A Vow of Black and White » Places

         

Rei felt Aina was safe to talk to. Even if he was quiet a lot of the time, she seemed understanding, and when he stumbled over his words or his volume dropped to usually inaudible levels, she'd listen. He felt slightly bad about trying to avoid the other residents, but he didn't want to be put in a position where his speech was needed and he couldn't provide that very well. He ran his hand through his hair, smiling at the greenness. He'd never thought he could do it, but when he did, he was so angry he just grabbed the bottle he'd bought weeks before and got in the shower, dying his blonde hair the green he was so used to now.

He could have continued his conversation with the girl, but he looked at Evande at the door, all words escaping. For some reason, it was easier, if only slightly, to talk to Aina. But as soon as Evande started talking, he became relieved that his glasses were covering his eyes. They served as a mask. “Aina, Rei, if you two are in the atrium, I’ve brought the two of you food per the request of Iòseph.” she said, and Rei looked at the plates in her hands.

"Ioseph-san had finished cooking them? I feel bad, I told him that I was going to help him! Um where is he Eva-kun? I'm going to say thank you for the food and sorry for not being able to help him." Aina said, and Rei looked at her, before drifting into his own world and his eyes looked at one of the walls, totally spacing out.

Oh. But I just ate. . . Well, food is food! he thought, his gluttonous side getting the better of him. Rei stood and stood next to Evande, his hand about to take the plate. He felt as if he should thank Iòseph, but earlier, he seemed tired. To be honest, he hadn't been sleeping very well lately either. Not that he ever did, due to the fact that sleeping give him dreams, and his dreams generally aren't. . . pleasant, but these ones were weird, and they'd started when he moved here. . .

"Maybe the mansion's haunted." he said out loud, before blushing a bright red and apologising a million times. "S-s-sorry!" he said, for the god-knows which time so far. "I-It's just, everyone looks so tired and I-I've been having really weird dreams, or rather, nightmares a-a-and. . . Well, I usually do anyway, b-b-but these. . ." he said, cutting himself off when his thoughts go the better of him. And he realised he was rambling on and on anyways. "Oh, but obviously everyone is tired. It's three-something in the morning. Stupid." Rei said, aside and more to himself than anyone else.

He laughed rather breezily, taking the plate and sitting down. "T-thank. . ." his voice quieter than ever, trailing off as he tried to say the final word but just ended up nodding his head at the pink-haired landlady in a way of thanks, sitting back down on the chair he was on earlier. Xander snuggled up against his legs, and he looked at the dog rather strangely. For not the first time that day, he felt rather tense, but Xander didn't seem to make it feel any better. Why do you snuggle up to people like a cat? he thought, eating a bit of the food before spacing out again, the fork held loosely in his hand as he sat back in the chair, now taking an interest in the ceiling.

I wonder who invented houses? It was probably in prehistoric times, since they had to build shelter and so on, to protect themselves from rain or wind. he thought, eating his food slowly as if in a trance. Xander looked at him for a while, before settling into a good sleeping position and taking a light nap. Rei only snapped out of it when he heard a weird squeaking noise, and he saw the plate was empty, so he was just technically pressing the plate with his fork, creating that noise. He stared at the plate, trying to work out when he ate the food. He tasted it, it was nice, but he couldn't remember eating it.

He sighed. This happens way too often. I should stop spacing out. he thought, staring at his empty plate for a few seconds. He looked around, noticing there were still people and he went bright red, using his glasses as a mask instead of his hair. He put his laptop in his lap and curled up, typing away quickly to avoid contact. He felt bad again about ignoring the other residents, but he really couldn’t talk to them, no matter how much he tried. His laptop wasn’t that old, so the keys didn’t make much of a noise when tapped, but the letters on the keys, especially the ‘s’ and the vowels were worn out, the ‘s’ being completely invisible.

Rei looked up at the girls, before realising he hadn’t even taken his plate to the kitchen and he mentally slapped himself. He set his laptop on the chair, standing and putting his glasses away. There was no point in having them on when he wasn’t reading or writing, so he might as well get rid of them. He picked up his plate, looking down so his hair covered his eyes. To be honest, his hair was at the length where it needed cutting again. Maybe he should go do that today. He could only go to one hairdresser, since she went to his previous school and knows how quiet he is and why.

The bangs were cheekbone-length, he didn’t mind that, but the back part was slightly longer than shoulder length, and he often had to tie it up in a ponytail when he was working so it wouldn’t get in his line of vision. He walked into the kitchen, putting his plate in the sink and washing it quickly.

“T-t-th. . .” his voice trailed off, noticing Iòseph wasn't even there. He turned turning and started walking back to the atrium speedily. He considered his rollerblades, who were hanging around by the front door, looking lonely.

He stopped when he passed them, his eyes lingering, but he realised it was maybe still a bit early in the morning to go on a stroll. He’d wait another hour or so, before going out into the cold with Xander. Rei wasn’t dressed appropriately for the occasion anyways; to be honest, he was still in his pyjamas; a grey button-up shirt which looked like a normal work shirt, and matching trousers. Going outside in pyjamas would just be ridiculously stupid. He’d better thank Aina too.

“I-I. . . t-thank you for the biscuits. . .” he said, almost inaudibly, before lying next to Xander, invisible past the chair behind him. The dog provided and instant warmth, and Rei decided he wouldn’t move until Xander did. Then, he’d get dressed. His eyes closed slowly as he drifted into a light sleep. One which probably wouldn't last very long.

         

As she was looking at Rei Jeune's red face, Aina wondered once again if she did the right thing when she brought him the juice. Her maids used to say that they liked it when she acts sweet and concerned about their well-being but they also never failed to remind her to be more choosy with who she concerns herself with.

They told her that while being friendly and amiable is endearing to most people, there are those that found it somewhat overbearing. There are some others who prefers to be alone most of the time rather than being around a group of people. She wondered then if on what type Rei-san is.

It was also because of this, that though she's a friendly person by nature, Aina makes it a point to be not the overly irritating sweet type of busybody. She usually studies the person she's with first, if she is disturbing them or not with her presence.

"W-w-what? N-no!" Noting Rei sit up in a flurry made her let out a small smile. Even if he's not that comfortable with her, still he undeniably tries his hardest to be accommodating. Seeing him flushing red again made her wait for his next words, he looked like he wanted to say something and is having trouble with letting his statement out. Cocking her head sideways just to let him know she's listening very closely for his response.

'Maybe he didn't like the biscuits?!' Aina suddenly thought in panic upon seeing the said biscuits. She just randomly got a pack from inside the fridge and she never really thought about his preferences. She debated whether she should ask the pack back from him and get another set from her stash. Bowing her head, deep in thought as she went through her current list of foods. What she brought here was the strawberry flavored biscuits, one of her favorites.

Maybe he liked the chocolate flavored ones more or maybe the cheese-filled cookies? Or it would have been better if she waited for Ioseph-san's cooking, at least that would be much more nutritional and heavy for the stomach, unlike her sweets.

'Did Rei-san even liked sweets? What if he liked the spicy ones more?'

Aina had been so focused on her thoughts that when the green-haired boy politely told her that he doesn't drink outside the kitchen, she was surprised lifting her head up in the process. "Oh." Was the only thing she uttered as she waited for his next words.

Hearing his follow-up statement made her realize one thing.'Rei-san is definitely one of the kindest persons around.' He apologized more than a normal person does in the short time of her stay with him. And though she can really see him getting somewhat uncomfortable by talking to her, still he does his best not to made her feel bad.

"It's fine Rei-san", she found herself saying after he spoke. She let out a smile to show him she wasn't disappointed with his reason. "And no, what you said about your step-mom and mother wasn't confusing."

Silence permeated between them after that and only when he got one of the biscuits and ate it, did she felt relieved. 'At least he ate it', she unconsciously let out a smile, staring at him. "I'm sorry about bothering you with the juice, its just that you didn't finish it and I thought..." she trailed off smiling at him again. "I'll just bring it back on the kitchen." She added, holding her tongue to prevent the question that have been bothering her ever since he stated something about his step mother.

"Are you. . . I mean do you. . . I mean. . ." he started. His was quieter than usual that Aina had to strain her ears to hear the continuation of his words. "I l-like this room. It's. . . s-s-spacy, I guess. . ."

The black-haired girl nodded, looking at the room too. The atrium was lovely and richly decorated. Aina deeply appreciates the touches of art that she can see on the room. If she hadn't been most interested with the attic, she would have asked her father to rent this room instead. She was curiously studying a painting on the corner when she heard an unfamiliar ring tone. She immediately turned to the other occupant of the room and heard his inquiry.

"Do you. . . have a brother? O-or something like that like. . . umm. . . a s-sister?" he asked, face red and one of his hands grabbing his glasses, presumably to read the text. Aina saw a small smile painted on his face and afterwards he laughed, seemingly entertained with the message that he received. When he showed him the cellphone, she was first confused with the text.

Sure she had heard about the joke for quite a while, but she didn't think there was something funny about it. More than anything else the question was very... mind boggling. Aina still finds herself thinking what came first. Only when she read the last part of the message did she actually felt enlightened... and stupid. "Really? It had a double meaning?" She asked, her face full of wondering. "I didn't know that! Now I somewhat felt stupid too," she added covering her mouth for the giggle that was threatening to come out.

Watching him talk more freely about his brother, his eyes shining in fondness, Aina found herself thinking about what type of person Sonzai is. He was more composed now, and his voice had been confident than it was moments ago.

She was about to reply when the door was suddenly opened and in came the pink-haired owner of Blanchett Manor. “Aina, Rei, if you two are in the atrium, I’ve brought the two of you food per the request of Iòseph.” She said to them and the black-haired girl immediately went out and noticed the two plates of food that she brought. "Ioseph-san had finished cooking them? I feel bad, I told him that I was going to help him! Um where is he Eva-kun? I'm going to say thank you for the food and sorry for not being able to help him."



((is it ok if Aina calls Eva as Eva-kun? I was going to make it Eva-chan but...))