Tied Up 〔An Eyeshield 21's Fanfiction〕

Ch.15: The Answer

"I thought you said that we are going back to my room. Why are we here?"
"You don't want them bugging you about your fucking swollen eyes, do you?"

Instead went back to her room, they went to HIS room. Yes, Hiruma's. She fell silent in an instant. He got the point, though. Rie was sure they would ask her many questions, such as 'what happened to you?' or 'why your eyes swollen and redden?'.

"Just sleep here." he said nonchalantly as he walked towards the the bed and plop himself down onto it, then he took his laptop.

His voice tone was still harsh like usual, although maybe, their relationship has changed. 'Maybe', huh? Yes. Rie didn't want to take Hiruma's words seriously. He did it most of the time, to tease her and such. She got used to it, so, she didn't think about it too much.

"Okay then."

She sat on the other side of the bed before she took her sandals off. Rie then dragged her leg off from the floor, laid on her back and placed her head in a soft pillow.

"Use the fucking blanket. I don't need it." Hiruma said without averting his eyes from his laptop's screen.
"Enough with your work, Youichi. It's already 1 in the morning. Don't expect me to take care of you if you sick."
"Just sleep, fuckin' sleepyhead. I--"

Before Hiruma could complete his words, Rie has snatched his laptop.

"I'm not your mom or your sister. We aren't related by blood or such things. I'm just a person who often work with you, spending time only to make our dream comes true. I don't have any right to ban you doing this and that. But," she inhaled, "I care about you because you're my friend."

Rie turned her eyes to the laptop on her lap, wanted to shut it down. Both of his eyes slightly widened when she did that, but she didn't notice it, because her eyes have already locked at the screen in front of her.

"You--"
"Shut up and sleep. We'll fly back to Japan early in the morning, just as you requested. Turn it off and place it on the couch."

Hiruma laid down then turned his back on her. She did as he ordered then she back to her spot. The blondie stared at the ceiling blankly.

'He used our graduation's photo as a wallpaper? So, he was serious? Really?'

There are so many questions that went unanswered. It's frustating. His statement was ambiguous. Although they're friends for years, at some points, she couldn't read him. She threw a glance to her left, as to convince herself. She just gonna do it once, in order to get her answer. And if it didn't go well, she'll pretend that nothing has happened this night. Yeah, nothing, including his words earlier.

Slowly but sure, Rie shifted her position so now she was facing his back. A slender arm reached out to him and it landed on his waist. She shutted her eyes and bit her lower lip in nervousness as she gripped the fabric of his black t-shirt.

"What? Do you want to seduce me?"

Her eyes opened in instant as she stammered, "N-no." She released her grip, but, another hand grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

"What do you think you're doing?"

His voice was low, more like a mumble, but she was able to catch it. Rie frowned, confused. Hiruma sighed as he released her hand and glanced at her.

"Sleep, now. And don't do such a thing again, especially when we're alone."

She stared at him ―literally, his back― then smiled bitterly. Rie had her answer. She already had.

ー・◆・ー

Rie got up early in the morning, at 4 AM, to be exact. Beside her was Hiruma, sleeping soundly on his stomach as his face faced her. Rie took her time, studying his 'without-frown' facial expression. Sometimes, she wondered why she could fall for him. He's rude, harsh, a maniac, nonchalant, cursing machine. Even so, she would admit ―in her mind, only, though― that sometimes, he could act sweet ―although he doesn't realize doing it―. Rie slipped out from his bed, put her sandals on, and walked towards the door. She threw a last glance at him before leaving his room. Last night was the worst night in her life. She lost her mother forever, got played then rejected by her long-time crush. And now, she has to pretend that nothing was happened. She walked back to her room and knocked, hoping that either Suzuna or Mamori would open the door for her.

"Ah, Maruko-san! You didn't come back last night! We were so worried about you."

Rie cocked an eyebrow but then smiled a fake smile.

"Sorry and thank you for worrying me, Anezaki-san."

She got in for a shower then she dressed in a pair of black trousers and a long sleeved white button up shirt. Yes, she planned to go straight to her mother's funeral when they landed on Japan.

"Moshi moshi."
"Reiji?"
"Nee-chan? What is it?"
"Where's mom's funeral?"
".... Oh. I'll text you the address. You're going home now? Take care, 'kay?"
"Thanks, Reiji."

When the call ended, soon, a message arrived. From Reiji, of course.

'So, Mom, it's not a late summer nightmare, huh? You've gone, forever?'

ー・◆・ー

Even if they sat side by side, they didn't exchange any word. She kept quiet, so did he. Rie closed her eyes as she listening to her mp3 player, while Hiruma worked with his laptop as usual. It continued, until their plane landed.

"Let's go, fuckin' girl."

A hand suddenly placed in the top of her head, guided her to leave the airport with an enough force. She stopped immediately then pushed his hand out of her head.

"What are you doing? I don't want to go home. I must go to mom's funeral."
"That's why I'll take you there. It's 3 in the morning."

She narrowed her eyebrows. Her green orbs stared straight to his dark ones. Rie reached her limit. She couldn't pretend anymore.

"So, what? Since when you cared so much about me?" She sneered as she scoffed. Hiruma sighed as he reached for her hand.
"It's not important. Come--"
"Leave me alone, you idiot! I can take care of myself!"

Rie shook off his hand then gave him a menacing glare before she turned her back on him and ran, leaving the airport and a bewildered Hiruma. Tears started to stain her cheeks as she kept running away.

'I had my answer already. There's no need to expect something from him, like a mutual feeling.'

♪♪♪♪♪

Sorry that I took long enough time to write this chapter. /sob; I was having a writer's block. /sigh;

Okay. I made Rie's character so melancholic and kinda annoying this time. Due to her mother's death? Probably. Anyway, hope you'll enjoy it!