9

Today happens to be the very first day of September, a cool and sunny day with open clouded skies and the smell of autumn drawing near.

Heracles continues to click through groceries with his hand-held price gun, occasionally typing in digits for fruit. His process speeds up slightly when notes Kiku entering behind his current consumer, some blond guy holding onto a shockingly similar young lady with an over-protective grip. She doesn't seem to mind, in fact her gigantic pupils are shimmering with joy at this moment. Once all the items are bagged and payed, the older guy grabs two, leaving the lighter one for her. Her smile is enlightening, and she looks to Heracles, speaking to him childishly with a somewhat Germanic accent. "Thank you mister."

The man gives Heracles a sharp glare before the two of them exit. This is when Kiku hesitatingly moves up, gently placing the market's basket atop the faulty conveyer belt. Today Kiku decided to wear his mossy kimono, the one with ivory trimming. He looks happy and well-kept, but a bit timid as well. Heracles believes it to be a contributing personality trait. When he begins to shuffle through the items, the other shakily starts a conversation. "Ah, good afternoon, Karpusi-san... H-how are you today?" He purses his lips, embarrassed at his light quiver. At this moment, his little heart is racing.

The tips of Heracles' mouth curls softly, like his voice. "I'm alright, thank you Kiku."

Kiku's first reaction is to bow, and it is quickly followed with a heated blush. His mind, like his heart, is particularly speedy. "W-What is he thinking? He must know that I-I... the blanket! I'm such a fool... But I know he has the day off tomorrow, he never shows up on Saturday, and maybe, just maybe, we...? No, I'm being foolish again." Things have been quiet for a moment, and the number of items to be checked out is dwindling. Heracles isn't talking, but occasionally he glances upward from his scanning with an innocent glare. It's really cute.

"I-I.." Kiku chokes on his words, and his shoulders rase, "I believe I should thank you, for ah, returning... my... eh.." His phrases soften until the last near-whisper, "blanket. But," He gathers himself professionally, as though he were about to present. He finds the strength to rase his head as well, only to find Heracles has paused and looked to him blankly. "Ah, H-How did you know it was mine?"

Kiku can feel the condensed stress building up in his upper chest, awaiting his response. Heracles continues to look at Kiku for a moment, then lowers his eyes back to his working hands. "That's easy," He speaks gently, "You are just the nicest person I know, and I know many people." Something strikes his mind, and with his spare hand he caresses his religious necklace with delicate fingers. His eyes are once again half-lidded.

This is becoming too much for Kiku; His knees are wobbling, there is a tingle running up from the tips of his toes, and even though he remained undoubtedly uncomfortable, he feels unexplainably warm with the freezing sense of fear crawling up his aching spine. His feelings are defiantly complex.

"Ah, I-" Kiku begins, feeling controversial to such a complement. "Thank you very much, Karpusi-san, but, but I would have to disagree." He side glances in search of words to string together while handing over his credit card to pay.. "I'm sorry but really, we, we don't really know each other too well." Kiku stops, shocked at the harshness of his own words. "Quick, say something!"

Heracles has finished bagging, not responding. He thinks for a moment, "About that," He starts, only to be surprisingly cut off.

Kiku is unpreparedly loud for himself, saying, "I was wondering if you would like to go out with me tomorrow!" And with the exclamation of the last word his pounding heart forgets how to beat. His breath is gone, for just a moment, until a delayed response. Even Heracles seems a bit astonished.

Heracles still manages to remain soft "I would love to," Kiku's soul lifts aflutter, his jaw dropped at this feeling. Never before has he had the courage to say such words, and thus never before have they been answered in such a manor. "But,"

"Oh no." That fluttering feeling, it has dropped so suddenly, so heavily. The stress so bundled tightly is moving up his throat, welling up into his tear ducts. The tingle in his hands and toes has turned into a small, yet violent, shake.

Heracles continues, "I can not tomorrow." He is ready to continue, when Kiku suddenly grasps his two paper grocery bags, hiding behind a wall of ramen and vegetables. He is cut off once again, only this time much more quietly.

"Ah yes, I see. I understand. I'm very sorry to have bothered you." Kiku slightly bows, and paces quickly towards the door. Heracles feels rushed for words as well.

"Any other time would work," He tells him, but Kiku just shakes his head on the way out. He does not turn back, he just goes faster and faster away from Heracles, who feels rather disappointed in himself. Tino, who was watching from the other register, seems disappointed as well, yet cheery and texting away rapidly with a blush to his cheeks.

Kiku can't feel his feet, but he continues to rapidly stroll down the long, winding sidewalk. The road on his left is broken and barren, and the occasional home on his right is grassy and free, but all Kiku can see is the cement he is about to walk upon. He feels so, so? The closest word he can find is dishonorable. He feels as though he has brought great shame upon himself. He feels his body aching and his mind throbbing; And then, just for a moment after his foot snags a crack in the walkway, he feels himself free falling with his belongings flying away from his grasp.

The cement was so rough, and the feeling scorched Kiku's face and hands. His chest is in a fair amount of pain as well, which Kiku denies. Kiku does not want to get up, he does not want to tear up anymore. He is not supposed to cry, so he doesn't, but this time that's not working. He doesn't want to realize what he did just yet either, but the sound of quick and heavy steps is approaching. That sound is quite fearful. Without much thought he sponges up whatever emotion he can muster and elevates his upper body to a point where he can see the hand being held out before him.

He hesitates, like always, but takes the hand offered out to him. His face is on fire, it hurts a lot and his eyes are bloodshot. Kiku makes an odd expression due to the constant feeling of his nose about to run. He is greeted with a hardy pat right on his bruises and a sadly familiar voice. "Yo Kiku that was quite the fall you had there!" Sadik laughs, then looking over to his face. "Whoa dude, you okay? Your face is all screwed up and your nose is bleeding a little." He also notes the puffiness of his checks and the pink of his eyes.

Of all people, Kiku does not want his company at the moment. That remark was not settling. He can't find a way to speak rationally at the moment. Still, he shows his gratitude for Sadik as he picks up the groceries scattered across the pavement. A small bow is taken, and he grabs the paper bag held out in front of him by the kind Turkish man with a feebish smile. It seems Sadik is carrying the other bag, and though Kiku would rather he not help him at the moment, he hasn't the strength to fight him off at the moment.

The stroll isn't far, and as they walk up to the door Kiku silently wishes for Sadik to not follow him inside; Sadly, that wish is not granted. These feelings he sponged up are so loosely stung together, and the slightest friction of emotion may become a trigger. His voice is wobbly and small as he places the groceries atop the counters. "Thank you very m-much, now you could p-please, ah, exit..." Those last few words seem to spiral out of his grasp as his lower lip quivers and the corners of his eyes spring a leak. It is terribly embarrassing, the state of spikingly numb he has entered. In result, Kiku rushes down the hall, slamming himself inside the little locked restroom. He crashes onto the floor, scratching at his clothed chest. "Please, leave me alone."

Sadik is a tad breath taken, not expecting Kiku's rather dramatic reaction. He drops the paper sac of food onto the counter, going cautiously down the corridor to and knocking lightly on the door. "Ey, uh, Kiku? You alright?"

There is silence, and Sadik knocks again. Kiku is looking down at his hands, his palms feel fiery, and they look red and scratchy. He intakes air steadily, exhaling the stress along with it. With shaky knees, he stands and turns to the mirror, accepting his battered complexion. His long fingers lightly stroke the rough, pink and violet patches of skin now overlapping his cheeks and forehead. He counts them, "One, two, three and a half." "I am alright, you may go now." He nearly whispers. The knot centered in his aching stomach keeps him from asking any louder.

Sadik thinks for a moment, considering his choices. He crosses his rather well-built, tan arms and lowers his chin. "Listen, Kiku. I'm not leaving till you come out, you know, so you're alright." He waits for a reaction.

There is a moment of sheer hesitation, when the cheap door knob wiggles the door open. Sadik shoves his hands in the pockets of his hoodie, observing Kiku's face. "Oh shit, he's a mess!" He opens his arms, but Kiku skitters back like a scared puppy, rosy-eyed and crumpled together awkwardly. Sadik is genuinely surprised. He puts his hands back into his pockets and cocks his head to the left, looking down on Kiku. "Oh? You don't like that, that's cool. But seriously, you look upset dude. Tell you what, lets go eat somewhere. You'll feel better I promise!"

"Thank you, no thank you." Kiku's first thought is obviously rejection, but he keeps his attitude kind like always. This stranger, he is persistent. He reminds Kiku of someone, an old stranger he would like to forget. His thoughts are off track now, and he steers back towards reality. He understands his kindness, and is very thankful, but, "Ah, thank you very much, however I think I will be quite alright." He feels odd, not knowing what to address him by.

"Come on Kiku," Sadik starts, lowering his volume half a step after Kiku backs up slightly. "Is he really his upset just for falling over?" "Listen, you gotta loosen up bro! If it makes you more comfy, it's not even a date or anything."

Kiku rolls his shoulders up, shifting around where he stands, not finding anything comfortable about the situation. He feels a bit hollow, and just wishes to remain alone. It is almost like he is trapped, with Sadik in the doorway and him unprofessionally cramped into this ugly washroom. "I'm sorry, but I don't know if it, ah, well..." He trails off. Sadik is giving him a look, one of some confusion. Kiku reconsiders, he really is just trying to be nice, and other then his own selfishness there isn't much reason to resist so much. Perhaps he could take up the offer. "I suppose, if you insist so much-"

"Great!" Sadik puffs, cutting him off. Only now does he realize he is in the way and moves back to the hall. Kiku slowly retreats out, heading back to his room. He bows to the guest, "I am going to get cleaned up, please just wait a moment." Then he enters his bedroom at the end of the short hall, locking the door securely behind him.

Sadik turns back into the kitchen area, snooping around and observing the house. He peers into the living area, noting the square television and decorative hanging swords. There are no family photos, no crowded boxes in sight. He can't help but wonder. As he returns to the dining/cooking/entry room of the home, he pulls up a chair and uses his cell phone.

He texts his brother at work, jeering softly with that devious, stubbly grin of his.

Side notes:

The words are not coming out right, but I think I get my point across.