Chapter 14
The next morning, I awoke to find myself still in the position in which I had fallen asleep in. With Satoshi's arms wrapped around me, his head resting upon mine, breathing in the scent of my hair. I felt myself blush furiously, remembering everything that had happened last night.
Oh my fricking God...
Somehow, I managed to get up without waking him. I just ran (more like sprinted) into the bathroom, shut and locked the door, and tried to calm down.
What. The. Hell. Was. Going. On?
I looked in the mirror to find a ghastly image of myself. It was kind of wierd seeing my pale face, but my tomato-red cheeks. I shook my head, thoughts going through my mind at 100 mph. I tried to splash cold water on my face, but it didn't do any good.
"Get a hold of yourself," I mumbled to myself sternly. "He was just imagining a different girl... or he was just doing it because he was practically drunk... Calm down, Risa, calm down..." When I said my name, I remembered Satoshi saying my name...
"I would never hurt you... Risa."
That's all I heard. Him saying my name over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and...
"AHH!" I let out a scream, my hands gripping my head. I swore mutliple times. "God damnit, just calm down!" As I ran a hand through my hair, I thought about Satoshi's breath on my neck... and the feeling of him breathing into my-
"Jesus Christ, Risa!" I used the foulest of words to try and bring me back to my old, collected self, but it wasn't working. I slamed my fist into my palm, becoming angry. As I was about to shout another order to myself, I stopped and looked at my hands. Satoshi's had been caressing those hands... just last night... so gently...
"OH MY GOD!"
This was insanity. I was talking to myself and swearing about a boy actually caring for me. No... I was talking to myself and swearing about a boy who wasn't even supposed to BE IN THE SAME COUNTRY as I was, but he was lying down on my hotel couch, after a night of acting like a dating couple.
It was ludicrous! It was preposterous. It was horrible. It was despicable. It was terrible. It was freaking perverse! It was unacceptable and a crime against my sanity! It was a horrendous intrusion of privacy, and not to mention an injustice that was causing me to lose control of... well, my self control! It was unnerving and it was... it was... it was just-!
I can't even describe what it was! It was just god damn wrong!
"Good morning," I greeted Satoshi as I exited the bathroom. I tried to sound as natural as I could. As in, not squeaking, or errupting, or bringing up anything that had to do with last night.
"Morning," Satoshi mumbled, just waking up. He yawned. "Sleep well?"
"Just fine." Damnit. My voice cracked on fine. I coughed. "How about you?"
He nodded, yawning again. "Yes, I did." Of course, it was THE GUY who had completely forgotten the events of the night. Satoshi was more than OBLIVIOUS. He looked at me. "Are you done in the shower?"
I nodded, unable to speak. He stood, stretched, and grabbed some clothes (see, he was smart enough to bring some in a big suitcase while I, on the other hand, was stuck wearing the same thing I had worn the day I had run away.). Just before he entered the bathroom, he stopped by my side.
I noticed to late that I had been watching him, and I tried to look away. When I was about to take a step away and go pretend to do something worthwhile, I felt his hand reach out and take my arm. I could have screamed and hit him over the head if it wasn't for my hands clasped so tightly together.
"Are you alright?" he asked, concern filling his eyes. The same blue eyes that were more than piercing without the glasses... and also made him look 100 times more attractive.
I swallowed hard and nodded my head in quick little vibrations. "Yes. I'm perfectly alright. Why do you ask?"
He scowled. "Well... for one thing, you're speaking like me. For another thing, you're frightfully pale. And... you just seem worried over something."
What did he mean by worried? Worried as in I'm-so-flusted-about-last-night-that-I-can-hardly talk-in-fear-of-looking-like-a-dumbass-in-front-of-you worried? Or the I-have-no-idea-how-to-act-around-you-because-I-don't-know-if-you-truly-care-romantically-about-me-due-to-last-night's-actions-that-you-only-preformed-because-you-were-half-asleep worried?
"Is it because we're going home today?" he asked.
I hadn't known that I was holding my breath. I exhaled, relieved. "Yeah... something like that."
He let out an understanding smile. I then knew why he had gained a freaking fan club back at school. "It's going to be ok. You're family still loves you, and they'll accept you back into their lives gratefully."
I WOULD HAVE been fine if he hadn't sounded like I had something that he didn't. I truly, honestly WOULD HAVE been great!
"What do you mean? You're father won't accept you back into your family gratefully?"
Satoshi's smile dimmed, and his hand fell from my arm. He cleared his throat, and looked away from me. "I'll be getting in the shower now..."
NO. WAY. IN. HELL. I reached out and grabbed his arm before he could move. He froze. "What's going on with your family?" It was more like I was demanding to know something other than asking what was wrong.
Satoshi let out a sigh, but didn't tell me what was bothering him until approximately two minutes of silence. "My father... isn't the kindest of men. I just don't wish to return home to him. That's all."
"That's all?" I asked, making him flinch. He probably felt like an idiot, and I wasn't making it any better. "Does he... Sa-" I stopped myself from calling him by his first name. "Hiwatari-kun... does he beat you?"
Satoshi shook his head. "It's never happened before. He is just cruel with his choice of words, and he makes sure that my freedoms are limited when he is angry with me. Although... I don't know how low he can stoop."
We were stuck. I couldn't even believe it. Satoshi's father mistreating him? Was he the reason why Satoshi was forced to succeed? Was he the reason why Satoshi went to High School and graduated college so early? Was his father the soul reason as to why Satoshi was so determined to catch Dark? I bit my lower lip and tried to think of something to say. My mind reeled.
You know... if he was 18, then he could own a house, I thought. But he doesn't have enough money. Perhaps an appartment?
"Hiwatari-kun," I said, unaware of how quiet my voice had grown. "How old are you?"
"Eighteen," he replied, not thinking. No... scratch the not thinking part. "But I can't afford an appartment. All money belongs to my father."
"Oh." That was all I could say. I couldn't even give him a hug, or an encouraging statement. Why did I feel so helpless? I know, I KNOW, it's because he's always taking care of me, and I never manage to do anything for him, but... well... oh, forget it. I really was helpless.
"If you are worried about me," Satoshi said, taking my hand in his and removing it from his arm. "Then you should stop. I'll be fine..." I wasn't convinced, but I couldn't argue. I could think of nothing else to say.
"All passengers for flight 87 to Japan, please head towards gate 50. All passengers for flight 87..."
My embarassment had now grown to fear. I wasn't afraid for my own safety. I knew that Mom and Dad would never beat me. But as for Satoshi... well... I didn't know what his father could do.
As we took our seats, I looked out the window and reflected on everything that had happened. It kind of strained my memory, but I was shocked at how short a time I had been away. The thing that bothered me the most was how much had happened in that little time.
I had run away, in the middle of a stormy night. Then I was stuck, soaked to the bone, on a train with Satoshi. I then boarded a bus, which Satoshi boarded with me. Then we missed our stop, and I accidentally kicked a rock at him. Then we were in a cheap motel room... that was fun. I recieved an intimidating phone call from my father, and had Satoshi comfort me. Then we took the bus back into town, and I said good-bye to Satoshi as I entered the airport. While in the airport, I took a flight to America. In America, I was chased and almost raped, but was heroically saved by (guess who) Satoshi. Then Satoshi told me that he couldn't just leave me to fend for myself, and we got tattoos. I then called Riku and felt better about coming home. Then... well, you know what happened last night...
And here I was. Sitting on a plance, going back to Japan, about to face my mom and dad. And the only thing I could think and/or worry about was Satoshi.
Then, the though hit me. It was as if I couldn't breathe, which I kind of couldn't for a second. Back in the bathroom of my hotel room, I tried to think of words for 'it'. Whatever the hell 'it' was. It was then, on the flight home, sitting next to a snoozing Satoshi, that I figured it out.
'It' could very well be love.
A/N: I think the next chapter is the last. I can't remember. I have an epilogue though. So, umm... stay tunned(?)
