"Fine Line"

"Into each life some rain must fall; some days must be dark and dreary" -Henry Wadsworth

Chapter 18: Drearily Sweet

~***~

I couldn't believe it.

My eyes widened, and I saw gray; multitudes of various shades of gray. They were all bleak, and monotone.

My hand gripped the piece of paper, its side crinkling from the force.

I could almost taste the blood that threatened to spill from my lips as my teeth grinded down on it.

I cant believe it…

I got a D-?!!!

A dark cloud hung over my mood that day, my body passed out over the top of my desk. I just could not believe that I got a C on my spring break homework…I had a gut feeling I was going to get a bad score due to the rush way I did it but…a D-? That's just too much for me to handle.

I wrapped my arms around my head, trying to keep in the tears that threatened to spill. I never got anything less than a B before in art; and that score was going to really hurt my overall performance.

Lecture had already ended, and everyone else has gone home for the day. But I remained in my seat by the window. The warm setting sun did not help my mood nor calm me down. It only served to set me further into my depression.

The clock tower outside the courtyard chimed, signaling the net hour- 6:00pm.

With a dejected sigh, I trudged out of my seat, sloppily picking up my works on the way out. The canvas painting I was so proud of before this, the one I was so eager to show Shiraishi and Kajimoto, slipped out of my hand, falling to the floor with a thud. I stared blankly back at it, but instead I thought of how I was going to explain to my parents that horrible score. I'd have to make at least 3 A's after this to get my grade back up again to where it originally was.

My eyes that were trained dully on the canvas suddenly spotted black shoes. The wearer suddenly stooped and picked up the canvas.

My eyes drifted up.

"Kirihara…-san?" My voice came out a soft croak. I hadn't drank any water for the past several hours.

The boy stared curiously at my canvas, eyes shifting back and forth between it and my dishelved appearance. He walked to a stop in front of me. "This yours?" He lifted the canvas with one hand, the other gripping a white plastic bag.

I nodded, although I didn't really want the painting back. I was most likely going to trash it along with the other two failed works when I got back.

He blinked sea green eyes at me, glancing back at the painting. "Heh, its pretty good."

I smiled bitterly. "You can keep it if you want."

He blanched at that however, and it didn't help my mood. "Why would I want to keep a painting of two guys?!"

I shrugged my shoulders, glancing off to the side carelessly. "I don't know…maybe hang them up in your room and curse their business, since you are rival hosts?" I usually wasn't this bitter and sarcastic. But I could not help my words, which were driven by my dampened spirits. Then I blinked, realizing something.

"Kirihara-san, why are you here at this time of the day?" It was already seeping into late evening, and here was this host, on the street that I walk everyday to my apartment, and he isn't at the host club.

Kirihara's eyes darkened suddenly and he grumbled under his breath. "Just cause I'm the youngest doesn't mean they can bully me into doing their errands…" Despite it being for himself, I still heard him.

I glanced down at the bag he held and my brain made the connection. "Marui-san?"

That seemed to trigger his anger. "Damnit! Why the hell must I come all the way down here just to buy a bag of his favorite SWEETS for him anyway?!!!" He growled, swinging the bag in front of me madly.

At that, I could not help a small smile flitting on my face. Sad as I am now, I could not resist when I saw the red flush of anger flaming across Akaya's face. It was adorable.

"I should just skip out on the last few hours of work time…" Akaya muttered, stuffing one hand into his pocket, but still keeping my canvas safe.

I reached out two hands to take the canvas from him gently, giving him a soft smile. "Well…if you really feel that way, my house is nearby. You can come in for awhile, and deprive Marui-san of his sweets for a bit."

"Eh, really? Thanks a bunch~!" He exclaimed like a rebellious punk who got out of trouble with his teachers. I don't usually randomly ask people to come to my house, much lest people I hardly knew; I was even reluctantly to let Marui and Jackal enter my house before this!

But I think I needed Kirihara's company today. Yura was busy with her own work, and god knows what Asuka and Rinko are up to. And I knew Aya was spending some quality time with Kikumaru, and I didn't want to bother them.

I pushed open my apartment door and flicked on the lights, Beside me, Kirihara scrunched his nose up. "It smells like paint in here."

I blushed in embarrassment. "Sorry. I must have forgotten to turn on the exhaust fan." Quickly, I ran to the back where my painting room was located and turned on the exhaust which would hopefully dispel the smell from the house soon.

Carelessly chucking the canvas and the other two painting to the side with it, I headed for the kitchen. "What would you like, Kirihara-san?"

The male wasn't looking at me, but the canvas. "You're just going to throw it there?" He asked surprised.

I pulled the fridge open, aimlessly looking for something to drink and snack on. "I didn't want it anyways…"

"Why not?" His voice came from the kitchen doorway, and I pulled out of the fridge, taking along with me a can of grape ponta. I handed this to him and he muttered a quick thanks before pulling the finger cap. Gas fizzed out of the drink and he took a large gulp.

I got a carton of apple juice for myself. "Its not good."

His eyes seemed to bulge at that. "Not good?! You blind?"

Instinctively, I took a step back from his loud voice. I never imagined a host to speak like that, on the job or not. Face flushing, I glanced at the empty sink. "It's not as good as I thought it was…" I admitted shyly.

"Huh?"

The depression came back again, as I finally admitted to him what has been poking holes at my mood for the whole. "You got a D- for that?!!" He exclaimed, baffled and the can of ponta nearly slipped out of his hand.

"It's not that surprising actually…we have pretty high standards for arts in our class."

He shook his head. "Yea but, D-?!" He still couldn't believe it.

"I guess you're just not used to seeing paintings, Kirihara-san. If not, you wouldn't react like this." I laughed in an attempt to change the topic.

He grumbled and blushed, looking away. I never thought I'd live to see this male blush. He seemed so…tough! "I'm not too much of an artistic person…" he muttered, swirling his ponta drink around.

Laughing quietly, I rested my arms on the table top. "I can tell. Kirihara-san looks more like a person who is sporty!"

He seemed to perk up at that. "I'm picky about my sport though. But tennis is one I play often. Ah-Games are also a past time I enjoy."

Kirihara could be chatty when he wants to, especially when he's familiar with the person enough. In a way, I figured he was a bit like me. Only instead of hiding behind blushes, stutters and shying away from the crowds, he toughens himself up and just beats up whoever picks on him.

It was about 2 hours or so that we just sat in my living room and talked. He was telling me about how people stayed away from him back during his school days because of his supposedly violent ways when his phone rang.

Without even checking the caller ID, he flipped it open.

"AKAYA! TARUNDORU!!"

I jumped in my seat, the deck of card I had been holding flying out of my hands. Kirihara reflexively removed the phonefrom his his, face paling. "Shit, Sanada-senpai…"

Cautiously, he placed the phone back to his ears. "H-hai?"

No loud voice boomed from the mobile this time, but Kirihara's face effectively got paler and more fearful as seconds passed by. "Hai, Yukimura-senpai…"

Oh, Yukimura…I remembered even I was slightly fearful of him back during the festival, before the mochi making contest started.

The white on his face quickly drifted away though, and his eyes darkened and a pout came onto his face. "Yes, I have your sweets."

Must be Marui.

Kirihara grinned evilly. "No. I'll give them to you tomorrow when I see you."

Judging from his words, I guess Marui wanted Kirihara to deliver them right now, but the seaweed-head didn't want to, continuing his rebellion. "Where I am? I'm at Kumiko-chan's place. Why?"

I played with my toe as he spoke into the phone. "You're coming over?!!" I nearly toppled over at Kirihara's sudden yell, and also because of his shocking statement.

"W-what?!" I stared at Kirihara, appalled.

Kirihara glared at the phone, before roughly shoving it into his pockets, hands pulling at his tie to loosen it. "He hung up on me!!"

I poked my fingers together nervously as Kirihata grumbled about being bullied and threatened to flush the bag of sweets down the toilet. "So…he's coming?"

He nodded like a pouting kid. "Yea."

"For the sweets?"

Sea green eyes rolled. "What else?"

"Okay…"

Kirihara seemed pretty upset for some reason, and I wondered why it was so.

He shrugged broad shoulders at my question, focusing intense eyes on me. "I didn't really care at first, but you know how after a prolonged time, you just get sick of it? For my whole year as a host, I always get sent on stupid errands for them, especially that egoistic-senpai and that trickster!!" He grounded out.

I smiled, unable to contain the small giggle that followed. "Yea…I know. It was the same for me back during my school years."

Lazy eyes drifted over to me. "Why is that?"

"I don't know, really."

The doorbell rang at that time, and I was glad for it. Because I really didn't know how to answer that question. I went to it and pulled it open, and bright lavender eyes greeted mine, although his were slightly tinted with a certain darkness.

"Yo, Kumiko-chan." He raised a hand in greeting, something like the victory sign, but more casual and relaxed.

Before I could reply however, I was suddenly shoved to the side by Kirihara. "You-!! Why did you-Wait a minute, how did you know how to get here anyway?!!" Kirihara pointed an accusing finger at his work senior.

Marui rolled his eyes and invited himself in. "You ask that after I arrive?" He looked around the room, searching. I eased him of his pain by pointing to the corner where the bag was. "It's over there."

Instantly his eyes lit up and he leapt over, grabbing up the bag and giving it a tight hug before peeking inside to see their contents. Satisfied with what was inside, he patted Kirihara on the shoulder. "Least you got them all correct this time~"

Kirihara bristled at his comment. But before any argument could be started, I cut in meekly, scratching the back of my head. "Umm…"

Two pairs of eyes turned to look at me; and I pointed at the clock. "Its getting kinda late…"

Kirihara's mouth fell open in an 'O' and Marui just blinked cutely at the clock. Then he threw an arm around Kirihara's shoulders and started leading him towards the door. "Let's go now, Akaya~ the ladies need their beauty sleep." He winked at me as he passed by and Akaya was furiously grabbing at the hand around him.

"Bye-bye, Marui-san, Kirihara-san." Kirihara had given up trying to release himself from the forceful hold of his senior, and pouted but threw me an irritated glance nonetheless, muttering goodbye under his breath.

Just before I got the door to close all the way, Marui bent to his side and red hair slid sideways across his smooth skin, trying to keep in my view through the door gap. "Oi, you remember your promise right?"

I blinked and pulled the door back open. "Promise?"

He faked a melodramatic sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "Oh man, if all our customers were like you, we might go out of business!"

"…………" I stared blankly at him.

Peeking one eye open at me, he allowed a smirk to play across his lips. "You'll go to Club Prism again, wont you?"

Realization slapped me on the head. "O-oh…y-yes…" There was a silent "I think" lingering in the air.

He wagged a finger at me. "No doubts now~! Its hard to work with customers that are afraid!" He purposely reminded me of my first visit to the club, and that also quite coincidentally reminded me of when he pulled me to the club rooftop…He had spoken to me there, about working as a host club, and other topics that came to his mind.

I bit my lip, glancing off to the side nervously. Eyes shifting back to him and finding his sharp eyes trained on my face, heat raced across my cheeks. "O-okay…"

"Oh! And bring a friend or two~ we can use the extra customers!" A cheeky wink from him and I frowned, hands threatening to slam the door in his face. I'm not some gold bait for him to use!!

But before I can express my frustration, he grinned at me, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

The moon was out by now, and its soft silver rays casted an ethereal glow over him; shimmering silver mixing in with the magenta tone of his hair, creating an uncanny yet enchanting visage. His eyes shone with that same mischief and maturity, accentuated by the dim light reflecting over them.

I felt like I was staring at a fallen angel.

"Goodnight, Kumiko-chan~!"

"G-goodnight, Marui-san…." I closed the doors, and leaned my forehead against it; and lightly hit myself over and over again on the wooden surface.

Better appreciate this chapter! I ignored my homework to type this D; but then again, I was slightly inspired since I found the author of one of my MOST ABSOLUTE FAVE RIKKAI STORY EVER! It was discontinued 3 years ago, but she said she was willing to continue the story just for me T_T I'm so happy! She was impressed by my devotion -coughstalkerishcough- to her story, since I had been reading that story in intervals for the past 3 years now haha and even went as far as to message the people running the site 2 years back xD; and she pieced it all together today when I messaged her, and she finally know who that mystery reader is XD rofl

Thanks a lot for the reviews as usual!! 33 I know can type all my regular reviewers name without blinking XD well, all my reviews comes from the regulars anyways lol xD;

PhoenixRage92- haha sorry it took so long D: but school is torture lol Retarded it maybe, but I imagine the fish to be a wholly symbolic thing for Marui's and Kumiko's relationship ;D I'm thinking of using it as something to propel their relationship forward later on.. xD; well, I know I cant recognize people by voice sometimes LOL Marui probably figured out who she is by actions and voice a little, since during that short time with her, she hardly spoke lol not much of a chance there to confirm stuffs. Shiraishi weeded her out by speech =D as expected of the Bible! xD and I'm glad you liked the chapter =] I didnt particularly like it x_X

Yukimura X Satomi - haha I dont know how long it'll go actually. This is my longest fic ever D:

elusivemelody- haha I needed to tie up the end of the strings anyways (hence the name xD) but I dont think I'll just let that kiss slide off like that so easily. After all, a first kiss IS supposed to be really important for Kumiko haha FujiXMarui fic? ummm...well, I'm not too much of a yaoi or shonen-ai reader though x_X I just...cant read them or take the idea of it x-X I evade them like the plague D: if it was MaruiXOC, I'd gladly (more like leapt) go read it, but I dont think I can handle reading a FujiMarui X_X; Nothing against male-male stuffs honestly, just not my type of stuffs lol x_X; But if you have any OCMarui stories, heck, I'll be there first in line to see it ;D

LadyLadington- haha thats what I thought xD They have so little screentime, its kinda hard to make out their real nature. I'm even just writing on assumptions and my own imagination of him. But I still kinda felt he was slightly OOC for some reason x_X maybe its just me bein pessimistic. The Oblivious song used in that chapter is their live version rather than recorded =D I think the live is more...danceable than the recorded XD but yea, it will be hard to dance to it but not impossible. Not the club/disco type dance though- the dance I imagined them to be doing was more like a latin/waltz/tango mix haha Hence the lifts and twirls XD But it'll still be hard to dance to it- which was the point of Niou's little bit there, challenging pairs to try and dance to it XD and I cant believe you never liked Shiraishi in the first place D; he's such an adorable little thing when he wants to be XD