Umeshu


The Day After Next

Darkness moved behind her eyes; shapes, voices. She could hear Suzumei crying and Yumemi screaming- the nightmares that had plagued her ever since they had escaped Guntarl. They lasted for months. Ichiko would wake up from a dead sleep screaming like the world itself was going to crumble down on top of them. She would feel hands clawing at her in her dreams only upon waking to find her sheets wrapped tight around her legs. She flailed and moaned and shuttered with fear. She imagined her father was quite terrified, but he never talked about it. Sometimes, in the beginning, he would come to her room and stoke her hair and sooth her with lullabies from when she was a baby.

But Ichiko couldn't explain… how would she? How could, on top of everything that was happening around her with the 'aliens', admit that she had a hand in it?

Sometimes she dreamt they were falling from the sky, Yumemi, Suzumei, and her. That the earth was rushing up to meet them. When her body slammed into the hard ground she would jolt awake, gasping for breath, unable to rid herself of the strange vice-like pressure that had clenched her heart.

When she woke again it was just barely morning. The house was cold from inactivity, quiet, but Ichiko's body was swelteringly hot. She was soaking the sheets with sweat.

Ugh, what happened? She felt as if she were underwater, swimming; it was all she could do to rid herself of the constricting comforter wrapped around her body. Reaching around she peeled off her bra, flinging it across the room. Ah, that was better.

Her stomach grumbled, clenching from lack of food. But she felt so sick her appetite was gone… it wasn't the alcohol, the last of it had been expelled when she had bent herself over the kitchen sink, no this was honest to god flu symptoms. Must have caught something running home in the rain. She groaned. That's what you get going to bed soaking wet. Crawling across the floor she wormed her way into the adjacent bathroom. She ran a rough tongue over her chapped and dry lips, turning on the faucet for a long drink.

The shower was cool compared to her burning skin. She crouched on the ground as the water rushed over her head, whirling down towards the drain. Bringing her knees up she rested her head upon them, turning so the steady stream soothed her back. She pawed over the fading bite marks on her collarbone; chest; stomach. Despite herself she smiled, hugging her knees even tighter.

Even if were just for the night, it was nice to have someone's arms wrapped around her… and it being Rui made it even sweeter. Ichiko imaged his frowning face, always so stoically antisocial- a bit like her in a way. It was so gratifying to coax him out of that shell… Maybe he thought the same thing about her.

A brief swell of embarrassment almost drowned the happy feeling as she thought about running out on him… but she was scared. She couldn't blame herself for acting scared… scared of her own feelings.

In her heady delirium a pleasant feeling settled deep within her. Maybe she did like him. Like him like him… but love? She couldn't identify it as love. Not yet.

After was felt like a very, very long soak Ichiko finally turned the shower off. She got to her feet wearily, wrapping her body in a plush towel. Her stomach was still ravenous but her strength was gone. She would eat as soon as she got up, but right now she needed more sleep.

Shuffling to the opposite side of the bed, where the sheets were a little less dirty, Ichiko tucked herself in and drifted off.

This time her dreams were less defined. Ichiko could only see shadowy shapes move around her, circling. But this time there was no fear. Instead of cringing away Ichiko reached out to the soft light swirling just beyond her reach. It surged against her, bathing her in its bright-white.

Hands found her forehead, pressing.

"Ichiko…Ichiko…"

Someone was stroking her hair back from her head, lifting the heavy blanket from her body, applying a cool washcloth to her forehead. Tenderness ached within her chest.

When Ichiko finally opened her eyes, barely slits, she could see a fuzzy someone perched on the edge of her bed. A cool breeze swept in through the open window, light illuminating her cramped bedroom. She swore she could smell crisp sea air…

"Ichiko…?"

Her eyes focused on Yumemi smiling down at her, fresh washcloth in her hand. She took the old one from Ichiko's face and tilted her head to the side, regarding her.

"Yu-"

"Shhh," her friend soothed. "You've been sleeping for a while." She looked like an angel, Ichiko thought. The woman looked happier then Ichiko had seen her in months- years even. She positively glowed. "Here, take these." She pressed two tiny blue pills to Ichiko's lips, reaching for a glass of water on the bedside table. At the quizzical look she laughed, "They're just antibiotics silly; you have a bad case of the flu." She then tipped the glass to Ichiko's lips. Ichiko swallowed the pills and drank greedily. It seemed to ease the tightness in her throat.

"How…" was all she could rasp.

"When I didn't hear from you on Monday I got worried. I came to check on you and not only do I find the front door unlocked but you, right here, wasting away and feverish. You looked horribly sick. You must have caught something walking home in the rain," her face pouted, "I thought you have an umbrella."

Ichiko's lips quirked. The thought of a young Ichiko running around with a pink frilly umbrella was really quite… well… it made her want to laugh, even if her throat felt like it was on fire. Instead she pointed at Yumemi, her eyebrows quirked upwards as if to say and how are youdoing?

Yumemi regarded her with a small smile before saying, "Would you believe me if I said marriage was bliss?" Ichiko frowned. "No, I suppose you wouldn't. You know Munto, he can be hard to live with but I love him. The only thing I still have to wrap my head around is that 'home' no longer means 'away from Munto'; it's nice to be there… permanently. I've even persuaded them to let me start cooking. " She paused a moment, "You know, I think Rui should to come down and see you."

Eyes wide, Ichiko's mouth formed a tight "Oh".

"He's worried, even if he tries to hide. I think it would do you both some good. Not right now, of course, you're not up to visitors yet"

"Mmm…" Ichiko placed the glass of water back down on the bedside table. She sighed heavily.

"I know this might not be the right time… but have you decided what you want to do about that boy yet? Jerking him around might not be the best idea." Her tone suggested this was a vast understatement.

Well, what could Ichiko say really? That, yes, she'd admitted to being attracted to him- more than that maybe? But how does one form a relationship first on cold dislike and then wild passionate sex? It doesn't happen. It couldn't happen… could it?

Yumemi frowned, "You know… I could have had one of the Court's staff draw you up a more powerful medicine then plane old human antibiotics." Ichiko rolled her eyes. "I guess you'll just have to suffer through with some of my chicken soup." At that Ichiko perked up.

The blonde might have burned a few dishes back in the day but Yumemi was quite the cook. Practice had made her food mouthwatering. She gave her friend a knowing look.

"Oh there's a pot on the stove already."

Ichiko gave her enthusiastic thumbs up. Yumemi laughed, her voice filling up the cold space of the empty apartment.

.o.o.o.

As soon as he touched down on her front lawn he was unsure whether or not this whole thing was a bad idea. She'd been bedridden for at least two days, sick with the 'flu', some human ailment. He wondered if it had in some way attributed to her odd behavior. Who was he kidding? They both had been acting strangely. Rui was sworn off wine for the rest of life; it made people do foolish, stupid things… and wonderful things… but the risk involved far outweighed the potential benefit.

Yumemi had insisted that he come down and see her. "It'll brighten her spirits,"she had told him when joining he and Munto's lunch the day before. Rui had nearly choked on his 'grilled cheese'- a new and wonderful Earth delicacy. He had purposefully ignored his King's smirk.

Yumemi shot him a look, "She isn't mad at you."

"I know that," he'd tried to put an element of ice in his voice but it had come out all wrong; small.

"Are you mad at her?"

He resented, and secretly admired, the part in his Queen that caused her to interfere with everyone's emotional business. She was too like Ryuely…"Of course not," he sighed after a lengthy silence.

Yumemi clapped her hands together, "Then there's no problem! I'll be going back in the morning to tidy up a bit so you can stop by around lunch. She'll up and about but probably still feel a tad under the weather."

"And you think I'm going to make any of that better?" He'd snapped at the table.

Munto looked over his Earth paper; "I'm not ordering you down there."

A 'but' hung in the air.

So… that was it then. He'd decided that they would have a pleasant conversation about… something probably dull that she would grow tired of, resolve the little mistake as just that- a mistake- and settle back into their normal routine of snippy remarks. He would be glad to have all the unresolved sexual tension out from under him.

Taking the walk up to the front door he was about to rap a sharp knock when Yumemi opened it, smiling brightly and wearing a frilly apron. His hand was stopped mid-motion; he slowly lowered it.

"I thought that was you!" She quipped.

How does she do that?

Rui cleared his throat, "Is she asleep?" There was a part of him, however small, that wished his Queen to answer in the affirmative.

"Oh no, she's just watching T.V. I was about to make lunch, want anything?"

Even if consuming Earth food did practically nothing to his diet it was still an intriguing prospect. "No, it is not necessary. Unless you two will be eating, in which I do not wish to be rude." He clasped his hands behind his back.

Yumemi nodded and ushered him in. Quietly he steeled himself, summing all his resolve into what he hoped was his most utilitarian mask of indifferent courtesy. Upon entering the tiny foyer, behind Yumemi as she retreated into the kitchen, he could see a mop of dark hair plopped on the couch, facing away from him. The television flicked to cartoons to news to a weather report and then went mute as the audio was silenced.

He took a shallow breath, bracing.

She shuffled around, turning to look at him. Her hair was sticking up in odd places as if she'd slept on it. She looked muzzy, bundled up in a blanket. Catching his eye she blushed, smiling a very small smile.

His resolve didn't stand a chance.

"Hi," and then he could have slapped himself for lack of tact.

"Hi," she echoed. "You don't have to just stand there you know." Her terseness relaxed him a bit; he was use to that Ichiko.

"You have a very…" he stepped into the combination living-dinning room, "nice house." To their right Yumemi was banging pots around; the cut-out wall gave her a clear view but it seemed as if she were purposefully ignoring them.

Ichiko rolled her eyes, "It's too big now without a roommate, but I still have the lease to the end of the year." She was watching him as he came forward and sat awkwardly across from her on an ottoman. From that position he could see how she sat cross-legged on the sagging sofa, the bedspread enfolding her, making her entire form look encased in it save for her neck and head.

"Are you feeling better?"

She shrugged, "Anything was better then getting sick over and over." She cheeks colored, hand coming up to cradle her forehead. In the small silence Yumemi could be heard doing dishes. "You know, I told her not to bother." Ichiko inclined her head to the kitchen, "But she doesn't listen."

His lips quirked into a smirk, "A fact I know only too well…"

Her nose wrinkled as she laughed a little.

Yes, this woman could completely disarm him, he realized as he watched her eyes squint closed, lips part and bend upward into a smile. He found himself relaxing his shoulders, legs stretching out from their stiff-kneed position. Her warmth made him feel… odd. Less himself. But he found he didn't quite mind it.

"I'm sorry," she said, pulling him out of his revere.

"What?"

The happiness had left her face; she looked almost pained, "I didn't mean to offend you."

Rui blinked at her, "You didn't." There was no point in asking her to clarify the conversation; he knew exactly what they were talking about

"But you looked so angry."

"I was." She gave him a quizzical look so he stumbled on. "I was angry with myself. I… I took advantage of you."

At that she burst out laughing. Rui was taken aback, staring at her as she tipped her head back and belted out a good 'whoop'. She controlled herself by sucking in a few breaths, drowning a few giggles. She stole a glance at him, taking one look at his expression and lapsed into another fit. Despite himself Rui felt the rest of his unease slip away; he was smiling at her when she silenced herself for a second time.

"I'm sorry," she sniggered, "It's just- that's funny. You thought that? Really?" He nodded slowly.

"You were drunk."

"We were both drunk, Rui," She corrected him. "And you didn't take advantage of me. I think we were both at fault." But she frowned. "Not… 'fault'." And then she glanced at him with a hard-put expression. When she spoke her voice was very quiet, "I don't think it was a mistake."

Rui opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Rising to his feet he leaned over and pressed a warm kiss upon her forehead. When he pulled away Ichiko tilted her head and caught him full on the lips.

In the kitchen a pan dropped heavily into the sink, clanging, accompanied by a triumphant sounding "Mmph!"

Ichiko broke away, smiling. She shuffled over to make a spot for him on the couch, folding back the blanket so she could reach out and touch his arm as he sat beside her.

Rui ran a hand through his hair, trying to find adequate words, "I enjoy you very much."

Ichiko scrunched up her nose again in a smile, "I 'enjoy' you too." She leaned on him, snuggling down on the couch.

"That's good," it was an understatement, but he couldn't put definite words to how it really made him feel to hear her say it.

"Maybe when I'm all better we could go for a walk?"

Rui paused for a moment before saying, "Could we get… grilled cheese?"

Ichiko nodded slowly, an eyebrow raised at his suggestion, "Maybe even dinner. But no wine. I've sworn it off."

"Oh," he smiled, warmth spreading over his skin when she reached down to hold his hand, "me too."


Fin


A/n- Hope you have enjoyed! Again I apologies for the gap in updates but real life does tend to get in the way here and there. Please read and review!