Last chapter was quite…fast. I've read through it again and again and I realized everything happened so abruptly. This chapter will make up for that, though. Thanks for leaving reviews! (Wow, I got seven reviews in one chapter! I feel so happy!) I hope you'll like this chappie just the same!
SakuraSunrise: Ahahaha. Nuriko was really such a cowardly guy there. Yeah, the game sounds fun but I don't have a bestfriend as well so...I tried it with Miaka and Yui—the closeness they shared made the game perfect!
ThePinkMartini: I love them together! This is by far my favorite fic! :) (But I'm not forgetting my other stories, mind you!)
Michi: He did confess, it's just not too obvious! AHAHAHA! They're really so cute together! I keep on thinking about them (no wonder this fic gets the most updates). And yes, I'm planning to make Nuriko one jealous guy!
NeoGene: Glad you like this story!
Leah_Lover: Jealous Nuriko? Coming right up!
IamNoAngel: Aaaww...Thanks for liking the fic. If you pity Yui in the last chappie, what more in this chapter? Continue reading!
Houjun Ri: I actually like yaoi but I'm quite choosy on the pairing. Thanks for liking this fic!
Disclaimer: Sometimes I dream FY is mine, but then, I'd be rich if it were.
Chapter 10: By the Stroke of Midnight
By Slavedriver2008
THE SOUND OF JASON MRAZ'S MUSIC drilled into Yui's consciousness and she annoyingly opened her eyes to check who the caller was. Chou Ryuuen. Again? She had personalized the ring tone for him so she'll know if he was calling. She designated one of Jason Mraz's songs, If it Kills Me. She loved that song and it was kinda perfect for them. Even against her will, she clicked the button and placed the phone to his ear. It wouldn't hurt to hear his voice again.
"Good morning sunshine!" he said happily on the other end and Yui's cheeks flushed instantly.
"Ryuuen, you have been calling every five minutes for the last three hours. Can't you give me two more hours of decent sleep?" she said, trying to feign annoyance. She could imagine his smiling face and his beautiful purple eyes.
"You're supposed to go to class," Nuriko said matter-of-factly. It was already past lunchtime. She missed her classes already. "Why are you still in bed?"
"I don't feel like going and you know why." Yui closed her eyes, trying to not sound hurt. But she felt otherwise. Thinking about what happened last night hurt and humiliate her to the core.
"Yui...I'm coming over." Nuriko sounded alarmed. She can imagine the frown on his beautiful face.
"Don't," she whispered, eyes still closed. It was the only word she can come out with. Because truth be told, she wanted to see him so much. His presence offered some sort of assurance, comfort that no one in her current world can give. She needed him. But he needed someone else.
"I want to see you."
Yui winced, her heart breaking again. Damn, he was the only one who can break her over and over again and she would let him. "I will be out," her voice broke.
"I thought you're sleeping for another two hours? I'll be there in less than 10 minutes."
"Ryuuen…Don't—I don't…want to see you. Please leave me in peace," she told him in the softest voice she could. Tears flowed from her eyes and sadness washed over her. It was too early to cry, but she could not help it, even though her eyes were still sore from last night.
"Yui…"
"It's better this way." She was literally sobbing on the line.
"You've misunderstood me yesterday."
Yui tried to laugh but it ended up sounding pained and vicious. "You dumped me and I've literally cried all night because of you and now you're saying I got everything wrong?" She wiped her tears. "I don't want to see you, Ryuuen. Not now and probably not in the next days."
"You're still my girlfriend," he said hopefully.
"No I'm not. I'm going back to sleep." She was about to put the phone down when he spoke again.
"I thought you're going out?" Yui tried to speak but he cut her again. "Too late. I'm here." The doorbell rang and Yui sighed annoyingly. She lazily walked toward the front door, uncaring whether she looked monstrous that morning. "I brought breakfast." Nuriko raised bags of food. Yui smirked and opened the door for him. She cut the phone conversation and tried her hair in a high ponytail.
NURIKO FOLLOWED HER HAPPILY, his heart beating wildly in his throat. He never expected her to open up. But he did notice the puffiness of her eyes and the loneliness in the way she looked at her. He wanted to pull her close and embrace her tight and tell her everything will be alright. He wanted to kiss her and make her feel loved. No, the last part wouldn't work. She might even punch him if he tried. Maybe he should do the first one, though. He smiled and placed the food on the table. Without warning, he pulled Yui and embraced her. The girl gasped but leaned to him. He planted a kiss at the top of her head.
"Stop this, Ryuuen," she managed to whisper.
"Ryuuen? So it's Ryuuen now?" he teased, not letting go.
"I don't have any right to call you Nuriko—I'm not your priestess."
"Yui…I can be your warrior if you want," he said without thinking. Yui stood still. He brushed his fingers along her hair. "You're like my bestfriend, you know."
Yui pushed him away and walked over to the other side of the room. "It would be better if I'm not." The girl opened the sink and let the waters run through her fingers.
"I'm sorry about last night," he managed to say, very softly.
"Sorry for what?"
"For breaking your heart?" Yui snorted, her back to him, wiping the tears from her eyes. Nuriko felt bad, she never made a girl cry before. He walked toward her and embraced her from behind. Yui gasped. "I don't know what I feel for you. I like being close to you. I like touching you. I…I like you."
"You're torturing me," she said in-between tears. Nuriko felt the urge to wipe away her tears. He would do anything to make her stop crying, but for the life of him, he cannot lie to her about his feelings.
"You're…you're special. You're very special to me, Yui."
Yui pulled away from him, walking to the other end of the kitchen again. "What do you want?"
"What?" he looked back at her quizzically.
"What do you want? You're doing this because you want something. What is it?" She said, taking out a pitcher of water from the refrigerator and pouring the contents into a glass. She drank it slowly. Her face was dry now. Nuriko didn't know what to do if he ever found her crying.
Nuriko sighed. "All I want is for us to be friends again."
Yui placed the glass on the table, smirking. "We were never friends."
Nuriko clutched his hair out of irritation. He walked toward her. Yui stepped back and gasped when he placed his hands on the counter, making a cage around her. "You're being unreasonable, Yui." Surprise registered in her blue eyes and she leaned away from him.
"Fine. We're friends." Nuriko smiled and brushed her cheek. Yui blushed and she looked down. Nuriko leaned down to catch her lips for a kiss but Yui leaned away, hands landing on his chest.
"No kiss. We're friends…without benefits." He nodded and for the first time that morning, she smiled. The act warmed him and he smiled back. She leaned on his chest and embraced him. Nuriko felt warm all over and he embraced her back, running his fingers on her long blonde hair.
"No benefits, huh?" he teased and Yui managed to laugh, a pained laughter.
"One last embrace, please." Nuriko's eyes widened and he felt sad. One last embrace, she said. Does this mean he can't touch her anymore? He planted kisses at the top of her head and tears fell down from her eyes. He cupped her face and wiped the tears, planting kisses on the spots where it landed.
"Miaka's inviting us over for a movie in their new house," he told her. "Should we go?" Yui moved away and started to unpack the breakfast he brought. The smell of food lingered in the air.
"Yeah, we should go. It would be the perfect time to break up."
"What?" Nuriko asked, his heart pounding nervously.
"We're supposed to give them a show right? Tonight would be the perfect night for the final act," Yui said casually and Nuriko felt a pain in his chest.
"Isn't it too early for that?" he asked, indirectly begging her to extend the pretending for another week. Just one more week, he thought. I wanted to be with you for one more week. He should have voiced it out but he never had the courage. He was becoming a sissy.
"Not really, that way it's easier to get out of this mess."
YUI HAD NOT SAID ANYTHING in the car. They just drove to Miaka and Taka's house without a word being said. The silence deafened Nuriko. She was always the talkative one, always the one to point out details, ask questions. It was in her character to be always in the know of things. Miaka told him she was only like that to people she was close to, she seldom spoke or asked questions to people she doesn't know or like.
"How are we supposed to break up later?" he asked, desperate to hear her voice in the monotonous sound of the air-conditioning system.
"I don't know."
"Should we do it before or after the movie?" he asked, wanting to have her talk more, longer.
"Probably after. It will ruin everyone's mood if we broke up before the movie."
"How do I know when we're supposed to break up? Are we going to shout? Scream at each other? Gods, tell me what to do," Nuriko said desperately. Yui looked at him with lonely blue eyes. "We can also break-up after two more weeks. So we can have everything planned out." Please agree, Nuriko thought. Please say we'll be together for a few more days.
"Tonight would be perfect. You already agreed to this." The car stopped and Yui took out her seatbelt. "I want you off my back tonight."
"What?" he asked angrily. So that was why she was so eager to break up with him. "Why Yui? Do you want to start dating?" he couldn't help but say out. The blonde girl looked back at him with hate.
"It's none of your business." She stepped out of the car and Nuriko followed her. Anger rising in his system.
She just said she loved him last night and now that he rejected her, she was giving her attention to another guy. Can't she stay in love with him for a few more days? Nuriko wanted to slap himself, of course that was not possible. She was hurting and she was probably doing this to heal the pain. That or she was trying to get back at him. Reverse psychology. Nuriko followed her toward the door. She rang the doorbell impatiently and Taka opened it with a huge smile on his face. He looked at Yui's face and then looked back at the bishounen, eyes questioning him.
"It's good to see you're together," Taka teased and Yui raised an eyebrow. "Come on in, everyone's inside now. Help Miaka choose which movie to watch." Yui stepped into the house, leaving Nuriko in the doorway with Taka. "What happened?"
"She hates me." Nuriko looked like a beaten man. "We're breaking up tonight. Help me." Taka made a face.
"What do you want me to do?"
"I don't know. Just help me change her mind." Taka shook his head. He motioned him to come in and Nuriko did. Everyone in the gang greeted him the moment he came in. Everyone was there all right. Chiriko was talking to Yui and the young boy was blushing as Yui taught him something about class. Mitsukake was also listening to the conversation and Nuriko bet Yui was asking him about medicines and the likes.
Chichiri was nowhere to be found, probably in the kitchen, and Tasuki was playing a racing game in the playstation with Korin. Hotohori and Houki were cheering as Korin beat the hell out of Tasuki. Even with the commotion in the living room, Nuriko didn't miss the brief glimpse his redhead friend gave Yui and the smile that graced his lips when Yui smiled back. His palm clenched and he walked into the living room toward his girlfriend. Yui looked up to him and immediately stood up.
"I'm helping Miaka in the kitchen," she said and Nuriko just followed her with his eyes. The living room became suddenly silent.
Korin approached him and slapped his head. "What did you do to Yui, you baka?" Korin asked and he frowned at him.
"It's between us, last time I checked you're my younger sister so don't slap me." His eyes widened in annoyance and Korin frowned. He crossed the living room and walked toward the kitchen, leaning in the wall to listen to the conversations inside.
"How is this done?" Yui asked and Chichiri turned his attention toward the blonde girl.
"Oh, just fry those. Fish and chips are perfect when watching movies no da," Chichiri said and Yui sighed.
"What are we watching anyway?" she asked innocently, trying to forget Nuriko's angry face when he walked toward her earlier. She didn't know what she did but he was very mad. She doesn't want to analyze his actions anymore. She was tired of him. She was tired of loving him.
"Miaka's still deciding what to watch. Says she'll decide because it's her housewarming party, no da." Chichiri started cooking the potatoes and the fish. Yui watched him with awe. "You can start cutting the lemons and the oranges for the tea."
"Okay. British iced tea, coming right up," Yui said gleefully. She was proud to be assisting a master chef like Chichiri in the kitchen. This was better than cooking alone.
"Nuriko told me you cook really well, no da." Yui blushed. "We should hang out and cook once in awhile."
Yui smiled and sighed. "I'm not really very good. Nuriko's just hungry so he thinks everything I cook tastes well."
The former monk laughed. "It's probably love that was doing it, no da." It was Yui's turn to laugh. Love, what love? "Love makes the simplest meals the most delicious, no da." Yui focused on slicing the oranges but she was listening intently to him. "Cooking for someone you love adds to the taste of the meal. Similarly, food made for you by someone you love tasted perfect."
"I won't be so sure about that, though." Yui said. "Nuriko and I…we might not love each other the way you said it." She stopped slicing the oranges. The knife accidentally cut through her finger and it started to bleed. It was a small wound but tears started to fall from her eyes. She didn't know which hurt, her finger or her heart.
"Nuriko's never dated a woman before, no da." Chichiri explained. "You have to give him more time. Sometimes you don't realize you love someone very deeply until they left you. You have to know when to hold on and when to let go, Yui. Cooking works the same way, you have to give your heart, soul, everything to whip up a perfect meal." Chichiri turned off the stove and carried the plates in his hand. "I'll go ahead, no da. Miaka's calling us already. Don't forget to bring the juice!" Yui nodded and Chichiri left. She wiped her tears when she was sure he was gone.
A pair of strong arms pulled her and she was face to face with Nuriko. Her heart ached more. The bishounen quickly grabbed her injured hand and placed the finger into his mouth. "Are you alright?" he asked in gurgled voice. Yui laughed and nodded softly. They remained in the kitchen, looking at each other, her bleeding finger in his mouth. For a moment, nothing mattered.
"Hoy Ryuuen, stop eating Yui's fingers! The movie's starting!" Houki called them and laughter erupted from the living room. Nuriko wanted to kill her own sister for ruining the moment because really, he would rather be in the kitchen with Yui than to be with everyone in the living room.
Yui turned her back to him and placed the oranges and lemons in three large pitchers of iced tea. Nuriko took the two pitchers and Yui carried the last one toward the living room. They placed it on the table for everyone. There was a spot for them in the couch beside Hotohori and Houki. Houki was literally in Hotohori's lap and Nuriko wanted to berate her sister for being so public. Hotohori smirked at him and he looked away. Yui sat beside him and he waited for her to lean down but she never did. As the opening credits started, Nuriko was looking avidly at Yui's back.
By the time Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron were living together in one house, Nuriko couldn't take it anymore and pulled her toward him. The girl made a sound but leaned closer to his chest as the movie progressed. Nuriko sighed. He felt better now. He brushed his fingers over Yui's hair and brought some strands to his nose. He loved her scent. And right now, he specifically loved the way she snuggled to him with ease. He smiled. Maybe she'll change her mind and they wouldn't have to break up.
If you like her now, there's a huge chance you'll learn to love her, Taka told him when they were caught making out yesterday. The thing was, Taka said, you look good together. When people look at the two of you, they don't see you two as friends or siblings. They automatically think what a perfect couple you are. Gods man, if you don't feel anything for her beyond like, you wouldn't kiss her that way. Either you're unconsciously in love with her or you just want to have sex with her. Love or lust, which is it?
Was he really unconsciously in love with her? Was his subconscious showing him signs he never recognized? When did he start wanting a girl in his life? He looked over at Hotohori and his former lover turned to him and smiled. Hotohori mouthed words and Nuriko strained to read his lips. I-Want-You-Back. He gasped and just as immediately, Yui stood up from his arms and walked toward the kitchen. The bishounen was caught off guard and didn't know what to do. Should he follow Yui or should he stay and continue flirting with Hotohori? The movie was ending, it was the last scene, the part where Nelson was blindfolded and Sara leaves him.
Redemption's not for sale today...
Nuriko stood up and followed Yui, hoping against hope she didn't see what Hotohori mouthed earlier. Oh man, he never thought this act would end up like this. Yui was cutting lemons and oranges when he appeared on the kitchen. She had her back to him and she was silently crying. Nuriko knew so by the way she breathed out and the manner her shoulders come up and down. He wrapped her arms around her and Yui put down the knife. He kissed the back of her head.
"Let go," she whispered but Nuriko held her tighter. "Let's stop this, Ryuuen."
"No, I'm not letting you go," he said defiantly and tears dropped on his arms. "Not until you tell me you don't…love me anymore." He wanted to kick himself. Of course he doesn't want to hear it, but what if Yui didn't love him anymore?
"Ryuuen…If you don't let me go, I will be forced to not love you anymore," she said, her voice breaking. "Please let me go now, while I still do." Her words confused Nuriko.
"Do you really me want to go away that badly?"
Yui smiled slowly, sighing. "Yes." Her word crushed him.
Yui, Yui was rejecting him. In the same way Hotohori did. She loved him but he was pushing him away—just like Saihitei. They were the same. The grandfather's clock stroke midnight and Nuriko took it as the sign. She was no longer the princess he had to save and he was no longer her prince. The pretending had ended, they were bare, the magic was gone. What were between them were merely illusions. The night had ended for them. And so was the dream.
Slowly, he let go of her and walked out of the kitchen, out of Miaka and Taka's house, out into the cold freezing night, out of her life for good.
A/N: The ringtone Yui assigned for Nuriko is If It Kills Me by Jason Mraz in the albumWe Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things. Redemption's not for sale today is a quote fromSweet November.I'm sorry this ended out as a short and sad chapter. As much as I want them to just kiss and make up, I can't! But I'm glad to say I've already figured out how Nuriko will get her back. *wink* Thanks for reading! Please do leave reviews!