Discussions flew around as to what kind of shenanigans we should get into this evening. I didn't dress like a slut to not get noticed. Granted, I already had a man on my hip. Hell, I had five of them. But it wouldn't kill me to sample the local cuisine. I'm sure we're not the only ones our age out this late. Maybe I'll get a number. Maybe I'll get lucky. Maybe I'll get in a fight. In all honesty, I expected us to go out clubbing. But in a shocking turn of events, we went somewhere else.
Kyoya said that he knew of a place with a natural hot spring. I'm already half naked. Might as well. Although, after being around the host club for as long as I have, I'm surprised they were cool with doing something low key. It was a long ride from Tokyo. A little relaxation might be nice. And Kyoya managed to talk the owner into letting us all share one pool. Normally, Haruhi and I would've been separated from our boys, but thanks to Kyoya's crafty tongue, here we are.
We all got swimsuits from the gift shop and made ourselves comfortable. If we're being honest, this wasn't my usual first choice for an on a whim activity. When I still lived in New York, though, a spa trip was a monthly occurrence. I guess sitting outside in a hot spring with my friends and my possible boyfriend wasn't too bad. In fact, dare I say, this is downright fucking pleasant. As the twins were busy splashing Haruhi and Tamaki tried separating them and Kyoya sat and watched, Ritsu and I sat quite a distance apart.
It's strange. His nose hasn't started bleeding yet. Then again, he also hasn't looked at me since I got changed. We're really going to have to work on that, aren't we? At his glacial pace, I guess. Maybe a little something to break the ice. Since we've both agreed that the incredible beauty on his back is a great healer…
"Your back is so pretty, Ritsu," I swooned, running my fingers over his tattoo. His skin tightened up under my touch, but then, it relaxed in the same breath.
"You think so?" Ritsu pulled me through the water. Someone's starting to feel brave.
"I do," I nodded, "Does she have a name?"
"I haven't given her one," he wrapped an arm around me, "Never thought to."
Only one had come to mind for me, "Meditrina."
"Medi-who-huh?" Ritsu gave me a look.
"Meditrina," I reiterated, "She's a Roman goddess of healing. Mama went through a myth phase when I was seven. They were my bedtime stories for a while. And Meditrina, I always thought, would be a water spirit. I liked to think that she watched over the Mediterranean and that's where it got its name. If she were to take a form in the mortal world, I have no doubt in my mind it'd be something like this."
"That's all well and good, Rei," he agreed, "But there's no fucking way I'm going to remember Meditrina."
"I think you will…"
"And what makes you say that?" he wondered.
"Call it a hunch," I shrugged. The splashing behind me suddenly stopped.
"Hold on," Tamaki chimed in, "Kasanoda, you have a tattoo?"
"Yeah," Ritsu nodded, turning around, "A big one on my back. What about it?"
"Is he the one who talked you into the one on your hand, Rei?" Tamaki jumped down my throat, becoming the overbearing, pain in the ass parent he seemed to think he was, "Is it all because of him?"
"Hey!" Ritsu ran to my defense.
But I had it handled, "Tamaki…We've had this talk. No one talks me into anything. If I didn't already have the idea in my head, no one's going to put it there for me. Besides, I've been wanting to get this one for a while now. Damn near did it myself with a sewing needle and a pen in my bedroom once or twice. Also, I'm a big girl and I don't need a surrogate father. I get that's your thing, but I don't need you up my ass on shit that doesn't directly affect you."
"Sorry, Rei…" Tamaki shut his mouth. Good boy. Well behaved. Learns quickly.
"Aww…" the twins gushed.
"Daddy doesn't like it…"
"…When his new little girl is going through a rebellious phase."
"I'm not his daughter," I reminded them both.
"What the hell is happening?" Ritsu wasn't sure how to feel about this. I could see it in his eyes.
"Well," I explained, "Tamaki has some sort of fucked up notion that he's become my father since I've joined the host club. One of which we mostly dismiss."
"Rei…" Tamaki gasped, clutching his chest, "Hurtful."
"And then," I went on, "He somewhat doesn't approve of you and me being together, if that's what this is, because he doesn't want his alleged little girl being corrupted."
"If anything," Ritsu chuckled a bit to himself, "You're the one corrupting me. We're both a little fucked up, yeah?"
"In our own special way," I let out a dreamy sigh, "That's why we work so well together."
"Could you imagine?" he teased, "You joining up with the Kasanoda syndicate because of me?"
"I couldn't do it," I shot him down, "I appreciate the offer, but I'm more mafia than yakuza. Besides, Daddy would kill me if I hooked up with another family. It would mean me turning my back on all of them and there is no fucking way that's happening."
"Come here," Ritsu pulled me into his chest, "I have to admire that kind of loyalty."
"Thank you," I laid my head on his chest, "You're still not getting the bed, kiss-ass."
"I know," he let it go, but kept a good hold on me, "You called dibs."
"You know, Rei," Hikaru pointed out.
"You and Kasanoda make a cute couple," Kaoru added.
There it was. With those few words, Ritsu's nose started gushing blood. I grabbed my bag from the edge of the pool and got a tissue, "By the looks of things, you guys aren't the only ones who think that. Ritsu? You ok?"
"Uh-huh…" Ritsu murmured through the blood.
"Far be it for me to say anything," Kyoya shrugged, "But they do make a good point, Rei. You two seem rather happy together."
"He's alright," I admitted, "In small doses."
"You're a little shit," Ritsu grumbled, "Did you know that?"
"Yes, sir, I do," I smirked, "It's part of my charm and you know it."
"Definitely keeps dull moments away…"
I caught a glimpse of Haruhi out of the corner of my eye, a dirty little smirk on her face, too. She knows more than the guys do, but that's because I tell her more. I know Haruhi won't lose her shit like the rest of the host club. And I love her for it. Then again, she's also known Ritsu longer than I have, so maybe she's seeing things on both sides.
"You know what we should do?" I looked up at him.
"What's that, Rei?" Ritsu asked, running his fingers up and down my arm.
"We should get yakisoba and a bottle of sake and go back to our room," I suggested.
"It is getting kind of late, guys," Haruhi checked her phone, "We should be heading back before people find out we're gone."
"We can't stay out a little longer?" the twins whined.
"She makes a point," Kyoya agreed, "If anyone finds out we were out after curfew, I'm sure it wouldn't end pretty."
"Probably not…" Hikaru pouted.
"Fine…" Kaoru caved.
"HOLD ON A SECOND!" Something revitalized their spirits, "DID YOU SAY YAKISOBA AND SAKE?"
"Yeah," I backed away slowly, using Ritsu as a human shield, "I haven't had a drink since I was last in Spain visiting the family and that was a year ago."
"Now, you're drinking?" Tamaki snapped, "Reila, I'm disappointed in you. That's not good for you and I was hoping you'd know better…"
"First of all," I settled him, "It's part of my cultural heritage. On both sides of the family. With my family in Italy, I get to drink, too. I like my wine, Tamaki. That's not something I ever have to doubt. And second, if you ever call me Reila again, I can and will kick you so hard in the nuts your grandchildren will feel it. Do we understand?"
"Yes, ma'am." No hesitation.
"Only one person here has the permission to do that," I told him, "And that's not you."
"It's me," Kyoya assumed. Bold move.
"Technically, Kyoya," I clarified, "You don't even have that kind of permission. I just tolerate it."
"It's me," Ritsu gladly took that honor.
"That's right," I cuddled into him, "And probably Haruhi, too, if she was feeling spicy one day."
"I don't think I could," Haruhi smiled, "It'd be too weird."
"So," I repeated myself, "Yakisoba and sake, Ritsu? Sound like a plan?"
"Sounds like a night," Ritsu took my hand, "Shall we?"
"Absolutely." Even though I could throttle these boys more often than not, this was fun. It wouldn't kill me to spend more time with them. Might wear me pretty damn thin, but I could handle it. I had thick skin.
Ritsu and I parted ways with the rest of the host club and got our yakisoba and a small bottle of sake. I've never had rice wine before, but color me intrigued. When we got back to the room, Ritsu and I sat on the floor with our sake and our noodle bowls content with life. I couldn't have imagined a better way to end this day. Granted, we may have to be up in five hours, but totally worth it.
"Alright, Rei," Ritsu handed me a comically tiny glass, hardly bigger than a shot, "Since it's your first time having sake, I'll do the honors and pour for you."
"Are you shitting me?" I scoffed, staring into it, "That's it?"
"That's it."
"Hey," I gave him my glass back, "Can you hold this for a second?"
"Sure," Ritsu took it from me, "What are you…"
I snaked the bottle from the other side of him and took a real drink, letting it swirl around in my mouth. Huh…That's interesting. It didn't taste like any wine I've ever had before. This was sweet, but there was something else there. Like flowers…and caramel. If they had a baby, its baby batter just shot into my mouth. This was weird. But I'm not complaining.
"Oh, fuck me…" I took another drink, getting another wave of different flavors, "This is good…"
"Hell yeah," Ritsu smiled, downing what little he poured for me, "I'm impressed you took that bottle so quickly."
"You insult me by handing me a shot glass," I rolled my eyes, "One of my cousins in Spain and I took a bottle of Rioja into her parents' basement and passed it back and forth for a while. Hardly caught a buzz. This? This is nothing. I know how to handle myself with alcohol."
"I'm not taking care of your hungover ass tomorrow," he shoved his finger in my face, "So no getting shitfaced tonight. Got it?"
"Wasn't planning on it," I assured, taking another drink from the bottle, "That's what the noodles are for. Something starchy in the tummy takes care of that. And if I do end up hungover, get me some rice and I'll be fine."
"Why rice?" Ritsu took the bottle from me, getting a drink himself.
"Because it's starchy," I reminded him, "My god, Ritsu. You never listen…"
"I'm sorry that my mind goes different places," he squeaked, "Shut up."
"I'm screwing with you," I promised, kissing his cheek, "You're fun to do that with."
"I hate it."
"You love it."
"I really don't," he stood his ground, hiding a smile from me, "It'll drive me to an early grave."
"What can I say?" I took the bottle back, "It's how I show affection. If I didn't like you, I wouldn't fuck with you. Simple as that."
"So," Ritsu figured, "Going by that logic, you like the host club?"
"Yeah," I confessed, "They're alright."
"Small doses?"
"Oh, hell yeah," I damn near gave myself whiplash, "But they have good intentions. Sometimes exhausting and unorthodox methods, but always with good intentions. I'll keep them around. You never know when you need a good patsy."
"Means to an end?" Ritsu gasped, "That's kind of cutthroat and brutal, don't you think, Rei?"
"A little," I bit the inside of my cheek, "But it's a nature of the beast. You know that as well as I do."
"I never said it was a bad thing," he pulled me into his lap, "I get it."
"Thank you," I curled into his chest, my eyes getting heavier, "I think it's time for bed."
"You want to go to sleep?" Ritsu ran his hand down my back.
"I think so," I pushed myself up and got my pajamas off the floor where I left them.
"Hey, Rei?"
"Yeah?" I shut the bathroom door behind me.
"I'm glad we did this tonight," he leaned against the door, "Maybe we should do it again sometime."
"What?" I wondered, pulling my bottoms up, "Yakisoba and sake?"
"Or even something else," Ritsu suggested, "A seventeen-year-old bottle of Hibiki's pretty good, too. It's expensive as hell, but it's worth it."
"What's Hibiki?"
"Japanese whiskey," he told me, "Unless you just want to stick to wine."
"No," I pushed the door open, "I could do whiskey, too. But maybe we could leave that to my side of the world."
"What do you mean?" Ritsu asked as I jumped onto the bed.
"A bottle of Gentleman's Jack is some good shit," I applauded, "That's made in Tennessee. Gatlinburg, if I remember correctly."
"I thought you were more of a wine type than a whiskey type…"
"What can I say?" I buried myself in blankets, "I'm an enigma."
"That you are," he agreed, making himself comfortable on the floor, "Good night, Rei. Pleasure drinking with you."
"And you as well," I leaned over the edge of the bed, getting one last kiss, "Good night."
Really and truly, I couldn't have asked for a better end to this night. I had a little sake buzz. I had a Ritsu at my feet. This was good for the soul. If Osaka was this good to me, it made me hopeful for what Hakone had in store for me. I shut my eyes and started to drift off. Good night, Osaka. Good night, boys. Good night, Ritsu.
Sometime in the middle of the night, things took a turn for the worse. My mind flashed with emergency vehicle lights and gunshots echoed through my head. Bodies piled up on the streets and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it. And to put the icing on the shit cake, the man who took my Mama away stood in front of me, alive and well. If I remember correctly, Daddy blew this guy's brains out and made sure there was nothing left for the coroner to find. Why? Why are you here? And why is it my fault? Daddy and I should've gone to walk her home that day. He was negotiating a deal and I was in school, but we should've been there. Why weren't we there?
"Hey…" a gentle voice parted the fog and I felt a sudden warmth around me, "It's alright, Rei. You're safe. I'm right here. I promise you're safe. I'm right here. And I'm not going anywhere."
A/N: Hi. Hello. I'm in tears. That end fucked me up a little. But not too bad. I needed a nice, mellow chapter with some ache. I just got back from Michigan last night and this weekend was a long one. Nevertheless, perseverance. Although, there is something on my mind. I wonder what things would be like if the Kasanoda syndicate got a hold of Rei. Maybe that's what triggered her nightmare. It's weird how the littlest things can do that. Anyway, see you next chapter! xx