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"Oh, I was merely making a statement about your vocal quality, Sai-san. I know you don't do what we do, in 'the business'. But, your voice is so smooth, like velvet. Iie, like chiming Christmas bells. It has a quality to it like no other. If you decided to sing, I imagine you would be able to best the likes of...of one as spectacular as Narcissus, or even me at my best...when I had a voice that rivaled the gods. And with your looks, marketing you would be easy as pie." Ryu realized he was pushing things, though, speaking of Sai's looks. That was hardly appropriate of him, though he barely cared, drinking down his Jager in one gulp before ordering a mojito and an order of dumplings from the waitress as she passed by again.
"Enough about my music, though. Look me up online." the violinist giggled, smiling cutely.
"Tell me more about you. You seem so serious about everything. What makes you happy, ne?" he pushed one of the octopus around with his chopsticks before popping it in his mouth.

"Nnn...I had no idea Narcissus was on the news. Haven't been paying attention lately. Hate to hear of a fellow musician in a bad way though." Ryu swirled his tongue around the rim of the now empty glass he held, tasting the last drop of liquor.
"Well, I've been with Nihon records since I began, but, well, with my accident, my voice is no good. They've released me from my contract until...if...they can find a new position for me. I'm just working with SMASH now." Ryu gladly answered Sai's question this time, the drink having loosened his lips considerably.
"You know...I don't think we ever really find absolute happiness in life." Ryu mused as the waitress sat down the food, bouncing off of what the other man had said. "Its more about the little things, like a cuddly kitten, or seeing a loved one smile, or a good round in the bed with a lover," he picked up a dumpling with his chopsticks, grinning like the akuma Naoko had fallen in love with, "...or, a really delicious shrimp dumpling!" he held the petite hors d'oeuvre out, right in front of Sai's lips, fully expecting the man to bite it. He was so damned adorable doing so that it was bordering on ridiculous.
Ryuukaze was obviously intoxicated, but for him, that was a good thing. At least, for now, he didn't feel any pain, he could move, he could smile, and he had more energy than he had since before he got hurt.

Ryu smiled even wider as Sai took the dumpling. It pleased the violinist greatly, to see Sai try one of his favorite things.
"Yatta!!! I'm soooo glad you like them!" he blurted, looking as though a set of neko ears and a tail would be perfectly fitting on his form right then.

When Sai mentioned dropping him off at home, however, something inside him became very uncomfortable, though through the haze of drink he couldn't quite make it out.

"Sure, Oumori-san...that would be just fine!" Ryu smiled.
But...that wasn't what he wanted.
He wanted, deep down, to go back to Naoko.
Or..at least..to not be left all alone to face reality when this blurred world ceased to be.
Though he was still smiling, tears ran down the star's cheeks.
The saddest part was...he didn't even realize it.

Ryu gave Sai a puzzled look. Indeed, it wasn't until he saw the tear stains on the napkin Sai was dabbing his cheeks with that he realized that he was indeed shedding tears.
"I...ah...gomen nasai, Oumori-san. I don't...understand. I don't know what's gotten into me." the violinist shook his head, smiling still.
"I don't mean to be so terribly pesky. Please forgive me." he looked to the other with pleading eyes, as if he expected to be admonished or judged for his emotional episode.
"Thank you, so very much." he took Sai by the hand that was wiping at his tears and pressed his cheek into it like a puppy that desperately needed to be petted.

Going home. Alone. With only that annoying nurse. Iie, he would send the nurse away, if she hadn't gone already. He had been able to manage himself well enough today. He wouldn't die, at the very least.
But still, being by himself...the idea made the violinist's blood run cold, the hair on his arms even standing up on end as his skin broke into goosebumps. Ryu didn't want to be left all alone, but he surely couldn't beg Sai to stay with him. He had been burden enough to the man. He was always a burden, to everyone he ever came in contact with. Naoko, Nakai, Sai...all people he would like to be close to, some more than others, but all he managed to do was put them through hardships.
The alcohol in his system was starting to make him ill now that his bubbly persona had been made to dwell on the negative.
"I...ah...demo..." Ryu sputtered, desperately searching for a reason, any reason, as to why they should extend their evening, even a little bit more.
Sai was still leaning over the table, awkwardly, with Ryu holding his hand. Ryu was still trying to think through the alcohol fog, but, for a moment, Ryu was stunned as he looked into the other man's eyes. It was...just like with Naoko. Over the table in that bar. On the table in that bar. Naoko. Honey sweet Naoko.
Drunkenly, not even realizing what he was doing, Ryu had risen from his seat just enough to press his lips to Sai's, emulating the exact fashion he had kissed Naoko so sweetly, so impossibly wonderfully before their illicit tryst on a bar table.
It was obvious that the violinist was totally zoned out and didn't realize what he was doing, but that didn't make him any less of an amazing kisser.

Kami-sama.
No no no no no!
Why, oh why did he always have to go and do something stupid?
Snapping back to reality,the look of absolute horror that plastered itself on Ryuukaze's features would have been comical had the situation not been so very terrible.
"S...Sai, I swear, I sear I didn't mean anything by that! I was daydreaming!" he sputtered, face flushed, beads of sweat forming almost instantaneously on his forehead.
"I know Naoko needs me! I need Naoko! More than you can imagine! But I need you too! Please, don't abandon me!" he pleaded, letting all of his weakness and insecurity show.
Sai walked away from him, though, and Ryu sat there for a moment, motionless.
To have mucked things up again, so terribly...to have kissed Naoko's brother, of all things. Of course, Sai was beautiful. He was beyond desirable. His looks, his voice, his personality, the very way he moved was a turn on...but he loved Naoko, not Sai. Sai should be...more like a brother to Ryu.
Even so...the taste of that kiss did linger. It was more of a hot cinnamon taste, both burning and sweet, a kiss with a dual personality. The violinist found himself licking his lips.

Oh hell...he couldn't just sit here and wait for a cab to take him home. He needed to make things right with Sai, right now. Sliding out of the booth, he made his way as quickly as his legs would carry him out to where Sai had parked his car, hoping that Sai hadn't gone just yet.
Luckily for Ryu, Sai was still there, sitting in his car, seemingly staring off into space.
Approaching the driver's side door, Ryu bent down, knocking on the window to get Sai's attention.

Great. Just mother ********' GREAT!
Sai had completely bailed on him, and he had nobody to blame but himself.
Sai surely hated him now.
Ryu hated himself.
All of a sudden, it began to rain. Heavily.
"Kuso...kuso kuso kusssooo!" he cursed, both at himself and the heavens.
It was then that the cab Sai had called for him pulled up.
"You must be Ryuukaze-san, the one I was sent to pick up. You...certainly fit the description." the driver smiled.
Ryu just got into the taxi, giving the address to his home.
It wasn't long until he reached his destination, stepping out of the cab he gave the man some money and waved him off, looking at the door to his complex.
Really now...was he going to go in there and just rest? Just sit there, alone, and be "ok" with the way things were?
Not. A. Chance.
Pulling out his phone, he punched in a number he very, very rarely dialed.
It wasn't long before a long black sedan with darkened windows pulled up in front of his building. Walking out from underneath the awning, Ryu opened the door and got in. The car sped quietly through the city streets, pulling up in the rear of the central hospital, parking behind some dumpsters near a side alleyway. A gorgeous woman stepped out of the vehicle, straightening her long, straight black hair. The tight black pants that she wore fit perfectly, tucked into her immaculate stilletto Prada boots.
"It won't be long, Ryu-chan." she winked one of her green eyes at the violinist who sat silently in the car.
Marching into the hospital, she quietly made her way to the elevator and up to the appropriate floor. Smiling brightly, she walked into the room as if she belonged there.
"Ah, you must be NAKO-san!" she smiled a bright, kind smile as she greeted the blond, regarding the man who sat in the hospital bed with a pleasant nod.
"I'm with patient services." she flashed a hospital ID card, one that was so immaculate it surely couldn't be a fake.
"Would you please come with me for a moment? I need to speak with you alone in regards to Hayato-san. We're hoping to have him speaking and moving like nothing ever happened in no time! Right this way, please." She motioned toward the door.

This one wasn't going to make things simple, was he?
Still, she had her orders from Minamoto-sama, and she could not fail at her mission.
"Yagami. Yagami Hibiki desu." she gave her name and bowed, the perfect picture of good manners and sweetness. Of course, it was an assumed name. Her true name was Teito Tsubaki.
"Forgive my manners, I am not intending any disrespect, but unfortunately this is the only day I will be here this week, and I need to work out financial information for Hayato-san here, as well as go over his health care plan. This is all in the best interests of the patient, if you would be willing. Morinozuka-sensei told me that you were the one I needed to speak to in regards to these matters."
Tsubaki used every bit of information that Ryu had given her, including a few tidbits about the situation that she had gathered on her way in, peeking at Hayato's patient info at the nurses desk while nobody was tending it.
"Now, if you will, it will only take a moment. Come to my office, please?"