Title: Heart of Dust
Chapter Three: When Just the Touch Makes You Feel
Rated: PG-13
Poetry is mine
Characters aren't mine I'm just borrowing.
Characters from this chapter are from: Gundam Wing, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Vandread, and X/1999.
A few weeks passed with little incident. Of course, there wasn't room for much to happen since the summer break ended and Juri was once again caught in the pace of both her school and work schedules. In the midst of it all she did manage to get out of the house occasionally. This was mostly due to Cathy and Dorothy whom refused to let the stoic angel brood for too long. Cathy had even made a point of running the dishwasher in the middle of Juri's showers.
It didn't make Juri happy, but it didn't make her angry either. She understood why her friends felt the need to keep her from sinking too deeply into her self. She had done it before, and the fallout had not been pleasant. Her friends had also kept her from the Valerian opting for new bars and the movies as an alternative.
The calm didn't last long though, and anyone who expected it to was not paying attention.
Shiori smirked which wasn't surprising. "Hi, Juri."
It was a playful singsong that did the trick of pulling the young woman, who was restocking canned green beans, up from her task. Hazel eyes regarded the near innocent gaze being directed at her and she offered a halfhearted wave. The violet-eyed girl was none too pleased with the reaction.
"You could at least say hello," Shiori chided, obviously annoyed.
With a deep breath Juri stood to her full height, which was a staggering five foot seven that had a way of intimidating the masses. She sighed, and then offered up a surprisingly sad, "Hello then. Is there something you need?"
"Haven't seen you around lately."
"Been busy," Juri replied with obvious wear, adding, "And presently, I'm busy."
The girl looked over the handcart stacked with boxes and shrugged. Meanwhile, Juri heard the clamor of her subordinates gathering one aisle over eavesdropping.
"I was hoping I could talk to you for a minute," the girl offered sweetly.
"Well your hopes have been dashed."
Shiori scowled, violet eyes narrowing in disgust. "You're pathetic trying hide your obvious hurt."
"I'm not hiding my hurt," Juri corrected, hazel eyes a breath away from tears. "What could you possibly want to tell me that won't make me more miserable than I already am?"
Shiori seemed shocked by the question, but only for a moment. She smiled and got up on her tiptoes to whisper into Juri's ear. She stepped back with a graceless hop and made her way out of the store. It took every ounce of will power Juri had not to pound her fists through a row of canned pineapples. The soft murmurs coming from the next aisle over were swiftly brought to attention, and she made her annoyance clear.
"If those of you over by the cereal have so much free time I can think of at least twenty projects that need to be worked on."
There was a quick shuffle of feet followed by the sound of people attempting to look busy and one employee whistling nervously.
Is it easy
To feel nothing
Is it easy
To come so close
And whisper words that rip my soul in two
Is it easy
To be a heart that doesn't feel
Tell me, what can an empty heart feel
Duo was beginning to have a hard time holding onto the punching bag. His need to complain was cut short by another barrage of hits followed by a few grunts and string of swift left handed jabs. He knew it was safe when all he heard from the other side was panting.
Duo poked his head around the bag, his smile grimily fading at the sight of the over exerted young woman on the other side.
"I-I'm... not… done… yet," Juri said between gasps for air. Sweat was dripping down her face stinging at her eyes.
He shook his head. "Oh no. You are done missy. Wanna tell me exactly what happened?"
The seething angel gritted her teeth and huffed, "I want you to get back behind that punching bag. That's what I want."
Before Duo could respond in the negative a gruff voice intruded, "Kid, I think you should listen to your friend."
It was Jet, the gym's manager.
He looked Juri over and then added, "I can make you take it easy you know."
He sprang back a bit, in terror from the look he received.
"Well, if she doesn't want to rest," another voice intruded, "I'll let her get in the ring with me."
Jet twitched slightly as the gangly boxer stepped closer.
"What do you say," the boxer prodded nudging Juri with his elbow. "You want to fight? Show me what you got."
The grin on Juri's face could only be described as lion-ish. She looked like she was only seconds away from catching up to the poachers who dared intruded on her pride. With a nod she walked off towards the boxing ring.
Jet and Duo looked over the boxer with a vexed expression to which the boxer merely smiled casually.
"Look old man, this is your establishment and I don't wanna cause any trouble," Duo began, "but you aren't going to let that guy get in the ring with her…Are you?"
Jet shook his head. "It's been decided kid. She has a lot of pride, and obviously a tremendous amount of honor. Looks to me like she needs to prove something."
"If anything happens to her-"
"Spike is a professional kid," Jet said cutting Duo off. "He won't get in that ring unless she's properly protected, but he won't take it easy on her either."
Duo was utterly defeated.
"Cathy's gonna kill me," he muttered as he made hid way over to the boxing ring with the others.
I can pretend
I can ignore
I can be stone
And calm and rage
As her words swim 'round my head
As her words move right through my heart
And it makes me wonder
How it's possible to break what is already broken
The fight didn't last long.
Jet was true to his word and Spike didn't hold any punches, and while Juri did manage to make a few good blows before the wind was knocked out of her and she was sent flying onto her back, there was no way she was going to win that round.
Duo nearly fainted when he saw his friend go down.
Juri lay on the mat staring up at the ceiling and took in quick breaths.
The boxer rushed over to check on her. "You okay?"
He was answered by a swift punch to the face. He rubbed the impending bruise with his gloved hand.
"Guess that would be a yes?"
He helped Juri off the floor, removed his gloves, and held out his hand. She reluctantly threw off a glove and accepted the handshake. He smiled and she shook her head.
"You look familiar," Spike said as he stepped out of the ring.
Auburn locks swayed as she released the sweat soaked curls loose from the ponytail she had confined them too. She smirked and said, "Olympic trials."
He raised an eyebrow. "Hmph. I should have known it was you when you jumped into the ring, Arisugawa."
"Maybe… It was a while ago." She sniffed and looked over at Duo who appeared to be hyperventilating. She made a sound that was nearly a laugh.
"Feel better?" The boxer leaned against the ring, slouching slightly.
"No."
"Well that's a start. See you around, bean pole." Spike shrugged, and then walked off towards the showers.
Juri collected Duo and assured him that she was still in one piece, just a little bruised.
He collected himself enough to ask, "So, who is he exactly?"
"Spike Spiegel, boxer and royal pain in the ass," she replied with a small smile. "Long ago in my senior year of high school I ran into him when I was in the Olympic fencing trials. I hit on his girlfriend."
The impish youth let out a boisterous laugh, "No wonder he wanted to box you."
"He's just returning a favor," she corrected. She looked lost in the memory, "Just, returning a favor."
It doesn't matter anymore
If you loved me
But you never loved me
So I can't take this with me anymore
If only it would leave me
Just the way you left me
But it doesn't matter anymore
Juri had the entire day off. After her little encounter at work her boss quickly gave her a few days to collect herself, or at least calm down. Juri took the time with little complaint, but after her boxing match she wondered what she would do with herself. Cathy and Duo had left for an evening alone and Dorothy was out of town taking care of some business. Left to her own devises the ego-bruised young woman went in search of a place to have a good time, or at least a place that was safe from further encounters with Shiori.
She found her escape in the form of a cabaret style club called the Kero Neko. A sign out in front of the establishment announced that amateur night was every Tuesday with no audition needed. Thankfully, it was a Wednesday and no one she knew was accompanying her. Cathy had a way of talking Juri into doing things like karaoke nights and amateur nights. Her voice, she always thought fair, but her roommate thought differently.
Saved from the threat of having to perform Juri stepped inside and took a seat at the bar.
She nursed her cocktail for about an hour happily avoiding any advances from unwanted parties. Unfortunately her luck didn't last as a sober voice broke through her thoughts.
"Excuse me miss but I noticed your sad expression."
Juri shook her head as she turned to face the person hitting on her and perked and eyebrow at the overly tall blonde with spiky hair and red trench coat.
She sighed heavily.
"I can see it in your eyes," the young man said placing a hand on her shoulder. "You need someone to take your hurt away."
"Look," she began steadily, "I'm fine."
He shook his head and began some overly romantic and sappy speech that just didn't want to end. Juri closed her eyes and shook her head, messaging her eyelids lightly in irritation and defeat. Finally he got to a question. She glared at him and then catching the bartender's eye made a soundless plea for help. The bartender merely shrugged, smiled, and chewed on the straw hanging from her mouth.
Juri gave up. "Look mister?"
"You can call me Vash fair lady," he said earnestly, blue eyes sparkling with hope.
Juri nearly lost her lunch, "Listen… Vash, I'm gonna be very, very frank with you. Are you listening?"
"Of course," he seemed excited.
"I am not interested in anything you have to offer," she stated flatly.
"So, what are you saying?"
The bartender finally decided to lend a hand, "She's saying to go find another fair maiden to drool over, Vash."
He didn't get the message. It was all too clear in his eyes, and Juri had just about enough of the idiot, her hand balling into a fist.
"Look, Vash, I'm not interested in guys. I li-"
"But I can offer you something other men haven't," he interrupted cheerfully.
She started to raise her fist, and she was about give him a well deserved good sock in the mouth when suddenly the bartender reached across and pulled Juri in for an unexpected kiss.
Vash blinked in an obvious state of shock.
Juri did the same when she was finally released, a delightful shade of pink gliding across her cheeks.
The blonde young man finallyt got the picture and hung his head in defeat. "Man, she was sooo cute. How come Gasco always has dibs," he muttered as he slunk towards a far off table.
The bartender quirked an eyebrow, "It's Gasconge, not Gasco."
Gasconge shook her head and then turned her attention to Juri who was still recovering from the kiss.
"Sorry about that," the bartender stated with a grin. "Vash has trouble getting anything through his thick skull. A nice kid, but dense. He needs visuals sometimes to send the message home."
"Uh… thank you?"
"Pleasure was all mine." Gasconge winked and went about her business.
Have you know heart ache
Have you known this feeling
Was there ever one who tortured you
As you torture me
I don't think you have
I don't think you could
For if you had how could you
How could you do the same to another
The night wore on at a steady pace. Juri watched in vague amusement as Vash attempted to woo several other young ladies before giving up and getting completely drunk. He was sitting on a table with another young man singing show tunes off key and in a merry manner. The in house pianist shook his head and tried to keep up with them. Juri received a free drink when she pronounced the bartender's name correctly and another wink that made her blush.
Finally tiring of show tunes and Vash's voice, Juri got some courage and asked the shy pianist if he could play something that perhaps the spiky haired young man and his friend (whose name she learned was Wolfwood) did not know the words too.
"Well like what," the pianist asked.
"Do you know anything by The Seatbelts," Juri asked. Receiving a nod she said, "Alright then, make me blue."
The shy youth smiled knowingly and began to play.
Juri returned to her seat at the bar grinning slightly at the silence from Vash's table. With a deep breath she finished off her drink and shut her eyes. It was nice to be somewhere new with no threat of the past to intrude upon her, but as it was, that was not exactly the case.
She froze when she felt the hand slide up along her shoulder. The bartender would not be able to save her from this. In her peripheral the young woman saw the elegantly manicured nails and of course there was that scent of jasmine she'd never be able to forget as long as she lived.
"Can I, maybe, buy you a drink," the woman purred neatly.
"I'm passed my limit," Juri replied fighting her urge to spin around and face the dragon behind her.
"I can get you a ride home."
"No. I'm fine… I'll sober up in a fe-"
She fell silent as the hand on her shoulder worked its way to her neck. There had been a knot there since she had left the gym.
"Please don't."
"I hear you're having a hard time," the woman said keeping up her work and then suddenly ceasing.
"You aren't making anything easier." Juri stated, gritting her teeth, trying to find her strength.
The woman slid a little closer. "She hurt you so bad you had to run from her."
Juri tensed at the comment. "Does it matter?"
"It's not allowed. Angels aren't supposed to be hurt," she whispered, a seductive lilt to her tone.
"That's not true," Juri felt a sob get stuck in her throat before she continues, "You hurt me."
The woman's lips were too close, sending chills through the captured beauty. She whispered, "But you knew I would."
Somehow Juri knew the bartender was watching the exchange with protective interest. She made a motion for her tab and Gasconge hurriedly swooped in with the cheek, glaring at the dragon that was still neatly perched behind Juri's chair. The dragon beat Juri to the bill, paying it quickly with a collection of money.
"Kanoe… don't…please."
"Too late."
And it was.
And a creature called Lust
Will never have enough
As it takes what it will for the moment
As it let's you believe for the moment
To be continued….