Bookmarks in Yako's Love Story
II. Sasazuka.
"Nh...? Yako? What are you doing here?" Sasazuka had finally been released from the hospital the other day, under strict orders to not strain his body. And barely a day had gone past before this girl had arrived to visit. ...Wait. "How did you find out where I lived?"
Yako shuffled a little nervously. "Well, I asked your partner, that guy who likes toys."
Ah. Ishigami. He'll have to drill him about giving out his address. Especially to females. He sighed. Well, she was here now and there was no point in keeping her out in the cold.
"Well...come in then." He opened the door a little wider, letting her into his apartment. "Sorry about the mess."
"Don't worry, this is actually really neat compared to my mum's room." Yako slipped off her shoes and padded into the room. Sasazuka closed the door, after wondering for a moment whether he should leave it open. He was an older man after all, and...well, propriety called for that sort of thing.
"Aren't you coming in?" Yako looked back at him, a little confusion on her face. She trusted him. Great...that made him feel so much better. What was he doing having thoughts about modesty anyway? He closed the door, and for a small instant his hand froze above the lock, but he shook his head and pressed. Well, she probably only dropped by for a small talk.
As he walked back in, he was surprised to see that in such a short time she had already found his kitchen, the mini-fridge, the plates and his secret stash of alcohol. Amazing.
"I thought I could cook dinner for you, since you're just back from hospital and all." Her cheerful voice dropped as she noticed his impassive stare. "Um...is that ok?"
"If you really want to...go ahead." He replied, moving to stand beside her in the kitchen. He could at least help, though he didn't know much about cooking. Maybe he could...boil the water or something. That was simple enough. "I'll help."
"You don't need to! Rest, go sit on the couch, I'll only be a moment. I'm a pretty quick cook, you know."
"...I'll help." Stubbornness wasn't exactly a virtue, but letting her do all the work made him feel bad. Besides, he wasn't so weak that he couldn't stand.
Yako glared a little, trying to make him back down. But Sasazuka had perfected the art of the blank stare, and in moments she was sighing in defeat. "Ok, ok, you can help."
Soon he was doing more than boil water, he was washing vegetables, watching the numerous pots and occasionally stirring some mysterious substance. It was enough to make him break out in a cold sweat. But it also made him feel oddly...tranquil. As if the weights had been dropped from his shoulders, if only for a short while. As if this was all he needed.
No! No, he wasn't going to go there. He focused on the bubbling broth, blanking on everything but the pot in front of him.
He was not going to go down that path. He was not going to look at Yako, cheerfully chopping and slicing, perfectly at home. He was not going to think about exactly what she looked like, dressed not in her school uniform but clothes that made her high school girl persona disappear. He was not going to think at all. Starting now.
"Here, move over a bit, gotta add the tomatoes." She sidled up close beside him, a sudden warm figure by his side. He started, almost dropping the ladle into the soup in his hurry to move away.
"Did I bump into you? Sorry! This kitchen is a little cramped – ah, no offense meant – all kitchens are divine havens in my opinion." She grinned before busying herself with the pots.
It would help if Yako went along with his silent plans for not thinking. He couldn't believe this. When had a girl ever made him jumpy? ...Actually, it had been a while since a girl had stepped into his apartment. Even longer if you didn't count his mother or sister. The thought depressed him a little.
"Ok!" Yako's lively call cut into his thoughts. "Dinner's ready!" For a brief, the briefest of moments, her voice chimed in his head, "What would you like first? Dinner, a bath or...me?"
It was only an instant, but he was unsettled at once. He hid a grimace in gritted teeth, hoping his sudden awkwardness would go unnoticed. If he was here as a police officer, he would've arrested himself already.
She would have to leave as soon as possible, before things got worse. But before that he would at least enjoy the food she had worked so hard in preparing.
"Thanks for coming, Yako. It's been a while since I've had a proper cooked meal." He stood by his door, warm with the delicious food inside him. "I'll drive you home...it's dangerous to be alone this late."
"No, it's fine, I live quite close. And anyway, how can I ask a man barely off crutches to give me a lift? The doctors said to rest, so rest, ok?" Yako smiled up at him, and for the first time he noticed just how small she was. How easily she would fit in his arms.
....Stop. Thinking. Now.
As she knelt to put on her shoes, Sasazuka quickly averted his eyes. He felt like a dirty old man, watching her without her knowing.
And now he was being irrational. Dirty, old and irrational. It wouldn't be long before he started receiving his elderly stipend.
"Thanks for letting me stay, Sasazuka-san. See you later!"
He raised a hand in farewell as she stepped off into the darkening night. As soon as her form left his sight he began to worry. Would she be alright, walking home alone? What if she got mugged? Or worse...? Even though he had trouble walking far, he should've still gone with her. He was a police officer, after all. He walked inside and picked up his phone. Then he paused. What would it look like, him calling her barely five minutes after she had left? It might give her ideas. And that was the last thing he needed. Ok. He'll wait. Ten minutes, tops.
As soon as the ticking hand hit twelve, he pressed dial. Yako picked up after a few rings, and a moment of dread from his side.
"...Sasazuka-san? Is something wrong? Did I forget something?"
He breathed a sigh. Not of relief, he assured himself. He was just checking, after all. "Ah...no. Just making sure you got home alright."
"Oh! Is that it?" Yako chuckled a little, her voice softening. "I'm almost there. Thanks for asking though."
"Nh. Well, in that case...call me if there's any trouble."
"Right, will do! Um, that goes for you too. Ok, goodnight, Sasazuka-san."
"...Night."
His worry over her safety dissipated swiftly as he placed down his cell phone. But now he was worried about someone else. Himself. This was madness! She had to be at least ten years his junior. He leant against a bench in his kitchen for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts. The pale fluorescent light blinkered at him from above, casting an unnatural sheen on his hands.
Maybe it wasn't what he thought it was. Maybe he was just a little disorientated from staying in the hospital so long. Maybe it was just a bit of a surprise, seeing Yako in everyday clothing. Oh, and that assistant of hers wasn't with her! That was certainly a bit odd. Another odd thing; didn't girls get cold in those skirts? He had to admit though, they suited her. It made her look older, more mature, and...and, he needed a drink, that's what he needed. Rummaging around his pantry, he found the whiskey bottle and calmly poured into a nearby shot glass. He then downed it in a gulp, before pouring himself another. Calmly.
His apartment was eerily quiet now. He had never noticed before, how dark it really was. Maybe he should get more lamps. And there was something else different too. He glanced around the room. What was it?
It was only when he breathed in to sigh that he noticed. It was the smell. His apartment used to smell only of emptiness, of old furniture and dust. Now the air was thick with the aroma of cooked food and spices, and, underlying it all was an almost peachy, femininely sweet fragrance. Yako.
Immediately he clomped over to the window, throwing it open with shaking hands. What was wrong with him? It was just a smell, for crying out loud. He rubbed his face with both hands before heading into his bedroom and firmly closing the door. The curtains were drawn and he was comfortable under a warm duvet. But he still couldn't sleep, and no amount of counting sheep could help. A certain someone would keep popping up in his thoughts, scattering the balls of fluff like an oblivious wolf pup.
With a slight groan, he lay one arm over his eyes, as if in some vain hope that it would block out the images.
Sasazuka now truly understood the terror which was called Female.