Chimeric [A Chuuya Fanfiction]

Chapter 10.

I woke up in my room early the next morning, feeling surprisingly well-rested. The sun hadn't even risen yet. I didn't remember what happened last night, after I laid on Chuuya's shoulder. I definitely did not remember walking back to my room and laying down on my bed. 

I sat up carefully. Nothing hurt and I wasn't hungover, which was good for me. I looked around my room, everything was in its place except for a certain someone who was napping in a chair across the room.

I got up out of bed and walked over to Chuuya, who was dead asleep. I shook his shoulder a bit trying to wake him up. I wanted to ask him what happened and why he was here, but he was totally out and not waking up anytime soon. I decided to let him be and go take a shower. 

I made my way to the bathroom that was attached to my room. The bathroom was very clean and modern looking, a totally different vibe from the rest of the base but I wasn't complaining. I closed the door behind me and stripped my clothes, throwing them on the floor. I turned the shower on and waited for the water to heat up before I got in. 

As I let the warm water run over me I used the soap and hair products that were already in here. Surprisingly, they smelled really nice. It felt good to finally take a shower and have a moment for myself. To let myself think. I hadn't gotten to process Oda's death yet and now was as good a time as any I suppose. 

He took me in when no one else would, he cared for me and showed me how to take care of myself. He was like a dad I never had, even though he was only seven years older than me. I couldn't believe he was dead. All these years, I had no idea what happened and now that I knew... I kind of wish I didn't. I almost wished he had just up and left me. That would have been better than this. 

I sank to the ground, pulling my knees to my chest. I let the water run over my head, my tears mixing with it. How could he do this to me? How could he leave me? This was a nightmare. It had to be. 

I sat there on the floor of the shower until the water got cold. I kept thinking of ways I could have helped, if I could have saved him somehow. Maybe if I had joined the mafia sooner, he wouldn't have died... it didn't matter now. This is just how it is and I have to deal with it. 

I stood up and turned the water off. I got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around myself. I walked over to the bathroom door and started walking out. I was surprised when I saw Chuuya still sitting in the chair. He was still asleep, but was stirring a bit. A small yelp escaped me before I hurried back into the bathroom slamming the door behind me. I heard a groan and then some footsteps come toward the bathroom.

"Dakota? Are you okay?" A tired Chuuya asked from outside.

"I forgot you were here." I said, embarrassed.

"Yeah.. uh... I'll leave." He said quietly. 

"No. Stay. Please." I practically pleaded, leaning up against the door. I didn't want to be alone right now. Even though I know Chuuya doesn't like me, he's here and I don't want him to leave. 

There was silence for a moment, before he replied, "Okay." I sighed and went to change into my clothes quickly. I opened the bathroom door again and I saw Chuuya sitting at the foot of my bed, staring down at his hands. I walked over to him and sat down next to him. He looked up at me.

"Hi." I said quietly.

"Hey." He responded. We were silent for a moment, just looking at each other. Something felt different. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something between us had changed. At the very least it wasn't hostile anymore.

"Thanks for staying." I muttered. He just nodded at me. I leaned on his shoulder. "Chuuya?" 

"Yeah?" 

"Do you really hate me?" I asked. He didn't respond right away. A million thoughts flashed through my head, some good, some bad, others in between. He does hate me doesn't he? Maybe not. I don't want him to leave like everyone else. 

"I don't know." He answered quietly. I took my head off his shoulder and looked up at him. I searched his face for something, anything. I couldn't tell what he was really thinking. I think he was lost in his own thoughts, searching his mind for an answer to my question, besides I don't know.

"Chuuya... I think... I think I've grown attached to you." I turned away from him and looked to the ground. "You were the first person in a long time to actually listen and talk to me, rather than use me. People I've met since... since Oda died, they've used me. They never really cared, but you, even though you hate me, have cared about me. And I've grown attached to you." The words poured out of me, all of these thoughts and feelings. I'm not one for mushy stuff, but it felt right to say, in this moment...

And when he didn't respond, I hid my face with my hands, thinking I'd ruined what little friendship we ever had. If there was any there to begin with. "Dakota." He said. I took my head from my hands and looked up at him. He took my face in his hands and kissed me. At first I was surprised, it felt so out of nowhere, but after a moment, it just felt right. I let my hands wander up to his soft hair as I deepened the kiss. 

When we pulled away, I looked at him, searching his face for answers. Why did you kiss me? I thought you hated me?  

"I don't hate you."  He said quietly, looking into my eyes. "You drive me crazy. And whether or not that's a good thing, I can't tell. Sometimes you make me want to strangle you and others... I want to kiss you." 

I felt butterflies in my stomach. My breathing quickened when he reached up and touched my face again. I leaned into his palm. 

"Kiss me." I said and he did.