~~few nights later~~
Kurogane kept her head down as she walked following her best friend. Her stomach twisted in knots and her hands trebled slightly as they approached the restaurant. She wanted to turn back but she couldn't let the smaller down, she had to prove that she was trying to the smaller. She looked up when the girl spoke and frowned as she looked at the blond.
Fai was waiting outside and when he spotted them he waved. "Ah, I feel like a vagabond compared to you two. Guess I should've asked how to dress." Fai grinned.
"It comes with owning your own clothing store." Opening the door for them Fai and Tomoyo struck up a conversation before they were seated a small round table.
Kurogane sat her eyes cast down as she listened to the two chat. She wore a pair of dark jean that fit her figure quiet well and a plain black tank top with a red sweatshirt.
Tomoyo of course wore a sundress and heels while Fai matched closer to Kurogane with a long sleeved thing shirt and light jeans. "So tell me what have you been up to since high school? I always imagined I'd see you on some news channel winning a huge trophy for some kendo competition." Fai smiled.
She cringed slightly as she looked up at Tomoyo before looking at the blonde to answer. "I stopped kendo, I still practice but I don't do tournaments anymore." She stated, "I quit the day after you left."
That was surprising news. "Quit? But you were the best." He pouted confused as to why she would. Before he could ask their waiter came taking orders.
"Sometimes being the best isn't always the greatest thing." She said softly before they ordered. She looked at Tomoyo and frowned softly.
Fai was going to argue, but didn't want their waiter listening in. "I'll have the burger and sweet potato fries." He grinned and handed over his menu as the other two ordered.
"Bacon burger, but please no cheese. And seasoned Fries." She stated as she let Tomoyo order, her eyes wandering over to the blonde. Why was he so interested, they didn't know each other well in high school, and she had no interest in him now but he kept asking about her.
Tomoyo ordered and with that their waiter left. "It's a shame that you gave it up. You really were good."
"I still am…" She stated, "I could take out any of the top rankers…even now." She stated as she played with the straw in her drink.
"I tried picking up kickboxing in college, but I gave it up after a year. Took dancing instead, much more work involved." Tomoyo smiled interested.
"You have the figure for it." She mused.
"Dance…Kickboxing is more useful…" She stated.
Shrugging he smiled. "Depends. Dancing is more relaxing to me and I can be creative. Though both are good in their own ways. I will say kickboxing isn't as painful as dancing can be."
"Tch…" Was all that she said as their food arrived.
The night wasn't all that eventful, Fai and Tomoyo keeping up the conversation, but they learned what the last ten years had been like for the most part. Fai hadn't done much outside learning to play a few songs on the piano and dancing and was going to be working at the local theater teaching students.
Kurogane kept quiet most of the night he watched the blonde carefully trying to figure him out. Her eyes following his jaw line, and neck, She watched his eyes and the way he spoke trying to figure out anything about him.
Fai smiled despite Kurogane staring at him. He wasn't sure why she was angry at him but he was hoping to help stop it. "We should do this again sometime since apparently everyone else we went to high school with is either married or moved away."
"Don't want to hang out with married couples." She stated raising her eyebrows. "Why us…You know Tomoyo is seeing someone…and I'm not interested…So why…"
"Married couples are fine, just usually they don't have the time to go out with friends." He shrugged. "And I always liked hanging out with Tomoyo and you, though me and you didn't do that a lot."
"I don't hang out with anyone…not since high school. Only Tomoyo and Sakura…and I have no interest in hanging out with another…"
Fai slumped in his seat pouting. "So mean and here I thought we were being friends again."
"…I don't have friends…and besides we were never friends to begin with." She stated in a low tone.
Fai sat upright at that looking away for a moment as Tomoyo kneed her under the table. "Ah, I guess that is right. Just talking a few times doesn't make friends." He smiled.
She glared at her friend and then sighed heavily before standing and mumbling that she was heading to the bathroom. Leaving the two to chat.
The others let her leave but Tomoyo was concerned.
After a few moments the taller came back to the table with a frown, "Are we done here?" She asked annoyance held in her voice as she stood next to the blondes chair.
Tomoyo and Fai shared a look before he nodded. "Yes unless you wanted anything else." There was already a few bills laid out on the table with their checks.
Kurogane pulled out her wallet, "No I'm fine…" She stated as she pulled out some cash.
Fai held his hand up. "It was covered. Least I can do for taking both of you away from more important things."
She frowned, "This isn't a date…" She stated as she slipped the money back into her wallet. She looked over at Tomoyo, "Let's go."
"No, it's not." He agreed. "I'm paying for all of us." Tomoyo offered Fai a small smile.
"Maybe coffee sometime?" She suggested.
"A-ah...I don't think Kuro-san would like that, but the two of us can. I'd like that."
"Take her and Sakura, She'd like that…" Kurogane stated in a soft tone, "I don't need coffee but thanks for the offer." She stated turning away as she started toward the exit.
The other two followed after Fai walking behind them hands stuffed in his pants awkwardly. It seemed his apartment was in the same direction.
Kurogane leaned over and whispered to the girl, "This is why I didn't want to go out…Things are just awkward now…look at him he looks sad and pathetic…"
At Fai couldn't hear them as they rounded a corner. "Well guess I'll see you two around." He gave a half hearted smile and waved before heading down the opposite street.
Tomoyo smiled in return. "Goodnight Fai, I'll call about that coffee!" He nodded and when he was out of sight Tomoyo shook her head. "Of course he is. You hurt his feelings."
"Hurt his feelings? How Tomoyo? I hardly know the guy! How could I have hurt his feelings!?" She stated.
"Because you were rude and didn't even give him a chance. Didn't even try to be nice. You might as well have thrown your drink in his face." She was upset that Kurogane couldn't simply trust someone they knew anymore.
She frowned, "…What was I supposed to be girly and bat my eyes…Tomoyo I don't need any more friends I lost all them except the two that really matter. You and Sakura…Tomoyo…I owe you everything but I'm not the same girl from High school, I haven't been for a long time." She looked at the other hurt worn on her face. "I still have nightmares…almost every night….I tried…I'm sorry…" She pulled the hood up on her sweatshirt and started wandered off on her own. "Tomoyo…I'm sorry I ruined our date…" She stated before wandering home.
"Oh Kurogane..." Tomoyo stood there watching her leave. When would she understand that she didn't have to keep people at bay.
~~Few weeks later~~~
Kurogane stood by the counter and sighed, it was a slow day and she was bored with nothing to do as Tomoyo wandered around the store doing her check list. She stared out the window and frowned when she saw a certain blonde wander by. "Here comes your coffee buddy…" She stated to the other but the blonde never entered, never looked not even a wave.
It only took a couple of seconds for him to cross the front of the store, but Fai went on his way. "He's probably wanting to give you some space."
"Giving me space? Why? He's your friend it's not like he's asking me out for coffee." She said as her eyes narrowed.
"He was trying to be yours." Tomoyo explained as she folded shirts. She had talked to Fai since their get together and while he wasn't angry he seemed hurt by Kurogane's actions.
"Why? Why the hell does he want to be my friend so bad…he's an idiot…" She said harshly and turned away.
"Because Fai is nice and that's what most nice people try to do, make friends." She sighed, having argued with Kurogane about this for days now.
She frowned and pulled her apron off, "Fine…one damn coffee alright? Will that make you happy?" She asked with an annoyed tone.
"I'm not the one you have to apologize to." Tomoyo replied as she turned looking hopeful.
"Call his scrawny ass…and tell him he's paying…" She said unsure of her words but she was sick of arguing with the other. Every day it was Fai this Fai that and your should apologize. "I'm doing this for you alright…I owe you not him…"
"I put his number into your phone." She replied before taking an empty box into the back.
"Wait I can't call him! Tomoyo!" She said frantically as she followed the other. "You're his friend not me, don't make me do this…"
"We're not children. You're twenty six and should be able to make a phone call. I love you Kurogane and trust you." She smiled.
She frowned and looked down at her phone, "Tch…Fine…" She said softly and wandered back out to the store. She took a deep breath and dialed the number. She felt her pulse speed up as the phone rang and she froze when he answered. "…It's…Kurogane…Tomoyo says you want to have coffee….or lunch or whatever…You pay…"
'Kuro-sa-...ah I okay. When did you want to?' Fai sounded startled.
"I saw you outside…if you're free, now is convenient…" She was slightly annoyed as she spoke.
There was a sound of shuffling going on. "I can. Uhm I'll be there shortly then."
"Fine…" She said as she hung up, "Tomoyo I'm heading out…" She yelled back to the other with a heavy sigh.
Tomoyo poked her head out of the back room. "Okay, have fun! And don't be rude!"
"Tch…" Was all that left her mouth as she exited the store and stood just outside waiting for the other. She watched as a group of young girls snickered at her whispering horrid things. She narrowed her eyes at the girls and watched them quickly wander away. "…Stupid kids…"
She met Fai down the street as he held onto a paper bag stuffed with groceries. "Is Tomoyo not coming?" he asked a little confused to see Kurogane by herself.
"No…She has to watch the store…" She raised an eyebrow, "If this was a bad time you could've said so…" As she looked over the bag of groceries.
He shook his head. "It's alright, it's only one bag. Where is a coffee shop anyways?" Fai smiled softly still unsure why Kurogane was her when she had clearly wanted nothing to do with him.
She frowned, "Down the road…" She pointed, "Come on….I'll show you…" She said softly as she wandered away.
He hurried to catch up with her. Fai didn't talk, not wanting to jinx whatever had come over her.
When they arrived at the shop Kurogane turned to the other. "You're being quiet…you sick or something?" She asked as she eyed the other.
"You didn't like me talking last time, so I thought I'd try a different approach." He said as they waited in line.
She frowned, "…I don't really like a lot of people…but Tomoyo says I can trust you…so I'm willing to try alright…I'm…" She frowned and sighed, "I'm sorry for what I said before…"
Fai nearly dropped his bag as he stared at her dumbfounded. "I...thank you Kuro-san." He cleared his throat. "So what do you want?"
"…Don't thank me…Thank Tomoyo…" She stated, "She's been upset because you haven't been around." She looked up at the other. "Medium coffee…black."
"She was? So this is more a peace offering for Tomoyo?" That explained why Kurogane had called him out of nowhere. He smiled and ordered her black coffee, getting himself a frozen green tea and moving down the bar to wait for their orders.
"I guess…Look…she just wants me to get out more…and meet more people…but I hate people…" She stated as she sat next to the blonde.
Sliding into a seat across from her he managed to put their drinks down before putting his bag in a chair between them. "Ah I see. Not everyone is sociable." He shrugged. "Only reason I had friends growing up was because Tomoyo and Sakura were too nice not to be friends with everyone in school."
"Just because you have friends in high school doesn't mean you have them now. I had a lot of friend in high school and now I only have two…" She frowned, "People change…"
"True. I don't have any friends except well Tomoyo and Sakura now. I went to parties and all that had people I talked to and studied with, but they weren't real friends." Fai said as he tore the paper off his straw, tapping it on the table a few times before wading it up into a small ball.
She looked up at the other, "Those two are the best ones you could have…you don't need anyone else Trust me."
"I don't think that's true. Everyone needs more relationships. It's healthy." He smiled before taking a sip of his drink. "But then again I'm not the best spokesperson for it so people can believe what they want."
She frowned, "You sound like Tomoyo…" Sighing heavily she took a sip of her coffee. "Why? Did you push away all your friends to?"
"I didn't have any when I moved. New place, new school, and being a wallflower doesn't help. It got better in college, but I didn't really make friends there and now I'm here." He grinned.
She frowned, "You were better off." She stated, "People are cruel…everyone is only out for themselves save a small few…"
"I don't think that. There are selfish people, but I think most are just trying to get by. I met plenty of people who were terrible one way or another, but I met kind ones too."
"Tch…I met people who I thought were kind, but people aren't always what they seem." She looked up at the other, "I'm not a good person…I used to be but I'm not anymore…"
"Oh I doubt that. You're a little grumpy, but I think you're nice underneath that." Fai shook his head. "I mean I don't see you kicking puppies in the street and you just need to see the better in people."
She frowned, "…I've tried…and I'm still trying…" She said softly, "…Why do you say such nice things to me…You don't even know me…"
"I knew you and despite what you say some things might change, but others stay the same." He grinned both hands wrapped around his drink. "I like trying to be optimistic."
"Having a class together doesn't mean you know me…" She mulled over the other words said, "…You really are an idiot…if you try and see the good in people your only gonna get hurt…be realistic…"
Fai laughed. "What can I say? I like to be hopeful."
She eyed the other, "…You really are an idiot…but Tomoyo was right…you're a decent person…" She narrowed her eyes, "…But it doesn't mean I trust you yet…and if you ever hurt Tomoyo or Sakura, you'll never see the light of day again…"
Fai smiled. "I had no intention. I plan on remaining /friends/ with them Kuro-sama. Just because I'm a man doesn't mean I want to date every pretty woman I know."
Her chest tightened at the statement bringing some not so fond memories back. She frowned, "Not every man holds that statement true…"
"No, but I know Tomoyo isn't interested and Sakura has Syaoron."
She looked up at the other, "…And me?" She asked her voice almost shaky as she asked.
"Kuro-sama definitely doesn't like me so no." He gave her a wide smiled before taking a sip of his drink and then stirring the whipped cream with his straw.
"…If I didn't like you I wouldn't be here…" She stated in a soft voice, "…You're a…nice man…" She stopped and stood. "…I can't do this….I have to go I'm sorry…"
He stared up at her confused. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No…it's not you…I just…I have to go…" She stated before looking at the blonde once more before quickly heading out.
Fai watched her leave before his eyes settled on the cup she had left. Sighing he leaned forward to go and toss it away.