::Chapter 4::

=Tayin and Ayuna are shopping in a lingerie store=

Tayin: "So, how much longer, precisely, are you going to deny having the biggest crush on Mr. Sai?"

=Ayuna turns beet red=

Ayuna: "What're you talking about?"

=She wags a hand, unconsciously waving a pair of panties=

=Tayin cocks an eyebrow=

Tayin: "I personally think the blue pair looks better. Tassels aren't your style... unless you've decided to pick up my trade?"

=He winks, she blushes and puts the red pair down=

Tayin: "But seriously, Yuna, I know you. You really like this guy. Why don't you say something?"

Ayuna: "It's not my place."

=He growls in her face=

Tayin: "Like HELL it isn't!"

Ayuna: "Tay-"

=He clasps her to him=

Tayin: "It's not fair to you, Yu. Not fair at all..."

=She closes her eyes and hugs him back=



=Ayuna: pulling her hair out, scribbling, then head thunking on desk=

=Tayin knocking on the door=

Tayin: "Yuna?"

=She answers with a haggard appearance=

"Perhaps you should... take a break?"

Ayuna: "I have a deadline to meet."

"And by the looks of it, it's never going to be done, if one can judge by looks alone."

=Ayuna glares=

"Anyway, you've been at it for days. I think Sai's a little lonely without his regular female companionship."

=She sighs=

Ayuna: "As much as I'd like to visit-"

Tayin: "He's waiting in the living room."

Ayuna: "My GOD! I look a WREAK!"

=She runs into her room=

=A few minutes later=

[AN: And who says girls can't be ready in under an hour?]

=She smiles as she walks into the room=

Ayuna: 'Good evening!"

=Sai stands, holding her hands, leaning towards her=

Sai: "You look famished!"

Ayuna: "I've eaten-"

Sai: "Tayin, why haven't you been feeding her?"

Tayin: "Wha-?"

Sai: "That's it, we're going out for dinner, right now!"

=Tayin and Ayuna both cringe in confusion=

Ayuna and Tayin: "Ehh?"



=On the street, after dinner. Ayuna rubbing her belly=

Ayuna: "That was good. Didn't realize how hungry I was."

=Sai glares at Tayin=

Tayin: "I fixed her T.V. dinners!"

=The other two drop their heads=

Ayuna: "He's right, though. I just tend to forget to eat when I'm at a deadline."

=She sighs=

"Back to work now."

=Sai looks to her=

Sai: "Are you ever going to tell me what you do?"

Tayin: "You mean she's never told you what she does?"

Sai: "She told me she's an artist and proven her point splendidly, but as to what she does specifically, no. She never has."

=Tayin looks to Ayuna, she is blushing/grinning in embarrassment=

=Ayuna's hand on doorknob=

Ayuna: "Oh look! We're back! Must get back to work!"

=Tayin holds on to her belt loop=

=He sighs=

Tayin: 'You owe him an explanation."

Sai: "It's all right with me..."

=Tayin gives him a dirty eye=

Tayin: "Nope. Excuse not good enough. Besides, she needs to do this."

=He lets go=

=They enter the apartment=

"Don't think you're going anywhere, Yu."

=He walks to the kitchen=

"I'm going to make some tea while the two of you get comfortable... and we ARE discussing your career, Ayuna."

Ayuna: "He's right, though. I shouldn't hide."

Sai: "Is there a reason you aren't able to tell anyone?"

Ayuna: "It's just that... it feels as though if no one knows the work comes from me, it's worth something..."

=Sai's hand cover's hers'=

Sai: "But it has worth, as long as you believe in your own work. Why would you feel such a way?"

Tayin: "Ayuna was married to a man who criticized everything she did."

=Tayin sets two mugs down on the coffee table=

"I'd kill him for all the grief he's caused he... if the bastard weren't already dead."

Ayuna: "Tayin..."

Tayin: "But he is dead, and Ayuna still needs to heal, from the emotional and psychological abuse. And she needs to learn how to trust again."

=Pause/silence=

Sai: "So, after all that... what is it that you DO?"

=She smiles with a lopsided grin=

Ayuna: "I'm a comic artist."



Ayuna: "Sai?"

=He looks up from reading=

"I have a gift for you."

=She hands him a square package. Inside is a copy of her comic=

"I've finished my story, and since you helped me to get over my block, I had to give you a copy of the finish."

=Sai looks at the book=

Sai: "You know, I always did want to own a series from end to beginning!"

=Ayuna playfully swipes at Sai=

"Well, you've worked so hard on this. We should celebrate"

Ayuna: "Hmm... I know! Why not karaoke? I haven't been in ages!"

Sai: "Karaoke...?"

Ayuna: "Yah, It'll be lots of fun! You don't mind do you?"

Sai: "Ehh..."

Ayuna: "Great! I'll go tell Tayin!"

=She flies out the balcony door=

=Sai groans=



=At the place, in a private room=

=Tayin is singing, mock stripping=

Ayuna: "You've got to go next, Sai! Tayin and I have gone lots already!"

Sai: "Ayuna... that may not-"

Tayin: "Hey! I'm singing, you two!"

=Goes back to singing=

=Ayuna laughs, Tayin finishes, bows and hands the mike to Ayuna=

"I wanna hear you sing one more, first."

Ayuna: "Alright, but then Sai MUST go!"

Tayin: "I've a song for you, hold on."

=Tayin messes with the karaoke machine=

"Here we are!"

=The music begins to play; a soft, sweet melody=

=As Ayuna sings, Sai is very nervous=

=She ends and he is very quiet=

Ayuna: "Now you! I love that song!"

=She presses the mike into his hands=

"Come on, Sai!"

=He looks up at her, frightened and scared=

"Sai..."

=She touches his face=

"It's not that important... not if it will do this to you..."

=The look on his face changes, and he is quiet a moment more=

=He stands, mike in hand, and walks to the karaoke box, picks a song before turning and facing Ayuna and Tayin=

=He takes a deep breath=

Sai: "You'd be right. If I weren't just running, that is..."

=Music starts, and Sai begins to sing. A little unsure at first, but more forceful as it progresses. As he sings, he smiles=

//Her heart... she's healed mine. With her honesty... with her love...

=He is breathless a few moments=

//I can sing again...

=Ayuna stands. He walks to her, dropping the mike, as Tayin sneaks out of the room=

=He then kisses her=



=At an amusement park=

Ayuna: //Today we've decided to go to an amusement park.

=Scenes of the amusement park and them=

//Although our relationship has progressed no further than holding hands and tender, sweet kisses, our world is happier than ever before.

//I've learned that Sai was a famous rock star and that he quit when he found himself singing only for his ex-fiancée. But to stop singing completely, forever... it was cutting a part of his soul out...

//He has told me that he wants to start singing again, and I hope he does. But this time, he sings for himself.

//And he wants me, but he's holding back...



=Sai's apartment door=

Sai: "I want to take you to dinner."

=Opens door and they enter=

=Door shuts=

=In the dark, Ayuna's hands slide around Sai's chest, her head resting on his back=

=He turns slowly, holder her at arms length, facing her a moment before pulling her quickly to him in an embrace and kiss=

Ayuna: //Then again... perhaps initiative was all that was needed...

=Unbuttoning of clothing=

=Sai kissing Ayuna's neck, Ayuna's head back in passion=

|filler pages|

//All I can say is... you never know where you'll truly find love... or how it will heal your soul...



|||END!|||

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