Weeks passed as the blonde and green duo became more and more acquainted with each other, talking, laughing, late-night hangouts. More and more time together, more and more the greenette falls for the blonde. "Come on Gaichū! You have to tell him! Akari squealed bouncing up and down excitedly on his bed. "No! I-I can't! I don't even know if h-he likes guys Aki... I would humiliate myself or worse I'd lose him as a friend." Akari scoffed crossing her arms while pushing her bottom lip out in a pouting method "You wouldn't lose him Gaichū! And you never know, he could be into guys, you just have to ask!" Ren sighed as he walked towards his bed, pulling his face into his hands "Akari. No, just drop it. Please? I would lose him as a friend. If he's not into guys I would just gross him out, and I couldn't take that hurtful rejection. Not again, at least. And if he is into guys, there is no way he would ever, and I mean ever be into someone like me. I mean Akari have you seen him? He's amazing at almost everything he does and I'm just.. I'm just a Gaichū.." Ren let small tears roll down his cold cheeks, small whispers turning into bigger sobs as Akari rubbed her friends back. "I-I'm sorry Gaichū. I didn't mean to push you. It's just I haven't seen you this happy. Ever. You deserve happiness after everything you went through Gaichū. Don't you think you deserve happiness?" She whispered, still stroking his back lovingly to calm down the sobbing greenette. Ren shook his head, "I don't know what I deserve anymore Aki. But, I KNOW, I don't deserve Kai." Akari sighed pulling her hand to her forehead in a frustrated manner, eventually, and reluctantly agreeing with him. She knew he deserved someone like Suzuki, they became so close in such little time they would just be perfect. But, she promised him she wouldn't meddle anymore. The last time she meddled, he started dating Mazuko, which put Ren in an even worse state of mind. "Alright, Re--" Ren slammed his hand to her mouth, covering it lightly "Don't. Don't say that name." Ren spoke between his teeth. Grasping his hand to remove his crooked hand from her mouth she slightly, yet dramatically, gasped for air like he was somehow depriving her of air. Earning a slight smile from her friend, "I don't know why I can't say your name, it's such a lovely name. Yet you force everyone to call you his nickname he gave you." Ren sighed, he didn't fully understand it either. But, whenever someone said his name, his entire body would shake in fear, unwillingly. "I-I don't know really myself. Just please, don't say my name. Please?" Akari sighed yet again pulling her friend into a hug, why was he always this cold? Pulling away while keeping her hands on his shoulders, Akari forced his eyes to lock onto hers. "I love you Gaichū, you're my best friend. So I need you to take care of yourself. Okay?" Ren nodded, not daring to break the gaze she was forcing him into. "I will Aki, I promise." She smiled, it was forced, and unfortunately for Akari, Ren was good at finding fake smiles, but he would let it go. He knew how much she really did care about him, she was just frustrated with him at the moment. "Alright, I'm going to head to my dorm. Please, please, try and get some peaceful sleep tonight?" Ren nodded reaching over and pulling a bag out of his drawer, "I went to the pharmacy yesterday, so I should be okay tonight." Akari smiled, a little less fake this time, as she nodded, turning around and heading for the door. Ren laid back onto his comforter sprawling out, it was 9:45 and he was completely exhausted from dealing with Akari bubbling positivity so late at night. Crawling under his weighted blanket, he felt a little more secure than he did a few moments ago, closing his eyes as he felt fully comfortable enough to sleep the night away before multiple notifications made his phone ring uncontrollably. Groaning he tossed his comforter away from his arms as he rolled to face his nightstand where his phone was located. Picking his half-dead phone off of the tabletop, unlocking it he was ambushed with 15 text messages and some social media notifications. Some messages from his worrisome mother, some from his friends. The two senders that stood out the most though, there were sweet worded messages from Kane and some terrifying ones from Mazuko. Nothing new, he was always sending threatening messages with no shame, but the messages still made Ren's body shake when he read them. Deleting Mazuko's messages and opening Kane's, he felt a subtle warmth take over his body. Reading sweet messages and replying to them quickly, blushing profusely as he rolled his lip between his teeth before shaking his head dismissing any thoughts that made Ren heat up.
Hey Chīsai.
Hm? Yes, Kai.
Come hang out with me? I'm at a party. It's boring without you.
Ren felt his body heat to a temperature he never thought would be possible again. Normal. He felt normal talking to Kane. Not the kid with trauma, not the frightened cry baby that he was known to be. He wanted to hold onto that, he wanted to hold on to that normalcy as long as possible. And, to do that he had to keep his feelings a secret, he can do that. Right? Ren sighed running his hand through his green unruly hair, "A party huh? I'm not sure I'm ready. But, I do want to see him." Ren was battling with himself, should I go? Or should I stay in bed? Groaning as he stood, throwing the covers fully off him again, he sluggishly walked to his closet searching through to find something to wear. Should I go feminine or my usual casual? Ren had a habit of dressing in two different styles. His 'male' causal and his feminine look. His body was curved every right way for a male to be able to mistaken for a female if someone wasn't looking hard enough. Ren stared at his closet before groaning, again, and walked to his dresser, rummaging through his clothes to find the right outfit for tonight. Pulling out a neon green cropped shirt, which stopped slightly above his navel. A pair of black ripped jeans that were hugging his every curve perfectly and a pair of black and white converses. Styling his hair to part a little to the side, using green and black hair clips to flatten one side of his hair. Using the little bit of makeup he has, he pulled out his dark black eyeliner to sharpen the edges of his eyes to make his green eyes more prominent. Lastly, he pulled his peach tasting lipgloss out of his drawer, glaring at it before deciding to finally unscrew the cap he used the brush to graze it on his plush lips gently leaving a shimmering gloss behind it. Glancing in the mirror one last time, finding everything he hated about his outfit. I look too feminine, some of my scars are showing, why am I wearing makeup? Continuous destructive thoughts running through this mind, he didn't like this outfit. Not at all, but it was too late to change, he didn't want to keep Kane waiting any longer than he already was. Tugging at his neon green crop absentmindedly as he walked out his door to the sorority house, where Kane was located. There was only was sorority who had parties on weekdays, so he didn't have to ask Kane where he was, he knew. Walking into the house he was bombarded with rancid smells, incoherent drunks, and random fluids on the floor. I really hope that's a drink of some kind... Ren shook his head making his way towards the kitchen, he wasn't going to search for Kane just yet, he wasn't sure he could face him like this, dressed like this. He was overwhelmingly nervous, hoping that some liquid courage would make him less so. Finally making his way in, noticing the kitchen was packed. Sole people snacking on bread and pretzels to sober up, some downing shot after shot, a random body shot station on the kitchen island with people shouting incoherently. How cliché, Ren scoffed walking towards the alcohol 'station' pouring himself a combination of Orange Juice and Vodka, gulping it down rather quickly. Pouring himself the same drink, he walked towards the living room his emerald eyes scanning the crowd of people looking for ash blonde hair or crimson eyes, anything that could lead him to Kane. Hands touching his waist, Ren froze, gulping as he turned around meeting green-blue eyes. His split dyed hair, he thought, 'added to his aesthetic' was combed together adding a clash of white and black, he looked handsome, Ren would admit that, but he was terrified to be touched by him again. Because whatever he had to say to him, he knew his answer would be no. Like last time, and just like last time, Mazoku would start hitting him, for giving an answer he would not like. "Gaichū~, what are doing here alone? Did you come to see me? Hmm?" Mazoku had his lips placed next to his ear, his hot breath causing a panic inside Ren "N-no I didn't. And, I-I'm not h-here a-alone.. leave me alone Mazuko.." Ren tried his hardest not to stutter, but that always failed, he was always a bumbling mess of nerves, and it was always worse around him. "Oh? Not here alone? Are you perhaps here with that blonde you've taken a liking to?" Mazoku scoffed as his fingers dug deeply into Ren's hips causing him to hiss. "H-he invited me y-yes-!" Ren squeaked as Mazoku pulled his hips into his groin, grinding into him as the music played. "Oh? Still like that huh?" Mazoku kissed the side of his neck trailing up to his ear, licking the shell of it. Fuuck.. he still remembers. Ren was panting partly from the euphoric feeling from what he's doing, but mostly from the fear rising in his chest. He hated that euphoric feeling, he mostly hated it was because it was Mazoku doing this. "Mazu- Mazuko... S-Stop, please. St-stop." Ren begged, grabbing onto the hands digging into his hips, hoping to pull them off. Mazuko ignoring Ren completely, dug his nails in harder, pulling him closer, Ren struggling to free himself from the bruising grasp of his huge hands. Mazuko brought his mouth back to his neck, grazing his teeth on his neck breathing heavily, whispering something Ren couldn't make out. Closing his eyes as braced for a jagged, pain stacking bite, breaking his skin once again, and having warm blood pool from the bite again. Ren suddenly felt a rush of cold air on his back, replacing the terrifying warmth that was on his backside, still not moving, Ren stood there in the middle of the dance floor eyes squeezed shut, body shivering from the sudden, yet comforting cold rushing his body. Ren could hear punches landing on skin, cries from people for them to stop fighting, male voices booming as they are trying to pull two males away from each other. "I thought I told you to fucking stay away from him!?" Whipping around to that comforting voice, Ren's eyes started to water, yet again, I was saved by Kane.., he felt pathetic, but he wouldn't let that sit in his head for now. He needed to stop them before Kane killed Mazuko, he was in bad shape already, blood pooling from his nose, a black eye, and at least a broken nose. Kane barely had any injuries aside from a bruised jawline. Walking up to the two, Ren placed his hand onto Kane's back, "Kai. Stop.. please. You'll kill him." Ren whispered, just loud enough for Kane to hear. Kane, pausing from his brutal attack on the black and white male. Turning his head around looking into his eyes, he could see how terrified Ren was. He was yet again silently trembling. He dropped the unconscious male to the floor turning around pulling Ren into a comforting hug. "I'm so sorry Ren, are you okay?" Ren nodded as he hugged Kane back. "I didn't even know you were coming. You never replied, I walked in from outside and seen that bastard put his hands all over your body.. a-and I lost it... I'm so sorry." Ren ran his hands over Kane's back "Please don't apologize, Kai, you saved me yet again. I should be the one apologizing to you, yet again I got you caught up in my mess. So I'm sorry." Kane, shook his head while pulling Ren tighter into the hug "No. don't apologize, I would do this over and over again to make sure you're safe." Breaking apart, Kane suddenly grabbed Ren's hand leading him outside hoping some fresh would do the trembling male some good, and calm him down. "Kai, where are we going?" Ren asked, barely keeping up with the long strides Kane was doing "Outside, I just wanna get you away from these people." He states bluntly, reaching the back door Kane dragged Ren towards a black gazebo in the middle of the yard, aligned with fairy lights to give the area a little light. Sitting inside the gazebo, Kane shooed the couples who were already inside. Pulling Ren next to him on the bench, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you, pulling you away like that. It's just. I thought you could use some air away from everyone inside that party." Ren shook his head with a smile, "No you're fine, I appreciate that. I couldn't stay there anymore anyway... It was uncomfortable with all those eyes on me.." Kane nodded in understanding. A comforting silence sat between the two for a while, taking in the scenery. A fall setting, yet still so warm outside. An array of orange, yellow, and red leaves surrounding the black gazebo, with the yellow fairy light surrounding the outside of the gazebo. "Hey, Chīsai... I was wondering." Ren turned his head towards the blonde. "Yeah Kai.. what is it?" Kane turned his body to face Ren, "Well I-I've been wondering. Who was Mazuko, who was he to you?"