Mazenta

by Aiya

Part 6

Scene:

Inner city live house.

Ryu tears out of the back room- fighting to keep his emotions at bay until he can get outside. He stumbles up the stairs and into the rain.

Fans are starting to gather and he feels their stares. He slows and walks in what he hopes looks like a relaxed way. He moves quickly down an alleyway and tears begin to join the rain on his cheeks.

I don’t understand.

 He whispers to no one.

 How could he do this?  Why would he?

 He leans against a tobacco machine, grasping the ring he wears as he slides down to the ground.  His tears escalate to sobbing.

 ……

……

 Eventually he forces himself to his feet. He has no idea what to do now.

He looks at his watch- he has been sitting in the rain for almost an hour and a half. Out of habit he takes his phone from his bag and checks it. It blinks to tell him that Shisei has tried to call him 13 times… and filled the message bank. 

He pauses before listening, and placing it to his ear timidly.

“Please call me baby- you have to let me explain” beep.

 “Please call me… I need to tell you what happened…”  beep

 .

 .

 .

 .

 “Where are you baby? I’m worried- you’re not at your place or mine- I called a neighbor to check. I’m worried about you. I’m leaving as soon as our set is finished. Please go to my place- we have to talk.  I have to ….” Beep

 The last message is cut off... 

He looks at his watch again and sighs. He really has no idea what to do.

He listens to the messages again…he can hear pain in his boyfriend’s voice..

He walks back up the hill and waits in the darkness. Hidden in an alley across from the live house.

Scene Change:

Back stage..

Shisei runs off the small stage, tripping over gear and people as he does so.

He practically throws his costume into its bag and dives into the shower, scrubbing himself clean of the earlier incident with his vocalist. When he finally feels cleaner, he grabs his bags and hides wet hair under the hood of his jacket.

“I have to go Nao.”

“Excuse me??”

“I have to.”

The other band members join in the inquiry.

“What’s the rush…?”

“Yes… pray tell…”

“Got a hot date???”

Laughter.

Shisei wraps grips his bag tighter.

“I’ve never left early before Nao, but I really have to go- now.”

He doesn’t wait for final permission. He ducks the signature requests and cameras of the fans loitering outside the door. He then runs down the road and heads towards the station. Not noticing that he has developed a purple haired shadow.

Once on the platform he tries his lover’s number again, only to hear the same recorded voice telling him that there is no more room for messages.

 He puts his head in his hands on the train and hopes no one will catch sight of the glistening trails on his checks.

Scene change:

An inner city suburb.

He runs out of the train, almost tripping as he does so. He is still hoping to find Ryu waiting for him, but when he rounds the last corner he sees that his apartment is dark. He drops his bags and almost falls to his knees. He leans against the light post, clutching the shiny metal on his finger and screams...

NO~~~~~!

From the end of the street Ryu watches as Shisei turns around and starts to beat his hands against the light pole.

I hate you Nao! I hate you! Why didn’t you hear me say no?? I hate you…

 His screaming disintegrates into tears. He kicks the pole and picks up his bags.

 He fumbles as he tries to put the keys in the lock.

 Freezing cold hands reach from behind him to help steady his fingers.

 He turns and sees Ryu shivering behind him.

Baby…

Inside, now.

Shisei flicks on the lights and turns around.

You’re blue.

He reaches out to touch the wet hair, but Ryu steps backwards.

I need a shower, alone.

He puts a pile of Ryu’s clothes just inside the bathroom door and dries his hair as he waits.

 It seems like forever passes before he hears the door slide open, and smells the steam.

Ryu sits next to him, but is careful no to let their bodies touch.

I don’t know what to ask you, what to say…

Shisei turns to look into the dark eyes.

Then let me tell you what happened.

The other turns his his face away.

I don’t want to hear the sordid details.

Please let me…

 Ryu’s voice cracks with pain and anger.

I walked in on you making love to an ex-boyfriend!

Shisei’s eyes are down turned once more.

That wasn’t making love, and he was never my boyfriend. Only my… Master.

We kept our secret too well…

He pauses.

Nao and I used to have a game.  I’d refuse and refuse and he’d have to ‘force’ me into having sex.

He came onto me tonight- I tried to avoid it, but he didn’t understand that it wasn’t the game- even when I asked him to stop.

He’s stronger than he looks. He tied my hands behind my back so I couldn’t move or push him away.

He forced me…

Sniffle.

I would never!

Almost whispering…

He forced me.

I didn’t want…

Ryu’s now warm fingers touch his face, turning him and breaching the gap between them.

Did he hurt you?

He brushes the tears running over the other’s skin. His eyes drop and he looks at the other bassist’s hands. Shisei is rubbing his wrists where Nao’s belt had been. His eyes return to those of his lover’s, and Ryu’s fingers reach down to caress the marks.

 All I saw was you having sex with someone else. I, I couldn’t just stand there and watch you-

 I couldn’t…

 I didn’t…

 I thought…

 He inspects the bruised skin carefully, bringing one wrist to his lips.

 He did hurt you… how could he force you…?

He doesn’t realize he did… he thought it was the game.

I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I thought…

~~~

to be continued~

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