Uruha's neck stang like hell. Although he had left the others behind him in the hallway to clear up the previous situation's formidable mess; when he entered the kitchen, for a moment he couldn't move. He stared blankly at the patio doors at the edge of the room, wondering what he'd say to her. His reflection stared back at him from the abyss of dark; a worried, boyish ghost.
He gritted his teeth, forcing his legs to move against his will. He couldn't let the guilt he felt override his strength. He wouldn't. He pushed aside the patio doors and stepped into the cold, seemingly endless dark of the garden.
Neither of the girls had moved from the spot where Ai had collapsed. He now saw her face- a delicate, lovely expression of beauty; not unlike a flower. It dismayed him horribly to see that she looked so terribly sad. Had he caused that? God, what had he done?
Taeko looked up, her pixie features immediately expressing her gratitude and relief. She looked at him, smiling- it was nice to see that she'd given him the benefit of the doubt unlike Rei. He felt he'd earned it.
"Uruha."
Ai's expression perked a little, but she didn't look up. She seemed lost in her own world, rolling the glass to and fro in her hands. She seemed fixated on it, as if she were hypnotised. The truth was, she didn't think she could look into his eyes.
"Ai," Ru said softly, kneeling down to her level, "I'll understand if you don't want to, but could we please talk?"
Her courage flared a little, so she met his gaze. His eyes were beautiful. No, he was beautiful. She felt terrible that she had to tell him the news she had to bring. On the other hand, she was also incredibly frightened that he wouldn't care and would leave her alone with it. Why should she expect him to care? Sure, he'd given her attention over the last couple of weeks, but he could get any girl he wanted. Ai thought about that while she was looking at him and a feeling of accepted defeat overruled her. She was pretty sure he'd have nothing to do with her when he knew. She reckoned it was probably just best to get it over and done with.
"Sure." She replied, sounding a little more flat than she had intended to. She tried to get up, but as she had been so focussed on everything else around her, her legs had gone dead from kneeling for so long. She fell back down like an injured doe, slamming her hand on a rock as she landed. She cried out in pain; a trickle of warm blood meandering down the creamy skin of her arm.
Ru didn't hesitate, or explain what he was doing; he simply acted. He raced back inside to the hall to where the others were.
"The first aid kit," he breathed, Ruki looking at him shocked, "give me the first aid kit. I need to be alone with her."
Ruk nodded and handed over the green pouch he was holding. It was surprisingly heavy but felt reassuring to him. He ran back through the kitchen to Ai and Taeko; the kit clenched safely to his chest and knelt down before Ai, opened the kit and retrieved a strip of adhesive butterfly stitches.
"Give me your hand." Ru told her. She removed Rei's shirt- which was soaked in blood- and held her hand out to him. Ru rummaged through the bag again for a moment; coming out with a packet of antiseptic wipes, some surgical scissors and a roll of fabric bandage. He took out one of the wipes and gently, as not to hurt her, buffed away the blood and dirt. He used smooth strokes- even though his hands were large and coarse skinned- and moved patiently, treating her own hand as if it were precious to him. Ai felt touched by the way he was caring for her. Had he been as gentle and smooth when he'd had her those three weeks ago? She wished she could remember properly, but it was all a frustrating blur.
When Ru had finished, he slowly peeled off, one by one, the butterfly stitches; laying four in a criss-cross arrangement across her wound. The cut had mostly stopped bleeding, but Ru wanted to be sure. When he felt satisfied that their glue had dried, he sliced off a long strip of bandage, carefully wrapping it around her hand and securing it with a knot at the end of her wrist.
Ai examined the work he'd done and smiled. It had been the first time that night that'd she'd felt anything close to happiness. She hoped so much that it wouldn't be ruined.
"I'll leave you both." Taeko told them, getting up. She gave Ru an admiring smile as she entered the kitchen behind them and slid across the door.
When she was sure they were fully alone, Ai finally spoke again.
"Thank you."
"It's nothing," Ru replied softly, "it really isn't." He took her hand in hers, massaging it. "God," he said, aghast, "you're freezing."
It was indeed cold outside, but the throw-blanket provided Ai with adequate cover over most of her body, so she didn't feel it. She took her hand from his, looking away.
"It's nothing. I'm fine." She tried to get up again and immediately felt her legs giving way, but this time, Ru caught her as she fell; holding her in his muscled arms as if she were as light as a doll.
"I've got you." He said to her softly, her delicate legs dangled over his forearms like a pair of intricate windchimes. Aisha had expected him to put her down immediately; instead, he carried her across the garden. She felt weightless in his arms, as if she were flying- he moved with her so effortlessly.
There was an old garden swing at the bottom of the garden made of wood and rusted iron. Uruha set Ai down gently, wrapping the blanket around her to keep her warm and sat next to her. The both of them stayed silent for a while, as if trying to find the right words.
"Ai," he murmured suddenly, "I'm so sorry. I really didn't know it was you."
"It's okay." She replied, feeling nervous to the point of sickness. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. It was time.
"Uruha," she began, trying not to let her voice crack, "I have some news to tell you."
A horrible feeling of nausea and dread crept into Ru's stomach at her words. He already knew what she was going to say. Ai's voice cracked and broke in a whimper. She was unable to finish.
"Is it mine?" He whispered tentatively after a few minutes, trying not to stutter. He didn't want her to think he was a coward or a fool.
"Yes." She replied, her voice thick.
Another period of silence, much worse than the last, overwhelmed them both. Uruha's heart was thudding horribly and his sweat was ice. He didn't know what he was going to do, what to think, what his parents would do-
He heard muffled sobs next to him. She was crying. Uruha put his arm around her, swallowing his feelings. He had to lie in the place he made. He wasn't going to let her do it alone.
"Shhh," he whispered to her, touching her face, "don't cry. We'll figure something out." He held her to him as her feelings ran free, her arm extending around him to reciprocate the embrace. She swallowed, a relieved, joyful sound escaping her lips. Ru stroked her toffee coloured hair; running the strands between his fingers like silky ribbons.
"Do you really mean it?" She whispered to him, her glance meeting his. Ru nodded, cupping her chin in his hand. He really cared for Ai- she was so vulnerable; breakable even. He couldn't stand the thought of hurting her.
"I do." He replied. "I promise." He lowered his lips to hers, gently kissing her; her soft lips brushing with his own. He felt a tear trickle onto his cheek and her arms tighten around him. He wished he could have developed it further, but it wouldn't have been appropriate or fair on her.
He released the kiss and sat back on the swing, still holding her- and they both began to talk.
While Ru and Ai were talking, me, Taeko, Rei and Ruki were doing tequila shots in the kitchen. Taeko had brought a bottle in her bag; the one which she had used to knock on the door earlier. We were playing a game to lighten the mood of things, which, sufficient to say, was working. Rock, paper, scissors, tequila- the loser of each round had to down a shot. Raw. No lime, no salt- nothing. I was against Taeko and was, to my surprise, winning; even though I'd downed six shots.
"Ha!" I announced triumphantly, my scissors cutting Taeko's paper, "You fail!"
Taeko groaned, pouring herself out another shot. The first few had made her cough- as they left her throat raw on the way down- but she was either getting used to it or becoming too drunk to notice. It was probably a combination of both. She chucked it back as fast as she could, trying not to let the burning fluid touch her tongue, which I thought she managed quite well.
"There," she croaked, "happy?"
"Yup."
I heard Rei yell out, pounding his fist in the air.
"All right!! Now down that shot, loser."
Ruki glared at him, pouring out a double dose of the liquid fire which he chucked down his throat. He smiled and began to make a retort, but paused. All of a sudden, he didn't look so good. He groaned, doubling over, retching noises escaping his throat.
"Quick, Miro!" Rei yelled, holding him up, "We need to help him into the bathroom!!"
"No time!" I yelled; Ruki's gagging noises becoming more frequent, "Get him over to the sink!"
We got him there just in time; as soon as his mouth was over the sink, he projectile-vomited the contents of his stomach rapidly. Rei rubbed his back, smiling.
"Let it out man, let it out." He told Ruki, gently. Ruki glanced at him gratefully, turned his head back to the stew in the sink and threw up again.
"Is there anything I can do?" Taeko asked us both, worriedly eying Ruki.
I thought she'd done enough for one night; she'd sat outside all that time in the cold with Ai. It was about time she went off and enjoyed herself.
"Don't worry," I replied, smiling at her, "I'll stick with Rei and help out."
"Are you sure?" Taeko asked, biting her lip in her kooky way, "I'll feel really bad."
"Honestly, don't worry," I repeated, "you've done loads. Go off and have fun while you're still drunk, for God's sake girl!"
Taeko laughed; her mind walking on sunshine. She left the kitchen behind and went on a wander.
"You sure you don't want to come with us?" One of the poker guys asked Aoi, who promptly shook his head.
"Nah, thanks man. Think I'll sit off here for a while, you know, just chill out."
The guy shrugged, got up from the table and left, everyone else following suit. The guests had all decided that they'd felt like going out on the town that night; those that didn't want to go were either on the xbox in the games room/converted dining room, or had left early. Aoi, therefore, was left alone in the living room.
He turned the ipod dock- containing a girl's pink ipod- down and lit up a cigarette, one foot resting up on the chair next to him. He knew he wasn't supposed to smoke indoors, but nobody was around and he was too drunk to care. He sat back, taking a long toke, enjoying yet disliking the solemn quiet. He lay back on his chair, triumphant with his poker winnings.
Taeko came in through the door then, looking bewildered. She looked around the room and then to Aoi.
She wondered who he was. She hadn't seen him around that night. Her vision swam a little before focussing on his face. He wore a pair of sunglasses for some reason, even though it was both night-time and he was indoors, which she didn't understand- but the rest of his face was attractive; gorgeous even. His style was different, interesting- his cigarette resting between two long, slender fingers clad in leather biker's gloves with spiked knuckles. His T-shirt however, was tight, black and plain- the outline of his muscles visible and alluring. His bottom lip was pieced and moved a little when he exhaled, as if beckoning-even teasing- her. Taeko hopelessly felt her tongue creep into the corner of her mouth.
Aoi flicked his ebony black hair off his face, examining her. He hadn't seen her at all that night either- he didn't know how he'd missed her, considering he'd been in the room with the greatest populace in the house per square metre. He liked what he saw a hell of a lot- from her slender waist and considerably shapely curves to her clothes; a denim miniskirt, a Hello Kitty vest and burgundy, knee-high converse boots that matched her hair. He felt himself stir annoyingly, but left no sign on his face.
Shy, gentle Aoi was having a makeover that night.
