New Century
Chapter 7: Falling
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Wow, I think I'm on a roll here! This story is ALIVE!!! Though for how long is debatable.
Disclaimer: Is this really necessary?
WARNING: Not so humorous chapter ahead.
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I faintly heard a knock on my door. I ignored it.
"Kayla?" Kyoji's voice drifted over to me. I turned the volume up. It just happened to be the last of the Shinjuku arch. I turned it up especially loud so that anyone could hear outside. The part was when Kyoji turned his back on Domon and left.
"Kyoji, no, don't go! KYOJI!!!"
"Kayla" Kyoji's voice--what little I could hear, anyway--was distinctly weaker. "Pleaseat least turn it down"
"Just ignore me," I shouted over the sound. The beginning song started.
[FLYING IN THE SKY
Takaku habatake Oozora wo doko made mo
SHINING FINGER
Kagayaku hikari ga Chi no hate terashi
Kiseki wo yobu SPELL
Furimukazu aruku no sa
Mugen no chikara ga aru
Nando demo tamesu no sa
Donna ni kurushite mo yaritogeru (G Gundam)
Ai wa itsu mo kono mune ni
Towa ni kieru koto wa nai
Kono te ga sakende iru
Ashita e to hashire]
"Kayla!"
This was a new voice, but I recognized it as Domon's.
"Yeah?" I asked.
[FLYING IN THE SKY
Takaku habatake Oozora wo doko made mo
SHINING FINGER
Kagayaku hikari ga Chi no hate terashi
Kiseki wo yobu SPELL
BRIGHT YOU NOW
Kimi ga egaita Mirai e no shinario wa
SHINING FINGER
Yume wo tsukamou Subete wa omou mama ni
I GET A CHANCE!]
"Come out!"
"Why?"
"Please?" Kyoji asked.
"No."
* * *
Outside the door, Kyoji stared worriedly. "She only gets like this when she's depressed," he stated.
"She gets depressed?" Domon asked, remembering the scene at the hotel.
"She's only human, Ototo-chan," Kyoji answered. He heard the music from inside. "And so am I. This may be only an anime, but sometimes I think she puts on certain episodes just to torture me"
"Why?" Domon asked.
"To know that someone is also depressed," he answered mechanically. "She told me that herself."
"Why would she be depressed?"
"Probably because we were excluding her when we were talking."
"Butshe didn't make an effort to join in."
"She's like that. She's open when it comes to talking one-on-one, but when there's a group talking like a familyshe justgoes away into a corner to sulk or something."
"It doesn't make sense"
"Of course it does. She's getting lost in her memories. Her mom died seven years ago and her father hasn't seen her since he wasfor a while, anyway."
"Oh"
"I guess we should just leave her alone."
"Yeah, I guess"
* * *
Yet another hour later, when I was about to the Sai/Argo episode in the Guyana arc, Kyoji came knocking again. Well, I thought it was Kyoji.
"Kayla?" Rain's voice drifted through the sound of the episode.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Can you unlock the door so I can come in?" Rain asked.
"Come back with Kyoji, and then I will," I said. Five minutes later, Kyoji's voice drifted in.
"Kayla? I'm here, so can you let us in?" he asked.
"Yeh, hold on a sec," I said, watching Argo ripping himself from the stone. Then, turning the TV off, I got up and opened the door. "Come in," I said, allowing Kyoji to pass, but not Rain. "Sorry Rain, but I want to talk to Kyoji alone, okay?"
"Okay," Rain said, and walked the other way to join the others. I shut the door and locked it again.
"Kayla, what's wrong?" Kyoji asked me as I sat on the bed. He beckoned me into his lap, and I gladly obeyed.
"It's just that with you and the Shuffles reunited and allI feel alone again" I whispered. Just sitting in his lap, like a child being comforted, gave me a feeling of security.
"You're never alone, Kayla, you know that," Kyoji chided softly.
"I--I guess," I mumbled.
"Oh, Kayla, I've gotta tell you something. Turns out that the Shuffles were paying by credit card, a fake one by today's standards. They got kicked out of the hotel and I offered to let them stay here. The sleeping arrangements are done, and it seems I'll be sleeping with you."
"Sleeping with me?" I asked, inappropriate thoughts flooding my head immediately.
"Ernot like that. I'll be sleeping in your room."
"You know very well that there's not enough room for another mattress. But my bed is big enough for two."
"Are you sure you're comfortable with that?"
"As long as you are."
"Okay, then."
"What's the time?"
"Three in the morning. I think the others are going to bed. I'll go say goodnight and come back, okay? Just stop being depressed. You know I hate it when you're depressed."
"Okay," I said with a smile. He smiled back, dumping me onto my bed unceremoniously.
"That's the Kayla I know and love," he said, and left. Know and love? I wondernah, it's just an expression, I thought. I have to admit, over the time he had been here with me, my small crush had turned into more. Oh, that sounds so cliché, but it's true. I guess you could say I was steadily falling for him.
And he did absolutely nothing to stop me.
= = =
Not very humorous. I'll try to get back on track next chapter. I just needed this one to sort things out.
See yah next chapter.
DarkDragon