Tuesday 1.8 - Interruptions

[7bladed.livejournal.com]

It'd already been what felt like hours, and she hadn't been able to write a single word down. Homework was the least of her worries at the moment. She frowned down at the paper, her mind projecting imaginary images of the day's events onto it. Omi not being at school. Coming home to a unusually noiseless - not to mention closed - store. Ran's pale face. The awkwardness of the conversation they'd had at the bottom of the stairs.

Aya-Chan glanced at the clock, and was surprised to see that only a few minutes had passed since she'd walled herself in her room. Perhaps... well, perhaps the others hadn't left yet. And maybe she'd get another chance at a conversation - a real conversation - with Ran.

The first thing the young girl noticed as she stepped out of her room was the silence. It was a silence she wasn't quite used to; at least, not on a Tuesday night. She hastily pushed aside the suspicions and doubts that automatically entered her thoughts. Not now. Not when she'd already made up her mind to have a nice talk - and perhaps dinner - with the others.

Aya-Chan quickened her steps down the hall, reaching Ran's door with record speed. Raised her hand. Knocked.

There was no turning back now.

Comments

[7bladed.livejournal.com]

Aya-Chan sniffed, and reached up to wipe her face. She couldn't formulate words right now, or coherent thoughts for that matter. She nodded, the thought of school not even crossing her mind. An entire day. A day to talk with Ran, and try to understand.

Because all she really wanted was to understand... For the first time that night, she gave a sliver of a smile.

"I could... still prepare something small." She didn't really want to accept that he'd be gone soon. Didn't really want to stay alone in the house and let his imagination wander. "And you... everyone... could eat a little something before..." she didn't want to say it, "... leaving."

[genuinelie.livejournal.com]

Ran's eyes widened yet again, surprise and gratitude warring in them. "You don't have to do that," His voice was low. "It's enough..." He cleared his throat. "Aya." He reached up, touched her hair gently. "Just-be here when I get back." His voice still held a trace of his fears, though he fought to keep it steady and assuring.

[7bladed.livejournal.com]

Aya-Chan swallowed. Nodded. "I'll be here." She reached out for his hand as it brushed her hair. Held his hand in hers. "I'll always be here."

[genuinelie.livejournal.com]

Ran nodded, shakily. It was more than he ever hoped.

She hadn't run.

He dropped his hands to his sides. There wasn't enough time for him to start the conversation he knew they had to have. "Do you want me to come down with you?" He asked, after a sideways glance at the bed. He was unwilling to don his full mission gear in front of her, even now.

[7bladed.livejournal.com]

She noticed his glance at the bed and shook her head. "No..." a part of her wanted to scream at him to stay and not go, but she knew that wasn't possible. She headed for the door and then paused.

"You'll be careful, won't you...?" She was afraid to turn around and look at him when she asked the question. You'll come back, right?

[genuinelie.livejournal.com]

"Yes." Ran stated, firmly. He would have added how easy he felt this mission was compared to the others they'd had, but he knew that would only alienate Aya more. He didn't want her thinking about the other things he'd done.

"Aya - we'll talk tomorrow?"

[7bladed.livejournal.com]

She was afraid of the firmness in his voice. Afraid that, if she opened her mouth now, her questions and concerns would all come pouring out. So, she simply nodded. She opened the door; the eerie hallway that had made her suspicious on here way here was now haunting her.

[Aya-Chan exits]

[genuinelie.livejournal.com]

Ran let out his breath after she was gone, shuddering.

What had he done?

He should have gone after her, but it would only make things worse. He needed to give her space to adjust to him.

He passed his hand through his hair, the blood-colored locks slipping through his fingers.

She hadn't...she was trying to accept him. The realization was almost more than he could comprehend.

But what had he done?

He had known that he couldn't keep his choices from bleeding over into her life, not when they were so closely tied to her recovery and both of their well-being. He couldn't regret it. He had done what he'd had to, and the dark beasts he'd killed deserved their fate.

Nevertheless, he couldn't block out the look he'd seen in her eyes. How they'd widened, filled with tears, filled with fear, filled with...

Ran grabbed the coat off his bed and pulled it over his shoulders, durable fabric molding to his frame. He began fastening the buckles, tight so the fabric wouldn't interfere with his movement. When he was done, he lifted his katana and headed to the roof, locking his door behind him.

He needed to clear his mind before he did what he had to do.