Mischief in Shadow (Slightly Risqué)
~~~~Hanako~~~~
This is for the best. I know he means well but I just have to do this on my own. Now more than ever, I have to do this alone. I still feel bad about telling him to leave me alone on my birthday. My mind thinks back to the conversation yesterday…
“Did we not already celebrate your birthday? With the bow and the kissing?” He asks, rightly puzzled.
“Because of Lilly leaving…
We kinda held both a little earlier than planned. My birthday is actually tomorrow.” I admit, my hands fussing in my lap.
“Gotcha, but why don’t you want to celebrate it?” I knew this wasn’t going to be easy…
“I…
Well, it’s t-to do…
w-with…”
I start to stammer and cover my right hand with my left. Akio picks up on my meaning almost immediately.
“Right…
Personal thing.” He nods solemnly before reaching out and placing his hand over mine. “If that’s what you want, I’ll respect your wishes but I’m just a phone call away if you need me.” His smile melts my heart and I nod rapidly.
I come back to the present as I pace around the room. Thinking about Akio has kind of interfered with the whole depressive brooding thing I usually end up doing. It’s nowhere near as bad as past years. Is that because of Akio? Has he had that much of an influence on me? I need to stop pacing or I’m going to end up crawling up the walls…
But what am I meant to do? I’ve cried all I think I’m going to. I’ve got nothing fresh to read… I lie on my bed and look at the ceiling wistfully, remembering similar long nights at the orphanage.
What time is it? I peer at the luminescent numbers of my alarm clock.
[11:35pm]
Have I seriously been in here all day? God…
I wish Akio were here… I find myself closing my eyes and focusing on the red-haired trickster. That maddening, hilarious, utterly wonderful boy who lights a fire inside me… My pulse quickens and I feel my body warm with desire and temptation.
I guess there’s always one thing I can do…
~~~~Akio~~~~
“Hana…” I sigh sadly as I cycle through the songs on my MP3 player. “I hope you won’t hate me for this…”
“Are you
still here?” Suzu mumbles from beneath her covers. I look up from the small illuminated screen and look across the darkened room at the small, bundled-up Lit Club president.
“Sorry, Suzu… Didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“Seriously, why don’t you bug your girlfriend? That’s the whole reason you’re here after curfew, right?” She scolds, shuffling around under her covers.
“I can’t go until after midnight, it’s part of the deal. I swear I’ll make it up to you for the inconvenience.” I say sincerely.
“You
better…” She sighs and, before long, the hushed snore of Snuzu fills the room. I really do hate imposing but I can’t exactly sit in the common room for four hours, it’s going to be bad enough sneaking back to the boys’ dorms after my little cloak-and-dagger operation. I look at the small, neatly wrapped gift and smile. I’m sure she’ll love it. Not so sure about my theatrics but we’ll just have to see.
I select one of the ska tracks, turn down the volume so any music bleeding out into the room doesn't disturb Suzu.
Just ten more minutes…
Just a little longer…
~~~~Hanako~~~~
Just a little more, Akio…
Just a little… My mouth opens and a near-silent sigh escapes into the darkness as my back arches. I lie back with a satisfied sigh and reach for the wet wipes in my bedside table. Once I've taken care of that, I readjust my nightgown and fold my hands over my stomach. I chuckle softly and smile to myself.
I wonder what Akio’s doing… As if on cue, my phone vibrates softly and I check the new message. From Akio.
Is he psychic?
[Knock-knock. Check your door.] My… Door?
I cautiously creep towards my door and quietly unlock it, peeking out into the dimly lit and seemingly vacant hall. I open the door fully and find a small package on the ground, which I kneel down to retrieve it and examine. Shimmering purple wrapping paper and a black bow…
Who could have left this here? I flick open the attached card:
Happy Un-Birthday. Love, Akio. Oh my god…
I rip open the immaculate packaging to find exactly what I expected after the note, a brand new copy of Alice in Wonderland. My dog-eared copy was almost as old as I am; it survived the orphanage with me and even the first two years of Yamaku before it finally gave up the ghost. I’d been meaning to get a new one… How did he know? How did he arrange this?
I hear the muted ding of the elevator doors closing down the hall and to the right. He’s still here! I place the book and wrapping on my chest of drawers and give chase, bolting left towards the stairwell. Thanks to that old elevator taking it's sweet time between floors, I can probably cut him off before he leaves.
C’mon, Hana, move your butt! Don’t let him get away!
~~~~Akio~~~~
Mission Accomplished. I hope she liked the gift. I hopped in the elevator as soon as I heard her door unlock and the slow descent makes me feel like an awesome spy who just completed his assignment. I open my eyes as the doors slide open to reveal Hanako, her chest heaving and her face like thunder.
“
Oh balls…”
She storms towards me, hitting the door-close button mid-stride. The doors close behind her and she grabs me by the collar. I’m trapped. I’m probably going to die. I regret nothing.
“Where the hell do y-you think you’re g-going, you
rogue?” She stammers a little but her voice is no less stern. “You are in
s-so much trouble…”
“I, um, that is… I…” I stumble to explain when her face softens and her lips curl into a wicked smile.
“Got you.” She winks and forces her lips against mine in a passionate kiss. I drop my cane and stumble back against the wall of the elevator. Wow, she got me alright. I thought I was a dead man and now my heart is pounding a mile a minute.
“O-okay. You caught me…” I offer my hands up when she lets me go. “I’m sorry for being too cool and handsome.”
“It’s not too late f-for me to throw you out on your ass.” She giggles, standing next to me. “What was your plan for the guards?”
“To be honest, I had nothing. Any punishment would have been worth getting that present to you at the right time.” I admit with a small amount of pride.
“Well, I can’t have you being thrown into On-Campus Suspension after such a sweet gesture…” She says and presses the button for her floor. “You’re st-staying here tonight.”
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“I’m not asking; I’m telling you. You’re sleeping with me tonight.” She states adamantly and I feel my cheeks burn. Her eyes dart to mine as she turns scarlet.
“I d-didn’t m-mean…”
“No, no, you said it now.” I chuckle nervously and she gasps. “Kidding, Hana. I knew what you meant…” I offer a sincere smile and she demurely smiles back as her hand creeps into mine.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
We lay together on her bed in the soft ambient light of the moon and the outside lamps. I’ve never felt more uncomfortable and comfortable at the same time. It’s the clothes, they’re too confining…
“What’s wrong?” Hanako asks, lifting her head from my chest.
“Can’t get comfy with my shirts on.” I respond, tugging at the material of my orange t-shirt and grey long-sleeve shirt underneath.
“Y-you can take them off if you’d be more c-comfortable.” She blushes.
I dunno… I guess I could.
“H-Here, let me help…” She purrs with a stutter.
It’s pretty cute. She slides her hand under both shirts, her soft touch running up my stomach and along my side. I sit up and raise my arms, the shirts coming off easy. With my chest now bare, Hana takes her time sliding her hand across my chest and arms. Her pleasant smile gives way to a furrowed brow as she runs her delicate fingers across certain spots of my arms and torso multiple times.
“A-Akio… Are th-these…?” She asks meekly.
No better time than now, I suppose. I place my hand over hers and guide her hand to my ribcage.
“Left 6th and 7th ribs.” I say softly, moving her hand across to the right side next. “Right 7th and 8th.”
I move to the three irregular skin abrasions on my left bicep. “Cigarette burns. All courtesy of my
bastard father…” I fail to keep the venom from my throat and Hanako’s face just drops.
Not the greatest reminder of her own condition I imagine.
“You’ll get a kick out of this one though…” I offer a reassuring smile and bring my right leg closer to my chest, rolling up the right leg of my slacks. I take her hand once more and guide it along the five-inch scar on my calf.
“This one’s got a funny story attached to it. You ever tried to jump on a spinning merry-go-round at the park?” I ask with a chuckle.
“N-no.” She shakes her head a little with curious eyes.
“
Don’t. It’ll kick your fucking ass!” I laugh, gesturing to the war wound. Hanako looks shocked for a second before giggling slightly.
“Sure looks that way…” She tilts her head and squints a little to look at it.
“What about you? Any war wounds you care to share?” I ask, not realising what I'm saying until Hana flinches a little.
Stupid, Akio. Really stupid.
She takes a deep breath in through her nose and closes her eyes for a second to think. She nods and gets up off the bed, standing in front of the window and opening the curtain a sliver to let more light in. She pulls her night gown over her head and holds it loosely in her left hand as her hair falls across her back and shoulders.
“Burn scarring d-down my right side to my knee. Worst of it along my face, shoulder, arm and t-torso.” She gives a small smile as she repeats my routine, baring the full extent of her scars along her naked body. She’s so confident… She’s radiant.
“You’re amazing…” I say with a grin which causes her to blush.
“Th-thank you, Akio. You’re quite amazing yourself. Now pop your eyes back in your h-head…” She smiles demurely and slips her nightgown back on. She turns and brushes the hair from her face, giggling at my crestfallen expression.
“I was just admiring the view…” I admit with a coy smile.
“That wasn’t a peepshow, mister. Y-you’ve got to
earn that.” She crawls to my side again and I stroke the right side of her face.
“You’re
beautiful, Hanako…”
“Flattery will get you everywhere.” She nuzzles my hand before patting my chest and leaning in for a kiss. My arms curl around the small of her back.
“That’s the plan.” I grin cockily and she cuts me down with a very contemptuous smirk.
“Tit for tat, Akio. And since you’ve seen
some of my tit…”
Well…
It’s only fair…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To Be Continued…
"I threw his hoodie on."
