She dabbed gently at his face. "The other guy looks worse, right?"

Gendo shook his head. "The other _four_ guys didn't get a scratch, but the police didn't look too happy." He grinned, then winced as Yui put just a bit too much pressure on his tender eye.

"Four men beat you up and you're making jokes? This is serious!" She wiped the dried blood away. "You should file a complaint with the university."

"No point. They were oh so precious athletes. Nothing ever happens to them." He tested the cut on his lip with his tongue. That was going to take a bit to heal. "Try to do a little drinking in peace and look what happens..."

"Really. Why were you out on a class night at the bar? You should have been here," Yui scolded.

"And why is that? Something you had in mind?"

Yui flushed suddenly. "Not really. I was just..."

"In my bed."

She nodded simply. "Waiting for you."

"Because?"

Turning, she dipped the cloth in cold water, not answering.

"Well?" Gendo prodded.

"Do I need to explain everything I do?"

"Yui, you were in my bed after ignoring me for a week. The least I deserve is an explanation."

She turned, revealing her lips set in a thin line. Dabbing his face more, she seemed to be debating how to answer. "Because I..." She wiped his forehead, then cheek, ignoring the fact that there were no injuries there. "Because I thought that's what you wanted."

"You thought... I wanted..."

Yui nodded.

"So you..."

Again, she nodded.

"Why?"

"I didn't want you to think I wasn't interested."

That familiar feeling was back. "In... me?"

Yui nodded, wiping his cheek again. A bead of water rolled down his face, and her eyes were drawn to it. It was easier than looking him in the eye.

His hand went over hers. "You didn't have to do that."

She looked in his eyes, even though one was mostly swollen shut, and saw that look in them again.

"Whether you were interested or not, I couldn't stop thinking about you," Gendo continued. "I was even going to go to class tomorrow; I was even going to leave the bar early, but got a bit distracted."

"I guess it was a good thing I showed up anyway," Yui said quietly, not sure how to reply. "Otherwise, who would take care of you?"

"Myself. Just like I've always done."

"That's too bad. It's much better when there's someone to take care of all your hurts when you need it."

Gendo nodded, and the look on his face now one of an animal caught in headlights.

"I'm sorry you took what I said before the wrong way. I really am interested in you, but school is important too."

Gendo nodded.

For a moment that seemed like an eternity, the only sound was their breathing in the darkness. Then Yui started to remove her shirt.

"Hey! Wait! Stop that!" Gendo exclaimed, panicking. "What are you doing?"

"But don't you want to..."

Sighing, Gendo shook his head. "Only if you want to, and only for the right reasons. Right now, I think we could both use some sleep," he said, taking her hand in his.