Pieces of September
The Taste of Unwanted Kisses

Timeline: The Present - August -

It seemed like she'd been in Jinpachi's arms forever, although Alice realized that in fact, only a few moments had passed. Please, not this, she thought as uneasiness alarmed her to pull away.

"Don't hold me so tight, or I'll break," she joked, her voice shy and timid.

Jinpachi laughed as he reddened from embarrassment. He loosened his hold on her, but his body resisted to be the one to pull away. Sensing this, Alice stepped back and pulled free from his embrace.

"Sorry about that, it's just that I haven't seen you in so long." Jinpachi said rather shamefacedly.

"Hey! How come I didn't get a greeting from you like that, eh?" Issei blurted out, hoping that his play at humor would break the tension. Instead it seemed that it had the opposite effect. Sakura jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow, sending Issei doubling over in pain. Jinpachi and Alice stared wide-eyed at the couple.

Sakura grinned sheepishly.

"Husbands." She said as if the word were explanation enough. She grabbed Issei by the arm and dragged him out of the kitchen and out into the living room.

"You say the dumbest things sometimes," Jinpachi and Alice overheard Sakura tell Issei.

"Sakura! The sauce!"

"It'll be fine, I set the heat on low…"

Jinpachi and Alice turned to each other and burst out in laughter.

"Can you believe those two?" said Jinpachi; pointing in the direction they left.

Alice nodded. "They're great, aren't they?"

"Well, I guess that's one way to see it. It's kinda hard to tell with them squabbling all the time. You know, they've been like that since I got here."

"They seem to fight a lot, its true, but they're never serious about it. If you look at them closely when they're arguing, you can see the affection they have for each other."

Jinpachi nodded, impressed by Alice's observation.

"I see what you mean. I guess I'm just a little jealous."

Alice's eyes widened in surprise.

"Jealous?"

"Yeah. Aren't you? It's like they're in their own special world, just the two of them. I guess I'm a bit jealous because I've never felt that with anybody…"

When Haru and Daisuke began to wonder where Jinpachi had wandered off to, Rin was quick to volunteer to go find him. The fact that he didn't trust Jinpachi to be near Alice for long periods of time definitely played a factor in his decision to seek him out, but mainly it was Daisuke's unprovoked lecture on the 'language acquisition among children' that really motivated him.

That guy can put a toaster to sleep, Rin thought as he walked through the hallway. He was on his way to the living room when spied Jinpachi and Alice in the kitchen from the corner of his eye. Rin positioned himself at an angle from the doorway, allowing him to see without being seen in return. He listened in on their conversation, straining to grab onto bits and pieces of what they said. Rin followed the movement of their lips, but was only partially successful since Jinpachi's back was to him for the most part.

"…not working out…hoped, but…." What the hell is he saying? Rin grew irritated that he could barely follow Jinpachi's side of the conversation. His gaze followed Jinpachi's hands, as Jin made an effort to touch Alice, just barely brushing his hands against her arms and her clothes as he gestured in speech.

"…be returning to France?" Rin heard Alice say.

Jinpachi nodded. "Yeah but….for certain….it's indefinite."

There was a pregnant silence between them. Jinpachi turned to face the kitchen doorway, and Rin quickly pressed himself up against the wall. Jinpachi's shoes clanked on the kitchen floor and he walk toward the doorway, his steps growing louder. Rin prepared to walk away when the footsteps paused.

"About what I said before…about leaving France and well…" With Jinpachi's nearness, Rin could now hear every word he said, he remained perfectly still, afraid that any slight movement would alert Jinpachi to his presence. "…I said some things that I shouldn't have…I"

"Its' okay," said Alice.

"No. Please hear me out. I said some things that weren't really fair to you, and I just wanted to apologize for that…"

Rin clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. He's up to something, I can feel it. He's not being as obvious as he was back then, but...

Timeline: University Years - Late March -

About 4 Years Ago

Rin was on his way to meet Ayumi at the music hall. His movement was slow and sluggish; he almost appeared as if he was walking under water. The temperature was neither too hot nor humid, however the overcast sky had left Rin feeling sleepy and bored all morning. It took him nearly an hour to crawl out of bed; it had been miraculous in itself that he'd gotten out of bed at all. Even now, as he cut across the park, Rin's mind remained in a dream-like state. The dark sunglasses he wore dimmed the world to a state of near sleep, depleting it of its light and colors.

It was in this state of mind that Rin spotted Alice and Jinpachi several yards down. He was puzzled but still too dazed to make any assessment of the situation. Rin could only think it curious that Alice and Jinpachi seemed to be carrying on so seriously with Issei nowhere in sight. Rin pulled off his sunglasses as he approached them and opened his mouth to speak.

"Ji" he began to call out, but he quickly cut himself off as he caught onto their conversation.

"I'm moving away to France, Alice." Jinpachi said.

Rin leaned up against the nearby tree, his thin frame completely hidden from sight. His mind couldn't believe what he was hearing. He felt too stunned to feel anything.

"I'm moving away to France," Jinpachi repeated to Alice.

"How...why di-" Alice struggled to find the right words. "When did you decide this?"

"Oh, I didn't decide it. I left that up to you."

There was a long stretch of silence. The silence grew and Rin began to wonder if Jin and Alice had left. His muscles twitched as he fought his instinct to peer from behind the tree. Certainly Jin and Alice had not taken notice of Rin when he first approached them, however, he was sure that he would now be spotted if he made the attempt.

"You're cruel, Jinpachi Ogura. To say such a thing…I"

"I'm being cruel? I'm sorry Alice, but it sure doesn't feel like it from this point of view. I'm not doing this to hurt you. It's youall this time, you've been the one hurting me."

"How can you say that?"

"Because it's how I feel!" Again, that silence. Rin pressed his fists up against the tree; pressed in his flesh until the pain of grinding and cut flesh became indiscernible. It would have been easy enough to step out and beat Jinpachi down, but Sarjalim only knows how Alice would react.

"Besides," Jinpachi finally continued, his voice much calmer and apologetic in tone, "How can I stay here and have you just within my reach, but be unable to get close to you? Do you know what this has been doing to me?"

Rin finally dared to peer out from behind the tree, certain that they would not take any notice of him now. He took notice of Alice, she stood dejectedly, her eyes pained and sorrowful. Jinpachi stepped toward her, filling the small gap between them and took her hand.

"I know that you feel you have an obligation to Rin, I even admire your loyalty to him, but where does that leave me?" Jinpachi brought his hands up to her face and gently stroked her cheek. He leaned in closer, until his face was barely inches away from hers.

"Is it too much to hope that there could ever be an us?" he asked. Just as he finished his words, Jinpachi leaned in and kissed Alice. She closed her eyes but her expression remained pained.

Rin was now standing in plain sight; his fists were clenched and bloodied. He picked up a nickel-sized rock and rubbed his fingers hard against the sharp edges, as if trying to compress all of his anger into it. He took it in his right hand as if he were holding a baseball then swung it out as hard as he could.

Jinpachi jumped and pulled away from Alice as soon as the rock smacked him in the back of the head. Rin dashed back behind the tree, before Jin or Alice could take any notice of him. Jinpachi rubbed his head, groaning in pain. He noticed a wetness and realized it was his blood tangling into his hair.

"What the hell was that!" Jinpachi cursed, still reeling from the pain. Alice stared unresponsively at Jinpachi, still dazed from being kissed.

Jinpachi looked around for what could have possibly struck him. "I swear," he uttered, "they ought to put up signs or something, 'Beware of flying fast objects'"

"I have to go now." Alice interrupted, her voice was shaky despite her attempt at composure.

"Alice? But wh"

"I'm sorry."

Alice took off running before Jinpachi could say anything more. Jinpachi started after her, but he stopped, seemingly too dizzy to go on. He seated himself on the park bench and pulled out a napkin from his pocket to nurse his wound. With Jinpachi's back to him, Rin put on his sunglasses and walked away, suddenly aware of the throbbing in his knuckles and the bitterness in his mouth.

Timeline: The Present - August -

"So what do you say? Do you think we can ever be friends again? Could you ever forgive me?" Jinpachi cast his eyes downward, almost dramatically.

Alice took Jinpachi's hand in a friendly hold and smiled warmly; her face beaming with innocence.

"Jinpachi, it's okay. We have always been friends. There's no need for you to apologize, really. It's all been forgotten."

"So how's the reunion going? You two catching up on old times?" Rin interrupted.

Jinpachi and Alice turned around startled. Rin casually walked into the kitchen with his hands in his pocket and a boyish grin painted on his face. Jinpachi looked away for a moment feeling uneasy and stricken with guilt, but he was quick to mask his discomfort with a cheerful grin.

"We're getting along great. Alice was just filling me in on some things. It almost feels like I never left." Jinpachi replied.

"That's good to hear. For a moment you had me worried that you might try to steal Alice behind my back," Rin laughed at his own lack of subtlety. Jinpachi and Alice chuckled nervously, not quite sure what to make of it.

"We should probably get back to the others," Rin went on without skipping a beat. "When I left, Daisuke was still ranting on with another one of his fascinating lectures. I'm sure Haru is praying for some sort of divine intervention about now."

Rin took Alice by the hand and led her out. Jinpachi remained unmoved. His eyes were fixed upon them with intensity. The ease with which Rin had taken Alice's hand, and the tepid blush that had crept upon her cheeks as soon as their skin made contact had not escaped Jinpachi's attention.

Does he touch you, Alice? What kind of relationship exists between you that allows him to touch you so carelessly?

"Come on, Jin. What's taking you?" Rin called out.

Jinpachi dug his hands in his pockets and trailed behind them, his eyes still fixated on their interlocking hands. Does he kiss you? Do you let him kiss you, Alice? The expression on her face, the unmistakable glow of a blush persisted in his mind, mocking him. Do you ever kiss him back?

Author's Note: Yes, this is the same chapter with the exception of some editing and additions. Looks like I'm back with this little old abadoned fic of mine. Lets see how it goes.