I DO NOT OWN BAKUGAN.
Dedicated this to the guests who requested for a new chapter ENJOY!
I sat in a booth drinking a milkshake, thinking about the coming event. I was slightly excited, I trained for this and so did Ryuu, and we were going to be together- it was the time together that I looked so forward to having. As I sat on the booth with a slight smile on my lips my twin approaches me with Quinn. I gave them both a polite smile, as I took a sip from my straw.
"You look particularly happy" Akio says once he placed his hand on the table.
"Well, I don't feel particularly happy, I wonder why you say that" I gave a polite answer minding my own business.
"Well, Akio's right you seem…" Quinn glances at me trying to understand what I was feeling and I just smile at him.
"Well, I suppose I'm just excited for the event coming soon, why don't you guys go? I'm going to perform some tea ceremony and flower arranging." I say and as I gaze at their faces they seemed slightly taken aback but I repeated my invitation and they're eyes seem to gleam.
"Yes, we'd love to" Akio says with a faint smile on his lips.
"I'd never been to one of this, I'd love to see it" Quinn says with a faint smile on his lips too. Internally I was getting nervous.
"Then, I will meet you here" And I told them the finer details.
Two days after, I went to the café wearing a kimono and wooden slippers. I noticed and felt all the eyes on me, but I paid no heed to them, I minded my own business. I was about to sit on a booth when someone taps my shoulder, I turn around and see Ryuu, I couldn't help but smile.
"Hey." It seems that I was captivated by his presence just enveloped in the moment.
"Hey…"I could feel his affection towards me with that simple word, and to be honest, it made me want to hug him and cry. I was afraid. Frightened of the thought of losing this amazing person. Why is it that you've become so important to me Ryuu? Why was it you?
"Are you ready?" A hand crept to my waist so he could semi-hug me as he whispered to my ear, I smiled and was about to reply.
"Avery" I heard my brother's voice interrupt when I was just about to talk to Ryuu. With a hand on the side of Ryuu, I leaned to my left and then there he was, I smiled faintly.
"Why don't we all take a seat" I say gently, as I lightly push Ryuu to suggest to him to seat. He takes a seat first and I slide after him in the booth. I note Akio sliding to the seat in front of Ryuu and I, Akio seating in front of Ryuu. And I notice Quinn who stood behind Akio, and followed him. He sat in front of me. I notice a tint of sadness in his eyes and micro sadness evident on his face.
"Why do you look so sad Quinn?" I asked quite curious. He sighs leans on the table, sighs again place his right elbow on the table, and as he sighed he ran his right hand through his hair.
"This masked man ordeal is a mess" He says smoothly as he closes his eyes. I look at Akio and I see the turmoil in his eyes. Under the table I extend my hand to Ryuu.
"I…" I honestly looked at Akio and Quinn "I honestly, wish I can help" I say rather weakly. But they both received my sincere words with a small smile.
"Let us not worry about this" Akio waves it off and feigns happiness so perfectly I was uncertain that he was ever upset. Quinn lit up a bit but when our gazes met I saw that faint sadness within him.
"So this is…" Akio sized up Ryuu, I chuckled a bit, as I place my right hand on Ryuu's right shoulder and lean on him a bit.
"This is my boyfriend. Ryuu Masashi, heir to school I am learning at. It is where we met" I smiled recalling our first meeting and the days after that.
"Hello" Ryuu greeted politely.
"Hi, I am Akio, Avery's twin" Akio says and as he gestured to Quinn says "And this is Quinn, my colleague and co-worker, we have known each other for about eight years"
"Yes, I have known your sister longer too" Ryuu replied with a perfect smile as he placed a hand over my hand on his shoulder. And I froze, for a moment, I felt the expression on my face fall and I felt my blood run cold. And then that same hand over mine squeezed it. And as I took a sharp breath, everything aligned again. I noticed my brother's eyes darken and I laughed loudly.
"Ryuu is just teasing, he just wants your approval Akio, and he knows it is important to me"
"Oh" The tight smile that was suddenly on my brother's face hardened a bit and then softened.
"Brother Ryuu!" I heard a familiar screech, the four of us turned to our right. And there was Kiyomi, who had just dropped her brother's hand as she ran towards us. I stood up suddenly, making everyone on the table turn to me.
"Kiyomi," I smiled and I lean a bit to my right to look at Dan Junior in the eye as I say "Dan Junior" He seemed frozen a bit.
"Hello brother Ryuu" Kiyomi greets "and sister Avery, Brother Akio and Brother Quinn" they nod in response.
"Well, since you both are here, why don't I invite you two to our, well something like a recital" I say, and I notice Dan Junior approach with a sad expression on his face. And to be honest, it was actually rather upsetting to see.
Dan Junior, aside from that fatal flaw of placing me on a pedestal, he was honestly a kind and nice boy. I'd admit, if my loyalty to Ryuu was not waving at the moment, I probably would not be feeling this towards Dan right now. No—that is not right.
The thing is.
Dan really wasn't someone hard to like. I admit that at a point there was the teeniest affection I had towards Dan. But the thing is, since I never experience what love was, I would have been tricked by that affection I had towards Dan. I withdraw my right hand so that I may hold Ryuu's left hand with both my hands, under the table. But now, this hand I am holding—the owner of this said hand… he made me know what true affection was towards someone who loves and is being love back.
And we were quiet. So quiet, for what seemed like a minute, and then two, and then three. How many minutes had pass, I wondered, when I finally looked up and to see Akio and Quinn's expression. And I was hit with realization, I smiled.
"Ryuu, perhaps we should go" I say gently, and this boy, his entire face turned to look at me, completely and utterly focused just on me. I observed as his mouth opened and then—
"Who-who is this?" I wavering voice, came from my right I sharply turned and stared blankly at Dan. His voice sounded as though he was already rejecting what I have not even said yet. A finger shakenly accusing Ryuu.
"Who your pointing at" I say rather tightly than I had wanted "is a very, very precious person to me" I narrowed my eyes slightly at Dan, in which he received with a slight gasp and taking ever the smallest step back. He looked so confused. So hurt. Like I betrayed him. And the next thing I knew was Ryuu lightly tugging me back to reality. My palm apparently had turned into a fist, so tight Ryuu probably thought I would break my palm just because of the force I was using.
How could you look like that at me Dan? How insulting. How disgusting. Why do I feel like I have wronged him after looking at that expression? He had never confessed to me. But I knew that he had feelings to me. I was wrong perhaps… but… I never led him on. I was always cold. The people I was kind to sincerely could be counted with my fingers. The people I was polite with I could count by the dozen. But the people I was cold to extend to miles. And the people I hate I could count by one hand. But the look on Dan Junior's face, hurts.
"Avery" Ryuu whispered to my ear. I was already standing and so was he. But since when was I standing?
"My boyfriend, I hold in my heart very dearly. And your reacting is rather provoking to me." I say so calmly that, for a fraction of a moment I wondered where I got this calmness from. A finger on my left hand twitched and I realized my hand was intertwined with Ryuu's. "You do not know me. You never did. So I would not appreciate your reaction Dan. My relationship with people is not really your business."
And Dan's face was bright red and he was shaking in place. "But I…" and the next words were said so softly that if it were not for my training as a ninja, I would not have heard it "like you a lot" Only I heard it though, right? But it seemed like words that was said in passing. So, of course I did what I would in this situation. I ignored him.
"But you?" I say, I glanced at Kiyomi who was gazing at her brother with sympathy. "Well anyways, Ryuu and I have to prepare, we had originally wanted to eat a little something…but it seems like the atmosphere is rather awkward" I laugh but it was completely robotic and my expression blank, uncaring.
I side step out of the booth and Ryuu followed.
"I apologize about Avery's behavior if anyone finds it offensive." I hear Ryuu say as I my gaze was on the floor and my arms crossed. "Although I strongly believe that I should not be apologizing for my girlfriend's behavior. This is a part of her, and I adore her no less because of it." I closed my eyes as I felt Ryuu's hand gently crept to my elbow. I opened my eyes and stared at him. His expression quite solid, that it was calming to me.
"I will see you guys later then" I say weakly, because to be honest, I can still see Dan's expression in my mind.
"We would really like to see you Kiyomi and Dan, I presume that is your name, to the event too" Ryuu says with a smile.
And there were nods and agreements. We both slowly walked out, I could sense Ryuu looking back a few times and being ever so slightly upset. Once we were out of the building we walked on quietly for quite some time. I sigh loudly.
"Ryuu if you are upset you should just let it out" I say still rather tired. He squeezed me closer to him as a sign of comfort.
"Everything is fine, I guess I am more upset that you are upset" He says with a hint of sadness and then we were quiet again.
"You are precious to me" I whisper so softly after minutes had past.
And he stopped suddenly, which worried me. So I turned to look at him who was a step behind. And the sight froze me. He had the most gentle expression on his face, such a sweet and soft smile, his eyes sparkled with the affection he had for me. And yet—why was I in pain? The sharp intake of air I took he had seen and he takes a step closer to me. Our faces less than an inch away. His right hand caresses the hair from behind my left ear and down to stop his thumb on the edge of my jawline.
"And I would do anything for you" He whispers in response, but the breath that I was apparently holding escaped in that moment. And I realized I was in pain—by that response.
"I don't want that" I say our lips a millimeter or two away but I still received that kiss and a tear slipped from my eye, which he caught and wiped away. And he hugged me, right there on the streets, he had kissed me, and hugged me. Right there on the streets, I had confessed to him his value to me. But his words and expression hurt me.
He embraced me for what felt like forever, I wondered when he will let go. And I realized, I never embraced him back. And it hurt even more, but in that instant I had already hugged him and wept so silently in his embrace.
And the next day came, the day for the event.
I was already at the Masashi residence. Already beautified and wore the most indifferent and uncaring expression on my face. I was walking towards Ryuu's room.
"Hello Avery you look so beautiful" A person from the family tells me.
"Ryuu is quite the lucky man" Another had said
"You and Ryuu makes quite the couple" An elderly chuckled followed with a cough after.
"You young ones are too young to be in love" Another says "But you so make quite the pair"
"You have made Ryuu so happy, I am certain when he sees you he'd light up!"
And I responded in the most appropriate and polite way with every line that was delivered to me. Since there was an event happening today there were quite the number of people, thus resulting to my little walk to Ryuu's room into some runway, to show off Ryuu's precious girlfriend. And finally I stood outside his door.
"Irile" I heard his voice say and I held my breath, I felt even colder. There was ruffling and whispers going on. And then suddenly the wooden sliding door was wide open.
"Ryuu" I greeted faintly but my expression blank
"Avery, don't be like that" Ryuu says, I smiled tightly
"Whatever do you mean?" I say flatly and he sighs
"I was told to call you over, you have not prepared yet, and everyone else has… except you" I say quickly but evenly, before he could say whatever it was he was going to. He nods silently and says he understands. And there was silence.
"Well, if you need me to buy you a few more minutes, I can." I glance at him for a moment my facial expression warm. "As it seems you have important discussions with Irile" I finish saying with the temperature turning cold suddenly.
He chuckles "are you jealous?"
"Don't be silly, my boyfriend is a faithful person" I made eye contact and we maintained it for five whole seconds in silence, but my facial expression completely flat.
"I need to go" I say and turn to walk away, I could feel Ryuu extend his hand to grab my wrist but I swiftly evaded it. I make it look so natural that I was certain he would have believe it was a coincidence if he did not know my true capabilities.
The room was dark, but it wasn't pitch black because of the moonlight and lights from outside the room, that seeped into the room. But even if the room was super dark I could still navigate through it, after all what was the point of my ninja skills if I couldn't? But if I wasn't able to can I really say this room was familiar? I know this place the best, after all I have been here for years.
As I walk, I recalled Dan Junior's face. The expression he showed, of betrayal and pain. It hurts, even though it was a memory. No, I am certain that even now he is still hurting. I thought that his affection towards me was superficial, just touching the surface of the water. But that expression he had on his face, it couldn't have come from a man whose affections were superficial right?
I suddenly stop.
Okay guys, this part is apparently longer than I expected so I am cutting it into parts. This is part one.
THIS IS PART ONE.
Remember the whole Italic, I will explain after all of this is done.
R&R