Chapter Eighty Four: Sparks of Affection
Disclaimer: I do not own Eyeshield 21.
Song Playing: Into the Light by In This Moment
Theme 74: Fire
Phone calls that happened at three am were not phone calls that one wants to get.
In fact, Mamori was quickly learning that unexpected three am phone calls were something to be dreaded. She was still in her pajamas with nothing more than her coat thrown on and her feet shoved into her sneakers to protect her from the chilled night air as she sprinted across the damp field to the smoldering remains of their once glorious clubhouse. Honestly she hadn't registered a lot of what the man on the other end of the call had said.
What she had gotten out of their short conversation was Hiruma had apparently been inside when the university's small football building had caught fire and she was registered as his emergency contact.
After that she was too busy frantically making her way to the stadium to hear anything else. Her mind was racing with a torrent of conflicting emotions. She knew she should have said something about him living there. Even if it would have embarrassed him she should have said something. Thank goodness she had managed to convince him to move his armory into the offsite underground bunker. Her heart clenched just thinking about what could have happened if his ammunition had been loose at the time. She should have insisted on more extinguishers on site. Between his preference for pyrotechnics and her habit of being over-protective in the safety department she should have been able to prevent this. She should have-
He was okay.
She had managed to shove her way through the crowd and sitting in the back of the ambulance looking disgruntled and shaken was Hiruma.
Completely ignoring the caution tape, as well as several officers, she sprinted the short distance and pulled him into a rib cracking hug. In hindsight it wasn't the smartest move. She had no idea the extent to any possible injuries that he may have and she hadn't identified herself to any of the emergency services personal. However with his hair still smelling of smoke, her adrenaline crashing with the overwhelming sense of relief, and his arms hugging her right back she couldn't find it in herself to consider any of those things.
After a small crying fit coupled with fretting over his general state of being, Mamori managed to pull herself together enough to be briefed on the situation.
Besides some minor smoke inhalation and some scrapes he had acquired from escaping Hiruma was fine. As far as the fire department could tell it appeared the fire was electrical. At the moment it looked like something had chewed through several cables, though she kept her mouth shut about it Mamori would bet money on Cerberus being the cause.
They continued to answer questions until she finally put her foot down and insisted that any further inquirers could wait until a more reasonable hour. When it appeared the officers were going to protest she put on what her friends referred to as her Shut Up And Listen To Your Mother attitude which got them out of there without any further trouble. It was only after they were in the backseat of the taxi she had specifically told to wait for them that she realized she had no idea what she was going to do with him.
Glancing over to see him ever so slightly rest his head against the window she knew she couldn't take him to a hotel or drop him off at Musashi's place: which is how she found herself setting up the spare futon in her apartment while Hiruma took a much needed shower. An hour later she found herself wide awake in her bed, an underlying panic that she couldn't seem to get rid of was keeping her from falling asleep.
She'd just go check and make sure that he was okay. Honestly, she was just going to poke her head in and make sure he was comfortable.
If only her feet had listened to her. Instead of a quick peek she found herself hovering over his completely passed out form. Wringing her hands anxiously she watched his chest rise and fall in a calm even rhythm that spoke of deep slumber. She stood there until her nerves settled. Finally convinced that he was going to be alright, she turned to get some much needed rest.
She was in her doorway when she quickly padded her way back to his side. Kneeling down she gave a soft kiss to his temple, the last of her worries finally disappearing.
He was safe here.