23

Aline laid awkwardly on the bed, pretending to be asleep. Deidara had promised Otamu he'd come to the festival and that was about enough to keep them both awake. The artist was on a big light brown sofa, sketching absentmindedly.

The girl on the bed was exquisite, her chest moving evenly, her closed eyes concealed an overwhelming sadness. How could such a beautiful being be so broken? The brush on her hand was just starting to trace the outline when the girl sat up. Otamu put the sketchbook down, a slight blush on her cheeks, embarrassed for getting caught, but Aline remained oblivious.

"Morning" her voice was hoarse but her tone polite, adding nicely to the charade.

"Good morning… are you hungry? I could fix you something to eat…"

"Naaaah… I'm not hungry…"

It was then when her stomach uncovered her act, growling a little too loudly. Otamu smiled and walked outside the room.

"I'll be right back"

Aline walked sheepishly across the room, staring intensely at her reflection, at least she didn't look completely trashed, for not having slept at all that is.

At that moment Otamu entered the room, a wooden tray on her hands… it smelled delicious.

She had to give it to her. She was beautiful, artistic, talented, an amazing hostess, and an excellent cook. Her stomach twitched uneasily, she shouldn't be here… she should go.

"I should probably get going… "

"Can't you stay? For the festival! I'm presenting some of my work… it won't take long, I promise"

How could anyone say no to that angelic face, green eyes shining like that? Aline grimaced.

"Sure…" she shrugged "I think I could stay for a while…"

Why not, really, she could do with some shopping anyways. Besides she still had that sick twisted need for getting to know the girl, Stupid morbid fixation. Maybe she could even get some new clothes… this were just not flattering at all.

"… I might just go around and find something to wear though."

"Oh, well, you could borrow something from me"

"No!"

She regretted being so harsh immediately, Otamu's face darkened a little, she tried again.

"I actually need to stretch my legs, honestly. Plus I really do need to buy other things, I'll be back around six, don't worry"

Aline left the Inn walking just a little too fast, but Otamu didn't notice.

When she got back a few hours later, her hair was up in a fancy twist and her body covered in a red silk kimono.

She breathed slowly and closed her eyes, what was with the tachycardia? Deidara wouldn't show up, he was on a mission, plus hadn't they broken up? Immerse on her thoughts as she was she didn't notice where she was going, or collapsing into something soft and warm until she hit the floor.

She looked up from the floor, a hand stretched out in front of her.

"Sorry…"

"Nothing to worry about"

It was then when her eyes met a piercing gaze, blue eyes, but a different shade than what she expected. The man eyed her appraisingly, a smile pulling up his full lips.

"I've got it" he said with a deep voice, taking the bags of her hands. "Are you going to the festival?"

"No, well, yes… actually"

"You're walking on the wrong direction"

A slight blush went up her cheeks.

"Figures" she mumbled.

They reached the entrance of Otamu's inn, and she turned to her mysterious stranger.

"This is me, thanks for the…"

"Actually I was hoping you'd come to the festival with me, that is if you're not going with someone else?" his face fell a little, what was it with people here and hospitality, everyone took things too seriously,

"Not really—" his face brightened up a bit. Wow, must everyone here be utterly breathtaking as well? "-just give me a second though, I need to leave those somewhere" she gestured to the bags on his hands, he flashed her a dazzling smile and gave them to her, leaning casually on the door, so nonchalantly it should be illegal.

The entrance was deserted, so everyone must already be at the festival, she went straight into Otamu's room hoping the door was open, fortunately it was. Or not?

She dropped her bags on the floor next to the bed, and went next to the sofa to pick up some of the sketches lying around. She found her face staring at her from multiple positions, one of them was already being outlined in a fancy looking canvas. Was there anything this world she couldn't do?

Suddenly a deep voice jerked every thought out of her head, one she would've recognized anywhere, and responded to inevitably. Already her head felt light, all her insides scrambled in wrong places. It was getting closer.

"I have something for you"

"Really? Well, let's see it then, h'mm"

It was him,

She shook her head violently and tried to make sense out of the world, the voices grew louder. The window, of course it was the only way out, she jumped for it.

Otamu stepped inside her room followed by Deidara, he sat on the bed and waited.

"I'll be right back"

He got up the bed and walked through the window, marveling at the splendid view of the city. Lights, and fire, and art, and… the sun was just setting in. He caught a glimpse of a young woman dressed in red, the man by her side offered her his hand, and just then the girl looked over her shoulder, to the window, there was something familiar about her, but she was too far from view to tell.

"Here it is"

Otamu placed a canvas on his hands, he knew the place well, it was him the day that Aline saw them together… certainly not something he wanted to remember, which reminded him why he was here, to say goodbye. The least he could give Otamu was proper closure…

Soft lips crashed on his, gentle but urgent, it was hard not to give completely into it as she locked her hands behind his neck and pushed him closer. Out of the corner of his eyes he could see the couple standing there, without moving, and the girl breaking into a run to the opposite way. He closed his eyes.

Her kiss became fiercer which reminded him again why he was there and how that could only make it harder. He took a step back, tentatively and watched confusion spread across her face.

"I'm sorry she said with a small voice, setting her eyes on her feet.

"Otamu, I can't do this anymore, I thought you'd understand"

"I did, I do. I know"

"Do you, un?"

"I do, I promise, it won't happen again"

Tears started streaming down her cheeks, and he held her close instinctively, rubbing her back, she shouldn't be hurting so much, it wasn't right. It was then when his eyes caught a bunch of sketches on the floor. He knew that face…

"What are those?"

She thought he was trying to be polite by distracting her and turned around to look at what he was pointing at, she walked over to them and picked some up holding her hand out for him to take them.

"Sketches, mind you they're not so great. She's even more beautiful life."

"H'mm"

Something clicked then, the girl in red, the open window, the girl on the sketches."

"Her name's Aline, she… is a friend of mine, she said she'd meet me at the festival later you come?"