Marmalade Boy Fan Fiction ❯ Lonely Hearts ❯ Dinner ( Chapter 3 )

What had come over me? When I walked out of her room I had to force myself to leave. She looked so fragile standing there; I just wanted to keep protecting her. I couldn't bring myself to actually go downstairs without her, so I leaned against the wall just down the hall and lost myself in thought.

Pondering how this Elizabeth Fairfax had made me feel, and how Akizuki had looked at me when I had Elizabeth under my arm, took a great deal of my attention. Akizuki had looked glad. I don't know why. I should ask her about it. My thoughts also turned towards Elizabeth's accent. It had confused me. Some syllables had a soft drawl, from the South I assumed, but others, particularly the vowels, sounded a great deal like my Canadian mother's manner of speech.

Before I could make sense of it door opened, breaking my concentration, and Elizabeth walked out, not timidly or cautiously, but in a matter of fact way. I noticed a difference in her face that hadn't been there when she was unconscious. The features I had thought fragile had been altered slightly, giving her a look of intelligence and drive that transcended simple beauty. This woman began to intrigue me in ways I hadn't dreamt of while I watched her earlier. She seemed oddly resolved after changing into a high-necked navy blue sweater and a pair of grey pants. When she turned away from the door and noticed me, she started a bit.

"I thought you were going to be downstairs. Did you lose your way?" She asked me quietly, walking past.

"I wanted to make sure your outfit matched mine." I resorted to flippancy. How could I tell her I'd been worried she'd faint again, or not be able to navigate the stairs? I almost couldn't believe the words coming out of my mouth. I didn't want to offend her. Getting to know this woman, and finding out if I would continue to be attracted to her was paramount in my thoughts, and I didn't want to jeopardize my chances.

"Do I pass?" she asked cheekily, pirouetting quickly in front of me. She did, but before I could tell her so she headed downstairs. I hoped all my worrying was unfounded.

Following her into the foyer I saw she seemed to be a bit tired, but otherwise well, except for her cough, which overtook her if she tried to speak for too long.

It was decided we'd just walk to the restaurant; it was only a few blocks from the dormitory. To my surprise Elizabeth walked next to Miki-san and Yuu, with the two girls carrying on an animated conversation, somewhat through Yuu, about school. I hung back and watched until Akizuki spoke to me softly.

"Satoshi-san, your eyes light up when you watch her. Did you realize that?"

"Do they? I'm just concerned for her health. She seems to need someone to watch over her."

"You protect people well Satoshi-san, I think she might make you happy."

"What do you mean Meiko-san? We've only just met." She looked at me pensively.

"She seems right for you, like Yuu and Miki, or Ginta and Arimi-san."

"Or you and Na-chan?"

"Yes, or like us. I want you to be as happy as I am. If Elizabeth can make you happy, I don't want you worrying about me, or to hold back on her."

Thank you Meiko. Thank you for both giving your blessing, and for pointing me in the right direction. I'm glad you are with Namura Shin'ichi; he's put a glow in you that I never could.

"I'll try. It depends on her as well." I was glad, for some reason, that Akizuki had also noticed my interest in Elizabeth. Akizuki has always been very perceptive, and I've learned to trust her judgment, even when it's difficult. As we neared the entrance to the Italian restaurant she winked at me before going to talk with Miki.

There was no problem extending our reservation to fit Elizabeth, and we were quickly seated at a large round table in a corner next to a wall of full-length windows. As we were seated I took care to sit next to Elizabeth, to talk to her, and keep an eye on her.

As the meal progressed she grew more quiet, the activity and coughing fatiguing her noticeably, until eventually she was only responding to the conversation, not really participating. The only time she showed some life was when a commotion at the entryway caught her ear.

Though we couldn't see what was happening, a strident male voice rang out, with a distinctly Texan twang.

"I tell you, my good man, we DO have reservations." Some polite maitre d mumbling followed, then a bell-like woman's voice, with a softer version of the same accent. I watched Elizabeth as she listened intently, her body rigid as she strained towards the entrance.

"Pohi-kun, are you sure it was for Paper Moon? I thought you said we were going to Bari's tonight." Apparently the couple was in the wrong, for nothing else was heard.

It took some time for Elizabeth to relax, and as I watched the frail pulse in her throat gradually slow down I found myself obsessed with her neck, or more specifically with possible interactions between her neck and my lips. The fantasy became too vivid when I found myself leaning toward Elizabeth. To mask my baser instincts I asked a question prompted by the strain I could still see in her shoulders and upper arms.

"Are you all right Elizabeth?" I asked under the ebb of the conversation, now mostly in Japanese, as Akizuki and Yuu tried together to explain something about St. Andrew's to Miki.

"I just thought I heard voices I recognized. I must have been mistaken." She ate a few bites of her food, then seemed to forget about the bite still on her fork. "I may have gone too long without leaving my room." With a glance down at her watch she set her fork down and stood up. Instinctively I rose with her, not wanting her to leave my sight, but she placed a single hand on my shoulder and gently pushed. Taking the hint, and not wanting her to exert herself I resumed my seat.

"Excuse me for a moment, I need to make a telephone call." As she walked off I speculated who she might be calling. Was she seeing someone? I hoped not. I had seen nothing to indicate that there was anyone romantically involved in her life at the moment, and I could not imagine being involved with her and allowing her to remain alone while she was so ill.

The minutes dragged by. Miki noticed Elizabeth was missing and mentioned it.

"She needed to make a phone call." Just before I stood up to go looking for her, Elizabeth returned, looking faintly amused and much more relaxed than she had earlier. A nagging suspicion that there was someone else returned to the edge of my thoughts.

"Anything important?" Doris asked.

"No, just a bit of a habit I guess." Elizabeth said shyly. I could tell Bill wanted to say something to that, I recognized the teasing glint that entered his eyes. I felt it pretty often in my own. However, before he had a chance to speak Jinny grabbed his arm and spoke rapidly into his ear. He nodded curtly and remained silent.

We all resumed eating, and the conversation danced around, now in English, now in Japanese, about work, school, music and countless other topics. Inevitably, as happens when women go out together, Meiko excused herself to visit the ladies' room. Miki, Doris, Jinny and Elizabeth followed, leaving behind a table of young men, one of whom was very confused. I had gone out with women before, naturally, and I have a cousin that I escort quite frequently, but I'd never seen this sort of mass feminine exodus from the dinner table.

"Yuu, what are they doing?" I asked suspiciously.

"I think they're going to go talk about you."

"What?"

"You know, Meiko and Miki will make sure Elizabeth's aware of your history, then Miki will tell me how Elizabeth reacted, then I'll tell you."

"Doris and Jinny are probably going to get a feel for the whole situation as well, and for their own future reference." Bill added. "Elizabeth seems a little reserved, maybe she'll be a bit more honest if there aren't any men around.

"Sounds complicated. Why would they need to tell her my history?" At that Brian leaned over and lightly boxed my upper arm.

"Because of the attraction that every one of us can see between you two. She was watching you during dinner, you know. Whenever you took your eyes off of her she'd glance at you, then look down when you turned back to her. Believe me, after watching Jinny chase men for the last few years I know what it looks like when a woman's attracted to a man." On one hand I wanted to dismiss Brian's comments, not only because Elizabeth seemed nothing like Jinny, but also because I had barely lifted my eyes from Elizabeth during the meal. Much as I would have liked to have confirmation of reciprocal feelings, he knew her even less than I did. Yuu's comment was more helpful, as he rejoined the discussion.

"She kept inching towards you. I think that as she got tired she was trying to work up the courage to lean on you, but never quite got there. She feels safest with you, out of all of us. I don't know what it is yet, but there's something starting between you two."

"Yes." After my agreement we sat in silence; sipping our coffee and listening to the next table over discuss what they were going to see tomorrow. Once the girls returned we settled the bill and started walking back. During the short walk I noticed Elizabeth shiver in the slight evening breeze. Without thinking I took off my suit coat and draped it over her shoulders.

"You shivered." I replied to her querying look. "It'll be harder for you to get better if you don't keep warm."

"I've been cold all week. The only time I've been warm was earlier today, when you picked me up." She blushed slightly, and then continued in a softer tone, "I liked it." We walked on in silence, but I did reach down and take one of her hands, noticing that it was cold in my own.

Back at Chidester Hall we all made ready to part, Miki, Meiko, and I were to go to our hotel and collect Yuu and his friends in the morning for some sightseeing. While Yuu and Miki said goodbye I walked Elizabeth upstairs. During the walk back she'd lagged more and more, and it looked like her strength was fading quickly. When we got to her room she pulled her keys out of her purse, but couldn't unlock the door. I took the keys from her hands and unlocked the door for her.

"Come on, I'm going to help you get ready for bed."

"What?" she asked me, a hint of suspicion in her eyes.

"I don't want you to get hurt, or to get up and study all night. This is completely altruistic, you have my word. Can you change by yourself, or so you need help?" As I spoke I gently propelled her into the room and closed the door behind us.

"Can you just get my pajamas down from the closet door?"

"On this hook?" Opening the closet I indicated a hook upon which hung a pair of men's flannel pajamas. Seeing them made me pause and wonder if they'd been an acquisition from some currently absent male.

"Yes."

I brought her the navy-blue striped pajamas, then sat at her desk and turned away as she changed and put away her clothes. At soft noise from her I turned around, and saw her standing in the middle of the room, looking for all the world like a lost child.

"Come on then. Let's get you into bed." Suiting action to word I steered her in a bed ward direction, then turned back the covers and helped her lie down. After I'd tucked her in I sat down on the side of her bed and looked down at her. She was already fighting to stay awake and losing. She was lovely.

"I'll stay here until you're asleep." I told her gently. She nodded once, her eyes drifted closed and her breathing stilled to a quiet murmur. I just sat there, watching her sleep. They say sometimes that people look angelic in repose, or younger, but she just looked vulnerable, as if whatever protected her from the world was only there when she was awake. Without her formidable intelligence animating them her features once again slipped into a beauty that teased and taunted me. I wanted to spend the night just watching over her, to make sure nothing harmed her, or made her happy, without my knowing. At the same time I wanted to gather her close and feel every inch of her body against mine. As I sat there, watching her breathe, I remembered how she'd asked when she woke up if I were an angel. Why would she have asked that? Was her health that poor, that she expected her own demise? Was the idea of strangers being concerned utterly foreign? Was the idea of foreigners completely strange? Why did she seem so totally alone? Did I have the power to help her? No answers came from the sky, nor from Elizabeth, and I was forced to sit peacefully, for fear of disturbing her.

I realized that everyone was probably waiting for me to go back to the hotel. Smoothing a strand of hair away from her face I stood up, then bending back down, brushed a kiss on her lips.

I couldn't help myself.