CHAPTER NINE.
Ryoga's stomach rumbled noisily and he cursed; he hadn't had breakfast yet and it was already near nine a.m. He had fled from Ukyo's house at five, and had already finished painting the room and taking all the boxes to the attic. He was now polishing the wooden floor, after having cleaned up all the green droplets.
The reason he had started working so early that morning was that he had given up on sleep after spending the whole night trying to straighten up his mind of the confusing thoughts and the strange way Ukyo made him feel. After failing miserably and leaving that aside, he had come to terms with the fact that, for the first time in his life, he had a real friend, and maybe that was the reason behind it all. He'd come to said conclusion after realizing she was the first person who showed any kind of interest in him and his well-being (aside from Akane, that is) and liked to hang out with him. This was such a novelty to him it had made him feel confused and frightened. Besides, it's not like he was the most sociable guy in the world; he had always been a loner, it was a part of his nature, and he didn't see himself making a lot more of friends either in Osaka or Kobe.
It wasn't like he hadn't tried, there were a few guys around his age working at the company and he had been welcomed into their group, but he felt like he had nothing in common with them. They talked about sports and girlfriends and things he had no clue about, so he always felt left aside, even if they didn't mean it.
Truth was, the friendship he had somehow developed with the brunette girl was something unique, maybe because of all the things they had in common and how well she understood him, and it scared him a bit. He wasn't used to seeing someone every day, to share his meals, to do fun things with another human being. He was used to being alone, and having a friend who cared about him and insisted on spending time with him almost every day was too foreign, and admittedly, too exciting.
However, what scared him the most was just how easy it had been for him to become friends with her. Since that first encounter in the forest, when he had started glimpsing past her walls, he'd been more than curious to know what was going on with her; later, when he'd started to see a side of her he didn't know (and started to like it), that curiosity turned into worry. And, without his notice, they had fallen into a smooth rhythm of companionship and had turned into more than acquaintances, even to the extent of caring for each other. They had become friends.
He, with his lack of social skills and his natural shyness and innocence, and his curse, and his problems with directions, had a friend.
How did this happen?
"Good morning!"
The cheerful voice made him jump, waking him up from his thoughts. He looked up at her standing in the doorway, holding two cups of take-out coffee and a brown paper bag that smelled wonderfully. His stomach rumbled again.
"I've brought breakfast, since I noticed you haven't eaten anything." She announced cheerily, looking around. "Wow, you've been busting your ass off here…"
Ryoga laughed in spite of himself. Here she was, taking care of him when it was supposed to be the other way around.
"Good morning," he started, standing up; "you shouldn't have done that, you're going to spoil me." And he might like it too much…
"Hey," she stood in front of him, handling him the cups and the bag, "everyone deserves to be spoiled at least once in their life, so shush."
She turned around and left the room, leaving him blinking after her, and then returned carrying the small squared table from the kitchenette.
"I'm sure my dad won't mind if we borrow this for a while," she smiled, placing the table next to the window and taking breakfast from his hands. "You go get the chairs."
He blinked again, nodded once and set to motion, still a bit stunned. Why that girl was making such an effort for him was still beyond his comprehension, but he wouldn't complain.
A smile tugged at his lips and warmth spread all over his chest.
He had a friend.
Ukyo watched as the fanged boy finished polishing the floor while she ate the last cinnamon roll. She had to admit he'd done a great job with the room, and felt guilty for all the times she had thought him to be a useless jackass. Maybe he had messed up all their plans, but he surely knew how to work with his hands.
She had woken up with the need to feed him, the same need she had felt the night before, after what he had said so carelessly. She'd wondered how many times he'd been hungry or cold or maybe both, unable to find a place to stay and something to eat; maybe even for days…
She shook her head, those days were over for the lost boy; now he had the means to not get lost anymore and had a warm place to live in and a good friend to take care of him… for as long as she stayed in Osaka, at least. But he had her dad, too; he'd be okay if she left…
She still hadn't decided what to do, she was still waiting, and her life was still on hold…
For how long, though?
"Ukyo?" His voice woke her out of her thoughts. "Are you okay?"
"Hmm?"
"You look worried about something…" His green eyes searched her face, making feel a bit self-conscious.
"I'm okay," she reassured, forcing a smile to her face. "You've done a great job here, honey."
She enjoyed how he blushed at the endearment. It was so easy to make him blush…
"Thanks…"
"Now we have to get you a bed, right?"
"Yeah, I guess, although I could use my sleeping bag and-"
"No, you're getting a bed."
He fiddled with his thumbs, blushing again.
"I can't, I haven't saved up that much yet… Maybe in a month or two…"
"What? No way, Ryoga, you can't keep sleeping on the floor; I'll tell dad to buy it and you can pay him back."
"I'd rather not, he's already done a lot for me; it's okay, Ukyo, I'm used to it."
"But that's the point!" She stood up and walked to him, kneeling in front of him and placing a hand on his cheek. "Ryoga, you have to start living decently, life hasn't been fair for you but now you have the chance to change that. I know I haven't been fair to you. And I know my dad has asked something in return for you staying here, even if you don't want to tell me what it is, so let us help you, okay?"
She looked at him pleadingly, stroking his cheek, willing him to let her help him, to let her make amends for the way she used to treat him.
"O-okay…" He nodded shyly, his intense green eyes widened and locked with hers, full of gratitude and emotion.
"So, I'm going to tell dad and then we'll be off. You get ready, Hibiki." She stood up and hurried to the restaurant; she walked behind the grill and patted her dad on the shoulder.
"Ucchan!" Her dad's face lit up with a smile.
"Hey dad, I wanted to ask you something."
"Sure honey," he sat on a stool, looking curiously at her.
"Ryoga needs a bed, but he's got no money yet. I told him you'd buy it and he'll pay you back."
"Oh, well, shouldn't you have asked me first?"
The girl shrugged, "I know you'd say yes." She smiled sweetly at him, making him chuckle.
"Of course," he nodded, taking his wallet and giving her the money.
"Thanks, dad." She hugged him tightly, surprising the hell out of the man.
"You're welcome!" He laughed, returning the hug with tenderness.
"Ukyo? My goodness girl, is that you?" A feminine voice asked, making her turn around. She blinked at a woman looking her father's age, with curly blond hair and stunning light-blue eyes.
"Mrs. Kanaeda?" She asked, amazed at how different the woman who used to babysit her looked now.
"Oh, sweetheart, I can't believe how much you've grown up!" The lady giggled, walking around the counter and taking an apron. "Your dad told me you were back but I haven't seen you around…"
"Ah, yes, well, I've been busy…" Ukyo blushed, scratching the back of her head. She liked Mrs. Kanaeda, the woman had always been nice and caring to her, but unfortunately, her daughter had been always around, and that girl had been the devil itself.
"You should pass by my house any time; I bet Aisha would be happy to see you again." Ukyo smiled, knowing it was probably the other way around. "I know! Why don't you two have dinner with us this Friday?"
"Oh, I…"
"That's a wonderful idea, we'll be there." Her father agreed before she could refuse, winking discretely at her.
"Lovely!"
"Um, well, I must go now, it was nice to see you again Mrs. Kanaeda."
She bowed and fled to the kitchenette, closing the double doors. Great! The last thing she wanted to do was to spend a Friday night with Mrs. Kanaeda and her horrible daughter. Aisha was her age, and she had been a member of the group of girls that used to pick on her during her childhood. She was definitely not keen to spend time with that girl, or any of that group, for that matter.
"What's wrong?"
Ryoga's voice startled her, and she let out a little grunt. "Nothing."
"Well, you look pissed off."
"I am pissed off," she glared at him, knowing she shouldn't take it on him but being unable to stop.
"Okay… what did I do?"
He looked so resigned she couldn't help to laugh.
"It hasn't been you, sorry… I've just been invited to dinner this Friday by the woman who used to babysit me."
"And that's bad because…?"
"Her daughter is a bitch."
"Ah, I see." He nodded, zipping up his jacket. "She's one of those people."
"I think she fits in the category, yes." She giggled. "Let's just hope it ends up soon. Now, let's go get you a bed."
They had been walking for a few blocks when rain started pouring furiously out of the blue.
Ukyo yelped, being caught by surprise by the cold water. She ran to beneath a canopy and looked around, only to find herself alone.
Where was Ryoga?
'Bweeee!'
Something squealed at her feet and she looked down, finding a wet little black piglet looking at her with big, shameful eyes.
Ah, the curse, right.
"Ryoga?"
'Buki!'
The pig looked down, his ears plastered to his head in shame. She giggled at his attitude, bending down to pick him up in her arms. He was completely wet and shaking.
"It's okay, I'm not mad…" Thunder rumbled in the distance and the sky darkened. "It looks like it's not going to stop any time soon. Let's go home and get you some hot water."
She walked back to where his clothes were resting on a heap and took them, and then she hurried back to her house with a shaking wet piglet cradled in her arms.
Her clothes were completely soaked when she finally got home. She hurried to the kitchen and opened the hot water tap, resting Ryoga on the counter. He looked so depressed she wanted to bop him on the head.
"Hey, sugar, I guess your bed will have to wait, huh?" He 'bweed' lamely in response. "Aww, come on! Cheer up, you'll be spending another night here, isn't that a good thing?" The piglet rolled his eyes. "I'm going to ignore that." She admonished while filling a cup with hot water.
Without thinking too much about it, she spilled the water on the piggy's head, and found herself staring at a very bare, very masculine torso.
"Eek!" She yelled and turned around, blushing like mad. "You jackass! You didn't warn me you'd be naked!"
"I-I'm sorry! I-I didn't r-realize! C-couldn't talk!" He stuttered like an idiot, making her feel even more nervous. "J-just d-don't turn a-around…"
"I won't turn around!" She yelled, scandalized that he'd even suggested that. She just stood there, pressing her palms to her cheeks, trying to calm her ragged breathing, making an effort to ignore the fact that a very naked boy was standing behind her.
"U-ukyo?"
"Yeah?"
"I… I need some clothes…" He said sheepishly and she burst out laughing.
"I'm sorry, it's just everything's so ridiculous…" She shook her head and walked out of the kitchen without looking back. "I'll be right back, I need to change my clothes, too."
She changed quickly and picked a t-shirt and pants from his backpack. Hurrying downstairs, she entered the kitchen with her eyes closed.
"Ryoga?"
"Over here," he said, taking his clothes from her hands. "T-thank you."
She shrugged, waiting until he was dressed to open her eyes, and convincing herself that she definitely not wanted to peek.
She had seen him shirtless before at the forest, but he hadn't been as close as that time, and she surely had gotten a good glimpse at his strong arms and chest, and there was absolutely nothing to complain about his abs…
Oh my God, stop thinking about that!
"I'm done." He said, sounding miserable. She opened her eyes and found him resting on the counter, arms crossed, head down. "I'm sorry…"
"Whatever for?"
"The stupid curse, ruining your day…" He shrugged one shoulder.
What?
"Ryoga, you haven't ruined my day, why do you say that?" He shrugged again. "It wasn't your fault. It's not something you can control."
"I know but…"
"Hey, come on. It's not a big deal, just forget about it."
He looked up hopefully. "You really don't mind about the curse?"
"No, silly, I don't mind…" She smiled encouragingly. "It's a part of you, and friends accept each other with the good and the bad and the weird. Right? And there's a lot of weird in us." She giggled, patting his shoulder reassuringly.
The way he looked at her then, as if she was a valuable, precious thing, made her feel warm and fuzzy and confused. They locked eyes for a moment and there was such intensity in the air she thought she could touch it.
"So, um…" She looked down, suddenly feeling self-conscious under his gaze. "We could watch a movie or something, seeing that the storm isn't relenting. Would you like some tea?"
"Yeah, sure…" He cleared his throat, changing his weight from one foot to the other nervously. "I'll take these to the bathroom," he said in a rush, picking up his wet clothes and fleeting upstairs.
"Okay…" She mumbled to herself, taking a deep breath.
What had just happened?
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