Chapter 7 Carnival of Rust
2234 Words
-Angel's view point-
Once we finished eating we went home, I gathered all the new clothes for her and threw them in the washer but I was gonna wait until Yukino took a bath, and then start it. "Hey kid why don't you take a shower and I'll wash what you go on." She looked at me and nodded.
"Towels are already in the bathroom. Do you want some of my clothes to wear for the night?" She smiled but shook her head no. "Well you already stole my jacket so might as well."
She closed her eyes and sighed, in defeat, and then nodded. "Okay sir Angelo."
I smiled "Alright kid give me a sec!" I headed to my room and started looking, all my shirts might be a bit big for her and since she likes wearing oversized things maybe she wouldn't mind. I grabbed a white T-shirt, and some grey sweatpants.
"Hey kid would these work?" I came out and handed them to her. She smiled and nodded. She was a bit quiet since dinner but wouldn't talk to me about it. I didn't want to push but I also didn't know what to do for her.
She headed to the bathroom, and I heard a knock at the door. I sent a feather into the bathroom, just in case she needed something. I opened the door and there was Enji, and a couple of others. "Hey guys!" I chirped. I had a bright smile on my face. They all greeted me.
We chatted for a bit at the door, before Enji invited me to go drinking with them to celebrate coming back. He wanted to hear what happened the past two weeks. I wasn't gonna turn away free booze and food. "Just give me a sec, okay." Enji nodded, and I walked to the bathroom.
I gently knocked on the door. "Hey baby bird, papa bird is gonna fly out for a bit. Just make yourself comfortable alright. If you need anything call me." I said. I didn't hear a response. "If you still don't feel safe I have a feather in there with ya, I can sense if something is wrong okay." I heard movement of water.
"Oh okay." I heard her speak softly. I sighed, maybe I shouldn't leave her alone.
"Come on Angelo let's go!" Enji shouted out to me.
"Alright alright, stop ruffling your feathers!" I turned to the bathroom door. "I'm not sure when I'll be back but don't wait up for me okay." Once again she didn't say anything.
I placed my hand on the door and then slid it off and started walking back to Enji and the rest. "Alright can we just go to the club that's right down the street? I don't want to leave the baby bird too far from papa bird." Enji raised an eyebrow.
"What's going on?" He asked.
I smiled. "I'll explain when we get there." As I walked out the door.
-Yukino's view point-
After I heard footsteps leaving I sighed. I have the place to myself and I didn't like it. I got up from the bath, and dried myself off, being gentle with my back for it was extremely sensitive, hints one of the reasons why I needed extra clothing to cover it.
I dried my long hair and wrapped a towel around me. Granted Angelo did give me clothes, I wanted to walk around so I know where I can go shopping if I need food or what not. I got dressed in an outfit that Angelo picked out for me before. I looked into the full length mirror hanging on my door.
I could see why Angelo said I looked cute in this outfit, but showing off this much skin was new to me. I took a long breath in and slowly let it out. I walked out into the living room and grabbed my phone as well at the key to the house. I looked over and saw a stack of mail on the end table by the door. There was a flyer saying, a singing competition, with a prize granted it didn't say what but, it grabbed my interest. I grabbed the flyer looking at it.
It was at a bar not too far from here, maybe a block over. I smiled, maybe this will help me calm down. I always loved singing in front of others, so why not! I shoved the flyer into my pocket.
I headed out the door and locked it behind me starting to head to this bar. I was right it was literally down the block. I pulled my arms in and saw the bouncer. "Look kid you can't-" I pulled the flyer out of my pocket.
"I just want to sing." I said shyly.
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine kid but if I hear you doing more than singing then you're out."
I nodded. "Thank you kind sir. " I bowed my head and went in.
It was loud and other bands were playing. I wondered a bit, kinda lost, keeping my head down until someone bumped into me. I looked up to a boy my age with white hair and greyish eyes. "Whoa sorry about that!" I smiled, and waved my hand.
"No it's okay. it's my fault I wasn't watching where I was going. I'm so sorry sir!" I squeaked out.
He smiled at me. "I'm Sato Natsuo, what's your name?" My eyes widen.
"Well, sadly, I just don't remember. But call me Yukino."
He tilt his head "oh alright Yukino." I smiled up at him. He sounded nice.
"Nice to meet you Sir Sato."
He chuckled. "Dude don't call me Sir, that makes me sound like an old man or something." I couldn't help but to giggle.
"Oh okay, sorry Natsuo. " He smiled, and scratched the back of his neck.
"Hey I have a question." I tilt my head.
"Mhmm?" I hummed.
"Are you here for the singing competition? Cuz I am but I can't sing. Though I can play guitar. So I was wondering if I can play with you?"
My eyes widened and then I smiled. "Sure! I already have a song in mind, if you don't mind." I gently spoke.
"Alright lay it on me!" He cheered
-Angel's view point-
"So that's what happened?" Enji asked. I nodded my head.
"Yeah, I was pretty much out in the boonies. But I will have to admit that place was really nice." I answered.
"Well I'm glad you're back friends. Also I saw Natsuo walking around here. I guess they are having a singing competition or something. I don't know, to me the boy sounds like a dying cat." Enji rolled his eyes and sighed.
I couldn't help but laugh at how he compared his son to a dying cat. I took another shot of applejack, and let out a happy sigh. "Easy there Angelo that's like your fourth shot." I looked up at him.
"Pfffff dude I'm walking home so it's all good!" I smiled, shrugging him off.
"Ladies and gentes our next contents are The Black Ice!" The announcer spoke over the microphone. I didn't even bother looking, I was ready to take another shot. But I could hear a guitar playing. It sounded beautiful, but once there was a girl singing I froze.
To breathe the name
Of your savior
In your hour of need
And taste the blame
If the flavor should remind you of greed
Of implication, insinuation and you will
Till you cannot lie still
In all this turmoil, before red cave and foil
Come closing in for a kill
Come feed the rain
'Cause I'm thirsty for your love
Dancing underneath the skies of lust
Yeah feed the rain
'Cause without your love, my life
Ain't nothing but this carnival of rust
I quickly turned around and saw Yukino singing with Natsuo, with the shot still in my hand I was down founded. "Hey that's my son, who's that girl he's with?" Enji spoke up.
"Baby bird.... What are you doing?!" I spoke out loud.
"Oh so that's the girl you're taking care of?" Enji rubbed his chin. "She is really gorgeous, and controls ice, maybe she would be a perfect match for Natsuo." He let out a loud laugh.
I didn't know why but I felt jealous for a moment and then shook my head. "Pssshhh good luck on that one old man. Just she control ice doesn't mean no-" I froze she started to take off her jacket when she reach the second course. 'She always covered herself what's going on? Is she getting to hot because of the lights?'
Don't walk away, don't walk away
Ooh, when the world is burning
Don't walk away, don't walk away
Ooh, when the heart is yearning
Don't walk away, don't walk away
Ooh, when the world is burning
Don't walk away, don't walk away
Ooh, when the heart is yearning
When she started to get louder and was more into the song I could see a pair of iridescent butterfly wings lift up from her back, and spread out.
She looked like the first time I saw her. The crowd was in awe from her singing as well as those beautiful wings. My mind locked on to Yukino. She was a literal butterfly. "Wow." I let out under my breath.
"Well, you don't see that every day." Enji was stunned. Once the song was over I wanted to find Yukino. "Maybe she can work under me?" Enji said out loud. I looked at him and narrowed my eyes and just down my shot and walked away. "Hey where are you going Angelo!?" He shouted.
I never turned my back to look at him. I just raised my hand. "To find a baby bird." I bit my lip. I felt like my cheeks were on fire, all the alcohol was finally hitting. I finally found Yukino and Natsuo talking, I saw her give him her phone.
My heart felt like it shattered. I stomped over and put my arm over Yukino. "Sir Angelo?" She whispered.
"Natsuo what are you doing with the baby..... Bird." I hiccup.
I could feel they both were staring at me. "What? I got something on my face?" I could see Yukino make a flat line on her lips and sighed.
"Sir Angelo how much did you drink?" She asked, trying to be nice about it. I held my hand up and was bending my fingers to count.
"Ff Four or five." I smiled at her. She shook her head.
"Okay let's go home." I smiled at her and nodded. "I'm sorry Natsuo, maybe we can play again at a different time." She smiled at him. I couldn't help but to narrow my eyes and raise my nose at him. She took her phone from him and put it in her pocket. "Okay let's get going sir Angelo."
She was walking me home. It was a quiet walk and I couldn't stop smiling at her. "Hey Yukino?" She kept walking with me, but was a bit slower.
"Mhmm?" She hummed. "Your wings, they suit you kid." I whispered.
She stopped and looked at me. "Did they come out while I was singing?" She asked fearfully.
"Yeah! They were beautiful, baby birds." I hiccup. " You shouldn't hide them, cuz baby-" I hiccup again. "They are gorgeous just like you." I felt like I was gonna fall.
"No NONONO Angelo! " She tried to pull me up after I lost my footing. "Okay drunk Angelo let's get you home, before you make a nest in a street." She laughed.
"Hahahahahaha! " I bursted out laughing. "Good one kid!" She looked at me and smiled, and we started walking again.
Once we made it to the apartment she walked me to my room and was trying to help me up onto the bed. "You know you're heavy right?" She said as she was trying to sit me down.
"Hey now I'm not fat." I laughed.
"I never said you were Sir Angelo." She said, shaking her head.
Once I was laying down, she took off my shoes and was about to head out, I wanted to grab her wrist but I fought back from doing it.
Drunk me just wanted to cuddle but she might freak out, after all I kinda did spook her when she was talking to Natsuo. I bit my bottom lip. "Good night sir Angelo, try to sleep it off I'll be here in the morning." She was acting like a mothering hen, and it made me chuckle before I rolled over to my side.
"Man, I'm f****d up. Hopefully she doesn't hold this against me." I whispered. I closed my eyes hugging my pillow.
I love you Kei-kun! Promise you'll stay here until I come back!
I opened my eyes, that dream again. I can hear the voice but when I try to see the girl's face it's all blurry like a smudge photograph. I rubbed my eye and my hand felt wet. 'great water works too?' I thought.
I rolled over and looked at the alarm clock at 3:23am. "f**k I'm going back to sleep." I rolled back over and closed my eyes and went back to sleep.
- Writer
