Grand Re-Opening

She motioned for him to bend down a little so she could reach his lips. Ezhno was much taller than she was and the only other option would have been to climb the man.

The towering man bent down so she could reach. He was blushing badly.

She did stable herself with her hands on his chest. When Aquene did kiss him it was gentle, and she lingered for a few seconds before pulling away.

Ezhno blushed as he hesitantly closed his eyes. When she leaned back he gave a slight nod.

Aquene smiled up ag him and cupped his cheek. “You alright, big guy?”

:P-p-perfectly fine.” He said with a stuttering smile. 

She motioned for him to bend down a little so she could reach his lips. Ezhno was much taller than she was and the only other option would have been to climb the man.

The towering man bent down so she could reach. He was blushing badly.

She did stable herself with her hands on his chest. When Aquene did kiss him it was gentle, and she lingered for a few seconds before pulling away.

Ezhno blushed as he hesitantly closed his eyes. When she leaned back he gave a slight nod.

Xia smiled walking with arms full of children into the kitchen. “Cooking?” He asked moving over to kiss her cheek. “What are you cooking and do you need help?”

She continued to read the braille in her recipe book. Mizuko gave Xia a hug and kisses to her kids. “Yes. I’m cooking that dish. The one you really like.” The partly blind woman replied. “I don’t know I need help.”  

Xia smiled before setting the kids down giving them each a playful pat on the butt. “Run along Daddy’s going to help in the kitchen.” He looked back at Mizuko and looked over her shoulder.

They ran off upstairs as their mother rubbed her eyes as if getting sleepy. “How was work?” Mizuko asked looking over at him then out the window. It was starting to get dark and she started to dread it. 

“It was fairly decent. A good turn of profit.” he moved to start heping her with the recipe. “What’s wrong?” 

Inia looked at him and saw the unease cross his face. She gave a reassuring smile and nodded. “I know you do. I believe it’s for protection.” She knew it was mainly protection for himself because getting close was dangerous. Finishing her  coffee she set it next to her and looked over him.  “Do you want to try to smoke? I’ll bring you the ashtray if so.”She didn’t want to do anything that might cause him to hurt his head again.

Shin nodded his head. “Yeah, maybe it’ll help me calm down.” He grabbed one of the cigarettes and fumbled with the lighter for a moment before lighting the cigarette. He stuck it between his lips and inhaled slowly, closing his eyes. “Yeah, that does feel better.” He opened his eyes again and looked at Inia. “So, uh… what kind of person am I? I guess I’ll probably figure that out, but it’s just really weird not knowing who I am.”

She set the ashtray on the coffee table in front of him. Sitting on the table next to it she thought for a moment trying to figure out the best thing to tell him. What kind of person was he? Well she was still trying to figure that out herself. There were so many different sides of him that she’d seen she didn’t really know which one was real anymore.

Considering it a moment she looked down to her gloved hands and thought a moment. Ye.s.. she was wearing her gloves and her scarf... if he couldn’t remember anything there was no point in starting the questions over the scars ... at least that was her thoughts. “Well...you are a confident person, and you know your business really well. You are.. charismatic but very cautious. You do have a little paranoia but you know how to treat a woman. You’re a smooth talker and very calm and collected. Though you can have a temper. You’re loyal to your boss and dedicated to your job.”

“They’ll come back though, I just meant don’t hurt yourself trying to force them.” Would he ever like what he remembered? Her heart hurt when he asked about family or friends. She didn’t know of any .. he never talked to her about friends or family. He’d probably have some of his regular hits that would be curious to where he was and wait.. two toed ping was something of a friend? Work acquaintance maybe but that was a fs much of a friend that she knew he had. “Some you work with, but you keep most of the things like that to yourself.”

“Well, I guess job satisfaction is important,” Shin said, blowing on his coffee before drinking it. He was glad she seemed so confident that his memories were going to come back. For whatever reason, he had a hard time feeling that confidence himself. Shin watched her a moment, then a puzzled expression crossed his face. “You’re one of my closest friends, and I don’t talk to you about my friends or family?” That seemed odd. He wondered why he would do that. He looked uncomfortable with himself for a moment. He glanced back at her. That really didn’t seem fair. Maybe he had good reasons for it? He hoped so. “I’m sure I have a good reason for it,” he said, echoing his thoughts and trying to reassure her. 

Inia looked at him and saw the unease cross his face. She gave a reassuring smile and nodded. “I know you do. I believe it’s for protection.” She knew it was mainly protection for himself because getting close was dangerous. Finishing her  coffee she set it next to her and looked over him.  “Do you want to try to smoke? I’ll bring you the ashtray if so.”She didn’t want to do anything that might cause him to hurt his head again.

Seeing him pull the lube out of his pocket she blushed blood red and frowned looking away not looking at it or him until he spoke to her again. “Yes, I’ll call them for you. You just worry about getting some rest and healing. But for now you should eat. Try not to worry about work or your memories. They’ll come back. I’ll call a healer first thing in the morning.” She said gently. Yes his memories would come back….how upset was he going to be with her when they did.

“Am I that much of a workaholic?” Shin asked. “I’m pretty sure I don’t like pain. I wonder why I’d take such a dangerous job?” He shook his head a little bit. He noticed how red she was in the face and couldn’t help but smile. She really was very pretty. The redness in her cheeks complimented her golden eyes perfectly.

“You’re a doll,” Shin said, relieved that she was going to call for him. He frowned a bit when she told him not to worry about his memories. “It’s hard not to. I feel like my whole life is missing.” He gave a sigh and took some more sips of his broth. He paused a moment and looked to Inia. “Do I have any friends or family that might get worried about me?”

“You do love your job.” She stood to go refill the coffee . Once she’d warmed and refilled the coffee she  sat down on the coffee table to look at him. He called her doll all the time. Honestly, she didn’t particularly care for the moniker, he called all of the women doll but at least it was better than other things he could call a woman.  Her smile faded and she nodded solemnly. 

“They’ll come back though, I just meant don’t hurt yourself trying to force them.” Would he ever like what he remembered? Her heart hurt when he asked about family or friends. She didn’t know of any .. he never talked to her about friends or family. He’d probably have some of his regular hits that would be curious to where he was and wait.. two toed ping was something of a friend? Work acquaintance maybe but that was a fs much of a friend that she knew he had. “Some you work with, but you keep most of the things like that to yourself.”

Inia frowned a little deeper as she watched him. She needed to call a healer in.  Something was wrong- she didn’t want him to not know who he was or anything about himself. It hurt her to see that. Taking a deep breath she tried to think of how to answer each of his questions .”We don’t fight a lot, but we have our share and yes there are mixed signals but I’m okay with whatever it was.”  What it was… what was it exactly? Oh she knew what it was a convenience and a booty call… but thinking of it like that made her feel sick with herself. “I mainly do portraits..” She said moving on to the next subject quickly enough. “But I’ve done scenery as well. I do pinups as my specialty. That’s … tasteful nude photography. ‘‘ She explained in case he wasn’t familiar with that term. 

“No not a nurse… just trained in first aid.” She said with a smile before the smile faded. What did she tell him about why he got hurt so much. How would it affect him to learn that he was a gang member…. and not even a high ranking one. He was a mook, a peeon.. he was as disposable as they came. IF she could get him away from the life she would. And she’d do so in a heart beat. But in his right mind he’d never leave. It was comfortable and familiar, not to mention leaving the triple threats meant death.

Battling with herself, she didn’t know what to tell him. She took a deep breath and looked over at him. “You have dangerous career, and getting hurt on the job is one of the hazards.”

 smoothandshadyshin:

Inia smiled softly to him though it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’d prefer it if you did, but .... you’d never consider it.” She said gently as she watched him very closely. She sipped at the broth then the coffee she wondered herself what happened. Was he working? Was he mugged? Was it a hooker deal gone wrong? Was it some broad... or man he was bedding that got pissed off for some reason? Was it gang related? Was he drinking at a bar and get into a fight?She honestly didn’t know and that worried her even more.

Seeing him pull the lube out of his pocket she bloshed blood red and frowned looking away not looking at it or him until he spoke to her agai.n. “Yes, I’ll call them for you. You just worry about getting some rest and healing. But for now you should eat. Try not to worry about work or your memories. They’ll come back. I’ll call a healer first thing in the morning.” She said gently. Yes his memories would come back....how upset was he going to be with her when they did.

Settling down on the flor in front of the couch she looked up at him with a smile. Her smile faltered as he grimaced and she shook her head. “Don’t try to force things.. It’ll all come back to you.” She added gently before taking a sip of the broth to make sure it wasn’t too hot for him. “ And spirits no!” She laughed and shook her head. “I’d hope not. I am a … very close friend.” She smiled. “I don’t know whether you’d classify me as a lover or a girlfriend.” Okay maybe she knew damn well he wouldn’t classify her as either but a girl could try. 

He’d probably be plenty sore with her when he came back around- and would pull one of his disappearing acts but for the time being… it wasn’t going to hurt to ham it up a bit right? “I’m a photographer here in republic city and your in my home right now. We have been friends for quite a while.”

Shin nodded again. “I hope so,” he said. To think he could be without any memories… forever. That sounded horrible. He gave a bit of a shiver, but it wasn’t due to being cold. He took a sip of the broth after she did and looked relieved when she told him she wasn’t his sister. She was a close friend… He paused a moment, and his brow furrowed. “You’re… not sure if I’d classify you as a lover or a girlfriend? Did I send mixed signals? Or… did we fight a lot?” A hand went to his head again. He was thinking too much. He tried to stop thinking about it too much. “I’m sorry I can’t tell you one way or another. I… I really don’t know.” He looked at her, looking sincerely sorry and even a little guilty. He tried to focus on a different subject. “You’re a photographer, huh? What do you take pictures of?” He gave her a sheepish smile and chuckled a little bit. “All I remember of you… I have a couple of memories… of you bandaging me up. I kind of thought you might have been a nurse or something.” He didn’t mean to overwhelm her with questions, but there was just so much he didn’t know and wanted to know. “Do you know why I keep getting hurt so much?”

Inia frowned a little deeper as she watched him. She needed to call a healer in.  Something was wrong- she didn’t want him to not know who he was or anything about himself. It hurt her to see that. Taking a deep breath she tried to think of how to answer each of his questions .”We don’t fight a lot, but we have our share and yes there are mixed signals but I’m okay with whatever it was.”  What it was... what was it exactly? Oh she knew what it was a convenience and a booty call... but thinking of it like that made her feel sick with herself. “I mainly do portraits..” She said moving on to the next subject quickly enough. “But I’ve done scenery as well. I do pinups as my specialty. That’s ... tasteful nude photography. ‘‘ She explained in case he wasn’t familiar with that term. 

“No not a nurse... just trained in first aid.” She said with a smile before the smile faded. What did she tell him about why he got hurt so much. How would it affect him to learn that he was a gang member.... and not even a high ranking one. He was a mook, a peeon.. he was as disposable as they came. IF she could get him away from the life she would. And she’d do so in a heart beat. But in his right mind he’d never leave. It was comfortable and familiar, not to mention leaving the triple threats meant death.

Battling with herself, she didn’t know what to tell him. She took a deep breath and looked over at him. “You have dangerous career, and getting hurt on the job is one of the hazards.”

Shin watched her a moment and felt the gentle touch of her hand on his head. He smiled at her; though, there was confusion in his eyes. He wanted to know who she was. Not just her name, but all about her. Why did she help him so much? What was she like? He grimaced in pain and stopped thinking of the questions he had. “Warm,” he answered. He seemed to snuggle further into the blankets at that. “Confused. Hurting.” He gave another grimace. “I’m glad I’m here, though. It’s really hard and really strange waking up not knowing where you are and how you got like this.” He gestured to himself. “I guess I get hurt a lot. But it feels… safe here.”

He was distracted moment by the delicious aroma coming from the kitchen. His stomach growled. He wondered if he had dinner. For that matter, he wondered about the other meals, too. He couldn’t remember that morning or that afternoon. He couldn’t remember his life. The distress in his face increased, and it seemed more and more he was clinging to the blankets as if for security. 

Inia watched him carefully as he moved. Hearing him talk she smoothed her hand over his hair. “Shh shh. It’s okay. You are safe here Shin.” She smiled gently. “You are always safe here.” She said with a nod and moved to look over him again giving a cursory check of his injuries. Hearing his stomach growl, she wondered if he’d eaten. When the last time he ate ….  “I have somebroth and rice on the stove. Are you hungry? Maybe whwe can eat and I can answer any questions?” Or at least she’d try. Shin kept a lot of things about hismelf to himself. But there were certain things she knew… a slight selfish part of her wanted to take advantage of this. How good it would be to beable to keep him.. but that wasn’t fair… Fair or not it was tempting. Disappearing into the kitchen she came back with two big bowls of rice drowning in the rich broth- and a couple of cups of coffee. Waitressing had paid off when it came to balancing. Hsetting her own bowl down on the coffee table and the coffee she held his out ot him.  “My name is Inia.” 

Shin closed his eyes when Inia smoothed her hand over his hair. She was awfully affectionate towards him. Was she just a concerned friend? Something more? A relative, maybe? He didn’t know. He couldn’t remember. And it hurt trying to remember. “I believe you. I just wish I could remember… something.” His brow furrowed, then he grimaced again, putting a hand to his head. He gave a nod when she asked him if he was hungry. “Yeah, pretty hungry.” He smiled when she said she would try to answer his questions. “I have a lot of questions.”

He watched as she came back with two bowls and a cup of coffee. He took the bowl from her and looked at her with gratitude. “Thank you. You’re really kind, Inia.” He said her name slowly as if trying it out for the first time. “Maybe you could start with telling me who you are. You’ve been really good to me, and it just seems… unfair to you that I don’t even know who you are.” He looked her over carefully. “You’re, uh… you’re not my sister, are you?” He really hoped not. There was something about her that made him feel… well, it made him feel all sorts of things, and he was pretty sure some of those things weren’t things he should feel towards a sister.

Settling down on the flor in front of the couch she looked up at him with a smile. Her smile faltered as he grimaced and she shook her head. “Don’t try to force things.. It’ll all come back to you.” She added gently before taking a sip of the broth to make sure it wasn’t too hot for him. “ And spirits no!” She laughed and shook her head. “I’d hope not. I am a ... very close friend.” She smiled. “I don’t know whether you’d classify me as a lover or a girlfriend.” Okay maybe she knew damn well he wouldn’t classify her as either but a girl could try. 

He’d probably be plenty sore with her when he came back around- and would pull one of his disappearing acts but for the time being... it wasn’t going to hurt to ham it up a bit right? “I’m a photographer here in republic city and your in my home right now. We have been friends for quite a while.”

Xia smiled walking with arms full of children into the kitchen. “Cooking?” He asked moving over to kiss her cheek. “What are you cooking and do you need help?”

She continued to read the braille in her recipe book. Mizuko gave Xia a hug and kisses to her kids. “Yes. I’m cooking that dish. The one you really like.” The partly blind woman replied. “I don’t know I need help.”  

Xia smiled before setting the kids down giving them each a playfrul pat on the butt. “Run along Daddy’s goign to help in the kitchen.” He looked back at Mizuko and looked over her shoulder.

Shin watched her a moment and felt the gentle touch of her hand on his head. He smiled at her; though, there was confusion in his eyes. He wanted to know who she was. Not just her name, but all about her. Why did she help him so much? What was she like? He grimaced in pain and stopped thinking of the questions he had. “Warm,” he answered. He seemed to snuggle further into the blankets at that. “Confused. Hurting.” He gave another grimace. “I’m glad I’m here, though. It’s really hard and really strange waking up not knowing where you are and how you got like this.” He gestured to himself. “I guess I get hurt a lot. But it feels… safe here.”

He was distracted moment by the delicious aroma coming from the kitchen. His stomach growled. He wondered if he had dinner. For that matter, he wondered about the other meals, too. He couldn’t remember that morning or that afternoon. He couldn’t remember his life. The distress in his face increased, and it seemed more and more he was clinging to the blankets as if for security. 

Inia watched him carefully as he moved. Hearing him talk she smoothed her hand over his hair. “Shh shh. It’s okay. You are safe here Shin.” She smiled gently. “You are always safe here.” She said with a nod and moved to look over him again giving a cursory check of his injuries. Hearing his stomach growl, she wondered if he’d eaten. When the last time he ate ....  “I have somebroth and rice on the stove. Are you hungry? Maybe whwe can eat and I can answer any questions?” Or at least she’d try. Shin kept a lot of things about hismelf to himself. But there were certain things she knew... a slight selfish part of her wanted to take advantage of this. How good it would be to beable to keep him.. but that wasn’t fair... Fair or not it was tempting. Disappearing into the kitchen she came back with two big bowls of rice drowning in the rich broth- and a couple of cups of coffee. Waitressing had paid off when it came to balancing. Hsetting her own bowl down on the coffee table and the coffee she held his out ot him.  “My name is Inia.” 

Inia looked up at him and she answered his question very softly giving him her name as she stopped cleaning his arm to watch him. She tried to catch him before he fell completely over but didn’t manage to do it. She carefully shifted him over to lay him on his side. Getting up she hooked her hands under his arms and drug him over to the couch the best she could and managed to maneuver him up onto it. She popped his cheek lightly trying to wake him up. “Come on..” she moved to start sewing up his arm quickly. “Shin, you need to wake up. Please.”

Shin didn’t wake up on command and not even with Inia popping his cheek every now and then. He had gotten a little paler as time went on but seemed to stay the same color after all of his wounds had been bandaged. It was a few hours before he finally started to stir. He stared up at the ceiling, confusion written over his face. He noticed he was on the couch. When had that happened? He glanced at his arm, seeing that it had been bandaged. He put a hand to his head and found bandages there, too.  He gave a pained groan. He didn’t attempt to get up. He closed his eyes a moment and thought about the pretty woman who had been tending to him. She had been about to tell him her name before he… He guessed he must have passed out. He opened his eyes again and looked for her.

At least with him laying down and passed out the bleeding had slowed a little. It didn’t take very long for her to finish bandaging up his arm and went to working on his leg. She looked for any other signs of injuries on him- stab wounds burns anything that might have pointed to gang related activity. Once his head was bandaged and he was cleaned up she covered him in blankets to get him warm.

Paranoia and fear still were eating at her so she headed down to the studio. She shut all the doors and windows locking them down and bolting them.  All of the lights were turned off down stairs and the only light upstairs was a small oil lamp on the kitchen table and the light from the fire place. Just for good measure, she bolted the upstairs windows as well and tugged up the ladder on the fire escape. 

Checking on him each time she passed by, trying every once in a while to wake him, she decided to put on something for him to eat when he came to -something that would warm him of course.  It was on her way back into the living room after checking on the pot the last time that she noticed his eyes were open and he seemed to be looking around. Moving over she knelt down on the floor next to the couch by his head- her hand reaching up to gently smooth over where the knot on his head had been. “How are you feeling?”

There was a smile- one that was familiar it quelled her fears only momentarily when he grimaced again. “Okay… here… can you hold this on your head while I try to fix your arm?”

He gave another nod. “Yeah. The fire feels nice.” She said that name again. Shin. That must be his name. “Y’know, I had forgotten my name, too, until I came here again.” He winced when she started dabbing at his head with the clean rag. “It’s nice to know what it is again…” He held the rag to his head as she instructed. “Could you tell me your name? I’m sorry. I know you must be someone very important to me, but all I remembered was this place and your face and that you could help.”  Shin was sounding weaker. His hand started to slip from his head. “I feel really… dizzy.” His voice kind of faded there at the end, and he slumped forward until he fell into Inia’s lap, spilling the bowl of water that was there. It was probably no wonder he had passed out with as much as he had been bleeding.

Inia looked up at him and she answered his question very softly giving him her name as she stopped cleaning his arm to watch him. She tried to catch him before he fell completely over but didn’t manage to do it. She carefully shifted him over to lay him on his side. Getting up she hooked her hands under his arms and drug him over to the couch the best she could and managed to maneuver him up onto it. She popped his cheek lightly trying to wake him up. “Come on..” she moved to start sewing up his arm quickly. “Shin, you need to wake up. Please.”

Shin put an arm around her shoulder. She was small. He tried not to lean too much weight on her, but he still felt weak. “Right. Okay.” He let her help him up the stairs. Sitting by the fire helped him feel a little better, less cold. It also made the urge to sleep that much more powerful. His eyes started to droop. Then, they popped open again when the woman told him to stay awake.

Shin gave a slow, careful nod of his head because his head was killing him. Though, he hoped not literally. “Yes… the alphabet.” He recited it all the way through, just to make sure. He was pretty sure he could count to thirty, too. 

“I can count. I promise,” he said, and he shot a smile at her. Then, he grimaced in pain again.

Inia listened to him recite the alphabet as she brought back over a pair of pajamas that would fit him. She moved to sit on her knees next to him with a bowl in her lap- the clean rag squeezed out before she started cleaning his head. “Are you getting warm, Shin?” She wanted to make a point of keep using his name. Keep talking to him- keep him awake. She didn’t know what was going to happen or what had happened. 

There was a smile- one that was familiar it quelled her fears only momentarily when he grimaced again. “Okay... here... can you hold this on your head while I try to fix your arm?”

Shin only gave a slight grimace from the bruising. “It doesn’t hurt that much. It’s mostly my head… and my leg and arm kind of hurt, too.” He seemed to blush again when she told him she’d need to get him out of the wet clothes. He understood why, of course, but it’s just… He barely understood everything else. “Okay. Yes.” He glanced around, then noticed the stairs. It didn’t look like there was too many of them. “Maybe… maybe I can get up the stairs.”

He blinked when her hands were on his. He glanced up at her, looking her in the eyes. It struck him that she had really pretty, soft, golden eyes. He wished he knew more about this woman. He had a lot of questions, but… He grimaced again and moved to put a hand to his head. She told him not to think too much. He nodded his head. “I’ll try not to… Thank you for helping me. I… I trust you.”

What choice did he have, after all? She was all he knew, and he didn’t know very much. She was willing to help him, and that was all that mattered right now. 

She looked over his head and moved to stand. “Here... put your arm around my shoulder to steady you. We’re goig right up the stairs and then towards me okay?” she said very softly. He didn’t remember anything that terrified her but she couldn’t let him see it. The stairs weren’t so hard to navigate and she held the door open with a foot seeing if he could go in. What had happened to him?  Guiding him over to where the fire was and the blanket she’d been sitting in she carefully moved to help hims it down. “I’m goign to bring you dry clothes and start sewing you up. Stay awake though. Do you know the alphabet? Can you count to thrity?”