"I can't thank you enough for this. I apologise profusely for the inconvenience,"
Ryu, usually ever-calm Ryu, looked rather apprehensive in the face of Hayate's mother's stern expression. However, it softened as soon as she made eye contact with Ryu.
"Don't worry about it, Ryu. These things happen,"
Ryu nodded slowly, lowering his eyes.
"Let's get you settled in," Hayate said hastily before his mother could question his friend, which she was obviously dying to do.
"I feel so… imposing," Ryu said finally, sitting cross-legged on the floor, staring out into space.
"You look like you're about to meditate or something. Stop it," he instructed.
Ryu blinked at him before lying down on the floor. "I'm sorry to do this to you,"
"I suppose in some way, I should take it as a compliment,"
Ryu looked at him as if he didn't know what to say, then nodded slowly and resumed lying flat on the floor, staring at the roof blankly.
I guess I don't blame him. The friendship is somewhat rocky right now, and if the tables were turned… I'd be feeling pretty imposing right now. Although it really is no problem. I know he'd do the least for me… or, he would if he could.
But I guess if he could, he wouldn't be in this mess.
"How's your father recovering?" he asked eventually.
Ryu looked at him in a why-the-hell-did-you-have-to-mention-that-now way. "He's fine,"
The words 'change the subject before I change something you'll regret very sorely' hung in the air for a while.
Ryu seemed to be rather uncomfortable. He kept on shifting, as though he was going to move but thought the better of it.
He's got a black eye. I just noticed. I won't even ask.
"So," he said finally.
Silence. Emerald green eyes blinked questioningly, but Ryu said nothing.
"We can't sit here all day. Let's do something. Anything. For crying out loud. Want to play a video game?"
Ryu cocked his head to one side, considering. "I haven't played video games for years," his friend said finally.
"Well, now is as good a time as any to start again,"
Perhaps not…
"You lie. You so lie,"
"I don't lie," Ryu protested mildly after beating him for the fifth time.
He stood up and switched the console off. "You keep on beating me. Not fair. Are you hungry?"
Ryu suddenly looked uncomfortable again. "Your mother was dying to question me. I could see it,"
"That she was," he agreed. "But she has promised not to question you. She'll be quizzing me endlessly, though,"
Ryu gazed at him helplessly. "What am I supposed to tell her? That my father and uncle enjoy beating the crap out of me so much I had to leave before they did something more damaging then a few bruises?"
He had never heard Ryu be so frank, either about the subject itself or with his language. It was strange, yet oddly comforting at the same time.
And as to Ryu's question, he didn't have a good answer. "Don't worry. We'll think of something,"
Pause, in which he digested Ryu's previous statement a bit more.
"Your uncle?"
Ryu smiled wryly. "Yes, my uncle. He's just come back from who-knows where and has decided that getting inebriated with my father makes an amusing pastime. He's a wonderful person until he starts drinking. I didn't even know he did drink until the other day,"
Downstairs, there was a slamming of the door and several chattering voices. "The girls must be back from the church service. I think Kasumi was planning on having some of her friends over or something. Don't know what Ayane was doing. Let's go check it out,"
They trooped down the stairs. Kasumi looked up at the sound.
"Ryu? Hi… what are you doing here?"
"What say I go get us something to nibble on before dinner, huh?" he asked, before leaving the room hastily. He grabbed two cans of drink and two apples before going back to the living room where Leifang, Helena and Kasumi lay sprawled out on the floor, sheets and quilts festooned over the living room.
"We're sleeping here," Kasumi explained.
"Ah," It explains the mess, if nothing else… and girls like this sort of thing?
"Do you want to come down here and watch movies with us?" Leifang questioned in what was supposed to be an innocent way.
"No thankyou, it's alright," he interrupted before Ryu could speak.
"Where's Ayane?" Ryu asked.
Four pairs of eyes turned to Ryu, including his own.
"Why do you want to know?" Helena questioned suspiciously.
"Is it an… ulterior motive?" Leifang giggled.
"I don't know," Kasumi said softly.
"You lecherous twit," he added for good measure.
Ryu turned to eye him reproachfully. "Thanks, Hayate,"
"No problem,"
Ayane was actually up in her room, music turned up loud enough for good measure. That way, she wouldn't have to listen to her sister's crap, or her sister's friends, either.
Well, that was the idea.
I have friends. I might as well go and spend some time with them.
But, to be honest… I really couldn't be stuffed. No motivation.
With that, there was a loud knock on the door.
Maybe if I ignore that, it will go away.
The knocking continued, and kept going until she lost her patience at whatever twit was banging on her door.
"Who is it?" she yelled at her still closed door.
Hearing that she was in fact in her room, Hayate barged straight into her room, totally disregarding any privacy.
"You right, fuck-face? This is my room! GET OUT!" With that, Ayane tried to slam the door in his face.
Hayate threw up an arm, catching the door before it would close.
"Look, I was just coming to see if you wanted to get away from the giggle-fest downstairs and come see a movie with me and… some friends… instead?"
"Friends? I suppose you mean that arse-wipe you call Ryu."
Hayate made a nervous half twitch towards the door, and only then did Ayane realise that Ryu was standing in the hallway.
"Evening arse-wipe," she called out in a falsely cheerful voice.
"Good evening to you, Miss Ayane." Ryu said in what can only be described as a deadpan voice.
Snorting inelegantly, Ayane turned back to Hayate.
"So what were you planning on dragging me off to?"
"I dunno, go see a movie or something."
"And why did you think I'd be interested?"
"You really want to spend a night with that." Hayate gestured emphatically downstairs were yet another chorus of giggling had broken out.
Ayane looked thoughtful for a minute, then grabbed her bag and barged past Hayate and Ryu down the hall.
"What are you slackers waiting for? Let's go!"