Where are you? @imaginedstars - Tumblr Blog

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Dubiety [Rei & Sachi]

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Rei hadn’t realized the tears he’d been trying so hard to hold in were falling until he felt a soft brush of lips over his cheek. Sachi. She was kissing his tears away, lips pressing just under the path of a tear and stopping it in its tracks. He could feel his face beginning to heat up at the sensation of her lips against his skin but he made no attempt to pull away from her. It was warm in her arms, almost unbearably so, but did not make him feel physically uncomfortable. He hadn’t felt that way around Sachi for a long time. She was… warm and kind, soft and gentle. If anything, he felt safe. It was a feeling he hadn’t felt in a long, long time and it made his chest ache in longing when he thought about her.

imaginedstars

Sachi felt Rei stiffen beneath her. The action was enough to make her regret her words immediately. Already she could feel her throat growing tight, her eyes growing watery, her face growing hot. She should have remained silent. Everything had been fine until she'd opened her mouth and said those incredibly stupid words. Hadn't she promised herself that this wouldn't happen when she'd left Japan? Idiot, she cursed herself - grimacing outwardly as she thought it. Idiot. Stupid idiot. Why did she have to say that? It wasn't as if Rei was going to declare his feelings for her in some grand, sweeping gesture and then ride off into the sunset with her. They were little more than awkward teens, the both of them - grasping at the coattails of adulthood with one hand while dragging their childhood along with the other.

"I do." Sachi's voice was just as soft as his. Beneath her hand, she could feel his skin grow warmer with each passing second. She wanted to get away from him. There was no reply. He wasn't responding. There was no look of kindness, no happiness. Not even a smile. If anything, he looked shocked and nervous. Sachi's stomach turned. At once, her face fell. There was a look of intense pain on her features, followed by one of sadness. Then, just like that, she wiped all of it away with a well-practiced mask. It was a talent - one long-learned from growing up in a family that berated her at every turn. Even her eyes barely betrayed anything of her real emotion. Sachi fixed a crooked smile on her lips, as if she'd told a particularly bad joke. "Don't worry about it. It's not that big of a deal. Just forget it." Despite her appearence, her tone of voice was full of pain. It was a lie. A particularly bad one at that.

His hold was tightening on her. At once, Sachi felt trapped. Panic took hold in her chest. "L-Let me go." She didn't want to hear him tell her that he was flattered, but didn't feel the same. She didn't want to deal with the pain of rejection yet again. But still his grip didn't loosen. Did he really intend on keeping her this way? Even if she was comfortable in his hold on some level, Sachi couldn't stay there any longer. Not when she knew it would end with her in tears. "Let go!" Her hands braced against his shoulders as she leaned away from him. Still nothing. Digging her nails into the fabric, the artist used what strength she could muster to get away from him. It was, seemingly, enough. Popping out of his hold, Sachi fell backwards with a yelp. And, just like last time, she caught herself against something - the coffee table, to be precise. Magazines went flying. A few fell from their stacks onto the floor. It might have even been called a mess had her apartment actually been clean. But that wasn't the worst of it.

No, the worst was the scream that came from Sachi. It was one of fear and pain, mixed together to create something that sounded like a panicked animal. Unlike her lucky break with the workstation, Sachi had hurt herself this time. Both mugs of tea had overturned - jostled by her fall and Sachi, in her reaction, had braced her hands against the table. The minutes between her making the tea and her escape from Rei had done little to cool the liquid. Already, the artist's skin was reddening in a way that seemed painful. Sachi drew in on herself, blinking back tears as she gazed down at her hands. Her livelihood. "No..." The word came as a sob, followed quickly by the same word repeated over and over as her breathing grew sharp and shallow.

#ryyugazaki

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Dubiety [Rei & Sachi]

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Rei’s shaking only increased when he felt Sachi’s hands on either side of his face but instead of pulling him in further she pushed him back gently, expression concerned. Had he misread her then? He had been so certain that was what she wanted from him. It had seemed the only explanation as to why she would ask him back to her apartment after kissing him twice in her workplace. He had messed up badly. She was taking a step back from him now, out of his arms and dread settled in his chest, the strength of it surprising him slightly. She would tell him to leave now. She would ask him to leave and would never speak to him again, that was what was going to happen here. He would lose perhaps the only friend he’d ever had from his own stupidity and over-reaction. The expression on her face, however, spoke otherwise.

imaginedstars

Sachi was silently thankful that she'd been able to stop his trembling again. For a brief moment, Sachi was worried he'd storm out from fear or embarrassment. Instead, Rei stayed on that couch where she left him. To scare him away now would have been heartbreaking to say the least. He was already so fragile - so vulnerable - even before the misunderstanding. He would have beat himself up over this if she'd allowed him to think that she was upset with him. But she hadn't. She refused to allow Rei to feel any sense of despair ever again. And, surprisingly, he seemed to be doing better in her presence. He hadn't even jumped when she touched him this time. In Sachi's mind, that was a large improvement over their first few instances of physical contact.

He was warm. His breathing - which had before been so unsteady - was evening out. Another relief. She blinked as he reached up and took hold of her arm only to smile softly and give a shake of her head. "You don't need to thank me for saying the truth." It was only then that she realized he was crying. Inhaling sharply, the artist leaned forward slightly and kissed his cheek - stopping the tear from falling. "It's okay, Rei. You're safe." She might have even said more to him had it not been for the tea kettle's sudden shrill whistle. Sachi took a deep breath, pulling back from him. The whistle died out seconds later, allowing for a brief moment of silence before the sound of water being poured and tea being stirred followed. When Sachi returned, she held two mugs in her hand - one blue and one white. "There's no sugar in the blue one. Since you mentioned you didn't like it..."

Sachi trailed, unsure of how to continue. Then, gently, she placed the mugs on her coffee table and stood in front of Rei. "Is it okay if I touch you?" She waited, searching his eyes for a look of fear or distrust or even outright refusal. But nothing came. Gently, she leaned in closer until one knee rested on either side of his hips. Lowering herself to him, Sachi was aware of how their bodies fit together like two puzzle pieces that had finally found their match. He was warm, dazzlingly so. He was comforting - a feeling Sachi hadn't felt in a long time. Being with Rei was so easy. She knew what to say and when to say it. How to act. Rei's presence was so calming, like a good book or a beautiful piece of music or that one perfect moment that came on a Sunday morning - bright and gentle and still. Sachi was suddenly aware of how she was looking at him - her gaze gentle and peaceful. She was aware of her breathing, which had adapted to Rei's own. But most of all, Sachi was aware of how her heart pounded in her chest.

At once, she turned her face from him and buried it into his shoulder. Even then, though, she couldn't escape him. The warm, welcoming scent of cinnamon. The gentle notes of pear that clung to him from his morning shower. Even the faint but detectable scent of hand sanitizer - a smell that made her smile briefly. It was all so very much like him. And silently, Sachi wondered if perhaps he'd been meant to meet her. If the butterfly had chosen to bring them together that day. She was trapped in the web that was Rei Ryugazaki with no hope of escape. The worst part, though, was that she didn't want to escape. Sachi had vowed the moment she left Japan that she wouldn't fall in love. And yet here she was, practically intoxicated by someone. He was so warm that she felt dizzy. Her eyelids drooped. This was a mistake. To be like this with him would be unwelcome. Rei wouldn't want to be with someone like her. He was better than she was. And yet Sachi couldn't help herself. She'd seal away her own freedom the moment she spoke those words. And yet she couldn't stop herself from muttering drowsily to him as she kept her face buried against his shoulder.

"...I'm in love with you."

#ryyugazaki

Hello everyone!!! I've been really busy recently so I haven't been able to be on Sachi as much as I'd like! That being said, I'm gonna do Rei's reply right now! If someone would like a thread, don't be scared to message me! I can't do many as I'm still really busy but I'll try as hard as I can!

Also!!! Welcome to the new members!

#ooc #wow look it's me

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Dubiety [Rei & Sachi]

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

She held his hand tightly, tugging him gently out the back door of the shop and into a back alleyway with little resistance from him. This was presumably to avoid the curious gazes of her coworkers - her face and eyes were still slightly red from crying - and Rei had no complaints. He did not much fancy the idea of being laughed at for a second time today and found the idea of watching Sachi getting laughed at even less pleasant. Though he never made any attempt to pull away from her, she did not loosen her grip throughout the entire twenty minutes they walked, him in silence and her with occasion words. Rei looked up at her apology, expression surprised before he shook his head. “You don’t need to apologize. I walk to class and to work every day so I don’t mind in the least.” His face split into a reassuring, albeit shaky smile.

imaginedstars

Seeing Rei in her apartment was strange to say the least. He shifted uncomfortably, as if at any moment he could knock something over or disrupt one of the stacks of supplies she left in various places. Either that or he had an undeniable urge to clean. Sachi assumed it to be the latter, to be honest. The way he glanced around combined with his personality nearly confirmed it for her. And so, as she disappeared into her apartment once more to throw her clothes into the washing machine, the artist couldn't help but smile. It must have been difficult for him to be surrounded by such a mess. His own apartment must have been spotless and organized to a degree that most would have called obsessive. Placing the clothing into the washing machine, Sachi silently mused if maybe she should have him clean her apartment as well.

It had been a mistake to take his jacket off for him like that. Sachi realized that somewhere between when he started shaking and when his lips pressed to her own. This was not a kiss that she wished to share with him. There was no spark in it. Merely the uncomfortable trembling of the man she...felt close to. A soft noise of protest sounded against his lips before Sachi gently placed her hands on each side of his head and pulled him back. His expression, his shaking. Did this scare him so? "Rei..." Her voice was filled with concern. She took a step back, out of his hold, and gave a shake of her head. Then, before he could bother questioning just how much of a mess he'd made of things, Sachi smiled slightly. "It's okay. You don't need to push yourself or do something you don't want to. I just wanted to wash your jacket. Nothing else is going to come off." That must have prompted this. If it had been any other man, Sachi would have been offended.

But Rei was different.

He seemed scared and nervous. Had he been trying to seduce her, then that kiss would have been the worst attempt she'd ever seen. Gently, she took his hand in her own and pulled him deeper into the living room. Two hands were braced on his shoulders as she lowered him to the couch. "Stay here. Don't move." One lingering hand was placed on his cheek before Sachi pulled away completely and headed into the kitchen. The sound of water filling a tea kettle. The sound of glasses being pulled from the cupboard. The sound of rummaging in her pantry. All of it, so familiar and quiet. Comforting. And then silence once more. Suddenly, Sachi's arms encircled him from behind - resting on his shoulders and collarbone. Her cheek pressed against his own. For a long while, she remained like that. Bent over the couch, holding Rei from behind as if he was so fragile he would shatter if she wasn't there to hold him together.

"...Whatever it is, I don't mind." Her voice was soft, gentle. "If there's something wrong, that's okay. I don't mind at all. If you aren't comfortable, that's okay. I'll do what I can to accomodate you." It was strange. She'd only known him for a few weeks and yet... "I don't mind if you don't want to kiss me or if you don't want me to touch you. That's okay. I don't mind at all. All you have to do is tell me, Rei. I don't mind what it is. Because it's you, I'll listen to every word and take it to heart as best I can. I might make mistakes sometimes or do something wrong, but I'll try my best. So you don't need to force yourself like that anymore. Not with me." A slight squeeze. "Please don't do that anymore."

#ryyugazaki

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Dubiety [Rei & Sachi]

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Sachi was… crying. It took several seconds for this fact to sink in but when he felt the telltale drip of tears onto his jacket, he almost jerked away from her in surprise. Why was she crying? He hadn’t said anything terrible, had he? A muffled little sob sounded, muffled by his hair but he felt the way she swallowed thickly in an attempt to keep the sound in. His arms instinctively tightened around her - he didn’t want her to cry, didn’t like the way her face was contorted with sadness when he glanced up at her - but just as he was about to speak, her words pierced the silence again.

imaginedstars

Sachi wasn't sure she was ready for it when Rei pulled away. There were still traces of tears on her cheeks. Lifting a hand, she rubbed them away as quickly as she could before gazing up at him. Once more, he was towering over her - pinning her back against the table in what should have been considered a threatening position. Except that it wasn't. Rei seemed so nervous, so shocked, that it all showed on his face. Once she was sure Sergi was gone, Sachi smiled softly. Cupping his face in her hands, the female locked eyes with him until she was sure he was calm. "Alright. We'll go now, then." Ducking out from under him, Sachi removed the apron she had been wearing and deposited it into the store's laundry bin. Ensuring that her decoration's design was easily identifiable on her work station, she took hold of Rei's hand and pulled him out the back door and into an alley.

Her hand was on his own. She never released him, even for a moment. As if in doing so, he would run away. Sachi didn't speak, allowing the sounds of the city to fill the silence for them. All the while, she never once let go of his hand. They passed the various stores of the entertainment district in silence. Sachi stopped only once, pausing in front of a pet store to gaze at the puppies before continuing on her way. All in all, it was a nearly twenty minute walk to the Arbol Building where Sachi's apartment was. "I would have called for a taxi or something, but..." She trailed, ruffling her hair. But she couldn't afford one. "Sorry. I don't know if you're used to that sort of thing. I just think it's a healthier alternative to walk to and from work. Even if it is a little far." Ascending the stairs with his hand in her own, Sachi released it only when she pulled out her keys to unlock the door. "It's a little messy..." With that, she stepped inside.

The foyer was lined with shoes which were tossed haphazardly around, piling up. Sachi pulled off her own, stepping barefoot onto the hardwood floor. The kitchen was sparse save for the dishes the piled the sink - though they were clean. Apparently, Sachi liked for her work to pile up before she did it all in one go. Her eating area doubled as a workspace for her art as well as her TV. An easel rested in the corner, holding an unfinished painting of a starry sky and what appeared to be a person beneath it. Stacks of sketchbooks lay haphazardly on the floor. "I need to change. Just give me a second." With that, Sachi disappeared deeper into her apartment. The sliding glass door of the balcony was open, allowing a gentle breeze to shift the white curtains every-so-often. Wherever Rei looked, art supplies were everywhere. It only took a few minutes for Sachi to return, dressed now in a tanktop and shorts. Without speaking, she approached him and lifted a hand - gently unzipping his jacket for him. Sliding it from his shoulders, she gathered the material into a ball and looked up at him. "I'll wash this, alright? I got it dirty, so I should be the one to clean it."

#ryyugazaki

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Dubiety [Rei & Sachi]

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

"Touche," Rei said in a hushed voice, a soft smile on his lips. "I am… comfortable right now." In truth, he felt as though he might fall asleep in her arms at any moment, lulled by the slow tempo of her breathing and the feeling of her cool fingers combing slowly through his hair. Sachi’s words were soft, spoken so close to his ear that they tickled his skin. She was reassuring him, he noted with an unconscious smile - she always seemed to do that whenever he expressed any doubts about himself. Her fingers, which had before been stroking his hair moved to play with it instead as she curled herself around him, the palm of her other hand pressing between his shoulder blades.

imaginedstars

"Are you comfortable?" Sachi murmured the question to him, her gaze gentle. It felt nice, being this close to him. He was no longer trembling or panicking. A good sign in Sachi's mind. He'd sunk against her, leaned his bod/ weight into her until both of them were comfortable. And he was close. Closer than anyone had ever been to Sachi in a long time. Lifting one hand to brush back her curtain of black hair, the female smiled softly. "I'm glad, then." And she was. Happiness swelled in her chest at the fact that Rei wasn't panicking under her touch. In truth, she felt as if she'd soothed some wild skittish animal from bolting away from her. Except Rei Ryugazaki was more interesting than any animal she'd ever seen before.

The shift in their position hadn't registered with Sachi until she felt his breath against her neck. At once, her brown eyes widened and she suppressed a shiver of her own. That wasn't proper. And so, she remained silent as Rei spoke of his home and his family life. Sachi's expression grew sadder with each word until, finally, her eyes welled with tears. How difficult it must have been for him as a child. "...So that's why." Her voice was soft, soothing. So that was why he saw himself in such a twisted light. Again, her hand rose to stroke his hair gently. And Sachi felt a deep need to protect him. A profound need. A desire to protect him and ensure that Rei would someday see himself through the eyes of others. A gentle, kind man with a stunning intellect. Drawing a breath, Sachi shook her head. "Don't apologize for telling me these things. I asked. But..." Trailing, she swallowed before allowing herself to speak her mind. "You shouldn't blame yourself for that." His family life sounded uncomfortable at the very best.

The artist could feel the way his muscles tensed at her next statement. He'd been harmed so many times. So many different times. No longer could Sachi hold back the tears - try though she might. They fell from her closed eyes, dropping onto his jacket only to disappear into the material. A muffled sob left her before she spoke in a soft, trembling voice. "W-Well, I don't think there's anything wrong with you. I like the way you are." Sachi was aware of how childish that sounded. Her tear-stained voice seemed so weak and soft in the stillness before she sniffled and lifted a hand to scrub at her eyes angrily. Idiot. Moron. Crying in front of him like a child. "Don't change." Even as she rubbed her eyes with the heel of her hand, Sachi continued to speak. "D-Don't let anyone make you change. I like how you are now." For a brief moment, it seemed like Sachi wanted to say more. However, a voice stopped her.

"Nanjou. Go home." It was the owner. A Russian man with a kind heart. "Cake is done for today. I will do rest. Go home." It must have been a sight to see - Sachi crying as Rei clung to her. She couldn't even begin to imagine what Sergi was thinking. Only when he gave her a look before turning his back on them and walking back to the front of the store did Sachi blush and ruffle her hair. Rei's face was still hidden in her neck. A moment of silence passed between them before, softly, Sachi whispered to him.

"...Do you want to go back to my apartment with me?"

#ryyugazaki

Rules of Nature || Para Bellum 01 [Open]

Sachi didn't know why she was even playing a game like this. She'd never been particularly good at video games and - according to the game, at least - she had no valuable skills to actually aid her in the game. Perhaps she should have paid more attention in her first aid classes or in gym. Well, no matter. What was done was done. Sachi had to admit, though, that the game itself was pretty amazing. Everything looked almost real enough. It was shockingly realistic to the point that Sachi could admit that the lines of reality and virtual could start to blur if she played the game too long. That was, of course, until a menu popped up in front of her accompanied for a pleasant robotic voice.

Ｐｌｅａｓｅｓｅｌｅｃｔｙｏｕｒｗｅａｐｏｎ．

Sachi blinked in surprise, tilting her head to the side before scrolling past the various choices. A bow. A sword and shield. A staff. A mace. A dagger. All boring. And then Sachi hit upon something that made her pause. A thin sword, designed for cutting with little in the way of defense. The artist liked that. There was something impressive in selecting a weapon that could only be powerful if mastered. Selecting the blade, she was surprised to find that it had materialized on her body. She could feel the heft of it as it rested inside it's sheath at her waist. "Neat."

Ｂｌａｄｅｍｏｄｅｎｏｗｉｎｉｔｉａｔｅｄ．Ｇｏｏｄｌｕｃｋ．

With that, the menu disappeared. For a game not having classes, it was at least nice to see that a choice of weapon could be made. Placing a hand on the hilt of the blade, Sachi drew it slowly - shocked to find that the movement felt natural. The metal gleamed dangerously in the sunlight, causing Sachi's eyes to widen. This was incredibly realistic. Replacing the blade before she accidentally hurt someone with it, the female crossed her arms with a sigh. "Now I just have to find the right crystal..." It was only then that Sachi noticed another person who had been watching her for a minute or two. "Hey! Do you want to team up?" Hopefully they were friendly.

#RSRP PB 01 #rsrp open

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Dubiety [Rei & Sachi]

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Rei’s eyes slid closed again as Sachi’s fingers began to comb through his hair, fingertips cool and soothing against his scalp. This was the first time he had been held like this by anyone. He found that he liked the closeness of it; the way he could feel her chest rising and falling as she breathed, the way she smelled and the way her skin felt pleasant cooled where it brushed against his own. Inhaling deeply, Rei pressed his face into her shirt, taking in the flowery scent of her perfume and the sweetness that clung to her shirt, undoubtedly from her earlier work. It was only faint but he could still identify it, its sweetness pleasant and not sickly.

imaginedstars

"You're not wasting my time. If you were wasting my time, I would have told you by now." Sachi was more than a little shocked by how easily Rei had relaxed under her attention. Still, she wasn't upset by it. If anything, it made the artist's expression soften slightly as he pressed more of his weight into her. "If I have to, I'll come in tomorrow morning and finish decorating it. As long as it makes it to the wedding on time, it doesn't matter when I finish it. I'm sure Sergi could understand my position right now. You aren't hindering me." A pause. Sachi searched for something, anything, to lighten the mood. Finally, the female chucked softly and shook her head. "Besides, you're not acting like you want to leave."

The weight of his body against her own wasn't unpleasant. It was warm, comforting. Sachi hadn't felt anything like it in a long time. Gazing down at him as she played with his hair, Sachi took a deep breath and curled herself around him slightly - the act one of protection. One hand remained in his hair while her other arm wrapped around his back. Sachi allowed herself to tighten her hold on Rei by only a little bit in the chance that doing so would make him panic. "Don't say you're hindering me again. I would tell you if you were. I don't mind being around you or being distracted from my work by you. This is fine, Rei. If you think this is hindering me, then you can hinder me all you'd like." The artist murmured the words to him - her voice soft and gentle. He seemed exhausted, as if he'd been waiting for someone to simply tell him everything would be okay. As if he'd been waiting for a long, long time.

He looked so vulnerable as he gazed up at her with one eye - the other half of his face buried in her shoulder. Vulnerable and trusting, like a stray who had decided that the person feeding them wasn't so bad. Sachi's heart ached. With each beat, it felt like someone was squeezing it tighter. "I'm sure you came from a family that had enough money to send you to school. Perhaps even one in which you never wanted for anything. But someone with an easy life doesn't start shaking and having a panic attack over something like a kiss. Something happened to you, I'm sure of it. Your life wasn't----" And then he said it. The words that made Sachi's eyes go wide and nearly fill with tears. The words that made her breath catch. Words that hurt not because of their content, but because of the belief behind them.

It's just me.

At once, Sachi swallowed back a cry of protest. Instead, she pressed him tighter to her and shifted them so that her chin rested on top of his head. Her breath came faster, her muscles tensed, her arms drew him to her as if something would happen to him. As if by doing these small actions, she could erase the pain that other people had caused him. Sachi held him as if protecting him from the rest of the world. As if she could shield him. "No. That's not true. There's nothing wrong with you. Someone out there hurt you." It wasn't often Sachi spoke about things like this so freely. "There's nothing wrong with you at all, Rei."

#ryyugazaki

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Dubiety [Rei & Sachi]

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

He couldn’t stop shaking, couldn’t stop his shoulders being wracked with shivers every few seconds, couldn’t stop his hands from clenching and unclenching on the counter top as he fought to control his breathing. And he didn’t understand why. Sachi hadn’t hurt him. She been nothing but kind to him since the day they had met. So why couldn’t he calm down? Sachi was looking up at him with worry on her face and he could only stare back with wide eyes filled with undue terror. Calm down. Calm down calm down calm down.

imaginedstars

Sachi assumed quite briefly that Rei would not calm down. That he would continue to stand here, having a what seemed to be a full-blown panic attack. Guilt twisted the artist's stomach. She'd been the one to do this to him. If Rei couldn't calm down, she would be at fault. What had scared him in such a way? It was just a kiss. There had to be something deeper here. Something deeper and altogether more painful. Sachi felt her heart clench at the idea, felt the fury rise up and almost choke her. Had someone harmed him? Rei didn't deserve that.

He seemed to calm, though, the longer she spent trying to get him to stop panicking. That, at least, was good. His trembling soon quelled. His breathing evened out. He seemed to be doing better. That, in turn, made the artist feel mildly better about the situation. But still, the question remained: what had brought this reaction on? Of course an unexpected kiss would startle anyone. But this was not merely being startled. Rei looked as if he'd feared for his life until Sachi had managed to calm him. He looked as if he expected her to hit him or send some sort of verbal abuse his way. And though Sachi wanted to ask him what was wrong, she couldn't bring her mouth to open.

He collapsed against her. The sudden weight of him caused her to bend back a little bit, but he certainly didn't pin her to the table. Instead, she was shocked by his closeness. For someone who had been panicking moments before over a kiss, Rei was close. Her hand slid from the back of his neck to his hair. "Why are you apologizing? You did nothing wrong." Gently, her fingers combed through his hair as she gazed down at him. He looked drained. Briefly, the artist looked up to see one of her fellow employees peering at them from the doorway. Sachi narrowed her eyes furiously, causing the male to jerk back to whatever he was doing. Served him right, trying to see what was going on.

For someone who was so much larger than her, Rei certainly was ten times more vulnerable than she was. "You can stay like this for as long as you need. Don't worry about it. No one will bother us." He was warm. The weight of him against her was, surprisingly, comfortable. Sachi relaxed as well, continuing to stroke his hair slowly. Again, there was that strange sensation - the same one that had shown up when she kissed him. That this was right. Sachi rolled her eyes briefly. Sleep deprivation sure took a toll on one's emotional state. "...You've had a hard life." Again, it wasn't a question but an observation - and a very obvious one at that.

#ryyugazaki

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Dubiety [Rei & Sachi]

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Rei had almost reached the door when he felt Sachi’s fingers close around his wrist, yanking him back into the room so suddenly that he lost his balance. He stumbled, almost colliding with her as the two of them fell back towards the workstation. Sachi hit the surface first, her yelp echoed by him as he fell into her, stabilizing himself with a hand on the counter either side of her body. She must have attempted to do the same thing by misplaced her hand, the heel of his pressing into the icing bag and painting his sleeve in the sickly sweet substance. Somewhat dazed by what had just happened, Rei gazed down at his arm without really seeing it, only raising his head when he heard Sachi begin to speak again.

imaginedstars

There would come a time later - much later - where Sachi would apologize for effectively ruining Rei's jacket. For now, though, she merely allowed herself to calm after snapping at him so fiercely. She'd kissed him again. That was bad. She kissed him and she didn't particularly understand why she did it. Just that it had happened when she'd tried not to let it happen again. And here they were in back of Goodnight Sweets, her place of employment, in a very private and vulnerable moment. Sachi was sure that Sergi would walk into the back and see what was happening and that would be the end for her. Brown eyes grew worried. That expression didn't last for long, though, once she gazed up at Rei and saw his own expression.

He was leaning over her, a hand on either side. Towering over her by at least half a foot. This was a traditional position of power and intimidation. It was meant to make someone feel trapped. The problem was, though, that Sachi didn't feel trapped. Despite her lower back pressed against the table, Sachi wasn't scared. Rei Ryugazaki wasn't going to harm her. He wasn't that type of person. If anything, he looked terrified. His entire body shook and trembled like a leaf resisting the temptation to allow itself to be blown from it's branch. "Rei..." Her voice was soft, soothing. She didn't move just yet. Sachi was too afraid that if she moved too suddenly, she'd spook Rei like a skittish colt. And when he talked, Sachi was surprised his voice didn't tremble. "Yes. I kissed you." She repeated his words gently. He was still trembling. His gaze was still terrified.

"Rei. Calm down..." Lifting her hands slowly, her left one moved to cup his cheek while the other slid around the back of his neck to knead the flesh there. Would this comfort him? She didn't know. "It's okay. You don't need to be scared. Everything is fine, Rei." Her gaze never left his own, even though the artist became increasingly nervous that one of the other employees would enter the back for something. There was the chance of someone seeing the position they were in and firing her on the spot. Even worse, though, was the chance that they would see it as Rei attempting to harm Sachi and ripping him away from her. If that happened, he'd be gone for good. "You look so scared. It's okay. It's okay to calm down now." She didn't understand his fear in the least. Why had one kiss managed to work him up?

The sound of feet shuffling behind them caught her attention. Instead of leaping away from him, Sachi leaned closer - pressing their foreheads together to keep him from looking at whoever had entered the back. "Look at me. Concentrate on me. Everything is fine." She felt like she was holding off a panic attack for him. Whoever it was, it seemed, wasn't going to pull him away or report her. And so, Sachi remained in that position with him - silently soothing him as whoever it was did what needed to be taken care of.

#ryyugazaki

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Dubiety [Rei & Sachi]

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

He let himself be pulled into the back room of the bakery, trying his best to ignore the curious looks that were sent their way and the sound of snickering that started up again once they left. Despite Sachi’s reassurances, Rei was certain that the laughter was directed towards him. He was the one embarrassing himself, after all. They had no reason to laugh at her. As they moved from one room to the next, the sweet smell he had found so nauseating before became less potent and he inhaled deeply in relief. The room was larger than he would have imagined. There were several work stations, one housing a large half iced cake that he assumed she had been working on before he had arrived.

imaginedstars

Sachi continued to watch Rei, unsure of how her words had been taken. She'd never been good at expressing herself through them. Had that been the case, she would have chosen being a writer over an artist. No, Sachi was a very visual person. When she spoke, it was easy for her to be misunderstood. She needed to show others her thoughts, not tell them directly. And so, as she watched Rei's face fall, Sachi realized she'd misspoken once more. The words 'no profound meaning', in retrospect, were perhaps not the best choice. What she meant to say was that there was no reason beyond the feeling that she was meant to kiss him in that moment. Opening her mouth to speak, Sachi was promptly interrupted by Rei's own words.

"That's..." Trailing, Sachi was barely aware of the worry and shock so blatant in her expression. "You aren't bothering me!" But he was already turning to go. Without thinking, the artist circled around the table quickly and grabbed hold of his wrist - jerking him back from leaving with all of her strength. This, of course, had a side effect. Rei clearly hadn't been expecting to be pulled back by Sachi, which in turn threw her off balance. Sachi slammed back against her table with a yelp, Rei not too far behind her. Using her free hand to catch herself also had not been a good idea. The heel of her hand slammed down on the piping back, spurting icing over the male. His left sleeve - connected to the wrist Sachi had taken hold of - received the worst of it. It was covered in white icing. Sachi glanced down to it briefly before gazing back up into his face with eyes burning in determination.

"Did I say you were bothering me?" She was thankful that despite the commotion, no one had come to check up on them. "If I didn't want you around, I would have avoided this altogether! So stop acting like you're an annoyance to me!" The artist couldn't understand her outburst. Wasn't he someone she'd only just known for a short time? "It was something I wanted to do! Or, rather, that I felt I had to do, okay?! So don't get that look on your face because I can't say the right thing!" Was she tearing up? Sachi swallowed back her own annoyance at herself. How childish she seemed, tearing up like that after ruining his clothes and snapping at him. It wasn't Rei's fault he couldn't understand her. She was always better at showing than telling. And so, Sachi Nanjou closed the distance between herself and Rei Ryugazaki. Just like that night, she pressed her lips tentatively to his own.

Except this time, there was no mask separating them.

#ryyugazaki

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Dubiety [Rei & Sachi]

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

"I’m not too fond of it, no." Rei replied to her question with a little shake of the head. Truth be told, he loathed sweet foods. They made his gums ache and his tongue sting and left him terrified of cavities forming between his teeth. He tended to avoid them where he could but would begrudgingly eat a little if he had to. Glancing up when she did not speak, Rei watched the smile fall from her face in response to his confession and felt his chest seize up. Had that been the wrong thing to say? Perhaps he had been right in the first place and she really didn’t want to see him. It was then that he registered the sound of muffled laughter from behind him - her coworkers had obviously overheard and found his struggle amusing.

imaginedstars

Sachi was surprised to see that Rei didn't glance away from her when she returned her gaze to him once more. Had it been because she'd snapped at her fellow employees? Brown eyes met purple once more. Rei was so shy, so bad at expressing himself when it was important that he did so. And just like that, Sachi understood. Before, his life had been little more than a sketch on a canvas to her - rough lines with blank spots of unknown separating one portion from the other. But as she watched him, the stark white began to fill with color. The lines connected. And Sachi understood. How long had it been since he'd stood up for himself? How long since he'd taken an insult someone had said to him and hurled it back at them with something even worse?

How long had it been since someone had bothered to defend Rei Ryugazaki or tell him that what people said was meaningless?

#ryyugazaki

arcanewards

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Dubiety [Rei & Sachi]

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Sachi smiled at him, whether out of amusement or friendliness Rei could not tell in his current state. He wanted to assume the latter, as she often tried to make him feel more at ease when she sensed his discomfort and it was most likely glaringly obvious to her just how uncomfortable he felt at the moment. Her words were soothing when she spoke and it took Rei a moment to unstick his throat before replying. "I’m…fine." he said slowly, completely unconvincing. Of course she won’t believe that. Rei’s knuckles increasing the speed of their tapping when he glanced around to find several of her coworkers staring at him.They quickly returned to their work when he looked at them but the feeling of their gazes did not leave him.

imaginedstars

He was not fine. Sachi would have rolled her eyes at his weak reassurance, but the look on his face and the stiffness of his shoulders was more than enough to make Sachi hold off on teasing him. Brown eyes met purple before her gaze softened and she gave a quick shake of her head. "Of course you're fine." He looked so horribly nervous. For some reason, that was enough to make the artist's heart ache for the male. Perhaps not the best sensation to feel when she was already trying so desperately to avoid thinking about that particular night and the split-second decision she had made. Sachi hadn't even confronted herself over it yet but apparently Rei was going to do it for her. On the inside, she dreaded having to answer the inevitable question: why had she kissed him?

Truth be told, she was happy when he seemed to relax away from the others. Obviously, she couldn't leave the store with him. For the most part, Sergi would be absolutely furious to know that his decorator was slacking off and talking to a boy when she still had so much work to do. Especially because her uniform was dusted with confectioner's sugar and a few streaks of light blue icing smudged her left cheek. But, surprisingly, he hadn't said a word to her when she'd circled the counter and pulled Rei away. "You don't like sugary things?" Sachi's eyebrows rose before she gave a soft laugh and shook her head. "Somehow that seems like you. I'm not surprised that you don't like them." Turning her gaze away from him to the cakes - her handiwork obvious in the various decorations, from delicately-piped icing to near-realistic flowers - Sachi chuckled to herself.

The smile dropped when Rei's next words came. It wasn't from his words themselves but rather from the bark of laughter that came from behind one of the counters. Sachi hadn't seen who had laughed, but she turned from Rei briefly to make a rude gesture toward all of them. Luckily the store was empty of customers - save for Rei, of course. "It would be a real shame if I messed up icing one of those big expensive cakes that took a whole day to make." Sachi's words were spoken loudly and boldly, a clear warning before she turned back to Rei. "Don't pay them any attention. They're giving me a hard time, not you." She knew what was coming. "I wanted to see you, too. And talk to you. But..." Glancing over her shoulder once more, the female drew a deep breath. "I can't stay out here for long. I'm sure Sergi wouldn't mind if you talked to me while I worked. It will mean that you'll have to come into the back with me, though."

#ryyugazaki

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Dubiety [Rei & Sachi]

How am I supposed to do this?

Rei’s hands balled into fists at his sides, nails digging deep into the skin of his palms before unfurling again and smoothing over the fabric of his pant legs. He had been pacing up and down the few meters of pavement outside Goodnight Sweets for the last ten minutes, trying to clear his head enough to enter the shop calmly. Sachi was inside, he could see her through the glass, and that knowledge made him more nervous than he’d been in quite a while. The two of them hadn’t spoken since the night of Bal des Sang and the confusion he had felt following her sudden escape from him still lingered within him. Did she want to see him? Would she send him away? Rei had no way of knowing how she would react to seeing him.

He knew he was likely overreacting. He always did. Sachi had probably forgotten the whole thing and was simply struggling to get through to the end of her work day. She’d likely only be bothered by his presence, maybe he should… No! A new train of thought interrupted the rambling doubt. If you don’t go in there now, you’ll never get to ask her about that kiss. Shaking his head to clear it, Rei let out a little grunt of frustration, rubbing his hands nervous against his pant legs a few times before he finally began to close the distance between himself and the door of the shop. He yanked it open, sending the little bell attached to the top ringing brightly and the sound made him cringe. Now she knew he was there.

Keeping his eyes downcast, Rei took several tentative steps towards the counter. The nauseatingly sweet scent of warm sugar filled his nostrils, making his head spin and stomach turn, but he swallowed his disgust as he looked up to find Sachi staring at him from behind the counter. She looked understandably surprised to see him but Rei couldn’t decipher the other emotions in her expression. She was as difficult for him to read as ever. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he offered her a very forced smile, his discomfort clearly visible in the tightness of his jaw and the way he tapped his cold knuckles nervously against the counter-top when he reached it.

“Hello,” he said rather stupidly after a moment. Damn it.

imaginedstars

The days following the Bal des Sang should have been relaxing. Goodnight Sweets' orders had nearly halved since the ball, meaning that Sachi could relax a little at work. Or, rather, she would have been able to if it hadn't been for the torrent of rain that followed. Now they were working through a large backorder and had to deal with three panicked brides who believed their wedding cakes wouldn't be ready in time. Suffice to say, Sachi was just as busy as she'd been during the ball. Her black hair was tied back loosely so it didn't droop over her shoulder as she leaned in close, piping out the intricate lace-like decoration that one particularly rude bride had wanted. Still, she couldn't blame them. Everyone wanted their wedding to be perfect.

It was the commotion up front that drew Sachi away from her work - sparing precious moments that could be used to complete the order. Something was happening from all the ruckus the boys were making. When she appeared in the front of the store, one of the clerks grinned and jerked his head toward the front of the store. "Admirer of your's, Nanjou? Looks like he's going to wear a path in that concrete out there." Following her fellow employee's gaze, Sachi's own widened. Rei was out there, pacing. Good lord, what was he even doing? "Don't make fun of him. He's clearly nervous." Though her tone remained light, it was the look in her eyes that prompted the other to quickly resume his work in silence. By the time Rei had gotten inside the store, the majority of the employees who had been watching him pace back and forth seemed strangely absorbed in their work.

"Hello." The female couldn't help the smile that showed itself on her lips. It was clear he was uncomfortable. It was adorable, if a little bit awkward. And so, Sachi set about making him feel more comfortable. "How are you?" Turning her gaze from his face to his hands, her eyebrows rose as she watched him tap his knuckles against the counter-top. Circling around from behind the counter, Sachi grabbed hold of his arm. "Why don't I show you some of our baked goods? It might help you make a decision on what you'd like." Pulling him as far from the other employees as possible - in front of a refrigerated case of cakes that she'd spent a good portion of the morning on - Sachi dropped her voice. "I'm surprised to see you here. Especially considering the look on your face when you stepped into the bakery. You looked like you were going to be sick. Is everything alright?"

#ryyugazaki

imaginedstars

Catch and Release | Bal des Sang [Sachi + Rei]

ryyugazaki-deactivated20170827

Sachi tugged on his hand as she started walking again and Rei followed obediently, watching her as she walked and talked at the same time. The conservatory around them was almost completely shrouded in darkness with only the moonlight and the occasional bursts made by fireworks to illuminate it. When he looked upward, Rei could see the silhouettes of butterflies fluttering sleepily around, their colour and species impossible to make out in the near darkness. On any other night he would have found the silence and the gloom quite eerie but tonight, he found the atmosphere strangely beautiful, especially with Sachi there beside him. As an appreciator of all things aesthetically pleasing, he could very easily admit to himself that Sachi was beautiful. In fact, he could probably say it to her face without too much trouble as he would simply be stating a fact, something indisputable in his eyes. There was something about the way she looked now, however, smiling shyly up at him, her face illuminated every so often by the moonlight and the fireworks, that was so absolutely breathtaking that he was unable to speak for several moments, both the impact of her words and the beauty of her smile leaving him speechless.

imaginedstars

"Truth be told, Rei, someone was going to grab your string. I just happened to get there first." Winking at him playfully, Sachi folded her hands behind her back before smiling. "Well, I'm glad you feel comfortable around me. It's pretty hard to get someone like you to calm down. You seem pretty high-strung, Rei." Flashing a teasing grin his way, Sachi took a deep breath before gazing up at the sky through the panes of glass. It was nice in this place. Truly nice. And peaceful. She could see herself coming here quite often in the future. With Rei, perhaps. Brown eyes glanced to him and Sachi felt her cheeks flush. The fact that she was thinking things such as that was not good. Not good at all. She had too many things to concentrate on. She didn't need the additional stress of thinking about certain things. Romantic things. And with a boy she barely knew, too.

#ryyugazaki

Sachi's Rei sense is tingling. Someone is bullying Rei.

Someone is going to die.

#ic? ooc? who knows

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

Where are you?