A/N: More hurt, I'm sorry, but comfort is coming really soon! Also, this wasn't proofread as well as it should've been, so apologies in advance!
Time passed, and he was growing accustomed to his new normal. Whether the pain was less, or he was just better at ignoring it, was immaterial. He got a script of sleeping pills to help with the dreams, and at least his nights were more restful, even if he still woke up feeling like hell, and in a cold sweat, on too many mornings. Sometimes he'd see Chiori making deliveries in the office, but as long as he kept his door and blinds shut around lunch, he was able to mitigate that particular problem, for the most part anyway.
"Come in," he called, responding to the knock at his door, and hoping it wasn't who he thought it was.
"Long time no see," she greeted, showing off a sweet, little simper he knew better than to think was real.
"Chiori-chan," he paled, sitting up in his chair, "how can I help you?"
"It's boring you know, how you're both the same; playing dumb like this."
"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean," he smiled, folding his hands across the desk.
"Funny, that's just what she says. Apparently neither of you are very good at lying."
She flexed her hand, looking at her fingernails dismissively, and he tamped down on the anger building inside him. What the hell game was she playing, and why couldn't she just leave him alone? Was this her thing, did she get off on poking him where he was tender?
"If you don't mind, I have work to do."
"I do mind actually," she informed him, pushing the door shut and moving closer.
He got to his feet, guard going up immediately, as he watched her, uncertain.
"You're not afraid of me, are you?" she teased, sliding her fingers under the lapel of his jacket.
"Afraid is not what I'm feeling."
His eyes grew hard, and his smile positively feral, as he hoped she would take the hint and back off. Instead, she pressed her palms to his chest, looking up at him with her head tilted to the side.
"The look on your face is really too funny," she laughed tartly, disentangling herself. "It must be pretty boring if you're this serious all the time, or is there another side you only show to her?"
She winked, and his blood was boiling.
"Please leave," he breathed, his voice edged with anger.
"This is the thanks I get for trying to help, really, I shouldn't be surprised."
"The only thing I want from you, Amamiya-san, is to be left alone."
"Be careful what you wish for, Ren-chan," she winked, finally making her exit.
He gripped the edge of his desk tight enough to turn his knuckles white, and let out a low growl, before straightening his jacket and tie, after she'd mussed them up. His fingers smoothed over the wrinkles in the expensive fabric, stopping abruptly when he felt the edge of something strange sticking out from his pocket - a folded piece of paper he knew he shouldn't open. Still, he couldn't help himself, compelled by a desperate urge that would not be repressed. Written inside was a phone number, with the words 'Don't fuck it up, Chiori'.
Things were fine. Moko-san had forgiven her finally, and her routine was back to normal, even if she now had a vacant slot on Thursdays, that she couldn't quite bring herself to fill. That was fine though, free time was good! There was never enough, right? Of course, if she didn't stay constantly busy, then she was liable to start thinking, and that was not fine. That was the complete and polar opposite of fine. That was everything that fine was not, but as long as she didn't do that, she was fine. Everything was fine.
"Kyoko!"
"Huh, yes?"
She spun around quickly, to see Chiori pouting up at her, with a look that twisted her stomach into a knot. There was no doubt in her mind, that little reprobate was busy scheming something, and probably at her expense.
"I'm really not feeling well, you know, do you think you could handle these deliveries for me?"
Running deliveries would keep her distracted for a while...
"Yeah, I guess I co- hey, wait! Let me see the list."
"You're a lot less fun than you used to be, boss."
"Coming from you, that sounds like a compliment," Kanae interrupted, crossing her arms over her chest. "Deliveries are your responsibility, aren't they? If you don't want to do your job, no one's forcing you to work here."
"Moko-san, there's no need to be so drastic!"
"No, Kyoko, let her go ahead and get it all out."
"I really don't think you want me to do that, Chiori."
"Oh no? And why is that?"
She thought the intensity of their combined tempers might cause the cafe to burst into flames around them, and she wiped a hand down her face before reluctantly placing herself between them.
"Enough!"
"Whatever," Chiori dismissed, rolling her eyes and letting out an impressive huff, before snatching up the delivery orders and leaving.
"You let her get away with way too much, you know. Am I going to have to step in every time?"
"Me? What about you? If you keep antagonizing her like this, she might actually leave!"
"Mo, don't be so dramatic. She has nowhere else to go, and besides, who else would put up with her attitude?"
"Would admitting that you care about Chiori really be the worst thing?"
"Don't you start now, you're lucky I'm even speaking to you."
"I know, Moko-san, I know! I'm just hoping that you'll forgive Chiori, like you've forgiven me."
Kanae scoffed and rolled her eyes, causing Kyoko to stifle a laugh. Despite their differences, they really did have a lot in common, and in a way, the three of them were almost like sisters. She smiled wide at the thought, her eyes going dreamy, as she imagined the three of them skipping together hand in hand through a lush, open meadow, as birdsong was carried by the gentle, spring breeze…
"Whatever syrupy delusion you're experiencing right now, I don't want any part in it."
"You say that, but you haven't seen how beautiful it can be!"
"I'm going to the back. Don't talk to me again until you've checked back into reality… not that that's very likely, or you were ever there in the first place. Honestly, I don't know why I even bother, and you're not even listening anyway. Mo, sometimes I think you might be even worse than she is."
Kanae would never admit to smiling when her back was turned, and she'd have died before letting Kyoko actually see it.
It always started with the sound of screeching tires, followed by a woman screaming. The blood pooled on the ground, moving quickly towards him; a puddle forming under his feet. Steadily, it would move up his legs, as it turned into a deep body of thick, black liquid, eager to engulf him. His chest was heavy, so much that he could barely breathe; like there was a weight pressing down upon his ribs. The words played over in his head like a chant, You killed him. Murderer. Tina's face that night burned into his retinas, as he stared unseeing at the lifeless body of his only friend in the world.
He shot upwards in bed, the sheets sticking to his skin as he coughed, gasping desperately for air. Was it getting worse? He started to choke as the water, from the glass on his nightstand, hit his airway, scattering tiny droplets onto the bed. His free hand gripped the blanket for dear life, and he couldn't quite bring himself to lie back down, though getting up wasn't an option either. The nightmares should've calmed down by now, at least a little, but then, this punishment was the very least he should be made to suffer.
Tsuruga Ren, he thought, a small, bitter smile curving up his lips, what a joke you are. He could lie to the world, but did he really think he could lie to himself? And that girl, did he think he could just keep lying to her? Like she wouldn't have run from him if she ever saw his real face, Kuon's face. Did he think he was allowed to have anything, when he took everything from Rick? What right did he have to even entertain that fantasy? Pathetic. The word stung, striking him with the unforgiving accuracy of the truth.
He wanted to argue; to offer some kind of protest, but he knew Kuon was right. No matter what kind of gentlemanly disguise he wore, he would always be a monster underneath. It was especially cruel, being taunted by himself, to dial the phone number he'd been too cowardly to throw away. It was a mistake, still trying to hold on, but he couldn't bring himself to get rid of it. It's probably fake anyway, another of Amamiya-san's pranks. But what if it wasn't? What if he was that close to hearing her voice? Fool, he chastised himself, how pitiful can you be?
She didn't want to talk to him, did he not remember? And what, he was going to call her because he had a bad dream? Was he a little kid, running to his mother? What right did he have to seek her comfort? She owed him nothing, and that's exactly what he deserved.
She shifted from her back to her side, and then to her stomach, hoping that changing positions would allow unconsciousness to finally overtake her. It was getting really bothersome, this difficulty in falling asleep, but it was still better than the dreams she kept having far too often. Stupid brain, she scowled, poking her index finger into the side of her head, why do you want me to suffer like this? Maybe there was some kind of advanced meditation technique she could use to distract herself in her sleep. She'd have to look into it!
A deep breath in and then out, to clear her mind, before she went over the events of the day, and steered herself firmly away from any more precarious trains of thought, that were only too easy to get swept up by. She wouldn't think of the warmth of a certain person's skin beneath her fingers, as she tied and tortured him, or how she wanted to bite his lips when he'd give her one of those wicked grins... She wouldn't think about him at all, because she didn't miss him, and she didn't miss him, because he didn't mean anything to her. Nothing at all.
She didn't remember drifting off, but she came to groggy, woken by the sound of her phone ringing. She glanced at the clock, 12:17, who would be calling at that hour? The ID was private, so she should probably ignore it, but maybe it was important… what if there was some kind of emergency?
"Mmm, hello?" she grumbled, voice thick with sleep.
The person on the other end said nothing, but she could hear the faint sound of breathing.
"Hello? Is this a prank call? I'm hanging up if you don't say something."
"Please," came the reply, a barely audible whisper.
Her heart thumped, snapping her fully conscious. There was something so familiar in that voice, but it couldn't possibly be him. Why would he be calling her, especially on her personal phone?
"Please," he repeated, shaky, but with a little more strength.
What was wrong, was he crying?
"Hold on," she entreated, "I'm on my way."
A/N: I seem to have lost some readers since this took a continued turn into sad-ville haha ah well, it's all I know how to do xD Thank you to those who've stuck with me, we'll get through this together 3