Chapter 8:
Aiko looked very pretty. She was wearing a big green off the shoulder top and jeans. Her earrings were very pretty too. Tatsuha sighed…nothing made her look like the big pregnant ladies in the movies…she always looked beautiful. He was standing by the door waiting for Ryuichi. If Aiko noticed how uneasy he was feeling she didn't say much about it. She'd been acting very weird lately. He got the feeling whatever she was holding back would come out soon enough.
He looked out and saw Ryuichi walking up to him…he'd dyed his hair, a brownish red and was wearing a tight black shirt and jeans. Very different. Tatsuha stood straighter and looked at Aiko. "He's here. We can leave." The only sign that she gave of being sympathetic was a brief squeeze on his shoulder.
"Hey Sakuma-san. How have you been?" Aiko shook the now serious singer's hand. Tatsuha just nodded. And they left.
------------------------------------------
It was a very good party. The music was excellent and the food was amazing. Aiko left the two alone as soon as she could disappearing inside with another girl. Tatsuha led Ryuichi outside into the garden, where it was quieter. Couples lounged on the grass.
"What do you want to talk to me about?" Tatsuha turned to Ryuichi impatiently.
"I well…please come back Tatsuha. I admit I've been a jerk alright? And I hurt you a lot. But I love you…and I've realized that I have loved only you. I miss you a lot…lets try to make it alright…please?" Ryuichi forced himself to look into Tatsuha's cold and angry eyes.
Tatsuha looked at his ex-lover for a moment. "I don't know what to say, Sakuma-san." He admitted. He lifted up a hand as the singer tried to protest. "You did hurt me…a lot. I don't think I've ever felt so much pain in my life. What hurt a lot more, was that you didn't even try to get to know me…K wouldn't have happened then. And all of it got me thinking…I don't know if I'm in love with you. I don't know if it was just an obsession or if it was really love." Tatsuha swallowed, staring at the ground. "But you're right. I wouldn't know if I didn't try to make everything right…maybe I will. But I want you to respect the fact that I'm going through a little too much right now. And I'd appreciate it if we were just friends for a while. After that we'll see, I'll try."
Ryuichi looked at his young lover. Then he smiled and extended his hand. "Just a friend then…for now." Tatsuha grinned back and turned to look at Aiko as she came towards them. Ryuichi didn't miss the look in Tatsuha's eyes as he looked at her. Then Tatsuha jerked a little and faced them. "I need to go the toilet; I'll join you guys in a few minutes."
--------------------------------------
Tatsuha walked to the toilet passing a room, when he heard Jake's voice. He sounded drunk. "I'll kill the bloody punk! I'll kill him I tell you…no right to be near my Aiko! I'll kill him like I killed Tim before him!"
Tatsuha froze. Killed Tim? But Tim died in an air crash…he crept closer to the door, making sure he was within bolting distance of the toilet. Jake went on raving; his other friend in the room, Cyrus was trying to calm him down.
"He's just like bloody Tim the punk. All haughty…I'll murder him. Aiko was mine and she will be mine. Every time I get rid of one, another guy turns up. Lucky for me that plane crashed! What an awesome coincidence." Tatsuha grimaced…he could almost hear the sneer in Jake's voice.
"Calm down Jake. Unless you want the whole frat to hear that you're a murderer. I think you're freaking out…you can't go around killing people; Tim was an accident…you were really angry and you killed him by accident. Yes you are absolutely lucky that I kept my mouth shut and the plane crashed. You're also lucky that Tim had to get off the plane before it took off…or else you would have been caught. I'm your best friend Jake, I'll stick by you…but don't turn into a murderer." Cyrus was trying his best to calm the other guy down. "Now come let's go back and join the party…
Tatsuha silently slipped away to the toilet, pale. Tim had been murdered…and Jake was still at large…planning to murder him. For the first time in his life, Tatsuha knew he had to do something and not brush it away. He had a responsibility…but how was he going collect the evidence? Where would he get the proof?
--------------------------------------------------
Aiko looked at Tatsuha concerned when he came down. He looked pale and slightly worried. "Tat-chan is every thing ok?" he nodded. She wasn't satisfied but she had to keep up a front for now.
She and Ryuichi had had a very nice conversation…she wondered what had happened to the couple, but she knew that Tatsuha would tell her if he wanted to.
Suddenly she felt very tired and decided to go home. They left; Ryuichi said goodbye and left for his home and Tatsuha and Aiko were alone again.
----------------------------------------
They walked down the path in silence; the few attempts Tatsuha made at conversation had failed. He stopped suddenly and caught hold of her shoulders…"What's the problem Aiko?" she looked at him nonchalantly. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the way you've been acting since that night in the san. What has been bothering you?" Tatsuha looked at her earnestly. "You're my best friend…don't act like this, tell me your problems please?"
Aiko frowned at him in anger. "That's the problem…you're my best friend Tatsuha…please tell me where the hell I messed up? Don't you trust me enough to tell me when there's something wrong? Did you have to turn to alcohol? Become an alcoholic? I'd have thought if something had hurt you…or if you had a problem, I could have helped you. God I feel so guilty…we used to be so open with each other and now, you do have a problem and I need to find out from the doctor about it?" Aiko looked him in the eye now. "I wish you would trust me. It would kill me if anything happened to you! What were you planning to do? Drink yourself to death?"
Tatsuha looked at her surprised. She blamed herself for his stupidity? "Aiko…it's not your fault. It's just…I'm not feeling too happy lately…it's the whole Ryuichi thing." "You're lying to me again Tatsuha." He looked at her, but she had turned away.
She resumed walking to her dorm. "Come on. It's ok; you can tell me when you want too. I'm sorry; I don't mean to rush you. Just please don't lie to me" Tatsuha walked after her and they walked up to her room. Then at last she turned to look at him, a hint of the old smile. "Goodnight then."
Tatsuha suddenly remembered. "Aiko, wait. Please tell me how Tim died." Aiko paled instantly. "What?"
"I want to know about how Tim died. Where did you bury him? Was his body found?" Tatsuha asked closing the door behind him. Aiko sat down on her bed.
"His body wasn't found. But he was on the plane. I didn't bury him. I just erected a stone at the graveyard which I go to visit. Why do you want to know." Aiko looked at him curiously.
"I just did. I'm sorry about lying to you…I can't tell you the problem right now…actually, I…" Tatsuha's voice trailed off. How was he supposed to tell this woman that he thought he was in love with her?
"But I'll tell you part of the problem. Ryuichi and I broke up because…" Aiko looked up startled; she hadn't expected him to… "I lost Kumagoroo. Then we had a big fight. I found out something about Aniki's past…he was raped Aiko…when he was sixteen, that's why he is the way he is. And Ryuichi didn't understand why I was acting so weird. I found him in bed with K one night…I'd wanted to tell him all and make things right, but he'd dumped me for K already. He thought he was in love with k. and now it turned out that he wasn't…he was in love with me. He wants me to go back to him. I can't!" Tatsuha's voice broke. Aiko hugged him. She was shocked…she couldn't not be shocked, but she held herself together…if this was only part of the problem, she wondered how bad the rest of it was.
----------------------------
Tatsuha stopped sobbing. God, how he'd needed to cry! Aiko was comforting him the best she could, and he felt grateful, though at the same time every single part of his body in contact with her was tingling. He decided to go home. He got up. "I think I should go. Got a long day ahead of me." He walked to the door and opened it. Aiko followed him.
"It'll all be fine Tat-chan. Things will sort themselves out eventually." Aiko smiled at him. Before he knew what had gotten into him, Tatsuha grabbed her and kissed her. She did taste faintly of strawberries…
----------------------------------------
A/N: ok…how was this chapter…I hope it's not too late for the actual plot to unfold…! It was an idea. I just hope I can't write it out well. Thanks all reviewers!
Taka