"Fine Line"
"It's like watching a horror movie through a microscope"
Chapter 24: Blank and Wet
~***~
I figured that after seeing Atobe's Crystal Palace, nothing I ever come across –from that man especially- should ever surprise me ever again. But I was wrong.
"I can't believe this is what he calls his house…" I mumbled, appalled. Clearly that man was not right in the head.
He says welcome to his humble home, but it was anything but humble.
It was huge, needless to say. As large as or possible larger than his Crystal Palace. And it was nice- or rather, beautiful. A wonderful piece of architecture.
I would have stumbled along and ogled more at everything I passed by but I had to keep up with the group, who other than Ruriko(I'm not too sure about Kintarou), been here plenty of times and isn't too amazed at anything they came across the whole time we're in this place.
It's so amazing that if Atobe asked us to stay the night, I'd say yes!
"Uwaaah~ Atobe, is this really necessary just to watch movies?" Gakuto part exclaimed and part deadpanned in disbelief. I totally agreed with Gakuto's question.
Was it really necessary to have a surround sound system consisting of ten very large and very loud stereos? I didn't know too much into these types of things; but I do know that those sleek silver stereos that are carefully and strategically placed around the room had to be very expensive and of very high quality just basing off their looks alone.
Atobe then kindly offered to play a movie for us just to test out his new system (and new high definition tv). Although Marui muttered grumpily beside me that he was just rubbing it into our faces.
Well, I can't say that I completely agree with what he said, though it might be true. Then again, I have no qualms about it as its not everyday that I get to experience such a thing firsthand; which is why I quite happily took a seat in one of his soft, plush couches, which had been arranged in a movie theater type of seating, causing his audio-video room to look like a real auditorium or cinema (only with better equips).
There was a vote on what movie we should watch, but it didn't work too well. Everyone voted for a movie they want to watch, which caused one votes for each movie. Seeing as it was going nowhere though, and I really wanted to try this sound system, I in the end voted for Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King (with subtitles, luckily. Atobe apparently detests with venom to have dubbings for anything he owns and wants them in their original language) along with Kenya, making the votes 2:1 and tipping the scale by a margin.
As the movie began and all of us having settled into our spots of favor, our host himself had called in several servings of snacks and drinks of our choices. Atobe sat at the front of course. He demanded he get the front-center seat when Gakuto jumped there, and the redhead grumpily removed himself. Ruriko was (as expected) snuggled next to Marui in front of me, and I was behind the two with Kenya and Shiraishi. Kenya had moved next to me, having jokingly said that "In politics, party members sit together"- referring to how we both voted for the same movie. Shiraishi just came along with Kenya, and as such, Kintarou came along as well. Oshitari and Gakuto were at the front next to Atobe, while Shishido and Ootori decided to sit behind us instead (Shishido claimed that Gakuto talks too much during a movie and refused to sit with him).
I ended up sharing caramel popcorn with Kenya, since Kintarou took his. Also because I was saving my stomach space for the tiramisu cake that is coming.
Kintarou shuddered beside Shiraishi. "T-that g-guy really r-reminds me of t-the guy in the manga I s-saw…he had beady eyes like t-that too!"
"….." I didn't really know what to say to that, so I kept silent. Kenya whispered to me then that Kintarou tended to take things to heart, and he used to be afraid of Shiraishi's bandaged arm, and probably still is.
I found it funny that Kintarou would be fearful of Shiraishi. I couldn't see Shiraishi as anything other than a very odd, quirky but charming guy.
I hardly paid attention to the movie, as I've seen this particular movie a couple of times already, back during middle school. I was a huge Lord of The Rings fan back then and still am. It was still as magical as I remembered it, and even if I knew what was going to happen next, I can't help but still feel strong surges of emotions at what occurs during the movie. Looking up from my plate of cake, I saw Ruriko leaning boredly against the palm of her arm, eyes dully eyeing the movie screen. She must not be enjoying the movie, seeing as she was more of a science person…I guess science and art doesn't really blend well together sometimes?
Halfway through the movie, I flipped open my phone to check the time, and my eye bulged when I saw it was already night- 9:00pm.
"Crap…" I cursed softly. My house was pretty far away from this place. It'll take sometime to get back, and in such late hours too…
Shiraishi peered over curiously. "It's that late already?" Even he was surprised.
"The movie is pretty long…this is the uncut edition." Kenya surmised, making a point.
"Ahn? Who's making all that noise back there?"
The three of us cringed. "Sorry Atobe…" We apologized.
The man turned around in his seat to eye us with his sharp eyes that seemed to glow eerily from the glow of the screen. "What are you guys complaining about?"
"…It's not that we're complaining, Atobe-san..." Kenya said nervously.
"It's just…kinda late." I said, blinking with wide nervous eyes at him. For some reason, we just didn't want to see an annoyed or angered Atobe right now. I and Kenya seemed to have similar thoughts on this for one reason or another.
Atobe brushed his hair back with a fast swish of his hand, eyes closing almost snobbily. "Maa~ What's the problem with that? Just stay the night." He said haughtily.
"I…I don't think that's a good idea…" I randomly made a lame excuse. "I got a lot of homework-"
"The driver will send you back to your house first thing tomorrow morning." Atobe interjected.
"But I don't want to impo-"
"You can't really impose. He has too much space for his own good." Oshitari sighed from next to Atobe, glancing back at us.
"Well, I don't really see a problem with staying the night." Kenya said with a slight cheer. He was obviously happy about this.
"Just stay, Kumiko-chan. Even Ruriko-chan is staying, right?" Marui said suddenly, turning around in his seat to face me then looking at Ruriko.
I resisted frowning and snapping at him with unexplained anger. I wanted to say that was her problem, not mine. But I didn't.
Ruriko smiled and shrugged. "If Marui-kun says so…then I'll be staying."
If she was staying, I was even less inclined to stay.
"Just stay Ishimaru-san. Its just one night. Besides, it'll be quite dangerous to go home by yourself at this time." Shiraishi spoke up from beside me and I sighed.
"Alright…" Shiraishi made sense.
"It's decided then. I'll tell the maids to prepare your rooms." Atobe stood up.
A chorus of thank you's went around from all of us in the theatre…from those who weren't from Club Prism at least.
The movie was cut short as there was still another hour of it to go before it ended, and my ears were starting to hurt from the brilliance of the surround sound that I was glad they stopped. We were showed our rooms and allowed to freshen ourselves up as most of us felt dirty and grimy from being outside all day.
I was located next to Ruriko's room, and the other boys were scattered down along the hallway and the hall on the other side. We could look across from our halls as there was a giant opening in between that allowed us to peer downstairs to one of the halls.
The grandeur of this place still kills my mind.
Oshitari, Gakuto, Shishido and Ootori came here more often that us (obviously) and more often than Marui as well, so they some of their belongings in rooms that were already assigned to them.
I kinda envied them, being able to come over here at anytime. Atobe might be a snob, but he was a benevolent one, that's for sure.
As most of us haven't had a proper dinner yet (the snacks didn't count) we were invited to go down to the dining hall to eat if we wished.
I didn't feel tired, and I felt uncomfortable without real food inside my stomach, so I went down, having met Ootori on the way by luck and he led me to the dining hall (or I would most likely have gotten lost).
Ootori had changed into more comfortable clothes and out of the jeans and shirt he wore that day. I didn't have any of my clothes here so I was lent some (from who, I didn't know. Perhaps a maid who was the same size as me). I was thankful for the nice and clean change of clothes, although I wished I had gotten slightly longer pants rather than the shorts I was given. They were sleeping shorts for comfort, but I generally preferred long or at least quarter, even if the fashion now is shorts.
I felt morbid and gaudy exposing my scrawny legs.
Marui was already at the dinner table when the two of us arrived, stuffing down as much strawberry fondue he could. Does this man ever eat anything healthier than confectioneries and sugar?
"Where does all the spare of this go if not into Kin-chan's and Marui's stomach?" Kenya asked no one in particular as he blinked in surprise at all the food placed on the table.
"I…I think they get cleaned up by Marui-kun and Kintarou-san no matter what…" I said, deadpanning at how those two were sweeping everything off the surface.
Deciding to get some before the two redheads (what a coincidence) cleared it all off, we each picked a seat and started to feed ourselves something substantial.
Kintarou burped loudly not a moment too soon. "I could get used to this…" He sighed in pure bliss.
"I think all of us could." Shiraishi laughed as he tucked into his orange marinated duck.
"Waaah~ Atobe-san's chefs are really amazing cooks!" Ruriko piped up from her seat across me, fork waving dangerously in the air.
I had to agree with her on that.
The night went pretty well, for the most part. We ate and talked (in Kintarou's case, he just ate) and watched some of us do stupid stuffs. It was like being at a school party or gathering. It almost feels as if all of us here haven't really grown up; even the hosts who always portrayed this mature and regal feeling.
Sometimes when I look back on things, I wonder how is it that I got so down later on that night.
Was it that drink which was so intoxicating that did it, or was it just me?
There was this blended drink which they served to us in jugs. And I adored it.
I had absolutely no idea how many glasses of it I poured for myself before I found out there was a bit of wine in them. Explains the slight dizziness I experienced later.
Ruriko had it too. A lot of it; possibly more than me. It's like that drink was some sort of female attracting drink, for the guys avoided it like the plague and had beers, sake and "real wine" (as they dubbed it. They claimed what we're having is faux) instead. Kintarou seemed to like it though.
The three of us who drank it were hiccupping like choking cats. I guess one reason for this would be that the three of us weren't heavy liquor drinkers, unlike the others here. Kintarou drank more energy drinks and soft drinks than he did alcohol. I don't know about Ruriko but I stuck with juice most of the time.
Ruriko hiccupped and swayed in her seat, face red, signs of being drunk. Or just extremely warm.
I know I was. It felt as if I was on the beach on a hot summer day.
"Nyeugh….Shiraishi~I want dango's!!" Kintarou cried with rosy cheeks drunkenly and Shiraishi slapped his forehead. "Idiot got himself drunk."
I would have laughed, but I was too sleepy to do so and continued to rest my head against the side of my arm, eyes staring drowsily to the front.
Whether unconsciously or consciously, my eyes followed Ruriko's swaying figure as she got up and moved one seat down to settle beside a muck of red.
I blinked my eyes to try and clear it and identify what this mysterious red thing was. My eyes watered as I did so from being so tired.
"Marui-kun!!"
"Wha-H-Hey!!"
….Or was it just what I was seeing that caused my watery and blurred vision, rather than fatigue?
I stared blankly, form slumped over and still resting against my arm, as Ruriko's and Marui's lips met and connected, and remaining there for God knows how long.
It was like watching a horror movie, at the part where the hero suddenly gets jumped from underneath or behind, and have one of his arms chewed off.
I didn't feel fear though. I just felt hollow.
"I'm kinda tired…I-I'm going to bed." I pushed myself up from my seat just as Marui disconnected himself from Ruriko who grinned giddily up at him.
Shiraishi seemed to shake himself out of his stupor of what just occurred and looked up at my standing figure. "A-Already?"
I nodded, not saying anything else as I excused myself out of that grotesque dining hall.
I heard someone softly call my name- I supposed it was Ootori. Only he has such a kind and gentle voice among all of them- but I ignored them and trudged up the stairs slowly. As soon as my foot hit the last step, I broke into a run for my room.
I wanted to get as far away as possible from that horror setting.
~***~
I didn't know how long I just laid there in that soft bed that belonged to the Atobe household. It was perhaps an hour or two before I heard voices outside my door.
"God, she's completely out of it."
"Stop complaining and help me carry her, Kenya."
"Why didn't we just get Marui to do it?"
"…ngh…Where's Marui-kun?"
"Sorry, Ishikawa-san. Marui already went back to his room."
I let my lids fall shut, and so did my ears- enclosing myself in a dark and soundless world, void and oblivious to any sounds that were sharp and painful to my ears.
A few minutes into this world I let myself into, my mind registered a dull echo.
I ignored it, but instead, a sliver of light seeped between my lids and I was forced to open them.
"Ishimaru-san…?"
It was Ootori.
"Hm?" I did not move from my position or spot on the bed, instead laid there, listening to his footsteps approach the bed with tentative steps.
"U-umm…"
"What is it?" I asked, still not turning over to look at him, continuing my charade of lying on my side.
"I just wanted to check that you were alright." He said. I could hear the blush and embarrassment in his voice. Ootori is such a nice man.
"I'm fine…Atobe-san's house is safe." I replied.
"….It's…not the house."
I didn't know what he meant so I did not reply. Then I felt a small shift on the bed as he sat on the edge of it.
"I think Ishikawa-san was really drunk." He laughed nervously.
I closed my eyes, frowning; but he couldn't see as I still did not turn over, instead showing him my back. "Hmm..really?"
"Yea...she drank a lot of that stuff." He continued with his nervous laughter.
"I see."
He was silent then, and since he was silent, I kept silent too.
"….Are you okay?"
It took me sometime to reply. "I told you I was, Ootori-san. Don't worry."
I couldn't see his expression, but I suddenly felt a warm touch against my cheek. It went as fast as it came.
"Alright then."
The weight on the bed edge lifted and I heard footsteps.
"Goodnight, Ishimaru-san."
"Goodnight, Ootori-san."
A flicking sound and the lights diminished. Then a click and I was back in my black void.
~***~
I sighed as I shut the door, leaning my back against it gently as I was met with the silent hall.
My short yet awkward conversation with Ishimaru-san replayed in my head quickly as flashes.
I looked up and down the hall to the right, at the door, behind where Ishikawa-san is sleeping right now.
Then diagonally to the left and across the wide spacious opening to the hall on the other side, where a dark maroon door peered mutely back at me.
I sighed and looked back down at my hand, running my thumb across my middle and index finger.
I don't think she's alright.
Standing straight up, I headed towards my room as I wiped my slightly wet fingers against my shirt.
OMG! D: I am so close to 150 reviews now!! XD
Thank you SOOO much for the reviews!! XXD 10 reviews last chapter is the most I've ever gotten in a single chapter I believe ;D
But…yea. No one got the hidden message last chapter D; ah wells lol
PhoenixRage92- lol were you always on Kumiko's side? XXD I never knew haha XXD; Hmhmh, Shiraishi's part in this whole ordeal…even I don't know! LOLZ –bricked-
Kouyan- maaaybe? XD God knows how the human mind works D;
Bun-chan- XD haha I'm glad you find it fun to read=D
Ami H- yes. Atobe is always good as a distraction with his flamboyant ways xD
LadyLadington-Of course I remember! I remember getting up and saying "Omg, her again?!" lolol jkjk XD Well, I just watch the show in raw Japanese =0 I never really needed subs since I learn Japanese anyways lol I just get the subs whenever I see them to lend to my friends xD; so…no I wouldn't know where to get them D: just…google it? XD
Kuro-30fyre- Yes it does! ……does it? D;
Juunin- Shiraishi can steal attention wherever he goes. I bet he can steal it from Atobe as well if he tried XD
Yankee- :hug: aww thanks XD
Little Miss Wrong- lool I laughed at your name for your review the last chapter XD and thank you! But I'm sure there are better MaruiOC stories out there too! Mine is just too snail-paced and littered with plot holes lulz D;
Yay New Chapter- XXD are you going to name yourself this again? XD;