Across Worlds

Chapter 4: Noiseless Wonder


There was chirping noises that was coming from one end of the room as I shifted underneath a pile of blankets. The current position I was sleeping in felt so warm and comfortable that I didn't want to get out of bed. Yet my eyes opened up anyways. I pushed back the blankets and stared idly at the ceiling before me. There were posters of different bands and girls that I didn't recognize. I blinked several times before I got this feeling that I wasn't suppose to be where I was. I turned my head and saw a mahogany dresser, I didn't have a mahogany dresser in my room.

I shot up and looked around the rest of the room, there were little models that all boys liked buying, and there was a guitar in one corner. It was definitely not my room. The light blue sheets that were clamped between my fingers also weren't mine. I had red ones. I brought the blankets closer to myself and huddled deeper into the warmth of the bed. Even if it wasn't my own room, there was something really nostalgic and familiar about it. The smell of soft laundry detergent and touches of someone else's smell came drifting into my nose when I brought the blankets to my face. It reminded me of someone, I took another whiff when something triggered in my memories. That was what it was, the smell reminded me of Rento.

I lowered the thick blanket from my head and looked around again, I couldn't believe that I forgot. This room was Rento's room, the room that I had spent majority of my summer days in couple of years ago. Rento. It must've been a shock of a life time last night, what with me showing up out of nowhere. I hadn't intended on sobbing so hard when I first saw him, it just happened. Humiliation burned itself against my cheeks as I shut my eyes against the sun that was pouring in through the window. If I could, I wish I could go back and redo what happened last night.

There was a soft knock on the door when Rento's voice wafted in, my stomach lurched itself forward on hearing his alluring sound. My heart started pacing faster than before and my already heated face started to boil. For a second I didn't know how to handle myself.

"Nanami...? Nanami are you awake?" He called out softly. I didn't know what to say to him. What do I say? 'Good morning' or 'hello there'? My mind was running too fast for me to think properly before my lips started to go on their own.

"Yes." I mumbled out from under the blankets. I heard the knob jingle for a second before it opened up. The door creaked open and a small smile landed on my face, that old creaky door that Rento always complained about was still the same old creaky door it was from back then. Soft footsteps came into the room before the door was closed behind him. I could hear hesitation in his steps because there was a few before it stopped, an intake of breath, then a sigh. Only silence reigned between us, I didn't move from where I was, but it was getting hot under the sheets.

"I tried to find a phone on you so I could call your parents or something, but I didn't get anything. Do you want to call home, Nanami? I'm pretty sure they're worried sick about you." He asked in almost a whisper. He had reverted back to calling me 'Nanami' instead of 'Nami', a nickname that I had told him to call me as. He was the only one that ever called me Nami, it was a special name that only he could use. I didn't know why, but I felt sadness wash over me in waves. "Nanami... Please would you come out from under there." He pleaded. His voice sounded so pained and urgent, it made me want to wrap my arms around him.

I wanted to see him, be able to be the person I was before I left him in pieces. But I was afraid that if I did, everything would repeat itself all over again. I couldn't bear the thought of hurting him for the second time around. The bed sunk downward as he sat on the edge, I felt the blankets being lifted off as my face was hit with cool air from all around. My hands were over my face, I didn't want him to see me in my current condition.

"Don't look at me, Rento... I'm acting weird and my face is hot." I muttered helplessly as he pried my hands away from my face. His lips broke out into a grin with his brilliant green eyes shimmering slightly from the light behind him. That grin turned into laugh as his own face began to turn red from the constant laughter that had ruptured through his body. I dropped my hands and pouted at him feeling the embarrassment hit me all over again. I was about to flip back into his bed before he gripped at my wrist, forcing me to face him.

"I'm... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to laugh so hard." He chuckled through spurts of laughter in intervals. "You're just... You look the same as before, that stupid look on your face whenever someone embarrasses you!" He laughed making me drown in my own misery. I puffed out both my cheeks as anger bubbled beneath a thin layer of patience. I turned my face the other way and tuft out my lower lip.

"If it's so stupid then don't look at it." I retorted angrily. That was the thing with the Souma kids, they just didn't know when to stop teasing and when to be mature. I think that was the quality about them that makes them so attractive. Not that I was in a forgiving mood that is.

"It's still cute as always." He said with a grin as he wiped away the tears at the corner of his eyes. My pout dropped and I turned my head around to look at him with my head tilted to one side. He had that smile on his face, not the smug smirk, but the soft, kind, gentle one that he always wore whenever he's helping someone. This time the quietness that fell wasn't awkward or suffocating, it was... Nice. There was a pleasant effect with the sun and the soft noiselessness sound of his room, it just all fell into place.

I felt his warm hands brush against the side of my face as my eyes closed at contact. I relished the feeling of his touch on my skin, it's been so long since someone had touched me so softly. His touch had meaning behind it, it wasn't just trying to get me to sleep with them and those dirty intentions that other men have back in my world. Rento's touch was genuine and pure. I felt his other hand reach up and touch my other cheek when I felt him move closer to me. His breath touched my nose when he leaned in. Our heads touched briefly and my heart skipped a beat.

"Welcome back, Nami." He whispered softly.

x x x

We trudged down the stairs together with me following behind as voices started to crescendo it's volume. It was coming from the kitchen, the others were probably having breakfast. I glanced at the clock on the wall and it read 10:30 am, it was pretty late in the morning already. I had changed into one of their mother's outfits of a light pink shirt and jeans, it was simple enough to walk outside with. Rento and I entered the room and the noise level lowered themselves an octave as they all turned their attention to the two of us. I never liked it when people stared at me, always made me feel uneasy, also I just didn't know what to say to them. I felt so speechless and shy all of a sudden.

I grabbed Rento's sleeve a little harder and hid behind him as a chuckle escaped from one of them. "Oy, don't hide yourself as if you don't know us! Aren't you going to give us a hug at least?" Came Unkai's cheery tone and I glared at him from behind Rento's shoulder. I saw him laugh and point, "There's the Nanami that I knew!" He blurted out and my face flushed a deep red.

Kukai stood up and came over to pull me out from my hiding place and made me sit at an empty chair next to Shuusui who gave me a warm smile. Shuu-chan was always the gentle one, not only that but smart too. He was currently a last year college student with Unkai and Rento following right behind him. Unkai was a second year college student and Rento was a first year. Shuu-chan handed me a bowl and a box of cereal, next he poured a cup of warm milk into a cup and handed it to me. I could only nod in thanks as I took it greedily, I hadn't eaten since lunchtime yesterday.

I ate in silence as I watched them from the rim of my view. I raised my head a little to see them laughing and cracking jokes at each other and a small smile formed on my lips. I remember this, it was just like those nights when we sat around here with his family and we ate dinner together, it had been so much fun. Mr. and Mrs. Souma were both so funny and understanding, no wonder this household was so lively all the time. I put the bowl down and wiped my lips with a napkin, my mind still wandering the depths of out past when clanks shook me from my daydreaming.

They had all dropped their bowls into the sink and started towards the front when I tilted my head in confusion. I don't know what I should do with my dish, should I wash it like I would normally do or put it in with them so it didn't seem weird? Kaidou noticed my sudden distress and grinned, he picked up my bowl and threw it into the sink as it clattered with the rest and I gave him a disapproving look.

"Don't give me that look, at least you're not washing it." He smiled boyishly at me and I frowned. I stood up and rolled up my sleeve preparing for clean up, I couldn't just let them run rampant in a dirty house. The least I could do was clean up for them.

Just when I was about to turn and face the sink, Kaidou held me back and I peered over my shoulder at him. "I told you, you don't have to wash it. We'll do it, we'll rock, paper, scissor it to see who gets it. Kukai will probably end up doing it since he sucks at this game anyways." He laughed earning a kick from Kukai who glowered at him. "Damn it! You kicked my shin! Come here you little-!" Kaidou roared giving chase after the auburn haired boy who ran out the door with a laugh.

I walked over towards the door and gasped, outside was literally a winter wonderland with a layer of snow everywhere. It was beautiful, I didn't even know it had snowed so much last night! "You were asleep half the time." Came a voice and I turned to see Shuusui with that gentle smile of his. "Hey." He walked over and together we stared at the natural beauty of mother nature as laughter rang in the air with Kukai and Kaidou starting a snowball fight.

"I don't want to start anything with you, plus you're like family to us so I'm not going to beat around the bush. I don't believe you when you say that you came here to visit." He stated bluntly and I froze in my spot. Shit, did he know? "For you to pop out of nowhere after 5 years of no contact is quite suspicious, don't you think? No letters, no phone call, just a sudden visit." I couldn't turn to face him, I couldn't tell him that all these things were impossible when our lives were separated by dimensions worth of time. I gripped the frame of the door, I could feel the cold wind penetrate through the jean and prickle along my skin. I shuddered with my eyes shut tightly against the wind.

"But... Rento seems happy that you're here, so I'm not going to question your motives." He said softly turning his head to look at me, I opened my eyes and gazed back at him. "But if you hurt him again, I swear, I won't forgive you this time." He said locking his already piercing stare harder into my line of vision and I nodded involuntarily. There was definitely malice and hate laced within his words when he spoke to me. I dropped my head to the ground and closed my eyes. I hadn't really meant to hurt Rento, I would never. He was the boy that I fell in love with, how could I? Yet, I couldn't say that. I was too afraid.

"Aniki! We're ready, let's go!" Came Rento's voice bounding down the stairs with Unkai behind him. Unkai had now donned on a thick snowboard like jacket around himself as Rento did too only their style differed slightly. In another hand, Rento had another lilac colored jacket in his hand and handed it to me when he reached the last step.

I stared at him quizzically and he just grinned pushing it towards me. "You're going to catch a cold if you don't!" He said grabbing my hands and running out the front door. I stammered out some incoherent words before I looked back to see Shuusui cocking his head at me with a strange smile on his lips. Something about it gave me the shivers, I think Shuu-chan really meant what he said and that scared me.

x x x

"Last drop off!" Rento called out to the back seat, "The amusement park! Get off Kukai!" Rento ushered the boy who slid open the suv car and scrambled out. At first, Kaidou had driven and sent Shuusui to the library to meet a couple of friends to study, then dropped Unkai off at some friend's house so they can go to a kompa sort of thing, last he drove to a busy shopping area and told them he had some 'business' to take care of. Sounded a bit shady if you ask me, but I didn't ask.

"Amusement park? Is he going with friends?" I asked a bit curious as we both peered out the window of the car. Rento grinned at me, it was that teasing sort of grin that always came with a insult or joke. He jabbed towards the entrance where I saw a small girl all dolled up come running towards us.

My eyes widened, "Yaya?!" I shouted suddenly, "No way! I mean I knew they were best friends! But dating?! Already!" Apparently I was too loud and the two of them heard me. I saw their faces burn, it was so apparent against the roads that were covered in white fluffy snow. The two fell silent and Yaya was staring at the ground and Kukai was looking off towards the other side of the road.

Rento burst out laughing in the car and I whacked him for adding oil to the flame. I felt so guilty! "I... I'm sorry!" I blurted out. "I didn't mean to say so loudly, I really am surprised though. I guess congratulations are in order?" I asked with a shrug of my shoulders. Kukai was shaking his head as Yaya pulled something out of her side bag. They were tickets to the amusement park.

"Yaya and Kukai-kun aren't... Dating." She mumbled with her face going red, but recovered fast as she grinned up at me. "Amu-chi and Tadase-kun were suppose to come with us, but Amu-chi suddenly cancelled, said something happened at home." Yaya explained and I choked on my spit. There was a high probability that she was talking about the 'stray cat' issue that suddenly popped up in her room. "Yaya asked her to go shoe shopping with me two days ago and Amu-chi cancelled on that too. Amu-chi's really wasting her golden week by staying at home all day." Yaya shrugged. "Kukai-kun..." She turned towards him and he smiled at her, "We've got to get going, Rima-tan and Nagihiko-kun are waiting for Kukai-kun and Yaya."

"What she's saying is, Tadase-kun couldn't come either due to family issues, so we've got extra tickets." Kukai explained looking up at me and Rento. Were they insinuating something? Yaya was batting her eyelashes at me with those large brown eyes of hers as she gave me a cute smile and I furrowed my brows at her. "So... Are you guys free today?" He asked with a hesitant grin.

There was silence, then very slowly, Rento turned his head towards me. I stared at them then at Yaya who was literally pleading with her baby cuteness. I felt something weird jump in my stomach and I felt flustered, it was starting to sound like a group date to me. "Pleaseeeeeeeeee, Nanami-chi?" Yaya asked with her lower lips trembling, "Yaya doesn't want the tickets to go to waste. Nanami-chi and Rentonii-san can go their own way, no need to babysit! Yaya is a big girl now!" She smiled sweetly at us. Rento seemed to buy it as he looked up at me.

"There's a lot of things to catch up on, don't you think?" He questioned lightly leaning against the window frame. I sighed and gave in with a shrug, what can go wrong? It was just an amusement park. Yaya beamed and handed us the tickets as Rento rolled up the window and started towards the parking lot. I stared at the tickets on my lap and then started to realize something. If it was just me and Rento... Isn't that considered a date? I felt myself steaming just thinking about it.

"Are you nervous?" He asked with an incredulous tone, the car jerked into the parking space and he turned the engine off. "Nami... It's just a day in the amusement park." He told me, but to me it was so much more. I felt his hand over mine and I looked up at him with fearful eyes, "Are you scared of me or something?" He asked, he sounded hurt.

I shook my head violently, no! That wasn't it! That wasn't what I wanted to say. "It's just... It's been a while. I guess I'm a bit nervous to be with Rento-kun, that's all." I stated sheepishly averting my gaze. What was strange was that we both knew our feelings and yet neither of us are saying anything, where we left off that night didn't sit well apparently. Harbored emotions and unsaid words clogged the silence between us. I heard him sigh and pull the tickets from my grasp.

"Let's just have fun today, you're finally back for a visit... Let me take you around." He suggested getting out of the car. I sat there for a while as he shut the door and quietness fell on my shoulders. I wasn't sure if he was just faking it or had he really forgiven me already, because the world was muddled, I couldn't see anymore.

The door next to me opened up and his head popped in, "Come on!" He urged with a childish smile dancing on his face, "Any slower and we'll miss the rides!" He slipped his arms around me and pulled me out in one heave. With our faces just millimeters away that the tip of our noses touched I felt exhilarated with excitement. He placed me down with my back against the car, his light brown hair tickled my cheeks, his smell so close and his warmth too. The air was stuck in my throat as I looked up at his green eyes that seemed to light themselves in this odd light.

I didn't know where the courage came from, or where I had found the audacity to do what I did, but I did it. I raised my height by a few centimeters and closed the remaining small gap between us. There was no need for words, and there was no arguments made, we both knew we still needed each other. I still love this man even if I had tried to run away, but my heart still called out and here I was. Even if we were worlds apart, in the end I couldn't leave him.

He weaved his fingers through mine that were plastered against the car on either side of my head and returned my kiss ever so gently. His lips brushed themselves against mine and I shuddered at the feeling, it was the first time I felt so satisfied. The small kisses, the heat, the untold feelings, it was all there. It was a good thing the kids weren't here.