Night Angel

Midnight

The door burst opened. Jumping back from my computer I turned to see my boss storming in. He looked frazzled. A dark shadow walked behind him. My boss blocked the other guy, which didn’t give me a clear view of him. All I saw was a dark jacket and green torn pants.
“Shion, bring some vodka on the rocks!” Rikiga ordered. “For two!” He added shoving the man before him. I caught a glimpse of dark hair right before his office door closed.
“Sure thing, boss.” I muttered under my breath. It was closing in on midnight, what was he even doing here? I wondered as I went to the cabinet where the alcohol was kept. I pulled out the crystal glasses dropping in three ice cubes each. Then finding the good vodka, I poured two half glasses. Why vodka? He normally took scotch when he was trying to impress his visitors.
With a shrug, I placed the drinks on the tray. Looking in the fridge I found some fudge, cookies and little sandwiches. I put these around the drinks. It wasn’t much but what did he expect this late?
Carrying the tray forward I balanced it on one hand as I knocked on the door.
“Come in, come in!” Rikiga sounded way to happy. Something was very wrong. I pushed the door open slipping inside. The man sat behind his desk. He was leaning forward on chubby arms. Thick hands clasped together. His glassy eyes watching the man across from him. As I moved closer the head started to turn.
He wasn’t tall. His head didn’t even go above the back of the chair. Even sitting down I could see he was taller than me. His hair was black with a hint of blue throughout it. It was silky. Pulled up in a bun I wondered how long it was? Or how soft it would feel.
Grey eyes rose to look at me gawking at him. “See something you like?” he asked in a deep sultry tone. My face instantly heated up. His smirk told me he saw it. One thing about being an albino, you were too pale to cover anything up. I spun away, carefully setting the drink tray on the front of the desk.
“Shion?” Rikiga looked up at me. I blinked fixing my red eyes on him.
“Yes boss?” I asked.
“Why are you here this late?” he asked.
“Oh um, well Safu doesn’t get done working until midnight. I just thought I would get some writing done while I waited for her.” I gave him a small smile.
“Ah, young love.” He beamed. This man was completely clueless. I just chuckled.
“Nezumi.” He stated, startling me. I jerked. The tray began to tilt. I tried to grab it but I could already see it was going to fall. The crystal would shatter all over the floor. Hands shot forward. Swiftly they caught the tray and the glasses. My eyes darted back, locking with those grey orbs. He shoved the tray back onto the desk before sitting back in his chair.
“Uh, well, wow.”  Rikiga exclaimed eyeing the boy. I could tell he wasn’t much older than I was. “Nice reflexes.” Rikiga beamed at his new found friend.
“As I was saying Nezumi, this is Shion. Shion is one of our…” he stopped himself holding up a finger. “Sorry. I take that back. Shion is our best writer. His plays are phenomenal.” He grinned greedily at me. I smiled.
“Rikiga likes to exaggerate.” I turned to smile at the boy. His eyes widened slightly.
“Nezumi is a gifted actor and singer.” Rikiga stated. “He came highly recommended.” Then Rikiga sat back.
“Shion, you have extra space in your home. Nezumi needs a place to stay.” When I turned back to look at my boss he held up his hands.
“Only for a few days!” he chuckled. “The place we will be housing him is under construction.” I knew this was a lie. Most of Rikiga's places hadn’t been touched in decades. More likely it was being fumigation, again.
“Yeah sure, that won’t be a problem.” I smiled.
“You don’t have to ask you girlfriend?” Nezumi asked. His voice was harsher now. I grinned.
“Safu is not my girlfriend.” Those grey eyes narrowed examining me for any lies. “We are childhood friends. She lives in the same building as me.” I continued shoving away the thought that he was hot.
“Good, good!” Rikiga stood. “Well its late. You need to go walk them home.” He shooed us both out of his office. I went to pick up the tray but the boss told me to just leave it there. Lush!
Turning I held my arm out to Nezumi. “After you.” He rose in an easy graceful motion. Could he be a dancer too? That would account for his quick reflexes I guess.
“I just need to save this file and close down.” I told him slipping back behind my desk. I saved the play I was writing. Once the program, then the computer closed successfully I stood. Pulling my coat from the back of my chair I put it on.
“Oh no I’m late!” I gasped. Without thinking I grabbed his hand. The warmth washed up my arm. I had to ignore the electricity that zapped my nerves.
“Come on, we need to hurry.” I dragged him out of the office. Closing and locking the door behind us. I hurried him down the stairs. Without a word I rushed out into the cold night air. The wind stole my breath. I gasped coughing as I hurried away.
When I reached the restaurant a few doors down I had to stop. Bending over slightly as the coughing fit increased. “Oh, Shion. Where’s your scarf?” Safu cried rushing up to me. I shook my head. I had lost the scarf that morning on the bus.
Before I could regain my breath from the coughing, something warm wrapped around me. I blinked. Nezumi was placing his own scarf around my neck and face. The wind was at bay and I could breathe again.
“Th ,thank you!” I told him.
“I want it back.” He informed me. I nodded.
“And you are?” Safu spun on him, hands on her hips she glared at my new roommate.
“Oh, um, Safu this is Nezumi. He is our newest actor.” They eyed each other. Both glaring daggers at the other one. I sighed.
“Mr. Rikiga asked if he could stay with me while his place gets remodeled.” I stated.
“Why is your boss going to stay with you?” she asked tearing her eyes from the quiet figure before us.
“No, not Rikiga, Nezumi.” I explained. We turned to walk toward the bus stop.
“Oh.” She looked away from me. “What happened to your scarf?” she asked. Her eyes narrowed slits.
“I, uh…” I stammered as I rubbed at my head. “left it on the bus.” I said lamely.
“Did those boys take it from you again.” She spun to glare at me. I hid my blush in the folds of the scarf around my neck. “Shion, you need to stop letting them bully you!” she cried. “You're going to get sick and end up in the hospital again.” She warned.
“I’m alright.” I reassured her. Nezumi acted like he didn’t know us. He walked slightly a part from us, hands stuffed deep into his jacket pockets. Head starring up at the stars.
“You are frail.” She reminded me. Tugging on my coat she added. “You need to get a warmer jacket.” I flinched away from her mothering hands. I was fine. I just couldn’t breathe in such cold weather.
We reached the bus stop. The long white vehicle pulled up before us. I paid for myself and Nezumi. He looked startled by this but said nothing as we found seats in the near empty bus. Safu stayed quite for the duration of the ride. Which was a bit of a miracle. She talked all the time.
When our stop arrived she stood leading the way off of the bus. Spinning on me as soon as it was gone she glared. “Promise me you will go get yourself a new scarf and jacket tomorrow!” With a deep sigh, one that left me coughing as I had breathed in the night air, I agreed.
“Plus I don’t want you working so late any more. Winters here. You shouldn’t be out at night like this.” She tugged on my all too thin jacket.
“Safu, I’m fine.” I told her. We walked the block and a half to our building. It was an old warehouse that had been turned into apartments ages ago. They weren’t the best, but better than anything Rikiga owned.
Entering the building Nezumi saw the elevator. He turned toward it but I caught his sleeve. “It doesn’t work.” I said. He merely shrugged, then followed us up the steps. When we reached our floor I gave Safu a hug goodnight outside her door. Mine was across the hall. Our apartments were the only two on this floor.
Unlocking the door I pushed it open. Stepping inside I flicked the lights on. Track lighting lined the hallway. On one side was the kitchen, the other was a sunken living room. Both could use a painting. The hall stretched forward. Into the darkness. I didn’t really have any bedrooms. Instead I had sectioned off parts of the one room to form different room.
I turned to lock and bolt the door. Pulling the scarf of I folded it handing it back to the silent man. “Thank you.” He only nodded. I moved into the room, turning on lights as I went.
“OK. Its not much, but trust me when I say it’s better than Rikiga's places. “ he was eyeing my book cases. I smiled. “Clever huh.” I walked up to them pushing open a curtain at the end. “Your room.” I waved him in. He walked up to peek through the curtain. Stone grey eyes swung to look at me.
“And yours?” I pointed across the loft to where screens sat as walls. “Over there. The bathroom is around here...” I lead the way to a very short hall behind the kitchen. The bathroom and laundry room were the only things that had actual walls.
“I know its…” he held up a hand.
“It's fine.” He ran his eyes over my body. “What’s wrong with you? Why was she so concerned?”
I walked to a small closet next to the door. Removing my jacket I spoke as I hung it up. “I have a lot of upper repertory issues.” I explained. “Getting cold air into my longs can send me into the hospital for pneumonia or bronchitis. I get them both really bad.” I said. He nodded.
“Goodnight, Shion.” He walked away. I frowned at his back. It was late. Shutting off the lights I went to my own room. The bed was cold as I curled up under the thin blankets. I didn’t have the money to turn the heat up higher. I closed my eyes. Letting my mind wander over the stories I create until I fell asleep.