Ten.
Good Night

His first instinct was to stop walking and stare at her as if he hadn't heard her correctly. Maybe it was the booze simply talking and making her say things she wouldn't ordinarily. Making her be silly. Of course, that was it. He quickly kept moving, his toes tripping a little bit on the pavement.

Thinking he was a bit drunker than he let on, Udara only giggled into one of her palms. She had such a sweetness about her. Not innocent so much as just sweet. There was far more to her than met the eye. If she was hanging around Corsten Fenlin and Ryonosuke Meiyahima, there had to be an adventurous side to her. But as they walked along the sidewalk towards her apartment building with her giggling almost uncontrollably into her hand, Ruo couldn't imagine her any other way.

She was still holding on to his hand. Her palm felt warm and soft against his slightly calloused one. As they passed under one of the street lamps, Ruo found himself hoping they never would reach her apartment after all, and they could just continue to walk like this in the cool night air for the rest of eternity.

Of course, foolish wishes like that always found their ends to come much too quick. Before he knew it Udara had announced that they had reached her building. As they came to a stop in front of it, Ruo felt his heart sinking slightly. It sank even lower when she let go of his hand to unlock the front door that lead to the stairs.

"I should see you all the way up," Ruo told her as Udara fumbled with her keys for a moment. "Make sure you actually make it in."

"Thank you, Ruo-kun," Udara smiled up at him, her cheeks flushed. Finally she got the key in the lock to turn and she opened the door. She led him through the small dimly lit hallway to the stairs and led him up to her apartment. She fumbled again with the lock, "Would you like to come in?" she asked, "I feel bad simply turning you away at my door to walk back alone after coming all this way."

"I wouldn't want to put you out," Ruo answered her as he watched her fumble.

"Don't be silly," Udara kept smiling at him, "You'll come in and have some tea. We'll chat for a little bit."

"I couldn't," Ruo hated turning her down. But the poor girl looked so sleepy. She couldn't even get her key to work. Finally, Ruo gently took the key ring from her and with much smarter hands attempted to get her deadbolt to turn.

"Oh," Udara pouted a bit. She stepped back and tucked her blue locks behind her ears. "But we'll do this again, right? Like you and me, out somewhere?"

"Sure, if you'd like," Ruo nodded. Why did this girl have so many keys?

"I would!" Udara exclaimed. Then hushed her voice and looked about sheepishly. She leaned closer to him, "Maybe later this week?"

Ruo blinked. He didn't expect her to invite him out so soon. "Uh...ok."

"There's a new museum exhibit I would like to check out," Udara told him. "I could never get Corsten or Sega to go and I would much rather go with someone other than my father for a change." She looked at him hopefully, "I know it probably sounds terribly dull but I can get in to all the good stuff for free and-"

"I'll go," Ruo glanced at her. He felt the lock finally give to the key he had selected and her door clicked open.

Udara's cherry eyes lit up instantly, "Oh, you will? Ruo, thank you!" She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him for all she was worth.

Ruo was taken completely off guard. He stumbled back a step or so with Udara hanging off him. He didn't know what to do. She was drunk and probably had no idea what she was doing. Or perhaps it was possible she was just this friendly with everyone. He didn't know if he should hug her back or try to shake her off him. Thankfully she let go before the moment became too awkward. She seemed to be blushing as she peered up at him through her bangs. "I should go in now," she told him almost looking shy now. Carefully she stepped inside her apartment, then turned to peer at him, "Thank you for walking me home, Ruo."

Ruo nodded, "Sure... any time."

She smiled and winked at him, "I hope that means you'll be coming out more often then."

"We'll see."

There was a moment or so of awkward silence between them as if both of them felt something more should be said, but couldn't think of anything proper to fill the space.

"Good night, Dunia-sempai," Ruo finally said when the moment became ridiculous. He bowed a little.

"Please, call me Udara," she nodded. "Good night, Ruo-kun." She watched as he turned and left the apartment, keeping her cherry eyes on his midnight blue hair until he had gone down the stairs and was gone from view. Then with a wistful sigh, she closed her apartment door with a soft click and locked it for the night, pursing her lips together for a moment in contemplation, and regret, before turning to prepare for bed.