(Untitled)

[dream_departed]

Sakura finds Aya-chan sitting outside her apartment looking ill, her legs dangling over the edge of the stairs. Aya-chan won't go her in her apartment until the Saiyuki poster and manga are in a dumpster behind the Kitten in the House. When she does go in her apartment, she locks the door and won't come out again.

Comments

[x_ginta_x]

Due to time differentiation jet-lag from being in his dimension so often, Ginta thinks that today is Aya's birthday. He comes to her door bearing a very crudely wrapped gift just a few days after she's gone into lock down. Whether the fact that this visit coincides with Aya's seclusion means the youkai has very good or very bad timing is anyone's guess.

He raps loudly at the door. "Aya? Momoe-san said you were in here, is it okay if I come in?"

[dream_departed]

Aya counts backward from twenty, trying to calm herself down enough to sound calm. She doesn't get up from bed or bother raising her voice which comes out sounding tight and higher pitched than usual.

"No. I'm not feeling well." Her voice breaks. "Please go away."

[x_ginta_x]

"Oh?" His brow creases in concern. She certainly sounds odd, though not in the conventional way that sick people do.

"I'm sorry you're not feeling good. Is there anything I can do or get for you while I'm... 'away'?" That request struck him as a bit odd too since Aya of all people would understand wanting to fuss over someone or see if they're okay. True, there were times when being alone made things better but there still seemed to be something a little off about all this.

[dream_departed]

"No. Nothing. I'm sorry."

[x_ginta_x]

Ginta half nods, half bows to Momoe-san, wondering what they'd do without her.

He sits beside Aya, ignoring the second bowl in favour of the person behind the first.

"Hey, how are you feeling?"

[dream_departed]

Aya blows on a spoonful of broth and sips it. Her stomach makes rebellious noise. She stares at the bowl of broth as if trying to read tea leaves.

"I -- I don't know yet."

[x_ginta_x]

Ginta just nods slowly. He doesn't see much sense in questioning further on that point and everything else he can thing to ask seems like something he should wait for her to decide to talk about. So instead of offering a verbal response he reaches out to squeeze the hand not occupied by the spoon.

[dream_departed]

Aya's arm spasms. When it subsides, she holds his hand tightly. She still isn't looking at him.

"Momoe-san gave me something to help me sleep. Could you maybe just stay until it starts to work . . . or could you maybe just stay?"