#yeeah...

Yuseiinvited some friends of his, finally having decided that beside work andupgrading motorcycles, rest and fun are important, too. Out of some reason,both he and Crow came up with an idea of throwing his birthday party in thegarage; they happened to be right that the place could be perfect, no matter whata mass of time they spent with Bruno moving all those pieces of junk aside,tools and more for-sure-we-will-need-it-sometime stuff.

Everything is fine.

He iswatching Yusei for a moment, slowly savouring his drink with back restedagainst wall, as far from the noisy crowd as possible. His selfless best friendchilling, enjoying himself with no concern is such a rare, but because of thateven more welcomed sight. Another sip. Loud music is so annoying. The selectionof songs is Crow’s duty, isn’t it? Well, it explains a lot.

Everythingis fine, but himself.

For amoment Jack’s considering going upstairs, and locking up in his bedroom. Thethought is so tempting, he almost turns away to head there; only realizationthat he won’t be freed from that cheerful pain in the ass even in hissupposedly safe bed stops him from leaving the others without a word ofexplanation. He just desires to be left alone – as much as he doesn’t, yet, ithas nothing to do with caring questions he’s been stormed with recently.

There wasno suggestion to invite Carly; the subject became just ignored. After manyattempts to extract why he didn’t see the girl anymore, the silence was bothrelieving and disappointing.

Eyesclosed, and a deep sigh escapes his lips. That suffocating twinges inside ofhis chest will finally disappear completely, Jack keeps reassuring himself overand over. After all, they’re already less and less intense, more and moresporadic, instead. Even with pain still tormenting him, Jack doesn’t regret;the choice was made, and now he can only be glad that in the end he’s been ableto do something for her good.

However,Jack doesn’t feel better in the slightest. Maybebecause there’s no one to help him get rid of his inner demons anymore.

Yet, it’sfine. He will get used to this, too.

Not now,though.

Now hefinishes his drink in one sip, and puts the glass atop the table.

“Hey,Jack, Crow said you didn’t wanna dance?” That’s a nice feeling to have Rally soclose again, but he wishes the kid was more like idolized by him Yusei, withthe whole ability to sense when it’s better to just stay quiet. “Even withmeee?!”

“Nexttime, maybe,” Jack wriggles out of the talk with an evasive answer, and passesRally, heading straight towards the stairs leading outside.

Oneminute later, he takes a deep breath; fresh air fills his lungs, light windtickles his face. The closed door muffles all noises coming from the garage,and if there’s anything capable of improving his mood, calmness is one of thosefew factors.

It takeshim a moment to realise he’s not alone in front of the building.

“Aki?” Clearastonishment sounds of his voice, although her presence here suddenly becomespretty obvious. After all, he hasn’t noticed her slender figure anywherebefore, has he? “Let me guess,” his usual tone is back almost at once, “youjust wanted to drool over this cloudy, starless sky.”

Jack canbet a sad smile spreads across her face before answers him teasingly, “Justlike you, huh?” And nothing more has to be said, the two understands themeaning behind those words without a literal speech. Nevertheless, its lackprovides a comfortable possibility to avoid talking about the botheringmatters.

“That’swhat electronic music makes me want to do in order to escape that row.”

This timeAki doesn’t even try to hide a light smile, playing along her lips for a fewseconds, yet, her only response is a nod of her head. So they’re standingtogether, in silence, with no need to break it. When did he take such a likingin spending time beside her, even if no word was spoken for dozen minutes? Notbecause there’s nothing to talk about, it just feels… good. The contentment itbrings has a lot in common with remaining silent with Yusei, at the same time isvery different, though.

“I’mgoing for a walk,” she states after a longer while, stepping forward, her backfacing him. “You can go with me.”

His eyebrows raised slightly. “Maybe I will,”but he doesn’t keep Aki in suspense, following her immediately. Now, thesilence doesn’t last that long. “You doesn’t even intend to go back.” And he’snot asking.

“And youdon’t mind walking me home.” Jack likes that self-confidence she so often talksto him with; and, of course, the truth of those words is undeniable. She knowsit, she for sure does – there’s no need to reassure her he’ll be glad to do so,although doesn’t believe that could be able to soothe her. What doesn’t meanstopping himself from giving it a shot, though, what occurs pretty quickly bythe caring – not sounding this way, actually – question, “You know that you cantell me–“

“It’sraining,” she cuts him short, looking up at the sky, content note audible inher voice.

Confused,Jack has no idea why Aki has said it, before a single raindrop hits his nose,making him realise how literally he should’ve taken the information. Anyway, hedoesn’t care about rain ( focused onthe woman, he hasn’t paid attention to it until now, after all ); instead, much more prefers tocontinue the interrupted topic. So doesn’t reply verbally, only with a shrug ofhis arms, as though lets her know that he’s going to ignore her rain like she’signored his concern of her.

To hissurprise and on the contrary to his conjecture, Aki happens to not ignore it.Oh Lord, how pretty her smile is, how beautiful she looks with her lips forminginto that sincere beam she’s giving him now. Jack can’t help, but enjoy thefact that it’s him causing that expression. “I know,” she says. “Thank you.”

“Rain’sgetting heavier.”

Aki’ssmile turns into a smirk, and Jack oddly doesn’t mind it at all. “Afraid how it’llaffect your hair?”

“I know how to take care of it, rain won’truin it.” Having stopped, Jack takes his long white coat off, and wraps itaround Aki’s form in order to protect her from getting wet – the fabric atop herhead, what makes her look pretty funny in that oversized clothing. “So, oppositelyto me, you need it much more,” he mocks her to contrast the obvious care. Sheshakes her head, hands raised to get rid of the unexpected shelter, but theattempt becomes instantly foiled. “Don’t be so stubborn,” Jack mutters, encirclingher with his arm so that she can’t return the coat to him.

A sighleaves Aki’s lips. “I’m not gonna listen to your whining once you’ll catchcold.” Jack expects her to stand aside from him, or at least flick thebothering arm from herself, but nothing like that happens. It’s a relief,however, he recoils his hand anyway, extremely shunning a situation that couldencroach her comfort zone.

“You won’t.Instead, you’ll be preparing me cups of hot tea, and bringing all those beneficialto health stuff.”

“Oh no,everything, but taking care of you. Pneumonia seems like a more enjoyable alternative,you know?” The spiteful answer comes out of her lips along with a soft chuckle,and Jack couldn’t imagine a cuter expression of disgust, particularly watchingher adjust the coat.

As theyreach the destination, they’re practically soaked. Jack’s drenched wisps of blondhair fall onto his forehead and eyes, and his clothes are wet, too. He can onlybe glad that Aki partly avoided it, it doesn’t matter that at the cost of hisbeloved coat. Standing in front of the gate to the Izayoi mansion they finallyface each other, and Jack notices that with stuck by rain, glued to cheeksfringe Aki is appearing no less adorable than usual, what definitely couldn’tbe said about him.

“Once you’rein, change the cloths and warm up under blankets,” the silly advice leaves hismouth instead of speaking out loud what really overwhelms his mind.

“…drink a hot beverage, and take an aspirin,” Aki finishes with a smirk formingunder her breath. “I know. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“I want,”Jack says, although the rest of common sense prompts him with staying silence.But not obeying is totally recompensed as she smiles lightly, and brushes hishair aside from one of his now closed eyes.

“Thankyou.” Aki makes a move as if intends to hands the coat back to him, but Jackprevents it again.

“Keep it.There’s still a certain distance to your home.”

“It’salready soaking anyway.”

Jackrolls his eyes, pretending annoyance. “But you’re not yet, and let’s maintainit like that.”

“You justwant me to dry it for you, right?” Aki mocks him, visibly amused, despite raindropshitting them at a stretch.

“Exactly.You’ve seen me through. And now go home.”

“Youreally want to free yourself from me,” not caring about his serious tone, Akicontinues that little teasing.

It’s herfault. She’s too adorable even while mocking him, perhaps especially mocking him. And although he’s facing one of thestrongest women he’s even met, Jack’s not able to stop himself from finding hercute and innocent. He’s also not able to not lean over to her just to placea gentle kiss on her cheek, then whisper a silent, “I do” to her ear. Then heturns away from her, giving her no opportunity to respond to that action. Maybethat’s better.