Old Book, New Chapter. - ReddNook

Chapter five.

Tom cleaned up the kitchen with a sigh. He took glance of Redd, who was leaning back with the chair he was sitting at. "Can you not?" he asked turning the dishwasher on.

"Yeh, sure~" the kitsune chuckled, lowering the chair's legs back against the floor. "So, um... Why?" he asked looking up to the tanuki.

"I wanted to talk." Tom said sitting opposite side of the table, across from the kitsune. "I was hoping to talk with you earlier, but these few days has been bit busy." he told placing his hands to the table.

Redd nodded. He opened his mouth to say something, but soon shut it.
Tom closed his eyes, taking deep breath. He opened his eyes looking up to Redd's eyes. "I, I have been wanting to ask for almost ten years now, what happened back then?"

The kitsune flinched, he moved his gaze to his hands. "Right, that..." he mumbled. He pinched his nose with sigh. "Yeah, I guess I owe you that. With all the money I took with me, of course."

"I don't care about the money, I just want to know why you left. You didn't even answer to my calls or texts." Tom said with soft sigh.

Redd flattened his ears against his head. "Tom, I-" His words got stuck to his throat, somehow he felt weak.

He took deep breath. "I, I know what I did was wrong, but, I couldn't do anythin' else." he told trying to avoid Tom's eyes.

He tilted his head. "You couldn't do anything else, hm? You couldn't even talk to me?" he asked.

The kitsune shook his head slightly. He moved his hands to his face. "If I didn't do it, they would have come after you." he mumbled.

"Redd, look at me." Tom told reaching over the table. He grapped the kitsune's hands, moving them away from his face. "What do you mean?" he asked sitting back to his chair, as he held his hands.

"I, um... You know what kind of person I was back then?" the kitsune asked, still trying to avoid his eyes.

"Hm... Yes?" the tanuki nodded. "But I told you to look at me." he added brushing his thumb against the kitsune's back of the palm gently.

Redd let out sigh, looking up to Tom's eyes. "I, I owned this one guy lot of money. He first told me I can pay my debt when I can, but after a while he told me specific date to pay." he told.

He was quiet before he spoke again, "But when that date came around, he... He started to threaten me, he told me he would hurt you, and I didn't want that. So... I left, but I was one to hurt you." he told, his voice slightly cracking.

"Why, why didn't you talk to me back then? I could have helped you, but you left and took almost everything with you." Tom told.

"Do you understand how long I waited? I was worried sick." he said, squeezing Redd's hand in his own.
He was quiet before he spoke again, "... Redd, I'm not mad at you anymore, I'm just very disappointed."

The kitsune moved his eyes to the table. Things shouldn't gone like that... I was stupid...
"Tom, I.. I'm sorry." he told, looking back up to the tanuki.

"I really mean it, no games or anythin' like that, I'm sorry. I know I should have talked to you back then, but... I was scared." he added.

Tom stayed quiet, he flicked his ears. "Redd, thank you." he said softly. "Even if it took ten years, I appreciate it." he added. "You, do?"
He nodded slightly. "Of course."

Redd was quiet before he spoke again, "Nookie, I missed ya." he mumbled, his tail wagging slightly.
Tom let out soft chuckle. "Mh... And, I missed you." he told with soft hum.

He stared Tom to his blue eyes. There was little silence between them before he spoke again, "I, couldn't help but notice that you still have that." he told referring ring at Tom's left hand.

"Oh... I, couldn't throw it away. It was one of few things you left." he answered. "But if you want, you can take it back."

"No, keep it." Redd said as he stood up from the chair he was sitting at. "It's yours, and it goes well with your eyes." he added with little smirk.

"But I should go now." he told stepping from the kitchen. He stopped. "Thank you, for the dinner."
"Yes, of course. And be careful."
"As always Nooksie, as always~"