After the Sunset

Chapter VI

She said "There is no reason
and the truth is plain to see"
I wandered through my playing cards
And would not let her be

One of sixteen vestal virgins
Who were leaving for the coast
and although my eyes were open
They might just as well have been closed

--- A Whiter Shade of Pale, (Annie Lennox)

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Rei paused mid-step into the hallway, his hand still in the doorknob.

I can't believe I'm doing this…

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The phone to the Editor-in-Chief rang shrilly. Ran picked up the phone.

"Ran-kun."

It was Rei. Ran immediately recognized his voice. "Are you busy?"

"Not really. We just wrapped up the fall issue, so it's the calm after the storm. We will be working on your feature story today—why?"

"Get on the elevator, punch groundfloor."

"Huh—" Ran furrowed her brows. "Now?"

A bit of static was heard. "I barely missed that bus. Don't make me talk on the cellphone while I'm driving."

"What?" Ran stood up. "What the heck are you doing, Otohata?"

"Raan, will you just go down?"

"Okay, okay!"

----

Rei's car pulled up in front of Ran's building. He walked around to lean back in the driver's door, waiting for Ran to come down.

Ran rushed down the steps and found a grinning Rei, still holding his phone.

"I told Hiroto san that I will borrow you for a day."

"Let's go out." Rei smiled indulgently. "Don't you miss going out?"

Ran's jaw dropped. "You're crazy!"

Rei snorted. "Come on. You were much crazier than I am now. You survived."

Ran couldn't help but laugh. "But this is—nuts."

Rei furrowed his brows mockingly. "I can't believe this is happening. I am actually trying to persuade a Chougal to do something out of the ordinary."

Ran thought of it for a moment, and a mischievous sparkle twinkled in her eyes.

"Give me the keys."

Uh-oh... "I don't think you should be allowed to d—"

"Please?"

"Fine."

Ran got on the driver's seat. The car engine roared to life, as one determined foot played with the pedal.

"Let's see how fast this thing can go."

"My life is flashing before my eyes."

----

"Woohoo!" Ran hit the 100th mark in the speedometer. "No wonder you insist on driving yourself around!"

The wind whipped at their hair, as Rei had opened the windows of the car.

Rei, instead of being nervous and on edge because as he'd expected himself to be, sunk back to his seat, contented. Ran was a capable driver—although he had to hold on to his seat a few times when she got too happy with the gas pedal.

"Contrary to what you think, I don't speed." Rei hollered above the wind. "I never went beyond 80."

Ran glanced at him through her sunglasses. "Why?"

Rei's dark brows knotted.

Yes, a voice inside him asked. Why?

"Because… I don't go beyond 80?" he offered dully.

"Why not?" Ran inhaled deeply, taking in the clean air. "Look around you. The road is empty. And you're not exactly exceeding the speed limit—" she shrugged, but still keeping her eyes on the road.

"That's what freeways are for…" her tone became soft. "to be free..."

-----------

They drove around Ogawa, seeing the sights, and just enjoying each other's company. As the sun marched on to its highest point, their path invariably led to Shibuya, where their fondest memories lie.

"I'm hungry." Ran's eyes began to scan the area for food.

"Hey, that place looks nice."

---

She basically ordered everything on the menu.

There she was, cheeks slightly flushed with eating. The first two buttons of her inner blouse had been undone, and she had folded her sleeves to her elbows. Her fingers, which Rei had inexplicably not noticed before, were long and even elegant.

She picked one nicely fried takayoki and unceremoniously popped it into her mouth.

Rei watched with strange fascination as Ran chowed down dish after dish, and then sampled the gooey sweets that she favored.

The background slowly faded.

Rei found himself transported to another time, when Ran was also chomping down a bag of popcorn while watching a movie... and he was right beside her, watching her secretly, hidden by the darkness of the moviehouse…

"Ran…"

Rei didn't know that he had spoken until Ran looked at him questioningly. "What?"

I love you. I loved you since the first time I laid eyes on you.

Rei's face had the strangest look she had ever seen. "Are you ok?"

His mouth opened, then he seemed to change his mind, reaching for the napkin instead.

"You have ice cream dribble on your chin."

Ran wanted to dissolve right there and then. When faced with overriding hunger and food, she sometimes forgets herself.

Rei had leaned closer to her, tissue in hand.

Her gaze settled upon Rei's eyelashes, dark and long for a man. A nose that was long and straight, it seemed to run pointedly to his delicately chiseled lips. Rei's soft features almost made him feminine-- but the undeniable masculine intensity of his eyes dispelled any doubts about his gender.

He lifted his eyes, and Ran was instantly caught in his dark blue gaze.

Inspite of herself, she felt her pulse quicken, made her breath catch in her throat. Suddenly, she understood why women found him so attractive.

His gaze lingered, holding her eyes.

Ran looked away.

---

Night had fallen, the bright neon signs and tv screens began to fill the Shibuya skyline.

The two left the car in a parking lot and decided to walk. Rei had ditched his suit, as it was hotter than usual. Ran also left her blazer behind, but took her purse with her.

Their steps took them to Penguin Park—which incidentally, was holding their annual fair. The fair was not grand in any case, and yet charming and enchanting in its own way. Lanterns hung all around, casting a soft glow over everything. Booths reminiscent of olden times lined their path, while its owners donned traditional costumes, giving the place a hauntingly beautiful air.

Ran lightly nudged Rei, her face lighting up. "Do you remember what we did here for the Halloween Costume Contest?"

Rei cringed. "How could I forget?"

"We wore the stupidest costumes ever!" Ran guffawed. "Everything was last minute. Yuuya just had to wear that hotdog costume because he couldn't get anything else."

Rei's shoulders shook with barely suppressed laughter. "Yeah, I specially remember that."

"And you—" "Your knight costume was two sizes bigger than you were, so you were clanging all the way to the stage!"

"And my helmet kept sliding down my head." Rei chuckled, tucking his hands into his pants pocket.

They came upon a candy stand—filled with all things sweet and cavity-causing. Ran stopped to buy an especially huge, pink fluffy cotton candy. "Want some?"

"Bad for the teeth." Rei answered teasingly.

"Mine are still intact. They survived." Ran mimicked his tone. "Here. A little of the sweets will not cause your teeth to rot overnight."

Grudgingly, helplessly, Rei took the candy from her hands.

"Alright."

"Come." Ran took his hand. "Lets take a ride in that ferris wheel."

---

Rei never felt so claustrophobic in his entire life. The small carriage forced the two of them to squeeze together— from shoulder to thigh. Kami, whoever designed this ride had another ulterior, more pervertly sinister motive in mind.

"I've always enjoyed rides." Ran whispered wonderingly. Looking down, the height offered them a view of the whole fair. If you looked straight ahead, you could see the citylights, the trains, and cars zooming past.

Rei made a slight movement, but it jiggled the whole car. Rei made an exasperated sound.

"It's a bit small, I know." Ran remarked laughingly. "I don't think they had us in mind when they made this ride."

"I'm trying to feel my legs." He stretched his slack- encased limbs, as if trying to bring back the bloodflow to them.

"Maybe if I shifted a bit—" Ran moved towards him. Her bangs brushed against his lips, letting him catch a whiff of her subtle scent.

His gaze darkened.

Her face was so close, he could almost taste her breath…

Kami-sama, he groaned mentally. Get a hold of yourself.

"—you are too tall." Ran was saying. "Lift your arm."

Rei blinked himself out of his licentious haze. He mechanically lifted his arm, as Ran had instructed. Ran went under it, and snuggled up to him.

Rei stared straight ahead, trying to contain the chaotic emotions that went riot through his body.

A few more seconds passed, and his swirling emotions settled down. Now he felt light-headed, like he was floating on a cloud.

"Rei-kun…" Ran murmured, her voice muffled by his shirt. "Can I ask you something?"

"What?" his voice was merely a whisper. He had never been this close to Ran before… Rei curled his fingers to his palm, as it was itching to join its partner, yearning to complete the embrace.

"What happened… with you and Aya?" Ran asked softly. "You were the perfect couple…"

Aya...

Rei's eyes glowered painedly at the floor.

Why does it always have to be about Aya?

Rei's arm unconsciously tightened around Ran, his mind grappling for the simplest way to sum up what has happened. "We thought…"

"We thought we were in love..."

Ran sighed sadly. She didn't pursue the subject any further.

-----------------------------

The two walked on wordlessly. There was a definite lull in their conversation after their ride at the ferris wheel.

"So… you've come back..." Ran said thoughtfully. "Will this be for good?"

A shadow fell over Rei's face. "Not really…"

"You're leaving?" Ran stopped walking to face him, her face disappointed. "When?"

"I can be called back to report to Geneva anytime…" Rei heaved a sigh, tilting his face to the night sky. "It could be weeks… or days…"

"Or it could be tomorrow." Ran smiled wanly. "So soon?"

Rei felt his heart leap.

Was there longing in her words, just then? Did she long for his company… for… for him?

Daring to find out for himself, he dipped his head.

Her eyes were not extraordinarily beautiful, but they sparkled with whatever emotion possessed her at the moment. Her soul reflected on them, her feelings as palpable as the rays of the sun.

He took a step forward, bringing him closer to that uptilted face. His hand lifted, yearning to touch the face that had always been beyond his reach…

"Lovebirds! Parakeets!" A man called out, his voice effectively canceling out whatever mood was present.

A heavily-bearded man tended to his 'wares', arranging the cages. Beside him, were innumerable cages containing birds of all shapes and sizes.

"Oooh." Ran gushed. "How cute!"

As if on cue, the birds launched into a symphony of squawking and cooing. Their brightly colored plumes beated and flapped, giving color to the night.

"How much for a pair of parakeets?"

Ran looked up curiously. "You're buying?"

He gazed down at her. "You like them, don't you?" He returned his attention to the peddler. "How much?"

The man gave him a once-over. Armani suit. Aristocratic features. Tall stature. Exclusive perfume wafting his way.

Before the peddler opened his mouth, Rei already knew that the price was going to be over priced.

"3,300 Yen."

Tsk. That was a thousand yen too much.

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"Oniichan!"

Ran knocked on the heavy doors of her dear brother's house. She had always used Yamato's house as an "interim" place to stay—whenever her job took her late into the night and she yearned to have a place near to go home to. Miyu and Yamato had bought the house and made it as homey as possible—which could also account for Ran's more than occasional night visits.

The door opened, revealing a bleary-eyed, mussy-haired Yamato.

"Ran—" he moaned. "If you felt like dropping by, you could have called me earlier!" His eyes focused on the figure that stood behind Ran. "You've got company—!"

"It's Rei, nii-san." Ran turned around to speak to her companion. "That was the most fun time I've had in years."

Rei shrugged. "You needed it."

Ran smiled softly. "Thank you again, Rei-kun. For everything."

Yamato cleared his throat a little louder than he should. Ran took the cue, glaring playfully at her brother.

It wasn't a date! Ran mouthed the words.

Yamato raised his brows disbelievingly. Ran had an obnoxiously large teddy bear tucked in one arm, and a cage of birds dangling from her fingers. His eyes noted the spring to her step, following her cheerful walk until she reached the door.

With Ran inside, Yamato closed the door behind him. He stood to face Rei, who was now as tall as he was.

"I don't get to watch much tv anymore, and when I do, I don't believe everything I see in it." Yamato ran a hand through his sandy locks. "If I did, I would have dragged you down these steps and stuffed you back to your very expensive car."

After his initial shock, the corners of Rei's mouth twitched. Yamato had always been an honest and straightforward guy.

He gave a respectful bow. "Arigatou."

Yamato acknowledged with a nod, his eyes following the "Otohata Prince" as he walked back to his car.

"Don't play with my sister, Otohata." Yamato warned.

Rei looked up from the driver's window. He nodded, and with that singular act, tacitly answered everything what Yamato wanted to know.

The car started and sped away.

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Chapter 6 done. On to Chapter 7!

lady tsuzuki I've been giving it a lot of thought—to make it ten chapters or not? I think the story and pace itself will determine how long this will be. Hmm, pansin ko nga, madami nang pinoys d2 sa fanfic net. A testament to the pinoy's love for stories and love stories.

maricel ang Thanks for the enthusiasm! I'm tapping on that connection that they have that the series did not explore.

analyn labor Thanks for reviewing! The anime may have been disappointing, but in this fic, Rei will get the girl. (winks)

Mikee Thanks for reviewing! I love cute scenes too. ;D

Monsterlife Thanks for the enthusiasm… or is it over-enthusiasm? (Gee, Did you just threaten me in your review?)