The Universe - Chapter Six

The Universe
Chapter Six - Even as I Hold You

This chapter is Nasutei angst… hence the poem. *disturbingly evil grynn*

*~*~*

Even as I hold you
I think of you as someone gone
far, far away. Your eyes the color
of pennies in a bowl of dark honey
bringing sweet light to someone else
your black hair slipping through my fingers
is the flash of your head going
around a corner
your smile, breaking before me,
the flippant last turn
of a revolving door,
emptying you out, changed,
away from me.

Even as I hold you
I am letting go.

*~* Even as I Hold You *~*
~*~ Alice Walker ~*~

*~*~*

The knock on his door was timid, as if afraid to be rejected. Ryo turned slightly and considered whether or not to give whomever stood outside a word of entrance. Did he wasn't to talk to anybody? No. But would he likely end up talking to them anyway? Yes. He sighed. That was the thing about living in the same house with five of your closest friends - brooding was not tolerated.

"Come in." He grumbled.

Nasutei's head popped in, eyes dark and worried. "Why don't you turn a light on in here?" She asked, trying to make it sound like a joke, as she closed the door behind her.

"I want it dark." He replied. It matched his mood.

The light snapped on. "F*ck what you want."

Ryo jumped. He had noticed a marked change in the girl in the past few days. She seemed… bitter? Angry? He couldn't describe it, but she definitely was not pleased with him. Frankly, he hadn't the slightest idea how to deal with Nasutei when she was angry, since it had never before happened on his watch. He blinked up at her in surprise. "Nasti, what's up?"

"Shouldn't that be my question?" She replied grimly. "Now, I think that I want a complete explanation, from the beginning, of what's going on here. Okay?"

The look on Ryo's face clearly showed that it was NOT okay.

"Well, here's your options. Either you can tell me, or you can get the HELL out of my house. I will not have you moping around ruining our lives, you understand me! That is if you haven't ruined any lives already." Ryo knew it was an empty threat. Nasutei would never kick any of them out, they knew that, she knew they knew. But it was really the only bargaining chip she had, and if she was desperate enough to use it, then he supposed he'd better answer.

"Touma was bored. He wanted to go to a club…"

*~*~*

It was past eleven when Shuu came back. He had wanted to go bother the violet-haired girl for more information, but had the distinct feeling that it wouldn't have done very much good. So instead he opted for returning home, trusting that Touma could take care of himself.

Still he couldn't for the life of him figure out what she had meant by that comment about Ryo. What had he done to her? But he was too tired to worry about it right now. He just wanted to fall into bed…

He noticed a head of long read hair draped over the arm of the couch. "Nasti?"

Bleary, tear-stained green eyes looked up at him in surprise. "Shuu?" She asked, as if she didn't recognize him.

Carefully he walked over and crouched beside the couch, eye level with the distraught girl. "Nasti? What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"Am I?" She asked, rubbing at the tear trails on her cheeks with the back of one hand as she sat up. "It's nothing Shuu. Don't worry about it."

"You're no more believable now than you were before time, Nas. What's happened now? You were all right earlier."

Slowly she curled her long, thin legs up to her chest and rested her chin on her knees. "I know that I can't have him." She said in a harsh whisper. "So why does it keep bothering me?" She seemed as if she really wanted an answer out of him.

"Who?" This Shuu desperately wanted to know. Who was Nasutei so in love with? She'd refused to confess that much before.

But now she just sighed. "Ryo." It was a breathy whisper, so soft he had to strain to hear it.

Shuu blinking in surprise. So this is what I feels like when you heart sinks into your stomach… but he swallowed bravely and ploughed on. "But why can't you be with Ryo?" He asked, not sure whether or not he actually WANTED the answer, but requiring it just the same.

She cocked her head at him for a second, considering. "I can't have him… because he wants Touma."

That was a little too much for Shuu. He flopped down onto the carpet, eyes distant. "You sure?" Then something occurred to him. "Guess that's why Kaiya…" he sighed. "God, is everyone in on this except me?"

"I'm sorry… I should have told you before. You had a right no know." Nasutei said softly, but he shook his head.

"No, it's all right." He smiled up at her brightly. "After all, I would have had to beat him up for making you cry."

She giggled slightly at that, wiping away the last of her tears. "Well Shuu, I told you my secret, so who's the person YOU love, huh?"

Shuu nearly jumped at the change of topic. "I, er…" he turned bright red, and Nasutei fretted at her bottom lip.

"It… it isn't TOUMA, is it?" she asked, eyes wide, and at that Shuu had to laugh.

"Gods no! Geez that'd be like… incest or something. I've known Touma since we were kids, he's like my brother." Nasutei breathed a sigh of relief at that.

"Well then who?"

He took a deep breath, and flashed her a good natured smile as he shook his head.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." And with that he stood. "But now I think it's time to get you into bed!"

She sighed. "I'm too tired to go to bed."

"Is that so?" And without further warning he swung her up into his powerful arms. She let out a small squeak and threw her arms around his neck.

"Shuu…" She said in a warning tone.

But he just flashed her a toothy grin and proceeded to carry her to bed.

*~*~*

"Kaiya!"

The violet haired girl turned to see a blue haired boy waving to her from the club's entrance. She swished through the crowd to his side. She quickly noticed that Seiji was there with him, and that their hands were linked.

"I see you two sorted everything out." She said, looking pointedly at their joined hands.

Touma grinned and blushed, while Seiji just looked pleased.

Impulsively the archer pulled her into a hug. "Hey, thanks for meddling in my life, kiddo. I owe ya one."

She grinned and tugged none too gently on his forelock. "First of all, you're the kid, not me. And secondly, ya owe me way more than one by now. I gotta start keeping track."

"We're going to go. I locked up on my way out." Touma said as the two turned for the door. Kaiya gave him a teasing swat on the backside.

"Yeah, get out of here ya two lovebirds! And don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

Touma paused and turned. "IS there anything you wouldn't do?"

Kaiya just replied with a rude gesture and a giggle as the two boys left the club.