Heartaches

Heartaches

Chapter 29

By KellyQ

Jack raised a brow when he
noticed Misty, and she was giving him a look. This went unnoticed
by the others when they helped Kiryu back into bed.

"You must be Jack
Atlus," Misty stated. Her voice got everyone's attention.

"And you are?" Jack
asked bluntly. He eyed her for a moment, and then he remembered.
"You're that chick that caused a lot of problems for
Akiza!"

As soon as he said his
friend’s name, the red-haired woman walked in with some
blankets. Misty and Akiza eyed each other for a moment, before
Akiza placed the sheets on the bed.

"So ..." Crow spoke
up, getting everyone's attention. "What's with the extra
bed?"

"I'm going to have someone
stay with Kiryu until we find out what happened the other
night," Martha explained.

"I would volunteer to be
the one," Akiza offered, getting the bed ready, "but
Sayer wants me to visit him in prison ..."

The room went silent when the
name left her lips. Kiryu glanced around the room wondering why
everyone was quiet.

"S-Sayer? Friend?" He
inquiered.

By this point Misty had already
walked out with Carly trailing behind. Jack also walked out when
he saw that he wasn't needed, leaving Akiza, Crow, Kiryu, Yusei,
and Martha alone.

Kiryu blinked when he realized
that Carly had left. "Crow?" he called out, getting his
friend's attention, pointing at the open door. "Carly
..."

"What ... do you want me to
go get her?" Crow asked. Kiryu shook his head. "Then
what do you want if you don't want me to go get her?"

"I think he wanted her to
say goodbye to him and she didn't," Martha concluded.
"Is that what you're trying to tell us, Kiryu?" He
nodded his head. Martha smiled. "Next time, tell her you
want a hug before she leaves."

"Carly!" Kiryu sang
out, chuckling.

Crow, Yusei, Akiza, and Martha
glanced at each other and smiled.

"Kiryu," Martha spoke
up, sitting on the bed, getting his full attention. "Someone
is going to stay with you," she explained, pointing to the
bed.

Kiryu nodded his head.
"Yus!"

"I wish I could,"
Yusei responded, rubbing Kiryu's bent arm, getting his friend to
look at him, "but I can't ..."

Hurt flashed across Kiryu's
face. "Friends?" He asked sadly.

"Of course we are,
Kiryu!" Yusei reassured. All Kiryu did was nod his head, not
making eye contact with his friend.

"Everyone in here is your
friend, Kiryu," Martha explained, getting the crippled teen
to look at her.

"Yeah!" Crow said,
sitting on the bed too. "We all love yea!"

"L-love?" Kiryu
murmured, feeling something in his chest. He liked the feeling he
got; it made him feel good.

"Well, yeah! I love
you!" Crow said without thinking.

Kiryu stared at him for a moment
and a smile made its way to his lips. "Kiryu. Love.
Crow."

Yusei, Akiza, and Martha watched
Crow. He lowered his head and his expression darkened. A sad
smile made its way to his lips. Crow knew that Kiryu didn't
understand that he just stated how he really felt, and it pained
him.

"I do need to get
going," Akiza spoke up breaking the silence. "I'll only
have a little time to see him."

"Do you want me to
accompany you?" Yusei offered, glancing at her.

A soft smile made its way to
Akiza's lips. "That's sweet of you, Yusei, but my dad's
going to be there."

On cue, a man with rich brown
hair walked in. He had a full beard without a mustache, and brown
slanted eyes. He wore a fine tuxedo and tie.

"Daddy!" Without
thinking, Akiza ran up and hugged her father.

Mr. Izayoi chuckled and gently
moved her back so that he could lead her to the car. He held out
his arm and she took it.

"Are you sure you don't
want me to be there?" Yusei asked again. He didn't feel
comfortable having Akiza see her current boyfriend, Sayer.

Just the thought made Yusei's
skin crawl. He never liked him at all. As far as he was
concerned, Sayer was a greedy self-centered bastard.

Mr. Izayoi gave Yusei a
respectful look. Akiza smiled at her ex-boyfriend. "I'll be
okay, Yusei. Besides, I need to take responsibility and help
Sayer get better."

Yusei sighed. "Just be
careful."

"Don't worry, Yusei,"
Mr. Izayoi reassured. "I'll make sure she doesn't get
hurt."

"We better get going,
daddy," Akiza urged. "And if it helps, I'll call you,
Yusei."

He nodded his willfully,
watching the two walk out.

To Be Continued ....