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Crossing Stars

Chapter Seven: Chance Encounter

Touya glowered at the blond hovering beside him.

"Do you have nothing better to do?" He growled at Hawks, already feeling irritated.

Even after he'd tended to his 'issue' last night, he hadn't gotten much sleep. He'd kept waking up in a pool of sweat and his body straining for more.

It was irritating how strong his reaction was. The chances of running into that woman a third time was next to zero. So it wasn't like he could take another shot.

"Someone is in a foul mood." Hawks laughed at him, "Trouble with women again?"

He had no idea how true that was. Although it was the opposite problem from what he usually had.

"If you're hanging around to get me to agree to working with you then you're shit out of luck. Go home, bird brain." Touya sniped back at him.

Hawks preened as women surrounded them in a thick crowd.

He grew irritated at the feeling of hands running over him. It did not inspire any sort of attraction in him whatsoever. All he could imagine was that woman's flustered expression and flushed cheeks.

Touya wrenched himself free from their grasp.

He was not in the mood to deal with any of this.

He blinked when he heard the shrill shout of a woman followed by the loud crashing of a building crumbling in upon itself.

Touya swiftly blasted forward. He used his quirk to propel him towards the action, plowing his fist into the attacker's face.

He recognized the villain as a recent jail breaker they'd been warned about. He was notorious for his troubling views on women. Often attacking them as he felt that he was owed their attention.

Touya blasted the villain with a wall of azure flames. The bastard cried out as he curled up on himself on the ground. He stomped his heel against the side of the would-be attacker's face.

"Pretty bold of you to turn up in my district." He growled at him, "Did you think you stood a chance?"

Police showed up shortly afterwards, taking the bastard into custody.

"Thank you." A familiar feminine voice started behind him.

He turned his head and felt his lips curl up into a smirk.

It seemed as if luck was on his side today.

"So we meet again." He strolled forward, enjoying the way her face flushed with every step he took.

"I believe that this is the first time we've met." The woman turned her head away.

His smirk widened, "Thanks for actin' like you didn't recognize me last night." Touya braced his arm on the wall behind her, "I appreciate that."

He watched as her face turned several shades darker.

It was rather cute how easily she flustered. He was used to women chasing him. In fact, nearly all of his past relationships had started because they'd pursued him first. The thought of being the one to do the chasing was an exciting prospect.

"Hey Dabi!" Hawks called out to him, "What are you doing over there?"

Touya ignored the man as he leaned closer to the woman. She made no attempt to run away from him that time. She flexed her hands as if unsure what to do with them. For the first time, he wanted someone to touch him.

"You think about my offer?" He pointedly ignored the feathered brat swiftly approaching them.

Her face turned impossibly dark at that.

"I'm not exactly single." She spoke, yet her eyes darted to the side guiltily.

"You say that," He angled himself until her lips were just a breath away. "But your expression is telling me a different story."

He wouldn't make a move until she gave him the go-ahead. She was clearly trying to figure out her relationship so she likely wouldn't be receptive if he got too pushy with her. So he'd simply roll the ball onto her court.

Touya growled beneath his breath when the familiar swarm of strange women pushed between them. He tried reaching for her but the fans swiftly yanked her out of his reach. He hardly blinked before the woman was gone again.

Touya retracted his hand.

That was the second time he missed getting her name, and her number for that matter.

He sighed as he was forced to contend with the reality of being a top three hero. The day had dragged on and it was only well after night had fallen that he'd managed to finish his work for the day. Villains seemed to be in a fighting mood lately.

It was close to midnight by the time he'd arrived home. Before he'd even made it inside, he found Ohagi pacing back and forth on his patio from the security feeds.

He swiftly made his way inside. He relocked his door and let Ohagi in.

The feline weaved himself between his legs, rubbing against him in an unusual show of affection.

"Well aren't you being weirdly nice." He laughed at the cat.

Touya crouched down as he picked Ohagi up into his arms.

The cat purred, butting his head against his cheek aggressively.

He untied the letter and read through the response.

I can understand how that could be frustrating. I'm not very good at dealing with people to be honest.

His smile dropped a little as he read the next line.

Currently, I've been dealing with all my friends and family telling me that I'm making a huge mistake. The guy I've been dating is nice but that's about all. I don't really like him that much but everyone is convinced that he's the best choice I'll ever have.

It sounded like she was dealing with some shit as well. He wasn't sure what was worse. Having friends and family push for him to be with one particular person, or having a multitude of strangers sexually harass him on the daily. He could say that he didn't envy her position one bit.

I actually ended up quitting my job this morning after my friend confronted me about this whole thing. I feel like I'm going crazy. I feel bad for dumping all of this on some person I've never even met but I think I just want to hear some unbiased opinions.

Touya held Ohagi while he pressed on, reading through the last of her message.

Sorry for the late response, by the way. There was a villain attack this afternoon and it'd caused a major back up. I hope I didn't leave you waiting. As for your suggestion, I'm not sure it'd be a wise idea to join someone I've never met on a vacation. No matter how wonderful it sounds, I'm afraid I must politely decline. It was a nice pick up line though. A solid seven out of ten.

-Kagome

Touya laughed as she ended her message with a drawing of Ohagi resting on a pillow.

"Looks like your mama needs some advice." He held the compliant feline close to his chest.

It would take him some time to come up with a thoughtful answer and Ohagi didn't seem ready to leave just yet either.

"Think you can stick around tonight? I'll send you home first thing in the morning." He brushed his palm over the top of Ohagi's head gently. The cat's purring grew louder and he knew he'd had his answer.

Touya made his way back onto his apartment as he started writing his response.

Even though he wasn't sure about giving her his name, he could think of something else he could give her in the mean time.

His smile softened as he continued to write out his message.

His mind was still on the woman he'd rescued this afternoon. However every time he tried to picture the woman sending him these letters, he could only imagine that woman's flustered expression. It really would be a miracle if they were one in the same but he wouldn't hold his breath.

Touya then tied the message to Ohagi's collar. Unlike previous nights, the cat made his way directly into his bedroom and made himself perfectly at home on his pillow.

He laughed at the feline as he took up his spot in the bed.

He'd keep the little creature just for tonight. He'd let Ohagi out first thing in the morning so that he could go home.

In truth he was looking forward to her next response.

Touya closed his eyes as he gradually fell asleep, that time his mind clear of any thoughts save for the message he was looking forward to.

Hopefully tomorrow he'd hear from her.