Chp.2 – Kuroi Tori "A Kunoichi's Last Dance"
"Good morning" He said as she entered into the kitchen. Agitated, Ayane ignored his greeting and walked over to the kitchen's sink. He frowned slightly then turned away from her to read the newspaper. Ayane ran the warm water over her hands as she washed a coffee mug. Angry? No. She wasn't angry. It was the headache that caused her silence. Or maybe the agony that plagued her dreams just hours prior to sunrise. She felt that if she even thought about speaking, a massive onslaught of pain would surge through her head like a bullet to the heart. From the corner of his eye, David watched her pace tiredly across the room to the refrigerator. It seemed like at any moment she could collapse to her knees.
"Ayane. Are you alright?"
Ayane remained silent as she held the warm cup of coffee. Careful not to spill it, she cupped it close and breathed easily. Each step she took toward the table was still and cautious. A perfect approach for not making a mess. David returned his gaze toward the paper. As she neared the table, a stressed nerve acted upon the steam that rose from the mug. Groaning, she jolted forward and dropped the mug to grasp her throbbing head. A string of curses that were to be screamed came out in a strained whisper. The mug shattered into pieced along the tiled floor and the steaming liquid stretched just under the table. David scooted his chair back and went to her side.
"Ayane?" She pushed him away and held her head. He tried once more to comfort her. Taking her hands in his, He looked up into her teary eyes. She frowned slightly as she sobbed. To be a Kunoichi was to show dignity, convey pride. Instead, she showed weakness, uncertainty, a shallow casing. Her eyes narrowed on him and she snatched her hands away from his.
"Don't touch me!" arose past her lips as she kneeled to claim the shattered glass. David sighed, stepping back then down to help. He watched her as she cursed beneath her breath and angrily wiped away at her eyes. When she looked up to him, he turned away to reach for the nearest piece of glass. "I don't need your damn help. Go away."
He frowned. "What's wrong with you?"
"I'll tell you what the hell's wrong with me! It's you!" Before anymore could be said and before David had a chance to reply, footsteps entered into the kitchen. Looking to her left, Ayane saw a pair of womanly legs stride almost dancingly into the kitchen. David saw that also. He looked back over to the kunoichi and she scowled, rising to her feet, and leaving him to attend to the rest of the mess. Meryl stopped in her tracks seeing the young woman angrily stomp over to the trash bin then took note of David emerging from beneath the table.
"Whoa. Did I miss something here?" She smiled stepping over to David, poking him in the elbow. He averted his gaze from her and dropped the rest of the shattered pieces into the trash bin then moved over to the sink. Meryl frowned. Taking her place near the counter, she hopped her ass up against it and sat down near the cabinets. She watched as the two stood at opposite ends of the kitchen, seeming as if distanced for a reason. Angrily, Ayane swung around. She couldn't take it anymore. She didn't know who this woman was or her reason for being there. And it made her sick as hell to know that the one man she thought she could trust didn't have the heart to tell her who she was. She pulled David by his arm and turned him to face her. As if on cue, Meryl hopped down from the counter, inspecting the rising situation. Meryl's eyes narrowed on the two as Ayane pointed a finger in her direction.
"Who's that woman, David?" Ayane watched as his eyes narrowed on her then moved in the other woman's direction. She placed a hand to his face and redirected his gaze toward her. "Don't look at her, I'm the one talking to you. Who is she?"
David shut his eyes as if trying to drown out her yelling with his own thoughts. He reopened them.
"Meryl. Meryl Silverburgh."
When he saw Ayane's gaze still on him, he pressed on. "She's a friend. I met her a few years back."
Meryl crossed her arms as she stepped across the room. She found her place beside David. A glare formed against the kunoichi. Ayane directed her gaze to the brunette and stepped toward her, somewhat pushing David aside. She prodded against the redhead's chest with an index, making her folded arms fall to her side.
"I don't like you at all, Meryl. I want you out of this house. And I want you out now."
David reached for Ayane's hand but she pulled it from his grasp. "Ayane, don't-"
Ayane shot him a look then turned to face Meryl. This time, it was Meryl's turn to do the prodding. The brunette placed a hand against the kunoichi's head and pushed her back. Ayane shut her eyes, biting her lower lip. David knew what was about to happen. He sighed. He knew better than to come between two arguing women, but if he'd let it go any further, one or both of them may end up in ICU. They were pretty evenly matched. He opened his eyes at Meryl's words.
"The only way I'll leave, bitch," Meryl started, bringing her face close to Ayane's, like a vampire on it's mortal, sneering in a sinister way. David's eyes widened. "Is if David tells me to." She passed him a silent glance. "In which he won't."
Ayane passed her a devilish smirk, and then it faded into a scowl. Her intent gaze locking onto the other woman, taking in her long form and the sheer lingerie she wore. Almost without warning, Ayane struck Meryl with her right fist, sending the redhead stumbling back. Ayane wasn't finished with this woman. David cursed under his breath. The tall woman walked toward the redhead, her stride fast and eager as she watched the redhead slowly recover from her blow. Just as Ayane grabbed her by the satin green robe, David pulled her to him, making her release Ms. Silverburgh. Meryl glared upward at the two. Ayane fought with David, wanting to be released. He held her even tighter to him and looked over to Meryl.
"I think you should leave now, Meryl." Meryl's mouth dropped. Before she had the chance to say another word, David eyed her, indicating the furious woman in his arms. Meryl scowled, pushing herself from the support of the kitchen table. As she stalked to the doorway, she stopped, turning directly toward Ayane.
"Don't think too highly of yourself, Kunoichi. This shit isn't over."
As Ayane began to protest, Meryl walked out of the kitchen. She stretched her words so David could hear her say how she was "getting her things." David sighed and Ayane crossed her arms, pouting, as if waiting for him to let her go. Realizing her deep sigh, he let her go and she sought refuge at the kitchen table. She sat in a chair, lowering her head to graze her fingertips through mahogany tresses. David took a seat beside her, but hesitated until he heard the front door slam shut.
"Nice hit." He voiced, trying to force a smile from her. She glared at him through faint tears and he sighed, seeing that he failed. "Sorry."
"Why'd you hold me back?" She finally asked after a brief moment of silence. "I wanted to break her face! Why'd you do it!"
David lowered his eyes to his empty coffee mug then looked over to the crumpled newspaper he'd been reading. The crumples must've happened when Meryl fell against the table. And the force of her hand slamming against the table must've caused his coffee to stir and spill over the paper, making the letters smear, he concluded. Ayane's further questioning broke his concentration.
"I…uh. I didn't want to see you or her get hurt."
That wasn't good enough. Not for her, anyways. She grunted and voiced how his answer was "typical" then got up, pushing her chair under the table. He placed a hand against hers and she looked down on him.
"Where are you going?"
She rolled her eyes. "To the bathroom. You wanna come?"
Inside, he smirked. As much as he'd like to, he shook his head. She removed her hand from his and stepped out of the room. He watched until she disappeared past the foyer. As she walked out with her eyes lowered on her robe, she unfastened the drawstrings as she made her way past the foyer and the stairs. As big as the Manor was, she found little room to roam about. Each hall was well lit by sunlight. As she walked down the "gray hall", her robe expanded behind her. A body revealed Victoria Secret's latest design in laced black bra and panties. Her stride was complimented by the bounce of hair as her eyes premiered superiority for the moment. The large Cathedral-like windows cast upon her sunlight that accented her beauty. A body that would make Shakira look anorexic. She stopped before her door and all the radiance and grace became gray and dark as she looked around. Almost as if hiding something. When she found no other presence, she stepped into her room, letting the door swing shut behind her.
Green eyes behind one of the large windows narrowed as the door closed, while auburn-ruby tresses motioned little before them. Gloved phalanges pushed against the window and it arose. Ajar, a body was invited in by the silence of the hall. Carefully, with very little noise, the large window was lowered to its original state. Looking around, just as the other had done, a gloved hand opened the same door Ayane pressed against and slipped in. Once again the door shut and silence was granted upon the hall.