Chapter 21: Staying Stubborn and Staying Sober

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Miyouko gritted her teeth. Why, oh, why had her feet left her here?

After making sure Akemi-san was okay to head home on her own, Miyouko had remained by the school gate a few minutes longer, forcing herself to dawdle even though the rest of her didn't want to.

Should she go after him?

Should she stay here and wait?

Should I even give a fuck?

Miyouko sighed. She was utterly and completely confused. There was something wrong with that guy -she could feel it. Unfortunately, the helpful part of her persona was fighting tooth-and-nail with her, making it hard for her to reach a decision.

Nervous, she glanced at her watch. It said 11:39 pm, and then it turned 11:40 on the dot. Miyouko lifted her gaze to the starlit sky. Her aunt would be fretting by now. Her reputation was destroyed. Honestly, the only things left to do now were to stick with her good grades and...

A rustle a few feet away drew her attention back down to earth. "Miyouko-hime?" Maikeru-kun said.

Ah, yes. Miyouko smirked to herself. The only things left to do now were to stick with her good grades and...make Maikeru-kun pay for throwing her life into disarray. "Let me guess. You got them all, no?"

Maikeru-kun smiled. "You betcha. I lost a little blood, but that's nothing compared to what I did to those Eastside bitches. Ha! You shoulda seen 'em running with their tails between their legs!"

In just three long, stern strides, Miyouko closed the distance between them. "Hmm. Blood. So it seems." She made a show of brushing her school jacket sleeves from when he had grabbed her before pulling her into an embrace earlier. "That's nice and all, and I'm sure that you're quite proud of yourself, but let me make things clear for you. First, stay out of my business, not just personal. Second, don't ruin my life any further. And third, don't think you won me over with a little hug. I'm not going to become your friend or join your little harem." Miyouko pointedly met his appalled gaze. "Don't talk to me, don't step in front of me, and certainly don't send me 'warm looks of longing' like the starved, deranged animal you are. I- Am- Out- Of- Your- League. Got it?"

He grimaced, but stepped to the side. "You think you're safe, don't you?"

Miyouko whirled around. "Are you threatening me?!"

He stuck out his chin. "Not me. But don't forget that other gangs might still be after you. It wouldn't surprise me if they thought that you were going to form your own group in retaliation." Now Maikeru-kun smirked. "Got it?"

She swiveled her head away from him. "Leave me the hell alone." And she started home. With an entourage -unbeknownst to her, of course.

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The reprimand she had expected to receive when she got home never came. Puzzled, Miyouko stepped into the kitchen. A note was left on the counter:

Dear Miyouko-chan,

I need to talk to you this weekend, so make sure you don't make any plans, ok? I'm sad that you didn't make it home, in time for supper with me, but I'm sure you were working on something school-related. Don't worry about being forgiven.

Don't stay up any later after reading this, ok?

-Outsuka

Miyouko tossed the note back on the counter, indifferent. She never had any plans during the day on weekends. She had only ever gone clubbing late at night, long after her aunt had gone to bed. The reminder of clubs brought back fresh memories of Muu, and Miyouko froze.

No. Not now, after she had tried her hardest and failed, and practically cried her heart out earlier.

Not again.

But they came: two silent, glistening baubles that crawled their way down either of her face. She scrunched her eyes shut in an effort to control her tears, but it barely worked. Failing that, Miyouko thought of her anger at that idiot, Maikeru-kun. Having her blood boil did calm her down a bit, but just enough so she could make it up to her room without waking her aunt. Once in her room, Miyouko gave way to the beast inside her. She charged into her closet and skimmed through her clubbing raiments. Something sleek, skimpy, easy to move in, yeah, Miyouko thought as her fingers touched the shiny, black spandex capris. Her eyes roved her collection for a millisecond before her hands automatically drew out a rouched peasant top -sultry hunter green.

She stripped and quickly changed into her outfit. She grabbed her black, slinky heels that matched the pants and strapped them on. Miyouko decided that her black leather jacket from the last time she had gone out was just too...ugh, Miyouko thought. So she let it hit the carpet with a mild THUD and found her old ebony duster sweater. Her lips curled up at either end. Perfect.

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The strobe lights were as amazing as ever at Club Barren. Fluorescent rouges, pewters, lilacs, and mints lit up the night scene, providing a dramatic contrast to the crowd's varying attire. Miyouko felt her regular self returning -almost.

She looked around and grimaced. Maybe coming had been a bad idea. Maybe she should've just rested her eyes after such a long day, but...

A warm hand came to rest on her shoulder. "You look shot."

Miyouko turned and met Nozomi's dark eyes. She managed a smile. "Unfortunately, it wasn't me that was shot. Or stabbed."

A few dancers surrounding them gave the two peculiar looks, and Nozomi turned Miyouko around, marching her towards the drink counter. "Um, maybe you can tell me where you can't scare some many people, Miyou-akkan."

When they reached the counter, Miyouko hopped up on one of the stools, Nozomi at her side with an arm protectively around her, not sitting himself. Miyouko noticed. "Not going to sit and stay a while, are we?"

Nozomi glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes, and then went back to observing the crowd. "Miyou-chan... Did it ever occur to you that you might attract quite a bit of attention with a top like that?"

Miyouko glanced down at the peasant top. It covered most of her stomach, and no real cleavage was showing. It was mainly just her throat and shoulders that were bare. She realized then that she hadn't bothered to accessorize, which probably made her alabaster neck look all the more inviting.

She shrugged. "Does it bother you?" Miyouko caught his eye again before he turned away, and she smiled. "Aw, how cute! It does bother you!"

Nozomi seized the chance to make a witty remark. "Apparently not as much as the rest of the male body here tonight."

Miyouko looked out into the crowd and found he was right: Most eyes were on her, the overwhelming majority being male. Again, she shrugged. "So? Let 'em look. They're allowed to gaze at what they can't have."

"Don't you think that's a tad reckless?"

"Not my problem." There was a long, silent minute between them before Nozomi gently prodded her.

"Hey, what happened?"

Miyouko felt her heart catch in her throat. "Well, it's quite a funny story... Remember my friend, Muu?"

Nozomi nodded and listened intently as Miyouko unraveled before him. Afterward, he brushed the ready-to-fall tears away from her eyes with his thumb. He half-heartedly grinned at her. "Hey, at least I'm not gonna hug you like that jerk."

She partially returned the smile, a warmth spreading in her chest. "Actually..." Miyouko stopped, and then thought, Ah, what the hell? As long as I'm being honest... "Actually," she repeated, bending her head down a little so her hair fell over her bare shoulders and hid her blush, "I wouldn't mind if you held me." She paused. "N-Not that I mean you should hold me now, but just...in reference for the future. You know, that sort of thing." She brushed some hair behind one ear and felt her red face deepen.

He was quiet for a beat. "Miyou-akkan...," he whispered, "you're not being honest with yourself..."

Head still bent, Miyouko furrowed her brow and sucked in her breath. She was so stupid; of course someone like Nozomi wouldn't want someone like her who was a kid in comparison. She blinked back tears and steeled herself before moving to sit back straight. "It's nothing, really. Forget I said anything-" But he cut her off.

Finally, something, something felt good and warm, kind and heavenly all at once. Nozomi's arms around her were real and soft, but felt strong enough to protect her from everything. Miyouko hid her head in his chest, inhaling his light cologne. For once in the longest while, she was at peace.

A while passed before Nozomi said anything. "Miyou-chan…do you want to leave?"

Whether it was numb or instinctive, Miyouko responded, "Yes." He held his hand out to her as she hopped down from the stool, and they made their way through the throng of people to the exit. Not before someone hollered at Miyouko, though.

"Oh, wow! That's such a pretty top, Shimemachi-san!"

"A little dark, but nice."

"It reminds me of salvia stems…"

"A little too inviting for a seventeen-year-old, hime."

Nozomi felt Miyouko's hand in his tense. "Miyouko, are they shouting at you?"

Miyouko kept staring forward. "Just ignore them. They'll go away." She tugged Nozomi forward a bit and he came up behind her, a protective (and maybe possessive, as he shot Maikeru-kun a nasty glare) arm around her shoulders.

Maikeru-kun stepped out from his group of friends, scrutinizing the couple. "Do you even have your head screwed on straight, Miyouko-hime?"

Miyouko clenched her jaw. "Apparently straighter than some of us," she retorted over her shoulder. She saw Maikeru-kun's three friends standing behind him: Kiku, dressed conservatively in a purple turtleneck and long black skirt; Eriko, prancing around in a two-tone blue and green tank and bell-bottom jeans; and Yami, in black slacks and a burgundy long-sleeved top that accented her multi-tonal brown hair. Her eyes flicked back to Maikeru-kun, who had bothered to change into regular jeans and a long-sleeved metallic blue button-down shirt. "Have fun dancing. I'm leaving now."

Maikeru-kun stepped in front of her. "So, what? Is this what you're going to do all the time now? Throw your life away repeatedly?"

She was about to angrily open her mouth when a black-sleeved arm was thrust in front of her. "Leave her alone, boy," Nozomi said. His tone was polite, but hid enough of a threat to get the point across.

"Hey, I'm always itchin' for a fight. You want to take it outside, girlie-man?"

"Nozomi's more of a man than you are, Maikeru-kun!!" Miyouko snapped at the ruffian teen.

At that, Maikeru-kun looked genuinely hurt. "Bitchy times call for bitchy measures, hime," he muttered.

She blinked. "What-!" And then up she went, right over Maikeru-kun's right shoulder, lack a sack of potatoes. Eriko bounced up to her.

"Sorry, Shimemachi-san, but when Masahiro-kun told us he needed back-up, we didn't know what he was planning," the energetic girl stated.

Meanwhile, Nozomi and Maikeru-kun were busy staring each other down. "It seems that he doesn't know when to give up. Of course, that's to be expected from a child…"

"She barely knows you, and yet you're willing to cart her away as soon as she asks. Sounds like we have a cradle-robber on our hands," Maikeru-kun spat through gritted teeth.

Miyouko pounded on Maikeru-kun's back. "Lemme down, you big brute!!"

The two males ignored her. "She's right, you know," Nozomi said to Maikeru-kun. "You're going to cause a scene and get us all kicked out of here."

Maikeru-kun looked at the faces staring back around them. "Looks like we've already caused one." He flicked his glare back to Nozomi. "Hope your ass is the one tossed out on the streets, lecher."

At that, Nozomi closed his eyes and smiled. "And so it seems Miyouko-chan has some unwanted attention." He walked around Maikeru-kun and faced Miyouko. "I'll see you again soon, right?"

Miyouko, red in the face from all her protesting, nodded. "As long as this idiot doesn't flag me all the time."

Nozomi cheerfully nodded and slipped a piece of paper into one of Miyouko's fists. "Try the first number if you ever get in any real trouble, Miyouko," he whispered in her ear. "The second's my apartment, and the third's my work. I'll kick this punk's ass if you ever need me to –just say the word." Nozomi locked eyes with Miyouko and seemed as if he may have wanted to kiss her goodbye, but frowned and left, somewhat irked by it all.

After he had exited the building, Miyouko regained her temper and hit Maikeru-kun's back harder. "LEMME DOWN!!" So he did.

"OWWW!!! What the hell was that for?!" Miyouko nearly screamed at him.

Maikeru-kun glowered at her. "I would think that someone like you would know better than to get involved with someone like him."

"Someone like me?! Now who doesn't know all the facts!! You don't know anything about me!! Why should you care what I do?!"

"It's because it's in his nature."

All eyes turned to that quiet voice. Yami met their gazes with antipathy. "Well, it is. I remember when Masahiro was trying to get me to open up to him. I resisted –not as much as you, Shimemachi –but he eventually got to me and convinced me that I had a friend. Masahiro can't help it."

Miyouko furrowed her brow. "It seems like that's the case for each of you. But I don't feel like being anyone's project. I have friends, and I don't need you guys." She turned back to Maikeru-kun. "Especially you."

She stormed out of Club Barren and Maikeru-kun hurried after her.

Behind, Kiku looked scared. "I've never seen her so angry before. She always seemed like an approachable person…"

Eriko nodded, frowning. "I do wonder what's driving Masa-chan this time, though. He usually doesn't put up with anyone's bs like this."

"They're different, but very much alike," Yami commented. "Even though they come from different worlds and have lost nearly everything, they keep pushing themselves. They have a driving force, something worth living for."

"What?" Eriko and Kiku asked in unison.

"Life itself. Maybe something more."

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"We have got to stop this," Miyouko commented after being tailed by Maikeru-kun for five and a half blocks.

Maikeru-kun had been quiet the whole time, and it had bother Miyouko. Any another day, he would have been poking fun at her or arguing with her, but today he was subdued. She gave up.

Stopping, Miyouko turned around and walked up to Maikeru-kun. "Look, sorry if I embarrassed you in front of you friends, but I meant what I said. It's like you saved all of those girls, like they were mental cases you solved or something. But I'm not mental, and I don't need saving…not worth saving, even," she muttered as a last-minute thought.

Still, Maikeru-kun set his jaw straight. "I don't know what it is about you, hime. It's like you're five bazillion people whipped into one. I've come to accept that as the true you, but…" He sighed. "Eh, I don't know… I don't have any idea myself." He stood there awkwardly, scratching his head."

"I think it's best to give up on me, Maikeru-kun. I'm a lost cause."

"Funny. Hadn't you been saying that about me not that long ago?" The look in her eyes was pleading. "You wanna try to at least be acquaintances? Maybe that'd develop into friendship, you know…the whole shebang."

Miyouko shook her head. "Good night."

He stood there, watching her walk away, something not right inside him. The girls came up behind him. Eriko touched his shoulder. "Masa-chan, are you all right?"

He gritted his teeth. "Fine. I'm just fine."

Yami looked at him. "You're obviously upset over whatever else she said and already did. Go cool off, Masahiro. I'll walk her home, okay?"

"But…" Maikeru-kun looked slightly worried.

Yami rolled her eyes. "She'll be fine. Do you want me to try to talk to her?"

"Urmn…yeah, maybe… No, I don't know…" He put his hand to his forehead. "That stubborn mule makes my head hurt…"

"Nice to know," Yami mumbled. "I'll see you guys at school. Good night, guys." And with the final salutations said, the artist hurried after the raven-haired girl.

ELSEWHERE, A FEW BLOCKS AWAY…

Miyouko stopped; it was still a while's away to her house from there. She looked back over her shoulder. Quietly, she uttered to herself, "That stubborn mule makes my head hurt…"

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Hoping to get responses on Nozomi and Miyouko. Oh, and who's up for a Yami-Miyouko-cat-and-dog friendship:)