The Abandoned Karaoke Karaoke

Ai slowly straightened his posture as he had been leaning forward for quite some time with her on his back. He turned around and started away from her as he pointed off in the direction of the showers "Yes, I found them later on in the evening and couldn't simply let them stay out there and added to that..." He stopped at the counter as he turned around and smiled as he laughed lightly "I was getting rather lonely here by myself with no one to depend on me as they used too."

He turned back around and began to walk around the counter as he began to look for something that he could give the girl for food.

Ai continued to move things around behind the counter as he was trying to find something that would be good as a first meal for the girl. He continued to listen to what she was saying and couldn't help but smile but it was not a lie. He was not worrying about him but his lack of being able to look after other people and have them look to him for answers.

He finally rose up and held something in each hand. He started over to Hotaru and came to a stop as he listened to her question and he looked to the bathroom area and whispered something as the fire ignited around his eye for a moment and with a few moments, it disappeared as he continued over to Hotaru with a wide smile over his face and sat himself down as he quickly tried to push the image to the back of his head as he replied "They are...close. Yes, close is a very good word to use."

He started to open one of the things he had grabbed which was a loaf of bread and then pushed the jar of peanut butter and jelly to the side as he spoke once more "I am sure you'll be able to meet them at some point."

Ai looked down at the items before him as he opened the loaf of bread and the jar. He then glanced up at Hotaru as she spoke to him about the simple food. He glanced down at it and spoke "Hey, during these times, it's these simple foods that taste the best." And then there was silence but it was only due to the girls stomach.

He held in the laughter he wanted to let out but he then looked back down to the sandwich in progress of spreading the jelly and peanut butter over the bread and he spoke after she did "No, no, it's more than alright. I have had plenty of days when the only company I had was the sound of my stomach talking to me."

He placed another slice of bread onto the finished product and placed it down on the table in front of her and then started on a second as he assumed she would want more than just a single one.

Ai continued to smile as he shook his head as he continued to make the second sandwich as he tried to deny the will to want to laugh to her but was doing a poor job at it. He watched her out of the corner of his eyes as she seemed a bit hesitant at first but finally took the food and he was content over this as he looked back down at the sandwich that was now done. As he finished, it seemed that she did as well and thanked him in which he just shook his head and spoke

"No, no, thank you miss Hotaru." He was content at the moment, the world was as right as it was going to get but his outlook was slowly starting to change back to something it once was entirely. He then looked to her as she spoke about something to drink. He nodded as he sat the other sandwich down in front of her and stood up to walk to the bar and took a single bottle of water that sat on the counter and returned to place it in front of her as well.

Ai slowly let himself sit back down on the seat on the other side of the table as he let his hands come to rest over one another on the table as he finally settled down. He looked out the window which was closed and boarded but he found it rude to watch someone while they ate. He then listened as she spoke about why it was he thanked her when she had done nothing worth being thanked.

He continued to look in the direction of the window as he replied "Well, for both those reasons. Not that they were good and I should have given you a much firmer scolding. But...seeing you gave me that well needed spark. To know that the world really isn't a lost cause, that people are still out there and that I don't need to hold up by myself just to save my own skin."

Ai listened as Hotaru spoke to him about Crazy and Red and he slowly let his eyes wander across the table and the first thing he found was the empty bottle and he stopped there as he let her finish. He then spoke "I have come across a few people but not all of them were as friendly as I would have hoped...or maybe I wasn't as nice, it's hard to remember after everything fell. They are just people I picked up off the street because they wouldn't have made it without help and I couldn't just leave them. A fresh face, a face that I know is what I needed. To know that I don't have to think of everyone as a memory."

He raised his hand up to cover his eyes as he rubbed them and shook his head as he put a smile over his face and looked to Hotaru and continued in a brighter overtone "Look at me, I can't get a mopey in a situation like this, we have a trip ahead of up soon."

Ai slowly let his elbow place themselves onto the table and moved his face into his hands as he listened to Hotaru as she aimed to reassure him of his doubts and he laughed lightly before taking in a deep breath and sighed as he leaned back in his seat and let his arms drop to his sides "Thanks for the reassuring pep-talk miss Nakano. It actually helps when there is some good things left in the world. Almost makes me want to head out right now."

Ai watched as Hotaru made it to her feet but didn't seem to fit to continue. She had been through a lot and to try and push her wasn't going to help anyone. He shook his head as he pulled himself up onto his feet and spoke "No, no, what ever is there will be there in the morning. You need a good nights rest." He walked over to the direction of the stripper pole and turned around as a few blankets were piled up nearest the pole.

"I didn't have any time to make any sort of bedding for anyone but if you'll give me just a minute or....several, I'll have a nice little make-shift bed on the couch."

Ai took out a blanket and walk over to the couch that was more designed for a spectator to watch a dancer but it had long since lived out that purpose and was long enough for any sized person to use now for a place to sleep. He then listened to Hotaru as she spoke about cleaning herself up and he paused in both thought and motion.

He then looked over to her and let out a light breath "You can but...you wouldn't be alone. The shower is right through that door." He nodded his head in the direction of a door as he continued his own bed making "use at your own risk though."

The door to the bathroom of Karaoke Karaoke opened, steam billowing out of it to reveal a woman with short dark auburn hair that was still wet, but the rest of her body was dressed and fully clothed in her usual attire. She had a small towel in hand that was probably meant to be a hand towel, but one had to use what they had available in these uncertain times. She let out a sigh as she walked into the front room where the bar and all the couches where, her eyes closed as she rubbed the towel against her hair. Her cheeks were flushed, but one could assume that it was from the heat of the shower, though that was only half of the real reason.

"Hey, the bathroom's free if you wana take a shower Kazum-" She stopped as she had opened her eyes and stared at the other female in the room. When had she gotten here? She suddenly felt a little self conscious and cleared her throat before looking awkwardly at the blue haired man for some sort of introduction or explanation.

As the awkward moment passes by, with Mika appearing from the bathroom door, another girl came fromt he very same one. Tomoe, like Mika was fully clothed, though her hair was in a bit of a mess. Her face was a little flushed, though it could be from the heat or the fact that she was still ill. Bringing her hands up as though to give her girlfriend a hug, she then quickly retracted them and used Mika as a shield seeing they were in company now. And not just by Kazu-chan.

She nuzzle against the back of her girlfriend, wondering who the black haired girl is. She knew it would all be said in time, but until then, she wanted to keep hidden, like a rabbit.

Ai continued to make the make shift beds as he had moved to start on a second one, this one on the floor as he chuckled at Hotaru's statement and was about to check on the girls one more time to make sure they weren't out cold in there but he didn't seem to have to do this as he looked to see one of them emerged Red first as she was speaking something about him being able to use the shower now.

He then looked to see Crazy come out after and she hid like a frightened animal which he figured. He then looked toward Hotaru and held a hand out toward her "This is a friend of mine I found whilst you ladies were gone." He made no point to answer her name as he figured it would be best for Hotaru to do that herself as he continued to make the padding on the floor for a bed.

Mika didn't glance back at Tomoe who was now hiding behind her, but simply took her hand reassuringly. The new girl did not look like a threat by any means. If anything, she looked a little beat up. The brunette nodded at Kazuma's explanation before turning to Hotaru and giving a small wave. "Nice to meet someone else in this. I'm Mika, and this is my girlfriend Tomoe." She introduced them both, trying to draw out the shy pink haired girl behind her. "I take it you knew this guy before...well you know." The woman shrugged lamely, not wanting to call it the end of the world or something similar because it would just upset Tomoe.

The pink haired girl looked up to her lover, feeling the hand the instilled confidence within her. Even so she shy girl knew what the topic on conversation about. sensing the way the auburn haired female was saying it as discreet as possible with her reaction.

Gathering the courage she gripped the hand on Mika making sure she was till there. she then peeked over her shoulder as she then spoke out.

"i-i... its nice to meet you"