wait, twenty-eight cracks.
Jacket flaps performed various ballets on Ritsu's back, shoulders falling and falling till they hit a post.
"Hey, want a ride?"
The sidewalk lost interest at Haitani's voice, long fingers fanning.
"Are you sure you want to?" Ritsu whispered.
"Sure, wouldn't have offered if I didn't wanna." Haitani smiled, vrooming the engine.
The ride should've been quiet, radio should've been on.
"So, how are you?"
Oh god, just put on the fucking radio.
"Fine, you?"
"Isn't it funny how we always say we're fine?" Haitani nudged the wheel.
"What are you, a teenager?"
"Huh?"
Shit.
"S…sorry," Ritsu eyed the buildings, hugging a blush. "I'm not quite awake tonight."
"End of the cycle?"
"Yeah."
Just shut up and drive.
"We had something like that too," Haitani made a right. "But it stopped when Takano left."
"Really now?" Please, I can't talk right now.
"Yeah, maybe it's cause I don't work us as hard."
Don't wanna hear your lame ass insecurities. What, now I gotta find out what your deal is?
"I'm sure your co-workers like that."
"You think?"
"Yeah." Ritsu stared at the radio, maybe the guy would get it.
Nope.
"I don't mean to be rude," Haitani eyed fluttered. "But you wanna go get drink with me?"
"I would, but I'm tired. Sorry."
"Oh."
"Yeah, sorry."
"Hey, what about later? I have your number, I can text you."
Fuck it.
"Look, I wanna be nice about this, but I've already got a boyfriend. I'm not interested in getting drunk with you."
"I…I didn't mean it like…I didn't know." Gotta say it how it is.
"You can stop now, my place is right here." He pulled over, Ritsu out. "Thanks for the ride."
"No problem." Haitani sped off, frost skidded tracks. Of course, knight in shining shoes waited by the elevator.
"Who gave you a ride?" Ritsu pressed floor eighteen.
"Haitani." Takano tensed, that's what boyfriends are for.
Ding.
"I told you not hang around him." The doors yawned.
Ritsu nodded, both men standing in the metal box. "Then why did you get in a car with him? Alone."
Ritsu's spine rubbed the wall to the floor, head high.
"Ritsu?"
"I've got bones beneath my skin, mister."
"What?"
"What I mean to say is," Ritsu's eyes shone, almost literally. "I have the balls to tell a guy when to fuck off."
It was hilarious to watch Takano's mouth drop, shake, close.
Ring, ring, ring.
Ritsu's phone, he picked it up. "Ritsu, let's meet up tomorrow and go to her gr-"
"An-chan, I can't talk right now, you're on speaker. We'll met up there around four- thirty. Bye."
"You just dissed off An-chan?" Takano's face stuck up. "What's up with you today?"
Ding.
"Just grew a pair, that's all."
Ritsu forced his door open, picking up a package on the way in. "Good night."
The room stayed asleep, Ritsu sighed into the couch, flipping the radio on.
"Fucking modern pop."
A wine bottle and champagne glass somehow ended up on the table, package and scissors waiting. A CD now in, guitar strumming. Taking a sip, Ritsu cut the box open, reaching beneath the bubble wrap.
I stay at home with my disease
She wasn't smiling in the first photo, not in the second either. Teeth too shy, black hair humping eyes, hands behind back to help boobs pop out.
"Hey Rena." Ritsu took another sip, pulling out the glass frames.
Well, all monkey's do what they see
The next picture, she was sleeping, mouth drooping and red faced. A Chihuahua curled into her arms, pitbull's head on waist.
Where I've got friends that care for me
An-chan was in the next, both girls dancing. Their hands and dresses high, teeth shocking the film, wedding running in the back.
I've got an attitude of need
A strangled laugh flowed into the glass, water diluting wine.
Try to keep myself, away, from me
"God help me," Ritsu sucked down the bottles lip, picking up yelping phone. "What?"
"Hey, it's Mom."
"Yeah, hey."
"Are you ok?" Ritsu flicked the light on.
"Yeah."
"Are," Mom's always been dramatic. "Are you drunk?"
"Yeah."
"Don't drink too much, I don't want to hear you whine tomorrow."
"Ok."
"Goodnight, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, night."
The woman hung up and the bottle stained his crappy floor. "God damn it."
Ritsu's old memories shattered against the wall, wailing curses.
Help me stay awake, I'm falling.
"Why,"Ritsu picked up another, watching the glass rain. "Why!"
Beneath the dust and love and sweat that hangs on everybody
"Fuck you!" Ritsu's nails scraped one last frame. All three of them, holding hands, ready to jump off a cliff, green paint breathing beneath them. "FUCK YOU!"
This time, shards fought, licking arm's open. Red rust dripped down his jean, sobs ranging.
"Ritsu!" Takano was at the door. "What's going on in there?"
There a skeleton in every man's house, a dead man trying to get out.
"I'm the skeleton," Ritsu whispered to the radio. "Wish I could buy myself a little oblivion, baby."
"If you don't open this door, I'm calling the cops!"
"Fuck off." Ritsu sobbed.
"Ritsu," Takano's voice warded. "Please, let me in."
Ritsu knees shook to the door, hand rattling the knob.
"Ritsu."
The door swung open, face into the boss's neck.
"Kiss me." Ritsu clung to the V-neck.
"What?"
"I don't think when you kiss me. Please."
Takano was probably conflicted, but when Ritsu asks for a kiss, you give it to him.
Takano leant down, pecking the drunk's cheek.
"She committed suicide you know." Takano held Ritsu's waist, shutting the door. "I loved her, but they didn't know. Remember the day I asked if you loved me and I hit you?"
"How could I forget?"
"Mom told me that morning. She hung herself, she died," Snot all over their sleeves. "She died and left me all alone."
"You're bleeding."
"But I left her first. I left her first in London, could've stayed. Could've stayed, if I hadn't left that summer. But I wanted to be in Japan, wanted to see you again. Of course, I hadn't confessed yet."
Takano lifted Ritsu onto the kitchen counter, cleaning blood up.
"I miss her, I miss her so much," Ritsu screamed, letting the other man hold him. "I love you, I love you, I love you."
"I love you too."
Ritsu felt limp, lashes sleeping. It was then that Takano noticed the wine, the glass. Takano took Ritsu to the bed, along with a roll of medical bandages. The cuts weren't deep, just took a few minutes. But the mess took a while longer.
Takano watched every picture he picked up, studying the girl in each one of them. Black hair, hazel eyes, pale skin. Gorgeous.
"I hate you." Takano put them on the table, sweeping the last of the glass.
I don't know if I'll write another chapter, depend on what you guy want. Hope you enjoyed it. Please review.