Umeshu

Breakfast

There was a moment where they looked at each other, not a word between them. Rui was staring, mouth open, hand halfway up to cover a yawn. Ichiko grit her teeth, trying not to catch his eye but unable to tear her gaze away.

The pillow was still firmly pressed to her chest.

There was no sound, and then they were both starting at once.

"I-"

"What-"

Ichiko, cheeks burning, buried her face into the pillow and groaned in frustration.

Idiot!

From beyond the open window there were birds singing. If Ichiko thought real hard, she could imagine laying in her own bed at home, somewhere far below on Earth. Solid ground. But that was not reality. She was in Heaven… and severely hung-over.

Well, she thought bitterly, what are you going to do about it?

Without looking up, voice muffled, Ichiko suggested the only rational thing racing through her brain, "Guess I'll be going now…"

The edge to his voice was firm, "What?"

Sucking back tears of frustration, Ichiko threw back her head, determined. "What 'what'? You going to make me pancakes or something? Breakfast in bed?" He looked suddenly hurt. "You were drunk," she tried sympathetically, "I was drunk." She shook her head slowly, as if alcohol absolved them both of the choices they had made.

Rui looked down, where the sheets were balled into his tense fist. He took a breath, relaxing slowly. "You're right…" He raked a hand through tousled hair, unable to look at her. "Of course."

Ichiko bit her lip.

Part of her wanted the clock turn backwards, to before she was awake. When the residual heat of his body eased her sleeping. There was a moment, adrenalin making her thoughts wild, where Ichiko wasn't sure she was going to be able to sleep alone again. Ever.

Breathe. Breathe.

"I don't…" This was going to sound so unbelievably stupid. "I don't… the dress?" The only thing more embarrassing then the events of that morning would be walking back to her room in her crumpled bridesmaids dress.

Rui caught on quick, "Anything you need, take it. I have clean cloths over there," he motioned to the ornate hutch in one corner of the room.

She slipped out of the bed, bringing the pillow with her, still crushing her breasts. Tiptoeing to the armoire, she hesitantly took a modest robin's egg blue shirt and white linen pants from the second shelf and slipped them on. She knew he was watching her; she could feel his gaze on her bare back and legs. If she didn't get out of there, Ichiko was going to dissolve into tears. She wasn't sure if it would be shame or longing that broke her first.

Looking over, Rui reached out for the pillow. Fully dressed- sort of- she didn't need it any more.

It was a harsh reality that these were his things- his bed, his silk pillows, his shirt cool on her nipples. Ichiko was a stranger in this. She knew Rui was quiet, modest, and vehemently noble. There was something strange about being the person who has shared in his intimate moments.

She didn't let go of the pillow, not right away. She wasn't sure she wanted to. He was looking at her, betraying neither regret in his choices nor anger for hers. Ichiko had never felt so equal than before that moment, so weightless. Unlike Takashi, or any other guy for that matter, the man lying before her was neither weary nor judgmental.

Evenness...

But the gravity of that stunned her, frightened her.

She was not Yumemi. This ..

"I have to go."

Dropping the pillow, Ichiko turned to the door, wrenching it open before he could get a word in edge wise and slipped into the hall. Alone, she could finally breathe.

Setting off in down the corridor, Ichiko didn't know where she was going; all she knew was that she needed to get out of there.

Immediately.

It was only after a few minutes, once her head had cleared and her heart-rate had ebbed, that she realized she was going in an unfamiliar direction. Ichiko didn't know where Rui's bedroom had been in relation to anything else in the castle. She could be walking in circles.

Besides, she had been too drunk to really notice any landmarks. Drunk and preoccupied.

Ichiko turned another corner and was surprised to see an archway up ahead. The corridor leveled out, opening to a high ceilinged hall.

Tentatively, Ichiko tiptoed up to the doorway, peering out. A long table stretched the length of the room, like at a banquet, adorned with pretty and exotic flowers. At the head sat a figure, mop of blood red hair bent over folded papers.

Before she could quietly slip away, the King's head snapped up. Munto's brows furrowed, but he relaxed back into his chair. Motioning for Ichiko to sit he set his papers down. Ichiko took a deep breath and walked the length of the table, coming to a stop a few chairs from his. Her arms were folded tightly over her breast.

"Hi," she managed.

Munto steepled his hands, "Good morning. Sit, I'll have the servants bring you something."

Ichiko could have refused, but the firmness in his voice rooted her to the spot. She sat, and almost instantly someone was pouring her a glass of cool water. She gulped it greedily, all the while quite aware that she was being stared at.

"Did you have a pleasant rest?" The King asked innocently. Ichiko said nothing but nodded, than shook her head. Munto frowned. "Was there something-"

"Hung-over," She quickly interjected.

"Ah." He picked up the papers he was reading and folded a section outwards to expose an inner page.

Ichiko stole a glance. "Hey, that's the Tokyo Daily. I didn't know you read our newspaper." Munto didn't even look up.

"How else do you propose I learn about your people?"

Assuming this was rhetorical, she didn't answer, but took to staring at the centerpiece. Although before her were steaming bowls of porridge and a plate of equally intriguing waffles, Ichiko's stomach would not crave food. It simply wouldn't. Instead she pushed her plate out of the way and laid her head, face first, onto the table. She gave a tremendous sigh, as if it would ease her tension, and stared resolutely at the intricate stitching of the placemat.

She could hear Munto turn another page of the newspaper. "I'm going to assume those are not Earth clothes you brought here upon your arrival. And those are very poor table manners," he added as an afterthought.

Ichiko snorted into the tablecloth, "Aren't you supposed to be with Yumemi? Experiencing early-morning marital bliss?"

"Yumemi is asleep, and I was hungry. You still haven't answered my question."

"I didn't know it was a question."

"…In a matter of fashion," the King conceded after a moments pause. He looked up from his paper. "But I'll be clearer. Why are you wearing my First Officer's tunic?

Ichiko squinted, turning her head so her cheek was resting on the table. "What do you want me to say? You already know the answer. Do you want me to admit that we had glorious, ravenous sex? Fine. I was drunk, so was he."

"Running away from your mistakes will solve nothing."

"Oh yeah, this from the guy who disappears for a whole year…"

Munto scowled at her, but made no reply to her dig. Instead he seemed to collect his thoughts before saying, "I know Rui, I've known him for a very long time. He is not one to be so forward."

"Oh god," Ichiko groaned. It was like having 'the talk' all over again.

"I also know he's not one to give up so easily."

At that Ichiko laughed, a startled, hollow sound that surprised ever her. "What? You think he's going to… to fight for my honor or something? These are not the middle ages, he hasn't de-flowered me or- oh my god I can't believe I'm even having this conversation."

"Would you kindly take your head off my dining table?" Munto snapped. "I do not need you becoming a hysterical mess all over my breakfast."

Ichiko was suddenly furious. "I know we haven't been the best of friends, but you could at least show a little compassion! Maybe? Is it possible? You do have some kind of heart, don't you?"

"I do not seem to comprehend your problem," Munto continued in a level tone, eyes locked with hers. "You love him, do you not? Why are you acting so very difficult?"

Ichiko was about to retaliate when that last bit stunned her into silence. She gaped at him. "I….what?"

"You two bicker, show each other the cold shoulder-"

"If that's love then I'm fucking head-over-heels for you!"

Munto waved his hand as to dismiss her comment. "It is different, and you know it. We fight over our concern for Yumemi, because we differ in the ways we protect her. The two of us fight as parents would over a child. But it is different with Rui, he holds a weight over you. He pulls at you the way a child would pull the hair of a girl he is fond of."

"He does not," Ichiko scoffed.

"Then I am at a loss as to who you felt the need to bed him."

"I was drunk," she emphasised every word in turn.

"You keep saying that."

"Because it's true!"

"Hmm," Munto picked up his paper again.

Ichiko just sat there, stunned, reeling. This couldn't be happening. This was not what was suppose to be happening. This was Yumemi's thing, falling for Heavenly beings and- but she didn't love Rui! And how could he love her? It was impossible! She had to get away, she had to run, or Heaven and Earth was going to open up and swallow her whole.

She got to her feet. "I'm sorry, I need- I..." Ichiko suppressed a sob, which came out as barely a squeak. "I need to go get dressed."

"Do you need an attendant to show you where-"

"No," she was already nearing the right hallway, almost running, "I think I've got it."