Author's Note: I want to first thank everyone that has reviewed, faved or followed this story! Seeing them really makes my day. I have to say, I was definitely channeling my inner Kuro while writing this chapter. I've felt so exhausted that I could barely concentrate. I think that it probably had to do with my mid-term that I had this week, but now that it's over, I'm starting to feel like myself again.
Chapter 4 Forgiven
Kuro was glad that he had finally escaped from Mahiru and his probing. The subject matter wasn't too personal to him…he just didn't want Mahiru to know about that part of his life. …at least…that's what he told himself. Deep down, he knew exactly why the subject was hurting him so much, but it was something that he would rather not think about right now, if ever at all. He'd rather bury the memories deep within himself and never see them again if he was being honest.
He was finally before the door that led to the room that he was using. He was fully aware that Mahiru was still watching him with a guilt ridden expression. He sighed quietly. He wouldn't be able to stay angry at him for much longer. Anger was such an exhausting emotion after all. The vampire opened the door and stepped inside his dark room, closing the door behind him. He didn't bother with the light. He knew exactly where the bed was, and it was calling his name, despite the fact that it was still rather early in the evening. Maybe tonight would be the night where he finally obtained the item of his dreams; the perfect pillow. Mahiru had the annoying habit of waking him up right before he opened the chest that held his treasure. He hoped that he could actually finish his dream tonight. Kuro yawned tiredly before he started toward his bed and he had almost made it there when his foot caught on something and he fell. Usually he would have been able to catch himself, but when he tried to do just that, whatever he had tried to use to steady himself with ended up toppling right over and onto him, causing a huge racket.
Kuro gingerly rubbed the top of his head where whatever heavy item that had hit him had landed. He was vaguely aware of Mahiru running down the hall and calling his name, but before he could process anything more his lights were flicked on and he could see Mahiru standing in the doorway. Kuro could hear his Eve sigh in relief when he saw that there was no threat to him. It made that warm sensation seep back into his chest when he saw just how worried Mahiru had been about him.
It was only now that the both of them noticed just what else was in the room. It was no wonder that his foot had caught on something! Mahiru's uncle was clearly using this room for storage now. A lot of storage, Kuro noticed when he looked back to his bed to find it absolutely covered in boxes and other assorted equipment. Actually…it was a wonder that he hadn't run into anything before he had! There were boxes upon boxes filled to the brim with items, and all stacked up everywhere in the room!
"Kuro!" he heard Mahiru before he saw his concerned Eve right in front of his face. "Are you okay?!"
"Pipe down, man… You're too loud…" was his reply. His head was still a tiny bit sore, but the pain was nearly gone so he didn't give it too much thought… No, wait… "Ohh! The agony! A soft new pillow might help…" he tried to wheedle. He knew that by saying that Mahiru would relax some. He wasn't that hurt, after all.
Mahiru could only sigh in slight exasperation before speaking up again, "You're obviously fine…" he said before taking a look around the box ridden room. There was a worried expression on his face as he took everything in. Kuro could already see where this was going by the look on Mahiru's face. There was nowhere else to move all of these boxes. The room just wasn't big enough for them to move things around. The vampire sighed dejectedly when he concluded that he wouldn't get to sleep in his human form. Of course, Mahiru picked up on his depressing mood quickly enough. "Kuro? What's wrong? It's not like you don't have a place where you can sleep," his Eve said. He was clearly thinking of the cat basket that he had to use when Mahiru's uncle had been here.
"Ahh…it's uncomfortable to sleep in cat form… I'd much rather sleep like this," he replied with another yawn.
"I didn't know that… Why didn't you tell me?!"
"There wasn't any point…" Kuro replied. It had been moot up until now, since he had been able to use this room.
Mahiru groaned in annoyance. "If you had just told me, I would have pulled out our spare futon! You could have slept on that when my uncle had been here!"
Kuro yawned tiredly again, "He checked in on you every morning, Mahiru," the vampire replied. "Besides, how were you going to explain to him just why you had a strange boy sleeping in your room?"
Kuro had a point there, Mahiru had to admit. He could only imagine what his uncle would have said. …He probably would have asked a whole lot of embarrassing questions and said a whole lot of bad puns while he was at it.
"Well…if it really is that uncomfortable for you…I'll pull out the futon for you to use," Mahiru sighed. It was the least that he could do for Kuro after all. He still had a bunch of questions that he wanted to ask, but Kuro seemed to have gone back to his lazy self, indicating that he was going to probably ignore everything that Mahiru was going to say or ask. '…His laziness might be a defense mechanism…' Mahiru thought as he pulled out the folded up futon from one of the closets. He glanced back at Kuro who was failing to stifle yet another yawn as he trailed sleepily behind him. 'Then again…he could really just be that lazy and unmotivated…' he concluded.
Kuro, for his part, idly watched as Mahiru pulled out the futon that he would be using for the foreseeable future. It did look nice and soft, so that was a huge plus. His anger from earlier had already left him, and so long as Mahiru didn't decide to pry again for tonight he would be all right. Besides, he really didn't have the energy right now to continue dealing with his Eve and his prying questions.
"Go get your spare clothes and pillow while I set the futon up, Kuro. You're not going to be able to use that room for a while, so it makes sense to just move your things into my room."
"…'Kay…" Kuro replied quietly as he crossed the hall to get his items from the box infested room. By the time that he returned, Mahiru had already set his new bed up on the floor and out of the direct path of the window. Good, he was ready for some much needed sleep.
Mahiru must have noticed he looked about ready to collapse because he spoke before Kuro could even begin to move toward the futon. "Kuro…you're going to bed already?" he questioned. It was still pretty early in the evening and Mahiru knew that on the weekends Kuro liked to stay up late and play his video games.
The Servamp watched his Eve for a moment after he asked him that question. He was utterly exhausted and it was getting hard for him to keep his eyes opened. However, he could see that Mahiru was still feeling extremely guilty about earlier and was likely going to try something to try and apologize. While he would much rather go to sleep he didn't want Mahiru to continue feeling guilty over something that he himself was already over. "I was going to but…what's up?" he asked as he tried, and utterly failed, to keep the creeping exhaustion from entering his voice.
Mahiru took notice of his tone and his face only took on a guiltier expression, if that was even possible. It was odd for Kuro to watch his Eve, who was usually so full of energy and so sure of himself, nervously fiddle with the hem of his shirt. "Well… I was hoping… …N-Never mind. You obviously want to sl—"
"Mahiru," Kuro interrupted suddenly. Mahiru stopped with the nervous fiddling of his shirt to look up at Kuro. The vampire sighed loudly when he saw that he had his Eve's attention again. Now…how was he going to put this… "Mahiru… I'm…not really angry…at you for prying… It's too exhausting of an emotion to feel for long, so… You're forgiven…Mahiru. …I don't…like seeing you like this…" Kuro said, mumbling the last part as he rubbed the back of his neck slightly.
His Eve looked at him with wide, slightly watery eyes. 'Ah hell…please don't let there be water works, please don't let there be water works, please…!' Before Kuro knew it, Mahiru was flashing him one of the biggest, and sunniest, smiles that he had ever seen on his Eve's face. 'I didn't know that he was that worried about me staying mad at him…' the vampire thought. The next thing that Kuro knew, however, was that Mahiru had closed the distance between them and had him in a tight, almost crushing, hug. The vampire couldn't help but to go rigid at the contact, but Mahiru wasn't letting go. "Uhm…Mahiru…?" he questioned, his voice slightly muffled due to the fact that his Eve's shoulder was covering his mouth. All that the bewildered vampire got in response was for Mahiru to tighten his hold on him slightly.
Kuro sighed quietly before relaxing his body and patting Mahiru's back a bit awkwardly. He was better at soothing people while in cat form, not in human form. But…he could get used to this… Mahiru seemed to have the effect of making him relax and to forget about his worries (even if the brown haired boy was the cause of most of those worries in the first place!) "Mahiru…what was it that you were going…to ask me earlier?" Kuro eventually asked when it became obvious that his Eve was having no intentions of letting him go any time soon.
Mahiru released him suddenly and took a step back when the vampire reminded him that he had something to say to him. "Ah, well… I was thinking…since it's still kind of early… Do you want to go and get some ice cream? There's a shop that's not too far away from here that sells some really good ice cream. … I know that it's not much of an apology but…" he trailed off, unsure of just how to finish what he wanted to say.
Even though he was dead tired, Kuro didn't want to really disappoint Mahiru any more by saying "no". Besides, free ice cream was the best ice cream. "I suppose we can go… But you're buying me the largest serving that they offer," Kuro replied as he tried to muster up the energy needed to actually walk the distance to the ice cream parlor.
Mahiru just smiled at him in response. He had been expecting for Kuro to say something like that, and this time, he didn't mind. "If we wanna get there before it starts getting too crowded we need to leave now," Mahiru said, knowing that it would take his Servamp a few minutes to get his jacket and shoes on. He watched as Kuro's shoulders drooped as his posture shifted slightly. He was slouching again, clearly tired and ready for some Z's, but more than willing to accompany him for some ice cream. Mahiru was just glad that he had heard Kuro say that he was forgiven. It was a weight off of his mind and heart. He followed Kuro back into the living room so then they could get ready to leave and it wasn't long after that that the two were making their way back down the stairs of the apartment building.
The sun was still hanging low in the sky, so it wouldn't be long now before it started to get dark. Some movement behind him alerted Mahiru to the fact that Kuro had pulled the hood of his jacket over his face as far as it could go before shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. "Kuro? I thought that you couldn't go out into the sunlight?" he asked. He had been expecting to feel the familiar weight on his shoulder once they had gotten outside.
"…Normally I would change into a cat, but the sun is almost gone… If I cover up…I can handle the weak rays…but just barely," Kuro replied.
"I guess I can understand that… I mean, earlier today you were able to change into your human form while sitting in the shade of a tree…"
"So long as we Servamps are out of direct sunlight…we can take on our human forms," Kuro answered with another yawn as they made their way down the street toward the ice cream parlor that was nearby. The remaining walk was done in companionable silence, and soon enough the ice cream parlor came into view.
"…it's too bright…" Kuro couldn't help but to complain when he saw the bright florescent lights surrounding the place. "…And it's too noisy," he added when they got closer and he could hear all of the people talking and laughing with their friends.
"You'll be fine. It's usually quieter around the outside patio. We'll just find a seat there, simple, right?" It wasn't as if Kuro had much of a choice in the matter, so he just followed after Mahiru. A quick scan of the menu showed that this place had his favorite kind of ice cream, and that alone was worth having to deal with all of the noise. He felt Mahiru elbow him slightly to get his attention, so he turned to see what it was that he wanted. "You go ahead and get our utensils, I'll wait in line and order for us. It's simpler this way."
Kuro walked off after that and went to get what they needed. When he turned back around to find Mahiru he spotted him finishing their order and paying for it. The vampire was glad that Mahiru had sent him off, the people in line were too loud for his tastes, and there were even more people starting to stream in. He supposed that since it was warming up outside and that summer was almost here, this place was going to fill up quickly. When he saw Mahiru pick up their order did he start to make his way over to where he was. He could see his Eve trying to make it toward the door to go outside, and he was almost to him when he heard someone shout for his Eve over the din of the crowd.
"Hey! Mahiru!"
A quick glance toward the voice showed Kuro that Mahiru's two friends, Ryuusei and Koyuki, were waving him over to their table. "What a pain…" Kuro sighed quietly. Before Mahiru could become conflicted on what to do, or drag him into something troublesome, Kuro had already made his way over to his Eve. It didn't take him long at all to quickly switch some of the utensils that he had grabbed for Mahiru with his ice cream that his Eve was holding. As he continued to walk past Mahiru, as he was heading outside to the patio area, he used one of the tails on his jacket to gently nudge Mahiru to go over to his friends. He knew that his Eve was watching him curiously after he did that, but right now he knew that his Eve needed to spend some time with them. They'd be able to keep him distracted enough for a little while at the very least.
"Mahiru!" they heard Ryuusei call again.
Mahiru's eyes softened slightly when he realized what Kuro was doing. He would have liked for all of his friends to meet, however, but it seemed that Kuro was not ready, nor willing, to intrude upon him and his friends. He couldn't help but to keep watch on Kuro as he made his way outside and found a place to sit that was actually pretty close to where Ryuusei and Koyuki were sitting inside. Once he saw Kuro find someplace to sit did he finally make his way toward his friends.
"Hey guys!" he greeted when he finally got to their table.
"What were you lookin' at? You see a cute girl or something?" Ryuusei teased as they took their seats.
"Wh-What?! No way! I just…thought I saw something was all," Mahiru couldn't help but to defend. It wasn't like he could tell them that he was watching to make sure that his vampire partner found a place to sit down!
Koyuki chuckled at their antics before speaking up, "So what're you doing here alone, Mahiru? You should have given us a call! We could have met up earlier!"
"Yeah, Mahiru. I know we see you in school every day, but it's been a long time since we've hung out together!" Ryuusei added.
"Sorry guys… I guess… I've just been a little bit busy lately," Mahiru replied sheepishly. 'I guess now I know why Kuro left to go outside…'
Said Servamp was quite happily eating his cookies and cream ice cream out on the much quieter patio. Of course, he was also keeping an eye on Mahiru, but things seemed to be quiet. Well…not necessarily quiet per say, but he could tell that they would have a quiet night without fighting anyone. He was all for, and more than willing, to let someone else handle Tsubaki and the fighting that it entailed. He glanced in at Mahiru again to see him smiling and laughing with his friends. 'It's good to see him smile and laugh like this again. He needs his friends right now to get his mind off of everything,' the sleepy Servamp mused. Being with his friends was just the thing that Mahiru needed to get his pep back, even if it meant an exhausting weekend for Kuro. The Servamp continued to watch Mahiru and his friends as they continued to laugh and gesture about who knows what. '…friends and family…are important to protect, huh…? …I know that, Mahiru, I really do…even if it seems that I don't… But sometimes…you can't protect everyone important to you… …it's a lesson…I hope that you never have to learn…Mahiru…' Kuro shook himself from his quickly depressing thoughts. There was no need to walk down memory lane, because that would only bring forth memories that he would like to keep buried and under lock and key.
Kuro had soon finished his ice cream, and while second helpings sounded good to him, he didn't want to brave the quickly growing crowd that was starting to swarm the place. Mahiru and his friends seemed to have no intentions of leaving anytime soon, so it was a good thing that he had managed to slip out one of Mahiru's portable game systems. He'd get to spend a relaxing evening playing games (without Mahiru nagging him about something or other) and Mahiru would get to spend his evening hanging out with his friends (and hopefully forget to scold him for bringing out a game system, not that Mahiru's scolding's have stopped him yet). It was a win-win situation in Kuro's books.
It was nearing eleven when Kuro noticed movement coming toward him. A quick glance showed that it was just Mahiru. Ryuusei and Koyuki were nowhere to be seen, so his Eve must have already seen them off. Kuro quickly paused and saved the game that he had been playing before putting the system away. Mahiru had reached the table that he had been sitting at by the time that he had finished doing that.
"Sorry Kuro. I didn't expect to see them here," Mahiru said as he looked guiltily at his Servamp. He had meant to spend the evening with Kuro to try and make it up to him for his blunder earlier that evening.
Kuro stood up and stretched out before responding. "You had fun though, right?" he questioned. After seeing Mahiru nod slightly to his question he spoke up again, "Then…that's all that really matters. …You needed your friends, Mahiru. You're the only one that's still…being too hard on yourself for what happened earlier."
Mahiru sighed quietly at that answer as they started the walk back home. "I know…Kuro. It's just…every time I try to do right by you, I seem to mess it up…"
"Mahiru…the fact…that you try is enough…" the Servamp responded. "Besides, sullen and sulky…are not good looks on you," Kuro yawned.
Mahiru felt his eye twitch slightly at Kuro's last statement. The vampire had been saying an awful lot of nice things tonight, he should have known that it would not last. The rest of their walk was in silence and they soon found themselves climbing up the stairs to Mahiru's apartment. Once inside, and their shoes had been taken off, was Mahiru starting to feel the exhaustion that continually plagued Kuro. Now that they were safely back home they could relax and finally get some sleep. Knowing that Kuro had wanted to go to bed four hours ago was enough to get Mahiru moving to check to make sure that everything was locked up for the night. As he was doing that he idly watched as Kuro made his way to the bathroom where he heard the shower being turned on a moment later. Kuro must have been too tired to deal with drawing up a bath for himself. In all honesty, Mahiru felt that he was going to follow Kuro's lead and take a quick shower himself once the vampire finished. It wasn't long before he heard the shower being turned off, nor was it long before he heard exhausted sounding cursing.
Mahiru had no real time to ponder just what Kuro was cursing before the door opened and the vampire stepped out. Ah…now he understood. Kuro had been so tired that he had forgotten to grab his night clothes before entering. Thankfully he had a towel wrapped around him as he made his way to their shared room. Mahiru could do without seeing anything, thank you very much. Lily had shown him enough skin to last him a life time, and he knew that Kuro wasn't doing this on purpose either. He'd grab his change of clothes in a few minutes, just to make sure that Kuro was clothed again. Once he was sure that it was safe did Mahiru go to retrieve his own night clothes. He still knocked on his closed door regardless, just to be on the safe side.
Kuro looked over to the door when he heard Mahiru knock. He was mostly dressed, he hadn't put on a shirt yet as he was still drying off, but he was almost done. "It's safe," he said in response to Mahiru's knocking.
His Eve came in a moment later and flashed him a goofy grin. "I guess you're pretty tired, huh?" he asked as he got his own things ready.
Kuro gave Mahiru an exhausted glare. He couldn't muster up any more energy for anything greater than that. The vampire finished drying his hair before slipping his black shirt on, and noticed that Mahiru was still watching him. "Don't you have something to do?" he asked tiredly, "…or did you like what you saw?" Kuro finished as some amusement crept into his voice.
His Eve spluttered before telling him off as he blushed furiously at the insinuation. "D-Don't channel Lily! We only need one Servamp that strips!" he cried out. Mahiru couldn't help but to glare at Kuro slightly before he went off to take his own shower. He knew that Kuro had only been teasing him, but still!
Kuro sighed quietly after Mahiru left before he flopped onto his back on the soft futon he was using. Today had been exhausting. He was ready for a new day, and that was saying something. By the time that Mahiru returned from his own shower, Kuro had already slipped under the blankets he had and had rolled over onto his side so that he was facing away from Mahiru. He was clearly fast asleep, despite the fact that the light was still on. It didn't take Mahiru long to follow suit, but before he closed his eyes, he whispered a "good night, Kuro" to the already sleeping vampire.
As he fell asleep, Mahiru never noticed the shadow that crept and danced in the corner of his room, nor did he notice as it loomed over both himself and Kuro as darkness claimed him.
Author's Note: So, I have to say that this chapter went in a completely different direction than what I had planned. I had wanted to do something else, but I just could not get to the point that I needed to, to be able to write what it was that I wanted to. This chapter is the end result of me trying to get to that point, which I am now at. I've also noticed a pattern that I've been doing for this story, and I want to try and keep with that pattern if I can. This means that what I had wanted to write for this chapter, has been pushed back by another chapter. As I was writing, I, thankfully, came up with an idea to keep that pattern going. This is just a side note, because I know that I added in a few little scenes between Mahiru and Kuro, and I don't want to give anyone any hope or the wrong idea, but this fic will be strictly friendship between the two. I also seemed to have left it on another cliff hanger, not my intention, but it works. If you're enjoying the fic so far, please leave a review, fav or follow! See you all in the next chapter!