I am SO SO SO SO sorry for the late update. Long story short, being an adult sucks ass. I now have some time and more ideas to provide for you amazing readers. I plan to end this series in about three or four more chapters; so be prepared. Again, SORRY! I am a horrible human being lol
For the rest of the day Noriko stayed on the roof of the building and watched the clouds roll by. Watching as they created certain images and created a shadow over her form once in awhile. The sun blazed on her wings, hitting the colors just right and shining back at the sun. Before she knew it, the sun was already setting and the moon was beginning to show. She watched the colors of the sky morph into one another and began to locate the stars of the sky.
Meanwhile, Ryuji was quiet for the rest of the day, and when it was time to head back to the dorms he decided that he needed to talk to her. He lied and told Konekomaru and Shima that he was headed to the library, hoping they wouldn't follow him; which they didn't. Thankfully Rin and Shiemi went on a dinner date and Yukio was in his office doing paperwork, leaving Noriko alone so they can talk. As Ryuji walked towards the building he honestly felt nervous, he hasn't really talk to her in almost a month, except for yesterday with her crash landing. He shook his head and arrived at the front door, taking in a breath of air, he knocked on the door and waited for her to answer.
When Noriko finally decided to go back inside, she felt gross and sweaty, making her want to take a shower and wash the day away. Washing her wings was an experience for her as much as it was a hassle. When she got them wet they looked gross, but as she washed them, the dirt started to come off and the color was coming back. She flapped her wings a little to get some of the water off, but that caused her to slip on soap and fall on her butt. Finally she was clean, dried off and clothed. She cut a hole in her large black pajama t-shirt so her wings can get through them and wore her grey shorts. Walking down the hallway as she dried off her hair with a towel while her wings dripped water onto the floor. There was then a knock on the door.
She sighed, thinking it was Rin who forgot his key again she said as she walked to the door, "Really Rin? Did you forget your keys again?" But when she opened the door it wasn't Rin. It was Ryuji.
"Ryuji? What are you doing here?" she asked.
"We need to talk." he said as he walked in uninvited. Noriko watched him go to the living room completely confused. She tossed her towel on a chair and walked to Ryuji, who stood in the middle of the living room with his arms crossed.
"Ok. Talk." Noriko said as she sat on the couch with her arms crossed as well. Her wings spreading out around her, making her leg wet again since they weren't properly dried yet.
Ryuji sighed, "Wow, hi to you too. I've been fine thanks for asking."
Noriko rolled her eyes and said, "Ryuji…"
"What Noriko!? This is the only time we have actually had a conversation in a month! And you're acting like it's nothing! I've tried to call you, text you, but you don't seem to bother with even replying. It seems like you don't even make an effort in anything anymore. You're sleeping through class and I overheard Rin saying that you haven't been yourself on missions. Not only that, but you're going back to your old ways where you are pushing people out of your life! I haven't seen you in for month, so when I do finally see you, you're falling from the goddamn sky and crash landing into me! What the fuck is going on!?" Ryuji yelled as he paced the room.
"You done?" Noriko asked.
Ryuji glared at her and said, "Yes. Now tell me-"
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON RYUJI! IF I KNEW I WOULD FUCKING TELL YOU!" Noriko yelled as she got up from the couch, her wings ruffled.
Ryuji watched her wings then looked at her face, her eyes had tears threatening to fall, but she never let them.
"First off don't you dare act like you're my parent! Second, don't you ever consider that I do try!? Ever since I've gotten to this place, it's been like a crazy rollercoaster ride that I can never get off of. First I had to keep my powers a secret, then I had some crazy demon come after me and you guys. I've had to be that god damn clowns servant since I got here, and then the council found out who I was and what I was and they either killed me, killed Yukio and Rin or make me their slave. So now I'm under orders to train Rin and help Yukio or else we're all dead."
She started to pace the room and throw her hands in the air as she spoke.
"I wanted to come see you and tell you what was wrong, but I couldn't because I didn't want to bother you with my problems. You have your own, I don't need to add on to it. And even if I did tell you, I would be yanked away by someone for some reason. The only family I've ever had is gone! I've been having crazy nightmares again, I have to deal with school again! Then my powers decided to go ape shit on me!" Noriko yelled. She took a big breath of air and stopped her pacing of the room. With her back towards Ryuji she began to speak again, "I've missed you so much… but with everybody on my back I haven't been able to really be me and relax. Do you know how many times I've considered going to the council and ask them to just banish me or kill me? A good amount. But I always stay because the only real friends I've ever had are here… and I didn't want to leave you." Noriko whispered.
Ryuji stood there dumbfounded. He didn't know that she was in this much of hell. Not only that but she hasn't vented about this to anyone, she's been keeping everything bottled up and it finally exploded. Through all of this hell she was doing it for her friends, her parents, herself… for him. She even confessed that she wanted to be killed. How was this girl still standing strong, yet holding all of this in!?
Ryuji uncrossed his arms and just stood there as Noriko wiped the tears away that had broken out of control.
Noriko sighed and said with a weak voice, "You should go, you probably have a lot of work to do." And with that she began to go up stairs without looking back at him.
Ryuji snapped out of his frozen state and ran towards the fleeing Noriko, "Hey!"
He ran passed her on the stairs and stopped in front of her. She refused to look up at his angry face and sighed.
"Ryuji… please."
"No, you're not running away after that!", he looked down at her and sighed, "Noriko… look at me… please."
His hand gently touched her cheek and wiped away the tear that escaped her beautiful grey eyes. Noriko sadly looked up to him and saw the worry on his face. He smiled and wiped away the tears that ran down her flushed cheeks. She sighed and grabbed his hands with her own, kissing the inside of his wrists.
"I'm so sorry Ryuji… I just… I can't hold it in anymore." she said exhausted.
He sighed and put his forehead against hers and breathed in her scent of lavender and cotton hair.
"I should be the one apologizing for not trying hard enough to see that you were suffering and needed me. I'm so sorry Noriko, I'm sorry that you're going through as much as you are without any help… without me. From now on I will be there with you every step of the way. So please… lean on me when you can't stand."
Noriko sighed and hugged Ryuji, and he returned that hug. Burying her face in his chest and letting the tears finally fall once again. Ryuji caressed her head and comforted Noriko as best as he could. When he was about to speak, Noriko jerked away and stared at the door.
"Nori- MMPH?!"
Noriko covered his mouth with her hand and silenced him.
Noriko, with her advanced hearing, heard keys fumbling around in front of the door. By the sound of it, it seemed that it was Yukio. His shift must have ended early.
"Yukio is home early! Shit!" She whispered with anger.
"Mmm?" Ryuji replied with Noriko still covering his mouth.
"Quick! Go sit down on the couch, I will be right back! And please play along with my plan." Noriko whispered as she shoved him down the few steps and towards the living room.
"Wha- Ok, Ok!" Ryuji scrambled to say before being forced to the couch and watching Noriko run upstairs.
He tried to act cool while Noriko scrambled up the stairs and to her room to collect a book. She randomly grabbed one of her school books on the shelf and headed downstairs. But before she ran down stairs, she caught a horrible glimpse at herself in the mirror and cringed. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying and her hair was a bit messed up. Quickly wiping away her stream of tears and fixing herself a bit, she continued her small mission of not being caught.
Meanwhile, Yukio opened the door and saw Ryuji relaxing on the couch.
"Mr. Suguro? What are you-?"
Yukio was interrupted when Noriko scampered down the stairs with a book in her hand.
"I found it! Sorry it took so- Yukio! You're home early! I was just lending Suguro one of my books since Shima is using his."
Ryuji got up and stood next to Noriko, "Ya, this wouldn't be the first time."
Noriko internally sighed at how calm Ryuji was acting and thankful that they weren't caught.
A confused and tired Yukio shook his head and replied, "Ya, um, paperwork got done quicker since I had some help from another I will let you guys do your thing. I'm going to head to bed, see you guys tomorrow." He yawned and headed upstairs with no care in the world and only sleep on his mind.
Noriko and Ryuji held their breath until Yukio had disappeared upstairs and released the tension.
"Oh, thank God," Noriko sighed with relief.
Ryuji smiled and laughed at the whole scene that had occurred. Noriko looked up at him and smiled, nudging him with her shoulder with a small laugh.
"Great acting there Shakespeare" Noriko said sarcastically.
"Shakespeare? That was so much better than what you came up with."
"It still got our butts free from being found out, you're welcome. Come on, I will walk you out." Noriko said as she walked towards the door. Ryuji smiled and collected his belongings and followed Noriko.
When they got to the front door that Noriko held open, there was an awkward silence between the two. Ryuji scratched his cheek while Noriko looked down at her feet.
"Thank you… I… Um, I'm sorry for how I acted earlier…" Noriko whispered.
Ryuji rolled his eyes and stepped closer to her in order for her to look up.
"Don't ever apologize for being human Noriko, and besides… I was able to see you again." he replied in a whisper only she can hear.
Noriko looked up at Ryuji and smiled at him for his understanding and caring for her. Though, in the back of her mind, she felt that that trait might be the death of him one day. Ignoring the tiny voice she tilted her head and stood up on her tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss to his lips.
The charge that goes through both of them when they kiss makes it feel like nothing can ever go wrong. He closed his eyes and held onto Noriko like his life depended on it. As the kiss progressed, she wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss a bit further, making Ryuji growl with pleasure. Noriko knew that he always enjoyed the way she kissed him and the little things that made him blush; but kissing always seemed to get them both frazzled and a bit uncontrolled. Knowing that someone would see or walk in on them, Noriko slowly pulled away, even when he followed her. She smiled and hugged him so she could hide her blush from him and just enjoy being around him.
Ryuji sighed and held onto her, "I've really missed you Noriko…"
"I've missed you too… I'm sorry that our meet up was cut very short…"
"Well maybe next time I can take you out… you know… on a real date"
Noriko pulled away to look up at him and his face was about as red as a tomato. She smiled and placed a kiss on his lips. Ryuji smiled into the small kiss and chuckled, pulling away he said, "I take that as a yes?"
She nodded and replied, "Yes, Ryuji, I will go on a date with you."
Ryuji bent down to give Noriko one more kiss before he had to leave to get back to the dorms before the boys wondered where he went. Both of them looked as if one of them was going off to war, never to see the other for a long period of time. After pulling away for what seemed like forever, they separated and Ryuji collected his belongings once again.
"So I will see you later than, right?" Ryuji asked as he walked out the door.
"Definitely, you have my number too", Noriko grinned as she leaned against the door.
"Right… see ya later Noriko", Ryuji said as he walked away.
"Later" Noriko whispered and smiled as he strolled away.
After she closed the door, she smiled to see that he left the book on the floor for her. Picking it up and heading back to her room with a smile on her face made it feel that she was on cloud nine. Sleep that night was easier for both of them. But a dark cloud was heading their way and they need to get prepared for what comes with it.