"Fine Line"

"The world only goes around by misunderstanding" -Charles Baudelaire

Chapter 8: Childish Persistence

I stood by the door leading out of the host club with Shiraishi and Kajimoto, as Asuka was at the counter paying for our expenses.

I hadn't realized how much time had passed; talking with them made me felt just at home, and time just flew by me without my realizing it.

"Thanks a lot for today you two." I said sincerely.

Kajimoto smiled, and Shiraishi gave me that smirk of his. "You're very welcomed." He said almost cockishly.

Kajimoto rolled his eyes, and then slipped a card to me. "Here's our numbers." I looked down at the card curiously, seeing two different sets of numbers listed there. "Call us anytime if you need anything."

I blinked several times at him, and then looked back down at the card.

"Don't look so confused." Shiraishi rolled his eyes heavenward. "It isn't wrong for friends to exchange numbers now, is it?"

I started at his words. "Ah! No- It's just that…" It's just that this is the first time a guy ever gave me their number. Excluding Kikumaru. Sad, isn't it?

I smiled up at them again, a soft pink creeping on my cheeks. "Thank you, you two."

"Just remember to call us when you're done with the painting." Shiraishi laughed, ruffling my hair. "I want to see how I look under your skills."

"It won't exactly look like you…"I mumbled heatedly, brushing down my hair.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Asuka approaching after she finished up with some girls and hosts that she was with that night.

"Feel free to call us anytime." Kajimoto took my hand and gave it another kiss; a way of saying goodbye.

I nodded. "I will."

As soon as we entered the elevator, Asuka threw an arm around me and grinned sneakily. "So? I saw you getting cozy with those two right there~" She cooed.

I blushed and bristled. "I did not! We were just talking!"

She rolled her eyes at me. "Yea, and I swore off beer."

"Which you really should…" I muttered in response.

She removed herself from me and leaned against the elevator wall. "Did you enjoy yourself tonight though?"

Smiling in thought as all my conversations with those two came back to me, I could only say one word.

"Yea."

In the end, I suppose going to Club Sacred wasn't so bad. I didn't think I could feel so comfortable in a place like that; being it so loud and lively and all. I guess it was due to the friendly air Shiraishi and Kajimoto presented to me.

I tucked my brush behind my ear, as I took a damp ragged cloth and carefully ran it over a side of the painting, watching as the purple got lighter and lighter, staining the previously white cloth with its dark color.

As soon as I got home that night, I had begun the initial sketches of the painting on the canvas. I hadn't felt so motivated to work before. Usually I'd just force myself to produce something; something to hand in.

That time, I really wanted to finish the painting; start it and finish it, so that I could show them.

It's early noon on the next day now, and I had already begun placing down the initial layers of colors. I could already see a wavering visage of a man with ash hair taking shape; and the calm, brooding yet welcoming aura of another taking form.

Carefully, I placed a light blotch of light purple to accentuate the lighting on 'Shiraishi's' suit. Purple....I used that as my main color choice, as it gave me a dreamy and soothing feeling. And I wanted that feeling to be present in the painting: symbolizing the emotions that hosts like Shiraishi and Kajimoto evoked in women. But I wanted the painting to also show the competition between them; and yet, the friendship they harbor together.

I pulled back from the painting briefly, frowning. Perhaps I was being a bit too ambitious, thinking I could portray such contrasting emotions in one single scene?

My brush lowered slightly in brief panic. What if I couldn't do it? I can't afford to fail this project!

Biting my lip, I looked to my side and reached for a tube of moss green. It was too late for me to go back now anyways, I thought. I should just give my all on this painting.

But I could only groan when I found the tube to be empty of paint.

I wrapped my light jacket a bit more around myself. The winds that usually came with spring were blowing more often today.

In my hand, I held a bag of newly bought paint tubes. I was forced to head down to the art store to get more supplies, seeing as mine ran out. I could have gone to the school to get more, but then it was too troublesome to go all the way there.

Something in the window I passed caught my eye, and I stopped to look at it.

Strawberry vanilla ice-cream cake.

That's what I call a good dessert.

I was thinking if I wanted to get a slice of that- it packed a lot of calories, and I wasn't too active, so calories usually stay in my body and turn into fat….I was still a girl, and I still cared for my weight no matter how much I try to deny it.

As I was deciding on the pros and cons of eating the cake, the door opened and out stepped two men.

I didn't really register them until I heard a very familiar voice.

"Ahh~ That was sooo good!"

"That's because you didn't have to pay…"

"Heheh~ Thanks for the treat, Jackal!"

"It's not like I wanted to treat you...You're always making me pay for your things, Bunta."

My fingers twitched and I could feel the blood drain from my face- Why, I didn't know. It just did. It wasn't as if he will eat me or anything…but I just paled when I heard his voice.

"Hm? Ahhh! It's you~"

I gulped when I heard his voice coming in my direction. It was quite obvious he noticed me. Hesitantly, I turned my head to my right.

"H-Hi…Marui-san…"

The man smirked, and then it turned into a wide grin. "Nice to see you again~!"

Oh boy. I could already feel the blood rushing back to my face.

….Must be PMS approaching.

Strangely enough, I found myself sitting at a table inside the café at which I was looking at the cake on display previously.

After a round of stutters and much hesitance, I finally transmitted the idea that I did not know if I wanted to eat the cake or not to Marui and Jackal.

Of course, Marui being the sweet-loving guy that he is- from what I can see- insisted I eat the cake and that it wasn't good to deprive myself. And so, I was pulled into the café by him, with a sighing Jackal following.

As of now, I was poking at the cake I so desired to eat. I had successfully ate half of it, although quite guiltily. I should probably look into a gym around my home soon…

"You don't like it?" Came Marui's voice, confused and disheartened. Although that soon changed into something more cheeky. "Can I have it then?"

Instantly, Jackal turned to glare at his friend. "Bunta, you just ate your 7th cake for the day! Let Ishimaru-san eat hers in peace." He reprimanded.

"But she doesn't even want it!"

Jackal rolled his eyes. "Don't decide things by yourself!"

I laughed nervously at their sudden argument over my cake; so I quickly picked up my fork and ate away at it.

Marui pouted when he saw me finishing the cake, and he looked over his shoulder at the freezer where more cakes were held.

Jackal noticed. "No more, Bunta." His voice was final.

Marui sighed in defeat. "Fine….but it's Jackal's treat this time."

Jackal nearly slipped out of his chair at his statement, and quickly looked at Bunta in exasperation. "I paid for you just now as well!"

"You're paying for Kumiko-chan this time~" Marui whistled out. And I quickly interjected. "Ah, no, it's okay…I'll pay for myself."

I saw Jackal's eyes twitch in annoyance when Marui merely ignored him, and sending me eye signals instead. My head only tilted in clueless response, not understanding what he was trying to do with all those weird narrowing, widening, twitching, quirking and bending of his eyes.

In the end, Jackal still sighed, and his shoulders slumped in defeat. "I'll pay for you, Ishimaru-san."

"No! It's alright, Kuwahara-san." I reassured him. But he shook his head. "This guy here will yap to me about it later if I don't. And it's only right that I do, seeing that he did trouble you into eating."

"Oi,oi. Don't speak as if I'm not here…" Marui muttered, scraping more cream off his empty plate and eating it.

Jackal brushed off his comment, and stood to head to the counter to pay.

I watched him go for a moment, before looking down at the table. "I feel bad for Kuwahara-san…."

"Hmm? Why?"

My eyes narrowed slightly, and I made myself look at Marui straight in the eye, even if that caused my heart to raise a mile, strangely enough. "You're oppressing him."

Marui's eyes widened at my accusation. "I'm not!" He denied indignantly.

"Well, you're making him pay for you!"

"He's paying for you too!"

"Only once! Besides, it's cause you made him!" I crossed my arms and looked away, unable to hold the stare with him any longer. "You shouldn't bully him like that."

Marui leaned back in his seat, eyes rolling heavenwards. "I'm not bullying him! He's a nice guy! So he treats me!"

"Not by his will!"

Marui waved his hand airily. "Nah~ we go a long way back. He's used to this."

"………….." My heart went out to Jackal.

"We're pretty close you know." He shrugged his shoulders. "So I don't really see a problem. Since what he gives me goes back to him one way or another."

"How so?" I was genuinely curious as to how money Jackal lost can be returned to him…Marui didn't seem like the type of person who pays someone back. Speaking of which, he still owes me money for the candies I bought for him- although I offered to pay for him in reality.

"Well, I do him favors…"

"Like?"

He drummed his fingers against his cheek in thought for a moment. "I get him discount vouchers for buffets!"

Unknown to me, my mouth slacked at his answer. Discount vouchers to buffets? What use would that do? Its not everyday someone goes to a buffet!

"And I helped him get on the girl's good side during high school too~" I snorted internally at his answer. "And what did he do for you to do that for him? Get him to treat you more?" I asked, softly but sarcastically.

"Hmmm~" He seemed to not notice my sarcasm. "Well, other than treating me, he lends me stuffs!"

My brows rose. "Lends you stuffs?"

"Yea~ He lent me his notebook, his notes, his homework, his pens, his racket, his ruler…" He continued listed off things as he counted on his fingers. As he did so, my eyes shifted to Jackal's tall figure at the counter, waiting for his receipt.

Poor Jackal.

"So how come I don't see you at Club Prism anymore?" Marui asked, too cheerfully in my opinion.

Why are they still here?! I thought that they would leave as soon as I finished the cake. But nooo~ Marui just had to suddenly decide to go to a place that was 'in the same direction' as my apartment.

"I only went there originally because Aya-chan and the rest organized a party for me…I don't actually enjoy going to these things…" I muttered.

"Hmm~ And the second time you were there is only cause you got lost?" That was clearly an insult.

I flared red. "I told you why I was there the last time already! I wasn't lost…" I trailed off embarrassed.

He laughed. He just had the galls to laugh that addicting and joyful laugh of his!

"Don't get so angry. I was just joking. "He grinned at me before a green bubble emerged from his lips.

I faced forward, eyes closed in annoyance and embarrassment. I could feel my face still burning red; I seem to get this often around him.

"Bunta, stop making Ishimaru-san uncomfortable." Bless Jackal.

Marui pouted at him. "Well, I was just curious!"

The Brazilian man sighed. "About what this time?" Jackal never liked it when Bunta got curious. It always lead to trouble somehow; just like Akaya.

"Well, a little birdie somewhere told me that she was at Club Sacred yesterday~" Marui whistled. At his words, my face once again turned red from top to neck, and I coughed.

"W-ho told you that?" I quickly turned to him, but realized my mistake.

His smirk just caused the redness on my face to turn darker. I should have thought before I acted. I probably could have lied my way out of this, but I had basically outright admitted I was at another host club; completely contradicting what I said earlier.

"Heeh~" A bubble popped. "I thought you didn't go to those things?" He snickered and I looked away in mortification. This was why I avoided social things with a passion. I make a whole fool out of myself. Unable to answer, I kept silent and continued walking, only at a slightly faster pace. The quicker I get home, the better.

"So? What did you think of that club? They are like a rival club, so we must know what our customer thinks of them…" Marui caught up to my pace.

I breathed through my nose, feeling the hotness on my face eroding. "I'm not your customer…" I clearly wasn't. I have only been there twice; once for free and once by accident. "Who told you that I was at Club Sacred anyways?" I frowned.

"So you really were there." Marui rubbed his chin, pondering. "Well, Oshitari has a cousin at Club Sacred." He shrugged again.

Oshitari…Oshitari Yuushi? The man that asked me to refer to him by his first name, and wore glasses? He has a cousin in Club Sacred? Don't tell me it's a family occupation or something….

"I see…" I didn't know who the cousin was; I don't think I've met him since the only ones I was introduced to was Shiraishi and Kajimoto…and neither shared the name of Oshitari…

The streets started turning more familiar as I neared my home; it was at this time that we walked pass the very same café I talked to Yura in the other day. Walking by it, the conversation I had with her involuntarily tugged at my mind again, and I meekly peeked at Marui, who was now caught in an argument with Jackal regarding Club Sacred and Club Prism.

How is it that this man can be so suave and just…cool, when he was within those pristine walls? Out here, he just seems like any other person…or kid rather.

He suddenly blinked, noticing my gaze and turned towards me, regarding me in his ever brilliant eyes. "What is it?"

Surprised, I jolted backwards lightly, cheeks pink and heart racing.

"N-nothing."

His eyes narrowed at me suspiciously, and I laughed nervously. I noticed that we were almost at my apartment, and I tried to get away. "W-well, I'm almost at my home now. I'll see you guys soon….or later…." Maybe not even later. "Um…never mind." I probably won't see them again after this. There has just been one too many meetings with hosts, Marui in particular, for me lately. "B-bye."

"Heeh~ You live here?"

Did he even hear what I said just now? It's like he completely did not register what I was saying and went on talking as if I had not said goodbye! "Yea…"

I stood there at the entrance to my apartment block, motionless, besides Marui who was examining the building and Jackal who just looked bored. "Marui-san, didn't you have someplace else to go-"

He cut me off. "How is the art block by the way?"

"Huh? Oh, well…" I scratched my cheeks hesitantly. I didn't exactly want him to know I was painting two hosts from their….rival host club, as he put it. "I sort of got out of it…" I still wasn't entirely sure how I am going to finalize the painting, so I technically wasn't out of my block.

He hummed. "What do you have so far?"

My mouth drooped down at his questions. "Why are you so interested?!"

He blinked multiple times at my sudden outburst; probably not expecting that from someone as meek as me….at least, that's what I think. His recovery was quick however, and he laughed. Besides him, Jackal was probably questioning the sanity of his partner.

"I just wanted to see whether my favorite artist got out of the things that lead her all the way to Club Prism on that one rare night~" He snickered and I could only give a weak glare.

But one thing I learned about Marui Bunta that day, as evident from him making me eat the cake I so guiltily desired….And from him entering my home.

He was one persistent brat.

Hm =( I keep seeing these amazing traffic, but no reviews T^T

*ish saddened- goes and mope*….

But…I need an idea…to find a way…. a reason…for Kumiko to go on multiple dates with different guys…hmm….this is…difficult….*dies* Anyways, I lied. I managed to put together another one. But I leave for real after this; for awhile at least..though when I'm done with everything (art, commissions etc) it'll be school again. Sigh.

Thanks for the review guys =] you guys help keep this story alive with it T^T or it would have been long dead haha

getsugan_kiyone : Haha Kajimoto needs more love anyways. And I don't think Shiraishi's on drugs…though he might as well be on crack, seeing how much he loves plants XD

demonsadist: yes, Shiraishi is a health freak xD pretty much most of the Shitenhouji team loves anything plant related lol

Lady Ladington: I can now type your name without looking to check the spelling xD But yes, the reviews tactics is working pretty well so far, though I might possibly implode from the pressure soon haha xD And well, about whether the hosts are doing their jobs as hosts or just plain throwing themselves at her, that's for you to find out and me to know haha What Kumiko would define as a fling…a date one day and never seeing them again or as a potential partner/ date.

PhoenixRage92: I'm glad you like how Kajimoto and Shiraishi turned out haha There is so little of them to go on that I was creating them base off assumptions, which has a lot of risk in making them OOC T_T Well, she met Marui now again. Now for a way to keep them together XD

I'll update when I'm back from HK! I leave in a day, and my friend from there will be following me back, surprisingly. Amazing how things can change in one day, when previously her mother will flip if she ever came to my country alone.

Reviews makes the story come faster ;D