I put tags on the A03 version of the story for content warnings. Since I'm not sure how to go about FFN etiquette, I guess I'll put it here: sexual content and assault.
Tempest
It was a rainy night in September. The light from the TV washed over Adachi's room, casting sharp shadows across the walls of his apartment. Adachi watched the clock on his wall tick away: 11:58. Despite the late hour, he was more awake than ever. He flicked off the movie he had been mindlessly consuming and waited. The rain pounded on the roof.
Any moment now.
The screen flickered to life, illuminating a spreading grin on Adachi's face.
There was something on the Midnight Channel.
The room returned to darkness. Adachi already had a hunch about who the next victim of Namatame's "heroism" was but wondered if it was just wishful thinking. Surely, he couldn't be that lucky. Instead of theorizing, Adachi's mind drifted to strategizing and analyzing his opponent's next move.
Adachi could only imagine that either Yua or one of her friends had caught a glimpse of the shadow on the television. They would probably be up in arms or, at least, running around like chickens with their heads cut off. He could imagine their conversation:
"What? I thought we caught the killer!"
"Maybe it's a fluke!"
"I sure am scared now!"
"Maybe we should quit our foolish game! The killer's just too smart for us!"
If only these thoughts were a reality. No, they'd probably jump at the chance to save whoever was next on the chopping block. A bunch of noble pricks scrambling in the dark. That's why they were so good at playing player two. That's why Yua was such a prize.
Prize. Adachi decided that he had "taken it slow" long enough. Messing with her and the investigation was fun, but now he needed to step it up—cash out on his social credit. He needed to find a way to pull her away from the investigation, get her thinking about what really mattered.
He turned the TV on, and the weather channel came on the screen. Perfect.
Every other day after school, Yua would head over to Adachi's place for dinner. She would usually get a few things together to cook a competent meal, but today was a little different. Yua knew that with school days came deadlines, study nights, and more work at her job. So, this time, she decided to make a bit more food to make up for any absences that might happen with her busy schedule. She would hate to think he would return to the instant meals he had eaten before.
Another thing worried her: The Midnight Channel. It was on again, and while the investigation team wasn't sure what it entailed, they knew something was wrong. If there was more business in the TV world, it would really take away from her time with Adachi. So, she decided to make everything extra special.
So, after school, Yua exited Junes with several bags in hand and headed towards Adachi's apartment complex.
"Hey, Yua," she turned around to see the Prince of Junes himself, clad in his cashier armor. "What are you doing here?"
Yua held her bag up, "Just shopping. Getting off work?"
"Yeah, my dad asked me to cover for an hour or so, but I'm done now. Want to hang out tonight?"
"Sorry, I have to meet with someone tonight."
"Oh," he looked down at the shopping bags. "Well, if you're going to meet someone, I can drop those off at your house. I was going to pass by there later anyway before heading home."
That was a lie. Yosuke's house was on the other side of town, but the effort made Yua appreciate his kindness.
"Oh! No, I'm taking it with me."
"Cooking dinner for—" He muttered but suddenly retracted. "Ah, sorry. None of my business. But, hey, when we get the chance, let's take our scooters and go to the beach sometime—maybe Sunday? It's been a while since we've hung out together."
It had been a while, a little over a month at this point. That would be a good time to increase her social links. Yua started to plan something out in her mind but stopped. She felt a sting of guilt as she remembered Adachi's request, "I don't think I'll be able to soon. There's a lot on my plate."
"Right, no, totally understand," Yosuke winced. "I've got a lot of things to work on too. Really busy; probably busy tonight too. Yep." He sighed. "Super busy. I'll let you go now."
Yua tried to find a way to appease both sides of her heart, "Let's hang out at lunch tomorrow. I'll bring you something."
"Oh! Special Yua bento!" Yosuke recovered like he had just received a Balm of Life. "I'll look forward to it!"
Seeing him smile made her return it, "Alright, see you tomorrow." She headed down the street.
"Oh! And don't forget to check the Midnight Channel tonight, partner!" Yosuke called.
"Got it!" Yua called back.
Yosuke watched her disappear into the distance, "Lucky Naoto."
Adachi's apartment was full of the smell of good broth and cooked meat and the sound of laughter. They may have had only a few hours a day with each other, but the two made the most of their time together. Yua tried to show Adachi the steps to cook a nutritious meal. He was reluctant but eventually relented and helped her with some basic tasks. There was plenty to eat, and while she cleaned up the leftovers, she even made him a boxed lunch for the next day and snuck it into the fridge as a surprise. She hoped he liked it. Some playing cards were scattered across the kotatsu table next to their dinner plates: Adachi insisted on teaching her some card games so that she could "school old man Dojima." Apparently, she was a pro at poker because Adachi couldn't read her expression, but he got her back in war.
The evening started to wind down, and Yua cleaned the last of their dishes in the budget sink. (It, unfortunately, fit very little. One of her larger pots got stuck in it once, and Adachi took two minutes to dislodge it.) She caught sight of something as she turned to stack some of the dishes. The origami flower she had given him as an apology was displayed proudly on the corner of the counter with their cranes. The display filled her heart with warmth, and she glanced toward her boyfriend.
Adachi looked at the rain clouds through the slightly tinted window. He had been cheerful throughout the evening, but now, he seemed to be considering something. Perhaps something was going on at work. Maybe he was sad that she was going to leave. But she knew that it was important enough to change his mood. He was drinking a beer. Maybe the third or fourth that night. That was a bit much, right?
Yua pondered it and decided that she should ask him about it when she sat down. She could feel that their bond was about to deepen.
Adachi surprised her by speaking first, "Hey, Yua, I've been meaning to ask you about something." He didn't look away from the clouds. A quiet sprinkle of rain speckled the windowpane; the clouds darkened the sky much quicker than the sunset.
"Yeah?" She asked as she tried to finish the final plate. "What is it?"
"Well," he swirled his beer can. "There's no real way to cushion it, so I'll just say it. Why were you so interested in the murders?"
The dish slipped gracelessly from her grasp and clattered into the sink. That drew his attention from the rain.
Yua shrugged and reattempted to dry the dish, "What? Interested? I assume everyone was interested. It's murder, after all."
"Yeah, but you and your friends were a little more involved than most. You would ask me questions about the case and nudge me for information."
So, he did know, that shocked Yua; she always assumed that he was oblivious to their inquiries. She decided to play it cool.
"What do you mean? We weren't involved too much—just interested. I had a crush; I looked for any opportunity to talk to you."
"I know that's not it, Yua," there was a condescending tone in his voice, but it lifted with a sigh and the following statement. "I'm speaking from a place of concern here. I always saw you connected to each case somehow. You were there interrogating Risette and chasing down that Rissette fanboy. Then you guys helped us catch Kubo."
Well, when he laid it out like that.
"So, I know you guys were more than a little interested in the case. Can I ask why?"
Yua looked down; she tried to think of a reason that would seem sensible to him. She couldn't admit that they were the only ones who were able to solve this case. She couldn't tell him that she had magical powers and that the killer had been tossing people into a TV. That sounded insane—it honestly was insane.
"My friend, Yosuke-kun, he lost someone to the murderer," it was the only part of the truth that seemed reasonable.
"Oh?" Adachi looked surprised.
"Well, the second victim, Saki Konishi, he kind of had a crush on her," she didn't mean to paint her friend with such a broad stroke: he had come so far in his reasons for solving this mystery and matured so much.
"So, he wanted to find the murderer? And you went along with it?"
"Um," in all honesty, "yeah, that was our reason. Yosuke was passionate about it, and I was shocked by it too, so I decided to help."
"He dragged you into it," Adachi shook his head. "Gah, I knew he was trouble."
"No, no, I wanted to help him. Then we got this whole group together, and we decided to do a little investigating. Nothing much."
"Nothing much? But, you guys helped catch the killer," he held up his hands. "And we're thankful for that, the police really are, but I can't help but think about it sometimes. You were so close to—I don't know, I keep thinking, what if he had some kind of weapon? What if he'd hurt you, you know? I can't help but think that Hanamura was very irresponsible, putting you and the rest of your friends in jeopardy like that, all over some crush he had. I'm not saying he didn't have the right intentions; it's just a foolish way to go about it."
It was so much bigger than Adachi could have imagined, and it felt unfair that she couldn't tell him. But the Investigation Team had made a private agreement at the beginning of their journey. It wasn't often evoked or expressed, but it was well understood. No one could know.
Yua couldn't tell Adachi that they had personally saved every potential victim from a horrifying death at the hands of their innermost secrets. She couldn't tell him that Yosuke was willing to face his insecurities and use them to save others. She couldn't say a thing about it that would give away that they were more than just a group of kids playing detective.
So, she couldn't blame Adachi for being mad with what he saw as negligence.
Still, she felt the need to say more to defend her partner's integrity. She felt that Adachi was a bit jealous of Yosuke.
"That's not it."
Adachi looked confused, "Why? Is there another reason?"
Yua gritted her teeth, locking the truth behind them, and sighed, turning off the faucet and drying her hands, "It's just complicated."
"Eh, I'm sorry," his expression softened, and he stood up and moved next to her. "It's finished now; the case is closed. I just—I just don't want to see you get hurt, y'know?" He pulled her chin up. "It scares me to think that you could have been hurt. I want to protect you. You're very special to me."
Yua's heart beat fast. Every kind word he said was another electric pulse in her veins. She felt him growing closer to her—an awkward shuffle right before a kiss—the first since the day they confessed. Yua was breathless with anticipation. She started to lean in.
"Just promise that you won't get into something reckless like that again, ok?"
Yua felt her heart skip a beat. The Midnight Channel had turned on again, and while the Investigation Team was sure that the killer was in jail, they still needed to follow up on it. It wasn't over yet, at least not officially. Could she really promise that?
She looked up into his expectant gaze. She pushed the thought aside. It was probably nothing; they caught the killer. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to think that there was something left over, but she could promise her safety to him.
"I promise."
He grinned, "Good."
He rewarded the promise with a chaste kiss on her lips. It was too short. The smell of beer was on his breath.
"Come on, let's sit down."
The light sound of tapping against the windows signaled the beginning of a rainy evening. It was a good day to be on the couch, snuggled into the comfortable warmth of Adachi's side. They often ended up like this once the conversation slowed, and Adachi indicated that he just wanted to relax. Yua didn't mind, though. As long as he was happy, she was happy. A soft smile crept onto her lips, and she snuggled further into him. She felt his arm tighten around her shoulders. There wasn't a lot they could do while cooped up in Adachi's apartment, but they were free to talk and be together. In the end, that was enough for her.
The rain drummed on the roof, and the wind howled. Yua glanced at the clock and was surprised at how quickly the time had flown by. The news had mentioned some rain showers would be blowing through town. She had expected the rain to die back down by now. It was starting to get late, and she needed to be on her way home soon.
Dread soured Yua's previous contentment. If she wasn't home soon, her uncle would begin to worry, but Yua saw sheets of rain glinting off of some outside lights. It would be near impossible to see in the shower, let alone in the dark. Yua looked to Adachi; his gaze drifted from the television to the storm outside and then back again. His mood sharply contrasted with her own escalating worry.
She could ask to stay over longer; she knew Adachi wouldn't mind. He often poked fun at her for leaving for home with such strict timing. She fought flustered feelings as she thought about her options.
"Are you alright?" Adachi noticed her shifting next to him.
"Yeah, but it's getting a little late. I should leave soon." Yua reluctantly pushed herself away from him and began to get up.
"You aren't planning on going out in this storm, are you?"
"I'd rather face this storm than my uncle. I don't really have much of a choice. Besides, I brought an umbrella."
"You mean that flimsy thing? That'll break the moment a gust of wind catches it. Yeah, I don't think you'd make it out there," He reached out and pulled on her hand. "Come on, you can stay a little while longer. At least until the rain stops, for me?"
"Tohru, I can't stay. What if this storm ends up lasting all night? I—"
"I wouldn't mind if you stayed the night."
"What about my uncle, though?" Yua threw another excuse at him. He probably didn't understand what he was saying. Her mind wandered back to the beers from earlier. "He'll wonder where I am."
"Just tell him you're staying at one of your friend's houses. It's technically the truth."
"Would that work?" Her uncle's lie detector was rather hit-or-miss.
"He doesn't have any reason to question it. He'll probably just be glad you're not out in this storm."
"You're probably right." Yua pulled her phone out and fiddled with her phone charm for a second. She tried to push aside the guilty feeling that rose inside her. "I should go ahead and make the call then, huh?" She excused herself to the kitchen for what little privacy she could get.
She dialed the home phone and got two rings in before Nanako answered.
"Big sis! Hi! When are you coming home?"
A spike of guilt shot through Yua; she couldn't lie to Nanako, "Hey Nanako, I'll need to speak to Dojima-san."
"Ok," the disappointment was evident in her voice.
There was some shuffling, and her uncle picked up.
"Hey, thought you'd call. Looks almost like a monsoon outside. Where are you? I can pick you up in the car."
Damn, even if Yua wanted to ride home with Dojima, he would have to pick her up at Adachi's apartment complex, which was out of the way of her usual routes. That would be strange, to say the least.
"No, that's fine, I'm—I'm over at Rise's. I think I'll just stay the night." Yua's hand clenched and unclenched as she thought of things to add to the lie. "She'll give me her clothes for the night and everything. I have my school bag. I'll just head to school in the morning with her."
"Oh, alright," Dojima muttered. "Just let me know if you need me to drop something off on my way to work."
"I will, thank you."
With that, she snapped her phone shut and turned back to Adachi.
"We're good."
"Perfect." He patted the space next to him on the couch and pulled Yua close as she settled beside him.
Yua felt like there was a weight lifted from her. She wasn't checking the clock anymore and felt anxiety seep away as she could just focus on the two of them.
Adachi seemed a lot more relaxed as well. He was pulling her closer and resting more easily in the chair. However, she couldn't help noticing the beer cans piling up. He usually didn't drink when she came over, so she suspected it was a nightly routine that he felt at ease enough to share. She just never realized that he drank so much in such a short time. Tomorrow was a workday, right? Drinking this much couldn't be healthy. His cheeks flushed, and his eyes started to droop a little. She looked down at the can in his hand and wondered if she should object to his drinking.
Adachi took her gaze as something else.
"Do you want to try?" Adachi offered his drink to her.
"That's illegal," She figured he wasn't thinking straight.
Adachi shrugged, "Everyone does it at one point or another. You've never snuck a beer before?" Yua shook her head. "Wow, you really are a good girl, aren't you? And to believe I thought you were just a troublemaker at first." He teased as he plopped the can into her hand. "Go on, try."
"You thought I was a troublemaker?" She stared down her nose at the can.
"Well, you were getting out of custody when I first met you."
"You were throwing up the first time I saw you. Guess there's a lesson in first impressions there," She took a sip of the drink and made a face.
"Not what you expected?"
"No, not exactly," She cleared her throat and tried to give him the drink. "Do you actually like this stuff?"
"It's an acquired taste. Just keep at it, and you'll get used to it."
Yua put the can back in his hands anyway, "That's what Rise says about her cooking, and I don't think I'll ever get used to that."
He snorted and emptied the can with a couple of gulps. After tossing it to the side, he pulled her closer to him. There was a silly grin on his ever-reddening face. The smell of alcohol was on his breath, not terrible, just different. The only other time he drank around her was when her uncle invited him to their house for dinner.
Yua's thoughts drifted back to her phone call with her uncle. The idea only brought pain. She lied to him about her relationship. She knew that she didn't have to feel bad about love, but she hated the idea of lying to Dojima. She should have been with Nanako and Dojima on one of the rare instances that he was home. She wanted to stay with Adachi for as long as possible, but this didn't seem right. She thought about how she needed to involve Rise in her lie. Yua needed to tell her something, or Dojima could find out she was going elsewhere. It was becoming so complicated, and she didn't like it.
"What's wrong?" Adachi noticed her distress.
She sighed, "I was just thinking. . . I haven't been very truthful with my friends about where I am. I… no one knows about us or this. And I know that's how it has to be, but… I don't know; I feel bad about lying to my uncle."
"Why? What good would it do to tell him the truth?"
"I—I don't know," Yua shook her head. "If I told him… you'd probably be dead."
Adachi guffawed.
"—And he probably wouldn't want to talk to me," Yua felt a terrible ache in her chest; she allowed a rare frown to cross her features. "I think he would be disappointed. He wouldn't understand how I feel. I know he means well, but sometimes; he can just be—"
"An ass?"
"Well, a stubborn mule, at least. He snaps because of stress." Yua looked down at her hands. It was hard not to think of everyone she had lied to in order to be there, her uncle, Nanako, Yosuke, and Rise. "No, he definitely wouldn't understand. I don't think any of them would."
"Hey," Adachi placed a hand on her cheek and guided her to look him in the eyes. "They don't need to understand. What we have is between us; it's special. We're the only ones that matter."
"Still, I wish things could be different," Yua huffed. "I just want to show everyone how special you are to me. I don't want to lie to everyone, but I guess I'll have to lie for a while."
"I know it sucks," Adachi mumbled. "The world's full of people who'd want nothing more than to ruin someone else's fun. It's a game rigged against anyone who it doesn't favor. Puts you in one shithole after another no matter how hard you try, so when the opportunity for any kind of pleasure comes, you have to take it. A lie here and there is just natural."
Yua blinked, "I didn't know you felt that way."
"I didn't know either." He bashfully rubbed the back of his neck, "I think the drink's talking for me. But, seriously, don't think about it so much. You like this thing we have, right?"
"Yeah."
"Good," A kiss was planted on her cheek and started a wildfire of warmth. "Now, don't worry about that anymore." His hand threaded her hair behind her ears. "It's just you and me."
Yua felt his hand on her knee; he loomed closer. Excitement boiled up as she prepared herself for another kiss. Adachi's lips crashed onto hers. It was sloppy and harsh. Yua was taken aback by the force. The next thing she knew, he was kissing along her jawline. The sudden passion made her heart skip a beat. He was much clumsier. The smell of beer was overwhelming, and he started to chuckle a little as his hands began exploring her exposed leg.
Yua's cheeks flushed. No one had touched her like this before, with such aggressive passion, and she was unsure how to respond. It was so new, such an escalation from their earlier kisses, and it happened so quickly. She wanted to return the kisses and sink into this newfound desire, but she couldn't help a growing sense of discomfort with the drunken way his hands grabbed her.
Yua flinched. That was it. He was drunk—just like the other night. He wasn't thinking straight. The alcohol made him this way; this wasn't the Tohru she knew. She would be taking advantage of him in this state if she let him continue. If Adachi could see himself, he'd be so embarrassed!
It didn't feel right.
His hands wandered to the edge of her skirt.
Flustered, Yua pulled away and stopped his advancing hand with her own. He looked at her with confusion, "I—It's a school night. We should go to sleep."
Adachi pulled himself up from her neck, "Oh, yeah, it's late."
"Yes," Yua shrunk away from him, and Adachi had to sit back.
"Alright, bedtime," He pulled back his hand from her thigh and found his gaze drifting down. He realized, with a note of delight, that she was in her school uniform and voiced as much, "You're still in your clothes."
"Oh, yeah," Yua shifted and pulled her skirt down.
However, a much clearer thought went through his slurred mind. As much as he was enjoying the idea that she would be going to sleep in her skirt, he knew it might be uncomfortable.
"You can borrow some of my night clothes if you want. Might be more comfortable than this." He traced a lazy finger down the sleeve of her shirt.
"If you don't mind."
He went into his closet and fished around for a box. He pulled out some button-up striped pajamas, a set he'd never really cared to wear.
Yua thanked him for the clothes and excused herself to the bathroom to change. Adachi watched her disappear behind the door.
Everything was going to plan.
The storm was a lucky coincidence that he'd discovered the night before, and while he was sure he could have convinced her to stay out of a little rainstorm, the severity helped him immensely. After that, he just had to rely on infatuation and charm, working her out of her conservative "take it slow" request with undeniable chemistry. While she was more hesitant than he liked, he blamed it on her virginity and inexperience; she was coming around. He could feel it.
Adachi caught himself as he stumbled back towards his closet.
The alcohol was a failsafe and smokescreen for breaking his promise (not that he really needed one). Adachi was less drunk than Yua assumed but far drunker than he wanted. It was her fault, of course. He'd be more stable if she had just taken the last can of beer like he had planned. Fortunately, he'd held his fair share of liquor over the years, and while feeling fairly buzzed, he could have a couple of rational thoughts crawl to the forefront of his mind. That sensible part reminded him that he needed to be extra vigilant.
Still… Yua was in his bathroom, taking her clothes off. He found his mind started to wander, and that drunken grin returned. He imagined her wrestling her clothes off to reveal lacy underwear. For a moment, he toyed with the idea of barging in there to get a sneak preview but realized that she'd locked the door. However, the picture alone of her wearing his clothes did something to him. He couldn't help the possessive feeling that rose up inside of him. The once simple desire to use her had grown and transformed. He needed her. He wanted to own her. He'd just grab her once the door opened.
Rule two: He could not force Yua to do anything. Out of all the rules he had set up for himself, Rule two was the most infuriating.
After he finished putting on his own sleepwear, a t-shirt from his university and pants, he turned at the sound of his bathroom door opening, and one look at her confirmed all of his thoughts. His shirt hung loosely on her thinner frame, making him realize just how small she was despite her height, and the shirt was disappointingly buttoned up all the way to her neck. The ends of his pajama pants pooled around her ankles. She held her day clothes tightly in front of her.
Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"So, um, how is this going to work?" Yua fidgeted with the hem of her borrowed shirt. "Should I take the couch?"
Ah, the reasonable assumption. Of course, she wouldn't kick him out of his own bed. Adachi heard the wind pick up outside, and the rain began to pound on his window.
The Midnight Channel.
Adachi glanced at the television. He hadn't forgotten about that. There was no telling what might show up on the screen tonight, but whatever it was, Yua didn't need to see it. Thankfully pre-beer Adachi had figured this in.
No, Yua wouldn't be sleeping on the couch.
"The couch is so uncomfortable. I'll pull out my futon. It should be big enough for the two of us." Adachi reached into the closet, pretending not to notice the effect his words had on the girl. She looked away, and he was sure he saw her lose her grip on her belongings for a moment before shoving them onto the couch and furiously refolding them.
Oh, yeah, she wanted him.
Yua tried to shrug it off, "I can just take the couch. That way, we'll both have plenty of room. We can stretch out as much as we want."
Playing coy.
"Yua~"
"I'm a restless sleeper anyway."
"There's nothin' wrong with us sharing a bed."
Yua went silent; she still wouldn't look at him. Her innocent reaction only made Adachi want her more. He just needed to guide her.
"It's just you're…I wouldn't want to take advantage of—" Yua struggled with her words. "I don't think it would be appropriate."
"Appropriate? We're a couple. I'm not sure there's anything more appropriate. Couples share beds all the time. Woah!" Adachi staggered a bit as he continued to pull out his futon.
"Careful!" Yua appeared next to him with a hand ready to steady his sway. "Let me help you with this."
Adachi watched Yua take one end of the futon and straighten it out. She was so close to where he wanted her. He allowed his eyes to trail along Yua's back for a few short seconds as she crouched before him to smooth the futon covers. It was time to finish reeling her in.
Adachi leaned back towards the switch and flipped the lights off, sending them both into darkness.
"Uh—Tohru, I can't see, can you—"
He didn't let her finish, grabbing Yua from behind and collapsing onto the futon with her. They careened gracelessly onto the mattress. He felt a jolt of pain shoot through his arm as it was sacrificed to break his fall, but he ignored the temporary pain as he saw her pinned under him on her stomach.
"Tohru!" Yua squirmed in a pitiful attempt to flip over.
He thought about keeping her there the whole night, but something flashed into his mind. Rule two. He'd have to work her a bit more.
Either way, Adachi's balance failed him, and he found himself next to her on the futon. His arms reached around her to keep her on the futon with him. She went rigid and murmured something. He could feel the heat from her skin against his. Her shirt rode up over her stomach, smooth skin beneath his fingers.
Adachi listened to the girl breathing next to him. She had some sort of girly, fruity shampoo. He'd smelled it before, but now it was intoxicating. She felt it, too, didn't she? This was the stuff girls dreamed about, right? The stormy circumstances were just a bonus. He'd torn through those girly magazines and seen the odd sappy romance play on the TV when he couldn't find the remote. This was something out of one of those types of garbage media—a girl's fantasy.
She must be feeling something.
"He—hey," She managed to get out.
A few more incoherent noises and half words came from her. Adachi felt how close she was to him. One of his arms wrapped around her chest, and he could feel her heartbeat race. She was so worked up just from a little embrace. She was so warm, like hugging a heated blanket.
The alcohol tempted him to drift off to sleep like this, but he had a plan he intended to see through to the end. Yua's innocence to intimacy was frustrating and tempting at the same time. She had responded so well to him. They were so close, so intimate. He didn't want to hold back anymore. He shouldn't have to.
Adachi pressed his face into Yua's neck and began to trail gentle kisses above her shirt's collar. She gasped as a shiver shook her shoulders. She somehow became smaller in his grip. He could feel her burning skin on his lips.
"Tohru," Yua turned in his arms to face him. His vision was finally adjusting to the darkness. Their eyes only met for a fraction of a second before Yua's gaze darted down to his chest. She remained fixated on his shirt. She wasn't looking him in the eyes. That wouldn't do.
"Yua," he purred, "look at me."
She glanced up from beneath her dark lashes. Adachi took a moment to savor that look; it made him want to ruin her even more.
Yua parted her lips to say something, but he didn't give her a chance. He pressed his lips to hers. There was a moment of hesitation. Her hands searched his back for a hold, but he persisted hungrily. Eventually, she melted into him, her words forgotten. Finally! This time, she pressed a hand to cup his cheek. Her legs got tangled up with his.
Rain pounded on the roof.
Passion started to numb his better senses as he felt her press against him. His hand started to tug loose the buttons on her shirt until he felt the exposed skin of her chest. However, Yua seemed content with keeping it a make-out session: she lightly pushed his hand away and fiddled to put the buttons back.
"We—we shouldn't…"
She was so naïve. Adachi decided to take the lead. He maneuvered himself on top of her.
"Tohru," She murmured in quiet surprise but was silenced by his lips.
Just having her squirm in his arms was enough satisfaction to last him a month. She was supposed to be the one who was tracking him down; she was supposed to be at the forefront of whatever her pack of morons was up to. Yet, here she was: shivering at his touch, wearing his clothes, muttering his name. He had her dancing in the palm of his hand. It was driving him crazy. He needed to go further. He wanted to conquer their leader.
His hands made their way down her body. He squeezed her upper thigh, and she gasped at the sudden touch. She pushed his hands away as his thumbs tugged the waistband of her pants downward.
"Tohru," she said again; this time, she sounded more forceful. "Please, I—not now. . ." She stuttered as she thought of something to say, "I have school in the morning."
It was a lame excuse. School was the farthest thing from her mind; she just denied her desires. He didn't know why she denied it, but he was sure she was feeling this. Rule two… no, he just needed to find another way.
Adachi released his grip with a guttural grunt. Begrudgingly, he slid his hands to her waist instead; he lost his balance momentarily as he did so. He could still win the night with a little effort—tease her out of her comfort zone. He started undoing her shirt from the bottom.
"Tohru, you're drunk. I don't want to—"
This time, he didn't let her protest. He planted his lips firmly on hers as his hands traveled up her waist. She trembled under his touch, but the pressure pushing him away was increasing. He moved his lips to her neck and started trailing down the undone buttons to meet his hands in the middle.
She let out an urgent and shaky, "Stop."
Lightning flashed!
The rational part of his mind was thoroughly drowned by the intoxicating mixture of lust, booze, and her pleas. In fact, the idea of defying her wish made it even harder to ignore. She didn't know what she wanted. He didn't have the patience anymore; he ripped the rest of the way. No self-imposed rules were going to get in the way. For all the honeyed words, he should have something in return.
Yua's protests went silent. She was still. Perfect.
Adachi fixed his gaze on her chest, now only covered by her plain bra. His hands groped at her breasts, and a pulse went through him. His fingers tingled with energy. His right hand slid under the cup and—
Adachi's head jerked to the right like it had been yanked by a string. A stinging sensation exploded on his left cheek. His hand retreated from her bra and reached up to search the area while the other went to her side to steady himself. It took several seconds to process what had just happened. Mystified, he looked down at the assailant.
"Get off." Her voice took on an authority that he'd never heard before.
Adachi sat there stunned.
Thunder crescendoed to a rumbling BOOM.
"Get off me."
Adachi shifted off her.
Yua shoved away, sitting up and moving farther on the futon until she hit the wall with a quiet thud. He heard her labored breaths and felt her drag her legs away from him and to her chest. She sniveled.
Adachi sat on his knees, motionless, his mind playing catchup. Everything had been going perfectly; everything was right. She should have been begging him for his touch; she should have longed for him to push the boundary and have his way with her. But that didn't happen.
It was supposed to be different.
But this wasn't different.
The slap was a sharp and familiar pain. Saki had done the same. Her manicured nails cut into his skin (or was that Yamano). Saki's face had been twisted in disgust like she had been forced to touch garbage, and now, he imagined that same grimace on Yua's lips.
Saki pulled away.
Yua pulled away.
Saki thought she could tease him.
Yua did the same.
No different at all.
So. the outcome should be no different.
The solution was sitting mere feet away from them. Something urged Adachi to drag Yua to the TV, shove her in—damn the consequences! For all of his patience and caution, his nice guy act was clearly up. There was no loss; she wouldn't trust him again. He just needed to grab her before she ran.
"Tohru," as if providing him the perfect opportunity, she appeared next to him, on her knees, nearly shoulder to shoulder.
He didn't look at her, sparing her only a glance as he thought of exactly how to do it, planning his next move.
"I'm sorry," her voice shook.
Of course, she was sorry. They're all sorry. She must have felt his anger and was trying to apologize before she received any consequences. Did she think he was stupid? That he'd forget?
"I was afraid. I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry."
She could have shut up. She could have enjoyed the ride. But no, she was too stuck up; he wasn't good enough for her.
"You're drunk. You need sleep. I know that there's something wrong…" Yua started talking, making excuses, instructing him. He didn't hear it over the blood pounding in his ears.
It would be quick, over in a snap; she'd be more confused than frightful. If he could do it fast, he could get her in before she knew what was happening. Just grab a fistful of her hair, drag her over, and be done with it. No more Yua to bother and tease him. A familiar electricity ran through his veins as commitment accelerated his heart rate.
Adachi straightened, his fingers flexing, longing to grip her hair by the roots. His teeth gritted in anticipation. A snarl curled his lips, and he started to shake with anger.
Something touched him. Yua's hands wrapped around his. They shook but held his with a touch that didn't betray terror. She stroked his hands; there was some hesitation as she felt his tensed muscles.
"Tohru," Yua muttered, her hands working against the tension with slow circles. "I know this isn't you."
Whatever dark thought possessed him faded away as a new feeling overtook him. It was only now that he realized that he was breathing heavily, sweat sticking to his clothes. He must have looked like a lunatic, but Yua still held his hand.
Adachi was in one of the most confusing moments of his life. The anger was still churning in his stomach, willing him to murder. (She had denied him—just like the others.) It should have been over by now; she should be dead. Yet, with everything twisted inside of him, he couldn't deny the warmth he felt from her touch. He could feel the nervous familiarity, her kindness through everything.
It made no sense to him.
He still had control of her heart, and he had no idea why.
"I'm going to the couch," Adachi choked on the words. His voice sounded strained, but maybe that reassured her. She squeezed his hand.
Yua released him, and Adachi stumbled his way to the couch before collapsing onto it. He heard some shuffling as she resettled herself.
Minutes passed, maybe an hour or two. Adachi warred with his instincts and desires, his thoughts slowly sobering but not making anything clearer. He peered over the arm of the couch at her shadowed form and toyed with the idea of murdering her. She would try to leave. Any minute, she'd abandon him. Then he'd throw her in.
But before he could get the chance, a flash of light and the muffled sound of static filled the room. The Midnight Channel illuminated the room with fluorescent light and lit up the girl on the futon, sitting up, back against the wall, wrapped in his covers, sound asleep. She was so peaceful looking—so calm in the light of the image of someone who was about to be murdered. Adachi sat up, examining her. Eyes off of the figure on the screen.
The TV flickered off, returning the room to darkness. The Midnight Channel had run its scheduled broadcast. Darkness veiled Yua again.
A sound pierced the air. Her phone vibrated from the pile of clothes, which had landed on the floor. He wrestled the phone from the bundle, flipped it to silent, and looked over at the girl again—no sound to be heard. But the calls kept coming, and soon texts flooded in:
It's Naoto!
Yua, pick up!
Yua omygod r u ok?
Call me back!
We need 2 plan!
Come on! Pick up!
Adachi flipped it shut and put the phone down on the pile, letting it flash with a new text every second or so. The hunt was on again. He should have been elated with the idea, but he was just so…
Adachi looked to their leader. She hadn't left? She was so goddamn naïve, so stupid! Who would go to sleep after something like that?
His thoughts were in chaos as he lay back on the couch.
She was still there.
The whole thing was so bizarre. His head hurt from trying to think about it. He decided that it wouldn't help to torment himself with unanswerable questions; any answer she could provide would just be disappointing and sentimental anyway. Yet one question persisted, and he figured that there was no answer.
Why did her hand feel so warm in his?
