Some nights, Sumeragi got too sober. (No, scratch that; that was every night.) And tonight shouldn't be any different. She'd start ranting about something with a beer in one hand, and it'd eventually end with her cheeks flushed, her vision disoriented, and her voice louder than ever. But this night, as she was slung over his shoulder, adding on too much weight onto his body, he didn't find the small hint of morose sneaking into her face.
"?" Her voice slurred horribly.
"What was that, Kujoh?" He asked nervously.
"Nevamund," She spoke up.
Billy sighs. "Kujoh, you have a drinking problem. It's hard to talk to you when you're this …" He thought for the right word for a moment. "… Sober," He quickly decides.
She doesn't look at him; she just keeps her eyes ahead and centered at the doorway to her bedroom.
As he steps into the room, he glances momentarily at the light switch. She never liked the lights on n her room when she was drunk; they gave her migraines. Billy carefully takes her over to the bed, where she releases her grip on his shirt and drops onto it, curling herself up into the comforter. He smiles playfully; besides the major cons, she could be rather cute at these times. Just as he's about to leave and clean up the mess she made, a force roots him in place.
He glances over his shoulder, to see that Sumeragi's hand is poking out and clinging to his pant leg. A voice crawls up from the cocoon, sounding too soft to be her talking.
"Why are you still here, Billy?"
His eyes widen a little. "What?"
Kujoh releases his pant leg, sitting herself upright then poking her head out of the sanctuary.
"I mean, why are you still … With me? Why do people … Stay with others?" She sounds uncertain; like she doesn't want him to answer.
He's fazed by her question. Sumeragi's never asked something (she's never even gotten deep with him when she was normal) like this; and drunk to boot! He feels completely stupid for even asking, but the word just tumbles out; "Why?"
Her bottom lip juts out, her eyes lowering to the bedside. "I-I … Billy, I don't get it." Her voice raises in level as she continues talking. "Why are you still … Here? Why am I still here? Aren't I a burden? You said that … It was hard to talk to me. When I was. Drunk … So why? If you knew that … That can't be the only thing … Right? What do you think?"
Her hair is frizzing around her face. Her eyes are cloudy. He can't even see her eyes anymore, he doesn't think. He flinches, spotting teardrops beginning to show themselves off on her cheeks and he suddenly has no idea what to do. She's crying (hiding her face to possibly prevent it) and her voice is carrying on in his ears, every word sounds strange and has an echo.
Then it's not even about him anymore. Kujoh starts saying how she's not pretty, how she shouldn't be here with him, how she doesn't deserve a friend like him and –
A friend like him.
That could've been an almost confession. Close enough, Billy. Close enough. He says to himself. It pains him to watch her like this, and he keeps repeating the words over in his head with each motion and second that passes.
Close enough, Billy.
His hand reaches out.
Close enough.
It lands gently on her shoulder.
Close enough, Billy.
Her ranting stops and she stares at him behind her shield of frizzed bangs.
Close enough.
He lowers his face to her level.
Close enough, Billy.
He smiles at her as best and as meaningful as he can.
Close enough.
"I'm here because you need me. And I need you, Kujoh."
Softly, ever so softly, Kujoh gives the smallest of smiles.
And then, two days later, Billy would answer the door and Setsuna F. Seiei would ask for Sumeragi Lee Noriega.