Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Gifted Moon Academy ❯ First Date ( Chapter 25 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Tahtsu wrapped his arm around her lower back and waist area so she could lean against him as they walked. "As you wish, m'lady," he said softly to her.
Rinsi blushed a bit when he wrapped his arm around her. She understood why. After all, she was still unstable. Still, she liked it. His body was warm and comforting. It was something she missed. She leaned on him a bit, partly for balance, and partly for closeness, though she wouldn't admit to the latter. She smiled a bit to herself and followed him out of the infirmary, hoping they wouldn't be caught by a nurse. She didn't bother retrieving her shirt, which had been torn and bled on beyond repair, but instead relied on the paper gown that covered her front side, though left her back partly bare. She was just glad they left her pants on her, or she would have been much more embarrassed.
Tahtsu smiled at her as they walked out of the horrible hospital setting. He held her closer to him as they reached the hallway.
"We should get you cleaned up and get you some clean clothes," he said softly.
"That part is easy. I have a few changes of clothes in my dorm room." Rinsi said, smiling and blushing. "Though cleaning up these pants will be a pain in the rear. Oh, well. There are worse things."
Rinsi was glad just to have Tahtsu nearby, let alone assisting her to her dorm room. Really, she was balanced well enough to make it to her room without passing out, but what would be the fun in telling him that? Besides, something told her he wanted to help her. Perhaps it was just wishful thinking, but it was nice wishful thinking, and she wasn't going to let go of it just yet.
"Thank you for helping me, Tahtsu." she said, a bit softer now.
"If you'd like to shower, I'd be glad to walk you to your room and leave you be until you're ready. But if you'd like me to stay, I can wait in your bedroom until you change in your bathroom," he said, making sure that he specified which rooms they would each be in.
As they continued walking, his grip on Rinsi's waist tightened as he felt her stumble a few times.
Rinsi blushed a bit at the thought. Sure, there would be nothing inappropriate about that, and she was glad for that. But the mere thought that he was so willing to help her made her really happy. She didn't like being the damsel in distress, but when it came to Tahtsu helping her, though she would try to be strong as she could on her own, she didn't mind as much.
"Thank you. A shower sounds really good right now. You can wait in my room if you like. I'll just take my clothes into the bathroom with me."
A small flash of color rose into Tahtsu's cheeks. But as quickly as it had came, it vanished. He smiled at her and nodded.
"That would be fantastic," he said softly. As they neared her dorm room, he opened the door for her and helped her into her room.
Rinsi had seen the color rise in his face for that brief moment, and wondered what he had been thinking of. Whatever it was, it had made him blush, and she couldn't help but smile. As if she wasn't already.
Once they reached her room, she walked over to her dresser drawers, making sure her back was completely to Tahtsu, so he wouldn't see what she was pulling out. She hugged her clothes tightly to her body, making sure her unmentionables were hidden between her shirt and pants and rushed into the bathroom for a quick shower.
The hot water felt really good on her weakened body. It made her a little dizzy, but she didn't mind. She was just glad to get clean. She felt so filthy after practically stewing in her own blood until Tahtsu found her, in spite of being in a spotless hospital setting. She smiled to herself, and couldn't help but wonder if he somehow cared about her. She certainly hoped he did! But even if he didn't she was fine with just being friends.
After her shower, she had thrown her bloodied clothes into the clothes hamper she left in the bathroom, though she would likely opt for throwing them out later. She had to sit down to get dried and dressed, and standing once again made her dizzy, but she managed. She stepped out of the bathroom in a clean change of clothes, feeling refreshed and...well...clean as she toweled off her hair, careful not to jostle her head too much in case of dizziness.
Tahtsu smiled at Rinsi as she stepped out from the bathroom. She looked well, better.
"Feeling better?" he asked.
"Mmm, much." Rinsi said cheerfully as she draped her towel around her shoulders.
Rinsi wanted to ask him, but was afraid. Would she be rejected? Would he freak out? She didn't think he was the type to do that. Then again, she didn't know a whole lot about him, so she couldn't tell for sure. Perhaps it was best saved for later, when she knew him better. Still, she needed to know. She hated having questions with no answers to them.
"Hey, Tahtsu..." she began, not really sure if she should ask or not, "...thank you for saving my life. Twice, in fact. Then helping me get to my room. You're a really great guy, you know? And I hope you don't mind, but I would like to get to know you better."
Tahtsu smiled at Rinsi. He had already thought they were getting to know each other better and such. But maybe she meant more? Why would she? They were already pretty close friends (he liked to think). What more did she mean? Tahtsu simply looked up at her and nodded.
"I'd like that too," he said. "And please don't thank me for saving your life...I only wish I could have saved-..." he cut himself off and looked away from her.
Rinsi smiled happily. Even if he misread her, she was just glad that she'd get to know him better. However, the last part of his sentence disturbed her. Even if he hadn't named the person he apparently had not saved before, he seemed like he was a bit hung up on it.
"Oh? Is it something you want to talk about? Or is it too painful to talk about?"
Something about him had told her from the start that he wouldn't talk about himself much, probably due to some past events that were painful for him. She hoped she could help him cope with whatever happened, even if it meant him not talking to her about it. She wanted to be there for him to help him, as he had done for her, without realizing it.
"I don't-I can't really speak of it. I am sorry, Miss Starlight. It's a bit personal," he said.
His voice was nearly inaudible, a quiet whisper. He looked up at her and smiled a bit, trying to become happier than he really was.
Rinsi smiled back at him. She wanted to know, but she was willing to wait. She knew things like that could be really difficult.
"It's okay. When you're ready - if you're ready - you can tell me. Until then, I won't bring it up again. Say, how about we go get some dinner? I could nearly hear your stomach from the bathroom." she said playfully.
It wasn't really true that she had heard his stomach. She just thought she might lighten the mood by joking around a bit. In reality, it was her stomach that was growling, and a nice hot bowl of tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich sounded fantastic.
"Should we check on the other students that were involved in the fight before we go out to dinner?" he asked.
A smile had stretched across his face at Rinsi's joke. He wasn't one to think of witty comebacks to jokes, but he much appreciated her efforts to make him happy.
"Do you want to go into town?" he asked.
There was a town about an hour away from here, a bit of a long drive, he supposed. But, it would be worth it if they got to actually sit and enjoy a dinner by candlelight.
"Hm, that would be a good idea." Rinsi said thoughtfully, "Though knowing those two, they'll be fine. I know! We can check on them when we come back. Unless you want to check on them first. Dinner in town sounds great though."
Rinsi was happy that he had suggested someplace other than the cafeteria. While she would feel fine with the cafeteria, she thought that going out would also be a lot of fun.
"When we get back then," he said with a nod. Thinking, he laughed softly.
"Miss Starlight, I do not own a vehicle." He said, a goofy smile crossing his face. "We could always...walk," he suggested.
He would have never suggested it for such a woman, but unless she had her own vehicle, they would have to settle with the cafeteria.
"Don't worry about that." Rinsi said with a giggle, "I have a car. And you can just call me Rinsi. By the way, I don't think I got your last name."
Rinsi continued toweling off her hair, determined to get it all dry so she wouldn't compound the small cold she already had, which was quickly fading. Once it was all dry, she carefully combed it out and pulled it back into her usual curled pony tail.
"Kishiru," he answered. "Are you ready, Rinsi?" he asked, feeling odd about addressing her by her first name.
"Ready when you are!" Rinsi said cheerfully.
Rinsi was in a REALLY good mood. Nothing would ruin it for her, save for the imminent destruction of the world. She was going to dinner with quite possibly the hottest guy in school, who was as chivalrous as a knight. The way she figured, she won.
Tahtsu smiled softly at Rinsi. She sure was the entergetic type.
"Alright then, I'm ready," he said as he stood from the chair he was seated on. "Is your car at the front of the school grounds then?" he asked her.
Moving his arm so Rinsi could wrap her arm with his.
"Yup!" Rinsi said cheerfully, "Forest green. The only one that color out there."
Rinsi locked arms with Tahtsu, very happy indeed.
Tahtsu smiled softly at Rinsi before turning to walk out of her dorm room and down the hall towards the front of the school. As they reached the parking lot in the front, he looked around to see if he could spot her car. Spotting it, he walked over to it, leading Rinsi along with him.
After grabbing her coat on the way out of her dorm, Rinsi walked with Tahtsu out of the school to the parking lot. There her car was waiting for her, though covered in snow and a thin sheet if ice. That was no problem though. She always had weather appropriate equipment in the trunk for such occasions, as well as a spare tire and a wrench to remove the nuts. After unlocking her trunk, she grabbed the scraper, scraped all the snow and ice off of the windows, and put the scraper in the trunk again.
"So, the question is," Rinsi said as she unlocked the passenger side door and opened it for Tahtsu, "where are we going specifically?"
"Not sure," he said simply as he stepped into the car and sat down. He made a sad attempt at buckling his seatbelt before he finally figured it out. "Let's just go somewhere. We'll find a place to eat, I'm sure." He said with a smile on his face.
"Hm, well, what do you like to eat? I know a few places in town that have some pretty amazing stuff." Rinsi said.
Rinsi couldn't help but giggle a little as Tahtsu fumbled with his seat belt. He had said he wasn't fond of technology, but she had no idea that he was that clueless about it. She thought it was kind of cute, really.
Tahtsu thought to himself for a moment before simply shrugging.
"Where we go is of no importance to me, m'love," he said with a smile on his face. "I would just like to take you out to a nice place. You deserve it, after all you've been through these past few days." He smiled at her again.
Rinsi blushed fiercely. Did he just call her... his love? She hoped that meant what she thought it meant. His voice and his attitude told her it did, and she knew she would find out eventually. To her, he really was the coolest guy out there.
"Well," she said sheepishly as she started the car and rolled off towards the nearby town, "that sort of stuff is kind of common with me. Just ask Ki'iro and Nakya. Hm, I know! There's this great little mom 'n pop pizza place in town. It's the best there is."
Tahtsu flinched softly at the thought of greasy pizza.
"Consider dinner paid for, Rinsi. Are you...sure you don't want to go to some place a little more high class?" He asked with a soft smile on his face.
Tahtsu reached his left hand over to Rinsi's free hand that she wasn't using to drive. Tracing his fingers over it softly, he then pulled his hand away and placed it back into his lap.
Rinsi blushed at the motion. Just the touch of his hand against hers thrilled her, and she liked it. She smiled brightly, practically beaming with joy.
"Hm, we could." Rinsi said happily, "There's another place in town that serves great Italian. They've got the best salads and pasta's I've ever had."
"It's all up to you," he said with a returning smile to hers. "If you wish to have pizza, then pizza we shall have," he said.
He reached his hand over to hers, and this time, grabbed it softly. Leaving his hand there for a moment, he silently debated if he wanted to leave it there or to move it away and bring it back to his lap.
Rinsi smiled at the gesture, and gave Tahtsu's hand a reassuring squeeze. He was a perfect gentleman, and she loved it.
"Alright. But next time, you choose. That way it's fair." Rinsi said with a smile and a small wink. "Ah! Here we are."
Rinsi pulled in to a small parking lot. In the middle of it was a small building - not much bigger than a house. However, it was well kept, and as neat as a pin inside. The tables were covered with the classic red-checkered cloth, and each table had the obligatory napkin holder, parmesan shaker, red pepper shaker, and of course, salt and pepper shakers. A busboy dressed in black slacks and a white shirt was clearing a table that had previously been occupied, when he spotted the two entering the building and smiled at them.
"Welcome back, Rinsi!" he said cheerfully.
"Hey, Todd! How's it going?"
"Business as usual. Oh? Is that a date I spy?" Todd said playfully.
"Yes, and please be nice to him. He's been a perfect gentleman." Rinsi said, also playfully. "Tahtsu, that's Todd. He's a friend of mine who is more like a brother."
Tahtsu looked about the restaurant. It was quite nice indeed.
"Pleasure," he said with a smile tugging at his lips as he gave the boy a polite bow.
"Oh, he is!" Todd said playfully, "If he didn't seem so attached to you, I'd take him for myself."
"Down, boy." Rinsi said firmly, but still playfully.
"Aw, alright, sis. I'll go tell ma and pa you're here. Same table as usual?"
"Yes, please."
With that Todd walked towards the kitchen, taking with him the bin with dirtied dishes in it. Rinsi lead Tahtsu to a nearby booth that had plants surrounding it. Rinsi liked that table because of the plants. They always smelled so nice. Such a light and sweet scent they had.
"Just so you know, they do serve more than pizza here. The pizza is just what they're known for." Rinsi said, still beaming.
Tahtsu found it rather odd that the boy was being so, well, forward with him. He had never exactly had a male act like that towards him. Tahtsu followed Rinsi silently to the table and sat down next to her. He knew very well that the majority of women had a preference for their date to be seated next to them, not across from them. And while he also knew that males would rather be across from each other, he prefered to make her as comfortable as possible.
“I won't be ordering much, I'm not too hungry," he said to her. "So, Rinsi, would you like to tell me more about yourself?"
"Then I hope you won't think me a pig if I order a lot. I'm famished!" Rinsi said jokingly. It was true she was hungry, but not hungry enough to order as much as she made it sound like.
Rinsi sat at the table across from Tahtsu. While she did want to sit next to him, she also wanted to be able to see his handsome face. Plus it might have been too forward for her to sit next to him so soon. She wasn't sure, and she didn't want to make him uncomfortable around her, though she could tell he was perplexed about Todd's behavior. She'd just explain that later.
"Hm, I'll tell you about me, if you tell me about you. Quid pro quo."
"No no. Not at all, order until you have had your fill," he said.
He hesitated about telling Rinsi about his past, and his life. It was something he was proud of, but not something he exactly enjoyed talking about. He sighed heavily and shook his head.
"You first," he said, a smirk puling at his lips.
"What's your favorite color?" Rinsi asked.
Rinsi could tell from his reaction earlier at the subject of saving someone that he wasn't much of a person to talk about his past, so she decided to leave that part alone. For now, she was content with the basics. All his favorites, as well as all the stuff he disliked, so that she would know what makes him happy, and what to avoid.
"Favorite color?" He repeated. After a moment of thought, he answered, "I suppose it would have to be blue. Royal blue," he smiled softly at her. "And yours?"
Rinsi smiled and nodded, taking mental note.
"That is a pretty color. Mine is green. Mostly darker greens, but emerald green is nice, too. How about your favorite food?"
Though food had somewhat been discussed already, she wasn't sure which he preferred. She just knew he wasn't picky, and that was fine by her. Those who were easy to please were easier to get along with anyway.
Just then, an older woman - who appeared in her fifties or so - approached the table. She wore a nice white blouse with a blue vest and black slacks. She was smiling at the two of them. She set down two menus for them to look at and took out a pad and pen.
"Oh, hi mom!" Rinsi said cheerfully.
"Hi, Rinsi. Who's this gentleman?"
"This is Tahtsu. Tahtsu, this is my adoptive mother."
"He's a cutie, isn't he?" the woman said with a wink. Rinsi couldn't help but blush.
"Heck yeah!"
"So, what would you two like to drink?"
Tahtsu sat up straight in his seat as the lady approached the table. At first, by her appearance, she seemed like a respectable woman. But he soon realized that she was just as aloof and bubbly as Rinsi. He laughed softly under his breath, thinking before he replied.
"How lovely to meet you, Mrs. Starlight. You have a lovely daughter, if I may be so bold as to say," he smiled sweetly at her.
Tahtsu ignored the comment about him being a "cutie" and continued with the conversation, figuring it made Rinsi uncomfortable.
"I have no preference, it is up to you two ladies," he said, handing the decision off to them.
"In that case, I'll have some water." Rinsi said, "Lots and lots of water."
"Ever the fish, I see." the woman joked. "Actually, my last name isn't Starlight. Poor Rinsi's parents died when she was little and - "
Rinsi cut her off there. She didn't really like talking about it, and she didn't want anyone else telling him about it either. When she was ready, she would tell him.
"Please don't."
"Oh, I'm sorry dear."
"It's okay. Tahtsu, she's my adoptive mother. Not legally, but her family adopted me when I befriended their son."
"Well, I'll be right back with some water then. And you're right, Tahtsu, she is a lovely lady." the woman said as she meandered off to get their drinks.
"MOM!" Rinsi scolded after her. She sighed when the woman was gone, pinched her cheeks a bit, and slapped on her usual smile, in spite of the previous conversation, "Sorry about that. Birds of a feather, eh? So, what would you like to eat?"
Tahtsu just smiled politely at the mother of Rinsi. He hadn't meant to offend her in anyway.
"My apologies," he whispered to Rinsi after the mother had left. "What may I address her by?" He asked.
"I would love smoked salmon," he said with a smile. "I do love my little fishies," he blushed softly at the reference had had made.
"It's fine." Rinsi said cheerfully, "There was no offense taken. You can just call her mom if you want. Everyone around here does. Hm, I'll have what I usually do when I'm here. Cheese pizza and bread sticks."
Rinsi smiled at Tahtsu when he blushed and admitted his favorite food finally. She made a mental note of that for future plans, which were already brewing in her head.
"Oh? Do I hear orders?" came a voice from nearby.
Rinsi turned to face the voice, which she already knew was her brother.
"Hi, brother!" she said cheerfully. "The usual for me please!"
"All right, and what would your handsome man want today?"
"I'll just have whatever it is you're having, Rinsi," he smiled softly at her. "I feel it would be inappropriate for me to address her as ‘mom’." he smiled at her again, not able to keep his happiness from being apparent on his face.
"Are you sure? You mentioned you wanted fish." Rinsi said, still smiling.
"Well, I think so!" Todd said with a wink, signaling that Rinsi should not argue it.
"All right then. Two slices of cheese pizza and an order of bread sticks please."
"Coming right up!" Todd said as he wrote it all down on his pad of paper and ran off towards the kitchen.
"Next time we go out to eat, though," Rinsi said with a quirky smile, "You get to pick everything. It would only be fair. And thank you for taking me out, Tahtsu. I really do appreciate it, and I really do like you a lot."