Burnt Love - Ryo Saeba (Oneshot)

Burnt Love

It'd been a few weeks since she'd last seen Ryo Saeba in her ramen shop. It was unnerving. He'd always come in every Friday for the last six months. Airi Niyaki used to dread those days. For the first few months, she felt nothing but contempt for the perverted man.

Each week was the same, her Fridays would be going well. She'd be in her element, behind the scenes, making her family's ramen recipe that had been passed down since before anyone could remember. The business would be booming, and she'd hum to herself, smiling, as she always did, before hearing a loud crash in the front of her shop. She'd rush out from the kitchen area and find him sprawled out on the ground, his face reddened by the impact of someone's fist.

She'd have to tear him away from her waitress and make sure the girl was safe from the lech. It repeated that way until she was finally forced to wait on him herself. He just gave a large grin, as if that had been his plan the whole time.

After that, she was forced to run back and forth, cooking for tables while waiting on him at the same time, but she didn't have much choice. At the beginning, Airi was half-tempted to ban him from her shop, but with the cost of groceries going up, she needed every customer she could get, especially a guy who ate like a horse. And so she put up with it. With time, his act began to settle down.

He stopped asking her to marry him and restrained himself. He'd make jokes and start to talk about things that weren't just women. After the first couple of months, he began bringing her flowers and the occasional bottle of sake, saying they were gifts for putting up with him. She was hesitant about accepting anything from him, but he insisted there was no catch. In return, she'd always give him a few extra slices of pork in each bowl he ordered. It was gradual, but Airi found herself looking forward to Fridays.

She snapped out of her thoughts and looked up at the ticking clock, it was closing time. Another Friday without him showing up. A deep sigh left her as she scrubbed the last dish clean before putting it to the side.

Taking a raggy cloth, she patted her hands dry before slinging it into a corner with other dirty rags that needed to be washed. She'd do that tomorrow. Luckily, no customers remained, and her waitress had already gone home, that left just one more thing to do.

She grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder before making her way to the exit. Once that door's locked, she can go home. Pulling the door open, she slipped out of her shop, fumbling for her keys as she went. She dug around in her bag before finally finding them and sliding the dull silver one into the keyhole, turning it until she heard the small 'click' of the lock.

"I'm late, aren't I?" A familiar voice called from behind her.

Airi jumped, caught off guard by the words and presence of the man she'd been thinking about all night. She whirled around before being greeted with a sad smile from Ryo Saeba. Dirt scuffed his left check. His hair and clothes were messy. The end of his left sleeve was singed, flakes of ash spread down toward his elbow. His right hand was covered in cuts that had sealed, it was obvious he had tried to wash the blood away, but he must've been in a rush because the only thing he succeeded in doing was spreading it around.

Gripped tightly in his hand was a bouquet, similar to the ones he'd always bring her, but these looked like they'd seen hell itself. Petals were torn and plucked from their stems. A chunk of them looked like they'd caught fire, and the paper wrapping matched their burnt likeness.

Ryo noticed her eyes on the flowers and sighed, "I know, they don't look too good, do they? I was on my way here when a short job came up. I thought it'd be easy, but they gave us the wrong information. They got damaged. I don't know why I even brought them. I just-" He took a deep breath before glancing down at the flowers.

Airi's mind raced.

A job? What kind of job leaves you covered in dirt and gets a bouquet brunt?

"I'm sorry." Ryo continued, "This will be the last time you have to deal with me. I planned to ask you out," he chuckled lightly, "seriously this time, but I can't guarantee you'd be safe. I have to protect my clients, I don't know if I'd be able to protect you at the same time if need be."

Clients? Is he a bodyguard or something?

He stepped towards her and lightly took her arm and lifted it up, a shiver running through her body from the contact of his cold hand. He stared deeply into her eyes, his smile brightening despite his sad manner. He used his other hand to place the end of the bouquet in her hand before curling his hand to wrap her fingers around the bouquet for her.

"You deserve better." Airi caught the double meaning in his words. "But please accept these as a goodbye."

He lent forward, kissing her temple. "I'll never forget you, Airi." With that, he let his hand fall from hers, sticking it into his pocket, followed shortly by his other one. He turned and began to walk away.

Airi watched as he left, unmoving. She didn't know what to think. She still didn't understand what was even happening. Just before he could disappear from her sight forever, she yelled out to him.

"Hey, Ryo!"

He looked over his shoulder, his expression showing his surprise.

Airi quickly unlocked the door to her shop, leaning back against it to hold it open for the man.

"Come on and get inside already." She said. "I'll make you a fresh bowl on the house."

Ryo stared at her. His conflicting emotions battled each other to emerge victorious. Looking at her determined gaze, he felt himself grin.

"Ahhhh! Airi-chann, I knew you loved me!" He said, his voice raising a few octaves.

"Yeah, yeah, shut up and come in."

His body relaxed, and he walked towards the opening, glancing over to her with a smile as he stepped inside.