Follow Me Home
Chapter Two
o.o.o
Vanitas cracked open the door to his old, run down home. He carelessly threw his jacket onto the couch and went into the kitchen. A roach crawled across the counter, only to die seconds later thanks to the old magazine that Vanitas used to kill it. He rummaged through the refrigerator right after. He didn't have anything to eat.
This used to be his late parent's house. He stayed in it out of comfort, despite the huge amount of life insurance that he received after their death. Vanitas lived here all by himself and that was the way he liked it. He didn't cry when his parents died; he didn't even ask how they died.
Giving up on the food searching, Vanitas turned to the newspaper from the day before. There was nothing interesting.
He finally decided to leave the house again; now that he thought about it, he probably should have picked something up on the way.
Although Vanitas didn't mind living by himself, he secretly wished that he could have a girl.
His mother did everything for him. He was spoiled. Vanitas hating cooking and—obviously cleaning. He firmly believed that it was a woman's job and that he should only clear the floor enough to get around.
His house was out in the country-side. The next house was nearly a mile away. He didn't live on a farm or anything either. His parents just happened to like the seclusion. He grew up like this—away from everyone.
Because of that, he was lacking in the friends department. Seifer was the only one who ever really called him out to do anything. Part of him did want to have more social interaction, but another part was just annoyed at the thought of it. He thought people—for the most part—were stupid. He didn't want to be around them.
You could say that he had trouble forming relationships with others. He didn't really know how to properly make friends and often rushed into things.
Vanitas ended up getting fast food but instead of going home, he decided to go downtown. If there was one place he didn't mind going to, it was a bar.
o.o.o
A plate smashed on the floor and into a million pieces. Kairi stormed out of the kitchen. According to her, Roxas had made a very derogatory comment to her and it pissed her off.
"Damn it, Kairi!" Roxas reached for the broom. If Olette saw this she would flip. "All I asked was for you to reconsider your career options!" He yelled, but Kairi had already slammed the bathroom door. After he swept up the glass and threw it away, his anger overcame him. He was not about to let this go.
Lately they had been fighting more and more at the expense of the other couple in the house.
Roxas banged on the bathroom door. It was locked.
"Kairi, you'd better open this door." Roxas fumed.
"Take back what you said!"
"I didn't even say anything bad!"
"I'm not opening it!"
Roxas twisted the doorknob back and forth, but it was no use. Frustrated, he kicked the door and went back into the kitchen. Taking a few deep breaths, he calmed down just a little, but only to escalate once again as soon as she came out of the bathroom. He heard her heavy footsteps as she stomped down the hallway and into their room. Roxas hesitated for a moment and then went to confront her. She was getting ready for work when he appeared in the doorway. Kairi rolled her eyes as she put on her heels.
"Who's taking you?"
"I'll walk."
"No way."
Kairi's expression softened. She really didn't want to argue anymore. Roxas was the same way, but it was a little harder for him to just get over things. He didn't want Kairi to be mad at him though.
"I'm sorry," Roxas said in an apologetic tone, "...for whatever I said."
"You said that my profession was only for whores."
"Did not..." Roxas could feel himself getting defensive once again, "I said that you are too good for that place. Nowhere in that did I say anything about... whores."
"Whatever."
Kairi and Roxas loaded into his car. It was raining that night and was a little chilly. Living her life on the islands, Kairi was not used to cold weather. Twilight Town had all four seasons and it definitely took Kairi some time to adjust.
When Kairi got to work, her manager pulled her to the wardrobe room right away. He seemed excited for some reason.
"Kairi, since you are in the top ten, we need to have a photo shoot. I'm going to put you on the billboard outside!"
Kairi was somewhat flattered, but at the same time she wasn't sure how she felt about her picture plastered outside for everyone to see. Her face would be heavy with makeup and doll-like, but she still wasn't too fond of the idea.
Aqua, the number one hostess entered the wardrobe room. Simply put, Aqua was flawless. Her shoulder length blue hair was never styled too fancy, unlike the other girls. She was taller than most of her clients, but they were never intimidated by her. She had a pure heart; everyone always asked her why she was working at such a shady place with a bad reputation. Aqua would just laugh it off.
She treated Kairi like a little sister.
"Kairi, you really should be honored." Aqua said with her calm voice.
"But..." Kairi pouted, but Aqua just shook her head and smiled.
"Aqua! Convince her!" The manager pleaded.
"Give us some time."
The manager left the room. Aqua faced Kairi with concern in her eyes. Kairi looked through the dresses, but wasn't finding any that she liked. She had already worn them all. She wanted something new.
"I can understand your hesitation," Aqua started, "when I first started this job I was embarrassed as well. But Kairi, you're very well-liked here. If you do this, you could probably move up in the ranks and make even more money."
"But still go home drunk every night. I've already said goodbye to my liver."
"That's just part of the business."
"Can't they just have special alcohol bottles for us that are filled with sprite or something?"
"Now you're just being silly." Aqua chuckled to herself. "Sit down. I'll do your hair and makeup."
Kairi did so. Aqua pulled the drawer out and searched through the many palettes, eyeliners and every other item you could imagine that could make their face look like plastic. Aqua, however was more about the natural look and only picked a few of the basic things.
"How are things going with Roxas?" She asked as she put the foundation on her.
Kairi cringed.
She remembered back in the old days... everyone would ask about her and Sora. She would tell them how happy she was...
But with Roxas, she couldn't say the same.
"That bad, huh?"
Kairi just shrugged. She didn't want to get into it. Suddenly, thoughts of that guy from the day before hit her. What if he was here now?
"What's wrong?" Aqua noticed the fear in her face.
Kairi trusted Aqua, but she also didn't like talking about her problems to co-workers. She kept it to herself. Aqua finished her makeup and started styling her hair. Her hair had grown significantly over the past year; it almost reached her waist. Aqua ran the curling iron through and pinned her bangs off to the side. She then put it in a half up-do.
"I'll be right back." Aqua left the room. Kairi just stared at herself in the mirror. Her fake eyelashes were a little itchy, but other than that everything else looked great. Aqua was truly talented. Somehow, Kairi felt a little better.
Aqua came back carrying a dark pink dress and gave it to Kairi. "Put this on. It used to be mine but I think it will fit you well."
"It's kind of long... I would trip over it." Kairi said.
"Not in heels." Aqua smiled warmly. Kairi took the dress. After examining it more closely, she realized that it was a little more revealing than she liked, but in a sophisticated way. If Aqua thought that she could pull it off, she must have been on to something. Kairi decided to trust her judgment and slipped it on. It was a halter top and formed two straps across the back. The waist was embellished with jewels—real ones—and made an "X" shape across her abdomen, leaving parts of her skin exposed on the sides. The low v-cut in the back was a little uncomfortable for Kairi, but she got over it. The dress was long and just as she suspected, reached the floor.
"Beautiful!" Aqua exclaimed. "Here are some shoes."
"So you want me to wear this in the photo shoot?" Kairi asked as she put on the heels.
"Of course. You look stunning. Don't you think so?"
"I guess I'm pretty." Kairi admired herself in the mirror.
The manager popped his head back in the door and was ecstatic with her beauty. He then led her up to the third floor where the photo shoot would take place. Shiki was already there, posing for the camera. She was wearing a glamorous, sparkly green dress that went a little bit above her knees.
"Kairi! So glad that you were able to make it. Just taking pictures of the lovely number four here. We will be with you shortly." The photographer's assistant told her, then hurried back to help with the set.
Even though Kairi was wearing this beautiful dress, she wasn't sure if she would be able to truly smile. Most people could see right through that.
o.o.o
Vanitas wobbled down the street—he had one too many drinks at the bar. He just so happened to be on the same street that the hostess club was on. Wanting to see Kairi again, he headed in that direction.
The security guards at the door must not have remembered him from the night before, because they let him inside without a problem. He asked about Kairi, but they told him she wasn't available. Just before Vanitas was about to leave, Aqua appeared. Since he was already drunk, she figured he would be an easier client to deal with. Vanitas thought about it for a moment, but was convinced as soon as the guards told him she was the top hostess. He wanted to see what she was all about—and also, maybe she could tell him more about the red head that he couldn't stop thinking about.
Aqua led him over to a booth near the back. She helped him settle in and offered him some water. The fact that she smiled so much kind of bothered Vanitas. Who could be that happy all the time?
'Whatever... I just want to know about her...'
As Aqua started some casual conversation, Vanitas gave generated replies, followed by the horrible attitude he gets when he's drunk.
"I can tell that there's something—or someone—on your mind."
Aqua didn't usually cross these barriers, but she had a lot of power and persuasion.
Vanitas perked up; a little shocked at her ability to read his mind.
"I heard you asking for Kairi."
'Oh. That's why.'
"Yeah. Umm..."
"Kairi is a sweet girl. She's quiet unless given something interesting to talk about. However, she has opened up a little bit. If you really want to be on her good side, don't ever ask her about her personal life." Aqua laughed a little.
"Is it filled with pain?"
Aqua was a little taken aback by him, but said, "Well, I don't know. She keeps it a secret."
Vanitas sat there and pondered for a while. Aqua tried to keep a good atmosphere by pouring him a drink and handing it to him, only for him to refuse it.
"I want to see her now." He stood up, but was still feeling the effects of the alcohol. Aqua urged for him to sit down, but by now, Vanitas was consumed with this. He went all throughout the club and searched for her in a drunken rage. The security guards finally remembered who he was and chased after him. The other guests and hostesses were petrified when he fought them off and kicked them to the ground. Vanitas flipped over the empty table next to him and went towards the wardrobe room. She was nowhere to be found.
When Vanitas wanted something, no matter how insignificant, he didn't stop until he got it.
Unless of course, he was shocked with a Taser gun.
Vanitas fell to the floor. The manager stood over him. The guards ran in and dragged Vanitas out of the building.
o.o.o
Kairi stood in front of the camera. Her nerves were getting to her; she may have thought she was pretty earlier but right now she wasn't feeling it.
"Be more provocative!" The photographer urged. "Act like you own the place!"
"Umm..." Kairi put her hand on her hip and cracked a half smile, only to be yelled at again.
"Fine, you want to be dark and mysterious then do that. Turn around."
Kairi's back faced the camera. She turned her head slightly and gave the deepest look of sadness that the photographer had ever seen. He snapped a few pictures and then just stared at her in awe. Kairi's expression changed to seriousness; it came across as sexy and mysterious to him. He took a few more body shots and some face shots.
"You're better at this that I thought." He admitted.
o.o.o
Roxas couldn't sleep once again. It was always hard to when he knew Kairi was laughing and drinking with other men.
'I could have been a host, but I said no because I loved her. Now she's working as one and it's killing me...'
Hayner knocked on the door and interrupted his thoughts. Without any response from Roxas, he opened it.
"Hey, Olette and I are going out to karaoke. Come with?"
Roxas shook his head. "I don't feel like it."
Hayner shrugged and shut the door. The apartment became quiet a few minutes later.
Roxas sat upright in the bed. How he wished things were different...
o.o.o
Vanitas was kicked out into the streets and just laid pathetically on the ground in the dark alleyway next to the hostess club. He was sobered up by now and just didn't feel like moving yet. It was nearing four in the morning.
'Kairi must be getting off soon...'
This was enough motivation to lift himself up. Just as he did so, he saw her.
Kairi was waiting for Roxas outside of the club. She looked really tired and sad even.
As Vanitas watched here from the alley, he felt the desire once again.
Kairi checked the time often. He was late. The door to the club was already locked and there wasn't any warm places around that she could wait in. The closest convenience store was two streets over and she was too tired to walk. Being outside this late—or rather—this early was kind of creepy.
Vanitas got up and started walking towards her.
Kairi heard something behind her and turned around quickly, only to see Vanitas standing there.
"Y-You..."
o.o.o
Roxas woke up around five in the morning. He was supposed to pick up Kairi an hour ago.
"Shit!" He checked his phone. The calls had stopped just a little after 4:30.
Worried and anxious, Roxas grabbed his coat and ran out the door.
o.o.o
o.o.o
A/N: Uh oh! By the way, do you see the new cover? I made it! I'm so proud of myself! There's also a new cover for "Just Missed The Train" that I put up. The picture is cropped but I have the full picture. If you want to see it just let me know! My avatar was also made by me. I was way overdue on that one. Haha!
Review replies:
FarmerD: I don't know, you will have to keep reading! :D
Crush-Chan17: Oh goodness, if I did that it would be weird and wouldn't make any sense! Haha thanks!
Dream Fighter 75: Although there are dark subjects, I'm trying to figure out how to add more lighthearted parts.
Ian: Did you have school? We're getting hit by another snow storm right now. But a "snow storm" in TN is 1 to 4 inches. Haha. The bad part is it rained right before so the roads will be icy. We're down in the single digits!
Shiora: Yes, people are freaking out here over the snow. Especially right now!
Englishhedgehog13: Why would you slap me? -pouts-
tetsunoqwaser: I'm excited to read your story. I'm glad that I've inspired you!
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Til next time, folks!