I've had sort of a weird weird week. My poor little Jade heart was broken. But it may be healed again by my super bishounen senpai! ^_^. So I'm bouncing back up. Slowly. Plus I'm funneling my angst into all my writing. I'm sure you're all wondering what's going to happen to our characters! Plus, I hear Lauren really wants a new chapter. ~_^.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kare Kano.
Warnings: I...like...cookies???
Not Permitted
Chapter Eight
Everyone was worried about Arima. It probably didn't help that the melancholy boy had gotten a severe case of anti-socialism as well. The others talked about it when Yukino and Arima weren't around because Yukino didn't want to talk about it and Arima wasn't talking about anything to them.
Tsubaki had passed on the story as she knew it to the others, most of them surprised (and in some cases, not so surprised) that Asaba had finally 'infiltrated Arima's defenses.' After that, everyone formed their theories about why exactly Arima was so upset.
Some thought it was his grades.
Some thought it was Yukino.
Others thought it might have been the Asaba sex.
"It's not that Asaba isn't good at it," Tsubaki was telling Shibahime in a scholarly fashion. "That's not the case at all. The thing is that Arima might not be able to handle the idea of just having sex with someone and not practically signing over your whole existence to some monogamy thing."
"True, but maybe it is the Yukino thing. Maybe they should have sex." Shibahime continued the tone as though they were having a philosophical discussion on just what was the sound of one hand clapping. Or, in Arima's case, the sound of one palm being rubbed raw.
No one knew about the growing tension between Asaba and Yukino at first, but then it became rather apparent one night.
"You act like a little kid." Yukino rolled her eyes as Asaba danced around the rooms.
"Do you need to borrow Tsubaki's red shirt?" Asaba asked her in a snappish tone that surprised the others in the room. Tsubaki watched with round eyes while sipping from a Juicy-Juice box.
"Maybe you do." Yukino fired back.
"You're the one that's been all moody since this Arima business started." Asaba pointed out.
"You're the one that's been bugging me about it." Yukino knew the argument was getting petty but she really didn't care.
"Well maybe if you hadn't been so...so unfeeling to poor Arima!" Asaba slammed his hands down on the arm of the couch.
"Maybe if you hadn't decided to sleep with him you man-whore!" Yukino jumped to her feet in frustration. There was silence as the two glared at each other. The only sound came from Tsubaki who had clearly reached the bottom of her Juicy-Juice.
"You're the one who's being a cold-hearted bitch!" Asaba began to stalk out of the room. "Don't try to blame this on me, Yukino, it's your fault and you know it!" And with that, he left, slamming the door behind him.
Tsubaki thought about the one and only time she had seen Asaba angry like that. It had been a year ago when she was being harassed by some guy who was rather relentless. Asaba had actually gone and beat the crap out of the guy with almost no explanation about it. Asaba was just not an angry person.
"This is so stupid! You guys are all being stupid! There's nothing wrong with Arima!" Yukino walked off, but not to her room; towards Arima and Asaba's room.
"Tsubaki, I heard a rumor." Shibahime clicked her nails on the table.
"What kind of rumor?" Tsubaki threw her juice box away.
"That you had sex with Tonami!" Shibahime announced to everyone else in the room. They all looked stunned, every mouth dropped open.
"No she didn't!" Aya jumped in.
"Yeah, come on Shibahime, there's just no way..." Rika added on. Then they stared at Tsubaki's sheepish face.
"Do not tell me you're serious." Aya looked like she couldn't believe what was going on.
"Geez, it made him quiet down, didn't it?" Tsubaki felt insulted that they were treating her like she had betrayed them. "Besides, Shibahime, what's up with you and Kazuma? You guys can barely separate yourselves."
"It's none of your business." Shibahime sniffed.
"If you all start, I'm leaving." Maho told them coolly.
"We aren't fighting. We're discussing." Shibahime corrected Maho. "This is stupid, and there's no reason we should be at each other's throats because Arima is angsting."
"Exactly." The others agreed.
* * *
"That. Is. IT!" Yukino slammed the door behind her angrily, and Arima turned around in surprise and then saw her, freezing up completely. "Will you STOP being such a baby? I have no idea WHY you're avoiding everyone but they keep blaming me! So what the hell is wrong with you?!"
Arima hung his head for a few moments. He had to gather his thoughts while Yukino waited for an explanation, breathing heavily.
"I tried to take your advice...I'd try to be like you guys...and I discovered something." Arima looked pained.
"What, that being Mr. I-Desperately-Need-Prozac isn't needed?" Yukino questioned him.
"It's not supposed to be like that. Sex isn't supposed to be like that." Arima shook his head as though it was very heavy. "It should be with someone you love." His eyes lifted towards Yukino's. She was slightly stunned by this.
He's been sitting here brooding because of this?
"It made me feel like it was worthless." Arima admitted.
"Well, it's not that big of a deal, we all love each other so it's okay." Yukino tried her best at comforting him on this one. Surely even Arima could see the logic behind this one.
"That's not what I mean!" Arima looked angry with her for not understanding. "Not like that! I really love you. I want to be with you exclusively. I want you to love me like that."
"Ha, you're just confused." Yukino brushed it off airily. "Have more sex, you'll be less moody. It's not like this big sacred thing like you make it out to be." Why did it have to be so complicated with him? Why couldn't he just accept that it was just sex?
"That's why we can't be together."
Yukino's eyes widened and her mouth went dry. What had Arima just said? Like that was supposed to hurt her feelings? He was the one who was all in love, not her. He was the one who wanted monogamy, not her. She wasn't the one declaring her love.
But then...why did it hurt? It felt like Arima had just stabbed her.
"That's why you'll die alone!" Yukino stuck out her chin.
Arima didn't say anything. He got up and stormed out of the room, probably leaving it for the first time in days when he didn't have to because of classes. She could hear a brief buzz as the others tried to engage Arima in conversation but she heard the other door slam. It made her cringe for a moment.
How stupid is he?
I mean, I know I'm right, so he can just be like this.
"You realize that the reason you feel guilty and horrible is because you're in love with him."
That's so stupid...I don't feel that way.
"That's why we can't be together."
Then why do those words hurt so much? Why do I have to feel like this?
So miserable...I feel miserable.
But why?
"That's why we can't be together."
What do we do now?
* * *
"If you want a room change, you'll have to fill out this form completely, including the reason for changing rooms." The secretary handed him a dark pink sheet covered in writing and spaces.
"Thank you." Arima told her before walking away with it.
"That's why you'll die alone!"
She could never love me, I'm too horrible...
And so, I have to say good-bye to them.
To her.
* * *
How will this chapter affect things? Don't we wish the fighting would stop? When will the love begin??? Well, you'll find out.