Recovery
Maria and Yuuka took Aine upstairs so she could shower and have a good cry. Aine felt so grateful for the attention. She wasn't close with her mother and the love she got from her friends meant the world.
"Thanks guys. I feel…I don't know, like it's my fault but I know it isn't!" She said quickly. "I can't help it. The feeling's just there. And Sakuya feels like it's his fault. How can we feel this way when it was all done by that…that jerk– Toru?!"
"You have to focus on the fact that it was just chance, Aine. Things happen, bad things and we can only control so much. But you did, and Sakuya did as well." Maria said. She sat on one side holding Aine's hand.
"She's right. Aine? Did you know that Sakuya left the stage before the show was completely over? He just stopped, dropped his mike and ran off stage. You two are so close that he knew you needed him." Yuuka sat on Aine's other side.
Aine looked at her with wonder in her eyes. He'd known, he'd known she'd needed him and he came. Just hearing that she began to believe that she could put this behind her as long as Sakuya was always by her side.
Downstairs, Sakuya had immediately gone to fix himself a drink once the girls went upstairs. He downed two glasses then slammed the glass down on the bar and braced his hands against it.
The guys were silent not knowing just what to say to him. Towa and Santa didn't have girlfriends, weren't in love so they really felt awkward being there but they knew Sakuya needed some support and weren't about to abandon him.
Yuki and Atsuro looked at each other. They felt Sakuya's pain and could imagine themselves in his position. Finally Yuki went over to the bar. "Come on, sit down. Maria and Yuuka are taking care of Aine. Rest for a bit." Yuki took his arm and pulled him towards the couch.
Sakuya let Yuki pull him away but as he stepped towards his friend, Sakuya collapsed against him.
Yuki held him close. Sakuya had been through so many things and survived but this was something new. He wasn't the one hurt but the one person who shared his life was and he couldn't do anything about it.
"You saved her. You were there to prevent the worse. Aine will recover and you'll help her."
Atsuro watched and it hurt. It hurt so bad to see Sakuya like this and Aine – happy, upbeat Aine. How must she be feeling? He and Aine were good friends and had many things in common and Atsuro hated to think that her love of life might be dimmed by the attempted rape.
Getting up he joined Yuki in comforting Sakuya. The three of them stayed that way for a few minutes until Sakuya could stand on his own.
"Sorry about that. Didn't know I was going to break down like that." Sakuya went into the kitchen and grabbed a towel and roughly wiped away his tears.
"Forget about it man." Santa said. "I'd be worried if you hadn't but it's done and now you can be strong for Aine." He went to Sakuya and with an arm over his shoulders, escorted him to the couch.
Towa got up and went to the fridge and began making a platter of snacks. He needed something to do, some way to help. Outside the windows, the city still moved, life hadn't changed but inside the apartment friends gathered and tried to put their personal lives back to the way it was.
Aine walked down the stairs first and every eye looked to her. She could see the concern on their faces and the love. They accepted her. The attack hadn't changed their feelings for her and she could feel the tears again as she reached the last step and Yuki was there to take her in his arms.
They all offered her a shoulder to cry on, to lean on. Finally she looked for Sakuya and he held out his arms to her and she ran to him. It could be felt, the love between Sakuya and Aine, they all felt it.
"Damn, so that's how he did it." When Santa saw everyone's curious looks, he said, "On stage when he looked so – sick. It was this – this feeling that told him to go to Aine." Santa gestured pointing at the two of them. "I didn't get it before. Hey!" Santa put his hands on his hips, "I want that! How do I get it?"
Eyes blinked at him and slowly they began to smile.
"What? I'm serious, I want what you guys got! How about you share, Sakuya? Yuki? Atsuro?" He looked at Towa and waved him away. "You're no help."
That did it. Laughing, deep, belly-aching laughter filled the apartment. The mood changed from solemn to joy at being together with friends. They teased Santa and told him to go find his own lady. All night, they stayed up and talked about nothing and everything. Aine and Sakuya began to heal; things were going to be fine.