I feel my stories are going crappy lately...especially Thunderstruck To The Core....I'm tempted to rewrite part of it....

"Fine Line"

"Ever felt that feeling of confusion before? Dont you just hate it?"

Chapter 4: Challenge...?

It was a full house.

Women, of all ages, were crowded all over the room. There was one woman for each host at least. Some hosts, the popular ones like Atobe for example, were entertaining at least 4 women. They sat at high glass tables, smiling and laughing as Atobe charmed them with hardly any effort.

I shifted my eyes to one side of the room, and spotted Ootori…I think that was his name. He had a customer of his own, although she looked much older than he is. Probably around her mid-thirties.

She looked distressed and Ootori was calmly, kindly, talking to her, rubbing her shoulders as she pressed face in her hands.

I thought it was going to be hell when I took the elevator up with Niou. But sitting in here right now, albeit feeling out of place and awkward, it was….interesting to say the least. Watching how these men worked.

Watching the women who came in here.

How they sought comfort, entertainment, and perhaps even love from these men. I pulled my eyes away from the woman Ootori was comforting, knowing it was rude to stare. I'd also rather not have her notice my staring and have her relate it to her running make-up…Ootori might have more tears to dry if that occurred.

I looked up from my plush cushion when Niou approached in all his suave glory. I still felt my face flushing a slight pink (who wouldn't?) but it wasn't as bad as when I first met him.

"Having fun being an observer?" He joked, hinting at my constant observance of others for the past hour. "Sure you don't want to join in?" He added slyly.

The flush came back, stronger this time, as I settled my face into a glare in an attempt to pass it off as anger. "No thank you…I'm happy with my current post."

My eyes flickered back to the woman with Ootori again when out of the corner of my eye, I saw her draining her whole glass of wine in one shot.

Niou noticed my glance, and provided what I wanted to know. "Her husband's cheating on her."

I looked up to Niou, shocked, before the alarm settled in and I sank into my cushion. "Oh…"

A silence reigned between us for a moment before I spoke up again. "How does she know..?"

"Late nights, foreign perfume scent, absence from home, stray lipstick marks…quite obvious really. Its like the bastard wanted her to know on purpose." The last line shot out of Niou's mouth in a controlled fury.

I stared at him in wonder of his unfounded anger.

"People like her husband…they're quite despicable, don't you think?" He looked down at me, cool eyes capturing mine, and I couldn't look away. I felt I shouldn't.

I had no answer to his question, because I did not understand what it would be like. What it would be like to be betrayed by your loved one. Because I never had a love.

….I never fell in love.

Unable to hold his gaze any longer, I looked down at the glass of water in my hand. Atobe had graciously offered champage, or at least a glass of cocktail he said, rather than water. But I insisted. From my first and last visit here, I knew the prices of the drinks were hefty. This place did not charge by entry anyways; it charged by drinks.

Meaning the longer you stay, the more you drink. The more you drink, the more you pay.

I knew it would be free, Niou did assure me of that, but I don't think my pauper upbringing could take any more rich man's drink running through me.

"Does she come here often?" I asked softly, feeling my heart clench when I distinctly heard a soft sob coming from her direction. I don't know why, but my heart went out to her. Her cries and face was full of anguish and pain. She must have really loved the man.

"Almost every night of the week, when her husband is out visiting the other woman." Niou answered, pocketing his hands.

I nodded, not knowing what to say. But Niou continued the conversation for us.

"Ootori was the first host who went to her…probably a natural reaction on his part."

I returned my gaze to his face, not understanding what he meant by that.

Noticing my questioning eyes, he smiled. "As soon as she walked in through that door, tears running down her face, Ootori instantly went to her and took her aside. Usually we wait for the customers to pick us out….but I guess, in her case, it's already been appointed without her having to do anything or us for that matter."

"So Ootori-san appointed himself?" I asked, wondering if it's because of competition for customers.

"No, he didn't. Its second nature on his part, to help someone in need. She needed help that time, and almost every time. Someone to comfort and calm her. Ever since Ootori comforted her that first visit, she's nominated him as her host." Niou let out a satisfied huff. "Out of all of us, he's perfect for the job. Patient, kind, sensitive….he's probably the only one here who has the potential to patch up her torn heart-every single night she comes."

I gazed over at Ootori, sitting by the poor woman, in awe. He was sitting there by her, intently taking in every single word she said, and at the same time, advising her. He wasn't committing any false comfort; he was being genuine, I could tell. Rather than giving words of false kindness, he's advising her on what she should do, how she should go on.

The woman nodded weakly as Ootori spoke to her softly, giving words of guidance. Despite being young, he had a whole wealth of wisdom for his age. And yet, he's still quite innocent.

I tore my eyes away from the touching scene, and looked up at Niou. "He's a nice man." I smiled.

Niou smirked at my comment. The door to the club suddenly opened, and another young woman stepped in, outfitted in a slinky red dress that accentuated her curves. Niou noticed when she walked in, and gave her a nod before turning to me.

"Well, my gal is here."

The girl in red made her way over to a two-seater couch, and looked expectantly at Niou, waiting for him to come over. As Niou bade me goodbye, she shot me a poisonous look.

I winced, although I wasn't sure if Niou noticed my flinching. It was confirmed for me not too soon later though, that he did, when he placed a comforting hand on my shoulder and said, "She's like that" before walking away to his customer.

Closing my eyes, I leaned back into the soft cushion. Staring was rude. So I will try to be as un-rude as possible by minding my own business. And this cushion was so soft and sweet, I should really try to enjoy my private time with it before I'm sent shuffling home. And it was free too! So I should take advantage and try to relax…..

My eyes snapped open when I felt a weight on me, and I found myself staring into the purple eyes of Marui Bunta.

I just sat there staring at him.

Seconds ticked by.

……..

40 seconds later, my face was as red as a ripe tomato, or maybe strawberry.

"M-Marui-san…"

"Hmm?"

"Could you…ummm….move, please?"

It took all my power to not faint right on the spot.

Marui Bunta was sitting on me. One of these gorgeous men was sitting on me. On my lap. I could feel my temperature rising, and I would probably combust really soon.

I can't take this close proximity! 'Please just get off, please just get off…'

Marui smirked upon noticing my still reddening face, and the nervous sweat that was starting to gather on my neck and forehead. But luckily for me, he stood up without much resistance and my tensed body instantly relaxed.

I did not see Marui taking note of how fast I relaxed, and the frown flitting across his face soon after.

Slight panic returned to me, when I saw Marui pull over another cushion and flopped down onto it next to me. His suit ruffled from the impact, and his hair mussed up; and yet, he retained that charming look.

I felt my eyes squeeze instinctively, trying to get rid of inappropriate thoughts about the man beside me.

"So Niou says you got lost?" He asked, his mouth pulled in that usual amused smile.

My mouth popped open for a moment, and I looked over at Niou who was busy being his suave self, before I turned back over to Marui, shaking my head.

"Thought so."

One of my eyebrows rose up. "What do you mean?"

He propped his cheek against one fist, and grinned at me. "I don't think you'd be that stupid to get lost from your area all the way to here anyway."

"………"

Noticing my silent response, Marui blinked, thinking he had hurt my feelings. He opened his mouth, probably about to reply when I spoke.

"I suppose so…"

"Huh?"

"It'd be kinda stupid to get lost, considering the distance I'd have to travel from my area to here." I smiled tentatively at this not-so-stranger.

Marui sighed in relief when he saw I wasn't hurt, and chose to smirk instead. "So what's the real excuse?"

I sat there for the next few minutes with him, telling him of my work and the need for inspiration, then where Aya and the rest were (I didn't tell him why I did not join them), the taxi driver and how he drove off before I can switch destinations.

"Hmmm~" A green bubble followed from his mouth. He nodded at the sketch pad by my feet, before popping the bubble with his tongue.

"Can I take a look?"

Unconsciously, my feet moved in front of the sketch pad, as if to prevent him from making a grab at it. "Well….they aren't really that good…"

Marui rolled his eyes. "That's what the potato chips told the popcorn. Just show me." He added childishly.

I did not get the popcorn whatever thing he spoke of. But his eyes, set in a determined stare, were so pleading and demanding that I relented. It was like trying to stare down a child who wanted a cookie. They wont back down easily.

Hesitantly, I handed my sketch book to him. He made to pull it out of my hand, but I held onto them for a moment, as if willing my sketch pad to bite Marui's hand, and return to my side instead.

His free hand(the one that wasn't holding the pad) came up and rested on mine, that was still holding onto the pad tightly.

"Kumiko-chan." Marui spoke, his velveteen voice reassuring. "I wont laugh, no matter how terrible they are." He smiled at me, brilliant eyes sincere; and I knew that I can trust him not to embarrass me.

So I released my grip on the sketch pad.

Settling back into a couch, my fingers drummed on my glass of water impatiently and nervously, awaiting his response. In an attempt to decrease his level of concentration as he flipped through my book, I started conversation; a first for me, as I generally do not start conversation.

"So…Marui-san….." I started, trailing as I searched my mind for a topic.

"Hmmm?" Marui did not look up as he scrutinized a page of my sketchbook.

"…ummm….You don't have any customers tonight?" I tried. I couldn't think of anything and I couldn't help but wonder why he wasn't entertaining someone and talking to me instead.

"Not anymore. My last customer for the night just left. And we're closing in an hour or so, and the doorkeeper usually does not let people in when its 1-2 hours before closing time." He replied, briefly glancing up at me before glancing back down. He turned the book towards me. "You drew this?"

I nearly rolled my eyes. It was my sketchbook. Of course I did. But being the turtle I was, I didn't voice that. "Yes." And settled for a polite answer instead.

He whistled. "Heeeh~ It's amazing."

My gaze shifted down to the page where the pad was opened to; a page where I did one of my old drafts for a full-blown painting that I later on completed for a grade. It was a relatively simple and ugly sketch that he turned to in my opinion.

It portrayed a young girl walking through a bustling street that resembled the nightlife of Chinatown or something. She was the only thing there that stood out for she was drawn in with bold and connected lines. The setting about her was more blurry and filled with varying lines, giving the effect of movement.

"Thanks…it's not really that good though." I murmured, shyly looking away.

Marui rolled his eyes at me again. "Give yourself some credit. You got talent." He grinned. I gingerly took my pad back from him, glancing up to find his gaze on me. I looked back down. "Thank you…"

He settled back into his plush couch and looked curiously at me. "I saw several scratched out thumbnails on one of the recent pages….art block?"

I heaved a sigh when he said that word; the bane of all artists, amateur and experts alike. Dejectedly, I said, "Yes."

He chortled a short laugh and I made him the target of my weak glare. My glares had no effect on people. It was like being stared down by a hamster. "I don't see what's so funny about it…" I whispered heatedly to myself, but he heard.

"Nothing really. I just find it funny that people find it so hard to come up with a topic." He snickered and I quirked an eyebrow at him curiously. "And YOU don't find it hard sometimes?" I retorted, just daring him to say yes.

And he did.

"Yes." He replied. No hesitance. No questions.

My fingers twitched slightly from annoyance at his ego. "And why is that?" My voice was slightly accusing.

"Cause I'm a genius." He boasted, saying it in a tone as if it was obvious and it was the most natural thing in the world.

But I only stared blankly at him, not expecting that answer.

Upon my silence, his eyes narrowed slightly. "You don't believe me?"

I coughed at his question to hide a laugh, and quickly turned away and drank from my glass of water, hiding a smile on my face.

"Oi! It's true! I'm a genius!" Marui insisted, and I heard his palms slam against the arms of the plush cushion he was on.

I giggled. "Sure. I believe you." I tried to smile at him but my smile was unsteady, threatening to break into a full-blown laughter.

Marui sniffed, offended. But it then turned into a smirk.

He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees, supporting his chin upon his interlaced fingers. "Want me to prove it to you?" He asked, almost sinisterly in my eyes.

My smile wiped from my face, and I returned my usual blank stare onto it, trying to throw off that smirk of his which was starting to scare me slightly. "Uhh….no?"

Marui chuckled to himself, and I leaned away from him in confusion. Also because I was weirded out.

"Just two times you know." He said, his beautiful eyes hidden away from me behind his lids.

"…I don't understand…" I really didn't. The sudden change in his behavior caught me off guard, in addition to the fact that I was still limited in my experience with how males behave.

He smirked and revealed his light eyes to me, glinting with a certain mischief. "I figured you out."

"…What?" That was all I could say really. I didn't get him.

"I figured you out. All in the two times I met you." He got up and bent over in front of me, so he was at eye level with me.

I felt the blood creeping, seeping into my face. But I couldn't move. I could only look into his eyes, entranced.

He leant closer, and I could feel his breath, perfumed with the aroma of sweet wine, wash over my profile. I distinctly captured a scent that reminded me of bubblegum….Yes. Bubblegum. He was chewing one, wasn't he? So that's what it was…

My mind was scattered and my head blurry. His scent was overwhelming. Not in a bad way. It was like having too much of your addiction, or your favorite food. You feel sick at the end.

This was how I felt right now, as his scent of wine and bubblegum enveloped me.

Wine and bubblegum. Who would have thought?

It was really ironic. It was a paradox. Wine- represents adulthood and maturity- and Bubblegum- childhood and youth. Who would have thought that such different things would match so well…?

Maybe because it was Marui Bunta who had it.

If it was any other person, I bet it would have been sickening.

Dazedly, I slowly lifted my head and gazed through half-lidded eyes.

"How long would it take for you to figure me out?" He breathed onto me.

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