Laina groaned as she got up and gently touched Ryo's arm to let him know she was passing. There were still a few things she had to do before sampling Shin's cooking and leaving. She wondered how Ryo could get such good friends. Shin was just looking out for Ryo, and it seemed like Ryo would do the same for Shin. Jealousy and sadness passed over her as she saw another picture of the five guys in the hallway.
Her friends left at the first sign of Wyatt hitting her. With friends like those who needs enemies. Sighing she tried to imagine what having friends like Ryo, Shin, and Seiji was like. She looked at the other two and wondered if they were all alike. She could easily imagine hanging out at the beach with the five guys. If they were her friends, she could guarantee Wyatt wouldn't come near her. One of Seiji's stern looks or Ryo's mad faces would scare him off. Shin just wasn't that scary, no matter how hard he tried to look tough, even with the tattoo, he just wasn't that scary. Although… if Wyatt saw Shin's muscle mass, he might realize Shin is tougher than he seems.
She heard them talking as they walked in. Shin made a joke and Ryo gave a low chuckle. Smiling she went back to work. When she was almost done, she could smell something that made her mouth water. As she walked into the kitchen, she noticed Shin at the stove with a smile on his face. Ryo sat at the table tapping his fingers on it. Laina noticed Ryo stopped and turned his head to the side, towards the back door. Looking at the back door she wondered if he heard something and walked over to it.
"Girl, can you open the door?" Ryo asked.
"For like the fifth time, my name is Laina, Ryo!" she replied putting one hand on her hip and the other on the knob. As she turned it and pulled, a deep rumbling sound came from the other side. Standing frozen she saw a large white tiger saunter in. Ryo reached out and the tiger walked under his palm. He genuinely smiled at the tiger's touch.
"White Blaze," Shin said looking over the counter.
"I haven't seen you in a while, girl. What have you been up to?" Ryo said kindly. Laina looked at him curiously; he never spoke that way to her.
"I bet she's back because your house doesn't smell like shit anymore," Shin said with a laugh. Ryo smiled and shook his head, then paused in thought.
"Do you think so? I've missed you, girl," Ryo said scratching the tiger behind her ear. The tiger leaned towards him and the rumbling of her purr made him laugh.
"I think it's because there isn't glass on the floor to cut her feet," Laina said. The tiger turned to look at her and Laina froze again. It looked like it was judging her. She looked into its brown eyes and gulped. They wouldn't let the tiger eat her… would they? She slowly closed the door. Make no sudden movements and it won't attack, right? Or is that a bear? Crap! I can't remember!
"White Blaze, that's Laina. Laina, this is White Blaze," Shin said happily and then told the tiger, "She's the reason the house is clean."
White blaze let out a growl while watching her and Laina gasped.
"You don't have to be scared. White Blaze won't hurt you. You aren't a threat," Ryo said with a chuckle.
"Can I touch her?" Laina asked holding her hand out. The tiger stepped forward and sniffed it.
"No," Ryo said at the same time Shin said, "Yes."
Shin threw a towel at Ryo, and Ryo smirked.
"Yes, you can touch her," Ryo said giving in. Laina cautiously raised her hand and touched the tiger's soft fur. The tiger leaned into her touch, knocking her against the wall.
"Need to work on your muscle there, eh?" Shin said with a laugh. Laina spread her hands out like "It's a freakin' tiger!" and shin laughed harder. She maneuvered from behind the tiger to the table and sat next to Ryo who had this annoying smirk like he knew exactly what just happened.
"Shut up," She said shaking her head. He could be so obnoxious sometimes.
He shrugged, "I didn't say anything."
She shook her head still amazed that a tiger just walked in and everyone was like oh! Welcome back! Wow, if only she got that kind of welcome, no, this guy is all Go Away! With her. She looked over at Shin as he put a plate in front of her and Ryo.
"Dinner's done," Shin said with a smile. Laina's eyes widened as she looked at the plate of delicious smelling food sitting in front of her, her stomach rumbled and she dug in without even thinking about it. The flavor was so good and she had worked up such an appetite after eating half of a mayo sandwich. Her plate was empty when she looked up and saw the two guys staring at her. They had taken a couple of bites. She blushed.
"Sorry, I guess I was hungrier than I thought," Laina said. Suddenly her cell rang, she looked at the screen, it was her brother. She hit the talk button.
"Hey, what's up?" Laina said, getting up and taking her dish to the sink.
"Stay where you are," Matt said, "There's a snake in our midst. I saw him in front of my apartment. He's such a douche. He thinks he can be sneaky by wearing sunglasses and a hat. Can you stay the night there?"
Laina sighed glancing over at the two guys who were watching her, "I don't think so."
"Well ask, just don't come home. I don't want you getting back with him, and I sure as hell don't want him beating you up again," Matt grumbled, "Just give it a couple of days. Do you need me to call your work?"
Laina shook her head, "I don't know."
"Well then I'm kicking you out! Keep your dumb ass away from him! I'm filing a police report against him, but the police only do so much. If he doesn't know where you are then he can't get to you," Matt said.
"Well, maybe," Laina said giving in.
"There is no maybe. Laina I'm tired of this shit! I'm tired of him beating you to a pulp and you just go back to that bastard, again and again. When is it going to end Laina? When you're dead? You're my only family left, grow a fucking backbone and stay there!" Matt yelled. Laina had to pull the phone away from her ear and felt the stinging of tears in her eyes. She looked over at the guys and knew they heard every word her brother said, the forks were frozen in their hands. She looked down feeling a blush of embarrassment.
"You can stay here," Shin's kind voice broke through the silence. Ryo glared at him.
"Last time I checked this was my house," Ryo said.
"Actually, Ryo could use the help," Shin said ignoring him, "And this is the safest place for you. I mean who's going to break in to this house way out in the woods with a three-hundred-pound tiger living inside? And I bet Ryo could take him, even without his sight. Couldn't you, Ry?"
Ryo snorted, "I could take him easily."
"There you have it," Shin said, "You'll be safe here."
"Wait a minute-" Ryo said.
"Ignore him, you can stay," Shin said putting a forkful of food into his mouth.
"I don't see you volunteering your place," Ryo growled.
"You need the help if you want White Blaze to stick around. Laina's right, the glass will cut her paws up," Shin said his blue green eyes glaring at Ryo. She knew if Ryo could see it would probably be more effective. She saw Ryo frown his unfocused gaze looking at the floor.
"Alright, she can stay in the spare room," Ryo mumbled, "As long as she keeps the place clean for White Blaze."
"I can stay," Laina said into the phone.
"Good, be safe," Matt said, "I have a feeling you are safer there anyway. He won't be able to find you there since you weren't there before."
Laina nodded, "Alright, I love you."
"Love you too, sis," Matt said before hanging up. Laina hung up the phone and turned to Ryo.
"Thanks," she said in a whisper, "I'll find a way to pay you back."
"Don't worry about it. I think you'll be good to help him out," Shin said with a smile.
"I don't need help!" Ryo said.
"Well if you want to keep White Blaze around, I think you do," Shin replied.
"I do want her to stay, I missed her," he said reaching down to touch her fur. She could see a sad look cross his face.
"And Seiji said he would bring Anna and Mason if there wasn't glass all over the floor," Laina added. Shin's eyes widened and he nodded.
"You won't believe how big the little warrior has gotten," Shin said, "And he looks just like Seiji."
Ryo smiled, "I'd like that. Girl! Your room is up at the top of the stairs. It's not much for a city girl like you, but it's a bed and a roof over your head."
Laina nodded, she had seen that room while cleaning, but didn't touch it because it was the cleanest area of the house. He must not go in it often.
"Well it's settled then," Shin said cheerfully. Laina sat back down at the table and smiled at him. They finished and Laina did the dishes as the guys sat on the couch talking. She came out and sat next to Shin, listening to them talk about the soccer team Ryo used to be on. He was upset to hear that they lost again.
"It wouldn't be like that if I could still play," Ryo growled.
"I know! You were the star! You kicked ass," Laina said surprising them both, "I mean it was amazing when you blocked Ichiro from making that goal during the championship… what?"
They both stared at her in disbelief. She closed her mouth figuring maybe she shouldn't have brought up the past. Maybe it was a sore spot for him. Ryo and Shin laughed.
"That was like two years ago," Ryo said, "I remember that game, it was a good one."
Laina smiled and shrugged, "Yeah, it was a good game."
Tears stung her eyes as she remembered watching it with her ex, Wyatt. He had been kind that day, until his friends left. Then he accused her of having a crush on Sanada. She denied it, but he was her favorite soccer player. She absently touched a scar on her thigh, remembering the cut from the glass he threw at her that day. It was the first time he did something to her and she felt so lost, wondering what she did wrong.
"So, you're a fan, aren't you?" Ryo asked.
"Well yeah, kind of," Laina replied with a shrug.
"You should play with her, you still have those two goals outside, and I'm sure there's a soccer ball around here somewhere," Shin said laughing.
Laina looked at him curiously, how could he play? Maybe he could sense the ball?
"Maybe, it would give me something to do, I guess," Ryo replied with a shrug, "I could do that and teach her to fight since you're so inadequate Shin. I mean seriously, keep it in your pants."
Shin laughed, "Hey, she learned a lot from me!"
"Yeah a lot about anatomy," Ryo replied laughing. She couldn't help but laugh as well. She liked the joking between Ryo and Shin. It was a lot better than grumpy Ryo when Shin wasn't there.
"Well, I better get going. I have to work tomorrow," Shin said getting up. Laina had a worried look as she watched him go.
"I'll see you guys next week," Shin said giving a wave.
"Bye Shin, see you next week," Ryo replied.
"Bye," Laina said halfheartedly, she didn't want him to go. As she listened to him get in his car and leave her heart sank. She forgot he wasn't going to be here, just Ryo. The sound of silence filled her ears as she looked at the grumpy guy who she had to live with. It might not be so bad… at least he wasn't trying to kill her, just annoy her.
"Girl, I'm going to bed. Make sure you turn off the lights before you go hit the hay," Ryo said breaking the silence and walking up the stairs. Laina watched him go wanting to yell at him that she had a name but thought better of it since he was barely extending a kindness to her. She blew her bangs up and frowned. Snagging the tv remote she flipped on the tv and put on a cute romance movie. Wyatt never let her watch what she wanted so she sat back and enjoyed reigning over the remote.