Love, Tears, & Promises Part XI: Misunderstanding

Ran sat in a chair to one side of Enjouji's bed, his hands gripping something, a scowl on his face. Enjouji, passed out in drunken stupor, would not wake up for several hourse. Ran glanced back down at what he held. It was a matchbook with The Love Hotel written on it. He clenched it, looking at Enjouji again. The shirt was partly unbuttoned, and lipstick clearly marked someone's lips below his neck. Ran never really appreciated the host job Enjouji had held before the accident. He'd liked it even less when he'd taken it back up. Enjouji often came home drunk from work, which was one thing he definately disliked about it. The other, he admitted to himself, was simply the thought of his lover sharing a meal and drinking with someone else. Even if they were only a client and Enjouji didn't care for them in anyway. He could still remember the arguement they'd gotten into back when he'd first started the job before the accident..


"It's a host job. What's wrong with it?" Enjouji had frowned when he'd protested.
"Can't you get work that's a bit more...a bit more-" He couldn't find the word he was looking for.
"A bit more what? Upper class? Socially acceptable?" Enjouji had sneered. "It's work, Ran. It pays well."
"It's not just work. It's like...you're the one being payed for."
"It's not prostitution for crying out loud! I'm payed by the bar to sit and talk with someone. Compliment their looks, listen to their sob story, and watch them drown their sorrows. And it pays well."
"I don't like it." He had been set.
"Then don't work there. Geesh. It's my life."
"Well, excuse me." He'd glared. "I thought our lives were entwined. Guess I was wrong." He'd gone to storm off, but Enjouji had grabbed his arm. "Now hold on here. This is crazy. Our lives are entwined. I want us to be together. Why is this such a big deal? Do you know how many youths work host jobs? It's a good job, and it pays well...it'll help me put together a down on a place we can share alot quicker than any other job."
"A place we can share...?" He'd repeated.
"I just said I wanted us together, weren't you listening?"
The phone rang, interrupting Ran's thoughts. He paused, realizing it was light outside. How long had he been sitting there, lost in the past? Enjouji groaned, pulling a pillow over his head. Ran gave him one last glare before going to answer it.
"Hello. Samejima-Enjouji Residence."
"Ah, yes, is Kei-chan there?" A feminine voice asked.
Ran froze, gritting his teeth. 'Kei-chan??' 'Kei-chan?!?' "Enjouji-san is here, but he's not up yet."
"Oopsie." The voice giggled. "Too much to drink for both of us last night. Can you take a message for me? Well, for him from me?"
Ran collapsed into the chair. He couldn't believe it! Was this real? He'd been trying to rationalize all morning. Maybe a client had given him the matches. Maybe they'd gotten carried away. Maybe nothing had happened. He couldn't have gone to a hotel with someone. He wouldn't have...but if this woman had their phone number.
"Um, hello? You still there?" The voice asked.
"You were with Kei last night?"
"Um...yah..." The voice paused, sounding confused. "Listen, could you just tell him that Rena called?"
"I'll be sure to tell him." Ran slammed the phone down.
"Ow..." A voice groaned, and Enjouji stumbled in half-awake. "Thought I heard the phone. Ad?"
"It was Rena." Ran glared at him.
Enjouji, holding his head, missed it. "Rena? Oh, darn, I needed to talk to her."
Ran stood very still. "She said you were with her last night." "Yah. Forgot my address book, too."
"You're...you're not even denying it!" Ran shouted.
"Ouch, Ran...my head hurts. Keep it down, will ya?" Enjouji winced. "Denying what? I don't get it. I guess we could have invited you, but-"
He was cut off when Ran cuffed him. "Kei, you...you!" Whirling away he grabbed his jacked and ran.
"What the-?" Enjouji brought his hand up to his face. Realization finally sunk in. "Ran, wait! This isn't...!" The door slammed shut. "Aw, shit..." Running back into the room for a pair of sunglasses, Enjouji paused when he saw himself in the mirror. "Lipstick? Rena! Oh, gods..." Grabbing a kleenex to try to wipe it off, though only managing to smear it, he buttoned up his shirt as he ran back to the hall to slip on his shoes and chase after Ran. His legs still weren't strong enough for a long run. They were aching when he emerged onto the street, but he was too late - Ran was nowhere to be seen. He groaned. "Where would he go?" He wondered, slipping on the sunglasses to shield his eyes from the sun.
Ran kicked at a stone as he wandered through town. 'I can't believe it...Enjouji admitted it. He was at a hotel with a woman last night...a woman!' He paused. 'Well...why not a woman? That's normal isn't it? So why shouldn't he want to be with one...but what chance do I stand then?' He continued walking, not really paying attention to where he was going. 'I thought...after the accident. I thought this was it. We were together forever. I thought he felt the same...if it's over, why didn't he atleast tell me?' Finding himself on a bridge, he turned to look down at the water below. "Why didn't..." He began aloud, but didn't finish. He just gazed into the water below him.
"Are you going to jump or something?"
Ran blinked, and turned to find a woman around his age staring at him. "What?"
"Contemplating suicide...did you just get dumped? That's depressing, but it's not the end of the world. Are you hungry? I tend to think depressing thoughts when I'm hungry." She reached into her bag and pulled out a piece of tempura beef. "Here." When he stared blankly at her, she frowned. "Don't like beef? It's my favorite...alright, how about duck? Rice?" She offered more food. "Not hungry?"
"I'm sorry, this is a little confusing." Ran shook his head. "Why did you stop to talk to me?"
"You're pretty clueless, aren't you?" The woman asked. "I'm hitting on you."
"You are?" Ran blinked.
The woman smiled. "You are clueless, but you're still cute." She paused when a stray dog came over. "Aw...are you hungry. Have some tempura." She knelt down to offer the beef to it. "Or maybe duck or rice?"
Ran blinked. "I get the same treatment as a dog?"
"Well, it's cute too." The woman laughed.
Ran found himself smiling. 'She dresses mature and flashily, but her laugh is like a child - so joyful."
"I'm Rena, what's your name?"
"Samejima." Ran didn't even make the connection.
"No, no. You're first name."
"Ranmaru."
"Ranmaru...pretty. Is it okay if I call you Ran?"
Ran stared for a minute. "I...yes, that's fine." 'That's so like what Kei said to me...when we were first getting to know one another...' He looked down at the Tempura he still held, and determinedly took a bite.
Enjouji exited the Samejima dojo. "Not here..." He glanced around. "Well, I can always try Tamura's place." He headed off down the street.
"Food tastes better with two." Rena smiled at Ran.
"Is that why you invited me to join you?" Ran asked her.
"Pretty much." She nodded. "So, where to next?"
"Next?" "We're on a date." She grinned.
"We are?" Ran blinked.
Rena giggled. "You're so adorable. C'mon." She took his hand and led him off down the bridge. "We'll get ice cream."
"We just ate Tempura. Does that work?"
"Sure. Ice cream mixes with everything." Rena opinioned, glancing back. Ran was looking at their hands. "Are you embarrassed to hold hands? How odd! It's perfectly normal."
"I guess it is..." Ran said slowly. 'I never thought about it. Things like this, holding hands. Going on a date. I can't give those to Kei. Is that why...'
"Samejima? Nope, not here." Tamura told Enjouji. "Why?"
"If he shows up, call me. Okay?" Enjouji replied simply.
"Um...sure..." His friend paused as he started to walk away. "Kei, you limping? How much have you been on your feet today? You haven't limped in months."
Enjouji turned back. "I'm fine." He insisted. His walk was normal until he turned the corner, then the limp returned. "Well, if he's not home and not at Tamura's...there's one last place to check..."

To Be Continued...
I don't enjoy torturing characters! Ran and Enjouji are my favorite couple. sniff sniff But this is a really important part in the manga! It's running a bit different. You're probably wondering why Enjouji's still having trouble, but trust me - I've injured my leg before. I was on crutches for months, and it took me even longer to build my legs back up. So Enjouji would be recovering even this long later. Besides, he's been running and walking around Tokyo. That's enough to make anyone limp...

Yah, I know. In the original story it was onigiri, but I like tempura! I make really good tempura rice balls! lol -

And finally, I've figured out a way to seperate my scenes since erases my triple-spacing, and even my stars! Grr...Ah but it's worked out now. No more confusion on where a scene begins or ends.

Reviews make my day and give me inspiration. Please review!

Salmon