After Visiting Hours. [Ryuusei]

I often feel like a butterfly with broken wings

It was very late, but, as usual, Ryuusei Igarashi as still awake. He was a night owl and, most of the times, had problems with insomnia, which made his sleeping pattern a complete mess. Him looking complete unaware of the world around was not only a conscious option but also a result of this condition. He didn't really mind it though: after many years dealing with it, he got used it and saw the advantage of being able to do alot of stuff that, otherwise, would be impossible to do in only one day.

Both Hiroko and Minato were asleep on their rooms. If one walked by, it would be possible to hear a loud snoring. One could immediately think that such noise could only come from Minato, but they would be wrong: it was actually Hiroko. Ryuusei laughed everytime he heard his mom loud snoring, remembering the time both him and Yaso both got their detective hats on and went inside their parents room, only to discover their mom covering the whole bed and breathing loudly, this while Minato slept curled up in a little corner of the bed with earplugs on. Those were good times...

Ryuusei had been reading the new book he had bought at the Kabukicho area. "Heroes, Villains and Me", a compliations of hand-written personal notes by Nanno Nanigashi, the same author who had written the infamous "An Analysis of an Hero Society: Failure Waiting to Happen", a kind of forbidden book that Ryuu had already read. Just like that one, those notes had some special magic that allured Ryuu to them. Nanno's main point on those notes was the idea of one being a prisoner of other dreams and the importance of assuming the role of a player in the game of life - not a spectator but also not a leader: someone who loved the game and it's consequences. This was all, of course, related to the foundation of a hero society and the mistake such thing was. Reading the notes, it was like reading the surpressed part of his mind. At each page, Ryuu could only think one thing:

I have to meet this man.

He stopped at around one am though. Reading that paper also meant remembering the night in which Ryuu bought it. And that night... no one should ever find out about it. Yes, it wasn't like the memory of it made Ryuu unconfortable, it was the opposite: even after a few days passed by after killing that thug, Ryuusei Igarashi still felt nothing. Maybe even worse: he didn't feel like he had done something particularly wrong. Yeah, he had to be careful to not feed that part of his brain too much.

So, still being unable to sleep, he did what it fit him best: playing videogames. He went downstair, since there he was able to make the noises he wanted more freely without fear of waking his parents up. It was a medieval strategy game, where Ryuu played the role of a mercenary leader that pushed through the ranks in order to achieve greatness. At the point of the game at which Ryuu was, one more win and he would be granted the title of knight. However, in the middle of a decisive battle, the bell rang. Ryuu paused the game.

Was that the door? he asked to himself, being that someone appearing at the Igarashi household at around three am was quite... well, weird.

He got up in order to look at the monitor. Through that, he could clearly see who it was.

Rin?!

He hadn't seen her or talked to her since what happened at the Honey Honey Maid Cafe, but he didn't find that weird. Afterall, it was only a day or so ago and, after what the events that transpired there, he thought that she needed space and not having someone pressuring her. It was for this reason that, even after receiving a message from the girl a few minutes after she left the cafe asking to meet the day after, Ryuu didn't find weird that the girl didn't show up. He even received a message from Jasmine asking where Rin was, but the girl also not knowing where Rin was wasn't surprising: if the saphire eyed girl wanted to be alone, that also meant the girl she loved. He was going to call Rin the next day to see how she was doing, but for her to appear at that hour... that totally seemed weird.

He opened the main gate, allowing Rin to pass through and rushed himself outside, not even taking the time to put his shoes on. When he saw the girl approaching...

What the...

She was wearing the same clothes from the Cafe event, but it was all destroyed. Her body seemed weak and hurt, even if not visible. By how her hair was a mess and completely tangled, it also seemed that she han't showered since that day. The rips from the dress were what Ryuu paid the most attention though... The way they were ripped seemed by hand and she also didn't have any kind of cuts underneath those cuts...  One of the bigger cuts was at the lower part of the dress... Rin's eyes... Ryuusei was too smart and had read too many criminal books to not, at least, imagine what had happened.

Asking if everything was fine or what happened would just be insulting. So, instead, Ryuu just did his best to make Rin feel home.

Come, it's wam inside - he smiled, expecting Rin to follow him - If you want to shower or change you know where everything is, I'll be by the kitchen making my special hot chocolate for us both.

Ryuu's words were kind and soft but, inside is heart, a raging storm was brewing:

Who did that to her?!

Notes: ---
Words: 979.
Tags: Rin Kurama

I often feel like a butterfly with broken wings

The bathroom door closed. Inisde, Rin Kurama prepared herself for what would certainely be a painful bath. On the outside, Ryuusei Igarashi sat on the floor, crawled up with his arms wrapped around his knees and his back leaning against the door. It was like seeing someone get shot right by your side: you see the pain, you feel sorry and want to help but the reality is that you can't actually feel a thing. The sound of Rin vomiting, the amount of time she took under the falling water while her words echoed on Ryuu's head: "I'll go try to get clean, then" ... He wanted to share her pain, but it was impossible. All he could really do was being there for her, even if she didn't really aknowledged how important that could be at the moment, even if she was numb to all emotions: afterall, uncounsciously or not, her body's first response was walking to the Igarashi household.

When the water finally stopped, Ryuu got up and headed to the kitchen. He prepared the hot chocolate with care, just the way his sister had taught him some years ago. Ryuusei couldn't cook at all, but his mother always told that his hot chocolate was the best in the world. As Rin sat down at the dinner table, Ryuu appeared with one mug on each hand. He sat down in front of the girl, putting one of the mugs in front of her and the other one near himself. Doing so, he responded to Rin.

It's at a perfect temperature, don't worry - he said placing the mug in front of her. Then, looking at her with a soft smile, he added - And even if it was cold you wouldn't have to be sorry, Rin-chan, he tilted his head.

After that, he remained silent. It was just the two of them, a bright light shining above them in the closed room. Silence always felt good with Rin, but this was wasn't much about feeling good: it was about feeling right. No words could make her feel better and Ryuu understood that. If she wanted to open up, it would be at her own time and pace - Ryuu wouldn't force a thing. If she didn't want to talk, that would be fine too. He just needed her to know that Ryuu was there, that he would always would be. So, with that all in mind, the teen who was wearing an all grey silk pajama just made conversation, just like they both did at that same place so many times before.

So, is my hot chocolate any good or does my mom just lie to me every time she tastes it? he jokingly asked before sipping a little bit more.

Notes: ---
Words: 463.
Tags: Rin Kurama

I often feel like a butterfly with broken wings

In silence, Ryuusei watched Rinkusu place her hands around the mug - just like she was cuddling up near a warm fire. Taking the cue, Ryuu himself started to drink the hot chocolate he had made for himself. As they both finished their first sip - almost like mirroring each other - Rin looked back at Ryuu's, responding to his earlier comment. Her voice, however, was different, just like her eyes: they both seemed almost... dead. Such thing only made Ryuu more sure that his guess of what happened was probably right and that... that scared him, alot.

Without responding, he sipped once again during the void of sound that once again was imposed inside the room. Ryuu was confortable with it though. When Rin wanted to talk, Ryuu would talk, about whatever she wanted to, not pressuring her into anything. And so, she talked, thanking him for having let her in. It really was Rin in front of him. He quickly responded:

That's what friends do, you don't need to thank me for it - he said in a calm and warm voice, unlike what the rest of the world saw from him... like he only showed to Rin - Besides, this is your home too so you're always welcome here, he added with a smile, before putting the hot mug near his lips once more.

And now, after thanking him, she was worried about him. More specifically, worried for him beause of what happened a couple of days before at the Honey Honey Cafe. That precious and beautiful girl, that wonderful soul... even in the state she was in she cared enough to put herself to the side and care about the one in frontof her. Some would found something pure in such characteristic - and, partially, they would be right. However, Ryuu saw something entirely different: sadness, a dark and deep sadness.

Rin...

Oh, that... - he chuckled a bit while scratching his hair with his index finger, like it was a memory from long ago - I'm fine, don''t even worry about that. I'm sure Jasmine's intentions were good, she just has that... let's say, special personality. Yoru was also there to give me a little wake up call, so everything really is okay.

Another silence. Another sip of the hot chocolate. It was almost empty.

Your usual bedroom is ready, so if you want you can also sleep here. Would that be okay?

Hiroko always made sure that bedroom was ready for Rin. That way, everytime she came over, things would always be prepared for the girl to stay for the night. Ryuu's parents liked Rin a lot, so Ryuu was sure that they wouldn't mind her being there without any previous warning.

The way Ryuu worded the phrase... it wasn't much of a question, but more of a request for her to stay the night. The way she was... Ryuusei would never wanter to leave during the night, walking all the way to Yuuei. And, if she stayed, perhaps it could ease the pain al ittle... if only one percent.

Notes: ---
Words: 516.
Tags: Rin Kurama