Heyy party peeps, hows it going? So this chapter is a combo of Originals 5, 6, and some new scenes. I kind of like the new ones I put in this one. There's a cute fluff scene in there somewhere, and I hope you guys like it. And I have seen that there are a few of you who have followed and Favorited the story. Thank you for the support.
~Anyways, let's make it do what it do~
I hadn't blacked our necessarily. Well, actually I did if fact blackout, but it was only for like a couple seconds. I fainted and fell, but before Rikio and Yata could get to me I had already started to wake up. And boy-oh-boy was I dizzier than a kid on a rogue merry-go-round. I knew something was very wrong before I could really feel it. I mean my vision was hella doubled and blurry, my head was light and fuzzy, and my hearing was kind of off. Basically, I felt drunk and I hadn't had a drop to drink. It's when I went to sit up that the sharp pain in my back flared and I fell back to the concrete.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Yata's voice was muffled, or rather I felt like there were cotton balls shoved into my ears, but I could hear the concern in it.
I tried to shake my head as he went to try and lift me up. "Yata, no-" A loud scream fell my lips as he and Rikio lightly lifted my shoulders. Rikio dropped me, but Yata tried to quickly lay me back down. "My back. Somethings wrong with my back." My voice was strained with pain. Hot pain filled tears rolled down my face as I tried really hard not to ball.
"Your back?" Yata muttered. He said something to Rikio I was to occupied to try and hear, but shortly afterwards he pushed my bangs from my face. "Aya," He said softly, "I have to check the wound."
"No! No, please! Don't move me!" I cried out, shaking my head furiously. "Yata, please, don't. It hurts too much!" He was blurry from the tears over flowing my eyes, but I knew him well enough to know he had a sorry look on his face. He had to move me, he had to check the wound.
"I'm sorry." He sighed and then nodded to Rikio. "Careful, Rikio." He instructed as the bigger male grabbed my left side. He tried to gently roll me to my right side, but it felt like he was ripping me in half. I don't think I have ever screamed so much in my life. Yata pushed my left shoulder lightly, but it felt like he was shoving it with as much force as possible.
"Stop it!" I cried harder. I wanted to fling my arm up and knock the hell out of them but I couldn't. The slightest movement from my limbs and I thought I was dying. "Yata, please!"
"Shit." I heard him gasp. He touched the inflamed skin lightly and it stung, but he was careful not to touch the actual wound. "Ok, Rikio put her down." I bit my lip hard so I wouldn't scream again, but even the lightly touch of the concrete felt like a knife being jammed between my lower spinal cord. "I've got to call Kusanagi. Rikio, keep her awake."
"How, Yata?"
"I don't know, dumbass. Just do it!"
"But..." Their argument kept fading in and out. My vision went from shaky to even blurrier and darker. The last thing I heard was Yata saying something to someone, probably Kusanagi. After that I went totally out of it. I mean I wasn't even aware that Rikio had picked me up. I fell from consciousness and I hung in land of dreams and unawareness.
Bright florescent lights invaded my retinas from under their lids. Too bright to be the Pub and way to florescent to be the dorm. I was in a bed from the feel of the sheets, so I was definitely not outdoors, plus the air smelt like disinfectant and sickness. Obviously if it smelt like disinfectant it didn't actually smell like sickness, just that too clean, cold smell of the ER or a hospital. I knew exactly where I was long before I actually opened my eyes. I mean if the smell wasn't enough to convince me alone the hard, tough feeling of the bed I laid on would have done it. Only hospitals had those kind of brick like beds and uncomfortable pillows.
"What the hell?" I groaned as I turned over to my side. "Fuck!" I screamed as the pain hit me again and hard.
"Ayame!" I heard several people gasp.
"Dammit, lay down." I knew that one. A pair of hands, I presuming Yata's, pushed me back down on the bed. I opened my eyes and saw everyone. Yata was pushing me back down onto the bed, Akagi, Rikio, and Bando looked as if they were moving to help me, Dewa and Chitose were by the window looking sorry, and Kosuke and Eric were half sitting in the chairs. Kusanagi was by the door. Everyone was here, even Anna who was hiding behind Kusanagi.
"This bed is uncomfortable!" I snapped angrily and looked up at the ceiling.
"No, what's making you uncomfortable is the gash in your back." Yata snapped back, his temper giving a small flare. "What in the hell where you thinking, huh? You stupidly jumped out in front of a fight you had no fucking business being in." His arm was wrapped up.
"Your arm." I totally ignored him and reached up, ignoring the pain as well.
"What?" He raised a brow and looked at me like I was stupid. "My arm is fucking fine. Don't change the subject." He jerked his arm away and glared.
I narrowed my gaze and my temper took it's turn to flare. "I'm not changing the stupid subject. I know what I did and I'd do it again if it means stopping you from doing something as stupid as fighting on my school's grounds." He didn't have anything to say back to that. "So, who exactly is the stupid one in this situation, Yata? Because I can promise you it isn't me."
"You have a busted open back, and your worried about a little cut in my arm! Are you that fucking thick?" He pushed my hand away.
"No," I snapped back. "I'm not the one that got into a stupid fight! That fucking jackass was goading you, Yata, and you couldn't even see that." I flinched when a tense pain hit and when Yata went to help me I swatted his hands away. "Get off! I don't need help." I groaned and adjusted myself. I didn't want his help if he was going to be an ass about the whole thing. If he had done for me what I did for him I would not be pitching a childish fit like he was doing.
"Why are you acting like this?" He sighed and ran a hand down his face. "We were all scared when you didn't wake up. You have been in this stupid bed for three days, Ayame." Three days? Damn. I knew I was in some deep shit, but three days? That's a long ass time to be asleep.
"How do you think I felt?" I rolled my eyes. "I was just as freaked watching you go into some death match with that weirdo." I looked away from him and towards everyone else in the room. How long had they been here? Surely not three days. I mean, they took shifts right? It's not like it was that bad. "Anna, whatcha got there?" I asked when I noticed the girl fiddling something in her hands.
"I was checking in when I could." She spoke softly, taking a step out from behind Kusanagi.
"My guardian angel." I chuckled and gave her an honest smile.
"This isn't funny, Ayame!" There goes Yata's temper again.
Groaning, I ignored him. "Rikio, did you happen to go by my dorm in the last couple of days?" I sighed.
"No. Sorry, Aya." He shook his head.
"Dammit. This gown is so unflattering." I nonchalantly sighed. "Oh well, it's not like I'll be here much longer. I can cope." I attempted a shrug...that wasn't a good idea.
A growl came from my bedside and the room rose in temperature. "Will you stop acting like this is some joke!"
"What is your deal? I am fine!" I snapped back.
"You want to know my deal?" He growled. "You almost fucking died!" He yelled and pushed my hospital shirt up. There was so much gauze around my abdomen. "You back was torn open. And you lost a lot of fucking blood." He said softer. "And you don't care."
"I do care." I said sharply. "But there is an eleven-year-old girl in here along with a whole lot of other people, Yata! Excuse the hell out of me for wanting them to not worry!" My words were edged and emotional. "And besides all of that, jackass, I am severely pissed off at you. I begged you not to fight. I told you we should have just left, but you didn't care. So, if you want to be pissed off at someone, Yatagarasu, be pissed at yourself because all of this could have been avoided if you would have just listened to me!"
The temperature rose again, but I didn't so much as flinch. Everyone stayed silent, even Anna who I knew had to be a little unsettled by all of this. The tension continued to build between us, the glares turned sharper, the auras grew brighter, the temperatures increased ten fold, and not to mention the pain in my back was starting to throb. I didn't move or look away until Yata growled and stormed out of the room entirely. As soon as he was gone I let out a groan and then forced myself to sit up.
"Aya, let me-"
"Don't." I snapped and continued to do it myself. Did it hurt? Yes. Was I going to let Yata or anyone else know how bad? Hell no.
Kusanagi let out a disappointed sigh before clapping his hands together loudly. "Alright, Anna. Why don't you take the boys down to the cafeteria?" The small girl nodded her head and started to walk off. The boys all cautiously followed the tween out of the room, leaving only Kusanagi and myself. When the door shut his shoulders hunched and he took off his glasses. "I swear, the two of you are going to be the end of me."
"Two of us? What did I do?" I snapped. "Yata's the one who decided fighting was the answer. All I did was try and stop the stupid thing. Besides, that freak wasn't the one who did the damage. Some big-butt-busty-booby-blonde did." I pouted.
"How long are you going to be mad at him?" Kusanagi cut right to the point, didn't he. "I need you both on your A game, but since you got back from Haru's you have been MIA practically, and Yata hasn't been so...well, he hasn't been Yata." The blond cleaned his glasses some more as he sat on the edge of my bed. "Look, I get why you're upset with him, Ayame. I do. But you either need to tell him how you feel or get over it, because being mad at him for being a clueless idiot isn't going to get you anywhere. And quit frankly, it's hurting my business." He patted my head and gave me a sad, knowing smile.
"Kus-"
"Fun fact, Aya," He said knowingly, "Yata has been pretty pissed off at himself long before his altercation with Fushimi." I scoffed, but Kusanagi kept going. "You should have seen him, though, when I showed up at the train station. He wouldn't look any of us in the eye, and when they said that you might not wake up right away...I don't think I've ever seen him that angry with himself and scared for someone all at once."
"Doesn't act like it." I muttered under my breath.
"He doesn't know how to let you know, Aya. Give him some credit. He hasn't left this room since you got here. Not once until a few minutes ago." Kusanagi looked me dead in the eyes. "Forgive his idiocy, but know that he has been blaming and beating himself up since Monday." And with that Kusanagi gave a sigh and then patted my knee. He left without saying anything else. I mean, what else could he have said. Nothing tops 'Hey! Wake up and smell the he-cares coffee'.
So, I sat in the uncomfortable bed in pain and completely at ends with myself. The whole 'Does he love me? Does he not?' cliche was going on a loop in my head. I don't think I've ever stared at a stain on a wall longer than I did on that day. Anna came in and sat with me, but even she knew I wan't in the chattiest of moods. She just sat there, curled up next to me and watched me watch a stain on a wall. She would have done that anyway, but most days I would try to get her to interact with something. I mean she's twelve with the social skills of an Atypical outcast Freshman. Take it from a former one. I knew she knew what I was thinking of, she was a psychic strain after all, but still I kept quiet. I didn't even move when Kusanagi came to get her. She said bye but I was too lost in my own thoughts to consider saying anything back.
When the lights turned off for night hours I laid on my right side, facing the same wall, and cried myself to sleep. It was an aggravated cry. One you don't do unless you've got so much crap on your mind that seems impossible to resolve that you just can't help it. Even in my damn dreams I was thinking about all I had been when I was awake. In my dream I was debating with myself over Yata, my inability to come to a decision, and the side I was debating with was a real bitch. She had a point though. She pointed out my own bloods refusal to have anything to do with me, and she was right. Haru wanted nothing to do with me, my own godmother sent me to him without another thought. If neither of them wanted me in any way, why would Yata want me in the most vulnerable and intimate way? I wasn't worth much, and he had to see that. Nearly everyone else I cared about did.
"Why are you crying?"
"Why are you here?"
"Ayame,"
"Yata, don't." I sighed, refusing to turn and look at him. "Just leave, ok?"
"No way." He shot back, walking around the bed and forcing me to look at him. He knew I couldn't turn around if I didn't want to hurt. "Why are you crying?" He asked again, the look on his face serious and sincere.
I rolled my eyes and looked away from him. "Why wouldn't I cry? I'm seventeen and have the emotional baggage of a forty-year-old divorcee."
"So? We've all have issues, Ayame." He sighed and sat in the chair next to the bed. "You have a brother who hates you, I have a dead beat dad." He gave a weak smile as I looked at him.
"You still have family." I groaned. "You don't get it, Yata. My parents are gone, my brother wishes I didn't exist, I'm so use to being alone that now that I'm not I don't know how to cope with anything. And my trust issues are through the freaking roof. What kind of seventeen-year-old kid is like that?" A silence fell over the room as I processed all I said. I thought it many times, but to say it allowed...it was all too real then. In that moment I was so vulnerable and I would never be able to take it back.
"So you're not an average kid. Neither am I." Yata finally uttered. "I was still in middle school when I joined. And what about Anna? She's eleven, and she's been with HOMRA about as long as I have. None of us are average people, Ayame. We've all got baggage." Why was he comforting me? It just made me cry harder. He was so nice to me and all I've ever done was get made at him for small things I normally wouldn't have. I have been ignoring him for weeks and here he is, comforting the very person who has told him to shove off more times in the last week then his whole life.
"Yata, stop it!" I cried.
"Stop what?" He was baffled.
"Stop being nice to me. I don't deserve it. Not after everything I have done to you in the last two weeks!" I held my face in my hands, shoulders shaking as I cried, back hurting in retaliation. "I don't deserve someone like you to be so nice to me. I don't deserve any of the kindness any one has given me."
A pair of hands pulled mine away and cupped each side of my face. Before I could ask what he was doing, Yata's lips were on mine. At first I was confused, then I was shocked, and then I was just melting into it. His lips were so soft, his touch gentle as ever, and yet every fiber of my being was lit like a torch. When he went to part I pushed forward, not done with the moment. I thought all of it would truly end or I would wake up the moment we parted and I just wanted a couple more seconds to live my dream. It was when his hand went into my hair that I knew it was all real. I had never dreamed that before and I wouldn't have know what that felt like in order to dream it.
"Wow," He gaped when he did actually part. My lips tingled and buzzed as I lived those seconds over and over again in my head.
"Did that just happen?" I uttered in disbelief.
"Yeah, it did..." Yata muttered. When I looked at him he was smiling and before I knew it, he was kissing me again. Too hell with my back, I would live with an eternity of pain if I could just live this moment forever.
I woke up against something hard and warm. It smelt good, and was snoring softly. I opened my eyes and saw Yata's chest. I was cuddled up next to him, my face pressed against his solid chest. I snuggled up closer and was careful not to do anything to my back. His arm was just above my head and the other was draped lightly over my waist. If I could wake up like this forever I would, no questions asked. Remembering the small and yet amazing kisses we shared the previous day came flooding into my head, making me smile more. I reached up and pushed back his beautiful chestnut hair from his relaxed face. I just took him in. I never thought I could feel this way about a person. I mean, I had only known Yata for a few months, but it felt like I had known him forever and I wouldn't be able to breath without him. We barely knew each other, and yet I felt like he saw me in the most vulnerable, most real way.
I felt wanted. That was something I hadn't felt in a long time.
"What are you doing?" He asked sleepily, his eyes still closed.
I retracted my hand quickly and blushed. "Nothing." I squeaked.
He opened an eye and a small sleepy smile presented itself on his lips. "You're such a fucking weirdo." He said groggily. He looked over and reached for his watch. "What time is it?" He yawned.
"Like nine in the morning." I yawned along with him. Whatever scientist said that yawns were contagious wasn't lying.
"Dammit." He groaned and started to get up.
"You've got assignments today?" I asked, forcing myself not to move too much.
"Assignment." He corrected. "If you even want to call it that." He shrugged and put his shoes on.
"What are you doing?" I asked, pressing for more information.
He looked at me from the corner of his eye and then sighed. "We're going to get your stuff from that dorm today."
"Why are you-"
"You're a part of HOMRA, you basically live at the bar already. And now that the Blues know who you are and your school year is nearly up, it's time you stay permanently." He said as he tied his laces.
"Yata, I'm a big girl I can-"
"I didn't decided that by myself, Ayame." He cut me off. "Kusanagi feels it's time too. It's not just me."
"You promise?" I raised a brow.
"Swear." He crossed his heart and held his hands out in surrender.
"Ok, fine. I doubt my brother will continue paying the bill anyways. Not now that I'm officially out of his hair forever." I said aloud.
"That's another thing. You're brother." He said.
"What about him?" I furrowed my brows. Haru was still and forever would be a sore subject.
"You're going to have to tell me about him. Why you hate him so much." Yata was serious. He wanted to know and he wasn't taking no for an answer.
"Haru's just a bad person. He hates me and the feeling is completely mutual." I muttered and looked away.
"And that would be because..." He was pressing for more info.
"OK, so you want the whole thing like now?" I raised a brow. Yata didn't answer, so I kept going, "Haru was my mother's biological son with her previous husband/boyfriend guy, I don't really know what he was to her. All I know is that his father hated the fact that my mother moved on, married my father, and had me. So much so that he turned his own son against his mother. Haru hates our mother with everything he has because of some deluded and insane lie his father concocted, and the residual hate he has for her was put on me. I mean it took him all of two seconds to decide he didn't like me. The day he took me home he told me to quite crying over that whore, and then the next day he told me not to bother unpacking. He was sending me here to Ashinaka as soon as the shrink and CPS officer stopped sniffing around. That took a week and then he sent me off. He told them it was a request from me, that it was something I had decided to do before my parents' accident."
"I was only twelve and had no family, no friends, and had been sent hours away. My first day at Ashinaka was the third worst day of my life. Everyone asked me what life in a big city like Tokyo was like, what my dad did for a living, if my mom hemmed my uniform for me, if I was going back for the vacation days we had, did I have any siblings, what were they like? I ran to the bathroom and cried for hours in a stall. I decided that in order to avoid any and all other hurtful or triggering questions I was going to detach myself from the student body. The next day when a girl asked me if I was going home for the holidays I told her to mind her own damn business and leave me the hell alone. I told the whole class I didn't like any of them and I wanted to be left alone. And so I was. I went back to Haru's for seven days out of the year for yearly check ups with our court ordered shrink and CPS officer. Those seven days became dreaded hell for me. The first day the shrink and officer would come out and have sessions with us. The second through the seventh day was just me wondering around the town in the freezing cold because Haru refused to let me be alone at his house. He paid my dorm bills so I could stay through the summer and sent me barely enough food money to live off of. That's how it's been for six years. I was alone and depended on only myself for six years. And then that day in the alley happened, and Yata I haven't been more happy in my entire life." There it was. The whole Haru story. My sad story that I had never told anyone. And yet here I was telling Yata all of it because he just demanded to know. Shocking how much I had changed in only a few months, huh?
"And you're sure you want nothing to do with him? He is your brother after all." Yata hesitantly asked. I could tell it was something that was heavy on his mind, but also hated himself for asked.
"I accepted my relationship with my brother a long ass time ago and I don't care for him. There's nothing to be sorry about or to pity. I won't be seeing him again." I shook my head and took a deep breath. "HOMRA is my family. I don't need him. Haru is just some guy out there that happens to share half of the same genetic makeup as me. He's never wanted to be my family, and I don't care anymore."
"Ok. I won't bring him up again." He sighed and looked down at his watch. "But I've got to go." He suddenly blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I'll see you later ok?" He said awkwardly and went to leave. I reached out and grabbed his wrist. I pulled him closer and gave him a goodbye kiss.
"I'll see you later, dork." I said and let him go. I curled back up in the bed with the pillow Yata had slept on, and then drifted back off to sleep.
Several more days passed by and I sat in the hospital. Yata stayed every night and left every morning. He stayed gone for the most of the day and then came back just in time to shower and sleep. It was nice to just have him to myself. We talked, we laughed, we really formed a real relationship. Rikio would bring me homework I missed in school, how he got it I had no clue. Even though I stayed in the hospital, the search for Yushiro kept going. They got a few more hits on his location and Anna tried her best to track him, but she didn't have too much luck. She came and visited with Kusanagi when he had time to stop by. Chitose and Akagi took turns standing guard, which I had said I didn't need a million times, but they insisted they stay.
And then I was released.
"Take it easy." Yata said calmly as he helped me out of the hospital. Rikio had brought me a change of clothes, the most comfortable sweat pants and t-shirt he could find in my clothes. He tried his best and I thanked him for it, but the elastic in my sweats went just under the cut in my back, making it a little sore. I had braided my hair to the side, keeping it out the way, but it would probably fall before I even got to HOMRA.
"Yata, how are we getting there? I mean, it's not like we own a car." I said truthfully. In the several months I had been a part of HOMRA I hadn't seen one car. Not a single one. They were all motor bikes, Yata's board, my skates, and then mostly walking. There wasn't one safe transportation vehicle HOMRA owned...I though.
"We have the van." Yata raised a brow as if what I said was dumb. I didn't know we owned a van. How was I supposed to know that when I hadn't ever seen the damn thing.
"Oh." All I could say was 'oh'. I didn't have anything else to say.
The white van that HOMRA apparently owned pulled up, Kusanagi in the driver's seat and Anna in the front passenger. Yata helped Anna out and then helped me in. He and Anna got into the back, where I quickly realized there weren't really any seats. They all made sure I was ok before Kusanagi drove off. It was pretty silent due to the early morning time. I almost fell back to sleep a few several times. When we pulled up Kusanagi and Yata got out and both helped me out of the van. Anna clung to my shirt, trying not to pull down.
"Anna, why don't you give Aya her space, ok? She still in a little pain." Kusanagi said softly.
"It's ok, Kusanagi. I'm just a little sore, she isn't hurting anything." I smiled and patted down Anna's hair. "Plus, I love it when she clings to me."
"Alright, if that's what you want." He said, putting his hands up in defeat.
"Come on, Aya, let's get you to bed." Yata said as if he got to decide where I was going.
"I want to stay down here, Yata. I've been laying down for three weeks." I rolled my eyes as we walked into the building.
Just as we pushed the door open a loud 'POP' erupted and then several men all yelling, "Welcome home, Ayame!" It was amazing and gave me an even bigger since of home. Akagi, Chitose, Rikio, Eric, all of them rushed over to give me hugs that they were reminded to be gentle with by Yata, who decided cursing and growling was the way to do it. Every last one of them asked how I was doing, if I was feeling ok, made jokes about the thin scar forming across my back, asked me if I wanted to sit down or go upstairs to bed. It was nice to know people truly cared.
"I'm fine guys, really. I'm just a little sore, but moving around will help that in time." I laughed as Yata stood behind me, ready to see if I'd fall, collapse, or get tired. Boy was he over protective today. "The doctor even said I'm healing up faster than he thought, so I'm just peachy."
"If you say so." Rikio shrugged and patted me a little roughly on the shoulder. I winced, but nothing more than that.
"Hey, Fat ass! Didn't I just fucking tell you to keep it fucking easy?" And Yata blew. I rolled my eyes and turned to face him.
"He didn't mean it." I defended Rikio.
"Aya-"
"He didn't mean to, Yata." I said softly. "But thank you for worrying." I smiled and gave him a small kiss on the cheek. He tensed and blushed profusely, which was cute. He softened pretty much after that...well, I say that, but he stayed next to my side giving everyone the death glare. That's my over protective boyfriend.
...Boyfriend. It had been nearly a month, but that word still made my whole body tingle. Yata and I were dating, like really together and shit. I knew I liked him, but I never really thought in a million years that we'd end up together. Especially not when I first met him and he was all closed off.
I looked around the room and my heart swelled. I know I've said this like a gazillion times, but I was so happy to finally have that feeling of family again. Everyone was laughing, playing around, Yata had his arm draped carefull around my shoulders, a smile on his face, Kusanagi was watching over everyone like a observant and happy parents...if that makes since. And Anna was latched onto my side like a little sister. It was great. I hoped it would never change.
"Grah!" I thrashed in bed for the thousandth time in the last two hours. I couldn't sleep, which for me wasn't something that happened...ever! I was a sleeping champ, but for some reason I just couldn't. It was my first night back in my bed, my comfy bed and I couldn't get a wink of sleep. What kind of bull is that? I mean it's sleep! I shouldn't be this hard to obtain. "What the hell am I missing?" I cried out and hit the bed. My sheets were all toasty since I warmed the bed before crawling into it, my pillows were nice and firm, my comforter was fluffy and inviting, and I even had my favorite silk cami and shorts pajamas. What the hell was I missing?
I sat up and undid my braid, thinking it over. It's when I heard a door down the hall open and close that I knew what it was. Why I couldn't go to sleep even though I had done everything in my nighttime routine. I got up and opened my door. At the far end of the hall I saw Kusanagi going down to the bar, probably making sure it was all locked up, and before he could come up I ran across the hall. I knocked a couple times before I heard a groan and the door swung open. Black wife-beater, black boxers, and hair a muss, Yata rubbed the sleep from his eyes and looked at me. Without saying a word he stepped out of the way and let me in. He closed and locked the door, let me crawl into the bedside closest to the wall, and then curled me up to him. Sleep wasn't so hard to get afterwards.
Actually, sleep came extremely easy for me. I had started sleeping in his room a lot more than my own. Like I was no longer going to that room, and it had just become routine for me to sleep in there. I liked my room, but Yata was an amazing heat source and like the coziest teddy bears in the world. Plus, his room was way cooler than mine. It was painted a dark color, had nice mahogany furniture, and just had the most relaxing feel to it. But with that night routine came the morning routine...
"Aya," A very soft voice called out, "It's time to get up."
I groaned in response and turned to my other side. I wasn't ready to wake up. I didn't want to.
"You have school." It had to be Kusanagi or Yata. None of the other boys wanted me to go to school. They wanted me here.
"I don't wanna go." I said against the pillow and rubbed my head deeper into it. The pillow was so soft and smelt like Yata.
"You have to. You want to graduate don't you?" Kusanagi! It had to be him. He was the only one who said that kind of crap. Fucking guilt trip fucker.
"I hate you." I groaned and pushed myself up into a sitting position. I sat criss-crossed in bed, rubbing my eyes, hair probably poking out in every direction. I yawned and rubbed at my eyes more.
"You are just too cute in the mornings." Kusanagi said softly and then ruffled my already messy hair. I pouted and looked up at him like a five year old. I hated him so much, but I was too tired to physically hurt the bastard. "Alright, come on. Get up and dressed. Breakfast and Yata are waiting for you downstairs." With that and another hair ruffle he left the room, shutting the door behind him.
After another few minutes of sitting in the bed I forced myself up and got dressed. I buttoned my shirt and blazer oh so slowly and tugged my skirt and stockings up sluggishly. I jammed my feet into my shoes and then tied my hair up into a messy bun. I put makeup on and made myself look presentable. I walked to the bathroom down the hall and brushed my teeth with several yawns between each stroke of the brush. I walked downstairs and plopped down next to a laughing Yata. I immediately dropped my head onto his shoulder, already prepared to give up on the day.
"Morning sunshine." He mocked and lightly kissed my head.
"I hate all of you." I groaned, sleep still fogging my eyes over.
"And we all just love you." Rikio boomed and patted my back hard.
I jackknifed up and glared. Now I'd have a nice little bruise on my back and the slowest day to look forward to. Kusanagi placed a plat of breakfast in front of me and I picked around at it. I was so tired and I really just wanted to go back to bed. School days were getting harder and harder to attend. It wasn't like they were academically hard. No, the professor's barely taught us anything since we were mere weeks away from graduation, but they were hard to attend. When I was there all I wanted to do was be at HOMRA, but Yata and Kusanagi both made a point to tell me I had to graduate. I'd hate myself if I did't, and even though they were right I hated them for it. Not really, but I would rather not go.
"Come on, Aya. Eat your breakfast." Kusanagi said and pushed the plat closer to me.
With a exhausted sigh I pushed the plat back and stood up. "I'll see you guys later." I said and grabbed my backpack from the rack behind me. I slung the thing over my shoulder and then gave Yata a small and quick kiss. "I'll see you after school." I said and then left. Boy I either needed more sleep at night or some kind of energy booster, because these sluggish mornings and days were killing me.
I sat in my boring history class and listen to the teacher talk on and on about some bullshit about our last few days of school and our last assignment. I had zoned out two minutes into the boring lecture. I wanted to go back home and curl up in bed. Actually, I would rather be anywhere than here in history. I'd rather be on some tiring assignment than here. I mean, at least I'd be with Yata and the others then.
My PDA buzzed around in my lap and I lazily looked down at it. It was Yata. I opened the message and smiled.
Hey, how's your day going?
He was such the little worry wort. I went to text him back, but an explosion suddenly boomed through the near silent class room. I jerked my head towards the window and saw the boy's dormitories with a giant mushroom cloud coming out of one of the windows. The teacher rushed out of the room and a lot of students rushed to the window, waking pictures and gasping at the sight. I watched it, completely stunned that something like this was happening at the school. And then my PDA was buzzing on my desk like crazy.
"Hello?" I answer without looking at the caller ID.
"Ayame!" It was Yata.
"Yata, what the hell is going on? One of the dorms on campus just fucking exploded!" I snapped, trying to be angry and quiet so my other classmates didn't hear me.
"What? We didn't fucking do that!" He snapped back. "Anna's got some shit on Mikoto. Get your ass to the station now." He ordered.
"Yata, I can't just fuck-"
"It's Mikoto!" He cut me off, pushing his point further.
I sighed and looked around. "Fine. I'll be there in a minute." I growled and hung up. I snuck out of class as quickly as I could and rushed to the bathroom. I quickly took my uniform off and jerked on the tank top and shorts I kept in my bag in case of emergencies. I jammed my uniform and shoes into my bag and quickly laced up my blades. I took off down the hall after that and rushed towards the station.
I met Yata not long after I got off the train. He took my bag and threw it at Rikio, who I'm guessing had orders to do so. Yata didn't say a single thing before he took my hand and led the way on his board. We rushed off as fast as we could, Rikio a little ways behind us on his bike. I didn't know the exact location of the facility that held Mikoto, but Yata did. He led the way the whole time, not stopping for anything. Our King was either in some kind of trouble or something great was about to happen. Either way, Yata was ready for it.
We got there and saw Kusanagi and the others all lined up outside the gate. I didn't see Mikoto. I didn't really see any kind of danger or anything that would typically pull me away from school.
"Hey guys, what's going o-" And explosion on the other side of the gate cut me off. I heard a bunch of commotion, a lecture from a woman who sounded like the one who sliced-n-diced my back. I jumped slightly and grabbed on tightly to Yata's arm. Another explosion sounded and the gate between us and the other side came crumbling down. As the smoke cleared we all saw him. Mikoto. He was just calmly walking out of his captivity and back to us.
"Hey, good to see ya." Kusanagi smirked.
"Sir!" Rikio and a few of the others said and bowed.
"We're glad you're out." Yata smiled.
"You really know how to make an exit, Mikoto." I smiled and said gleefully, holding tighter on Yata's arm. Anna detached from my side, which she was previously clinging to, and latched onto Mikoto. He looked down at her and then back up at us.
"So, boss, did you find who you were looking for?" Kusanagi suddenly said.
Mikoto stayed silent for a minute, a small smile forming on his lips. "The school boy on the island." I hadn't seen Yushiro on the island in awhile, but then again that didn't mean I hadn't just missed him or he was very skilled at avoiding me.
"Aw, yeah." Yata suddenly beamed. "Just where I said he was. I was right." Oh boy, there goes his ego.
"Shut up." I rolled my eyes.
"I thought I said that." Rikio said.
"You never did." Yata shot back.
"Well, I thought I did." Rikio scratched the back of his head.
"Come on, let's go." Mikoto said calmly and led the way.
We started all walking off with Yata chanting. Of course, I was slowly skating, but I didn't mind. We had our leader back.
When we got back to the Pub, Mikoto informed us on Shiro. He was at the school but I never saw, heard, or came into any kind of contact with him. In fact it seemed like everyone was forgetting him. The more I asked around the less people seemed to know. I even asked one girl I knew for a fact was friends with the guy and she had no idea who I was talking about. Either way, he was apparently there and we were going to look soon. I could feel it.
Besides all the hunting, Mikoto thought it would be good for everyone if we went out and played a game of baseball. Why? Beats me, but I was grateful for the break. I had been going to school and hunting none stop since Kusanagi deemed me well enough to start getting back out there. Even though I didn't exactly play baseball, I was completely content with watching from a sideline with Anna. Kusanagi stayed at the Pub by choice, and even though I begged him to join, he insisted he stay. Maybe he had some secret date or something.
"Hey, Aya, why don't you take a swing!" Eric called from the outfield.
Looking up from my book I shook my head. "I don't play baseball."
"She wouldn't be able to hit my wicked curve ball anyways." Yata chuckled from the pitcher's mound.
I raised a brow, pushing myself up. "Is that right? Well, why don't you just show me how wicked it is, Yatagarasu." I took the bat Rikio held out and stood in the batter's box. I took a few good practice swings and then got into position. "Don't go holding back on me just because I'm a girl."
"Aw, Aya, that's cute that you think you can play." Yata teased as he bent to start pitching.
"Shut your trap and the pitch already." I rolled my eyes and waited. As soon as the ball left his hand and flew past the batting line, I swung hard. The ball flew far past center field and into the field across from us. I walked my way to first, skipped to second, strutted into third, and danced home. The look of utter disbelief on Yata's face gave me the best ego boost I ever had. I walked to the pitcher's mound and kissed his cheek as he stared at me with his mouth gaped in shock.
"How...but you've never-"
"Aw, honey, you need to learn to listen." I chuckled and patted his hunched shoulders. "I said I don't play baseball, not that I can't play."
"But I threw that at-"
"About one-twenty per hour. Crazy fast, but don't underestimate me." I giggled before handing the bat over to Mikoto and rejoining Anna.
I heard a deep chuckle, followed by "She's good." That from Mikoto was everything, and when we got back to the Pub I told Kusanagi so.
Yata wasn't so happy though when we got back. He was eyeing me like I was some alien he had just discovered, which just made me laugh. When I sat next to him on the couch he eyed me, narrowing his gaze ever so often. I patted and rubbed his arm as I laughed again at his shocked face. It was hilarious, and it was also kind of funny how much he really didn't know about me. When we went to bed he had a thousand and one questions, all of them pertaining to sports and whether or not I've played them.
"And what about Football?" He pushed.
"American? No. European? You bet." I giggled and settled under the covers. "Yata we've covered football, softball, basketball, swim, all forms of Martial Arts, volleyball, track and field, cross country, and even tennis. Can we please go to sleep now?" I yawned and grabbed his hand, tugging him to bed.
"Wait, one more." He said with a straight face.
"Ok, one more and I'm going to bed." I sighed, sitting back up.
He looked at me, brows furrowed, eyes narrowed, and bottom lip being used as a chew toy. "Were you ever a cheerleader?"
I don't think I've ever laughed harder. "What?" I gasped for air as I hunched forward.
"Come on, Aya. You said you played a sport at Ashinaka for two years. Was it cheerleading?" He pushed, sitting on the bed and grabbing my shoulders.
I looked him in the eye, trying to hold back the laughter as I said, "Why? Is it some kind of fantasy of yours to be with a cheerleader?"
"It's any normal guy's fantasy." He deadpanned.
"Yata, you're not normal." I chuckled.
"Any hot blooded male's fantasy! Damn, just answer the fucking question!" He snapped.
I looked at him, rose a brow, and straightened my back. "I don't know if I should tell you,"
"Ayame!"
"Ok, fine!" I laughed. "Yes, I was." I admitted. "Two years in a row. Fifteen to sixteen. I didn't try out this year, but I would have liked to." He blushed, something stirring in that mind of his. "What?" I asked hesitantly.
"Do you still have the uniform?"
"Dear King, Yata!" I snorted and whacked him upside the head with a pillow.