Chapter 7. A Long Day | ||||||
"Oh." Kenji replied, unable to do more than mutter his reply and glance nervously at the ground. "Well, you helped me too... thanks Long." "Don't mention it." he replied. "The strains of such circumstances must be difficult to bear... especially for one of your age." He reached one hand over to pat the young man on the head. "I was also very young when I became as assassin... I have not forgotten what it was like... Anything I can do to lighten your burden lightens mine as well. And if you ever want to talk about this again, for any reason, do not hesitate to ask." "T-thanks." Kenji replied, still stunned by the man's directness and honsety. "Order number 34!" someone called. Long checked the receipt. "That's us." he nudged Kenji's shoulder and they walked over to the counter where all the food was waiting. "I guess Kenji was right, I am a little grouchy." Yugo admitted. "I knew I shouldn't have stayed up so late last night going through those papers... Kenji offered to help, but he's not really doing so well either, so I told him to go to bed. Poor guy's still upset about what happened a month ago." "That's still a pretty pathetic excuse for acting like a perverted idiot." Shina critisized. "I understand, Yugo." Alice cooed, snuggling into his chest. "Ally." Yugo complained, pushing her back into her seat. "That's getting really uncomfortable." "Sorry." she replied, slouching back into her chair. "What's taking them so long anyways?" Uriko wondered, getting up to peer over the sea of heads, chairs, and tables that separated them from the other two. "Hey! I think I see them!" She hopped right out of her seat and ran through a couple yards worth of people, stopping just in time to avoid crashing head first into Kenji. A bucket of chicken, a tub of mashed potatoes, a box of biscuits and a tray holding six fountain drinks swayed precariously in his grasp. "Hi Riko." he replied from behind the food. "I'll help!" she offered excitedly, grabbing the box of biscuits and tub of potatoes. "Thanks," Kenji said. "I was so close to dropping something." "Food!" Yugo yelled as they arrived at the table and started depositing their load. "I'm so hungry I could eat half of all this!" "If you do I'll..." Shina threatened. "Yeah, yeah," Yugo interrupted. "I know, you'll give me a fat lip. Just look at all this food!" "I am pretty hungry." Alice agreed. "Me too!" Uriko added, grabbing two pieces of chicken from one bucket after she had set down what she carried. Kenji set down the last soda and they both returned to their seats. "There." Long sighed, setting the last of it on the table. "Will this be enough?" "That'll be more than enough." Shina answered, grabbing a few pieces of chicken and setting them on a napkin. "Pass the potatoes!" Yugo shouted. "And the gravy too... Yyyyyes! This is gonna feel so good in my poor empty stomach!" "Was there any change?" Shina asked Long. He pulled a few bills and some coins out of one pocket and Shina dropped them into her purse before returning to her meal. Long selected a large chicken wing and began to meticulously peel off it's greasy, fried skin. "Mm, mm, mmm!" Yugo hummed while biting into a drumstick. "I didn't know how hungry I was until I saw all this delicious food!" "Don't talk with your mouth full Yugo!" Alice scolded, slapping his arm. "Ow!" he mumbled, a large piece of meat still being chewed between his teeth. Alice rolled her eyes and gave him a disgusted look while Kenji, Uriko, and Shina giggled at him before returning to their meals. After peeling every inch of skin off of his piece of chicken and setting it aside Long carefully tore all the good pieces of meat from the bone. In the middle of his feasting Yugo happened to look down at Long's neat little piles of skin, bones and meat. "What the hell are you doing?" he wondered while chewing on a bite of biscuit. "What did I tell you about talking with your mouth full Yugo!?!" Alice demanded. "You're not supposed to eat chicken like that." Yugo complained. "To each his own." Long replied, delicately popping a small piece of meat into his mouth and taking a sip from the straw of his drink. He chewed and swallowed his food before adding, "It obviously wouldn't injure you if someone taught you to be a little neater while you're eating." "Ally's already trying that." Yugo replied, sticking his biscuit covered toungue out at her. "Ew!" she squealed, backing away from him and into Kenji. "Hey!" Kenji complained, his hand knocking over his drink which spilled over the table and on to Uriko's clothes. "Ah!" she cried as the brown liquid poured over her, soaking through the thin material, wetting her skin. Shina started laughing so hard that her chair fell over backwards, taking her with it. "Sorry." Kenji apologized. "It wasn't your fault." she growled, glaring at Yugo. "Oops." Yugo mumbled. "What an imbecile." Long muttered. "Ha, ha ha!" Shina laughed hysterically. "What an idiot! Ha, ha! You're really gonna get it for this, Yugo!" Uriko growled angrilly and got into her fighting position, ready to pounce on the oafish wolf zoanthrope and scratch a few new scars into his face... "Uh oh..." Yugo muttered, raising his arms in defence. "Come on now... I didn't mean to..." "Oooo." Uriko's furious voice rumbled. "You've completely soaked my outfit, look at this! It's ruined!" "This is a moment to remember." Long commented, holding his hands before his face as though he were holding a camera. He leaned back in order to capture both the look of Uriko's clothing and the look on Yugo's face and pretended to snap a picture. "Click!" And everybody, even Uriko and Yugo, broke into laughter. "That was a great idea Long." Shina admitted, taking off her coat and hanging it on the rack by the door. "I had a lot of fun today. Who'd have thought I'd actually enjoy going to the mall?" They walked through the empty room into the next and she started a fire in the fireplace. They both sat down on the couch, allowing their tired bodies to sink into it's soft cusions and realx. For a few minutes they gazed silently at the flickering flame in the hearth. "It wasn't entirely my idea." Long admitted. "Oh?" Shina gave him a quizzical glance. "Then whose was it?" "Would you be terribly angry with me if I told you that it was your father's?" "What!?!" she shouted in surprise. "My father asked you to take me out to the mall? That doesn't sound like him." "No, your father asked me to take you to the mall in order to meet up with the others, particularly Yugo." he clarified. "Oh no!" she groaned. "Not that again! He's such a pain sometimes! What did he say to you Long? Did he tell you to leave me alone? That I was better off with Yugo?" "Something similar to that." he sighed. "Don't listen to him, okay?" she pleaded. "He's such a jerk! Doesn't he realize that I'm old enough to make my own decisions!?! I don't care what he thinks!" She clenched her fists and pounded them on her knees in anger before letting out a deep sigh and willing herself to relax. "How can he do this to me?" "I am certain that he's not trying to make the decision for you Jannu." Long offered hopefully. "But at this point in time he doesn't see the two of us as a possibility, so of course he's going to look elsewhere." "You make it sound so simple." she complained. "I guess it's what I should expect, but... Long? What do you think? I mean, do you even think that we're a possibility?" "Well..." he muttered, glancing at the ground and drawing a few fingers of one hand through his bangs in short, nervous strokes. "I..." I don't want to lie to you Jannu... and maybe for this I don't have to. "Yes." he confessed, looking up at her face. "Really?" she wondered, returning a warm smile. "Perhaps..." he added. "Sometime in the future." "Why not now Long? Is it still too early for you?" "It's not really that." he admitted, astonishing himself. This is not what I had planned on... but I never want to lie to you Jannu. "I just... I feel..." "Yes?" she asked, leaning towards him, bringing their faces closer as she gazed into his deep brown eyes. "I am unworthy." "What?" "I do not deserve someone as exquisitely beautiful as you." "Oh Long... don't say that." "It is true. How can I ever hope to share my life with someone else if I cannot even come to terms with myself?" Overcome with emotion Shina leaned foreward, her face colliding with his as she gently caressed his lips with her own. He was so surprised that he did not pull back or turn away, but sat still, savoring the softness of her touch. She broke the kiss, pulling away to look into his eyes. "You didn't..." "I-I c-couldn't." he stammered, his voice rough with passion as bright patches of pink appreaing on his cheeks. He shook his head and glanced nervously at the floor, one hand reaching up to brush through his bangs. "So that's what this is all about." she realized. "Your past. Why didn't you tell me?" "I..." he muttered. "I tried... but..." "Never mind." she brushed the matter aside. "It must be a hard thing to say." "It is." he agreed. "Nevertheless... it is something that I had to admit to myself... and something that I must resolve." "I understand." she told him. "How long do you think that will take?" "I have no idea." he revealed. "In my opinion it has taken too long already." He sighed deeply and straightened himself on the couch. He sunk himself into the cushions and studied the fire as though somewhere in it's depths he could find the answer to his terrible problem. Shina also turned to look at the flame, setting on hand gently to the side of his left knee. Her touch a reminder, that whenever he felt lost or alone she would always be there. "What were you doing while you were a hermit all those years?" Shina wondered. "Hiding." Long replied. Not just from the world, but also from myself... something I never should have done. The kitchen phone behind them rang, scattering their concentration and demanding attention. Shina moaned in irritation before getting off the couch and stomping over to answer it. Long turned his head to watch her with slight interest as the picked it off the hook. "Hello? Oh, hi Yugo... I'm not sure, he wasn't out here when we got home..." she pulled the phone away from her ear and covered it with one hand. "Dad!" she yelled loudly at the stairs. "Dad, you home!?!" "I'll go knock on his door." Long offered, walking towards the stairs. "Hold on a mintue Yugo," Shina told the phone. "I'm not even sure if he's here." Long bounded quickly up the stairs only to find a note on the door. 'Dear Shina, Jenny and I have taken a little time off to enjoy the business of the city. We should be home around 8 or 9 pm. Love, Dad.' "Hm." Long took the note from the door and walked back down the stairs to show it to Shina. "No, Yugo." she answered the mumbling phone. "He's gone until eight or nine tonight... Yes, I know this is important... Well there's nothing I can do, but it's only a couple hours anyway right? When he get's home I'll have him call you okay? Alright, bye." She hung the phone back on it's hook and studied the note from the door. "Well, I'm not really surprised." "What's going on?" Long asked. "I don't know, I guess Yugo's got some important speech tomorrow that he's having trouble with and he thinks he urgently needs Dad's help. Pretty silly, huh? But he is really serious about his work." Long nodded his understanding and Shina crumpled up the note and tossed it on to the nearest kitchen counter. "Well, looks like we've got the house to ourselves for another hour or two. I'm bored, what do you want to do Long?" He shrugged, unable to think of anything worth suggesting. Shina shot her arms into the air, stretching her back until they heard a distinct craking sound. "Ow!" she roared, leaning over and rubbing the sore area. "Damnit! I knew I shouldn't have done that! What ever possessed me to do that anyway?" "Are you alright?" Long asked, lending one hand to gently stroke the middle of her back. "I guess I could use another back rub..." she suggested, an ironic smile forming over her mouth. "You know, you're just what I need Long. If I didn't have you I think I'd be calling a chiropractor right about now..." "Well I wouldn't want you to waste money on something I can help with." he agreed. "Great." she thanked him. "I'm gonna go lay down on my bed this time, much more comfortable than the couch." She sent him a warm smile before leading him up the stairs and into her room, stopping right in front of her bed. She looked back at him anxiously as he closed the door. "Yes?" he inquired, catching the look. "I thought..." she began, fiddling with the edges of her shirt. Then she realized that he would never consent to what she was thinking. Better to ask for forgiveness then permission, she thought as she pulled her shirt off over her head and threw it on the floor. Her back still turned to him, she proceeded to undo her bra strap. "Jannu?" Long muttered, his face turning red. "Please Long," she pleaded, sliding the bra straps off her shoulders. "it's so much better this way, and they always do it in the spas." His mouth gaped as she threw the bra to the ground next to her shirt. "It'll help my back alot more this way." she argued. "I... I don't..." he mumbled. She laid front down on her bed and folded her arms up under her pillow, resting her head on it. "You know," she taunted. "if we're really nothing more than friends than this shouldn't bother you at all." "Is that so?" he muttered angrilly, raising one hand to nervously straighten his glasses. He walked over to her side, eager to prove himself, and dug his fingers into the exposed skin in the middle of her back, massaging gently. What a foolish thing to do, he scolded himself. Her aggressiveness must be starting to rub off on me. "Mmm, thanks Long." she let out a sigh of contentment. "It's starting to feel better already." I would feel much better if I could convince myself that the only reason you took your shirt off was for a massage. Long complained to himself. She closed her eyes and tried to relax as his fingers rubbed persistently against her tired back muscles. He massaged in circles down her back, his rough and worn fingers gliding softly over her smooth skin. His own back began to get tired from bending over the bed, so he climbed on top of it and sat on her lower back. He looked up at her face to see if she objected, but she lay there with her eyes closed, peacefully enjoying the massage. He studied the beauty of the curve of her spine as he continued, and the gracefullness of her neck, barely aware when her muscles began to relax. As hard as he tried he was unable to completely avert his eyes from the smooth cresents of flesh that stuck out from under her chest to either side. I musn't even think such thoughts, he warned himself, turning his eyes away. Shame on me. He concentrated on her neck, taking hold of her shoulders and soothing her strained muscles. Before he even realized what he was doing he leaned down to her, bringing his lips in contact with her skin. Her eyes shot open as he gently kissed the back of her neck, but she didn't move, fearfull of drawing his attention away from the task. He moved slightly downward, his soft kisses inching their way down her spine. She relished the feel of his light kiss, the warmth of his breath, and the tickle of his bangs brushing over her skin. He continued until he reached the middle of her back, and then went up again, sucking the skin from one side of her neck into his mouth. Unable to supress it, a sigh of passion escaped her lips. The sigh reached his ears, shocking him back into reality. What am I doing? he demanded of himself. How could I do this? He shifted his body, ready to get up. "No, don't!" Shina felt him shift and rolled over, wrapping an arm around his neck and gazing into his eyes. "I..." I'm sorry Jannu, I never should have done that. "I think..." We should stop this, maybe I should leave. "That's it Long," she drew her fingers through his bangs. "don't think." She pulled him down to her and kissed him insistenly, her hands caressing his neck and the side of his face, gently holding him there. Please Long, I need this. I want you so much. She continued her kiss for what seemed like several minutes before his lips began to move, returning her kiss. She moved her hand from the back of his neck and found his other hand. She set it gently over her waist, moving it slowly up towards her chest. "No." he said, breaking the kiss and removing his hand from her side and her grasp. They stared into each other's eyes for a moment before he bent down to kiss her cheek, one hand reaching for her blankets and pulling them over her naked chest, careful not to touch it while doing so. "I'm sorry Long." she sighed. "I guess I got a little carried away..." "It was my fault." he confessed. "I don't know what came over me." He got off of her and sat crosslegged on the bed. "I'm so weak. I never should have even thought about doing anything like..." "Long." she interrupted. "Don't. Just don't. I hate to hear you say things like that." "Oh." he looked up at her realizing that she was right. "I'm sorry." "That's another thing, quit apologizing for yourself." She gathered the blanket over her chest and held it there as she sat up. "Sometimes people do things that they regret, it's normal. You don't have to apologize for every single little thing." They sat silently for a moment, giving each other nervous glances. "You see what I mean?" he moaned. "I am pathetic." "Hey, I said quit that!" she threw a mock punch at his arm. "I don't agree with that you know! I think that you're a really great guy, and you don't want to disagree with me!" He laughed at the threat and nodded his acquiescence. "Very well then Jannu, I certainly wouldn't want to start an argument." "That's what I thought!" she declared, crossing her arms over her chest. "Hm." the movement had attracted Long's attention and he climbed off the bed to retrieve her discarded clothing from the floor. He picked it delicately off the ground, as if afraid to touch it, and shyly placed the bra and shirt on her lap. "Oh well," she sighed, picking them up. "I guess that's the last time I try and seduce you like that." "You... you were trying to...?" Long mumbled, a shocked look occupying his face. "Oh, no." Shina corrected him, laughing. "I just meant... I mean, I wasn't really trying to... Ah, well... all I really wanted was the massage... and maybe to find out how you really felt about me. I meant that I wanted to seduce you into revealing your feelings but..." "I suppose that is somewhat comforting." he admitted, shaking his head at the idiocy of it all. "You didn't really think I wound try and seduce you, did you?" she questioned. "I'm going to be smart and not answer that." "I'm not that impulsive." she groaned. "Anyways, I guess you wanted me to put these back on, huh?" "Not in my presence." he explained, a playfull smile crossing his lips as he backed towards the door. "Perhaps I will await you downstairs." "I'm gonna come downstairs and beat the crap out of you!" she threatened, rolling one hand into a fist. "As soon as I get these back on." "As long as you have them on I am certain I won't mind." he replied, before vanishing behind the door, and shutting it tightly. How silly, she thought to herself, dropping the blanket and pulling her bra up into it's place. But I'm glad... that went well. It could have been alot worse. She fastened her bra in the back and pulled her shirt back over her head. She really hadn't meant to go quite as far as she had, and she certainly didn't want to scare the timid Chinese man away. Guess I'm going to have to be more careful. She jumped off of her bed and rushed through the door, past the hall, and hurried down the stairs. She spotted Long sitting on the couch, staring at the fire once more. She rushed over to him and faked a sock to his jaw before sitting down next to him and pounding his chest. He ignored her punches, a serious look on his face as he stared vacantly in the direction of the hearth. "What are you thinking?" she requested. He let out a deep sigh and stared into the fire for a few minutes before replying. "Jannu, what are we? Is this... Obviously we are not just friends." "We're boyfriend and girlfriend then." she replied cheerfully. "Yeah, I know it sounds like some silly high school slang, but I don't really know any other way of saying it. I guess you could say we were dating, but then that implies that we'd also be seeing other people and I don't want to do that. " "Hm." he nodded, his gaze still directed at the fire. "And what will your father think of this I wonder?" "Who cares?" she brushed the matter aside. "Don't worry about him Long, I'll make sure he doesn't do anything stupid." "I am sure he is also of the opinion that I don't deserve you." "Did he said that?" "Not directly, he may have indicated at it though." "My father is not usually very subtle you know." Shina pointed out. "If he was going to tell you that you didn't deserve me he would've said so." "Perhaps you are right." he nodded in agreement. "He certainly does not seem the subtle type... and neither do you." "That's right!" she conceeded. "If I have something to say, then I say it! I sure as hell don't go around pretending that nothing's wrong... oh wait, that's your job." "Er... I am terribly sorry for that Jannu." "It's alright." she assured him, throwing a fake punch at his arm. "I was just kidding, but anyways I've got my faults too... I'm too impulsive and you're too controlled, if only we could both influence each other maybe we could get something right huh?" "Perhaps." he agreed, laughing at the idea. "You see, I don't know why my dad has this thing about me and Yugo." she complained. "I mean, if anything, Yugo's more like a brother to me, you know? I mean, he's a good friend and we've known each other for a long time, but we're too much alike... both a couple of hot heads." "He he, I see..." "Long... did you hear something?" "Hm?" "I thought I heard the sound of my dad's car... I'm gonna go see." she hopped off the couch and ran into the front room. Long followed at a slower pace and found her peeking around the drapes through the window. "Oh, how disgusting!" she groaned. "Do they always have to do that!?!" "Kissing again?" Long guessed. "Grrr..." she growled. "How would he like it if he had to walk into the house and see someone..." Kissing and making out... maybe someone like me and Long. "Hey..." she turned to look at him, a mischievious glint in her eyes. "Um, Jannu... I really don't think that would be the best way to tell him..." "Now what did I tell you about that thinking!?!" she argued, pushing him backwards onto the couch opposite the door. "Just say no!" "Alright," he replied, shielding himself with his arms as she climbed on top of his lap. "NO!" "Hey, I didn't mean like that!" "But you told me to say no..." he whined. She grabbed his arms and pinned them to his sides, kissing his neck passionately. "Jannu... do I have any choice in the matter?" "You should grab my butt, that'll really get a reaction out of him." "What!?! Are you crazy!?! HE'S GOING TO KILL ME!!!" "Oh please, I won't let him lay a finger on you..." Despite her assurance Long shook his head violently. "No? Let's see... what else could we do then?" She climbed off his lap and sat next to him on the couch and the door knob began to move. Just when he was about to breathe a sigh of relief she grabbed his head and one arm, jerking them towards her. She kissed him passionately, using her tongue to pry open his mouth and her hand to set his hand over her breast right before the door opened. There was a moment of silence before he father's eyes found them on the couch. "What the hell!?!" Alan yelled, shocked by the scene. "Oh my." Jenny gasped. Long uttered a high-pitched scream and jumped up from the couch just long enough to run behind it and crumple his body into a little ball. Shina started laughing so hard that she almost fell off the couch. "WHAT THE %$#% IS GOING ON HERE!?!?!" Alan Gado screamed. "Ha, ha! You should've seen the look on your face Dad!" Shina laughed wildly. "I can't believe you fell for that!" "WHAT!?!" "I will never outlive this complete and utter humiliation." Long's sad voice whined from behind the sofa. "Am I so weak that I cannot even defend myself from a hormone drenched adolescent!?! I have been violated!" After she heard his last statement Shina laughed so hard that she rolled off the sofa and over the floor. Gado raised an eyebrow and glanced curiously down at his daughter. "What have you done?" he demanded. Jenny giggled. "Dear, this really isn't funny..." "I can't believe it!" she squealed. "A grown man violated by a young woman, even if she is your own battle hardened daughter, this is hillarious!" "I hope you're happy Jannu." Long groaned. "I didn't mean it!" she defended. "It was just for fun!" "FUN!?!?!" he roared, jumping out from behind the couch. "You call this FUN!?!" "Aw, come on Long!" she pleaded, smiling up at him from the floor. He opened his mouth to say something and raised his hand into the air, waving it as if to prove some point, and then realized that he couldn't figure out what to say... So he growled angrilly in frustration and stomped over to sit in the nearest chair. Jenny started laughing so hard that she doubled over and Alan shook his head in distaste. "Please Long." she beseeched him. "Hmpf!" he crossed his arms in indignation and turned his face away. "Come on Long, you know I love you..." the room fell silent and everyone, even Long, turned to stare at her. "What do you mean by that?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow. "Er... I mean..." she glanced back and forth between him and her father nervously. "as a friend anyways... Dad!" she whined, tunring towards him. "Oh no," was his retort. "I'm not getting you out of this one! You made your bed and now you're gonna lay it in!" "That's an appropriate expression." Jenny agreed. "You have no idea." Long muttered, referring to their previous experience. Jenny and Alan took it wrong and gave the couple accusing looks. "You better not have..." Alan began. "I have done nothing of the sort!" Long yelled in frustration. "It's all my fault Dad." Shina confessed. "I mean, nothing like that happened but what did happen was my fault." "And what exactly did happen anyway?" Alan pressured them. "Uh..." Shina sighed, looking at Long. "Well..." he grumbled, looking back and forth between her and her father anxiously. "It was really my fault Sir, I..." "Never mind." Gado interrupted. "On second thought, I don't think I want to know." "I just changed my mind about him, that's all." Shina stated. "Dad, Long and I are going to see each other now, whether you like it or not!" Long smacked himself on the forehead and shook his head in discomfort. "This is not what I had in mind." he moaned. "Is that supposed to be some kind of threat?" Alan asked his daughter. "You're not doing this just to piss me off are you?" "Dad! When are you going to realize that I can like whoever I want and you have no say in the matter!?!" "She has a point dear." Jenny agreed. "So... you two have feelings for each other?" he asked, glancing back and forth between the two. "Unfortunately..." Long began, Shina playfully socked him in the knee. "Do you really think that I would pretend to like someone just to piss you off Dad?" Shina marveled at his cluelessness in the matter. "I'm not going to answer that." he replied. "Smart move." Long conceded. "Who would've thought?" Jenny wondered sarcastically. "Aw, no fair!" Shina whined. "How come no one ever wants to answer my questions and get the crap beat out of them?" "Maybe some other time dear." Alan suggested. "Hey, that reminds me..." Shina muttered. "Yugo called earlier for you Dad, he said it was pretty important." "He did, did he?" Gado asked, not surprised. "It's probably about that speech to the city council tomorrow..." "Yeah," she affirmed. "I told him that I'd tell you to call him when you got back." "Guess I'd better go call him then." Alan sighed, walking out of the room towards the kitchen phone, Jenny trailing close behind. "So, what do you think?" Shina asked Long. "I know it could have gone better, but..." "If you ever embareass me like that again I'm going to give you a fat lip!" he solemnly promised, curling one hand into a fist. Shina started laughing. "I'm serious!" |
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