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Chapter Three - Large Pile of Blankets
He was left alone for awhile, but not very long.
Darkury arrived, carrying an assortment of bottles.
Nephrite rose to his feet when he saw her and he took half a step towards her.
"You need stuff to drink," she said abruptly, holding out a bottle to him, "I don't know what you like so... I hope you like some of these."
Nephrite nodded and took what was offered.
"Well..." she started.
"What about you?" he asked uncertainly, "You... should have something too."
Darkury blinked, "Yeah... alright."
Each picked up a bottle and took a drink, but Darkury waited for him to drink first.
Nephrite pondered how he could get her to stay - and why he really wanted her to stay. He needed to come up with a good reason... but none came to mind.
"Your blankets are a mess," she murmured, kneeling down on the floor and starting to organize them, tucking them in here and there.
Nephrite watched her curiously.
"Is this enough?" she asked suddenly.
He blinked, "huh?"
"Enough blankets."
"Oh..." he nodded, "Hai."
"And pillows?"
"I think so."
"You think so," she repeated, "So did you want more?"
"I..." he hesitated. That would be a reason for her to come back... He nodded.
"Alright," she nodded, "Now?"
He shrugged, "I don't need any right now."
An awkward silence descended. Finally Nephrite went over to the pile of blankets
"Is that okay?" she asked.
"Hai," he said, "It'll do."
She nodded slowly.
"I..." Nephrite didn't really know what to say.
"Ano..." Darkury started at the same time.
They looked away from each other, both staring fixedly at the ground.
"I..." he tried again, scuffing the toe of his boot against the ground, "I ate more."
She smiled faintly, "good..."
Nephrite finally decided to sit down on the pile of blankets she had made.
Darkury watched with an approving nod. He would be much more comfortable there than on the stone floor.
"It's better than the floor," he yielded.
Darkury nodded, "Yes."
"But... I suppose you'll want to make sure for yourself."
Darkury blinked and then slowly nodded. "Hai," she said softly, lowering herself down onto the cushions and pillows. Right next to him.
"It is more comfortable," she agreed.
"Hai..." he said softly.
They sat there for a few minutes not looking at each other.
"I..." he tried, "This is good..."
"Good..." she said, "I... um..." Darkury shifted uncomfortably, "I should... probably go..."
"Why?" Nephrite asked suddenly. For some odd reason he... didn't want her to go.
"Ano... well... I..." she hesitated, trying to think of a suitable reason, "I have to go and get rid of the senshi."
"Oh," he said softly. That used to be his job. "I see."
"Hai..." she nodded, not getting up, "So..."
"Right."
"Hai."
Darkury looked down at her feet again before finally starting to get up.
Nephrite didn't want her to go.
"I... I'll bring you some more food," she decided.
He nodded silently.
Darkury offered him a sort of smile, "well... bye..."
"Oh, you meant now," he tried not to sound disappointed.
"I... hai," she managed, "I... I'll see you later."
Nephrite nodded.
"Well... bye..." she said awkwardly.
"Oh... you meant now," he murmured to her feet.
"I..." she hesitated, "Hai. I... I'll see you later."
Nephrite watched her go with a soft sigh as he resettled himself back on the blankets.
After awhile of just sitting there he realized that he missed her.
She was a senshi, and an irritating one at that, and yet... he missed her.
Mercury was so strange the way she wanted to spend time with him... and that she had done so much for him. He absently smoothed out the blanket where she had been sitting.
Eventually footsteps echoed down the cavern. Her footsteps. The dark senshi soon arrived, carrying a bag of food and drinks.
Nephrite quickly got to his feet when he saw her come around the corner.
"I... brought more food," she said, holding out the bag to him.
Nephrite took the bag from her willingly.
"Is that alright?" she asked.
He nodded slowly, "Hai."
"Good."
"It is."
He hesitated, "Do you want some?"
"Hai..." Mercury said slowly after a hesitation of her own.
She knelt down on the floor and began unpacking the food. Nephrite knelt next to her and tried to help, although he mostly got in the way.
When their hands brushed for the third time, he realized that his heart was pounding loudly in his ears... and that she had gone a bright shade of red.
Pushing that strange feeling away, Nephrite offered her some food at random.
"Arigato," she gave a smile and handed him a glass, "Eat."
"You should eat some too," he said softly.
"H-hai..." she fiddled with her gloves for a moment before choosing some food.
They ate in silence for a moment before Nephrite spoke up. "Where did you get all of this from?"
"Hmm?" she looked at him almost shyly.
"The food."
"Oh," she gave a half shrug, "Some shop."
"You went shopping?" He couldn't help but think that he wouldn't know how to do that. If Beryl had banished him to Earth, he would have no idea how to survive.
"Just a local super," she shrugged, "It isn't hard."
Nephrite nodded and went back to eating.
Darkury watched him through her eyelashes. She was glad that he was finally eating.
He looked up when he felt her watching him.
Darkury turned bright pink and looked away.
"It's good..." he said slowly.
"I'm glad..." Darkury risked a glance up. Was it her imagination or was he blushing? She smiled faintly. It was very endearing.
"What are you looking at?" he asked, "I'm that interesting?"
She went bright red, "Uh-!" She looked down, "I don't mean to offend..."
"You're not," he said quickly.
She nodded and silently sipped her water.
He really didn't mind her watching him. In a way... it was almost flattering...
He met her eyes with his bright blue eyes and gave her what might be a smile.
Her eyes widened a bit. That was the first time... she liked
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