Urban theory

Urban theory; chapter 4

Ayame looked over her shoulder as she was sitting over the bar desk into the middle of flashing lights and darkness. That was a mistake because when she scanned the room she received a several sleazy smirks that almost made her choke to her drink. Why did I let Rikimaru convince me to come here half naked, she thought?

The bartender must have seen the horrified look in her eyes as she smiled so very nicely. He wasn’t drunk now was he, she found her self thinking.

“Another one, miss?”

“…Sure, why not…” She briefly smiled back offering to pay.

“…This one is on the house.”

“Oh thank you…”

She felt how strong arm found its way around her waist. She would have reacted to it soon but Rikimaru already purred to her ear. “…Having fun?”

The bartender looked over them, smiled, different than before and moved away to serve some other customer.

“I was…! Until you came and made all the men vanish around me…”

“Yeah, I’m sorry… I do have that kind of an effect sometimes… How many have you taken? Those guys just aren’t even near the same level as you…”

“…I was talking about the bartender…”

“Oh…” Rikimaru pulled back and sat on one of the chairs. He took a look over the man behind the bar. “…Not bad, but you do realize he won’t get off before the closing?”

“I know… Just my luck, isn’t it? ...So was the loo any better? You were away awful lot of time…” She tried to keep a straight face.

“No I wasn’t… …What do you think of me…! …and no, it, wasn’t…”

She blurted out, whatever, and greedily fixed her lips on the reddish yellow drink.

“…Thanks for dragging me here with you… I don’t think I could hav…”

“…Don’t thank me! …I’m the one who’s drinking and you’re just baby-sitting…Besides I really should be helping you… But I don’t know how as you’re going to keep telling me your okay…” Normally she would have waited for him to tell her that he really was okay if not more, but suddenly her ears registered a familiar song. “We have to go and dance this…!” She grabbed his hand and pulled him on the floor.

“…What song is this! And how many have you actually had while I was away?”

Oh… what is this called? …Something… mea!”

“What!”

“From faithless!”

“What are they playing, the oldies!”

“No, it’s a classic!”

“Yeah whatever, I have danced this so many times…!”

“Don’t be a prude! I haven’t got the time to run in the bar every night like someone!”

“Fine, fine!”

Few songs, few drinks and two hours later:

“…I’m gona take a break! Will you stay here!” Rikimaru asked Ayame who was still going on non stop on the dance floor.

“You have no durability…!”

“Well you wouldn’t know about that! I’ll go get some water…!”

He left Ayame dancing even as he was a bit worried to leave her there alone. There seemed to be people well over the safety regulations because it was so hard to get trough the mass. Finally he reached the bar and waited for his turn.

The music wasn’t so loud here so he could easily hear what were the two men saying next to him on the desk.

“When has Oni last time held an exhibition of his own?”

“I can’t remember… How does the guy life?”

“He probably does customized work… That’s what I’d do if I had such a big name…”

“Yeah right, you’d just use it to get laid…” The other laughed.

“So? Like he wouldn’t. I heard he has some new girl in sight, right now…”

“Bastard, should save us one… or two…”

Rikimaru stared bitterly at their backs. Someone tapped on his shoulder. Rikimaru could see how the two men turned towards the one behind his back. Oh no, it can’t be, he thought as panic and then anger washed trough his body.

He was clearly surprised when he noticed it was Ayame. Luckily she was that much drunk she wasn’t fast enough to read the unmentionable face Rikimaru had for some time. Rikimaru cursed himself for being sometimes so self-centred. Of course the men next to him had accidentally swallowed their tongues spotting her happy half drunk, half naked feminine appearance.

Rikimaru pulled her next to him, safe from the lusty looks and lectured himself, why had he convinced her to come here dressed as she was. “What are you having?”

“I think plain water would do nice…”

“No way girl…”

“Mr. Azuma, you aren’t planning to get me drunk and home with you, are you?”

“What if I am planning just that…? Tequila… Four.” He continued to the bartender.

“…I’m afraid to ask… Four?”

“Don’t worry, Ill assist you…”

Half an hour after the closing time:

Rikimaru paid the taxi as Ayame was opening the door to the stairway.

“Wait up…!” Rikimaru catches the door before it closed despite that he’d almost fallen over on his way to it. Ayame laughed for the clumsy Rikimaru and waited him.

“…Don’t think I’ll ever make it up… it’s such a long way and my feet are killing me…” She took of her high heeled shoes.

“Stop nacking, I’m not gona carry you like last time…”

“Since when! Have you. Ever. Carried me!”

“Don’t remember, do you?”

Surprisingly soon they managed to get at their floor. Rikimaru waited for Ayame as she was few steps behind him. “You got the keys…?”

“There I have such a reliable baby-sitter, can’t even remember the keys…” She unlocked the door. “Can not be with out a drink for one night…”

They went in and closed the door. “… Can’t even stop me from dancing my self to dead… Shall I continue…?”

“Please don’t…”

“So you are going to tell me whats the matter?”

“Hmmm… no. Are you going to the shower first or…?”

“Did you see him there?”

“…Who?”

“Don’t do that…?” She walked to the sofa and leaned over the back support. Rikimaru looked finally to her over his armchair.

“…This is so stupid… I hear someone talking about him… Sad really, as I finally cleared him out of my mind, someone mentions him… I’m cursed, what can I do… You going to the shower or not? Or do I have to drag you in there?”

“…Don’t tempt me…” She shook her finger laughing a little.

He was surprised that she didn’t say anything more. Just walked into the bath room and soon he heard the water running.

Maybe this was getting a little too pathetic. But how could he change the way he felt almost constantly. What was so special about him? Nothing? Maybe he should start a new hobby or something to get new interests into his life.

He could feel the down fall coming and thought better of to get some sleep before that.

Morning was unusually sunny and for some reason it didn’t bother him. Almost cheered him up a bit. He rolled over and looked at his lock: 12:15 am.

The flat was quiet so he thought she wouldn’t be up just yet. After all she had more drinks than he had. He thought he really should make up to her that she’d looked his moping long enough now and got up. He peaked into her room finding her curled up inside a thick planked, sleeping like a beauty. She would sleep still at least an hour, he thought taking some of her hair off her face.

He went to have a shower and brush his teeth. He looked at his mirror image thinking about last night. It was all too clear in his memory. And Ayame had to witness it all, he was ashamed. Which was strange, because they had no secrets or courtesy between them. They had know each other way pass that stage.

Beginning at this morning he would start to be happy again and not to be a prude like she would say.

After he had made a simple breakfast he thought to wake her up. Breakfast in bed still might not be a good idea as he wasn’t sure exactly how bad she would feel. She was more or less awake for his luck.

“You awake?” He kneeled next to the bed as she rubbed her eyes and yawned pulling the blanket back up to her arms.

“…What’s the time?”

“…Nearly half past one…”

“…Really? On what day?”

“Day after Saturday, I think… Get up, I made breakfast.”

He saw how she winced.

“Or… You can have some extra strong coffee?”

“Coffee? Yes, please…”

“Stay, I’ll get it…”

“And some pain killers, will you?”

He came back with a cup of coffee and tablets.

“Yes coffee…! Come to mama, you dear black substance…”

Rikimaru handed her the cup like she would have been some sort of a dangerous beast that might bite off his hand. He watched her gulp down her medicines as he sat on a chair next to her work desk.

“You mind throwing me that sweater?” She pointed a pile of clothes behind him.

She pulled on the slight red sweater that had over sized sleeves and v-neck continuing to drink her coffee. “…How can you be so… fresh?”

“I’m the baby-sitter remember? …I can get your car back today…”

“With what?”

“I think I’m gonna jog there and drive back…”

“It’s quite a far… You don’t have to do that. I’m a cop, the truck delivery will soon tow it to the pound, which is next to the police station and I don’t even have to pay for it because Jake knows someone from there…”

“I don’t mind jogging, honestly… Or don’t you trust my driver skills?”

“Go get if you feel like it…” She finished her coffee. “You mentioned something about breakfast?”

She got up from the bed before he could stop her. Walking to her closet bare footed, she looked for her pyjama pants. “You cooking?” The sweater covered half of her hips as her grey under pants peeped under its hem.

“…Yep”

“My, my… why does it bother me…”

“…What?”

“You making food. If my memory serves me right you aren’t any better than the one in question…?”

“…I had some practice… I can make toasters now… with butter and everything…”

“…Lucky me…” Ayame muttered walking outside the room her pyjamas over her shoulder.