I know this chapter took a long time and is mch shorter than the others but I wanted to update before new year
Please don't write „when I'm going to update questions" in the reviews. I think I got more of this now for the story than comments about the story itself which is really crazy by now. If you want to know, send me a message on my account and I can asnwer that. Also because I can't answer guest reviews. This is like asking without giving me a chance to answer.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year! :D
The man throbbed his fist twice against the armor-plated door to become himself noticeable to the person behind. Then he unlocked and opened the heavy door. „Well, boy! Bedtime's over. Your're free to go." He couldn't hide a smile when he saw the young man heave himself up. Today's youth! Nothing in mind but booze and rumble! „No loitering!" he said louder than necessary, grinning when the young man grimaced and held his throbbing head. The older man sized him up. He really looked stove up. Hair stood on end, a bursted lower lip and bruises in his face gave him a wild appearance. He hold his right side while walking. Maybe a hard punch in the ribs from yesterday's fight he had started. The older man hadn't much pity.
Heiji walked behind the man, some trouble to keep pace with him. His side hurt a lot. He wanted nothing more than taking some aspirin and falling into his bed. He hadn't got much sleep in the cell. Wasn't the most comfortable place for a proper nightsleep. After the officer went through some formalities, he was free to go. Great! He just wanted to be alone and not think about the whole shit that had happened within the last 24 hours. When he passed the reception, a relieved feeling spread out inside his chest but got destroyed just two second later. His father stood near the entrance, hands in his pockets, exuding the same awing authority as ever. When he became aware of his son, he walked over, face unreadable.
They looked at each other for some time before Heiji broke the silence. „What are you doing here?"
„Better question would be what you're doing here, wouldn't it?" Heizo raised his eyebrow slightly. „Last night, I got a call from a police friend from Tokyo, telling me that my son got arrested for initiating a fight in a bar. Have you any idea how embarrassing that is? My own son got arrested!"
„Did you come all the way from Osaka to tell me how disappointed you're of me?" Heiji asked, rage started to build inside of him.
„I came here to get you out!"
„No need to!" Heiji replied offhand.
„Really? Without me, you would still sit in an arrest cell," Heizo clarified. His son's answer was nothing more than a undefinite shrug.
„Is that what you're doing here in Tokyo, Heiji? Living a dissolute lifestyle! Your mother and I pay for your studies, for your flat and everything else. We thought you're working hard for a good university degree. But it seems we're wrong, " Heizo shaked his head in disbelieve.
Heiji clenched his fist, lips pressing together tighlty before grimasing again. He forgot his bursted lower lip.
Suddenly, the doors burst open and Kazuha stormed inside. When she saw father and son, she walked over with rapid steps. Oh god, what is she doing here? It's like a convention of people I want to see at least right now. The father who sees me as a big disappointment and the woman who doesn't want me. Awesome! Who comes next? My old math teacher from primary school I hated so much.
„Heiji!" Kazuha started troubled. „I got a call from Sousuke-kun! He said you started a fight with him out of nowhere. You and Shinichi-kun! He's really upset and angry at you two. What happened? Why did you do that?!" Heiji didn't answer, eyes focusing on the floor. „Heiji!" she tried again. „Heeiijjjiii! Answer me!"
His head jumped up, the icy stare from his eyes let Kazuha back away. „Maybe Sousuke-kun got his hands on something that does not belong to him," he answered snappish, focusing Kazuha very closely who just looked clueless at him. „Don't tell me you fought over a glass of beer?" she asked doubtfully.
„Do you really do that? Playing dumb?! Really!" he yelled the last word. Kazuha and his father looked at him in confusion. „You know what?! Do it! I don't care. Do whatever you want! I'm going home now and take a nap!" Suddenly, he turned around and left without another word.
Kazuha and Heizo looked at each other, not sure what to do. „Maybe I should talk to him," she proposed. After a moment of reflection, Heizo nod. „It's seems that you two have some unfinished business."
She caught Heiji at the train station waiting for his drive home, surprised how far he came in his current condition.
„Heiji!" she called when she was only a few metres away.
„What do you want?" he snapped without looking at her.
„Could you stop being so pissed?!" she snapped back but continued peaceable. „Just want to talk. You always told me what's bothering you. We're still friends, Heiji."
„Yeah, just friends…" he snorted. „I don't think that will work. Not anymore," his voice became a bitter tone.
„Are you out of your mind?! I think you should get some rest first. We should talk when you're sober, again."
„I am sober! Are you going to say that it's okay when you decide to get our relationship off the table without discussion. Without asking me! But I can't end our friendship when I see no future in it?" he talked himself in rage.
„That's completly different!" she yelled back.
„No, it's not!"
„Heiji, you shouldn't make such an important decision out of rage."
Suddenly, his voice got saddened. „I don't want it out of the blue. It's a genuine decision because…," because I realized yesterday that I will never be able to see you with another man. I can't endure that. „….because we changed too much over the past years. I don't recognize you anymore."
„But…", Kazuha started when the train arrived.
„I think it's for the best", he cut her off, walking to the entrance without a glance back.
„Heiji", she whispered. For a moment, he stopped in his movement. The tone in her voice let him know that she was crying. The urge to turn around was overwhelming. To take her in his arms, to comfort her, to kiss her on the forehead and tell her that everything will be fine. That he didn't mean what he had said and that he loves her. But then she will tell him that she doesn't love him. That she wants Sousuke as her boyfriend and him just as a friend. The last thought in mind, he entered the train and took a seat with his back to her. He managed to sit straight until the tube left the station. Then he slumped down, buring his face in his hands.
Four days later, Kazuha ringed the door bell again and again for three minutes now. Already made a game out of it by pressing after the beat of one of her favourite songs. Which was also one Heiji hated. A gloating smile showed on her face while doing that. She had been in front of his appartment yesterday, ringing but getting no answer. Kazuha had thought that he was gone but after calling Shinichi, she knew for sure he was at home the whole time.
„Goddamn! What is it?!" came a sudden snap from the intercom.
„Let me in!" Kazuha snapped back.
„Kazuha?!" the voice sounded surprised. „What do you want?"
„In, baka!" she replied annoyed.
„I'm a bit busy at the moment. Come some….," he tried to but was interrupted by her. „If you won't let me in, I keep going with the ringing. THE. WHOLE. DAY."
She heared some grumpy noises but then the sound of the buzzer. Arriving at Heiji's appartment, the door was already opened. She entered the hallway, removed her shoes and walked over to the living room. Her friend was lounging in the sofa, watching tv. The coffee table and the floor were covered in empty takeaway and pizza boxes, bags of crisps, chocolate bars, crown caps and bottles of beer. It looked like an isle of garbage arised with the sofa as its central point and Heiji as the stranded inhabitant like Robinson Crusoe. At least he started to looked like him with messy hair, three days beard and sloppy clothes. Food debris on shirt and pants witnessed the fact that these clothes hadn't been changed over the last days. Heiji's focus laid on the screen, ignoring his recently entered guest.
Kazuha stood undecided in front of the sofa. „Well, you didn't seem to starve during the past days," she started to get his attention while pointing at the garbage isle. Heiji just gave her a short glance before getting his view back to the tv.
„Did you eat anything healthy? Like, I don't know, an apple or so? Or at least a donut with jelly inside? I mean…."
„What do you want, Kazuha?" he sighed resigned, glancing back at her. „I thought, I made myself very clear during our last discussion."
„You did," she nodded in agreement. „But after a careful consideration I decided that I won't accept it."
„'cuse me?! You won't accept…" Heiji looked baffled at her.
„Damn right, I won't," she interrupted him with determined look. „I had a talk with Sousuke-kun and think that I know why you said that. That you just overreacted and tried to push the people around you away because of the," she paused for a moment, not knowing how to discribe it," current situation you're in. But I'm your oldest friend and therefore I'm gonna help you through your lovesickness. I-I'll be there for you."
Kazuha was very pleased with her statement. Even when it might be hard for her to witness his yearning after another woman, she decided that their friendship was much more important for her. And as a good friend, she had to be there for him. No matter how painful it was for herself. But the look on his face confused her. Instead of gratitude which she rather had expected, Heiji looked at her as if she had two heads or a third eye on the forehead.
„You want to help me over my lovesickness? You?! Seriously? You!?" he jumped up and made a few step in her direction. „Are you completely out of your mind?! YOU! Of all people in the world, you think it should be you? YOU! ARE YOU NUTS!?" He yelled angry, then shoke his head in disbelief before turning back to the sofa and placed himself on the armschair. „This is so ridiculous," he chuckled maddish, still shaking his head. „I think you should leave now," he continued stern, his eyes back on the screen.
„No!" she crossed her arms in determination.
„Just go…," Heiji replied with clenched teeth.
„Nooopppeee!"
„You want me to kick you out of my appartment?" the threat was unmistakable in his voice.
„You really think that scares me?" Kazuha answered, ready to bear witness to her resolve.
Then, Heiji got up and appeared in front of her in a catlike movement. It happened so sudden that Kazuha jumped back and hit against a sideboard behind her. When Heiji moved closer, he placed his hands on each side of the board so she was trapped between him and the furniture. He stood there for some time and just looked at her with an unreadable expression. Kazuha started to feel uncomfortable, searching for something to say to end this awkward moment but her mind had turned blank. She examines his face. The bruises from the fight already started to dissapear but the bursted lip was still imminent. If it still hurts? I could find out by punchi…
Finally, He began to speak and interupted her thoughts. „So, and how did you think you could help me with my lovesickness?" the last word gushed with sarcasm.
Kazuha knew he was out to start a fight and that she couldn't do much against it. „Well, I thought….umm, I…could…," her mind still let her down.
„Do what?" His face moves closer to hers while his voice turned into a whisper. „Cheer me up?" His fingers brushed slightly over her cheek before cupping her chin. „Make me feel better for a short time, hmm? A friendly turn, right?" Kazuha was shocked by the words. By the conclusion he seemed to get from her actual innocent offer. The hurt in her expression made him get a step back, regreting his words.
„Just go, please," he murmered sad, his eyes on the ground and hands in his pockets.
„I-I understand that you're upset because Mio-chan is now together with Sousuke-kun but It's not my fault and you don't have to be so mean to me. I'm j-just trying to help," her voice got shaky from the forming tears in her eyes. „But when you're keep going with your self-pity, it might be better if I go."
„Sousuke-kun is in a relationship with Mio-chan?!"
When Kazuha looked to him, she saw complete astonishment which caused lack of comprehension on her side.
„Why are you so surprised, Heiji? That was the reason for the fight, wasn't it? For taking the woman you want?"
Heiji's expression got even more puzzled which was a real achievement. He had the strong feeling of missing an important part of the conversation again like the discussion he had had with Mio a few days ago. „What the hell are you talking about?"
„Me? What's wrong with you? Are you drunk? Did something hit your head? Hard!?"
„I'm completely fine!" Heiji answered annoyed."But you seemed to get hit hard! Why did you say I beat Sousuke-kun up because of Mio? And why is she together with him instead of you?"
„Me and Sousuke-kun? Are you nuts? We're just friends and he's in love with Mio-chan for two years now."
„Wait a sec: does that mean I started a fight with one of my friends for no reason!?... Damn it, Kazuha!" Rage started to build inside of him. „You were on a date with him. Was that a fake? Did you try to make me jealous or what? I can't believe that! I feel like shit since then and you're walking in my appartment and telling me by the way that there's nothng between you and Sousuke-kun. Unbelievable! Is there any other man? Answer me?!"
Kazuha was completely overwhelmed. Whay did he act like she did something wrong? She got also angry bit by bit from his accusings.
„Why are you questioning me like a suspect?!" she yelled back. „You acted all lovey-dovey with Mio-chan and now you want me believe you don't have the hots for her? I'm not that stupid, baka!"
„I'm not interested in her, goddamit! I told you months before, remember?!"
„No, you didn't!"
„I said we're just friends!"
Now, Kazuha was really furious. She grabbed the next thing on the cupboard and throw it into his direction but Heiji managed to jump aside.
„Are you nuts, ahou!? That was my trophe from my last kendo tournament! You lost your mind!"
„No, I got all my senses together and therefore I'm not believe your weasel-words. You always wanted her and what happened between us was just because of your damn guilty feelings," she got another item from the board, ready to throw it again on Heiji. „But now, she moved on with another man and-and you're blaming me for it," she sobbed, hot tears running down her cheeks.
„'zuha, that's not true," Heiji started in a calm voice, holding his hands up in a pacifying gesture. „I…."
„You kissed her," she interrupted him. His surprised and guilty look said everything.
„H-How did you know?" he asked quietly.
„When you want privacy the next time, you should search for a room without a window to the hall," she answered toneless, suddenly feeling mentally tired. She put the item back on the cubboard. „I think I should go now." The sadness in her voice felt like a stitch in his heart.
„No, wait! I need to explain that. I…."
„No need to. I understood it completely." She walked into the hallway, closely followed by Heiji who grabbed her wrist, preventing any further movement. „No, you stay. And listen to what I have to say," he replied stern.
Kazuha looked down where her wrist was caught by an iron-like grip than into his face with narrowed eyes. „Let me go," she said between clenched teeth.
„I won't let go even when you beat me up."
The second, he ended the sentence, a hand darted onto his head. But he bent down before got hit, taking Kazuha's captured arm with him and caused her to lose balance. When her back hit the wooden floor, she gasped for breath. Heiji took the opportunity by using his body and hands to pin her down on the ground. When Kazuha regained her breath, she realised her trap with Heiji sitting on her, his hands holding her arms down on the floor. Her expression showed how extremely pissed she was. I have to give her a good explanation or she's gonna kill me when I release her, he considered a bit nervous.
„I haven't noticed her feelings for me. She…," he started.
„Then you were the only one. It was more than obvious, you master detective," Kazuha commented snippy.
„You know I'm not good at that," Heiji tried to justify himself, which earned a snort and a murmured ‚tell me about it' from the woman on the ground. „I told her that I didn't fell the same about her and the kiss was some sort of a goodbye. Nothing more, seriously!"
„Do you really want me to believe that you're not interested in a beautiful, smart, love-to-solve-crimes girl who seemed to be perfect for you?" Kazuha asked suspicious with a raised eyebrow.
„Perfect for me? We never argued. She always told me how great I am and never disagree with my opinion. It was boring sometimes…I mean she is a nice person but…not…you," he looked down to her with a tender expression. Kazuha couldn't help but smile because of his statement, giving him the courage to release her arms and kissing her gently on the lips.
„You're really good at solving cases…," she smiled warm while stroking over his cheek. „…but in cases of the heart, you're the biggest ahou in mankind," she continued dry-witted, patting him pitiful on the cheek.
Heiji's face showed some kind of rebellion before a smug played around the corner of his mouth. „When I honestly think about it right now, unrestricted admiration is not the badest thing," he commented with put-on pomposity. „You know, someone who doesn't talk back and….," he couldn't continue because Kazuha pulled him down and closed his mouth with her lips. Her warm and soft lips made him forget anything else and when she gently parted them, his tongue slightly moving inside her mouth to meet her tongue passionately. She slung her arms around his neck to get even closer contact and buried her hands in the softness of his dark hair. The kiss turned hotter bit by bit. Heiji let his arms wander down her body while his mouth got busy kissing and sucking on her neck. When he heard a soft moan from Kazuha's lips, something crossed his mind.
„…and you really thought after everything that happened between us over the last weeks, I'm interested in Mio-chan?" Heiji asked doubtfully. Kazuha needed a few seconds to get her mind together and recapitulate what he had said.
„Umm, well…, you're a guy after all, "she shrugged, trying to hide a smirk.
„And that makes me a hormone-driven dork!?" he replied indignant.
„Well…," Kazuha chuckled, letting her eyes wander down her body where he was still sitting on. His look followed hers and he understood.
„Bullshit," he grumbled with rosy cheeks, making Kazuha chuckling even more. Heiji got on his feet in a sec and also helped Kazuha standing up. He scratched the back of his head while looking self-conscious at her.
„How about you taking a long hot shower and put some clean clothes on while I remove your garbage isle in the living room?" Kazuha offered with a wink.
„Umm, okay. But…umm…are you going to stay?" Heiji asked with anxious in his voice and eyes.
She was surprised first but then realised how her unsettled behaviour also effected him. He isn't the only ahou in the room, Kazuha realized. Standing up on tiptoes, she placed a butterfly kiss on his lips. „I'm not going anywhere," she replied determined, making sure that he understood that she wasn't just talking about tonight or the next morning. His relieved smile also made the corners of her mouth turning upwards, placing another kiss on his lips but this time longer and more intense.
The End for now ^-^