She was exhausted. Evaline had never known being woken up so early, and so ruthlessly, could make her so tired. Gen had gone straight home after helping the girls, after being repeatedly thanked by a grateful Tokine, of course. Evaline wondered briefly what he even did there. The apartment seemed so…desolate. She frowned. And the sweatshirt and sweatpants…Evaline didn't think he owned anything else.
'Oh please god, just say he washes his laundry.' She silently begged. A slight skirmish outside caused the girl to sit up. Oh, so Tokine's mom and grandma were back. And she believed it was safe to assume that Tokine's grandma and Yoshimori's grandfather were having another one of their comical moments. She sighed, sitting up. There was no way she was going to get any sleep now. Hell, after the scare that morning Evaline didn't know if she could sleep, despite her exhaustion.
She gathered up her clothes for the day, stepping out of her room and making her way to the bathroom down the hall. Evaline let the hot water run in the bath for a moment, moving to the mirror to examine her appearance. Her hair definitely seemed healthier, though that was probably from sharing the hair products with Tokine. Her skin also seemed healthier. Evaline pulled her hair back from her face, silently examining the pale, sickle shaped scar that rested just below her hairline. The scar curved just around her eye, as though it was carefully carved into her skin in order to avoid damaging her eye, and ended at her cheekbone.
Evaline didn't know when or how she got the scar. It seemed to her as though she'd always had it. She'd chosen to hide her eye because most of the student body feared or disliked her, and she was nearly certain that a scar would not help matters. It wouldn't be below some of the people at that school to spread some nasty rumor about her getting into fights. Evaline released her hair, allowing it to fall back over her eye as she slipped out of her T-shirt and shorts and into the hot water. She turned the water off after she slid into the bath, leaning back against the rim of the tub.
"What's gotten you in such a strange mood?" Kurotsuki asked, lying on the cool tile floor.
Evaline sunk into the water, "I'm not in a mood."
The vixen groaned, "Oh please. You're acting all weird and shit. Whatcha thinking about?"
The girl sighed, "Nothing in particular," She responded, twirling her necklace around her index finger, "Just some thoughts."
"Concerning your eye." It was clearly not a question, but Evaline nodded either way. Kurotsuki sighed, "I don't get why you hide it. You look so pretty with your hair pulled back." She smirked, "You actually look like a girl with it back."
Evaline glared at the fox, "Shut up." She sank further into the water.
"Don't worry," Kurotsuki began reassuringly, "I don't think Gen's really into girly girls."
Evaline sat up with a start, "What the hell are you talking about?" She asked angrily, "I don't care!"
Kurotsuki smirked, "Right. You're reaction just confirms it."
"My reaction doesn't confirm anything!" Evaline exclaimed, "There is nothing there! We're just…"
The vixen smirked, "Just what?"
Evaline shrugged, "Friends, I guess…"
"You guess?" The fox tilted her head to the side, "Wouldn't you like to say you two were more than that?"
Evaline leaned back against the tub, "I already told you."
"Yeah, and I know everything you feel." Kurotsuki reminded the girl, "Only difference is, I'm not in any denial."
"So…" Evaline hesitated, "You like him?"
Laughter shook the fox's body, "Oh, gosh no! I just know your true feelings."
"I think these "true feelings" you speak of are a load of crap." Evaline retorted. Kurotsuki leaped up, placing her front paws on the edge of the tub, "Just do one thing." Kurotsuki said, "Now, I want you to think back to when you saw his hot, muscular-"
"Kurotsuki!" Evaline shrieked, slapping a hand over her mouth. Hopefully the other members of the household had not heard that. Evaline could feel heat rushing to her face, which she promptly hid in her hands.
"Ha!" Kurotsuki exclaimed, "Told you!"
"That's the normal female reaction to that!" Evaline protested, trying to rid her mind of the vivid image of a shirtless Gen.
"You normally don't care about stuff like that." Kurotsuki stated in a matter of fact tone, "So, just accept it."
"There is nothing for me to accept!" Evaline snapped, "Now get back in your necklace! I hereby ground you!"
Kurotsuki arched a brow, "Really now? I was just trying to lighten the mood."
Evaline turned away from the fox, "Don't care. Back in the stone."
Kurotsuki sighed heavily, "Oh, alright." She began to fade, "But, you know that I'm right." With that, the fox disappeared, and Evaline took a moment to collect herself. There were no feelings. They were just friends! She didn't feel anything else for him! Evaline grabbed the shampoo bottle, pouring a small amount into her palm. Her heart was not racing from him. It was merely from anger that Kurotsuki caused by spouting her nonsense.
That was it.
XOXOXO
Tokine paused, listening carefully to the outburst behind the closed doors of the bathroom. She had originally planned to go wake up Evaline, who she'd assumed had fallen back to sleep. However, the amusing argument the younger girl seemed to be having, with whom Tokine assumed was Kurotsuki, had proved otherwise.
"Kurotsuki!" She heard Evaline screech.
"Ha! Told you!"
"That's a normal female reaction to that!" Wow, she sounded pretty agitated. Tokine blinked with a thought. She'd only been kidding with Evaline the other day when she'd mentioned the apparent crush the raven haired girl had, and had been surprised with the girl's response. It actually got her thinking that she might actually like him, though Evaline was obviously in denial.
"You normally don't care about stuff like that. So, just accept it."
Why couldn't Evaline just listen to the fox? Tokine resisted the strong urge to sigh when she heard the girl protest angrily. Tokine walked away from the bathroom quietly. She felt the strange urge to do something about this. It was almost as if Evaline was a younger sister to her, instead of just a guest.
Oh yes. Something definitely needed to be done.
XOXOXO
Evaline's eyebrow twitched. She'd only just pulled her dried hair back into a messy ponytail when Tokine had told her that the two of them were going to go for a walk.
"…Why?" Evaline asked uncertainly.
Tokine smiled, "Everyone needs a day out." She stated. Evaline was dragged out of her room, despite any protests that she might have had.
Evaline narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "What're you planning?"
Tokine laughed innocently, "What are you talking about? I just want to hang out with you."
Evaline paused, and then sighed, "Yeah, alright fine."
She had no idea what she'd just gotten herself into.
XOXOXO
Tokine left the house with Evaline with a single goal in mind.
Get Evaline to confess. True, it would be difficult, but Tokine was certain she would succeed. But the younger girl's distrust might make things problematic for her.
Tokine didn't really know why she felt so strongly about getting Evaline over her denial. It seemed like the girl was truly part of the Yukimura family now. Tokine supposed she just wanted Evaline to be happy. That, and Evaline's denial of feeling anything more than friendship for Gen could cause grave issues between the two. Then again, Tokine supposed Evaline realizing her feelings could also do that.
"Hey, Evaline." Tokine began, "Did you hear about that new restaurant that opened?"
Evaline seemed to hesitate before answering, "Uh…I dunno, maybe."
"Well," Tokine began, "I was thinking about maybe going there sometime."
"You don't want to do that." Evaline said quickly. Tokine blinked, "Huh? Why not?"
Evaline shrugged, "Nothing much. I just wouldn't advise it. Their food is really terrible."
Tokine frowned, "What? But all of the critics gave the restaurant good reviews."
"W-Well…" Evaline stammered, "It just isn't good! Don't go there!"
The brunette watched the girl for a moment, before sighing, "You sure feel strongly about this. Why is that?"
"No reason." Evaline skipped ahead of her. Silence fell between the two of them, and the girls aimlessly walked around the neighborhood, though they didn't stray far from Tokine's home. Tokine frowned, quickening her pace to catch up with the girl. If she wanted to get Evaline to get rid of her denial, she'd have to do it now.
"So," She began, "Are you still in denial?"
Evaline sighed heavily, "Not you to." She groaned, "I don't like Gen, just drop it already."
Tokine smirked, "How do you know I was talking about Gen?" She asked, and Evaline shot her a look, "You bugged me about it last night."
"I was only joking." Tokine sighed, "Evaline, it's obvious."
The younger girl said nothing.
"I mean, I see how you look at him. At first I was skeptical since you tend to harass him a lot, but then I realized that it was all a sign of affection."
"I harass Yoshimori too." Evaline stated. Tokine mentally grin. Good, so she wasn't yelling and denying anything…yet…
"It's different." Tokine replied, "You don't pester him nearly as much as you do Gen."
"So what?" Evaline shrugged, "He's just more fun to harass."
Tokine blinked, "So, you have absolutely no romantic feelings for him."
"Pretty much." Evaline replied.
The brunette smirked, "Don't you at least think he's attractive?" Evaline felt her face heat up, "No! I…" She groaned, shaking her head, "Hell, I dunno."
Bingo.
"You don't know." Tokine stated, watching Evaline's reaction carefully. Her face was beginning to get pink.
"I mean…" She sighed, "Yeah, sure, I guess."
"So," Tokine continued, "Despite finding him attractive, you don't like Gen?"
Evaline didn't answer immediately. The two girls were standing in front of Tokine's home before she spoke.
"I don't know." Evaline mumbled, pulling the gate open. She couldn't bring herself to yell at Tokine like she had with Kurotsuki. Maybe it was because the older girl scared her just a bit. Or maybe she was just this way because Kurotsuki tired her out. Either way, fighting Tokine just seemed pointless.
"Come on, Evaline." Tokine urged, "Just say it." Evaline shut the gate behind her, eyes narrowed, "Fine! Yes! Yes I do!" She snapped, "If you tell-?"
Tokine smiled, "I told you last night, I won't tell a soul."
XOXOXO
Evaline stared at the ceiling from her spot on her bed mat. She'd found herself doing that as things kept happening, it was almost as relaxing as hanging out on the roof at Karasumori with the boys. Or maybe it was because of Gen.
Evaline groaned, rolling onto her stomach. Gen. She couldn't believe she actually recognized her feelings. Tokine definitely got her into a corner. What else could she do?
"I am so proud of you right now."
Evaline sat up with a sigh, "I thought I grounded you?"
Kurotsuki grinned, "Sorry. But it feels better to not deny it all the time, right?"
Evaline shrugged, "Yeah, I guess."
Ah, screw it. She was happy and she knew it.
XOXOXO
Disclaimer: I don't own Kekkaishi.
A/N: Yeah, I lied when I said that they would talk about Eva's talk with Tokiko. But, you guys did finally figure out what's under the hair. And Evaline isn't allowed to have depressed moments. Kurotsuki will not let her. And she can't yell at Tokine like she can with Kurotsuki, I mean, she is pretty much owned by Tokine. Next chapter will be done with fillers, along with developing Eva and Gen's relationship even more~ (can't wait for Atora XD she is so gonna make that shit happen)