Blind Side

The soft harmonious tone of the guitar guided innocently through the little night cafe, easing the souls of the dreamers who drank absentmindedly from their blue glasses. Dim lighting and musky aromas lifted about the air, hindering their perception on what was real and what wasn't. The ice chinked as he set his glass on the table, taking in the last amount of liquor, letting it slide smoothly yet painfully down his throat. He blinked hard, trying to keep the vision of the guitarist that played, in wishful thinking…just for him.

She was so different to him. So unlike his own girlfriend that left him to sorrow in misery and self-doubt, that left him to make up fantasies with this guitarist that seemed to ease his soul so easily. He knew nothing about her yet he has grown so fondly of her presence. Part of him felt that he let his heart do this to him because, though he would never admit it, he was needy. He was never that strong compared to his peers. Always the follower, never the leader. As a child he used to try to be exactly like the hero in his favorite TV show. He would study the behavior patterns, the smirks, make pathetic jokes, and would even dress like them. He was so obsessed about being someone else that he would force everyone to call him 'Taichi.'

He strained his ears as he tried to hold the sound of her voice in his head. But as her last song finished and his drowsiness slid into his head, it vanished against his will. Annoyed with his weak mind, he stupidly ordered another drink, gulped it in one sound and bounded out the door, forgetting to tip the waitress.

He pulled up his collar as the freezing winter winds tried to slash at his neck. Late autumn leaves flying and landing in his messy hair. A little in a hurry to get out of the wind, he made his way to his car, and desperately searched for his keys. Just as he pulled them out he felt a presence behind him, but wasn't fast enough to react before he was pinned to the car, a gun bearing itself into his back.

"Looky here, saved another unsuspecting child from another drunk driver…" The hoarse voice laughed at him as he tried to wriggle out of the bind.

"Take whatever! Just don't shoot!" he pleaded.

"Don't shoot…" he felt the pressure on his back release and reappear at the side of his head. "…Here?"

Terrified, he remained silent, the man still laughing at him, but it stopped suddenly when a swift cracking sound erupted. Even though he felt his captor release hold of him, he stayed lying on the car, terrified completely. It was when he heard a familiar voice that he finally received the courage to open his eyes.

"It's okay you know, you can move now…" slowly moving his gaze down he spotted the gunman on the ground, some blood slightly oozing out of his ear. But what caught his eyes immediately was the gun that was gripped in his hand.

"You've got to be kidding me!" he looked at it with his mouth open, appalled to take in the fact that it was neon orange and made out of plastic… "I almost pissed my pants because of this!?!"

"You should have seen yourself squirm under it…pretty sad." She laughed. Her voice triggered his memory. Turning round he spotted the familiar face that he had come to envision. Her guitar strap proving that she was the same woman.

"Y-you…Y-you're the g-g" he stuttered unable to believe that she was standing right in front of him.

"The girl who saved you? Yeah…" She shrugged.

"No…Y-you're the guitarist, the one in the cafe." He could feel the wind try to take away the warmth on his face that had suddenly tried to compete with it.

"Um, yeah… You go there?" she asked.

"All the time…" he answered. "You're really great…"

"Uh, thanks…" she gave him a small smile but to him it felt like the greatest gift in the world. Eager to take her leave, "I'll see you around I guess…"

Desperately he tried to stop her "Wait wait! I gotta repay you some how!"

"What do you mean? I just knocked the guy out, that's not hard to do." She pointed out, a little annoyed by his efforts to converse with her.

"Not for me it isn't…" he admitted under his breath. He could tell that she was surprised, but he continued on any ways. "Can I just buy you a drink or something?"

Reluctantly, "Fine, next time we see each other then…" She quickly began to walk away when he yet again stopped her.

"Hold up! I-I…my name's…Takato." He could feel himself tremble a little as her eyes inspected him a bit. Narrowing slightly.

Not bothering to shake hands, "Well goodbye then Takato… I assume you already know my name." She gave him one last glance before she made a run for the other side of the parking lot.

"Yeah, I know…Makino, Ruki…"

'Haven't gotten very far

This hail is pounding'

Takato rushed inside, beating the cold chill and closing the door fast enough before it could wedge itself in. Automatically he flicked on the light and pulled off his coat. Whipping off his shoes, he made his way across the small hall of his apartment, making little effort to not bump into piles of papers, paint and his drawing stands. Completely drained of energy he landed on his couch, not bothering to remove the papers that lay crumpled underneath him.

Just as he was about to fall willingly to sleep, his cell phone rang from the folds of his coat. Having no desire to get it, he continued to lay, and began singing a little to his ring tone.

"Go! Go! Power Rangers!" he gave a half smile to himself but frowned when it didn't stop. Annoyed, he got up and trashing though his stuff, "Hello?"

"Takato? What happened to you! Why weren't you at the party!" Her voice made his frown return.

"I had some business to take care off…" this was the first time he had ever lied to her.

"Oh really?" she tutted.

"Yeah" just as he was about to make an excuse to hang up she continued on… but a little more differently.

"Well if you're done, why don't you come by tonight and maybe… you won't miss out on all the fun…" his body warmed as her smooth voice tried to take his heart again. No, he thought, not this time…

"Sorry but, I've got this really big project I have to finish… I may even have to pull an all nighter…" he crossed his fingers.

"Oh okay then…" she cooed, "I'll see you some time tomorrow then?"

"I don't know, it's pretty big… Due at the end of night class so…" he panicked a little when she began to laugh.

"Why do I get the feeling you don't want to hang around your very own girlfriend?"

He laughed under his breath at just how close she was to the truth, "Guess that's your problem huh Juri? See ya!" He hung up without hearing her confusion. Again he went through his rubbage to flop lazily on his couch, his legs sprawled in the air or over the edge for it was way to small for him. He hummed the power rangers' theme song as an entrance into his dream… And he smiled as he saw her, strumming her guitar, awarding him with a song for standing up for himself, against the one he used to think would love him forever….

Mmmmm…Step one…