There's an image for this chapter in Ao3.
Chapter 12
In a pinch
From the interphone, Saruyama smirks, coming closer to peek into the camera, sarcasm imbued in his voice:
[I am deeply sorry for interrupting your night yet again, but there's something I must ask you, if it's not much of a troublesome request.]
Gritting his teeth, Ryo's gaze darts to Rie as she opens her arms, hunching her shoulders asking what they should do. He wobbles his hand her way, telling her to hide.
"You came unannounced," he spit out as a reason sufficient to not let the man in.
[It's very important and it concerns your next appointments.]
"We can discuss it another time."
[Even if I say this concerns your schedule for this week?]
Clicking his tongue at the persistence, he snarls. "Give me a minute, I need to put some clothes on."
He wings it last minute, looking at his company, she gawks at him as he takes off his coat, in a mix of frustration and franticness, asking for an explanation. He shoves his hands to the sides in a session of silent communication as if there's not much else he can do, the shuffling noise of the fabric rubbing was enough to make her turn around flushing, begrudgingly unstrapping her dress and pulling it over her head.
Ryo flinches at the sound of the dense fabric toppling down, his orbs widening more if that was possible as he saw Rie's light-blue panties while she proceeded undressing her blouse behind the couch, shouting in a low tone as he himself tossed his own shirt aside haphazardly.
"What are you doing?!"
Stomping on the cloth she just dropped off, she pouts, enlacing her arms in front of her chest to cover it, her nose wrinkling as if blaming him for inventing a distorted story to begin with, prodding her head to the door in a sour mood as if telling him to open and get done with it.
Gathering his breath, without any time to excuse himself out of the blunder, he let his manager in. The man looked him up and down while passing by, his trademark vile smirk stamped on his face.
It's a test. Ryo has been with him for long enough to know when he wanted to snoop around. Had he refused, would he be reproved by whichever criteria Saruyama is using?
"Did you have to come now?" he gnarls.
"It's very important," not caring about the disrespectful unscheduled visit, he sits on the padded chair, scanning the surroundings, not a pinch of regret. "I am truly sorry."
His gaze wandered as Ryo sat down, from behind him, Rie sat down on the bed, blanketed by the pure white sheets, tugging it up to cover her torso. Saruyama's eyes narrowed shrewdly, there she was, he also noticed the two cellphones on the corners of the table and how their overcoats were thrown randomly on the ground.
"So, what is it?"
"Do you remember Roger?"
"The big man behind this whole prostitution setup?"
A pair of hands lands on Ryo's shoulders, Rie bends forward over the couch, her blue marbles glancing at him as her cheeks graze on the strands of his hair, he could tell how close his his head was from her chest as her fingers slid down his shoulder bone seductively, her arms wrapping loosely around his neck. From above, the lines of his chest seem toned, he's also a bit bulkier than she remembers when she last held him.
She consciously left enough space between them, it didn't make it less uncomfortable for him, though, his whole body tensing up as her seamless, lukewarm skin brushed against his, did she need to be this convincing with the act?
Something caught her attention. Those purplish marks around Ryo's neck, not of a rope, but like a binding of sorts had been tied to it so tight it made rashes and blistered his skin, around the defined muscle lines of his upper arm too. Her eyes broadened unintentionally, her lips splitting apart, a dozen questions popping up, albeit this wasn't the proper moment to ask.
It lasted but a moment, a powerful, measuring stare flinching her awake, Saruyama observed each of her moves, from the movement of her brows to the minor gestures. She wasn't aware of Ryo's underground agenda, he concludes.
Throwing a petty glare at the manager while bringing Ryo closer, she pursed her lips in distaste for ruining their time together. They wage war against each other for the attention of the duelist, the man simply scoffed at her.
"I'm busy now, wait on the bed."
Scowling, he grabs her arms, jerking it away from his shoulder bone. She didn't resist his attempt to cut off the act she was playing there. Taking a step back, she frowned too, folding her arms frustrated. If she's gonna loiter around, she wants to listen to the subject at hand.
"Yes, he wants to meet you again, in person," Saruyama resumes the conversation. "But in a different place next. A famous night house of his choice."
"Why?"
"Fidelity, of course. He likes interacting with clients."
"What if I refuse?" Ryo crossed his own arms in front of his bare chest, his eyes sharpening defiantly.
"You should come here too, woman," he glances over Ryo's shoulder, to Rie who stands right behind him. "This concerns you, in a sense."
"What do you mean?" the duelists contests, as if trying his best to just send her away quickly.
The lines of her expression wash anew, as she approaches at wary steps, taking a seat beside Ryo, the couch bouncing at her weight. Saruyama laughs, having his own fun, but none of the youngsters understood what it was about.
"It's about those pictures," he distills the poison, tunnelling his vision on the girl while speaking to the duelist. "Roger was thinking maybe he could buy some of them back. They were too much of a good trade for you and he thought you'd be interested in negotiating."
A small fissure appears on Rie's act, she adjusts on the seat to look at Ryo, an anxious gaze as her lips grow apart without her consent.
"I'm pretty sure we already settled this and I gave the ultimatum in my request," he ignored Rie's stare from the side. "What else would I have to discuss?"
"Mr. Ryo, I think you don't understand, this man is another loyal sponsor of the underground, it's not a request you can simply refuse. You'll be in trouble if you do that, maybe even lose your contract."
Here it comes, this pressuring, warped grin of Saruyama, his fingertips coming together as he explains, like he's dealing with a kid throwing a tantrum. Is he threatening to foil the contract?
Rie watches Ryo's expression go from a zero to a hundred, scrunching indignant, his fists clenching, a rebellious aura gushing out of him, raising his voice:
"You cannot erase a contract like that. Neither can he. Don't tell me those lies, Saruyama!"
The manager smirks, he hit a nerve there. And that was all he wanted to know for tonight's inspection.
"Is this what you believe or are you being capricious?"
The tension sparked a fire, but before it was fully lit, they both flinched as Rie sat onto Ryo's lap, supported on one of his legs, her hands gliding over his shoulders, coming around his nape, holding his face tenderly, dragging his focus back to her.
"What are you-"
He blurted out flustered, swallowing the rest of the sentence back because his manager was also witnessing the scene in awe. If he didn't get the sight before, he sure did now. A two piece set of light-blue lingerie, patterned with stripes in a slightly darker hue of blue with dark sprinkles in between the lines, and the wavy trims of a delicate white lace adorning the bra that barely cupped her chest, showing a bit her skin underneath, his thighs enveloped by a lukewarm fluff.
Recomposing himself, his hand instinctively landing on her waist, gripping it unwittingly, her worried gaze latched onto his, his hair brushed away by her fingertips, her thumbs caressing his cheekbone, leaving a fluttery prickle where she touched, rendering him breathless for a second.
She called his name once, a terrified, anxious gaze that he'd flip there and get them both in trouble. Was this her way to soothe and quell the volatile emotions spiraling inside him?
"Oh my, what an impatient lady," Saruyama raised his arms in defeat, startling them. "I understand, we'll discuss the details later. But don't forget that things may not go as smoothly as you wish, Mr. Ryo, if you refuse the offer, other doors may close to you as well."
Beckoning with the back of his hands, he left with the wind, the door clicked, but there was a second of quietness as they sat immobile, until they let out their breath in relief. Then, she clamped his cheeks together, making his face look silly, stretching his neck up so he could read her plump, enticing lips.
"Which. Pictures?"
He filled the gaps of words on his own, his whole head heated up not only at the proximity, but at the fact she's been sitting there for a while, the smoothness making his skin blazing under the layer of cloth on his legs, it jumbled his thoughts, he'd love it if she just sat there the whole day alright. His throat strained, a hoarse, shaky voice when he asked politely:
"Would you get off my lap first?"
A surprised gasp escaped her mouth, his skin became sizzling hot to the touch in a second, she simmered along when it dawned on her the act had ended and she was still scantily clad, mounting on his lap. She was so concentrated in finding out what they were talking about that she forgot her own state.
As if the whole predicament wasn't embarrassing enough, a hardened bulk hits the downside of her thighs, Rie drops her jaw open in a scream, shielding her mouth with both hands in shock, fumes steaming out her ears upon the sight of the glaring tent pitched in Ryo's pants.
Bolting up and backing a step away while flinging her hands, she attempts to justify herself.
He raised an arm, in protest, exempting himself from the full blame, growling disconcerted:
"Look, I'm a duelist, not a monk!"
Is that your best way to call her hot or what, Ryo Marufuji?
He shook off his head, putting a hand to his temples to hide his overheated face, ashamed of himself. He isn't fifteen anymore, but it still happened.
Control yourself, you filthy animal.
He lands his palms flat on the cushions of the couch, to recover from the heart race, casting a quick glance at her, his cheeks bright red with blood in shame as he inhaled deeply to rearrange his breathing.
He spoke as earnestly as feasible. "I am very sorry, but I can't have a serious conversation with you when your chest is popping out and saying 'hi' straight into my face."
Blabbering her silent gibberish, she embraces herself, shielding her front, only half offended by the rudeness of his sentence for his undertone sounded more like a praise to her. Grabbing her phone running around the couch and fetching her clothes hidden there at lightning speed. And she thought he was immune to any sort of seduction, she wasn't even trying this time. His voice alerts her:
"Nice choice of the day, by the way."
He bends his head over the back of the seat, leaning onto it to rest, smirking at her upside down as if to reroll the mood. His sardonic, unashamed tone struck her as a way to unwind his nervousness more than anything else.
"The color matches your eyes, but seems a bit old-fashioned for whichever assortment they have down in the changing rooms."
She halts, standing up straight, typing a short message while letting the bundle of cloth covering her front slide down a bit, gawking at him with a face of "you just made an absurd remark".
[This isn't from the selection down there. It's my own underwear.]
Leaning on with a deep scowl. He flinched, his eyes widened and followed her cleavage momentarily until he berated himself mentally to look into her face again, just to read the finishing blow as Rie shoves the device a centimeter apart from his face, pursing her lips, offended.
[I'm sorry if I'm old-fashioned.]
Clutching the knotted clothes, she turns around with a "humph" walking into the bathroom and closing the door with a soundly slam.
"Great. Just, great," he slouches onto the cushions, his bones and muscles aching from the duels and tiredness, done with the night.
Not only does his manager want to put a lash on him, but now he's even distrusting the whole contract that was signed. And Rie thinks he's a pervert, well, if she did know he kept her pictures locked in a drawer instead of ridding himself from them, maybe she would hate him even more.
Talking about which, why did he keep those? Even if he denounces and shows this type of proof, would justice be delivered to those people?
That isn't it, I… didn't want anyone else to see you like that, Rie.
Due to his decisions, he's in a bad spot now.
Outside the room,
Saruyama, eyes narrow slyly. Did he see it right? Ryo's nightly relaxation has gone over the limit. He was the one who incentivized the boy to go ahead and have fun, still…
The way Ryo looked at that girl just now, a speck of light glimmering in his eyes, smitten by her like she was an angel that gave him a pair of wings to fly away from the tar pit of the underground.
Is he that much of a kid that would be enamored of a luxury escort? No, there's more to it. Ryo Marufuji is a young man, after those excruciatingly weary duels, spending so much time with a striking young woman whose sole job is to serve herself as pleasure at his will, perhaps it muddled his mind and senses and ensnared him deeper into the underground sweet pitfalls.
However, this is getting out of hand and he doesn't like when things slip away from his control. All good things must come to an end and if Ryo is too distracted with other affairs, he won't make enough money, so he should refocus on his career, his underground career. For that the evil must be cut off from the roots, and he'll understand whatever he thinks is going on, it's all but a passing illusion of youth.
A few minutes past,
Rie came out of the bathroom, her dress slapping her thighs as she walked closer, he keeps his gaze straight ahead, on the table, sketching a reaction when her weight tumbled him a bit to the side, she takes a seat beside him.
His long sleeved shirt seemed more of a tight fit than before, maybe he's been taking more care of himself lately. What does she know? He rarely ever talks about himself, it's on her to assume whatever is going on, but perhaps he enjoys the distance more. She acknowledges it, yet it annoys her.
[I'm not mad anymore.]
"I went too far, so I'll understand if you are," his bangs covered his profile as he barely turned his face, a depressed mood hovering above him.
[No, it's my fault too. I'm sorry for, well, sitting on your lap. I panicked there and acted way beyond my boundaries.]
"Does Saruyama scare you this much?" he looked into her eyes, an encompassing curiosity.
[Yes. I don't like him.]
"I don't like him either, but what was that for? We could've gotten away with just being around."
[I don't know what exactly he was referring to, but you looked stressed, like you were about to implode when your manager spoke to you.]
"Did I?" he trails off, swerving his eyes away, genuinely astounded.
[It seemed like you were on edge the whole time, so I thought you needed some help.]
"And your best way to help me was sitting on my lap? That's - ouch!" he complains as she pinches his sleeve, pressing a bit of his skin along, her typing speed increased with powerful clacks.
[You dismissed it every time your manager was around, you ignore me. I can't call your name out loud! If you don't look at me, how am I supposed to warn you or understand it's part of your act?! You raised your voice there, losing your cool, was I supposed to watch and let him make you slip?]
There's a quick flinch as he reads the contents, then a burst of a dry chuckle fills the room, he bends slightly over his stomach.
"Is that so? I apologize, I didn't know this is how you feel. Dealing with Saruyama isn't part of your contractual duties, so I thought you're better left out of my business with him as much as possible. True I lost my cool and thanks for your intervention I regained it, but that aside," his eyes squinted gently as he teased, sounding half-serious in that statement. "I'll be sure you are my priority from now on even when Saruyama is around."
She frowns at it, pouting, that annoyance turning into relief, if he can be snarky again, then he's fine, but she cut his laugh short.
[Ryo, what were those marks on your body?]
Perhaps it wasn't in her place to ask, but she did it anyway, because she had this unquenching will to know more about him.
"I didn't think you'd pay this much attention to me," he had this most smug smirk.
her fists clenched irritated at it, fretting. [I wasn't, but it's impossible to not see! It sticks out like a sore thumb!]
"So? Do you want an explanation or what?"
[You're not into this BDSM stuff are you?] one of her eyes squinted at the corner, she didn't want to invest in the theory.
"What?" he guffawed, to him the possibility was ludicrous. "No, what makes you- I mean," he corrected himself, his expression covered in seriousness after realizing how scarily sound her theory was. "I do get where you come from, but that has nothing to do with it."
[Then what is it?! You don't get burn marks just having a duel!]
There was this slight twitch on his brows, his smirk masking the fact she shot far from the truth in that assumption.
"It's not important, just bones of the underground trade."
What does that even mean? If he's so unwilling to open up, I give up…
The big huff she let out spurt a small chuckle, he was just playing around. He's doing it again, being witty to avoid the main topic, not with her, not this time.
[I won't ask more, then, but what about the pictures he was mentioning?]
"You won't let me off the hook, will you?" the corners of his lips curve up in a bitter, tiny smile, his emotions erased from his face the next second. "Do you remember when you told me they had pictures to blackmail you?"
Her gaze paralyzed in a glassy state just at the mention, darting off to the table ahead them, smashing the device on her hands, afraid of facing him and listening to answers she did not want to.
[Yes. And?]
"Have you ever gotten your hands on those?"
Denying with a slow sway of her head, she twiddles her fingers, tapping her feet on the carpet, gulping dryly while typing a message with such quaky hands, the unstable clicks bothered his ears.
[They sent me samples, but I think those were copies. I don't know what happened to the originals.]
"Well, you don't need to worry about it anymore, I bought them all."
There's a low inhaling noise as she shifts on her seat, Ryo looks at her in his most stoic face, yet there was this unmistakable earnestness in it. His face blurred in her sight for a moment as she twiddled her fingers even more hectic, her palms sweating. The cellphone on her hand shook as she displayed the next message.
[You saw those? All of them? And you bought it?]
"I did see some of those, yeah, but not all of them," he switches his glance down with a blink, a glint of guilt imbued into his eyes, fogging his vision. "You really think I have the stomach to page through illegal pictures like I'm checking a catalogue and be happy about it knowing they were taken while you were passed out? I just asked them to sell me those as part of the exclusivity contract with you so they wouldn't have them."
His argument was valid, still the fact he deceived her for this whole time can't be erased.
[Where are they? If you own those, what did you do to it?]
Letting out a bothered sigh, he narrated slowly. "I tucked them all into the envelope they came in… tossed it in a drawer at my place… locked it and let it rot there since then."
[You kept them?!] her eyelashes gathered water drops while clashing on the moist corners of her eyes. [Why didn't you burn or throw it in the ocean or something?!]
"I thought you might want them in the future, to decide what to do yourself. Plus. If you ever press charges on the police, they can serve as evidence."
[Why did you never tell me this before?]
"And how was I supposed to go about it? 'Hey, Rie, I bought all your nudes they were selling in the underground market?', really?" he sighs even more dispirited. "Some things are better unsaid. Wouldn't you be happier not knowing this?"
She sits straight, but her whole body shudders subtly, a single sniff coming out. Looking into his eyes, her orbs falter, awaiting a frank reply. The most puzzling part of it for her was…
[And why did you do all of this for me?]
"I told you I'd help you get out of here, that's what we agreed on," he reciprocates the gaze, a pinch of dismay in his voice. "But things like those pictures, they're ties connecting you to the underground and to fully get out, you need to sever all of them."
That advice could also work for him, she thought. For how long has he been dealing with those people? How long does it take for one to lose their mental wellness witnessing evil from such a close perspective? Ryo is worn out too, it's implicit in his jaded expression, his words, the way he acts and deals with those people. Didn't he faint back then? And there are those coarse marks on his body he doesn't even want to talk about too… She's not the only one who's been having her heart torn asunder by it.
He continues, taking her stillness as a sign. "I can give it to you, if you want. But I'm not sure if you really want to see those pictures of yourself…"
Snuffling a last time, she wipes away her tears. They've not known each other for very long, but she's convinced that once Ryo has set his gaze on something, he possesses the tenacity to achieve a resolution as perfect as it can be, and nothing he says now will nullify all he did for her.
"Are you not angry? That I took this long to tell you or what I-"
She shook her head as if there were no need for more words, her hands landing firmly and squeezing his shoulders, a certain expectancy in his gaze as he watched her weave a message:
[You're not a bad person, Ryo. I know that,] her brows curled up afflicted. [You're not like those people down there. Don't let them fool you into believing that.]
Letting go of the phone with a soft thud as it fell to the couch, her hands cupped his face kindly, her orbs glimmering with tears affectionately as she gazed into him, conveying those tender feelings through her fingertips, stroking his face.
The whole world stopped there, the sound wouldn't reach his ears, an unbecoming urge festering in his chest, of taking Rie into his arms right now, holding her, pinning her onto that couch and spending the night with her, but he snapped himself out of it at the inadequacy of it for the moment.
Why is it that his mind drifts to those thoughts that he'd never reveal to her? He isn't starved for affection or even searching for any sort of romantic relationship now, he vowed to focus on himself, yet reading what Rie thinks about him, in her own words, was liberating, a heavy load swept away from his heart. Even though he wasn't fully honest, she still didn't blame him. Does he deserve this forgiveness? Did he fairly earn it by what he's done?
Standing up, she sniffed a last time. Ryo watched her silhouette disappear into the bathroom as she closed the door. Taking his deck onto hands, he flipped the top card: a three-headed metal dragon in a purple frame, his eyes narrowing swiftly.
Did I become stronger? Or will you still refuse to accept my current path, Cyber End?
Left to himself, he resumed his tasks of rewatching pro matches and tinkering with his deck, the faint sniveling echoing on the side making it a tad disconsolate to stay in that room alone.
With a frown, he stood up determined, threading to the bathroom, knocking at the door.
"Are you just gonna hole yourself in there and cry the whole night? This isn't like you, Rie…"
There was a minute of stillness, until she clicked the door open, only leaving a space enough to show her face, reddened bags under her eyes, putting her device out of the room.
[Why does that matter to you?]
"I can't concentrate on my duels if you're whimpering so loudly in there."
[Just put the TV volume up!]
She attempted to close the door, but a slam hampered it in place, overpowering her efforts.
Ryo held the door open with his palm. "I can't do that."
Pursing her lips, she let go of the door, allowing it to be pushed wide to the side, her eyes melting into tears. She said it herself, he's not a bad person and this is more proof of that.
"I can't just turn a blind eye to this, Rie."
He stepped inside, unwavering, standing in front of her, close enough that her forehead leaned onto him as she lowered her head, her sniffs soaring in the air. Wrapping his arms around her, he brought her close with a tight grip.
Closing her eyes, that coldness of his clothes dissipated shyly as his hands shrouded her silhouette gently, her pink strands entangling on his fingers, keeping him connected to her.
Her snivels were muffled by his clothing, her face sunk into his chest, her hands slowly clung to his back, Rie's hands were so warm. The sensation was comforting as though he told himself that was the right place to be now, shutting his eyes, he relished that moment.
As morning came, Rie left the hotel, purple bags under her eyes, yawning and nodding off on the train back home, startled as her last station arrived.
Ever since she started having this "agreement", she hasn't slept a single night in that room, it's good to have the time to study, but she isn't having much sleep and that can affect her other jobs too.
The fact that Ryo, who seemed mostly indifferent to her, was caring for her so much without her awareness, not even once he bragged about how much he'd help her or hold it as a trading coin. After their contract time is over and her debt is paid, she wonders where they both will be.
Will he have ascended to a more famous duelist by then and will she have her dream job? The thought of parting ways is a bit saddening, sighing wearily, she questions where life will take them from here on. Wishing in her heart, just a tiny bit that their ways wouldn't grow apart so soon.
In the duel academy,
Haru's PDA vibrates in his pocket with a message, the screen lighting, he snaps his tongue, ending the brightness with the press of a button while he hides behind some trees. Confused voices soaring:
"Did you hear that?!"
"Forget it, we have more important matters at hand."
"You're right, we haven't finished painting the dorms yet."
Sighing in pure relief, Haru squats down, checking whoever sent a message this late at night, not surprisingly, it's his sister.
[I hope you're doing well, Haru. Don't forget to sleep enough and eat properly.]
Could she choose a better time to be reminding him of unimportant trivialities?
[I'm busy atm. Don't bother.]
Tucking the device into his pocket again, he concentrates on the two boys he followed. It was a scene out of a movie as they took paintbrushes and gladly painted the walls, even in the middle of the night, the most bizarre of it all was that Manjoume, one of the second years was leading them and "inspecting" their job:
"I won't tolerate even a stain! The light must bask and reach the whole school!"
"Is it just me or they're too stoked about this whole painting job?" the boy muttered to himself, raising a brow.
Even Edo senpai left the blue dorm, and Asuka has been in that Osiris red place for some days already… What is this light they keep yammering about?
At that same time, Rie huffs after reading the impatient text of her brother. No point trying to have a talk now, he must be very occupied. Knowing him, he's probably awake until late night checking his deck or watching duels, a silent giggle escapes her mouth, in this sense he and Ryo are quite similar, always with their mind in dueling.
That light-hearted feeling overgrown by worry as she rides the elevator, looking up to the ceiling, like she could see through the metal, to where her destination is. After that last conversation in which she found out more than she wished to, she hasn't seen Ryo once. And she was still trying to forget the embarrassment that she literally cried herself out most of that night in his arms, not very ladylike.
The room is as stalled as always, but there's a different air to it, Ryo is sitting there on the couch, but he didn't dare lift his eyes to look at her, even as she passed by, her shadows flashing in his line of vision. Despite that unchanged, zestless face of his, the mood in the room gave her a hunch he didn't want to face her because he was punishing himself.
It took but a minute between the moment she vanished to when he listened to the cushion by the side deflating, Rie sat sideways, to talk to him.
[Did you get into trouble with your manager because of last time?]
"No," he denied with his head, staring blankly at her. "But I won't lie, he's onto us and he might try to pull off some trick, so you should watch it."
[Trick? Which kind of trick?] her brows curled up concerned, now he got her on the edge of her seat.
"Before that… Rie, I have something for you," he glanced over quickly before averting his eyes, rummaging in the inner pocket of his overcoat, taking out a long, narrow envelope. "Here. It isn't a gift…"
Stretching out his hand to her, he offered it, she brought her fingers close in a reaction, but her hand stopped midair, opening her mouth to gasp for air, hesitating. Her eyes dreaded looking into what was stashed in there, glistering as tears formed.
"You don't need to take it if you don't want to," he swayed the paper back, making her flinch awake from her trance. "That's not something you should be looking into anyways."
Shifting her position, she gripped the borders of her dress, the cloth creasing between her fingers, her head lowering, her hair slipping down her shoulders, her profile intercalating with pink.
"What do you want to do with it?" he flapped it, whipping the wind with it, waiting for her decision.
She didn't bother to look back at him, shoving his hand holding that cursed envelope away with hers, as far from her as possible. He clutched it, wrinkling the paper unconsciously, for all he cares, he could crease this into a ball and toss it somewhere in the sewers, turn it into dust so he won't see this miserable face of hers again.
"Are you sure about this?"
[I don't need it and I don't want to look into it.]
"So you're fine leaving this under my possession?"
[What, are you going to look into it?]
He was astonished when she finally turned her gaze to him, the corners of her eyes burned red.
[If you wanted to keep it, you wouldn't have told me about it.]
"You're right," he hides the envelope in his pocket, closing his eyes briefly. "If I wanted to get under your skirt I wouldn't need to hoard any pictures since I could see it live anyways. That would have been deplorable."
With the biggest gasp of disbelief he's ever heard, she tugs his sleeve violently, almost ripping it off, getting up and putting a hand to her waist:
[Did you just call me easy, Ryo Marufuji?!]
He laughs dryly but humorless. "No, I didn't, I just have a lot of confidence in myself. But out of curiosity… Why were you even using a fancy set of underwear that night Saruyama visited?"
[Some girls just want to feel pretty, okay?! That had nothing to do with you!]
She puffed her cheeks, flaring her nostrils and shaking off her head, this isn't the moment for his teasing. Her eyes widening as his tepid hand blanketed hers lightly.
"If you have energy to be this feisty, then don't waste it crying," a tiny smile sprouted on his lips, blinding her in a daze, her cheeks flushed gradually. "Your expression looks much better when you are lively, Rie."
Pulling away her hand, she stepped back, bringing that hand he just touched closer to her chest, an afflicted gaze that perked up as he stood, reminding her of how much taller he was. Although it was a bad joke, it's true he could've forced her to any debauchery he wanted, but he didn't because he isn't the type of man who'd do that.
"Don't worry about what Saruyama said either, if he tries anything, I'll figure a solution," folding his arms, he furrowed his brows, thoughtful. "I'm not letting him do everything his way…"
If there's a word she could use to describe him, it's "discipline". And because of her impression, she believed he wouldn't ever open that envelope out of any dirty or distorted desires, even if he had it in his hands.
That's why she isn't afraid of being here, around him. And that's also the reason she should enjoy her time here and learn from it.
The shuffling on her bag to the side brings him back to the present, she takes out a book, the same she's been reading the last times she was here.
[If you don't mind, can I sit here today?]
"I don't," he sneered, she could swear out of happiness, but his expression was emptied when he set his mind into the cards again.
Even though she sat there silently, the room suddenly became more welcoming. It took only a few minutes until he heard a fast, regular breathing, Rie dozed off.
Again? No wonder she can't finish the book, if she sleeps every time she starts reading it…
Swaying his head in disapproval, he went back to his deck, startled when her head toppled over his shoulder, letting out a bothered sigh, he raised his arm, an attempt to push her to the couch instead, but her head slipped closer, resting onto his chest, her cheek flattened there, her hand soon came to his chest gripping softly the fabric of his shirt, the audacity of treating him like a pillow.
Grunting subtly, he supported his arm around the back of the couch, pondering. He should've woken her up, but given the circumstances, there was this nibbling remorse speaking into his ears. Isn't she just exhausted?
Now I can't move my arm…
Sighing resigned, he took the remote with the other hand, and started playing a duel in an inaudible volume.
…
Sunlight invaded the room, kissing Rie's head as a faint warmth spread, her eyelids closed and opened out of synchrony as her head was supported onto a soft woven fabric, someone's sturdy chest.
The first sight of her morning was Ryo's apathetic stare, the beams of light coming through shone over his silhouette, contrasting with his dark clothes. He seemed very awake already, his arm stretched over the back of the couch, around her.
He's very handsome, yes, she noted mentally, still blinking confused but why is she dreaming with him again? This isn't even the first time, why does her mind have to be fixated on him? Perhaps all the talking about pictures and whatnot left a lingering print in her mind.
"Can I get my arm back now? You hogged it the whole night," he decided to speak and snap her out of the drowsiness, it didn't work.
That's something Ryo would say. But waking up leaning onto him, which kind of fantasy is she dabbing into? If only those dreams weren't so realistic. Rubbing her eyes she latched her gaze onto his, an afflicted glint flickering in there.
Doesn't he also have plenty to worry about for himself? Just how much money did he spend for her sake? Ryo is such a perplexing creature, to the point it vexes her at times. When she thinks she finally understood him, she realizes all she's been looking into was but his reflection on the water surface, rippling and disappearing.
He flinches when her hand coats a whole side of his face, a kind touch, sliding up, it elicited a small shiver on his spine. Swiping his bangs out of the way with the tip of her fingers, her eyes squeezed in pain when the small scar was exposed there. She leaned her forehead on, resting on his shoulder, hugging him. A wish was born, that she could help him more too, her fingers wrinkled his shirt so cluttered, her skin turned white and red at the tips. For a moment, he corresponded to that embrace, his arms enlacing her.
"Rie, are you still half asleep?" he questioned, raising his brows, his hand fitted behind her head, cupping it as she bent her neck up, her azure marbles blinking at him perplexed.
She lowered her head, a bell ringing inside her mind as her eyelashes brushed against the soft cottony fabric of his shirt, reality slowly dripped into her.
Jerking out of her seat, she looked around left and right in a rush, her vision was hazy, identifying the hotel room and her cellphone beside his on the centre table. Slapping her own cheeks, she gaped as an intense flush painted her pink, staring back at him with a haunted expression.
This isn't a dream, is it?
"Good morning to you too, I bet you slept well, can't say the same for my arm," he grumbled while making swirling movements with his whole shoulder and arm, holding it as his muscles shouted in numbness and a stinging pain.
As her hands slid off her cheeks, in utter hopelessness and bewilderment, her stare was transfixed on him as he pulled his coat from the side, finally dressing it. She nabbed her phone quickly.
[I'm sorry! I was dreaming.]
"Dreaming what? With me?"
Her immediate response was a yes, banging her head briskly, but as soon as that mocking smirk sprouted on his face, she gestured a no. There was a short sneer as he tried to contain himself, but then he burst into laughter, his hair shaking a tad along with his chest, dwindling as he recomposed, wiping off the tears formed on the corners of his eyes.
"Do you hug me in your dreams or what?"
Pursing her lips in sheer contempt, she closed her mouth as the memory of the previous dream replayed in her thoughts. That's too embarrassing to admit, she dismissed the idea at once, answering flustered, swinging her hands in an exacerbated manner.
[No, I don't!]
He paused, his lips unglued slightly as she stared at him, dizzy enough from all the hot blood raising up her face, despite their exchanges from before, it never crossed her head to loathe him and keep her distance, instead, she was the one who approached him yesterday. Maybe it's because Rie felt lonely, but even with a person like him, she sought a connection, again, he didn't want to trample on that. His tone suddenly turned more serious.
"It's not a shame to like hugs," he packed all his belongings in his briefcase. "If you need one, just say so or do it," walking up to her, he swooped her close with an arm in an embrace, leaning onwards. "I won't push you away."
She gaped stunned, that warmth lasted only as quick as it came, dissipating the next second. He tapped her head lightly, her eyes following his silhouette as he passed by, that scent of lemon wafting into the air when he left the room.
Clutching her own hair, she had the urge to pluck her bangs, freaking out as the scene of him looking deep into her eyes as she woke up on his chest surfaced into her mind.
Begone, begone from my head!
With her shoulders slumping, a heavy, dispirited sigh escaped her lips.
Now he thinks I'm some sort of stalker that collects all his books and dreams about him… Not that he's much better with collecting my pictures like he's filling a sticker's book.
Swinging her head in refusal to those demotivating thoughts, she gathered all her stuff and took a deep breath, preparing for another day of work. But as soon as she left the room, someone awaited her there, an unpredictable familiar face.
"I will need to steal some minutes of your time, lady."
Saruyama grinned his glasses shaded by the ceiling lights of the corridor that were turned on even during daytime.