I was pulled in real close to Ryuu as he pecked me on the cheek. My face had to have gone red. My face felt as though it was burning up, from embarrassment or the heat of the moment I wasn't sure.
“Ryuu.” I whispered in shock, as the kiss was totally unexpected. Though, I couldn't say that I didn't enjoy it. On the contrary, I thoroughly liked it... a lot.
He instantly let go of my hand, as if he was ashamed for having kissed me. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to.” he muttered attempting to hold down a blush. I didn't want him to be ashamed of kissing me. He took a seat on his bed, keeping his eyes fixated on the window.
I didn't want him to keep apologizing for kissing me. I couldn't help it if he took me by surprise every time. I was not used to this, and I wouldn't have seen this day coming in a million years. Sure, I had thought about it, but I never thought it would actually come true. I smirked as I took a seat in front of him. "Ryuu." I said his name so he would look up.
When he did just as I had hoped, I kissed him full on the mouth. I could feel how happy and shocked he was, but I'm sure I gave off the same vibe. When we broke apart, I said, "Quit apologizing." And I did it again, liking the shock that he radiated when I caught him by surprise. Pulling apart, I whispered, "Happy Birthday."
-Elle-
As Kara and I were finishing up the food, my thoughts went back to Emiko and Ryuu. I smirked, thinking of what those two were doing up in his room. In his secluded room. Where they were alone. I shook my head as Takara handed me a cup of tea.
"Sorry about prying into your personal life," Takara told me as she sat opposite me at the kitchen table. She took a sip of her tea, smiled at the taste and turned her attention to me fully.
I toyed with the spoon in my cup and shrugged, "It's ok. It's just kind of taboo, I guess." I grabbed a napkin from the holder at the center of the table and dabbed at the tea that had splashed out of the cup.
"Talking about it usually makes me feel better," Takara tried again. I knew she was just trying to help, to make me feel better, but this was different. I wasn't going to feel better just by talking about it.
I shrugged. "We just don't get along, that's all." I didn't really want to get into a deep conversation about something that she knew nothing about.
"You envy her," Takara stated, she was serious now. There was no hint of anything but. When I looked up at her, wanting to ask her what she just said defensively, she continued. "She envies you."
"No," I shook my head adamantly. "No. She hates me."
"That may be how she acts on the outside, and how you act towards her, but that's not how you really feel. She wants to be close to family, accepted by her family that basically abandoned her. You want to be out on your own, away from the pressures of the Suihara life. You are jealous she was able to follow her dreams and do what she wanted to do. Even Ryuu doesn't know that she cries her self to sleep every night, still. She lonely, and misses her family. She wants to be you."
I shook my head. "Lonely? She has all of you. I am the one that is lonely. Everyone only ever wants to be my friend because of my status, my money, my name, because of who my family is. IT's all politics, and I want to be rid of it like she. I want people who care for me for me, like you and Ryuu do for her. Don't you dare tell me she is lonely."
"Yes, she is practically family here, but how would you feel knowing your family wants nothing to do with you, ever again? Did you know she ran into her father about two months ago? Do you have any idea how it feels to not even be acknowledged by your own blood? The hurt, the pain, the shame that radiated off of her for weeks will never truly die away. She can only suppress it. Ryuu is doing a good job of helping her through it and keeping her mind off of things."
Emiko never let her true feelings cross her face. I never would have known how much pain and turmoil truly lied within her heart. She wasn't leading as easy a life as I had first thought.
"Elle, we all made mistakes. It's how we come back from the mistakes that matters."
Continue?
