Chapter 11: Interim 2

I did not remember falling asleep. It just felt very peaceful beside him. I woke up next to him. Our limbs became entangled in each other. I gingerly removed his hand from my hair and arm from around me. I checked my phone, it was only four o'clock. I heard his stomach growling, and he shifted slightly. I placed a pillow next to him. I went over to the door, opening it quietly so I wouldn't wake him. I checked the fridge, seeing if there was anything I could make him. He would be hungry once he woke, but there was nothing. Eating at restaurants every other night did have its setbacks. I sighed, I guess I would have to leave my sanctuary for now. I headed back into my room and changed quietly and quickly. I did not need him to see me naked. He would surely fall in love with me then. I ran a brush through my tresses, and I grabbed my phone, card, and keys; writing him a note in case he woke up while I was gone. I stuck the sticky note to the headboard and left.

Luckily the grocery store was not very far. Just right down the street. I pushed the cart down the aisle scanning the shelves. I did not like to cook even though I was very capable of doing so. I could feel that I was being stared at more than usual, which was strange. I wore no makeup today and I was in nothing but sandals, jeans, and a t-shirt. I hadn't dressed down like this in decades. I continued walking, ignoring the men who made eyes at me. Human men, demon men, they were all the same. I found none of them interesting. Some were pretty, but that was all. I stopped once I had caught a familiar smell of cheap perfume. Turning my head I saw her. She was looking straight at me. She straightened up and headed towards me. I'm sure it took all of the confidence that she had.

"May I help you?"

She folded her arms. "You must be her. I can smell him all over you."

"By him, you mean?" I said feigning stupidity.

"Do not play dumb with me. I mean Kouga. You're the woman he is wasting his time with."

I smiled. She was such a brazen little thing. "Wasting his time?"

"Yes. You women come and go. Toying with him until you get tired of him."

"Oh, and let me guess. You will be there waiting for him?"

"Exactly," she said proudly.

"Listen, girl. I am not threatened by you, but the other way around. That is why you felt the need to approach me. It is quite sad. As I told him, you are a woman who is beneath him."

I could see that I had struck a nerve. "I am not beneath him. Though I was beneath him a few nights ago. Many many times."

"And where are you now Ayame? While you try your best to confront me in a grocery store. You are making a fool of yourself. You think you have the one up on me because you have slept with him. That only bought you enough of his time for a night. He can stand my company, he wants my company even though I have not slept with him. He does not wake up and sees me and wants to run. Are you going to wait for yet another five hundred years for him? Do Kouga and yourself a favor and let go of him. He will never be yours. You two are not meant for each other. It does not matter how many times you two sleep with one another. If or when I give him away to another woman it would not be you, but someone who is worthy of him."

As his friend, I should get rid of her for him.

"I have loved him for as long as I can remember. He makes me feel a way I cannot explain in words. He-"

"Does not feel the same about you Ayame. You need to accept that. and stop chasing after him. He is sorry for hurting you but he does not return your love, and he never will."

I turned away from her and she grabbed me by the wrist. In some sad attempt trying to crush it. I faced her grabbing her by the forearm. I applied slight pressure. Only enough to fracture it. She all but yelped and snatched her hand away, cradling it with her other.

"I am much older and much stronger than you. Run home girl."

I woke up and Kimi was not there, but a note saying that she would be right was fifteen minutes ago. I heard the door unlock and I went out to meet her. The moment I had it I smelled it on her. That familiar perfume. Ayame's perfume. She slammed the door, setting her things down on the side table.

"What's wrong?" I asked following her into the bathroom.

I watched her run the bath water, and that was when I noticed the bruise on her wrist. I took her hand and brought it closer to me.

"What happened Kimi?"

She pulled her hand away. "Your girlfriend happened." She mumbled.

I sighed. "Kimi, she is not my girlfriend."

"Whatever she is to you. She is an insolent little thing."

She turned the water off and poured Epsom salt and oils into the water.

"Could I have some privacy or are you going to watch me undress?"

I sighed, walked out of the bathroom, and closed the door behind me. I leaned against the door and slid down to the ground.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

"You have terrible taste in the women you choose to rebound with."

"Would you care to elaborate on that?"

I waited for her response but there was none. I assumed this was another instance where I had to chase. I opened the door without turning around. I slid into the bathroom until my back was up against the tub.

"I can't fix anything if you do not tell me why you are upset."

"I am angry with that girl."

"What happened?"

"I needed to grab groceries, that is where I saw her. She said things that angered me."

"Alright. I understand that, but why are you upset with me?"

I heard her sigh. "I do not know. I just know that I am upset. I am not upset with you for what she did or said because that is her fault. I am upset with you... I just do not know why."

She couldn't be upset because I slept with her... right? Besides, we just spoke about it and everything seemed just fine.

"Are you angry that I slept with her?"

"No."

"Well, then I guess I could try and find a way to get a hold of Ayame so that we could talk things out, "I said baiting her.

I heard the sloshing of water, then I felt something heavy hit me in the back of my head. I looked down at the ground seeing the bag of Epsom salt.

I tried my best not to laugh. "Did you just hit me with a bag of Epsom salt?"

"This is not funny. Why would you even think about inviting her back here? Especially after she was rude to me. I guess she was more than just a screw to you."

"Would it upset you if she way?"

I heard her getting out of the water. I closed my eyes and put my head down. I could hear her angrily stomping around the apartment. I felt her stop in front of me. I opened my eyes slowly looking up at her. She was fully dressed, bag and keys in hand. She just looked at me, her eyes narrowed to slits. She said nothing. Instead, she just stormed off, slamming the door behind her.