I felt a bit bad for making Ito's dad so mean in the last chapter, so I tried to make it up to him in this one. to me, he's actually a really cool guy, if just a bit over protective ^^ please review! I do thank RainbowUniFrog for his/her review on the last chapter and I hope more people review on this one~
I was awoken by the nurse after school and soon made my way to the courtyard to meet up with Ito and Makoto, since Ito promised to take me by her house to try and convince her dad again. It took a while, body still extremely sore from my beating, but I got there to find only Ito waiting for Makoto to show up. She took one look at me and winced.
"Geeze, you look like crap."
"Thanks. Is it really that bad?"
I put a hand up to my left eye and winced painfully before looking back at her.
"You have a black eye for one thing, and a few scratches here and there, but the bags really stand out. Why didn't you tell me you had no where else to go?"
"I never said that. I just said I'd figure something out and I did…although, I have to admit, it's not my best plan."
I rubbed the back of my neck with a slight chuckle to try and uplift the mood, especially when it started getting later and later and Makoto still hadn't shown up. Standing for so long also had my ankles aching from the rope burns and I was exhausted, swaying on my feet slightly as I tried to stay awake.
"It's already seven o'clock! Where is he?"
I was slightly more awake, but not a whole lot and soon I was sitting on the floor next to Ito as she fretted. One look at her face told me just how much she was feeling, and I sat up and hugged her for no reason. Of course, she took that as assault and shoved me away with a yell.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Just trying to help. You don't have to be strong all the time, you know…and I'll kick his butt if he makes you cry, Ito."
"Yeah right. You'd get your own butt kicked since you don't know how to fight and he does."
I smirked at her, knowing she was feeling slightly better now when I scented tobacco smoke with a scowl. Sure enough, Toki was here along with the drama teacher. I stood up quickly and grabbed his collar, growling.
"You bastard. You spiked my drink at the Christmas party and I still haven't gotten you back for that."
"Oh? Like you could do anything. You yourself already got a beating, what could you do against me?"
He smirked at my scowling face and I dropped his collar, before promptly pulling my fist back and socking him in the face. The drama teacher and Ito looked shocked, but I just turned around and smiled.
"I've always wanted to do that~ Anyway, Ito, I'm gonna try your dad again and if that doesn't work…I'll see you when you get home!"
She had no idea what that meant, but I just smiled and began running as Toki lifted himself off the floor and groaned.
"Damn, he's got a mean left hook."
I was standing in front of the Miura household, desperate to gather my courage and prepare to do what needed to be done in order to stay for a while. I had already checked my missed calls and discovered that two of my three jobs had already fired me for missing out on a day and a half of work, so it was this, or back to the bench. Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I took a deep breath and rang the doorbell; shifting from foot to foot until the door opened to reveal Ryuya.
"Kira? What are you doing here? And what happened?"
He grabbed my chin and examined my black eye with a frown, but I pulled away from him with a serious expression.
"I'm sorry, but is Mr. Miura home?"
"Uh, yeah. This way."
I nodded, removing my shoes and following him to another room of the house that I hadn't been to. Knocking on the door, Ryuya opened it and informed his father who was here. He surprisingly let me into the room and I stood across from him, his back facing me while he faced a photograph of a woman who looked similar to Ito. Hm, I see where Ito get's her resemblance from, but I shouldn't pry.
"What is it you want?"
"I wish to stay here until I find another apartment, sir." He went to cut me off with a denial, but I continued before he could. "I also came to apologize for trying to force myself into your home before and for not informing you of my previous visits. I sincerely apologize sir, and I hope that you will give me a chance."
I bowed at the waist, even though I was still facing his back, and didn't right myself until he spoke again. Only to find he was in front of me now, seeming surprisingly shocked at my beaten up appearance until he frowned.
"Delinquency is something I do not approve of in my home."
"I am not a delinquent. I was merely trying to protect something dear to me and…didn't have the proper resources."
I looked to the side in respect and slight embarrassment, not noticing the clear shock evident on the man's face at my proclamation. Looking back towards him, he narrowed his eyes at me and glanced back at the photo before sitting down in front of it again.
"Sir-"
"I need to think about it. Leave."
"Yes, sir."
I bowed again and walked out the front door, giving Ryuya a small smile before plopping down on the ground just outside the Miura household. Exhausted as I was, I could barely keep my eyes opened and soon fell asleep, shivering slightly in the cool breeze.
(Ito's POV)
I had gone with my drama teacher and Toki to a small café nearby, but had apparently been zoning out while thinking about Makoto and why she left Kira and I waiting for him when he wasn't going to show up.
"Ito!"
"Huh?"
"Don't just say 'what?' Listen when people are talking to you, geeze."
I was a bit lost, but began paying attention when my drama teacher spoke, mentally chuckling at the bruise Kira left on his face from when she punched him.
"It seems Toki will be able to lend us the props and costumes we need from his college's drama society."
"Really?"
I slammed my hands on the table, but sat back down and began thinking about Makoto again. Even though I'm really glad Toki's helping us, I gotta be careful! I have to protect Mako…Argh! I'm thinking too much again!
"Uh, speaking of that, who were you and Kira waiting for before, anyway?"
"Makoto! Even though she promised, she didn't come through! She was even the one who suggested it!"
I was really angry at him for doing that, but something in the back of my mind kept saying he had a reason for it. Of course, what my teacher said next had me shoving that little voice down to the very back of my head.
"Mako? I saw her carrying a freshman into a limousine earlier. I think it was the limo of that rich family that transferred recently. The…Iizukas, I think. The freshman girl looked really sick, maybe Mako went with them?"
Why…Why is it that I'm always the least important? I thought that all the way back to my house, thanking my teacher as she had given me a ride. When I neared the gate though, I spotted a figure huddled over by the street light, shivering. Getting closer, I leaned over and discovered the figure to be Kira. This idiot! Is this what he meant by 'see you when you get home'? Shaking him awake, I scowled and began yelling at him.
"You idiot! What're you doing out here?"
"Mmmhm…sleeping…stop it, that hurts."
I stopped shaking him, but pulled him off the ground and half dragged him back into my house. Tatsuyoshi looked a bit surprised at this, but was more concerned about me being home late and the fact that Mako was on the phone. I scowled and dropped Kira off on the couch before addressing my younger brother.
"Tell her I'm not home."
"W-Why? She's been waiting for ten minutes!"
I really wasn't in the mood for this, and slammed my fist into the wall inches in front of his nose.
"Tell her I'm. Not. Home."
Walking down the hall, I bumped into my father who looked slightly more relaxed than I expected as he tried to hug me. Of course, I glared at him and snapped.
"What the hell did you tell Kira? Why won't you just let him stay over? It's not like he's hurting anyone!"
"Wha-Is something wrong?"
"Yeah, something's wrong! He's been sleeping on a bench outside the school for the past couple days, working three jobs at a time to earn money for a new apartment, got attacked by thugs breaking into the club room, and I just picked him up from sleeping in front of our house! I think something's wrong!"
Turning to my room, I slammed the door in my old man's stunned face and threw myself onto my bed, angry at the world.
(Kira's POV)
"What'd you do this time? I swear, all you guys do all day is misunderstand each other. You two should hire me as your personal psychiatrist…I charge ten bucks an hour."
I was still tired and exhausted, but had taken the phone from Ito's younger brother to try and figure out what misunderstanding Mako and Ito were in this time. Luckily, my try at a joke made Mako laugh a bit before going serious again.
"Kira, why are you answering the phone?"
"'Cause I was caught by Ito sleeping outside her place since her dad told me to leave, and Ito said to tell you she's not home. Now, while I forgive you for standing us up, the new hole in the wall says Ito doesn't quite think the same way."
"So she's really angry…"
"Beyond angry. She wasn't this pissed when I left, but maybe Toki or the drama teacher said something. Might I ask what happened?"
I heard him sigh in the background and tried to rub the sleep out of my eyes without aggravating my blackened eye.
"I was dragged to visit Takayo in the hospital by her brother. He's threatening to give out my secret if I don't visit her everyday, but Ito's obviously going to avoid me so what should I do?"
"I did say ten bucks and hour…but I guess I can do this session for free since I'm so nice~"
I heard him scoff and hold back a chuckle, as well as someone coming up behind me. Ignoring that person for now, I continued the conversation on the phone.
"Mako, Mako, Mako. I'd say your best bet would be to try your hardest to catch her. I could try to help you out a bit and maybe talk her into speaking with you, but she probably won't listen. Ito can be a little hard headed when it comes to stuff like this and she'll probably avoid you for a few days until you find a way to get her alone to talk to her. For now, I'll see what I can do, but you owe me big time. I always seem to get dragged into your guys' problems."
I gave out my own sigh and he thanked me, before I hung up and leaned my head back coming face to face with Mr. Miura. Shooting up off the couch, I bowed and started backing to the front door while apologizing over and over again about being in his house.
"I'm sorry, sir. I-I was just leav-"
"It's fine. I've thought it over and, after what Ito's told me, I think it would be…okay for you to stay in the guest room."
I stopped, lifting my head to show my plain-as-day shocked expression, as he continued with narrowed eye.
"BUT, I have a few rules I want you to follow."
"Anything, sir!"
"First thing's first, stop calling me sir. It makes me feel like a drill sergeant."
I nodded, a large smile coming to my face as I thought to myself. Seems everything's finally going right.
