by Krystal-chan

  Yawning, Kaoru sleepily blinked, his eyes fluttering open. God, he really didn’t want to get out of bed. It was so warm, so comfortable. Closing his eyes once more he sighed, then jolted awake as the scent of strawberries suddenly permeated the air around him. Shimatta! Looking to his side slowly, his fears were confirmed when he saw the sleeping face of an angel. Then he realized they were both dressed. Well, sort of. Sitting up, he sighed in relief as last night’s memories came flooding back. Toshiya had come sauntering back to the bar, where he and Aya had been engaged in the most interesting conversation. After listening to the two talk for a little while, the slender bassist dragged them both by the hands out the club and insisted Aya come back to Kaoru’s apartment with them where Toshiya can take a shower and where Aya and Kaoru could finish up their lovely conversation about nothing, yet everything. Around three in the morning, Toshiya had fallen asleep on Aya’s lap where she had been seated on the plush couch, playing with his hair while he watched his favorite movie. They covered him up and headed to Kaoru’s bedroom to continue their conversation in silence. Well, they didn’t do that much conversing once they reached the bedroom. Somehow, Aya came up with the preposterous idea that men and women were just as skilled in wrestling, and even had the audacity to challenge him, of all people, to a match. Naturally, he pinned her within five seconds, and found his lips just inches away from hers. He kissed her, and she tasted like honeysuckle and strawberries. So, he kissed her again, because it felt so good. They did a lot of kissing that night, but they didn’t fuck. Thank god, they didn’t fuck.
Kaoru sighed and sat up, sliding out of bed. Glancing at Aya’s sleeping figure, he walked over to his closet and took out a fresh change of clothes. God, she was beautiful. How someone could leave such an impact on him in one night confused him. It terrified him. Walking past Toshiya, he smiled and ruffled the sleeping beauty’s hair. He headed into the bathroom. As he began to take off his caked-on makeup from last night, he wondered what this all meant, if it had any meaning at all. As he stripped out of his clothing and stepped into the hot, steady stream of water, he sighed, letting the warm liquid wash over him, soaking his skin. He began to lather his hair, and suddenly, he had the greatest desire to be tangling his fingers into those silken locks of black, lathering them for her. He nearly slapped himself. He was so hentai sometimes. God, those lips. To taste them again…He sighed as he rinsed his hair, grabbing his bar of soap. The bathroom door suddenly cracked open and he cursed at himself for forgetting to get the lock fixed. Through the frosted glass, he could see the lean figure of Toshiya.
“Oi, close the door!” Kaoru said quickly. The click of the door closing. The sound of the toilet seat being moved up, and moments later came the clear voice of Toshiya.
“I hope you didn’t sleep with her last night.” His tone was soft, however serious. This was a side of Toshiya that most people did not usually have the honor in seeing.
“Iie, I didn’t. We kissed, but that was all.” A moment of silence ensued, only the sound of water filled up the empty space. He could almost hear Toshiya smiling.
“Good. She’s not like them, you know.” The sound of a flushing toilet.
Kaoru sighed as he put the bar of soap back. “I know. That’s why I’m so scared.”
Toshiya blinked. Kaoru, admitting that he was scared? This was rather different. Kaoru was never scared. Kaoru was always strong, stoic. Yes, Kaoru would sometimes be sad, he would be very angry at times too, but he was never, ever scared. Or if he was, he never admitted it. No more water now, Kaoru was done with his shower. Toshiya slid the glass door open a crack and handed him a towel.
“Arrigato.”

Blinking the sleep out of her eyes, Aya stared at the ceiling blankly for a moment. She didn’t want to get out of bed. It was safe here, in this bed. If only she could stay here forever. If only she could simply lie here in this warm stupor, never moving, never caring for anything. Pushing the pain that suddenly cut into her heart like a knife away, she turned onto her side, letting her slender hand slide over the wrinkled sheet where Kaoru lay just hours before. It had been so gentle, so sweet. He had been so gentle. Tears stung her eyes and she turned onto her stomach to bury her face in the pillow. They were never gentle. When she felt the moisture recede, she turned back onto her side, her gaze settling on a bird, perched on a branch outside the window. The sun’s rays danced through the leaves of the trees, casting a warm glow on the side of the tiny blue bird that danced on the branch. It seemed to turn to look at her. Hello, little bird. Are you having a good day? I wish had wings like you so I could fly away. She sighed, sitting up and finally getting out of bed. Her bare fit hit the cold floor and she shivered slightly. Walking out into the hallway, she was greeted by the sight of makeup strewn all over the floor. Toshiya had seated himself in front of the full-length hall mirror and was applying eye makeup. His eyebrows were knitted together in concentration, and his tongue was sticking out of the corner of his mouth, licking the top lip in concentration. The sight of him was so adorable, that she couldn’t help but let out a laugh. Toshiya slowly looked to his right, and his face lit up with that wonderful grin of his.
“Ohayou, Aya!”
“Ohayou, Totchi…” She smiled, pausing by the mirror. God, she looked a mess. She had the worst case of bed head and her makeup was smeared. Biting on her lip, she looked down at Toshiya, then back up at her reflection. “Ano…Totchi…Where’s the bathroom?”
Toshiya pointed at the open door down the hallway. “There are towels in the closet, I think.”
“Arrigato.” Aya smiled and headed into the bathroom. Closing the door behind her, she flicked the lock and proceeded on taking off her makeup. Something brushed against her leg and she jumped, then looked down to see a calico cat. Smiling, she rubbed the cat’s head, then opened the door a crack to let the cat out into the hallway. Stripping her clothes off, she stepped into the shower and turned on the water, closing her eyes as the warm water beat against her bare skin.

Kaoru smiled as he walked past Toshiya, seated comfortably on the couch watching Saturday cartoons. Walking out into the hallway, he groaned inwardly as he saw the scattered bottles, tubes, and brushes spread out on the floor. How would he ever find his eyeliner? Gathering the loose items together, he dropped them into the bucket that Toshiya had lovingly dumped on the floor. Pawing through the items, he still couldn’t find the god-forsaken eyeliner. Then, he suddenly recalled that he left it under the mirror in the bathroom. Opening the bathroom door, he suddenly took a step backwards, gasping. Aya had just stepped out of the shower, completely naked as he walked into the bathroom. She froze, her mouth opening slightly. Time seemed to freeze. Kaoru wondered if he had still yet to wake up from this never-ending dream. Suddenly, she let out a squeal and stumbled backwards into the shower.
“Ah! Gomen nasai! Gomen!” Kaoru turned around, his heart pounding in his chest. “I didn’t know you were in here. I thought you were still sleeping, and I saw the bathroom door open, and I had to, to, get my…my eyeliner. Uh…I’ll just…go now.”
He closed the door behind him.

Aya’s heart was pounding in her chest. She felt as if she would faint if it would beat any harder. Sliding to the floor of the bathroom tub, she brought her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her body, shivering from cold, fear, and…something else that she couldn’t discern. She felt vulnerable. Biting on her lower lip, she sighed. She had to get out of here. Had to…escape. He would be just like the others. He would…No, Kaoru wasn’t like the others. And Toshiya was like a child, almost. They wouldn’t hurt her…Would they? Kaoru had turned and walked out, apologized for seeing her in such a state… The others would have taken the opportunity to tear away any amount of dignity she had left. Huddled in the small corner of the bathtub, she began to cry. Oh, how she wish she could be normal. What she would give…to just be normal.

to be continued

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